recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Seraphina

The ***Seraphina*** was an Outrider of the Frontier Union Militia attached to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative, commanded by Captain Taida Jadina. It served under the command of Captain Omar Maalsuwda.

## History

At some point before 0304 PCU, Captain Jadina was given command of the *Seraphina*, before she signed her ship on with the Avalon Initiative.

### Lost in CDC-41-Gamma

Sometime after arriving in CDC-41-Gamma, the *Seraphina* regrouped with many other Frontier Union vessels, including that of Captain Maalsuwda. For several months the group traversed the nebula, likely encountering the Advari for the first time during this period. They also managed to recover one the Drift Gate components during this time, hauling it with them.

### Finding the Last Component

Sometime before the 100th of Equinox, 0305 PCU, Maalsuwda's group came across another Gate component being hauled beyond the Aegis of Invia by members of the Holy Advari Empire. Realising how vital it was to reclaim this component if the expedition was to succeed, Maalsuwda ordered the ships in his fleet to form around their already found component in order to create a silent-running Holdfast station, where they would observe the Advari from afar and prepare a daring rescue mission to recover the component.

### Return to The *Avalon*

However, before Maalsuwda's mission could be sent underway, his flotilla regained contact with the *Avalon* when the *Seraphina* made contact with the *Guinevere*. Shortly afterwards, the *Avalon* sent resupply ships and their Gatehauler to pick up Maalsuwda's component. This dramatic increase in activity, however, promptly alerted the Advari to the location of the Holdfast, forcing the Union forces to hastily disassemble the station. The *Seraphina*, alongside the *Rodrigo*, *Tserekai*, *Sutedo*, and *Guinevere*, moved to defend the in-repair *Winchell Chung* and the other retreating civilian ships. The *Guin* rescued Seraphina from several incoming Advari Fliers. However, as the second wave approached, Captain Jadina and the Captain of the *Whiplash* opted to stay behind and cover the retreat of the *Chung* and all other vessels present into the local Lauralyn Conduit. The ship was likely destroyed soon after.
Portunus Terminal

**Portunus Terminal** is a traffic control centre in the Atamara Crossroads System. It manages traffic through the the Atamara Crossroads-Seravis Major Drift Gate.

## Behind the Scenes

Portunus was an ancient Roman deity associated with keys, doors, livestock and ports.

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Worlds of Tantalus - The Frontier Union
Maxine Blake

Captain **Maxine Blake** is a Merician merchant captain and the commanding officer of the Treasure Ship *Friendly Expedience*.

## Personality

Cpt. Blake has an approachable, friendly personality, not unlike that of Mathias Croft, another Merician. Despite her (understandable) misgivings about Vadric upon first meeting him, the Captain quickly accepted his presence, commanding her crew directly to lower their weapons when told by Cassandra Farren that he was no threat.

## Biography

Shortly after arriving in CDC-41-Gamma, Blake's vessel met up with two other ships - the Treasure Ship *Swift Conveyance* and one of the Gatehaulers of the Avalon Exploratory Initiative. Blake prepared a widebeam signal into the nebula, but before the small flotilla could get underway and closely examine the local space-time anomalies, the *Expedience*'s PMC escort was destroyed by a local Advari Lightship, and Blake's flotilla was forced into hiding in an interference band of a local supermassive giant.

Eight months later, Blake's initial emergency signal was heard by elements of the Avalon Expedition Fleet. After some decoding of the transmission thanks to the help of one Mathias Croft, the *Avalon* dispatched one of their attached warships, the *Guinevere*, to the location of the signal. There, the *Guin* heard of Captain Blake's precarious position, being hunted by a still on-the-prowl lightship. With her ships too slow to outrun the vessel and make a break for the Lauralyn Conduits, Blake was forced to hunker down in the interference band and stay put.

With the *Guin*'s help, Blake and her fleet were able to escape from hiding, with the *Guin* pulling off a dangerous slingshot maneuver into the local gas giant's atmosphere, creating a wake large enough for the small fleet to ride out with them before the pursuing Advari Lightship could strike. Thanks to the *Guin*'s efforts, Blake's entire flotilla escaped unscathed, and rejoined the broader Avalon Fleet.

A short time later, after the last of the Gate Components was recovered, a flotilla of Advari Lightships were spotted on an approach vector towards The Greenhouse. With limited time, Blake advocated for the fleet to cut their losses, complete the Drift Gate as fast as possible, and take as much food as they could through it before destroying it behind them. When Lieutenant Commander Ravi suggested sacrificing some of their food haulage space to take topsoil, Blake responded with confusion, before the Captain of the Siochana, Rachel Weisheimer, explained how vital nutrient-rich topsoil would be to improving the general situation of Tantalus.

## Appearances

**Volume 3**

* *Contact, Wait Out*

**Volume 4**

* *Observer Effect*

## References

1. ↑ *Contact, Wait Out*
2. ↑ Beneath The Banner
Red Bannerets

The **Red Bannerets** were a notorious revolutionary group in the Frontier Union, led by Kaito Hakim during the late 3rd century PCU, which campaigned for the independence of the Frontier systems from the Centrum Assembly.

In 0290 PCU, following the Primrose Incident, it was the Red Bannerets that stormed the government house in Second Landing, the capital city of Maiala's Rest, and executed the colonial government in the first of a series of insurrections that would lead to the creation of the Frontier Union.

## References

1. ↑ Maiala's Rest | Worlds of Tantalus | The Sojourn
Stephen Trafford

Stephen Trafford is the voice behind Inquisitor Castian Vadric in *The Sojourn*.

## Biography

Since 2015, Stephen has been working on several audiobooks including the *Empath Trilogy* and *Legacy of Darkness*, as well as lending his voice to the officially licensed *Operation: Anabasis* promo for the *Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock* video game by Slitherine Software.

Stephan has a sizable audience presence from his Youtube series *A Hollow Tale*, where he explains the lore of various fantasy series with a particular focus on tabletop gaming. He has made several guest appearances on the popular *Encounter Roleplay* stream, and provides the voice for the Templin Institute.

## *The Sojourn*

Trafford joined *The Sojourn* sometime before the release of Volume 1 in August 2020, providing the voice of Castian Vadric.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.thesojournaudiodrama.com/cast-crew
Larsen (Marine)

## Larsen

Corporal **Larsen** was a Centran Marine attached to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative.

## Biography

At some point, Larsen joined the Centran Marine Corps, and by 0304 PCU, was part of the Marine complement aboard the CSV *Shabayev* under the command of Vice Admiral Winston Redfield. Larsen deployed with the *Shabayev* through Edric's Gate as part of the Avalon Expedition Fleet. Most of the fleet was scattered on its arrival in CDC-41-Gamma, though the *Shabayev* managed to rendezvous with a handful of other ships.

During Vice Admiral Redfield's brief tenure as leader of the Avalon Expedition, Larsen was assigned to the *Avalon*, primarily guarding the former civilian leadership, Captain Cassandra Farren and Director Elizabeth Ancelet.

Months later, Larsen was selected by Commander Lewis Harper to be a part of his 8-man boarding party during the recovery of the Gatehauler at the Raid on the Aegis of Invia. She was killed aboard the station by Advari repulsion forces.

## Personality

Larsen appeared serious about her position in her first appearance, communicating with her superiors in a practiced, militaristic manner. However, outside her duties, Larsen seemed ready and able to tease and jostle with her fellow marines, such as Corporal Dalcop.

## Behind the Scenes

Larsen is voiced by Katte Noel. She was originally just known as "Marine Corporal".

## References

1. ↑ *Inclement Weather*
2. ↑ *Theirs Not to Make Reply*
3. ↑ *Theirs Not to Reason Why*
4. ↑ Where Angels Fear to Tread
Kaito Hakim

## Appearances

**Kaito Hakim** was a Maialan revolutionary who was an instrumental figure in the foundation of the Frontier Union.

## Biography

### Revolutionary agitator

Kaito Hakim led the Red Bannerets in the late third century PCU, which campaigned for the independence of the four Frontier systems from the Centrum Assembly. Their rallies were a strong influence on a young Omar Maalsuwda.

In the face of Centran indifference towards poverty and deprivation on the Frontier, Hakim's rallies and protests grew increasingly violent. Hakim established contacts with like-minded figures on the Frontier, such as Arcelia Abescal, "the Pirate-Queen of Atamara" and leader of the Paleborn pirate band. Hakim's influence allowed Abescal's fleet to grow well beyond the size usually expected of a pirate band, and together they laid plans for an incident that would provoke the Frontier's secession from the Assembly.

### Frontier War

Following the Primrose Incident of 0290 PCU, Hakim led the Red Bannerets in storming the government house in the Maialan capital of Second Landing, executing the colonial government and sparking a series of insurrections across the Frontier. Hakim then acted as the Maialan representative on the original Union Council on Teldrin, which proclaimed the independence of the four Frontier systems from Centrum as the Frontier Union.

Without consulting the rest of the Council, Hakim instructed Arcelia Abescal to lead a unified pirate fleet into the Axius System to seize ships and supplies in an effort to force the Centrum Assembly to recognise the Frontier's independence and gain more favourable terms for the delivery of essential supplies to the four systems. This unilateral decision to attack Axius was opposed by Freewarden Tacito Lemaire of Dalstaff and Fleet Leader Devin Tandil, who believed that Abescal's reputation for brutality would undermine support in the Assembly for the Union's independence, and both were furious when they learned that the attack had been planned between Abescal and Hakim prior to the Union's declaration of independence. While he likely expected these protests, Hakim always maintained that he was motivated solely by the needed to maintain the element of surprise over Centrum. The bloody First Battle of Axius, however, ensured that the Centrum Assembly would accept no other outcome than total victory over the Frontier as an end to the Frontier War.

## References

1. ↑ *Beneath The Banner*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Maiala's Rest | Worlds of Tantalus | The Sojourn
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 First Battle of Axius | Official Lore Short | The Sojourn
4. ↑ The Primrose Incident | Official Lore Short | The Sojourn
Official Launch Trailer

The logo of The Sojourn before Edric's Gate

The **Official Launch Trailer** is a motion comic trailer for Volume 1 of *The Sojourn*. The trailer consists of several scenes relating to events of Volume 1, set to Shelby Merry's *Don't Follow.*

## Synopsis

First, we see the *Guinevere* as she flies towards the ice field of CDC-41-Gamma, followed quick of two shots of Cassandra Farren on the bridge of her vessel, looking at the digital feeds of the outside environment.

Next, a scene of Mathias Croft and Tamara Melari in a cargo bay - Croft leans against the *Guinevere's* R-36 Wildcat All-Terrain Excursion Rover, whilst Meds works away at a Calbrook LS-31U EM Carbine. Meanwhile, on the command deck of the *Avalon*, Elizabeth Ancelet smokes a cigarette, contemplating something unknown.

An external shot of the vast, spinning shape of the *Avalon* follows, sitting in wait in the ice field of CDC-41-Gamma. An unknown world sits in orbit around a pulsar. The next scene shows Meds holding her carbine and Cassandra wielding a Nightbridge Firesnap EM Semi-Automatic Handgun, both of them in EVA suits aboard a debris filled hallway (possible GH-0007-VG).

The *Mariana* is shown next, littered with holes as the lights on its nametag flickers, sparks flying across its surface. The camera sweeps, showing the pulsing sails of the *Cloak of Mercy* open wide as it sets sail. Edric's Gate is shown next, as the Avalon Platform, Gatehaulers, Merician Treasure Ships, and other vessels of the Avalon Expeditionary Fleet depart to CDC-41-Gamma. Then, Elizabeth and Cassandra are shown next to one another aboard the command deck.

The last shot shows the logo of *The Sojourn*, masked over the vast shape of Edric's Gate in the background.
Study on the Practical Viability of Drift Capture After Decomposition

**Study on the Practical Viability of Drift Capture After Decomposition** was an article written by T.I. Bogdanov and published in the Summer Equinox, 0047 PCU edition of *The Physical Report*. The study showed that recovery Drift after it had undergone thermal decomposition was impractical.

## References

1. ↑ Gabriel Fonseca, *The Science of Drift*
Starship weapons

**Starship weapons** are armaments mounted on starships for ship-to-ship combat or for planetary attack. The militaries of the Tantalus Cluster make use of a diverse range of weapons, including kinetic autoguns for close-in defence, coilguns for medium-range combat, and guided torpedoes for long range attacks.

## Projectile weapons

### Coilguns

Coilguns make use of magnetic accelerators to fire molybdenum permalloy projectiles at high velocities, and can fire either armour-piercing shot or hull-shredding canister rounds. Coilguns can be installed either as a fixed spinal mount on small ships, or as a twin-barrelled turret mount on larger vessels.

#### Coilgun models

* Broadhead-Lock medium-weight coilgun
* Bodkin-Lock light-weight coilgun

### Railguns

Railguns make use of a pair of parallel conductive rails to accelerate a sliding armature as a projectile. Railguns are favoured by the Frontier Union Militia over more expensive coilguns to preclude the need for expensive ferromagnetic ammunition.

### Kinetic autoguns

Kinetic autoguns are rapid-fire projectile weapons typically used as point-defence weapons against fighters and missiles.

#### Autogun models

* 6.3-inch Twin-Barrel Swivel Gun
* Yakata Teldrin 4.2-Inch Octuple-Barrel High-Impact Swivel Gun

## Torpedoes

Torpedoes are self-propelled missile weapons that may be guided or unguided. Torpedo payloads include variable-yield guided warheads, multi-warhead swarm missiles, dumb-fire cluster rockets, and advanced flechette torpedoes designed to burst into a cloud of heated shrapnel that inflicts devastating damage on unprotected crews and subsystems.

### Torpedo models

* Roulton Armsguild A-6 'Blocker' Heat-Seeking Torpedoes

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The Sojourn: Huntress Class Ambush Corvette (Guinevere) - Ship Breakdown
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Sojourn: Tripathia Class Ship of the Line - Ship Breakdown
3. ↑ The Sojourn: Florencia Class Outrider | Official Ship Breakdown
4. ↑ Guinevere Cross-Section
5. ↑ Confiance-Class Frigate | Official Ship Breakdown | The Sojourn
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Indria Class Outrider | Official Ship Breakdown | The Sojourn
Mirror of Contrition

An example of an Advari Lightship

The ***Mirror of Contrition*** is a lightship of the Holy Advari Empire.

## Design

### Propulsion

Like all known Advari vessels, the *Mirror of Contrition* makes use of a solar sail-like lightsail propulsion system.

### Armament and Utilities

The *Mirror of Contrition* travels armed, with several weapons systems unlike any encountered before by humans. These resemble high powered energy blasts and are capable of destroying a Frontier Union *Florencia*-class Outrider, and heavily damaging a *Tripathia*-class Third-Rate Ship of the Line.

## History

By the year 0305 PCU according to the Tantalus Cluster calendar, the *Mirror of Contrition* was one of a number of ships that reported to Lord Cardinal Hastus Arvannis of the Faith Eternal. Its normal duties involved returning tribute from Anesidora to the throneworld of Advar Primaris.

Around 100th of Equinox, 0305 PCU, the *Mirror of Contrition* was detached from its normal duties to transport 577 Advari subjects selected for sacrifice from Sirianadin to the Diaconate Reaches, in defiance of the orders of Empress Valendra the Sixth.

## Appearances

* *Contact, Wait Out* (first mentioned)
* *Beneath The Banner* (mentioned only)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *The Cold Divide*
2. ↑ *Dust and Shadow* confirms that "solar sail" propulsion systems are common on Advari vessels.
3. ↑ In *Theirs Not to Make Reply*, Vadric implies that the propulsion method of Tantalusian craft is highly unusual, suggesting the Advari are unaware of nuclear propulsion.
4. ↑ *Theirs Not to Make Reply*
5. ↑ *Contact, Wait Out*
6. ↑ *Beneath The Banner*
Mizudori

Mizudori, orbited by Teldrin and the Kādarīn Dorai

**Mizudori** is the fourth planet in the Teldrin System. The ringed gas giant is orbited by Teldrin, a colonised ice moon that is the *de facto* capital of the Frontier Union.

## History

Mizudori is unusually rich in valuable elements and noble gases. These are exploited by the twin orbiting mining stations of Inashi-Suto and Inashi-Katoro for export as fuel across the Tantalus Cluster. This made the Teldrin System invaluable to the Union's war effort during the Frontier War.

Mizudori was the site of the signing of the Treaty of Mizudori, an agreement that guaranteed Merician neutrality during the Frontier War.

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Worlds of Tantalus - The Frontier Union
2. ↑ **The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One**
Lightsail

**Lightsails** are a form of starship propulsion used by the Advari of the CDC-41-Gamma nebula. Lightsails operate on a similar principle to the solar sails used by the humans of the Tantalus Cluster on obsolete satellite designs, but implemented on a much larger scale.

They appear to additionally function as the power sources for Advari vessels, and as such, any damage incurred will result in a reduction of power to the vessel's systems, such as weapons, and the vessel's overall speed.

Lightsails are used on virtually all Advari craft, from small shuttles, to combat fliers, to large lightships like the *Cloak of Mercy*. The Advari appear to be unfamiliar with any other form of propulsion technology.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Dust and Shadow*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Theirs Not to Make Reply*
3. ↑ *The Cold Divide*
Rodrigo

The ***Rodrigo*** is an *Alessiah*-class Fast Frigate of the Frontier Union Militia attached to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative. It serves as the flagship of Captain Omar Maalsuwda.

## History

At some point before 0304 PCU, Captain Maalsuwda was given command of the *Rodrigo*, before he signed on with the Avalon Initiative.

### Lost in CDC-41-Gamma

Sometime after arriving in CDC-41-Gamma, Maalsuwda regrouped with many other Frontier Union vessels. For several months the group traversed the nebula, likely encountering the Advari for the first time during this period. They also managed to recover one the Drift Gate components during this time, hauling it with them.

### Finding the Last Component

Sometime before the 100th of Equinox, 0305 PCU, Maalsuwda's group came across another Gate component being hauled beyond the Aegis of Invia by members of the Holy Advari Empire. Realising how vital it was to reclaim this component if the expedition was to succeed, Maalsuwda ordered the ships in his fleet to form around their already found component in order to create a silent-running Holdfast station, where they would observe the Advari from afar and prepare a daring rescue mission to recover the component.

### Return to The *Avalon*

However, before Maalsuwda's mission could be sent underway, his flotilla regained contact with the *Avalon*. Shortly afterwards, the *Avalon* sent resupply ships and their Gatehauler to pick up Maalsuwda's component. This dramatic increase in activity, however, promptly alerted the Advari to the location of the Holdfast, forcing the Union forces to hastily disassemble the station. The *Rodrigo*, alongside the *Tserekai* and *Guinevere*, both aided in the final evacuation from the system, escorting the limping *Winchell Chung* to the local Lauralyn Conduit. In the process, the *Rodrigo* was damaged, but was able to successfully flee, joining up with the rest of the surviving Avalon Expedition Fleet.

## Crew

* Captain Omar Maalsuwda
* Several Technicians
Rhadal

**Rhadal** was a Tech Sergeant of the Frontier Union Militia who served aboard the frigate *Abigail*.

## Biography

### Avalon Initiative

Rhadal accompanied the Avalon Exploratory Initiative to CDC-41-Gamma in 0304 PCU, and was responsible for assessing the condition of the *Abigail* when she was damaged in the jump to the nebula. He reported that the ship's primary carbon dioxide recycler had been damaged, and gave five days before the crew began experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. The *Abigail* successfully rendezvoused with the *Avalon* shortly afterwards.

### Death

Rhadal was killed in the destruction of the *Abigail* during the second Avalon bombing.

## References

1. ↑ *Non-Zero Sum*
2. ↑ *Yesterday's War*
Mare Somnia

**Mare Somnia** is a geographical feature in the southern hemisphere of the Centran moon of Lysara. During a survey of lava tubes in the region in 0005 BCU, the 6th Lysara Southern Survey Expedition discovered the material later known as Riberite, and through it, the substance known as Drift.

## References

1. ↑ Gabriel Fonseca, *The Science of Drift*
LightCOM Transstellar Communication System

The **LightCOM Transstellar Communication System** is a Centran communications system that allows for lightspeed communication within solar systems. LightCOM systems equip the *Tripathia*-class Third-Rate Ship of the Line and the *Huntress*-class Ambush Corvette.

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Tripathia Class Ship of the Line - Ship Breakdown
2. ↑ The Sojourn: Huntress Class Ambush Corvette (Guinevere) - Ship Breakdown
Privateer

The Hollow Star, the "official" colours for Privateers

**Privateers** are private persons who have received a Letter of Marque from the government of the Centrum Assembly, permitting them to wage war on its behalf. Privateering was re-established by the Centrum Assembly during the Frontier War to allow Centran-aligned independent vessels to commit commerce raids against the Frontier Union to supplement the Centran Defence Force. Since the end of the war, privateering has been expanded to allowing private individuals to attack and arrest pirates, smugglers, and slavers.

## History

Following the ancient Centran tradition of sea-bourne privateers, privateering regained prominence in the Tantalus Cluster following the disastrous start of the Frontier War and the Tandil Rush. The Centran Defence Force, struggling to cope against the overwhelming tide of the Frontier Union Militia, elected to re-instate the custom of Letters of Marque, allowing independent vessels to take up the task of attacking Union supply lines.

Following the end of the war, the privateer system was maintained, with privateers transitioning away from commerce raiding and instead towards dealing with the piracy, smuggling, and slaving that had drastically expanded during the war and the severely weakened CDF and Militia were unable to deal with.

## Aspects of privateering

Privateers are not owed a salary (or any work in general) by virtue of their Letter of Marque. Instead, privateers make their money through ship auctions and bounties.

### Ship auctions

The main way privateers make their living is by auctioning off captured vessels as prize ships. The Letter of Marque allows privateers the unconditional right to take captured vessels to auction houses - which are found at most major Centran ports - and sell their prize ships for profit.

### Bounties

On top of auctions, many security forces will offer bounties for wanted individuals. Although not always as profitable as ship auctions, bounties are the other major revenue stream for Privateers.

### Rogue privateers

Some privateers, especially during the War, gained their Letters of Marque without due diligence on the part of the CDF. This lead to the inception of Rogue Privateers - privateer crews, ostensibly given the unconditional right to go about privateer business, who abuse their positions to harass civilian crews. Many of these Rogue Privateers can almost be considered pirates in of themselves, but are legitimised by their Letter of Marque, making them very difficult to remove.

## Notable privateers

* Cassandra Farren
* Mathias Croft
* Tamara Melari

## References

1. ↑ *The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One*
2. ↑ Privateering in Tantalus | Official Lore Short
Leticia Sandreen

Professor **Leticia Sandreen** is a scientist studying the impact of the Great Famine at the Henshall Institute for Higher Learning. In 0304 PCU, she was interviewed by Centrum Broadcast Radio on the implications of the departure of the Avalon Exploratory Initiative and the necessity of acquiring new resources from CDC-41-Gamma.

## Refrences

1. ↑ *Centrum Broadcast Radio: 45th of Solstice, 304 PCU*
Mericia-Keeper's Dance Drift Gate

The **Mericia-Keeper's Dance Drift Gate** is a Drift Gate in the Mericia System. It connects to the Keeper's Dance-Mericia Drift Gate and permits faster-than-light travel along the Drift Lane to the Keeper's Dance System.

The route between the Mericia System and Keeper's Dance is the newest Drift Lane in the Tantalus Cluster: originally, trade with the Merician Freehold was only possible via the Meric's Keep System to preserve the security of the Mericia System. The Keeper's Dance-Mericia Drift Lane was established to ease trade with the rest of the Cluster. The route is heavily policed by the Mericians, but less so than the route via Meric's Keep, as the Keeper's Dance-Mericia Drift Gate is located in KDFY-controlled corporate space and cannot be easily accessed by the public.

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Worlds of Tantalus: The Centrum Assembly
2. ↑ *The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One*
3. ↑ Confirmed by Daniel Orrett in a Discord message
4. ↑ The Merician Freehold | The Sojourn Lore
Paul Dalcop

Corporal **Paul Dalcop** is a Centran Marine currently attached to the Avalon Exploratory Initiative

## Biography

At some point, Paul Dalcop joined the Centran Marine Corps, and by 0304 PCU, was part of the Marine complement aboard the CSV *Shabayev* under the command of Vice Admiral Winston Redfield. Dalcop deployed with the *Shabayev* through Edric's Gate as part of the Avalon Expedition Fleet. Most of the fleet was scattered on its arrival in CDC-41-Gamma, though the *Shabayev* managed to rendezvous with a handful of other ships.

Over the next two months, the small fleet led by the *Shabayev* struggled to survive in CDC-41-Gamma. Upon encountering the *Golden Opportunity*, a wrecked Merician freighter, Dalcop and his fellow Marines looted clothing and personal effects from the dead. Admiral Redfield resisted imposing discipline on the grounds that it would damage morale. After the *Shabayev* captured an Advari, Castian Vadric, Dalcop was assigned to guard him.

During Vice Admiral Redfield's brief tenure as leader of the Avalon Expedition, Dalcop was assigned to the *Shabayev*. The intense workload placed upon his crewmates eventually resulted in a breakdown of discipline and order among the crew, terminating in a widespread brawl in which Dalcop was struck by Tamara Melari.

Months later, Dalcop was selected by Commander Lewis Harper to be a part of his 8-man boarding party during the recovery of the Gatehauler at the Raid on the Aegis of Invia. Aboard the *Guinevere*, the now-corporal continued to taunt Croft for their previous interaction, although he himself got into a back and forth with his fellow marines about his promotion. Dalcop survived the station boarding.

## Personality

> *"You looted clothing from dead civilians? The hell kind of marine are you. You should be up on charges for this."
> "The kind of marine who keeps you haughty civilians safe in your beds!"*
> - Tamara Melari and a drunken Dalcop.
>
>

Young, inexperienced, and impressionable, Paul Dalcop is proud of his status as a Marine, but has more than once used his position to insult others. When pulled up on his actions by Tamara Melari, herself a former Centran Marine, Dalcop excused himself by claiming that he was following superior orders.

Dalcop is a heavy drinker, becoming extremely inebriated in the *Avalon's* bar when the *Shabayev* reunited with the expedition, and again while on duty aboard the *Shabayev*. During the later incident he verbally accosted Mathias Croft in an attempt to start a fight.

## References

1. ↑ *Inclement Weather*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 *Theirs Not to Make Reply*
3. ↑ *Golden Opportunity*
4. ↑ *Theirs Not to Reason Why*
5. ↑ Where Angels Fear to Tread
6. ↑ Casting Call Document
Rialtis IV

**Rialtis IV** is the fourth planet in the Rialtis System and the only one that is naturally-habitable. It is one of the Centrum Assembly's earliest and most-populous colonies.

## Characteristics

### Geography

One of the few worlds in the Tantalus Cluster that is naturally-habitable to humans, Rialtis IV rotates on a small axial tilt, resulting in year-long seasons that maintain a warm climate and pleasant weather. The planet is known for its extensive grasslands and winemaking. Barricata is the planetary capital.

### Flora and fauna

Rialtis' climate permits extensive vineyards, and the planet is well-known for its winemaking. The Black Rialtan is a breed of horse that hails from Rialtis IV.

### Satellites

Rialtis IV is orbited by the dusty moon Firenna, as well as the space stations Rialtis Terminal and Velocity Raceport.

## History

Rialtis IV was colonised in 0034 PCU, and was the first naturally-habitable planet in the Tantalus Cluster to be reached by Human colonists. Rialtis IV's pleasant climate and beautiful grassland landscapes caused it to become a popular holiday world for the Centrum Assembly in the years before the Great Famine.

During the Frontier War, Rialtis IV managed to keep a number of its resorts, such as Gustaf's, running despite wartime conditions.

## Society

Rialtis IV's climate means that viticulture is a significant industry, with Rialtan Stonewine being its primary export. The planet is also renowned for professional spacecraft racing, annually hosting the Rialtan Solar Circuit, and has contributed many of the most famous and most successful teams to the sport.

## References

1. ↑ *The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 The Sojourn: Worlds of Tantalus: The Centrum Assembly
3. ↑ Daniel Orret on Twitter - "One for the #TheSojourn lore nuts. Briefly mentioned in today's new episode was Redfield's former command from late in the Frontier War. CSV Barricata, KDFY-2304-TC. A Tripathia Class Third Rate, named after the capital city of Rialtis.
4. ↑ *Dust and Shadow*
5. ↑ Pioneer | Worlds of Tantalus | The Sojourn
6. ↑ *The Promised Land*
Sword

The **sword** is a long-bladed, hand-held melee weapon common to both the Human and the Advari species. Swords are largely obsolete for modern combat, though they are nevertheless still carried by both species as ceremonial weapons.

## Human swords

### Captain's Service Sword

The Captain's Service Sword is a ceremonial weapon presented to officers in the rank of Post Captain in the Centran Defence Force. A straight-edged smallsword, the blade is made of silver-gilded Hazelfold Steel.

### Pattern 0214 Field Sword

The Pattern 0214 Field Sword is a single-handed, slightly curved sword carried by the Centran Provost Corps.

## Advari swords

### Ventris Ardenti sword

A sword is a badge of office carried by the Inquisitors of the Ventris Ardenti of the Holy Advari Empire. The sword is largely obsolete as a weapon and sees greater use for conducting ritual sacrifices or executions, though Inquisitors are still trained in its use in combat.

## References

1. ↑ Post Captains and Staff Captains | Official Lore Short
2. ↑ *The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One*, page 7
3. ↑ *Where Angels Fear to Tread*
Pioneer-Centrum Drift Gate

The **Pioneer-Centrum Drift Gate** was the second Drift Gate ever to be designed and constructed by humanity. Placed at the Storm-Pioneer Lagrange Point 4, it connects to the Centrum-Pioneer Drift Gate and permits faster-than-light travel along the Drift Lane to the Centrum System.

## History

The Drift Gate was constructed in 0017 PCU as part of the Centrum Assembly's first expedition to the Pioneer System. After settling the planet of Storm, the colonists began constructing a new Drift Gate to return to the Centrum System. Colony ships returned to Centrum that same year, bringing word of the burgeoning Storm colony.

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Drift and Drift Gates - Avalon Archives
R-36 Wildcat All-Terrain Excursion Rover

The **R-36 Wildcat All-Terrain Excursion Rover** is a civilian ground vehicle design. One such rover, bought by the crew of the privateer corvette *Guinevere*, is stored in the ship's under-slung cargo bay.

## History

The *Guinevere's* rover travelled with it to CDC-41-Gamma as part of the Avalon Exploratory Initiative, where it was used in the exploration of a Vitrified Planet in a pulsar system. Aboard the rover, Captain Cassandra Farren and Director Elizabeth Ancelet discovered the remains of an attempt to colonise the planet by the Holy Advari Empire, increasing their previous understanding of the unknown species. The rover was severely damaged when it crashed into a crevasse, but was successfully recovered.

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Huntress Class Ambush Corvette (Guinevere) - Ship Breakdown
2. ↑ *Dust and Shadow*
Tetrarch-class First-Rate Ship of the Line

The ***Tetrarch*-class First-Rate Ship of the Line** is a capital ship design of the Centran Defence Force, manufactured by Keeper's Dance Fleet Yards. The class was introduced during the Frontier War and served as heavy warships and command vessels in the war.

## Behind the Scenes

Historically, first-rate ships of the line tended to be the largest and most heavily-armed vessels in a fleet, and as such often acted as an Admiral's flagship. However, their size meant that they often had poor seakeeping, and they were extremely expensive to both build and operate. It's likely that this class of ship served the same role in the Centran Defence Force.

## References

1. ↑ *The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One*
Pattern 0214 Field Sword

A Pattern 0214 Field Sword, unsheathed

The **Pattern 0214 Field Sword** is the traditional duty sword of the Centran Provost Corps. The Pattern 0214 is a single-handed, slightly curved sword, possibly based on those carried by cavalrymen. It has a small crossguard and an integrated pommel, with much of the hilt and crossguard painted in traditional Centran blue. The pattern number of the sword, 0214, follows the PCU notation for years.

## References

1. ↑ *The Sojourn Visual Dictionary - Edition One*, page 7
Tandil Rush

The **Tandil Rush** was a military offensive launched by the Union Militia in the early days of the Frontier War.

## Background

Although the Frontier Union had both the element of surprise and the upper hand in preparedness against the Centrum Assembly during the early years of the conflict, military leaders of the Union were acutely aware that a protracted battle against the Assembly could not be won; the Assembly had more worlds, more people, and (most importantly) the backing of the Keeper's Dance Fleet Yards, the largest fleet manufacturer in Tantalus. If given sufficient time, Assembly forces would likely out-produce the Union war machine.

## Offensive

To gain the initiative, a plan was devised early in the war by Fleet Leader Devin Tandil. As the Union Fleets comprised mostly of Outriders, their speed and unique battle tactics would be utilised to quickly surge through Centran-controlled Systems in their push towards Centrum. At first, this "Rush" tactic was remarkably effective. The swift, non-stop movement of the Tandil Rush was able to overwhelm much of the lower quadrant in the cluster. The Seravis Major System was seized, followed by the Cardeus Brink System, however the Centran Defence Force successfully defended the Axius System. Despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned, the Frontier Militia was nevertheless able to stand up to the larger Centran Defence Force even though they were still undergoing preparations for war.

## Consequences

Due to the Tandil Rush, the Union had successfully managed to utilise the element of surprise to "blitz" much of lower Tantalus, leading to the capture of Seravis Major and Cardeus Brink. This effectively placed much of lower Tantalus under Union control. However, their momentum quickly stalled as their rapid speed could not overcome the staunch defence and sheer firepower of the blockades established by the CDF in the systems of Valeria Sibus and Axius.

Having recovered from their initial losses, the CDF would quickly reinforce these two frontline worlds, effectively ending the Tandil Rush. The two systems would eventually stage some of the most brutal fighting in the war as Militia forces desperately attempted to push further into Centran-controlled space. As such, the Tandil Rush failed to reach their primary targets of Vidara, Pioneer, and Centrum itself; all remained out of Union grasp for the remainder of the war.
Outrider

The **Outrider** is type of warship used by the Frontier Union Militia, which saw heavy service during the Frontier War. They were originally converted from Coastal Defence Vessels but later came to comprise an entire ship type in their own right. Designed for fast attacks and ambush tactics against much larger vessels, these ships inspired the *Huntress*-class Ambush Corvette prototype designed and manufactured by Keeper's Dance Fleet Yards.

## Outrider classes

* *Florencia*-Class
* *Indria-*Class

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Florencia Class Outrider | Official Ship Breakdown
Sirianadin

**Sirianadin** is a Giftworld in the Holy Advari Empire.

## Charactistics

Sirianadin, like other Giftworlds and worlds that are not direct servants of the Faith, is a world of squalor and destitution.

## History

Sometime in Summer Solstice, 0304 PCU, according to the Tantalus Cluster calendar, Empress Valendra the Sixth visited Sirianadin, one of the few times she had ever left the Advari capital and gone beyond the Aegis. There, she broke from the tradition of Giftworlds, and pronounced that the day's sacrifices would be spared instead, despite the objects of High Cleric Darsellia Lantris.
Kādarīn Dorai

The **Kādarīn Dorai** ("Sailmaker's Moon" in Teldrani) is a shipyard orbiting Teldrin. The Dorai is a stray comet captured by the gravity of the gas giant Mizudori and towed into orbit of Teldrin by Frontier Union vessels to be transformed into an improvised shipyard.

## Design

A captured comet, the Kādarīn Dorai is naturally composed of compacted ice around a dense metallic core. A deep trench has been cut into its equator by Unioner mining crews, which houses dozens of shipyards and drydocks to build and maintain the warships of the Frontier Union Militia.

The Dorai is supplied from Teldrin's surface and from the lucrative gas-mining economy of the larger Teldrin System.

## History

During the Frontier War, the Kādarīn Dorai was the source of much of the Frontier Union Militia's outriders. Its importance to the Unioner war effort was a key factor in ensuring Teldrin's dominating position in the Frontier Union.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Sojourn: Florencia Class Outrider | Official Ship Breakdown
Seravis Major-Valeria Sibus Drift Gate

The **Seravis Major-Valeria Sibus Drift Gate** is a Drift Gate in the Seravis Major System. Placed at the Braidwood Watch-Seravis Lagrange Point 4, it connects to the Valeria Sibus-Seravis Major Drift Gate and permits faster-than-light travel along the Drift Lane to the Valeria Sibus System.

## References

1. ↑ The Sojourn: Worlds of Tantalus: The Centrum Assembly
Rimad

Factotum **Rimad** is a cleric of the Faith Eternal and a member of the court of Empress Valendra the Sixth of the Holy Advari Empire.

## Biography

By 0304 PCU according to the Tantalus Cluster calendar, Rimad was a senior figure within the Faith Eternal. Like many senior clerics of the Faith, he is part of a conspiracy to conceal knowledge of life outside CDC-41-Gamma from the rest of the Empire and preserve the Faith's power against the monarchy.

In 0305 PCU, against Empress Valendra the Sixth's orders, Rimad presided over a ceremony to send 577 of the Empire's subjects from Sirianadin to the Diaconate Reaches for sacrifice.

## Appearances

* Volume 2
	+ "*Dust and Shadow*" (first mentioned)

* Volume 3
	+ "*Beneath The Banner*" (mentioned only)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Dust and Shadow*
2. ↑ *The Promised Land*
3. ↑ *Beneath The Banner*
Season 1

## Chronology

**Season One** is the first season of The Science Fiction audio drama series *The Sojourn*. It premiered on August 1st, 2020 and concluded August 12th, 2023. The season was split into four, three-episode volumes of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes runtime each. Final runtime measured 7 hours and 44 minutes.

## Synopsis

Adrift in the divide between galaxies and surrounded by the vast emptiness of the intergalactic void, the Tantalus Cluster is the only home humanity has ever known.

After centuries of reckless colonisation and a violent interstellar war, the delicate ecosystem of Tantalus has begun to collapse, and humanity is gripped by poverty and famine.

Desperate and facing extinction, humanity’s only hope is a strange nebula that has suddenly appeared beyond the edge of the cluster. It’s shifting clouds may hide a source of salvation for the people of Tantalus, but time is running out.

## Cast

### Main

* Larissa Thompson as Captain Cassandra Farren
* Emily Serdahl as Director Elizabeth Ancelet
* Ben Prendergast as Mathias Croft
* Laura Faye Smith as Tamara 'Meds' Melari
* Stephen Trafford as Inquistor Castian Vadric

### Recurring

* Matthew Kaufman as Lieutenant Jasper Ravi
* Tim Parker as Lord Cardinal Hastus Arvannis
* Lelia Symington as Empress Valendra the Sixth
* Aaron Jones as Revion Jedrish Carradin
* Amy Kay as Cindra Tacira
* Marta Da Silva as High Cleric Darcelia Lantris
* Tarek Esaw as Midshipman Arin Bankole
* Matt Surges as Commander Lewis Harper
* Ryan Philbrook as Private Paul Dalcop

### Guests

* Tori Danner as Captain Tamika Jinn
* Jimmy Lockett as Vice Admiral Winston Redfield
* Pam Kearns as Bridget Volkova
* Kennedy Phillips as Foreman Richard Sedgewick
* Martin Roach as Captain Omar Maalsuwda

## Episodes

### Volume 1

1. *"The Cold Divide"*
2. *"Inclement Weather"*
3. *"Yesterday's War"*

### Volume 2

1. *"Dust and Shadow"*
2. *"The Promised Land"*
3. *"Theirs Not to Make Reply"*

### Volume 3

1. *"Theirs Not to Reason Why"*
2. *"Contact, Wait Out"*
3. *"Beneath The Banner"*

### Volume 4

1. *"Where Angels Fear to Tread"*
2. *"Observer Effect"*
3. *"Forlorn Hope"*

## Media

### Posters

Season 1, Volume 1 cover artSeason 1, Volume 2 episode title announcement posterSeason 1, Volume 2 cover artSeason 1, Volume 3 episode title announcement posterSeason 1, Volume 3 cover artSeason 1, Volume 3 episode title announcement posterSeason 1, Volume 4 cover art
### Trailers

The Sojourn - OFFICIAL TEASER - The Guinevere RevealedTHE SOJOURN - Official Teaser 2019 - Through The Looking GlassThe Sojourn Audio Drama - Volume One TeaserThe Sojourn Audio Drama Official Launch TrailerThe Sojourn Audio Drama - Volume Two Launch Trailer
Meric's Keep-Axius Drift Gate

The **Meric's Keep-Axius Drift Gate** is a Drift Gate in the Meric's Keep System that links to the Axius-Meric's Keep Drift Gate and enables faster-than-light travel along the Drift Lane to the Axius System. The gate went largely unused following the Great Merician Exile, given the relative resource sparsity of the Meric's Keep System, but has seen greater use since the Merician Freehold  re-established contact with the rest of the Cluster.

## References

1. ↑ The Merician Freehold | The Sojourn Lore
Rogue Privateers

Rogue Privateers may make use of the Hollow Star more than legitimate privateers, to appear authentic

## General information

### Type

Pirates

**Rogue Privateers** are privateers who abuse the powers and rights granted to them by the Letter of Marque to terrorise citizens and commit acts of piracy.

## History

During the Frontier War, the Centran Defence Force was keen to have as much of an advantage as they could over the Frontier Union Militia. As such, beyond producing more warships for their own fleet, the CDF reinstated the Letter of Marque - a legal contract and concept from the age of sail that allowed those who possessed one to legally seize Union vessels and re-sell them to the Assembly for profit as Privateers.

However, due to their desperation following the disastrous early defeats against the Tandil Rush, the CDF failed to conduct due diligence in the early years of the war, practically giving away Letters of Marque to any who asked for it. This, however, lead to many privateers who lacked honourable intentions gaining access to the legal protections the letter afforded. Using it as a shield against scrutiny, they could harass citizens for things like tolls and security taxes, and some privateers even partook in piratical activities of their own.

After the war, the process of gaining a Letter of Marque became much more strict. However, by that point, tens of rogue privateers were in existence, all protected by letters earned during the war, and as such, in the years following, they have become all too common sights across Tantalus.
Rowan J. Coleman

**Rowan J. Coleman** is a Writer and Video Essayist on his channel of the same name.

## Biography

Rowan owns and runs his own channel, wherein he creates video essays on various topics, primarily regarding science fiction and storytelling. He has also written a fiction novel, Paragon.

## Crew Role

Rowan served as a guest writer on "*The Promised Land*". According to Daniel Orrett, Coleman wrote the bulk of the script for the show, before Dan and Larissa Thompson "sojourn-ified" the script, ensuring its science was accurate enough and that it was appropriately naval in its terminology and references.

## Trivia

* Rowan is the first guest writer of the series.
* On his channel, Rowan interviewed Dan about The Sojourn, how to write science fiction, and the latter's storytelling process.
S-24 Songbird

The **S-24 Songbird Interceptor** is a small interception strikecraft used by the Centran Defence Force.

## Design

The S-24 can be stowed in carrier facilities of a similar size to that of the S-36 Stardancer Multi-Role Attack Fighter, suggesting the two crafts may share a design lineage or fill similar roles within wider Centran fleet doctrine. It is unknown if the S-24 and S-36 are related, or if the S-24 preceded the S-36 Stardancer as a design.

The craft was sometimes carried aboard *Confiance*-class Frigates before, during, and after the Frontier War.

## References

1. ↑ Confiance-Class Frigate | Official Ship Breakdown | The Sojourn