[For Barrayar] [ new arrivals: march ]

[barrayarmods]

barrayar

cetaganda

Here is what you learn within a day of being in camp: You are on a planet called Barrayar, and you're the third group of random strangers from different worlds to have turned up here. As far as they know, it has to do with some wormhole phenomenon. They don't know how to send you home just yet, but they'll put you up if you'll lend a hand around here. You could leave if you wanted, but it's not a friendly world out there. After Barrayar's initial settling population arrived seven hundred years ago, the only known wormhole route to its system unexpectedly collapsed, dousing the planet in radiation. Cut off from the rest of galactic society and their modern technology mostly destroyed, the mostly Russian colonizing expedition went feudal. It was only thirty years ago that a new wormhole route to Barrayaran space was discovered, and the Time of Isolation ended -- but they've spent the last ten of those years at war. The aggressively expansionist Cetagandan Empire, already spanning eight planets, invaded without word or warning. Komarr, the planet that controls the wormhole hub that leads to Barrayar, accepted a considerable bribe to let the Cetagandan warships pass through. They showed up on Barrayar and demanded unconditional surrender. The Barrayarans refused. Outgunned, outmanned, and outmatched in nearly every way, General Count Piotr Vorkosigan leads the guerrilla war effort in his own district. They rely on their intimate knowledge of their own land, hiding up in the mountains, forgoing any modern technology they could steal, because then it'd be far too easy for the Cetagandans to find them. So they make do with what they have, and they take what they can get. They refuse to relinquish their home or their freedom. Some Counts have surrendered their districts to collaborate with the Cetagandans, but Emperor Dorca and those loyal to him still fight. For the Barrayarans, after ten years of war, all they want is to win. Ambassador and Prince Xav Vorbarra is out in the Nexus, trying to drum up support for the war effort, sneaking what supplies they can through the blockade. A few things they've learned since the outsiders first arrived: there are more on the other side too, among the Cetagandans, and some of them have escaped to the guerrilla camp. One of their own was taken prisoner too, but has just recently escaped with a few others. They discovered the identities of a few traitors in Piotr's camp who had been passing along information to the Cetagandans as well as destroying their food supply, and they were summarily executed for treason -- the sentence for which is death by public starvation and exposure. Last month was incredibly hard, one of the hardest winters they've seen in a long time, and they damn near freezed and starved to death.

Here is what you learn within a day of being on base: You are on a planet called Barrayar, and you're the third group of random strangers from different worlds to have turned up here. They do know that it was anomalous wormhole activity that brought you here, and they're still investigating it, working on a way to get you back home. You could leave if you wanted, but it's not a friendly world out there. After Barrayar's initial settling population arrived seven hundred years ago, the only known wormhole route to its system unexpectedly collapsed, dousing the planet in radiation. Cut off from the rest of galactic society and their modern technology mostly destroyed, the mostly Russian colonizing expedition went feudal. It was only thirty years ago that a new wormhole route to Barrayaran space was discovered, but their time in isolation had warped their society into something barbaric and self-destructive and constantly at war with itself. The Cetagandan Empire seeks to annex Barrayar into its fold in order to better bring about modern civilization to its people, but the Barrayarans have responded only with violence. The exotics have (mostly) been cooperative, and the Cetagandans have been fairly forgiving of any faux pas, generously chalking up any transgressions to cultural misunderstandings or reasonable doubt considering their situation. After all, you all have been thrown into this world, this war, with no warning and no choice. For the most part, so far, the exotics been treated like guests and with extreme interest, especially those who have less (or more) than human appearances. However, with the recent escape of a few prisoners which resulted in the deaths of two Cetagandan soldiers, they aren't quite as trusting now, and they're being a little tighter about security, keeping a closer eye on the exotics. On your arrival, you're processed the way the other exotics were: once everyone has been whisked out of the extreme cold, each is subject to a thorough physical, including a number of scans that may or may not seem totally arcane to you. Other than a blood sample, nothing they're doing is at all invasive. A few things they do know: there are, in fact, exotics on the other side, among the Barrayarans. The Barrayarans infiltrated their base about a month or so ago, and one of their officers was taking prisoner. Unfortunately, he has since passed away. Also, these guys really fucking love art. Like, a lot.