G
gloriousbattle
Guest
This is just a very rough idea I have for starting a new, non-canon Traveller campaign, since I found the Dracula in Traveller article. It is a very science fantasy idea, but I'd be interested in seeing how YOU would flesh it out.
Any suggestions appreciated.
***
Okay, see, beeeeeelyuns and beeeeeelyuns of years ago, there were these two universes existing parallel to each other (whatever that means). The one was a universe of stars and planets, but the only life existed on the stars themselves. This is not so hard to conceive, as stars are pretty flush with energy in constantly changing forms, as opposed to planets, which are kinda cold and slow by comparison. These creatures were intelligent, civilized (though in a perplaxingly non-human manner), and could travel to and colonize other stars by moving through a sort of jump gate that exists naturally at the center of every star. For a looooooooong time, this worked out pretty well, and the star creatures argued philosophy, composed music, and otherwise enjoyed themselves.
But, as the universe aged a bit, some of the stars started to die, which, for a star, meant collapsing into a black hole. These black holes actually were gates to another, far nastier universe, inhabited by terrible creatures who's name -even for themselves- translates, very roughly as "Devourers." The Devourers constantly sought new sources of energy to... well... devour. When the gates to the star creature's universe started to open, they immediately began to invade, kill stars, and create even more and very massive black holes in what has since become the centers of galaxies.
However, the Devourers had bitten off a bit more than they could chew (pardon the joke).
After a few meeeeeelyun years or so (a pretty short time where such creatures are concerned), the star creatures developed a new weapon. They learned to cause some stars to go nova and super nova, flooding the Devourers with more energy than they could tolerate, and driving them back to their own dark, cold universe. For awhile, the universe of light again knew peace.
But the Devourers were a vengeful race, and would not suffer defeat easily. They created new creatures, of the same sort as themselves, but far lesser, and sent them through the gates. These dark servants were also vulnerable to extremes of energy, but could use planets, moons and other cold bodies to hide from them more easily. When enough of the lesser ones had invaded the starry universe, they would begin, slowly, to construct shields behind which their masters could also hide. These shields would be proof against the nova weapons, and would allow their masters to feed at leisure.
When the starry ones became aware of this awful device, they were in something of a quandary. They could hardly destroy every planet and moon in the cosmos with nova weapons. After all, each star-turned-nova destroyed one of their homes. In the end, the Devourers could only win such a war of attrition. After ruminating for a few meeeeeelyun years or so, they decided upon a counter-weapon.
The starry ones created the warm-life.
At first, these were very simple life forms, similar to but far less energetic than their own. These creatures were seeded on the planets of the universe, and slowly, under the guidance of the starry ones, they developed complexity, intelligence and power. What's more, as they were natives to this universe, they found it far less hostile than the dark servants did. The warm-life could breed and multiply in numbers, whereas the dark ones could not.
By the time the Devourers discovered this strategem, it was almost too late to stop it. Warm-life had bred on beeeeeelyuns and beeeeeelyuns of worlds in many and variant forms. Soon, the Devourers knew, these creatures would evolve sufficiently to commune with their makers, and begin their war on the dark servants.
But, perhaps, the servants still had time to strike first.
And so the Devourers ordered a change in plans. The servants would cease construction of the nova shields and begin subverting the warm-life. If these creatures could be brought under the control of the Devourers, they could be taught to hate and fear, and to make war upon themselves. They could be thrown into collosal confusion, and their dangerous energies thus dissipated, allowing the servants to resume their all-important work, and perhaps even draw some of the warm-life into their service. That would give the Devourers much wicked satisfaction indeed.
And now the battle lines are drawn. Will life evolve to its true potential, or will it succumb to the dark?
***
Obviously, like any good plot, this should be unknown to the PCs (and pretty much everybody else) at the beginning of the campaign, but should develop with a few slap-my-own-forehead "NOW I get it!" moments. How to accomplish this?
Ideas:
What if the pattern of novas and super novas had some order to them, almost like battle lines?
What if legends of angels (the starry ones) and vampires (the dark servants) were almost universal?
What if the only planets where vampire legends were unknown, were also planets where the vampires had secretly assumed control?
What if "null jump" areas existed around certain dead star systems, that psionic characters might (with a lot of effort) be able to figure out were artificially contstructed?
What if it turned out that life on virtually every planet in the universe had evolved at roughly the same time (within a few meeeeeelyun years or so)?
Of course, a serious objection to a lot of this is that the patterns I'm suggesting above won't exist, as these things (black holes, novas, etc.) simply arose as a result of natural forces. Ah, but what if it only appears that way, because we are not looking for an intelligent source? This could have an interesting lead-in to some scientist who was spurned by the establishment, who has figured out -at least to an extent- what is really going on.
"We thought that we had grown up, that we were too old for gods. Well, we'd better start understanding them if we hope to get any older..."
I welcome all suggestions.
Any suggestions appreciated.
***
Okay, see, beeeeeelyuns and beeeeeelyuns of years ago, there were these two universes existing parallel to each other (whatever that means). The one was a universe of stars and planets, but the only life existed on the stars themselves. This is not so hard to conceive, as stars are pretty flush with energy in constantly changing forms, as opposed to planets, which are kinda cold and slow by comparison. These creatures were intelligent, civilized (though in a perplaxingly non-human manner), and could travel to and colonize other stars by moving through a sort of jump gate that exists naturally at the center of every star. For a looooooooong time, this worked out pretty well, and the star creatures argued philosophy, composed music, and otherwise enjoyed themselves.
But, as the universe aged a bit, some of the stars started to die, which, for a star, meant collapsing into a black hole. These black holes actually were gates to another, far nastier universe, inhabited by terrible creatures who's name -even for themselves- translates, very roughly as "Devourers." The Devourers constantly sought new sources of energy to... well... devour. When the gates to the star creature's universe started to open, they immediately began to invade, kill stars, and create even more and very massive black holes in what has since become the centers of galaxies.
However, the Devourers had bitten off a bit more than they could chew (pardon the joke).
After a few meeeeeelyun years or so (a pretty short time where such creatures are concerned), the star creatures developed a new weapon. They learned to cause some stars to go nova and super nova, flooding the Devourers with more energy than they could tolerate, and driving them back to their own dark, cold universe. For awhile, the universe of light again knew peace.
But the Devourers were a vengeful race, and would not suffer defeat easily. They created new creatures, of the same sort as themselves, but far lesser, and sent them through the gates. These dark servants were also vulnerable to extremes of energy, but could use planets, moons and other cold bodies to hide from them more easily. When enough of the lesser ones had invaded the starry universe, they would begin, slowly, to construct shields behind which their masters could also hide. These shields would be proof against the nova weapons, and would allow their masters to feed at leisure.
When the starry ones became aware of this awful device, they were in something of a quandary. They could hardly destroy every planet and moon in the cosmos with nova weapons. After all, each star-turned-nova destroyed one of their homes. In the end, the Devourers could only win such a war of attrition. After ruminating for a few meeeeeelyun years or so, they decided upon a counter-weapon.
The starry ones created the warm-life.
At first, these were very simple life forms, similar to but far less energetic than their own. These creatures were seeded on the planets of the universe, and slowly, under the guidance of the starry ones, they developed complexity, intelligence and power. What's more, as they were natives to this universe, they found it far less hostile than the dark servants did. The warm-life could breed and multiply in numbers, whereas the dark ones could not.
By the time the Devourers discovered this strategem, it was almost too late to stop it. Warm-life had bred on beeeeeelyuns and beeeeeelyuns of worlds in many and variant forms. Soon, the Devourers knew, these creatures would evolve sufficiently to commune with their makers, and begin their war on the dark servants.
But, perhaps, the servants still had time to strike first.
And so the Devourers ordered a change in plans. The servants would cease construction of the nova shields and begin subverting the warm-life. If these creatures could be brought under the control of the Devourers, they could be taught to hate and fear, and to make war upon themselves. They could be thrown into collosal confusion, and their dangerous energies thus dissipated, allowing the servants to resume their all-important work, and perhaps even draw some of the warm-life into their service. That would give the Devourers much wicked satisfaction indeed.
And now the battle lines are drawn. Will life evolve to its true potential, or will it succumb to the dark?
***
Obviously, like any good plot, this should be unknown to the PCs (and pretty much everybody else) at the beginning of the campaign, but should develop with a few slap-my-own-forehead "NOW I get it!" moments. How to accomplish this?
Ideas:
What if the pattern of novas and super novas had some order to them, almost like battle lines?
What if legends of angels (the starry ones) and vampires (the dark servants) were almost universal?
What if the only planets where vampire legends were unknown, were also planets where the vampires had secretly assumed control?
What if "null jump" areas existed around certain dead star systems, that psionic characters might (with a lot of effort) be able to figure out were artificially contstructed?
What if it turned out that life on virtually every planet in the universe had evolved at roughly the same time (within a few meeeeeelyun years or so)?
Of course, a serious objection to a lot of this is that the patterns I'm suggesting above won't exist, as these things (black holes, novas, etc.) simply arose as a result of natural forces. Ah, but what if it only appears that way, because we are not looking for an intelligent source? This could have an interesting lead-in to some scientist who was spurned by the establishment, who has figured out -at least to an extent- what is really going on.
"We thought that we had grown up, that we were too old for gods. Well, we'd better start understanding them if we hope to get any older..."
I welcome all suggestions.
Last edited:
