Session 19: THE PLANET OF KTEIROA HOME OF THE IHATEI CAMP

The crew of the CSS Rising Shadow have landed on the planet of Kteiroa around 11:00 hours. They arrived in two ships the majority of the crew on the Rising Shadow while Vitruvius, Ferus, and Khaara arrive on the Aslan Scout ship HSS Siyah’fao (Path Seeker). The crew who did not have non-combat environmental suites to deal with the extreme cold weather conditions that Kteiroa is known for had to buy one. The cost of these suites were tripled costing Cr1,500. It was another Cr80.00 to ride the trolley once the party arrived at the tunnel system that would take them to the underground Kteiroa settlement. The low port consisted of 10 landing pads fabricated storage buildings for supplies, required equipment, and fabricated facilities for the ground crew to stay in when they were not working. The wind is a constant issue on Kteiroa blowing snow everywhere. This wind also contributes to the harsh weather conditions that exist on barren desert world that never gets warm. One important facility is the Ice cracking plant. This plant is what provides the fuel, heat, and water for the low port, the settlement, and the ihatei camp located 12Km ne of the settlement. There were six other merchant ships on landing pads when the crew arrived. The crew was told that it would be two days before they would get there cargo unloaded. A grav truck did arrive to collect some of the needed supplies that were needed right away.

By trolley it was a 30 minute ride to the Kteiroa settlement, or a three hour walk. Due to the ice cracking facility the tunnel had pipes filled with helium that was able to produce heat, but the tempature was only around 40 degrees. The settlement’s main cavern is 12 Km below the surface of the planet. The sudden stillness is almost shocking — no biting wind, no swirling ice, only the echo of boots on frost-slick stone and the distant hum of massive heating pipes. The Kteiroa settlement unfolds like an underground hive: old lava tubes and limestone chambers stitched together by armored bulkheads and reinforced arches. Overhead, massive ducts vent recycled steam to keep the temperature just above freezing — enough to survive, not enough to sweat. Bright sodium lamps cast stark shadows across rows of stacked crates, fuel drums, and hydroponic grow beds bursting with stubborn green life. At each major tunnel junction, Aslan sentries stand watch in gleaming cold-weather battle gear, their manes bound in non-clan braids, rifles slung but eyes sharp for anything out of place. There are no flags bearing any clan colors. There are old Sindalian glyphs etched into the stone walls — a reminder that this place was carved by hands far older than the Aslan who claim it now.

Several wide, heated tunnels branch off from the central chamber of the settlement.

• One slopes down toward the constant hum of the ice cracking plant, the beating mechanical heart that keeps this entire settlement alive with hydrogen fuel and warmth.
• Another leads directly back to the low port landing pads, where freighters load and unload around the clock beneath swirling snow.
• Smaller tunnels snake away into communal living blocks, crowded mess halls, and storage vaults.
• And to the northeast, a narrower, less-traveled tunnel cuts through the ice and rock for twelve hard kilometers — the only direct line to the Ihatei camp. The Aslan here keep it foot-only by clan decree — no carts, no trolleys. Any who walk it risk the freezing dark if they stray too far from the heated walls. The only mercy: an emergency sled for the wounded if blood is spilled.

In the settlement the crew was able to gather the following information as they mingled throughout the settlement. Utea a female Aslan runs the settlement. This is a clan less settlement the Aslan who do live here are outcast of their former clans. In Utea case she was once was a mated Aslan female of minor status, content to manage her household’s trade and keep her mate’s ambitions on course. But her first husband’s reckless grab for land and status ended in disgrace and exile — and Aslan custom cast out the entire household with him. Stripped of clan, home, and name, Utea found herself on the frozen neutral world of Kteiroa with nothing but her cunning and claws. She has worked her way up the ranks of the settlement through hard work and has established the settlement to what it is today. she has had three mates who have not survived the world of Kteiroa. She had no time to play Aslan tradition and customs. She did that once and they left her and her daughters for dead on the god forsaken planet. All she cares about is credits and surviving and will do or help anyone who is willing to help her accomplish those goals. The crew also learned that there are 19 clans that are being represented either looking for support or a leader that they can swear fealty to in hope of getting their own territory. Currently there are 5000 Aslan at the camp with the possibility of 1000 showing up in the next couple of days. Besides Eihei the Clever Ferus discovers the names of the three other leaders Iykhi Too-Eager Htyowao Clan, Toiho the Brave Hkaaiheir Clan, and Old Elyo who has not clan. Only two of the leaders are present currently. Oswald recieves a transmission over open comms that Eihei The Clever has arrived in to the system in a Ktiyhui -Class Courier name the HSS Ktiyrrai’a (“Pride’s Messenger”). He sends out messages looking for three scout ships that should have returned by now. Oswald was able to jam all the communications unknown to Eihei The Clever. Ronan while out collecting intel runs into an Aslan my the name of Aruyao Fteikewil of the Fteikewil clan challenges him to dual to prove that he is worthy of taking human worlds. The duel is who draws first blood.

Twelve kilometers northeast of the main settlement, the heated tunnel emerges into a wide valley cradled by jagged mountains of black stone and glacier-scoured cliffs. Here, the wind is muted by the natural walls — the worst of Kteiroa’s killing gusts beaten back, but the air still bites at exposed skin if you linger too long without proper layers. Below, spread across hard-packed snow and frostbitten gravel, lies the Ihatei encampment — a chaotic sprawl of fabricated buildings, massive canvas tents, and improvised shelters stitched together from salvaged ship plating and tarp. Tall sodium arc lamps cast cold pools of light over the valley floor, giving the entire site a half-lit, industrial glow in the endless winter twilight. A huge landing field dominates the western edge of the camp: hard, flat ground stamped with heat vents and landing markers. It’s marked off for up to 250 ships, from nimble scout cutters and battered merchant haulers to heavy-lift freighters — some parked with landing struts half-buried in drifting snow. The distant roar of thrusters echoes off the mountains as ships arrive and depart with cargo, fuel, or warriors seeking a place in the shifting ranks of the Ihatei. Closer to the tunnel entrance, rows of prefabricated structures house supply shops, food stalls smoking with grilled meat and steaming broth, and stalls hawking cheap gear — cold-weather armor, hunting rifles, water reclamation parts, even crude trophies carved from local wildlife. The wealthier clans or successful raiders bunk in heated prefab barracks near the center of the camp, marked with clan banners fluttering from makeshift poles. On the fringes, poorer outcasts and lower-ranking prides live in sprawling tent cities — threadbare canvas flapping in the wind, smoke from barrel fires rising through holes cut in the fabric roofs. Here, young warriors sharpen blades by oil lamps, and elders huddle close, trading rumors of raids and territory to come. Above it all, the frozen peaks loom silent, holding back the worst of the howling storms — but always threatening to let the cold slip back in should the wind shift or a blizzard roll down from the heights. This is the crucible of the Ihatei — where second and third sons test their worth in the bitter dark, and where the crew of the CSS Rising Shadow now walks, their cargo the key to an uneasy welcome.

17:00 hours. The crew of the CSS Rising shadow with the exception of Oswald who is on the Rising Shadow along with Courtney Chester and Ace Levy monitoring comms and security of the ship as the cargo is slowly being loaded when it is needed by the ihatei camp. The rest of the crew has made the 3 hour trek to the ihatei camp itself. There the camp is centered around an open arena where challenges for leader ship are held. Duels for the right to be a speaker in the evening events to lead the ihatei to its next territory. There are 12 scheduled duels for the evening. Ronan duel is the 7th. As the duels carry on with the Aslan crew members gather information. At the ihatei camp Ferus learn of two notable retainers who have considerable influence on the fortunes of the ihatei. Fyukh the Clan less who clans was defeated decades ago and lost his former position and was forced to survive on the fringes of Aslan society as an influence peddler and information broker. He advises young ihatei on likely targets and deals with logistical problems. The other retainer is Teaw, Agent of the Clans who is a member of the Khaukheairl clan. The very Aslan who gave Ronan his ceremonial ax and has told the clans that he is under his protection. Teaw is officially a representative of the council of clans. His role here to to advise and guide the ihatei so they do not interfere with the plans of the Hierate as a whole. The canny old Aslan has been the whip hand of the ihatei in this region for many years, and is adept at manipulating the movements of the young warriors to benefit the Khaukheairl clan and their vassals. Then Ronan went to the arena for duel number 7# This fight caught the attention of all the ihatei. Aruyao Fteikewil had been bragging most of the afternoon once he returned to camp about how his duel was going to prove that he had the nerve and will to be part of Ihatei raid. The one Aslan who took a keen interest in this duel was Teaw. His function as the agent of the clans is to keep this camp in the best interest of the Hierate. This human was no member of any clan of the ihatei what was he doing involved in a duel. Aruyao was a young Aslan who clans has been recently defeated by the Htoakhyulr clan that was a sanctioned fight. What was he doing? What was he trying to prove? Plus there was a rumor that the young prince of the Htoakhyulr clan was here on Kteiroa. The duel was set to who drew first blood. The young Aslan went first aggressively attacking this human and missed badly. the human then countered striking the young Aslan drawing first blood. Duel over to the shock of the in the crowd. The duels were stopped by Teaw , the question of honor is at stake with the challenge of the human in the first place. To Everyone surprise a ceremonial reavers ax from clan Khaukheairl was given to Ronan. Then Teaw declared that the human was under the protection of the Khaukheairl clan. The he looked at Aruyao and in a very calm and diplomatic voice told the young Aslan the he has brought dishonor to the camp and his clan. He is therefore been exiled from the camp and his clan. Aruyao was then escorted from the camp back to the settlement under guard. Once in the settlement he had 24 hours to leave the planet until the ihatei camp was done. His new name would be from this point on known as Aruyao the clan less. Vitruvius, then followed the young Aslan in the settlement and knocked him out and carefully hid the body in the settlement for future plans as the crew is still working on how to disrupt the camp and its plans to follow through with the attack on Drinax.