Ushmigad (world)

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Ushmigad/Nulinad (Empty Quarter 0638)
Milieu 1116
A432653-E
StarportA Excellent: Starship Construction, Overhaul, Refined fuel
Size4 Small (6,400 km, 0.32g - 0.46g)
Atmosphere3 Vacuum (very thin)
Hydrographics2 Dry World 20%
Population6 Moderate (9 million)
Government5 Feudal Technocracy
Law3 Low Law (no automatic weapons)
Tech LevelE High Stellar (anti-grav cities)
See also UWP
style="width: 220px; height: 250px;"
Jump map from Travellermap.com [1]
System Details
Primary K9 V
Worlds 10
Gas Giants 1
Planetoid Belts 1
Cultural Details
Government Feudal technocracy
Law Level Low
Cultural Extension 372B
Army Size (BEs) 0
Economic Details
Technology Level 14
Economic Extension
A55-2
ResourcesAAbundant
Labor5Moderate (900 thousand)
Infrastructure5 Limited
Efficiency-2Fair
Importance Extension 1
Resource Units 42
GWP (BCr) 200
World Trade Number 4.5
Trade Volume (MCr/year) 8,770
Starport Details
Classification Class-A
Port Size 4
Building Capacity (Tons) 8,549
Port employees 720
Port passengers (annual) 14,000

Ushmigad has an unbreathably thin atmosphere and very little surface water. The system has a population between 1 million and 10 million sophonts, lacking the industrial base to be completely self-supporting. It is a member of Third Imperium in the Nulinad Subsector of Empty Quarter Sector and in the Domain of Antares. Ushmigad, as a member world of the Third Imperium, holds the estate of an Imperial knight, a member of the Imperial Nobility charged with overseeing the world. Less than 10% of the world's population is the Minor Race Bwap.

Astrography and Planetology[edit]

Part of the Sashar-Pamushgar Cluster.


Monostellar System[edit]

Ushmigad Monostellar System
Star Name Hierarchy Category Mass (Sol) Temp (K) Luminosity (Sol)
Ushmigad

K9 V

 Primary Main Sequence 0.59 3850 - 3930 0.15775
Unit Diameter Min Distance Hab Zone Jump Shadow M-Drive Limit
AU 0.0028 0.0329 0.41 - 0.78 0.28 2.8
Orbit #  *  * 2 0 5

History and Background[edit]

Standing directly against the Vilani hatred of innovation, the Ashi Gurlagili cult settled Ushmigad in 266. Driven out of Vland Sector for their fondness of innovative and groundbreaking research, the Ashi Gurlagili quickly drove roots into the world. They used their research to create new consumer goods, the profits of which were ploughed right back into the labs. Increasing technological knowhow, coupled with Vilani corporate instincts, has led to a remarkably high standard of living - much to the disgust of other Vilani societies within The Empty Quarter.

Ushmigad is one of the eight surviving, widely scattered Imperial systems dominated by Ashi Gurlagili, and the most successful of the lot.

They have a very high standard of living, a rather florid and emotional culture, and are deeply hated by conformist Vilani. Pugaash (Empty Quarter 0337) residents will kill them as twisted perverts (after following proper bureaucratic procedure, naturally), if they are aware of their presence.

Wealthy Ushmigad was seen as an Enemy of the People by Abadani, and suffered from several famous terrorist incidents in the 940s-960s. Even today, the occasional Abadani-inspired industrial strike occurs on occasion.

The Vilani heretics of Ushmigad follow the Ashi Gurlagili cult are not strictly a “planetary” belief system. Ashi Gurlagili is composed of what are essentially Vilani perverts: unlike the sexuallydriven Solomani perverts, the innovation-driven Vilani perverts love love LOVE to make new things, try new things, invent new things. Whether these activities are beneficial or hurtful, or even sane, is not the point: gaining mastery is. Their culture is always in flux, but their wealth is derived from technological innovation: this includes the deliberate violation of as many Vilani patents and rules as possible. Their inventiveness and wealth did not protect them from exceedingly savage purges from Vland Sector, with the surviving membership scattered across the Imperium.

Ushmigad is one of the eight surviving, widely scattered Imperial systems dominated by Ashi Gurlagili, and the most successful of the lot. Each member of this cult believes that they have a unique mini-deity, called a daemon (the choice of name is deliberate: they may reserve their hate for Vilani tradition, but they have no love for Solomani monotheism either). This daemon encourages them to ‘follow their bliss’, and ‘do what thou wilt’, whatever it may be.

Similar to the Christian understanding of demons, the Ashi Gurlagili see these daemons as essentially hostile to humaniti, quick to encourage people to destroy themselves and others. And indeed, the more violent cultic worlds have been progressively wiped out over the centuries, as they invariably either 1) turn all their neighbors into their enemies and/or 2) take on one challenge too many, up to and including challenging the Imperium, the laws of physics, or the nature of the universe.

Less murderous members of the cult end up destroying themselves in various exciting ways, or perhaps dying in a pauper’s hovel without issue after a life of pleasure: sexual pleasure perhaps, but more importantly the pleasure of defying Vilani convention at every turn, outraging the masses and living to see another day... until the inevitable day when they calculate incorrectly.

The Ushmigadi are not so direct in their challenges. Like Plato, they seek to harness these daemons for their own purposes. The Ushmigadi prefer to make beautiful and useful things that are desired by the masses, but challenge or defy Vilani culture in some way. It can be a handsome set of symmetrical Vilani clothing, or songs that mispronounce Vilani in a very charming way- but usually, it’s just providing inventive, excellent goods at reasonable prices... with the profits going to a group that comprehensively challenges Vilani culture. The Solomani almost never get the subtext... but they are not the Ushmigadi cultist’s and the Ushmidagi make sure that their Vilani buyers do get the subtext. Putting the Vilani sense of tradition and conformity against their desire for wealth and prosperity, and then seeing the Vilani choose money over tradition, is what makes life worth living for the Ushmigadi. Most of the other Vilani of the Six Subsectors are ill at ease when dealing with the Ashi Gurlagili, when they are not actually disgusted. The violent Vilani theocrats of Pugaash will kill cult members if the opportunity presents itself. During the Imperial Civil War, quite a number of mysterious ‘pirate raiders’ tried wipe out the Ashi Gurlagili system, but system forces (Imperial, Ducal, and/or highend mercenary) were able to successfully defend the world on these occasions.

The Vilani megacorporations are very careful when dealing with Ushmigadi: unlike the local Vilani (stuck at the traditional TL of 11, the height of the Ziru Sirka “and therefore the perfect tech level”), the Vilani megacorporations are comfortable at handling cutting-edge TL 14 equipment.22 As recognized guardians of interstellar Vilani culture, though, they are painfully aware that they have far more to lose than the smiling Ashi Gurlagili negotiator at the other end of the table. On the other hand, the technology is often top-notch, and the profits just might be worth certain... irregularities. target. The proper Vilani traditionalist is the target, and the Ushmidagi make sure that their Vilani buyers do get the subtext.

Putting the Vilani sense of tradition and conformity against their desire for wealth and prosperity, and then seeing the Vilani choose money over tradition, is what makes life worth living for the Ushmigadi.

Most of the other Vilani of the Six Subsectors are ill at ease when dealing with the Ashi Gurlagili, when they are not actually disgusted. The violent Vilani theocrats of Pugaash will kill cult members if the opportunity presents itself. During the Imperial Civil War, quite a number of mysterious ‘pirate raiders’ tried wipe out the Ashi Gurlagili system, but system forces (Imperial, Ducal, and/or highend mercenary) were able to successfully defend the world on these occasions.

The Vilani megacorporations are very careful when dealing with Ushmigadi: unlike the local Vilani (stuck at the traditional TL of 11, the height of the Ziru Sirka “and therefore the perfect tech level”), the Vilani megacorporations are comfortable at handling cutting-edge TL 14 equipment.22 As recognized guardians of interstellar Vilani culture, though, they are painfully aware that they have far more to lose than the smiling Ashi Gurlagili negotiator at the other end of the table. On the other hand, the technology is often top-notch, and the profits just might be worth certain... irregularities.

UWP Listing[edit]

UWP Changes (all dates are Imperial Calendar)

  • T20 - 993 - Ushmigad 0638 A432753-E Na Po Bwap1 711 Im
  • CT - 1105 - Ushmigad 0638 A432653-E Na Ni Po Bwap0 911 Im
  • MT - 1125 - Ushmigad 0638 E4326C7-7 Na Ni Po 811 Ou - Outlands
  • TNE - 1201 - Ushmigad 0638 X432000-0 Ba 011 --

References and Contributors[edit]

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
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