The second edition of the core rules for Fading Suns. Compatible with the first edition. From the publisher: It is the dawn of the sixth millenium after Christ and the skies are darkening, for the suns themselves are fading. Humans reached the stars long ago, building a Republic of high technology and universal emancipation -- and then squandered it, fought over it, and finally lost it. A New Dark Age has descended upon humanity, for the greatest of civilizations has fallen and now even the stars are dying. Feudal lords rule the Known Worlds, vying for power with fanatic priests and scheming guilds. In Fading Suns the RPG, you become a denizen of the Known Worlds, answering the Emperor's inspiring call of a new frontier -- or trying to prevent others from doing so. Players can take on any role they desire, from imperious nobles, lords of the planets of the Known Worlds, to zealous priests from the many sects of the Universal Church, to guild members with secret technology, or aliens from the many races subjugated under human rule. But enemies are many: jealous nobles, angry priests, greedy merchants, powerful warlocks, bizarre cults, the genetically altered and a host of other secret enemies. Fading Suns is a science fiction game of heavy combat, vicious politics, weird occultism, alien secrets and artifacts, and unknown and un-mapped worlds. And the mystery of why the suns are fading hangs over all.