Bric-a Brac of the Third Imperium
- Thread starter Astromancer
- Start date
Astromancer
Mongoose
I'm glad you liked it. I always thought it was the best way to paint over some of the less clever bouts of "humorous" background cannon.
Just a try:
The "Type 42" Towel
in some places with big Solomani influence called "DNA towel" for no clear reason is standard issue for TAS hotels, pensions & co.
It's a simple blue towel at imperial Standard TL with a little red 42 in the upper left corner as well as a "don't panic"in big, friendly letters in the lower right. There's a bath towel version, too.
The reasons of that imprint are lost in the long night, but people like it because of it's mysterious history and the big, friendly letters.
It is expected to be taken with the traveller if he leaves. Using it in a public bath sometimes is used to identify yourself other TAS members to find interesting people for interesting conversation.
Showing such a towel may be a help in "hitchhiking" if the captain of your vessel also is a TAS member.
The "Type 42" Towel
in some places with big Solomani influence called "DNA towel" for no clear reason is standard issue for TAS hotels, pensions & co.
It's a simple blue towel at imperial Standard TL with a little red 42 in the upper left corner as well as a "don't panic"in big, friendly letters in the lower right. There's a bath towel version, too.
The reasons of that imprint are lost in the long night, but people like it because of it's mysterious history and the big, friendly letters.
It is expected to be taken with the traveller if he leaves. Using it in a public bath sometimes is used to identify yourself other TAS members to find interesting people for interesting conversation.
Showing such a towel may be a help in "hitchhiking" if the captain of your vessel also is a TAS member.
Astromancer
Mongoose
The Orb "Hey give me a hit off that hot orb."
The Orb is a pleasure device. Touching a "hot" orb elevates the mood, loosen inhibitions, and opens one to a fuller awareness of sensual pleasure. It's basically a mess free party drug.
Legal in most places (but the exceptions get nasty about it) orbs are seen as decadent but trivial, the beer bongs of the 3I.
To HEAT or activate and orb, someone in a good mood rubs the while thinking of pleasure or fun. Then they hand it off to someone else. It generally takes three to five people to get an orb hot. This keeps orbs more of a party toy than a solitaire device.
Giving an unprepered and unsuspecting person an orb is seen is a harmless but very funny joke.
Yes, I just rewatched Woody Alan's Sleeper. Why do you ask?
The Orb is a pleasure device. Touching a "hot" orb elevates the mood, loosen inhibitions, and opens one to a fuller awareness of sensual pleasure. It's basically a mess free party drug.
Legal in most places (but the exceptions get nasty about it) orbs are seen as decadent but trivial, the beer bongs of the 3I.
To HEAT or activate and orb, someone in a good mood rubs the while thinking of pleasure or fun. Then they hand it off to someone else. It generally takes three to five people to get an orb hot. This keeps orbs more of a party toy than a solitaire device.
Giving an unprepered and unsuspecting person an orb is seen is a harmless but very funny joke.
Yes, I just rewatched Woody Alan's Sleeper. Why do you ask?
Sylvre Phire
Mongoose
Hey folks!
Dale Meier here at Hell Creek Sanitarium. We're very interested in this thread and would like to know if anybody who's participated would be willing to submit their bric-a-brac to us for our Foreven Sector equipment guide, Sovima's Interstellar Bazaar and Techdex.
While the book will have weapons, armor, and all the other goodies gamers like, we also want it to have some of the everyman, everyday products. Kind of like Galladinium's Fantastic Technology was for D6 Star Wars. At the same time, we're going to make things interesting by adding in consumer "opinions" and "comments", to steal a trick from the late Nigel Findley.
Currently we don't have a website up, but we're going to have both a MySpace and Facebook presence soon (hopefully before next week is through). If you're interested in contributing, please send an e-mail to sylvrephire@yahoo.com expressing your interest in participating. Please do NOT send a submission at this time as we're in the process of getting our Foreven line started up and we don't want to risk losing your submission or misattributing it to another writer.
Thanks and keep up the good work! It's been an interesting read!
Pax et bonum,
Dale Meier
Creative Director
Hell Creek Sanitarium
Omaha, NE
Dale Meier here at Hell Creek Sanitarium. We're very interested in this thread and would like to know if anybody who's participated would be willing to submit their bric-a-brac to us for our Foreven Sector equipment guide, Sovima's Interstellar Bazaar and Techdex.
While the book will have weapons, armor, and all the other goodies gamers like, we also want it to have some of the everyman, everyday products. Kind of like Galladinium's Fantastic Technology was for D6 Star Wars. At the same time, we're going to make things interesting by adding in consumer "opinions" and "comments", to steal a trick from the late Nigel Findley.
Currently we don't have a website up, but we're going to have both a MySpace and Facebook presence soon (hopefully before next week is through). If you're interested in contributing, please send an e-mail to sylvrephire@yahoo.com expressing your interest in participating. Please do NOT send a submission at this time as we're in the process of getting our Foreven line started up and we don't want to risk losing your submission or misattributing it to another writer.
Thanks and keep up the good work! It's been an interesting read!
Pax et bonum,
Dale Meier
Creative Director
Hell Creek Sanitarium
Omaha, NE
FreeTrav
Cosmic Mongoose
Astromancer said:
This sounds like a psionically-active device. A full investigation is required, and all extant examples of this device must be confiscated and sequestered until such time as we can accurately ascertain whether there is any Zhodani involvement in the development, manufacture, or distribution of this device.
khazwind said:
It has been a long time since I read the books.
So, next version:
The "Type 42" Towel
In some places with big Solomani influence it's called a "DNA towel" for no apparent reason.
Those are bought by the tens of thousands by the TAS only and are standard issue for TAS hotels, pensions & co.
It's a simple blue TL15-towel with a little red 42 in the upper left corner as well as a "don't panic"in big, friendly letters in the lower right. There's a bath towel version, too.
Both versions include integrated nutrient supplements in the fabric of the material, containing all the essential vitamins and a small brown stain for BBQ sauce (with a little patch in the corner that contains anti-depressants).
The reasons of those properties are lost in the long night, but people like it because of it's mysterious history and the big, friendly letters.
It is expected to be taken with the Traveller if he leaves. Using it in a public bath sometimes is used to identify yourself to other TAS members to find people for interesting conversation.
Showing such a towel may be a help in "hitchhiking" if the captain of your vessel also is a TAS member.
Astromancer
Mongoose
FreeTrav said:
No, the Orb is closer to form and structure to Psionic suppression devices. And Orbs have been modified for that use. However, Orb use doesn't seem to prevent, injure, disrupt, or enhance, psi abilities, unless modified. As all such modifications make the Orb un-fun, they aren't popular.
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
Sure, that's what it says on the label! But we all know it is a Zhodani mind trick! Who cares that the device predates contact with the Zhodani! It just proves that the Psionic Suppressions were necessary because those stinky Psions were secretly in league with the unknown Zhodani!
Actually, it seems to be more of an Empathic device rather than a Telepathic device, but I think that is just marketing too....
Actually, it seems to be more of an Empathic device rather than a Telepathic device, but I think that is just marketing too....
Astromancer
Mongoose
Holographic Masks and Costumes
As aristocracies have always loved masqurades (blurring identities in a formal hierarchy is often intoxicating) costumes both comfortable and exotic were required. The development of lightweight, easy to wear and use, holographic display costumes was the outcome.
Most "costumes" are one setting wild displays of flashing color (like standing amoung the animated sparkles of a WALT DISNEY magic wand), top of the line models simulate fur, feathers, silk, and jewels. Many models make subtle visual changes to the face of the wearer which not only obscure identity but make it harder to judge the truthfulness of a person's statements by looking at their face(many models include devices to modulate the voice in similar ways.
Although these displays are cheap and effective, outside of condictions of shifting and/or unsteady light, it's easy to see that someone is wearing a mask. However, many bars use lighing systems that obscure identity anyway(to protect the privacy of their patrons) a sly careful conman might get away with useing a Holomask.
As aristocracies have always loved masqurades (blurring identities in a formal hierarchy is often intoxicating) costumes both comfortable and exotic were required. The development of lightweight, easy to wear and use, holographic display costumes was the outcome.
Most "costumes" are one setting wild displays of flashing color (like standing amoung the animated sparkles of a WALT DISNEY magic wand), top of the line models simulate fur, feathers, silk, and jewels. Many models make subtle visual changes to the face of the wearer which not only obscure identity but make it harder to judge the truthfulness of a person's statements by looking at their face(many models include devices to modulate the voice in similar ways.
Although these displays are cheap and effective, outside of condictions of shifting and/or unsteady light, it's easy to see that someone is wearing a mask. However, many bars use lighing systems that obscure identity anyway(to protect the privacy of their patrons) a sly careful conman might get away with useing a Holomask.
Poo-Be-Gone
"The nano-spray that makes fauna feces disappear!"
Just one squeeze and the nasty droppings are gone!
Used by Paleontologists throughout the Imperium!
As Seen on Holovision!
Note: Vaandeer Sparkly Industries is not responsible for any mutations, side effects, or preset stains.
"The nano-spray that makes fauna feces disappear!"
Just one squeeze and the nasty droppings are gone!
Used by Paleontologists throughout the Imperium!
As Seen on Holovision!
Note: Vaandeer Sparkly Industries is not responsible for any mutations, side effects, or preset stains.
Astromancer
Mongoose
ExoGonads
Due to the high risk of genetic damage in space, many routine space travelers keep genetic samples in special storage facilities in many larger bases. Most of these facilities also provide artificial spermatogenisis and ovagenisis services. Given 3I biotech, genetic samples of either males or females can provide sperm or ovum as requiered. Many people who don't regularly travel in space, especially gay couples use these services as well.
Given the importance of dynastic mariages to 3I aristocrats, and the total disengagement of matromony from love (typical of aristocracies), this system completely frees heirs to wed each other and have children under any circumstances. With exo-wombs and exo-gonads, people whove never met, nor ever will meet, nor would want too, can have children together. Unromantic, but in certain cases practical.
Families of space workers and travelers also tend to seperate love, sex, and family/reproduction. Exogonads and exowombs allow children to be born to couples that are suitable working teams to keep the family going and rise the child well. Sex, romance, and emotional comitment (other than to the family) are sought elsewhere.
Both of these paterns create unique family patterns. Outsiders often get very mixed-up.;-)
Due to the high risk of genetic damage in space, many routine space travelers keep genetic samples in special storage facilities in many larger bases. Most of these facilities also provide artificial spermatogenisis and ovagenisis services. Given 3I biotech, genetic samples of either males or females can provide sperm or ovum as requiered. Many people who don't regularly travel in space, especially gay couples use these services as well.
Given the importance of dynastic mariages to 3I aristocrats, and the total disengagement of matromony from love (typical of aristocracies), this system completely frees heirs to wed each other and have children under any circumstances. With exo-wombs and exo-gonads, people whove never met, nor ever will meet, nor would want too, can have children together. Unromantic, but in certain cases practical.
Families of space workers and travelers also tend to seperate love, sex, and family/reproduction. Exogonads and exowombs allow children to be born to couples that are suitable working teams to keep the family going and rise the child well. Sex, romance, and emotional comitment (other than to the family) are sought elsewhere.
Both of these paterns create unique family patterns. Outsiders often get very mixed-up.;-)
Astromancer
Mongoose
Polydorus Parrots
These brightly colored birds, whose bright colors shift durring the day, make excellent pets. They are as easy to live with as cats, and they are less fussy eaters. They also can talk, not just repeating words like Terrestrial parrots. They are semisentinant and can really talk. They're generally empathetic and kind, but most of them have wicked senses of humour and a magpie's eye for pretty shiny things.
Big Secret known to very few
These Parrots are psionic. It's very low power, but a Psion who can get into a repore with these birds can build a powerful group mind to back him up.
However, traveling around with a flock of parrots, who will be even more playful and tricky than normal, isn't easy. Nor is it all that covert.
These brightly colored birds, whose bright colors shift durring the day, make excellent pets. They are as easy to live with as cats, and they are less fussy eaters. They also can talk, not just repeating words like Terrestrial parrots. They are semisentinant and can really talk. They're generally empathetic and kind, but most of them have wicked senses of humour and a magpie's eye for pretty shiny things.
Big Secret known to very few
These Parrots are psionic. It's very low power, but a Psion who can get into a repore with these birds can build a powerful group mind to back him up.
However, traveling around with a flock of parrots, who will be even more playful and tricky than normal, isn't easy. Nor is it all that covert.
