Rastan Empire Campaign--History Page

Rastan Drawing From The Making of Deep Space 9*

Origins The Rastan Race was seeded by the Ancients onto the homeworld Rast, a very dense planet, using a gene splice of human and simian stock. The resultant strains produced strong, bulky humanoids able to withstand heavy gravity conditions. Rastans may grow up to 8 feet in height, and weight up to 240 kg or 500 lbs in adulthood, though the common height is 6 to 7 feet. They are immensely strong and durable, and are fiercely loyal to their own race. In appearance, Rastans are relatively hairless compared to Terran simians, but their facial features bear a strong resemblance to these alien animals. Their skeletal structures appear somewhere in between purely human and purely simian, except for their arms, which are not overly long (their knuckles definitely do NOT drag on the ground!)

History & Politics Rastans settled upon a rich form of aristocracy, who have traditionally been benevolent dictators with a high moral code of ethics. All Rastans are granted citizenship at birth, and can only have it suspended if convicted of criminal offenses for the duration of their sentences.

Rastans became exceptionally adept at mining and agriculture, where their extraordinary size and strength proved to be enormously helpful. They were such fierce fighters that wars soon became banned as a matter of racial preservation. They have by and large resisted the lure of wealth in exchange for mercenary service for foreign races, though some rogue elements have left the Empire to serve as soldiers rather than face court.

Technology & Social Customs Rastans also became adept at mechanics and electronics, though it is unclear how much of these technologies were self-discovered and which were imported from other races. For example, Rastans claim to have developed their own jump-drives systems, yet the almost exact duplication of Zhodani technology make this unlikely.

Initially, Rastan space exploration and travel, like most other races, came at great financial and resources expense. Their first craft were quite small, meaning that movement in cramped conditions, if not carefully curtailed, could result in damage to sensitive equipment or serious injury to other crew due to their great strength. Therefore, a code of physical conduct became essential.

So necessary to their economic growth and social well-being did space travel become, that this code of physical restraint became law and custom throughout all Rastan space and their satellite planets. All unnecessary gestures, hand signals and general expressive movement were carefully catalogued, given singular insulting connotations, and strictly banned, except for twice a year at special celebrations called The Freeing Festivals, and even then only planet-side. During each of these week-long festivals, free movement and expression was not only permitted, but encouraged. Outlandish physical expressions are then common, though most restrict themselves to the less insulting or rudely connotated gestures, and no offense is taken during this time. Non-verbal communication is strictly limited to facial expressions and a complex system of minute finger signals. A few Terran linguists have noted the similarity between Rastan finger signals and the much-vaunted "thieves' cant" of medieval Earth fame.

Off-worlders are often ostracized by Rastans when they use gestures which are harmless on their own home worlds, but are perceived as grossly insulting or denigrading by most Rastans. As a result, the Rastans have been fairly insular in its dealings with other races, preferring merely to transact business and leave the "crude aliens" to their filthy ways. Of course, a few space-hardened veterans have steeled themselves over the years against such offensive behaviour and take no notice of off-worlders' gestures.

General Data

The Rastan Empire currently pays tribute to its neighbors in exchange for free access to their trading ports and total local autonomy. It has mutual defense treaties in the event of alien invasion, pirate incursions and a host of other space-capable regimes' agreements. All spacefarer's are welcome in the green free travel zones, except for known pirate vessels.

Typical Rastan Guard Stats:

INT=7	REF=8	TECH=4	COOL=5	ATTR=3
LUCK=2	MA=3	BODY=14	EMP=5	LIFT=300/750KG (carry/dead lift)

Skills & Gear

AUTHORITY=4	PISTOL=4	RIFLE=5	MELEE/AXE=7	STR FEAT=14
L.ARMOR JACKET=14SP	HVY PISTOL=3d6	SHOTGUN=4D6	CMBT AXE=2D10+STR FEAT	COMM UNIT

Rastans are famous for their large combat axes. This is the weapon of choice for every true-blue Rastan, though others are carried for ranged combat. They are up to 2 metres in length and weigh up to 25kg. The average human would have difficulty carrying it for any length of time, much less trying to use it in combat. Yet Rastans bear these weapons with ease, and use them with devestating effect. These strength stats are common to most Rastans, even those who do not reach the 8ft in height stature. The average Rastan stands between 6-7 feet tall, and weighs between 140 and 240kg of sheer muscle. Other gear can be supplied as per "Fast & Dirty Expendibles" for use in special circumstances. More care can be taken for NPC's of Rastan extraction, like Nia Onow, the Hijacker Leader, shown next.

Rastan Hijacker Leader--Nia Onow--Stats:

INT=10	REF=3	TECH=8	COOL=8	ATTR=3
LUCK=3	MA=3	BODY=14	EMP=7	LIFT=300/750KG (carry/dead lift)

Nia Onow's Skills & Gear

SPEC. ABILITY: RESOURCES=8	STREETWISE=7	LEADERSHIP=6	ACCOUNTING=7	SYSTEM KNOW=7
FORGERY=8	PROGRAMMING=6	ED & GEN KNOW=9	METALURGY=8	STOCK MARKET=8
LAPTOP	ARMORED BRIEFCASE	KEVLAR SUIT	PEN/COM UNIT	AV6
MIRROR SHADES	WHITE NOISE GEN	CODE DECRIPTOR	CASH BELT	ROYAL PASSPORT

Nia Onow, daughter of an obscure Knight of the Realm and head of Rastan Independent Ores, runs a legitimate export business in precious metals. She buys ores and stones from independent prospectors and miners, and sells them on to wholesalers and private collectors off-world. She also conducts a thriving smuggling operation behind the scenes. She can use R.I.O.'s (Rastan Imperial Ores) packaging, as her company's name uses the same initials, making forging container manifests and customs declarations that much easier. Her father's social status, her own university degrees and her business acumen on both sides of the law have brought her considerable wealth in the corporate world and power in the Rastan underworld on Hermes and the neighboring system of Bobo (Subsector J, hex 808).

Rastan Independent Ores' Logo. Source unremembered. U.W.O.P. Thanks to all.

This character operates out of a large three-story warehouse in the southside of Hermes City en route to the Spaceport. One corner contains an office, restrooms and lunch area for the workers, the rest is open for stacking containers. Near the offices are the freight elevators and a metal staircase zig-zagging upward to each level. Outside there is a metal fire escape also leading to each level.

*Rastan drawing at top of page used without permission, from The Making of Deep Space Nine from Pocket Books. No copyright challenge intended, etc. Get the book, it's great!

Rastan Axe comes from SSDragon's web site, used with permission.

Go to the CP2020 to Traveller--Going Off-World page

Go to the Strasser Airship page

Go to the R.I.O. Mines Map Page

Go to the R.I.O. Mines Scenario

Go to the R.I.O. Mines Scenario Part 2

Go to the Voltarn stats page

Return to Stewart Wochen's page.

The Rastan Campaign is still under construction as of 07/Aug/99. Hopefully will be completed soon.

Strasser Airships by Chris Cox A.K.A. chriscox@ix.netcom.com
Copyright© 1996, 1997 by Lawrence C. Cox

Minor addition of optional Cargo version by Stewart Wochen, 1999, with permission by Chris Cox.

®1997. Traveller is a registered trademark of
FarFuture Enterprises. All rights reserved.