One of the furthest worlds still considered to be in Communion space, Little Haven is a paradise planet concealed within the beautiful Small Heaven nebula.
She is a paradise to many and for many different reasons.
Interference from the nebula means that pirates have found safe haven in each of the star systems here, settling down to form something of a republic. By far the most dangerous band of pirates, the Edge Space Raiders reside on Little Haven under the banner of the pirate king, Captain Harlem. No one can remember when Harlem came to power, and it is a commonly accepted story amongst his pirates and his victims that he in very old – at least over 1000 years of age. The truth is that he is even older than this, clinging to life by some unknown means and for some unknown reason.
The Edge Space Raiders have a shaky relationship with the locals of Little Haven, a diaspora of tribes who live from island to island with varying degrees of modernity. They are the descendants of the crew of a single ancient starship, which fled the Communion at the beginning of the Third Schism. This ship suffered a catastrophe as it entered the nebula and crash landed on the nearest planet. The survivors had to learn to fend for themselves on this tropical world of a hundred thousand islands. And only the fittest went on, leading to the now many tribes of Little Haven.
The raiders leave the tribes alone for the most part. However, there is also a burgeoning tourist industry on the planet. After all, many from the heart of the Communion long for a sense of adventure, and they see Little Haven as the perfect world to venture to. Most tribes have welcomed this new wave of interest and have set up establishments to cater to this new breed of visitor. It makes for quite a pleasant change – people so willing to part with their money instead of only taking it from them. Of the resorts, the most popular include diving retreats and jungle camps – and all aim to give tourists an unfiltered view into Little Haven life.
It is in these resorts that the raiders have interest, often descending upon both the locals and their guests, demanding tribute. So long as they leave with their money, the pirates leave the resorts alone for some time, but they will always be back eventually. Only a few savvy individuals have managed to form positive relations with the pirates and actually work with them to extort their own guests. The divemaster, Rin, is a prime example – and you can listen to part one of her audio adventure for free here.
Little Haven has no significant continental land masses, consisting of only islands. However, what has baffled the few geologists who have braved the journey here is that the average ocean depth is rather shallow, and there are many areas where it is exceptionally shallow. This creates a beautiful look, a crystal blue azure, but it is something not seen on any other world.
The locals, however, know that there is something else hidden away on Little Haven. They didn’t think it wise to tell their guests, and they certainly didn’t care to inform the pirates. The locals know of mysterious islands that appear far older than the rest, darker and more dangerous, with strange plants and creatures not found anywhere else. Upon these islands are strange structures with even stranger markings. Unnatural phenomena are frightfully common here… and the locals know that beneath these islands, there lies a whole other world. You see, they were not the first on this planet!
And it has been of ritual importance to the locals that during certain times men must not go in the water. For if they do, they will never be seen again…
