I’m

Credits

Compiled By: Chris Wilson

Netbook Layout: Chris Wilson

Additional Content: Chris Wilson

Maps: Christopher West – westwinds@velocity.net

Talk City RPG-The Lighthouse:Laurie - Exalted Owner: Arianna_Gue – flyers10hockey@yahoo.com

Nik - Game/Setting Pedant: Shori - dacileva@hotmail.comMokie - Cute T'sa Moderator: Mokie_Tsa

Sarasvati - 133+ Moderator: Gloves - sikotropik@hotmail.com

Original Website: http://alternity.tsx.org

Permission to compile this netbook granted by Nikolas Landauer and Christopher West. Specialthanks to both for all the help.

Contents

Introduction …… Page 3

Floor Plans …… Page 4

The Menu …… Page 6

The CornerStaff

…… Page 10

Rogues Gallery …… Appendix

Introduction

You may be wondering why someone would go the trouble of creating a netbookfor information that is available on a website. Well, the website in question,http://alternity.tsx.org/ has been around for a long time, in one form or another. Iremember going to the site when Alternity and Star*Drive first came out and Ifrequented the site clear up to 2000 when I stopped playing Alternity to try thenew Dungeons & Dragons 3e.

Recently, I’ve gotten back into Alternity and Star*Drive in particular. After playingseveral D20 games, Star Trek by Decipher, Robotech by Paladium, andcountless others, I’ve come to realize how elegant the Alternity system is.Another reason for coming back was the players in all of my campaigns keptasking me, “Why don’t you bring back the Alternity game, that was awesome!”

And so I have brought it back. Normally, after such a long hiatus (it is now 2004)I would start fresh with a whole new campaign but the campaign we had beenrunning was so great that I have decided to bring it back almost exactly where wehad left off.

This brought up a number of problems since I had to locate a lot of the oldmaterial. The material I couldn’t locate, I had to recreate from scratch. One ofthe resources we used a lot in our game was The Corner from the TalkCitywebsite. After searching for almost two weeks, I finally found the “current”address of the site. It seems that the site isn’t nearly as popular in these days ofD20 games as it was back in the heyday of the Alternity system.

In an effort to keep all of the material together, I’ve compiled this source book formy players and myself. If this book has reached you as a player in anothergame, then I hope you enjoy the material as much as I did.

To properly use this sourcebook, you should be familiar with the Alternity ScienceFiction Roleplaying Game by Bill Slavicsek and Richard Baker (TSR, Wizard’s ofthe Coast), The Star*Drive Campaign Setting by David Eckelberry and RichardBaker, and The Lighthouse supplement by David Eckelberry. Information on TheCorner can be found on pages 52 and 53 in the A Starfalling City chapter of TheLighthouse.

Chris WilsonMech@europa.com

This section of our gridsite presents you with a handy reference touse in getting around the building. It's important to note, though, thatnot all areas of the building are open to public exploration. Mr.Mercadian's office on the second floor stands as a prime example.

The Corner is located on Deck 198 in the City Section. Directionscan be gained from the Welcome Center on Deck 193 or from MINAat any information kiosk.

Level 1 - Bar

Level 2 - Casino

Welcome to our gridsite menu! The list below is not intended as a limit tothe fine entrees and beverages available in our establishment, but instead

represents a list of our most popular and excellent offerings.

Beverages

Lagers, Beers, and other Brews

BLACK HOLE BEER - "After a couple ofthese, you'll feel like you've got a black hole inyour stomach!" Very heavy, strong beer -almost as strong as Hammer's Star Stout.

CONCORD COMMEMORATIVE LAGER(CCL) - Batches are released once a year onthe anniversary of the founding of the Concord,similar to seasonal beers of today (Pete'sWicked Summer Brew, various Octoberfestbeers, etcetera). Beer from the first anniversarybatch is already turning into a bit of a collector'sitem.

CROOKED RINGS - Originally started out as asmall time brewer in a space station orbiting aringed planet a few centuries ago, CrookedRings has gone on to become a large beercompany. They just recently started makingand selling their beer in the Verge now that theConcord has re-eastablished communications.

DEVIL NEBULA - A very smooth beer, whichleads one to drink more then they should,leading to a "devil" of a headache the morningafter.

GROSGRAIN BREW - Often served half-and-half with hot milk, this thick beverage canchoke even a weren without something mixedin. With the milk, though, it becomes a smoothand comfortable drink. A favorite of someConcord dignitaries.

HAMMER'S STAR STOUT - "Had a tough dayfighting the klicks? Kick back with a couple ofHammer's Star Stouts and all of your combatrelated anxiety will dissipate like a klick caughtin a render crossfire!" Favored beer of soldierseverywhere, especially on Hammer's Star.Almost as strong as a weren mead!

ONE EYED MARTIN - This actually refers toany hootch brewed up by pirates. Some peopledon't believe this type of beer exists.

TWO T'SAS ALE -"Thefavoredbeeroft'saseverywhere!It'salightbeerthatdoesn'tfillyouuporslowyoudown!" Unlike human beers, drinking Two Tsa's Aleactually leads to the drinker feeling moreenergetic at first - this is actually a beer with avariation of caffeine (or the T'sa equivalent)thrown in.

WALDMEISTER - A popular drink in OldSpace, this brew is rather hard to find in theVerge. Many are the veteran spacers who'veshared fond tales of the "good ol' days" over abottle of this potent stuff.

WEREN ALE - Another staple on Kurg, thishearty ale could topple even a mighty bhruu!Sentients with a weaker constitution or a tamepalette are encouraged to consider carefullybefore ordering a mug of this hearty brew!

WEREN MEAD - "Come on human, try someof this mead - it'll knock your tusks out!" Avariety of meads made on the werenhomeworld are so strong that few humans (orother aliens for that matter) can finish onebottle without passing out. Although some non-weren brewers have tried to make competitivebrews, a weren can tell the difference and willprefer the real thing from home, or fromanother expatriate weren who makeshomebrewed weren mead.

Fine Wines

AALEONI GRANITE WINE - This icy liquorfrom fraal master-distiller Cam Aaleoni is nota true wine, distilled from Terran grapes. It isa distillation of the fine mosses that grow inthe fissures formed in granite slabs duringviolent tectonic shifts. This moss has neverbeen bioengineered, its DNA structures toowildly divergent from the rest of nature forthe biogeneticists to replicate. The Aaleoniclan has painstakingly harvested thedelicate mosses for nearly two thousandyears, and this tradition continues toproduce the finest -- in fact, the only viable --Granite Wine available today.

CHEMIN ROUGE, VSOP - A very specialold port from the vineyards of ProximaPrime, Chemin Rouge recreates the old-style charm of such historic labels asCourvasier, Christian Brothers, andHennesey.

EVREM NECTAR - This amber-hued elixircomes straight from the glowing crystallineships of the Evrem! The unique wine of thispeaceful people can have some amazingaftereffects if consumed in large enoughquantities...examples of the bizarreoccurrences include minor temporarymutations, random uncontrollable psionicdemonstrations, and unusual luminouseffects, just to name a few.

KALWINE - A favorite of many differentspacefarers, this beverage is widelyavailable across the galaxy, primarilybecause its flavor is found to be appealingby members of almost every sentientspecies yet encountered. Relaxing with atumbler of Kalwine is a popular after-dinneractivity of many sentients.

SAKE - Similar to its namesake beverage ofancient Earth origin, this rice wine is atraditional offering imported all the way fromthe Solar Union. It's a favorite among thoseSolars who choose to exemplify theJapanese culture of the human homeworld.

SUNWINE - While both red and whitevarieties are available, the red Sunwine is byfar the more popular, famous for its richnessand sweet flavor. Fermented exclusively inzero gravity, this beverage is a housefavorite.

Fine Distillations

BARBED TUSK GR'VAT - The weren areknown for their strength and hardiness, butalso for their zealousness. The dedication ofthe distillers of this heady gr'vat cannot bequestioned. It's thick texture and bold nuttyflavor make it the favored gr'vat acrossknown space.

BLACK CHAI - "All the choking power of adouble espresso with none of the goodstuff," is how one Solar critic described thisdark beverage. While some folks thrive onthe drink, most sentients just shudder at thethought of it.

BLUEFALL SCHNAAPS - Often referred tosimply as "the hard stuff", this drink is strongenough to make a Bhruu fall over, or so it issaid. Imported directly from Aegis, the"Heart of the Verge."

BOLS LUCULLIANA - "It clears the mind,"is all one mutant starship captain had to sayabout this noxious beverage. Easily tied withSupernova Mist as the most alcohol-intensedrink served in the Corner, this rare andexpensive drink comes in distinctive squatsquare bottles.

HIGHLAND CAERN CYO - This single maltscotch was brewed one hundred years agoin the district formerly known as the ScottishHighlands. It is aged 100 years in genuineoak casks, the wood genetically engineeredto bring out the finest earthy flavors.

JAKE DANYELLS BLUE LABEL - "JD," asit was known half a millenium ago, is still thefinest whiskey on the market. Were old Jakealive today, he'd certainly be proud of thecontinued popularity of his original blendedwhiskey.

MUSKOVITE PURE VODKA - A traditionfrom ages past, arguably the finest true-recipe vodka on the market, Muskovite Purehas won eight of the last ten Czar's Awardsat the annual Vodka Distiller's Conferenceand Symposium.

NOVA MIST - Nearly industrial-grade at 196proof, a small amount of this beverage canbe added to any drink to add an extra kick. Itis practically flavorless. Due to its relativelylow boiling temperature, this substance isoften inhaled by those races with particularlysturdy respiratory systems.

PICO SKURCH, ODOS - This favoriteamong T'sa is the only skurch to findacceptance outside their race. Mostskurches are too harsh for non-t'sa palates,but Pico Skurch has enjoyed a growingfollowing among fraal and humans, andrecently among discerning weren. It is anacquired taste, but to drink Pico is to beseen as a trend-setter, an adventurous andopen-minded individual, by knowledgablesocialites around the galaxy.

SESHEYAN BRANDY - Because it holds amonopoly on export goods from Sheya (thesesheyan homeworld), VoidCorp's price forsesheyan brandy remains outrageouslyhigh. Now, however, the free sesheyans ofGrith have begun production of this populardrink, and its finally available to the Verge atan affordable cost! While originally a humanbeverage, the sesheyans have a secrettechnique for preparing brandy that even theSolar Union admits is better than anythingever made on Earth.

SPROUT VENGEFUL'S STRAIGHT'KINTUKKI' BOURBON - Sprout Vengeful,famed pioneer of the Second Migration,brings you his time-honored recipe for good,old-fashioned, Terran, sour-mash whiskey,straight from the plains of 'Kintukki, UnitedStakes of Amurikka.'

SUPERNOVA MIST - This is Nova Mist thathas been infused with nitrous oxide toaccelerate the absorption of the alcohol intothe blood.

*Warning from the Ministry of HealthSciences:*Even small quantities of thisbeverage have been found to causeserious alcohol poisoning in those ofslight mass or who suffer fromalcohol intolerance. If consideringtrying this product for the first time,please consult a physician

House Specialties

HONEYPOD SUPERNOVA - The dewpodbush, indigenous to planet Fshaila andcultivated locally by The Corner's masterbotanist, grows large pods which, when ripe,produce a sweet nectar not unlike the honeyproduced by Terran honey bees. The nectaris thinned with a lightly brewed green tea,and is available as a "virgin" beverage. Thismore adventuresome, high-octane versiongets its kick from a full shot of SupernovaMist. Also try our Honeypod Highlander for aless intoxicating, but equally flavorfulexperience!

SCREAMING BLUE CLONE - Thisbeverage, the specialty and personalcreation of chief bartender Martin Skvrsky,still enjoys some degree of popularitydespite its dangers. As a mild hallucinogen,too much of this drink can result in anindividual perceiving multiple copies offhimself. If he were still around today, DuffyArdue would advise you to drink thisbeverage in moderation.

TREE BARK & STRAWBERRIES - A Fshadelight, the "tree bark" is a distillate ofcrushed Oothoora bark carefully preparedon the premises by our resident botanist,Gr'uun Khesh. This uniquely piquant liqeuris contrasted pleasantly with the tartsweetness of the strawberries. Served witha large strawberry skewered on a sprig ofOothoora.

T'SA COFFEE - Been travelling for daysacross the vast interstellar reaches? Need aquick pick-me-up? Try this stimulatingconcoction! It's a double espresso with PicoSkurch, Haley's Chocolati, and a thimble ofNova Mist. For a small additional charge, a500mg caffeine tab can be added for extrakick. This whipped cream topped marvel willhave you jittering like a nervous t'sa in notime!

VERGE SURGE – A mix of Black Chai,Muskovite Pure Vodka, Jake Danyell’s andNova Mist in a pint glass. Served chilled.Guaranteed to get you up and motivated!

Food

House Specialties

DELYA - Another traditional meal of thefraal, this dish is best left to the imagination.Just trust us: most fraal can't pass it up, andyou shouldn't either!

ESHK - Doused in red brandy sauce andserved in a casserole dish, this entree isincredibly hot and spicy. Strangely enough,it's a favorite meal of many fraal.

EXIT WOUND SANDWICH - A Cornerexclusive! This selection uses a number ofcommon sandwich ingredients, but stillmanages to leave much room to theimagination. Despite the connotations, it's avery popular entree. (Just don't be the oneleft holding it!)

KLAHT STEAKS - These steaks,masterfully prepared by chef Hassan, areenough to make any carnivorous sentientdrool. We only purchase the finest cuts ofthis naturally non-fatty beast meat.

'KTAAMER DINNERS - The ceremonialmeal of the t'sa, 'ktaamer dinners involve anarduous and time-consuming preparationprocess, which makes them fairly expensive.Still, chef Hassan makes them with greatskill, and most t'sa can't tell the differencebetween his work, and the 'ktaamer dinnersprepared in the T'sa Cluster.

SLOIPOSAK STEW - A flavorful meat broth,this entree is a favorite of many patrons ofThe Corner.

ZSI BURGERS - A popular mainstay ofspaceports everywhere, these greasyentrees are savored far and wide for theirincredible taste. Quick to make, our burgersare an excellent choice for the sentient onthe go!

Snacks & Sides

BUTTER TARTS - These delicious snacksremain popular because, regardless of thehigh calorie count, they're addictively tasty!

MEATROLLS - This common appetizer ispopular throughout the Verge due to its easypreparation and great taste! One bite willleave you drooling for more.

POTATOE WEDGIES - Naturally oven-friedthe old-fashioned way with real butter, this isone appetizer that you just shouldn't miss!

TAMA NUTS - These munchies are usuallyonly placed out on the bar during sportingevents, as they're a bit hard to come by, butthey are also available on request. Just askthe bartender or Servo-66.

VEGGIE PLATTER - Piled high with plentyof beef lichen, broadleaf maleaster, andother vegetables, this is more than asnack...it's a dietary delight! Several of theseitems can be gotten deep-fried as well, butthey're not nearly as healthy. (Not that thatmatters...they taste great!)

WHITEFRUIT PLATTER - A delicious andnutritious selection, the whitefruit platter isoften chosen as a main entree by the healthconscious. Far fresher than the packagedwhitefruit they sell down the street at EvolvePoint.

If you didn’t find what you were looking for on our extensive menu, just askand we’ll be happy to do our best to accommodate you!

*Please note: All TIPS assigned to Servo-66 will go to maintenance costs. Thank you, the staff.

This section of our gridsite is a resource to help you get to know the manyunique individuals that make up our team!

Malcolm Mercadian

Level 11 Human Diplomat (Free Agent)STR 9 (+0) INT 11 (+1)DEX 10 (+0) WIL 9 (+0)CON 9 PER 12Durability: 9/9/5/5 Action Check: 12+/11/5/2Move: Sprint 18, run 12, walk 4 # Actions: 2Reaction Score: Ordinary/2 Last Resorts: 2

AttacksUnarmed 11/5/2 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/OPistol, 9mm Ch. 13/6/3 d4+1w/d6+1w/d4

mHI/O

DefensesCF Longcoat d4 LI, d4 HI, d6-2 En

SkillsAthletics [9]; Unarmed Attack [9], brawl [11];Mod. Ranged Weapons [10], pistol [13]; Vehicle Operation [10],Space [11]; Stamina [9], endurance [10]; Business [11],corporate [15], illicit business [13], small business [15]I;Knowledge [11], computer operation [12], deduce [13]; Law [11],court procedures [12]; Navigation [11], drivespace [12],system [12]; Awareness [9], intuition [11], perception [12];Street Smart [9], criminal elements [10], street knowledge [12];Interaction [12], bargain [16], charm [14].

Malcolm Mercadian purchased The Corner in the spring of 2500 and immediately went to workchanging the current marketing technique. The first thing he did was to hire Galindria Sunfire ashis accountant and Regina Amoris as his casino manager. In a decision that surprised many, hekept the head bartender Martin Skvrsky and made him manager. Mercadian knew that he was agood businessman, but he also knew that he was a lousy manager.

The four of them set about a marketing strategy that would set The Corner as more than just atourist attraction in each system that The Lighthouse visited. Mercadian knew that if The Cornerwas to be a viable business, he had to make it a home to the people that lived and worked onThe Lighthouse itself. The plan was to have an open house as soon as The Lighthouse madestarfall from the Tendril system. This event turned into a three-day affair that solidified TheCorner’s existence on the station.

Mercadian is around 1.8 meters tall and has a slender build. It’s anybody’s guess as to his age,but he appears to be in his late 30s. When seen in The Corner, he is usually on his way to hisoffice on the second floor. He dresses in dark casual clothing and is usually seen in his CFLongcoat. His 9mm charge pistol is kept in a bioholster on a shoulder rig and is concealed underthe coat. He has a control that allows him to bypass the weapons detector in the bar.

Martin Skvrsky

Level 7 Human Free AgentSTR 9 (+1) INT 9 (+0)DEX 11 (+1) WIL 9 (+0)CON 10 PER 12Durability: 10/10/5/5 Action Check: 13+/12/6/3Move: Sprint 20, run 12, walk 4 # Actions: 2Reaction Score: Good/2 Last Resorts: 2

AttacksUnarmed 11/5/2 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/OPistol, Stutter 13/6/3 d6+2s/d8+2s/d8+4s LI/O

DefensesArmor: None none LI, none HI, none En

SkillsAthletics [9]; Unarmed Attack [9], brawl [11],Mod. Ranged Weapons [11], pistol [13]; Vehicle Operation [11];Stamina [10]; Business [9], small business [11]; Knowledge [9],bartending [13]; Administration [9], management [13];Awareness [9]; Deception [12], gambling [13]; Interaction [12],charm [15], seduce [14], taunt [14].

Martin Skvrsky is a medium built man with piercing blue eyes and a crop of red hair that showshis obvious Hungarian descent. He’s been with The Corner since it’s inception. When MalcolmMercadian took over ownership, Skvrsky was asked to stay on as the head bartender andmanager of the bar. With no other prospects, he gladly accepted the offer.

Skvrsky is good bartender and honestly enjoys his job. He leaves the floor to the rest of the staffand prefers to stay behind the bar where he’s needed most. He has a deep voice and a good-natured rumbling laugh that sounds like thunder at times. His good nature and quick humor couldeasily make him look like a pushover. Few would be trouble-makers even begin to think that hehas a Condor X7 Stutter Pistol duct taped under the bar.

Not many know about Skvrsky’s past, since he keeps most of his personal information to himself.Those that do know, find it amazing that he can have such a good sense of humor. Skvrskyserved the Solar Union during the Second Galactic War and made his way to the Verge, and TheLighthouse, as soon as that conflict ended. Due to his past experiences, he tends to shy awayfrom conflict and tends to diffuse any situation with his charm.

Galindria Sunfire

Level 9 Fraal Diplomat (Mindwalker)STR 8 (+0) INT 12 (+1)DEX 10 (+0) WIL 10 (+0)CON 9 PER 11Durability: 9/9/5/5/ Action Check: 13+/12/6/3Move: Sprint 18, run 12, walk 4 # Actions: 2Reaction Score: Good/2 Last Resorts: 2

AttacksUnarmed 12/6/3 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/O

DefensesArmor: None none LI, none HI, none En

SkillsAcrobatics [10], defensive martial arts [12]; Vehicle Operation [10]Biokinesis [9], shatter [11]; Business [12], corporate [15],illicit business [14], small business [16]; Knowledge [12],accounting [15], deduce [13]; Law [12], court procedures [13];ESP [12], mind reading [13]; Administration [10], bureaucracy [13];Awareness [10]; Resolve [10], mental resolve [12]; Telepathy [11],contact [12], mind blast [13], mind shield [12], suggest [13];Interaction [11], bargain [12], interview [13].

Galindria Sunfire has worked with Malcolm Mercadian in the past. It is because of this historyand her excellent accounting skills that he hired her to handle the accounting for The Corner. It isalso because he trusted her. Though, she’s not sure if she can call it a true trust or if he justknows that he can’t trick her into covering something in the books due to her mind reading skills.

She’s always found Mr. Mercadian to be a good employer, though. And this is why she acceptedthe job. In the years that she’s been the accountant for The Corner, the books have alwaysbalanced and the bar has been making a profit. This is fine with Sunfire, since this makeseveryone happy.

At 120 years old, Sunfire still shows the graceful lines of her youth. She prefers to dress in pastelcolored sarabels with dark colored tilienen. She doesn’t stray into the bar or casino areas much,preferring to stay in her office on the second floor. When she does indulge in the bars richatmosphere, she can be seen enjoying the company of Martin Skvrsky and a glass of Aaleoni.

Regina Amoris

Level 8 Human Free AgentSTR 9 (+0) INT 10 (+1)DEX 11 (+1) WIL 9 (+0)CON 9 PER 12Durability: 9/9/5/5/ Action Check: 13+/12/6/3Move: Sprint 20, run 12, walk 4 # Actions: 2Reaction Score: Good/2 Last Resorts: 2

AttacksUnarmed 4/2/1 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/OTN Blade 11/5/2 d6w/d6+1w/d5m LI/GPistol, laser 13/6/3 d4+1w/d6+1w/d4m En/O

DefensesCF Shortcoat d4-1 LI, d4-1 HI, d6-3 En

SkillsAthletics [9]; Melee Weapons [9], blade [11]; Manipulation [11],lockpick [13], pickpocket [13], prestidigitation [14];Modern Ranged Weapons [11], pistol [13]; Vehicle Operation [11];Stamina [9], resist pain [10]; Business [10], small business [11];Knowledge [10], computer operation [11], deduce [12];Administration [9], management [11]; Awareness [9]; Deception[12],bluff [14], bribe [13], gamble [14]; Interaction [12], charm [14],seduce [13], taunt [13].

Regina Amoris grew up in the Verge, having been born on Bluefall 27 years ago. The daughterof a professional gambler, it wasn’t long before she learned the family business. By the age of15, she had already won the Verge Poker Championship to the tune of 1.5 million Orion marks.With her newfound wealth, she bought her way in as a partner in the Gizeh Oasis casino.

For the first several months, Amoris stuck around the casino and had a hand in the day to dayoperations of the gambling floor. Being the wandering type, however, she soon got bored.Booking passage on a driveship, she traveled the Verge making her way through gambling andvarious odd jobs. It was in the summer of 2496 when she first met Malcolm Mercadian.

Mercadian had a small tradeship and was in need of some spacehands. With no other currentprospects, Amoris took the job and the two made their way across the Verge for a little over ayear. By 2500, when Amoris and Mercadian again met, she had sold her shares in the GizehOasis and was ready to move on to another money making venture. Mercadian almostimmediately offered her the job of casino manager.

Nobody knows how much Amoris is actually worth, since she keeps such information to herself.Rumors and estimates put it at somewhere near 10 million Concord dollars, but this may benothing more than drunken stories told by Vergers that really have no way of knowing anythingabout her. The more likely truth is that she spent most of the money in gambling dens across theVerge. Until she decides to set the story straight, nobody will ever truly know.

Fred “The Swede” Johannsen

Level 12 Human Combat SpecSTR 13 (+2) INT 8 (+1)DEX 11 (+1) WIL 10 (+0)CON 10 PER 8Durability: 10/10/5/5 Action Check: 13+/12/6/3Move: Sprint 24, run 16, walk 6 # Actions: 2Reaction Score: Good/2 Last Resorts: 1

AttacksUnarmed 16/8/4 d4s/d4+1s/d4+2s LI/OStun Baton 15/7/3 d6+3s/d8+4s/d12+5s En/OHeavy MG, Ch 16/8/4 d8w/2d6w/2d4m HI/G

DefensesCF Shortcoat d4-1 LI, d4-1 HI, d6-3 En

SkillsAthletics [13]; Heavy Weapons [13], direct fire [16];Melee Weapons [13], bludgeon [14], powered weapon [15];Unarmed Attack [13], power martial arts [16]; Acrobatics [11],defensive martial arts [14], dodge [13];Modern Ranged Weapons [11], pistol [13], rifle [14];Vehicle Operation [11]; Stamina [10, endurance [12];Knowledge [8], computer operation [9], first aid [11];Awareness [10], intuition [13], perception [13]; Interaction [8],intimidate [11], taunt [11].

Fred Johannsen is a massive man; standing at a full 2 meters tall with shoulders that are almostthat wide. Johannsen is an ex-Concord Marine heavy gunner and has seen a lot of action sincehe came to the Verge. Before mustering out, he last saw action against the Klicks in Hammer’sStar where he gained his nickname, “The Swede,” because of his size and his blonde flattop.

Johannsen mustered out and really doesn’t miss the military that much. He had heard thatMalcolm Mercadian was looking to hire a bouncer and since he needed a job, he figured hewould apply. Mercadian couldn’t believe his luck! Here was a man that could likely stop troublesimply by looking at it and if things got really rough, he had the training to back it up. Johannsenwas hired on the spot.

“The Swede” runs a tight floor as the head bouncer. If you know him, he can be friendly andpleasant in a gruff kind of way. If you don’t, you’ll probably want to stay out his way. He makes ita point to let everyone know they should be having a good time, but if there is any trouble he canbe quick to anger. To avoid any potential trouble, he had Mercadian install weapons detectors atthe front entrance. While they aren’t foolproof, they keep a good portion of the more dangerousweapons locked behind the entrance booth with the coat check.

Other Notable Staff

Master Chef Hassan (Hm/Nariac/D-TO24)– Hailing from the Nariac Domain, Hassan holds trueto his claim that he can prepare just about anything. Before coming to the Verge, he spent timeas a master chef aboard a Nariac Fortress Ship. With multiple culinary degrees, Hassan spendsa lot of his time coming up with new dishes or perfecting ones that he finds intriguing. He’s beenknown to give a free meal to customers that come in requesting specific recipes that are new tohim, just so that he can experiment.

The House Band

• Lead Singer, Thomas Kingston (Hm/Verge/D-FA15) – Kingston is a Verger that has beenbumming around various systems for quite some time. Eccentric to the extreme, his anticshave landed him in trouble on more than one occasion. It’s rumored that in reality Kingston isthe son of an ex-patriot Austrin from Algemron. If this rumor is untrue, he does nothing to setpeople straight.

• Guitarist, Kryzz (Tm/Cluster/D-FA17) – Kryzz is a t’sa guitarist of some renown in the Vergeand in Old Space. With several solo albums to his name, he’s been compared to some ofhistories greatest blues and rock musicians. He seems to take this all in stride and continuesto play at The Corner because of his love for the music.

• Harmonica, Cassius Jones (Hm/Verge/FA12) – Frequently late to practices and gigs, Joneshas somehow managed to stay in the good graces of the management. More often than not,he’s drunk or on his way to getting that way, with the Verge Surge being his drink of choice.The rest of the band tolerates his behavior simply because of their own bohemian lifestyle.

• Saxaphonist, Trel Coltan (Hm/Verge/D-FA15) – Coltan is another member of the band withseveral solo albums to his name. While not as well known in Old Space as Kryzz, hisreputation is starting to grow since he joined the band at The Corner. There is a plan that heand Kryzz will release a duet of blues classics in the fall of 2503.

• Bassist, Lucien Dynler (Hm/Verge/D-FA13) – The lead trouble maker of the “terrible three,”Dynler frequently irritates Malcolm Mercadian. Because of the band’s popularity, Mercadianusually informs the rest of the band when their rhythm section has pushed the envelope to anunacceptable limit rather than terminating them outright.

• Keyboardist, Rayner Moulton (Hm/Verge/D-TO12) – The second of the “terrible three,” asthe staff has come to call the rhythm section, Moulton is frequently on the management’s badside. In his most recent incident, he sampled Servo-66’s vocal circuits and made it sound asthough the robot was spouting obscenities.

• Drummer, Fergus “Yellowbeard” McCaskill (Hm/Verge/CS18) – The last of the “terriblethree,” McCaskill’s first choice of employment was not to play drums. Originally from theOberon system, he was a spacehand aboard a pirate cutter for several years. WhenConcord Administrators started to get to close to capturing his employer, he decided to cuthis losses. Playing the drums as a hobby, he decided to turn it into full time employment.

Assistant Bartender, Gr’uun Khesh (Wm/Orlamu/CS13) – Khesh is a weren bartender thatlearned everything he needed to know from Martin Skvrsky. When in drivespace, Khesh usuallyworks the day shift. However, when the Lighthouse is in system, Skvrsky and Khesh generallyman the bar together due to the increase in business. Gruff and to the point, “The Swede” isKhesh’s best friend on the staff since the two seem to understand one another.

Bouncer, Nitram Fulgroise (Hm/Verge/CS9) – Fulgroise is a young man in his mid-twenties.Wanting to see more of the Verge, he figured that living aboard the Lighthouse was the perfectanswer. And of all the places to get a job, The Corner was the best place to meet new people.“The Swede” frequently reminds him that his job here is to be a bouncer and to try to not getoverly friendly with the customers. Fulgroise takes this as just a part of Johannsen’s gruffdemeanor.

Bouncer, GruNuk! Dor “Chuck” (Wm/Orlamu/CS13) – Called “Chuck” by most of the staff andthe regulars because this is what he does to patrons that don’t follow the rules. GruNuk! Iscurrently a house favorite, as far as bouncers go. He seems to have a good sense of humor,despite his gruff weren exterior.

Servo-66 – Servo-66 is a multipurpose service robot. While it has a limited A.I., it does not havea true sentience. It simply knows the layout of the floor and is able to navigate around objects orcustomers. Over the years, Servo seems to have picked up a few quirks that would make oneswear it is smarter than the limited programming it has. The staff seems to enjoy this and whileServo has been repaired and upgraded over the years, nobody has bothered to wipe itsprogramming or update the current software.

Waiter, John Smith (Hm/Verge/FA9) – Smith is a young man of 24 years old and took this job tomake some money to get by. He has claimed several times that he would like to settle down onBluefall or even Grith and start his own business. Whether or not this ever happens, only timewill tell. In truth, Smith has been setting aside a sizeable sum from wages and hopes to be ableto make a down payment on his own ship sometime soon.

Busboy, Ugreck (Wm/Orlamu/CS10) – A quiet weren youth and the younger brother of GruNuk!Dor, Ugreck got the job at The Corner by the good word of his older brother. In the past year thathe has been working at the bar, he has shown himself to be an exemplary employee. It isforeseeable that he will be given more responsibility in the future.

Busboy, “Kid” (Hf/Verge/D-FA6) – Nobody knows “Kid’s” real name. She is a young girl of 17years old and the only clue to her background was a statement she made about her family beingfrom Spes. While she may be young, she is not naïve in any way. Mercadian saw this the firsttime he met her and decided to hire her to help her out.

Systems Hardware Tech, “Nexus” C. Kelly (Hm/StarMech/TO17) – Nexus is the defactotechnician for The Corner. If something needs fixing, he is the man that everybody comeslooking for. While he has been known to jury rig items on occasion, Servo-66 being one of them,he usually does a fairly top job on any repairs.

Systems Programmer, Martin Hinter (Hm/Verge/TO15) – Hinter is an excellent programmerthat has updated all of the programming through The Corner. The only exception to this is hisprogramming for Servo-66, which he says he is going to update with a more advanced A.I., but sofar this has just been a project on the back end of the core memory in his computer.

Janitor, Aereek “Eric” (Xm/Thuldan/FA12) – “Eric” is a Thuldan expatriate that ended up in theVerge after mustering out of the Thuldan military. While he doesn’t like to talk about hisexperiences in Old Space, it is speculated that he was part of some kind of special operationsunit. He seems quiet and he keeps to himself, usually coming in during the few hours The Corneris closed to clean up. His one real friend seems to be “Kid,” who often stays late to chat with himwhile he cleans up.

Dishwasher, Fakularken Jundarklin (?m/Verge/D-CS10) – Not much is known aboutJundarklin, as his species has rarely been found in the Verge. He says he is bushduri and thathis home planet is found in the Verge. Beyond this, little else is known. He seems to spend a lotof his off time reading and learning Galactic Standard.

Supplier, Reigel Tanner (Hm/Verge/FA15) – Tanner is not really a member of the staff, but isaround enough to be listed here. In reality, Tanner is a free trader that does the largest bulk ofhis business supplying The Corner with goods from all across the Verge. If you want to getsomething…anything…Tanner is probably the man you want to see.

“Towel Guy,” Ben Trellek (Hm/Concord/D-FA18) – Trellek was never officially hired to hand outtowels at The Corner. He just started doing it one day and the staff decided to tip him for it. Heseems nice enough and always has a smile, so nobody has had any reason to ask him to leave.In reality, Trellek is a mid-ranking CIB operative. A lot of his intelligence gathering comes fromlistening to the chatting of regulars. It is believed that Reigel Tanner may know about Trellek’ssecret identity, but so far neither Tanner nor Trellek are talking.

Appendix A: Rogues Gallery

The following information is for regulars that have often been seen in The Corner while online atTalkCity. Because of the nature of a live action game, complete statistics are not given.However, I have given them each the same shorthand form used in the Staff chapter. With thisinformation, individual GMs can extrapolate the needed stats or at least “eyeball” them for NPCs.Due to the ultimately massive volume of characters that were sent to me, I will only be able towrite up a few of them and it will only be a small blurb at that. My apologies to any players fromthe live action game whose character was missed in this volume.

Abbott (Hm/Rignumor/D-FA8) – Viewed by some to be nothing more than a spoiled bratdilettante, Abbott is a fairly regular customer of The Corner. It appears that he is a low leveldiplomat for the Rignumor Star Consortium’s embassy on the Lighthouse, though the extent of hisduties is rather unclear. Whatever it is that he does do, he seems to spend Concord dollars likethey are about to go out of style.

Ash FaTal (Hf/Verge/FA10) – FaTal is an independent, if not rogue, agent that has dealings allacross the Verge. It is estimated that she must have contacts in several of the stellar nations,since she does occasionally come across valuable intelligence. She has made a fairly good livingplaying all the sides off against one another and selling that information to whoever wants to payfor it. At the same time, she spends a lot of her income avoiding the very people she stole theinformation from to begin with.

Autumn Landsknecht (Hf/Solar/MW12) – Landsknecht is a woman of many talents, herMindwalking abilities as a psion being only one of them. She has also offered her services as atrauma counselor and is currently the administrator to Matan Kardel. One would think that thiswould leave Landsknecht with little free time. In reality, she has become a regular over the yearsand can often be seen in The Corner during the quieter times.

Beul Larn (Xm/Verge/CS7) – Larn is a mutant from the Thuldan Empire that left Old Space forthe freedom of the Verge. After spending some years moving from system to system, he hassettled down on the Lighthouse and can frequently be seen in The Corner.

Buanann macNessa (Hf/Concord/FA8) – Buanann is a reporter for the Galactic News Agencyand has put herself in a position of learning all she can to report back to Old Space by living onthe Lighthouse. Unfortunately, this hasn’t given her quite as many stories as she would haveliked. However, after becoming a regular in The Corner, she has at least been able to make adecent living by selling the few stories she gets from the other regulars and the staff.

Carramis Barrison del’Armgo (Hm/Solar/FA13) – Carramis is a smuggler with a reputation fordealing in antiques from across the Verge and even Old Space. While he refuses to attain theseantiques on his own, he makes a good fence for anyone wanting to offload such goods. He isfrequently seen in The Corner meeting with one or more of his contacts, either to buy or sell.

Connor Massey (Hm/Concord/TO10) – A former Concord Marine, Massey has fallen on somehard times. To make ends meet, he has taken a job as a pizza delivery-man. He’s hoping thathis luck will change soon and spends much of his time (and his income) in The Corner trying tomake that happen.

Cymry (Hm/Regency/FA15) – Seen by most to be a professional slacker, Cymry seems to dowell at whatever it is he is slacking at. At times, he has worked part time for The Corner as abartender, but for the most part he is seen as a regular customer. He is often heard telling peopleof the beauty of his home planet, Bluefall, and how he hopes to get back there someday soon.

Data^Surge (Hm/Insight/TO12) – A gridpilot of some renown, Data^Surge is on the wanted list ofmany Voidcorp employees. His information gathering skills are quite excellent, as is his zeal forInsight. In many cases, he doesn’t leave much of the Voidcorp gridsites he hacks into.

Denver Ghost (Hm/Concord/TO13) – A competent scientist working with the Concord, his majorzest for life comes from finding out more about the mysterious Externals. Presently, his work isfocused on learning more about the Klicks. He has worked closely with Dr. Brax and Dr. Trentonin his search for more information about this deadly species.

Katerina “Fyuzhn” Khampenhausen (Hf/Austrin/CS8) – Fyuzhn, as her friends call her, is anAustrin career soldier and is currently stationed on the Lighthouse with the Austrin-Ontisembassy. In her off-duty hours, she can be found enjoying several shots of Jake Danyells. Gruffand to the point, Katerina is exactly what she portrays herself to be: a cold hearted killer that doesan excellent job when on the battlefield.

Gloves (Hf/Insight/D-TO7) – Gloves is an ex-Borealin, having defected a short time after the endof GW2. Taking the name of Gloves as her gridpilot call sign, she has yet to tell anyone her realname.

Grep Naganoon (Mm/Rignumor/TO13) – A mechalus gridpilot that is well known to all the otherregulars of The Corner, not much is known about him outside of this environment. Which isexactly how Nagonoon prefers it. Along with being a regular that uses The Corners excellentGrid access, he also works part time as a bartender there.

RP507 50RSP, Kes (Hf/Voidcorp/FA8) – Kes is your typical Voidcorp employee, always talkingabout how great the Company is. It is the things that she doesn’t say that should have manyworried about being in her presence, since she is a Voidcorp intelligence operative. Her presentmission is to gather intel on the sesheyan situation on Grith, though she keeps her missionparameters a tightly guarded secret.

Kuwdora (Tf/Cluster/TO12) – Kuwdora is a well known pilot and ship mechanic on theLighthouse. She has her own ship, a small light freighter, that she uses to ferry passengers for asmall fee. Her supplemental income is in selling her technical abilities to quickly and quietlyrepair craft without drawing the attention of the rest of the Lighthouse.

Liam Killian (Hm/Solar/TO8) – Killian is a pilot assigned to the Solar embassy on the Lighthouse,though he has been known to take some of the diplomatic shuttles out on less official runs. Alikable young man, he seems to be quite the up and comer for space jockeys around The Corner.

Lizoh Gremtaz’ (Hm/Verge/TO11) – Gremtaz’ is an ex-Austrin combat pilot who now sells hisservices to different companies around the Verge. This has proved to be quite lucrative, thoughhe is now in a bit of debt after having to crash an employers ship on Grith during one of the manyVoidcorp trade embargoes.

VK532 04MIN, Marcus Hammond (Hm/Voidcorp/D-TO8) – Currently the Voidcorp ambassadoraboard the Lighthouse, he has been known to frequent The Corner. For more information onMarcus Hammond, please see page 23 of The Lighthouse sourcebook.

Matan Kardel (Hm/Hatire/MW13) – Kardel is a Hatire Mindknight assigned to the Hatireembassy. Presently, he is assisted by his administrator Autumn Landsknecht and can frequentlybe seen in The Corner. Even with his distaste for technology, he finds the atmosphere of TheCorner to be soothing to him. Many of the other regulars tend to keep their distance, though.

Monet LaCrosse (Hf/Borealin/MW9) – LaCrosse is a crafty dilettante that uses her good looksand psionic abilities to get what she wants. Most are charmed with her personality and herexpensive clothing, but none should be fooled that this woman is out for anything more than herown interests. A collector of ancient books, she has been known to make purchases fromCarramis Barrison del’Armgo. She can frequently be seen with her sister, Robyn, working thecrowd.

Necross Barrison del’Armgo (Hm/Solar/FA10) – The younger brother of Carramis Barrisondel’Armgo, Necross specializes in jewelry. The two brothers frequently mix their trade whendealing with a wealthy client or with a “merchant” that has mixed wares.

Nephanor (Fm/Concord/MW15) – Nephanor is one of the few fraal regulars that you see in TheCorner. He seems to quietly spend his time enjoying a glass of Aaeloni wine and doing whatmost fraal do: people watch.

Robyn LaCrosse (Hf/Borealin/MW10) – The older sister of Monet LaCrosse, Robyn is just ascrafty as her younger sibling, if not more subtle. Like her sister, she is also a psion which leadsthose who know this to wonder how lightning could strike twice in one bloodlines generation.While her sister likes antique books, Robyn has a certain love for jewels of all kinds, which bringsher into contact with Necross Barrison del’Armgo quite frequently. The four seem to spend a lotof time together, making people wonder if something else goes on behind closed doors.

Sarah Guill (Hf/Solar/CS8) – Guill is a bodyguard assigned to the Solar embassy on theLighthouse. While not assigned to any one dignitary, she has been seen in The Corner withwhoever she was attached. Likewise, her off hours are often spent her enjoying one of thefabulous beers that are available.

Satana Ice (Hf/Concord/D-FA10) – Ice has had a very strange life. Originally from the BorealisRepublic, she left and defected to the Solar Union in search of ancient texts from the collegesthere. She claims that while the Republic has the largest repository of raw information in thegalaxy, a lot has been left to interpretation. She seeks the original texts to glean yet moreinformation. In this search, she has worked as a stripper, a nurse, and has seven differentdegrees in various subjects.

Shori Landsknecht (Hm/Austrin/TO12) – An Austrin free trader, Shori will haul just about anycargo as long as the price is good. People often believe that he is related to AutumnLandsknecht, but the family name is simply a coincidence (or perhaps they are related at somepoint forgotten in the depths of human history).

Spyder Dissenter (Xf/Verge/D-TO9) – Publicly, Dissenter works as a bioartist on the Lighthouse.In reality, she has worked for various people in the “human resources” department…she’s aprofessional interrogator. She has frequently worked her distasteful profession for the ThuldanEmpire and Voidcorp.

Stobe Xi (Mm/Verge/CS13) – Xi works as a bodyguard full time, offering his abilities to anyonethat are willing to pay for them. Part time, he offers his services as a bartender to The Corner.

Recently, he has been on some clandestine mission to guard someone of importance. As rarelyas he is seen, he has kept this information quiet to avoid any future problems.Tck’Tck (Tm/Concord/TO8) – Tck’Tck is a very competent demolitions expert in the ConcordMarines. While he frequently uses Plasma Jelly, he for some reason has a fear of it. He’s beenknown to close his eyes when hitting the detonator switch using Plasma Jelly, but nobody knowswhy.

Valkryie Twilight (Xm/Verge/CS6) – Twilight is an ex-Orion special forces trooper that left for theVerge after mustering out. Currently a bounty hunter by trade, many avoid being near Twilightwhen he comes into The Corner.

Vladamir Chikov (Hm/Nariac/CS7) – Chikov is a Nariac sniper that has, for reasons unknown,been assigned to their embassy on the Lighthouse. The idea of a sniper being assigned to anembassy has left many with an uneasy feeling. Chikov doesn’t seem to mind this and actuallyappears to be quite friendly when in The Corner.

Dr. Alex Trenton (Hm/Orion/TO17) – Dr. Trenton is a well known combat medic that has beenworking for a mercenary group in the Verge. Trenton has a cybernetic left arm, cyber eye, andcybernetic right leg. In his arm, he has installed a medical gauntlet and his right leg is thought toconceal a Devestator Flechette Pistol.

Appendix B: The Corner After 2503

The destruction of the Lighthouse left many people in the city sections out of work. The staff ofThe Corner are no exception to that. Many of the regulars and staff made it off the station inescape pods, though a total headcount was never done. The Corner band was definitelyconfirmed to have made it off by a TVN reporter known as Synther.

Malcom Mercadian is also confirmed as making it off the destroyed station. He has vowed thatshould a Lighthouse of Faith – class station again be made available, he would immediately setupshop again. Knowing that the vessel would have an almost identical layout, he’s sure that it willagain be a success. As of January of 2504, Mercadian has setup an Officers Club on RegencyIsland on Bluefall. Much of the staff from The Corner still work there and the band can be seenthere almost every night.

With the rebuilding of many of the islands, after the Battle of Aegis in December of 2503, theVerge Alliance has seen this as a welcome relief. Just as The Corner did on the Lighthouse,Mercadian’s Officers Club is offering a bit of relaxation to the embattled and overworked troops ofthe Verge Alliance. Alliance command does its best to supply Mercadian with what he needs tostay open, but there is still a lot that is available that is “unofficial.”

Recently, the Verge Alliance assigned Captain Blake Gerrard and the 251st Concord Rangers todo an evaluation of the Lighthouse to see if it could be salvaged. Mercadian contacted Gerrardand asked if he could bring back some cases of goods from what was left of The Corner. Muchto his delight, Captain Gerrard was able to bring back several cases of hard to get alcohol. Andeven better news, the Rangers made the evaluation that the Lighthouse could indeed besalvaged. What will happen with this is anyone’s guess.

And so, in the wake of a war, The Corner stays alive in a military tent on Regency Island.