Arrbi Betna
Marauder
Name: Argo VIIRegion: Tingel Arm
System: Argo System
Suns: 1 O-type star main sequence star
Orbital Position: Habitable zone, 7th planet
Moons: 0
System Features: The system resides within a nebulae and features seven planets, only Argo VII featuring life.
Coordinates: Galactic North East of Belkadan along the edge of the galaxy
Rotational Period: 35 standard hours
Orbital Period: 1,200 standard years
Class: Standard Earth size, crystalline composition
Atmosphere: Type IV
Climate: Temperature varies depending on the distance to the planet's core. Deeper into the planet warrants warmer temperatures while the surface is exposed to the effects of nonexistent atmosphere.
Gravity: sub-standard
Primary Terrain: Crystalline landscapes varying between barren plains, mountains of crystal shards, and even 'forests' of thin spires of crystal.
Native Species: Cheiracanth
Immigrated Species: None
Primary Languages: None; Cheiracanth have no verbal language
Government: Decentralized/Pseudo Tribal - Each Cheiracanth nest governs itself. The planet's nest leaders will occasionally meet as a group to determine major, species affecting decisions, but otherwise each nest rules itself
Population: ~400,000,000 Cheiracanth spread over the planet
Demonym: None; Cheiracanth are referred to by species.
Major Exports: Crystals (to be submitted separately through the Factory)
Affiliation: N/A
Major Locations:
- Glass Hills - A series of warped sheets of crystal composed of various carbons and silicates, the Glass Hills are a massive expanse of hills and valleys. Here and there cracks in the crystal can be found where ravines of varying depths and lengths can be found. The area is criss-crossed by various natural pipes where the planet's natural electrical energy flows making it a prime location for a nest for those who can reach deep enough. The Hill Digger nest resides here, one of the largest Cheiracanth nests on the planet.
- Glittering Forests - Less a single location and more a catch all for each individual forest of varying size, they forests aren't actually forests at all, but rather composed of tall, thin crystal structures that have naturally formed in the planet's low gravity. The 'trees' seem delicate, but are deceptively strong and resistant to damage. Rarely, one can find a natural pipe flowing with electrical energy near the surface, but otherwise the forests are rather barren. The Spire Climber and Orb Watcher nests can be found in the Glittering Forests, clustered around whatever natural, flowing pipe they have found.
- Sea of Light - A large swath of crystal to the polar north of the planet, the Sea is really a plain of crystal. What gives it its name is that near perfect flatness of the crystal itself and the flickering lights of electrical energy playing beneath it. Unfortunately, the hint of the Cheirocanth's food source is a trick, for there are no natural pipes beneath the crystal. Instead, the crystal is incredibly clear for miles below. What is seen is the corona of the planet's core and the light of the energies there. The Glass Chaser nest resides near the edge of the sea around a natural pipe of energy, but rarely ventures out into the Sea itself.
- Changer's Lament - A place steeped in history and avoided by nearly the entire species, the Lament is actually a shattered chain of gargantuan mountains made of diamond and other forms of crystal. The mountains are black and scorched, their shattered and splintered peaks rising to the stars. Here and there, magnetic anomalies can be found where crystals, sundered by the cataclysmic events of the Cheiracanth's past, float just above or around the mountains. It is here that one can almost always find a lone Forsaken, one of the Force sensitives of the Cheiracanth species. They are never here for long, but almost all of the Forsaken make frequent pilgrimages to the location. Whether for insight, penance, or a short time of shelter is not known, but enough searching for multiple days will often warrant finding at least one of the Force sensitives.
Culture:
The culture of Argo VII is based entirely around the Cheiracanth caste system, which is as follows.
Outside of this, the Cheiracanth are very open to members of their species, often welcoming them into their nests freely. The only area outside Cheiracanth are not permitted to enter are the deepest chambers where the Infants, Young, and Ancients reside.
Cheiracanth are species steeped in lore, relying on the Weavers to pass down their history through the generations as they have no written language. Cheiracanth are natural storytellers and will often gather in large groups to listen to a tale being told. They are also deeply spiritual and worship the Great Orb, the Argo system's star, in a form of monotheistic religion. The Weavers are primarily historians, but also serve as a type of priest as well. There is no true form of worship service or clergy system. Instead, the Cheiracanth believe that reciting the stories and histories, all tying into their form of sun worship, is to honor the Great Orb and so the tales are frequently told to all castes of the species.
Nests are often dug into the crystal landscape, built in natural fissures and caves, or - rarely - built up from the ground in small spires by adhering chunks of crystal together using natural glands in the Cheiracanth's mandible area. The construction of nests rarely deviate from a basic plan, though the exact layout is slightly different from nest to nest. Living areas are located towards the top of the nest nearest the nest entrances while chambers used for feeding and forms of discussion akin to town hall meetings are located below. The sick and injured are located in chambers below these and, deeper still, the 'breeding' chamber where the Infants and Ancients reside. This chamber always features a natural or artificial 'well spring' of electrical energy for the very young and very old to feed from.
Technology: Equivalent to standard, based on the natural energies of the planet*.
History:
Originally believed to simply be a small nebula on the edge of the galaxy, it was initially thought that the random gas and dust cloud was illuminated by nearby stars and beyond the edge of the known galaxy. Recently, however, scientists have spotted that the nebula features its own star. This is not unusual in its own right, but upon closer inspection it was discovered that the nebula was not, in fact, outside of the edge of the galaxy, but was instead simply 'close' to the unseen barrier that exists.
Initial scans showed a small number of planets around the star and a survey group was sent to investigate. The foray returned data of a solar system inside a nebula featuring seven planets. Of the seven, the six closest were entirely uninhabitable due to close proximity to the system's star or having a highly, highly radioactive landscape. The last planet, however, was both intriguing and within the habitable zone, though without any real atmosphere.
The planet was scanned and approached by the scout vessel and found to be composed entirely of crystalline structures and fluctuating with a form of electrical energy source. As the ship landed, crystalline landscapes were seen, a clear sign of both scientific discovery and, for the more materially oriented, a great source of wealth should the crystals prove valuable and easily harvested.
Unfortunately, all recording stopped as the survey group left the confines of their ship and ventured deep into the planet itself. Occasional tidbits made it through for a short time, speaking of energy funnels and 'pipes' as well as minor heat differentials as the group made their way deeper. After this, all broadcasting ceased.
Rescue missions were sent, both armed and unarmed, but met with little success before they, too, vanished. Currently, scientific exploration of the planet itself is on hold until the mystery can be solved...
OOC History:
The survey and rescue teams may have delved into an actual Cheiracanth nest and, therefore, became immediate and unknown threats to the nest itself. Any faction looking to lay claim to the planet will need to deal with the peculiarities of the species as well as keep clear of the nests themselves. They'll also need to bring a Force user skilled in telepathy and hope that the nest they contact happens to have a Changer nearby at the time to communicate.
Gotta love the nuances of human/alien interaction.
Notable PCs: N/A
Intent: I was thinking about it and figured, why not make a neat and unique planet that is both mesmerizing and mysterious with an element of danger added to it? Toss in the unique concept of a crystalline planet and here we go.
Notes:
* The natural energy field on the planet, often referred to as Electrical Energy, operates very much like an underground water aquifer. It originates within the planet via unknown means and spreads throughout the world through natural fissures and channels called 'Pipes' until they reach natural or artificial 'wells' where the Cheiracanth can access and draw sustenance from the energies there. The Cheiracanth also use it for various purposes such as light as well as to power their technology equivalents.
