Great Rift - Strand

Time to expand out Strand a bit. From a previous post:

Allegiance: Third Imperium, Domain of Vland (ImDv)

System: F3 V 4 Gas Giants — 2 Planetoid Belts — 5 Other Worlds

Naval Base

UWP: A 5 4 5 6 5 4 – C

Starport: A Excellent

Size: 5 8,000km

Atmosphere: 4 Thin; Tainted

Hydrosphere: 5 50%

Population: 6 Millions

Government Type: 5 Feudal Technocracy

Law Level: 4 Light assault weapons prohibited

Technology Level: C Average Imperial

Importance: { 2 } Ordinary

Economics: ( E 5 6 +1 )

  Resources: E Extremely abundant

  Labor: 5 Hundreds of thousands

  Infrastructure: 6 Limited

  Efficiency: +1 Average

Culture: [ 4 8 3 A ]

  Homogeneity: 4 Harmonious

  Acceptance: 8 Friendly

  Strangeness: 3 Somewhat typical

  Symbols: A Abstract

Nobility: Knight, Baron

Remarks: Ag Agricultural Ni Non-Industrial An Ancient Site

Travel Zone: No Restrictions, Travellers' Aid Society Rating: Green

In orbit 5 of the Strand System, Strand is a smaller world 2.8AU from its primary, with a 40 hour day cycle and a 32 degree axial tilt. The poles have long days and nights depending on the season. One local year is 1,416 days, or 3.88 standard years. The Imperial Calendar Compliance office publishes information to map standard Imperial dates to the local dates.  With a 40 hour day, the typical work day is actually 2 10 hour shifts. Most people work 1 shift and have off 3 shifts, and generally there are 2 active shifts for most places for normal "working hours".

Running it though Heaven & Earth, we get the atmosphere has sulfur compounds, so a filter, and possibly a compressor, is suggested for outside activities. Everything has that wonderful sulfur smell - despite excellent filter systems, those in the poorer sections of various cities can not escape the smell. In fact, several neighborhoods have Hell as part of the name, such as Hell's Bells, Hellacious Underground, etc. In the poorest sections grav plating itself is often not even working.

The class A starport has the standard docking platforms on top, ranging from the L7 style for smaller shuttles to huge platforms for 1000+ ton craft. There are also underground and covered pads which range from twice the standard rate to 4 or 5 times, depending on the security level and access to the pads. There are both above ground sealed warehouses as well as underground facilities. There is also a large high port with extensive warehousing, the Port Authority, and entertainment facilities. The King Richard docks at the high port when it arrives at Strand. Shuttles are then taken to the surface, and sight-seeing excursions to the Ancient site are available for a mere Cr250 per person. Normal customs and checkpoints are in effect. Strand also supports Imperial GPS Standards so normal comm devices with GPS should function. The primary down port, Port Uttica, named after one of the early Imperial nobles stationed here, is located next to the coastal city of Griswaki.

All interior spaces use grav plating to have a consistent 1G, except for some of the poorer sections of towns, as well as some recreational areas. Cities are largely underground yet spacious for the most part. Scattered across the planet are 24 medium large cities (pop 45-55 thousand), almost 500 smaller towns/cities with 5000 or more citizens. Smaller enclaves are scattered everywhere as well. With a rich agricultural system, farmsteads dot the surface as well. The primary export is a local grain with a piquant taste due to the sulfur processing, yet has a high protein content and an interesting amino acid complex that is quite beneficial more to Vargr, for those Vargr who may be trying alternative diets. One of the main imports is farming equipment: fully enclosed combines and the like. The atmosphere tends to be rough on most equipment long term.

The people of Strand are Imperial citizens through and through. Although on the edge of Imperial space, there are no neighboring groups that are at odds with the Imperium. They are a friendly group in general, and live in a harmonious accord with the planet. Their one interesting custom is that political figures actually have smaller quarters than most others. It is a sign that they are not in it for personal gain but for the world. Most terms are 1 local year (almost 4 years) though some positions are for two local years. The government is considered a feudal technocracy, made up of several councils and a three-way division of authority: executive, legislative and judicial. Each branch has dozens of councils and groups. All posts are test-driven rather than voted. Those wishing to be part of the political system are constantly tested. Taxes ae a uniform 36% and most taxes do go into city maintenance and infrastructure projects. Strand is not an easy world to live on at times - the sulfur rains can cause significant damage to exterior surfaces.

Law level 4 implies light assault weapons are banned. There is abundant wildlife, some of it actually edible, and hunting is a popular pastime. Most families, and especially the farming groups, all carry weapons out and about the fields as there are some large predators that eat the animals that eat the crops. While in the cities people don't go walking about with hunting rifles, handguns and large knives are not unusual to see. Individual places may enforce no gun rules but that varies by location.

Perhaps because of the active Ancient site, and the distance from Core, psionics are not feared on Strand. While not obvious, there are actually a few psionic institutes to those who look. They specialize in clairvoyance, thinking that there is a link to the Ancient device. So far no real link has been found despite some adherents believing there is a real connection.

For characters disembarking from the King Richard, I may see if I can use the L7 port for those who are not in 1st class. It is here that they may be meeting their patron to start the adventure. Yes - I am determined to use those pretty posters!