Munsk

Munsk is a feral world in the Josian Reach of the Calixis Sector. The world has a temperate climate,
with roughly 45 percent of its surface covered in seas and
oceans, and is sparsely populated by hunter-gatherer tribes
who forage and fish to survive. Missionary Balborran is the only off-worlder
on the entire planet, dedicated to bringing the word
of the Emperor to the natives, carefully converting their
own nature-totem worship to bring it in line with belief in
the Emperor of Mankind.
Though his reports of the rapidly-declining sea level were initially not believed, when his reports began to mention widespread famine and drought they were heeded. The world’s only real use to the Imperium is to supply
manpower---its people rounded up and press-ganged into the
Imperial Guard or some other indentured task---so a threat to
the population finally warranted investigation.
Munsk’s largest settlement (a tiny village by Imperial standards) which
lay on the coast just eight years earlier, is now not even in
sight of the sea. Instead, there is a vast undulating plain that
used to be the seabed, pock-marked with the occasional
pool of rotting weeds. With one of their major food sources
eradicated, not to mention unprecedented and violent
weather patterns caused by the shift in the ecosystem, the
natives have suffered greatly from malnutrition and famine.
Many believe that they have angered their gods by adopting
the new customs introduced by Missionary Balborran. As
such, there is a growing antipathy towards the holy man and
the greater, if unknown, Imperium that he represents.
The locals have witnessed strange, magical lights in the sky, far off out over
where the sea used to be.
The truth of the matter is dire: the water is being stolen by the forge world Belacane. Forge Master Hierax is personally overseeing the operation. He has no contrition for his actions, despite the devastating climatic change he has unleashed on the inhabitants of Munsk. As far as he is concerned, the simple numbers clearly justify the water harvesting. They have already drained one of the seas upon the world and have left the stripped hulk of their initial mining platform to rust in a small lake---the remnants of what was once a mighty body of water. A second platform is being constructed, also overseen by a delegation from the Administratum led by Senior Tithe-Proctor Velnius Crum, who is there to review the operation that has pulled back Belacane’s tithe deficit and even increased planetary output. The maintained supply of military hardware for the Emperor’s armies outweighs the loss of a handful of feral aboriginals a hundred times over and the Tithe-Proctor will not brook any interference.
==Unique Equipment==
Balecarne Moon Blades
Class: Melee (Primitive)
Moon blades are primarily used by the elite Crescent
Brotherhood of the Balecarne tribe, who originate from
the feral world of Munsk, located in the Josian Reach. Over
time, the tribe has spawned sister-tribes on the neighboring
worlds in the system.
Moon blades are two crescent-shaped blades, each about
30 centimeters in length. The wielder holds a blade in each
hand, gripping it in the center---usually a piece of leather
is wrapped around the middle of the blade to protect the
wielder’s hands. The points of the crescent point outwards,
away from the wielder’s body. Moon Blades are difficult to
use, taking many years to fully master. Experts, especially
members of the Crescent Brotherhood, can wield the blades
with deadly force and may also use them as short-range
throwing weapons.
Melee or Thrown, 5m, 1d10, R, PEN 0, Fast, Primitive, Unwieldy, WT 3kg, Cost 25, Rare
Stink Bombs
These are used on a variety of primitive worlds, although the
most renowned are those from the planet of Munsk. Created
by collecting the feces of a large worm-like creature, the
excrement is then mixed with virulent pollen from the yellow-petalled
plant known locally as the “dung-bloom” for its
distinctive odor. The mixture is then balled up and encased
in a dried mud shell. Once the fragile mud-shell is cracked
an intolerable stench is released (an eight meter diameter per
bomb). Most humans will not be able to stand the odor and
must vacate the area or experience severe nausea and even loss
of consciousness if they suffer prolonged exposure.
Anyone exposed to a stink bomb must succeed on a
Toughness Test each Round or gain one level of Fatigue.
Cost 6, WT 1kg, Common
Spirit Tonic
Originating from the planet of Munsk in the Josian Reach,
spirit tonic is an alcoholic brew produced mainly on the
northern continent. Its ingredients are not wildly known,
though, there are rumors that the corpses of the small
rodents dominating that area of the planet may be the primary
ingredient, however, such whispers have yet to be proven.
Regardless, steed tonic is infamous for its wretched flavor,
inspiring many theories about just what exactly is in it.
Known to its detractors as “coward juice”, consuming a
measure of this foul fluid inspires a degree of “courage” to
the imbiber. The natives of Munsk believe a swig can dull
the pangs of fear and thus nearly all warriors drink the fluid
before hunting, waging war or confronting their spouse.
This vile concoction conceals a powerful narcotic poison,
once ingested it grants a +10 bonus on all Fear Tests made for
the next 1d5 hours. However, it impairs judgment, inflicting a
–10 penalty on all Intelligence based Tests during this period.
This substance is also addictive and more than capable of
inflicting permanent brain damage in a frequent user.
1 Bottle: Cost 12, WT 0.1kg, Common
Category:Feral Worlds
Category:Josian Reach
Category:Calixis Sector
Category:Planets