Stygian

Stat Changes:
Treasure: 
Organizations:
Faith: N/A
Tech Changes: N/A

Bardolatry - Plurality
 

Chorus of the Universe - Minor

Space Opera - Art and Cultural Products / Specialists
 

Desired Import - Beverages

Kaitiaki Nui is a bit unique in the fact that it is only one section of an unfinished orbital ring that rests in high orbit around Badal itself. Despite the impressive amount of work that must have gone into construction of the colossal arc, signs of abandonment are present along the outer rim--with some districts remaining disastrously open to the vacuum of space.

Blessedly, no souls try to eke a living in these blackened spots. Perhaps the state of disrepair is owed to the War itself--or perhaps some other calamity that the inhabitants are unwilling to speak of. Perhaps they simply ran out of resources, manpower, and will to see it through. A half-constructed docking platform reaches out to its sister station, as if the two were meant to join into a larger body at some point in the future. Smaller solar panels along the hull are used as a form of renewable backup energy for the station and its maneuvering thrusters.

Inside, the station is clearly meant for function over form. The inner walls of the original construction are lined with murals depicting the history of Badal--its fall from a paradise, the exodus of lesser lifeforms, and the wrath of the sun god. What sections of the station aren't devoted to living quarters, cryostasis chambers, or cargo storage are instead used for the repair and manufacture of Badalian ships--including Derzin Rockets and some of the older kanmarran ships that have been put in for extensive retrofits.

Currently, kanmarran officials have parked a handful of older civilian ships in orbit to expand the station's working capacity--though in practice, these ships are used mostly for entertainment and as a base for diplomatic outreach while engineers figure out the best and most power-efficient way to begin finishing those exposed hab-blocks.

The majority of Kaitiaki Nui's population can trace their lineage back to the original population that inhabited the station prior to the War of Eternal Bombardment. An impressive feat facilitated by unbroken lines, a secure facility unwelcome to solicitors, and the occasional indoctrination of aerostat dwellers from the world below to prevent pollution of genetic lines. Though the population is largely human, there is a minority of other humanoids from across Badal, and strangely enough, a significant percentage of native Glix among the workers present. The hivemind for these Badalian Glix is not connected to their Mekhalan kin, though they do not elaborate much as to the root cause of this--they seem largely unwilling or unable to discuss their kin at length.

Kanmarran engineers, military personnel, and scientists inhabit only a slice of the station proper--while smaller, space-worthy ships remain in close proximity while engineers investigate the best way to expand out the architecture without compromising its integrity.

A standing offer has been given to the Black Cloud Coalition to allow a small exchange of workers--to better survey both stations and delve into the secrets and technology of an age long gone.

Kaitiaki Nui is largely ruled by a panel of three overseers that deliberate on day to day matters. Data regarding performance, repairs, financial reports, and security needs, is filtered in from various department heads across the orbital platform, and any pertinent decisions that affect the whole are passed down via internal memos. As part of the confederation with the Eucrus Alliance, Kaitiaki Nui has been granted a seat on the military council--as opposed to the civilian council. The reasons for this aren't immediately clear, and the request was rather unconventional, given that the usual protocol is to the opposite effect. One might hazard a guess that the terms were involved in whatever defense contract was brokered as part of the annexation.

The history of Kaitiaki Nui as the Alliance understands it is one that is massive and still unfolding. The station long predates most—if not all of the modern polities beneath its watchful gaze, after all.

What is known ties largely into the propaganda of the Thrinakrians. At some point in the long eons before the Sea of Clouds, Badal was allegedly something of a paradise. These cultists-turned-engineers wished to explore beyond the skies of Badal, and began construction on a multi-part orbital ring—meant to act as a waystation between Badal and the rest of Tekhum. Over time, they learned of ways to harness the sun god’s bounty—using it to power their mining operations, drones, and even the nascent cargo ships that had come into development.

With the War of Eternal Bombardments, it is said that the Thrinakrians grew greedy and restless—and this nigh-apocalyptic event brought the wrath of their god, transforming Badal into the relative hellscape of today. Troves of technology and ancient history were lost—and as the first aerostats rose to the skies, the cultists took it upon themselves to ensure the survival of the last Badalians.

For the last two thousand years, they have remained in a sort of twilight exile—never stepping foot personally on one of the aerostats, never venturing outside of their cargo vessels to bring more supplies for their self-imposed wards.

The true shock came with the rise of the Elect—whose nascent Imperial drives put them once more on par with their counterparts from antiquity, if not beyond. Their purpose uncertain, they have acquiesced to another form of protection—allowing Alliance officials and their allies to utilize their shipyards for building new fleets.

Thrinakrians - Majority
The Thrinakrians are nearly as old as the station itself. Originally heralded as doomsayers, the inhabitants of this station are descendants of the original Badalians who witnessed the War of Eternal Bombardments—and the following exodus of many who deemed Badal as an appropriate refuge from the storm.
 

Competing doctrines within the faith both describe Badal as a paradise despoiled by desperate scavengers and a last haven for those who had no other path. What is certain is that adherents of the faith place Badal’s hellish landscape as a result of the hubris of sentients everywhere—and punishment for offending some sort of primitive sun god that theologians outside the faith conflate with dozens of different figures—whether Avva, the Emperor himself, or any number of minor gods.

In the modern day, Thrinakrians act as wardens in both senses of the word—protectors and nurturers of those who live in the world below, and perhaps also as guards—making certain that those they safeguard do not run amok.

The latter sentiment has become harder with the uprising of Elect, leaving the faith scrambling to adapt with space travel now being a common affair.

It is said one day Badal may be redeemed and restored—though they are unwilling to elaborate on what would achieve such a redemption when pressed.

Derzin Rockets - Spacecraft / Industrial Machinery
Tucked away on a segregated section of Kaitiaki Nui, a cluster of ancient spacecraft remain docked--their bulky frames arrayed with scars from countless interplanetary voyages. These ancient spacecraft predate the War of Eternal Bombardments, used long before the Elect were uplifted by the High Lords and Ladies of Ophon--and long before the system itself was set ablaze by conflict.
 

These early designs were not without issues--fuel intensive, with high power demands and a limited amount of space for manned operation. In fact, due to the length of voyages even to neighboring Sansar, pilots would be put into a state of cryostasis to reduce the need for non-essential cargo. Simplistic algorithms and advanced sensor suites handled the majority of course corrections and accounting for environmental hazards without the need for a living organism at the helm--which often meant that disoriented "pilots" woke with no recollection of what had occurred from launch to landing. Upon arriving home, automated drones would parse out supplies to individual aerostats—ensuring these last bastions of Badalian civilization could yet survive.

Once Badal's lifeline for crucial imports, these shuttles have served less of a purpose in recent years due to cost concerns and the recent redirection of fuel from Kaitiaki Nui’s sister station. With the advantage of Imperial drives and the Alliance's resources, these vessels may yet be retrofitted for use in the modern age--trivializing certain aspects of commerce for the Alliance's ever-expanding borders.

Needed Resource: Fuel and Power

Any functioning spaceport needs fuel to be of use! For Kaitiaki Nui, this is a rather recent development due to the Black Cloud Coalition’s recent repurposing of solar arrays that their rockets once relied on to function. Without a steady fuel supply, “dry dock” becomes a far more literal term. Beyond simple supply needs, the Alliance is hoping for a more efficient source of fuel to renovate the existing supply of Pre-War cargo ships.

Stat Changes: Mil +2
Treasure: 1 -> 0
Organizations: Forgive 1 WTU favor in exchange for Shrewd Business
Faith: Adopt Soul's Fascination as the new state faith per BRB's Miracle! Accept all conversions and size bonus updates to reflect the new faith.
Tech Changes: Gain Android Industrialization, Minor Precognition

Stat Changes: +1 Mil, Dip at MAX
Treasure: 3 - > 2
Organizations: +2 Renown expected, -1 EMP favor
Faith: N/A
Tech Changes: Gain Pseudogravity Engineering and Shrewd Business

Unique among aerostats, the first thing any visitor notes about Taumaru is that it is constantly shrouded in a state of artificial nightfall—no matter what the Badalian horizon looks like. Artificial constellations dot the Taumaran sky, synced up to match the movement of the stars outside their shrouded world.
 

Taumaru features heavily stratified, vertical architecture that positions its population purely based on status and wealth—creating a distinct social hierarchy that ties one’s identity to altitude. Perhaps whomever had designed this place took the phrase “climbing the social ladder” too literally. When one takes in the sight of Taumaru’s main population center from afar, the sprawling clusters of skyscrapers, hab blocks, and guild halls resemble a synthetic mountain. Trains run at a near constant clip, connecting each layer of the aerostat in a fraction of the time it would take an outsider to navigate its labyrinthine architecture.
 

At the highest point rests the Veiled Palace—closest to their inscrutable deity and the cosmos at large. The king’s ministers live just below the palace in sprawling complexes, and so forth. One would think that the “lowest” would be those who live upon the flatlands. Unfortunately, they would be wrong. Subterranean levels exist—though they stretch far beyond where even the most desperate dare to dwell. Much of the industrial waste is deposited in the lowest parts of the aerostat for recycling—and only the Hand knows for sure everything that dwells within the deepest depths.

Creatures named vorax are known to roam some of the lower trenches. These gargantuan, spined reptiles are ravenous omnivores that will devour anything in their wake—organic, inorganic, alive, or dead. These creatures are indiscriminate—and do not seem to prefer live prey, which has become an oddly lucrative circumstance thanks to a strange side effect of their biology (see Resources, below).

There are some exceptions to the social hierarchy. Certain guilds have positioned themselves in more disadvantaged areas to be more accessible to the population—especially with many of the industrial complexes they have come to rely on being found in the flatlands.

Taumaru's population is primarily human, as most of Tekhum seems to be. The inhabitants of this shadowed habitat have ashen grey skin and typically seem to develop the lighter gamete of eye colors. This does not seem to cause any physical deficits thanks to the advances of modern science, but it does seem to be an almost aesthetic or ceremonial choice by the people who live there.

Taumaru's society follows something more akin to a guild structure. Trade work is highly valued, and promising apprentices spend several years under contract in guild halls—learning from masters of the craft. Most guild halls feature some level of exclusivity in their contracts—meaning that they are often barred from doing business outside of the guild for the duration of their training.

While these hallowed places allegedly accept talent from anywhere, most of the old wealth comes from those who once walked these halls—or those who know someone that has. Thus, there is a heavy element of favoritism and backroom dealings behind the scenes for many of the more lucrative professions that can act as a barrier to the unknowing or unworthy.

Despite this arrangement, there is not as heavy of a divide between the academic world and that of the labor pool as one might expect. Genetic engineers, industrial welders, aerostat technicians—Despite the difference in knowledge, they are considered artisans one and all. Indeed, the main prejudice in Taumaru seems to be against those who are actively leeching off of her riches without providing some sort of service in return.
 

Interestingly, the kanmarran population that resurfaced after six long years seems to have already shown some level of rudimentary adaptation to the sunless skies of Taumaru's aerostat. With the aid of some basic level of genetic tailoring, the kanmarra of Taumaru have developed slightly narrower builds, and lighter, near-white pigments in their shells. At times, they are known to communicate anger through a raspy, grating growl that emanates from the gastric mills in their stomach--a trait not found in their brethren in Anjahar. It is believed to have developed as a natural threat response--though none on Taumaru have exactly been forthcoming with what that could mean for the civilization there. 
 

Some among Anjahar's more traditional clans find their southern neighbors off-putting, even disturbing--but such prejudices are not spoken aloud, for they go against the very core of Soul's Expression and the Paradigm alike. Instead, they are treated with a strange mixture of awe and disquiet alike.

The government in Taumaru had once been a tyrannical monarchy. The throne had once belonged to Puppetmaster Valix, a narcissistic despot who had largely retained control not by his own cunning--but by the checks, balances, and blackmail left to him by his queen mother. Whilst in power, he had maintained a small cabinet of ministers who would carry out his bidding and surveil the populace--keeping an eye on detractors and dissidents. Bureaucratic matters were largely divided between five ministries that preside over different parts of government and civil affairs.

Six years into the transition into an Alliance territory, Taumaru's power structures have proven hard to tear out from the roots. For the time being, Taumaru has been permitted to keep its monarchial structure--with a key addition. A chancellor has now been appointed to the king's circle of confidants as a two-way street. The chancellor will help to introduce certain reforms into Taumaru's constitution in order to bring them more in line with Alliance standards. In return, Taumaru will have a voice in the civilian assembly when meetings are called--just the same as any other annexed territory.

Taumaru’s current state is largely in thanks to a sinister and near total restructuring of government that took place over the course of sixty years.
 

These schemes came at the hands of a woman of many titles, Saphira—oft known in private, behind incredibly secured doors as Saphira the Manipulator, amidst other colorful epithets. Through a series of calculated gambits, underhanded tactics, and blackmail, Saphira had engineered a system of bureaucracy that gave near total power to the man—or woman behind the throne. So trusted was she that the current king had been persuaded to name her progeny as his heir.

Perhaps her only downfall was presuming that her son would inherit her wiles. The man who would be king had taken the throne right on the eve of adulthood—and those who knew him would likely say in private that he needed to bake a while longer.
 

Wholly glutted on the ideals of the Invisible Hand, Puppetmaster Valix was a man of many ideas—but very little foresight. Never did he dream that his position would be in true danger, for the Hand had placed him here.
 

Where Saphira had sought to centralize power and cement her son’s rule, Valix had thought to delegate through a small cabinet of confidants and co-conspirators. The result was largely stagnation and decline as these very men sought to improve their own standing—chipping away at Valix’s power until the Puppetmaster was nearly a puppet himself.
 

In the years since the Eucrus Alliance swept through Taumaru, there have been a few key revisions to the power structure—clawing back some measure of power to the monarchy, while introducing Taumaru’s people to some of the protections afforded to Alliance citizens.

Alliance officials have been largely wary with pushing too hard—recognizing that the elaborate web of corruption woven here will take quite some time to navigate.

The Invisible Hand (Majority)

The Invisible Hand is the (only) crowning achievement of Puppetmaster Valix during his time as monarch. Mostly owing again to nepotism, what began as a provincial cult soon became a fully-fledged religion and tool of the state.

Proponents of this faith believe in an unknowable force that guides all things in the universe toward their ultimate fate.

Followers of the Hand are taught to believe in a meritocracy that rewards ambition, hard work, and loyalty—while also encouraging its followers not to question their circumstances. One can always persevere to better their circumstances—but dissent against authority walks a razor’s edge. Go too far, and risk being seen as heretical—one who lacks faith in the grand design.
 

If one succeeds—particularly in an unforeseen way—it is because the Hand saw fit to elevate them. Those who fail were always meant to fail, for they lack these essential qualities—or worse, squander their potential and self-sabotage. There is almost a perverse delight ingrained in adherents when one seemingly destined for greatness suffers a meteoric fall.

Perhaps this is why, despite the success of the cult, there has been no overt rebellion in the wake of Puppetmaster Valix’s departure—both as head of the faith and as ruler of Taumaru.

Vernian Jewels - Luxury Goods / Art and Cultural Products

Few souls know the true, macabre origin of the Vernian Jewel.
 

These impressive gemstones are formed as a byproduct of the vorax that roam the lower trenches of Taumaru—devouring anything they can get their claws on, regardless of whether it provides actual nourishment to the vorax or not. Over time, rogue elements that survived the initial acid bath are compacted together into a bezoar during the vorax’s digestive process. Intense acids scour the bezoar again, filtering away pesky things like concrete, bone, and detritus. Peristalsis then creates intense pressure throughout the stomach and intestines, compacting the bezoar further until a precious gemstone is created.

These bezoars are often snatched by suppliers and taken to artisans so that remaining debris can be chiseled away. What often results due to the myriad of impurities are one of a kind gemstones that bear a myriad of colors throughout the different layers—often with a base pigment of red or purple. What ultimately survives the trek is what has become known as “Vernian Jewels” by the wider public. While the process is not wholly understood, it is heavily theorized that some manner of internalized magic helps to facilitate the transition. No supplier has ever been willing to get close enough to examine one via vivisection.

These jewels are seen as a luxury item for a few reasons. One is the relative scarcity of “authentic” gemstones on Badal—without true terra firma to guide the process naturally. The second reason is due to the skill of the artisans who work with them, setting them into jewelry and art pieces for the wealthy to admire.

Desired Import: Chemical Reagents

Due to Taumaru’s rampant overcrowding concerns, the Eucrus Alliance is looking into ways to add additional infrastructure into the aerostat. In the meantime, some vital—if basic—supplies would go a long way toward easing strain on existing critical points. Fertilizers for hydroponics, chemicals for sterilizing water supplies, and more.

Kaitiaki Nui is a bit unique in the fact that it is only one section of an unfinished orbital ring that rests in high orbit around Badal itself. Despite the impressive amount of work that must have gone into construction of the colossal arc, signs of abandonment are present along the outer rim--with some districts remaining disastrously open to the vacuum of space.

Blessedly, no souls try to eke a living in these blackened spots. Perhaps the state of disrepair is owed to the War itself--or perhaps some other calamity that the inhabitants are unwilling to speak of. Perhaps they simply ran out of resources, manpower, and will to see it through. A half-constructed docking platform reaches out to its sister station, as if the two were meant to join into a larger body at some point in the future. Smaller solar panels along the hull are used as a form of renewable backup energy for the station and its maneuvering thrusters.

Inside, the station is clearly meant for function over form. The inner walls of the original construction are lined with murals depicting the history of Badal--its fall from a paradise, the exodus of lesser lifeforms, and the wrath of the sun god. What sections of the station aren't devoted to living quarters, cryostasis chambers, or cargo storage are instead used for the repair and manufacture of Badalian ships--including Derzin Rockets and some of the older kanmarran ships that have been put in for extensive retrofits.

Currently, kanmarran officials have parked a handful of older civilian ships in orbit to expand the station's working capacity--though in practice, these ships are used mostly for entertainment and as a base for diplomatic outreach while engineers figure out the best and most power-efficient way to begin finishing those exposed hab-blocks.

The majority of Kaitiaki Nui's population can trace their lineage back to the original population that inhabited the station prior to the War of Eternal Bombardment. An impressive feat facilitated by unbroken lines, a secure facility unwelcome to solicitors, and the occasional indoctrination of aerostat dwellers from the world below to prevent pollution of genetic lines. Though the population is primarily human, there is a minority of other humanoids from across Badal, and strangely enough, some Glix among the workers present--popular rumor has it that these station-bound Glix were native to the planet once--though this is largely unconfirmed.

Kanmarran engineers, military personnel, and scientists inhabit only a slice of the station proper--while smaller, space-worthy ships remain in close proximity while engineers investigate the best way to expand out the architecture without compromising its integrity.

A standing offer has been given to the Black Cloud Coalition to allow a small exchange of workers--to better survey both stations and delve into the secrets and technology of an age long gone.

Kaitiaki Nui is largely ruled by a panel of three overseers that deliberate on day to day matters. Data regarding performance, repairs, financial reports, and security needs, is filtered in from various department heads across the orbital platform, and any pertinent decisions that affect the whole are passed down via internal memos. As part of the confederation with the Eucrus Alliance, Kaitiaki Nui has been granted a seat on the military council--as opposed to the civilian council. The reasons for this aren't immediately clear, and the request was rather unconventional, given that the usual protocol is to the opposite effect. One might hazard a guess that the terms were involved in whatever defense contract was brokered as part of the annexation.

The history of Kaitiaki Nui as the Alliance understands it is one that is massive and still unfolding. The station long predates most—if not all of the modern polities beneath its watchful gaze, after all.

What is known ties largely into the propaganda of the Thrinakrians. At some point in the long eons before the Sea of Clouds, Badal was allegedly something of a paradise. These cultists-turned-engineers wished to explore beyond the skies of Badal, and began construction on a multi-part orbital ring—meant to act as a waystation between Badal and the rest of Tekhum. Over time, they learned of ways to harness the sun god’s bounty—using it to power their mining operations, drones, and even the nascent cargo ships that had come into development.

With the War of Eternal Bombardments, it is said that the Thrinakrians grew greedy and restless—and this nigh-apocalyptic event brought the wrath of their god, transforming Badal into the relative hellscape of today. Troves of technology and ancient history were lost—and as the first aerostats rose to the skies, the cultists took it upon themselves to ensure the survival of the last Badalians.

For the last two thousand years, they have remained in a sort of twilight exile—never stepping foot personally on one of the aerostats, never venturing outside of their cargo vessels to bring more supplies for their self-imposed wards.

The true shock came with the rise of the Elect—whose nascent Imperial drives put them once more on par with their counterparts from antiquity, if not beyond. Their purpose uncertain, they have acquiesced to another form of protection—allowing Alliance officials and their allies to utilize their shipyards for building new fleets.

Thrinakrians - Majority
The Thrinakrians are nearly as old as the station itself. Originally heralded as doomsayers, the inhabitants of this station are descendants of the original Badalians who witnessed the War of Eternal Bombardments—and the following exodus of many who deemed Badal as an appropriate refuge from the storm.
 

Competing doctrines within the faith both describe Badal as a paradise despoiled by desperate scavengers and a last haven for those who had no other path. What is certain is that adherents of the faith place Badal’s hellish landscape as a result of the hubris of sentients everywhere—and punishment for offending some sort of primitive sun god that theologians outside the faith conflate with dozens of different figures—whether Avva, the Emperor himself, or any number of minor gods.

In the modern day, Thrinakrians act as wardens in both senses of the word—protectors and nurturers of those who live in the world below, and perhaps also as guards—making certain that those they safeguard do not run amok.

The latter sentiment has become harder with the uprising of Elect, leaving the faith scrambling to adapt with space travel now being a common affair.

It is said one day Badal may be redeemed and restored—though they are unwilling to elaborate on what would achieve such a redemption when pressed.

Derzin Rockets - Spacecraft / Industrial Machinery
Tucked away on a segregated section of Kaitiaki Nui, a cluster of ancient spacecraft remain docked--their bulky frames arrayed with scars from countless interplanetary voyages. These ancient spacecraft predate the War of Eternal Bombardments, used long before the Elect were uplifted by the High Lords and Ladies of Ophon--and long before the system itself was set ablaze by conflict.
 

These early designs were not without issues--fuel intensive, with high power demands and a limited amount of space for manned operation. In fact, due to the length of voyages even to neighboring Sansar, pilots would be put into a state of cryostasis to reduce the need for non-essential cargo. Simplistic algorithms and advanced sensor suites handled the majority of course corrections and accounting for environmental hazards without the need for a living organism at the helm--which often meant that disoriented "pilots" woke with no recollection of what had occurred from launch to landing. Upon arriving home, automated drones would parse out supplies to individual aerostats—ensuring these last bastions of Badalian civilization could yet survive.

Once Badal's lifeline for crucial imports, these shuttles have served less of a purpose in recent years due to cost concerns and the recent redirection of fuel from Kaitiaki Nui’s sister station. With the advantage of Imperial drives and the Alliance's resources, these vessels may yet be retrofitted for use in the modern age--trivializing certain aspects of commerce for the Alliance's ever-expanding borders.

Needed Resource: Fuel and Power

Any functioning spaceport needs fuel to be of use! For Kaitiaki Nui, this is a rather recent development due to the Black Cloud Coalition’s recent repurposing of solar arrays that their rockets once relied on to function. Without a steady fuel supply, “dry dock” becomes a far more literal term. Beyond simple supply needs, the Alliance is hoping for a more efficient source of fuel to renovate the existing supply of Pre-War cargo ships.

Stat Changes: +1 Dip (+1 wasted due to max)
Treasure: 4 -> 3
Organizations: Presumed -3 Rep with BRG, Presumed -1 with WTU due to loan default
Faith: N/A
Tech Changes: N/A

21 hours ago, EmBark said:

"I have to admit that I have never even been to Badal." Ani-Quin smiles at the tall crab woman, and they realize in that moment what a unique position they've found themself in.

"A floating water arena with goals? Sounds interesting! I know the llort of the Society are very excitable regarding sports overall, not just racing. I'm sure they'd be happy to... to sponsor it or co-host it or, uh, something of the sort."

They could never have thought they would end up accidentally representing their country to a foreign official. If only their racing friends could see them now.

And fuck was it hard not to swear here.

11 minutes ago, BladeofOblivion said:

Snakest Snense Snews?

"What reason would I have to hide it?", he replies. "Basu-Rahman signals go everywhere, wanted or otherwise. You would hear of it - and the wretched villainy of the Soom-Clan, of course - within days regardless. You have engendered trust enough not to slit my throat where I stand - it would ruin the tile, I expect."

Despite his words, he turns his back to gesture at one of the art displays - a great torch held by a hand upon a trail of light.

"Basu-Rahman is corporate rot. They would tell you it is the honed craft of a corporation's history that gives it strength, but it is little more than the shambling husk of an institution driven by the fungus of wealth. No humanity guides it anymore. The creature disgusts my mother because she sees them as offworlders; I see something far more insidious. Offworlders can learn and be learned from, just as anyone. But a corporation is not flesh or will. It is the invasive species of ideals."

Unique among aerostats, the first thing any visitor notes about Taumaru is that it is constantly shrouded in a state of artificial nightfall—no matter what the Badalian horizon looks like. Artificial constellations dot the Taumaran sky, synced up to match the movement of the stars outside their shrouded world.
 

Taumaru features heavily stratified, vertical architecture that positions its population purely based on status and wealth—creating a distinct social hierarchy that ties one’s identity to altitude. Perhaps whomever had designed this place took the phrase “climbing the social ladder” too literally. When one takes in the sight of Taumaru’s main population center from afar, the sprawling clusters of skyscrapers, hab blocks, and guild halls resemble a synthetic mountain. Trains run at a near constant clip, connecting each layer of the aerostat in a fraction of the time it would take an outsider to navigate its labyrinthine architecture.
 

At the highest point rests the Veiled Palace—closest to their inscrutable deity and the cosmos at large. The king’s ministers live just below the palace in sprawling complexes, and so forth. One would think that the “lowest” would be those who live upon the flatlands. Unfortunately, they would be wrong. Subterranean levels exist—though they stretch far beyond where even the most desperate dare to dwell. Much of the industrial waste is deposited in the lowest parts of the aerostat for recycling—and only the Hand knows for sure everything that dwells within the deepest depths.

Creatures named vorax are known to roam some of the lower trenches. These gargantuan, spines reptiles are ravenous omnivores that will devour anything in their wake—organic, inorganic, alive, or dead. These creatures are indiscriminate—and do not seem to prefer live prey, which has become an oddly lucrative circumstance thanks to a strange side effect of their biology (see Resources, below).

There are some exceptions to the social hierarchy. Certain guilds have positioned themselves in more disadvantaged areas to be more accessible to the population—especially with many of the industrial complexes they have come to rely on being found in the flatlands.

Taumaru's population is primarily human, as most of Tekhum seems to be. The inhabitants of this shadowed habitat have ashen grey skin and typically seem to develop the lighter gamete of eye colors. This does not seem to cause any physical deficits thanks to the advances of modern science, but it does seem to be an almost aesthetic or ceremonial choice by the people who live there.

Taumaru's society follows something more akin to a guild structure. Trade work is highly valued, and promising apprentices spend several years under contract in guild halls—learning from masters of the craft. Most guild halls feature some level of exclusivity in their contracts—meaning that they are often barred from doing business outside of the guild for the duration of their training.

While these hallowed places allegedly accept talent from anywhere, most of the old wealth comes from those who once walked these halls—or those who know someone that has. Thus, there is a heavy element of favoritism and backroom dealings behind the scenes for many of the more lucrative professions that can act as a barrier to the unknowing or unworthy.

Despite this arrangement, there is not as heavy of a divide between the academic world and that of the labor pool as one might expect. Genetic engineers, industrial welders, aerostat technicians—Despite the difference in knowledge, they are considered artisans one and all. Indeed, the main prejudice in Taumaru seems to be against those who are actively leeching off of her riches without providing some sort of service in return.
 

Interestingly, the kanmarran population that resurfaced after six long years seems to have already shown some level of rudimentary adaptation to the sunless skies of Taumaru's aerostat. With the aid of some basic level of genetic tailoring, the kanmarra of Taumaru have developed slightly narrower builds, and lighter, near-white pigments in their shells. At times, they are known to communicate anger through a raspy, grating growl that emanates from the gastric mills in their stomach--a trait not found in their brethren in Anjahar. It is believed to have developed as a natural threat response--though none on Taumaru have exactly been forthcoming with what that could mean for the civilization there. 
 

Some among Anjahar's more traditional clans find their southern neighbors off-putting, even disturbing--but such prejudices are not spoken aloud, for they go against the very core of Soul's Expression and the Paradigm alike. Instead, they are treated with a strange mixture of awe and disquiet alike.

The government in Taumaru had once been a tyrannical monarchy. The throne had once belonged to Puppetmaster Valix, a narcissistic despot who had largely retained control not by his own cunning--but by the checks, balances, and blackmail left to him by his queen mother. Whilst in power, he had maintained a small cabinet of ministers who would carry out his bidding and surveil the populace--keeping an eye on detractors and dissidents. Bureaucratic matters were largely divided between five ministries that preside over different parts of government and civil affairs.

Six years into the transition into an Alliance territory, Taumaru's power structures have proven hard to tear out from the roots. For the time being, Taumaru has been permitted to keep its monarchial structure--with a key addition. A chancellor has now been appointed to the king's circle of confidants as a two-way street. The chancellor will help to introduce certain reforms into Taumaru's constitution in order to bring them more in line with Alliance standards. In return, Taumaru will have a voice in the civilian assembly when meetings are called--just the same as any other annexed territory.

Taumaru’s current state is largely in thanks to a sinister and near total restructuring of government that took place over the course of sixty years.
 

These schemes came at the hands of a woman of many titles, Saphira—oft known in private, behind incredibly secured doors as Saphira the Manipulator, amidst other colorful epithets. Through a series of calculated gambits, underhanded tactics, and blackmail, Saphira had engineered a system of bureaucracy that gave near total power to the man—or woman behind the throne. So trusted was she that the current king had been persuaded to name her progeny as his heir.

Perhaps her only downfall was presuming that her son would inherit her wiles. The man who would be king had taken the throne right on the eve of adulthood—and those who knew him would likely say in private that he needed to bake a while longer.
 

Wholly glutted on the ideals of the Invisible Hand, Puppetmaster Valix was a man of many ideas—but very little foresight. Never did he dream that his position would be in true danger, for the Hand had placed him here.
 

Where Saphira had sought to centralize power and cement her son’s rule, Valix had thought to delegate through a small cabinet of confidants and co-conspirators. The result was largely stagnation and decline as these very men sought to improve their own standing—chipping away at Valix’s power until the Puppetmaster was nearly a puppet himself.
 

In the years since the Eucrus Alliance swept through Taumaru, there have been a few key revisions to the power structure—clawing back some measure of power to the monarchy, while introducing Taumaru’s people to some of the protections afforded to Alliance citizens.

Alliance officials have been largely wary with pushing too hard—recognizing that the elaborate web of corruption woven here will take quite some time to navigate.

The Invisible Hand (Majority)

The Invisible Hand is the (only) crowning achievement of Puppetmaster Valix during his time as monarch. Mostly owing again to nepotism, what began as a provincial cult soon became a fully-fledged religion and tool of the state.

Proponents of this faith believe in an unknowable force that guides all things in the universe toward their ultimate fate.

Followers of the Hand are taught to believe in a meritocracy that rewards ambition, hard work, and loyalty—while also encouraging its followers not to question their circumstances. One can always persevere to better their circumstances—but dissent against authority walks a razor’s edge. Go too far, and risk being seen as heretical—one who lacks faith in the grand design.
 

If one succeeds—particularly in an unforeseen way—it is because the Hand saw fit to elevate them. Those who fail were always meant to fail, for they lack these essential qualities—or worse, squander their potential and self-sabotage. There is almost a perverse delight ingrained in adherents when one seemingly destined for greatness suffers a meteoric fall.

Perhaps this is why, despite the success of the cult, there has been no overt rebellion in the wake of Puppetmaster Valix’s departure—both as head of the faith and as ruler of Taumaru.

Vernian Jewels - Luxury Goods / Art and Cultural Products

Few souls know the true, macabre origin of the Vernian Jewel.
 

These impressive gemstones are formed as a byproduct of the vorax that roam the lower trenches of Taumaru—devouring anything they can get their claws on, regardless of whether it provides actual nourishment to the vorax or not. Over time, rogue elements that survived the initial acid bath are compacted together into a bezoar during the vorax’s digestive process. Intense acids scour the bezoar again, filtering away pesky things like concrete, bone, and detritus. Peristalsis then creates intense pressure throughout the stomach and intestines, compacting the bezoar further until a precious gemstone is created.

These bezoars are often snatched by suppliers and taken to artisans so that remaining debris can be chiseled away. What often results due to the myriad of impurities are one of a kind gemstones that bear a myriad of colors throughout the different layers—often with a base pigment of red or purple. What ultimately survives the trek is what has become known as “Vernian Jewels” by the wider public. While the process is not wholly understood, it is heavily theorized that some manner of internalized magic helps to facilitate the transition. No supplier has ever been willing to get close enough to examine one via vivisection.

These jewels are seen as a luxury item for a few reasons. One is the relative scarcity of “authentic” gemstones on Badal—without true terra firma to guide the process naturally. The second reason is due to the skill of the artisans who work with them, setting them into jewelry and art pieces for the wealthy to admire.

Desired Import: Chemical Reagents

Due to Taumaru’s rampant overcrowding concerns, the Eucrus Alliance is looking into ways to add additional infrastructure into the aerostat. In the meantime, some vital—if basic—supplies would go a long way toward easing strain on existing critical points. Fertilizers for hydroponics, chemicals for sterilizing water supplies, and more.

Unlike their patron capital of Anjahar, Uhra is not built as a singular, massive structure with interlocking parts. Instead, the layout is more in-line with that of the Bironian Crosspaths or the North Way Cluster--a series of interdependent aerostats that surround a larger administrative district at the core of the formation. Civilian centers are closest to this central hub, followed by industrial complexes and military depots that line the outer perimeter. Nearly each of the smaller vessels is a corporate entity unto themselves. Citizens of Uhra largely rely on small, highly competitive shuttle companies to commute between the varying aerostats--an industry which remains heavily regulated, even in spite of certain cut corners during the Bironian Civil War.

Of note, there are at least two aerostats that are newer in architecture. The Pallisade is primarily a Bironian settlement--so segregated due to the constant influx of Biron piped through the ventilation systems in order to maintain a healthy population. It is still not uncommon to see Bironians live among the other vessels--but living amidst the Pallisade grants a certain amount of freedom that cuts down on the consumption of personal tanks of noble gasses.

The second aerostat, known as New Chela, is an addition by the Eucrus Alliance to house kanmarran immigrants and officials. Recognizing that a structure similar to their own would be an industrial nightmare--and likely decades in the making to simulate--the kanmarra have adapted a medium-sized aerostat and added it into the existing infrastructure. Amusingly, given their semi-aquatic leanings, the aerostat could be described as an entire beachside city. The land is geographically arranged so that the artificial ocean is never far away--and insulated machinery at the bottom of the aerostat provides an artificial tide to simulate natural growth of marine flora and fauna, while tidal barrages located in strategic points provide auxiliary power to ease the energy burden. Lastly, recognizing a strange tourist appeal, there is a small section of the city that allows for hotels, entertainment, and a showcase of kanmarran cuisine that relies more on traditional recipes instead of the more recent commoditization of cloned meat.

The population of Uhra has undergone a radical shift over the last several generations. Once predominantly human, strategic interventions by both the Bironian Bulwark and the Eucrus Alliance have muddied the waters—leading to a more diverse population of humans, Bironian knights, and kanmarra. 

Integration has been a slow process. The aerostat would not support an architectural model similar to that of Anjahar, which has led to some unintentional segregation between Alliance personnel and the Uhrayan natives. 

Culturally, most of Uhra’s traditions have been left intact. The people of Uhra center much of their entertainment around local sports, athletic competitions, and adrenaline-soaked displays of daring-do—while leaving little room for the one-size-fits-all entertainment of the Basu-Rahman Group. While there is no easier place to keep up with galactic news, many Uhrayans see fit to leave their daily consumption of BRG media at a minimum. Instead, local journalists keep track of all of the most pressing events of their citizenry--creating a sort of feedback loop of local pride in the community.

The Bironian front has been more challenging. Legislative efforts have curbed the most predatory economic practices, and the rise of Xiitism as a budding religion has left a bad taste in the mouths of Alliance ambassadors. However, there is no widespread prejudice against Syndicate members or Bironian expatriates despite their more centralized population within the Pallisade. Vexingly, some of them have even taken to the Uhrayan's penchant for physical contests and displays of ability.

Further, there has been something of a clash between Bironian and Kanmarran values--particularly the focus on noble gasses as a sign of opulence--but a clan and caste system is nothing unfamiliar to the Alliance. Of all the bits of culture shock that have come with assimilating the Uhrayan society, this is common ground. The kanmarra can work with this. 

Uhra is something of a thought experiment for the Alliance--and a prototype for future territories. Catering to the unique needs of its populace, the nation is led by a small council of democratically elected leaders. These lawmakers have standing privileges to make legislation for the betterment of Uhra without the express permission of Anjahar.

For larger matters, the civilian assembly has added two new seats to its governing body for each "clan" of the new territory (or more accurately, a new seat per species). This is a momentous occurrence in Alliance history, and marks the first time that the legislative body has been expanded since the Compact was formed.

For much of its history, Uhra has been one of the least active nations in all of Badalian airspace. No ambassadors were sent to diplomatic envoys, no sanctions given toward unapologetic raiders--nothing. At one point, the site had even become a popular children's tale. A ghost ship, filled with cannibals or zombies. Or angry, irradiated wretches from the War of Eternal Bombardments. The truth was far less fantastical. Uhra was simply full of humans. Unassuming civilians whom had commandeered an aerostat and endeavored to live a quiet life. This did not come from a place of hatred or suspicion--but pure, unadulterated apathy toward their neighbors among the sulfurous skies. It was not until recent generations that Uhra began to become relevant at all--in no small part thanks to the Bironian Bulwark. In fact, it was the Neon Syndicate that made the first, indelible mark on Uhrayan civilization.

In their neighbors, the Syndicate saw an untapped market. Uhrayan designs focused on modular capabilities--meaning that with the right base chassis, there wasn't much of a practical difference between industrial shuttles and armored personnel carriers. An ambassador from one of the Syndicate's wealthy families offered lucrative defense contracts to the largest manufactories. Aspiring young adults could also sign up for a position in the Bironian fleet and secure a hefty pension. For a time, this vassalage appealed to Uhra. Prosperity for the mere price of servitude? What sane man would not jump on the chance to secure their family's future?

This gave rise to one of Uhra's most famous heroes--the legendary Janov. Janov was a star athlete, all-Uhrayan man, and pillar of the local community. Inspired by the generosity of their Bironian lords, Janov joined the Uhrayan Auxillary Corps and acted as something of a recruiting tool for more impressionable youths. In short time, the man's face was practically plastered everywhere as the poster child for civil service and a job well done. Unfortunately, any rising star must some day fade--and the young pilot was killed in action during a skirmish. Incomprehensibly, his death at the hand of the Bulwark's enemies has led to the meteoric rise of an entire religion dedicated to his memory--that of Janovism (see below).

Where the Syndicate had first exposed Uhra to Badalian politic, the death of Archknight Hiana and the subsequent war of succession have opened the proverbial floodgates. For the last several years, the Neon Syndicate has ramped up the demand on aerospace manufacturers--to better fund their war against the Houses of Argon, Lithium, and Sodium. Bironian refugees and defectors began to pour into their neighboring aerostat to seek shelter from the storm of aggression, straining an economy that was stretched to its absolute limit. The kanmarran invasion, though unorthodox, was a much needed tipping point. The worst elements of the Syndicate were weeded out, while members of the rebel forces were offered amnesty and succor for their wounded. In the last several years, some of the economic damage has been undone, and Kanmarran officials have not been quick to repeat the offer of the Bironians--exempting Uhrayan citizens from mandatory service for the time being as a condition of their annexation.

Janovism (Majority)

A cult of personality that ascended against all odds into a fully-formed religious sect some time over the last hundred years. The religion is named for a mythologized version of its central figure: An ace pilot, martyr, and local athlete by the name of Janov. Janov was a figure of middling importance who became larger than life after local journalists caught wind of his death in service of their neighboring aerostat, the Bulwark, some years ago. In the face of his sacrifice, his athletic feats have been near deified by friends, family, and the local community--to say nothing of a fluff piece put out by the Basu-Rahman Group after his death. While some suspect the family paid out a dragon's hoard to the Board to solidify his 'legend', it has certainly been effective.

Despite its questionable beginnings or integrity, Janovism has done a surprising amount of good within Uhra. Proponents of the faith place a large focus on athleticism and personal glory, and much of Uhra's local economy comes from tourism during the myriad of festivals and local sporting events. In addition, Janov's legacy has created a large sense of goodwill and internal loyalty to one's community to better mirror His sacrifice.

However, this is not without criticism. In a world of actual magic and near-miracles, more cynical critics have questioned the shift of an entire culture from worshipping deities to worshipping a man in his golden years--but this has done nothing to stop the spread of Janov's enthusiastic worshippers.

Xiitism (Minority)

Xiitism, on the other hand, is a more recent development couched in the arrival and patronage of the Neon Syndicate. Xiitism is centered around the pursuit of wealth, prosperity, and material success--with these goals being seen as a centerpiece to human existence. Shrewdness, resourcefulness, and ambition not only feed the soul, but nourish one's community as well. Residual profits can trickle down upon the local economy like rains upon a blighted, arid desert. In this way, whatever must be offered in noble sacrifice upon the altar of entrepreneurship is ultimately repaid. Time has proven again and again that money is power, and even the ears of the divine can be bent with enough tribute.

Uhrayan Aircraft - Planetary Vehicles / Weapons, Armor, and Munitions
Uhrayan Aircraft are part of the lifeblood of Uhra, allowing for the transport of people, goods, and cargo in a fraction of the time it would take to go by more conventional shuttles. Most Uhrayan craft (accounting somewhat for intended function) are lightweight, made of semi-durable material--with a focus on short bursts of uptime to keep operating costs low. The largest benefit of Uhrayan ships are their flexibility. Since space is ever-limited on an aerostat, Uhrayan engineers made their ships highly modular--able to be refit, repaired, or repurposed with minimal downtime so long as there are no catastrophic systems failures.

With the apparent first death of the Bironian scion, the Neon Syndicate ramped up production in local aerospace plants--with an inherent focus on re-engineering civilian transports into weapons of war. These hastily made prefab ships are paper-thin, fast, and pack a hell of a punch--everything that a war-profiteer could ask for. To meet demand, manufacturing plants have begun to skimp on safety regulations in favor of mass production--an aim the Alliance intends to halt in its tracks.

Desired Import: Ores and Alloys
Unfortunately, both the massive spike in productivity and the Alliance's more strict policy against cutting corners has left Uhra dangerously low in the way of raw materials. Without a new, abundant source of metals soon, investors will start to pull out and the industrial complex will start to bleed profits.

Stat Changes: +1 Dip, +1 Mil
Treasure: 3->4 ( 1 Spent, +2 pending Sack)
Organizations: +1 EMP Rep (Possibly +2 Emp Rep, pending Sack), -1 Renown
Faith: N/A
Tech Changes: N/A