Xanti: The Slush

The Slush is a vibrant, frozen ecosystem buried beneath a continent spanning area of frozen, icy water. It is often broken up by various small landmasses and inhabited by a number of vegetarian and carnivorous creatures. It is a treacherous area both due to the temperature, variant weather, predators, as well as the Potential Bounty Hunters who may kill you to ensure you don't jump their trophy.
The depths of the Slush are often unknown as it varies from shallow, waist-deep areas to plunging depths. Even still, the shallow areas tend to vary from aquatic, rocky terrain to massive sheets of ice beneath the surface mimicking solid surfaces while hiding the apex predators buried below. Entering the Slush without a guide often means death, and even with a guide it often leads to the same. It holds some of the greatest potential risk and rewards for a subsect of thrill seekers in the entire galaxy.

Hazards of the Slush

The Cold

One of the most Core hazards of the slush is the cold. Being out in the Slush, or truly Xanti in general, for more than a few hours, requires a Physique check. The difficulty starts at 2 for anyone wearing basic clothing, warm weather clothing provides a bonus to that purpose. The difficulty increases 1 per day (or hour for naked/warm-weather clothing). Failure takes Physical Stress while failure of 3 or more also takes the "Frozen" aspect until out of the environment for a day. Specialized clothing may help with this.

The Cold also prevents people from automatically recovering Physical & Mental Stress (see below) while in the hazardous terrain.

Rest

Resting in the Slush involves 2 aspects: Investigation to find a spot big enough for a proper tent and the Rest check to recover the stress of the day. Investigation for a big enough spot involves a check equal to the # of inhabitants of the tent. Failure provides an automatic -2 for the next check as it's crammed or unsafe. Afterwards, it is a Physical 2 with the difficulty increasing each day in the environment. Failure gives the "Unrested" aspect and the person does not recover any stress on them. Heated blankets & expensive survival tents may help with this.

Saddle-Sore

For those braving the ride on Long-Striders, the difficulties continue. The Physical or Athletics requirement to ride them all day through the slush starts off with Physical 1 increasing by 1 each day. 3 consecutive passes shows that the person's body has acclimated to the pain/chaffing and requires no more checks for the journey. Failures give the Saddle-Sore Aspect against them.

Geography

A vast wasteland of broken, melted ice that extends from miles of shallow, icy water into plunging depths over the continental sized area. It is sporadically lined with various rocky islands, some of which are known to lead down into subterranean caves which may even plunge beneath the Slush itself.

Localized Phenomena

The Slush is often subject to a continent spanning Ice Storm that tends to regularly drift across the Sun-Locked side of Planet: Xanti from the dark side, traveling with the slow rotation towards the dark side, until it dissipates again on the dark side of the planet. Though it happens with some consistently, no understandable pattern has yet emerged.

Fauna & Flora

Buried deep in the ice are several sub-aquatic flora and strange, glowing fish that hide within the thick icy waters of the planet. Most of the non-predatory Non-Sapient Xeno on Planet: Xanti survive on these buried edible treasures.

Natural Resources

The Slush, though dangerous, provides a consistent source of water that can be purified and be made potable for consumption and vehicle usage. The Slush is also ripe with buried rocks and minerals from both natural subterranean resources as well as the results of fallen meteorites.

Type

Wetland / Swamp

Location under

Planet: Xanti

Owning Organization

Bounty Hunter's Guild

Related Reports (Primary)

• Session 14: Finding a New Path Report

Related Reports (Secondary)

• Session 13: Into the Slush Report

Inhabiting Species

• Xanti: Deep Drifter