I.S.M. unfolds on an ancient, resource-rich world, scarred cataclysms and the violence of its own inhabitants. For millennia, more than a dozen intelligent species have fought, schemed, and slaughtered their way through history in a relentless struggle for survival and supremacy. The balance of power was shattered two centuries ago when humans crash-landed on the planet, bringing new technologies, ambitions, and conflicts that have transformed the world forever. Now, just as old rivalries reach a breaking point, a far greater threat emerges from the stars. An alien invasion looms on the horizon, forcing empires, warlords, and species alike to confront a terrifying reality: overcome old rivalries or face extinction together.
"Draw your weapon so it looks like your corpse fought back." Dolkahn the 12th mercenary.
Three great empires have risen from the chaos, their vast armored armies marching beneath towering banners as they besiege enemy strongholds and wage brutal wars for dominance. Across the battle-scarred world, ambitious warlords scour ancient ruins and forgotten battlefields in search of legendary artifacts and alien technology capable of shifting the balance of power. Between these rival powers stand the Free Cities: ruthless centers of commerce, corruption, and intrigue where criminal gangs, tribal clans, and religious sects hold sway. Beneath their crowded streets, common folk gather to wager fortunes in underground fighting pits, zealots sell blessings and prayers to distant gods, and bounty hunters weave through the masses in pursuit of their next prize.
Beyond criminals, soldiers and kings stand the Fluxors. Intellects who wield Cerebral Efflux, a rare telepathy and telekinesis-based ability used to bend minds and break bones. Fluxors play their own dangerous game, the more they seek power, the closer they drift toward paranoia, madness, and complete mental collapse. Feared, envied, and hunted, many Fluxors exist in the shadows. Officially, the empires outlaw their abilities. Unofficially, they exploit them for espionage, assassination, and covert warfare. Those caught breaking this law risk having their eyes cut out or being banished to the border lands.
There, in the harsh and unforgiving Border Lands, authority belongs to the Judges. These self-appointed Bendu'uron enforcers claim to uphold justice where the empires cannot, delivering verdicts by fire and blade. But in a land ruled by greed and desperation, even the noblest Judge can be seduced by power, wealth, and the lure of the criminal underworld.
Now, the Kisrian Empire is desperate, ravaged on all sides by legions of enemy determined to take land and resources. And, worse is coming, the sah’lees have arrived from the cold void of space. With armies depleted one hope remains... the Interstellar Mercenary.
You are an elite team of skilled mercenaries, hired killers and specialists, in the service of a besieged empire, completing high-risk high-reward missions to turn the tide of war. To further complicate matters each mercenary has a hidden objective which may ultimately bring down the Empire they were enlisted to protect, or their fellow mercenaries.
The I.S.M. are tasked with missions either too dangerous or too discreet for the Kisrian Empire to use their standing army. Assassinations, infiltrations, tactical espionage, guerilla strikes, escorts, sensitive investigations and explorations are all on the table. Once the mission starts there is no turning back, completion is the only option and players have complete freedom on how this will be achieved. And, if they survive, the pay is good!
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In this world, survival is never guaranteed, so choose your mercenary wisely.
From a super-speed, spine-shooting, polymorphic lone wolf, to an eight-limbed, telekinetic, semi-jelly psychopath or an elephant-sized, acid-spitting, monocular war machine; I.S.M. has you covered! Each species (and gender) has unique traits, social dynamics, interactions with other species, and presents a different challenge to play. Beyond cerebral efflux, limitless skills, and coordinated team techniques, players can wield deadly alien martial arts, soaring through the air with crushing attacks or shutting down opponents by disabling limbs in brutal grappling encounters.
No two journeys are the same. Every choice shapes how the world sees you, the size of your bounty, and ultimately whether you survive and succeed, or die forgotten in the dust.
Welcome to I.S.M., where empires rise, minds break, alliances burn, and survival is the greatest victory of all!