Acheron

Acheron
Base Information
Classification	Omnivore/gatherer
Status	Variant Human Race
Locomotion	Walker
Terrain	Plains
Body Form
Confluence	Humanoid
Bio-Identenoid	Human
Size	1.6 meters
Weight	65 kg
Culture
Languages	Native Language, Anglic
Social Structure
Technological Epoch	TL:7-9
Psionic potential	Standard
Origin World
Homeworld location	Nappa (Diaspora 0932)
UWP	D696754-7 Starport D Poor: No Construction, Minor Repair, Unrefined fuel Size 6 Medium (9,600 km, 0.60g - 0.81g) Atmosphere 9 Dense (tainted) Hydrographics 6 Wet World 60% Population 7 Moderate (50 million) Government 5 Feudal Technocracy Law 4 Moderate Law (no light assault weapons) Tech Level 7 Pre-Stellar (electronics)
Primary Star	F3 V
Atmosphere	Standard (tainted)
Off-world presence	No
Zoetic individuals	Yes
Source
Reference	Humaniti 20-23.
Canon	Yes
Also see

The Acheron of Nappa (Diaspora 0932) are a Variant Human Race with a humanoid appearance. They are technologically developing sophonts.

Description (Specifications)

The Acheron were genetically engineered during the period of the Interstellar Wars to exploit the mineral wealth of their homeworld. They are considered ugly by Human standards, but stronger, tougher and more resistant to high radiation levels.

Acheron are distinguished further from baseline Humaniti by the nictating membranes on their eyes, retractable nose and mouth filters, and beefed-up circulatory and respiratory systems.

Climate & Ecotope (Environment)

This species holds the following environmental preferences:

• Terrestrial type of planet
• Cold climate
• Barren plains ecotope
• Standard gravity range
• Standard atmosphere with a taint
• Increased radiation hardiness

Anatomy & Physiology (Corporeality)

Sophontologists studying this species have discovered the following data.

Body Plan (Appearance)

• Humanoid
• Bilateral symmetry (2-ial)
• Tetrapod (4-ped)
  • Two limbs used for manipulation, "arms"
    • Former brachiator (still capable climber)
  • Two limbs used for locomotion (biped), "legs"
• Body consists of three segments
  • Head with sensors and multiple-use orifice (consumption, communication, and respiration)
  • Torso with manipulatory limbs
  • Abdomen with locomotor limbs

Biochemistry (Function)

Acheron have a conventional carbon-water based biochemistry hardened to survive in a high radiation, atmospherically tainted environment.

Respiration (Reaction)

Acheron use a conventional respiration cycle consisting of:

• Oxygen-nitrogen inhalant
• Carbon dioxide exhalant
• Taint filtering

Ecosystem & Population (Ecology)

Human Overview:

• Hyper-acclimitization: Known to quickly adapt to many different climates and environments.
• Requires shelter and clothing.
• Prefer to shelter in defensible dens protected from the elements.

Diet & Trophics (Consumption)

• Omnivore/gatherer
  • Homeotherm
  • Sometimes called a "hunter-gatherer" due to many Humans' penchant for pursuing animal sustenance.

Acheron favour high-protein, high-energy, well-flavoured foods. Elaborate meals are consumed inside, while food eaten outside -- which must pass through a mouth filter -- is always liquefied.

Gender & Sexuality (Reproduction)

Acheron have the following reproductive characteristics::

• Two genders (male & female)
  • Mild sexual dimorphism
• (sexual reproduction)
  • Reproduces through conjugal intercourse
  • Varied mating systems (primarily monogamy)
• Viviparous birth
  • (Iteroparous): Uses K-selection and have few offspring that require considerable amounts of time to raise to maturity.

Multiple births are common among Acheron, but this is offset by their high infant mortality rate. Adolescence is accelerated and aging sets in early, with lifespans being short.

Mentality

Acheron are noted for their superstitious culture, and view the universe as a grim joke and full of malevolent forces. Hexes and defensive measures against same are an important part of their belief systems. Knowing that they will die young compared to most Humans, and with a high childhood mortality rate, they are known for being fatalistic.

Since being admired for looks or for a long, successful career are out of the question, what remains for the Acheron is short-term achievement. Most try very hard to be good at what they do. Their brief childhood means that they tend to be less well-educated than other Imperials, and their world has few prestigious or high-paying jobs. Aware of these handicaps, the Acherons tend to choose an occupation early and work hard at it; doing anything consistently and well is viewed as a victory over jinxes and misfortune.

Culture

Acherons are serially monogamous in their sexual relationships. Acheron law recognizes monogamous marriage, but divorce is very easy and a given adult might change partners several times. Acherons live in extended family groups, sometimes a small team of related women forming a group family, each bringing her partner and children to the household. Family groups are intended to help with the rearing of rapidly-aging children (Acheron adolescence is a trial for all involved) and provide general support to mothers -- especially since post-natal depression is very common in Acherons.

Urbanization

Acheron buildings are environmentally sealed, low-lying structures. They often incorporate wind farms or geothermal taps. This preference for natural energy followed their experience in the Long Night, when the Acherons couldn't rely on high-technology solutions. Communities cluster around essentials like reservoirs and hydroponic farms, and tend to be close to mines, factories, and other places of work.

History & Background (Dossier)

This species originated on Acheron -- Nappa -- as a geneered version of Humaniti, a Variant Human Race. The Acheron-nu batch of geneered colonists was successful at tolerating the planet's environment.

In -2202 the first Acheron-nu individuals reached maturity. These colonists were trained by Terran scientists, who informed them of their special origins and purpose. Engineers, advisors, and counselors mentored them for a few generations, giving them medicine and supplies in return for metals. Then one day they flew off, never to return.

In 387, merchants from a nearby world discovered the existence of the Acherons. The Acherons were willing to trade minerals for manufactured goods, as they had done centuries before. For their part, the offworlders were quick to recognize the opportunity for tremendous profit. They worked from the abandoned Second Imperium space station, which they expanded into an orbital port. In order to protect their advantage, they kept the very existence of the Acherons a secret. They also carefully avoided giving the Acherons any independent spaceflight capability. This situation lasted for centuries.

In 991, an Imperial Interstellar Scout Service ship crash-landed and brought its crew into direct contact with the Acherons. The Acherons were appalled to discover the degree to which they were being lied to and exploited, and decided to emancipate themselves. Somehow, they sneaked onto the highport, took control, and aligned their world with the Imperium. Acheron fighters clamored to serve the Emperor, and did so with such distinction that the Imperial Navy named an Azhanti High Lightning-class cruiser after them.

Linguistics

The Acheron language is descended from the Anglic which served as one of the primary languages of the early Rule of Man. It is distantly related to modern Galanglic, but centuries of separate development have made the two mutually unintelligible. Many Acherons do speak some Galanglic.

Acherons have a given name followed by a family name, inherited from the mother.

Given their cultural distaste for anything Solomani, many Acheron have begun to adopt Vilani names in preference to those of Anglic descent (or from other Terran languages).

Astrography

This race is primarily located in the following areas:
Charted Space:

• Diaspora Sector
  • Shumisdi Subsector
    • They occupy a rimward world-state and few have left their homeworld.

Homeworld

The homeworld of this race is:

• Nappa (Diaspora 0932)

World Listing: 1105

Significant communities of this race are known to exist within the following systems and worlds:

1 of 1 World articles in Acheron

Nappa  •  

startbacknext(1 listed)

References

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 Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Loren Wiseman, Jon F. Zeigler. Humaniti (Steve Jackson Games, 2003), 20-23.
• Colin Dunn. Library Data (Mongoose Publishing, 2011), 2.