Rice Papers
Porozlo RICE Paper reposting
Reading preview
Source wording preserved. The original download is available separately.
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 10:30:30 -0700
From: Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
Subject: Porozlo RICE Paper reposting
Since the POROZLO was lost to many during the TML downtime last week
and since I noticed some format shortcomings in the system details at
the end, I'm reposting it.
The final installment of my Rhylanor Cluster RICE papers:
NOTE: For anyone who has obtained the Rhylanor paper, please note
that the settlement date of the planet should be changed from "ca.
250" to "ca. 150."
Porozlo System
Porozlo (Rhylanor: Spinward Marches/2715) A867A74-B Hi Tn
B201 RE M1 V M7 V G=1.02, Day=23:26:42.01, Year = 22d 20:16:41.12
Atmo=1.00, Weather Control
Temp= +16.8 (7/lat +21 to -49) (season +10.2 to -17.0, 17 deg lat)
Daily temp range 38.00
Agricultural, Ores, Compounds; Agroproducts, Non-metals; Parts,
Durables, Consumables, Weapons; Artforms
Progressive/Advancing, Competitive/Neutral, Fragmented/Aloof Legal:
4-54444 Tech B8-BBBAB-B9BB-CB-F
Viewing the beautiful glowing orb of Porozlo from afar, who would
suspect that this Terran Normal world is the site of some of the most
vicious internecine warfare in the Regency?
Porozlo's balkanization is the result of poor colonial planning. Due
to its remarkable resemblance to Terra, Porozlo was a highly
sought-after system. Colonization claims were filed by numerous
private and public interests, most of whom were of Solomani origin and
all of whom had legitimate claims. Roughly three quarters of the
claims were made by colonists with corporate sponsors, the largest
made by Transstar, the Terran shipping megacorporation. The remaining
25 percent were comprised of government-sponsored colonization
programs and population-relief projects.
Because of the high demand for rights to the system and conflicting
legal claims, an impartial mediator was selected to resolve the
conflict. The mediator determined that it was in the best interests
of all involved to distribute Porozlan land to as many of the
claimants as possible on a first-come, first-served basis. Strict
head-count limits were imposed. Not surprisingly, a solution that was
intended to make everyone happy made no one happy.
The majority of the lots were distributed among an astrographically
isolated Solomani group in Daibei Sector. These Solomani were
primarily descended from colonists who had originally come from
Terra's Eastern and Southern European and North African regions during
The Rule of Man. A large portion of the lots were distributed among
ethnically diverse Solomani groups from throughout the rimward portion
of the Imperium and the remaining lots (about 5 percent in all) were
given to a handful of Vilani interests and Core-based colonists of
mixed descent.
The Imperium's attempt at generosity resulted in the system's
perpetual state of conflict. After establishing footholds on the
planet in 161-163, many colonial settlements quickly adopted
isolationism as their credo and began to form their own individual
governments on the planet.
After permits were distributed to the second wave of colonists from
Daibei and nearby Diaspora sectors, the colonial administration
encouraged an even distribution of ethnic populations among the
nations of Porozlo to foster a more homogeneous political environment.
Unfortunately, hundreds of micro-immigrations nullified the
Imperium's efforts in the subsequent decade.
Remarkably, the only ethnic group that did not geographically polarize
itself was the Vilani. Vilani minorities can be found in most of
Porozlo's nations. They are frequently the educated elite, holding
jobs as physicians, attorneys, bankers and corporate executives. Not
preoccupied by the ethnic conflict of the planet's other settlers, the
Vilani have formed their own functional niche in Porozlan society.
Conscious of their minority status (and the historical peril of those
who have held such status), the Vilani settlers have been careful not
to isolate themselves, so as not to incur the wrath of another
Porozlan ethnic group or nationality. In fact, the dispersed Vilani
minority are arguably the greatest philanthropists on the planet,
contributing a disproportionate 22 percent of the planet's charitable
donations in an average year, while they comprise only eight percent
of Porozlo's current population. The Vilani minority speaks Galanglic
in the business community but continues to speak a Vilani dialect in
the home and at cultural functions in order to preserve their
heritage.
Porozlo's resources were scattered enough that over the centuries,
further political fragmentation occurred along economic lines. The
final result was a world with upward of 80 independent nations.
Porozlo became a textbook case on how to create a balkanized world.
Though Porozlo's population was as diverse as any in the Imperium, for
the most part the world avoided major wars until a dramatic event in
its history.
The Porozlan fragmentation and a growing awareness of the planet's
limited resources gave birth to a grassroots political movement, which
eventually became known as the Private Ownership (PO) bloc. The PO
bloc came into being during a firestorm of debate about foreign
investment and exploitation of Porozlo's resources. The status quo
had been more or less pro-free trade.
For two decades after the birth of the PO bloc, the majority of
Porozlan nations underwent revolutions of one sort or another. It was
during this extremely xenophobic period that the planet became
registered by the Travellers' Aid Society as an amber zone to warn
travellers of the danger posed by distrustful Porozlans.
After 20 years of PO revolution, the pendulum began to swing the other
way. Those who supported foreign investment and development united
under the banner of the Free Trade (FT) bloc in reaction to radical PO
movements. This political schism was to become the defining event in
Porozlo's history. Historians debate the original date of the
Porozlan Schism, but most place the date on either 1016, when the
first domestically governed megacorporate labor union (thought to be
the precursor of the PO bloc) formed in the nation of Stepozhevac, or
on 1084 when the FT bloc came into being.
PO movements spread like wildfire, affecting each and every national
government on Porozlo. As the PO/FT division deepened, democratic
governments' elected officials became almost exclusively drawn from
either the PO or FT bloc. Many of the planet's more dictatorial
governments resisted at first, but as public sentiment grew, even
nations led by autocratic dictators began to align themselves under
one banner or the other.
The conflict has raged on for over a century now, with the balance of
power frequently shifting between the two parties. During the last 80
years, the balance has settled, with the PO dominating about 30
percent of the planet's countries and just under half its population.
The FT bloc dominates the more technologically developed and
industrialized nations. Several underdeveloped countries have fled to
the FT wing in recent years. Under the guidance of Chairman Augwynne
Sorsi, the nation of Nemso has sponsored a ground-breaking new
organization, called the Free-Trade Advisory Council (FTAC), to help
these nations "get on their feet." Using programs like the FTAC, the
Free Trade bloc has successfully swayed public sentiment to their side
in the interstellar region.
Wars are frequent on the soil of Porozlo, with an average of six going
on at any one time. The perpetual state of conflict on Porozlo
spurred the TAS to deny the Porozlo United Council's request for amber
zone nullification in late 1148.
While most Porozlan wars are of the brushfire variety, many escalate
to full-scale conflict with occasional threats of biological and
nuclear weapon use made by opposing countries. The presence of
neutral Rhylanor curbs the use of such weapons, however. The
Rhylanori senate's unequivocal position is non-intervention unless the
war escalates to the point where such weapons are used. One Rhylanori
senator, who requested anonymity, brashly stated, "If the Porozlans
start nuking each other in our backyard, we're going to bring the sky
down on their heads."
The frequency of international conflict on Porozlo has made the planet
a nexus for mercenary activity. "Warworld" is the name many regional
mercenary units use for the besieged planet. Because of its adverse
political environment, Porozlo has acquired the distinction of being a
"mercenary magnet" over the past three centuries.
While several offworld peace initiatives and summits have been
sponsored by neighbors Rhylanor and Zivije, most of them have ended
with the representative Porozlan national delegates walking away from
the table in frustration. The divisiveness between the nations of
Porozlo has thus far proven irresolvable.
Despite the pervasiveness of warfare on Porozlo, the planet as a whole
is rather economically successful. Nemso, the richest and most
dominant nation on Porozlo, has the population and resources of many
entire systems in the subsector. The Free Trade party has dominated
the nation's parliament since the 1107 overthrow of King Syzygy, the
former hereditary monarch. Many other nations, most notably Morovic,
New Dalmatia, Zenerabi, M'Dwailei and Hauvania, have also prospered
under the auspices of the Free Trade party.
Although the FT nations have been models of economic success, the
downside of foreign industrial exploitation is also evident in their
cities. Visible signs of blight and homelessness are much more
prevalent in FT cities than they are in the more socially democratic
PO cities and countries.
The main PO nations of Porozlo, including Almarac (the most populous
nation on Porozlo with six billion inhabitants), Anisinta, Turin,
Digliotti and Vyben, tend to be more militant. Local militias,
created for the purpose of defending their homesteads from "invading
offworlders," are common in PO nations. While PO nations are not
nearly as prosperous as the FT nations, it can accurately be said that
for the most part, their citizens live on a more economically
egalitarian scale. The majority of their citizens could be classified
as lower middle class.
Porozlo is home to a multitude of fascinating cultures and traditions.
The artistic community flourishes in most nations on Porozlo.
Political and cultural strife on a planet often fosters an active
artistic community and Porozlo is no exception to this rule. Porozlan
poets, painters and sculptors are revered for the level of emotion
that their works elicit and for the quality of their craftsmanship.
Porozlo remains a glorious example of a Terran Normal world. The
breathable air, lush landscape, majestic mountain ranges and rich blue
oceans make Porozlo a top tourist attraction for travellers who are
smart enough to look beyond the political instability of the planet.
Tourists tend to choose the more politically stable countries for
their visits, far away from the raging fields of war.
All but one of Porozlo's A-quality starports are located in
FT-controlled nations, with the most traffic at Nemso Down Starport.
Nemso maintains the planet's sole orbital facility as well, Nemso
Orbital. Among PO nations, only Almarac maintains an A-level starport
facility at great expense to the populace. In order to uphold the
virtues of the PO bloc, Almarac spares no expense to make its primary
port a jewel among common stones. Though the facility is arguably the
most modern of all Porozlo's starport facilities, traffic at Almarac
Starport is somewhat sparse.
Free traders should be warned that legal cargo in one Porozlan nation
is contraband in another. Be wary of the trade laws in each nation
you intend to visit. More than one trader has had his ship impounded
for carrying goods from an FT nation into a PO nation and vice versa.
Industry is alive and well on Porozlo. Boisterous international
competition for interstellar markets has fostered a progressive
planetary culture. In just the last 20 years, Porozlo has advanced
from TL-10 to 11 in the Regency technological profile system.
Porozlo System Details
Orbit Name UPP Remarks
Primary Corusca M1 V
0 Porozlo A867A74-B Hi Tn
50 Jelorba G546467-B Fa Mi
1 (Empty Orbit)
2* Glint M7 V
0 Czaczezhnia Small GG Size 60
1 Ring System YR00000-0
2 Ring System YR00000-0
5 Glyph Y300000-0 Va
7 Tybalt Y100000-0 Va
13 Aamed Y200000-0 Va
55 Padenton YS00000-0 Va
3 Brazhorno Y1A0102-B Re
13 Alec YS00000-0 Va
40 Cela GS00207-A Va
4 Milano Y600000-0 Va
5 Borges F410663-A Co
8 Blanca Y100000-0 Va
35 Sinai HS00107-B Re Va
6 Calyph Orga G500636-B Re Va
7 Mandrigora H643437-B Mi
* Companion star.