The Spinward Blues

The Story So Far

It is the 214th Day of the Imperial Year 1110. Or as some Solomani call it, the middle of the 57th century A.D.

The Fifth Frontier War has recently ended. The Naval Auxiliary transport Dunk and Egg was on a long trip from the Sword Worlds to Lunion, to release repatriated POWs and other troops returning home, but the onboard celebration of the Emperor's Birthday was marred when one of the POWs went space mad with a laser. It turned out that he had suffered from Zhodani mental influences, because he had seen the Earl of Lunion colluding with the Zhos!

When this was duly reported to the authorities on Biter, the crew and passengers of Dunk and Egg had a rude shock, when their witness was assassinated, the ship placed under impound, and some of them declared criminals. It seemed that the conspiracy was far-ranging, and would stop at nothing. They contacted one member of the conspiracy, General Jago, who explained that the "conspiracy" was supposed to be plain political maneuverings regarding Lunion subsector – but there was now evidence of Zhodani infiltration? He agreed to assist them.

Fortunately for our heroes, all this occurred during a time of great civil unrest on Biter. Dodging the mobs, terrorists, and possible enemy spies, they made their way to a friendly Scout ship, the Nifty Mongoose, and talked their way into passage to Lunion. En route, they discovered a Zhodani agent stowed away, who under interrogation told a strange tale of a traitor Zhodani making deals with someone of the Imperium.

Our heroes have stopped over on Wardn at the request of the Scout ship's Captain, who had to rescue a friend. It seems that the local nobles, the Professors Baronet Berlión, were part of the conspiracy. They had arranged the hijacking of a pro-Imperial ship, and brought it to an Ancients site on Wardn where it could not be detected – taking both crew and the archaeologists at the site hostage. Our heroes have uncovered the plot, taken down the Berlións' mercenaries, and are currently trying to repair the ship and get the real story from their new prisoners.

From what they've uncovered, the conspiracy is a plot by Lunion royalists, who dream of seceding from the Imperium, and joining forces with a rebellious Zhodani province. A grand dream, marred only by the fact that this would undoubtedly precipitate a Sixth Frontier War, even worse than the one just past. Our heroes have sworn to do what they can to clear their names and keep the Spinward Marches at peace.

House Rules

My handle is Shadowjack, my name is William, and I'm the gamemaster for this campaign. Thanks to good players and good fortune, we've been going strong since February 2007, and are still rolling forward today.

I have accepted characters using several versions of the Traveller rules, all run on my end through the lens of the BITS Task System; when in doubt, I've chosen to default to Classic Traveller. Marvel at the assortment of different chargen systems on display below. Because of the speed of PbP, I handle combat as a series of task contests, each contest covering several "rounds" of combat.

As far as canon goes, while I'm a fan, I'm not a die-hard. Where there is a different between the books and the game, I go with what happens in the game. I accept and encourage inventions of the players, and little references and nods to other science fiction (or just plain fiction) abound. Our travellers use their pocket comms for everything, but we still have the shotguns and sabers.

Updates come every one to three days. While I am a verbose poster, I don't expect others to be, so long as they're fun. :)

Useful Links

• In Character Thread
• Out of Character Thread
• Recruiting Thread
• Library Data
• Jump Charts

The Characters

Dawson, Sunrise – Scout

Played by RobertEdwards.

Human/F UPP 6A6A83 Age 28

Skills: Electronics-1, Medical-1, Pilot-1, Sensor Ops-1, Ship's Boat-1, Snub Pistol-1, Vacc Suit-1

Qualifications: Electronics Repair; EVA; First Aid; Pilot's Wings.

Major Possessions: Cr20,000. Snub pistol; assault rifle. Picture of son. Nice and not-so-nice clothes.

A good gal with a tough childhood, like so many who hit the Scouts, she has a son her world's government has kept her separated from. She's recently been romancing Jeffrey Harkness, and is currently recovering from multiple bullet wounds. Strong and sarcastic and, some say, sexy.

deHavilland, Olivia

Played by ncc2010.

Human/F UPP 27A997(5) Age 10 biological 28 actual

Skills: Acting-1, Brawling-1, Disguise-1, Energy Weapons-1, Handgun-2, Intrusion-4, Laser Weapons-1, Linguistics-1, Pickpocket-1, Reconnaissance-1, Research-2, Ship's Boat-1, Small Blade-2, Streetwise-1, Tracking-1

Qualifications: None, officially.

Major Possessions: Cr20,000; forged IDs. Creepy teddy bear. Custom blade; holdout pistol. PDA; lockpicking kit; flashlight.

When she was 8, Olivia's parents used her as a drug mule; there was an accident with some anagathics. Today she's a con artist and thief with over twenty years on the run. Right now, she wants to get clear of the Sword Worlds, and stick by her friends until things blow over. (Olivia deHavilland)

Highway, Thomas – Lieutenant Colonel

Played by Big-Claw.

Human/M UPP 99C9B6 Age 37

Skills: Auto Pistol-1, Battle Dress-1, Brawling-1, Combat Rifleman-2, Demolitions-1, Grav Vehicle-1, Grenade Launcher-1, Instruction-1, Intrusion-2, Leadership-2, Linguistics-1, Mechanic-1, Reconnaissance-2, Survival-2, Tactics-1

Qualifications: Air/Raft License; Battlesuit Stud; Combat Rifleman Badge; Hostile Environments; Ranger Pin; Special Forces Beret.

Major Possessions: Cr7,000. Battle rifle; pistol; grenades; combat armor.

A much-decorated officer in the Imperial Marine Commandos. The quietly competent, Clint Eastwood type – no social flower, but quick-thinking and hard-hitting in battle. (Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Highway)

Lightfoot, Ishugi Gevin – Count Doctor Traveller

Played by Tom McCambley.

Human/M UPP 685AA5 Age 38

Skills: Admin-2, Biochemistry-2, Computer-1, Electronics-1, Fleet Tactics-1, Ground Tactics-1, Laser Pistol-1, Leadership-1, Mechanic-1, Medical-4, Persuasion-1, Pilot-1, Robot Ops-1, Ship Tactics-2, Vacc Suit-1

Qualifications: Bridge Officer Papers; EVA; Medical Doctor; Medical Technician; Rescue Operations.

Major Possessions: Cr40,000; 2 High Passages. Laser pistol. Medical kit.

A dedicated doctor, officer, and gentleman. A hero in the War, thanks to being in the right place at the right time, and is now a wanted man, due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He worries he's not up to the task, he knows he will do his best, and furious at those who would sacrifice innocent lives for self-serving conceits. His full list of titles is too long to print here, but includes Count of Tobia, Grand Admiral (retired), Knight Commander of the Grand Navy, Knight of the Iridum Throne, Medical Doctor, and Traveller. (Ishugi Gevin Lightfoot)

Sator, Periss – Doctor Dame

Played by Stormraven.

Human/F UPP 7679CC Age 42

Skills: Aircraft-1, Archaeology-2, Brawling-1, Bureaucracy-2, Computer-2, Exploration-1, First Aid-1, Forensics-1, Gambling-1, Grav Craft-1, Ground Craft-2, Heavy Weapons-2, Language-3, Research-3, Rifle-1, SMG-1, Tactics-1, Writing-2

Qualifications: M.A. Military History; Ph.D Archaeology; Groundcraft License; Air/Raft License; Computer; Heavy Weapons; Combat Rifleman; First Aid.

Major Possessions: Cr80,000. Snub rifle. Personal computer; multiscanner; backpack; magnetic compess; inertial locator; cold light lantern.

A brilliant but wild child who was straightened out by the Army, then entered academia. Now a research fellow in Archaeology at the University of Lunion with a serious mind and a sharp tongue, she was on the Wardn dig when the mercenaries attacked. Having learned the reasons behind these shocking events, she has pledged her aid to the others.

Sklar, Jonathan – Special Agent

Played by Skydigger.

Human/M UPP 7B679F(7) Age 36

Skills: Admin-1, Chemistry-1, Commo-1, Computer-3, Diplomacy-1, Forensics-2, Grav Craft-1, Ground Craft-2, Instruction-1, Language-1, Medical-1, Pistol-2, Recon-1, Research-2, Short Blade-1, Streetwise-1, Survival-1, Vacc Suit-1, Writing-2

Qualifications: Coroner; Forensic Detective; Combat Pistol; Computer; Driver's License; EVA.

Major Possessions: Cr14,000. Auto pistol; dagger; soft suit. Backpack; camera; cold weather clothing; encrypted comm; inertial locator; magnetic compass, medikit; personal computer; pocket lamp; rope.

Sklar began his career in the police of his backwater planet, and rose to the rank of Captain on his forensics and leadership ability. A few years ago, he was head-hunted by the Imperial Ministry of Justice, and is currently on assignment in the Spinward Marches. The party found him cooling his heels on Wardn, unable to reach his posting due to local interference; he's quickly lent his legal powers to their investigation.

Thpoitz – Sport

Played by Chalkline.

Droyne/Male-A UPP 474B35(7) Age 39

Skills: Commo-1, Computer-0, Demolitions-1, Energy Blade-2, Flying-1, Handgun-2, Hovercraft-1, Interrogation-1, Laser Weapons-0, Mechanical-1, Pilot-3, Propeller Aircraft-0, Rifleman-1, Stealth-1, Streetwise-2, Vacc Suit-1, Zero G Combat-2 Awareness-7, Clairvoyance-7, Telekinesis-7, Telepathy-7

Qualifications: EVA; Hover Pilot; Smallarms Badge; Space Pilot; Zero-Gravity Combat.

Major Possessions: Cr3,000. Vacc suit; wings. Auto carbine.

A valiant drop trooper and space pilot of the respected Drylminkon Kroyloss, who had been assisting the archaeological dig when it was attacked. He eluded capture, and helped the humans to overthrow the guards and save the day. Now he once again finds himself battling boredom and the threats to his strange human cohorts. Elan, zeal, and inexplicable Droyne mental concepts are central to the inimitable Thpoitz!

Notable NPCs

Jeffrey Harkness, a Naval Technician with tremendous talent, enthusiasm, and dedication – and problems dealing with authority. He's demonstrated a knack for improving equipment under strange conditions, and for seeking creative solutions to problems. He's been dating Sunrise Dawson, keeping the others awake at night. (Jeffrey was a PC, but the player has had to take some time off. He may become a PC again.) (Able Spacer Jeffrey Harkness)

Bill Janesson, Scout Captain of Nifty Mongoose. His crew includes Holby, a reclusive human female; MacDougall, an illegal sapient robot; and Ygrgrl, a Vegan navigator and xeno-expert. Bill is a competent Scout, slightly larcenous, sometimes over-cautious, a bit of a swinging xenophile, and has a frightening mustache.

"Hari Porter", the Zhodani spy, currently imprisoned on Nifty Mongoose. Looks like an unimpressive middle-aged bureaucrat. He claimed to be a head supply administrator, chosen at the last minute for a desperate ad hoc mission into Imperial space. He's displayed sufficient telepathic talent to hide himself from notice, but not enough to save him from capture.

Mari Seldokova, a Ministry of Justice agent posing as an Army Intelligence oficer. She lucked onto the conspiracy, and asked the party to help her nail the conspirators to the wall. She tries to affect the persona of the cold, calculating agent, but we've seen her acting more human lately. Might have a crush on Ishugi, but too professional to say anything about it.

Jzeri, a Naval Petty Officer, recently released from the Zhodani POW camps. She's from some hick planet, where apparently she's either a warrior princess, or a backwoods farmer. Enthusiastic, but oft speaks she the Anglic tongue in a dialect archaic.

Another former PC, Magellan Sabo, was a smuggler/privateer trying to go straight, or at least avoid legal attention; he was a friend of Olivia, and was briefly employed by Seldokova. Friendly and tough. He got embroiled in the quest, and decided it didn't involve him, and was too dangerous anyway; he sneaked out once the ship hit Wardn. (Magellan Sabo)

The able crew of Dunk and Egg, including Scout Vargas Delany and Scout Bram Olili (other former PCs, who dropped out), were last seen trying to escape the conspiracy on Biter, and may not have succeeded. We don't know. Highway's friend (and Lunionite conspirator) General Jago was in similar circumstances.

Currently, our heroes are dealing with the crew of the Imperial frigate Allemande (including the androgynous Second Officer Sang and the downcast outcast Droyne Technical Odrep), the scholars of the archaeological dig (including that old duffer Professor Hertz, and a bunch of excitable grad students), and the police of Wardn Center (including young Detective Lieutenant Mikhail, and the mysterious Comptroller-General).

Other Aids