Dying

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The world is in the process of collapse. Unlike the conventional anarchy of a savage world, basic human survival on this planet is becoming gradually more and more difficult, either from a hostile environment that the locals can no longer fend off, or from a cultural collapse so complete that basic survival processes can no longer be maintained. In some cases, astrophysical events such as impending solar flares or unstoppable rogue-planet impacts might spell the doom of an otherwise healthy world. The time pressure is usually not so intense as to cause complete social breakdown, but almost everyone on the planet realizes that their time is coming to a close. Trade still exists on such worlds only insofar as the locals are not convinced they can successfully steal a trader's ship, or if they think they have enough time to build their own with the help of outside supplies. In almost no case is it feasible to save anything but a tiny fraction of the world's population, and their leaders are usually determined to be the ones rescued. In a few cases, the death spiral might be reversible with enough outside tech and support- if the locals can be kept from mad panic.

Leaders:
^{Who might be encountered while conducting business}

• Sweating local ruler bent on escape for their family
• Grim chooser of the slain apportioning dwindling resources
• Military officer providing security for the remaining far traders
• Resigned religious leader working to save his flock

Enemies:
^{Who might be encountered who opposes the group}

Desperate local grandee bent on ship theft

Ruthless local ready to do absolutely anything to get their loved ones away

Furious demagogue convinced the doom is the work of offworlders

Cheat selling passage on the PCs' ship without telling them

Complications:
^{How might the situation on the world be more complicated}

Only the world's elite realize that they are doomed

Half the planet is still convinced there is hope

Outside rivals actively seek the death of the world

The doom can be averted with lost alien tech

Things:
^{What items might be found on the world}

A king's ransom gathered to buy passage for a now-dead ruler

Precious cultural relics symbolic of the world

Cold sleep pods for hundreds of infants

A cache of usable spike drive cores

Things:
^{What regulations might complicate things}

Openly acknowledging the impending armageddon is a capital crime

All travel offworld is restricted to those permitted by the elite

Local currency is based on chances at a ship berth

Far traders must take a certain number of passengers in order to leave

Tags: Lopop,Trade