Sector History Riftspan Reaches Sector Information
Astrography
Discovery & Conflict
The Rebellion
Establishing the Khei
The New Era
References
ASTROGRAPHY
Dominated by the Great Rift, the Riftspan Reaches Sector is appropriately
named. A 5 parsec route is all there is to allow traffic to cross the rift
through this sector. Although the endpoints are the same, the route does
split, forming a rough route shape of -{}-. Each branch is of the same
length so there is no time savings by taking one route over another.
DISCOVERY & CONFLICT
The explorer Ktouwaatritoikh discovered the jump-5 route across the rift in
-1044. "The Wahtoi clan were the first to exploit his discovery. Wahtoi
ihatei explored the worlds in and across the Rift, and the Wahtoi soon came
to dominate the sector. The clan established Khu Si'ikh, a corporation, to
trade throughout the Riftspan Reaches. As a result of the clan's importance,
the Wahtoi were given a seat on the Tlaukhu." [TD#19]
Prosperity for the Wahtoi continued until -951 when a rebellion within the
ranks occurred. The Fteweyeakh, a splinter group, attempted a coup. They
were unsuccessful and forsaken as outcasts. The Fteweyeakh retreated to the
Hlakoi sector to regroup.
The Wahtoi monopoly on Riftspan traffic made them grow soft. "Years passed
peacefully, until the upstart Aroaye'i clan of Aulryakh (0507) challenged
Wahtoi supremacy. Rivalry between the Aroaye'i and Wahtoi erupted into
full-scale clan war in -750. The Aroaye'i were determined to overcome their
second place status; within a year, they forced the Wahtoi to submit. In
settlement, they demanded equal partnership in trans-rift trade and
ownership of Khu Si'ikh." [TD#19]
Sensing weakness, the Fteweyeakh (200 years isn't enough time for a clan to
forgive a grudge) decided it was time to strike. This time they were
successful and the Wahtoi were beaten into subjugation.
THE REBELLION
When word of the assasination of Strephon, and more importantly the Aslan
ambassador, reached the Aslan Hierate, it set a fire underneath the Aslan.
Aslan ihatei drove across the Hierate to join their clansmen here in the
Aslan colonies. The Aokhalte bloc led the charge as the ihatei began to
push their way coreward into the Trojan Reach and Spinward Marches>.
Not all Aslan felt that attacking the Domain of Deneb was a good idea. The
Ikhtealyo and Isoitiyro blocs opposed it, though for different reasons
(economics and honor respectively). In 1119, hostilities between the clans
began. The Hlaotiyoiho fought with the Hlyueawi and knocked them from the
Tlaukhu.
Meanwhile, Trojan Reach sector duchess Sharik Arcadia set plans in motion
to exploit factional differences among the Aorlakht clans. With the Aorlakht
clans fighting among themselves, the Aokhalte bloc expansion quickly came
to a halt. Arcadia shored up her position until reinforcements from Norris
arrived. With the proverbial calvalry on the scene, Arcadia drove the Aslan
back to antebellum boundaries by 1130.
ESTABLISHING THE KHEI
Relations between Humans and Aslan improved when Norris forewarned the Aslan
about Virus. Knowing full well that the newly formed Regency could not "go it
alone," he enlisted their aid in maintaining the Quarantine. Hailed as both
"a stroke of diplomatic genius" and "a deal with the Devil," nonetheless it
was not a moment too soon. A combined Regency-Aslan task force fought off
the great Vampire fleet invasion of 1131 at Waikhta (1420). It became
immediately apparent that clan cooperation would have to go to the next
level.
Aokiylair subsector and its trailing neighbor, Ryuhleiea, were set up as
the front line of defense, often referred to as Khei, which translates to
"frontier stronghold," against Vampire fleet invasions. Unlike the Denebian
frontier, morale here is high. The Aslan who labor here feel that their
work avenges the wrongs done to their clans by Virus. They also view their
location as being prime real estate for what they perceive as an eventual
migration back into the old Hierate.
THE NEW ERA
After a number of decades, many clans demanded that the Tlaukhu begin the
return to the Hierate and their homeworlds. They were impatient with the
Regency, whom they perceived as hiding behind its precious Quarantine. This
vocal minority suggested a return to the Hierate could be done without the
Regency's knowledge. Since the Regency wasn't the enemy, there was no
dishonor in not announcing the challenge to Virus to spectators.
Justification for these clandestine operations was deliberated heavily
among the Tlaukhu. Pro-Regency clans argued that the Regency had been
nothing but forthright with the Aslan since word of Virus broke. Others
claim that clan honor against Virus had to be served. To not do so would be
Rukhtiywe (the act of denying one's Aslan-ness). The pro-Regency clans
relented on the condition that the Khei be maintained at all costs.
The Aslan finally began forays in the Rift in 1183. Expeditions methodically
swept systems and, once cleansed, were mined. Regular patrols ensured that
minefields were maintained and destroyed anything even remotely appearing
hostile.
Although reclamation wasn't perfect, the Khei Aslan finally managed to push
their way to Wahtoikoeakh (2936) in 1194. This TL-14 industrial world,
formerly a Fteweyeakh stronghold, had become a Vampire stronghold. Factories
churned out infected robots and ships for several decades, which would be
sent out to rimward systems. It was also the source of infrequent attacks
against the Khei. A 2-year campaign was required to finally break the
system.
Although Wahtoikoeakh has become environmentally hostile, the Khei Aslan
are determined to establish another Khei here. Wahtoikoeakh's closest
neighbors are 3 parsecs away, a decent barrier but not enough to stop any
of the vampire fleets which originated there.
Shortly after the Regency announced that it would be opening its borders to
Corridor to outbound traffic only, the Aslan announced the same for the
Riftspan.
REFERENCES:
CT Alien Module 1: Aslan
DGP's Solomani & Aslan
Travellers' Digest Issue 19
Regency Sourcebook
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