A Quest for the Ancients

Ancients
The name given to a race of intelligent, alien beings who inhabited various locations in this portion of the galaxy approximately -300 000. Archeological evidence recovered from excavations of the few known Ancient cities indicates that the race destroyed itself during a 2000 year conflict known as the Final War, which left only ruined cities and shattered planets.
The Ancients were responsible for several major features within the region now occupied by the Imperium. Their warfare resulted in the large proportion of asteroid belts throughout this spiral arm. There is evidence that they created the multiworld rosette at Tireen (in the Vargr Extents). Scattered empty cities (most severely damaged by war) stand as evidence of their conflict; most, however, are under investigation by the Imperium and are not open to the public.

The Ancients are generally accepted as responsible for the dissemination of Humaniti within its current domain when they transplanted genetic stock from Terra to at least forty worlds across a span of some 360 parsecs. Similarly they were also responsible for the creation of the Vargr through the genetic manipulation of carnivore/chaser animals. Apparently they used Terran canine stock acquired at the same time as Humaniti. See also Antiquity, Humaniti, Solomani Hypothesis, Vargr.
 

Spinward Marches
The Imperium's farthest frontier sector, containing 437 star systems divided along a coreward to rimward line by the Imperial border. The region is dominated by two major powers: the Imperial Spinward Marches sector and the frontier provinces of the Zhodani Consulate. In the independent territory between the two powers lie three small states: the Federation of Arden, the Sword Worlds Confederation, and the Darrian Confederation. Each follows its own diplomatic line designed to maintain independence from both the Zhodani and the Imperium.

The Spinward Marches has been settled since the 400s and is still a frontier sector. High-tech worlds are scattered among empty, fallow worlds; there is potential for exploration, exploitation, and development for centuries to come.
 

GDW before their closing produced a number of adventures and articles on the Ancients.  The following should be used to prepare for this campaign and also during the campaign.  If you do not have copies of these booklets, look around.  You never know what you may find on the back shelf of an old gaming store...

Traveller Adventure 12, Alien Module - The Droyne, Traveller Adventure 1, Traveller Adventure 3, Double Adventure 1.  The Journal of the Traveller's Aid Society also had a number of articles.
 
 

The Hook
 

Everyone loves an adventure and no adventure is repleat without a treasure map.  At some point during the play, the referee should introduce the map to the players.  This map outwardly appears to be some sort of stellar map and is inscribed on some sort of light yet highly resistant metal.  The map itself may be found at some Ancient site or may be introduced by a patron or through a dealer in Ancient artifacts.

With quite a bit of analysis (Computer, Navigation), th eplayers will be able to determine that the stellar map shows a planar view of a piece of the Spinward Marches surrounding the system Algine.  Other Ancient sites are also marked on the map (Shionty, Yorbund, Patinir, Knorbes).  A system layout for Algine is also given at the bottom of the map.   Another map may be found that links to other systems in the Spinward marches area.  This map may also be on the back of the first map if so desired. (Guides to the maps will be supplied soon...)
 

As the players move about the Spinward marches they may come across information that may help or hinder.  The following chart may be used.
 
 

DMs - Horizontal (Scout +1, navy -1, Miner +1), Vertical (Noble +1, Streetwise -1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 1 G H I J K L 2 O A A B B N 3 Q A D D B S 4 X C F F E W 5 Y C C E E V 6 U M P R T Z

 

• A - Octogon Society contact
• B - IGS interdicting worlds of low tech and those with possible Ancient sites
• C - Shattered systems the result of Ancient warfare
• D - two types of Ancient sites found so far - Habitation and military.  No industry
• E - Standard Ancient Library info
• F - Museums at Glisten, Regina and Lanth looking for artifacts to purchase
• G - Old intelligence officer - the Zhodani are pouring mega-gredits into Ancient research at Querion
• H - Group is turned in to the IGS/Navy as black market artifact smugglers
• I - Pirates give coordinates for ancient site in attempt to hijack ship
• J - Computer expert remembers doing a run on artifact statistics from a site that is nearby
• K - Drunken individual (miner) recalls being hired to help "dig" a site.  Artifacts taken to Glisten
• L - Ex-navy NCO recalls a border squirmish with Zhodani over an Ancient site in the Querion subsector (Give rumor S next on a roll of 3 or better)
• M - Group meets a museum rep from the closest system (See F) and attempts to work a contract
• N - Groups happens upon a bookstore and finds an old archaeological survey report from year 948 about an initial survey on Melior
• O - Black markey dealer will sell a map of all ancient sites in Querion and Chronor subsectors
• P - Group meets a scientist who talks about the link between durium and Ancient sites
• Q - for some reason person thinks you are asking about interdicted worlds and goes silent
• R - person talks about the Solomani hypothesus
• S - old scout will sell fake info about an unexcavated Ancient site on Anselhome
• T - group meets a linguist - info on Droyne and old-Galactic.  Person worked on a collection from Knorbes . (can help with Map)
• U - Scientist recalls tale of an Ancient ship being found.  High tech drives...
• V - Person turns in group as smugglers
• W - Scout recalls ship being shot down over Penkwhar.  Could not find the base.
• X - Group is led to an old miner from tarkine who believes he once viewed an Ancient site there.  Looked like an industrial site (durium mine)
• Y - group meets a scholar who believes in not one but two Ancient groups and will pay for information supporting theory
• Z - Old blind scout recalls being shot down over Arachan (not sure of location).  Found an old base and was able to repair ship.
 

• Canard (Winsor)/Glisten
• Fulacin/Rhylanor
• Knorbes/Regina
• 494-908/Darrian
• Faisal/Querion
• Plaven/Chronor
• Andor/5 Sisters
• Algine/Regina

• Wardn/Lunion
• Gunn/Sword Worlds
• Nirton/D268
• Tarkine/D268
• Pavabid/D268
• Candory/5 Sisters
• Rorre/Darrian
• 886-945/Darrian
• Torment/Darrian
• Winston/Querrion
• Mithril/Sword Worlds

• Victoria/Lanth
• Shionty/Regina
• Fulacin/Rhylanor
• Algine/Regina
• Yorbund/Regina
• Mithril/Sword Worlds
• Knorbes/Regina
• Kinorb/Regina
• Yori/Regina
• Beck's World/Regina
• Boughene/Regina
• Efate/Regina
• Pixie/Regina
• Inthe/Regina

Algine 

Algine is an interdicted system and is monitored via a series of tracking satellites.  The IISS override code to the satellite network is :::IISS:::YF553967M and the reset code is IP36Q75c.  The system is composed of six planets and an asteroid belt.  The following is a breakdown of the planets in the system.
1. Algine Alpha - Basically a small ball of rock.
2. Algine Beta - A larger piece of rock.  three moons orbit the planet.
3. Algine Gamma - Algine's mainworld (X766977-4).  The planet is 11,266 KM in diameter with a circumference of 35,393 KM. Its planetary rotation is 19 Imperial Hours and its year is 325 Days.  Two moons circle the planet.
4. Algine Delta - Now an asteroid belt.
5. Algine Epsilon - Gas Giant.  Six moons circle the giant.  A system beacon will lead ships to the giant and will warn of straying inside the asteroid belt.
6. Algine Zeta - A small planet composed of rock and ice.  Some mineral deposits.  5 moons circle the planet.
7. Algine Eta - A planetoid made up primarily of nicklet-iron and some rock.
Two sets of sentient beings inhabit this planet and are currently at war with each other.  The Imperial Scout Service is studying the two cultures.  No current plans are in the works to make formal contact.  The races include a Solomani remnant (lost all track of where they came from) and a native race called the Sxiavar.  This race evolved from hunter stock.  They are warm blooded, scaly skinned bipedals.  They are commonly called lizard people by the humans.

The mainworld has three prominent land masses.  The planet profile on the stellar map does not exactly match the current land mass configuration.  During the Ancient battles things changed a bit because of a planetary bombardment.  Two of the land masses are inhabited while the third (most southerly) is not.  The humans co-exist on the central landmass (largest) in the northeasterly portions of the continent.  Two Ancient sites are marked on the map as 1 & 2.  #1 is the site with the most promise.  Equipment and a working Ancient fighter may be found here.  Site #2 is a planetary defense site that is still semi-functional.  The beam weapons may charge up to fire on and damage any ships passing nearby.