Conqueror's Forge

Conqueror's Forge

(Cosmos)

Type

Space station

Diameter

2-1/2 miles

Mass

less than 1/100

Gravity

(artificial) 1

Atmosphere

Normal

Year length (PST)

3 years

Day length (PST)

28 hours (artificial)

System

Ghavaniska system

Inhabitants

Vesk

Source: Near Space, pg(s). 62

Conqueror's Forge

(City)

Population

82,000

Demographics

94% vesk, 4% skittermander, 2% other

Government

Military autocracy

Alignment

Lawful evil

Ruler

Dantromal Kominar

Source: Near Space, pg(s). 65

Conqueror's Forge is a space station and shipyard where new technology, weapons and starships are designed for the army of the Veskarium. It is outfitted with powerful engines that allow it to travel throughout the Ghavaniska system.

Geography

Conqueror's Forge is a cylinder around 2.5 miles long. Huge solar arrays and three long Visitor Sectors extend from its forward end. The cylinder consists of an inner core, home to the command and control centre, and the outer shell containing shipyards and R&D modules. They are connected by a series of connecting arms, and the exterior is studded with numerous weapon emplacements.

Conqueror's Forge (except the shipyards and Visitor Sectors) constantly rotates at a high rate, in order to emulate Vesk Prime's gravity without having to resort to artificial gravity which interferes with the delicate nature of the research.

Conqueror's Forge moves with two banks of thrusters at both ends and numerous small thrusters along its length to assist with steering. Rumour has it that it is also outfitted with a Drift engine, but the truth is closely guarded. Despite its bulk, Conqueror's Forge can move surprisingly quickly in battle. Hundreds of smaller ships surround Conqueror's Forge and can be deployed to defend it at all times.

The 'overlord engine' of Conqueror's Forge, currently dormant, is supposedly an alternate means of faster-than-light travel created by the church of Damoritosh, based on an ancient design. It draws upon Damoritosh's power in some way, but only its creators know exactly how it works.

Government

Conqueror's Forge has a strict chain of command, from High Despot Dantromal Kominar to the greenest soldier. The high despot has executive oversight on all projects and overall management, but delegates much work to his subordinates.

Civilians on Conqueror's Forge go about their daily lives like normal, while also adhering to military decrees, like on any other Veskarium world.

History

In 41 AG, after the planets of the Golarion system united under the Pact Worlds government against the Veskarium, the Council of Despots became concerned that the Veskarium's technology might fall behind that of the Pact Worlds, like how they missed Triune's Signal in 3 AG. Emperor Rakakama III thus decreed the construction of Conqueror's Forge, which was completed and named in 47 AG, after the vesk's patron deity Damoritosh. Conqueror's Forge was put in orbit around Vesk Prime and given the status of a core world.

In 291 AG, the Swarm destroyed Conqueror's Forge in a surprise attack. When it was rebuilt, Conqueror's Forge was also retrofitted with new engines that would allow it to travel around the Veskarium. After the alliance between the Pact Worlds and the Veskarium pushed the Swarm out of their territory, the Council of Despots decided that they could benefit from selling the developments from Conqueror's Forge, and expanded it to facilitate trade.

In 422 AG, with the Veskarium fleet paralysed by the Drift Crash, Conqueror's Forge has massively upscaled ship production, exceeding safety regulations. The Council has also ordered it to mobilise against a predicted assault from the Azlanti Star Empire. Damoritosh's faithful, who insist on the superiority of the Forge's overlord engine, has secretly hired some outside operators to perfect its operation and bring it online. At the same time, Dantromal Kominar commissioned an emergency division to stabilise the Drift and possibly seize control of it by creating a variant Drift beacon, with which the Drift could be anchored to the Veskarium and favour the empire's vessels. However, when the first tests were conducted, an explosion threatened to destroy Conqueror's Forge until it was suppressed.

People

Most of Conqueror's Forge's inhabitants are vesk officers and scientists on official duty. Each research module has several teams, who are allowed to initiate projects on their own; only rarely are teams ordered to switch projects or work on a specific one. When research is finished, production and assembly teams take over the responsibility. When not working, they spend time in the Recreation Sector or take shore leave on nearby planets.

The rest of the vesk are civilian contractors who keep the station running. Non-vesk are rare on Conqueror's Forge; skittermanders make up the largest percentage among them, and aid the station staff with daily duties, especially cleaning and maintenance, without being officially employed.

Visitors to Conqueror's Forge include guests, buyers and non-vesk consultants invited for their expertise. Most reside in the Visitor Sectors, except for a few consultants with their own quarters in research modules.