Campaign:SBRD/Library/Urlaqqash (world)
Urlaqqash (RD 3023)/Urlaqqash Subsector/Reavers'_Deep_Sector
(Note: This article is about the SBRD campaign setting in the year 3731 AD, during the Long Night.)
Urlaqqash (RD 3023) C788874-8 Ag Ri - - 712 6 In F9 V Warm
Size: 11200 km (7), Atmo: Dense, Hydro: 80%, Climate: Warm
Pop: 700 M, Balkanization, LL: 4, TL: 8
Star(s): F9 V, 6 Worlds, 1 Belts, 2 GGs, Orbit 4
Independent, No Base
Urlaqqash, which gives its name to this subsector, is best known as home to a variant human species, the Urlekki, who were transplanted here approximately 300,000 BC by the Ancients. The Urlekki were still divided into competing nation-states and had achieved Tech Level 8 when they were contacted in xxxx by Terran Confederation military scouts during the Interstellar Wars. This brief contact caused a major cultural and religious upheaval in most parts of the world, as their dominant culture lacked any concept of intelligent beings in other starsystems, much less other Humans like themselves. Urlaqqash was re-contacted during the Rule of Man, and since then some Urlekki nations and corporations have purchased starships and improved insystem drives from traders from higher TL worlds, but the Urlekki overall remain at TL 8 and lack the capacity to build starships of their own. The primary starport for the mainworld is a highport built and maintained by Vishnugilii Corporation, connecting to downports of varying quality in different nations on the world's surface. Due to varying reactions of local cultures to offworlders, caution is advised for travellers.
Conditions/Environment[edit]
This size 7 world is denser than average, has normal 1G gravity and a Dense atmosphere, with 80% hydrographics providing standard weather and precipitation. The world's climate is classified as Warm, meaning the equatorial regions are uncomfortably hot for most Humans, although some native groups have adapted to life in these areas.
The F9 V star provides hot white light, high in UV rays, so eye and skin protection are advised for offworlders. The Urlekki themselves have developed dark skin high in melanin, and UV-resistant eyes to compensate for the harsh rays of their sun.
Starport and Transport Infrastructure[edit]
The primary starport of Urlaqqash is the highport built and operated by Vishnugilii Corporation. Several groups onplanet contributed funds to subsidize the construction of the highport, but Vishnugilii Corporation has maintained ownership and control, as the highport is constructed at TL 10 and the Urlekki lack the technology to maintain it themselves. Urlaqqash Highport has shuttle service to downports in several nations on the planet, but most offworlders remain at the highport for their trading needs.
Planetary infrastructure varies by the level of development of individual nations, but generally any transport available at TL 8 can be found in use somewhere.
History[edit]
This planet had been inhabited for over 300,000 years, so a detailed history is beyond the scope of this article. By the time civilization and the keeping of oral and written histories developed, the Urlekki people were already distributed over most parts of the two main continents. Whether this distribution was done by the Ancients or achieved by the Urlekki themselves is unknown, and the world has not been extensively studied by archeologists or archeo-anthropologists.
Agricultural civilizations seem to have developed near-simultaneously on both major continents; subsequent expansion and competition over the years has resulted in many wars and changes of borders. When the Urlekki were contacted by Terran Confederation military scouts of the UNSS Daniel Boone in xxxx, the most advanced nations were at Tech Level 8 and had begun some space exploration, and even limited exploitation of space-based resources.
Unfortunately, the revelation of starfaring civilizations including other Humans like themselves was a major shock to the Urlekki and caused worldwide cultural upheavals. Some believed that the starfarers were gods or angels, while some believed them to be devils or demons. Existing religions twisted and splintered and had suppressions of heretical divisions, while several new religions grew and flourished. A culture-wide inferiority complex resulted in a stagnation of research and advancement in space-related activity, except for missions sponsored by religious groups seeking to find a way to the "Star-Gods".
When the planet was re-contacted by the Rule of Man in xxxx, reactions varied according to cultural beliefs and what they expected of the "Sky-People" or "Star-Gods". Most of the planetary population has adjusted to the concept of interstellar civilization over the past centuries, although there remain some extreme sects for and against offworld contact.
Technological advancement since re-contact has remained stagnant. While individual persons, corporations, or nations have purchased higher-tech items (including a few starships) from traders, the planet overall remains at Tech Level 8.
Population and Government[edit]
The population of Urlaqqash is quite homogenous. It is unknown exactly what stock the Ancients started with, but over the past 300,000 years natural selection has made the Urlekki dark-skinned to resist the high-UV of their sun, with dark, straight hair and dark eyes with internal structures resistant to the bright UV light. Anyone not matching that general description will be instantly identified as an offworlder.
Urlaqqash remains balkanized with a variety of government types in different nations, although the modern trend is toward representative democracies, constitutional monarchies with various levels of citizen participation, and various sorts of oligarchy.
Economy/Imports/Exports/Trade[edit]
Urlaqqash can easily produce more food than it needs, so agricultural exports are almost always available. As a Rich but low-TL world, Urlaqqash is a good market for all sorts of high tech goods and luxuries. The planet also produces various Light Metals and Heavy Metals, but due to scarcity and demand for these resources on Urlaqqash, it is rare to find them available for export at below base price.
Offworld Connections[edit]
Inclination toward offworld contact varies tremendously by culture and religion. Some prefer to shun all offworld contact, while others have formed corporations to purchase starships and venture offworld themselves in search of wealth, knowledge, or religious enlightenment.
People and Customs[edit]
Biology/Wildlife[edit]
Planetary Map[edit]
System Astrography[edit]
Important NPCs[edit]
Player Notes (Past Involvement Here, etc)[edit]
| This article is specific to the SBRD Reavers' Deep Campaign, which is set during the Long Night, beginning in year 3731 AD (-787 Imperial). This information may not be correct for the typical Traveller campaign set during the time of the Third Imperium. |