Serpent's Cradle

“The Serpent’s Cradle? Aye, I’ve ‘eard of that cursed star system, alright! Gems as big as a babe’s fist! They say a man goes plain mad at just one look—all the beauty and fresh air. Forgets to feed ‘emselves, they do! Just waste away smilin’ like idiots! No one ever comes back from that blighted place! Not ever! Course, that don’t explain how all these tales are heard.”
–Haspshur Gray, Hive Sibellus Scum
Within Winterscale’s Realm there is a mysterious
clutch of worlds orbiting a pair of ancient stars.
Not much is known about these worlds, aside from
rumors overheard in the dens of inequity and dark whispering
corridors of Footfall and Port Wander. These tales speak of
the planets of the Serpent’s Cradle; where the air is pure and
the water sweet, worlds that can heal any ailment. They also
speak of gems the size of a human’s hand that can easily be
plucked from the ground—virtual paradises, according to the
storytellers. However, they also add a dark shadow to these
stories. They say that those who attempt to visit these worlds
never return. They either waste away from hunger and thirst as
they live on; drooling in ultimate peace and contentment, or
some sinister protector of these worlds murders them before
they can leave. Though they claim to speak from experience,
none of the tale-tellers can explain how it is these stories are
known if no one ever leaves these worlds alive, leaving most of
what’s known about these worlds open to speculation.
The system known as the Serpent’s Cradle is an unusual
arrangement of worlds orbiting the Serpentis Stars. These
twin stars, Serpentis Alpha and Serpentis Beta, are ancient
blue stars—resembling dazzling sapphires burning in the
void. The planets of this system orbit the stars in a unique
double-helix pattern. Every world in the Serpent’s Cradle
eventually passes between the binary stars, what’s referred to
as the ‘Cradle,’ and in the process they are exposed to massive
amounts of severe radiation. Despite this fact, the habitable
worlds remain green and lush with their own ecosystems and
unique flora and fauna. The high number of worlds that can
support life in this system is another unusual property. This
has led those few adepts and savants who think they know
about this system to postulate that the system was somehow
engineered. However, until some credible data turns up, this
will never be confirmed.
It is often speculated that Sebastian Winterscale visited
theses worlds and was the only one to ever escape them
unharmed. His crew often spoke of a meticulously kept journal
detailing his journeys and encounters. If this information
is true, then perhaps there’s some information to be
found about the Serpent’s Cradle and the worlds
within it. Yet, if he or his crew did indeed visit
these worlds, none of them ever spoke of it
publicly, and Winterscale’s journal has
never been found. Other Rogue Traders and members of the
Disciples of Thule have tried to explore the worlds of the
Serpent’s Cradle, but most were either lost or have found
nothing to corroborate the spacer tales about this system.
There are twelve planets that orbit the ancient binary stars,
and the system is surrounded by a massive asteroid belt that likely
formed as a result of the tremendous gravimetric stresses the
stars placed on the belt when the system was first formed aeons
ago. An ancient log purported to have been recovered from an
automated servitor-piloted drone have reported that the habitable
worlds appear to be in a state of evolutionary suspension—that
is, the planet’s ecology has been the same for the past several
thousand millennia! The purpose for this can only be guessed
at, however, this type of stagnation is only commonly found on
Eldar Maiden and Exodite worlds to speed up the growth of
the planet’s vegetation in order to support future colonies. Given
the distinct lack of Eldar presence in the system (aside from the
occasional pirate and corsair fleet), it would appear that this
practice is no longer limited to their worlds alone.
==The Monoliths and the Eldar==
Some of the few accurate records in the Koronus Expanse may
be found in the archives of the Explorator Magos Talus Zane.
Zane equipped his ship—The Omnissiah Ascendant—with a
highly sophisticated (and extremely old) multiple auspex array,
and spent several days studying the Serpent’s Cradle from far
beyond the system’s Oort cloud. The long range scans and pict-records
of the surfaces of the worlds within the Serpent’s Cradle
reveal that the surface of the habitable worlds are dotted with
what appear to be some type of crystal structures that resemble
organically-grown spires. It’s also said that these objects appear
to be meshed with other organic materials, not unlike that used
by the ancient Eldar.
Three images of particular interest were taken of one of the
worlds passing through the Cradle. The images, though fuzzy,
show the structures apparently energized; glowing with a pale
purple light, presumably the radiation and energy collected
from passing between the two stars. Where this energy is
stored, or why it’s being collected in the first place can also
only be guessed at, but it is speculated that some massive
collector might be set deep beneath the surface of these worlds,
and that the energy gathered is transferred to these locations
for some unknown purpose. If this is the case, then the energy
of millennia awaits below the crust of the planets.
It is thought that the Eldar marked these worlds out for
colonization based on ancient logs and records recovered
from Sebastian Winterscale. However, there is a definite lack
of Eldar activity not only within the system, but the Koronus
Expanse as a whole. Even the members of Craftworld Kaelor
and Eldar Corsairs have shown no interest in the Serpent’s
Cradle, aside from occasionally using it to stage ambushes
on ships passing through the region from time to time. It is
likely that Zane knows more than he has thus far revealed.
However, should a Rogue Trader wish to learn from him,
they will have to track down the reclusive Tech-priest and his
ship—last seen deep in Winterscale’s Realm.
==Navigating the Serpent's Cradle==
Due to the massive gravity wells generated by the twin stars,
all but the most exceptional Navigators must exit the warp well
away from the system, leaving the dangerous and dense field
of rock and debris between the ship and the interior of the
Serpent’s Cradle. Thus, among those few vessels that even find
the Serpent’s Cradle, only a fraction of them ever attempt to
explore it. The remains of those who have tried and failed can
be found drifting through the detritus of rock and gasses.
Aside from the dense field of rock that envelopes the
system’s outer reaches, there are mysterious gravity wells and
isolated anomalies within the system itself. Because no one
outside the few probes and passing vessels making course
corrections has ever travelled in-system and returned to tell
the tale, there is no concrete information on what exactly
lurks in the near-void of the Serpent’s Cradle.
Naturally, the various Rogue Traders and Explorators who
have passed in and out of the Koronus Expanse have made
attempts to gain access to the unspoiled worlds of the Serpent’s
Cradle in an attempt to survey and exploit them. Most have
been unsuccessful, but those who have made attempts and were
not destroyed in the process have an eclectic mix of stories of
their attempts. It’s thought that Sebastian Winterscale was the
only one who actually passed through successfully and returned
to tell the tale; all other tales are thought to be variations on
the telling of the same story. Those who do actually claim to
have set foot on the worlds of the Serpent’s Cradle are thought
of as braggarts, liars or fools. Given that Winterscale explored
this realm over six hundred years ago, many of his reports are
fragmented and have succumbed to time. This leaves many
scholars to suspect that Winterscale may not have been as
truthful about his exploits as originally thought.
On more than one occasion, Rogue Traders have reported
entering the outer edges of the system, only to be attacked
by bone-colored ships with tattered solar sails, reminiscent
of Eldar craft. They say that these reavers and pirates show
no mercy, and that the crews who do survive, barely escape
with their lives. Others contend that it wasn’t Eldar pirates
that attacked them at all, but other xenos of an unknown
origin—possibly the Rak’Gol, who have been plaguing ships
and colonies since their incursion from the Alenic Depths.
Whatever the case may be, the Serpent’s Cradle will prove a
serious challenge for any who wish to investigate it.
==Worlds of the Serpent's Cradle==
While the exact nature of the system remains to be explored,
over the past 800 years since the opening of the Maw Passage
from the Calixis Sector, many have passed by (or through)
the system. Explorator fleets of the Disciples of Thule have
attempted to make forays into the system for their own
obscure purposes, and they have been willing to share at least
part of their findings—however meagre they are.
At least twelve bodies, not including the massive Serpent’s
Belt of asteroids, orbit the twin stars of the Serpent’s Cradle.
Of these, three worlds, documented and surveyed by long
range auspex scans, appear to support life, although the
Adeptus Mechanicus and the Navis Nobilite suggest that
there may be more hidden from their augur arrays. The star
system is very large, and the augur scans of the Mechanicus
have only covered a small faction of it at a long distance.
Each of these worlds supports an abundance of lush plant
life that thrives in the strange radiation and electro-magnetic
fields of the Cradle. It’s thought that primitive animal life
may also exist on these worlds as well, although only a
landed expedition could confirm this. Naturally, spacers tell
tales of giant armored lizards as big a hab block and herds
of herbivores wandering the plains. None of these stories can
be confirmed, however.
Closest to the twin stars, on the inner reaches of the so-called
“life zone,” a lush tropical world has been discovered.
Blanketed in thick jungles and craggy mountains, this world
is thought to hold untold secrets deep beneath its canopy of
verdant vegetation. Long range arrays have found images of
strange structures on the surface, but nothing to show that
anything beyond the primitive jungle fauna exists—nothing
to show who built them without getting a closer look.
The second world, perhaps the most Terra-like world in the
system, is covered in a wide variety of vegetation and stable
tectonics. In the last century, Magos Paulius Strennus of the
Adeptus Geologica, has taken on the task of compiling the
scattered and fragmented reports from voidsmen and various
other “reliable” sources. Magos Strennus postulates this world to
be millions of years old, though it appears to be held in a state
of geological stasis. What is causing this or why is unknown,
but the planet does show tell-tale signs of being engineered.
Thick forests of evergreen plants and whispering plains can
be seen from the preliminary surveys taken. Additionally,
structures similar to the other two worlds have also
been noted here as well.
The last world identified is one that is dominated by
deep oceans. Small chains of islands are scattered across the
water in groups of archipelagos. Some of these islands have
been identified as being ecosystems unto themselves—self
contained worlds within a world. Naturally, like the other
worlds located, this third planet also has structures and ruins
on several of the islands. However, unlike the other two
worlds, many of these structures and buildings appear to be
tribal and occupied. That the probes and scans can reveal
no more detail about the inhabitants has proven very
disconcerting for the magos of the Adeptus Biologis
aboard Altar-Templum-Calixis-Ext-17.
==The Nature of the Serpent's Cradle==
The nature of the Serpent’s Cradle and the threat it presents has been deliberately left open for the Game Master to
interpret. An excellent source of adventures and endeavors, the Serpent’s Cradle system offers a wealth of possibilities
for a group of intrepid Explorers. As no one is certain what actually waits within the Serpent’s Cradle, the GM is free to
devise whatever he feels would be appropriate for the Explorers to encounter. Naturally, the asteroid belt presents its own
unique challenges, but there are other decisions that need to be made concerning the planets themselves.
Since every campaign is unique, there is no one “right” or “wrong” decision. In fact, there are several suggestions
listed below to help the GM customize the Serpent’s Cradle for his campaign. Some of the areas that should, at the very
least, be decided upon are the nature of the worlds, what type of guardians protect them, and the types of endeavors
that can be created for the Rogue Trader and fellow Explorers to capitalize upon.
Rumors and tales told since the initial discovery of the worlds within the Serpentis system by Sebastian Winterscale have all
spoken of planets whose waters can heal, where gems can simply be plucked off the ground, and a man could want for nothing.
While exaggerations to be sure, there is a grain of truth within them. The GM should decide where tales end and truth begins.
An important mystery of the Serpent’s Cradle is the system’s “guardians.” The rumors told state that those who set
foot on these pristine paradise worlds never leave them again—but this leaves open any number of possibilities. Below
are several example forces that the GM could pit the Explorers against:
*The sinister forces of Slaanesh tainted this world. It is a “Venus flytrap” that lures explorers to their death with its irresistible beauty and tales of infinite wealth and healing, a garden of forbidden delights to seduce the unwary.
*The worlds of the Serpent’s Cradle are actually Eldar Maiden Worlds; they have set out mysterious guardians to skill any who dare set foot upon their virginal soil. These guardians might be Rangers, or a far older and more dangerous protector.
*Though the surfaces of the worlds are a mystery, the Eldar known as the Crow Spirits maintain a secret fastness amongst the complex planetary orbits that complicate the system. Anyone who discovers the Crow Spirits’ secret will find his life forfeit as the hostile Eldar will expend every resource to destroy them.
Needless to say, the possibilities are only limited by the imagination of the GM and his players. One other item to
consider is the nature of the crystal vanes that lie scattered across the surfaces of the inhabitable planets. The GM should
consider their function and purpose, even if it’s nothing more than helping to bleed off the incessant radiation that
bathes the worlds as they pass through the “Cradle” between the stars in order to keep the worlds livable.
Once he has these details figured out, no matter how preliminary, the GM can then move on with creating Endeavors
that the Explorers will use to gain wealth and fame throughout the Imperium. The following are sample endeavors a
GM can make use of, or combine into a single larger Endeavour.
Walk on the worlds of the Serpent’s Cradle (Lesser): Since the only reliable Rogue Trader to have ever set foot
on the worlds of the Serpent’s Cradle was supposedly Sebastian Winterscale, the Explorers will need to repeat that
feat and be able to not only return to tell the tale, but also prove their story. What mineral wealth or other rewards
(and dangers) await the Explorers is up to the GM, but even finding a route beyond the treacherous asteroids is a feat
in and of itself. The Explorers must negotiate the dangers of the asteroid belt surrounding the system, and preferably
find a route that others can use (and pay for the privilege).
Discover the terrible secret that lurks behind the façade (Greater): Something malign awaits the Explorers within this
system; some dark and sinister secret that doesn’t want to be found, and is worth protecting at all costs. Some possibilities
include an ancient xenos war world filled with terrible weapons and dark technology, a staging point for some conquering
xenos armada, or perhaps a stable warp gate exists that leads deep into the raw immaterium—waiting for the stars to align
before a mob of daemon-infested hordes spills forth ready to wreck havoc upon an unsuspecting (and unaware) sector. Or
perhaps it is as the scholars and adepts postulated: this is a forgotten Eldar world, lost to the sands of time.
==Psychic Phenomenon==
Aside from the other strange phenomena concerning the
Serpent’s Cradle, many of the psykers and diviners of the
Koronus Expanse and the Imperium have noted that there
is something psychically “unnatural” about this system.
Astropathic communication within the reaches of the
Serpent’s Cradle seem to be muted somehow, as if there is
some kind of background noise interfering with the sending
of messages. Castings of the Emperor’s Tarot, both within and
without the system, all point to some ancient force waiting
and watching over the system.
Category:Systems
Category:Winterscale’s Realm
Category:Koronus Expanse