Traveller Science-Fiction Adventure in the Far Future

Farcast Sector Overview

Farcast Genesis

The Farcast sector was concieved as a setting that could be incorporated into a Traveller campaign, while remaining isolated from the area of the galaxy where the Canonical Setting occurs. This was for the purpose of including certain "heretical" concepts of mine, and to allow me to creatively expand on the area without violating Traveller Canon. I would classify the setting as Amber Zone on the Heresy Scale, although the core concepts of Traveller are intact, ie: Information spreads at the speed of travel, etc. The means by which all these objectives are achieved is to place the area far from Charted Space, perhaps even on the other side of the Galaxy, reached by misjump only, hence the name "Farcast Sector"

Heresies

First off, humans are not the dominant life in the area. The H'Tarin hold that distinction, although the demographics of species are far more even than the OTU as a rule. In texture I would say it is closer to Star Wars in this respect. Second, both gravitics and jump space technologies are higher on the Tech Level scale, with more variation on implementation of the respective principles than in the OTU. I do not yet have FF&S yet, but from what I hear of it, the rules for alternate technologies may be useful here. Third, Although I will have mega-structures in the setting, and some will be HUGE, most ships will average lower in tonnage than the OTU.

Early History

Setting

Located far from the 3I, this sector had intersteller travel long before humaniti entered the region. Like previously charted space, there is evidence of a race of Ancients, although it is doubtful they are related to Grandfather or his descendents. This race seems to have mysteriously vacated the region leaving behind only the largest of constructs and minor debris. The most notable constructs are the Dyson sphere near the center of the sector, and a Moebius Ringworld in the Trailing Vast. Other remnants of this ancient civilization include the J'Kla Greth Columns, The Pyramids of Traukor, and the Ek Hrau Ket Monolith.

Astrographics

There are two Mains in the sector, one to Coreward, one to Rimward, each extending Spinward to Trailing. Between these the systems become continually sparser, until clusters become isolated, then increasing in distribution until the next Main. Two sectors to Spinward of this sector the two Mains join, and a sector further merge into the nearest galactic arm. To Trailing are a few rifts, the first being known to locals as "The Vast". To Rimward the thinning of clusters occurs again until a long expanse of void a dozen parsecs or so across divides the region from the same galactic arm which the mains merge into three sectors Spinward. This same thinning occurs somewhat more slowly to Coreward, but the following void is far greater, and only rarely broken by small clusters. Beyond that the next galactic arm lies.

The H'Tarin

The first contemporary species in the sector to colonize another system were the H'Tarin, a warlike and territorial race of carnivore-chaser lineage. Endothermic and oviparous, their ancestors were semi-nomadic, returning to a territorial creche seasonally to lay eggs and raise their broods. Although they are matriarchal in the broad sense, it is their males who lead hunting parties. They are bi-lateraly symetrical hexapods averaging 1.5 meters tall and 3 meters long. Their forelimbs are adapted to grasping prey, having three diametrically opposed digits with retractable claws. Social structure is centered around the immediate family, each of which belongs to a pack of a dozen or so families. These in turn form a loose tribal structure headed by a council of elders. Duels for dominence occur often, and are frightenly brutal, yet rarely lethal.

H'Tarin Biology Their dermis is a coarse, thick hide, folded at the joints for flexibility. Most of the body is covered in short bristles showing the ruddy-grey skin beneath. A stiff mane cascades down the back of the head and around the fore-limbs. Individuals vary in the amount of hair and its coloration, with some broad generalizations applicable to Clan, Tribe, or Family. Albinism occurs at a frequency comparable to terran life, and such individuals are considered "Divine" by the H'Tarin, and set apart from normal tribal politics. They are raised by the Scientist/Priest/Technician caste, and consequently albinism is more common whithin that caste.

H'Tarin society is amazingly diverse, but can be roughly described as tribal. Each Clan has many families, and some families exist in more than one Clan. The Tribes are a more distinct set of political entities, comprised of many Clans, and usually associated with a particular region.

Slow to advance in technology, they extended their colonies using generation ships and eventually relativistic drives, for nearly three centuries before encountering the second race of the region to begin star-faring. Most worlds in H'Tarin space were lifeless, pre-biotic, or primative. Rarely they encountered species advanced enough to use fire or agriculture, etc. Some clans had developed the custom of enslaving conquered races, and made a practice of utilizing assault shuttles in boarding actions.

In contrast to the Slaver Clans were those who considered such behaviour as an opportunity for social decay, and held such policy in disdain. No clans held such behaviour in abhorance, but many clans avoided relationships with those who held slaves. Elevation of members of the Minor Races to positions in inter-steller society, ironically enough, came through the Slaver Clans, as a few clans developed castes of alien slaves given limited citizenship. Some more "liberal" clans even began accepting aliens as full clan members.

Rarely would the H'Tarin even acknowledge the sentience of any species not above Stone Age technology. There have been a few races however who were sufficiently advaced to be regarded as "civilized" by the H'Tarin. This does not in most cases affect relations, the H'Tarin typically ignore creatures not fit for service, food, or amusement, and sentience seems not to be an issue in regards to food or "domestication". The most important of the Minor Races include the Pelwari, Shithel, Tatoi, Vantwer, and the Euworan.

There are many species within H'Tarin space which are sentient, yet are not acknowledged as such. Among these are the Arauhoy, a marsupial primate whom the H'Tarin find entertaining. Originally adapted to a grooming relationship with an enormous grazer native to their world, the Arauhoy climb about their new "masters" and devour small parasites gleaned from their fur, much as they did on their first hosts. They are excellent mimics, and this ability is cited by H'Tarin owners as the reason for their uncanny demeanor of awareness, as well as their limited language use.

The Ungyar The Ungyar baffled the H'Tarin upon contact by simply disappearing when attacked. A race far more ancient than the H'Tarin, the Ungyar never expanded beyond their solar system until they contacted a sentient and psionic species within their own gas giant. This race was quite old as well, and was apparently migrating across the sector by folding space with their minds. They would skip from gas giant to gas giant in social groups much like terran cetacean "pods". Upon contact with the Ungyar, a small group broke off from the main pod in order to converse at length with the "new voices".

Companions The large blimp-like beings became known to the Ungyar as the Oulerin, which translates roughly to "Mindsingers". Already evidencing psionic abilities, the Ungyar became apt students, and within a couple centuries some had mastered the ability to fold space. Many students died in their first attempt by folding to a hostile location, and those who succeeded were held in awe. Later students who had access to notes and dissertations by these early pioneers had a higher survival rate, and those who acquired tutoring directly from an Ungyar Mentor had the greatest success.

Embarking upon exploration of the universe with this new ability, they soon encountered the H'Tarin and attempted contact. The H'Tarin simply attacked with assault shuttles, attempting to capture the scout vessel. Recognizing hostile intent, the Ungyarin scout retreated by folding to the closest outpost. The report sent terror through the Ungyar colonies, although the Oulerin seemed uninterested in the news. By this time the original Oulerin whom had lingered had returned to their pod, although other pods had begun to hold discourse with the Ungyar. Contact was infrequent, as apparently the novelty of the Ungyar had worn off in the minds of most Oulerin.

Era of Conflict

Continued encounters between the Ungyar and H'Tarin followed the same pattern, with H'Tarin space creeping ever closer to Ungyarin colonies. The Ungyarin were a peaceful race unprepared for such aggressive behavior. For the first time they began formulating a military caste, using observations of various predator life-forms native to their world. Many of the Oulerin began to complain of a "disjointedness" of the minds of their Ungyar pupils, and others ceased contact completely. A cultural schizm occured in Ungyarin society, with one faction espousing a near nihilistic philosophy and denouncing all aggression. Many groups from all factions began migrating away from H'Tarin space, although a majority of the population found this option either unfeasible or undesirable.

H'Tarin Scientist/Priests eventually invented the Hyper-Drive. This invention allowed the H'Tarin clans to spread at a frightening rate in the minds of the Ungyar. They learned through espionage the Hyper-Drive technology and thus relieved their dependence on psi-folding. Meanwhile the H'Tarin had conquered five sentient species, of which two had advanced to the atomic age. The Oulerin began to make even less contact with the Ungyar, but one pod made contact with the Psionic Institute that orbited the gas giant of the Ungyar home system. It took days to get full understanding of the Mindsingers intent, for the Ungyar had always found communication between the two species difficult. It seemed that they were proclaiming "fealty" to the Ungyar.

Humaniti Arrives

It was during this time that the H'tarin came across a ship from Sylea and made first contact with humaniti, as well as a few members of other races. Capturing the vessel with ease, they shipped the prisoners to a near-by "Domestication Center", as this was now standard practice for any species encountered that was potentially useful as food stock, labour, warfare, or simple amusement. Humans were found to be the most intelligent of the domesticated species, and H'Tarin stock breeders pushed them as the "ultimate domestic assistant" until there were human slaves on every world in H'Tarin space. Used to repair and maintain equipment, light labour, domestic duties, grooming, entertainment, etc, humaniti's population increased quite rapidly.

The malfunctioning Jump Drive that had caused the Sylean ship to mis-jump was destroyed in the conflict with the H'Tarin, and little else of their alternative technologies survived the encounter either. What was not destroyed was the knowledge of these technologies in the minds of the scientists, engineers, technicians, and others now held in slavery.

Shifting Tides

The Ungyar retreated until H'Tarin space extended to a point approximately twelve parsecs from their outermost colonies. An experimental Ungyarin warship was practicing manuevers when a H'Tarin Hunter class warship attacked it. Instead of fleeing, the Ungyarin attacked, firing missiles at the warship and the assault shuttles it had disgorged. Caught completely off-gaurd by this unexpected behavior, the H'Tarin lost all assault shuttles and the Hunter sustained serious damages before escaping. Ecstatic with their victory, the Ungyarin began formulating an offensive. They soon engaged the H'Tarin in simular circumstances, and for the first few times had equally acceptable results, even taking out the flagship in one spectacular battle.

Such luck was short-lived however, as the H'Tarin began to change their tactics. They called the Ungyar "K'Pera Tok", or "Rabid Race", for the Ungyar would avoid hand-to-hand combat at any cost, retreating at the least possible threat of being boarded. The H'Tarin, on the other hand, disliked not engaging in melee. The behavior of their new "prey" confused them, and that led to fear. The war continued for decades, neither side gaining more than it eventually lost, leaving a zone of deccimated systems.

Monkey Business

The humans had been kept cowed by the H'Tarin habit of devouring the unco-operative specimens, but as their population grew, a percentage of the more patient and devious dissidents formed an efficient underground. A few riots and terrorist actions later the sudden discord spurred a few of the more volatile H'Tarin chieftains to seek total genocide of these new "K'Pera Tok", which only seemed to inspire a desperate commitment on the part of the humans. Some worlds where humaniti had the highest population actually fell to their control. The latest H'Tarin advance into Ungyar space ground to a halt as warships were recalled to squash this insurrection. Although their home system remained in their control, many of the rebel worlds belonged to the same cluster, and the humans had captured a few warships with the help of various members of the other sentient slaves.

The minority of H'Tarin clans who had allowed aliens to ascend into full clan membership found this turn of events as a chance to gain territory, and close to their homeworld at that. Gathering together an entourage composed of members of the largest of these liberal clans, they made contact with this new "Confederacy of Sentients". Although suspicious at first, the confidence of the Confederacy was gained over the course of a series of battles with "traditional" H'Tarin forces in which the aid of these multi-species clans proved invaluable.

Contagious Rebellion

As news of the successful coup in the H'Tarin homeworlds spread, other insurrections took place far from Confederacy space. Some were successful, most were not. A faction of the more paranoid H'Tarin formed the Ivkamuya Theocracy, while the Thagua Union closed its borders to all H'Tarin ships. Many H'Tarin Warships left the fleets heading to the homeworld to quell uprisings in the systems they passed through. By the time the remainder of the fleets reached the H'Tarin core systems, the demarcation between Confederacy and Clan space was set. The Confederacy had not attacked the homeworld due to the remaining slaves there who had been dispersed as "hostages" (a new concept to the H'Tarin). Depleted of the bulk of their fleet, the H'Tarin opened negotiations with the Confederacy. Knowing that their luck could not improve, the Confederacy agreed to not press any further into H'Tarin space for the return of some key hostages and recognition of the Confederacy as a legal entity. The H'Tarin agreed, as most of the members of the Clans who owned these systems were dead, and H'Tarin loyaty is determined by Family first, Clan second, and Tribe last, with little consideration given to the species as a whole.

Fauna in the Farcast Sector

With the spread of the H'Tarin Clans into the Farcast sector and beyond, came the spread of a variety of life-forms to the worlds the H'Tarin colonized. Of these life-forms, most are indiginous to the H'Tarin homeworld, but some come from worlds that developed life on their own. Some species were intentionally transported, others accidently, and some by intent of their own. Foodstock makes up the greatest proportion of exported species, followed by labor beasts, and then by parasites and vermin.

Sophonts

What few sentient species the H'Tarin have discovered have been spread to many worlds as slaves. Occasionally a few specimens have escaped into the wilderness of alien worlds and become feral, or developed parallel cultures.

Pelwari

Descended from gatherer mammeloids inhabiting the extensive coastal cliffs of Pelwar 2, these curious gliders are highly social.

Shithel

By the time the H'Tarin had arrived, the Shithel had already colonized three different systems using generation craft, had a war between these colonies, and lapsed into a period of barbarism.

Tatoi

These amphibious hunters had just entered a renaissance of inventiveness and social experimentation after a post-industrial global depression when the H'Tarin conquered them.

Vantwer

These bichordates had achieved space flight a few decades prior to contact with the H'Tarin. Ambulation is by the ripple of a large disc shaped base located center of mass. Above this is the body, which contains all the major organs including the brain. From either side extend the two spinal appendages, one specialized in visual and olfactory sense organs, as well as fine manipulation, the other in gross manipulation.

Euworan

Gatherer species of amphibious nature that had achieved air flight a century before H'Tarin conquest. Appearance is of a mass of tentacles topped by a sensory stalk. Five vertical oral slits are evenly placed around the torso, concealed by the many tentacles. Communication is through a combination of whistles, labial consonants, and tentacular somatics.

Livestock

Although life has evolved independantly on some worlds in the Farcast sector, variations in biochemical processes have necessitated the importation of food animals and plants. In some cases selective breeding and/or genetic manipulation adapted the specimens to the alien evironments of the H'Tarin colonial worlds. The following life forms are from the H'Tarin homeworld unless otherwise noted.

K'Jaeg (Grumblers)

Fat short legged omnivores prized both for their flesh and their eggs.

Dekhuri (Frenzies)

These fast hunters are kept for pest control and as an amusement. Their eggs are a delicacy, but they themselves are far too skinny for meat.

P'Toi Gathi (Unknown)

Primative scavenger used for waste control. Bears live nymphs that are considered a delicacy.

Braetaki (Unknown)

Herd animals that form the bulk of H'Tarin diet, these herbivores bear live nymphs and live in the vacated hulls of land coral.

Parasites

Unintentionally dispersed throughout H'Tarin space, on colonists, livestock, pets, and slaves, parasites of a variety of sorts followed the H'Tarin colonial efforts. Most originate from the H'Tarin homeworld, but some come from other worlds.

Kh'peki (Burr Louse)

These blood sucking relatives of land coral come in a plethora ao sub-species. All are quite annoying, some are even lethal.

Zh'Trithi (Buzz Bites)

H'Tarin mosquitoes. Big.

Grethik Khamfi (Gut Urchin)

Intestinal parasite spread by spore. One strain actually is symbiotic with the H'Tarin, aiding in digestion and repairing ulcers.

Vermin

As rats that came to foriegn shores on the ships of Terran sailors, small animals from the H'Tarin homeworld and other planets have been spread to many habitable worlds, some even infesting stations and ships for extended periods of time.

D'Khreti (Scurries)

Less amusing relatives of the dekhuri, these scavenger/gatherers breed like mad, and the eggs laid gestate at variable rates, making these a tough pest to erradicate.

K'Tar Kheri (Mock People)

Distant relatives of the H'Tarin, they are also kept as pets.

J'Tegi (Unknown)

Originally from the Euworan homeworld and holding a status similar to the cockroach, they infest food supplies, contaminate water resivoirs, and some even consume wood like the Terran termite.

Predators

A large number of predator species from many worlds have found their way across H'Tarin space for the purposes of sport-hunting, gladitorial events, gaurd animals, and pets. The H'Tarin are enamoured with all forms of predators, and have many preserves and menageries to display and breed these animals.

Jek Khati (Dragons)

The apex predator of the H'Tarin homeworld, the central limbs of these hexapodal hunters are adapted to flight, having tough membranes extending between elongated digits, the hind legs, and part of the finned tail.

Vekh'Tari (Sacred People)

Ferocious pouncers massing slightly more than the average H'Tarin, but otherwise quite similar in morphology. Considered sacred and often used as gaurd animals or for hunting, there are subsequently many different breeds.

Haeiki (Shriekers)

Small flying solitary hunters, domesticated and trained for hunting early in H'Tarin history, they are a common accessory to members of the Major Castes.