SKYSKIMMER
An intergalactic fantasy role-playing setting designed for use with The Black Hack
Written by Jules Galette
is a supplement made for use with The Black Hack, inspired by that ever-enduring combination of pseudo-medieval fantasy role-playing and operatic space adventure. Far above and beyond your earthbound characters are galaxies teeming with worlds populated by civilizations who have harnessed the power of intergalactic travel.
: EARTHBOUND: Civilizations that either have yet to discover space-travel or gain knowledge of universal civilization. GROUNDERS: Denizens of Earthbound worlds. Used as a perjorative for cosmic newcomers throughout known-space STARFARING: Civilizations that participate in galactic and universal affairs. STAR WAYS: The travel lanes between planets and star systems. KNOWN-SPACE: The 12 identified galactic systems. THEORETICAL SPACE: The galaxies believed to exist out in the flow beyond the ability of current universal civilizations to reach. OUTSIDE SPACE: The universal superstructures believed to exist outside of the flow. THE FLOW: Slang for the Aether, the substance that fills the space between galaxies. GALAXIES: Cosmic mega-structures that contain star-systems and protect them from t he ravages of the flow.
KNOWN-SPACE is made up of 12 galaxies: Zaulea, Yuiitis, Blagutov, Smopurila, Clorix 6z, Smion 68BA, Oter, Yaslora, Clovehines, Atromia, Doirus, Frusuria as so recorded by The Upper Authority of The Crystal Rangers. No one is happy with these names. Galaxies are best described as giant jewels that bob about in THE AETHER. While Galaxies might appear to be perfectly round scientists have discovered that they about as varied in shape and size as ice cubes, lending credence to the long held theory that all of existence is merely floating in the cocktail of some louging stellar deity. The Church of the Eternal Lush has seen its membership skyrocket since these findings were released. Galaxies are accessed by travelers in the aether via GATES. Each galaxy contains (d4) star systems.
Gates are colossal and mysterious mystical barriers which prevent the phologiston from flowing into galaxies and are, for the most part, the only way to access galactic systems from the aether. Many gates are guarded by members of The Crystal Rangers. Other powers and interest groups control various gates around the galaxy and determine their own means of access, most commonly via toll or permit. WaveGates, or W-Gates are ancient, mysterious devices that allow travelers to bypass the aether and move directly from one galaxy to another. WaveGates are rare, functional ones even more so. There is currently a terse alliance between The Concordant and The Crystal Rangers to locate and secure W-Gates.
THE AETHER or flow is a milky, multi-colored semi-gaseous, semi-liquid substance that makes up the substance of the known universe between the galaxies. It is a bizarre material that has been recorded behaving like the oceans, clouds, sand and even snow. Storms, whirlpools, twisters and what can only be described as quicksand flows have destroyed entire armadas of star farers. It is also highly toxic and flammable. New space-faring crews and civilizations have been known to incinerate themselves using imprecise incendiary weapons. Veterans of the spaceways call these incidents barbeques. It generally takes between (d4) and (d12) weeks to traverse the flow.
Travel off-world and onto the star ways or into the flow requires a CRYSTAL DYNAMO. These bizarre devices are made of what appears to be fossilized aether. They resemble humanoid hearts and range fr om melon sized to as large as dragons. They are crafted through an obscure alchemical process that can only take place out in the flow. This exact nature of this process has been lost by all known races of the universe, although that hasn’t stopped sorcerers, science-brigades and swindlers of all stripes from boasting about their research into the process. CRYSTAL DYNAMOS generate thrust when in use and allow for the creation of the atmospheric and gravimetric barriers that makes space travel possible for most mortal beings. To pilot a ship mounted with a dynamo, a pilot must maintain physical contact with the dynamo and pass a WIS test. If successful, the ship becomes an extension of their own body and they can then mentally maneu ver it in space. Space explorers from earthbound civilizations who come into possession of a dynamo generally affix them to seafaring vessels and use that to make their first forays into space. Ships store air and atmosphere collected from planetary visits in a usage die. The larger the ship, the more atmosphere it is able to store and the longer it traverse the star ways or flow without needing to make planetfall. Smaller dynamos are able to generate the creation of small gravimetric and atmospheric fields on oversized vessels, but have difficulty producing the proper thrust for leaving a planet’s gravity well.
Crystal Dynamos function optimally when installed in ships sized correctly for their power output. Small: Melon-sized. Capable of powering small, single or dual-occupancy crafts. (d6) usage die for air. Medium: Sheep-Sized. Capable of powering medium sized vessels. Can usually sustain up to a dozen occupants. (d12) usage die for air. Large: Boulder-Sized. Capable of powering large vessels, like galleys or warships. Can usually sustain up to 36 occupants. (d20) usage die for air. Giant: Dragon-Sized dynamos. Capable of powering anything from massive warships to mountains. (5d20) usage die for air.
STARSHIPS Every starfaring race brings their own flair and innovation to the field of ship design. Humans enjoy a little more leg room, Halflings need fully stocked kitchens, Reptillians need their sleeping pools, etc. Folks are, for the most part, happy to stick with the wooden ships that carried them or their ancestors to the stars in the first place. Wooden boats are still the most commonly used starfaring vessels. Sailors and merchants appreciate the ease of repair, the lower cost of upkeep and the ability to traverse earthbound civilizations unnoticed (assuming no one sees their boat coming in from the upper atmosphere.) Still, some innovation has been made: Eleven alchemists first mastered the art of growing ships from coral - their living ships are semi-sentient, feed on phlogiston and will continue growing throughout their lifespan. The Dwarves favor anything they can knock back a few dozen ales and hammer out over a weekend with (a few hundred) friends. Dwarven ships are cold, crude and metallic. Dwarves are known for carving intricate runes onto the exterior of their ships despite knowing that exposure to phlogiston will eat away at them. The Vestra Corporation is a design firm dedicated to providing the best spacefaring vessels for consumer, law enforcement and military needs. Their design team hails from (d20) worlds and Vestra credits their di verse perspectives with the innovations they've been able to make for the last 100 years.
Treat space and aether travel the same way you’d treat your characters traversing a dungeon. Roll anything from a d4 - d20 to determine the number of “rooms” the players must clear before making it to their destination. Use any dungeon maps you already have and add a space-based flair. For measuring time, treat the time it takes to clear one “room” as 24 hours.
CREATING SHIPS Treat ship creation like character creation. Roll 3d6, apply to your chosen stat. If a stat of 15+ is rolled, roll 2d6 + 2 until your next roll. HULL: Your ship’s constitution, it’s ability to withstand the rigors of space travel and combat. SPEED: Your ship’s speed. HANDLING: Your ship’s dexterity. This is it’s ability to traverse the star ways and aether safely, as well as defend itself . Make tests against your ships HULL to determine whether attacks or space hazzards do permanent structural damage to the vessel. Ex: The TriWind has a HULL of 15. As it passes through an asteroid field the Captain rolls against the ship’s HULL stat. The result is a 17. The ship takes minor damage that needs to be repaired. Make tests against your ship’s SPEED to determine when it will act in combat against other ships and its ability to quickly traverse space. Ex: The TriWind needs to pass through (d4) sectors of space to reach the Commernil Star System. The TriWind has a speed of 12. The Captain makes a SPEED test of to bypass a room. The result is an 11. The ship is able to catch a space lane and breeze through a sector without having to encounter any hazards or other ships. Make tests against your ships HANDLING to determine how easily you can evade space hazards. Ex: The TriWind is passing through a space sector with a strong singularity at its center. The ship has a HANDLING of 19. The result is a 20, a critical failure - the ship and its crew are pulled into the singularity. Handling rolls are also made by Captain’s to evade enemy attacks and crew members manning weapons stations to determine a successful hit.
POPULAR SHIP TYPES OF KNOWN-SPACE
SHIP
DESIGNER
DYNAMO
ARMOR
HD
CLASS Shrimp
Elven
Small
Coral
1
Mussel
Elven
Medium
Coral
7
Reef
Elven
Giant
Coral
15
Geoduck
Elven
Large
Coral
10
Ballinger
Human
Small
Wood
5
Caravel
Human
Medium
Wood
7
Treasure Ship
Human
Giant
Wood
15
Frigate
Human
Large
Wood
10
Clipper
Human
Medium
Wood
7
Galleon
Human
Large
Wood
10
Boomerang
Goblin
Small
Ceramic
5
Mini-Subs
Dwarvish
Medium
Metal
7
Sub-Aethers
Dwarvish
Large/Giant
Metal
10/15
Hammer-Ship
Dwarvish
Large/Giant
Metal
10/15
Dart
Gnomish
Small
Metal
1
Silver
Vextra
Medium/Large
Ceramic
7/10
Small
Ceramic
1
Corporation Billiard
Vextra Corporation
Dragonship
Vextra Corporation
Skyskimmer
????
Small/Medium/ Ceramic/ Large
Dragon Bone
Giant
Exotic
5/7/10
20
1
Wood
5 AP
2
Coral
15 AP
3
Ceramics
10 AP
4
Metal
20
5
Exotic
25-30
6
Magical
???
Ship hulls are commonly fashioned from several different types of material, each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Wood: Sturdy, dependable, common and highly flammable. Coral: Semi-living material adored by Elven shipwrights. Excellent for exploring water or water-like substances. Often riddled with space parasites. Ceramics: Light, heat-resistant. Very difficult to repair without the proper expertise. Metal: Dense, heavy, ferrous. What metallic ships lose in speed they make up for in sheer defensive capabilities (and, well, offensive if they’re ramming wooden, coral or ceramic ships.) Magical: Material infused with magical energies. Can contain a multitude of special properties. Exotic: ???
Shrimp: The smallest of the Elven coral ships. Grown quickly and built for one pilot, minimal offensive capability. Scouting and boarding vessels. Tiger-Shrimp are models built for two – a pilot and a gunner. Mussel: Mid-Sized coral ships. Designed for defense. Often packed full of explosives and sent careening into enemy armadas. Geoduck: The flagships of the coral line. Designed for maximum offensive capabilities. Universally mocked for their phallic appearance. Reef : The carriers of the coral line. These massive living vessels are generally utilized as mobile military bases. Can store 3d20 Geoducks, 4d20 Mussels, and 5d20 Shrimp. Caravel: Small highly maneuverable ships, ideal for travel within a star system. Often used by crews of large vessels as boarding craft. Treasure Ship: Vessels favored by human space-farers for their large cargo bays. A favorite target of pirates. Frigate: Medium sized sailing ships. Design allows for installation of various armaments. Clipper: Very fast, medium sized sailing ships. Shaves one week off travel time. Galleon: Large ships used for trade, warfare and piracy. Ideal for combat and travel through the flow.
SHIP MODELS OF KNOWN SPACE (CONT.) Boomerang: Small ships, shaped like boomerangs and designed by Goblin pirates. (d4) occupancy. Extremely fast moving vessels. Generally not fitted for travel into the aether. Mini-Subs: Smaller of the sub-aethers. Idea for skirmishes and galactic travel. Sub-Aethers: Long, cigar shaped metal vessels. Designed to sail underneath the aether rather than atop it. Hammer-Ship: Gigantic hammer shaped vessels, primarily used to smash through asteroid belts and enemy blockades. Dart: Single person vessels, arrow-head esque pods designed by Concordant shipwrights for use by Lizardmen mercenaries. Not capable of spaceflight - fired at enemy vessels en masse in order pierce hulls to allow Lizardmen to board. Silver: Star-Glass Domed ship with a modular design utilized for crew quarters and cargo holds. Can have weapons mounted around the circumference of the ship for maximum offense/defense. The Silver is the most popular saucer model in the verse. The Silver Deluxe features five levels and a retractable turret on the underside of the vehicle. Designed by the Vextra Corporation. Billiard: A spherical pod designed by the Vextra Corporation in joint-project with The High Elves. These pods are little more than a comfy seat and a star-glass pane for viewing the stars. High-Speed, single seaters, Billiards are the favored vehicle of galactic couriers. Not capable of surviving the rigors of travel through the aether. Dragonship: Frightening and elegant vessels, opposed by animal rights groups universe wide. Dragon Ships are luxury yachts with the wings of Stellar Dragons grafted onto them. The wings are kept alive through low-level Necromancy which causes the hull and dynamo of the ship come to act as a surrogate nervous system. Favored by the wealthiest citizens in known-space and the pirates who like to rob them. Ships have also been spotted featuring the fins of Space Whales and horns of Asteroid Trolls. Skyskimmer: A legendary ship said to be part palace and part fortress with enough armaments to fend off 100 armadas. Many have lost their lives to the star ways attempting to claim this ship and its powers.
CREATING A GALAXY Galaxies are made up of (d4) star systems. Each system has its own central star and orbiting planets. from there. Next you must populate the star systems. Roll on the COLOR and STAR TYPE tables to create a central body for each system to orbit around.
1
Red: Cooler, dimmer, older stars.
2
Orange: Long lived stars with a mild temperature and wide habitable zone.
3
Yellow : Dim, long-lived, warm, hard to spot stars.
SPECIAL 1-2
Sub
3-4
Bright
5-6
Supernova
7-8
Artificial
4
Blue: The hottest stars
5
White: Bright, hot stars.
6
Brown: Cool, dense, nearly dead stars.
1
Dwarf : A small star with low luminosity. Civilizations surrounding dwarf stars are usual-
STAR TYPE
ly analogous to the worlds inhabited by standard fantasy player characters. 2
Giant: A star that has grown in size after depleting its fuel. A dwarf star’s transition into a giant often inspires earthbound civilizations to seek ways to travel the stars. Civilizations tend to be much more advanced magically and/or technologically.
3
Nebula: Bright, variously shaped, peculiar stellar bodies. They have been known to entice, inspire and even horrify sailors of the starways. Rarely inhabited except by the most ancient, mythical and secretive beings. Nebulas attract weary immortal travelers, spacedragons seeking a graveyard and even lonely half-remembered gods.
4
Supergiant: Luminous, massive stars. Civilizations around them tend to possess tremendous magical and technological capacities. For the most part these beings avoid contact with younger civilizations.
5
Hypergiant: Scarcely believed to exist. Systems with Hypergiants are often difficult to reach and galaxies made up of majority Hypergiants are rumored to be impossible to enter.
6
Wolf-Spider: Nebulua-like stars that have shed some of their mass, they exude magical and radioactive energies. If life exists in a system with a Wolf-Spider star, it will be odd.
7
Special: See the SPECIAL STARS table
8
Black Hole: Only the most advanced civilizations can survive in a star system with a black hole at its center.
Sub: Stars that are smaller, dimmer and cooler than a normal star of that classification. Many star systems circling with these abnormal stellar bodies are home to civilizations whose technological/magical prowess grew too quickly and allowed them to tamper with and permanently altered the nature of their star. Bright: Stars that shine exceptionally bright. Bright stars in star-systems are often noticed by intelligent beings in neighboring star systems and even explorers out in the flow. Supernova: Barely stable stars in their death throes. Few have been spotted, non-charted. Artificial: Purely theoretical constructs. Man-made structures capable of producing the energy of a star. Could only be created by a highly advanced civilization.
CREATING PLANETS To create a planet you must roll for its temperature and terrain types.
1-2
Hot: A planet whose surface is exceptionally hot.
3-4
Cold: A planet whose surface is exceptionally cold
5-8
Temperate: A planet with a mild climate and weather.
9-10
Artificial: A planet whose climate is managed through technology or magic. Artificial worlds can also be designed as space stations, star bases or asteroid civilizations.
11-12
Abnormal: A planet with a strange climate – wild extremes, continental sized weather patterns, unstable gravity, etc.
1
Oceanic: A planet whose surface is mostly
2
Dessert: A planet whose surface is dry and barren.
3
Mountainous: A planet covered with mountains and valleys.
4
Cloud: A planet whose surface is mostly made of gas. Cities are constructed high in the clouds or in spheres within the
Example of planet creation: You roll a 1d6 and 1d12 to determine the temperature and terrain of a planet. The results are 1 and 8. This gives us a planet with an Oceanic terrain and a Temperate Climate. Maybe you decide the civilization on this planet is vaguely Mediterranean – with people living in breezy coastal cities and eating fresh fish every day. Or maybe you see this planet as being more like Space-Florida, a
5 6
Mixed: A planet with multiple, balanced
tourist trap everyone comes to for an effortless
terrain types.
getaway.
Managed: A planet whose terrain is managed through the use of magic or technology.
With a result of 3 and 2, you’ve got a Mountainous Hot world. Maybe the planet is covered in volcanoes or scorched mesas.
The various worlds within the galaxies are populated with a variety of species. The known intelligent races of the universe are as follows: Humans, Elves, Halflings, Dwarves, Gnomes, Goblins, Fairies, Lizardmen, Reptilians, The Purrsons, Kobolds, Mechanids and Grays. HUMANS
Tenacious, Hardy, Soulful. Considered to be the most bizarre species in the galaxy. While a vast majority of human civilizations in known-space have little to no contact with starfaring folk, archaeological evidence suggests there may have once been a universe-spanning human empire. Come in many shapes, sizes, colors and genders. ELVES
Aloof, Arrogant and Obsessed. Elves are one of the first starfaring civilizations but you wouldn’t notice it considering how little they’ve spread across known space. They prefer to obsessively micromanage and engineer the few planets they’ve deigned suitable to live on. Some say Elven expansion has been curbed by the persistent cultural divide between the traditions of magic and the opportunities offered by science. There are many Elves who feel that either path will lead to the kind of ruin Elven explorers have encountered on dead worlds. HALFLINGS
Calculating, Just, Powerful. Many beings from worlds with native Halfling populations are stunned when they encounter the reach and influence of Halflings in the galaxy under the banner of The Concordant. Their dominance is driven by a simple pragmatism: “If not us, then it would be someone far noisier.” Controlling things simply makes it easier to live a life of relaxation. DWARVES
Drunk, Loud, Boisterous. Dwarves are the same anywhere – they fight, they feast, they drink, they fuck, the adore the forge and they love to smash things with hammers and axes. The universality of Dwarf culture leads some to believe that Dwarves set off amongst the stars far earlier than other races, planted themselves on dozens of worlds and simply forgot their true origins. GOBLINS
Wise, Careful, Ashamed. The Goblins of the starways are far different than the lesser evolved variety found on most worlds. Exposure to cosmic energies sparked insight and intelligence in the minds of the first Goblins to take to the stars, something their descendants have inherited. Goblins are some of the finest engineers in known-space and their colonies and space stations are a sight to behold. The entire Goblin race mourns the destruction of their homeworld almost 1000 years prior in a war with the Dwarves.
FAIRIES
Mischievous, Mysterious, Cunning. Anywhere there is magic, there are fairies. They’ve been found in the forests, caverns and cliff sides of a hundred different worlds. There are even fairies who live in the asteroid belts of deep space. Fairies aren’t a true starfaring civilization, they merely tag along with others for the ride. LIZARDMEN
Unsure, Unkind, Unbroken. The Lizardmen are relative newcomers to space, having only been starfaring for about two centuries. Introduced to galactic civilization via contact with the Halflings of The Concordant, they were gifted spacefaring vessels, magic and weaponry. In turn they became a kind of client species to The Concordant and aided them in carrying out their brutal expansion. They are eager to make a name for themselves without the aid of their benefactors. REPTILLIANS
Hated, Feared, Misunderstood. Little is known about these mysterious, snakelike shapeshifters. No one knows where they originated or what they want. Often caught attempting to enact a sinister plot and replace leaders on random worlds. SPECIAL ABILITY: Reptilians may shapeshift a number of times per day equal to their HD. Must make a CON test if someone begins to suspect they aren’t who they claim to be. PURRSONS
Cunning, Vain, Ambidextrous. Humanoid Cat-People descended from the abandoned pets of the earliest space-travelers. Always land on their feet, good at getting in and out of tight spaces. Eons long rivalry with the Kobolds. SPECIAL ABILITY: Purrsons have double-advantage on all DEX checks. They may roll three die and use the lowest roll. KOBOLDS
Loyal, Lovable, Good-natured. Humanoid Dog-People descended from the abandoned pets of the earliest space-travelers. Honor-bound to do good and aid other civilizations. Excellent sense of smell. More efficient in a pack. Unaware that they have been at war with the Purrsons for more than a millennium. SPECIAL ABILITY: Advantage on all tests related to smell, taste, and hearing. Advantage on all rolls if near another friendly Kobold. +1 Damage for every nearby allied Kobold.
MECHANIDS
Ancient, Knowing, Afraid. Not a race, per-se. Mechanids have been classified in hundreds of different shapes and sizes. Mechanical remnants of the thousands of artificial civilizations that have risen up over the ages. Are sometimes intelligent, are often not. Many are powered by magic. +5 AP, can communicate with machines. GRAYS
Flakey, Strange, Odious. The Grays are a tiny, gray skinned, humanoids with large heads and big, black almond eyes. No one is sure what they once looked liked but it’s commonly understood that the Grays are the descendants of a galactic civilization that gained far too much technological and magical power. They tampered with their world and their own bodies until their civilization collapsed. They feel no emotions and are impervious to pain. Grays only communicate telepathically and have disadvantage on all CON and STR tests. Advantage on all WIS and INT tests.
THE UPPER AUTHORITY: A highly powerful cabal of scientists and wizards. The Upper Authority has spent millennia attempting to bring order to the galaxies. THE CRYSTAL RANGERS: An ancient order of warriors formed by The Upper Authority thousands of years ago. Two Rangers are assigned per-galaxy per crystal sphere. Armed with Crystal Swords and Dynamo-Armor, the Crystal Rangers traverse the star ways maintaining peace, order and preventing the manipulation of earthbound civilizations by spacefaring groups. Crystal Ranger
Abilities: Self-directed atmospheric and space flight. Personal gravity and atmosphere. Nullify Magic a number of times per per day equal to HD.
d12 HP
Crystal Blades: Bladed weapons forged from the Aether. Swords, Axes and Spears are common. Can unlock GATES
d8/d6 damage
Crystal Shields: Armor forged from the Aether. +10 AP. Negates magical damage.
Weapons: Crystal
d20 shared usage die for Blade and Shield. Roll after every attack, deflected spell,
Blades
phlogiston blast or round spent in flight. Roll twice after a critical hit. Die can be replenished by recharging at Fountains. Every star system patrolled by the Rangers has a Fountain.
Armor: Crystal Shields Spells: Magic Missile, Mage Hand, Dimension Door, Phlogiston Blast.
MAJOR FACTIONS OF THE STAR WAYS (CONT) THE REPTILLIAN AGENDA: No one has ever ascertained the location of any Reptillian homeworld or central authority. It is unclear where their orders come from or why they seek to infiltrate and replace members of other races. LACRIMONA STARFARES: The most powerful travel agency in the universe. Lacrimona has a reputation of providing its clients with the highest caliber accommodations on the most exclusive worlds. They will pay top dollar for information on exotic locales and the location of new spheres, not under the watchful eye of The Upper Authority. THE CHRONOMANCERS: Time-Travelers who don’t limit their forays into the time-stream to one world. Traverse the star ways in strange, semi-sentient ships that resemble everything from boats to palaces. Not a true faction, as the agenda of one Chronomancer can wildly differ from another. Their vessels are powered by mysterious SINGULARITY DYNAMOS. THE CONCORDANT: Few would have suspected the Halflings to be the species to successfully pull off a multi-galactic empire, and yet, here we are. Based out of Oter, Blessed and Wise Empress Thalimonia Dracona Blue VI counts half-a dozen star systems, (2d20) space-stations, (d6) colonies and (d12) earthbound civilizations as part of her empire. While worlds of The Concordant are, for the most part, peaceful, prosperous and tamed, there is always work to be had for adventurers. THE SYNDICATE: An intergalactic, interdimensional, trans-temporal network of thieves, killers, smugglers, mercenaries and arms dealers. Have long opposed the efforts of The Upper Authority and Concordant to bring order to the universe. HIGH ELVES: A group of elves who have pooled their resources to push the edges of scientific thinking. They believe that technology will be the light that guides the sentient races into the future. Representatives of the High Elves are always seeking word on the latest technological advancement, interesting finds from old ships, dungeons or ruins. LOW ELVES: A group of elves who reject the view of technological supremacy. They see magic as an integral part of sentient existence. They study how it's expressed and practiced on different worlds, and why some worlds in the universe simply develop without it. Representatives of the Low Elves are always seeking out magical artifacts, word on prophecy and heroes to explore dungeons. THE PIRATES: Not a traditional faction, per-se. Some pirates are merely adventurers with a love of gold and swashbuckling, others are the scum of the universe and would burn a crew alive for their wares. For the most part all pirates chafe under the restrictions put in place by galactic authorities or would be rulers.
MAJOR FACTIONS OF THE STAR WAYS (CONT) THE SHATTERED DWARVEN EMPIRE: An unbroken Dwarven lineage ruled the _________ galaxy for 700 years until it collapsed due to in-fighting, claims of illegitimacy and economic downturn. The final straw was when newly crowned King, Elnor the 1st’ expressed his intent to wed himself to Lindy Noles, daughter of human shipping magnate Narry Noles. Civil War and an ever-shifting factionalism has reigned ever since. At any given time (d12) different nobles, ex-military, public figures or formal royal council members have consolidated enough resources to vie for control of what remains of the empire. THE SEPARATE: No one is sure who THE SEPARATE are because no one has ever really seen them. They are believed to highly evolved races that deal only with each other. Explorers gossip that they inhabit galaxies which are inaccessible from the flow.
MINOR FACTIONS OF THE STAR WAYS THE CLAW: An alliance of (d8) noble houses of Purrla, ancestral home of the Purrsons. While their reach isn’t far, they keep a tight grasp on what they think belongs to them. They think everything belongs to them. THE MINERS GUILD: A mismatched union of miners throughout the universe, the miners guild is seeking more power for mine workers throughout the known-space. THE SPICE GUILD: Comprised of sailors, merchants, farmers and chefs throughout known-space, the spice guild controls the flow of everything from salt and pepper to Darleenian Blood Powder. THE EMPIRE OF OLILIEN: A kingdom on a largely earthbound world. King Olilien and his son, Prince Polilimuth, through the guidance of the king’s mysterious new Dwarven advisor, Samal Smoke-Eye, gained access to crystal dynamos. This allowed them to quickly take control of their own planet and several in their star-system. Unbeknownst to Polilimuth, his new companion and love interest, Saral, is not truly Samal’s daughter, but is Lindy al-Elnor, heiress to the throne of the splintered Dwarven empire. THE GRINDERS: A loose-consortium of mages and mad scientists, the Grinders study the art of surgical enhancement. For the right price they’ll stick anything anywhere you want it. THE SCAVENGERS GUILD: Founded by a group of Gray merchants and explorers, The Scavengers Guild attempts to lay claim to any valuable technology or magic found on long-barren worlds.
Generating Faction Intrigue What good would a supplement be without all the tools you need to generate adventure on the fly? On the pages that follow you’ll find tables designed to help you immerse your players in adventures throughout the galaxy.
Adventures in Concordant Space
1
A (well-respected)/(crackpot) 5 journalist suspects that a highranking official in royal council has been replaced by a Reptillian!
A minor heir to the throne is being married off to ensure a political alliance. They desperately want out of it.
2
Adventurers wanted to escort (d20) colonists to a world newly added to the Empire.
A mysterious disease is sweeping through the space station, Pudding-17.
3
An off-the books diplomatic mis- 7 sion is being held with a faction of the Dwarven Empire. PCs hired to (protect)/(disrupt) it.
(d6) envoys from an unknown galaxy have appeared in the capitol. Why are they here? What do they want?
4
Mindee Bravefoot is a pop sensa- 8 tion whose music has been sweeping through the empire. Some, however, are claiming that her music secretly contains antiroyal messages.
An entire colony has vanished, moon and all. Some think the end times have come.
6
Syndicate Intrigue: The Syndicate will never be
High Elf Intrigue: Are you okay with being a
your friend. What endears you to one boss might
guinea pig?
have another put a bounty on your head. 1
A syndicate boss would like to enlist your services
2
A syndicate boss has hired an assassin to kill one of the PCs
3
A syndicate member on the run turns to your crew for help
4
1
Safely transport a scientist to a secure research location. They are being hunted by (d4) assassins.
2
Volunteer to test a new device.
3
A discovery has been made. Steal it and eliminate everyone who knows about it.
4
The Low Elves have made a groundbreaking discovery. Find out what it is.
5
Escort (d4) researchers through a recently discovered dungeon
6
Protect a researcher betraying The High Elves.
You’ve crossed a syndicate boss. They’ve hired (d6) assassins to take out the PCs.
5
The spouse of a Syndicate enforcer has fallen in love with one of the PCs
6
A syndicate boss invites the PCs to a lavish dinner party on their private moon/ space station/luxury ship/vacation planet
Chronomancer Intrigue: Have fun, be safe, don’t erase yourselves from existence.
1
The ruling body of Ralaysha needs help dealing with a pesky Chronomancer who’s always meddling in their world’s history.
2
The PCs encounter a time-rift which sends them into the (past)/(future)
3
A Chronomancer enlists the PCs help to carry out a heist
4
An entire planet is stuck in a time-loop, Trade in the star system to ground to a halt.
5
Was there once a 13th galaxy in known-space? A scholar believes it was erased from time.
6
The PCs encounter a time-anomaly: their future selves!
To generate Dwarven Faction adventures, roll a d6 on the table below to determine a conflict and then roll on the faction leader table to see who’s involved.
1
1
(d12) needs something (d12) has
2
(d12) wants to make peace with (d12)
3
(d12) is aligned with (d12) against (d12)
4
(d12) is planning to betray (d12)
5
(d12) is in cahoots with (d12)
6
(d12) is in love with (d12)
Duke Coll et-Embersnuff :
7
General Pep Forgeshallow : Brave. Wants unity. Quick to anger.
Petty & Vain. Cousin of Elnor. 2
Duchess Ood Hammershy :
8
Viceroy Tela Stoneshadow : Cruel. Sowed dissent before the war.
Power hungry. Will not make sacrifices. 3
Vice Chancellor Jena Oreskin: Tired. Wants an end to aggressions.
9
Duke Lash Mountainlight: Young. Being used as a figurehead.
4
Bree Streamsword: Violent. Will kill for any reason.
10
Doctor Lane Callow-Anvil: Kind. Wants to help those who suffer.
5
Duchess Weda Starmole: Old. Being manipulated by a Reptillian.
11
Duke Nell Tinshins: Greedy. Will profit even in death.
6
General Mars Limeheel: Just. Allied with The Concordant.
12
Princess Lindy al-Elnor: False. Knows she isn’t who they claim she is. Wants peace.
Lacrimona Starfares Intrigue: The beings who run LSF have deep pockets and are willing to pay any price to make a problem go away.
1
A pesky group of natives won’t relinquish their land for the construction of a new resort. The PCs have been enlisted to (persuade)/(help) them.
2
The son of a Lacrimona executive was found murdered in a LSF hotel. The PCs have been enlisted to (help)/(hinder) the investigators.
3
A journalist is investigating working conditions at LSF establishments. The PCs have been hired to (protect)/ (silence) them.
4
(d20) space-terrorists have taken control of an experimental space-station resort and casino. The PCs have been enlisted to (stop)/(aid) them.
5
LSF is searching for volunteers to spend the weekend on a small Moon it recently terraformed with experimental technology. It will be (weird, but pleasant)/(deadly and horrific). Flip a coin.
6
A wealthy executive invites the PCs to a lavish (roll 1d4): 1.orgy 2. dinner party 3. birthday celebration 4. end of life gathering
CRYSTAL WARRIORS INTRIGUE: Your player’s vessel has received a distress beacon from nearby (d4) Crystal Warriors. Roll to determine what the problem is.
1
PIRATES
5
SPACE BEHEMOTH
2
SLAVERS
6
DIMENSIONAL RIFT
3
EVACUATION
7
VAMPIRES
4
ROGUE A.I.
8
THE SYNDICATE
SATELITE
THE GRINDERS SHOP: For the right price, The Grinders can genetically modify the body of an adventurer or mechanically alter them. 1
Blue Skin: Your skin becomes a shiny shade of blue. 500G.
2
Webbed Appendages: Advantage on all checks in water or zero gravity. 700G.
3
Extra Organ: 1. Heart 2. Lung 3. Liver 4. Kidney 5. Brain 6. Stomach. 1000G.
4
Razor Teeth: (d8) bite attack. 300G.
5
Throat Sac: Filled with acid. Bonus attack: make a DEX test. (d12) damage. 1200G.
6
Bio-luminescence: You glow in the dark. 800G.
1
Limb Replacement: Get a robot limb. +1 to STR, -1 to DEX. +1 AP. 3000G per limb.
2
iPlus: Eye replacement. Multi-spectrum sight, record video, AR overlay. 1500G per eye.
3
IMPLANT: You got a magical artifact you want embedded into your body? We got you. 10,000G.
4
Nanites: Regrow limbs, heal wounds, live forever — sort of. D20 usage die, roll after every usage. When die have been exhausted you disintegrate. A body can only have one set of nanites. 1,000,000G.
5
Phase Gland: Move through anything at will. D12 usage die. Every die reduction is d4 years off your life. Die resets after a long rest. Phase out of existence if you exhaust your die. 500,000G.
6
Clone: Fully grown clone of your body. 30% more for a memory back up. Can implant a well-preserved brain within 72 hours of bodily death. 5,000,000G + 2000G a month for clone storage. Brain implant free if you mention this ad.
NOTABLE LOCATIONS IN THE STAR WAYS Stormhold: A maximum security prison managed by the The Concordant. The massive facility floats over the acid-gas seas of Newmra, one of the first worlds claimed by the empire. Asgard: Once home to an extra-dimensional race of demi-gods, whatever cataclysm caused their end sent their dwelling crashing down from their realm into ours. Now Asgard drifts aimlessly through the aether. It still has enough mass and magic to generate its own gravity and atmosphere, but the kingdom is populated by all manner of leftover Asgardian defenses and inhabitants of the flow who've chosen to make their home there. Considered a legend by most sailors of the star ways. Thatchee Station: This space station is the crown jewel of the High Elven Architect’s Guild. Bustling and full of life, here adventures can encounter every known race in the universe, trade with merchants from the farthest reaches of space, and indulge in any delight they can dream of. LACRIMONA GAMING: Established by the LACRIMONA STARFARE group on a moon purchased from the last Dwarven empire, LACRIMONA GAMING is the greatest casino and arcade gaming experience on all of the known worlds. Here, every game that's ever existed is waiting for YOU to come and hit the jackpot! THE HIVE: An ancient asteroid once home to a race of insect-like humanoids, The Hive now exists as a place for criminals to trade tips, hide from the law and hock stolen wares. JALABAR: A former desert world turned verdant via terraforming, the ruling elite of Jalabar have enriched themselves trading goods from Earthbound civilizations — this often includes slaves. VAN'S: The most famous restaurant in the universe. Owned and operated by Halfling chef, Vandal Oak and his Elven wife, Lenna. If you can get a table (you can't) the food is said to be so good people have died of joy after finishing desserts. CORALIA ON THE BLUE: Space New York. Seat of power for Blessed and Wise Empress Thalimonia Dracona Blue VI and The Concordant. The greatest city in the known universe. Sits on the edge of the sapphire ocean.
NOTABLE LOCATIONS IN THE STAR WAYS Stormhold: A maximum security prison managed by the The Concordant. The massive facility floats over the acid-gas seas of Newmra, one of the first worlds claimed by the empire. Asgard: Once home to an extra-dimensional race of demi-gods, whatever cataclysm caused their end sent their dwelling crashing down from their realm into ours. Now Asgard drifts aimlessly through the aether. It still has enough mass and magic to generate its own gravity and atmosphere, but the kingdom is populated by all manner of leftover Asgardian defenses and inhabitants of the flow who've chosen to make their home there. Considered a legend by most sailors of the star ways. Thatchee Station: This space station is the crown jewel of the High Elven Architect’s Guild. Bustling and full of life, here adventures can encounter every known race in the universe, trade with merchants from the farthest reaches of space, and indulge in any delight they can dream of. LACRIMONA GAMING: Established by the LACRIMONA STARFARE group on a moon purchased from the last Dwarven empire, LACRIMONA GAMING is the greatest casino and arcade gaming experience on all of the known worlds. Here, every game that's ever existed is waiting for YOU to come and hit the jackpot! THE HIVE: An ancient asteroid once home to a race of insect-like humanoids, The Hive now exists as a place for criminals to trade tips, hide from the law and hock stolen wares. VAN'S: The most famous restaurant in the universe. Owned and operated by Halfling chef, Vandal Oak and his Elven wife, Lenna. If you can get a table (you can't) the food is said to be so good people have died of joy after finishing desserts. CORALIA ON THE BLUE: Space New York. Seat of power for Blessed and Wise Empress Thalimonia Dracona Blue VI and The Concordant. The greatest city in the known universe. Sits on the edge of the sapphire ocean.
COSMIC ENCOUNTERS: Spice up your random encounters by using this table and adding new flare and abilities to your favorite creatures and enemies.
1
SPACE: Can survive and move
7
ASTEROID: Lives on asteroids, feeds on minersals and miners.
through the vacuum of space.
Rocky appearance. +6 AP. Valuable corpses. 2
STELLAR: Can survive in and move
8
through the aether.
DRIFT: Lonely exiles, castaways and traitors. Advantage on betrayals, backstabbing and cheating at cards.
3
4
LUNAR: Thrive in sub-zero tempera- 9
SOLAR: Thrive in high tempera-
tures. Thermal vampires, targets
ture zones near stars. Fire Ele-
make CON test or lose d6 HP.
mentals.
ASSIMILATED: Half-flesh, Half-
10
BACTERIAL: Microscopic space
machine. Cast offs of some forgot-
foes! (d4) crew members are in-
ten cyborg race. Want to destroy all
fected! 72 hours until death.
life. Machine Elementals. 5
IRADIATED: Mutated by cosmic ra- 11
EVOLVED: Roll 1 (d6): 1. Hyperin-
diation. +(d6) additional limbs, radi-
telligent 2. Gestalt hivemind 3.
ation blast (360 attack, everyone in
Space ship sized 4. Immortal 5.
range make CON test to avoid radia-
Part-Dragon 6. Space Baby
tion sickness) 6
EXTRA-DIMENSIONAL:Entered
12
TURNED: Lich. Powerful Undead
the galaxy through a breach in the
Wizard who cast themselves
aether. Peerless Conquerors. +2 HD.
adrift in space as a primitive form of space travel.
Want to generate fun and adventure for your players without going through the trouble of rolling to create a new world? Check these out.
WEIRD WORLDS OF THE ‘VERSE 1
MURDER WORLD: One
7
BEAST WORLD: An (animal)/(monster) species
night a cycle the rulers of
has gained sentience and enslaved the rest of the
this world make all crime
planet
legal. Is it that night? (Yes)/
2
ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE
8
DUNGEON WORLD: Beneath this planet’s bar-
WORLD: A mishap has
ren surface is a massive dungeon and a plane-
caused the dead to rise with
tary core full of treasure.
an insatiable hunger for the living. 3
POST-ZA WORLD: Having
9
evaded destruction at the
LIVING WORLD: This planet is sentient. It (does)/(doesn’t) have a face.
hands of the dead, the citizens of this world have now enslaved the once roving hordes. 4
EARTH WORLD: A world
10
without magic, monsters
PRIMORDIAL WORLD: A young world teeming with the energies of new magic.
and just one race. 5
WASTELAND WORLD: A
11
MACHINE WORLD: A world where all meat-
earthbound society that’s
based life was exterminated and is now ruled by
recently fallen into nuclear
machines.
post-apocalyptic chaos. 6
THAT’S NO WORLD: What appears at first glance to be a planet turns out to be a massive space station.
12
SUPER WORLD: A world populated by beings with magnificent powers and abilities.
