Raindance

Lore & Background

Raindance is a world of unrelenting, drenching rain, where the canopy of colossal, alien flora offers the only meager shelter from the endless downpour. The planet's thick, soupy atmosphere and frequent electrical storms scramble long-range communications and sensor gear, forcing every engagement into brutal, knife-fight range. The terrain is a death trap: knee-deep mud that swallows boots, fast-moving rivers that can sweep a soldier away, and unstable cliffs that crumble under sustained fire. Historically, Raindance was a minor colony world, exploited for its rare mineral deposits. But during the conflicts depicted in *Tribes: Vengeance*, its location near critical jump routes turned it into a strategic lynchpin. Both the Imperial Phoenix Empire and the Diamond Sword have bled for control of its few fortified outposts and precarious landing zones. The constant rain has forged the planet's sparse inhabitants into a hard, resourceful people. The local fauna—including aggressive reptilian predators—have adapted to the wet, ambushing patrols from the muck and foliage. The planet's name is said to come from an ancient native phrase meaning 'the weeping sky,' though veterans joke it's the sound of the enemy's tears mixing with the storm.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammered against Lieutenant Kael's visor, each drop a tiny hammer blow. He crouched behind a moss-covered boulder, his jetpack's thrusters sputtering in the damp air. Through the downpour, he could see the faint glow of the Diamond Sword's forward base. 'Alpha team, on my mark,' he whispered into his comm, the signal crackling with static. 'We go in quiet, or we don't go in at all.' The only reply was the relentless hiss of the rain, a sound that had become the planet's very heartbeat.

Reader's Guide

Raindance is a dense jungle planet featured in *Tribes: Vengeance*, defined by its constant, heavy rainfall and punishing terrain. The environment is a core gameplay factor: the rain slashes visibility to a few dozen meters and muffles sound, making stealth tactics and ambushes highly effective. The map is a vertical maze of deep valleys and high plateaus, connected by narrow, slippery paths and rickety bridges. Combat on Raindance revolves around control of key structures—communication towers and supply depots—that offer the only dry shelter from the elements. Thick foliage provides cover for infantry but cripples long-range weapons and bogs down vehicle movement. Players must wrestle with slick surfaces and reduced traction, which throws off skiing momentum and jetpack landings, turning every maneuver into a gamble. Raindance fits into the larger *Tribes* narrative as a contested world that embodies the brutal, no-quarter nature of the Empire-Diamond Sword conflict. Its inhospitable climate is a constant reminder that the war is fought not just against enemies, but against a planet that wants you dead.

Did You Know?

• Raindance is one of the few planets in the Tribes series to feature a persistent weather effect that directly impacts gameplay.
• The planet's name is a reference to the constant precipitation, but also alludes to the 'rain of fire' from orbital bombardments that have scarred its surface.
• In Tribes: Vengeance, the Raindance map includes a hidden cave system that can be used for flanking maneuvers.
• The local flora on Raindance includes bioluminescent fungi that provide the only natural light during the planet's frequent electrical storms.
• Veteran players claim the constant rain on Raindance can mask the sound of an incoming disc launcher round—until it's too late.