Setting of the Five Star Stories

Five Star Stories takes its name from the Joker Star Cluster where the stories take place. The star cluster is made up of four stars: Eastern, Western, Southern and Northern. The "fifth star" is a large comet named Stant that passes through that sector of space every 1,500 years pulling with it its own collection of orbiting planets.

In the distant past the Farus Di Kanon Empire, now commonly known as the "Super Empire", controlled all 4 solar systems of the Joker Cluster. They enjoyed a level of technology much higher than is currently known and sent explorers to the far reaches of the Joker Galaxy. Around the year 9000 AD (Ammon Duul) the empire collapsed due to internal strife. The explorers were called home and what remained of civilization focused mainly on survival. Much technology and knowledge was lost by the time the imperial families of Amaterasu, Fillmore and Hathuha gathered and established the JC era. JC stands for "Joker Calendar" and was meant to give a common frame of reference to all nations to help foster a lasting peace. The JC calendar was adopted but the dream of peace was never realized.

Fun Fact: Ammon Duul is a reference to a West German rock band back in the 1970s. It had 3 iterations: Amon Düül I, Amon Düül II and Amon Düül UK.

The first story of the Five Star Stories begins in JC 2988. At this time interstellar travel is common and fatimas are well established as necessary co-pilots of the fearsome mortar headds that dominate the battlefields. Warfare between nations is commonplace and few still hope for peace.

Solar Systems
NOTE: Inhabited planets’ names are underlined.








Orbit of the Stant Comet
Although it releases a huge amount of energy mainly from its sun, Stant doesn’t generate visible light but rather ultraviolet rays that can’t be detected by the human eye. Even though it’s invisible the heat released by Stant is 100 times that of Earth’s sun. Though an ultraviolet lens, Stant’s light would probably resemble a soft and beautiful fluorescent purple flame. The moon on the outer edge of this system, Buster, is unknown to Joker’s scientists. The records of past sightings were lost long ago. It is said that only the person who succeeds in conquering the entire Joker Galaxy will be able to discover Stant’s true character.


Inhabited Planets
NOTE: These planets are approximately 1.2 times the size of Earth except Péstako which is 1/3 the size of the others.


Addler

Eastern Solar System  Although it looks like it could be a moon of Delta Belun on the planetary chart, Addler is a sister planet on an orbit a fraction closer to their sun. For this reason, the climate is extremely dry and had to undergo extensive terraforming to be made suitable for human habitation. Its history being younger than that of Delta Belun, it is home to a freer (some say chaotic) atmosphere of many ethnic groups and mostly autonomous regional unions and republics.


Delta Belun

Eastern Solar System  This planet features green continents and blue seas. The climate is much like the coolness of Europe, with temperatures at its equator rising no higher than those of Hawaii. A vast land mass of desolation covers its polar cap. It has much history and some believe it is where human life originated. The kingdom of Grees lies in the northern hemisphere. Grees is Delta Belun’s most powerful state and is ruled by Amaterasu.


Both

Western Solar System  Similar to Addler in climate, Both is dominated by savanna and steppe ecosystems. Originally the home of a completely different form of life, the advance of humans since antiquity has driven that form to the verge of extinction. Kastenpo on the continent of Gnann is a region outside of human control ruled by dragons. The nation that attempted to invade and conquer Kastenpo was completely routed. Joker technology is not nearly adequate to threaten the dragons who allow humans to settle around the edges of the region.


Jüno

Southern Solar System  This planet was settled without the need for terraforming projects. It’s a young planet in an age like Earth’s Mesozoic with active volcanoes. Most of the planet is tropical in climate, covered by rain forests and marshlands and has been able to maintain a remarkable balance between indigenous and colonial ecosystems.


Kalamity Godarce

Northern Solar System  Many believe that this planet was the cradle of human life. This can’t be proved, however, due to a great war before the JC era that erased many records. The absence of steep mountain ranges is a testament to the planet’s age. The climate is relatively cold with temperatures at its equator not exceeding the New England states of the U.S. in autumn. It became necessary to place an energy satellite at the polar cap to radiate heat and warm the planet’s crust.


Péstako

Northern Solar System  Despite its great distance from its sun, Pestako is able to maintain life due to its neighboring planet Piyoit which acts as a secondary sun and the large-scale terrestrial reclamation projects that enable people to live in an atmosphere filled with poisonous gases. The residents mainly engage in mining natural resources for Kalamity Godarce.