® GURPSTraveller ®

Zhodani,ALIEN Vargr, and Other RacesRACES of the Spinward Marches

By DAVID L. PULVER Based on the award-winning Traveller science fiction universe by MARC MILLER Edited by LOREN K. WISEMAN Based on original material by J. ANDREW KEITH and JOHN HARSHMAN Illustrated by ROB CASWELL, MATT CAVOTTA, LANGDON FOSS, FREDD GORHAM, and GLENN GRANT Additional Illustrations by JOHN HARTWELL, TOM PETERS, DAN SMITH, and ASHLEY UNDERWOOD Cover by PAUL ABRAMS and TOM SORENSEN GURPS System Design ❚ STEVE JACKSON Managing Editor ❚ ALAIN H. DAWSON 1 GURPS Line Editor ❚ SEAN PUNCH GURPS Traveller Line Editor ❚ LOREN K. WISEMAN Design, Production, and Typography ❚ JACK ELMY Production Manager ❚ GENE SEABOLT Print Buying ❚ PAUL RICKERT Art Direction ❚ PHILIP REED GURPS Errata Coordinator ❚ ANDY VETROMILE Sales Manager ❚ ROSS JEPSON Playtesters: Bryan Borich, Steve Dickie, Christian Friberg, Steven Hudson, Anthony Jackson, Phil Masters, Andrew Moffat-Vallance, Hans Rancke, Robert Stefko, Mike Sands, David Summers, Christopher Thrash, Aerron Windsor, and Jon Zeigler . . . and our thanks to the dozens of great folk who helped out on the Pyramid playtest.

GURPS, Warehouse 23, and the all-seeing pyramid are registered trademarks of Incorporated. GURPS Traveller Alien Races 1, Pyramid, and Illuminati Online and the names of all products published by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated are registered trademarks or trademarks of Steve Jackson Games Incorporated, or used under license. GURPS Traveller Alien Races 1 is copyright © 1998, 2001 by Steve Jackson Games Incorporated. Some images © copyright www.arttoday.com. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. Traveller is a registered trademark of Far Future Enterprises, and is used under license.

ISBN 1-55634-361-2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STEVE JACKSON GAMES INTRODUCTION ...... 4 Zhdant ...... 21 Shivva-Class Patrol About the Author ...... 4 The Core Expeditions...... 22 Frigate Deck Plan ...... 48 About GURPS...... 4 ZHODANI LANGUAGE ...... 23 Yetsabl-class Zhodani Zhodani Sound Courier Deck Plan...... 54 1. THE ZHODANI ...... 5 Frequency Table ...... 24 ZHODANI ROBOTS...... 56 PHYSIOLOGY...... 5 Zhodani Names Using Robots...... 57 The Zhodani and the Ancients...... 5 Generation Tables ...... 25 Zhodani Warbots...... 57 Diet...... 6 BUSINESS AND ECONOMY ...... 26 TLIA-3404 Chiakrzi ...... 57 ZHODANI PHILOSOPHY...... 6 SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE CHI-3374 Maintenance Bot...... 58 Zhodani and Other Religions...... 7 INSTITUTIONS...... 28 ZHODANI GRAV VEHICLES ...... 59 Zhodani Sports...... 7 The Thought Police...... 28 CHI-2724 Yonchobo Zhodani Art ...... 7 The Imperium and Utility Grav Sled...... 59 SOCIETY...... 8 the Frontier Wars ...... 29 TLIA-3314 Vlezjaq Zhodani Humor...... 8 The Second Frontier War...... 30 Scout Grav Sled...... 60 Honesty ...... 9 The Military Thought Police...... 31 TLI-960 Diziyanatl The Final War...... 9 The Eye and the Hand...... 31 Zhodani Grav APC...... 61 Respect...... 9 The Long Peace...... 31 Zhodani Vehicular Weaponry...... 63 Conformity...... 9 No Peace Between Us ...... 32 Racism and Intolerance...... 10 THE MILITARY ...... 33 2. THE VARGR ...... 64 Ambition and Education ...... 10 The Zhodani Navy ...... 33 PHYSIOLOGY...... 64 Primitive Zhdant ...... 10 The Zhodani Army...... 34 Problems in Vargr Primitive Chirpers in Qiknavra ... 11 The Third Frontier War ...... 34 Historiography ...... 64 CONSULAR GOVERNMENT...... 12 The Consular Guard...... 35 Vargr Dating Systems ...... 65 The Viepchakliashtie Empire ...... 12 Rise of the Hawks...... 35 Prehistory...... 66 The Discovery of Qiknavra ...... 13 The Fifth Frontier War ...... 36 Ancient History ...... 66 Industrial Revolution ...... 14 Sample Military Unit: Psychology...... 66 THE LEGAL SYSTEM...... 15 Lift Infantry Battalion...... 36 Charisma and Dominance...... 66 Exploration of Viepchakl ...... 15 The Future...... 37 Racial Pride...... 67 The Dark Age ...... 16 Zhodani Commandos...... 38 Vargr Society ...... 67 Rights and Responsibility ...... 17 The Zhodani Calendar ...... 38 Pack Dynamics...... 68 THE ZHODANI CONSULATE ..... 18 Table of Equivalent Vargr Curiosity ...... 68 The First Olympiads ...... 18 Organizations ...... 39 Loyalties...... 69 Provinces...... 19 The Holidays ...... 39 Industrialization...... 69 The Second Industrial A Zhodani Timeline...... 40 Egalitarianism ...... 70 Revolution...... 19 CREATING ZHODANI Interstellar Society...... 70 Borders and Expansion ...... 20 CHARACTERS ...... 42 GOVERNMENT ...... 70 Formation of the Consulate ...... 20 Racial Templates...... 42 Law and Justice...... 71 Expansion and Contact ...... 20 Advantages and Zhodani Contact and Disadvantages...... 42 the Gvurrdon Hvaek ...... 71 Naval Ranks ...... 43 Vargr and Humans ...... 71 Skills ...... 43 The Gvurrdon Hvaek...... 72 CHARACTER TEMPLATES ...... 44 Vilani and Vargr ...... 72 Zhodani Official...... 44 THE VARGR EXTENTS...... 72 Zhodani Commando...... 44 VARGR WORLDS ...... 73 Thought Police Officer ...... 45 Wolves in the Night ...... 73 ZHODANI EQUIPMENT The Vargr Conquests ...... 74 AND STARSHIPS...... 46 THE VARGR HOMEWORLD ...... 74 Zhodani Combat Armor...... 46 The Third Imperium ...... 75 ZHODANI STARSHIPS ...... 47 Vargr in the First Outworld Shivva-Class Patrol Frigate...... 47 Coalition...... 76 Yetsabl-class GVURRDON SECTOR...... 76 Zhodani Courier...... 47 Vargr in the Second Outworld Coalition...... 77

2 C ONTENTS Warring States ...... 78 Messengers...... 123 THE VARGR MILITARY...... 79 Haunting Thunder...... 123 The Kforuzeng Corsairs...... 79 The Sheol Expedition ...... 124 Vargr Armies ...... 80 LANGUAGE...... 124 Grand Ambitions...... 80 Human-Sheol Communication....124 Vargr Navies ...... 81 PSYCHOLOGY ...... 125 Vargr Corsairs...... 81 Religion and Mysticism ...... 125 The Fifth Frontier War ...... 81 SOCIETY...... 125 Post-War Blues ...... 82 Second Contact ...... 125 A Few Cautions...... 83 Imperial Entanglements...... 126 VARGR RELIGION...... 83 Messenger Status Vargr Events ...... 84 and Activity ...... 127 BUSINESS, TRADE CHARACTERS...... 107 Squid Mother Societies...... 127 & COMMERCE ...... 85 Drakaran Racial Template ...... 108 Sheol Station...... 127 Vargr Word Housing and Cities...... 108 TECHNOLOGY...... 128 Generation Tables ...... 85 Advantages and Trade ...... 128 LANGUAGE AND NAMING...... 86 Disadvantages...... 109 Hazards and Opportunities .... 128 Vargr Sound Frequency and Character Templates ...... 109 Military ...... 129 Pronunciation Table...... 87 Social Status...... 109 HOMEWORLD ...... 129 CREATING VARGR Clothing and Costume...... 110 World Data...... 129 CHARACTERS ...... 87 EQUIPMENT...... 110 Psychovores ...... 129 Vargr Racial Template...... 87 Spacecraft...... 110 Inside the Squid Mothers ...... 130 Interpreters ...... 130 Advantages and Drakaran Family Trader...... 110 BIO-TECH DEVICES...... 131 Disadvantages...... 89 30-ton Drakaran CHARACTERS...... 132 Vargr Status Table ...... 90 Ship’s Boat ...... 111 Messenger Racial Template...... 132 Vargr in the Zhodani Consulate... 90 Khaz’akum-class Notes on Advantages and Army and Corsair Ranks...... 91 Patrol Tender ...... 111 Disadvantages...... 132 CHARACTER TEMPLATES ...... 92 Vr’tahk-class Patrol Rider...... 111 Character Templates ...... 132 Vargr Corsair ...... 92 Drakaran Family Squid Mother ...... 133 Emissary...... 92 Trader Deck Plan ...... 112 Loner...... 93 6. PSIONICS ...... 134 EQUIPMENT, VEHICLES 4. THE CLOTHO...... 113 Psionic Powers...... 134 AND STARSHIPS...... 94 ORIGINS ...... 113 Psionic Training and Vehicles...... 94 PHYSIOLOGY...... 113 Psionic Skills ...... 135 Vargr Speeder ...... 94 Early History...... 113 Psionic institutes ...... 136 Vargr G-Carrier...... 94 The Sibling Pair ...... 114 Locating an Institute ...... 136 Vargr Starships...... 95 Contact: The Zhodani ...... 114 Psionics Rules Changes ...... 136 Vargr Corsair ...... 95 Communication Institute Services...... 137 Vargr Trader...... 96 and Language...... 115 Using GURPS Psionics with Vargr Frigate...... 96 PSYCHOLOGY ...... 116 Traveller...... 138 Vargr Corsair Deck Plan...... 97 Integration...... 116 Working for Psi Institutes ...... 139 Vargr Trader Deck Plan ...... 98 SOCIETY...... 117 A Puzzle...... 139 Alien Encounters...... 117 An Underground 3. THE DRAKARANS...100 Patterns...... 118 Psi Institute ...... 139 PHYSIOLOGY...... 100 Government...... 118 Open Psionics Institutes...... 140 Drakaran History...... 100 Religion and Mysticism ...... 118 Racial Psionics...... 140 PSYCHOLOGY ...... 101 The Military and Violence...... 118 PSIONIC TECHNOLOGIES ...... 140 SOCIETY...... 102 Housing and Cities...... 118 Lab Equipment...... 140 First Contact ...... 102 THE ADDAXUR Psi Drugs...... 140 GOVERNMENT ...... 103 RESERVATION ...... 119 Anti-Psionic and Psi-Detection Second Contact ...... 103 Addaxur...... 119 Devices ...... 141 Law and Justice...... 104 CHARACTERS...... 119 Keeping Psis Prisoner...... 141 Waking the Dragon...... 104 Clotho...... 119 PSYCHOTRONIC TAAKAS YH’DRAK...... 105 Trade and Commerce...... 120 TECHNOLOGY ...... 142 Drakaran Worlds...... 105 Other Advantages and Imperial Institutes War and Peace...... 105 Disadvantages...... 121 – GMs Only...... 142 Homeworld ...... 105 Character Templates ...... 121 Why?...... 142 INSTITUTIONS...... 106 Technology and Equipment...... 121 The Military ...... 106 INDEX ...... 143 The Current Situation ...... 106 5. THE SHEOL ...... 122 TECHNOLOGY...... 107 PHYSIOLOGY...... 122 Trade ...... 107 Squid Mothers...... 122 LANGUAGE...... 107 Early Signs...... 122

C ONTENTS 3 About GURPS INTRODUCTION Steve Jackson Games is committed In these pages you’ll find detailed descriptions of five alien races existing with- to full support of the GURPS system. Our in the GURPS Traveller milieu. address is SJ Games, Box 18957, Austin, The Zhodani are enemies of the Third Imperium, but are far from being simple TX 78760. Please include a self- villains. The most alien of the three major races of Humans, their unusual psionic- addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) any time you write us! Resources include: based society lacks freedoms we take for granted but has many admirable traits. Pyramid (www.sjgames.com/ Since Zhodani society is based around psionics, we’ve also included a chapter of pyramid/). Our online magazine includes additional guidelines for psionics in Traveller. new GURPS rules and articles. It also cov- The wolflike Vargr are the other major race described in this book. Although ers Dungeons and Dragons, Traveller, their mindset is quite different than that of Humaniti, their adventurous nature and World of Darkness, Call of Cthulhu, and extensive contact with the Imperium makes them eminently suitable as player char- many more top games – and other Steve acters. Jackson Games releases like In Nomine, INWO, Car Wars, Toon, Ogre Miniatures, The three new “minor races” described in this book share two traits: all dwell in and more. Pyramid subscribers also have or near the Zhodani and Vargr, and all are just beginning to make their influence felt access to playtest files online! on the Spinward sectors of the Imperium. The enigmatic six-limbed Clotho are New supplements and adventures. long-term allies of the Zhodani, while the discovery of the dinosaurlike Drakarans GURPS continues to grow, and we’ll be has ignited war and piracy among the small Vargr states on the Zhodani border. The happy to let you know what’s new. A cur- most recently encountered of these races are the exotic gas-giant dwelling Sheol, rent catalog is available for an SASE. Or whose highly unusual first contact has led to an uncommon degree of cooperation check out our Web site (below). Errata. Everyone makes mistakes, between the Imperium and Zhodani Consulate. including us – but we do our best to fix All of these races are intended to be useful both as NPCs and PCs; campaigns our errors. Up-to-date errata sheets for all set mainly in the Zhodani Consulate, Vargr Extents and among the Drak worlds are GURPS releases, including this book, are all possible as well. Of course, there are many more aliens yet to come: GURPS available from SJ Games; be sure to Alien Races 1 is planned as the first of a four-part series, and later books will cover include an SASE. Or download them from the Aslan, K’kree, Hivers and Droyne, as well as many minor races, both old and the Web – see below. new. Gamer input. We value your com- ments, for new products as well as updat- ed printings of existing titles! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Internet. Visit us on the World Wide David L. Pulver is a game designer and author based in Kingston, Ontario. Born Web at www.sjgames.com for an online in Canada, he grew up in England and New Zealand before returning to the Great catalog, errata, updates, Q&A, and much White North. Traveller was the second roleplaying game David ever refereed (start- more. GURPS has its own Usenet group, ing in 1979). His own Traveller campaign lasted 10 years, eventually mutating into too: rec.games.frp.. a hybrid of GURPS Space and Traveller. He is glad this eminently logical evolution GURPSnet. This e-mail list hosts much of the online discussion of GURPS. has now been officially recognized as a Good Thing. David’s published work To join, e-mail [email protected] includes over two dozen RPG sourcebooks including GURPS Bio-Tech, GURPS with “subscribe GURPSnet-L” in the Vehicles, Bubblegum Crisis: Before and After (R. Talsorian), Glory of Rome body, or point your Web browser to (TSR) and Aliens and Artifacts (ICE). gurpsnet.sjgames.com. The GURPS Traveller Alien Races 1 BOUT THE DITOR Web page is at www.sjgames.com/ A E gurps/traveller/alienraces/. was one of the founding partners of GDW, Inc., original pub- lisher of Traveller, and spent over 20 years there as a game designer, developer, Page References typesetter and editor. After GDW closed, Loren freelanced for a time, and then Rules and statistics in this book are came to SJ Games, where he is the Traveller line editor and expert-in-residence. specifically for the GURPS Basic Set, Third Edition. Any page reference that begins with a B refers to the GURPS JOURNAL OF THE TRAVELLERS’ AID SOCIETY Basic Set – e.g., p. B102 means p. 102 of The long-running Traveller magazine is now online at jtas.sjgames.com, edited the GURPS Basic Set, Third Edition. by Loren Wiseman. It supports all versions of Traveller with news, articles, discussion Page references that begin with CI indi- areas, and reviews. Subscriptions are $15/year for 52 weekly updates and full access to cate GURPS Compendium I. Other refer- archives. ences are GT for GURPS Traveller, T:BC for Behind the Claw, CII for The Traveller News Service is updated weekly, chronicling the life and times of the Compendium II,, S for Space, UT for Imperium, and is viewable free at www.sjgames.com/gurps/traveller/news.html. The Ultra-Tech, and VE for Vehicles. SJ Games Traveller links page (www.sjgames.com/gurps/traveller/links.html) links For a full list of abbreviations, see to the Traveller Web Ring, which includes most of the major Traveller-oriented web- p. CI181 or the updated Web list at sites. For information on subscribing to the Traveller mailing list, go to www.sjgames.com/gurps/abbrevs.html. tml.travellercentral.com/tmlform.html.

4 I NTRODUCTION CHAPTER ONE

Humans evolved on Earth – Terra – over the past several million years. It was a The Zhodani great shock to the explorers from Earth to travel to the stars only to find other and the Ancients Humans already there, and ruling vast empires such as the First Imperium. It took many centuries before it could be established that all the races of Humanity had he story of the Zhodani people begins indeed originated on Terra, having been settled on other worlds some 300,000 years with the arrival of a fleet of Ancients T starships in the Zhdant system, ago by the mysterious Ancients. around the year -302,000. They spent a Of all these far-flung races of mankind, only three had succeeded in developing year or two constructing a pair of jump drive on their own: the Vilani of the First Imperium, the Solomani of Earth, colonies, then jumped out-system, vanish- and the Zhodani. By Terran standards, the Zhodani are the most alien. ing from history. The first Ancient settle- The Zhodani have the longest unbroken stretch of civilization of any Human ment was a series of bases along the west- ern coast of Qiknavra (the smaller of major race. Unlike the Solomani and Vilani, they did not experience a Long Night Zhdant’s two continents): towering sky- (see p. GT48). But in the past, the Zhodani people suffered their own tragedies, hav- scrapers in the western mountain ranges ing faced near-extermination in their pre-history, achieved space flight, and then and undersea domed cities off the shore, been thrown back to another dark age, only to rise again with a unique civilization all linked by an extensive grav-levitation based around the powers of the mind. railway network. The second settlement was not on the planet Zhdant, but rather Even before they reached into space, the Zhodani began to develop the science on Viepchakl, its tide-locked moon, locat- of psionics and integrated it into their society. The result was a culture in which peo- ed on a wind-swept desert plain. ple not only act, but also think, in a different way than any other spacefaring Human Over the next century, the two bases race – and one which possessed radically different values than those of the Terran- grew into cities, eventually having a popu- and Vilani-dominated Third Imperium. lation of perhaps 100,000 Droyne and a few of the super-Droyne called Ancients. Each was the center of a vibrant economy. They traded goods and services between PHYSIOLOGY one another, and constructed other bases. Though Human in all respects, the Zhodani differ slightly in appearance from They sent ships out into the asteroid belt, Humans of Solomani or Vilani ancestry. They tend to be tall and lithe, averaging captured planetoids, and brought them back to serve as space stations and sources close to seven feet tall and roughly 200 pounds. Complexions are predominantly of mineral wealth. swarthy and hair color is usually black or brown. Blond hair is uncommon, but a “Zhdant City,” the name present-day mutation that occurred on Zhdant in the last 10,000 years made prematurely gray archaeologists have given to the planetary hair twice as common as red hair. metropolis on the Qiknavra coast, was the Zhodani have 28 teeth (as opposed to Solomani and Vilani with 32) and the center for extensive agricultural and industrial activities. Vast acreages were teeth tend to average a tiny bit larger. This is not especially noticeable, but it does cultivated, megatons of minerals were mean a brief dental examination can identify a Zhodani who has not been surgically mined, and heavy industries were estab- altered. lished. Many of the Ancients’ activities All the physiological characteristics of Zhodani are the result of two factors: the left marks that remain today: a great open- original gene pool of the Humans who first inhabited Zhdant and minor mutations pit copper mine scars the western edge of the Qiknavra mountain range, and toxic or developments which have taken place during the 300,000 years they have lived waste dumps dating back to this period on their planet. Their height and physical build are both consequences of Zhdant’s have also been found. 0.85 G surface gravity. Basic complexion was shaped by environmental factors Not all Ancient activities were explica- which selected specific traits during evolution on Zhdant. ble – without context, some seem strange, The original Zhodani came from a rather limited stock: under 5,000 persons or even senseless. The Ancients dug curv- ing trenches in the sea bed, and then filled were brought by the Ancients to Zhdant, all from the same small area. Coupled with them up with material quarried from else- a lower rate of environmental mutation (less solar radiation from Zhdant’s K0 star) where on the planet. They sliced off and a social reluctance to intermarry with other Humanity, modern Zhodani do not mountain tops, lifted them 20 yards into have the wide range of racial characteristics (coloring, height, etc.) that Imperial cit- the air, and then filled in the gaps with izens possess. artificial stone. They built reinforced steel buildings and left them empty and sealed against entry. Continued on next page . . .

T HE Z HODANI 5 Diet Zhodani can also digest certain proteins native to Zhdant which are indigestible by off-world Humans. This is likely an evolutionary adaptation, though it may also result from Ancient engineering. A minority of popular Zhodani foodstuffs and The Zhodani meat animals are not digestible by other Human races; eating them may result in and the Ancients digestive problems, allergic reactions or food poisoning. [Continued] Restaurants and food shops in regions frequented by non-Zhodani Humans (e.g., in startowns on the Zhodani-Imperial border) will have menus or labels that Instead of using robots as servants, as mark what foods are or aren’t appropriate for non-Zhodani. Likewise, caterers at they were known to have done on other worlds, the Ancients brought with them official diplomatic receptions will be aware of the problem. Travelers eating else- Terran Humans. It is unknown whether where in the Consulate should exercise caution. they were physically removed from Earth itself, or were grown from ova and sperm banks taken from a prior sampling of ZHODANI PHILOSOPHY Earth populations; either were well within the Ancients’ capabilities. In any case, the The Zhodani cannot be said to have a “religion,” for they do not acknowledge, Humans were bred until their population let alone worship, any sort of Supreme Being, nor do they believe in an afterlife in was nearly half a million strong. The exact the conventional sense. The ancient Zhodani worship of the moon god Viapchakl role Humans played in Zhdant City’s soci- had fallen by the wayside as early as the industrial revolution, and had disappeared ety remains obscure, but evidence sug- entirely by the “Second Dark Age” that saw the rise of the psionic nobility. Around gests they were both pet and servant. Viepchakl City also experienced exten- -6623 on Zhdant there appeared what some Solomani academics have termed a sive developments. The city’s foundations vaguely Buddhist, vaguely “green” philosophy, Tavrziansh (“morality’s path”), burrowed miles beneath the lunar crust. Its which is taught in the schools as a matter of fact and endorsed by the state as a com- towers climbed six miles into the sky. The ponent of “proper thought.” It is governed by a small organization, academic and denizens of the city constructed numerous secular, the Fevranzhtavrchedl’ (“guardians of the book”), which every 50 years or identical buildings, perhaps residential in nature, and a vast tunnel network that car- so releases a slightly modified version of the “holy book,” the Fevranzhtavr (“the ried services to them. As with Zhdant book of morality”). City, the Ancients also performed activi- Tavrziansh holds that life is a matter of duty. Duty arose with life; even the ties whose exact purpose remains humblest creatures have and perform their duty, in an unconscious “state of grace.” unknown. Caches of desert sands were Nevertheless, even unintelligent life can fail in its duty. A plague of rodents would carefully stored, sorted into stockpiles based on color or grain size. They bored be seen, philosophically, as an indication that the rodents had forgotten their place, mile-long roads right through solid rock and corrective measures would be justified. faces with the precision of a laser, only to With intelligence comes the ability to understand one’s duty to all life and most stop after encountering chasms a few especially to one’s race. Duty to the race takes priority over all other duties, but it is yards across. Stones massing hundreds of most praiseworthy to keep one’s duties from coming into conflict . . . thus, the deli- tons were quarried, shaped into spheres, and transported half-way across the moon, cacy with which the Zhodani contacted, befriended and incorporated the Clotho. only to be then left standing forlorn in bar- The Zhodani can contemplate war, and even genocide, to protect their race, but they ren steppes. There is no evidence, howev- follow Tavrziansh better if they protect other life, especially intelligent life, as well. er, that Viepchakl City ever housed or Duty is also the watchword of the individual. It is understood that everyone has bred Humans, or imported them from a duty to the race; proles do their duty in one way, intendants and nobles in another. Zhdant City. On other worlds, individual Ancient sites are always different. The two cities reflected this feature in almost every aspect, ranging from architectural styles and materials to mining techniques (shaped nuclear charges and X-ray lasers on the moon, while disintegrators and plasma bores were used on Zhdant). They did have one single feature in common: in both cities, road intersections were marked by a stone stanchion topped with a polished crystal octahedron. Archeologists differ in their interpretation of this fea- ture’s significance – some believe them a decoration, others see them as having served a practical purpose, e.g., as sign- posts or for traffic direction.

6 T HE Z HODANI CHAPTER TWO

Problems in Vargr The Vargr are a major race of intelligent humanoid beings who resemble anthro- Historiography pomorphic wolves. They are unique among major races, and indeed most sapient species, in that they were not the product of natural selection, but are rather the cul- o completely accurate and trustwor- mination of an experiment in artificial evolution by the Ancients. thy account exists of Vargr history Vargr were initially a puzzle for xenologists. The Vargr did not seem to “fit,” N from their original transplantation to the point where they first made their having a biochemistry and genetic makeup distinct from most other native flora and presence known to other starfaring cul- fauna indigenous to Lair, their purported homeworld. This was not a new puzzle: tures. As with many other elements of similar problems had confronted scientists studying the origins of the Vilani, Vargr society and background, truth is fre- Zhodani and many human minor races collectively known as Humaniti. All of these quently obscured by a welter of contradic- enigmas were solved after contact with the Solomani, the humans from Earth. It was tory claims and interpretations among Vargr writers; few human scholars have eventually discovered that the Vargr, like all the races of Humaniti, had a Terrestrial been able to sift through the contradictory genetic origin. material of rival Vargr historians to arrive Unlike Humaniti, however, the Vargr were not simply transplanted. During the at any consensus of what actually hap- early years of the Third Imperium, researchers concluded that they were the result pened. of genetic manipulation of Terran carnivores, probably wolves. Archaeological data The same problems have hampered first-hand scholarship by Vargr them- and other evidence (such their presence on the Droyne caste symbols known as selves; few ancient Vargr historians wrote Coyns) suggest the Ancients were responsible. with any eye to a goal other than pleasing The Vargr are descended from carnivore stock transplanted from Terra to those who held power at the time, and Lair/Grnouf in the Provence Sector 300,000 years ago, during the heyday of the many rewrote the past to support current Ancients. These transplanted carnivores were of the family Canidae and almost cer- regimes. That such occurred in human society is not the point; among the Vargr tainly the genus Canis, most likely Canis lupus (wolves). However, DNA from it’s not even seen as dishonest. Much of other canids including jackal (C. mesomelas), coyote (C. latrans) and fox (genus history is political literature, and Vargr Vulpes) also seems to have been used to a lesser extent. Extensive genetic engineer- racial pride tends to discourage too much ing was performed to give the Vargr intelligence and manipulative ability, and trans- probing by alien outsiders into the cher- form them from quadrupeds to bipeds. ished myths of this or that group. The Vargr retain many of the characteristics of their canine ancestors, to a greater degree than humans do with primates. Also, some 300,000 years of natural adaptation took place. It appears the Vargr were not fully fitted to the environment of Lair, and this produced rigorous conditions which made natural selection essen- tial to the survival of the race. This seems to have resulted in further adaptations and development not introduced by Ancient experimentation, which may have been the Ancients’ intent. Thus, the Vargr are, in effect, products of both genetic engineering and some degree of evolution.

PHYSIOLOGY Vargr are upright bipeds who resemble a humanoid wolf with a bipedal posture and arms ending in hands instead of paws. Vargr legs are digitigrade – that is, they walk on their toes, their heel not touching the ground. Their bodies are covered with short fur, generally gray, brown, black or rust colored, though a wider variety of pat- terns appear in Vargr than in Terrestrial wolves. Their fairly long tails end in a flar- ing brush. Their muzzle is shorter and less pronounced then a Terran canine, but still quite evident with strong jaws and sharp teeth. They have other characteristics con- sistent with their terrestrial mammalian origin. A typical adult male Vargr stands five feet, four inches tall (1.6 meters) and weighs approximately 135 pounds (60 kilograms), while Vargr females are an inch or two shorter and 5-10 pounds lighter. On average, Vargr aren’t as strong as

64 T HE V ARGR CHAPTER SIX

Psionics: The criminal use of mental powers for the manipulation of matter and energy and for communication. It has been demonstrated that minds (Human or non-Human, conscious or unconscious, intelligent or unintelligent) contain some capacity to operate without apparent use of physical facilities. For an individual to Psionic Powers seek such training is a criminal act. his section expands on the rules for – Imperial Encyclopedia library data entry creating psionic characters found on T p. GT84. Psionics: The ability of living things to remotely manipulate matter, energy and A starting character may be created with any power level in Telepathy, ESP, space/time through mental techniques. The responsible use of psionic techniques is Psychokinesis, Healing or Teleportation. vital to the establishment and functioning of a mature society. This does not require an Unusual – Zhodani Consulate library data entry Background – only starting with psionic skills requires one! (The only exception to Who Is Psionic? this is if their race is specifically lacking in psionic power.) Studies conducted by the Zhodani and by Imperial psionic institutes prior to the Limitations may be taken on these Psionic Suppressions suggest most Humans have measurable psionic strength in one powers. In particular, individuals with or more powers (such as telepathy, ESP, healing, psychokinesis or teleportation). Healing must take the limitation “the psi This strength, known as power level, can be measured and tested. Both power pos- @/3 can only use the power on himself” ( sessed and power level vary widely from individual to individual. cost). Individuals with Teleportation must take “objects retain vector and speed” (!/2 The majority of Humaniti and most alien races are born with very modest cost). power levels in a single power. Powers vary in frequency: telepathy (the most com- A character may take Unusual Back- mon) psychokinesis and ESP (nearly as common), healing (uncommon), teleporta- ground (Special Powers) [10 points). This tion (rare). Various very rare “special” abilities are also documented. enables him to, with GM permission, buy psi powers not listed on p. GT84, or lack- ing the mandatory limitations described How Do Psionics Work? above. However, the GM may veto pow- Where do psis get the power to do what they do? There are many popular theo- ers that seem inappropriate or unbalanc- ries, ranging from near-mystical extra-dimensional energy fields to so-far-undiscov- ing, or require different limitations in the ered psionic particles (“psions”) generated by psi-active brains. Some people even place of the more standard examples. theorize that human psis are somehow tapping the powers of hidden “god Deterioration: Characters who buy powers but who lack formal psionic train- machines” left by the Ancients. ing (see below) will find their powers deteriorate with time. If they are 18 or over, one level of power will be lost from each power every four years until they receive psionic training at a psi institute (p. 138). Note that a character who lacks train- ing is unlikely to have been tested – as such, a player character would not actual- ly know what powers he has, or indeed, whether he has any. This can be role- played, or the GM may require the player simply put aside a pool of points, and leave it up to the GM to choose the pow- ers.

134 P SIONICS 40th Squadron, 76-77. Corporations, Zhodani, 26. Final War, 9. Impulsiveness, Vargr, 91, 92. A Corsair, Vargr, 95; deck plan, 97. Food; Clotho, 114; Drakaran, Industrialization, Vargr, 69; Council, Supreme, see Supreme 101; Sheol, 124; Vargr, 65; Zhodani, 14, 19. Adaptives, 123, 126, 132. Council of the Zhodani. Zhodani, 6. Intelligence operations, Zhodani, Addaxur see Clotho. Courier, Vargr, 96. Frigate, Vargr, 96. see Eye and Hand. Addaxur Reservation, 116, 118- Covert operations, see Eye and Frontier Wars, 20, 27, 28, 29, 30, Intendants, 8, 11, 42; names, 24- 119, 120. Hand. 31, 31, 32, 34, 35-36, 81, 82, 25; rights and responsibilities Advantages; Clotho, 120-121; Crime; Drakaran, 104; Vargr, 71; 117. of, 17. Drakaran, 108, 109; Sheol Zhodani, 15-16. Interpreters, 127, 130. messengers, 132; Vargr, 88. G Intolerance: Non-Zhodani, 43. Air/raft, Zhodani, 59, 60, 63. D Gaeer Pact, 76. Ally, Clotho, 121. Dark Age, Zhodani, 16-17. Games, Zhodani, 7; see also J Ancients, 5, 9. Design, Clotho, 117. Psionic Games. Jekobr missile, 56. Anti-Psi devices, 141. Deterioration of psi powers, 134. G-carrier, Vargr, 94-95. Justice, Zhodani, 16. Appearance, Vargr, 88; Zhodani, Diaspora, Vargr, 70. Gig, Vargr, 96. K 9-10. Disadvantages; Clotho, 120-121; Glyphs, Clotho, 115. Kas’Drak, see Homeworld, Arkesh Spacers, 126. Drakaran, 108, 109; Sheol Gnoerrgh Rukh Lloell, 76. Drakaran. Army and Consular Guard Ranks, messengers, 132; Vargr, 88, Government; Clotho, 118; Kedzudh Aeng, see Kedzudh, Zhodani, 42. 91; Zhodani, 43. Drakaran, 103; Vargr, 70; Commonality of. Art; Drakaran, 110; Zhodani, 7. Diziyanatl grav APC, 61. Zhodani, 13. Kedzudh, Commonality of, 76, Aslan, first contact with Zhodani, Dleqiats, 11, 22. Grav vehicles, Zhodani, 59-63. 78-79. 21. Drak, see Drakarans. GURPS Psionics, use with Kforuzeng corsairs, 79, 80. Assault boat, 56. Drakarans, 19, 100-112; and GURPS Traveller, 138-139. Khaz’akum-class patrol tender, Asteroid belt, Zhdant, 23. psionics, 140; contacts with Gvegh, 86. 111. B Vargr, 102, 103-107; language, Gvurrdon Sector, 76. 107. Gvurrdon pact, 71. L Battledress, Zhodani, 47, 142. Driantia Zhdanta, see Consulate, Lair, see Homeworld, Vargr. Bio-technology, 131. H Zhodani. Language; Sheol, 124; Vargr, 86; Borders, Zhodani, 20. Haunting Thunder, 123, 124. Droyne, 9, 11, 22, 64. Drakaran, 104; Zhodani, 23-28. History; Clotho, 113; Drakaran, C Duke Norbert, 78. Law; Drakaran, 104, Clotho, 118; 100-101; Sheol, 122; Vargr, Calendar; Vargr, 65; Zhodani, 38, Duke Norris, 33. Vargr, 71; Zhodani, 16. 66; Vargr, 66-67; Zhodani, 5,- 39. Dzen Aeng Kho see 40th Lienjadl-class battle cruiser, 55. 6, 9, 10, 12-23. Character Creation; Clotho, 119; Squadon. Life detection, Psi Skill, 137. Holidays, Zhodani, 39. Drakaran, 107-108; Sheol, Life Pod, Sheol, 131. E Homeworld, Clotho, 119; 132. Lift Infantry Battalion, Zhodani, Echtovr-class council cruiser, 55. Drakaran, 102, 105; Sheol, Charisma; Vargr, 66, 88; and 36. Equipment; Drakaran; psionic, 129; Vargr, 65, 74-75; Vargr combat, 89. Lizard, Drakaran riding, 110. 141; Vargr, 94; Zhodani, 37, Zhodani, 22. Chirpers, 11, 13, 15, 19, 22. Long Night, 74. 40, 46. Honesty, Zhodani, 9, 43. Chtanoql-class scout, 55. Longbow, 21. Eye and Hand, 31-32. Hostage negotiation, Zhodani, 41. Church of the Chosen Ones, 83- Humaniti and psionics, 140. M 84. F Humans in the Vargr Extents, 74. Maintenance Bot, Zhodani, 58. Cities; Clotho, 118-119; Facilitators, 126, 133. Humor, Zhodani, 8. Marriage, Zhodani, 9. Drakaran, 108; Vargr, 85; Family Trader, Drakaran, 110; Megacorporations, Zhodani, 26- Zhodani, 22. deck plan, 112. I 27. Clothing; Clotho, 119; Drakaran, Fashion Sense, Clotho, 121. Imperial Scout Service, 27. Mental blocks, 16. 110; Vargr, 86; Zhodani, 9-10. Messengers, Sheol, 123, 132. Clotho; 6, 19, 113-121; and psion- Military Rank, Vargr, 90; ics, 140; first contact with Zhodani, 42. Zhodani, 20, 114-115. Military, Clotho, 118; Drakaran, Combat armor, 46, 142. 106; Sheol, 129; Vargr, 79; Commandos, Zhodani, 40. Zhodani, 33-34. Conformity, Zhodani, 9-10. Monitors, 127, 133. Consular Guard, 35. Mutiny, Vargr, 79. Consular Rank Levels, Zhodani, 42. N Consulate, Zhodani, 18, 20. Names, Clotho, 115; Drakaran, Core Expeditions, 20, 22-23, 27. 107; Vargr, 86; Zhodani, 24.

I NDEX 143 Senghik Outoun, 84-85. Trader, Vargr, 96. Sheol Station, 127, 129. Travel Zones, Zhodani, 18. Sheol, 122-134, and psionics, Truthfulness, Zhodani, 43. 140. V Shianjo-class liner, 55. Vargr, 19, 33, 105, 117; and Ship’s Boat; Drakaran, 111; humans, 71; and Psionics, Zhodani, 56; 140; and Terrans, 83; and Shivva Range, 22. Third Imperium, 73, 75; Shivva-class Patrol Frigate; 47; armies, 80; character cre- deck plan, 48-53. ation, 87; contacts with Shuttle, Vargr, 96. Drakarans, 102, 103-107; Sibling pair, Clotho, 114. first contact with Zhodani, 21, Slow pinnace, Zhodani, 56. 71; history, 64; in Zhodani Social data, Lair, 75; Zhdant, 23. Consulate, 90; names, 86; Society of Equals, 84. worlds, 73. Society; Clotho, 117; Drakaran, Vargr corsairs, 34, 73, 81, 82. 102; Sheol, 125, 127; Vargr, Vargr Enclaves, 74. 67-68; Zhodani, 8-12. Vargr Extents, 72. Speeder, Vargr, 94. Vargr Sound Frequency and Spies, Zhodani, see Eye and Pronunciation Table, 87. Hand. Vargr Word Generation Tables, Spinners, 127, 133. 85-89. Sports, Zhodani, 7. Viepchakl, 5, 6, , 15, 19. Squid mothers; 122, 133; inter- Viepchakliastie Empire, 12. nal features, 130. Viepchaklts, see Chirpers. Stalking, 101, 108. Vilani, and Vargr, 72; first con- Starmap artifact, 22-23, 37. tact with Zhodani, 21. Starships, Drakaran, 111-112; Vlezjag scout grav sled, 60. Vargr, 95; Zhodani, 46-56. Vokr-class fighter, 56. Status, Clotho, 121; Drakaran, Vr’tahk-class patrol rider, 111. Naval Ranks, Zhodani, 43. Psionic powers, 134. 109; Sheol messengers, 127; Nobles, Zhodani, 8, 12, 42; Psionic prisoners, 141. Vargr, 89; Zhodani, 42. W names, 24-25; rights and Psionic shield helmet, 142. Stellar Data, Addaxur, 119; Warbots, Zhodani, 57-58. responsibilities of, 17. Psionic skills, 135. Kas’Drak, 105; Lair, 75; Weapons, 46, 63. O Psionic technologies, 141. Sheol, 129; Zhdant, 21. Wolves, and Vargr, 64. Psionic testing, 137-138. Olympiad, 13, 18, 38. Supreme Council of the Zhodani, Worlds; Drakaran, 105; Vargr, Psionic training, 135, 138. Outworld Coalition, 76, 77. 12, 14. 73; Zhodani, 18. Psionics, 134-142; and biology, Survival customs, Drakaran, X P 135; and space communica- 102. Xboat routes; Drakaran, see Packet, Vargr, 96. tions, 137; mechanism of, 134. T Paranoia, Vargr, 91. Psionics suppressions, 33. Secure Traffic Routes; Vargr, Patterns, Clotho, 118. Psychology, Clotho, 116; Taakas Yh’Drak, 105. 73; Pax Vilanica, 70. Drakaran, 101; Sheol, 122, Table of Army and Corsair Zhodani, see Postal Routes, Philosophy, Zhodani, 6-7. 125; Vargr, 66; Zhodoni, 6- ranks, 91. Zhodani. Physiology; Clotho, 113; 11. Table of Equivalent Y Organizations, Zhodani, 39. Drakaran, 100; Sheol, 122- Psychotronic circuitry, 46, 142. Yetsabl-class Courier; 47; deck Tactical Doctrine, Zhodani, 38. 124; Vargr, 64-65; Zhodani, Psychovores, 129. plan, 54. Tavrchedl’, see Thought Police. 5. Q Yonchobo utility grav sled, 59. Plague, anti-Chirper, 15. Tavrziansh, 6-7. Qiknavra, 5, 11, 13, 19, 22. Z Pliebr, star, 21; sun-god, 12. Taxes, Zhodani, 15. Qiknavrats, see Chirpers. Clotho, Politics, Vargr, 73, 76-79; Technology, 119, 121; Zdebr-class trader, 55. Qlomdlabr see Supreme Council Drakaran, Sheol, Clotho, 118-119; Drakaran, 107; 128, Zhdant; 5; system, 21, 23. of the Zhodani. Vargr, 103-104; Zhodani, 14-15. 131; 75, 86, 94; Zhdant City, 5, 22. Zhodani, Postal routes, Zhodani, 18. R 22, 40, 47. Zhodani; 5; and Psi Institutes, Proles; 8-9, 42; names, 24; rights Re-education, 29; see Thought Telepathic switches, 142. 139; character creation, 42; and responsibilities of, 17. Police. Telepathy, 136. first contact with Aslan, 21 and Thought Provinces, Zhodani, 19-20. Religion, Clotho, 118; Teleportation, 136; first contact with Clotho, 20, Police, and Zhodani com- Psibernetic web, 46, 142. Drakaran, 103; Sheol, 125; 41; 114-115; first contact with mandos, Psi Detection devices, 142. Vargr, 83; Zhodani, 6-7. 40. Vargr, 21, 71; first contact and Vargr, Psi Drugs, 140. Reputation, Zhodani, 42, 90. Third Imperium, 75. with Vilani, 21; language, 23; Psi Skills, teaching, 139. Reservation Worlds, Zhodani, Thirz Empire, 76. names, 24. Psionic equipment, 141. 19. Thoengling Empire, 76-77. Zhodani Sound Frequency Psionic Games, 12, 18. Robot designs, 56. Thought Police, 15, 28-30. Table, 24. Vargr, Zhodani, Psionic institutes; 136, 140; Robots, Zhodani, 56-57. Timeline, 84; Zhodani Word Generation employment by, 139; Imperial, Rogue, Clotho, 114. 40-41. Tables, 25-28. Tlatl 141; locating, 136; services, Rukh Aegz, 76. -class strike fighter, 56. Tozjabr, see Eye and Hand. 137; underground, 139. S Drakaran, Sheol, Psionic power levels, 136. Trade, 107; Secure Traffic Routes, Vargr, Zhodani, Psionic power; Clotho, 121; 128; 85, 86; Drakaran, 105. Zhodani, 43. 26.

144 I NDEX