Census

Languages

“They abandoned us for a hundred years. Did they expect us to welcome them back with open arms? Let’s get real. The Arrivers see a lot of things around here that they want. And they have some things we’d like to have. Fine. What we need to decide now is whether we’re willing to tie our fate with theirs one more time. And, if the answer is no, what we’re willing to do about it….“ -President Michael Kevik

Life out on the frontier is quite different from the decadent lives led by the teeming trillions of Old Space. While a Verger sacrifices some modern comforts, the benefits can’t be overlooked. Even the most rigid of the frontier governments in the Verge fail to match the level of intrusive control imposed by VoidCorp, the Nariac Domain, or even the Borealis Republic. Vergers are free to come and go as they please, and most of them take a great interest in ensuring that this freedom is preserved.

At one extreme lie the enthusiastic Vergers of star systems such as Ignatius, Tychus, Coulomb, and Mantebron. Without resupply ships from the Stellar Ring, the colonies were forced to set up makeshift trading circles among themselves and improvise ways to persevere. The loss was high and many Vergers squeezed out a miserable existence on their new worlds. Variously known as patriots, sympathizers, or collaborators, loyalist Vergers usually endorse a quick reunification with the stellar nation that founded their colony.

Not every citizen of the Verge thinks well of the stellar nations’ return. History has proven the capricious stellar nations less than trustworthy. Many of the nations lied, cajoled, or even abducted citizens in order to get them here.

The Concord has quelled conflicts between stellar nation forces and separatists in the Annahoy and Oberon systems.

Of course, most Vergers don’t reach such a level of fanaticism even if their personal sympathies are for loyalist or separatist. They remain undecided. It’s clear that a marriage with the stellar nations offers many advantages, but it’s equally obvious that the Verge systems will give up something special should they become just another outpost of stellar identity. The last few years of growth show that the stellar nations are here to stay; what happens next is anyone’s guess.

The Verge is a huge expense of space, with many systems beyond. Several host small to medium-sized settlements and many more are home to individuals, families, and wandering star ships that have allegiance to no outside system or nation greater than themselves. This is not to mention the several new sentient species that share some of these worlds with humanity and its more advanced allies.

Thus, there is plenty of room in the Verge for heroes of races and cultures other than those described here. If a player would like to explore these possibilities, she should discuss them with her GM.

Independents are those Vergers who don’t fit into any of the cultures described here. They may be from a counter-culture of an existing colony, or they may be from a small out-of-the-way settlement in some less settled region of the Verge. They might be born and raised on a spaceship or station outside of any established culture.

Whatever their origins, Independents share only the fact that they are used to surviving on their own, of taking full advantage of every opportunity presented to them and making their own luck.

[In lieu of any of the benefits from citizenship in a stellar nation or Verge culture, Independent heroes gain 1 additional Action Point per level.]