Astrography
Discovery & Conflict
The Rebellion
Establishing the Khei
The New Era
References
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.
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.
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.
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.
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