JOAN MERKENBERG

Race and Faction

Species: Exohuman
Born: 2578 on the spaceship Last Frontier
Affiliation (Alpha & Beta Age): Last Frontier University
Affiliation (Gamma Age): Danah Wanah University
Place of Residence: New Kourou

Background

Joan Merkenberg is the only child of Martin and Ida Merkenberg, both of whom were teachers at the elementary school on the spaceship Last Frontier. Born and raised in an academic environment, Joan developed a keen interest in geography early on and went on to study at Last Frontier University.

Following her studies, Joan worked as a scientific employee within the university's geography faculty. After the tragic crash-landing of the Last Frontier, which claimed the lives of two of her professors, Joan was unexpectedly appointed as a full professor due to the severe shortage of qualified personnel.

She played a key role in rebuilding the university's academic infrastructure in New Kourou and quickly became a prominent figure in the scientific policy of the Free State of Settlers. Joan is best known for her work on the Twin-Section Hypothesis, which posits that each section of the Habitual Belt has a geographic twin on the opposite side of VOI 700 D.

To validate the theory, she proposed and helped organize the Westward Passage Expedition, which set out in 2626. After three grueling years, the expedition confirmed her hypothesis by discovering and mapping Zilari, the twin section of Asari, thereby transforming the scientific understanding of the planet’s geography.

Role by Age

Alpha Age:

Job Title: Student of Geography, Last Frontier University
Responsibilities: Academic coursework, assisting in early planetary cartography simulations, volunteer research during onboard environmental crisis drills

Beta Age:

Job Title: Professor of Geography, Last Frontier University
Responsibilities: Leading geographical research and university recovery efforts, authoring the Twin-Section Hypothesis, organizing the Westward Passage Expedition, advising Free State leadership on territorial strategy and settlement expansion

Gamma Age:

Job Title: Dean of the Geography Faculty, Danah Wanah University
Responsibilities: Overseeing the academic and administrative direction of the Geography Faculty, mentoring researchers, managing institutional partnerships

Personality

Traits: Intelligent, determined, and deeply analytical
Behavior: Joan is a thoughtful and measured academic, often absorbed in research. She’s passionate about geography and exploration but sometimes loses patience with bureaucratic obstacles. She holds a quiet authority and rarely speaks without purpose.
Values: Joan values empirical evidence, discovery, and the expansion of human knowledge. Her commitment to the scientific method is unwavering, and she sees exploration not just as survival, but as a way for Exohumans to reclaim purpose after the traumatic landing.

Physical Attributes

Height: 1.72 meters
Weight: 64 kg
Appearance: Joan has short, practical hair and often wears a utility coat. Her face is weathered from long exposure during expeditions, and her eyes are sharp and observant, often scanning her surroundings with silent curiosity.

Combat Statistics

Armor Class (AC): 12 (academic field gear offers minimal protection)
Hit Points (HP): 30

Actions:

Cartographic Analysis: Joan can analyze terrain quickly, offering a +2 bonus to party navigation rolls or helping locate water sources, shelter, or safe passage.
Improvised Defense: If forced into combat, Joan uses a collapsible field tool (steel baton) for basic self-defense. | Damage: 1d4 + 1
Emergency Beacon: Once per session, Joan can activate a distress signal that attracts the attention of local patrols or allied researchers within a 2-day radius.

Special Abilities:

Geographic Insight: Joan can identify similarities in terrain types, offering a +2 bonus to any Knowledge (Geography) checks when trying to verify the presence of a twin section or establish likely locations of rivers, mountains, or valleys on the opposing side of the planet.

Motivations and Goals

Joan’s long-term goal is the creation of a complete and publicly accessible planetary map of VOI 700 D, including hydrological systems, elevation models, and mirrored sections. She seeks to establish geography as a foundational science for all settler policy and exploration.

In the Alpha Age, Joan is a promising academic—idealistic and focused on her studies, dreaming of walking the land she’s only seen in simulations.

In the Beta Age, she is driven by urgency: to understand the world, prevent human error, and build a rational framework for survival and expansion. The Westward Passage Expedition is the culmination of this vision.

In the Gamma Age, Joan has become a high-ranking academic figure—now serving as Dean of the Geography Faculty at Danah Wanah University. While her passion for discovery remains intact, she now grapples with the responsibilities of academic leadership: balancing bureaucratic demands, nurturing young talent, and defending the value of pure science in a society increasingly driven by politics and resource constraints.

Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters

Joan Merkenberg is a rich support NPC for discovery- or exploration-based campaigns. Across all ages, she can serve different roles:

In the Alpha Age, she may be an eager assistant, potentially involved in secret simulations or early predictive models of planetary geography. Players may work alongside her on academic projects or defend her from political backlash aboard the Last Frontier.

In the Beta Age, Joan is a prominent figure — capable of granting access to expeditions, scientific data, or map fragments. Her knowledge can reveal shortcuts, environmental threats, or unknown mirrored regions. She’s a moral anchor, preferring scientific advancement over military ambition.

In the Gamma Age, Joan becomes a legendary NPC — sought out by curious players, researchers, or idealists. She can provide historical context, forgotten expedition notes, or serve as a voice of reason when science clashes with ideology.

She is not suited for direct combat roles but excels as a strategist, lore source, and moral guidepost. Consider using her to structure knowledge-gathering arcs or frame larger scientific conflicts in your campaign.

Table of Contents

Exohumans | NPC