Though never directly brought up in the source material, the implication of WMDs and MAD does hang over the Cold War equivalent of the world of The Red Star.
Reading some Russian texts on soviet strategic missiles combined with some things going on in the German RPG-blogosphere has brought this unspoken threat to the forefront of my mind. Throw in this and this is what comes out of it:
Missile Complex “Grifon”
(WTA reporting code SS-81 Snapper)
The strategic intercontinental ballistic missile complex “Grifon” was developed in three variants, silo-based, train-based and for a wheeled mobile launcher, upon orders of the Red Council. The Citadel Institute for Thermal Technology and the Central Construction Bureau for Air and Space Technology were issued with the development.
The control systems were designed by the Scientific Infokast Organization under the direction of T. A. Zelineva. The instruments of the control system allow the launch preparations and the launch of the missile to be performed from any point of the route of the mobile launcher.
The warhead stage of the missile was equipped with a newly developed protocol enhanced thermonuclear monoblock warhead and with measures to counter missile defense systems.
During the testing of the missile, the first three trial starts were launched from reequipped existing silos. All following launches were from mobile launchers.
The complex was accepted into service.
Special bunkers were constructed to house the “Grifon” complex at the standby sites, built with retractable roofs to allow the launch of the missiles directly from the bunkers.
A total of 136 missiles were launched as part of the testing and during trials and trainings.
Based on the technical solutions of the complex, the improved complex “Grifon-M” and the cosmic launch vehicle “Skifiya” were developed.
Vehicle Statistics
| Name | Crew | Pass | Cargo | Init | Maneuver | Top Speed | Defense | Damage Reduction |
| Grifon | 0 | 0 | N/A | -4 | -4 | 48000 (4800) | 6 | 20 (+4) |
| Hit Points | Size | Weight | Harpoints | Purchase DC | Restriction | Weapons | Extras | |
| 100 | G | 200 tons | 0 (0) | 53 | Mil (+3) | Protocol enhanced thermonuclear warhead | Protocol-reinforced armor, protocol shielding systems, Crypsis systems |
The Truth
In truth, the “newly developed protocol enhanced thermonuclear monoblock warhead” of the Grifon is a demonic entity, a trapped soul both fanatic in its devotion to the state and in its longing for plunging itself and everything around it into Oblivion.
The background of this excess of modern nuclear sorcerous engineering is the following:
The spiritual component of the conflict between the URRS and the WTA put special challenges before the architects of both sides strategies of mass destruction and deterrence. It was not just that the location in the Spirit Realm of important elements of military and economic infrastructure made them unreachable to the available strategic weapons, but the basic fact, that any succesful strategic strike must actually strengthen the target’s available sorcerous potential in proportion to the damage caused due to the souls of those killed in the attack providing a massive influx of PHE.
For a long time, two solutions for this dilemma were considered by the planners. The first one focused on direct action within the Spirit Realm either preceding or at least simultaneously with a nuclear strike in the physical world, so as to destroy the infrastructure necessary to harness the inevitable floodwave of PHE. The second one was an outgrowth of a doctrine of utter annhilation – making any strike so massive, that it would eradicate the enemy to the very last, making moot any sorcerous capabilities as there would be noone left to utilize them.
The integration of protocol sorcery and nuclear technology would provide a third way and let the fears of nuclear destruction span the Spirit Realm as well.
Using protocols in the control and enhancement of nuclear weapons was by no means a new idea and indeed was as common an application as in other fields of military technology. The revolutionary idea was to place a manifest soul within a nuclear device and so use it as a conduit, through which the destructive energy of the blast would be channeled equally into the physical and the spiritial worlds. This would destroy the souls of those killed in the explosion in the same moment they died. It would also destroy any Spirit Realm installations in the Mirror Lands coterminous with the target site.
What such a construction would mean for the utilzed soul was of decidedly secondary importance for the designers and strategic planners of both sides.
Seen from the physical plane, the entity inhabiting the monoblock warhead of the Grifon strategic intercontinental ballistic missile cannot be seen, although some particularly sensitive individual such as some sorceresses may be able to feel its malignant presence.
In the Spirit Realm, the Grifon Demon Core vaguely resembles a giant bird of prey, kast in dark metal and fused with machinery half present in the Spirit Realm itself and half the translucent shadow of the physical warhead. Its visage is dominated by a vicious beak and eyes from which shine madness and the hard harsh light of nuclear devastation. If threatened, spindly metallic limbs and telekinetic blades extrude from the armoured bulk of the Demon Core, ready to cut any spirit to ribbons who tries to keep it from fulfilling its mission.
Grifon Demon Core; CR 17; Large undead (immortal); HD 24d12+144; hp 300; Mas -; Init -1; Spd 0m; Defense 26, touch 8, flat-footed 26 (-1 Dex, +18 natural armor, -1 size); BAB +12; Grap +24; Atk +20 melee (2d8+8, defense blade) or +11 ranged (3d10 plus 1d2 Constitution, soul blast); Full Atk +20 melee (2d8+8, 2 defense blades) and +14 melee (2d8+12, bite), or +11/+6 ranged (3d10 plus 1d2 Constitution, soul blast); FS 4 m by 4 m; Reach 8 m; SQ Blinding Gaze, Damage Reduction 15/-, Defense System Overdrive, Hardwired, Immortal qualities, Integrated Protocols, Soul Blast; AL Red Fleet, Oblivion; SV Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +21; AP 0; Rep +6; PHE 10; Str 27, Dex 8, Con -, Int 16, Wis 21, Cha 23.
Skills: Concentration +13, Kast +23, Knowledge (arcane lore) +4, Knowledge (tactics) +6, Knowledge (technology) +4, Navigate +10, Pilot +14, Read/Write Language (Red), Speak Language (Red).
Feats: Aircraft Operation (ballistic missile), Drive-By Attack, Energy Shield, Iron Will, Vehicle Expert, Weapon Focus (defense blade), Weapon Focus (soul blast).
Possessions: Grifon strategic intercontinental ballistic missile.
Blinding Gaze: The Demon Core’s gaze blinds creatures within 12m for 1d6 rounds. A succesful Fortitude DC 28 save negates the effect. The save DC is Charisma based.
Burning Soul: The Grifon Demon Core is constantly on the verge of being consumed by the destructive forces churning within it and it longs for Oblivion. When it takes damage from soul burning, it always takes the maximum possible amount of damage (i.e., 8 points of damage for each point of PHE substituted, and 16 points (+8 points if also substituting the point of PHE) of damage for each grade of overkasting when kasting protocols).
Defense Blades: The various bladed implements with which the Demon Core can defend itself in the Spirit Realm deal armor piercing slashing damage and count as infused.
Defense System Overdrive: A Grifon Demon Core can put its close defense system into overdrive, surrounding itself with a whirring sphere of blades. As a full-round action, it may make a two attacks with its defense blades against each opponent within reach.
Each use of Defense System Overdrive costs the Demon Core 2 points of PHE.
Hardwired: Entombed within a protocol enhanced nuclear device, the Demon Core is unable to interact with the physical world other than noted below:
The Demon Core controls the Grifon missile in which it is installed, functioning as its pilot, and may take vehicle combat actions to control the Grifon including performing maneuvers and stunts and attacking (or avoiding attacks) with the Grifon. It may also kast any of its Integrated Protocols.
The Demon Core cannot be directly attacked or targeted in the physical world, however, it is destroyed should the Grifon be destroyed.
In the Sprit Realm, the Demon Core is limited by its confinement within the Grifon and cannot move from it. However, it is free to take any action including attacking other creatures within the Spirit Realm.
The Demon Core is subject to attacks from other creatures within the Spirit Realm which are able to reach it. Usually, this requires such attackers to board or otherwise move with or within the Grifon.
Integrated Protocols: The Demon Core knows the following protocols: BVP, DFP, FRP, JTP, PRSP-V, SNAP (see below) and SRP.
It may only target itself or the Grifon strategic intercontinental ballistic missile within which it is placed with these protocols. It is always considered to have access to the necessary protocol components, as these are built into the missile itself.
Soul Blast: The Demon Core can focus some of the destructive energies within it and let them shoot out from its eyes to devastate an enemy with a mixture of hate and nuclear fire.
This Soul Blast is a ranged attack dealing 3d10 of damage (this damage counts as infused, half of it is force and the other half is fire) and 1d2 of Constitution damage. A succesful DC 28 Fortitude save prevents the Constitution damage. A target taking at least 1 point of constitution damage is also nauseated for 1d4 round.
The Sould Blast has a range increment of 30m.
Each use of Soul Blast costs the Demon Core 1 point of PHE.
The save DC is Charisma based.
Scalable Nuclear Annihilation Protocol (SNAP or Annhilation Protocol)
U.R.R.S.
Nonlethal Damage: N/A
Component Purchase DC: N/A
Component Weight: N/A
Kast Check DC: 27
Kasting Time: 1 full round
Range: Personal
Target: Self
Duration: One round
Saving Throw: N/A
Sorcery Resistance: N/A
This protocol triggers the protocol enhanced nuclear device into which the kasting Demon Core is integrated. The interacting protocol and thermonuclear effects create a short-lived sphere of annihilation with a radius of 1 m centered on the location of the Demon Core.
As the Demon Core itself acts as a conduit between the mortal world and the Spirit Realm, this sphere of annihilation equally affects both the physical world and the coterminious Mirror Lands of the Spirit Realm.
Overkast: The radius of the sphere of annihilation doubles for each Grade (2m at Grade I, 4 m at Grade II, 8 m at Grade III, and so on).
Depending on the intended target, a Grifon Demon Core would be expected to aim for overkasting to Grade IX (512 m radius of annihilation) to XIV (16,384 m radius of annihilation).
The Red Star and all related characters are ™ and © Christian Gossett. Used with kind permission.
The Red Star Campaign Setting is © Green Ronin Publishing, LLC.
The Red Star und alle verwandten Charaktere sind ™ und © Christian Gossett. Verwendet mit freundlicher Genehmigung.
The Red Star Campaign Setting ist © Green Ronin Publishing, LLC.