Hellholes of the Third Imperium

[captainjack]

As part of writing up a traveller planet generation program for the Mongoose rules, I ran up about 100K worlds. One of the reasons was to just look for odd results in the planet generation system -and yes, probability math will work too, I just wanted to see what the results looked like....as well.

That said, at some point, it turned into an exercise in "how might this really, really unlikely world work". Since most problematic worlds are identified by virtue of being unliveable and yet populated, it turned into a list of horrible places to live - more or less. So I started posting them, and it turned out to be fairly popular; so, being the attention whore that I am, I decided to move them here, since the MGT list is kinda sleepy right now.

I'll post a couple every so often.

Please note, that there are some things in these which many might consider broken; but generally I try not to have more than one stretcher - and go for the "if it isn't absolutely impossible.." rule ; after all, the UWP's themselves are pretty unlikely, too.

Let me also reiterate that I'd really encourage anyone to post these kind of worlds -or failing that, toss out odd UWPs for creative rationalization....

 

[captainjack]

Ladies and gentlemen, I present The Hive of the Last Sun:

X564ADB-0 R

A world-spanning neolithic religious dictatorship, the hive of the last Sun is a teeming lost colony, isolated from known space early in the long night shortly after its foundations as a MegaCorporation's highly specialized Agriplanet.

Blessed by a remarkably stable and constant main star, with little or no seasonal variation, large expanses of shallow wetlands and very low background radiation, Last Sun's life had developed no further than an analogue of the late Precambrian period of old Terra (more properly identified as mid Neoproterozoic), differing in that life (such as it was)had spread to the land (such as it was). Once the biooxygenation of the planet was complete, life puttered along, in simple undifferentiated and unchallenged equilibrium for perhaps .5 to 1.5 gigayears

The world was perfect for agriculture, with a gentle temperate earthlike climate, vast shallow beds of organic silt, landbased organic soil, and an extremely static and and fragile native life that was completely unable to compete with Terran imports.

Within the first century, the local ecosystem was entirely supplanted by Terran geneered food plankton, so quickly that a feared deoxygenation event failed to occur. The shallow seas had become vast aquaculture farms, primarily specializing in plankton based food products; land based food production similarly scoured the land of native life (mainly amphibious Ediacaran analogues), although land based production was never as profitable or extensive as New Suns aquaculture. This much is known from records salvaged from other worlds, and the Imperial trade archives referencing the now vanished Agricorp responsible for the planet.

With the collapse of the second Imperium all contact was rapidly lost, and New sun's local population is believed to have been overwhelmed by several waves of refugees fleeing failing and hostile ecosystems in nearby systems. The highly specialized and externally dependent technology of the agricolony almost certainly failed within a few decades, and little exploitation of the planet's resources was possible, lacking minimally advanced technology. Fortunately, the nutrioPlankton(tm) had already aggressively spread throughout the water ecosytem, effectively turning the planet into a vast monoculture of edible plankton. Some land farming was possible, but no draft or domesticated animals survived the collapse. As a result, technology withered away, but the population boomed, reaching a current high of 41 billion (with several suspected diebacks) , technology remained essentially neolithic but culturally highly sophisticated. No records or oral histories survive from the earliest post collapse time, and most population information is based upon studies of comparative genomics of the population.

Update: extensive biological sampling suggests that the current biosphere is remarkably free of human specific pathogens. Those that do exist are clearly variants of various bacteria passively hosted by humans. It is conjectured that the planet may have originally been treated as a clean room by the initial agrocorp settling it.

With one main (if almost entirely marshy) supercontinent, a warm unvarying climate, abundant food, and no competition, human survival was perhaps too easy. For the next 800 years life on new sun was easy, primitive, and unfortunately, extremely violent.

While on the surface a primitive paradise, the limited and artificial ecosystem coupled with the loss of all other higher lifeforms has produced a situation where the only source of a variety of vital nutrients is other humans. Accordingly, cannibalism has become a fixed and unavoidable part of all local societies; and few, if any, are known to practice it on a voluntary basis. The entire post collapse history of the planet has been marked by constant violent aggression, on a tribal level initially, and later organized warfare, as nation states evolved around dryer rocky areas of the continent. The last 100 years, have seen the formation, spread and eventual triumph of a world spanning superreligion which dominates the hordes of petty, and entirely subordinate polities of the continent. The key to the New Suns success has been firstly in instituting largely ceremonial conflict between states for prisoner/food gathering (avoiding large scale cultural disruption typical of actual conflicts) and secondly, creating a highly charismatic and ritualized worship around the act of sacrifice and consumption of humans; this has evolved to the point where many of the victims in the strongest and largest polity are volunteers, spending a set period in hedonisitic (if neolithic) luxury, and then giving their lives as a sacrifice to the new sun, which must be constantly fed; and incidentally giving their bodies to ceremonial feasts.

New Sun has no knowledge of an outside world beyond the main religion which teaches that humans fled a great war of the gods from beyond the sky, a realm which is essentially hell. The sun is a disinterested deity who must be placated and kept sleeping with human sacrifices, lest he leave or consume the humans.

Culturally, new Sun presents an incredibly varied set of advanced neolithic cultures, which defy easy categorization, except that they are generally insular, xenophobic, violent and aggressive. The genetic bottleneck of the initial population, plus a millennium of increased selection by tribal violence, and unfortunately, sub-domestication of groups of humans as food animals has produced a genotype which is generally inter-fertile with solomani humans, but physically quite distinctive. This factor, coupled with the intensely clannish and xenophobic slant of most cultures and the dominant religion, complicates the already difficult task of discreet observation by the scout service. All observation is currently carried out by remotes.



A small scout base specializing in the study of long term tech zero cultures has been established on one of the few islands in the planet's major ocean. It is a subsector and quadrant mecca for cultural and physicial sophontologists studying the local cultures, and clinical sociologists attempting to develop integration plans.

Currently The Hive of the Last Sun is fully interdicted by the scout service, and is classed as a red zone by the TAS. It is noted that unlike most primitive cultures which are interdicted for safety, on this world, it is the visitors who are unlikely to survive contact.

Update:
The population level of the planet is currently extreme, and, despite the remarkable ease with which food can be obtained, it has likely overrun the ability to sustain itself. It is extremely likely that it is in imminent danger of a massive die off and general collapse. What historical evidence is available suggest that this is a reocurring process on Hive, with constant boom and bust cycles in which the population may vary by as much as two orders of magnitude, with a fairly short cycle time of as little as 5-10 generations. .

.......................................................................

Any other examples to compete for the prize ?

For maximum fun and challenge, they need to be actually generated by a semi randomized worldgen system; and then described Without turning this into a UWP/Worldgen bashing fest, PLEASE !
We have enough of those, thank you...

Oh yes. Note also that this is not a request for a massive critique of each example, so lets not scare off others with overinvolved debate. been there, done that...

Have fun.

Cap

 

[captainjack]

In lots of ways, this is the opposite to the Hive of the Last Sun. As bad places to live, this one doesn't necessarily qualify by quality of life -but as a bad place to end up..........well, let us just say this: When you friends look for you, there'll be no indication whatsoever that you visited the institute.......or were even born.

The Spindizzy Institute of Applied Astrophysics,
aka Imperial Research Station 51

A10036B-H N Sc

[ From the travellers Aid society Catalogue of inhabited Worlds of the Imperium, 23 Edition]

The spindizzy institute of applied Astrophysics was founded in 973 as a dedicated private & public research and education institute studying jumpspace, jumpspace phenomena, and applied gravitics and gravitic anomalies. The institute was jointly sponsored by the <insert suspiciously defense sounding private firm name here> and the Imperial University Administration.

The 800 institute faculty and staff are amongst the most advanced and original investigators in their field, and while applications are accepted, actual admission is only by invitation.

Physically the institute consists of a main habitation complex anchored to a dwarf planet ("Spindizzy -1") in <the host star's> outer Kuiper belt/ region, with an extensive set of dispersed research labs throughout the more distant scattered disc area.

The Core on Spindizzy-1 includes an advanced starport (Lazar Orbital) as a testbed for automated and compact starport design and experiment; while fully rated as a type A starport it must be noted that this is not a typical imperial starport, with far different priorities and goals than the typical Class A port. Note that there are no TAS faciities at Lazar orbital, although there are comparable housing and amenities provided for visitors at the Attached Naval Post.

The location and design of the institute is driven by two factors : firstly, the need for the absence of natural or artificial gravitational effects to study micro effects of gravity and hyperspace; and secondly, the need for large empty areas far from population centers for the testing of hyperspace effects and jump and Maneuver drive prototypes using cutting edge gravitics and jumpquantum theory.

As a result, most of the research faciities are either freefall or spin Grav; the use of gravitic drives and fields is strictly limited to either Spindizzy-1 or along well marked, standard approach lanes to the core complex.

Travel among the the core and the research stations is carried out by either high efficiency non-gravitic shuttles, or carefully scheduled minimum effect grav drives.

To further minimize interference in the research of the institute, jump space entry or exit into the system is strictly controlled, with designated jump zones far inward of the institute's testing facilities, or test ranges, at the outer 100d limit of <the host star>.



The Imperial Navy maintains four small bases , one on Spindizzy -1, and three in the vicinity of the permitted jump zone. While not interdicted, travellers are discouraged from entering the <host sytem> starsystem without preapproval on relevant business. Ships will generally be escorted or towed from the jump zone to the institute to ensure compliance with the strict requirements of the institute.

Similarly two small scout bases are located in the systems <number greater than zero> belt and at spindizzy -1 as dedicated rescue and recovery assets, due to the experimental, and often hazardous nature of the projects being tested.

As a result of the potential danger of intruding into a test area, in the event of emergency or accidental entry into the system, the standard procedure for emergencies in military installations (302-7B) is strongly suggested: as far as is possible with respect to the safety and wellbeing of the ship and crew, discontinue all maneuvering, dump all insertion and exit velocity relative to the system, stabilize ship's course into passive solar orbit, and broadcast emergency beacon on military and civilian bands. Wait for pickup and instructions. As far as is consistent with safety, any disabled or displaced ship must not attempt to close with the area of the institute without clear confirmation, instructions and escort.


Excerpt from ships log beacon, recovered 1117 [ nearby system name]

"Yeah, looks like you were right about which way it was headed...the signature is real close to what I remember about the Annic Nova, except for the M drive....that's just strange...; set what we've got in for a jump, and let's see if we can see where where it went from here. I think we're about to figure this out for once and for all...."


{transcript from ImpSec File 432A-7N 212-1102}
" I do not care Admiral ! These invoices are clearly, and massively padded ! I will not release the funds, I most certainly will be filing a formal request for an audit ! And criminal Malfeasance charges as neccessary ! We may be a local Subsector Bureaux, we may not be the high and mighty Navy, but we will not be complicit in fraud and embezzlement ! ......NO ! Absolutely I will not....Do you hear me ?[unintelligible voice].......just a moment...how did you......What ? I'm....what ? who.....[unintelligible] "[ELECTINTEL, confidence 89%]

 

[captainjack]

one more before I'm outta town for a few....

PostPosted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:26 am Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a world that has already been inflicted on my scout campaign. This is the classic post catastrophy survey planet, with several distinct mysteries: what actually caused the disaster, what made the survivors decide to attempt to return, and the biggie, the fact that the increasing taint and decreasing fertility almost guarantee that this is the last generation of inhabitants. Related to this is the cause of the fertility decrease, and some unexpected historical findings about the original base on the moon.

The population in my campaign was a minor non-human race, which provided another whole level of information for the players to sort out, especially as regards to a very unusal reproductive cycle. I've made it a generic human colony here, mainly becuase some of the facts are still not known.....and I know at least one of you reads this board, mr. Smartypants....

I must note that this is a UWP that would be either zeroed out or elevated due to the problems with the low tech and the atmosphere; instead, I decided to see if it could be made plausable, if not realistic, as a medium-term challange for a scout crew.

This one does play fast and loose with the way an atmosphere would work in this situation- and the recovery of the planet post impact (ie cooling off). is highly atypical. As regards the atmosphere, it's a cheat. As regards the catastrophy....lets just say that it is a big clue that what happened wasn't neccessarily your standard everyday asteroid impact.....another clue (if noticed) is the atypical formation of the crater -no central peak, which is very unusual, especially when this recent. Although it must be noted that there are very few other examples on this scale to draw conclusions from.

Oculus X723571-2


Oculus is currently named for its appearance from Space. A barren greyish rockball, the planet’s sole habitable area is a massive impact crater with a denser atmosphere allowing mostly circular weather patterns to form, giving it the appearance of an immense eyeball. Unofficially it is known as “bullseye”. There are a wide variety of local names for the planet, although, interestingly, none of them translate as “home”, for reasons which may become made apparent when the planets history is considered.

The last known records of the planet are from approx -1779, just prior to the collapse of the second empire and indicate that its original name was Famideii. At that time, the planet was petitioning the remains of the central government for aid and succor; they reported that the planet was in severe economic and technological distress, and may have been involved in a local conflict with neighboring starsytems. There is no evidence that the petition was acted on, or indeed, ever seriously considered.

The <subsector name> area was superficially surveyed and annexed, approximately 215 years prior to the present, and while the project was terminated (and never restarted) by the <name of war, civil war of other heinousness>, the history of the planet since last contact was partially pieced together.

Best estimates are that the planet faired as did many smaller and isolated settlements in this area : poorly. However, an essentially habitable environment kept the colony from dying out, and apparently enough of original technology and/or knowledge was available to enable recovery to begin once the crisis years had passed. By at least 900 years previous to the present, well before recontact, Oculus seems to have been an excellent example of an abandoned colony well on the road to recovery. The original physical UWP of Oculus is estimated to have been C756. Population code is estimated to have been in the 7 - 9 range, with a local tech level of 7-8; government type and Law level are unknown, but it is likely that the society may have been either Balkanized or Oligrachic, due to the later history. It is known that the society had a fairly extensive orbital presense, as well as semi-permanent bases on its moon, and at least one of the inner planets. (Vacuum rockballs –Luna & mercury type)

Unfortunately, at this point, the planet suffered a massive catastrophic event; most evidence suggests that the planet was struck by a massive long orbit comet or asteroid. The surface of the planet was devastated and rendered uninhabitable; at least 90% of the planets atmosphere was lost, and likely a similar amount of it's water. The resultant impact creater is approximately 25% of the surface area of the planet; it is clear that the planet came very close to complete fragmentation.

It is unclear if the civilization had any warning of the event, but even if so, it would have had limited capacity to respond. It appears that a major project to construct self supporting settlements on the inner planet and the moon were in progress when the impact occurred, and may have been prompted by the approaching event, possibly carried out by a subset of the planetary polities (if balkanized), or a ruling elite (if oligarachic). It is likely that the orbital presence was destroyed or crippled by the secondary effects of the event, and the local moon base also damaged to a lesser extent.

Post disaster, it appears that the extraplanetary surviving population (perhaps population 3-4) attempted to consolidate into one of the two off planet bases, and managed to struggle to survive for several hundred years.

At some point, at least 500 years before the present day, the survivors decided to attempt to recolonize the Mainworld. It is suspected that the attempt to maintain a civilization in the face of the challenges of a low grav and zero atmosphere planet proved insoluble or finally collapsed. It is likely that the return to the home planet was a last ditch attempt to survive a massive system collapse and die off. Curently, the extraplanetary bases are completely abandoned, and have been extensively stripped of all useful goods.

At this point, some semblance of habitation was possible on the remains of the homeworld. The remaining atmosphere had partially largely settled into the impact crater, giving a barely breathable thin atmosphere on the floor, and below that, a series of deep canyons formed as the lava flows of the crater floor cooled gave a denser if tainted (volcanic outgassing) atmosphere.
Genomic data suggest that no more than 2000 related individuals returned to the planet. The current ecosystem is entirely artificial, and likely only survives due to intense husbandry. As perhaps six species of non-human domestic animals are known to exist, as well as a wide variety of domesticated food plants, it is surmised that the surviving extraplanetary population had access to stored ova, or cloneable resources; this is the clearest evidence that some subgroup of the original inhabitants may have had warning of the impending disaster. On the planet nothing more complicated than lichen and bacteria survived the calamity.


The returning survivors have managed to survive, although with a severely regressed society and in a very precarious situation. The colonists seem to have dispersed into two cultural groups, nomadic tech 1 dwellers on the floor of the crater, and more numerous and somewhat more advanced tech 2-3 city dwellers in the deep canyons. The nomadic population is estimated at pop 4, and the city dwellers at pop 5.


The planet is still wracked by frequent quakes and volcanic activity, as well as agreatly elevated rates of meteoric impacts resulting from the debris thrown off planet by the initial impact. Further, as a result of the continuing volcanic activity, is possible that the low atmosphere taint will increase to a point where survival in the canyons is impossible.

Contact with the inhabitants has been limited as the population has only recently been identified.

Both floor and canyon cultures are extremely insular and balkanized, the nomads by tribe, and the canyon dwellers by city and village. The canyon dwellings are essentially pueblo style settlements, seldom with more than 1000 inhabitants. No central or unifying polity has arisen, likely due to the lack of surplus resources and the constant struggle to maintain agriculture. Culturally, the inability of the local infrastructure to support a leisured or professional class has led to most of the canyon dwellings to develop an essentially unstratified society, although there are exceptions.

The inhabitants suffer from a variety of environmental problems, including UV exposure, lung damage, and decreased fertility. Starvation and famine are common in the canyons, and the extremely hard life of the crater floor above has led to more than one tribal group to simply die out. For both groups, but especially the canyon dwellers, survival requires an immense amount of cooperative effort, particularly with regard to agriculture, which produces almost no surplus. Wars are infrequent due to the desperate emphasis on agriculture and food gathering, but raiding, particularly between the floor and the canyon dwellers, is frequent.

Currently, the world is not interdicted, but contact is discouraged, while a debate rages in the Imperial administration about the best way to deal with the situation: evacuation, technological uplift, or cultural quarantine.
_________________

 

[Jame]

Taxyman X7B0686-8. 600 PBG.

Taxyman (known to the locals as Taxman) is a desert world with a corrosive atmosphere. The 6 million locals are stuck here by fact of not having any industry worth speaking of and a lack of port structures to build ships with.

What is really ironic is that there is a fine, habitable world in the next orbit...

 

[Peter Schutze]

Hope you can continue the series ..... its great stuff

 

[captainjack]

Still thinkin' about Taxman....heres one in the meantime. A hellhole more by virtue of ennui.....

Another one from my campaign....likely would have been easily fixed by the tech min x habitibility table, but noooooooo.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present:

Truckstop of Adventure !!!

Ta's Rock D100120-6



An airless rockball in the outer system,Ta's Rock is a secondary link in a low traffic secondary route into <new frontier> Subsector from <settled frontier>.
The Ta system's star is a smallish M2 Star of great age, possibly of the original galactic population. The system is dominated by an extremely large inner orbit gas giant ("Gigi")with an extensive debris belt. Ta itself is likely a rogue plantoid captured semi recently. No other planets exist

Ta itself has no water deposits, and the oort cloud of is exceedingly sparse due to the great age of the system and the effects of the Gas Giant. Accordingly, the main source of fuel for the station is from scooping the Gas Giant.

Ta was originally colonized by a startup frieght and transport corporation as a rest/refueling stop, but only the basic installation was completed when the company collapsed in bankruptcy, fraud and embezzlement. The rough and ready nature of the frontier judiciary resulted in the station being awarded to the inhabitants in lieu of back salary and contract payment. Those who decided to stay bought out those who wanted out, and incorporated as a joint ownership company.

The main resource of the station is a set of five modular cutters with fuel scooping modules and high thrust engines. Two are inoperable and currently being stripped for parts. The three remaining cutters make regular runs to GiGi to scoop fuel. The stations survival is due to the extremely dangerous nature of skimming operations off Gigi. The debris belt is massive and uncharted, and Gigi itself is a borderline brown dwarf requiring high thrust to escape and special protection for the crew. Few merchants entering the system are willing to make the extremely hazardous attempt, when the locals will do it for them for a very reasonable fee.

Population is approximately 50-90 persons mostly composed of six or seven families and some transient workers. Provides Fuel, Bar, Brothel and Bijou.

As noted, the locals sell fuel, but currently only unrefined fuel is available as their latest makeshift refinery has failed. Originally the station was supported by a dedicated (if small) refinery, that has long since broken down beyond repair It was then replaced by a junked small freighter with fuel processing modules. This, too has since broken down. Ships with a processor will be offered a good discount price on unprocessed fuel, if the ship will process an equal amount for the station.

It must be noted that the locals have lost at least two fuel skimmers to the operations off Gigi, and one of the disabled cutters is entirely due to a barely survived collision with what may have been a large lifeform in the upper atmosphere of Gigi. The locals will not provide pilots or up to date chart info on Gigi (likely useless in anycase due to the complexity of the system) but have no objection whatsoever to outsiders attemting to skim the giant planet; it provides them with much needed entertainment when successful, and a source of much needed salvage when not.


The tech level reflects the effective level of maintainance possible on Ta. As noted, almost no support infrastructure was built before the original corporations bust, and the owners have little capital to bring it in. As a result, almost everything is imported, with very limited local technology or production beyond spacecraft service, recreation and habitability. Vacuume survival and food supplies can be maintained and even expanded , but little else not directly related to habitability. However, the inhabitants are no more than one or two generations removed from the original founding, and most are able to operate much higher tech equipment than can be maintained.

All permanent inhabitants are part owners of the station, and by default, the system. With the exception of semi-retired elderly family members, and one or two colurful retired travellers, all inhabitants are directly employed in servicing passing ships in one way or another, or in maintaining and feeding the station.
There is a small group of transients and drifters hired to fill some job unfillable or unsuitable for the locals; occasionally they will buy in and stay, but generally make their passage off, and leave. The economy is well described as being one of subsistance service.

Check out Trader Jim’s mobile Bar and Grill, but avoid the Vilanii frijoles.
Be nice to Sal, she'll be nice to you.

 

[SuperGamera]

The Hive looks a slightly more civilized version of the planet from Niven's "Bordered in Black" (ocean full of food, dry interior, hordes of people, eat visitors)

 

[captainjack]

The Hive looks a slightly more civilized version of the planet from Niven's "Bordered in Black" (ocean full of food, dry interior, hordes of people, eat visitors)

Correct in one !

Although I have the interior be much,much wetter to support foodstuff.

In all honesty, I suspect that the Niven version...absolute savagery, would be far more likely.

I like the idea of a wall to wall actual population density aztec empire probably a little too much; although it does get the point across that tech 0 (neolithic) societies can be very complex.

 

[captainjack]

Hmmm. Its been a while. Time for another.....


Castaway E101789-7 G, A No bases

Perhaps one of the most isolated colonies ever founded by mankind, Castaway is aptly named, and was founded entirely by accident.

Castaway seems to be the result of a disastrously failed generation-style colonization effort. The colony, only recently located by the scout service, is on, or rather within, the sole iceball moon of a rogue gas giant/brown dwarf at least x parsecs from the nearest actual star system.

The moon is esentially a mico-Europa, with a large internal liquid water layer sustained by internal heat generated by the massive tidal forces generated by its companion. The main habitations are anchored to the bottom of the external ice layer, which is several kilometers thick. The actual surface is hard vaccume at near absolute zero. The water/ice zone covers a roughly circular area approximately 10% of the surface of the planet, and is likely the result of an early impact/meld with an ice body, possibly during planetary formation.

Little is known of the circumstances surrounding the no doubt desperate situation that necessitated the colonization of Castaway. It is clear that access to the liquid zone was obtained by impacting the asteroid based colony ship into the ice surface, hopefully after it was stripped and evacuated. Several beacons and at least one decomissioned shuttle have been found in orbits around both the primary, and Castaway, apparently in an attempt to mark their presence, as once the ice layer reformed no contact with the moon's surface was possible.

The surviving technology has been maintained at approximately TL 7, barely sufficient to support and maintain life in a subaquatic, low temperature microgravity environment.

Most technological equipment is adapted and recycled colony equiptment; almost no new production is possible due to both the environment and the resource-poor nature of the moon; nonetheless, the original colonists, who seem to have been a fraction of the original colonists and crew, did have access to a large store of prefabricated and varied high tech colonizing equipment.

Almost all other resources available are scavenged from the wreckage of the original colony ship, and it's asteroid hull. A few fusion plants are still active, along with a makeshift geothermal technology to provide heat and power to the habitations. Food is entirely based on either thermal based plant forms apparently introduced by the colonists, or vat grown protein and plants.

The habitations tend to be as self sufficient and dispersed as much as possible, but an extensive communication system and submersible transport has maintained a mostly cohesive society, likely a testament to the constant struggle to survive.

The colonists have not lost memory of their origins, nor of the outside universe; however, it appears that the impetus for the initial colonization effort was to create a hidden haven for the human race, an ethos which is still strongly in existence. Accordingly, the society is extremely exophobic and opposed to any external contact. They essentially believe that they are the last true humans in the universe, and that an unspecified "evil empire" (physically resembling humans) has eliminated earth and all other colonies.

The colony as a whole is a loosely federated Polis, with full citizen participation in important decisions; otherwise, most of the habitations are governed by a changing board of expert technologists and biologists, who are quite ruthlessly and unforgivingly tested for competence and fired for failure.


The central goal in the society is survival and efficiency, and as a result individuals are very strictly tracked and monitored by the central committees, and each other, and observation is almost ubiquitous. This has become so ingrained in the population that the concept of privacy is almost non-existent; rather, the concept of "oversight" is taken as a basic human need. This observation is seldom if ever used for political or social manipulation goals; indeed such use of "oversight" is strictly taboo. Rather it is used to safeguard individuals in a very dangerous and unforgiving environment, and to allow constant refinement of working techniques. Indeed, given the strong social restrictions on oversight as a method of supervision or control, most inhabitants are acutely uncomfortable in its absence, and are highly agoraphobic when alone.

Population levels are strictly limited and limited to replacement. Life expectency is low, and the population is as a whole fairly young. Education and training are universal, and begun at a very early age. Most individuals will be working for most of their waking hours, for most of their life.

Resources and property, as well as all production is entirely held in common, and strictly rationed and distributed on a strictly per capita basis; material goods or access to same is not used as a reward or benefit. Private ownership is limited to clothes, and, oddly, musical instruments and religous items.

Waste of resources or failure to recycle is considered a major criminal and moral offense. Interestingly, human life is also considered a scarce and perhaps the most vital resource (after power ) needed to preserve the colony (and thus the human race). Even the worst of crimes have no death sentence; however, the societies concept and implementation of "forensic resource recovery" would give even hardened criminals pause before offending.




Finally, it must be noted that the population has diverged significantly from the orinal human population, primarily due to adaptation to a constant microgravity environment. It is unclear if the colonists are aware of this divergence, and if so, what part it plays in their hermit/survivalst ethos.
The initial effect is that it is impossible for a baseline human to infiltrate their society.

Interestingly, all information suggests that the colonists are unaware of the orbital beacons which attracted the initial survey expedition; it is possible that this is the remnant of early, perhaps initial, schism in the colonist society.

The classification as an E starport is due to the scout presence on the surface. A semi permanent post has been created, as they anticipate a long, long period of study before contact, if it is ever deemed to be necessary.

The actual story behind the colonization will be posted in a while, along with some oddities, some quirks, and at least one Shameful or Terrible Secret. (and, no, it isn't cannibalism...this time)

 

[captainjack]

On rereading, this one is a bit baroque (aka twisty and turney) even for me....but, heck. Overblown is as overdone does....whatever that means......

Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:
And now we turn to another horror: Gruinard Downport: a mystery wrapped in a riddle wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in a lie,wrapped in a booby trap.


Gruinard Downport D ACA49C-A Sc Red Im Fl Ni Wa

[basic entry in Baedekers Guide to the subsector (1101)]

Quarantine planet for surviving victims of Velikala Virus Alpha Release on < planet name > on 1102. Currently voluntarily interdiced by scout service.

[detailed information from standard planetary library database]

The only settlement is built into an abandoned deep meson and system defense boat base constructed during the <old war name here>. It is currently home to perhaps 2-4 thousand survivors of the devastating Velikala Virus Alpha outbreak on < planet name> .
The planets is of near Panthalassic type, with extreme atmospheric pressure and periods of poor definition between it and the ocean surface. A very few islands, almost entirely volcanic are known to exist, with Gruinard Downport accesed via one extinct caldra, and the habitation complex spread out into the shallow shelf surrounding it. The oceans are home to an exceptionally agressive and energetic non-terran ecosystem, and is almost entirely unexplored. There is no indication that surface life exists on any of the islands beyond the simplest algal analogues.


[Additional TAS travel rating information]

Velikala Virus Alpha is the most virulent strain of the Velikala Virus family, originating on the planet <name>. Onset is characterized by confusion and agitation followed by increasing flulike symptoms. Within 72 hours, debilitation is usually complete, with subjects lapsing into a high fever coma for up to 72 hours, at which point recovery begins. Survival rate for subjects entering the debilitated stage is less than 5% , although subjects surviving more than 72 hours at this stage invariably recover. Unfortunately, 100% of survivors are positive for viral production post recovery, and thus extremely infectious if asymptomatic. Virus is air transmissible, with a transmission rate of over 88%.

Should players investigate, several layers of secrets will be discovered and will potentially be penetrated. Each level generally suggests a final answer and provides a reasonable explaination and/solution to the mystery of the settlement.

First layer of secrets:
The virus is capable of extended dormancy; any area inhabited infected persons at any time must be treated as extremely high risk. There is strong control of access to the planet until the survivors finally die, for fear of capture and or obtaining samples of the virus by terrorist or foreign elements.

Second level of secrets:
Subjects recovering from the initial coma are frequently brain damaged and cognitively impared. Due to transmission and contamination issues , the planet is an asylum for the less impaired survivors to care for the badly impaired survivors. Medical and food supplies are delivered by one-way landing pods maintained by the scout service. The settlement is secret for the above reaason, and the fact that the survivors are not here voluntarily, and may or may not be receiving adequate care.

Extensive searches for information about the virus in question will act as a tripwire , drawing the attention fo the actual agency involved.
Intervention will be indirect if at all, and will center ariound a simulating a panicked low-level corporate coverup of further information on the virus.


Third Layer of secrets.
In fact, the virus is not only highly transmissible by air, but also by fluid contact, especially blood or saliva. Survivors of the coma stage invariably suffer from frontal lobe disinhibition, producing extremely impulsive, aggressive and often violent and/or hypersexual behavior, generally marked by extreme indifference to personal suffering, injury or infection. Cognitive functions (language, thought) are much less effected, allowing some survivors to appear quite unaffected until emotional stress results in an atavistic rage. The planet is less of an asylum, and more of an indefinite detention center for infested violent maniacs. Continuing reasearch under strict security is being carreid out as the subjects seem to additionally be benefiting from an unknown anagathic side effect of the virus.

The location of the base is a ruse. There is an actual small class D port (fully automated) on one of the stable extinct volcanic islands, but the base itself it is not situated near the island, but rather entirely below a shallower area of the world-ocean at an unknown distance and direction. Access requires fully submersible vehicles and exact directions.



Extensive searches for planetary information will be detected and monitored. Attempts to orbit or scan the planet will be treated as in the next level of cover.

Fourth Level of secrets:
The scout service has lost control and contact with the facility. It is believed that the survivors are still alive, and extremely dangerous, with the more cognitively intact, and often highly intelligent survivors in charge.
There are two planets in this sytem which fit the general discription of Gruinard ; the listed planet is a decoy. This wil become obvious due to discrepencies with available detailed planet information, if the time is taken to do a more than superficial investigation. Various decoys and decoy becons are scttered on the planet at regular intervals.
The actual planet has been purged from the planetary database, and is in a farther orbit, listed as empty.

Intervention at this level is triggered by any intrusive physical visits to either planet (scans, attempts to land or survey) or focused searches for crucial information (dedicated searches for the location of the meson defence bunker, incidence of similar planets in starsystems

If intervention is required, it will center around simulating scout service attempts to hold off investigation until the situation is back under control. bribery, blackmail or actual detention by assumed IISS personel may be used.

Fifth level of secrets:
Velikala Virus Alpha believed to originally be a biowarfare development of Terran Rabies. The outbreak on <name> was real, but the result of either terrorism or the result of military action. The release of this level of secrets would be highly embarrassing to the polity involved.

This level of secrecy is the threshold at which the agency will be obliged to intervene, generally in such a manner as to support the current level of conspracy/coverup. Clues will point back to the polity in question, implicated politicians may dissapear or will have previously died.

Sixth level:
The same as four, but the release was an accidental release from a military bioresearch lab, investigating viral modifications of earth and local strains. The need for this level of coverup is obvious.

This level of cover is the last and most crucial tripwire and cutout. See details below.

All of the above are designed to provide an explaination for various oddities about the planet, and to a dead end or to iscourage further investigation; the Virus does not and never has existed; attempts to locate information on it will lead to the conclusion that it has been somewhat hurredly covered up; such investigation will also set off tripwire warnings to the Imperal security apparatus,. Policy for responding to these investigations are to monitor and track progress, encouraging the wrong conclusions where possible, and where needed harassing the investigators into false conclusions. Actual physical intervention is avoided for lower level penetrations of the cover,wherever possible to protect the actual nature of the planet. If needed, any investigators seriously penetrating to the sixth level will almost certainly be either abducted (if possible) or terminated in a manner consistent with a military coverup. Depending on the success of this intervention, the complex may or may not be evacuated.

Actual truth next message due to posting limits !

 

[captainjack]

The Truth that is Out there........*

The planet is home to Erewhon* Maximum Security Confinement Complex. It is a direct holding of the emperor and run by and for the <emperors security bureau>. While Erewhons's existence is suspected by the higher levels in the military, it is crucial to note that they have no actual information on it, except for selectively leaked information that it is a military R&D project lab disguised as a detention center; this disinformation provides the last cutout in case the level six cover is penetrated. All members of the services implicated in the level six cover will either have vanished or been accidentally killed. The vanishing servicemen have never existed other than as bogus record; the dead are actual deaths, often associated with some underhanded (but unrelated) business. Any queries on the bogus service men will result in immediate and unwelcome attention.

The population is 50% staff and guards and 50% prisoners who are the most dangerous or valuable criminals, terrorists or spies the empire has captured; they are often transferred to nerewhon following the imposition of a death sentence in either military or civil courts. These prisoners represent a major and immediate threat to the safety and security of the Emperor, the Imperium or Humanity as a whole, but for whom execution is not an immediate option.

Confinement to Erewhon is by direct Imperial decision on a case by case basis. Court condemned inmates are incarcerated under an indefinite stay of execution and are listed as executed. Foreign and domestic inmates not condemned in a criminal court make up perhaps 25 % of the inmates, and are often captured spies, terrorists, or those whose knowledge similarly represents a threat to the Imperium. Such prisoners have no legal existence in the Imperium.

It is unclear if there is any release from Erewhon. It has been suggested that co-operation can be rewarded by release, but only after a complete mindwipe. There has only been one recorded penetration of the base by a lone investigator seeking proof of military malfeasance. He is now listed as dead, and is currently confined to Erewhon.



*sorry, couldn't resist it.

 

[captainjack]

Latest transmission from the IISS Pathfinder
----------------------------------------------------------

Now, an innocuous empty garden world:

Ashigillii -4 (aka Croatoan )

E766000-0 -R

Ashigillii -4 is a potential gem for colonization: A standard atmosphere, ample Hydrosphere and slightly lower gravity all make it a classic and ideal garden world. Well situated in the primary star's habitable zone, its overall temperature is essentially earth normal; a minimal axial tilt and orbital eccentricity makes the planet;s seasons mild, varying from mildly cool to temperate across most of the globe. The local biosphere is at least 45% compatible with Terran metabolism, and numerous transplant species are found; very little of the non-compatible biosphere is toxic, but is simply non-metabolizable
The biosphere is well developed on both land and sea, and is reasonably diverse. No sentient life or sign of sentient life has been found

The system contains no belts, but two gas giants for refueling.

It is also completely empty of human life. Every colony placed on it has failed.


Early History
Available records and evidence suggests that Ashigillii was initially settled in the pre first imperial expansion phase, and possibly a second time in the early consolidation wars period by Vilani fleeing the New Empire. Regardless, when contacted by the first Imperium, it was found to be uninhabited, and enters the eternal Vilani archives as we know it today. Initial scouting reports suggest that the most recent colony had flourished for perhaps 20 years, but was been abandoned as the Imperium caught up with the settlers; however, no further colony has been conclusively traced to a migration from Ashigillii. Additionally, Archeological evidence suggested a previous colonization of the planet had occurred at least 100 years prior to the arrival of the refugees.

At this point, the world was left fallow as a potential site for later expansion, its records filed away, and the scouting teams moved on.
At some point immediately prior to the interstellar wars period, the planet was opened up for colonization by the first Imperium; the subsequent collapse of the first Imperium interrupted the effort, and the colony was isolated from contact with the remains of the Vilani Imperium. When contacted again by the Terran scout service, it was found to be uninhabited, and it was assumed that with the disruption of the colonizing effort, the population had been evacuated, and while no record of such was ever found, the final records of the Villani Imperium are especially fragmentary from this period, and this was simply written off as a failed colony and filed as a potential colony world.

A later attempt at setting up a colony to exploit the world b failed financially within the first year, and the initial colonization and construction teams were all relocated. The world remained fallow throughout the remainder of the second Imperium.

Later History (3rd Imperium)
Ashigillii was recontacted by the IISS of the third Imperium, and was logged as an undiscovered garden world - no significant records of previous colonization were found at that time. Again, Ashigillii was logged and filed, and essentially forgotten for several hundred years.

Eventually, the planet was identified as an ideal colonization venture and further surveyed by private corporations; political and financial wrangling resulted in it being opened to colonization by <insert megacorp here>. The initial construction and settlement went extremely well, and the planet was found to have extensive exploitable resources, especially petrochemicals and rare earths. However, when the colonists and surveyors reported finding signs of previous habitation the parent corporation suppressed the news due to worries about previous claims or IISS intervention. At that point, the colony was on a semi-annual private communications route, approximately 8 parsecs from the nearest xboat link. The colony seemed to be prospering and had a permanent population of approximately 14000 until sometime in post colonization year 15, when all communications stopped.

The Event
The blackout was sudden enough that it was initially assumed that the courier (a private charter) had been lost and several months were wasted until it was confirmed that the courier was not the cause. A corporate investigation of the planet was then begun as soon as was feasible.

Subsequent landings indicated that:

1. The colony was in fact completely empty; there were no physical remains of the colonists; however some feral animals brought by the colonists were found, as were remains of other domesticated animals.
2. There was no sign of evacuation or civil disturbance; some disorder was evident, but it was unclear if it occurred as automated systems gradually failed or as a direct result of whatever happened to the colony.
3. All records were intact up to a period several days before the courier visit previous to the blackout; traffic analysis of that run indicates a sharp drop-off in communications across approximately 24 with absolutely no activity except for automated data dumps past that point. This unusual termination of the courier records was close enough to the normal end of file that it was not noticed until well after the fact. Interestingly, no messages were truncated; they simply became shorter, and less frequent.
4. No changes in the ecosystem/biosphere were noted. There were no novel or altered pathogens identified, and the few system capable ships were all cleanly hangared, and in one case prepped and fueled for takeoff.
5. Existing records of on planet communication show a sudden drop-off in communication with outlying areas, essentially co-incidental with the overall silence of the planetary grid.

It must be noted that despite no colonists or remains ever being identified, all investigation teams returned safely, and a semi-permanent research station was set up successfully for 18 months attempting to locate the cause of what was simply referred to as "The Event".

Unfortunately, the corporation’s final response was to cover up the expensive failure, and so, the research station was removed, and vague reports of non-compatible biosphere findings and excessive long term health risks were fabricated and reported to the (overworked) IISS, and the colony was reported closed and evacuated. It is believed that a final set of teams was placed on the planet to clean up the evidence of the event; in fact, the corporate colony was essentially erased.

 

[captainjack]

[continued]

Current History
Most recently, with the bankruptcy and breakup of <Mega Corporation> the records of the world again became available; unfortunately, what were found were the bogus reports of the long term habitation risks, and the evidence that the colony was evacuated and closed down.

Marked as a low priority by the IISS, the planet was eventually resurveyed and found to be far more habitable than the corporate reports indicated. It was assumed that the reports were cooked by the corporation to keep it secret until it was possible to fully exploit the world. As a result, Ashigillii was again reopened for colonization in <year>, this time by a consortium of small immigrant groups and business interests under IISS aegis.

Again, the world seemed to prosper, and the locals again located signs of earlier habitation, which resulted in a small archaeological research station being set up on the planet. After 12 years, the colony had a population of perhaps 8000, when, once again, all communications ended. The IISS was able to respond far more quickly that the previous owners, (in part due to the IISS habit of setting up an off planet bases in systems under development). While the investigators were onsite within two weeks of the second event, the findings were essentially the same as from the corporate investigation, with the exception that far more of the imported livestock had survived. There were no signs of disorder, fighting, panic or flight. Records of the actual event do not seem to exist. There was a 24 hour period before blackout during which all monitoring or reporting devices were either shut down, failed, or suffered extensive memory degradation. Despite this, available data does not suggest any unusual power surges or EMP effects. Personal logs and diaries have either been unrecoverable, or have no useful information about the event.

A close examination of the colony indicated that the event may have had some precursor or warning. There were ample examples of vehicles pulled over and shut down, equipment shut off and stowed, etc. The power grids seem to have either been deactivated manually, or to have shut off via failsafe circuits when supervision was unavailable. There are a very few examples of damage attributed to guided vehicles or equipment suddenly losing control.

The planet was immediately red zoned, and placed under high quarantine; an extensive investigation uncovered the actual corporate information on the planet, and clues to its previous history were similarly located. In addition to records searches of the Villani and Terran periods, the onsite research station had logged evidence of at least two further small settlements during the long night, all failed. One such attempt was clearly by non-human sophonts,<insert semi-minor race such as Bwaps here>.; Indeed, it was the investigation of these newly found settlements that had already begun unlocking the planet’s history when the Event reoccurred. Unfortunately, while the research station and its records were intact, the personnel had also vanished. Again the pattern was that of a slowdown of human initiated communication over perhaps 24 hours, followed by a complete cessation. Also, once again, the investigation teams all returned and have shown no ill effects. The planet is currently entirely interdicted by both IISS and Navy elements, and has been listed as highly toxic to human life in standard star data.



Referees notes:
This is pretty much up to you. I have a scenario for it, and if you think I’m going to blab, you’re sadly mistaken !

Some clues though have already been located by my players:

As noted above, one colony failed early in its history and was successfully evacuated. Records of this attempt are available , although incomplete and hard to locate. Nonetheless, Villani obsessiveness pays off. The records are millennia old, but can be found.

One possibly significant fact found is that the proportion of Terran compatible local biosphere has clearly increased since the initial Villani survey. While unusual, this is not unheard-of, often the result of a poorly conducted initial survey being later updated.

A final oddity is that there are no human or <race> remains found in any of the settlements: even recorded deaths and burials will be found to be missing…and no, not freshly opened graves, clawed pen from inside, either…just empty caskets. Cremated remains have, however, been identified.

 

[selunatic2397]

If I ask nicely could we have some more clues?

Please!

 

[Straybow]

Rather good, except:

Oculus

"The resultant impact [crater] is approximately 25% of the surface area of the planet; it is clear that the planet came very close to complete fragmentation." 25% of the surface would be essentially cleaving 5-10% of the volume off the sphere. It would take a planetesimal impact greater than that speculated to have made Luna, and afterward the planetary surface would be molten.

Even at 0.25% of the planetary surface it would be double the radius of the KT event crater, and that wouldn't leave a cartoonish bowl, or clear up in a few centuries to allow repopulation.

It could have a shallow circular sea ~25% of the surface, rimmed with highlands, with only a narrow strip of land around the edges being marginally habitable. With medieval/renaissance tech they can only breathe the air at sea level, making the mineral riches of the highlands inaccessible. Without working metals they can't advance in tech.

Periodic CO2 turnovers from the sea floor wipe out whole sections of coastal settlements every few centuries, after which the CO2 content near sea level becomes dangerously high for years, forcing the populace to move up to the very highest valleys with breathable air. The valley inhabitants may try to repel the lowland refugees with violence. In any case, both highlanders and lowlanders get most of their dietary protein from fish, so during those decades without access to the sea many succumb to disease.

------------------------------

Ta's Rock

"...collision with what may have been a large lifeform in the upper atmosphere of Gigi." You don't go deep enough to hit anything. If you hit anything bigger than a golf ball at interplanetary velocities it penetrates the hull and pieces bounce around inside turning crew and equipment into mush.

Skimming would be done in the upper reaches of the GG atmosphere with density less than 1 millibar. The whole idea is to dive at near orbital velocity, scoop for a few moments using vehicle momentum to compress the gas, and skip back up to orbital height with minimal loss of velocity. Rinse and repeat.

If on the trip to/from Gigi you bump into something pebble size, it hits like a weapon and you take damage, perhaps enough to put the craft out of commission.

 

[Odegra]

One possibly significant fact found is that the proportion of Terran compatible local biosphere has clearly increased since the initial Villani survey. While unusual, this is not unheard-of, often the result of a poorly conducted initial survey being later updated.

A final oddity is that there are no human or <race> remains found in any of the settlements: even recorded deaths and burials will be found to be missing…and no, not freshly opened graves, clawed pen from inside, either…just empty caskets. Cremated remains have, however, been identified.

My guess is devolution. Something is happening to rapidly devolve all the humans into more primitive terran creatures, which would explain how the terran-compatible biosphere is growing so noticeably.

 

[Jame]

Gibson C346ABD-A Scout Base, 1 gas giant, 13 billion inhabitants.

 

[captainjack]

Gibson C346ABD-A Scout Base, 1 gas giant, 13 billion inhabitants.

Are we allowed to handwave the atmosphere /size oddity ?

 

[captainjack]

For starters, thanks for the complement.

Now as to the comments: Yeah, okay, put that way, I see the point about the crater size - I went for "WOW THAT'S BIG" without thinking about it from that viewpoint....should have just said "a significant fraction" or just "extremely large" rather than going for numbers.

I really like the idea about the sea and the civilization, except for the bit where I didn't think of it.

The sea aside, I do imagine that good sized crater need only be a mile or two deep to accumulate the minimum needed atmosphere density , and really need only be a few hundred miles in diameter to have enough room for the cultures in question.

I'm assuming that that size bleme could wreck the planet without making it molten...?


As to Ta's rock, the detail about the collision was vague and from an earlier campaign - in that, they weren't scooping at all -they were looking for a mcguffin and hit the big dirgible/jellyfish. That part of the writeup is a throwaway for the players in question...and a story hook, too, for that matter.

But again, thanks ! For the critique as well.

Rather good, except:

Oculus

"The resultant impact [crater] is approximately 25% of the surface area of the planet; it is clear that the planet came very close to complete fragmentation." 25% of the surface would be essentially cleaving 5-10% of the volume off the sphere. It would take a planetesimal impact greater than that speculated to have made Luna, and afterward the planetary surface would be molten.

Even at 0.25% of the planetary surface it would be double the radius of the KT event crater, and that wouldn't leave a cartoonish bowl, or clear up in a few centuries to allow repopulation.

It could have a shallow circular sea ~25% of the surface, rimmed with highlands, with only a narrow strip of land around the edges being marginally habitable. With medieval/renaissance tech they can only breathe the air at sea level, making the mineral riches of the highlands inaccessible. Without working metals they can't advance in tech.

Periodic CO2 turnovers from the sea floor wipe out whole sections of coastal settlements every few centuries, after which the CO2 content near sea level becomes dangerously high for years, forcing the populace to move up to the very highest valleys with breathable air. The valley inhabitants may try to repel the lowland refugees with violence. In any case, both highlanders and lowlanders get most of their dietary protein from fish, so during those decades without access to the sea many succumb to disease.

------------------------------

Ta's Rock

"...collision with what may have been a large lifeform in the upper atmosphere of Gigi." You don't go deep enough to hit anything. If you hit anything bigger than a golf ball at interplanetary velocities it penetrates the hull and pieces bounce around inside turning crew and equipment into mush.

Skimming would be done in the upper reaches of the GG atmosphere with density less than 1 millibar. The whole idea is to dive at near orbital velocity, scoop for a few moments using vehicle momentum to compress the gas, and skip back up to orbital height with minimal loss of velocity. Rinse and repeat.

If on the trip to/from Gigi you bump into something pebble size, it hits like a weapon and you take damage, perhaps enough to put the craft out of commission.