Campaign Fluff

[Skyrock]

Starting Subsector
Polity: Third Imperium
Sector: Old Expanses
Subsector: M

Location of the Subsector within Charted Space (marked yellow)

Subsector Map

Universal World Profiles of Subsector M:

Code: [Select]

Segh             0102  A325572-E     TCG   Ht NI A
Yegese           0106  C442795-6      SG   Po
Ratazhe          0108  B796643-7    NSTG   Ag Ga NI
Shira            0109  E444222-5       G   Lo Lt
Nguvovo          0110  E350000-0       G   Ba De Po
Phispo           0201  C659644-7      RG   NI
Zuscu            0203  A334688-B     TCG   NI
Spoji            0204  C546275-8     SCG   Ga Lo A
Thazu            0206  B7A4650-A    NSTG   Fl NI A
Razheje          0207  C2508CC-7      CG   De Po A
Huraje           0208  A565550-D     TCG   Ag Ga Ht NI A
Huara            0210  A510764-C     TCG   Ht Na A  [Plop]
Ghstu            0301  D552611-6      SG   NI Po
Sespo            0302  B333352-E    STCG   Ht Lo Po
Zuspo            0303  E110000-0       G   Ba
Zhoji            0305  D400300-9      SG   Lo Va A
Lusese           0306  C9D8979-C      SC   Fl Hi Ht In A
Arara            0309  A543567-9    NTCG   NI Po A  [Plop]
Rarata           0310  C252426-8       G   NI Po  [Plop]
Phiqua           0402  B520100-E     NTG   De Ht Lo Po A
Foflu            0403  E120335-6           De Lo Po
Prefova          0404  E335588-7       G   NI
Shespa           0405  C7968BC-7     STG   Ga A               
Rahu             0408  E76A100-8       G   Lo Wa A           
Votala           0409  C554515-6       G   Ag Ga NI           
Jengu            0410  D150656-4       G   De Lt NI Po       
Fosege           0501  C773224-7      RG   Lo                 
Hasepre          0502  B559000-0     RTG   Ba Wa A
Quarhe           0503  C58A877-9       G   Ri Wa A           
Gethadri         0504  D452378-6      SG   Lo Po A           
Vapre            0506  E768237-4      PG   Ga Lo Lt           
Jerara           0508  C475642-8      SC   Ag NI             
Raata            0510  D312000-0           Ba IC             
Geludr           0601  D427000-0      SG   Ba                 
Rhezho           0602  A999448-D    NTCG   Ht NI             
Scupi            0603  C200100-C      PG   Ht Lo Va R         
Spopre           0604  C385464-6           NI  [Septo]
Phidri           0605  B9B0563-9     TCG   De NI A  [Septo]
Drise            0607  D480878-6       G   De Ri A           
Ngenge           0608  B1009BA-D      NG   Hi Ht In Na Va A   
Laahu            0609  D777000-0      SG   Ba Ga             
Jetata           0610  B697696-6     SRG   Ag Ga NI           
ISS Thase        0701  B000323-F    STCG   As Ht Lo Va       
Drse             0702  DAC1000-0      SG   Ba Fl A           
Dripre           0703  B564143-7      SG   Ga Lo             
Yudizo           0706  A977654-D    RTCG   Ag Ga Ht NI       
Yuhedi           0707  D767445-7      SG   Ga NI             
Nabiqa           0710  D545000-0       G   Ba Ga R
Drjulu           0803  B87799B-8      NG   Ga Hi In A         
Drpi             0804  C240114-8     SPG   De Lo Po           
Rhewa            0807  D65A577-B       S   NI Wa A           
                       ||||||| |       |
Ag Agricultural        ||||||| |    Bases  In Industrial
As Asteroid            ||||||| +- Tech     Lo Low Population
Ba Barren              ||||||+- Law        Lt Low Technology
De Desert              |||||+- Government  Na Non-Agricultural
Fl Fluid Oceans        ||||+- Population   NI Non-Industrial
Ga Garden              |||+- Hydro         Po Poor
Hi High Population     ||+- Atmosphere     Ri Rich
Ht High Technology     |+- Size            Wa Water World
IC Ice-Capped          +- Starport         Va Vacuum

A  Amber Zone (caution advised to travellers)
R  Red Zone   (travel verboten)

Bases: Naval – Scout – Research – TAS – Consulate – Pirate – Gas Giant


[Skyrock]

History and Present of the Old Expanses
The Old Expanses Sector is an area of old settlement with a rich history of both Vilani and Terran societies. Rich trade with the Hivers has put the area back on the map.

Interstellar commerce is vital to the prosperity of the region and a number of Jump Bridge projects have been planned or already developed to bolster the sector economy. The area has several native sophont species and is known to take in refugees and settle them on less populous worlds. The megacorporations are increasingly investing in the area and financial trends predict massive growth.

Historically the area was part of the Solomani Autonomous Region, a semi-autonomous region made up of conquered parts of the Second Imperium (which has by now arisen again as the Solomani Confederation). 65 years ago (940 IC, or 5462 AD by the Terran calendar) Solomani oppression of non-humans (and non-Solomani humans) forced Empress Margaret II to revoke the region's charter. After years of diplomatic actions proved fruitless, it was decided to forcibly reintegrate the region into the Imperium. Naturally, the Solomani resisted, and the Solomani Rim War (950 to 1002) began. By the end of the war, the Imperium had taken a large slice from the Solomani Sphere, including Terra, but had failed to conquer the entire region.
The battle for Terra had consumed so much of the Imperial military's resources that the Imperial high command felt they lacked sufficient strength to resume their advance into the rest of the Solomani Sphere. Accordingly, they negotiated a temporary armistice with the Solomani military commanders, who were glad to gain a respite to regroup their remaining forces.
The war ended on this basis as both the Imperial and Solomani civilian governments, concerned with the strain placed on their economies by the protracted war, informally agreed to extend the armistice indefinitely.

Major Races within the Old Expanses

Droyne
The Droyne are a short, lithe, and agile race of flyers with a mysterious past and lineage. Though the oldest of the jump capable races, the Droyne were the last to be recognized as such probably because they do not have any empires or regions controlled by their race. The race is scattered across known space. Droyne control some worlds but also share some with other races. The Droyne homeworld is unknown.

Droyne society is divived into rigid castes determined during adolescence. Different genetic programs get awakened, leading for example to a 30% increase in brain size for Leaders, while Warriors bulk up to even larger size than most humans.

Scholarship late in the Third Imperium largely confirmed the Chirpers, originally thought to be a separate race, have been identified as a Droyne that have reverted back to a primitive form.

Hivers
Hivers are a race of giant starfish-like non-humanoids with a modified six-fold radial symmetry. They have no aural (spoken) language.

Despite their name Hivers actually have a highly individualistic society. They avoid direct violence and war whenever possible , preferring instead to work behind the scenes via all forms of covert manipulation (especially Psychohistory). They take a maternal viewpoint to other beings, preferring to raise as many of them to sophonce as possible. At the same time, their predilection for macrosocial manipulation intimidates many.

The Hive Federation bears some properties of a Confederation, as well as being as close to a stateless society as can be found in the major states of Charted Space (a form of polity the Hivers themselves refer to as Adhocracy). The Hive Federation is on good relationships with the Imperium, and both commercial, cultural and touristic exchange between the two polities is extensive.

Solomani
Solomani are the race of humans originating from Terra (unlike the humans of the Third Imperium, who mostly originate from the Vland sector), and are especially common on the conquered former Solomani planets in the spinward and rimward parts of the subsector.

Solomani subscribe to the Sol hypothesis of Terra being the original home planet of Humaniti before they were scattered all over space by the Ancients, and derive from this hypothesis the status of master race, the mandate to rule over all other off-shoots of humanity and to create more lebensraum for humanity by displacing, enslaving and ultimately eliminating all other sophont races.

Their polity, the Solomani Confederation, can only be classified as an openly fascist empire. Three dominant power structures exist within the Solomani Confederation: The Solomani Party, SolSec (the secret political police that ensures internal ideological purity and loyality) and the military.
Relationships to the Imperium are officially peaceful since the end of the Solomani Rim War 3 years ago, but in fact still heavily strained. Anti-Imperial graffitti like "Remember Terra", "Sol Shall Rise Again", "Strength Through Purity" or "Impies Go Home" are still rampant on the occupied planets, as are terroristic attacks on Imperial officials, "race mixers" and others who the Solomani disapprove of, although the Confederation as a polity officially condemns such acts and denies to support or foster them in any way.

[Skyrock]

Planets of Subsector M

Huraje

Code: [Select]

0208  A565550-D    TCG   Ag Ga Ht NI A
Huraje has an Excellent Starport with shipyards able of handling Starships up to the Overhaul level, and provides Refined fuel. The main world is roughly 9,600–10,399 kilometers in diameter, and is a Medium terrestrial. The atmosphere has a pressure of 0.71 to 1.49 atmospheres The atmosphere is a standard oxygen/nitrogen mix, which is breathable without assistance. The surface is roughly 45–54 percent surface water (or similar fluid), which qualifies it as a Wet world. The main world has a general population of 100,000 to 1,000,000 (P00,000) local residents, which qualifies it as a Moderate population world. The local government is characterized as Feudal Technocracy, with government by specific individuals for those who agree to be ruled. Relationships are based on the performance of technical activities which are mutually beneficial. Visitors may find the law unrestrictive as no prohibitions (nuclear weapons) are regulated or restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as TL13

Huraje is a an anarcho-capitalist world that keeps society in check through strong social control through strong social customs and strongly ritualised interaction.

Quarhe

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0503  C58A877-9       G   Ri Wa AQuarhe has a Routine Starport without shipyards, can perform Major repairs, and provides Unrefined fuel. The main world is roughly 9,600–10,399 kilometers in diameter, and is a Medium terrestrial. The atmosphere has a pressure of 1.50 to 2.49 atmospheres The atmosphere is a standard oxygen/nitrogen mix, which is breathable without assistance. The surface is roughly 95–100 percent surface water (or similar fluid), which qualifies it as a Water world world. The main world has a general population of 100 Million to 1 Billion (P00,000,000) local residents, which qualifies it as a Moderate population world. The local government is characterized as Balkanization, with no central ruling authority. Visitors may find the law moderately restrictive as Shotguns are regulated or restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as Early Stellar (~2050 AD).

Quarhe is a Cold War world where the Plutocratic League of West Quarhe is competing with the bureaucratic and monarchistic Empire of Leng. The tiny dictatorial Noortmahn Confederation outside of the two blocs lingers on at the far northern fringes. The Starport stands in city of Hraal, which is divided between the two great blocs.

Vapre

Code: [Select]

0506  E768237-4      PG   Ga Lo LtVapre has a frontier Starport without shipyards or repair facilities, and provides no fuel. The main world is roughly 11,200–12,799 kilometers in diameter, and is a Medium terrestrial (e.g. Venus). The atmosphere has a pressure of 0.71 to 1.49 atmospheres The atmosphere is a standard oxygen/nitrogen mix, which is breathable without assistance. The surface is roughly 75–84 percent surface water (or similar fluid), which qualifies it as a Wet world world. The main world has a general population of 100 to 1,000 (P00) local residents, which qualifies it as a Low population world. The local government is characterized as Self-Perpetuating Oligarchy, with government by a restricted minority, with little or no input from the masses. Visitors may find the law moderately restrictive as Shotguns are regulated or restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as Mechanized Age (1880 AD).

Vapre is a garden world run by feudal nobility with indentured servants. Local unrest is channeled into anger at the starport for only taking the locals exported food without delivering back goods (which the planetary nobility hoards for themselves).

Rhezho

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0602  A999448-D   NTCG   Ht NIRhezho has an Excellent Starport with shipyards able of handling Starships up to the Overhaul level, and provides Refined fuel. The main world is roughly 14,400–15,999 kilometers in diameter, and is a Large terrestrial. The dense atmosphere (0.71–1.49 atm) contains an unusual taint such as such as disease, a hazardous gas mix, pollutants, or sulfur compounds which requires the use of a filter mask. The surface is roughly 85–94 percent surface water, which qualifies it as a Wet world world. The main world has a general population of 10,000 to 100,000 (P0,000) local residents, which qualifies it as a Moderate population world. The local government is characterized as Representative Democracy, with government by elected representatives. Visitors may find the law highly restrictive as blade weapons are restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as Average Stellar.

Rhezho's small population is centered around the Starport on the largest island of Nau Singapura, and consists of experts in various starship construction areas such as jump drive design. They have brought their kiasu with them from their Terran homeland, the fear of losing out that encompasses any sort of competitive, stingy or selfish behaviour, which can make dealing with them difficult to travellers not used to them.

Duchess Evestireni Geshtina maintains her fiefdom on the neighbour island of Pulau Jong. Apart from her personal palace the island is rented out as labspace to the Jingwei corporation, paying her an annual rent of 40,000cr.

Drise

Code: [Select]

0607  D480878-6       G   De Ri ADrise has a Poor Starport without shipyards, can perform Major repairs, and provides Unrefined fuel. The main world is roughly 8,800–9,599 kilometers in diameter, and is a Small terrestrial. The atmosphere has a pressure of 1.50 to 2.49 atmospheres. The atmosphere is a standard oxygen/nitrogen mix, which is breathable without assistance. The surface is roughly 0–4 percent surface water (or similar fluid), which qualifies it as a Desert world world. The main world has a general population of 100 Million to 1 Billion (P00,000,000) local residents, which qualifies it as a Moderate population world. The local government is characterized as Balkanization, with no central ruling authority. Visitors may find the law highly restrictive as Blade Weapons Controlled are restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as Nuclear Age (1940 AD).

The area around the Starport is controlled by a feudal technocracy, which monopolizes water trade from the starport (as almost all water is imported from the gas giant in the system). The rest of the world crazy quilt of tiny states and tribes. Recently, some of the tiny states have begun to lay their quarrel aside and unite against the dominant feudal technocracy.

Driseans highly value the truth. Lying is both rare and despised.

Ngenge

Code: [Select]

0608  B1009BA-D      NG   Hi Ht In Na Va ANgenge has a Good Starport with shipyards able of handling Spacecraft up to the Overhaul level, and provides Refined fuel. The main world is roughly 6,400–7,199 kilometers in diameter, and is a Tiny terrestrial (e.g. Mars). The atmosphere has a pressure of less than 0.1 atmosphere, which requires the use of a vacc suit. The surface is roughly 0–4 percent surface water (or similar fluid), which qualifies it as a Desert world world. The main world has a general population of 1 Billion to 10 Billion (P,000,000,000) local residents, which qualifies it as a High population world. The local government is characterized as Non-Charismatic Leader, where a previous charismatic dictator has been replaced by a leader through normal channels. Visitors may find the law extremely restrictive as Weapon possession are regulated or restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as Average Stellar.

King Ganimakkur Ngaale III., the local dictator, forces the population to buy and sell all goods through him, buying at deflated and selling at inflated prices, and prohibits their access to and from the starport without special permissions. There is a lucrative, but dangerous shadow economy for smugglers.

ISS Thase

Code: [Select]

0701  B000323-F   STCG   As Ht Lo VaISS Thase has a Good Starport with shipyards able of handling Spacecraft up to the Overhaul level, and provides Refined fuel. The main world is roughly Multiple < 200 kilometers in diameter, and is a Asteroid/Planetary Belt (around star). The atmosphere has a pressure of less than 0.1 atmosphere, which requires the use of a vacc suit. The surface is roughly 0–4 percent surface water (or similar fluid), which qualifies it as a Desert world world. The main world has a general population of 1,000 to 10,000 (P,000) local residents, which qualifies it as a Low population world. The local government is characterized as Participating Democracy, with government by advice and consent of the citizen. Visitors may find the law barely restrictive as machine guns, automatic weapons are regulated or restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as Imperial Maximum.

Lacking habitable surface space, Thase consists of a largest olivine asteroid in the belt, which has been hollowed out and been turned into an Imperial Space Station. A large number of belters is mining the other asteroids and providing Thase with the ores and materials it needs to maintain its techlevel.

Being the most advanced world in the subsector, Thasians tend to look down on others and especially have trouble comprehending why anyone would want to leave their world and venture out to more primitive lands.

Yudizo

Code: [Select]

0706  A977654-D   RTCG   Ag Ga Ht NIYudizo has an Excellent Starport with shipyards able of handling Starships up to the Overhaul level, and provides Refined fuel. The main world is roughly 14,400–15,999 kilometers in diameter, and is a Large terrestrial. The otherwise standard atmosphere (0.71–1.49 atm) contains an unusual taint such as such as disease, a hazardous gas mix, pollutants, or sulfur compounds which requires the use of a filter mask. The surface is roughly 65–74 percent surface water (or similar fluid), which qualifies it as a Wet world world. The main world has a general population of 1 Million to 10 Million (P,000,000) local residents, which qualifies it as a Moderate population world. The local government is characterized as Feudal Technocracy, with government by specific individuals for those who agree to be ruled. Relationships are based on the performance of technical activities which are mutually beneficial. Visitors may find the law moderately restrictive as light assault weapons are regulated or restricted by local authorities. Technology is described as Average Stellar.

Yudizo uses exclusively cloning to reproduce. The cloning vats are under control of the Floral Popess of the Menevian rites Church of Immaculate Conception (one of the many splinter groups of the Solomani Turin rites Church) and her white-robed nuns of the Order of St. Corollaria (a heretical sanctification of Blodeuwedd from Terran Welsh mythology, who gets depicted as a beautiful blonde young woman emerging from a flower bed, with flower girlands covering her privates and adorning her head).

Yudizians views sex as dirty, icky and outfashioned, look down at naturally conceived and born humans as impure, and support strong morality laws against any form of "harlotry" and "smut", including natural procreation (which in turn creates a profitable, even if risky black market).

[Skyrock]

NPCs of Subsector M

Political Figures

Archduchess Arielle Adair of Sol
Archduchess Adair presides over the recently founded Domain of Sol from Exeter in the Diaspora sector.

Having until recently just been a Baroness, Adair was awarded the Archduchy for her services as Grand Admiral in the Solomani Rim War. She has a reputation as a militarist, which doesn't help to cool off the still broiling tensions within the recently conquered Solomani worlds.

[Skyrock]

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