Currently, here is where I am at:
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2331 Bicornn [Imperial)
Starport: Class E
Diameter: 5,202 miles (8,370 km). Atmosphere: Standard oxygen-nitrogen. Surface Water: 34%. Climate: Normal. Population: 30,000. Government: Multiple societies (split between three large states and a few small enclaves). Control Rating: 3. TL: 5.
Bicornn is a small world, with a standard gravity and atmosphere that make it uniquely habitable for men. It has never been officially colonized, due to an already numerous population of autochthones and a lack of valuable minerals; three states of "native human" occupants are the descendants of survivors of a starship crash during the Long Night, and have since developed their own unique culture. Tourists are welcomed at Shadow Valley Inn, a resort hotel at Shadow Valley. Weekly packets connect Shadow Valley Inn with the Starport.
The native autochthones are the Krvn, a semi-sentient species of human-sized burrowing arachnoids. Their tail is narrow and bifurcated, curving into large horns - this feature caused the first explorers to give the planet The torso is bulbous, covered with orange down where not armored. Their scrawny limbs are nevertheless strong enough to grip a four-foot lance; they also typically bear stone knives which they hang in a harness. Their chitinous legs are shod with barbs.
VIDEO: A picture appears, with the caption, "Typical Krvn Warrior (from Rock River Tumble.)" The creature's attitude seems mild, almost reproachful.
A voice says, "You will now hear the voice of John 37 Rock River."
The Krvn warrior inhales deeply; wattles beside his chin quiver. From the mnemiphot screen issues a high-pitched stridency, composed of clicks, hums, and rattles. Interpretation appears on a panel to the right.
"I am John 37, squadronite, Company 5 of the Advance Force, in the service of Rock River Tumble. Our valor is a source of wonder to all; our magnificent tubercule is rooted deep, and exceeded in girth only by the tubercules of Rose Slope Tumble and crafty Shell Strand Tumble.
"This day I have come at the invitation of the (untranslatable) of Small Square Tumble, to tell of our victories and immensely effective strategies."
Another sound makes itself heard: a man speaking falsetto in the Krvn language. The interpretation reads:
Question: Tell us about life in Rock River Tumble.
Answer (John 37): It is very companionable.
Q: What is the first thing you do in the morning?
A: We march past the matrons, to assure ourselves of a properly martial fercundity.
Q: What do you eat?
A: We are nourished in the caverns. (Note: The Krvn metabolism is not entirely understood; apparently they ferment organic material in a crop, and oxidize the resultant alcohols.)
Q: Tell us about your daily life.
A: We practice various disciplines, deploy in the basic formations, hurl weapons, train the kinderlings, elevate the veterans.
Q: How often do you engage in battle?
A: When it is our time: when the challenge has issued and the appropriate Code of Combat agreed upon with the enemy.
Q: You mean you fight in various styles?
A: There are 97 conventions of battle which may be employed: for instance, Code 48, by which we overcame strong Black Glass Tumble, allows the lance to be grasped only on the left side of the body and permits no severing of the leg tendons with the dagger. Code 69, however, insists that the tendons must be cut before the kill is made and the lances are used thwart-wise, as bumpers. (Note: Of the 97 conventions, only 85 to 97 apply to formalized battles between the Krvn and humans; the rest are far more ancient in pedigree.)
Q: You do not use venom in war? (Note: Krvn possess a potent neurotoxin which they use to paralyze their prey.)
A: Venom is a tool only for the hunt. It is not well to eat warriors, they are (untranslatable).
Q: Why do you fight? Why are these wars?
A: Because the tubercules of the other tumbles would surpass ours in size, did we not fight and win victories. (Note: The tubercule is a nucleus of numerous fungoid pods collected in each tumble. Each victory is celebrated by the addition of a pod, which joins and augments the main body of the tubercule. The Rock River tubercule is 17 feet in diameter, and is estimated to be 4,000 years old. The Rose Slope tubercule is 18 feet in diameter, and the Shell Strand tubercule is almost 20 feet in diameter.)
Q: What would happen if warriors from Frog Pond Tumble broke up Rock River tubercule?
John 37 makes no sound. His wattles blow out; his head bobs. After a moment he turns, marches out of view. Into the screen comes a man wearing insignia of the Imperial Interstellar Scout Service. He looks after John 37 with an expression of patronizing good humor that seems somewhat insufferable.
"The Krvn warriors are well known through the numerous sociological studies published in the Imperium, of which the most authoritative is perhaps the Fidelius Institute's Krvn: A Militaristic Society, reference code AK-SK-RD-BP.
"To summarize, let me state that there are 84 tumbles, or castles, on Bicornn, each engaged in highly formalized warfare with all the others. Three of the tumbles are occupied by the native humans, the rest by the Krvn. The evolutionary function of this warfare is the prevention of overpopulation on a small world. The Tumble Matrons are prolific, and only these rather protean measures assure a balanced ecology.
"I have been asked repeatedly whether the Krvn warriors fear death. My belief is that identification with the home tumble is so intense that the warriors have small sense of individuality. Their sole ambition is winning battles, swelling the girth of their tubercule and so glorifying their tumble."
