Ouroboros Cluster (Turn 6, December 8, 2004)

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Heart Region (region, hyperspace) The core of the Achilles Cluster is a densely region of ancient stars. No major starfaring race has risen to prominence in this region. Cauldron (system, red giant) Were it not for the presence of The Ring the ansible beacon that led the young Races here, the Cauldron system would have nothing to interest explorers. Cauldron's companion star, a pale, roiling body too hot to be a planet, too small to become a star, swept any material capable of forming a planet into its own mass billions of years ago. Battleship Hammurabi (ship, peacekeeper) Gamemaster The ancients, in their wisdom, knew that force might sometimes be required to keep the peace. They built the peacekeeper fleet, a fleet of robotic warships, some of titanic proportions. The Peacekeepers will ruthlessly enforce peace in the Cauldron system. A powerful AI commands each ship, though operations can be improvde by the addition of a sentient bridge crew. The Peacekeepers function at the command of the Consul. Notes: military battleship peacekeeper weapon: nullification cannons ancient ship force field mobile Battleship Solon (ship, peacekeeper) Gamemaster The ancients, in their wisdom, knew that force might sometimes be required to keep the peace. They built the peacekeeper fleet, a fleet of robotic warships, some of titanic proportions. The Peacekeepers will ruthlessly enforce peace in the Cauldron system. A powerful AI commands each ship, though operations can be improvde by the addition of a sentient bridge crew. The Peacekeepers function at the command of the Consul. Notes: military battleship peacekeeper weapon: nullification cannons ancient ship force field mobile Battleship Numa (ship, peacekeeper) Gamemaster The ancients, in their wisdom, knew that force might sometimes be required to keep the peace. They built the peacekeeper fleet, a fleet of robotic warships, some of titanic proportions. The Peacekeepers will ruthlessly enforce peace in the Cauldron system. A powerful AI commands each ship, though operations can be improvde by the addition of a sentient bridge crew. The Peacekeepers function at the command of the Consul. Notes: military battleship peacekeeper weapon: nullification cannons ancient ship force field mobile Peacekeeper Shipyards (space station, shipyard) The repair and maintenance platform for the peacekeeper fleet, Peace 1, orbits 220 miles ahead of The Ring around the substellar object, The Devourer. Insectoid Explorer (ship, diplomatic) Insectoid Insectoid ships are strange, sleek craft studded with sensor spines. Notes: mobile military The Devourer (world, substellar body) "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." --John Milton, Paradise Lost Notes: substellar body Avalon (ship, diplomatic) Terpsichore The sleek design of the Avalon reflects the faded glory of the Terpsichoran empire. Notes: mobile military Star Barque (ship, courier) Majestic Sir Mojnar prefers his light Barque to heavier vessels. Notes: mobile military scout fast Seeker (ship, science ship) Ilithids The Seeker is the official vessel of the Archivist of the Ancients. Its mission is to seek out and investigate evidence of the ancients wherever it may be found. Science ships, equipped with powerful sensors, onboard laboratory facilities, and a full complement of exploration vehicles and equipment, are the mainstay of many races' exploration efforts. A science ship provides a bonus in scientific activities, including charting jump routes and investigating new worlds. Notes: mobile science ship frigate crew: Keeper engineers Magellan II (ship, explorer) Terra Magellan II represents the latest in Terran science and design. Notes: stealthy explorer disciplined mobile military The Ring (space station, ring) The older Races have long known that The Ring existed, but its location was secret. Built by the Ancients as a place of assembly and peace, it has been kept functioning over the millennia by the mysterious technologies of the ancients and its silent guardians, the sentinels. The Consul, an ancient AI of startling power, presides over the assembly. It is programmed to ensure that The Ring fulfills the function for which it was built, to provide a place for assembly and debate between the intelligent spacefaring Races of the Ouroboros Cluster. The Ring is a ring-shaped space station four miles in diameter. The inner surface of The Ring is studded with beautiful towers and structures whose meaning or purpose is now unknown. The outer ring contains docking ports for the diplomatic residences. At the center of the ring lies the Assembly, a golden dome where all the Races can meet in discussion. The Consul acts as speaker of the assembly through a large golden robot built in the image of an unknown alien Race. The Ring is cared for by the Keepers, a race of robotic beings possibly created by the ancients. The Consul (AI, Ancient) Gamemaster The Consul is the ancient AI that presides over all the resources of The Ring. Its programming requires it to act according to the needs of the young races while allowing them to pursue their own paths. Its first principle is to allow the New races to rule themselves by offerring them assistance without coercion. To this end, the The Consul has invited all intelligent races to participate in a Council at the Ring. The Consul will act as chairbeing of this council, through it's mouthepeice, a robotic torso anchored in the center of the Council Dome. Notes: ancient immobile Malas (leader, diplomat) Terpsichore Malax's attitude towards the council is one of aloofness. He generally considers it beneath him to vote unless the direct interests of the Terpsichorans are at stake. Notes: Race: Terpsichore office: ouroboros administrator mobile diplomat aloof proud Tendril (leader, diplomat) Orchera Tendril's bloodline obviously descends from a flowering variety of plant as is evidenced by his striking colors and pleasant scent. Tendril is notably more expressive than the average Orcheran and would be considered by most to be quite pleasing to the eye. Notes: Race: Orchera office: chairman diplomat intelligent charismatic friendly mobile Diplomatic Gathering (team, diplomatic) Orchera A diplomatic team can carry out simple diplomatic tasks, such as voting in the Ring Council. It may not suggest a motion, vote for chairman, or accept a political appointment, however. Notes: Race: Orchera diplomat Delegate Istak (leader, diplomat) Insectoid Most other races were suprised when the Insectoids sent one of their own to the Ring Station. Notes: diplomat Embarked elite cunning charismatic Race: Insectoid mobile diplomatic swarm (team, diplomatic) Insectoid A diplomatic team can carry out simple diplomatic tasks, such as voting in the Ring Council. It may not suggest a motion, vote for chairman, or accept a political appointment, however. The Diplomatic swarm is composed of a rather small, but well-spoken variation on the Insectoid form. Notes: race: Hive diplomat Ivana Parva (leader, diplomat) Terra Ivana Parva's exploits in the war of Martian Independence are near legendary. Notes: diplomat spy famous intelligent mobile Race: Terran Embarked University Diplomatic Attachment (team, diplomatic) The Scientists A diplomatic team can carry out simple diplomatic tasks, such as voting in the Ring Council. It may not suggest a motion, vote for chairman, or accept a political appointment, however. Notes: diplomat Ilithid Diplomatic Team (team, diplomatic) Ilithids A diplomatic team can carry out simple diplomatic tasks, such as voting in the Ring Council. It may not suggest a motion, vote for chairman, or accept a political appointment, however. The Ilithid Diplomatic Team is well supported with a detachment of Morlock servants. Notes: diplomat Race: Ilithid - Ancient technology (mystery, technology) The technology of the ancients remains an impenetrable mystery. Surely they were far beyond any Race of today. - Ancient defences (barrier, defenses) The Ancients foresaw that some of the young Races might fail to see the wisdom of their plan. To discourage any sort of violent behavior against the ring itself, automated weapons systems and attack droids protect its vital points, not to mention intelligent viruses to guard the computer systems. The Consul and associated systems are well protected by anti-intrusion devices of stunning complexity. - Ring Factory Level (industrial base, heavy) Orchera The Ring includes an extensive factory level that extends all the way around the ring just above the space docks. The factory is capable of producing a wide range of goods, including food and equipment. This is not only for the care of the ring and the diplomats, but to provide emergency resources that the council can use to aid the needs of the member Races or replenish losses in the Peacekeeper fleets. The factory level is a maze of ancient chambers, many of which are empty, thier use forgotten. http://www.gric.at/gallery/bild053.htm Diplomatic Residence (outpost, diplomatic) The Ring includes diplomatic residences that, with a little effort, can be converted into quarters for the diplomatic corps or any Race that holds a seat on the Assembly. The diplomats are well cared for by the Keepers. - The Worlds Fair (attraction, cultural) Terra A direct offspring of the former Office of Cultural Exchange, the Worlds Fair is a combination restaurant/arcade/bar/mall. The Worlds Fair will has foods of all the major races, places to talk, night life, and entertainments of every sort (Terran videogames and other amusements for the Majestics and Humans, Orb Chess, Orcheran Foliage Films and Leaf Identification, Terpsichore Web Spinning contests, Gron Chakos-drinking races, and Tongo (a game of Acquisition from Ferengi-Bradley!) for the Barter race and the Tribe. Notes: tourist attraction Terran Diplomatic Corps (team, diplomatic) Terra A diplomatic team can carry out simple diplomatic tasks, such as voting in the Ring Council. It may not suggest a motion, vote for chairman, or accept a political appointment, however. The Terran Diplomatic Corps are known for their snappy uniforms. Notes: race: Terran diplomat Ancient Site Investigations (team, science) Ilithids The Ancient Site Investigations team is a specially assembled team of experts from several races supported by a Keeper engineers. Their mission is to investigate the Ancients so that everyone can understand them better. Notes: scientist Terpsichore Entourage (team, diplomatic) Terpsichore A diplomatic team can carry out simple diplomatic tasks, such as voting in the Ring Council. It may not suggest a motion, vote for chairman, or accept a political appointment, however. Notes: Race: Terpsichore diplomat Barter (system, outpost) Barter's main world is one of the oldest trade stops in the cluster. The natives of Barter, a herbivorous race of tripeds, have a complex language which requires a dual set of vocal chords to speak. Their own name for themselves and their system has long been forgotten by most races. The system is now simply called Barter, and the herbivores are called the Barter Race. - Ouroborus Route-Barter (trade route, Ouroboros) The Ouroboros route crosses through the territories of several major races and provides the main route of trade through the galaxy. This system is a stopping point on the route. Cinder (world, airless) Theorists beleive that Cinder was struck by a large asteroid of planetoid in its youth. The young world was sundered into semi-molten peices that never fully coalesced. The result is a bizarre, scarred planet with chasms hunderds of miles deep. Notes: airless feature: gargantuan bottomless caverns Chaff (world, asteroid field) Barter's asteroid field extends from the orbit of Cinder almost to that of Barterworld iteslf. It may be composed of fragments of the collision that gave Cinder its current form. Several regions of the field are dangerously unpredictable and considered un-navigable. Notes: asteroid field dense un-navigable Barterworld (world, desert) Barterworld's history goes back millennia to the very first Young Races. Its surface is a patchwork of landing pads and trade stations, most clustered around its ancient spaceport. Barter's native race of semi-nomadic herbivores make a living by charging a small fee for use of the planet's surface. This fee is usually paid in the form of foodstuffs to whatever herd happens to be in the area at the time. A very few of the Barter race have gone into trade themselves, running taverns or hangers for visiting ships. Notes: desert - Barterworld Spaceport (city, trading) Independent Barterworld Spaceport barely deserves the name of city, for although it's size is huge, it has little central authority or planning. Things seem to function well enough, though, and local trouble is usually put down quickly as being bad for business. Notes: trade station feircely independent Heartstrand Region (region, hyperspace) The Heartstrand is a bright arm of younger stars and star formation regions. These feed from energy drawn off the heart by a supermassive black hole billions of years ago. This region is the origin of the Human Race. Sidaris XVI (system, black hole) The spinning corona of hot gasses surrounding the suppermassive black hole Sidaris XVII dominates the night sky of all the worlds in the Heartstrand. The regions is classified as 'extremely dangerous', and automated buoys warn approaching ships of the gravitational and radiation hazards. Sol (system, Terran home system) Terra This star system contains an unusually large number of planetary bodies of varied composition. It is also the home system of the Terran Race. There is considerable trade between the various worlds and outposts. The largest settlements, outside of the capitol world Earth, are, first, the Mars Colonies, and second the mining outpost on Mercury. The system is still recovering from the brief, failed war of Maritian independence. The current government, with an elected Senate and President, represent a compromise between the warring factions. Notes: Race: Terran - Ouroborus Route-Sol (trade route, Ouroboros) The Ouroboros route crosses through the territories of several major races and provides the main route of trade through the galaxy. This system is a main stopping point on the route. - system defenses (barrier, defenses) Owing to the many intra-Human conflicts over the decades since they left their homeworld to explore their own system, the Terran race has a wide range of automated defenses, including interceptors, system ships, and armed sattellites around major worlds. Nomad Armada One (world, homeworld) The Tribe The Nomads have been wandering the stars for so long, that not even they remember or even care where their homeworld was. The Nomad Armada follows the Ouroboros route, carrying trade goods and knowledge from place to place. Their arrival often brings a minor economic boom as they are always laden with trade goods from the far corners of the cluster. Notes: mobile world fleet trade boom Nomad Defender (ship, defender) The Tribe Most Nomad ships have been repaired and refurbished so many times, that few or no original parts may remain. Notes: capital ship powerful mobile military The Battlestar (ship, battlestar) The Tribe The Battlestar is an ancient battle station modified to act as command center and seat of The Tribe's government. It cannot leave the fleet, but presents a serious threat to anyone contemplating an attack. Notes: heavy weapons armored slow slow immobile military - Industrial Base-Nomad Armada One (industrial base, heavy) The Tribe An indsutrial base is required to build ships and other heavy equipment. It also improves the economy by providing goods for trade. The Nomads have developed methods to carry out industry even while travelling in hyperspace. Beagle (ship, science) The Tribe This vessel retains some of the rag-tag appearance typical of Nomad vessels, even though it is a state-of-the-art science vessel. Notes: mobile frigate science Sophia (leader, diplomat) The Tribe Sophia has a reputation for honesty and fair dealing, a rarity among star traders. Notes: race: Tribe diplomat fast saintly trustworthy cunning aged scientist mobile Nomad Courier (ship, courier) The Tribe Most Nomad ships have been repaired and refurbished so many times, that few or no original parts may remain. Notes: frigate mobile stealthy lucky Mercury (world, airless) Terra Mercury is a rocky, airless world that has one side locked facing Sol. Several Terran mining settlements straddle the line between the dark side and the light side. Even this environment is harsh. Only the toughest or most desperate of Humans try to make their life here. Notes: airless Mining locked aspect inferno mineral rich H.E.A.D habitats Venus (world, venusian) Due to its dense cloud cover and crushing temperature, Venus has never been colonized. Notes: venusian rocky hostile storms Earth (world, homeworld) Terra Earh, the origion of both the Terran and Majestic races is also known as Terra. More than half of this verdant world's surface is covered by water. The Capitol of the Human Confederacy is located here. Billions of Humans live here, filling almost every useful surface on the planet. Notes: habitable agriculture heavy industrial base life temperate Audax (leader, administrator) The Tribe Audax's eyes have seen more stars and planets than perhaps any other creature alive. Notes: race: Tribe administrator chief executive careful cautious fast mobile Earth Militia (army, militia) Terra A militia is an army of lightly armed, lightly trained troops. Notes: military regulars - Earthforce (barrier, planetary defense force) "The planetary milita wants YOU!" --Earthforce Recruitment Poster - Industrial Base-Earth (industrial base, heavy) Terra An indsutrial base is required to build ships and other heavy equipment. It also improves the economy by providing goods for trade. Earth's great factory cities spread hundreds of miles across the surface of the world. Earthforce Defender 954 (ship, interceptor) Terra Human ships are often sleek in design, reflecting the shape of the avians of the human homeworld. Notes: military mobile cruiser morale officer Admiral Taggata (leader, admiral) Terra "War is the continuation of politics by alternative means" -- Clausewitz Notes: drunkard fast elite military mobile Race: Terran Embarked Kubric Station (space station, spaceport) Terra Kubric station is the primary stopping point for interplanetary and interstellar trade in the Sol system. Beings of many races can be found here. Kurbic station is composed of two large counter-rotating rings. The "upper" includes commercial and private structures, the "lower" is the main base for the Human fleet. Notes: armored The Asteroid Field (world, asteroid field) This imaginatively named region is a loose field of miscellaneous rocks. A refeuling depot for the Human Fleet is located on one of the larger lumps, named Ceres. Notes: asteroid field Ceres Outpost (space station, fuel depot) Terra The primary refeulling post for traffic in and out of the inner system, Ceres is infamous amoung Human naval personnel as the most boring station in the Navy. Notes: Military Mars (world, desert) Terra In the aftermath of the Earth-Mars war, may regions of the planet are still scarred, even uninhabitable. Anger and bitterness continues to fester in the three major domed cities. The bulk of the populous, however, are content to run their moisture farms and vote in the Solar elections. Notes: desert agriculture Feature: Olympus Mons, gigantic volcano Felix (leader, diplomat) The Tribe Felix's luck has saved him from more than one bad scrape. Notes: race: Tribe lucky honest diplomat mobile Jupiter (world, gas giant) Terra While a few brave gas skimmers live on the inner moons and make a living off the valuable organic compounds in Jupiter's atmosphere, no commercially viable way to harvest it has yet been developed. Jupiter has dozens of moons, ranging from tiny rocks, to the deep-ocean iceball, Europa, and the volcanic inferno, Io. A major colony, consisting of a central egg-shaped floating dome with numerous appendages, floats in the eye of the Great Red Spot. The grizzled vetrans of the Jovian moons eye these newcomers with disdain and amusement. Notes: gas giant many moons Feature: Great Red Spot H.E.A.D babitats Valuable gasses superhurricane winds President Gault (leader, president) Terra Only an administrator as charismatic as President Gault could have united the warring factions and won the popular vote on both Mars and Earth. Even in old age, President Gault continues to be a paragon of leadership. Notes: chief executive administrator charismatic ambitious famous elder mobile aged honest Race: Terran Saturn (world, gas giant) Terra Mysterious and beautiful, Saturn is the home of a young Terran colony. Legends and tales about the ringed world abound. Several settlements dot the outer moons, but the jewel of the colony is the floating orb of Taggata City, high in the clouds of the gas giant. The city is named for Admiral Taggata, the hero of the battle of Saturn. Notes: gas giant mineral poor feature: ring system beautiful artifacts H.E.A.D habitats HE3 negative construction project: building agriculture Neptune (world, gas giant) Neptune is truly the frontier of the Solar system. It's moon Triton features a small colony, the farthest civilian settlement of any size from Earth. Notes: gas giant Uranus (world, gas giant) Uranus is a gas giant with a large number of moons. Notes: gas giant hostile ice storms Pluto (world, iceball) Pluto is a barren, frozen world. The only Human habitation of note is a listening post and observatory. Notes: iceball Feature: Delicate ice spires Cocoon Nebula Region (region, hyperspace) Ironically, the beautiful Cocoon Nebula is all but invisible to those who live nearest it. The streams of incandescant gases that make it up are too thinly spread to be easily visible from close range. In order to properly view its majesty, one must travel as far from it as possible. Those few residents of the region who have undertaken the journey, claim it is worth it. Majestic (system, Majestic Colony Home System) Majestic In the early days of Terran space exploration, during the First Ecological Disaster, a combine of rich philanthropists built the Majestic, the first Terran colony ship. The dream of its builders was the hope that humanity might survive somewhere among the stars even if it were to perish on Earth. The Majestic used conventional drives to accelerate to near light speed. Nevertheless, the journey was to take generations. The colony was thought lost until a Nomad trade convoy happened upon a Majestic scout. Terra immediately claimed the colony as its own, but has never attempted to press its claims. Ragnarok (world, gas giant) Deep in the heart of Ragnarok's atmosphere, an array of titanic monoliths float. Each is over 3 miles high, and they are arrayed in a ring around the equator of the planet 713 miles apart. Because of the hostility of the atmosphere, few studies of these objects have yet been undertaken. http://www.gric.at/gallery/bild170.htm Notes: gas giant artifacts giant electrical storms Inquisitor Barque (ship, inquisition) Majestic The Queen likes to keep a close eye on what happens in her domain. The Inquisitional cruiser's job is to police the realm and resport directly to the Queen. Notes: stealthy mobile military The Advisor (leader, spy) Majestic The alien creature known as the advisor arrived in system from parts unknown during the coronation of the young queen Isolda. It quickly ingratiated herself to the Queen and her council. It quickly rose to a position that many native born nobles envy. Notes: Race: Alien 81 spy administrator intelligent dictatorial ambitious corrupt mobile Embarked Prospero (ship, alien) Majestic Prospero is an ancient AI ship dug from the surface of Majestica. The ships' AI has no memory of its function or past, and is anxious to learn. Majestic scientists have not hesitated to take it under their wing. Notes: mobile heavy weapons nimble ancient military New Venus (world, airless) The crust of New Venus is covered in highly reflective dust. From space, the world has a bright appearance, which the first colonists compared to Venus in the Sol System. Notes: airless beautiful volcanic rocky Majestica (world, homeworld) Majestic Initially, the Majestic colonists were not encouraged by what they saw, a system with no earthlike planets. When they discovered signs of life on the third world, however, they made the decision to land their colony ship immediately. The bulk of the inhabitants still live in the region surrounding the city of Landfall. Landfall is built on an icy plain above a deep resevoir of fresh water teeming with life. Mining has been a difficulty, however, as little usable ore can be found near the surface, and infestations of ice snakes are always a problem. The Majestic Colony thought they were the first to explore Majestica, until a boring crew uncovered an alien hull frozen hundreds of meters below the surface. Notes: iceball artifacts ice mountains life mineral poor agriculture mining fertile treaty: trade agreements with Orcherans lifeform: insidious snakes lifeform: bipedal abominations well administrated Queen Isolda I (leader, administrator) Majestic Queen Isolda is beloved of her subjects, though those close to her know she has some unsavory habits. Notes: Race: Majestic Sapiens administrator chief executive inspiring careful currupt monarch mobile battleship Hugin (ship, battleship constcution site) Majestic This ship is under construction. The battleship is the ultimate fighting vessel, pushing current technology to its limits. Though slow, a battleship can engage opponents at any range. Notes: construction site immobile vulnerable - Fenris Guard (barrier, defense) All young nobles who are not first born must serve a period in the Fenris Guard, the defense squadron of the homeworld. Consisting mostly of squadrons of fighters launched from sattelites and static bases, the Guard is capable of responding quickly to any threat. Majestica Militia (army, militia) Majestic A militia is an army of lightly armed, lightly trained troops. Notes: military undisciplined - Industrial Base-Majestica (industrial base, medium) Majestic An indsutrial base is required to build ships and other heavy equipment. It also improves the economy by providing goods for trade. - Trouble: lack of raw materials (trouble, resource) What little mineral wealth can be found near the surface of Majestica is rapidly being depleted. Peacekeeper Squadron Cassandra (ship, squadron) Majestic The ships of the peacekeeper squadrons are light, fast, ships of an ancient design. Notes: mobile fast squadron military ancient Cassandra AI (leader, AI) Majestic The Cassandra AI is an ancient computer sapience that follows the orders of the duly elected Peacekeeper Commodore. Notes: military AI loyal Odin (world, iceball) Odin's surface bears the scars of numerous impacts. A recent volcanic eruption melted a huge region of the surface, which re-froze into a shape that the Majestics beleive looks like a gigantic eye, hence the name of the world. Notes: iceball hostile rugged terrain cratered ice volcanos Ajax (system, outpost) The Ajax system is a stopping point on the great Ourobors trade route. The system consists of a yellow sun and a small brown dwarf star on an extreme eliptical orbit. There are a number of asteroids and sub-planetoid chunks, but little else of interest here. - Ouroborus Route-Ajax (trade route, Ouroboros) The Ouroboros route crosses through the territories of several major races and provides the main route of trade through the galaxy. This system is a stopping point on the route. Ajax Minor (world, substellar body) Ajax Minor is too small to be poperly called a star, but too massive and too hot to be truly called a gas giant. Notes: brown dwarf Capernau (system, Cappocean Home System) Capernau has been a trade stop on the Ouroboros route for generations. The friendly Cappocean race provides an important source for exotic foodstuffs and biochemicals used throughout the cluster. Cappocean Militia (army, militia) Independent A militia is an army of lightly armed, lightly trained troops. Notes: military undisciplined acquatic - Ouroborus Route-Capernau (trade route, Ouroboros) The Ouroboros route crosses through the territories of several major races and provides the main route of trade through the galaxy. This system is a stopping point on the route. Peacekeeper Squadron Atlanta (ship, squadron) Majestic The ships of the peacekeeper squadrons are light, fast, ships of an ancient design. Notes: mobile fast depleted squadron military ancient Sir Mojnar (leader, diplomat) Majestic Sir Mojnar is a noted warrior and always wears a necklace of teeth from a Storm Bear he killed himself. Notes: Race: Majestic Sapiens office: peacekeeper commodore diplomat intimidating farmer nobleman healthy reckless mobile Timsu (world, gas giant) Timsu has an impressive ring system and hundreds of moons. Most of these are small fragments captured from the Alura belt. Timsu is named for an important character in Cappocean myth. Those capable of understanding the Cappocean language affirm that the Ballad of Timsu is among the most beautiful examples of epic poetry in the Cluster. Notes: gas giant ringed many moons ice storms Alarua Mercator (world, asteroid field) The Alura belt is actually several small clusters of pre-planetary fragments that never fully coaslesced. Several uncharted prospecting communities have alternately prospered or failed, fed by the hope of trade with Cappocea. Notes: asteroid field Cappocea (world, ocean) The green oceans of Cappocea harbor the largest intelligent species known to galactic civilization. Three islands, comprising about 25 square miles are the only dry land on the planet. Here, in the deep-water harbor of the trade city of Apar, the Cappocean's trade deep water kelp and exotic shellfish for metals and such technologies as are useful to them in their deep ocean habitat. Notes: ocean habitable agriculture fertile lifeform: intelligent whales lifeform: dangerous predators lifeform: poisonous slugs - Cappocean Defenses (barrier, militia) Though their relations with other races have been generally friendly, Cappocean society has a long history of armed conflict carried out by their warrior caste. In time of trouble, all Cappocean knights are bound to fight to defend the greater good. - Industrial Base-Cappernau (industrial base, light) An indsutrial base is required to build ships and other heavy equipment. It also improves the economy by providing goods for trade. The Cappocean's do not engage in heavy industry, but do have small, craft based guilds that produce a wide range of goods made from native ceramics. Durable corals or imported metals provide the raw materials for weapons and other goods. Onir (world, airless) Onir is the nearest world to the star Capernau. A long network of ridges, bright with Quartz depostis, give it a wrinkled look from space. Notes: airless rocky Olympus Region (region, hyperspace) The Olympus region is so-named for the star Olympus, a high-radiation white star that is the brightest visible in the night sky through most regions of the Ourobors Cluster. Sechi (system, inhabited) Ilithids Several races and guilds have voiced the desire to establish a permanent claim on the Sechi system. Because of its strategic location, however, the Ilithids have always strenously objected to any such plan. The recent discovery of valuable minerals in the upper cloud levels of Sechi II have again renewed this interest. - Ouroborus Route-Sechi (trade route, Ouroboros) The Ouroboros route crosses through the territories of several major races and provides the main route of trade through the galaxy. This system is a stopping point on the route. Sechi Defense (ship, squadron) Ilithids Squadrons provide fast, lightweight defense that can react quickly to incursions. Notes: mobile fast squadron military Iron Octopus (ship, desroyer) Ilithids Like you'd think from the name, it's not as sleek as the squid-like vessels, but just as deadly. Notes: mobile psychic ram heavy weapons military ghost cloak Oulomb (leader, military) Ilithids Although Oulomb is as alien-looking as the rest of his kind, he has a particular flair for fashion that even non-Ilithid races find pleasing to the eye. His military dress robes are sharp and stylish. Notes: Race: Ilithid psychic disciplined poet beautiful mobile Iron Squid (ship, cargo) Ilithids Ilithid ships are sleek, strange vessels that resemble eerie metallic squids. Notes: mobile psychic ram heavy weapons cruiser cargo bay battle scarred military ghost cloak Morlock Shock Troops (army, militia) Ilithids Thralls are not known for the initiative or cleverness, but they are extremely durable. Notes: military undisciplined Ilithid Protectorate Embassy (space station, diplomatic) Ilithids Because the Ilithid Protectorate lies off the main Ourboros route, the Ilithids maintain an embassy station in Sechi. Those who have business to transact with the Protectorate can contact them through the diplomatic staff of the station. Notes: immobile armored IPE Diplomatic Team (team, diplomatic) Ilithids The IPE team keeps the embassy running smoothly. Notes: Race: Ilithid diplomat Sechi IV (world, gas giant) Sechi IV is a particularly large gas giant, almost classifyable as a sub-stellar object. It glows with an eerie inner light. Notes: gas giant feature: glowing cloud bands locked aspect temperate Starlight (space station, settlement) Independent Starlight's complete laws are inscribed on a metal plate taken from the hull of the first ship to explore the system. This plate sits in the main landing bay of the station. They read 'Welcome to Starlight. No explosives permitted. No bazookas. No pets.' Notes: armored heavy weapons criminal Sechi III (world, gas giant) Sechi III's erratic orbit takes it well above and blow the plain of the ecliptic, contributing to its unpredictable five season weather cycle. This planet has few visitors. Notes: gas giant HE3 Sechi II (world, gas giant) Ilithids Sechi II's atmosphere is rich with rare organic minerals and exotic gases. The Ilithids have founded a colony here in the upper atmosphere. Notes: gas giant mineral rich Sechi I (world, asteroid field) Independant The Sechi I debris field stretches from just inside the orbit of Sechi II all the way to Sechi's upper corona. The heat is so intense that many of the inner asteroids are partially liquid balls of metal-rich magma and slag. Notes: asteroid field inferno hostile mineral rich mining Ironforge (space station, mining outpost) Independent Ironforge is more a ragtag collection of scrapped hulls and hollowed out rocks welded into a semi-coherent whole than a space station. Nevertheless, this city is home to some twenthy thousand miners and prospectors, most of them Gron. Small mining camps dot the asteroids, though the living is far from easy. Notes: treaty: Military alliance with Ilithid Protectorate Master Czuvik of Ironforge (leader, miner) independent Master Czuvik, through the respect of his fellows and the sweat of his brow, leads the Gron at Ironforge. Notes: Race: Gron miner honest administrator Satyr (system, outpost) Independent A small refeuling outpost ran by a coalition of traders form a minor race called the Gron serves as the main stopping point for ships travelling between Olympus and the Ring Station. The spectacle of this binary system serves as a reminder of the terrors and hazards of space. The secondary star, Satyr II, is a black hole orbiting close to the blue supergiant Satyr. A bright filament of hot gasses connects the two as Satyr slowly falls into its dark neighbor. Satyr Station (world, asteroid) Satyr Station wouldn't even be worth including on the charts, were it not for the small but busy refeuling depot located here. The station is feircely independant and will sell fuel to any and all who call. Notes: airless asteroid Great Olympus (system, Uninhabited) The white star Olympus is the brightest star visible in all regions of the cluster from the Widow's Gap to beyond Olympus region. Olympus I (world, airless) This rocky world orbits close to its parent star, Olympus. Notes: airless irradiated rocky Olypus II (world, gas giant) The gas giant Olympus II is bathed in the endless storm of radiation thrown out by Olympus. Notes: gas giant irradiated Farstrand Region (region, hyperspace) The farstrand is a region of luminous gasses pulled from the Heart stars by some ancient cataclysm. Llorasc (system, Ilithid Home System) Ilithids Llorasc is the home system of two races, the enigmatic Ilithids and the servient Morlocks. For centuries, the Ilithid Protectorate has been one of the most peaceful regions of the cluster. Thrall (world, venusian) Ilithids The Morlocks, the native inhabitants of Llore are an ancient race. They were initially prevented from acheiving space travel by the high gravity and obscuring thick atmosphere of their world. When they finally took the first tentative steps into space near the dawn of the age of Young Races, the Ilithids were waiting for them. Over the centuries, the relationship between the two races has become symbiotic, some even say exploitive. The Morlocks provide the Ilithids with manual labor, while the Ilithids provide for the the Morlocks' needs. In recent decades, the Morlock population has shown a slow but steady decline. Notes: venusian * high gravity mining life temperate lifeform: cuddly snakes lifeform: radioactive bacteria lifeform: intelligent herbivores - barrier fleet (barrier, defenses) Most Ilithid transports and merchant ships carry some armaments. As a result, the Protectorate has a considerable fleet of non-jump capable defense ships it can call upon in an emergency. The Ilithon (world, homeworld) Ilithids According to the most acient accounts, Llore's close-orbiting moon The Ilithon entered the system in ancient times and was captured by the gravity of Llore. Others point out that this is physically unlikely, and suggest that the Ilithids migrated to the Ouroboros cluster form a neighboring galaxy. The Ilithids live in great presurized networks of subterrenean caverns and undergound cities that honeycomb the planetoid. Notes: airless rocky hollow agriculture Protector Thrask (leader, administrator) Ilithids The chief protector holds responsibility for the well-being of all Ilithids and the care of all Morlocks. Notes: Race: Ilithid chief executive psychic stealthy charismatic mobile astral projection team (team, science) Ilithids "How typical of the young races that they imagine hyperspace travel to be a physical phenomenon." -- Juxat Gol, The Science of the Minds Notes: race: alien scientist Ilithon Militia (army, militia) Ilithids A militia is an army of lightly armed, lightly trained troops. The Ilithon militia contains a higher proportion of Ilithid troops to Morlocks than is usual for Ilithid military units. Notes: military undisciplined - Industrial Base-The Ilithon (industrial base, heavy) Ilithids An indsutrial base is required to build ships and other heavy equipment. It also improves the economy by providing goods for trade. Almost all industrial work on the Ilithon is carried out by Morlock workers Iron Anemone (ship, science) Ilithids This Ilithid vessel resembles an iron sea anemone - rather than the sleek squid-like appearance of the military vessels, it has thicker arms supporting various scientific instruments and sensors. Notes: mobile science ship frigate ghost cloak Urskek (leader, scientist) Ilithids Urskek is somewhat accident prone, but otherwise skilled. Notes: Race: Ilithid scientist corrupt unlucky psychic mobile slow Ilithon sattelite defense grid (ship, sattelite defense grid) Ilithids A sattelite defense grid is provides a durable system of light, static defenses. Notes: immobile military squadron Terpsichore (system, dead) Terpsichore was once the home of a thriving race of arachnoids. The Terpsichorans were a highly advanced race with a number of small colonies and outposts in the Terpsichore system and beyond. The system was devastated when their sun went nova unexpectedly. Now this branch of the Ouroboros route is closed, due to the lack of goods, and the serious navigational hazards in the region. Iron Cuttlefish (ship, diplomatic) Ilithids Ilithid ships are sleek, strange vessels that resemble metallic squids. Notes: mobile frigate cargo bay psychic ram heavy weapons Uhrmax (leader, diplomat) Ilithids Uhrmax is the current Ilithid representative to the Ring. Notes: Race: Ilithid Office: Archivist of the Ancients psychic diplomat elite loyal mobile Terpsichore Prime (world, dead) Terpsichore A burned out husk is all that remains of the once prosperous and powerful Terpsichoran home world. Notes: dead irradiated hostile airless Thsoull (outpost, trade station) There are few outposts in the galaxy as forelorn as Thsoull. And yet, a few Terpsichorans choose to live here in radiation armored domes. These few stubbornly refuse to recognize any Terpsichorans who live offworld to be true Terpsichorans. Ovlost (world, airless) Ovlost is a barren, forsaken world. Notes: airless irradiated cratered temperate Belt of Tears (world, asteroid belt) Terpsichore A few Terpsichorans still inhabit the outer asteroid belt of the system, mostly living as pirates or privateers. Their presence makes the system even more unfriendly to travellers.. Notes: asteroid field dense The Last Outpost (outpost, pirate) Terpsichore The Last Outpost is located inside a hollowed-out asteroid. The inhabitants are an increasinly poor lot who make their way by trading with, and occassionally raiding neighboring systems. Notes: heavy weapons force field Forgotten (system, unexplored) The strange binary system of forgotten is home to not one but two ocean worlds. All the worlds in the system orbit around two closely-orbiting stars. Most interestingly, both ocean worlds have a surprising amount of metallic orbital debris that hints at technological inhabitants at some time in the very ancient past. Forgotten 1 (world, ocean) The briny oceans of Forgotten 1 are a rich, sweltering soup rich in valuable minerals. There are a few low islands in the souther hemisphere, but no other significant land masses. Notes: ocean mineral rich artifacts temperate Forgotten 2 (world, ocean) Where Forgotten 1 is a fascinating world of powerful currents, Forgotten 2 is silent, almost brooding. It's oceans are incredibly deep, and it's a mystery how the world maintains the correct temperature for liquid water this far from the parent stars. Its ice caps are treacherous regions of bitter cold and sudden ice quakes.. Notes: ocean mysterious artifacts Asteroid Field - Forgotten (world, asteroid field) The Forgotten system debris field contains large deposits of radioactive minerals, deadly as they are valuable. Notes: asteroid field mineral rich irradiated Transept Region (region, hyperspace) Transept region contains a number of dead worlds that bear the mark of some ancient cataclysm. Origel (system, uninhabited) Origel is a near uninhabited system on the Ourobors trade route. A small trade station provides a place for travellers of the route to rest, swap stories and trade goods. - Ouroborus Route-Origel (trade route, Ouroboros) The Ouroboros route crosses through the territories of several major races and provides the main route of trade through the galaxy. This system is a stoppin