THE WIDOW’S TEAR INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION ust beyond the outermost edges of charted space had even been somehow seeded with life like that of Jlies a forgotten nebula of, invisible unless you inhabited worlds in charted space. Overcome with know where to look. To the approaching watchful excitement that he may have made the most important and knowing eye, the luminescent clouds of dust and discovery in the history of civilization, Pelusach foolishly ionized gases, swell into view, roiling in prismatic majesty sent back word of his find. In some of his earliest and overripe with stars beyond reckoning. The stars writings he calls the nebula by name but neglected to within the system are flanked by rich worlds of wealth describe how came by the title of the Widow’s Tear. and mystery, paradises that are often fertile and well No matter how the name came to be, it is commonly within habitable parameters. Most were one home to accepted that Khôl didn’t name the nebula himself, intelligent life, but now only silent ruins to suggest the as it doesn’t fit with other examples of his especially dark truths lurking just beyond perception. Despite unique naming conventions. these subtle concerns, the march of colonization is on. Khôl’s exploration efforts did not bring him fortune, Navigation to the Tear is not easy, however. The Nebula and he didn’t live long enough to enjoy the fame, but is unnaturally invisible beyond the distance a few billion news of his discoveries reached charted space and lightyears, and even once she begins to fade into view, triggered a centuries long resource rush to colonize and travelers must be cautious. Hyperspace travel into and capitalize on the incalculable wealth of the Widow’s out of the nebula is impossible, resulting in instant Tear. In this new era of exploration, the Widow’s Tear has destruction, and requiring standard space travel for been the most significant discovery, and the resources the last leg of the journey. Some cosmic ley-line or plundered from her have become so storied that the phenomenon crosses all planes of existence, creating flow of colonists to the nebula is only likely to increase a barrier you have crossed the event horizon and have exponentially for the foreseeable future. entered the gaseous detritus of the Widow’s embrace. Once you are within the Widow’s Tear, hyperspace INHABITED STAR SYSTEMS travel is again possible, though often dangerous within the influence of star systems. Many come to explore n the last three centuries, hundreds of colonization the systems of the nebula, though this frontier has Iattempts have been founded and failed within few inhabited systems and none of the amenities that systems all across the Tear. To date, only fourteen well charted space has to offer. Outside the colonized systems have been fully charted, and only twelve of systems, there are no star-ports within which to seek those are currently inhabited by settlers. Several stars resupply or repair, and all but the most hardy explorers systems are home to intelligent life that predates stick to the few charted systems of the Tear. colonization, and peaceful communications have been established with nearly all races. COLONIZATION ADRIEL hanks to advancements in interstellar travel, the Texploration of distant star systems has become Population: 1 billion; Human 30%, Aasimar 25%, an extremely lucrative pursuit, with habitable or easily Android 10%, Other races 35% mined planets being an extremely rare and precious Power Groups: The Starfall Autocracy, Alabasters find. Three hundred years ago a spacefarer, explorer and (shipbuilders), Defilers, assorted corporations. prospector named Pelusach Khôl entered the nebula his system’s permeant residents are predominantly searching for mineral rich worlds. Khôl claimed that Tpopulated by aasimar and humans. The system is a he had discovered the Widow’s Tear by following a totalitarian theocratic monarchy ruled by the Lady of ‘gut feeling’, like a hunch or a song stuck in his head. Certainty, a priestess of the higher planes. The militant He was sure something important was just beyond government is partially justified by infrequent but fierce reach, in an empty swath of uncharted space. As he defiler attacks. Despite the authoritarian and religious approached the Tear and it faded into view, he knew nature of the government, the Adriel system is a hub of he had discovered something truly special. commerce and tourism. The system is unique among Once within the nebula, he found that not only were the inhabited systems of the Widow’s Tear in that it is the systems mostly uninhabited by intelligent life, but not dominated by the mining industry, but instead by almost every system he encountered had one or more farming, shipbuilding as well as gambling and resorts. worlds with some combination of breathable air, potable This system caters to the wealthier denizens of other water, and soil rich in minerals. Many of these worlds 6 THE WIDOW’S TEAR INTRODUCTION systems and attempts to cover up any problems or be detected from orbit, though the marauding androids mishaps that may lurk below the polished veneer. make closer study difficult. AKIR THE FIFTH REALM Population: 3 billion, Angarri 40%, Jendova 40%, Population: 1.5 billion, Human 65%, Android 20%, Human 5%, Android 4%, Other races 11% Aasimar 5%, Tiefling 2%, Elves 2%, Other races 6% Power Groups: Native Peoples of Cybethal Akir Power Groups: Jade Palace government, The Yellow (assorted local governments), minor mining operations King, mob bosses, Ancestor’s Abyss militia, mining guilds his system has few established colonies and is his binary system is home to several clans of Tdominated by the aquatic races of angarri and Thumans, ruled in a feudal monarchy by the Jade jendova. In the past, these races worshipped an eldritch Mother. While mining operations, farms and trade being known as Cthulhu, but have since reformed and all contribute to the wealth of the system, criminal turned from this heretical belief system. Conventional enterprise threatens rule of law at every turn. Prison wisdom among the natives is that Cthulhu is — colonies serve as a monument to the conflict between paradoxically—both dead and alive, a colossal being of the lawful and the lawless. This system is home to the apocalyptic power that lies dreaming at the bottom of only advanced university in the nebula, as well as some the seas of one of the planets in the system. Anecdotal of the most well-established settlements in the Widow’s evidence of incidents in the system suggest there is some Tear. Not all is well, however. Near the edge of the truth to this. These peoples engage in trade with nearby system a truly alien being dwells in an unnatural temple systems, but other than a small mining operation on surrounded by cultist devotees. Cybethal, the system is mostly undisturbed by colonists, though some researchers have ships in orbit studying GNOSIS the frigid system and the unusual psychic wavelengths that radiate from it. Population: 1.5 billion, Human 30%, Android 25%, Kasatha 12%, Lashunta 12%, Vesk 10%, Other races 11% ANTROGA Power Groups: Cobalt Legion, Sienna Government, Cult of Mati, assorted mining companies, researchers Population: 40 million, Human 50%, Tieflings 30%, his system is settled by several mining colonies Other races 18%, Nulak 2% Tand is primarily inhabited by humans. No formal Power Groups: Hellfire Syndicate (tiefling mining systemwide government exists, though a mercenary guild), Anglers Pride (fishing guild), minor mining guilds organization known as the Cobalt Legion is the primary his blue star system has many androids and humans power group in the system. The Legion makes the bulk Twithin it, as well as a native race known as the of their profit off scrapping ruined starships of the Nulak, but the system itself is run by a tiefling racial previous inhabitants of the system, though a protection corporate mining guild known as the Hellfire Syndicate. racket for miners is equally lucrative, and the system is The syndicate is a criminal enterprise attempting functionally a kleptocracy. A few of the planets have legitimate ventures, and the mining guild permits other been terraformed, or at least partially terraformed companies to operate modestly within the system as by some previous race. The planet Sienna is heavily well as offering work to the native Nulak. The system colonized and has its own government. The most has ruins which suggest it was once inhabited by an notable trait of this binary system is an enormous advanced race, though the ruins are seldom explored black obelisk floating in space, some technological due to a history of accidents and missing persons. artifact of an ancient race long gone. ASENATH KHOL’S DEMISE Population: 6 million, Android 95%, Other races 5% Power Groups: Android Pirates Population: 3 million, Zorrn 50%, Human 15%, This system orbiting a purple star is mostly uninhabited, Other races 35% with the exception of an ancient race of aggressive and Power Groups: Gangs, mining operations, Children violent spacefaring androids unlike any common models of the Golden Spire, Prudd & Olyts Refinery known to charted space. The planets of the system have his system is notable for being the first system many ancient ruins, and mysterious transmissions can Texplored and mapped after Pelusach Khôl discovered the nebula. Because of this, and its proximity 7 THE WIDOW’S TEAR INTRODUCTION to the edge of the Widow’s Tear, this is also the first Matlef, now a magically sealed enclave, impenetrable settled by the new wave of colonists, though few and floating free in space. Otherwise, the system is settlements succeeded due to the sparse resources totally abandoned by civilization and now only known in the system.