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Planetary Footnotes: |
Kraatar is a small, mountainous world first settled by Human colonists from White Light 200 years ago. The planet lies in a close orbit to the star Tristkar and has a thin atmosphere. Water covers only 20% of the planet and there is very little cloud cover. Being near the inner edge of the system's life zone, Kraatar recieves large amounts of stellar radiation and temperatures at the equator range from ) to 60 degrees C. As a result, deserts occupy most of the equatorial zone of the planet. The majority of Kraatar is covered by high altitude deserts and jagged mountain ranges rising up to heights of 10,000 meters. Tha atmosphere in the moutains is too thin to breathe without the aid of breathing apparatus, but numerous "flatlands" exist around the planet, many of which are below sea level. These areas are very fertile and more importatly, the atmosphere here is sufficiently dense to allow Frontier races to breathe without assistance. However the air is not as dense as most Frontier citizens are used to and anyone attempting any strenuous activity (e.g. running, climbing or fighting) will lose 1 point of Stamina every 10 minutes. When Stamina reaches zero the subject will fall unconscious for 1d10+10 turns. For each turn of rest, characters regain 1 point of Stamina, although Stamina lost through wounds, poisons etc must be recovered in the normal way. Natives of Kraatar are not subject to these effects, but they cannot function in the mountains without breathing apparatus, where unprotected characters lose 1 point of Stamina per turn until dead. |
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Kraatar History: |
The first human colonsists landed at Gozzorf, on the shores of the Yatiz Sea. Soon small communities were established here, at Quazzt's Depression and in the other flatlands. Searches were made in the planet's mountains for heavy metals, but no rich deposits were ever found, and only a few iron and copper mines were established. Isolated in their communities many of the colonists took to a quiet life, tilling the land for crops and herding a few imported animals. As the years passed, the colonists lost many of their technological skills, and as machinery wore out, they were unable to replace it. Gradually they were reduced to a simple, self-sufficient existence where high technology was a thing of the past Enter the Vrusk Few ships visited Kraatar until 80 years ago, when a Vrusk trade ship landed at Gozzorf. After a hesitant meeting, the two races struck up a rapport and the Vrusk traded technological hardware for agricultural produce. The Vrusk soon left Kraatar, only to return later with more machinery to trade with the Humans. Equipped with the latest in farm machinery, the Humans were able to increase production, and buy more Vrusk goods. Soon more Vrusk ships arrived at Kraatar. Many came to trade, but others brought settlers and with them Vrusk trade houses eager for new markets. The trade houses began to establish manufacturing plants and to conduct comprehensive surveys of the planet. This research revealed that Kraatar's deserts could provide an ideal source of silicon for computing manufacture, as well as producing some of the most beautiful glass ever seen by Vrusk. If cut and polished, the glass scintillates and sparkles with all the colours of the rainbow. Soon Kraatar glassware was sought by Vrusk art lovers all over the Frontier, and rapidly became one of Kraatar's major exports. At the same time, the two seas were discovered to be rich in mineral deposits. As news of these finds spread, more Vrusk trade houses came to Kraatar to exploit its new found wealth. In the early years these, both races benefitted from these developments. The Humans were supplied with much needed technology, and the Vrusk had markets both on and off planet with which to enrich themselves. The Vrusk trade houses established hospitals and a university at Gozzorf. They discovered the remains of the original Human settler's ship, and set about restoring it. It would never fly again, but it was lovingly rebuilt by the Vrusk with a museum around it to honour the Humans on Kraatar and to display Vrusk art collections. |
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Corporate Footprint |
The Commercial Council The group of Vrusk executives who form the Commercial Council are currently monitoring the situation, hoping for a return to harmony and a stabilisation of life on Kraatar. The situation is very tense. Many Vrusk do not wish it to get any worse and hope that harmony will restore itself. Vist'Lat trade house is, however, intent of exacerbating the situation by cutting the wages of it's human workers and by economically squeezing out other Vrusk trade houses. All trade houses have increased their level of security and Ral'Il'Ka (the trade house specialising in security) is doing booming business. Acting under Vist'Lat instructions, Ral'Ik'Ka has even carried out reprisals against some farms believed to harbour KLC members. Major Trade Houses With the exception of Vist'Lat, the various Vrusk trade houses on Kraatar all have a specific area of interest.
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(AB) - metal extraction and refinement.
(CA) - glass manufacture and export.
(GGS) - electronics and computer manufacture.
(RIK) - security and police functions. RIK personnel are contracted by the Commercial Council to acts as Kraatar's police force. They are also hired by individual trade houses as security forces against terrorist attacks. With the recent increase in KLC activity, bisiness for RIK is booming.
(ST) Controls all transport services on Kraatar including the monorail and the hire or sale of ground vehilces. ST used to wn the starport but 6 months ago, it was bought by Vist'Lat.
(VL) Main company involved in finance and off-world trading. VL is expanding, and has recently bought the starport from Sik'Triksta.Star Frontiers (tm), the setting, and any published material and images from the rules are all copyrights and trademarks of TSR, Inc., and appear here only for private informational and/or educational purposes. All other materials are the property of their authors.