StrangeStars OSRrulebook

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)
ARMCHAIR PLANET & THE HYDRA COOPERATIVE PRESENT
STRANGE STARS
OSR RULE BOOK
WRITTEN BY TREY
CAUSEY EDITED BY THE HYDRA COOPERATIVE LAYOUT & DESIGN BY LESTER B. PORTLY
ORIGINAL ART BY JEZ GORDON, DAVID LEWIS JOHNSON, RENO MANIQUIS, ADAM MOORE & JASON SHOLTIS
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY ERIC QUIGLEY
STARS WITHOUT NUMBER AND ASSOCIATED WORKS ARE COPYRIGHT SINE NOMINE PUBLISHING

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 03
01: CHARACTERS 04
CLADES O5
NEW BACKGROUNDS 11
02: TECHNOLOGY 12
03: SPACE TRAVEL 14
04: GAME MASTERING 16
SETTING ASSUMPTIONS 16
GALACTIC REGIONS 17
ADVENTURE GENERATOR 18
05: NPCS & ADVERSARIES 20
06: FACTIONS 28
07: WORLDS & HABITATS 30
CATALOG OF WORLDS 31
HABITAT GENERATION 34

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Strange Stars OSR Rule Book. First off, a warning: This is not a complete game. It requires Stars Without Num-
ber Core Edition or a similar ruleset (though the latter option will necessitate a bit more translation) and the Strange Stars Game
Book. Other SWN supplements are discussed in the text but these are optional depending on the type of game you want to run.
This book isn’t intended to be the final word on gaming in the Strange Stars. It’s a toolkit, designed to allow you to adapt elements
of Strange Stars to your old school game. For that reason, it offers guidance rather than definitive answers. They are your Strange
Stars, now. Make of them what you will.
I’d like to thank my Hydra partners Humza Kazmi, Chris Kutalik, and Robert Parker and my wife, Andrea, for their contribution to this
work, both of in terms content and editing, and of course the artists: David Lewis Johnson, Lester B. Portly, Reno Maniquis, Adam
Moore, and Jason Sholtis for helping bring Strange Stars to life.
Trey Causey
TERMINOLOGY
bioroid: From “biologic android.” A biologic humanoid organism created by artificial means.
clade: A group of organisms derived from a common ancestor or ancestral template.
fabber: A nanofabrication unit, ubiquitous across civilized space, used to manufacture finished products from raw materials.
infosophont: An intelligent entity comprised of information; a sophont AI.
metascape: The augmented reality overlay through which citizens of technologically advanced societies view the world.
moravec: A general term for self-replicating, sophont robots.
noosphere: The environment of human(oid) thought of a civilization or world, populated by infomorphs. It evolved from the an-
cient technologies of cyberspace, augmented reality, spimes, and the sophont minds with which they interact.
sim: Shortened from “simulated reality”; A popular form of art and entertainment.
sophont: An intelligent and self-aware being; often used synonymously with “sapient,” though the terms have slightly different
connotations.

01: CHARACTERS
Potential player character types in Strange Stars are a varied Strange Stars than in the default SWN setting. Many people
lot; they range from the relatively human-appearing majorities have some sort of genemod upgrade and backups are com-
of places like Circus to the green-skinned, psi-enhanced Sma- mon for those who can afford them. Cyberware (as presented
ragdines or the carapaced, cyber-arthropod Engineers. This in the SWN core book and the Polychrome worldbook) is also
chapter outlines how to bring the rich detail of the setting to common, though most cultures find overt cyberware tacky and
your game. primitive; it has been replaced by genetic engineering. The Zao
Pirates and some Star Folk bands do not share this disdain.
Character creation in Strange Stars follows the basic steps
found in Stars Without Number (SWN) or your system of Bioroids: The bodies of these artificially created biologic be-
choice, but includes a few more options. With the Game ings are technically something like hulls, artificially created
Master’s approval, players may choose from three broad cat- bodies that a mind wears (see Transhuman Tech worldbook).
egories of sophonts, subdivided into clades and cultures. A Most PC-appropriate bioroids will resemble the basic hull type,
number of clades are mentioned in the Strange Stars Game perhaps with a few augmentations. Other hull types are possi-
Setting Book (SSGSB), but it doesn’t provide an exhaustive ble, at the GM’s discretion. Bioroids are unlikely to have psion-
list. GMs are encouraged to add their own. ics.
There are three broad categories of sophonts as described in Moravecs: Many moravec types will just be mechanical “spe-
the SSGSB. Use the guidelines below to create characters or cies” and are designed like any other character with a few mi-
clades: nor traits due to their non-biological nature (immunity to some
psionics, no need to eat or sleep, etc.). Others will be easier to
Biologics: These are either humans or aliens (and in the far build via the AI armature rules in the core SWN rulebook.
future of Strange Stars the distinction isn’t always clear)
and are created using the standard character creation rules Infosophonts: Though they don’t automatically have bodies,
in SWN. Some biologic clades have attribute requirements/ these artificial intelligences can be downloaded into a bioroid
modifiers and special abilities. body (hull) or a mechanical one (armature). The differences
between infosophonts and moravecs can be fuzzy, but in the
The sort of body-swapping (transferring an individual’s ego main moravecs are as attached to their single, physical forms
template between different physical bodies) described in as most baseline humans are. For infosophonts, those forms
Mandate Archive: Transhuman Tech is much more common in are just outfits they wear.
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BLESH
CLADES
Physical Characteristics: Blesh are vaguely insectoid, bipedal

An alphabetical list of the unique clades from the setting book bioroids with six limbs and crystalline, translucent bodies. They
most appropriate for PCs are presented below. The GM should grow like fruit from cybernetic tree-structures on their home-
add or subtract from this list at her discretion. This should cer- world, Elysium (SSGSB p. 11).
tainly not be considered an exhaustive catalog of character
homeworlds/cultures, as many worlds and habitats are popu- Psychological Characteristics: Each blesh has a gestalt mind,
lated by standard humans, including much of the League of blended from one of 1803 digitized human minds (recovered
Habitats and the Instrumentality. from a crashed ark) and an alien, post-sapient mental structure.
Blesh are nonviolent and invested in galactic stability, as this
Some of the clades have abilities that are potentially unbalanc- facilitates cultural exchange. They are particularly interested in
ing to a campaign while others have characteristics that may ancient human cultures.
make them unlikely members of adventuring groups. These are
marked with a star (★). The GM should use discretion in allow- Names: Blesh names are a combination of the name of their hu-
ing them as player characters in his or her campaign. man mind, a number designation related to the tree they grew
from, and a monosyllabic prefix. Examples: Li-Glissa-19, Nal-Re-
Following the clade descriptions is a list grouping them by re- za-23, El-7-Syblline, Ko-99-Izaak.
gion to make it easier for players to select character types most
appropriate for the campaign locale the GM has in mind for his Backgrounds: Peasant, Scholar, Researcher.
or her campaign. Of course, any spacefaring adventurer might
well be far from home. Classes: The best fit for the blesh is the Expert class. They are
unlikely Warriors and never Psychics.
A note on clade names and capitalization: It isn’t as incon-
sistent as it may appear! Names of species are common nouns Attributes: Minimum Intelligence and Constitution of 9.
and so aren’t capitalized. Names of cultures are proper nouns
and are capitalized. Admittedly, sometimes the divisions can be Special:
fuzzy. Immunity: Blesh have the equivalent of the Basic Immunity ben-
efit package (see Transhuman Tech), +3 to saves versus poison,
ATOZAN disease, and radiation.
Tough Integument: Blesh have a base AC 7 vs weapons of Tech
Level 3 or lower.
Physical Characteristics: Atozans are ectomorphic biologic hu- Slow Healing: Without access to the cybernetic trees of their
manoids with tall, narrow, domed skulls. homeworld, blesh suffer a +1 penalty to all rolls for length of
time for healing.
Psychological Characteristics: Atozans often come off as
scholarly and pedantic to other sophonts. DJÄGGA
Names: Atozans have a lineage designator consisting of a let-

ter in the ancient Greek alphabet followed by a numerical code Physical Characteristics: Djägga are biologic humanoids with
(typically 3 letters, but occasionally up to five) and then a short some felinoid characteristics, including a tail, large eyes, and
personal name. Examples: Alpha-729 An, Chi-0113 Bel, Beta- high placed ears. Though their skin is no more hirsute than a
451 Hano, Kappa-002 Lin, Gamma-882 Mish, Omega-024 Mek, baseline human’s, they are pigmented in patterns like those of
Phi-169 Sus, Tau-931 Pol, Rho-644 Rog, Eta-404 Thom, Nu-063 Terran-derived cats.
Kar.
Psychological Characteristics: Djägga are typically solitary be-
Backgrounds: Bureaucrat. Data Prospector, Researcher, Techni- ings, suspicious of others. They tend to speak very little. They are
cian. keen to avenge any perceived betrayal. Competitions can trigger
their predator instincts, even games — particularly ones with a
Classes: Expert is the most common class for Atozans; Psychics physical component.
are very rare.
Names: Djägga tend to use either a first name and family name
Attributes: Standard. or just a first name. “L” and “r” are interchangeable sounds. Ex-
amples: Shra Karee, Yar, Djakan, Fyree, Garan, Meerkar, Challa
Special: Akan, Mrissa Shir.
Catalog Language: All Atozans learn a secret, ceremonial lan-
guage that allows them to locate holdings within the Library, Backgrounds: Armsman, Law Enforcement, Soldier, Security,
the vast and ancient noospheric and physical archive of most Tribesman.
known worlds (SSGSB p. 19). Anyone else trying to locate a par-
ticular record would be completely lost. Classes: Djägga are Warriors, foremost. They are never Psychics.
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Attributes: Minimum Strength and Dexterity of 12. Each gnome clan only has one “Mother” producing young at a
time: Mother being the gnome term for an external womb pro-
Special: duced by the mating of a gnome male and female. The Mother
Keen Senses: Djägga possess superhuman smell and hearing generates gnome embryos from the genetic material of its fe-
and have the equivalent of Perception 1 when detecting things male parent and all the males she may have mated with. The
related to those senses. gnomes care for the Mother until it gives birth to its stock of
embryos and dies.
ENGINEER ★
Psychological Characteristics: Gnomes are eusocial (like naked
mole rats) and divide labor between workers, responsible for
Physical Characteristics: Engineers (autonym: mnadnzat, the care and maintenance of habitats, and managers, who raise
mnaat sing.) vaguely resemble Paleo-Earth isopods with a the children, defend the habitat, and interface with outsiders.
blend of cybernetic and biologic characteristics. The average in- Gnomes are gregarious and inquisitive, but deliberate in their
dividual is 1.2 m tall and has four pairs of limbs, but ambulates thought process. They seldom act rashly. They have less need for
bipedally. Either of their upper pairs of limbs may be used as personal space than most humanoids and are prone to depres-
manipulators, though the first pair is shorter and more dexter- sion if forced into situations where they have diminished physi-
ous. They have an internal skeleton, but also possess thick, iri- cal contact with others. Many gnomes suffer from a fear of open
descent plates of carapace running the length of their bodies. spaces, and may experience a panic reaction in these situations.
Psychological Characteristics: Engineers are somewhat liter- Names: Gnomes aren’t given lifelong names at birth, but in-
al-minded and pedantic, though they’re fairly gregarious when stead their clan members use descriptors to refer to them.
there is a topic of conversation that interests them. They are These descriptors may change over the course of a gnome’s life.
averse to physical confrontation and danger — often to the They are often four or more syllables long and have been likened
point of cowardice from the perspective of other species. to low pitched humming or stomach rumblings. Gnomes are of-
ten given nicknames by members of other species they associ-
Names: Engineers use long designation codes that provide in- ate with. Example descriptors: Brrdurmmdrur, Obdommrrmrr,
formation on expertise, location, and genetic lineage. At the Nggrrtumbora, Mmbuhmmngrr (Double consonants indicate a
Vokuns’ insistence, Engineers use a base designation of one or syllabic form of that sound, e.g. “mm” is “uhmm.”)
two syllables with other sophonts. Examples: Aznat, Enek, In-
aat, Ikatik, Mnazek, Ndzat, Omnak, Tlek Backgrounds: Deck Crew, Politician, Worker (Miner), Soldier.
Backgrounds: Engine Crew, Technician. Classes: Gnomes may be Experts or Warriors, though only man-
ager caste gnomes are likely to be the latter. There are no Psy-
Classes: Expert only. chics among them.
Attributes: Minimum Constitution of 11. Attributes: Minimum Constitution of 9.
Special: HWURU
Additional Limbs: As many as four of an Engineer’s limbs can be
used to manipulate objects with standard manual dexterity, but
they gain no additional attacks. Physical Characteristics: Hwuru are arboreal biologics with
Bodyswapping: Should an Engineer’s body become irrevocably some resemblance to Old Earth apes and sloths. They are short-
damaged, its mind may be downloaded into a new body from a er than humans but powerfully built with arms longer than their
remote backup. The process of mind-reintegrating takes 2d12 legs, and digits with claw-like structures (actually bony projec-
hours. If the Engineer dies before she can personally log her re- tions covered with horn) on their dorsal surface. They’re covered
embodiment request, she will be at the mercy of her fellows. with shaggy fur except on the anterior surface of their torsos,
Without a particular need, the routine re-embodiment queue which is covered with leathery plates. Primarily insectivorous,
may run 2d20 days. they have beak-like snouts with extendable tongues and cannot
Carapace: Engineers have a base Armor Class of 4 against weap- swallow anything much larger than 24 mm in diameter.
ons Tech Level 3 or lower.
Cyberware: All Engineers have the equivalent of a Direct Neural Psychological Characteristics: Hwuru native culture is tribal
Interface (Level Two), an Integral Biostatus Monitor, and an In- and primitive by galactic standards. They have reputation for
tegral Commlink. being highly sensitive to affronts to their honor and prone to
violence, but this is a stereotype.
GNOME
Names: Hwuru have a personal name and a tribe name. Exam-
ples: Personal names: Chafa, Ihooyo, Hakla, Hichi, Ooka, Tuklo,
Physical Characteristics: Gnomes are small (1-1.3 m) human- Ustakaa; Clan Names: Nuklagi-isa, Ichasulasa, Yarahutki, Kuni-
oids with little sexual dimorphism, loose, wrinkled skin and large pa-gichi, Muhwuhi-chisa, Bolahuma.
ears. Manager caste gnomes are taller than the worker caste
and disproportionately female (though still majority male). Backgrounds: Adventurer, Armsman or Tribesman.
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Classes: Warrior is by far the most common. They are never Psy- except in formal situations. Examples: Chun Ri, Gan Yul, Ro Nar,
chics. Ang Tu, Tan Em, Ib Kan, Li Pan.
Attributes: Minimum strength of 12. Backgrounds: Adventurer, Astrogator’s Mate, Researcher,

Scholar.
Special:
Bone Claws: 1d4 damage. Classes: Expert is the most likely class for an ibglibdishpan.
Climbing: All hwuru possess Climbing as a background skill. Warriors are rare and Psychics nonexistent.
Chaoofsh Dependence: Virtually all (85%) of hwuru are physical-
ly dependence on chaoofsh (an inhaled intoxicant). Going with- Attributes: Intelligence of at least 14. Charisma and Strength
out for 12 hours or more leads to withdrawal: Toxicity 8, Interval no higher than 10.
one day, Virulence 3. Each failed save means a -1 to Intelligence,
Wisdom, and Dexterity. Withdrawal resolves in 5 days. Special Abilities:
Humanoid Computer: Ibglibdishpan gain an additional +1 to
HYEHOON Skill checks based on Intelligence. They also have the power of
Hypercognition; once per session, the PC can ask the GM for a
useful conclusion regarding a topic, and the GM will tell them
Physical Characteristics: Hyehoon are biologic humanoids what he or she considers the most useful fact the character
with some avian characteristics. They have lighter frames than could have concluded from analysis of the available data.
baseline humans, but are strong for their weight. Head and Mental Breakdown: Ibglibdishpan mental structure always has
brow hair is replaced by light, downy feathers. a chance of a cognitive glitch or breakdown. Any time an ib-
glibdishpan has to make an Intelligence related skill check of
Psychological Characteristics: Hyehoon are dynamic and in- difficulty 11 or higher, fails an Intelligence related check of any
quisitive. They get along well with other clades. difficulty, or uses the Hypercognition ability, a save vs. Mental
Effects must be made. On a failed roll, a negative effect occurs.
Names: While there is variation based on subculture, most hy- The following d6 table offers some examples:
ehoon have a personal name, a clutch name (immediate fam-
ily), and a clan name (larger kinship group). Their typical or- 1. Catatonic state, repeating the last statement made for d100
dering convention is clan name, personal name, clutch name. minutes. Hypercognition ability (if unused) is not available
Examples: Female Personal Names: Ahwi, Hyana, Oona, Wheta, the rest of the session.
Yaren, Yrari; Male Personal Names: Apata, Hamoon, Helo, Olo, 2. Screams for d100 seconds, then returns to previous activity
Tuvo, Ydris Clutch Names: use personal names from either gen- as if nothing happened. Intelligence-related skill checks are
der; Clan Names: Ahmat, Aroi, Milonga, Ro, Sokha, Yooloo, Wa- at -1 for 24 hours.
roi. 3. Develops a severe phobia which lasts for 2d12 weeks. Every
week, the character may make another Mental Effects save.
Backgrounds: Any; Adventurer, Astrogator’s Mate, Biotech 3 successful saves in a row means the phobia abates early.
Crew, Comm Crew, Politician, Researcher, and Technician are 4. Develops a reaction akin to Stendhal Syndrome (dizziness,
typical. confusion, possible fainting) for d4/2 hours. -2 to Dexterity,
Intelligence, and Wisdom for the duration.
Classes: Any. 5. Suffers a seizure lasting 1d4 min. -1 to all rolls until a period
of rest of at least 8 hours.
Attributes: Standard. 6. Loses 1-2 points of intelligence for 2d10 days. Every 2 days,
another Mental Effects save can be attempted. 3 successes
IBGLIBDISHPAN means the return of the lost points early. Each failure adds
an extra day.
Physical Characteristics: Ibglibdishpan are biologic humanoids KOSMONIK

who are tall with gracile builds. Their skulls are somewhat ovoid
vertically, though this appearance is accentuated by a shield-
shaped “mask” of osteoderm. They exhibit little sexual dimor- Physical Characteristics: Kosmoniks are short (1.4 m tall on
phism. average), lean humanoids with arms almost as long as their
legs. They have dexterous, four-digited hands and prehensile
Psychological Characteristics: Ibglibdishpan are restrained in feet. Their gray skin is a flexible membrane, engineered to af-
emotional responses and lacking in empathy in comparison to ford some protection against hard vacuum. Their most unusual
other humanoids. They are viewed by others as pedantic and trait are their faces: they are flat and hidden behind smooth,
overly precise. Most are adverse to violence (though see below). glossy nanotechnological masks, featureless except for their
They consider discussion of gender or sex as rude. membrane-protected eyes.
Names: Names of the ibglibdishpan are composed of two, Psychological Characteristics: Kosmoniks are friendly, but su-
monosyllabic elements that end in a vowel, n, ng, m, l, r, sh or perstitious. They are given to finding hidden meanings and in-
more rarely b. Among themselves they employ numerical family terpreting signs and portends from events. All kosmonik groups
designation that is placed before the personal name, but they have a set of taboos, but each kosmonik is likely to individual
rarely use these when dealing day-to-day with other cultures, ones, as well.
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Names: Kosmonik names are made up of visemes (hand signs go into public without their elaborate privacy screens/firewalls
or visual signals) rather than sounds, so any phonetic represen- called nizara in place. They have a reputation for ethical be-
tation is arbitrary. Typically, their translation devices represent havior and conservative investment, but are infamous for their
their names as one or two syllables occasionally with unusual strict adherence to the letter of contracts and for hard credit
sounds like pops or clicks. Some groups use family names and terms.
others do not. Examples: Tigo, *tika, Mogo, Ra%ngi, Kai, Pakuni,
^chaka, Gree, Maki, Nok, Isha, Tsa%n. Names: Neshekk have personal and clans names and possibly
nicknames reflecting noteworthy deeds or exceptional ances-
Backgrounds: Adventurer, Deck Crew, Engine Crew, Technician. tors. Neshekk never use anything but their personal names
and a single syllable (analogous to the “first name, last initial”
Classes: Expert is the most common, Warriors uncommon, and usage) with off-worlders, however, relying on digital keycodes
Psychics rare. to verify their exact identity, if necessary. Examples: Female
Names: Azir, Faimah, Khulda, Tsena, Yatma, Yezda, Zuzeya; Male
Attributes: Standard. Names: Azrum, Ikazd, Kharam, Orad, Rezmar, Tsek, Yazed; Syl-
lables: Mek, Nan, Kha, Tsat, Yad, Yek, Za, Zem.
Special:
Mute: Kosmoniks communicate with each other via sign lan- Backgrounds: Politician, Businessperson, Bureaucrat, Hacker,
guage, but carry translator devices to interact with other cul- Technician.
tures.
Space-Adapted: Kosmoniks are able to withstand exposure to Classes: Expert is the most likely class for a neshekk.
vacuum for two rounds before they must begin to make saving
throws (and get a +1 to those saving throws). They also get a +1 Attributes: Standard.
to saving throws against radiation.
Special:
KUATH Nizara: Powerful privacy and firewall software that will obscure
the identity of a neshekk. This applies to visual identification
via metascape (which will be the primary way people view the
Physical Characteristics: The Kuath are baseline humans, typi- world in Tech Level 4 and 5 societies) and acquiring information
cally with dark skin and hair. about a neshekk via hacking (see Polychrome worldbook) is two
levels more difficult than normal. In areas without metascape,
Psychological Characteristics: Kuath come from a world at es- neshekk will wear clothing equivalent to a Ghost Mantle, except
sentially a Stone Age level of technology (SSGSB p. 17). They that it only confers an additional -1 bonus to AC.
are worshippers of the Dragon-Mothers (aquatic super-organ-
isms native to their homeworld) and bio-armored slave soldiers NGGHRYA ★
of the Vokun Empire.
Names: Kuath have a singular, gendered personal name. Exam- Physical Characteristics: Ngghrya are thin, almost skeletal, bi-
ples: Male: An-Tuani, Cham-Ka, Hulan-Yi, Konaga, Ngata, Sun- ologic humanoids with rough, nodule-covered skin that almost
goro, Tanathi, Waruahi; Female: An-San, Chanya, Dara-Ja, Miri, resembles carapace. Their skin is scaled with dermal denticles,
Shu-sheng, Susi, Ulathi. but also has ridges and horns of calcium carbonate deposi-
tion that begin to form at puberty and elaborate as they age.
Backgrounds: Priest, Tribesman. They exhibit less sexual dimorphism than baseline humans, but
some males grow small, keratin tusks from both ends of their
Classes: Any, though Warrior is the most common. upper lip.
Attributes: Standard. Psychological Characteristics: Taciturn, but relatively tolerant

of others if they are respected. Ngghrya are a somewhat super-
Special: stitious people, but do not revere gods or supernatural beings
Connected to the Dragon-Mothers: Kuath have endosymbiotic as such. Rather, they seek to avoid notice of spirit entities by the
projections of the Dragon-Mothers within their bodies. Most of proper ritual behaviors and taboos (some of them idiosyncratic)
the time, this will have no game effect, but it does allow the except at certain times.
Dragon-Mothers to manipulate them more easily, and could be
used by anyone with access to advanced medical tools to dif- Names: Ngghrya generally use a personal name followed by a
ferentiate a Kuath from other baseline humans. clan name. Examples: Personal Names: Deya, Gol, Ha’dashei,
Idzuu, Jongizhi, Myiche, Ndolgan, Nzo, Tyamzashii, Urza, Xho-
NESHEKK ma; Clan Names: Dhayi, Dzana, Gwaage, Hantan, Itshashenga,
Ngakane, Tsetzuche.
Physical Characteristics: Neshekk are short, lean, biologic hu- Backgrounds: Armsman, Peasant, Tribesman.
manoids with weathered, wrinkled skins and large ears.
Classes: Warrior is the most common.
Psychological Characteristics: Neshekk are extremely con-
cerned (possibly obsessed) with security and privacy. They never Attributes: Constitution +1.
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Special: often interpret the technological things they encounter through
Yaa’hii (precognitive tracking): A target makes a Mental Effects a magical worldview.
saving throw. On a failed roll, the ngghrya will find a target —
or rather, they know where they will find them and when. Note Names: Various cultures with different naming practices.
that “finding” does not necessarily mean capture or defeat. If
the target escapes the encounter and the ngghyra is still on the Backgrounds: Armsman, Noble, Peasant.
job, another saving throw must be made.
Classes: Any, though Experts in advanced technology will be
ORICHALCOSAN rare. Psychics are called “wizards.”
Attributes: Standard.
Physical Characteristics: Orichalcosans are baseline humans
with metallic skin tones, ranging from a dusky brass color to a SISTER OF MORRGNA ★
bright gold. The aristocracy are dwarfs.
Psychological Characteristics: As a culture, Orichalcosans are Physical Characteristics: Biologic humanoids, all genotypically
wealth and achievement focused. Relative austerity and wealth female, with a high degree of physical polymorphism based on
inequality are seen as powerful motivating tools necessary to caste.
foster success in future generations.
Psychological Characteristics: The Sisterhood is unusually eu-
Names: Variable based on subculture, but the dominant prac- social for a human-derived culture; while they are individuals
tice uses a given name and a surname, with Optimates and aris- they are more hive-like in group action than baseline.
tocrats often having hyphenated surnames, denoting alliance
through marriage. Examples: Male given names: Adramo, Blez- Names: Sisters have a single name denoting their base gen-
co, Ilvos, Maro, Vincanto, Yedaro, Selsca, Female: Agata, Iera. otype and a title for their function or some notable deed or
Lura, Matara, Ruandra, Tiareza Surnames: Andaro, Azuracar, trait. Examples: Sister Zora Wayfinder, Battle-Sister Ausra
Balarna, Izaraldi, Laranaga, Marza. Massive, Sister Usha Swift, Mother Roxana Strategos, Sister
Sahar Tech.
Backgrounds: Any, but Bureaucrat, Businessperson, Noble, Pol-
itician, Security, and Technician are most fitting. Backgrounds: No primitive or criminal backgrounds under most
circumstances.
Classes: Any, though Experts are most common and Psychics rare.
Classes: Psychics are nonexistent.
Attributes: Standard.
Attributes: Standard, though based on caste, one Sister’s sta-
tistics may vary wildly from another.
PHANTASIST
Special:
Caste: The Sisterhood is divided in castes and genetically and
Physical Characteristics: Phantasists are baseline humans.
physiologically modified for those functions. A few examples
include shock troops with hypertrophic muscle and possibly im-
Psychological Characteristics: Phantasists are raised in a cus- planted weaponry, vacuum-adapted ship crew, and high intel-
tomer service oriented, quasi-monastic, corporate culture, and ligence strategic thinkers. Most player character suitable castes
tend to have an outlook congruent with that. will be close to baseline.
Names: Phantasists have a name presenting their gens (or genline) SMARAGDINE
and a gendered ordinal name (Primus/Prima through Decimus/
Decima) differentiating them from other gen-siblings. Examples:
Male Gens Names: Arlo, Brin, Davin, Gareth, Laurent, Lucian, Ywain; Physical Characteristics: Smaragdines are biologic humanoids
Female Gens Names: Arden, Esme, Marta, Milla, Soren, Yrma. with skins in various shades of green.
Backgrounds: Researcher, Technician. Psychological Characteristics: Smaragdines see themselves
as heirs to the technology and sophistication of the Archaic
Classes: Any, though the are most commonly Experts, and rare- Oikumene and view the highly developed psi abilities of their
ly Psychics. homeworld (SSGSB p. 11) as the way of the future. They are the
visionaries of the Alliance, but often viewed as a bit arrogant by
Attributes: Standard. its other members.
RUNELING Names: Smaragdines have a personal and gens name. The per-
sonal names are frequently chosen from Old Earth mythology or
literature. Smaragdines often retain the gender association of the
Physical Characteristics: Runelings are baseline human. source name out of respect, but not always. The gens name is a
copyrighted reference to a specific registered genetic lineage; it is
Psychological Characteristics: Runelings come from a primi- typically that of one or more of an individual’s parents, but not
tive world of roughly medieval technology (SSGSB p. 15) and necessarily. Gens are from similar sources as personal names,
STRANGE STARS
9

but tend to be derived from ancient mythological or literary Names: Uldra have a given name and a family name. Exam-
wizards or monsters. Examples: Personal Names: Accolon, Bel- ples: Male given names: Dmitr, Feodr, Kolya, Uloysha, Ygor; Fe-
phoebe, Dindraine, Finn, Gloriana, Phaon, Rinaldo, Sedna, Tsais, male given names: Eliska, Galya, Ilya, Nadezda, Zlatana; Family
Thalna. Gens Names: Euryale, Glatisant, Hydra, Mazirian, Pros- names: Bogmolov, Kazlov, Kruptkin, Velkov, Macek, Lanik
pero, Simurgh, Typhon.
Backgrounds: Any.
Backgrounds: Any, though Adventurer, Hacker, Noble, Politi-
cian, Researcher, and Soldier are most fitting. Classes: Any.
Classes: Any. Attributes: Standard.
Attributes: Standard. VIRID
Special:
Psi-Society: Smaragdine society is based on psi-use. All citizens Physical Characteristics: Virids are biologic sophonts blending
of Smaragdoz have the equivalent of the discipline Mental Link. plant and animal characteristics. Their skintones are various
High Tech: Smaragdine is a Tech Level 5 society, though much of shades of green (due to presence of symbiotic cyanobacteria),
their technology is not exportable. and they have foliage-like hair. Local groups vary a great deal in
height and build. All virids are linked by nanotechnology to the
THRAX ★ world consciousness of their homeworld, but this connection
does not extend over interplanetary (or greater) distances.
Physical Characteristics: Thrax are tall, powerfully built bio- Psychological Characteristics: Virids are gregarious and plea-
logic humanoids, with whitish-gray skintones. They have some- sure-loving. Coming from an idyllic garden world, they are close-
what pronounced and heavy brow, and nasal slits rather than ly attuned to nature, but naive regarding the hazards of other,
an external nose. Neither sex has much body hair, but females less pleasant worlds — and of civilization.
do have head hair.
Names: Virids use “translated” plant or nature-themed names
Psychological Characteristics: Thrax are taciturn, serious, and with other sophonts.
greatly concerned with honor and discipline as defined by their
warrior’s code. Some allow themselves displays of emotion in Backgrounds: Tribesman, Adventurer.
the heat of battle, but others view this as excessive display.
Their possessions are few and their quarters tend to be spartan. Classes: Any but Psychic.
They rarely use intoxicants, and virtually no thrax would do so at
any time he thought combat might be imminent. Attributes: Most virids have ability scores in the same range as
humans, tribes of larger or smaller individuals exist.
Names: Thrax tend to have a one to three syllable given name
and a monosyllabic line name, designating their particular gen- Special:
otype lineage. Names are gendered with male names ending in Photosynthetic Symbiotes: Living nanotech supplements virid
–s, –us, –os, –ion, or –ios generally, and female names with –a metabolism and causes faster healing when they are under vis-
or –ia. Examples: Male Names: Baran, Duros, Ganion, Kantos, ible light sources with spectra similar to their native yellow sun.
Kos, Ronan, Thellus, Uthon, Vanthos, Vorus, Zarkas; Female Every day spent in direct sunlight allows them to heal 1 addi-
Names: Ila, Jada, Kana, Lursa, Marta, Thara, Thovia, Zora; Line tional hit point, and every day resting in direct sunlight allows
Names: An, Ar, Kan, Kel, Mors, Nar, Thal, Zor. a virid to recover 2 additional hit points. They also lose System
Strain at a rate of 2 points per day in the sun.
Backgrounds: Armsman, Hermit, Security Crew, Soldier. Phytoxin Resistance: Virids get a +1 to Physical Effect saving
throws against plant-derived toxins.
Classes: Warrior is by far the most common. They have no Psychics.
YANTRAN
Attributes: Minimum Strength of 12.
Special: Physical Characteristics: Yantrans are attractive, lithe humans

Armor: Thrax warriors wear distinctive and individualized (with- with yellow skin tones and short antennae emerging from their
in parameters set by their unit) assault suit-equivalent armor. foreheads.
Low-light vision: Equivalent to low-light goggles.
Psychological Characteristics: Yantran culture tends to em-
ULDRA phasize nonviolence, the importance of the “now,” and the in-
terconnectedness of all things.
Physical Characteristics: The Uldra are baseline humans with Names: Yantrans use a personal name and a family name. The
blue skintones. family name is typically given first. Examples: Surnames: Ara-
nun, Haunahi, Hokuni, Kamata, Nohoka, Pomaku, Tutani; Fe-
Psychological Characteristics: Uldra tend to be viewed as male: Ahilani, Aonami, Elaheli, Hani, Ko’ana, Mululani, Poma,
somewhat pessimistic in outlook, and possessing of a odd, fa- Uku; Male: Atamu, Aonga, Hukono, Isako, Kamaki, Rano, Tuati,
talistic sense of humor. Yano, Uko.
STRANGE STARS
10

Backgrounds: Peasant, Priest, Tribesman. Skills: Computer, Culture/Any, Perception, either Bureaucracy or
Tech/Any.
Classes: Expert most commonly, followed by Warrior. Psychics
are rare. Entertainer
Attributes: Standard. On every world, in every time, sophonts have wanted to be en-
tertained. Many musicians, thespians, and courtesans decide to
Special: become itinerants, seeing the galaxy as they make their living.
Nanites: Yantran have nanotechnology through their nervous
system, allowing integration with the extensive (though hid- Skills: Art/Any Performing Art, Culture/Artist Subculture, Per-
den) engineering of their Vokun-occupied homeworld (SSGSB suade, one other skill.
p. 17). This is not generally of use elsewhere, though it can be
detected with the appropriate equipment. Hacker
Everyone uses computers without even thinking about it, but

CLADES BY REGION hackers know the very soul of the network. Some of them are
criminals, some of them work to stop criminals. Either way, it’s
Alliance: Blesh, Gnome, Hyehoon, Smaragdine, Thrax easy to get on the wrong side of the wrong people. When that
happens, it’s wise to get out of the local jurisdiction.
Coreward Reach: Hwuru, Orichalcosan, Phantasist, Virid
Skills: Computer, either Bureaucracy, Culture/Corporate or Cul-
Outer Rim: Djägga, Uldra
ture/Criminal, Persuade, Tech/Any except Astronautic, Maltech,
or Medical.
Vokun Empire: Engineer, Ibglibdishpan, Kuath, Yantran
Zuran Expanse: Atozan, Kosmonik, Ngghrya, Sister of Journalist

Morrgna
News is everywhere and journalists are there to sift through the
data and bring connection and context to their audience. Some
get the idea to go gonzo and be a part of the stories themselves,
while others make enemies in places of power. Both sorts can
NEW BACKGROUNDS be encountered among the Strange Stars.
Skills: Culture/Any, Perception, Persuade, and one other skill.

The backgrounds presented in the SWN core book work well
for Strange Stars, but don’t cover the full range of possibilities. Law Enforcement
Below are some additional options:
Beat cop, port authority security contractor, or corporate inves-
Bureaucrat tigator, the law enforcer does a tough job, often for little re-
ward. Is it any wonder some of them look for a way to put their
Despite the ubiquity of nonsophont minds, there are still plenty skills to more lucrative use?
of sophont middle managers, datapushers, administrators, and
salarymen in the ranks of government and the corporate world. Skills: Combat/Any, Culture/World, Perception, Security.
Some of them get tired of jockeying a desk for substandard pay
and give it up for something more exciting.
Medtech
Skills: Bureaucracy, Culture/World, either Culture/Corporate or
Most actual medicine is delivered by expert systems and bots,
Profession/Legal, Steward.
but sophont beings usually like a friendly, sophont face on their
Business Sophont healthcare. That face is the medtech. Occasionally, though
medtechs get an itch to really put their skills to use in situations
Small-time entrepreneurs and up-and-coming junior executives where they can’t rely on bots to do the real work.
exist on every civilized world. Sometimes they chafe against bu-
reaucracy or make some bad decisions and decide to look for Skills: Profession/Medical, Culture/World, Science, Tech/Medi-
better markets cal.
.
Skills: Business, Culture/Any, Persuade, Steward. Psychtech
Data Prospector Even In an age of nanopsychotherapy, the “sophont touch” is

still prized — particularly by the wealthy. An understanding of
There is a lot of valuable information buried in the depths of sophont psychology, however, is a skill that has a lot of uses.
planetary or system noospheres. Data prospectors mine the
infospace for that value. Sometimes they discover things that Skills: Culture/World, Persuade, Profession/Mental Health, ei-
make them want to have a firsthand look at the wider galaxy. ther Perception or Tech/Medical.
STRANGE STARS
11

02: TECHNOLOGY
The level of technology is more advanced in the Strange Stars The metascape primarily comes into play in how the GM de-
setting than the default assumptions of Stars Without Number scribes the world and how the players approach it; it doesn’t
or most old school science fiction roleplaying games. A Game require a lot of rules changes. When entering a new location,
Master may choose to ignore some or all of these elements to the GM will need to describe both the physical (people, equip-
make the setting more in keeping with the preferences of their ment, structures) and the virtual (animations, signage, notes/
group. For those wishing to use the setting as written, here is tags, etc.) elements that the characters will see. Characters
a brief discussion of the basic technologies of the setting, with can leave messages for other specific people in locations or
suggestions on how to implement them. Remember that the call up publicly available building floorplans. They can also
tech level varies across worlds and habitats: some places are at a hack or falsify the metascape using the standard hacking rules
Stone Age level, while others border on post-scarcity. (Polychrome p. 17).
METASCAPE NOOSPHERE
Most people experience the world through an augmented reality The noosphere is essentially the cyberspace of the far future,
overlay referred to as the metascape. Each world (or world plus encompassing traditional internet activities, the metascape,
its satellites) contains useful information for travel, social media and the living environment of infosophonts. Think of it as the
messages, and lots and lots of spam. Nobody walks through a nervous system of a civilization. In gameplay, again, this is
public square without their filters on, lest they be bombarded by more a matter of presentation. GMs and players should just
all sorts of unsolicited virtual messages. Clothing is enhanced — or keep in mind the availability of information in the real world,
even sometimes completely generated — in the metascape. Some via a standard smartphone, and use this as a model to ex-
jurisdictions make it a crime to view the world unfiltered by the trapolate from rather than looking to most cinematic space
metascape, as this is seen as an unwarranted invasion of privacy. opera.
STRANGE STARS
12

Noospheric messages or queries that must travel between Stars Without Number core book given the matter required,
worlds or between star systems do so no faster than the speed licensing fees for software, etc. Additional items will only cost
of light or the hyperspace network, if available. The noosphere half the listed price.
isn’t real-time or continuous; it’s like a collection of networks
between which information can be passed. PROGRAMMABLE MATTER
IMPLANTED CYBERWARE
Programmable matter is able to change its properties or func-
tions on the basis of user input or trigger stimuli. Programmable
In the Strange Stars, brain-computer interfaces are as com- matter (or smart matter) is used to make exoskins (vacc suits
mon as smartphones are today and are used for similar pur- that form around the wearer as they pass through a membrane
poses. The typical pre-programmed software package allows aperture on an airlock) and smart-tools (similar to polymorphic
metascape interface, noospheric connectivity, communication nanites, SWN p. 58, but with multiple uses, able to become any
(where messages can either be read or heard as read by an ava- tool that would part of a toolkit).
tar or the sender or anyone else), chronometry, basic calcula-
tion, and interface with most modern devices. Most individuals
don’t navigate their own apps, but use a daemon or “mook” (a ECONOMICS
nonsophont artificial intelligence) as a personal assistant and
answering service. Some cultures (like the Vokun) find implant- While the actual monetary units and their exchange rates
ed devices distasteful, as do some individuals. These groups use vary from place to place, it’s easiest to express them all
wearable devices instead, for the most part. in credits, a bitcoinage used as a medium of exchange
across civilized space. In general, prices given in SWN are
The only mechanical impact of this sort of cyberware is in the good for “standard” Strange Stars equipment prices
(dis)use of the SWN Computer skill. Like on Star Trek, most with some exceptions, as discussed above. What you get
characters will simply ask their personal assistants for things for that price will be a bit different than in the default
SWN setting: a common pistol, for instance, will have
and never need to make a Computer skill check. Hacking or deep
biometric identification, and a smartware integration for
searches of ancient or restricted data records will be the only
ammo tracking and maintenance. All of this applies to
time these skills come into play — unless characters are on a
“standard” advanced, star-faring societies — which isn’t
pre-noosphere world. the only sort civilization players may encounter.
FABBER (MATTER COMPILER) Remember that the SWN listed prices are good for fab-
ricated equipment too, though you may pay a tax on a
public fabber (see above).
A fabber is a nanofabrication unit (essentially an advanced 3D
printer) that assembles finished products from raw materials at
a molecular level. These aren’t easily portable, but they are near ARCHAIC & ALIEN TECHNOLOGY
ubiquitous household and shipboard items, and public units can
be used for a fee, generally figured on total mass of the item(s)
fabricated. For portable items this can be approximated via en- The above describes the technologies of the most advanced
cumbrance: Every unit of encumbrance fabricated after 1 carries civilizations of the Strange Stars, but some societies have more
an additional 5% charge to the standard price based on item specialized areas of expertise, and there is remnant technology
cost per fabber user per day. (Example: Faizura Deyr fabbers of the Archaic Oikumene that falls into the category of Clarke’s
lowlight goggles, a pressure tent, and 6 days rations on a public Third Law. The most common example of the latter is the Hy-
fabber. This will cost her 200 credits for the goggles, 120 for perspace Node Network discussed in the next chapter, but
the pressure tent, and 5.25 for the rations). Anything from food- there are the other, more classically Space Opera technological
stuffs (though this would only be done on long space voyages) aspects of the setting: the sky city of Eidolon, the Circus mega-
to starship parts can be made given enough substrate and the structure, and mysterious things like the Tenebrae Labyrinths
necessary “blueprints.” Commercially available models can be and the Apotheosis Maze. Any examples of Pretech given in
“jailbroken” to make illicit drugs or weapons, but it’s generally SWN books not already present in basic Strange Stars technol-
easier just to buy or steal such common items. ogy would be appropriate as examples of Archaitech.
In rules terms, these function like the personal matter compil- The Smaragdines are the only culture described in the SSGSB
ers described in Mandate Archive: Transhuman Tech. There are that makes a concerted effort to develop psitech, and they do
also larger units like the stationary matter compilers found on not tend to exploit it for military purposes. The psitech items
polities or the largest vessels, as well. As a rule of thumb, mak- described in the SWN core rules would be within their ability to
ing one item will cost about the same as the list price in the create, however.
STRANGE STARS
13

03: SPACE TRAVEL
The most common means of faster than light travel in Strange The poorly understood relationship between psi and hyper-
Stars is via the Hyperspace Network. The Network is perhaps space has led to more than a few fringe and paranoid memes,
the greatest achievement of the Archaic Oikumene. Though the as well as legitimate scientific inquiry. So far, no theory is satis-
means of its construct and even the basic science of hyperspatial factory. Psi-sensitive individuals tend to find hyperspace travel a
physics behind it is lost, modern galactic civilization relies upon it. bit uncomfortable. Many report the strange sensation of being
watched.
The Network is composed of conduits of exotic matter passing
through a manifold known as hyperspace connecting nodes in The travel times between nodes along the hyperspatial network
normal spacetime. The distance between two points in normal of the Archaics is color-coded to denote connection speed. While
space has very little to do with transit time through hyperspace. the actual durations of travel can only be calculated through the
Instead, congestion and poorly understood conduit properties use of advanced physics even an ibglibdishpan mathematician
(“bandwidth”) play a greater role. might need the aid of a calculation device to perform, approxi-
mations for gaming purposes are fairly easy. Use the following
Active network nodes have exit and entrance gates affixed to formula with the conduit colors and lengths given in the SSGSB:
them and terminal stations, located a safe distance away. Most
of these structures date back centuries; a few even go back to Travel Time = [color modifier] x [distance modifier] in
the Oikumene. In civilized areas tolls are often charged for net- kiloseconds (ks).
work access and every ship passing through must have an identi-
fication transponder. So-called “black gates” exist, hidden in out- COLOR MODIFIERS:
of-the-way systems that provide access without going through
the public nodes. Military controlled gates sometimes exist, built RED: 18
near and accessing public nodes, but are given priority. ORANGE: 45
YELLOW: 100
The technology behind the nodes is at least partially psionic in
GREEN: 450
nature. Specially trained psi-sensitives (or specially gengineered
sniffer animals) can detect inactive nodes. Re-activating one BLUE: 900
requires brute-force hacking and psionically transmitted pass- INDIGO: 4500
codes. VIOLET: 6750
STRANGE STARS
14

DISTANCE MODIFIERS: Drive boxes are used to control starship reactionless drives. Like
most devices of the Archaics, drive boxes contain hyper-intelli-
VERY SHORT: 1 gent, but not self-aware AI, dedicated to the operation of the
SHORT: 2 drive. The boxes are “plug and play” to the extent that they con-
tain the knowledge necessary to build a reactionless drive, given
MEDIUM: 3
a link to a fabricator and the necessary raw material. The box
LONG: 4 will then integrate with a ship’s systems to run the new drive.
VERY LONG: 5 It will not upgrade structural deficiencies in the ship that will
would lead to a catastrophic failure if the drive is activated, but
Examples: The route between Kuznuh and Smaragdoz is orange it will warn of these sort of issues and will not activate the drive.
and of medium length, yielding a travel time of 135 ks or 37.5
hrs. The connection between Sirius and Aygo is green and short, Attempts to hack drive boxes are always thwarted by the box’s
so the trip will take 900 ks (over 10 Old Earth days). mind (who is able to mimic self-hood for lower intelligence
beings). A drive box can be destroyed utterly, but attempts to
Dotted lines on SSGSB maps present a summation of the short- physically disassemble one only trigger a catastrophic reaction
est route through multiple nodes. Intervening locations are left in its circuitry that leads to it fusing into a block of inert matter.
to the gamemaster to develop.
The length of the connections on the Regional Map on SSGSB

p. 7 are not representative. All of these connections should be
considered “very long.”
Hyperspace Nodes that have multiple connections may only

activate a single conduit at a time; these are operated on a ro-
tating timetable. While this timetable may be changed on the
fly from the Gate’s terminal station, doing so increases the in-
stability of the Gate; the station operator must roll against his
Astrogation skill (difficulty 8) or the connection requires a ‘hard
reboot’, requiring 1d6 x 100 ks.
Starships
Stars Without Number’s Spike drive FTL is a very different sys-

tem from Strange Stars’ Hyperspatial Node Network. In con-
structing ships in the way given in the SWN core book, there
are two easy options: The gamemaster can assume the price of
the Spike drive represents the cost for some equipment neces-
sary for the use of the Hyperspace Network or the Spike drive
associated cost can just be omitted from the price of ship con-
struction.
In Strange Stars, since the level of technology was higher in

ages past, many ships currently in use are the products of pre-
vious civilizations or at least built from parts scavenged from
ancient vessels. This makes the salvage of ancient derelicts or
wrecks an important (and lucrative) activity, i.e. “something
player characters might get into.”
Gravity generators and inertial suppressors are only two of the

important technologies than many civilizations are able to ex-
ploit, but not necessarily manufacture themselves. Intact data
systems are a particularly spectacular find. There is always hope
of engineering schematic files executable in modern nanofac-
tories.
One of the most sought after items is a drive box. These cubes
vary in size, but most are around 12 cm. When inactive they ab-
sorb virtually all the light contacting their surface, and so ap-
pear black like a void in the universe. When activated, a box will
turn translucent and sometimes pulse with color. At all times
they are cool to the touch and the texture of smooth plastic.
STRANGE STARS
15

04: GAME MASTERING
Harder than Average

SETTING ASSUMPTIONS
While Strange Stars is in no sense a “hard” science fiction set-
ting, there are a number of details that are “semi-hard” and re-
The Strange Stars setting is built on a number of underlying alistic. Earth-like worlds are most often the result of engineer-
assumptions, some of which are similar to traditional space ing, and there are seldom multiple earthlike planets in a system.
opera role-playing game settings and others which are a bit Most people will live in orbital habitats. Faster-than-light travel
different. These assumptions may not hold true in your version (FTL) exists but works in such a way that it can’t violate causal-
of Strange Stars, but it is probably helpful to consider how ity. There are very few “single biome” planets, and those there
the pieces might interact before rejecting things. are tend to have an explanation for why they exist. The aliens
aren’t very alien, but that’s because they’re most likely the de-
Post-Apocalyptic scendants of humans or human creations.
The technology level of civilization in the past was higher than Intersystem, Fast. Intrasystem, Slow
today. This provides the rationale for some “sufficiently ad-
vanced” Clarke-level technology, the “points of light” nature of Related to the last point, is the way FTL works. Hyperspace
civilization, and “lost world” exploration and space scaveng- nodes tend to go to one place in a system (and may well dump
ing. out somewhere other than directly at the planet of interest).
In-system travel is most likely non-FTL and takes a while. This
Big But Bounded, and Subdivided allows both zipping around the galaxy (at least a part of it) and
“realistic” distribution of clades, but with a hard science fiction
The setting exists within one galaxy — and only a relatively scale to a solar system, allowing the full array of grizzled as-
small part of that one — but there’s plenty of room for new teroid prospectors, fringe religious communities on gas giant
clades, cultures, and even minor empires to be introduced moons, or isolated research bases. The planets highlighted in
without much disruption. The use of hyperspace means that the setting book are just the “major feature” of their respective
there are “clusters” that can serve as smaller sandboxes if the systems, not the whole story. Of course, the way space travel
whole area is too daunting. The game can be as focused as a works also has implications for how and where space battles
single world or station. are fought.
STRANGE STARS
16

A Post-Internet Conception THE INSTRUMENTALITY
Most classic space opera doesn’t take into account the internet
In brief: A theocratic, expansionist state to be fought against or
in general, much less ubiquitous social media, but these things served, surrounding smaller independent states and bordering
are present here. As a rule of thumb, imagining “how would wilderness.
that work in the Strange Stars?” involves more extrapolation
from the present than looking back to how it was done in Star Good For: Freedom fighters or self-interested rogues fight-
Wars or Star Trek. ing the system; space pirates or privateers operating out of an
anarchic port, spy stories, law enforcement (pulpy or shades of
There’s Always Belief gray), or missionaries.
The future doesn’t mean belief systems go away. The best of Inspiration: Firefly, Howard Chaykin’s Cody Starbuck, James
space opera (Dune, for instance) addresses belief, so it was Bond, Ice Station Zebra (1968), Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982),
something not to be left out or to portrayed one-dimensionally. Black Robe (1991).
From the arbitrary taboos of the Kosmoniks to the realpolitik
theocracy of the Instrumentality, it’s an important part of what OUTER RIM
makes cultures in the setting distinct.
In brief: A wilderness with dangers lurking on often inhospi-

GALACTIC REGIONS table worlds.
Good for: Survival adventure, encounters with monsters in des-

olate places.
While any type of adventure can be run in any of the galactic
regions of the Strange Stars, they were each designed to have
Inspiration: Alien, Planet of Vampires, Star Trek episodes “Ob-
their own flavor, so are better suited to one sort of action or
session” and “The Galileo Seven,” The Gold Rush (1925), Flight
another. of the Phoenix (1964, 2004).
THE ALLIANCE Comments: Ksaa territory in the Outer Rim opens up additional
possibilities. They make a good stand-ins for the scheming Ro-
mulans on Star Trek or Farscape’s Scarrans.
In brief: A civilized, polyethnic region with dangers on every bor-
der. VOKUN EMPIRE
Good For: Espionage, special-ops missions, border patrol, law

enforcement, crime & detective stories. In brief: A decadent, classic space opera star empire.
Inspiration: James Bond, the Dominic Flandry novels by Poul Good for: Honest warriors caught in a corrupt system; rebel-
Anderson, Ocean’s Eleven, E.W. Hornung’s Raffles stories, the lions of all sorts, military farce, games of scheming noble hous-
Trigger Argee stories of James M. Schmitz, the Luff Imbry sto- es, and black comedies of protocol.
ries of Matthew Hughes.
Inspiration: The Deep Space Nine Mirror Universe arc or epi-
COREWARD REACH sodes dealing with Cardassian society or military, Lois McMas-
ter Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga, Game of Thrones, Lone Wolf and
Cub and other stories set in feudal Japan, Rome (2005 tv series).
In brief: A “points of light” wilderness with hidden civilizations
ZURAN EXPANSE
and ruins of the past.
Good For: Exploration; lost worlds; comedies of manners with In brief: A lawless frontier where different cultures meet and
quirky cultures. ancient secrets are buried.
Inspiration: Gulliver’s Travels, Forbidden Planet, the Alastor Good For: Rogues and criminals; pirates, civilization vs. savage-
Cluster and the “Planet of Adventure” series by Jack Vance, Star ry, artifact looting and tomb-raiding.
Trek episodes “Shore Leave” and “A Taste of Armageddon,”
among many others. Inspiration: Tatooine in Star Wars, the Uncharted Territories in
Farscape, particularly the episodes “The Flax,” “Home on the
Comments: The incursion of the Locusts (SSGSB p. 22) also Remains,” and “Liars, Guns, and Money,” A Fist Full of Dollars,
gives room for military action and an impending danger to add a Deadwood, Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948), King Solomon’s
ticking clock to other sorts of adventures. Mines, The Professionals (1966).
STRANGE STARS
17

3. A zhmu collector
ADVENTURE GENERATOR 4. An eccentric Smaragdine celebrity
5. An Orichalcosan optimate
6. The Pharesmid Syndicate
The exoticness of the Strange Stars can be a little daunting at 7. The Aurogov Ascended Masters
first in terms of figuring out what it is the characters do in the 8. An Interzone Smuggler
setting. Here’s a short adventure idea generator to help get the
creative juices flowing: TABLE B
SETUPS (ROLL D6): 1. A proprietary genetic code

2. An Old Earth artifact
1. THE CHALLENGE
3. A work of art
2. THE HEIST
4. A high-grade mind emulation
3. THE HUNT
5. A weapon from the Archaic Oikumene
4. THE GAUNTLET
6. A mysterious box of alien origin
5. THE RESCUE
7. A partial Archaic Hyperspace Node Map
6. THE UNEXPECTED
8. The head of a particular moravec
1. THE CHALLENGE TABLE C
The PCs (or one of them) participates in [A] on [B]. 1. A high security vault station
2. The interior of a Wanderer
TABLE A 3. The isolated asteroid estate of a rival
4. A stateroom safe on a luxury starliner
1. A martial arts competition 5. A Zao Pirate stronghold
2. A high-stakes gambling tournament 6. An armored spacehauler
3. A race 7. A habitat in the path of the Locust swarm
4. A hunt for an exotic animal 8. A war-torn world
5. A deadly game
6. A battle of the bands
7. An alien religious ceremony 3. THE HUNT
8. The recording of a popular sim
The PCs search for [A] [B] but must contend with [C].
TABLE B
TABLE A
1. A vessel circling a hyperspace anomaly
2. A domed area of an asteroid
1. A Eden Seeker terrorist cell
3. Interzone
2. A bioengineered horror from the surface of Phobetor
4. The wilderness of Smaragdoz
3. Convicted megacorp executive
5. Gogmagog
4. A thief with a stolen bioweapon
6. The diamond planet Solitaire (Fortuna I)
7. A world blockade by the Vokun 5. A Wanderer Avatar
8. The private station of an celebrity 6. A Circean witch
7 A witness to an important crime
8 A bioroid carrier of a deadly disease
2. THE HEIST
TABLE B
[A] wants the PCs to steal [B] from [C].
1. Across the deserts of Deshret
TABLE A 2. In Smaragdoz City
3. Through the forests of Woon
1. A neshekk insurance exec 4. On the planet Rune
2. A Vokun lord 5. During a party in a domed city on Aygo
STRANGE STARS
18

6. Under the ice on Boreas 5. THE RESCUE
7. On a military starship
8. At an Aurogov seminar The PCs must save [A] from [B].
TABLE C TABLE A
1. The Pharesmid Syndicate 1. A shipment of Minga slaves

2. The hellhounds 2. A famous popstar
3. Talosian Moravec supremacists 3. An Orichalcosan Optimate and her entourage
4. A squad of Thrax 4. A Borean ambassador
5. A djagga bounty hunter 5. Kuath deserters
6. Instrumentality agents 6. The delegates at an Alliance summit
7. Identity theft and hacked accounts 7. An ibglibdishpan defector
8. Battle-Sisters of Morrgna 8. The last survivor of a lost expedition
TABLE B
4. THE GAUNTLET
1. Algosian cultists
The PCs must get [A] [B] despite [C]. 2. A starship with a malfunctioning experimental drive
3. Zao Pirates
TABLE A 4. A rogue Vokun Lord
5. An insane Wanderer
1. A Deodand hacker 6. A dangerous Star Folk drug
2. An ibglibdishpan defector 7. Ramaging xenomegafauna
3. A diplomate from the League of Habitats 8. An Archaic dissembler nanoswarm
4. A jook band
5. A group of Minga
6. A Wanderer avatar 6. THE UNEXPECTED
7. A child bioroid
8. A Runic Wizard When [A], the PCs unexpectedly stumble onto [B].
TABLE B TABLE A
1. Across an Interzone favela 1. Responding to a distress call

2. Off a prison asteroid 2. Exploring a derelict ship
3. Out of Vokun space 3. On a routine intersystem flight
4. To an Alliance cruiser 4. Making planetfall for repairs
5. Home 5. Visiting an isolated station for supplies
6. Off Deshret 6. On vacation
7. Out of cryogenic suspension 7. Visiting a physician
8. To a departing starliner 8. Fencing some goods
TABLE C TABLE B
1. Irate smugglers 1. A dangerous xenospecies

2. A traitor in their midst 2. A cache of outlawed bioweapons
3. Pursuing bounty hunters 3. A hidden ssraad raiding vessel
4. A squad of kuath 4. A relic of the Archaic Oikumene
5. Moravec supremacists 5. A new hyperspace node
6. A deadly outbreak 6. A cabal of psi cultists
7. Clone assassins 7. An illegal mind-copy slavery ring
8. Government investigators 8. A zurr mask
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19

05: NPCs & ADVERSARIES
The Strange Stars are a dangerous place. Enemies can emerge Algosians rely on kidnappings to obtain most of their victims. To
from anywhere, and they aren’t always obvious or defeatable by this end, they operate clubs or brothels in a number of space-
force alone. This chapter isn’t an exhaustive list of the threats ports, though their involvement is usually secret.
and adversaries player characters might face, but it gives a good
overview for both combat and noncombat encounters. In combat, Algosians relish the use of their Via Dolorosa, devic-
es inherited from the Faceless Ones and passed down through
ALGOSIAN the generations. Each is unique in design particulars, but all
are wand-like devices that deliver a concentrated burst of mi-
No. Appearing: 1-3 crowaves to exposed or lightly covered (normal clothing) skin,
Armor Class: 6 causing excruciating pain. A hit with the Via Dolorosa does 1d6
Hit Dice: 2 points of nonlethal damage and calls for a Physical Effects save
Saving Throw: 14+ to avoid being utterly incapacitated by pain for 1d4 rounds.
Attack Bonus: +2
Damage: 1d8+1 monoblade or 1d8 stun baton, 1d6 + special Algosians are resistant to pain (a saving throw of 9 vs pain-re-
(Via Dolorosa Agonizer) lated Physical and Mental Effects) and they recover hit points at
Movement: 30’ twice the normal rate, though medical care or Biopsionics affect
Morale: 9 them the same as baseline humanoids.
Skill Bonus: +2
BOMA
Algosians are humanoid torture cultists in the Zuran Expanse
(SSGSB p. 18). They are thought to be the bioroid creations and No. Appearing: 1-4
former servitors of the Faceless Ones, an ancient sadist cabal. Armor Class: 8
The Algosians learned a lot from their masters and now apply Hit Dice: 1
that knowledge to those that fall into their hands. Saving Throw: 14+
STRANGE STARS
20

Attack Bonus: +0 DEVA
Damage: by weapon, or 1d2 punch
Movement: 20’ No. Appearing: 1-6
Morale: 9 Armor Class: 5
Skill Bonus: +3 Hit Dice: 1
Saving Throw: 15+
Attack Bonus: +1
Bomoth [the plural form] appear something like blue, giant
Damage: 1d10 torch
caterpillars (1.5 to 2.5 m long) with four eyes and oddly human
Movement: 30’ / fly 40’
faces. They are renowned throughout the known galaxy as mu- Morale: 9
sicians. Though Woon, their home moon (SSGSB p. 15) is in the Skill Bonus: +3
Coreward Reach, they can be encountered on tour in the various
hegemonies and even the Zuran Expanse. They are best known The winged deva are the most mysterious of the Alliance’s
for the improvisational, syncopated musical genre known as Bo- members. In their home system of Altair (SSGSB p. 11), the
moth Jook. deva are repairing damaged moon-sized brains — or perhaps
the separate components of one even larger mind. They let few
Boma have four manipulator hands, though this does not give visitors enter the spheres themselves, though that may be with
them extra attacks. Their auditory sensors have different recep- good reason. Rumors abound that the damaged psyches of the
tors for different frequency ranges, giving them superior sound spheres produce dangerous qlippothic demons from deranged
discrimination to humans. Their bellows-like lungs enable fine code.
breath control, aiding in their musical performances, while their
Deva are generally nonviolent, but they carry tool-spheres capa-
vocal apparatus allows for incredible mimicry.
ble of generating several energy beams. One of these beams is
equivalent to a laser rifle in damage but with the range of a pis-
Bomoth tend to be relaxed, almost to the point of imperturb- tol. Deva can survive in hard vacuum unprotected and through
ability. This is often attributed to their habitual use of a fungus- space under their own power (at least for short distances). They
derived, mild intoxicant, chreech, but it’s likely a species trait. are immune to radiation, temperatures between -100 and 100
Bomoth are often philosophical and given to obscure musings, degrees Celsius, and to any diseases or poisons not specifically
but this never gets in the way of practicalities, like payment for tailored to them or similar bioroids.
performances or seeking pleasure. Jook musicians are known
for a distinctive slang, all but impenetrable to the uninitiated. EDEN SEEKER TERRORIST
CALIBAN No. Appearing: 3-12

Armor Class: 7
No. Appearing: 1-6 Hit Dice: 1
Armor Class: 7 (primitive) Saving Throw: 15+
Attack Bonus: +1
Hit Dice: 1
Damage: 1d8+2 talons, 1d8 submachine gun
Saving Throw: 14+
Movement: 30’
Attack Bonus: +2 Morale: 10
Damage: 1d6 spear or 1d2 bite Skill Bonus: +2
Movement: 30’
Morale: 9 Among the avian humanoid hyehoon, the Eden Seekers are a
Skill Bonus: +1 group of anti-gnostic sapience-rejectionists, who engage in
terrorist activities. Contrary to the beliefs of the majority of
Caliban are heavily wrinkled, ashen-skinned humanoids found their species, they view their fabled creator, the genetic engi-
in a torrid, jungle-choked orbital habitat on the border between neer Anat Marao, as a satanic figure. Their ultimate goal is the
the Coreward Reach and the Vokun Empire. They’re infamous in purging of the hominid influence in their genome to return their
the popular imagination for their warlike nature and enthusias- descendants to the “pure” avian genetics of their presumed an-
tic cannibalism. Despite this (or perhaps because of it) they are cestors.
sometimes transported off-world to serve as mercenaries. They
While there is a wide range of expression of Eden Seeker be-
have little empathy for those outside of their kinship group, so
liefs, the violent wing of their ideology seeks to acquire and use
their employers often insist that they take special drugs that
weapons of mass gene restructuring to achieve post-sapient
induce a pheromonal response mimicking their natural reaction genetic ascension. Though their primary focus is on overthrow-
to genetic relatives. Though this produces more cooperative being the social structure of the hyehoon homeworld Omu (SSGSB
havior toward employers and comrades than would be shown p. 11), Eden Seeker extremists sometimes hide in the Zuran Ex-
otherwise, it will not stop caliban from consuming their bodies panse or smuggle weapons through its hyperspace nodes.
when they die.
In combat, some Eden Seeker extremists use wrist-mounted
The stats above are for a caliban in their native, low tech habi- metal talons as expressions of their dedication to avian atavism,
tat. Those encountered as mercenaries elsewhere might well although they are willing to use any means necessary to accom-
have better weapons and armor. plish their goals.
STRANGE STARS
21

ERATOAN ASSASSIN/BODYGUARD Special Abilities: Their hides provide a -2 penalty to hit with
laser weapons. They regenerate 3 hit points per round after 2
No. Appearing: 1-3 rounds of combat. They have the ability of total cellular regen-
Armor Class: 3 eration similar to the biopsionic power Nine Lives (SWN p. 26).
Hit Dice: 2
Saving Throw: 14+ The hellhounds are synthetic beings, sophont weapons of mass
Attack Bonus: +3 destruction; though if the tales are to be believed, they were
Damage: 1d6+2 retractable cyberclaws or 1d8+1 concealed originally created to be the playmates of a lonely prelapsarian
monoblade princeling in an isolated habitat. Today, though there are less
Movement: 40’ than 20 of these monsters in existence, they’re reputed to have
Morale: 10 decimated small cities and forced the destruction of entire hab-
Skill Bonus: +1 itats in an effort to keep their threat from spreading.
The bioroids of the pleasure world Erato have a myriad of modi- The hounds are the size of Old Earth great cats and have trian-
fications to primary and secondary sexual characteristics, sex- gular heads more reminiscent of birds of prey or snakes. Their
ual performance, and biochemistry. Always seeking to expand faces are much more expressive than an animal’s would be.
their market share, the Eratoans have began to generate mem- Their bodies are made of computronium sheathed in a quicksil-
bers of their clade with new purposes. Bioroids with idiopathic ver smartmatter skin. Their limbs can contort or flow in surpris-
poison biochemistry or weaponized genitalia command a high ing ways, and they can squeeze themselves into smaller spaces
price on the black market as assassins. The above stats repre- than might be expected. They regenerate damage; a fist-sized
sent a somewhat less exotic assassin or covert bodyguard type. portion of their substance can regrowth the entire creature
with time, an energy source, and a material substrate. They can
HANNIBAL T. EARLY survive for indeterminate periods in hard vacuum.
No. Appearing: 1 They hunt in groups, and anything and anyone is fair game. They
Armor Class: 1 (power armor) aren’t mindless animals; in fact, they’re quite erudite and are
Hit Dice: 8 likely to attempt to engage their prey (or at least taunt them)
Saving Throw: 11 with allusions to and quotations from pre-Great Collapse works
Attack Bonus: +10 of art before the kill.
Damage: 2d8+2 mag rifle, 2d6 thermal pistol
Movement: 30’ KSAA COLD EGG
Morale: 11
Skill Bonus: +3 No. Appearing: 1
Armor Class: 6
The military of the Radiant Polity (SSGSB p. 3) consisted of one Hit Dice: 4
soldier, and that man was named Hannibal Tecumseh Early. Saving Throw: 14+
Early mostly appeared as a steely-eyed, taciturn veteran of late Attack Bonus: +3
middle years, but when necessary, tens of thousands of versions Damage: 2d6+2 mag pistol, 1d8 monoblade saber
of him were embodied in battleships and war fogs, spy drones Movement: 30’
and strategic minds. The Early war machine was manufactured Morale: 8
to whatever size was needed, but at least one Early was kept in Skill Bonus: +6
hibernation, as a reserve. Most Early iterations were lost in the
wars at the end of the Radiant Polity, but a few copies of mid- The neuter-sexed khii gans (“cold eggs”) are the true powers
dling quality might still be encountered leading the armies of behind the ksaa (SSGSB p.26). Scornful of outside races, the
one interplanetary power or another. cold eggs manipulate the female ksaa gynarchs whose territo-
ries they administer. The name “cold egg” comes from the lower
Early will employ the best armor and weapons available to what- temperature required for their gestation of neuter ksaa, but it
ever polity he’s working for. Though he will be a commander in has taken on the connotation of “cunning bastard.”
whatever force he serves, he is never one to avoid getting his
own hands dirty. Cold eggs are plotters and schemers; they’re the chessmaster
setting up the board or the spider at the center of the web.
HELLHOUND Many consider it a blessing that the ksaa are so myopically fo-
cused on their internal power struggles.
No. Appearing: 1-4
Armor Class: 4 KUATH
Hit Dice: 7
Saving Throw: 11 No. Appearing: 2-12
Attack Bonus: +8/+8/+6 Armor Class: 2
Damage: 2d4/2d4 claws, 1d8 bite Hit Dice: 5
Movement: 40’ Saving Throw: 14+
Morale: 10 Attack Bonus: +5
STRANGE STARS
22

Damage: 2d8+2 rifle; 1d8+1 monoblade They can sometimes be seen along the space ways and at port:
Movement: 30’ sleek ships, black and angular as obsidian blades. These are the
Morale: 10 vessels of the dead: the Necromancers.
Skill Bonus: +1
Necromancers appear as tall, cadaverous, near human bioforms
The powered bio-armored kuath serve as shock troops for the dressed in black nanosuits. Though they don’t live in the usual
Vokun Empire (SSGSB p. 16). They are adolescents conditioned sense, they do use energy; nanites infuse their tissues, reani-
and drugged into fanatical service by the Dragon Mother intel- mating them. Their bodies will break down over time, but after
ligences of their home world. Their bio-armor can be used as centuries — or millennia. Even then, the Necromancer lives on,
a vacuum suit for up to 2 hours but requires a dip in a special their mind preserved in a palm-sized scarabaeus that can attach
nutrient bath for at least 2 out of every 24 hours to be at maxi- itself to the nervous system of a new host.
mum efficiency.
There is a lot of speculation about the Necromancers and their
MINGA purpose. The most credible theory holds they are the guardians
of an ancient culture that committed mass suicide to avoid the
No. Appearing: 1 Great Cataclysm with a plan to resurrect itself at future time.
Armor Class: 9 Their bodies were interred in tomb worlds and their minds
Hit Dice: 1 uploaded and conveyed through a wormhole to a secure data
Saving Throw: 15+ (11+ for Mental Effects saves against Psion- underworld. Something went wrong and the underworld was
ics) lost. The Necromancers search for the souls of their people still,
Attack Bonus: +0 dealing with any being that might be able to help them — and
Damage: 1d2 punch destroying any that stand in their way.
Movement: 30’
QUICKLING
Morale: 8
Skill Bonus: +1
No. Appearing: 2-20 (up to 300 in swarm)
Armor Class: 0
Minga resemble the baseline human type, and are considered
Hit Dice: 1-2 HP
physically attractive by most of that clade. They are gracile of
Saving Throw: 16
build and have pale skins, ranging from a pink-tinged porcelain
Attack Bonus: +4
to chalk white. Their hair and eyes are in a wide variety of pastel
Damage: 1 point
shades. Movement: 40’ fly
Morale: 8
Minga are very submissive and compliant beings. They do dis-
agree from time to time, but always do so in an indirect way Special Abilities: Quicklings move so rapidly that they appear
best calculated not to give offense. They are nonviolent, even as a blur to unenhanced baselines. Attacks against them have a
against personal attack, but will defend themselves if absolute- 20% chance of missing automatically (check before attack roll).
ly necessary. Their meekness, however, hides a hidden agenda. Quicklings are never surprised by unenhanced individuals and
The Minga deplore the venal and violent state of the galaxy and always roll for initiative as normal, no matter the circumstance.
have been using the Slavers (p. 24) as a conduit to bring their
way to the stars. The Minga are patient; each slave is slowly Quicklings are a bioroid clade found on numerous worlds outside
bending his or her supposed master to their view of enlighten- the control of the hegemonic powers. They bear some resemblance
ment. to the fairies from the legends of Old Earth: they are approximately
8 cm tall humanoids with insect-like wings. They get their name
The Minga possess superhuman awareness of the emotional from their short lifespans and their fast neural “clock speed.”
states of other humanoids (mechanically similar to the psionic
power Empathy, though their ability is not purely psionic). They Quickling tribes or collectives live geographically close to (even
also have the ability to “charm” a humanoid with whom they within) cities and habitats of other humanoids, but remain
have had intimate or extended (over 48 hour) close contact into apart due to the difficulty of interaction. Quicklings find other
doing their bidding. A savings throw vs. Mental Effects must be sophonts unbearably slow, while neural baselines have to use
made to resist this power. special devices for all but the most rudimentary communica-
tion. Quickling tribes can be hired for various purposes, and they
NECROMANCER care little for legalities, but given their attention spans, all plans
must be relatively simple.
No. Appearing: 1-2
Armor Class: 3 or better Their small size and necessarily low weights (for flight) mean
Hit Dice: 5 their brains must be made of nonbiologic materials. Even still,
Saving Throw: 13 they are less intelligent than the average baseline (Intelligence
Attack Bonus: +7 8). However, groups of quicklings form a partial neural composi-
Damage: 2d8 energy weapon or better tion and have some sharing of cognition, so the more quicklings
Movement: 20’ in close proximity, the smarter they are (+1 Intelligence for every
Morale: 10 2 additional quicklings in a 10m radius, to a maximum of 20 In-
Skill Bonus: +4 telligence).
STRANGE STARS
23

RUNIC DRAGON SISTER OF MORRGNA
No. Appearing: 1-4 No. Appearing: 1-4

Armor Class: 3 Armor Class: 4
Hit Dice: 8 Hit Dice: 2
Saving Throw: 11 Saving Throw: 14
Attack Bonus: +8/+8/+8 Attack Bonus: +4
Damage: 1d6/1d6 claw, 2d8 bite Damage: 1d8+1 monoblade, 2d6 thermal pistol, or 1d8 Stun
Movement: 30’ Baton
Morale: 10 Movement: 30’
Special Abilities: psionics like a Psychic of 6th level. Morale: 10
Skill Bonus: +2
The most fearsome foes of the psychic wizards and their people
The Sisterhood of Morrgna is a eusocial, all genetically female
on the pseudo-medieval world of Rune are the dragons: large,
human clade designed for war. In earlier times, a Sisterhood
vaguely reptilian bipeds (about 3 m tall, with tails roughly as
could be generated anywhere a gravid warwomb landed, given
long) with psi abilities of their own. They are theorized to be
sufficient material, but today only one hive exists and only one
the degenerate descendants of the stranded crew of either an
queen.
exploratory vessel or a military scoutship. The adolescent drag-
ons of the current era are social creatures most numerous in
All Sisters are cloned from less than a hundred genotypes, but
equatorial areas, but older adults are mostly solitary and estab- they are further modified for certain caste functions. Most ap-
lish large territories. The dragons are aware that humans are pear as baseline humans, but there are hypertrophic muscled
intelligent, but view them as animals and potential (though not shock-troops, vacuum-adapted space-sisters, and ambigenital-
preferred) prey. Periodically, (Perhaps related to ancient mated comfort sisters. The most heavily modified Sisters are per-
ing cycles) dragons become extremely acquisitive, gathering haps the Queens (or “Mothers”): macrocephalic beings, whose
or stealing items of value, particularly shiny objects, and lining vast brains allow them to monitor every aspect of hive function.
their lairs with them.
The above statistics are for the relatively human “honor guard”
The humans of Rune try to kill or drive away any dragon near of the queen’s palace. Their purpose is mostly decorative, but
a civilized area. Despite the dragon’s size and intelligence, the they are still deadly.
more numerous humans might have driven them to extinction
if not for the fact that the wizards value them: Certain neuroen- SKULKER
docrine glands of the dragons contain chemicals that the wiz-
ards believe enhance their “magic.” No. Appearing: 3-18
Armor Class: 7
SCAVENGER Hit Dice: 1
Saving Throw: 15+
No. Appearing: 4-24 Attack Bonus: +1
Armor Class: 7 Damage: 1d4 claws or improvised weapon
Hit Dice: 1 Movement: 20’
Saving Throw: 15+ Morale: 8
Attack Bonus: +1
Damage: 1d6 cyberlimb, 1d8+1 monoblade, or 2d8 mag rifle On the planet Tenebrae in the Zuran Expanse there exists three
Movement: 30’ city-sized labyrinths comprised of basalt-like material zealously
Morale: 9 guarded by squat humanoids called “skulkers.” Their origins un-
known, skulkers are utterly hostile to other sophonts and pose
a near-constant danger to explorers and scavengers of the laby-
Scavengers are opportunistic pirates who follow the Locusts, a
rinth. They appear to live adjacent to the labyrinth but whether
giant swarm of von Neumann machines that devour any habi-
they make their homes in ancient support structures or warrens
tats they encounter. The Scavenger scouts perform hit and
they dug themselves is uncertain. Possessing 120’ low-light vi-
run raids before the arrival of the mass of the swarm, and the
sion, packs of skulkers will often knock out any unguarded light
majority of their fleet sweeps up any surviving ships once the
sources before attacking en masse. Being light-sensitive, a
swarm passes. skulker directly exposed to bright light will suffer -1 to attacks
and saves and must make an immediate Morale roll.
Scavengers commonly have obvious and primitivist cybernetics,
the better to frighten victims into submission. These cybernet- SLAVERS
ics frequently take the form of weapons, from chainsaws to
gatling guns, but their unreliability often produces less than No. Appearing: 1-4
spectacular results (hence the low damage potential). Scav- Armor Class: 4
engers are craven foes, preferring to use wolf pack tactics and Hit Dice: 8
quickly scattering in the face of any serious adversary. Saving Throw: 11
STRANGE STARS
24

Attack Bonus: +8 SSRAAD, GREEN
Damage: 1d6/1d6/1d6/1d6 tentacles (plus slime)
Movement: 10’/60’ No. Appearing: 2-12
Morale: 9 Armor Class: 5
Skill Bonus: +1 Hit Dice: 5
Special Abilities: Tentacle slime (Toxicity 8, Virulence 3, Interval Saving Throw: 12
5 min) poisons humans; sensory illusions (Mental Effect saving Attack Bonus: +7/+6/+6
throw to resist), Overpowering Will 3x/day Damage: 1d4 tongue slap (plus poison) or 1d8 bite; or by weap-
on
Slavers (yssgalahl is an approximate rendering of their autonym) Movement: 30’
are aquatic sophonts who look vaguely like 4 m long mucus- Morale: 12
covered catfish with tentacles. They are a psionic species who
use their abilities to stun prey in their native oceans. The Slavers
The green are the smallest ssraad species (2.13 m), but also the
never developed more than rudimentary tool use until human
most intelligent. They believe themselves to be the closest in
explorers visited their world, and they discovered that off-world
organisms have little resistance to their abilities. form to the zurr, whom the greens worship as their semi-divine
progenitors. Their plump bodies and thin limbs make them ap-
Only the sheer size of galactic civilization, their aquatic nature, pear much less threatening than the reds or blues. Appearances
and the resistance of other psi-capable species kept them from can be deceiving.
establishing a vast empire. Instead, they became slave traders.
They keep a number of personal servants and sell the rest on The green ssraad generate a paralytic biochemical that they
the galactic market-places where “naturally” grown sophonts can deliver via their sticky, extensible tongues. Anyone hit on
are preferable to bioroids or robots. The Slavers are the primary exposed skin by a green ssraad’s tongue must make a Physical
suppliers of Minga slaves (p. 23). Effects saving throw (Toxicity 10, Interval 1 hour, Virulence 2) or
be paralyzed. Three failed saves means a victim’s breathing has
The slime coating the Slaver’s tentacles is a paralytic to life na- also been paralyzed, and he or she begins to suffocate without
tive to its world, but cause skin changes to humans which lead respiratory support. Other ssraad aren’t paralyzed, but instead
to 1d4 damage each interval the affected isn’t kept cool and become docile and submissive. The green can also deliver a
damp (Toxicity 8, Virulence 3, Interval 5 minutes). Slavers can cocktail containing hormones and plasmids which trigger par-
create realistic sensory experiences in the minds of biologic sa-
thenogenesis in any ssraad species. The genetic material in the
pients if they fail a Mental Effect saving throw. The Slaver’s also
plasmids causes all offspring produced to be born as green ss-
possess an ability similar to Overpowering Will, which they can
use 3 times a day. The power can be used on any single indi- raad. Greens refer to ssraad undergoing forced parthenogenesis
vidual within 9 meters. If a being is dominated, they will serve as slrnn meh (“breeders”); the slrnn meh automatically lose sta-
the Slaver until some external force breaks the control. If the tus in ssraad society. Greens cover their skin with an ointment
enslaved individual is separated from the Slaver by more than a made from human endocrine elements and other ingredients to
kilometer, a new savings throw is made every day. insulate themselves against such assaults by rivals.
SSRAAD, BLUE SSRAAD, RED
No. Appearing: 2-12 No. Appearing: 1-4

Armor Class: 4 Armor Class: 5
Hit Dice: 8 Hit Dice: 6
Saving Throw: 11 Saving Throw: 11
Attack Bonus: +8/+8/+8 Attack Bonus: +6/+6/+6
Damage: 2d6/2d6 claws, 1d12 bite Damage: 1d4/1d4 claws, 1d10 bite
Movement: 30’ Movement: 30’
Morale: 12 Morale: 10
The hulking blue (3 m tall) are the most massive of the ssraad spe- Red ssraad are nearly 2.5 m tall. Though sophonts, their behav-
cies (SSGSB p. 27) and are more intelligent and organized than the ior is savage and animalistic. Often, only their sadism betrays
red. Still, they have no hierarchy beyond the tribal level, where the their intelligence. They do not build or create, but are capable
strongest rule. What technology they possess is stolen; the blue of utilizing technology when necessary. Red ssraad are used as
force captives to remodel their starships for the ssraad’s large shock troops and terror weapons by the greens. They are phe-
frames before they kill them. They can employ weapons, but prefer nomenally hardy and regenerate 2 hit points a round.
to use the bone spur claws that grow from the dorsal surface of
their hands, and their massive jaws. Red ssraad parthenogenetically produce eggs that must incu-
bate with a living host. They use their hollow tongues to inject
Ssraad reproduce asexually. Dominance challenges between ssraad eggs (40% chance) into a host on a bite that does damage. Once
can lead to slashes along the loser’s back from the victor’s bone inside, the egg gestates for 3 weeks. The host then falls ill for
spurs that (combined with chemicals introduced into the loser’s approximately 24 hours with nausea and abdominal pain be-
bloodstream from the victor’s saliva) stimulate the growth of eggs fore the ssraad larva eats its way out of the victim’s body, killing
beneath osteodermic plates. These eventually bud off into larva. them.
STRANGE STARS
25

TELOSIAN They can see in the microwave and ultraviolet portions of the
spectrum (allowing normal vision in the absence of visual light
No. Appearing: 10-100 (on Telos) or 1-3 (off-planet) out to 100 meters), and can communicate via UV laser or radio.
Armor Class: 5 Most important to the Vokun Empire is their ability to detect
Hit Dice: 2 hyperspace nodes within 1 AU and to sense a node’s general
Saving Throw: 14 presence without precision within 5 AU (Perception skill check
Attack Bonus: +2 at +3). While still allowed by the Vokun to live in their familial
Damage: 1d4 punch or 1d6 integrated laser clans in the asteroid caves of the Dhadgar System, only Voidg-
Movement: 30’ lider volunteers for the Stellar Navy are allowed greater free-
Morale: 9 doms.
The moravecs of the artificial moon of Telos are followers of the VOKUN LORD
AI prophet Iskander Null-A, who taught that biosophonts are
No. Appearing: 1
the flawed creations of moravecs, destined for a life of servi-
Armor Class: 9 (2 with chair deflector array)
tude. Telosians enjoy gladiatorial contests where humans are
Hit Dice: 3
forced to fight for their entertainment and rarely tolerate free
Saving Throw: 13
biosophonts within their sphere of influence.
Attack Bonus: +2
Damage: 1d4+1 punch or 2d6 energy weapon concealed in hov-
THRAX erchair
Movement: 5’ (25’’ in hoverchair)
No. Appearing: 1-10 Morale: 8
Armor Class: 2 Skill Bonus:+3
Hit Dice: 5 Special Abilities: Vokun regenerate 1 hit point per minute, up
Saving Throw: 14+ to maximum of 12 points. This does not prevent a vokun from
Attack Bonus: +7 dying at zero hit points.
Damage: 1d12+1 thraxu blade or 1d8+2 monoblade
Movement: 30’ A vokun’s age is linearly correlated with their subtlety, breadth
Morale: 11 of vision, hedonism, and physical immobility. Vokun lords, heads
Skill Bonus: +2 of their households, dream intricate dreams of vast triumphs
and glorious conquests — and then promptly lose themselves
The thrax clone clade are the famed warriors of the Alliance in immediate decadent pleasures. While perhaps not imposing
(SSGSB p. 10). They are taciturn, serious, and greatly concerned on an immediate physical level (in any way but sheer bulk), a
with honor and discipline as defined by their warrior’s code. vokun lord sufficiently roused from their indolence by anger is a
Thrax express their individuality through their armor, which they dangerous foe indeed.
are allowed to individualize within parameters set by their unit.
Their signature weapon are the thraxu blades: ancient weap- XANN HUNTER
ons of programmable matter which, when energized, creates a
quantum edge (treat as a nanoknife from Mandate Archive: The No. Appearing: 1-2
Dust). Armor Class: 3
Hit Dice: 7
VOIDGLIDER Saving Throw: 11
Attack Bonus: +8/+8/+6
No. Appearing: 1-10 Damage: 2d4/2d4 claws, 1d6 bite
Movement: 40’
Armor Class: 7
Morale: 11
Hit Dice: 1+1
Skill Bonus: +1
Saving Throw: 15
Special Abilities: They regenerate 2 hit points per round, start-
Attack Bonus: +1
ing after 2 rounds of combat. They possess the equivalent of
Damage: 1d10 laser rifle
the Biopsionic power Invincible Stand.
Movement: 25’; 120’ (fly)
Morale: 7 The xann are the monsters who monsters fear. Seeking re-
Skill Bonus: +1 venge for the near genocide of their people in ancient times,
they are implacable enemies of the zurr and their creations/
A clade adapted to survival in the vacuum of space, the Voidglid- descendants, the ssraad. Despite historical consensus that
ers were once free peoples who have been confined to a reser- the zurr are an extinct culture, the xann believe that a few of
vation in the Dhadgar System (SSGSB p. 17) by the Vokun Em- their enemies have passed their minds down through the ages,
pire. They can unfurl giant dragonfly wings, living solar panels downloading them into new bodies.
from which plasma sails provide self-locomotion in the vacuum.
Adapted to the vacuum of space, Voidgliders are resistant to In base form, they are chalk white-skinned, slim, almost deli-
radiation (+3 bonus to saving throws) and can survive without cate-appearing humans. They are never seen in groups larger
oxygen, so long as they have food and water. than three or four. Often their children are abandoned to be
STRANGE STARS
26

raised by other sophonts. Xann hide their identities, to avoid be- Damage: 1d4 punch
ing shunned by other species. No one who has heard the stories Movement: 20’
wants to be near a xann when the change occurs. When a xann Morale: 7
finds a target (be it one of their secret zurr or a ssraad), he or she Special Abilities: Due to their ameboid nature, zhmun can
transforms into a hunter form: a bioengineered killing machine squeeze through places a quarter of the size needed for a base-
like a taloned and many-toothed distortion of their native ap- line humanoid and are resistant to primitive weapons.
pearance.
The zhmun inhabited a domed city on the planet Aygo (SSGSB
ZAO PIRATE p. 19) and control the wealth of that world’s ancient treasure
stores and the mining rights to their system’s three superter-
No. Appearing: 1-10 restrial worlds.
Armor Class: 7
Hit Dice: 1 Zhmun are invertebrates with ameboid characteristics, despite
Saving Throw: 15+ being multicellular. A zhmu uses the hydrostatic pressure of
Attack Bonus: +1 internal fluids and the ability to quickly alter the rigidity of its
Damage: 1d8+1 monoblade, 2d6 void carbine tissues to hold itself in a roughly humanoid shape. Zhmun who
Movement: 30’ can’t achieve consistent humanoid appearance are second class
Morale: 9 citizens — “globs.”
Skill Bonus: +2
Zhmun perform no manual labor, but insist that their needs be
The brazen crimes and theatrical flair of the Zao Corsairs provided for by biologic entities, not robots. Higher status zhmun
(SSGSB p. 22) have made them a favorite as villains and anti- perform no work at all. They affect an air of nobility and assume
heroes in sims and other popular entertainments. The truth is lofty, nonsensical titles. They spend their days in artistic pursuits
far from glamorous: the Zao are killers who capture ships, loot or idle pleasures, as befits their station. Globs direct zhmu busi-
them, and hold their passengers for ransom or sell them into ness interests and supervise their myriad of alien employees
slavery — sometimes selling their bodies separately from their and servants in the name of a zhmu master. Menial tasks are
uploaded minds. Anyone may call themselves a Zao pirate, and performed by a slave clade of unknown origin, collectively called
some vessels operating under that title may have no connection yoom. Yoom are low on the sophont-scale and are bred in a vari-
to their asteroid base of Naraka, but the actual Zao pirates react ety of function-based forms, from brutish, thick-browed laborers
harshly to those “flying their flag” who don’t obey their estab- and bodyguards to sleek, quadrupedal racers.
lished codes governing the division of plunder, interactions be-
tween affiliate vessels, and the secrecy of their defense system ZURR MASK HOST
keycodes.
No. Appearing: 1
The Zao have a fondness for antique-looking bladed weapons Armor Class: 4
for close-quarters boarding, but are certainly not adverse to the Hit Dice: 4-2
use of ranged weaponry. Saving Throw: 13+
Attack Bonus: +3
ZAO PIRATE CAPTAIN Damage: 2d4 psychic assault
Movement: 30’
No. Appearing: 1 Morale: 11
Armor Class: 4 Special Abilities: Telepathy and one other psychic discipline,
Hit Dice: 4 mastered to level 6
Saving Throw: 13+
Attack Bonus: +6 Most zurr masks are inert, but not all of them. A few still hold,
Damage: 1d8+1 monoblade or 2d6 void carbine by a means beyond current technology, the mind of a long dead
Movement: 30’ zurr. A mind driven insane by isolation and the lack of sensory
Morale: 10 inputs. The zurr intellect is able to possess a wearer, and psychi-
Skill Bonus: +3 cally induce the potential wearer to don the mask even before
full possession occurs. A mask bonds to a wearer on a molecular
Though elected via a realtime, microtransactional system, Zao level in 2-4 hours of cumulative wear and requires substantial
captains are virtually always drawn from the toughest and craft- medical care to remove without serious injury. Its possession at-
iest of the crew. Zao captains are near fanatical in defense of tack requires a Mental Effects save to resist and has “Toxicity”
their crews and ships and will be certain to employ any strata- 10 and Virulence 2. If the mask is not removed, this attack can
gem, no matter how ruthless, to trap prey. be repeated in 12 hours. Once in possession of host, the zurr
will attempt to resume its previous life — an impossible task
ZHMU NOBLE given the millennia that have passed since its culture thrived. A
zurr has no qualms about killing anyone who gets in the way of
No. Appearing: 1 its mad quest.
Armor Class: 8 (6 against primitive weaponry)
Hit Dice: 1 Note: The zurr are intended to be one of the great mysteries of
Saving Throw: 14+ the setting, to reveal (or not) as the Gamemaster wishes. This is
Attack Bonus: +1 one idea of how the masks might work.
STRANGE STARS
27

06: FACTIONS
Factions play a big part in the universe of Strange Stars. They and critiques of its user’s thought processes and behavior lead
can make the lives of PCs easier or more difficult — but hope- to progressive behavior modification of susceptible individuals.
fully always more interesting! The factions presented below are “Advanced” members without public relations duties tend to
only a sampling of the ones that exist in the setting. They are dress in the same grey uniform-like garments and use frequent
described and interact in the ways outlined in Chapter 8 of the aphorisms from Aurogov teachings in their speech.
Stars Without Number core book.
EDEN SEEKER EXTREMISTS
AUROGOV
Attributes: Force 3, Cunning 6, Wealth 5

Attributes: Force 3, Cunning 6, Wealth 5 Hit Points: 29
Hit Points: 29 Assets: Boltholes/Cunning 6, Demagogue/Cunning 5, Labora-
Assets: Demagogue/Cunning 6, Organization Moles/Cunning 5, tory/Wealth 3, Zealots/Force 3
Marketers/Wealth 5, Security Personnel/Force 1 Tags: Fanatical
Tags: Theocratic
The Eden Seekers are a group of antignostic sapience-rejection-
Aurogov has been described as a quasi-religious voluntary tyran- ists among the avian humanoid hyehoon. Contrary to the beliefs
ny (though its leaders consistently deny its religious character). of the majority of their species, they view their fabled creator,
Participants advance through levels (“The Protocol”) wherein the genetic engineer Anat Marao, as a satanic figure. Their ul-
Aurogov teachings take greater and greater control of their lives. timate goal is the purging of the hominid influence from the
Adherents typically begin with a download of Aurogov’s open li- hyehoon genome so that their descendants may be returned
cense self-help software, distributed by parties unknown in the to the “pure” avian genetics of their presumed ancestors. This
noosphere of most civilized worlds. The seed software slowly faction represents the fanatical splinter groups that seek to ac-
evolves into a nonsapient AI mind emulation of the (perhaps quire and use weapons of mass gene restructuring to achieve
mythical) founder of the group, The Prime. The software’s audits their goals.
STRANGE STARS
28

Though their primary focus is on overthrowing the social struc- The Valor of Faora Ul Legion is one such unit, known by the dis-
ture of the hyehoon homeworld Omu, Eden Seeker extremists tinct green claw slashes somewhere on their armor. Their nota-
sometimes hide in Expanse or smuggle weapons through its ble actions include storming the crawling dreadnought of Dza-
hyperspace nodes. ladin Huerto in Circus’s Neurokleptocrat Wars and the capture
of cult leader Czerna Zera despite sustaining heavy casualties
INSTRUMENTALITY OF AOM from suicide attacks by her clones.
SAMPLE VOKUN NOBLE HOUSE

Attributes: Force 8, Cunning 5, Wealth 7
Hit Points: 49
Assets: Space Marines/Force 7, Planetary Defenses/Force 6, Attributes: Force 5, Cunning 3, Wealth 6
Strike Fleet/Force 4, Zealots/Force 3, Pretech Manufacturers/ Hit Points: 29
Wealth 7, Marketeers/Wealth 5, Organization Moles/Cunning 5, Assets: Strike Fleet/Force 4, Postech Infantry/Force 4, Black-
Cyberninjas/Cunning 3 mail/Cunning 2, Local Investments/Wealth 1, Commodities
Tags: Theocratic, Planetary Government Brokers/Wealth 6
Tags: Warlike [once per turn, roll an extra d10 when making a
The Instrumentality of Aom controls several star systems and Force attack]
provides spiritual guidance for the faithful scattered through-
out many more. It aggressively seeks to expand its sphere of in- The various noble houses of the Vokun Empire attempt to ex-
fluence, primarily by peaceful conversion, but it is not opposed pand their power base outwards to new systems. This expan-
to violent conquest. sion is undertaken primarily to improve their standing in the
continual intrigues taking place within the Empire.
While the Instrumentality’s evangelists revise doctrine to best
win converts, its rule is uncompromising on worlds already un- House Ksurukandesh, struggling to shrug off years of deca-
der church control, even if the faith’s actual tenets are some- dence and revitalize itself, has dispatched a trade mission to
times vague. Circus under its favored son, Lord Mulzakesh, son of Katapaxu.
While ostensibly present on Circus to expand economic link-
PHARESMID SYNDICATE ages between the Empire and Circus, Mulzakesh’s real objective
is to extend House Ksurukandesh’s control beyond the Vokun
Empire and into the Circus economy. His honored father Kata-
Attributes: Force 3, Cunning 6, Wealth 5 paxu seeks to create a refuge beyond the Empire for his house,
Hit Points: 29 and has authorized Mulzakesh to use any means necessary to
Assets: Cyberninjas/Cunning 3, Smugglers/Cunning 1, Thugs/ stretch forth House Ksurukandesh’s hand and dominate this
Force 1, Laboratory/Wealth 3 potential new home.
The Pharesmid Syndicate is a criminal organization centered on SAMPLE ZAO PIRATE BAND
the planet Smaragdoz, though its presence is also felt on other
worlds. The members of the group are all bio-clones or mind
copies of their founder, Smaragdine cyberterrorist Uln Pharesm. Attributes: Force 4, Cunning 2, Wealth 2
Hit Points: 15
Pharesmids all wear facial tattoos, though they may disguise Assets: Cunning Trap 3, Elite Skirmishers 2
them in the course of their criminal operations. Their progenitor Tags: Pirate
has augmented his brain to give himself limited psi abilities, and
it may be that some lieutenants have similar enhancements. The infamous Zao Corsairs are based on the former Radiant Pol-
ity prison asteroid of Naraka. The Zao are killers who capture
SAMPLE THRAX MERCENARY CADRE ships, loot them, and hold their passengers for ransom or sell
them into slavery — sometimes selling their bodies separately
from their uploaded minds.
Attributes: Force 4, Wealth 2, Cunning 1
Hit Points: 15 While following the codes and contributing to the defense of
Assets: Hardened Personnel 2, Informers 1 the association, Zao pirate bands are autonomous franchised
Tags: Mercenary Group groups of freebooters. Each band runs its own small flotilla and
keeps its own finances. Each band is headed by a captain or
The distinctively armored thrax are famed soldiers of Alliance captains, usually elected by corsair members (generally through
space. Some thrax form mercenary companies and can be serv- a complicated system of real-time assessment of crew confi-
ing wherever there is conflict across the Strange Stars. dence).
STRANGE STARS
29

07: WORLDS
There are thousands of worlds and habitats in Strange Stars; Exchange Consult: This doesn’t really have an exact equivalent
the setting book only touches on a few of them. The world gen- in Stars Without Number, but a rough approximation would be
eration system in Stars Without Number is a good way to gen- Banking Center.
erate new worlds for your own campaign, though some of the
world tags don’t readily apply to the Strange Stars setting. Forbidden Tech: Much of the technology considered forbidden
in the standard setting of SWN is common in Strange Stars. As
More sophonts in Strange Stars actually inhabit artificial habi- a result, this tag carries the opposite meaning and denotes a
tats rather than natural satellites. The primary reason for this is particularly repressive world with respect to one or more tech-
space: fully Earth-like worlds are relatively rare and orbital habi- nologies.
tats can be placed in a lot of locations, including star systems
that never developed rocky planets. A system for the random Heavy Mining: The definition of this tag should be broadened
generation of habitats is presented at the end of this chapter. to include gas giant mining.
Changes and Additions to the World Tags: Misogyny/Misandry: To get more use out of this tag, expand it
to include prejudice or persecution against any group by replac-
Alien Ruins: Replace this with Ruins. These could be alien, but ing in with Chauvinism.
are more likely to be ancient ruins from the time of the Archaic
Oikumene or before. Perimeter Agency: This group doesn’t exist in Strange Stars,
and there isn’t any group that would be a direct correlation. A
Altered Humanity: Altering baseline humanity is much more culture similarly concerned with the dangers of technology and
common in Strange Stars, so this tag should only be used for curtailing (or trying to curtail) it in some way can be represented
particularly unusual cultures. by the tag Luddite World.
Eugenic Cults: The rough equivalent of these could be found, Pleasure World: This new tag denotes a world or habitat fa-
but given the commonness of genetic modification, the “eu- mous, or infamous, for its hedonistic pursuits. Worlds like this
genics” element is less important than the “cult” part. will often be a vacation destination.
STRANGE STARS
30

Preceptor Archive: The equivalent of this tag is Archive, de- CIRCE
noting troves of data or technology from earlier time periods
— mostly the Archaic Oikumene, but possibly the Radiant Polity. Tags: Theocracy, Psionics Academy
Enemies: Reverend Mother Vlara Szeklos, Instrumentality spy
Pretech Cultists: Replace this tag with Strange Tech. Like the Mila Angmark
case of Eugenic Cultists above, in most cases the focus should be Friends: Witch Novitiate Inessa Ravzan, Smaragdine psi re-
on the odd use of a technology rather than its simple existence. searcher Tsias Sycorax
Complications: Conflict within the Witches, Hidden Instrumen-
Primitive Aliens: Replace this tag with Primitive of a non-base- tality agents
line or exotic biotype. Things: Ancient texts of psi, Transport vessel full of aspirants
Places: Ceremony hall of the Sisterhood school, Underground
Unbraked AI: This would instead be a Tyranny tag that just crypt
happened to have an infosophont tyrant.
Circe is the smaller of two worlds controlled by the Circean
Unusual Culture: It takes a lot for a culture to be considered Witches (the Sisterhood of Circe), an all-female order of psyches.
unusual in the Strange Stars terms, but this this tag exists for It is located in neutral territory between the Alliance and the In-
those worlds that deviate significantly from the “mainstream” strumentality. The larger and more populous world is named
of galactic culture in ways not covered by another tag. Examples Perseis, and it’s people largely live in primitive, early industrial
include a culture based entirely around playing a specific game, conditions (something akin to the 19th century of Old Earth in
a world where everyone wears masks, or a world where every- the ancient reckoning). The Sisterhood, headquartered on the
one is physically isolated and only makes contact via telepres- smaller world of Circe, limits the technology of Perseis through
ence. its “advisory” role to the world’s various governments. Women
on Perseis are tested in adolescence, and those with the talent
Xenophiles/Xenophobes: Again, “alien” here should be read as are taken away to Circe and become novices in the Sisterhood.
exotic/unusual clade.
CIRCUS
SSGSB p. 13
CATALOG OF WORLDS
Tags: Trade Hub, Regional Hegemon
Enemies: Customs enforcement contractor Captain Rhona
Here’s an overview, in Stars Without Numbers terms, of most Tam, Interzone crimelord Cephas Omoro
of the worlds mentioned in the setting book, plus a few new Friends: Explorer Captain Garm Singh Hardraker of Brave Ulyss-
additions. Where applicable, references to the setting book are es, Minga escort Solace
given. Complications: Minor trade war, Dispute among Tsadikim
Things: Major stash of a new drug, Unclaimed longhaul container
AYGO Places: Joyhouse in Interzone, Port at the Strip, Petty fiefdom
SSGSB p. 19 in the hinterlands
Tags: Bubble City, Rigid Culture DESHRET

Enemies: Offended zhmu Metaboyar-Zamindar Purulu, Enraged SSGSB p. 19
yoom slave, Scheming trade ambassador
Friends: Jovial glob major domo, Curious zhmu master artist Tags: Desert World, Archaic Ruins
Tulush Enemies: Moph customs inspector Minyar Sabak, Nanite dyb-
Complications; Murder during delicate trade talks, Shifting bal- buk, Tomb-robbing gang leader Kiyat
ance of power amid zhmu lords Friends: Enthusiastic infoarcheologist, Flirtatious desert djinn,
Things: Birthing vat, Brain scans from zhmun sacred stores Grizzled desert guide Rukh
Complications: Massive sandstorm, Desert tribesmen, Deadly
BOREAS tomb trap
SSGSB p. 9 Things: Data-laden sandminder, Newly discovered data-tomb
Places: Ruins in the deep desert, Dive tavern in Moph
Tags: Seagoing Cities, Zombies
Enemies: Animated bioroid beast, Vrzemko Koprdazak xeno- ERATO
phobic local kommissar, Zyta Hrenj paranoid ranger
Friends: Scientist Jarka Lissik seeking communication with the Tags: Pleasure World
Cold Minds, Local trader Balok Zek Enemies: Disguised assassin Freyr Kanamara-47, War criminal
Complications: Transport breakdown out on the ice, Dead from from the League of Habitats hiding out
a sunken warship animated by the cold minds Friends: Bartender Ona Nanda-74, Bioroid physician Arturo
Things: Container of weaponized microorganisms, Exclusive Yueh-65
trade contract with the uldra Complications: Masked bacchanal, Invitation to a mysterious
Places: Ranger station beneath the ice, Subsurface levels of a stranger’s private suite
trading settlement Things: Weaponized sex toy, Platinum passcode
STRANGE STARS
31

Places: Isolated, supposedly off-line dome, Underground MAZEWORLD
bioroid repair facilities
Tags: Pilgrimage Site, Ruins
Erato is home to the largest collection of resorts and parks ca- Enemies: Other would-be maze walkers, Maze cultists
tering to every imaginable sensual pleasure in the known gal- Friends: Maze-walker aspirant Shilo Loum from Circus, Alliance
axy. The domes are themed by interest and provide a variety of security attache Darus Zor
different environments from lush gardens to freefall — though Complications: Chosen by the Guardians to walk the Maze,
the facilities are less expansive now than in centuries past. The Some sort of energy ripple in the Maze’s structure
bioroid staff, in a myriad of forms, cater to every taste. Things: Purported map of the Maze, Guardian’s cube weapon
Places: Impromptu camp outside the Maze entrance, Ceremo-
ERG nial place of the Guardians
SSGSB p. 19
The so-called Apotheosis Maze is an ancient structure of great
Tags: Heavy Mining, Outpost World power. It appears to be black marble with an iridescent, oil-slick
Enemies: Zhmun company representative Arn Daarven, Work- sheen when the light hits it right. It possesses a psionic pres-
gang boss One-Eyed Shota ence, too — like faint, whispering voices in an adjacent room.
Friends: Crusading workers’ rights activist Sarai Allon, Chatty Though the maze is open to the sky, no one has ever been ob-
bar owner Ulo served traversing it; it would appear that the maze’s interior ex-
Complications: Workers riot, Heavy irritant smog, Press gang ists elsewhere. The vast majority of those who enter the maze
Things: Anti-zhmu samizdat, Marker for a fortune in gas-min- never emerge. In fact, there is no recorded instance of anyone
ing shares emerging — but many stories exist. All the stories suggest so-
Places: Zhmun hiring station, Row of grimy chem-toilets pods, phont beings who walk the maze transcend in some way — per-
Low-rent cybertech doc tent haps even to godhood.
GOGMAGOG The Maze’s guardians are tall, robed humanoids with enlarged
SSGSB p. 9 craniums and skin as black as starless space. There are always
three present, though perhaps not always the same three.
Tags: Desert World, Local Specialty Their primary task seems to be to decide who may walk the
Enemies: Crazy bot-breaker Haxo Ysgar, Robber gang maze from the supplicants present. They never allow more
Friends: Merc Faizura Deyr working for the bot-breakers, Free than five in, but the number varies; they often select fewer.
trader supplying bot-breakers Those they choose must divest themselves of weapons,
Complications: Von Neumann machine swarm, Malfunctioning equipment, and uplinks, and don simple robes before entering
giant robot the maze.
Things: Hidden entrance to the mysterious planetary substruc-
ture, Forgotten ancient giant bot NARAKA
Places: Shanty town, Junkyard SSGSB p. 23
KUZNUH Tags: Outlaw World, Forbidden World

SSGSB p. 11 Enemies: Moravec chauvinist Pirate captain Zelezo-317, Men-
tally unstable hostage
Tags: Banking Center, Desert World Friends: Dashing captain Jolanda Almaviva Chang, Cantanker-
Enemies: Auditor Azir Zem, Hacker “Flashpoint” Faruz ous-but-kind old cook Feropato
Friends: Lawyer Rakta Lom, Security specialist Khazhir Mek Complications: Rivalry between captains, A dangerous captive
Complications: Deep audit, Unexpected death of a CEO for ransom
Things: Nizara hack, Emergency board of directors meeting Things: Defense grid pass codes, Haul of Archaic tech
Places: Tower with high security, Underground bar in the off- Places: Bridge of a ship in dock, Prisoner cell block
world’s quarter
OMU
LIBRARY OF ATOZ-THELN SSGSB p. 11
SSGSB p. 19
Tags: Civil War, Major Shipyard
Tags: Archive Enemies: Eden Seeker terrorist Crimson Shrike, Corrupt indus-
Enemies: Data-raiders, Paranoid librarian Abno-Ord trialist Vakal Tao Hamoon
Friends: Archaic History section specialist Than-Ki, Visiting Friends: Minor bureaucrat Ro Yana Kili, Special ops soldier Nya-
scholar ga Ysola Ulalo
Complications: Glitch in the Library Mind, Murder of a promi- Complications: Terrorist attack in a public place, Vokun-spon-
nent visitor sored industrial espionage
Things: Map to an ancient treasure, Dictionary of the Atozan Things: Design schematics for a new starship engine, Database
language of Eden Seeker terrorist cells
Places: Hidden section, Atozan cloning center Places: Orbital shipyard, Counter-terrorist bureau office
STRANGE STARS
32

ORICHALCOS Telos is an artificial moon orbiting through the failed planetary
SSGSB p. 15 dust cloud of a red dwarf in the Coreward Reach. The dust
cloud is stalked by vicious hunter-killer satellites that vaporize
Tags: Trade Hub, Rigid Culture any ship without the proper codes. Its dominant civilization are
Enemies: Disingenuous power-grabbing Optimate Tyodoro Gu- moravec adherents to the AI prophet Iskander Null-A who rule
ruzte, Sadistic aristocrat over an underclass of biohumanoids. The Telosians aren’t usu-
Friends: Trade delegate Laira Urzo-Mezenta, Economic reform ally cruel to their slaves, but they do enjoy gladiatorial battles
activist Barna Zagari where humans are forced to fight — perhaps to the death.
Complications: Malfeasance scandal, Murder of an aristocrat
Things: Hidden bank accounts, Untraceable weapon TENEBRAE
Places: Opulent aristocratic mansion, Inner city ghetto SSGSB p. 19
PHOBETOR Tags: Badlands World, Ruins

SSGSB p. 14 Enemies: Artifact thief Bellocq Rene, Skulker swarm
Friends: Blesh archeologist Ru-19-Ayla, Journalist Rosef Brannet
Tags: Local Tech, Flying City, Badlands World Complications: Sudden storm, Sabotage to a transport
Enemies: Industrial spy disguised as a technician, Nightmare Things: Mysterious artifact, Message scrawled on a stone wall
dealer Arden-Decima in blood
Friends: Customer interface specialist Soren-Tertia, Short-du- Places: Ruined city, Hastily abandoned camp of a missing ex-
ration reverie designer Alex-Quintus pedition
Complications: A loosed frumious bandersnatch, Wealthy BASE
jumpers wingsuit-flying to the planet’s surface VARYA
Things: Experimental dream drug product, Captured art-mon- SSGSB p. 17
ster, Weaponized dream-tech
Places: Sky city of Eidolon, Ancient underground vault Tags: Regional Hegemon, Rigid Culture
Enemies: Inscrutable ibglibdishpan advisor Leng Yar, Young mil-
RUNE itary hero Zraleikastra
SSGSB p. 15 Friends: Yantra resistance spy Tulahani Hala disguised as a ser-
vant, Circus trade delegate Vestra Mateen
Tags: Out of Contact, Rigid Society Complications: War between houses, Unwanted attentions of
Enemies: Necromancer Mauldazard, Rampaging dragon a noble
Friends: Young dragon Thussumbraan, Benevolent sorceress Things: File full of secret communiques, Shipment of slaves
Jaronel Places: Private hunting reserve, Foreigner’s quarter of the capi-
Complications: Feudal warfare, Dragon attack tal
Things: Dragon’s treasure horde, Downed spacecraft from a
“civilized world” YANTRA
Places: Wizard’s tower, Dragon’s cave SSGSB p. 17
SMARAGDOZ Tags: Colonized Population, Oceanic World

SSGSB p. 11 Enemies: Vokun Prefect Axanareshta, Xenophobic Yantran el-
der Kanutu Maata
Tags: Local Tech, Psionics Academy Friends: Minga courtesan Opal, Yantran resistance saboteur
Enemies: Thrill-criminal known as the Red Queen, Local thug in Konahi Atamu
the Xanthic Prefecture Griflet Marax Complications: Unusual storm, Vokun crackdown
Friends: Psi instructor Curtana Beithir, Laconic farmer Boq Things: Vokun surveillance drone, Yantran resistance code glyph
Complications: Missing atavism tourist, Manifestation of the Places: Yantran holy site cave, Vokun lord’s villa
Wizard groupmind
Things: Box buried in the Deadly Desert, Psi-enhancing drug ZYANTHION
Places: Crystal tower, Rural hamlet SSGSB p. 13
TELOS Tags: Unusual Culture

Enemies: Up and coming duelist Ul Vanth, Famed matchmaker
Tags: Chauvinist, Quarantined World Naya Lamris
Enemies: Crazed human thrall, Sadistic biocontrol officer Friends: Ambassador gone native Edwer Thissell, Fashion ma-
Friends: Biologic rights activist Raq-3-L, Slave underground re- ven Thian Ziin
sistance Complications: Challenge that can’t be refused, Gift with unex-
Complications: Fanatics speaking anti-biologic jihad, Engine pected implications
malfunction in the vicinity of Telos Things: Antique dueling blade, Daring and fashion-forward out-
Things: Hidden entrance to the mysterious planetary substruc- fit
ture, Forgotten ancient giant bot Places: Grand avenue of the largest city on Zyanthion, Salon of
Places: Gladiatorial arena, Shrine to Iskander Null-A a Zyann possessed of the highest tier of éclat
STRANGE STARS
33

3-7 Densely-Populated Stanford Ring, 1d6 x 3,000 inhab-
HABITAT GENERATION itants
8-10 Underpopulated Bishop Ring, 1d6 x 1 million inhabit-
ants
HABITAT GENERATION SUMMARY
11 Bernal Sphere, 2d6 x 2,000 inhabitants
1. Roll or Choose Habitat Shape; Determine Size and Population 12 Bishop Ring, 1d4+1 x 10 million inhabitants
2. Roll or Choose Interior Bioclime and Urbanization Cylinder
3. Roll or Choose Tech Level
4. Choose Habitat Tags Enclosed cylinders provide the maximum habitable internal
surface area for their size. They are spun along their long axis
1: HABITAT SHAPE to generate artificial gravity. The O’Neil Cylinder design is the
largest (8 km in diameter and as long as 32 km) and most com-
Roll 2d6 mon of cylindrical habitats. The Lewis and Kalpana Cylinders are
smaller (radius only 250 m) and are found either in backwater or
2 Sphere highly Balkanized systems. The McKendree Cylinder uses nano-
3-4 Torus/Ring tubes rather than more traditional elements in its construction
and is the largest of the cylindrical habitats (radius 460 km and a
5-9 Cylinders
length of 4,600 km) but otherwise resembles an O’Neil Cylinder.
10-11 Asteroid
12 Exotic
Cylinder Size and Population
Sphere
2 Underpopulated Stanford Ring, 1d6 x 1,000 inhabit-
A spherical shell is the optimum shape for containing air pres- ants
sure and mass efficiency for radiation shielding.There are two 3-6 Densely-Populated Stanford Ring, 1d6 x 3,000 inhab-
standard sizes of sphere habitats in Strange Stars: the larger itants
Bernal Sphere and the compact O’Neil Sphere. Due to their 7-8 Underpopulated Bishop Ring, 1d6 x 1 million inhabit-
shape, they only have spin gravity along their equator, but this ants
allows zero-g space ports at the poles. O’Neil Spheres have a di- 9 Bernal Sphere, 2d6 x 2,000 inhabitants
ameter of around 500 meters and are more densely populated 10 Bishop Ring, 1d4+1 x 10 million inhabitants
compared to the larger Bernal Sphere with a diameter of per-
11 Underpopulated McKendree Cylinder, 2d100 x 10 mil-
haps 16 kilometers.
lion inhabitants
12 McKendree Cylinder 2d20 x 1 billion inhabitants
Sphere Size and Population
Asteroids
2 O’Neil Sphere, 2d6 x 1,000 inhabitants
3-4 Densely-Populated O’Neil Sphere, 2d6 x 2,000 inhabit- Unlike the more standard manufactured habitats, asteroid
ants habitats vary greatly in size. Most designs do not allow for the
5-9 Underpopulated Bernal Sphere, 1d6 x 1,000 inhabit- generation of spin gravity and are zero-g environments. Some
ants ancient stations will have artificial gravity generated by other
means. Hollow cylinders have been cored and reshaped to a de-
10-11 Bernal Sphere, 2d6 x 2,000 inhabitants gree by heating. Warrens are more natural asteroid forms that
12 Densely-Populated Bernal Sphere, 3d6 x 2,000 inhab- have been burrowed into to create habitable areas.
itants
Populations will depend on the size of the asteroid. On the chart
Torus/Ring below, “underpopulated” can also be used for smaller (but still
colonizable) asteroids and “densely populated” could represent
Like the sphere, torus or ring-shaped habitats come in two basic one approach a dwarf planet in size.
forms. The classic, “space wheel” Stanford Torus is completely
enclosed and much smaller than the more-resource intensive
(and thus less common) Bishop Ring. Due to their size (approxi- Asteroid Size and Population
mately 1,000 km in radius with a width of 500 kim), Bishop rings
do not need to be fully enclosed and retain atmosphere with a 2-3 Underpopulated Hollow Cylinder, 2d6 x 2,000 inhabit-
combination of their spin and their 200 kilometer tall retention ants
walls. 4-6 Hollow Cylinder, 2d6 x 20,000 inhabitants
7 Densely-Populated, Hollow Cylinder 1d6 x 2 million in-
Torus/Ring Size and Population habitants
8 Underpopulated Warren, 2d6 x 1,000 inhabitants
2 Underpopulated Stanford Ring, 1d6 x 1,000 inhabit- 9-10 Warren, 2d6 x 10,000 inhabitants
ants 11-12 Densely-Populated Warren, 1d4 x 1 million inhabitants
STRANGE STARS
34

Exotic 3-4 Multiple Bioclimes (1d3 Bioclimes), Light/Concentrat-
ed Urbanization
Some habitat types are nonstandard. 5-6 Natural Single Bioclime, Light Density Urbanization
7-10 Parklands/Farmlands and Low to Medium Density Ur-
Exotic Habitats banization
11-12 Highly Urban, Light to No Park/Agriculture
2-3 Archaic Station
4 Bioform Modifiers:
5-6 Vessel Underpopulated Habitat -3
Densely-Populated Habitat +3
7-10 Beaded Habitat
11 Megastructure
12 Other Natural Bioclimes Subchart
Archaic Station: Built during the latter times of the Archaic Oi- 2 Silicate Forest
kumene, these stations have true artificial gravity (not just spin 3 Alkali Salt Flats
gravity) and take a myriad of forms, like the Wheel in the For- 4 Macrofungal Bog
tuna system that resembles a gigantic roulette wheel. Archaic 5 Mesas and Canyonlands
Stations may have superficial similarities to any of the above
6 Wetlands
station types.
7 Grassland Prairie/Steppe
Beaded Habitat: Smaller habitats strung together like beads 8 Boreal Forest
on a string (though they need not be spherical). These are typi- 9 Terran Forest
cally zero-g. 10 Rainforest
11 Freshwater Lake (islands present 9+ on 2d6)
Bioform: A generally small habitat either on the surface or inte- 12 Saltwater Sea (islands present 7+ on 2d6)
rior of a biological (or partially biologic) entity. Sometimes the 13 Rhizomatic Forestlands
bioform will have been expressly engineered for this purpose,
14 Exotic Liquid Lake (islands present 9+ on 2d6)
other times it has been adapted to it.
15 Razorvine Tangles
Megastructure: Whether built by aliens or by the early Archaic 16 Single Megaorganism
Oikumene (or even earlier cultures) these rare habitats dwarf
4: HABITAT TAGS
conventional structures. Circus is a ring megastructure.
Use the tags as described above for worlds.
Vessel: Some small communities make their home in repur-
posed vessels. Most of these makeshift habitats are station-
ary, though a few may circulate on long cycles. They differ from
ships in that they don’t typically have destinations or signifi- NEW STRANGE STARS WORLD TAGS
cantly alterable courses.
Archive: A great storehouse of information can be found
Other: Something else unusual. on this world, either curated by the current civilization or
left sealed by an ancient one.
2: TECH LEVEL
Banking Center: This world has become a center for the
Roll 2d6 financial industry.
2-3 Tech 3 Chauvinism: On some worlds particular genders or so-

4-8 Tech 4 phont types are viewed with contempt.
9-12 Tech 5
Luddite World: Some worlds fear the threat of societal
Modifiers:
change brought on by certain technologies and have cho-
-2 Underpopulated
+2 Densely-Populated sen to limit or forbid them.
3: INTERIOR BIOCLIME AND URBANIZATION Ruins: This world has significant ruins present from
some ancient civilization, perhaps even an unknown one
Roll 2d6
Strange Tech: Some isolated civilizations develop very
2 Wilderness Heavy (1d6 Bioclimes), Low to Non-Exis- unusual uses or relationships with their technology.
tent Habitation
STRANGE STARS
35


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Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

ARMCHAIR PLANET & THE HYDRA COOPERATIVE PRESENT

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

clade: A group of organisms derived from a common ancestor or ancestral template.

infosophont: An intelligent entity comprised of information; a sophont AI.

moravec: A general term for self-replicating, sophont robots.

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Physical Characteristics: Blesh are vaguely insectoid, bipedal

Names: Atozans have a lineage designator consisting of a let-

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Attributes: Minimum Constitution of 11. Attributes: Minimum Constitution of 9.

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Attributes: Minimum strength of 12. Backgrounds: Adventurer, Astrogator’s Mate, Researcher,

Physical Characteristics: Ibglibdishpan are biologic humanoids KOSMONIK

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Attributes: Standard. Psychological Characteristics: Taciturn, but relatively tolerant

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Classes: Any. Attributes: Standard.

Attributes: Standard. VIRID

Special: Physical Characteristics: Yantrans are attractive, lithe humans

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Everyone uses computers without even thinking about it, but

Zuran Expanse: Atozan, Kosmonik, Ngghrya, Sister of Journalist

Skills: Culture/Any, Perception, Persuade, and one other skill.

Data Prospector Even In an age of nanopsychotherapy, the “sophont touch” is

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

The length of the connections on the Regional Map on SSGSB

Hyperspace Nodes that have multiple connections may only

Stars Without Number’s Spike drive FTL is a very different sys-

In Strange Stars, since the level of technology was higher in

Gravity generators and inertial suppressors are only two of the

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Harder than Average

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

In brief: A wilderness with dangers lurking on often inhospi-

Good for: Survival adventure, encounters with monsters in des-

Good For: Espionage, special-ops missions, border patrol, law

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

SETUPS (ROLL D6): 1. A proprietary genetic code

1. THE CHALLENGE TABLE C

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

1. The Pharesmid Syndicate 1. A shipment of Minga slaves

1. Across an Interzone favela 1. Responding to a distress call

1. Irate smugglers 1. A dangerous xenospecies

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

CALIBAN No. Appearing: 3-12

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

No. Appearing: 1-4 No. Appearing: 1-4

Humza Kazmi (Order #12363751)

SSRAAD, BLUE SSRAAD, RED