Sweet Chariot Game FAQ

 A) A fairly cheep means of transporting messages airship to airship. 

B) Perhaps a useful means of transporting messages across nations (some migratory birds have astounding stamina and there is always occasional peaks to rest on. 

C) Fairly covert, and if I'm not mistaken it's not easy to read the thoughts of a bird which complicates telepathy.

 B) Yes, if they don't fly too low and don't get caught in a storm. There are no predatory birds on Chariot, so that at least is safe. I would think so long as proper precautions (multiple redundancy, basically) are taken it could be fairly reliable.

 C) Quite. No way of telling a message carrying bird from a casual passerby bird without seeing the message band on its leg. 

 A) Mutants: Typically not a good choice in any society, however the people of Chariot seem aware of the brutal nature of their world and accept it's unpleasentries. So I'm wondering if they accept mutants as it's not really their fault all things considered... 

B) Mancatchers and Outlaws: Say an outlaw flees one nation and holes up in another... and does nothing to offend anyone there (assume fairly neutral relations between said nations at the moment...). Is there any extradition/sanction laws that would inhibit efforts to bring the offender to justice?

 C) Descendants of the Hijackers: Seem to have faired somewhat well, all things considered. Does the rest of the colony choose to let bygones be bygones, or is it a bad idea to admit you descended from the Hijackers in any city but your own? 

D) Deathland Divers: Heroic he-men (it does take a lot of stamina to pull this off), or worker-class crazies (it's not like the region they are heading into is in any way safe).

 E) Offworlders: Are there any visitors on Chariot? Any technology exchange? And are there any alien visitors who may have their own intentions? (your average Guaru for example might appreciate a little radiation-induced sterilization).

 B) It entirely depends on the particular governments involved. Generally speaking, it is in most governments favor to allow mutual extradition, but some reasons (The theocratic nature of Wallacia, the quasi pariah status of the Hijacker states, etc.) weigh more than mere utility, and in any case, the nations are forever feuding amongst themselves. If there are no extradition treaties, a mancatcher could still get his criminal, but not by any legal means.

 C) In general, people of the Crew states hate the people of the Hijacker states with an unremitting passion, and will not deal with them in any way shape or form. The Passenger states are less hostile to Hijacker states, but not generally speaking friendly. The Hijacker states generally only trade with each other and with certain Passenger states. Of course, Washington is a Hijacker state, and trades with Fiske.

 D) Something of both. It pays well for an unskilled job, and offers a path upward to ambitious Divers. The fabulous bonuses paid for pieces of old technology is a huge lure, but it takes a certain disregard for one's own safety to do this kind of work. :D

 E) There are visitors indeed, particularly to the three nations with extra-planetary trade treaties: Spenceria with Glorianna, Fukien with Warren, and Fiske with Washington. Some visitors go further afield than that, although few care to live on Chariot. Aliens are not at all common. The only aliens with a presence in the System are the Kiskit, who have rather hostile relations with humanity. Both Kiskit worlds are at Tech Level 8, which means they use fission induced fusion weapons. As radioactives are very scarce in the Gloria system outside of Chariot, there are persisitent rumors that they get their fissionables through illicit means from Chariot. Curious Kertu-Drua and Ven der Opt will occasionally wander in, and other aliens somewhat less frequently. It's a long way for a Guaru to come for a bit of hard radiation, though! :D

 We've come up with the following issues so far...

 1) It would not be fun to run into an ash cloud in a blimp or zeppelin... the craft would probably survive the experience but their could be damage to the rudders or engines (not to mention washing the junk off). On the good side it's a great GM plot device, a way to divert characters (or strand them for a brief time) for an adventure. It can also be a good plot device unto itself, like a navy delayed or changing it's course to avoid a typhoon... only in the air.

 2) And it would probably not be welcome for Deathlands divers as well. Although their equipment would probably fair far better than average (it is designed for high-pressure after all), it would make visibility even worse.

 3) But on the flip side, the stuff isn't bad for future crop growing... if nothing else a good reason for the amount of viable cropland in the habitable regions.

 What do you think, any other important issues on ash?

 1) Yes indeed! Ash buildup can be a considerable danger to airships, and if the ash is still hot it can burn right through the skin of the ship and/or gas bags. The buildup on top of the ship would require someone to periodically knock it off, otherwise the ship might begin losing altitude because of excess weight.

 2) Definitely. And driving in ash that was too deep would be dangerous. Not a lot of friction there for steering or movement.

 3) That was indeed factored into the ability to live in the habitable areas. The fertility of volcanic ash is vital for the farmers.

 Railroads can be buried under ash, as can villages.
Ash can also slip in avalanches when it is deep.
Rivers can be temporarily dammed by ash flows, sometimes breaking out in devastating floods.
Ash can be chokingly thick, and impossible to breathe even without the admixture of hot or poisonous gasses.
Pyroclaustic flows can just wipe out whole cities - ref Pompeii.

 You can see the need for Vulcanic Engineering and prediction! :D

1) Is there any global effort among the people of Chariot to regulate the distribution of a technology that might trigger a massive shift in their economy and social structure (say for example, the importing of robots to replace the Deathlands Diver profession). 

2) For that matter, is there any effort on the part of the Starcluster government to watchdog what may arrive on Chariot to prevent a potential disaster... including the occasional visit from an agent to recover/destroy a dangerous item? 

Primitive worlds (TL 0-4) are protected. Contact and trade are strictly controlled by specialist teams in order to not destroy a unique culture. With Primitive worlds, the burden of protection is on the more advanced culture, and thus the Primitive world knows nothing of the outside. The obvious exception is, of course, Stareve, whose inhabitants turned their back on high technology deliberately.

 Advanced worlds (TL 8+) are totally open. 

Backward worlds (TL 5-7) are open. These cultures are deemed sufficiently robust as to not need coddling. The burden of protection is on the world (or part of the world) itself, rather than with its trading partner. If (for example) Washington wanted to import robots, then it would. The reasons it doesn't are several:

 1: Cultures tend to be conservative. 
2: Low tech customers have a severe cost issue in trying to import from a higher tech world, as there is not a lot that they have that the Advanced trader wants.
3: Importing robots is the least of its problems. Fixing and maintaining robots is another - even higher - level of cost.
4: They couldn't even charge its power supply.

 Simple, cheap, low maintenance items are what would be imported. LED flashlights with atomic batteries that last almost forever. Insulating blankets. Synthetic chemicals. Solar powered calculators. Simple, foolproof tech.
In its own self-interest, a Chariot nation will import only certain items. This, however, does not apply to smugglers. :D 

Thus the answers: 
1) No, but there are a lot of efforts made at the national level. 
2) It is in the interest of those governments affiliated with Chariot nations (Glorianna, Warren, and Fiske) to keep their clients happy, so long as it is reasonable. They would certainly attempt to interdict any such attempt if they knew about it, but there are always ways around them.