Falconian History :)

"The most beautiful world in the galaxy is at the heart of known space. Tree's on this world can grow up to a mile in height, and the forests themselves seem to go on forever. Shamans spin tales about how many lifetimes it would take just to count the tree's of the Great Forest, let alone appreciate their beauty. Even the snow flaked mountains teem with life, as fur covered Quad Rex's prowl for food beneath the ice laden tree roots. In the more temperate regions the sounds of the Falconian Goose can be heard, occasionally cawing and squawking as you walk by. This avian paradise in the middle of the Acropolis system gave birth to the Falconian race. 

For millennia they lived a primitive existence, as tribes of simple hunter gatherers they enjoyed their paradise. As the tribes grew in size, a great Houses was formed: House Falcon, an alliance of tribesmen. The Elders of the these tribes swore blood oaths of fealty to the First amongst them. This unity tilted the balance of power heavily into the favor of House Falcon: where once simple tribes had worked simple goals and fought petty wars, there now stood a number of unified tribes with thousands of hunters. These hunters could provide a massive excess in food and resources for their kin, which then allowed others to pursue scientific goals and theories. New tools and technologies where discovered quickly by the Falcons, each step taking them further away from the primitive tree dwellers they used to be and molding them into a people that would colonize distant worlds.

Of course such productivity caused a great discord amongst the more traditionalist Tribes. The use of high-technology was alien to most of the tribes and the idea of leaving their forests was almost blasphemy to most. In secret the more fear filled Tribesmen began to talk of unity against the new House Falcon. On the surface, the House and its First espoused honor and peace but secretly, they prepared for war. It was obvious to the traditionalists that these technologies would be used to destroy the Falconian way of life, even to destroy the Great Forest itself! Such fears spread like wildfire and soon an alliance of the more, how shall I say, motivated tribes was formed - House Vulture. They chose a leader amongst them, Harkon and his first action was to demand the Falcon's stop all modernization. When they refused, the Vultures attacked the Falcons. The story of the war is long and drawn out, but suffice to say that in the end superior technology won the day for the Falcons. The First amongst them demanded not fealty from the Vultures but asked for an alliance, together they would create an Empire and protect Falconia. 

With the launch of the first jump capable ship, we found a plethora of aliens surrounded us. Humans, Dewiek, Flagritz, Bastet, Kastorians and other even stranger creatures. Following the First Emperor we began to peaceful co-exist with the Outsiders, and learn about their cultures and histories. The Empire expanded and colonized many new worlds, many wonders where found and brought to the home land to be shared with our people. We found another race we had a kinship with, the Krell. The Krell had been all but destroyed in a galactic war that raged centuries before. Warriors without peer and survivors of a thousand different holocausts, we found friends among their clans. Soon an Alien League was founded between the Krell and the Falconian Empire and we began to assist the reconstruction of a Krell state, and even began gently attempting to temper their aggressive outlook on the universe. After a few sour deals with an insectoid race called the Hexamon, the Falconian's where forced to invade a Hexamon Colony. After this invasion and a few political incidents later, they where embroiled in a huge conflict with the Imperial Power Block, during this conflict the Falconians lost many ships and several prominent colonies (including the colonies that where helping to rebuild the Krell). Seeing the destruction of so many Krell and Falconian lives for no reason, the First Emperor abdicated. The breach was filled by his blood-sworn enemy, Harkon of House Vulture. Upon taking the mantle of Emperor Harkon arranged a ceasefire with the Stellar Empire. Knowing he was a Hunter and not a Diplomat, he also abdicated allowing the throne to pass to a more passive leader. Unfortunately this selfless act lead to disaster for the Falconian peoples, the next Emperors mortgaged the Empire, tore the affiliation apart and whored the home world to the highest bidder. Their reign came to an end and the Empire itself almost crumbled. No more ships flew the Falconian flag and slowly the aliens encroached from all sides, eventually a young trader, Harlow Kee, ascended to the vacant throne of the Empire. With a few gentle caws in the right ears, he began to have the Aliens return what was rightfully ours and leave our Homeworld. Slowly the Empire regrouped and reformed, now the Age of the Phoenix has arrived and the Empire shall grow forever onward!"

- The History of the Falconian Empire as told to you by an inebriated Huntmaster at Rubis's  (in)famous 'XXXX17 Nightclub'.