November 2021: Desert Days

 I've posted about the world of Darmonica beyond the shores of Alyeska, ever-expanding the overall setting of Frozen Skies. One of the things I've posted about has been the Commonwealth Colony of Orduesh, an outpost located in the southern deserts. This week we're going back to this little outpost and exploring some options to expand your games of Frozen Skies.

Fly the Scorched Wastes

Flying what's known as the Southern Wastes offers it's own set of challenges both like and unlike what aviators in Alyeska's chilly climes encounter. Heat and thirst will take it's toll on the unprepared whilst sand wrecks havoc on machinery. For the former keep the Heat and Thirst Hazards in mind, whilst the latter I'm toying with the following rule.

Due to the sandy nature of the Southern Wastes, all Repair rolls on machinery are made with a -1 penalty (though a shuttered hanger or workshop negates this). Similarly, mechanical equipment requires a daily upkeep Repair roll (with the aforementioned penalty) but each raise grants a whole where this roll is not required. Failure requires another Repair roll and d6 hours to fix the piece of equipment, a Critical Failure requires a proper hanger or workshop and d6 days to rectify the problem. 

If the piece of equipment was caught in a sandstorm, this inflicts another -2 on Repair rolls.

Motivations

Similar to Alyeska, the Southern Wastes are dotted with Ancient ruins and mining outposts in addition to boasting large swaths of unexplored territory. The Wastes are also host to border skirmishes between the Commonwealth and the Sultanate of Taramate and efforts by other Darmonican powers to woo the latter, thus giving some options for diplomatic or even spy based plots.

Threats

The most obvious foe would be the Sultanate which is openly hostile to those found within it's borders without permission, obtaining a permit for safe travel is a venture in of itself.

But what about beasties lurking in the desert sands?

One creatures I'm currently brainstorming is one that I've taken to calling the Burrower, simply because it spends most of it's time under the sands. This creature would be a predator and thus the Southern Wastes' counterpart to the Wulvers of Alyeska, though what type of creature I have yet to decide upon. It is tempting to make it a giant sand worm, but I'm considering some sort of mammal.

Another idea I'm mulling is desert dwelling Windryders, almost as a tie-in to Alyeska.

So, thoughts and comments?

The Airman's Gazetteer: Colony of Orduesh

Little bit of a chance of pace, a return to the Airman's Gazetteer series to expand the world of Darmonica. This week is a look at something that has been mentioned previously; the Commonwealth Colony of Orduesh. This desert outpost is surrounded by hostile lands and border skirmishes are a way of life, yet the Commonwealth still holds onto it.

Source: RAF Museum

Desert Days

The Colony of Orduesh is centered round the city of the same name, originally part of the Holy Sodkan Empire but later acquired via treaty by the Commonwealth following a past conflict. It lies at the eastern end of the Mammut Sea, the Commonwealth's only port on that body of water. With the sea to the west, it is bordered on its three other sides by the desolute deserts of the Sultanate of Taramate has grown increasingly hostile to the Commonwealth in recent years.

So why does the Commonwealth maintains this outpost?

The answer is complex.

First and foremost is that Orduesh is a major source of Aerothium for the Commonwealth, providing lift gas for the aero-vessels of the Royal Aero-Fleet and Commonwealth aligned trade consortiums. There are a number of mines were the raw mineral is extracted before being shipped to the refinery in Orduesh City and processed into its gas form. Since it is of such a great strategic importance, elements of the Commonwealth's military guard both related facilities and shipments.

Orduesh is also strategically located, not only on the eastern end of the Mammut Sea but also for its proximity to the Union of Sodkan Republics. This enables the Commonwealth to better maintain relations and even trade with the Republics, in addition to providing a route for Commonwealth agents to get in and out of the Iron Collective. Though it does make the colony vulnerable to sky pirates operating out of the Republics.

Use In Games

Orduesh could provide an interesting alternative to Alyeska, there are more major factions at play and their respective interests clash with one another. There is conflict between the Commonwealth and Taramate, as well as occasional clashes with the Republics and sky pirates. There is also the chance of doing dangerous, but highly profitable, smuggling runs into both the Sultanate and the Iron Collective. Orduesh could also serve as the base for a campaign revolving round Commonwealth operatives taking action against the Collective or getting involved in the politics of the Republics.

The Airman's Gazetteer: Sultanate of Taramate

Lying across the Mammut Sea south of the 'core' nations of Darmonica is the ancient kingdom known as the Sultanate of Taramate. It is said to be older than the Kingdom of Tyland, though much about the Sultanate is veiled in secrecy. Outsiders are generally restricted to a handful of ports on the Mammut Sea coast, though permission had grudgingly been given for a small number of expeditions to the interior over the years. Recently relations have been struck with the Artian Confederation and a small but growing Artian military presence has been established.

Sultanate of Taramate

Due to the restrictions on dealing with outsiders not a great deal is known about the Sultanate. There is presumably a ruler, though their gender and name has yet to be revealed to non-Taramates. Its military was believed to have been made up of an elite 'Royal Guards' unit and a number of regional militia forces, though this is in the process of being completely reorganised by the Artians. Though even the Artians admit their dealings with the Sultnate governing body has been via court scribes who refer to their ruler as 'Their Serenity'.

What is known is that, aside from the coastal strip, the Sultanate is a vast desert country that stretches to a loose border region known as the 'Southern Wastes'. It is unknown what lies this far south, though it is believed that there are a number of Ancient Terran ruins including what many presume to have been a fairly important city. It is not known whether the Taramates have tried venturing south. There are a handful of Ancient Terran ruins within the Sultanate itself, these have been the sought after goals of a number of expeditions over the years. It seems the Artians may have gained greater access to these ruins.

The Taramate people themselves are mainly clustered in the coastal strip area where there is water and relatively fertile ground for growing crops. The rest reside in scattered desert villages or are nomads that roam the width and breath of the Sultanate. A fair number reside in the Commonwealth colony of Orduesh, wedged between the Sultante and Union of Sodkan Republics, though these are as tight-lipped as their neighbouring cousins. The Pamdinians have had the greatest contact with the Taramates, they regularly trade with one another across the Mammut Sea but the Pamdinians only know little more than everyone else. It appears that the Taramates worship some sort of deity, though as with everything else in their country they have refused to share any info with outsiders. Indeed, many outsiders have reported being barred from entering Taramate temples and even being subjected to a curfew on occasions.

Though normally restricted to the ports on the coast, a few outsiders have managed to sneak into the desert land to the south. They have confirmed the presence of a few Ancient Terran ruins, as well as some newer ruins that may be from the early days of the Sultanate's existence. It is not known how or why these ruins came to be and Taramates seem to steer well clear of them, citing that 'some darkness' now lays claim to them. The few outsiders who have made it this far also report being dogged by the Nobetciler (roughly translates as the Sentinels), the supposed elite bodyguard of the Sultanate's mysterious ruler. The Nobetciler reportedly pursued persons who have visited the desert beyond the Sultanate and warned them not to return, though the Nobetciler are said to be responsible for the outsiders who turn up dead.