Kyudoka Shuukai (Archers Cluster)

Overview

The Kyūdōka Shuukai is located at the end of the Nankaidō (Southern Road) leading from the Dai Torii Terminus to the Looking Glass II gate.

Astronomically speaking, the Kyūdōka is a III2mn Open Cluster That is to say, it is fairly dispersed, reasonably bright, consisting of a moderate amount of stars with nebulosity present. The Kyūdōka is 450ly across with a core 15ly across. Stellar density ranges between .75 and .05 stars per cubic light year; (depending on distance from the core).

Geographically speaking, the LGII Gate, or, Kyūdōka Torii (Archers Gate), is 17,423ly from Ōkami and is located on the coreward outskirts of the clusters ‘arctic circle’. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 57 stars within a 100ly radius, of which 8 have planets able to sustain life.

Chronologically speaking, the Kyūdōka is relatively young, with the youngest star only a few billion years old.


Shuukai Worlds

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Shuukaidō

Planetary Capitol: Daihonjin

Regional Capitol of Ōkami Shogunate within the Kyūdōka Shuukai. According to the Settler ruins present, the ancient name of this place was Irikass, and was a commerce hub before it became a military outpost. It is ironic that, for the Shogunate, the situation is reversed. Shuukaidō must be a military outpost and secure the surrounding area before it can ever hope to become a commerce hub. Both ruins and terrain bear the scars of incredible devastation, but the planets flora and fauna have returned and flourished in the more then 25,000 years since the war that forced its abandonment. This world is the closest to the Kyūdōka Torii, which, upon discovery, listed in space at the very edge of the system. Now, restored, the Torii orbits Shuukaidō as a man made moon, sharing the sky with Shuukaidō's two natural satellites.

  • Shuukaiko: The larger of Shuukaido's natural satellites, a terrestrial moon that supports an atmosphere and spare biosphere. Water is present and much of the world is covered in rocky deserts and hills, but has plain's regions that can support vegetation.
  • Raikoukaze: The smaller of the terrestrial satellites. This moon has a dense core creating a stronger then normal gravity for a body it's size. It has a trace atmosphere but is beset by electromagnetic storms and the surface plays host to the crashed remains of ancient star ships.
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ShinGinza Mall

Samuisuna

The Shuukai system holds three worlds, Shuukaido, Takigi, a large gas giant, and Samuisuna. Samuisuna is a terrestrial world a bit on the cool side with high mountains, and arid badlands of red and orange rock. A few small cities and one larger planetary center support her occupants as terreforming operations work to boost it's atmosphere. A large fleet anchorage acts as regional headquarters for the OSN's 14th Fleet.

Honato

This world is an oddity in the region. Unlike Shuukaido and the worlds of the Three Sisters, Honato is teeming with sentient humanoid life that has reached a unique blend of renaissance and industrial era technological and architectural development. Probes and stealth teams landed on the surface and placed in orbit have been able to identify three primary factions alongside a half dozen smaller nations. Most surprising is the fact that the inhabitants seem to be human. Why this is, is currently under investigation but artifacts found in orbit and at sites upon Honato’s moons suggest that the inhabitants are not native to this world. A picket fleet has been placed in the system to both provide support to the teams investigating this world, as well as to act as a tripwire and QRF against any Doakraxathi incursions.


The Three Sisters

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Owari

Planetary Capitol: Shinagoya

Named after the home province of Oda Nobunaga, this world’s predominant type of landscape mimics that of old Earth’s Owari Province in Japan with large tracts of flatland suitable for farming broken up by rivers, verdant forests, and the occasional low mountain range and dormant volcano. This pastoral paradise masks a tragedy. The flatlands lush foliage and nutrient rich soil is because of the large concentrations of volcanic ash and ancient lava flows heavy in phosphorous and potassium. While the exact cause of such widespread and seemingly synchronized volcanism can only be speculated at, the fact that the world’s plate system is steady and the volcanoes that have been located are dormant, allude to a planet wide event that essentially liquefied the crust enough to allow geologic homeostasis upon cooling.

Colonization was swift as Owari was seen as the perfect candidate as the 'Breadbasket of the Shuukai'. Massive farms were constructed to take advantage of the fertile soil. Land was easily acquired by individuals and small collectives upon which to establish homesteads and work the land. A series of canals were constructed along the five major rivers that flowed through the largest continent in order to link the farms, and larger machi (towns) and mura (villages) with the capitol and the Tsuruga Harborage a vast sea and space port built within an over large natural lagoon.

Due the unique properties of the flatlands, areas were found that held vast mineral wealth very close, if not upon the surface and collection operations were set up to reap the geological harvest. Since most of the deposits were so close to the surface deep core mines and the like were unnecessary and harvester like vehicles were designed to ply the mineral fields. A series of foundries and forges were built to process the ore for use in developing the colony first, and export to the rest of the Shogunate second. Of the foundries the Sato Forge is the largest and best established. Much of these facilities would be damaged of not outright destroyed when the Yokai invaded but some escaped harm, and in some cases notice, as the Yokai focused on population centers for slaves and food.

With the Yokai thrown off the world in 2156 the colony set about rebuilding and in commemoration of the souls lost in the conflict the Sumimachi-ji shrine was erected and it plays host to vast and well manicured grounds that hold numerous haka (graves). It is a sprawling and ornate place of serenity and beauty. Upon the various battle grounds, no matter how far removed from civilization, and, even those within cities have battle memorials that list the names of the dead as well as their brave deeds.

Aichi

Planetary Capitol: Ōmachi

Aichi is a multi terrain world with deserts, jungles, pine and broadleaf forests. The central settlement of Ōmi is in a jungle region which looks much like the natural terrain of Belize. Due to the nature of Ōkami colonization, a resource has to have incredible value, and or, rarity to warrant the relocation of men and material to extract it. Aichi’s valuable resources are titanium, agrocite, and medicinal herbs. Less critical resources, discovered by the colonists in the course of development, are various unique spices, succulents and grains, as well as potent hybrids of more mundane fauna due to Aichi’s unique soil properties. This has fostered a robust brewing, cocoa, and plantation industry. The rivers of Aichi also harbor a cornucopia of fish and other aquatic life suitable for humanoid consumption. Aichi is also the home-world to the Kagazaki Han, an upcoming Clan with a troubled past.

Akimori

Planetary Capitol: Shinakō

Akimori as a colony is actually settled upon a terrestrial life bearing moon orbiting an inhospitable lava world; Kuraimori. The moon of Akimori has a diverse biosphere with a 75% to 25% split between land and water, with her bodies of water being oversized lakes rather than bona fide oceans. Akimori’s biosphere is diverse yet unremarkable, however, it is Kuraimori that has brought settlers to this place. Upon her smoldering and molten surface are deposits of rare crystals and ore brought to the surface by unceasing magma flow. Extraction facilities use antigravity generators to hover over the surface and pull the geologic bounty directly from the swirling lava, while fixed stations on ‘land’ extract from rivers of lava as well as the coasts of lava seas. There are no permanent settlements on the surface of Kuraimori; any people found there are transitory workers manning the stations much like offshore oil rig workers of old Earth.


Ni-Tenshukaku

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Kuyurasu

Planetary Capitol: Harishiro

Kuyurasu is a world originally held by the Doaxraxathi. Over the course of a year the planet was cleared of it's Yokai infestation. Over 450,000 slaves were rescued or secured in commando operations prior to the orbital bombardment of all Yokai settlements and ships on the ground. What few Yokai ships that fled the bloodbath were allowed to, so that they might spread word of what transpired. Kuyurasu gets it's Shogunal name, 'Smoke' for the near constant smoke plumes created by the Shogunates ongoing process of burning away the deeply embedded taint brought about from the prolonged Yokai presence. The 'Twin Keep' facilities are located in either areas that had escaped the taint or in areas freshly purged so as to help along the terraforming process. A myriad of science observatories and missions are also present to study the effects of the taint, the effects of regional low grade 'non-nuclear winter' brought on by the clouds of smoke as well as environmental studies centered on the restoration of the areas cleansed by fire.
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Harishiro at dawn

Notable Locations


Crimson Nebula:

An area 35 light years across consisting of energetic gasses and particles that emit varying hues of red light in the visible spectrum; the turbulent and radioactive nature of the excited particles make transit dangerous, if not impossible, within this area of space.

Yokai Mizuki / Daihorikawa:

The 'Demon Moat' and 'Grand Canal' respectively. This structure of a sort constitutes the far frontier of the area claimed by the Shogunate in the Shuukai. The 'Moat' consists of six primary layers.

  • Layer 1: Ni-Tenshukaku: The 'Twin Keeps'. These are a pair of terrestrial worlds within 10 light-years of one another that serve as the logistics and supply base for the entire 'structure'. Upon these worlds, and within their respective solar systems, reside a myriad of military bases, ship yards, resource extraction and food production facilities.
  • Layer 2: Horo-Yagura: The Nyx Array. This is the heart of the structure. A massive space station that houses, maintained, and if needs be builds the almost 2,500 individual Nyx Array stations. No less then 200 are on 'Hot Stand-by' with their escorts, crews and fold drives at the ready.
  • Layer 3: Kagami-Ni: Array Control Station: It is here that a massive hyperspace fold detection array maintains constant vigil over the surrounding space, ever watchful for fold incursions into Shogunate space. With a range of 5 Kiloparsecs (16,000+ Light-years) the entirety of the Shuukai can be monitored. If an incursion course is detected then a series of Nyx stations are deployed to intercept.
  • Layer 4: Taihosama: Defense Forts: These are massive floating battle-stations that guard the Ni-Tenshukaku, Horo-Yagura and the Kagami-Ni as well as the Nimaru Terminus. The Shuukai side forts serve as the start point of the Grand Canal.
  • Layer 5: Nimaru Terminus: Ten light years from the Twin Keeps, located at the midway point between the Ni-Tenshukaku and the Soguruwa is a large tradeport which will serve as the entry checkpoint to the Shuukai. All traffic that is not hostile will be directed to Nimaru and from there to be screened and vetted.
  • Layer 6: Soguruwa: Outer Keep: The end point of the Grand Canal heading Beyond The Vail, or, the start point if entering the Shuukai. This is the last point that Shogunal vessels have to provision and rest and the initial security checkpoint one must pass for BTV shipping before being allowed passage on to the Terminus.

These facilities in concert effectively create a 'Moat' of Doakraxathi worlds and controlled space using them as a deterrent for others seeking unfettered sub-light access into the Shuukai with the only reliable corridor through Yokai territory controlled and defended by the Shogunal Navy.


Flora & Fauna


Neo Boar

A foul tempered and territorial porcine native to Aichi with variant but related species on other Shuukaido worlds suggesting transplantation in the distant past.
Size Temperment REF
6 Agressive (7) 5
MA Abilities Damage
6 Camoflauge / Infectious 2D6
Hits SP Attack
20 3 1D10+12

Swoop Hawk

A cunning avian that makes it's nest in the canopies of large tree, usually no lower then 100ft off the ground to avoid predators. Armed with sharp talons and beaks, these birds have yet to develop a fear of humanoids although loud noises will startle and scatter them.
Size Temperment REF
4 Active (6) 5
MA Abilities Damage
4 Flying / Keen Senses 1D6
Hits SP Attack
10 0 1D10+11

Flash Wyrm

An oddity, essentially a flying electric eel up to 1 foot to 30 feet in length, depending on variety. These graceful creatues swim thru the air and can emit a charge of electricty to stun it's prey, or to escape a predator. Some can be domesticated, but only if rasied straight from the egg.
Size Temperment REF
2 to 6 Active (6) 6
MA Abilities Damage
5 Flying / Electricity 1D6/3 to 2D6
Hits SP Attack
3 to 20 0 to 3 1D10+12

Dune Leviathan

A beast who's existance has only been hinted at by the sun bleached and sand blasted remains found in the deserts of Aichi. The remains suggest a massive creature upwards of 75 feet long that looks like a twin finned shark with massive clawed paddle flippers. Boney growths along the skull and sides suggest heavy natural armor.
Size Temperment REF
9 Very Dangerous (9) 6
MA Abilities Damage
4 Armored / Burrowing 5D6
Hits SP Attack
35 22 1D10+15

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Notable People

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