Travellers should carefully weigh the risks before entering any system held by the Reformed Dootchen Estates and in particular the high population world of Tralp. The Travellers’ Aid Society urges Imperial citizens to treat any Confederation world as an Amber Zone and has issued a specific advisory bulletin for the Estates due to its racial purity policies. Non-Human sophonts and non-Solomani Humans may be subject to harassment, detention, and even violence while within its borders. —The Savage Main: Dark Nebula and Magyar Sectors, 3rd Ed. Farstar Publishing (Marlheim: 1095).
Tralp (Magyar 1913 D968998-8). Pre-Rich, High Population. Member of the Reformed Dootchen Estates, a member-state of the Solomani Confederation.
One of the most polarizing worlds in all of Charted Space, Tralp is revered by its admirers and reviled by its critics in almost equal measure. The world is the cultural heart of the Reformed Dootchen Estates, one of the few remaining polities to openly engage in chattel slavery, a practice explicitly outlawed by Article VI of the Imperial Warrant of Restoration. Militaristic and expansionistic, Tralp is championed by racial purity factions of the Solomani Party while condemned as a pariah state by the Imperium.
System Data
The Tralp system is located in the Tralp Cluster, a small astrographic grouping of five stars located in Voyager (G) subsector of Magyar. The Cluster is located only a few parsecs from the Third Imperium, within the borders of the Solomani Confederation.
Primary Moderster. Spectral Class K5 V. Mass 0.65 M☉. Stellar Radius 0.715 R☉. 100 Diameter Limit 0.67 AU. Luminosity 0.17 L☉. Absolute Magnitude +6.65.
| Orbit | Name | UWP | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Moderster | K5 V | |
| 0 | Skroi | YBC1000-0 | Tz |
| 1 | Grood | FC55665-2 | Fa Ho Tz |
| 2 | Tralp | D968998-8 | Hi Pr |
| Aitan | F311665-9 | Sa | |
| 3 | Stort | Y9A5569-8 | Pe Co |
| 4 | Koe | Y000100-7 | |
| 5 | Roi | Size V LGG | |
| 6 | Gron | Size M SGG | |
| 7 | Gris | Size P IG | |
| 8 | Verwerld | H101331-7 | Fr |
| IS Form 11 | Star System Data | ||
In addition to the mainworld, the Tralp system features several notable secondary worlds. Grood is a hot, tidally-locked, high gravity farming world orbiting the primary at 0.25 AU. Tralp’s only moon, Aitan, has a Class F spaceport that actually sees more traffic than the primitive Class D downport on the mainworld surface. Stort is a cold, large world with a very thick nitrogen-helium atmosphere, orbiting at 0.77 AU. Tralp uses the world as a dreaded penal colony and Solomani Security is rumored to maintain a black site somewhere onworld.
Planetary Data
Mean Orbital Radius 64.3 million km (0.43 AU). Period 195 days. Rotation Period 35h 47m 24s. Axial Inclination 14° 51′ 66″. Diameter 14,011 km. Mass 1.41 M🜨. Density 5.9 g/cm3. Mean Surface Gravity 1.17g. Escape Velocity 12.722 km/s. Surface Atmospheric Pressure 1.19 atm. Composition standard oxygen-nitrogen. Hydrographic Percentage 84%. Mean Surface Temperature 21.56° C.
The Tralp mainworld is sometimes described as superhabitable: slightly older, larger, wetter, and warmer than Terra, the planet supports a vibrant native ecosystem that is broadly compatible with Terran life. Most of Tralp’s landmass is concentrated in a single supercontinent divided into four distinct subcontinents: Ooslin, Hartlan, and Weslin are generally located in the northern hemisphere, while Berglan is primarily located in the southern hemisphere. Two large islands in the southern hemisphere are often classed as small continents: Dane, located south of Osslin, and Laurika, located south of Weslin. The great, deep Gevarlik Ocean stretches from pole to pole and touches all six continents. The smaller, shallow Hawin Sea lies along the eastern coasts of Hartlan and Berglan and the western coasts of Ooslin and Dane.
All native life on Tralp is water-based, dominated by a diverse and abundant range of plant-like forms that occupy ecological niches similar to Terran plants. Most of these plants utilize a form of photosynthesis and are notable for the vibrant red and purple coloration of their leaves, which give Tralp its distinct appearance. The fertile plains of Hartlan have a variety of grasses, including the iconic savannas of tralpstalk. The equatorial canopy jungles of Dane and western Berglan teem with life.
Tralp has only one phylum of animal life, viervoetia, strange four limbed creatures most closely resembling the Terran starfish. They have hydrostatic skeletons and relatively simple anatomies; many utilize defensive neurotoxins and so are inedible to Terran life. The phylum has proven astonishingly adaptable, producing entire families of burrowers, crawlers, and swimmers. And while Tralp does not appear to have evolved any true fliers, some viervoetia are gliders, able to soar through forested areas.
| World Map Grid | |
| World Name (and UWP) Tralp D968998-8 | Subsector and Sector Location of World Voyager/Magyar |
| Date of Preparation 223-1102 | Hexagon Scale (km) 1,005 |
 | |
| IS Form 8-J | Size 9 World Map Grid |
History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| -2408 | The Interstellar Wars begin between Terra and the First Imperium. |
| -2348 | Terrans survey Tralp system. |
| -2323 | Terran Confederation émigrés establish a colony on Tralp. |
| -2219 | End of Interstellar Wars era and defeat of First Imperium. |
| -2204 | Military coup replaces Terran Confederation with the Rule of Man. |
| -2000 | Scattered Terran colonies now well-established throughout Magyar. |
| -1850 | Long Night begins in Magyar as contact is lost with Rule of Man capital. |
| -1700 | Aslan explorers out of Dark Nebula venture into Magyar. |
| -1690 | Terran Mercantile Community established on Terra. |
| -1500 | Long Night deepens. Reaver and Aslan fleets raid throughout Magyar. Tralp seizes Giiri Cluster. |
| -1400 | Tralp institutes racial caste system on its occupied worlds. |
| -1200 | Terran Mercantile Community withdraws from Magyar. |
| -1120 | Aslan Border Wars begin. |
| -1100 | Reaver activity slows and eventually stops. |
| -500 | Tralp establishes a pocket empire. Aslan begin seizing spinward Magyar worlds. |
| -242 | Aslan expansion is checked by Tralp and other Magyar states. |
| 0 | Foundation of the Third Imperium. |
| 150 | Imperial scouts reach the coreward regions of Magyar. |
| 180 | Old Earth Union recontacts Magyar worlds. |
| 212 | Magyar states drive many Aslan clans out of the sector. Treaty of Dark Nebula is signed. |
| 374 | Four major and 16 minor Aslan clans declare war on Old Earth Union, Tralp, and additional Magyar states. |
| 378 | Third Imperium signs Peace of Ftahalr with major Aslan clans, ending Aslan Border Wars. |
| 400 | Many worlds in Magyar are abosorbed by expanding Third Imperium. Tralp resists pressure to join. |
| 704 | Solomani Autonomous Region formed. |
| 850 | Solomani political theory becomes increasingly racist and chauvinistic. Tralp’s influence grows. |
| 871 | Solomani Confederation founded with its capital on Terra. |
| 920 | Tralp pocket empire reorganizes as the Dootchen Estates. |
| 990 | Solomani Rim War begins. |
| 1001 | Imperial forces raid Estates and sack Tralp. Estates collapse. |
| 1002 | Solomani Rim War ends with defeat of the Confederation. An armed insurgency emerges on Tralp. |
| 1007 | Dootchen Estates reform. |
| 1016 | Tralp security forces crush onworld insurgency. |
| 1065 | Estates seize Last Pine but withdraw after Imperial Navy captures Tralp. Estates capital moved to Dreesen. |
Tralp was first colonized during the Interstellar Wars by cultural dissidents who refused to assimilate into the Terran Confederation. The initial settlers, consisting of some 500 families, envisioned Tralp as an agricultural world: they divided the planet into separate estates. The colonists employed a crude slash-and-burn technique to clear land for Terran crops, which had difficulty competing with native Tralpean plants. Combating the native flora created an incessant economic drive for additional land and labor as well as regular chemical supplements and pesticides.
As the Rule of Man collapsed and technology levels crashed, the population of the Tralp exploded and the world began preying on neighboring systems, seizing technological resources and laying claim to entire worlds. The first worlds to fall were located in the Girii Cluster, nine systems centered on the high-population Vilani world of Girii, now known as Ownes (Magyar 1917). By -1400 the Tralpean occupiers had stripped the Vilani inhabitants of their property and instituted a cruel racially-based class structure that grew only more stratified as the Long Night deepened.
By -500 Tralp and its subject worlds formed a pocket empire strong enough to push back against the Aslan and the neighboring Neoslavic Bloc. While never a true naval power, Tralp maintained formidable ground armies to seize and hold new worlds. The fabled Azlaantroepe were elite armored units said to have been specifically created to combat Aslan raiders.
The arrival of the Third Imperium represented a significant threat to Tralp as surrounding worlds clamored for Imperial protection. The case for intervention was strengthened by the Tralp’s brazen use of chattel slavery, anathema to Imperial sensibilities. By 400 most of the surrounding worlds joined the Imperium while Tralp stood alone.
Tralp was encouraged by the creation of the Solomani Autonomous Sphere in 704 and became a strong advocate for formation of the Solomani Confederation in 871. This new government allowed Tralp and its subject worlds to join the Confederation as a powerful member-state. Tralp’s unsavory racial politics and enthusiasm for military intervention soon made the Estates the darling of more radical elements within the Solomani Party, and the Estates enjoyed an unusual degree of influence within the larger Confederation.
During the Solomani Rim War the Dootchen Estates were specifically singled out as an example to other Confederation worlds. The Imperial 9th Provisional Battle Fleet destroyed Tralp’s Class B starport and left the capital city of Tralpstad a smoldering ruin. After razing Tralp the 9th Fleet then harassed other Dootchen worlds until the Estates collapsed at the end of 1001. The Estates reformed in 1007, but were much diminished.
Tralp spent the next decade combating a tenacious onworld insurgency that had been initially encouraged by the Imperium. However, by 1016 the Imperium had abandoned the remaining insurgents, who were ruthlessly crushed by Tralpean security forces.
Over the next 50 years the Estates rebuilt and slowly regained influence within the Confederation, but not before one final setback. In 1065 the Estates invaded and occupied the Imperial system of Last Pine (Magyar 2312). In retaliation the Imperials dispatched the 413th BatRon and 105th AssaultRon to Tralp. The Imperial force quickly overcame system defenses, destroyed the newly rebuilt Class B starport, and stood off in high orbit above the mainworld. The Confederation was unusually slow to mount a response: within a month the Estates withdrew from Last Pine and the Imperials pulled out of Tralp. Shortly thereafter the capital of the Estates was moved to Dreesen (Magyar 1916).
Socio-Political Data
Total World Population 2.69 billion. Primary Cities Rodolph, 6.6 million; Magdalena, 3.9 million; Tralpstad, 2.3 million; Koen, 1.6 million; Mirte, 1.3 million. World Government Impersonal Bureaucracy (Tralpean Assembly). Law Level High (blade weapons controlled, no open display). Tech Level Pre-Stellar (8). Primary Trade Goods Agricultural, Minerals, Manufactured Goods.
Dootchen (Language)
The primary language of Tralp, where it originated, Dootchen is a distant variant of ancient Terran German with many Anglic loanwords. Dootchen is the official language of the Estates, where all other languages beyond Rim Anglic are strictly prohibited. Dootchen is common within Voyager subsector but rarely spoken outside it.
Low Dootchen is a spoken dialect used exclusively by bondmen, marked by syntactic fluidity as well as the preservation of numerous ancient Vilani words.
As of 1100, Tralp clings to its odious caste system despite intense criticism from outside the Estates. Tralpean society is divided into three hereditary classes, with virtually no upward movement and only occasional downward movement between the classes.
Approximately 60% of Tralp’s population are bondmen (slaf), who are considered the personal property of their owners. Bondmen, primarily descended from Vilani, lack the fundamental rights normally accrued to sophonts and can be bought, sold, or traded. Bondmen are generally used for menial labor, typically on vast agricultural estates.
Approximately 30% of Tralp’s population are freeman (vriman), who have rudimentary rights but do not own land and thus have no political representation. Most Freemen are found in urban areas, often employed by industrial or mercantile concerns.
Finally, some 10% of Tralp’s population belongs to the landowner (grondinar) class, who are exclusively of pure Solomani ancestry. Land is the fundamental measure of wealth and influence on Tralp: only landowners are able to own land and bondmen; only landowners are entitled to participate in Tralp’s government. Tralpean culture is not simply racist, but also deeply sexist: land can only be passed to male heirs and distinct gender roles are strongly enforced.
Tralp is governed by an Assembly of Landholders, which is headed by Secretary-General Henrik Peerts. The Secretary-General oversees the ministries and also appoints planetary representatives to the Dootchen Estates Senate on Dreesen.
Tralp also has an independent court system, expressly designed to validate, enforce, and perpetuate the caste system. As the landowner class lives in constant fear of a violent uprising from the bondmen, Tralp law gives considerable deference to landowners but imposes strict limits on bondmen and freemen. Only landowners, for example, are allowed to own personal firearms and enjoy freedom of movement between different provinces.
Although offworld activists have long dreamt of rekindling an insurgency on Tralp, the Ghenzi, the Dootchen Secret Police, are a highly effective internal security force with a counterintelligence program that rivals Solomani Security. Ghenzi agents are feared for both their ruthlessness and brutal interrogation techniques.
Despite the oppressive law levels imposed upon its own citizens, the Estates openly flout interstellar law. Technologies, products, and practices outlawed by neighboring systems can often be purchased at the starports of the Estates, which are rumored to be havens for pirates operating in Imperial space. The Estates mint their own currency, the Dootchen Stater: platinum coins worth approximately Cr1200. Although illegal in the Imperium, the stater is favored by criminals on both sides of the border due to its portability and easy conversion.
Tralp’s extremist racial policies draw sympathetic tourists from throughout the Solomani Sphere, including disaffected Imperials. All are drawn to a romanticized world that defied the Imperium and has embraced a destiny of racial purity. Tralp and the Solomani Party actively encourage these travellers if they are genetically pure Solomani.
Although not classified as an agricultural world, Tralp’s identity and primary economic products are closely associated with agriculture. Tralp settlers required centuries to domesticate any of the native plants, but the primary crops now are a native sugar grass (sukregrass) and starchy tuber (gronbeet). Other important agricultural products are the rundlebeast, a Terran beef cattle bred for Tralp, and Tralpean shiraz, a highly regarded wine.
The mountains of central Berglan contain significant mineral resources and the mines, some of which have been worked for hundreds of years, continue to produce tremendous wealth for the landowners. Large factory complexes ring all of the large cities and towns of Tralp, churning out inexpensive and relatively low quality consumer goods.
Tralp has only a high pre-stellar tech level but the state-owned Koenwapen corporation is renowned for its personal slug-throwers and combat armor. Koenwapen products such as the EON heavy assault shotgun or the KW-8 bullpup SMG are favored by mercenaries throughout Magyar sector.
Miltary Data
Dootchen Armored Units
A mainstay of the Estates’ ground units are Renoster V heavy grav tanks, TL14 monstrosities manufactured by Cloete Systems on Dreesen. This model, introduced in 1088, is a little heavier and better armored than the Sartorius, the standard heavy grav tank of the Solomani Confederation Army. A Renoster V is equipped with a rapid-pulse 74 MJ fusion gun and is expected to stand up against the new Imperial main battle tank, rumored to be entering service some time before 1110. Renoster Vs are direct descendants of the famed Renosters used in the Solomani Rim War and said to share the same resilience and reliability as their predecessors.
Under the supervision of the Solomani Confederation, the Estates control the combined Home Guard forces of all member worlds. Frequently activated for call-ups, Solomani Party propaganda touts the fearsome reputation of the Army of the Reformed Dootchen Estates. Most sons of the landowner class are sent to Dootchen military academies at age seven for ten rigorous years of education. Some of these academies, such as the Mirte Institute, are so prestigious that Party members from across the Confederation pay dearly to have their own sons attend. All male landowners are expected to provide at least five years of military service before their 30th birthday, and many volunteer for even longer terms.
In reality, Tralp is severely constrained by its low technology level: a punishing amount of the planetary economy is diverted to the support of its military aspirations. Tralp also depends heavily upon subsidies from the rest of the Estates as well as the Confederation in order to field units that could compete with Imperial forces.
The Estates and Confederation navies provide most naval support to Tralp. The closest Confederation base, at nearby Namedih (Magyar 1713 B300430-D), hosts the 231st FleetRon and the 456th PatRon. The Estates Navy stations the Dootchen AssaultRon in-system at a small naval base in orbit around Aitan. The AssaultRon can quickly transport an entire division of ground forces to hot spots across the Confederation. The base also supports Tralp’s wing of system defense boats, made up of venerable TL9, 500-ton Skild-class SDBs.
The Tralp planetary defense forces include ten TL11 lift infantry armies not suitable for off-world deployment as well as three TL13 lift infantry armies and two TL13 grav tank armies. The most frequently deployed ground force unit is the Tralpkorps, a TL14 armored infantry corps.
The Estates stations on Aitan the storied Eerste regiment of the Azlaantroepe. This elite TL14 unit includes three lift infantry battalions and one grav tank battalion. During the Rim War the Eerste regiment fought in several major engagements in the Solomani Rim but was recalled just prior to the Battle of Terra.
The infamous Gidea Kommandos are a “foreign legion” military unit consisting of three battalions of assault infantry. Any genetically pure Solomani volunteer may join the Kommandos and receive a full pardon for any crime as well as freeman status upon discharge. The regiment is reserved for the most dangerous and desperate actions, such as the 1001 defense of Sinott.
Dootchen mercenary units are notorious for their no-questions-asked willingness to take on the dirtiest, most difficult tickets—missions no other unit would accept. Such units are sometimes encountered in Imperial space working for criminal organizations, unscrupulous nobles, or corporations. Mullen Security is a successful TL12 company-sized unit composed largely of veterans from the Gidea Kommandos. In 1097 contractors from Mullen were accused of participating in a massacre during a brushfire war on Higdon (Magyar 1818 C999775-9). To date no charges have been filed in the matter.
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