Campaign:SBRD/Library/Devonia (world)
Devonia (RD 3125)/Urlaqqash Subsector/Reavers' Deep Sector
(Note: This article is about the SBRD campaign setting in the year 3731 AD, during the Long Night.)
Devonia (RD 3125) C566674-8 Ag Ni Ri - - 213 12 In F5 V M5 V Warm
Size: 8000 km (5), Atmo: Standard, Hydro: 60%, Climate: Warm
Pop: 2 M, Balkanization, LL: 4, TL: 8
Star(s): F5 V M5 V, 12 Worlds, 1 Belts, 3 GGs, Orbit 5
Independent, No Base
Devonia is the 4th planet of an F5 main sequence star, and is somewhat hotter than standard, but still within human tolerance. Much of the planet is wilderness, as 75% of the planet's 2 million people live in a coastal metropolitan area around the starport, which is ruled by a charismatic oligarchy of wealthy families. The balkanized government rating refers to the other 25% of the planet's population, who have colonized various islands not too far from the starport city and live under a variety of different governments. The government and people of Devonia have always attempted to position their system as "The Gateway to the Deep" to benefit from commerce passing through, but in reality most of the desired traffic goes through Nexus (RD 3226) instead.
Conditions/Environment[edit]
The base atmospheric temperature of Devonia can reach 55C (129F) at the equator, which is Human-tolerable only for extremely short periods of time. Devonia City is located at 45 degrees north latitude, which together with the coastal location ameliorates the average temperature to 27C (81F), still quite warm but tolerable. The world’s orbit has very little eccentricity, and axial tilt is also minimal, resulting in no noticeable change of seasons. Visitors are cautioned to wear protection against the bright sunlight and UV rays, including hats, eye protection, loose light-colored clothing, and high-SPF sunblock on exposed skin (natives will use the same, but don’t need to be cautioned to do so).
History[edit]
Devonia was colonized in 2612 AD, during the Rule of Man. Colonists came from Terra and nearby worlds, and also from the high-population Vilani worlds of Daibei sector, giving the new colony a mixed heritage from both sides of the Interstellar Wars. Substantial support was provided by corporate and governmental interests in Daibei, who wished to create a gateway into Riftrim Deep (as it was then called) and profit from the explosive growth they expected to see there. Initial colonization efforts were concentrated on Devonia City, where available mineral resources made mining a profitable secondary source of income. When the expected interstellar traffic was found to be going mostly through nearby Nexus system (RD 3226), the colony’s sponsor support disappeared and the colony was not expanded beyond the City.
Devonia never prospered, but survived comfortably as a secondary world until the Rule of Man collapsed, and has remained in the same role throughout the Long Night. The world has suffered several Reaver raids over the centuries, but its primary exports of refined ore, plant products, and seafood have made it less attractive as a target than some other worlds nearby. Devonia was under the control of the Rickard Protectorate from 3085 through 3457, although this had little impact on the lives of most inhabitants. Now Devonia is hoping for a new wave of prosperity as colonization from Daibei into Reavers’ Deep has increased in recent years.
Starport and Transport Infrastructure[edit]
Devonia’s starport is a downport only; there used to be a highport, but it was destroyed by Reavers and never rebuilt. The downport was built on the coast, integral to the planned seaport there. The planners intended Devonia City to be the capital city of a prosperous world and also a trading center for the expected growth in this subsector and beyond. Then the Rule of Man collapsed, and the expected growth never happened. Both the downport and seaport have pads, docks, and storage facilities far in excess of what is needed for actual traffic.
The starport has a passenger terminal and loading facilities for cargo and freight; it also sells unrefined fuel electrolyzed from seawater, and has several shuttles available to service ships that cannot land. The starport’s repair and maintenance facilities that are most likely to be helpful to visiting starships are the cranes and heavy-lifting machinery, as Devonia's low Tech Level means that the ships themselves probably have better tools.
The seaport serves primarily private vessels and the fishing fleet, as most travel to/from the various settlements away from the city is by airship or grav vehicle, as the components can be brought from offworld much easier than a large sea-going vessel could be. The city itself has a well-designed road network for travel by electric cars and trucks, and the downtown area has electric trolleys (including a branch to the starport).
Population and Government[edit]
Three-fourths of Devonia’s population of two million still live in and around the Devonia City metropolitan area. The remaining 500,000 residents live in smaller communities either inland over the mountains, or on one of the many islands near Devonia City. Much of the planet remains unexplored even after over 1000 years of human occupation.
Devonia City government is controlled by a panel of City Directors, each of whom is nominated to his/her position by one of the powerful families of the City. The City Directors decide all issues of policy, delegating their authority to agencies such as the Devonia City Police Department, Department of Public Health and Safety (combined health and fire department), Department of Revenue and Support (taxation and social services), Department of Law and Justice (judicial system) and others.
The smaller communities outside the City are governed under a variety of systems, as many of them separated from the City expressly to get away from the control of the City Directors.
Economy/Imports/Exports/Trade[edit]
Devonia does not see interstellar traffic in sufficient amounts to contribute significantly to the world’s economy, other than as markets for what Devonia produces and as sources of imports for what Devonia needs but cannot produce. There is no real industry on Devonia other than some light manufacturing for local use, and some remaining mines in the hills, whose refined ores are mostly exported offworld.
Much of the population works in agriculture, farming one or more species of the very-high-metabolism plants native to this world. The plants supply a variety of foods, fibers, and construction materials, and are distinguished by their rapid growth when supplied with sunlight and sufficient nutrients. This makes their cultivation very labor intensive with few economies of scale, encouraging a large number of small farms and backyard operations rather than large-scale corporate farming. The farmers’ cooperatives buy necessary supplies in large quantity for their members, then handle packaging, marketing, and logistics for sale of goods offworld.
In addition to the food raised from native plants, there are indoor hydroponic farms using filtered sunlight to raise Terran crops, and many forms of edible sealife which are harvested by a substantial fishing fleet. Most of this food is for consumption on Devonia rather than shipment offworld.
Offworld Connections[edit]
Devonia gets some traffic from Daibei sector into Reavers’ Deep, although not nearly what was expected when it was colonized, as much of that traffic goes through Nexus system (RD 3226) instead. Devonia’s defense policy might best be termed "dependence on the kindness of strangers," as it has no actual SDBs or planetary defenses of its own (there was once a Battle Station in orbit to protect the Highport; both were destroyed the same day). Instead, it relies on the patrols and defenses of other systems to hold Reavers at bay; if those fail, it relies on the Reavers being persuaded to accept bribes and tribute in return for not destroying the City. The Space Branch of the City Militia is composed of two Gazelle-class Close Escorts (Leozard and Sprintbok), neither of which gets enough practice or training time.
People and Customs[edit]
Biology/Wildlife[edit]
The energetic sun, standard atmosphere, and abundant hydrosphere of Devonia have contributed to development of a full biosphere with active competition in all ecological niches, and varying climatic and vegetation zones around the planet.
The area around Devonia City is a relatively dry coastal area [similar to the natural climate of Southern California], with more desert and scrub brush areas than actual forests.
Due to the hot and energetic sun, many land lifeforms tend toward tough skins and what Terrans might consider reptilian appearance, although most are actually warm-blooded to allow better regulation of body temperature between the extremes of day and night.
Planetary Map[edit]
System Astrography[edit]
Primary Star: F5 V (Whitney) 0 - empty 1 - Whitney I, X420000-0, no moons 2 - Whitney II, X210000-0, no moons 3 - Whitney III, X300000-0, no moons 4 - Whitney IV (Devonia), C566674-8, 1 moon 5 - Asteroid Belt, X000000-0 6 - Whitney V (Peytonia), LGG(170), 1 ring, 6 moons 7 - Whitney VI, XBA7000-0, 2 moons 8 - Whitney VII (Jordania), LGG(180), 10 moons ---- Whitney VII-H (Pit), E502200-8 9 - Whitney VIII (Ashtonia), LGG(190), 7 moons A - Whitney IX, XAA0000-0, 2 moons B - Whitney X, X675000-0, 2 moons C - Whitney XI, X400000-0, no moons Distant Binary: M5 V (Glow), no planets
Important NPCs[edit]
Blaser, Sgt. Dennis: Devonia City Police Department, Customs and Immigration Division. Conducted inspection and interviews on Fortunate Son's arrival on Devonia 3731-08-13. Also first on scene after aborted-theft at Dresnik Mining Complex on 3731-08-15, while coming out to do exit interviews and inspection to clear Fortunate Son for departure. Player Notes about this NPC
Calhoun, "Aunt Ruthie:" proprietor of Aunt Ruthie's Pawn and Repair shop in Devonia City; seems knowledgeable about Robotics and Electronics, among other things. Player Notes about this NPC
Kashnaravi, Wallis: Donoma's friend, assistant manager at Dresnik Mining Company complex in the hills north of Devonia City. Player Notes about this NPC
MacPherson, Scotty "Mac": Crusty owner of a ship-parts refurbishing and resale business (and junkyard) in Devonia City. Retired ship's engineer. Player Notes about this NPC
Vulpinerrin, Nero: Manager and 75% owner of Dresnik Mining Company, which operates mining complex in the hills north of Devonia City. Involved in major shipping deal with Fortunate Son for transport of large Lanthanum shipment from Devonia to Nexus in August 3731. Player Notes about this NPC
(See also Minor NPC List)
Player Notes (Past Involvement Here, etc)[edit]
Fortunate Son was insystem in August 3731:
- 3731-08-09 - Jump Exit into Devonia system, at Peytonia 100-D (intending to skim fuel)
- 3731-08-13 - Landing at Devonia City Starport
- 3731-08-15 - Leave planet, travel to 100-D, Jump to Nexus system (RD 3226)
| 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. |