Popu Vohl System

A system of pre-Scream worlds around a blue giant star.

## Otto's Guide

*"I don't like it here. I'm bad at basketball, and they seem to take that personally."*

## Stellagraphy

Popu Vohl was once home to the most extensive pre-Scream colonization efforts in the sector. However, its high population (and appropriately high number of psychics) meant that its once-mighty mega-engineering projects have been reduced to blasted ruins. This system contains four notable stellagraphic objects: its star, a class B giant star named Popu Vohl; a brown dwarf named Vucub-Caquix and its surrounding moons; a ruined "shellworld" structure named Teotihuacan; and an unorthodox Jump Gate in orbit of Teotihuacan that the locals call the Great Hoop.

* **Travel Advisory.** Visitors should be aware that this system contains several active and intact Pretech defensive systems. Most locals are not hostile, but automated anti-ship satellites and anti-personnel drones make certain regions extremely hazardous. See below for details.
* **Navigation Hazard.** Pretech infrastructure in low orbit of Teotihuacan has been rendered into a very large cloud of debris. Ships attempting to approach the planet's surface should be prepared for Kessler Syndrome induced collisions.

### Vucub-Caquix

A brown dwarf, roughly 20 Jupiter masses. The dim light of its internal deuterium fusion is entirely outshone by Popu Vohl. Its proximity to the giant star means that its outer layers are constantly being blown into a cloud in its orbital vicinity. Records indicate that Vucub-Caquix was once a very productive mining location. Remnants of structures designed to draw gases from its atmosphere and from the surrounding cloud litter its orbit. Pretech defense stations are dotted around its immediate vicinity and around its largest moon, Zipacna.

Travel to Vucub-Caquix is not recommended due to the presence of several still-active orbital defenses. Travel to Zipacna would likely be even more perilous, as it was once considered to be of particular strategic significance and is likely home to many still-active anti-ship countermeasures. Zipacna, by virtue of being both very close to Vucub-Caquix, is also very close to Popu Vohl. The heat and radiation from both its hosts makes its surface extraordinarily hostile.

### Teotihuacan

Mega-projects to convert the surface of Teotihuacan into several nested layers were still in progress when the Scream struck. It is now mostly in ruin, with continent-sized sections of planetary crust collapsing into layers below. The scale of the disaster has made most of its once enormous cities completely uninhabitable. It is currently unknown how extensive the damage to its infrastructure was, or to what depths the still-active administrative AI systems have plumbed in their search for remaining resources to recycle.

The surface of Teotihuacan was once unreachable due to the presence of active orbital defenses and the high density of debris blocking passage. However, much of the planet's large-scale weaponry was deactivated by its current inhabitants in 3151. MSR crews discovered human survivors when investigating the planet shortly thereafter.

Teotihuacan appears to host several bands of humans that inhabit the ruins of arcologies or infrastructure on the planet's surface. It is unknown if all groups have been located. The existing groups seem willing to trade supplies for Pretech artifacts, though their culture and mannerisms may make commerce difficult.

### The Great Hoop

Named by Teotihuacan survivors, The Great Hoop is a rare but apparently intact orbital Jump Gate. Though inactive, it has been the subject of intense study since Teotihucan orbital defenses were deactivated. Please note that The Hoop is considered to be of great religious significance to the planet's inhabitants. Attempting to board or take samples from it may result in hostile action.

## Teotihuacan Culture

Groups discovered thus far appear to share a few things in common:

* Both known groups descend from inhabitants of defense bunkers or military posts when the Scream struck.
* Each appear to have regressed to a TL2 level of technology. Current theories on the reasons for this range from an insufficient number of specialists in the initial generations of each group to the presence of their respective administrative AIs.
* Each is under the supervision (and possibly the protection) of a Pretech AI.
	+ Reverence for their respective AIs appears to be universal, but does not seem to lapse into outright worship.
* Each settles disputes (internal and external) through the means of a ritualized form of 3-on-3 basketball.

This last point is key to understanding current Teotihuacan culture. Isolation and close proximity seems to have made basketball a staple of existing society. Everything from irreconcilable resource disputes to social disagreements are settled based on this one game, refereed by one or both groups' respective AI. It is recommended that visitors become familiar with the rules of 3-on-3 basketball before interacting with Teotihuacan inhabitants. The game is considered sacred, and players that distinguish themselves on the court are often highly valued.

### Known Groups

#### Hunahpu

Currently based in an "Atlas pillar" beneath the crust of the planet's equator, the Hunahpu clan and associated AI engage in subsistence agriculture using the damaged arcologies immediately above their pillar. This typically involves extensive grazing of oversized rodent-like creatures on large mats of lichens, which appear to grow naturally (and rapidly) along the surface structures. Any agricultural space still available in the arcologies is used to grow a wide variety of edible plants. The group is typically friendly, and the presence of large stable sections of ground makes Hunahpu easy to visit, relatively speaking.

#### Xbalanque

Located within the remains of what was once an elaborate military complex near the south pole, Xbalanque clan appears to have been responsible for finally deactivating the orbital defenses. This is difficult to confirm, unfortunately, as they tend to be somewhat reclusive. Their administrative AI typically speaks to outsiders on their behalf, even when individual members of Xbalanque are addressed in person. They maintain a high-speed maglev transport to Hunahpu, with whom they appear to have at least cordial relations. Individual members have been seen "hunting" hostile defense drones or rogue automatons.

## Designation

Designated B1-H, TL2. Tagged Survivors, Oribital Defenses, Religious order