Grendal: Hopewell II/Drexilthar (2127)/Reaver’s Deep
UWP: C889855-A
Starport: Beowulf Down; C; Routine: No Construction, Major Repair, Unrefined fuel
Size: 8; Large (12,800 km)
Atmosphere: 8; Dense
Hydrographics: 9; Wet World 90%
Population: 8; Moderate (223 million)
Government: 5; Feudal Technocracy; Council of Twelve (6 corporate CEOs, 3 top scientists/researchers, 3 independent scientists/researchers)
Law: 5; Moderate Law (no concealable weapons)
Tech Level: A; Early Stellar (jump drive)

Primary: Hopewell, spectral class G3V. ICN S4K0507G3V. Mass 0.98 standard. Stellar diameter 0.958 standard. Luminosity 0.886 standard.
Planetary System: Nine major bodies. One Inhabited world (Grendal, II). Three gas giants (Dragon, Kraken, Leviathan), one planetoid belt (Shara's Pearls), one empty orbit (#0) in system.
II Grendal: Mean orbital radius, 94.25 million kilometers (0.63 AU). Period, 184.5 days... Two satellites ... Diameter, 13,715 kilometers. Density, 1.01. Mass, 1 .101 standard. Mean surface gravity, 1.0 G Rotation period: 22 hours, 58 minutes, 47 seconds. Axial Inclination, 3°17'2.6" Albedo, .45 ... Surface atmospheric pressure, 1.9atm; composition, standard oxygen-nitrogen mix, breathable without artificial assistance. Hydrographic percentage, 96%; composition, liquid water. Mean surface temperature, 15°C.
Capitol: Beowulf
Ruler: Council of Twelve; Minister Sharkasian Vel.
Other Communities: Borkum, Erseka, Ghoti, Gjirakaster, Herot, Kashrat, Miras, Orikum, Skoder, Thundron, and Ultrax.
Points of Interest: Asterion Bay, Barrier Peaks, Green Hole, Delvin Reef, Long White Sands, One Hundred Isles, Highpoint.
Remarks: Grendal was first explored, named, and settled by Dr. Charles Abercrombie, a scientist from the Principality of Caledon, who surveyed this region of space 750 years ago. The world was almost ideal, Earth-like in gravity, climate and most other factors - though with a much greater atmospheric pressure at sea level, and with far more extensive oceans. The scientist assembled colonists from the Principality and emigrated within two years of his original survey.

The planet is named after the world's most fearsome life form--a bipedal, sea-dwelling amphibian christened the grendal by Abercrombie, a long time fan of the old Earth classic, Beowulf (the capital-starport complex is named Beowulf, in keeping with this tradition). The grendal lives in coastal waters (down to a pressure of 6-7 atmospheres), but can also visit the surface and walk (rather awkwardly) on land. It is a fierce and dangerous creature, massing up to 300kg and has been known to raid colonial settlements for food (stealing livestock, game, garbage, and unwary colonists indiscriminately). Primarily nocturnal in its habits, the grendal has rarely been seen for more than a few minutes at a time. Little is known about their habits or natural environment for they shun noisy undersea craft and make short work of individual divers.

Grendals and colonists live in an uneasy balance, the grendals occasionally raiding a settlement, the colonists shooting back as necessary, but not going out of their way to make trouble for the creatures. This has necessarily tended to make pelagic exploitation difficult and a few vocal groups have been arguing for a more aggressive campaign against the grendals so that undersea farming and mining colonies can be established. Because the land on Grendal is broken into numerous island archipelagos, a step in this direction will be needed soon, as population continues to expand.

Against this are set various groups opposed to violence against the grendals, including environmentalists, conservationists, and a small minority who are convinced that the grendals are not dumb animals at all, but actually representatives of an intelligent amphibian species with a sophisticated undersea civilization. Reports come in from time to time of grendals spotted using tools, wearing small artifacts, and so forth, but these are usually not credible - most are easily explained as the results of too much alcohol, mistaken sightings, poor visibility or coincidence. Still, suspicions that the grendals may be more than a savage nuisance are the source of considerable local speculation and interest.

The Scout base on Grendal is on an island near Beowulf Down starport leased to the IISS under a client planet agreement. The base is small, with a staff of less than 50, but the staff xenologist is fascinated by the grendal question and has been agitating for funds and personnel to mount a proper study of the beasts.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:35, Thu 14 Aug 2014.