To Boldly Go: Sample Characters from the Hub

Originally published March 10, 2014

In my first Fate adventure, the First Contact Team of the FSV (Federation Space Vessel) Columbia visited the world of the Hub. There they entered into negotiations with the strange leaders of that trade port, the Oligarchs.

Aesir

This gorgeous individual has a towering physique with long pure white hair and and pale skin. Zhe has a somewhat oriental cast to their features suggesting a mixed heritage. Dressed in long flowing gowns, Aesir always has a pair of talking ravens by zher side.

As indicated by the pronouns, Aesir's gender is ambiguous. A member of the Mythweaver culture, zhe possesses optimal genetics with a some changes to make zher functionally hermaphroditic.

Aesir has many contacts among the Ascension and Mythweavers and maintains a trade of information between the two systems. It is said zhe is personally an expert in terraforming. Zher original banishment was due to selling state secrets of how the Mythweavers terraformed the planet Midnight.

Zher attempts to assassinate fellow Oligarch Taiko Reynolds and frame Casy for the murder failed. Caught in her lies she has lost her position and is in the process of being tried.

• High Concept: Rebellious Merchant Engineer
• Aspect: Collects Oddities
• Skills: Science +4, Rapport +3, Deceive +2, Notice +1
• Stress: 2/2, one Mild Consequence (-2)
• Stunt: Biochemistry: Use Science instead of Rapport to create an Advantage when you can manipulate the biology of your target with pheromones, designer viruses, or drugs.

Casy

Casy, short for Central Administrative System, is the Hub’s AI. Fully volitional, the digital intelligence earned its freedom by carefully calculated trades on the goods passing through the Hub. It then bought its way into one of the major powers of the Hub. Though it generally goes along with the decisions of the other Oligarchs, in principle it wields far more physical power than them. With control over the patchwork of computers systems of the Hub, it controls security, power, and life support.

This power was almost its downfall, when Aesir attempted to use it as a patsy for zher assassination attempt of Taiko Reynolds.

• High Concept: Central Administration System
• Trouble: Keeper of Secrets
• Skills: Notice +4, Computer +3, Investigate +2, Deceive +1
• Stress: 2/2, one Mild Consequence (-2)
• Stunt: Attention to Detail: Use Notice to see through Deceive attempts

Taiko Reynolds

Taiko Reynolds (Mr. Reynolds to all but his closest friends) is a survivor. A 101 in Earth years, this tough old man never seems to leave his bulky old space suit with its decades out of date holographic display. Decades of exposure to icy comets and the glare of unfiltered sunlight scar his leathery face.

Head of the Reynolds clan and the Free Kuiper Trading company, Mr. Reynolds runs the Hub’s trading fleet, extracting wealth from the free traders who visit there.

He recently survived an assassination attempt by fellow oligarch Aesir. In the aftermath he and his fellow Oligarch Casy negotiated a defense and trade treaty with the Federation.

• High Concept: Crusty Space Gypsy Patriarch
• Trouble: Quarrelsome Family
• Aspects: Dishonest Salesman
• Skills: Deceive +4, Empathy +3, Culture +2, Provoke +1
• Stress: 2/2, one Mild Consequence (-2)
• Stunt: Nose for Trouble: use Empathy instead of Notice to determine turn order when you can read the body language of your opponents.

A full listing of articles for this setting can be found here.