Post by Rugs on Dec 24, 2009 2:02:13 GMT -5
Winner, Best Custom Element- SWU 2010 Awards
Planet Name: Aiaru (eye-AH-roo)
Planet Type: Terrestrial, varied terrain
Habitable: Yes
Home to the: Stellar Mythics
System: Aiaru, Inner Rim; nearest neighboring system is the Vendaxa System in the Expansion Region
Diameter at the Equator: 13,894 km
Rotational Period: 25 Standard hours
Revolutionary Period: 390 Standard days
Population: 3.8 billion
Surface Area: 52% Water, 48% Land
Terrain Overview: Aiaru is the only habitable planet in a small system that orbits the star of Helios. She has six moons: Nareau, Tunaroa, Kivutar, Vellamo, Hiisi, and Piru. The planet is a bit larger than the Earth, and has a range of weather conditions.
Aiaru has a range of topographical environments. The bulk of the western hemisphere, and a small chunk eastern one, is covered by one massive continent called Eostre. Atea, a massive ocean dominates the eastern hemisphere, and is dotted with an array of islands, ranging from small to the large islands in the Ricosta chain.
The northern edge of Eostre consists of plains that extend northwards to the polar ice cap, and begin rolling into hills that rise up to the Itzli mountains--some of which are volcanic--further south. From here, the mountain range turns and runs south along the western edge of the continent before fading to hills and giving way to a massive forest--the Evus forest. The forest spreads south and east, and the southeastern edge is bordered by a very old swamp, known to the people of Aiaru as the Culsu Swamp. The Culsu Swamp covers the mid area of the southern part of Eostre, and is the home to the (locally) legendary Flickercats.
The bulk of the interior of Eostre is made up of open, extremely fertile rolling plains. This region is where most Aiaru's major cities--including Demas, the capital--are located, along with The Tower and a smattering of smaller towns and villages. They extend out to join the mountains in the west, meet the Culsu Swamp to the south, and the polar region to the north, and turn to desert in the northeastern edge of the continent.
The area of the Plains within the heart of Eostre is flat, for the most part, but as the stretch out to the east, they give rise to rolling hills. In the north east, they rise up into a range of short mountains along Idzumo Lake's northeastern shore. In the southwest, the terrain gets more mountains, particularly around the southern portion of the Celeano River. This area's known as the Abassi Highlands. A canyon cuts through a portion of the highlands along the course of the Celeano. It's called the Olorun Canyon, named after the first explorer who charted it so many centuries ago. Or that's the tale around the name, anyway.
A small, circular range of mountains rises out of the heart of the Plains. These are the Ilmatar Mountains, though the people of Aiaru refer to them as The Circle more often than not. They were mainly volcanic mountains at one point far in Aiaru's past, but they've long been extinct. Over the millenea, the wind and rain has slowly eroded them down so that they're all about 2000-2500 meters tall. Due to the climate of the area, all but the peaks of the tallest of the mountains are below the snow line, and so they are covered in plant life. The land around them is very fertile, even for the already-fertile Plains. Numerous farms and agricultural villages are spread out over the fertile planes around the mountains.
The Mythics' Tower lies within a short, wide pass into the interior of the ring of mountains on the circle's western side. It lies toward the interior of the pass, near the valley inside the ring of mountains. There's a fair-sized lake within the valley that's fed by the melting and runoff of snow from the mountains after the winters. The Tower itself is a very recognizable sight, with it's white curves that soar up above the surrounding land in the pass. If approached from the west, it can be seen from miles away over the flat land of the Plains. Over time, as the order has grown in number and resource, a few other buildings have sprung up on the backside of the Tower, ranging from training facilities to scientific research centers to a large hanger where the Order's vehicles are kept and even to a small expansion outward from one side of the Tower, to accommodate the need for more space in the Tower Forge. The Tower was built on the site of a natural Force Nexus, though the prolonged stay of so many Mythics over time has had a slow strengthening effect on it.
The Aethon Desert covers the northeastern edge of Eostre, and is, for all intents and purposes, uninhabited. The outer edges of the desert are hard and rocky, and spotted with soaring formations of rock that have been cut by the winds over the years; there's even some natural life, as Aiaru's hardiest plants and animals fight to survive here. But this all gives way to a massive sea of sand that covers the heart of the desert. It is a harsh place, and is plagued by massive sandstorms that are fueled by winds that can move the sand with enough force to eat flesh from the bone; these storms are most common in the heart of the desert, though nowhere is safe from them. The Aethon Desert has often been used as the place of punishment for none but the absolute worst criminals, and the ravaging sandstorm have become known to the people of the planet as the Fates.
The eastern shorline of Eostre that isn't a part of the Aethon Desert is among one of the most beautiful stretches of land on the planet. Brilliant white sand beaches stretch from the north to the south, and the sapphire blue waters are a sight to see. As such, it's a popular place for the people of Aiaru to go when the need to get away, and even off-worlders have a tendency to be drawn to the area. It is a sharp contrast to the harsh, cold shorelines near the Itzli mountains that dominate most of the western edge of the continent.
Idzumo lake is situated towards the eastern-central area of the continent. It's a massive freshwater lake, about a third again the size of the Mediterranean Sea, and there are a number of fishing villages along its shores, along with the city of Bylgia.
Atea, the world's only ocean, dominates the eastern hemisphere of Aiaru. Her waters are deep and a dark royal blue in color, and filled with all sorts of aquatic life that sustains the people of Aiaru. There's a large amount of small islands that dot the surface of the ocean, but the only islands of note are those of the Ricosta chain. These islands form an arc towards the middle of the Atea Ocean consisting of a number of fair-sized ones that surround a large volcanic island that goes by the name of Ipilya. There's a small city on Ipilya that goes by the same name. The island is known for its dense forests and the black sand beaches that go around the entire length of the island. Of course, there's the volcano, Mt. Ipilya, as well. The island of Ipilya is almost completely surrounded by a vast barrier reef that lies about twenty miles offshore. There are gaps in a few places, with the largest being on the southern side of the island, near the city of Ipilya.
Notable Geographic Features:
Eostre
Atea Ocean
Idzumo Lake
Ipilya
Culsu Swamp
Aethon Desert
Itzli Mountain Range
Evus Forest
Ilmata Mountains
Abassi Highlands
Olorun Canyon
Etherium deposits- the substance that is refined to make the drug of the same name can be found throughout Aiaru. The heaviest deposits are found near mountains, both in the Itzli mountain range and Ilmata range in the center of Eostre. There is also a sizable deposit in the Culsu Swamp. Rumor has it that there is a massive amount hidden away in the Aethon Desert, but it is untouched as of yet. Ipilya is also home to a substantial deposit of the mineral.
And now, because I can, pictures for some of the geographical areas, just to give a general feel of how I picture them:
The Itzli Mountains
The Plains of Eostre
The Aethon Desert (Deep Interior)
The Bestla River (near the Itzli Mountians)
The Evus Forest (near the end of the Itzli Mountains, winter)
The Abassi Highlands
And, though it isn't a geographical feature, there is, of course, the Tower
Seasons: Aiaru's seasons are fairly mild, in the places where the change is noticeable. Summer and spring blend together, seeming to make one long warm season in the middle of the year. Fall is cooler, though the temperatures are still fairly mild for, for the most part. Winters are usually mild, with a few major snows in the deepest parts of the season before temperatures start to climb again. Though, it is not unheard of for there to be a particularly harsh winter from time to time.
Language:
Namaru is Aiaru's language. The name of the language comes from a phrase in the (presumably) dead langauge of the original natives, on which the modern languages is built. The phrase translates roughly to 'The Tongue' in Namaru, and it's the name that's stuck over the millenia. Aiaru is largely a bilingual planet; nearly all of its citizens can speak both Basic and Namaru. However, as Aiaru's opened up more to the Galaxy, Basic has become the lingua franca in many areas, especially cities like Demas and Bylgia. Still, many signs and the like in cities are printed in both Namaru and Basic. Furthermore, many tribal peoples and those inhabitants that live in small, isolated villages far away from the cities speak Namaru, or one of its dialects.
Major cities
Demas (Population: 13.3 million)
The Capital city of Aiaru. It's situated in the northwestern area of the great plains of Eostre, towards the Itzli mountain range. It is a beautiful city of large size and population, and is known for its graceful white architecture. Demas sits on the banks of the Arcas river, and is actually segmented into rough thirds by a two canals that run through it.
Bylgia (Population: 18.9 million)
View of Bylgia looking out into part of the Great Bylgian Bay.
A different view of Bylgia, looking at one of the heavy idustrial areas of the city.
If Demas is Aiaru's political capital, then Bylgia is the world's industrial capital. While Demas is a very important city economically, Bylgia is the main point of trade on Aiaru. It's also the world's largest city, both in size and population. Bylgia's importance comes from the fact that it is a massive industrial center, and many of Aiaru's industrial firms are headquartered here. It's on the southeastern edge of Idzumo Lake, and is a huge source of food for the people of Aiaru; that's only fitting, considering the city had humble beginnings as a fishing town five hundred forty years ago.
Ipilya (Population: 7.8 million)- Ipilya is located on the volcanic island of the same name in the Ricosta island chain in the heart of the Atea Ocean. Her people are hardy and resilient, though Mt. Ipilya has not erupted in almost four hundred years. It is mainly a mining town, as there is a fairly large deposit of Etherium nearby, but it is also a bustling culture and arts center. Part of the old city still lies in ruins from a volcanic eruption that happened around 400 years ago. Its condition is maintained so that the people of Ipilya never forget that they live under the mercy of the mountain that shares the name of their city. It is also a memorial of sorts for the hundreds of thousands of people that perished in that eruption.
Agoue (Population: 6.9 million)- Agoue is the easternmost city on Eostre, and is often referred to by natives as the Eastern Citadel, even though it's never been touched by any sort of conflict. Perhaps that is because of the terrain around the city. Agoue rises sharply up onto the rocks around a massive bay, and it, like its western counterpart Sednas, is built in a sort of terraced fashion. Travel across the bay, by boat or by speeder, is the main method of getting from the northwestern side to the southeastern side, which are the two opposite ends of the city. There's a massive statue of one of the massive creatures known as Tidebringers toward the middle of the city, on the highest terrace. It's made of the finest white Aiaru marble, and is visible from nearly anywhere within the city. Agoue is Aiaru's main sea port and fishing center, and also serves as the main link to the island of Ipilya.
Roua (Population: 1.4 million)- Roua is a very unique city, in that nearly the entirety of the city lies within the confines of the Olorun Canyon. Originally the settling place of a tribe of natives, over time the once-small settlement has blossomed over the centuries into a healthy city that sprawls along a huge span of the the canyon at its widest point. The natives are long gone, of course, but some of their original dwellings still remain at the city's heart. As the city grew, the walls of the canyon were terraced out to form three distinct layers, not counting the floor of the canyon. The Celaeno River flows down the center of the city, dividing it into two halfs lengthwise. Roua--or the Canyon City, as it's referred to colloquially--is a popular place to visit, both for tourist and Aiaru's residents alike.
While not a city per se,The Tower is a very important location on Aiaru, given that it is the home of the mysterious Stellar Mythics. Everyone on Aiaru knows of The Tower. It's situated in a pass in the small ring of mountains towards the heart of Eostre. It is very tall, and it's soaring towers can be seen from miles away.
There are a number of other, smaller towns around Eostre, such as Abeona, Mithras, and Sednas.
Abeona (Population: 24,000) is the largest of a series of villages that runs along the northern border of the Culsu Swamp. It sits on the banks of the Epione River, and over time has become more of a large town than a small village.
Mithras (Population: 1.4 million) is a coastal city on the northeastern shoreline of Eostre, near the edge of the Aethon Desert. In addition to being a fishing town, it is very close to an Etherium deposit, so mining is a key activity for the people there.
Sednas (Population: 3.2 million) is the largest city on the western coastline of Eostre, and is also the westernmost settlement of the continent. It is built up in a terraced fashion, rising up out of the water along the rising slopes that lead back up to the Itzli Mountains. The city itself, much like the land around it, is hard and stony, and as a feel of age to it. There's an old, abandoned temple in the snowy mountains nearby, from the earliest days of the Mythic's existence.
Sentient species: N/A
Non-Sentient species of note:
Flickercats
Zyphters
Magnalui
Altean Devourer Shark, Crag-top Jellyfish, Tidebringer, Star Swallow, Abeonan Terrorbeast
Mortis Equus
Tardigrim, Altean Blast Shrimp, Ipilyan Mote Dragon
History: (Revamp inbound)
Aiaru was first discovered six hundred standard years ago by the the first of those who would go one to form the order of the Stellar Mythics stumbled upon it in their flight from persecution. In the centuries since, the growing trade of Etherium has brought a number of other inhabitants to live on the planet, and while Aiaru is a fairly remote planet, it's known well enough and has a pretty sizable population.
Demas is the oldest city, and also the capital. It was founded about ten years after the arrival of the first of the Mythics. At first it was meant to be little more than a place of refuge for the travelers, but as the Etherium trade expanded, so did it. The high council of the governing body came to reside in the city seventy years after the planet's discovery, and Demas has served as the capital ever since.
As time passed and the population grew, people started to move out across the surface of Aiaru more. With time came the birth of other towns and cities across the surface of the planet, with Bylgia being born sixty years after the arrival of the first Mythics, and Ipilya following one hundred and fifty years after their arrival.
Of course, all was not always easy. When the Aethon Desert was first discovered, a number of expeditions were sent out into it, and all of them fell prey to what the people would come to call Fates--the massive sandstorms that prowled the desert that could destroy almost anything unfortunate to be in their path. But as these expeditions continued, rumor started to spread that there was a huge deposit of Etherium in the desert, larger than any other known deposit anywhere else on the planet. Of course, as it became more and more clear that the desert was uninhabitable, the rumor spread faster, and grew into a sort of local legend. But still, to this day, if there are any Etherium deposits in the Aethon, they remain untouched.
Of course, Aiaru has also taken away some of the life she's given to those that call her home. Roughly four hundred years ago, about some fifty years after Ipillya was founded, the mountain that the city and island are named for erupted. It was a somewhat severe eruption, and the damage to the city was extensive. Huge swaths of it were set ablaze, and almost 80 percent of the people that lived in it were killed. The cost in damage done was astronomical, and some wanted to abandon the island, to avoid another such catastrophe. But some remained, and rebuilt, and though the going was slow, Ipilya was once again turned into one of the pride points of Aiaru. Even so, part of the city was left in the state it was in and is maintained that way, so that the people never forget that Aiaru can take as quickly as she gives.
