Marduk
Allegiance:
- Non-Aligned, Human-dominated (NaHu)
- K7 V Dwarf
- 3 Gas Giants
- 0 Planetoid Belts
- 7 Other Worlds
- Starport C Routine
- Size 5 8,000km
- Atmosphere 7 Standard; Tainted
- Hydrosphere 7 70%
- Population 4 Tens of thousands
- Government Type 3 Self-Perpetuating Oligarchy
- Law Level 6 All firearms except shotguns prohibited
- Technology Level 5 Mass Production
- { −2 } Very unimportant
- Resources 6 Few
- Labor 3 Thousands
- Infrastructure 1 Extremely limited
- Efficiency −3 Poor
- Heterogeneity 3 Monolithic
- Acceptance 2 Very xenophobic
- Strangeness 4 Somewhat distinct
- Symbols 4 Concrete
Geography
The world of Marduk is a stopover on the Sindalian Main; or rather, its starport is. The world itself is small but habitable enough, with a breathable atmosphere and plenty of water. The main continents are completely uninhabited (officially at least) with the only indigenous population dwelling on several island archipelagos. These were fairly isolated during the collapse of the Sindalian Empire and the wars that went with it, and were spared the bombardment of major cities that took place on Marduk.
Various accounts exist of what happened to the population of Marduk; it is likely that all of them contain elements of truth. Radioactive fallout, famine, plagues of natural and unnatural causes and a host of other causes more or less wiped out the population on the mainlands, which became taboo to the locals. Once the mainland population dropped below a critical amount, the remaining people died out over subsequent generations, while the small island populations continued to survive at a much simpler level of technology.
Today, these island groups are each home to a few thousand people who have developed separately. Contact with outsiders - including people from other island groups - is shunned, and the islanders have developed very different cultures and dialect that in some cases have become entirely separate languages. Since it is forbidden to learn the tongues of other groups, the divergence continues to this day.
The only contact the islanders have with outsiders tends to be raids from Oghma, which does not encourage them to seek outside contact. As a result, the islander populations are extremely insular and have been known to attack visitors on sight. Most groups are not so extreme, but mistrust is inevitable and, if possible, the locals will avoid contact altogether. A starship landing near one of their villages will usually cause locals to flee to their hiding places. They have become very good at hiding from raiders, so it is quite possible that visitors might think they have found a deserted village or come away wondering what mysterious disaster depopulated the settlement just before they arrived.
The port at Marduk is the only part of the planet visited by most people passing through. It was built from the ground up (actually from the coastal seabed up) by the General Development Corporation to facilitate trade through the Sindalian Main. The port has a modest orbital component and a larger ground station, and is constructed on an artificial island just off the coast of one of Marduk's continents.
History
Marduk is a pre-agricultural and nonindustrial world lacking adequate development for its economy to become prosperous.
As a nonindustrial world, it requires extensive imports of outside technology to maintain a modern, star-faring society. The need to import most manufactured and high technology goods drives the price of these goods up in the open market.
This a "low technology" world with technology competency well below technology standards for Charted Space.
It is a Non-Aligned world dominated by human sophonts located in the Sindal Subsector of Trojan Reach Sector.
Marduk has been reduced to pre-spaceflight technology levels because of incessant raiding by the clans from nearby Oghma (2020). Each island on the planet has its own language and there is a cultural taboo against learning the tongue of your neighbors.
Tourism
The port at Marduk is the only part of the planet visited by most people passing through. It was built from the ground up (actually from the coastal seabed up) by the General Development Corporation to facilitate trade through the Sindalian Main. The port has a modest orbital component and a larger ground station, and is constructed on an artificial island just off the coast of one of Marduk's continents.
Type
Planet
Location under
Owning Organization
Related Reports (Primary)
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