Kforuzeng
The Kforuzeng are a Vargr mega-corsair (pirate) band.
- The Kforuzeng has a reputation for extreme ruthlessness.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
The most powerful Vargr corsair band in Gvurrdon Sector, operating in the Firgr Subsector and (at their height) some adjacent territories.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Around 1085 the band had "an aging fleet of about 20 ships with an average tonnage of 400 tons" and had a range that "spanned several subsectors along and just beyond the Imperial border".
From 1105 to 1107, it virtually monopolized all corsair activity along most of the length of the Domain of Deneb border. It remained the largest band even after severe decline. Its growth began surging again amidst the chaos of the Rebellion.
Overview (partially non-canon)[edit]
The early history of the Kforuz is rather murky, but the Fourth Frontier War is generally accepted as being the beginning of their ascendancy. At one time before the Fifth Frontier War a number of Vargr states in Gvurrdon and Tuglikki were forced to pay tribute to the group to prevent its raids, and several regions of the Extents were "no-go" for Imperial traders and travellers because of the threat of piracy and kidnap.
The Fifth Frontier War nearly destroyed the group, and it slowly faded towards obscurity until the mid-1110s. The Oekhsos tirades revitalised its membership and recruitment, and during the Imperial Civil War it invaded and conquered several worlds in Aramis Subsector, where it later remained in power through proxies. The group was a major contributor to the formation of the Vargr Pack, but has been overshadowed and sidestepped by the shadowy Udhegvol. It has also lost its Fuernuzorg spec ops unit to the Pack. But it remains a power to be reckoned with in Gvurrdon, and has announced its intent to begin reclaiming Tuglikki for itself.
Expanded History[edit]
Kforuzeng was founded in 1041 by Dzenae Aekoe as a splinter from the Ungogz Den. The fleet grew quickly from one ship to four due to Aekoe's brilliant tactics and leadership.
In 1043, the Kforuzeng fleet attacked and captured a hidden Corsair Base in Ueghrrozue (Gvurrdon 2339). This hollow asteroid became the main Kforuzeng base. Between this act of daring and Aekoe's tactical skills, Kforuzeng attracted a number of other groups, mostly independent operators and small corsair groups, to operate under their flag.
Aekoe died in 1052 during a attack on Kinorb (Spinward Marches 2202). Unlike many other corsair groups, Kforuzeng did not disintegrate upon the death of its leader. Ksangu, then the second in command of Kforuzeng, took over leadership and managed to expand the group even further.
In 1071, following months of careful infiltration, Ksangu staged a raid on the Orsesokhin (Gvurrdon 2323) starport, stealing an almost completed 200,000 ton Battleship. Named Akhaegtoullae (Swift Fighter), the craft proved to be an excellent flagship, capable of outflying and outgunning every other opponent. The Thoengling Empire, the original owners, were mightily displeased. After a failed assassination attempt on Ksangu, the Thoenglings invaded Orsesokhin to recover their payment for the ship. Disaster followed the ship however, and in 1093 an apparent misjump on a routine flight caused the Akhaegtoullae to disappear.
Ksang died in 1089, marking the beginning of the fall of Kforuzeng. Allkigvue, attempting to follow in the steps of his predecessors, tried to grow the group further, and it expanded beyond his reach. The group had grown so large, both in numbers of ships and in the space it covered, that Allkigvue had no direct control of the individual groups. Groups joining Kforuzeng to be part of a large and successful corsair band now began to pursue their own agendas. Some groups moved toward more legitimate mercenary work, gaining several Vargr states and the Megacorporation Tukera Lines as clients. Other groups began expanding their range of influence trailing into the Tuglikki Sector. An alliance with the Commonality of Kedzudh gave Kforuzeng a Letter of Marque against the Kedzudh's enemies, and a safe house in case of trouble.
All of this growth stretched Kforuzeng to its limits, preventing it from taking advantage of the chaos of the Fifth Frontier War. The Raiding of the 40th Squadron attracted many Kforuzeng captains. At the end of the war, the Imperium was not very discriminating about which corsair groups it went after, and Kforuzeng being the largest took the brunt of the Imperial raids into Vargr space.
These failures forced Allkigvue to resign in 1110, giving leadership to Egharsgon. Egharsgon, while of high charisma, lacked the planning ability to keep his slowly splintering organization in line. He formed Gvurknuesurrg, a secret organization whose job was to ensure that the different groups stayed loyal to the leadership -- but the secret police just forced the splintering to occur faster. In 1112 the Kedzudh treaty was nullified, forcing Kforuzeng from their space. Many of the corsair ships, owned by their captains, simply disappeared. Funding to run the larger ships dried up and the ships were mothballed or borrowed by the splinter groups. In 1114 Gzongzuers, the head of the Gvurknuesurrg, split to form his own group. Finally in 1115 Egharsgon retired. Kforuzeng, one-fifth of its former size, didn't elect a new, single leader, being ruled now by a loose group of high-Charisma individuals.
Rebellion[edit]
With the troubles in the Imperium from the Rebellion, Kforuzeng gained a new chance. Anuekhs An Gzoug (Flame that Burns) assassinated several members of the leadership council of Kforuzeng and took control of the group. In 1117, Kforuzeng re-signed the treaty with the Commonality of Kedzudh, a treaty called the Glass Bond by Imperial officials. This new group then removed the Imperial presence from Gvurrdon Sector, and began to assault the Spinward Marches Sector through Aramis. With the Domain of Deneb under assault from the Vargr, the Aslan ihatei, and threats from both the Zhodani and Rebellion factions, the Imperial Navy was prevented from mustering enough force to stop them. Norris managed to make peace with the Aslan in 1126, and turned his fleets toward the Vargr menace. Many of the Kforuzeng bases were hit by the Imperial fleet, the main base falling in 1130.
After this final assault, and the threat of the Virus, Kforuzeng splintered into smaller groups. Despite these threats, Kforuzeng remained a powerful force in the Gvurrdon Sector and the Regency.
Military & Intelligence (Force Projection)[edit]
No information yet available.
Ground Forces[edit]
No information yet available.
[edit]
No information yet available.
Intelligence Forces[edit]
No information yet available.
The original band had about 10 ships, mostly type VP corsairs (400 T) and similar vessels.
- At their peak they had 35 or more ships ranging from 100 to 1,000 tons in size.
Ground Forces[edit]
No information yet available.
[edit]
They build the Kforuzeng Class Scout at TL–13.
Offshoots[edit]
Worlds & Sectors (Astrography)[edit]
This organization is known to operate out of the following areas:
This notorious Vargr corsair alliance is native to Gvurrdon and Tuglikki sectors. The Kforuz have been so successful and influential a group that their name has become the official term for "corsair" in Gvurrdon and some other areas of the Vargr Splinters.
World Listing: 1105[edit]
References[edit]
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- MegaTraveller Vilani & Vargr
- Journal of the Travellers Aid Society No. 21
- Peter Gray - Gray Matter
- Martin Dougherty. The Fifth Frontier War (Mongoose Publishing, 2024), 105.
- Gvurrdon Sector Campaignbook