Windhorn Rift
The Windhorn Rift is one of the four major rifts in Charted Space.
- It is an astrographic feature.
- It is a major obstacle to interstellar trade and commerce.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
The Windhorn Rift is a vast complex of rifts and voids lying coreward of the Imperium. The largest of these is the eponymous Windhorn Rift.
The heart of the Rift lies within the Windhorn Sector, immediately to coreward of Vland. Between the Windhorn Rift and the Great Rift, access to the spinward sectors of the Imperium (and beyond) is greatly restricted, with only a narrow, heavily fortified band of stars (the region of space known as Corridor) serving as a bridge to those sectors.
A simple map showing the general extent of the Windhorn Rift.
(Chart sourced from Traveller Map.)
Rift Regions[edit]
Locally at least, a rift is an astrographic concept based on Jump Drive performance.
The boundaries of rifts were established centuries ago, when the highest commonly encountered tech level was TL–12.
- This level of technology allowed the routine use of up to Jump-3 drives.
- Areas that couldn't be crossed by Jump-3-capable vessels were denoted as rifts.
This traditional definition of rift regions remains in use today: while modern high performance starships can easily cross them, most commercial vessels continue to utilize Jump-3 or less drives. Because of this most traffic is concentrated within higher stellar density regions, and as such the classic definition and boundaries of rift regions remains relevant.
Regional Charts[edit]
Rift Regions[edit]
Simple charts showing rift regions:
Top row: Dhuerorrg Sector, Ngathksirz Sector, Fa Dzaets Sector, and Gzaekfueg Sector.
Bottom row: Tuglikki Sector, Provence Sector, Windhorn Sector, and Meshan Sector.
(Charts sourced from Traveller Map.
Stellar Distribution[edit]
Simple charts showing stellar distribution:
Top row: Dhuerorrg Sector, Ngathksirz Sector, Fa Dzaets Sector, and Gzaekfueg Sector.
Bottom row: Tuglikki Sector, Provence Sector, Windhorn Sector, and Meshan Sector.
(Charts sourced from Traveller Map.
Rogue Worlds[edit]
The rift is believed to contain many rogue worlds, frigidly cold, eternally dark planets that have no primary star.
- These may be tiny worldlets, larger rocky worlds or gas giants.
- Some rogue worlds may retain one or more moons.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
The Vargr homeworld of Lair is situated on the far coreward edge of the Windhorn Rift, as seen from the perspective of Imperial space.
- This was fortuitous for the Vargr, as it prevented the early Ziru Sirka from discovering and absorbing the world, thus allowing the Vargr to independently develop into the Major Race that they are today.
Proposed Jump Bridge[edit]
The Windhorn officially has no jump bridge traversing it, although several consortiums of Imperial and Vargr Extents interests would like to see one built.
Windhorn Chain Jump Bridge[edit]
The Windhorn Chain is the name given to a proposed jump route across the Windhorn Rift. It would pass through Khonsu, Uroez, and Tsougak Subsectors of Windhorn Sector.
The concept is to construct a jump bridge, consisting of one or more deep space refuelling facilities located within Uroez Subsector, deep within the Rift.
- The jump bridge would facilitate trade and travel between Provence Sector and Lair, the Vargr homeworld, and the Vargr-dominated sectors to trailing.
The intention is to build the Chain using one or more Rogue Worlds, which would serve as deep space refuelling points.
- Although the preferred hex locations are known, there is no evidence that any such suitable worlds have yet been found within them.
- If suitable bodies can be found and the facilities are constructed, the Chain would facilitate crossing the Rift, taking months off of travel times between the spinward and trailing sides.
Proposed Designs[edit]
Two variant proposals exist: a jump-4 bridge and a jump-6 bridge.
A basic map showing the proposed location of the jump-4 Windhorn Chain Jump Bridge.
(Chart sourced from Traveller Map)
- The Bridge facilities would lie within interstellar hexes 1811 and 2211 of Uroez Subsector.
A basic map showing the proposed location of the jump-6 Windhorn Chain Jump Bridge.
(Chart sourced from Traveller Map)
- The Bridge facilities would lie within interstellar hex 2011 of Uroez Subsector.
Issues and Concerns[edit]
Objections to the concept as proposed include:
- It would incur massive expenditure and require considerable amounts of materials to set up and get operational.
- It would require advanced ships, as well as support and maintenance facilities to keep them running. Few such ships are available within the extents.
Ownership and control of the proposed route is a contentious topic and negotiations to resolve it have been extremely fraught.
Despite these issues Gzugzo Lines, a major shipping interest within the sector, continues to support the idea.
Many believe that the jump bridge, in one of its two proposed forms, already exists.
Worlds & Sectors (Astrography)[edit]
This astrographic feature is located within the following areas:
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
- John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Classic Traveller Supplement 8 Library Data (A-M), (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), various pages. (Library data entries)
- John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Classic Traveller Supplement 11 Library Data (N-Z), (Game Designers Workshop, 1982), various pages. (Library data entries)
- J. Andrew Keith, Marc Miller, John Harshman. Classic Traveller Vargr (Game Designers Workshop, 1984), IBC. (Rift depicted)
- James Holden, Joe D. Fugate Sr., Terrance McInnes. Vilani & Vargr (Digest Group Publications, 1990), pages 11, 48, 49. (Dot maps and charts indicating the locations and allegiances of worlds within the region)
- Rob Caswell. "Life Under the Vargr: Snapshots of the Occupation." MegaTraveller Journal 2 (1991): page 47. (Background for surrounding sectors)
- David Burden, Stuart Dollar, Andy Lilly, Joseph Walsh. T4 Aliens Volume 1 (Imperium Games, 1998), pages 91-182. (The Vargr Extents)
- David L. Pulver. GURPS Traveller Alien Races 1 (Steve Jackson Games, 1998), pages 64-99. (The Vargr Extents)
- Simon Beal. Mongoose Traveller: Vargr, (Mongoose Publishing, 2009), various pages. (Background for the Windhorn Rift region)