Whence the Loeskalth?

[rancke]

The Loeskalth were a minor human race from Gushemege Sector that got jump-1 technology at second hand from the Vilani and founded a small empire which embraced, at its height, most of their home subsector. Eventually, the Vilani destroyed the Loeskalth and absorbed the civilization into the mainstream of Vilani culture.

As far as I know there is no information about which subsector and which world the Loeskalth lived on (Unless the HIWG people came up with something). Does anyone have any suggestions about where the Loeskalth homeworld used to be?


Hans

 

[G. Kashkanun Anderson]

I put considerable research into this very question a number of years ago, and to the best of my knowledge the location of the Loeskalth homeworld lies somewhere within a cluster of systems occupying the core-spinward quadrant of Vipach Subsector, Gushemege Sector.

The strongest candidate there is Blezon (0332 Gushemege, X472400-6), a rather stark, probably frigid, interdicted world orbiting an orange (K5V) star just a few parsecs trailing of the Great Rift. Its low population, lack of organized government, and tainted (but standard density) atmosphere also suggest a world still suffering from the lingering environmental effects of a massive, genocidal orbital assault, which I believe was the Loeskalth's fate at the hands of the Vilani (with the possible exception of the Sky Raiders, whom I seem to recall have been hinted to be of Loeskalth stock by some sources). Note that while most sources say the world has no starport (X), travellermap.com gives it a Class E designation.

The Tapazmal, a minor human race originating on Dlaekan (3134 Reft), are recorded as having had problematic dealings with the Loeskalth early in their history. Blezon lies just 4 parsecs from there, and is accessible via a Jump-1 route, so that helps reinforce the case. I also recall from my time researching this that a few DGP materials discussed the existence of remnant populations claiming partial Loeskalth ancestry clustered around this area. There was even a specific reference in some adventure to a local Imperial official bragging about it at a dinner party.

I made an historical chart of the region a number of years ago and put it up on this site. Here's a link to it. This is not canonical -- let's face it, there's very little official information from that era to work with -- but it is based very strongly on the source material that is available.

 

[rancke]

I put considerable research into this very question a number of years ago, and to the best of my knowledge the location of the Loeskalth homeworld lies somewhere within a cluster of systems occupying the core-spinward quadrant of Vipach Subsector, Gushemege Sector.

Oh, lovely.

The strongest candidate there is Blezon (0332 Gushemege, X472400-6), a rather stark, probably frigid, interdicted world orbiting an orange (K5V) star just a few parsecs trailing of the Great Rift. Its low population, lack of organized government, and tainted (but standard density) atmosphere also suggest a world still suffering from the lingering environmental effects of a massive, genocidal orbital assault, which I believe was the Loeskalth's fate at the hands of the Vilani (with the possible exception of the Sky Raiders, whom I seem to recall have been hinted to be of Loeskalth stock by some sources). Note that while most sources say the world has no starport (X), travellermap.com gives it a Class E designation.

I believe the Loeskalth were thought to be extinct before their world-ship was discovered, subsumed into the Vilani population. As such, I would expect their homeworld to be full of Vilani nowadays.

This is not canonical -- let's face it, there's very little official information from that era to work with -- but it is based very strongly on the source material that is available.

When canon fails me I like the stuff I make up to cover the blank spots to be canon-compatible. I would not, for example, place the Loeskalth homeworld outside Gushemege.

That's an absolutely gorgeous map, BTW.


Hans

 

[G. Kashkanun Anderson]

I believe the Loeskalth were thought to be extinct before their world-ship was discovered, subsumed into the Vilani population. As such, I would expect their homeworld to be full of Vilani nowadays.

Hmm. I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'extinct before their world ship was discovered', but just in case you're saying you don't think the Sky Raiders can be the Loeskalth due to timeline issues, then I just (re)learnt that's not so. I checked with Don McKinney's excellent Traveller Timeline site, and he has a couple of references there explicitly connecting the Loeskalth to the Sky Raiders. I guess it was stated outright as such in the old 'Legend of the Sky Raiders' FASA adventure -- which I suppose makes that book the primary and original source for the race.

I don't have the book myself, but again the Timeline states that the system the Loeskalth/Raider world ship escaped from was Abaelou (0233 Gushemege), which is literally right next to Blezon. It also fits the type, both in biosphere and star classification, that an aboriginal human population would be comfortable living on. So that world, too, is a definite maybe for the Loeskalth homeworld.

And I agree that any Loeskalth genes floating around in that area are decidedly diluted by Vilani stock -- probably down to a few percentage points, at most. If I were to write either of these worlds up, I would make the majority of the population academics, with perhaps a small cadre of weirdos floating around in the outback trying to live a romanticized version of what they imagine to be ancient Loeskalth folkways.

When canon fails me I like the stuff I make up to cover the blank spots to be canon-compatible. I would not, for example, place the Loeskalth homeworld outside Gushemege.

Nor would I.

That's an absolutely gorgeous map, BTW.

Thanks. There's a few more on there worth checking out, if you're inclined to that sort of thing. And I have several more that I never polished enough to put up here; I should really get around to that.

 

[rancke]

Hmm. I'm not quite sure what you mean by 'extinct before their world ship was discovered', but just in case you're saying you don't think the Sky Raiders can be the Loeskalth due to timeline issues, then I just (re)learnt that's not so.

I meant that until it was discovered that a population of Loeskalth had survived in the Sky Raider asteroid, scientists thought that the Vilani had absorbed the Loeskalth, effectively destroying them as a distinct human race, 5000 years ago.

I thought that the Sky Raider trilogy flat out stated that the Vilani had made the Loeskalth extinct, but upon checking, I see that they "only" say that the Vilani absorbed the culture. So I'll drop the claim that it's canonical that the Loeskalth had been extinct for 5000 years.

On the other hand, the Vilani are known to have absorbed a number of minor human races that way, so why not the Loeskalth too? Since the number of minor races known to Classic Era Imperial science is canonically limited to 45, why not free up one of those spots by saying that Imperial science thought the Loeskalth were extinct and so they don't count towards those 45, thus getting two birds with one stone?

I don't have the book myself, but again the Timeline states that the system the Loeskalth/Raider world ship escaped from was Abaelou (0233 Gushemege), which is literally right next to Blezon...

I do have the books, and I can find no reference to Abaelou being the system the Sky Raider asteroid left from. But in any case, since the Loeskalth empire covered most of the subsector, I don't see the proximity to any system as being significant.

It also fits the type, both in biosphere and star classification, that an aboriginal human population would be comfortable living on. So that world, too, is a definite maybe for the Loeskalth homeworld.

I think the low population count against it being a world with a Loeskalth population that has been kept isolated for 5000 years.

I did a first cull of the worlds in Vipach to find candidates for the Loeskalth homeworld. My criteria were a suitable biosphere and a decent star (I just don't like tidelocked worlds that much) lying on the same main as the Tapazmal homeworld. I also ruled out low-popualtion worlds.

The results were:

Sirir                     0131 E7969AA-6   Hi In Fo                  R 723 Im K3 V                
Gihmentahlish             0236 B895573-9   Ag Ni                       922 Im K7 V                
Strand                    0237 C548983-8   Hi In Re                    502 Im G4 V                
Sagal                     0339 E887A9C-6   Hi Ga Fo                  R 813 Im K1 V M0 V           
Trichach                  0432 C573489-8 S Ni                          204 Im K8 V M9 V           
Dimkodrarn                0439 B553465-B S Ni Po O:0738                303 Im G0 V

And I agree that any Loeskalth genes floating around in that area are decidedly diluted by Vilani stock -- probably down to a few percentage points, at most.

Then they wouldn't be a distinct human race any more. They could still be an ethnic group, but the Vilani are said to have absorbed their culture.

But an ethnic group of pretend Loeskalth wouldn't bother me at all, since they wouldn't count against the limit.


Hans

 

[savage]

I meant that until it was discovered that a population of Loeskalth had survived in the Sky Raider asteroid, scientists thought that the Vilani had absorbed the Loeskalth, effectively destroying them as a distinct human race, 5000 years ago.

I thought that the Sky Raider trilogy flat out stated that the Vilani had made the Loeskalth extinct, but upon checking, I see that they "only" say that the Vilani absorbed the culture. So I'll drop the claim that it's canonical that the Loeskalth had been extinct for 5000 years.

On the other hand, the Vilani are known to have absorbed a number of minor human races that way, so why not the Loeskalth too? Since the number of minor races known to Classic Era Imperial science is canonically limited to 45, why not free up one of those spots by saying that Imperial science thought the Loeskalth were extinct and so they don't count towards those 45, thus getting two birds with one stone?


I do have the books, and I can find no reference to Abaelou being the system the Sky Raider asteroid left from. But in any case, since the Loeskalth empire covered most of the subsector, I don't see the proximity to any system as being significant.


I think the low population count against it being a world with a Loeskalth population that has been kept isolated for 5000 years.

I did a first cull of the worlds in Vipach to find candidates for the Loeskalth homeworld. My criteria were a suitable biosphere and a decent star (I just don't like tidelocked worlds that much) lying on the same main as the Tapazmal homeworld. I also ruled out low-popualtion worlds.

The results were:

Sirir                     0131 E7969AA-6   Hi In Fo                  R 723 Im K3 V                
Gihmentahlish             0236 B895573-9   Ag Ni                       922 Im K7 V                
Strand                    0237 C548983-8   Hi In Re                    502 Im G4 V                
Sagal                     0339 E887A9C-6   Hi Ga Fo                  R 813 Im K1 V M0 V           
Trichach                  0432 C573489-8 S Ni                          204 Im K8 V M9 V           
Dimkodrarn                0439 B553465-B S Ni Po O:0738                303 Im G0 V

Then they wouldn't be a distinct human race any more. They could still be an ethnic group, but the Vilani are said to have absorbed their culture.

But an ethnic group of pretend Loeskalth wouldn't bother me at all, since they wouldn't count against the limit.


Hans

Unknown tribes are occasionally discovered. Instead of Sky Raiders asteroid they may have hollowed their planetoid focusing inward. Having learned it from Sky Raiders. And no one has discovered their existence and survived.

 

[DonM]

Travellermap has an "E" starport for Gushemege 0332 because in T5, an "X" starport means "unknown" instead of "none".

Note that I would concur with your inferences, but I would leave the proof for someone to write a book on the Loeskalth.