Stellar Reaches · 2018-06-04 · Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 3 Letter From The...
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Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 2 Stellar Reaches A Fair Use Fanzine for Traveller Table of Contents Letter From The Editor .................................................................................................................................. 3 BITS Task System........................................................................................................................................... 4 Personality Profiles VI ................................................................................................................................... 5 Imperial Dreams ......................................................................................................................................... 39 Exodus ........................................................................................................................................................ 40 Exodus: Detailed Maps & Charts ............................................................................................................... 169 The Royal Virtue ....................................................................................................................................... 213 Legal ......................................................................................................................................................... 217 Issue #27, Spring 2018. Version 4. Our website: www.stellarreaches.com Credits: Cover Art: A woman gazes into the future unfolding before her eyes. This graphic is titled “The City” © GANJAKYUN. See her work at https://ganjakyun.deviantart.com/art/The-city-649969240 Cover Layout: Alvin W. Plummer Contributing Artists: Android, BlastWaves, Brent, charmedy, James Clouder, dchan, Goren Delic, Gene Raz von Edler, Erik, gin, GANJAKYUN, JohnnysDream, Wolfgang Amadeus LeBlanc, Karen De la Garza, Adrian Mark Gillespie, Axel JP, Anton Kurbatov, Jaroslaw Marcinek, NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute, n7skyember, Adriano Portugal, Artur Rosa Pysis, Kirk Quillaquil, Andreas Rocha, Alexey Shirokikh, Erik Shoemaker, sirion, Tyler Sporles, Neil Thacker, Igor Tovstogan, uxmal750ad, Justinas Vitkus, and Kristen Zirngibi. Contributing Authors: Alvin W. Plummer Editor/Layout Design: Alvin W. Plummer The BITS Task System, although modified to include Traveller T20 difficulty classes, has been provided with permission by British Isles Traveller Support (BITS). Its presence here does not constitute any challenge to the rights for this system, and we gratefully acknowledge Dominic Mooney and Andy Lilly for their generosity in allowing our use of this system to allow future adventures to be written in such a manner as to be more useful to all published Traveller rules sets. For more information on BITS, check out their website at http://www.bits.org.uk/ The Stellar Reaches fanzine is published without charge or cost under the appropriate Fair Use and Online policies published by the various holders of the Traveller license. For ease of reference and as required by these Fair Use policies, the appropriate text of these policies is included in the legal section at the end of this publication. Copyright of Original Material: All original material in the Stellar Reaches fanzine not designated as Open Game Content, or not otherwise protected under the copyrights of other entities, is copyright © 2018 by the original authors and artists, as identified in the byline with each article or contribution. No portion of this fanzine may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the author or artist holding that specific content’s copyright.
Transcript of Stellar Reaches · 2018-06-04 · Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 3 Letter From The...
Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 2
Stellar Reaches
A Fair Use Fanzine for Traveller TableofContents
LetterFromTheEditor..................................................................................................................................3BITSTaskSystem...........................................................................................................................................4PersonalityProfilesVI...................................................................................................................................5ImperialDreams.........................................................................................................................................39Exodus........................................................................................................................................................40Exodus:DetailedMaps&Charts...............................................................................................................169TheRoyalVirtue.......................................................................................................................................213Legal.........................................................................................................................................................217
Issue#27,Spring2018.Version4.
Ourwebsite:www.stellarreaches.comCredits:
CoverArt:Awomangazesintothefutureunfoldingbeforehereyes.Thisgraphicistitled“TheCity”©GANJAKYUN.Seeherworkathttps://ganjakyun.deviantart.com/art/The-city-649969240CoverLayout:AlvinW.PlummerContributingArtists:Android,BlastWaves,Brent,charmedy,JamesClouder,dchan,GorenDelic,GeneRazvonEdler,Erik,gin,GANJAKYUN,JohnnysDream,WolfgangAmadeusLeBlanc,KarenDelaGarza,AdrianMarkGillespie,AxelJP,AntonKurbatov,JaroslawMarcinek,NASA/JPL-Caltech/SpaceScienceInstitute,n7skyember,AdrianoPortugal,ArturRosaPysis,KirkQuillaquil,AndreasRocha,AlexeyShirokikh,ErikShoemaker,sirion,TylerSporles,NeilThacker,IgorTovstogan,uxmal750ad,JustinasVitkus,andKristenZirngibi.ContributingAuthors:AlvinW.Plummer Editor/LayoutDesign:AlvinW.Plummer
TheBITSTaskSystem,althoughmodifiedtoincludeTravellerT20difficultyclasses,hasbeenprovidedwithpermissionbyBritishIslesTravellerSupport(BITS).Itspresenceheredoesnotconstituteanychallengetotherightsforthissystem,andwegratefullyacknowledgeDominicMooneyandAndyLillyfortheirgenerosityinallowingouruseofthissystemtoallowfutureadventurestobewritteninsuchamannerastobemoreusefultoallpublishedTravellerrulessets.FormoreinformationonBITS,checkouttheirwebsiteathttp://www.bits.org.uk/TheStellarReachesfanzineispublishedwithoutchargeorcostundertheappropriateFairUseandOnlinepoliciespublishedbythevariousholdersoftheTravellerlicense.ForeaseofreferenceandasrequiredbytheseFairUsepolicies,theappropriatetextofthesepoliciesisincludedinthelegalsectionattheendofthispublication.CopyrightofOriginalMaterial:AlloriginalmaterialintheStellarReachesfanzinenotdesignatedasOpenGameContent,ornototherwiseprotectedunderthecopyrightsofotherentities,iscopyright©2018bytheoriginalauthorsandartists,asidentifiedinthebylinewitheacharticleorcontribution.Noportionofthisfanzinemaybereproducedinanyformorbyanymeanswithoutpermissioninwritingfromtheauthororartistholdingthatspecificcontent’scopyright.
Stellar Reaches Issue #27 Spring 2018 Page 3
Letter From The Editor
Greetings,FellowSophonts:Thisissuehasbeenalongtimecoming,butI’mgladthatitisfinallyhere!
Ω
Thelastissuehadexactlyonearticle,onpersonalitieswithintheEmptyQuarter.Iwasdeterminedtoactuallydeliveranadventureinthenextissue,somethingtiedtoactualtravelling.TheArrivalVengeancebookofMegaTravellerwasmymodel,butwithmoredetail,moregraphics,andanevenbetterpricepoint.TogettheelbowroomIwanted,Ineedednicebigstarmaps:buttherearenoneofsufficientsize&scopeforthe993milieu.(Asinglesectorof40by32parsecsisjustsocramped!)Soforthefeatureadventureofthisissue,“Exodus”,IhadtogobacktoClassicTraveller’smapandtimeframe,asgiveninJoshuaBell’sexcellentwebsite,www.travellermap.com.Readerscancheerfullyrewritethedetailsfoundheretotheirheart’scontent,andareinvitedtoreshapeand/ordeepenthestoryastheywish.TherewasanotherBigIdeaIwantedtoexplore:theImperial-Solomanirelationship.Todrivethestorytelling,Ialsowantedtogetsomekindofmajorculture-clashgoingon.Thosewhoareinterestedinmanaging–andprotecting–aninterstellarconvoyalsohaveascenariotailoredforthem,andsomepointersIhopewillbeuseful.AlsoprovidedissufficientfoundationtoroleplayatransitionintotheRebellionandearlyVirusEras.Finally,Iwantedtotrymyhandatwritingalongerhistoryofarulingfamily.IhadalreadydoneashorthistoryinStellarReaches#7“HouseLayamon:AHistory”,butIwantedtodosomethingmore.Forthegearhead,IwantedaproperLowBerthlineraswell:theshipdesignwasexpandedtoincludedtankerandcargovariants.MythankstoIanSteadforhisassistancewiththestarshipdiagrams.
Ω
Thisissue’s“PersonalityProfiles”coveranartillerymanmercenarywithaspecialbitofkit;agroupofhigh-techJulianexplorers,stickingtheirsnoutsintothelow-tech,ImperialsideoftheLesserRifttogiveahandtotheweakestVargrpacksthere;AStellarDivinitybelieverwithsolidskillsandabigdream;aBwapex-destroyercaptain,tryingtonavigatehiswayonapowerfulanddangerousSolomaniworld;andaPrincessfromthecivilizedImperialCore,senttoearnherstripesinthechaoticQuarter.“ImperialDreams”isjustaquicksketchofin-universesciencefiction.“TheRoyalVirtue”usestheworkofR.J.RushdoonytofleshoutabitonwhatitwouldmeantobeaChristianImperialNoble.Surprisingly,itdoesn’thaveanythingtodowithpropertyprotectionorwealthgeneration.
ΩDependingonfreeavailabletimeandothercommitments,itcouldwelltakeanothertwoyearsbeforethenextissueofStellarReachesisreadyforpublication.ButIstillhavesomeideasrattlingaroundmyhead,andIhopetogetanotherissueout…eventually.Readingahead,AlvinW.PlummerEditor,StellarReachesfanzine
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BITS Task System
Frompg.8,BITSWriters’GuidelinesJune1999.Copyright©1999,BITS.AllRightsReserved.T20OpenGameContentfromthearticle“ExtendingtheTaskResolutionSystemtoT20”Copyright2003,JasonKemp.MegaTraveller(MT),Traveller:TheNewEra(TNE)andMarcMiller’sTraveller(T4)alluseagraduatedsystemoftaskdifficultyratings–Average,Difficult,Formidable,etc.‘Classic’Traveller(CT)andGURPSTraveller(GT)usemodifierstothetaskrollsinstead.TravellerT20(T20)usesdifficultyclasses(DCs)todefinetargetnumbersforskillchecks.TheBITSTaskSystemprovidesasimplifiedcommongroundforalltheserulesets,usingdifficultyratingswithcorrespondingtaskmodifiersforCTandGTandDCsforT20asshowninTable1.Themeansbywhichspectacular(GT:critical)successorfailureareachievedaredefinedbytherulesetused.Similarly,theGMshouldapplytherulesforspecialtasks–opposed,co-operative,hasty,cautious,etc.–accordingtotherulesetused.Asalways,theseareonlyguidelines–theGMmayalteranytaskrollasappropriatetoenhancethegame.TABLE1:TASKDIFFICULTIESBITSTaskDifficulty
T4Difficulty
T4.1Difficulty
GTTargetModifier
TNEDifficulty
MTDifficulty
CTTargetModifier
T20DC
Easy Easy(Auto) Easy(1D) +6 Easy Simple -4 10Average Average(2D) Average(2D) +3 Average Routine -2 15Difficult Difficult(2.5D) Difficult(2.5D) 0 Difficult Difficult 0 20Formidable Formidable(3D) Formidable(3D) -3 Formidable Difficult +2 25Staggering Impossible(4D) Staggering(4D) -6 Impossible Formidable +4 30Impossible (5D) Hopeless(5D) -9 Impossible Impossible +6 35Hopeless (6D) Impossible(6D) -12 Impossible Impossible +8 40
Ex.MariaCharlesisforgingacomplexdocument,whichtheGMrulesisaStaggeringtask.MariahasForgery-4(GT:Forgery-16,T20:Forgery+18)andtherelevantattribute(MT,T4)isINT10(TNE:INT9,T20:15).CT:Tasksuccessisnormally2D+Skill>=8.Mariarequires2D+Forgery>=12(8+4forStaggeringdifficulty).Alternatively,theGMmayprefertoapplythetargetmodifierasanegativemodifieronthediceroll,i.e.2D+4–4>=8.MT:StaggeringdifficultyisequivalenttoMT’sFormidable(15+),thusthetaskis2D+Skill+(Stat/5)>=15.ForMariathisis:2D+4+2>=15.TNE:StaggeringdifficultyisequivalenttoTNE’sImpossible,thusthetaskisd20<=(Skill+Stat)X¼.ForMariathisisd20<=3,i.e.(9+4)/4roundeddown.T4:Mariarequires4D<=INT+Forgery.(NotethatT4’sStaggeringratingof3.5Disignored.)GT:Mariarequires3D<=Forgery+TargetModifier,i.e.3D<=16–6.T20:Mariarequiresd20+18>=30.(NotethattheINTmodifierisalreadyfactoredintotheskillcheck.)Taskdefinitionsshouldalwaysbeusedsparingly–theGMshouldbeabletodefinethedifficultyandrequiredskillsandequipmentformosttasksusingcommonsense.Wherestrangeskillsorequipmentareneeded,thesecanusuallybelisted,withoutrequiringafulltaskdefinition.Whereafulltaskdefinitionisrequired,usethefollowingformat(youdon’tneedtousetheboldoritalicsformatting;plaintextisfine):Tofindaboar:DifficultRecon(GT:Tracking),orDifficultHunting(T20:P/Hunting),orFormidableSurvival+1Difficultyifridingatfullgallop.+1Difficultyiflost.-1Difficultyifmovingslowly.SpectacularSuccess:Theyhavesurprisedaboarandhaveoneroundtoactbeforeitreacts.Success:Theyhavefoundboartracksandcanbeginfollowingthem.Failure:Notracksfound.SpectacularFailure:Theyhavebecomelost. +1Difficultyindicatesahardertask(e.g.anAveragetaskbecomesDifficult)whereas–1Difficultyisaneasiertask(e.g.DifficultwouldbecomeAverage).NOTE:Thissystemhasbeenextensivelyplay-testedbutsuggestionsforrefinementsarealwayswelcome.
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Personality Profiles VI
It’sbesttotravelwithafriend.
Thisgraphicistitled“OvertheEdge”©PsyxisSeehisworkathttp://www.deviantart.com/art/Over-the-Edge-422036726
Iseemypath,butIdon'tknowwhereitleads.
NotknowingwhereI'mgoingiswhatinspiresmetotravelit.
–RosalinaDeCastro
Colonel Mixial Kelley (Ret.) Artilleryman for Hire UPP89787A,Age38,MixedVilaniSkills:Demolitions-2,GravVehicle-2,Handgun-2,MesonGun-2,MassDrivers-1,RobotOps-1,SensorOps-1,Brawling-1,Intrusion-1,Instruction-1,ShipsBoat-1,GravBelt-0,Computer-0,VaccSuit-0,Electronics-0,CombatRifleman-0,Medical-0,Bribery-0Languages:Anglic(Transform,Native)ToolsandAids:MostnotablyaTL15portablemesongunsled,useofwhichishowheearnshisliving.Onhisperson?Usuallynothingbutapistolandasmartphone(whichmayormaynotwork,dependingontheexistenceandprotocolsofthelocalcommnet)Visual:Mildlystriking,withsharpfeatures,alightskinshadeandsomewhatglossyskin.He’squitefit,lookingyearsyoungerthanhisage.Off-duty,theColoneldressesmoreintheCorefashionofadecadeago:standardworkshirt,pants,andboots.Onduty,hewearsanon-descriptImperialArmycammo,withthebadges,insigniaandrankstrippedoff.OpeningTheme:“RoadtoHanna”,Shadowfax,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5XaZ5eWGYA
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LargeGunforHireCol.Kelleyissomethingofanenigma.WhilehedresseslikeamanfromtheheartoftheImperium,hespeakslikealocal.He’sdefinitelyex-military,butquitevagueastowhichmilitary,exactly,heserved.Theman–andtheservicecrewhepays–selltheservicesofa20-tonTL15mesongrav1sledtothehighestbidder:apieceofequipmentthatwouldbeveryusefulinthehigh-techTL14battlegroundsoftheongoingSolomaniRimWar.(Asof993,theImperiumisonlynearingtheabilitytomass-produceTL15equipment:portableImperialmesongroundartilleryhasbarelylefttheprovinggrounds,andisonlyprovidedtospecializedandeliteunits…notrattlingaroundinsomebackwatersector!)
It’salwaysfun,rattlingaboutonpeacefullow-techworldslikeSakari/EmptyQuarter
wheretheonlydangersareenvironmental.“OnlyseriousTravellersusepapermaps!
GPSisforsissiesandtechnology-dependentweaklings!”Thisgraphicistitled“Hiker”©AndreasRochaSeehisworkathttps://andreasrocha.deviantart.com/art/Hiker-716023198
Foralmostallthelow-midtechforcescirculatingintheImperialEmptyQuarter,amesongunisradicaloverkill.Sure:theabilitytojustignoreallthedefensesofafortifiedposition,anddropabigboomintheheartoftheenemycampiswelcome,buttherearefarcheapertoolsformostsuchmissions.Onlyiftheenemyisdeepundergroundwouldthismesongunreallybecosteffective.Andonlygovernments,majorcorporationsandthemostwealthyNoblefamiliescanaffordCol.Kelley’sservices.
“Why,theonlymajorenemywhowouldbereallyworthyofhisattentionsarethosehigh-techandsurpassinglyarrogantIkonazpirategroupsofIkon!”<Dawningrealization>“TheEmperorworksinmysteriousways,myfriend.”
1Fordetails,seeTraveller:TheNewEra’sRegencyCombatVehicleGuide,“ImperialMesonArtilleryVehicle”,page40.NotethattheTraveller:TNErulesallowthecreationofsmallmesonweapons,insteadofrequiringthemtobelarge/ship-mounted,asClassicTravellerexpects.ThecreationflowchartisinthefamedFire,FusionandSteelsupplement.
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NotethatCol.Kelley‘sbusinessispickingup,butheneedstransportforhiscrew,hisequipment(includingthe20-tongravsled),andhisuniquesetofskills.APCgroupwithasuitableship(forthegravsled,suppliesandcrew:aworkshoptokeepthesledinrepairwouldbeanicebonus)couldworkoutamutuallyprofitablecontract.ClosingTheme:“ROBOT”,SawanoHiroyuki,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsVhOjSN2fsThe Rukonrifguag TheRukonrifguagisamakeshiftcontactgroupofthreeVargrstarshipcrews,whohavetakenituponthemselvestoprovideaidandsupporttosmall,nearlyforgottenVargrpopulationsinthehostileSixSubsectors.Thistaskisundertakenforavarietyofreasons:racialpridebeingthemaindriver,withintelligencegatheringandrecruitmentbeingsecondarydrivers.Tertiaryreasonsalsoexist,fromrelocating&reunitinglostpackbrothers,togatheringmaterialforlively,best-sellingadventuresofdanger“deepinhumanspace’2,todoingresearchforVargrscientific/demographicsurveys.Ofcourse,ifanyinformationonveryvaluablearticlesisuncovered,thedatamaywellbesoldtopiratebandsforinvestigation:anicebountywillbepaidoutifA)theitemsaredeemedtobewortharaidandB)theitemsaresuccessfullystolen.
Imperial(re)settlementoftheImperialEmptyQuarterwereoccasionallystymied,andevenreversed,
byearlierBloodVargrinhabitants.WhileneverasnumerousasonthecoresideoftheRift,
evidenceofremnantpopulationsstilloccasionallycropupinremotelocations.Thisgraphicistitled“EasternExit”©JaroslawMarcinek
Seehisworkathttps://www.deviantart.com/art/Mr-Neyhiru-Arrived-539944467IntheImperialEmptyQuarter,twoofthethreestarshipsoftheRukonrifguagarefairlynewImperialScout/Couriers:PerceptualConstancyandRecursiveLoop.Thethirdandlargest,thePlataoPlomo,isatypicalagingFarTrader.Alloftheseshipsareofficiallyownedandledbyhumanshipowners/captainsfromtheJulianProtectorate:PCswillneedaboutayearandasmallteamofhighlyskilled(andexpensive!)lawyerstouncoverthefactthattherealownersareshellcorporations.Anotheryear–mainlyforthejourneytoIkon,anexceedinglypowerfulVargrworldonthewrongsideoftheRift–andtentimesthepreviouslegalfees(plustransportandaccommodationcosts)willbeneededtogetthenamesoftheactualVargrownersoftheships.Asarule,theVargrpose(anddothedutiesof)ships’crew,withthehumancaptainspresentingafacethatwon’tturnthelocalsinstantlyhostile.TheVargrflat-outdon’ttrustImperialhumaniti,andprefertoworkwithhumansfromtheirnativeJulianProtectorate.
2Thisisuntrue:TheEmptyQuarterisonlyaboutasectorintohumanspace,notfarfromtheVargrExtents.Butgoodsalescopyisgoodsalescopy…
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Actualshipcommand&leadershipdynamicsareinteresting.3NotethattheJulianhumanschosenaremoresympathetictotheirVargrco-patriotsthantoImperialhumaniti.ThedetailsbelowdescribethecrewofthePlataoPlomo,theflagshipoftheRukonrifguagintheEmptyQuarter.HerstompinggroundsareinUdusissubsector,homeportedinIrash:butatanygiventime,there’sa¼chancethatsheisoutsideofUdusissubsector,outdoingwho-knows-whatintherestoftheImperialEmptyQuarter.GroupTheme:“River”,KaiEngel,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLDOrnHD-QE
“Lookatthebrightside:atleastthereisn’tanyairattacksonourposition…”
“Ifastarshipsuddenlyappearsoverourheads,I’mgoingtothrottleyouandyourbigmouth!”
Thisgraphicistitled“IllistrationaboutWW”©IgorTovstogan.Seehisworkathttps://igortovstogan.deviantart.com/
Sisut Irkhidiina Baffer Uneasy lies the head UPPA2AABA,Age35,MixedVilaniSkills:Linguistics-34,CombatRifleman-3,HeavyWeapon-2,Recon-1,VaccSuit-1,Admin-1,Handgun-1,Leadership-1,High-G-1,Streetwise-1,Stealth-1,Brawling-1,Persuasion-1,GravBelt-1,Equestrian-1,WheeledVehicle-0,GravVehicle-0,Computer-0Note:Despitebeinghuman,thelastvalueintheUPP,“A(10)”referstoCharisma,notSocialstanding!Languages:Rrakfugk(Native:anIrilitokVargrlanguage),JulianAnglic,IrashiHindi
3Offthetopofmyhead,theIkonazVilaniareusedtobeing(high-ranking)servantsoftheOvaghounVargr,whileprestigioushumansoftheAsimikigirConfederationhavePanetRelationshipswithselectedIrilitokVargr,theirformerbredslaves,asdescribedinStellarReaches#4,page10.Moreover:notethathumansocietywithintheJulianProtectoratehasbeenshapedasmuchbyVargrculturalnormsasbyVilaniand(toasomewhatlesserextent)Solomaniones.AndtheVargrplacefargreateremphasisonficklecharismathanonanyorganizationalchartorchainofcommand…4Thenativelanguageisfree:twopointsfortwoadditionallanguages,andonepointforthefieldoflinguistics.
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Tools:WhileBafferdoeshaveapistol,it’susuallylockedawayinhiscabin.Healsohasasetof(cheap)TL-13Julianbattledress,butitwasrecentlyruinedwhilefightingoffapirateband.5Bafferisreluctanttoletgoofhisbelovedsuit,butrepairingitisjustfarbeyondhisbudget.*sniff*Visual:Tobetterblendin,BafferhaspickedupthelocalformofHindi:hisdarkfeaturesand(dyedblack)hairhelpstomergewiththeEastIndiancrowd.Still,ifdirectlyquestioned,hewilladmithisoriginsintheJulianProtectorate.Aloveroflanguagesandsomethingofapolygot,he’scurrentlyworkingonpickingupHindiEmptyQuarterTradeLanguage,beforefacingthedauntingtaskoflearningModernVilani…OpeningTheme:YukiKajiura,“CantaPerMe(Orchestra)”:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IynMZq8V8QTheBuild-upBafferwasborn&raisedinNenkum(Kaasam/Mendan2524:in993,B98999E-C),afairlyordinaryworldoftheAsimikigirConfederation,theleadmember-stateoftheJulianProtectorate.Withthehumanpopulationoftheworldbeingabout30%...
(theculturallydominantIrilitokVargr60%,andalargenumberofothersophonts–includingtheoriginalnativeinhabitants5%–compromisingtheremaining10%)
…BafferseesVargrculturesasthenorm.Humanculturesandmoresassomethingherespects,andistrying(fairlysuccessfully)toabsorbintheEmptyQuarter…butit’snevergoingtobetrulynaturalforhim.
Expeditionsecurityworkusuallyturnsouttobeeasymoneyformercs,andawayforafledgingunittoget
agoodgriponthebasicsoftheirtrade...withoutlethalpunishmentfortypicalgreenhornmistakes.Thisgraphicistitled“lostcivilization”©IgorTovstogan.
Seehisworkathttps://igortovstogan.deviantart.com/art/lost-civilization-691509932Joiningtheplanetaryarmywhenyoung,Bafferwasgiventhedutiesofamarine(don’task),wearingbattledressinspaceborneandoff-worldactions.Aftermusteringout,onawhimheappliedforservicewithaVargrdiplomaticguild,andtohissurprisehewasaccepted!(TheIrilitoklikehumansaroundthem:“Theysmellcomforting.6”)
5Coldbehuman,couldbeVargr.Botharepossible:besidesmoney,additionalmotivationforthehumansmayincluderacialantagonism–“Whyisn’tthismanhiringhumans,insteadofthosedogs?”–andtheVargrmotivatedbysocialcompetition.6Theconsequencesofgenetictamperingofaslaveracegoesonandon,longafterthechainsaregone.
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Hisjourneysandmissionseventuallyledhimfarfromhishomesystem,depositinghimonIkonattheendofhisservice.Bafferdidabitofsecurityworkforawhile:heconsideredsigningonwithaVargrpirateteamtohelpraidImperialshipping–“easymoney!”–butinsteadwentwiththeRukonrifguag.SomethinginhimrevoltedatthewaytheIkonazVargrlookeddowntheirsnoutsatthe(locally)poor&low-techImperialhumans,andhewantedtoheartheothersideofthestory.
TheRukonrifguagiswillingtogofaroffthebeatenpath,tocontactlostVargrpacks…
packsthatdidn’tsurviveonhostilehumanworldsbybeingwelcomingtostrangers.
Thisgraphicistitled“CrimsonTribe”©AndreasRocha.Seehisworkathttps://www.deviantart.com/art/Crimson-Tribe-722640665
RightNowBafferisofficiallythecaptainofthePlataoPlomo:eventhoughtheshiphasneverengagedinpiracy(…well,notunderthecurrentowners…),theshipkeepsonbeingdingedandharassedbyImperialandlocalpatrols.Anditisn’tjustbecauseofthepredominantlyVargrcrew(whichheislearningtokeepoff-screenwhentalkingtothelocals:“They’llfindoutiftheyboardus,butwhyrushthings?”):there’ssomethingelsegoingon.Butforthelifeofhim,hecan’tfigureitout…Anyways,besidesrunninginterferencewithlocalswhogetinstantlysuspiciouswhenaVargrcrewstepsoffaship–thehumanleaderonlybeingsomewhatreassuring–BafferalsotriestoproviderealleadershipfortheVargr.Beingofvariousracesandpacks,thecrew’spackorderisofteninflux,withlotsofsocialmanoeuvring,trashtalk,andtheoccasionalinfightingincidentbreakingoutasthingsgetsortedout.Despitetheturbulence,Bafferoccasionallymanagestobetheactualleaderofthecrew,andnotjustthepaperleader/humanfacefortheoutsiders.7VargrbeingVargr,theynaturallydetestpaper,especiallyrigid,‘noflexibility’,zerocharismahumanpaperwork.Naturally,Baffergetstodealwithit.He’ssharpenoughthoughtogainsomeinsightinhowtheImperiumoperates,byconsideringthekindsofquestionsandnumberstheformsaskfor…andwhattheydon’taskfor.His
7Hisbrawlingskillhelpstoo.Hisdexterityisweak,soinaVargrsocialfighthetendstobeworndownbeforehisstrengthcanlandasolidblow…butifhisfistdoesconnectwiththelightVargrframe,thefightishalfover.
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improvingAdminskillhasalreadysavedthePlataoPlomofrombeingimpounded,earninghimrespect…andthus,invaluableCharisma…fromtherestofthecrew.
AlmosteverysystemofhigherthanTLAandoverabillioninhabitantshasherowncloudofspacehabitats.
Inpre-artigravsays,thesespacecitiesandstationsmustbecircular,ifspingravityisdesired.
Butwiththeriseofartificialgravitational/anti-gravitationalfields,afargreatervarietyofhabitats
becomepossible.Thisgraphicistitled“Marsport”©AdrianMarkGillespie.Seehisworkathttps://tk769.deviantart.com/art/Jovian-Sail-Ship-306383162
GoalsHedoesn’tknowexactlywhathe’slookingfor:perhapssomethingtomakehimproudofhisrace…orsomethingthatwillproveonceandforallthatlifeintheVargr/humanProtectorateisbetterthanthehuman-runImperium.Possibly,hewantstoshowthelocalsthattherecanberealpeacebetweenhumanitiandtheVargr,ormaybediscoverthatgenesreallydoestrumpculture:thatVargrareVargrandhumansarehumans,regardlessoftheirsharedhistory,hostilelikeintheQuarteroramiableasintheConfederation.Orwhenyougetrightdowntoit,whathereallywantsisahotwoman,awarmgun,afatwallet,andafastship.Whateveritis,he’llknowitwhenheseesit.Closingtheme:“IndianSummer”,TheDreamAcademy,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_O3pKrzOiM
