Duchies of the Spinward Marches Sector

[whulorigan]

I'm working on writing up short bios for all of the Dukes and a few lesser lights (Contessa General Sir Aia, above, probably Marquis Leonard Bolden-Tukera of Aramis, maybe a few other Counts and Marquises). Looking at the extremely brief information on Duke Leonard, what do we think his career path was? I put Aia as an Imperial Marine (because that's badass), and we know Norris was Naval Intelligence. I think of Delphine as straight Aristocrat, possibly some Merchant. Leonard is a mystery -- he actively worked on the defense of the subsector, so maybe Navy? Other than his avid bicycling, I'm not sure we have a lot of details to give any firm impressions...

Many noble's do a brief stint in the Navy as Officers when they are young prior to taking up a substantive government position as preparation for leadership.

Since the Contessa was a "General", it is more probable that she was Imperial Army, as the rank of Brigadier and appointment of Brigadier General are more applicable to the Marine establishment (though General or Marshal appointments are certainly not impossible, especially during wartime deployments).

 

[AlHazred]

Many noble's do a brief stint in the Navy as Officers when they are young prior to taking up a substantive government position as preparation for leadership.

Since the Contessa was a "General", it is more probable that she was Imperial Army, as the rank of Brigadier and appointment of Brigadier General are more applicable to the Marine establishment (though General or Marshal appointments are certainly not impossible, especially during wartime deployments).

I've been giving it thought. I think, if Duke Leonard took an active hand in organizing the defense of Rhylanor during the 5FW, it would make sense that he took courses at the Fleet Tactics College at Macene, maybe Command College as well. Timing-wise, it feels to me like he was Duke for a while before the 5FW, maybe something in the range of 10-20 years? I'm trying to get a feel for it he is a "joiner" or not; like, is he just a C.E.G., or has he joined a few of them?

 

[TamsinP]

I'm working on writing up short bios for all of the Dukes and a few lesser lights (Contessa General Sir Aia, above, probably Marquis Leonard Bolden-Tukera of Aramis, maybe a few other Counts and Marquises). Looking at the extremely brief information on Duke Leonard, what do we think his career path was? I put Aia as an Imperial Marine (because that's badass), and we know Norris was Naval Intelligence. I think of Delphine as straight Aristocrat, possibly some Merchant. Leonard is a mystery -- he actively worked on the defense of the subsector, so maybe Navy? Other than his avid bicycling, I'm not sure we have a lot of details to give any firm impressions...

In my own head-canon, I like to think that Marquis Leonard Bolder Tukera's reputation as a disinterested, playboy noble is actually a front and he is secretly head of the Vemene (Tukera's security and intelligence division). It's so secret that even his wife doesn't know or suspect.

 

[kilemall]

The 3I isn’t my gig for play, but damn this is decades of movies and stream shows built in.

 

[Grav_Moped]

The 3I isn’t my gig for play, but damn this is decades of movies and stream shows built in.

I just want the show-runners-setting bible so I can write for it....

 

[mike wightman]

One definitive book for the setting with no contradictions... wouldn't be Traveller

 

[GypsyComet]

One definitive book for the setting with no contradictions... wouldn't be Traveller

Truth.

I did rough County and Mark sketches for the Imperial territory in the Marches in the run up to the Imperiallines article, but they are, in my opinion, drafts, subject to change over time, and possibly, based on older data. They were done during the peak of the T5 revisions to Charted Space, and sometimes things moved around. They were also meant to illustrate the structures implied in T5, not pin them down.
I know Marc and Don went back and forth a bit on a Duke in Aramis, for example.

 

[kilemall]

One definitive book for the setting with no contradictions... wouldn't be Traveller

I would totally embrace that, but rather then the typical alternate universe comics indulge in, I would make it clear they are stories from different authors that have different views, and I would put a supporting Library Data bit on the web that changes based on which series/movie/POV is up.

Continuity in that presentation but not necessarily everywhere. Frees up to tell different stories. Double fun if it’s the same actor as hero in one, reprised as the villain in another. VERY Traveller.

 

[AlHazred]

It occurs to me, I could post the writeup I made for her for my game.

I have been informed the rank she was promoted to in 1080 should be "force commander" for the Imperial Marines.

 

[GypsyComet]

I would totally embrace that, but rather then the typical alternate universe comics indulge in, I would make it clear they are stories from different authors that have different views, and I would put a supporting Library Data bit on the web that changes based on which series/movie/POV is up.

Some of the definitive statements in the past of Traveller are now considered in-universe, subjective, and unreliable.
The one that comes to mind is the old estimate of the number of surviving Minor Human offshoots the Ancients were involved in stranding.

 

[kilemall]

Some of the definitive statements in the past of Traveller are now considered in-universe, subjective, and unreliable.
The one that comes to mind is the old estimate of the number of surviving Minor Human offshoots the Ancients were involved in stranding.

Embrace it. The continuity book should be subtitled Lies The Imperium Told Itself .

 

[aramis]

Then we have the T5 jumpstarter patents of nobility awards, wherin several of us got dukedoms.

A handful got Archduchies. I got Sylea....
What Marc has not done is specify the timeframe of the T5 patents.

 

[TamsinP]

A handful got Archduchies. I got Sylea....
What Marc has not done is specify the timeframe of the T5 patents.

So, you are/were/will be the Emperor?

 

[aramis]

So, you are/were/will be the Emperor?

No. But unlike Strephon's era, during the time of the T5 Warrants, the Emperor has a separate Archduke of Sylea... (I don't want to be Emperor.)

 

[whulorigan]

A handful got Archduchies. I got Sylea....

I have the following recorded:

• Sylea: Aramis
• Ilelish (@ Ilelish, not Dlan): Robject
• Antares: DonM/Archangel620 & AndreaV
  Solomani Rim (not Sol /@ Terra, not Exeter): TJonesLo
  Sol: ???
• Deneb: ???
• Gateway: ???
• Vland: ???

Do you know of any others?

Marc also gave out several Grand Duchies:

• Thanber (Imperial Client-State): DonM/Archangel620
• Rhylanor: Adam Dray

What Marc has not done is specify the timeframe of the T5 patents.

Marc seems to have left timeframe up to the Patent-holder's choice, if I have correctly understood some of his subsequent comments.

 

[AlHazred]

In my own head-canon, I like to think that Marquis Leonard Bolder Tukera's reputation as a disinterested, playboy noble is actually a front and he is secretly head of the Vemene (Tukera's security and intelligence division). It's so secret that even his wife doesn't know or suspect.

In my game, I've done his Urquhart's Peerage entry like this:

Leonard Fratelli Bolden-Tukera, 19th Marquis of Aramis, [[K.T.I.]]. Born 1075, only child of Marquis Jorge Hayashi Bolden-Tukera of Aramis and Dame Marcella Fratelli. Entered Karbiili School 1089; graduated 1093. Entered Imperial Sylean University 1093; graduated 1097. Inherited Marquisate of Aramis 1099.

Married (on 294-1099) Lady Arianne Tukera.

Not sure about the Knighthood, but he seems (based on TTA) to be a joiner, who'd try to use his connections to get into "elite" circles. And the Order of the Third Imperium is one of the easier ones to get into.

My campaign starts in 1100, so I've had to finesse and edit many of the entries for these named guys.

 

[Commander Truestar]

Based on the footnote of the Patent of Nobility on page 21 of Marc Miller's Guide to Classic Traveller, we have Contessa General Sir Aia, of Celepina, Marquis Celepina, Baroness Zivije, OEG. I've decided on "Aia Rancke Knowln, Contessa of Celepina" IMTU, married to Marc hault Hamil (because I'm a massive nerd, and by 1120 the Count of Celepina is Steros Hamil Knowln per GURPS: Nobles).

My issue with "Guide to Classic Traveller" is the earlier quote in "The Traveller Adventure" on page 35, mentioning "Count Knowln of Celepina"

"The Marquis owes allegiance to the Count Knowln of
Celepina (in nearby Rhylanor subsector). who in turn owes
sllegiance to the Duke of Rhylanor, one of several Dukes
in the Spinward Marches."​

 

[AlHazred]

My issue with "Guide to Classic Traveller" is the earlier quote in "The Traveller Adventure" on page 35, mentioning "Count Knowln of Celepina"

"The Marquis owes allegiance to the Count Knowln of
Celepina (in nearby Rhylanor subsector). who in turn owes
sllegiance to the Duke of Rhylanor, one of several Dukes
in the Spinward Marches."​

Much like "Sir" being not-gendered in Imperial usage, I figure the actual titles have also become ungendered. Of course, nobles are famously conservative, so most probably insist on the proper form; but not all, and an exceptional individual like Aia probably is one of the iconoclasts.

Also, The Traveller Adventure takes place in 1105, whereas the Guide seems to be for 1100. Hence, IMTU, Aia passes on the County between 1100 and 1105, to her son, Steros Hamil Knowln.

 

[TamsinP]

In my game, I've done his Urquhart's Peerage entry like this:

Not sure about the Knighthood, but he seems (based on TTA) to be a joiner, who'd try to use his connections to get into "elite" circles.

I'm not sure how you get that from his description in TTA "This is fortunate, for the Marquis is a useless profligate who spends most of his time enjoying his wealth and social position." I guess it depends on which elite circles you are talking about - the aristocratic party circuit I could see him being very involved in, but not anything which involves any semblance of work.
And that is what makes me think his outward appearance would make an excellent cover for him as head of Vemene (for the sector or domain; Aramis is too far out for it to be reasonable as a location for overall head of the Vemene).

 

[kilemall]

I'm not sure how you get that from his description in TTA "This is fortunate, for the Marquis is a useless profligate who spends most of his time enjoying his wealth and social position." I guess it depends on which elite circles you are talking about - the aristocratic party circuit I could see him being very involved in, but not anything which involves any semblance of work.
And that is what makes me think his outward appearance would make an excellent cover for him as head of Vemene (for the sector or domain; Aramis is too far out for it to be reasonable as a location for overall head of the Vemene).

Kind of the Bruce Wayne cover identity.