Adriel System Suraph
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ADRIEL SYSTEM SURAPH ADRIEL SYSTEM driel is a large system on the edge of the Widow’s STARFALL ATear. Most of the planets are not overly populated, and a ghost planet lurks next to the most populated he first settlers on Suraph were Aasimar fleeing planet. The space between the planets is filled with an Tfrom political persecution after a failed coup unusual amount of debris and rogue asteroids, meaning attempt. They set down near the delta, at the rim of that only agile, smaller ships can venture into the system. an ancient impact crater, and a city took form around them. Two hundred years later, the city is approaching BINIEL five million inhabitants, the system is thriving as a result of the cheap wind power found in the desert ocky, uninhabited, and shrouded in a poisonous north of the city. Ratmosphere of metallic gasses, Biniel is reputed Starfall’s inhabitants brought with them a nearly- to be the home of strange giant insects that feed on forgotten forging technique that produces one of the minerals and fly through the metallic clouds. However, essential components of starship engines. This has massive storms on the planet’s surface smash any given rise to a healthy export of various starship parts, exploratory crafts into the planet’s surface, preventing services, and skills, supporting the city. The desert any further exploration. to the south has been partly terraformed, and now contains farms and ranches to supplement the food SURAPH coming from Zaban. Outside of the city and its terraformed areas, the desert he first view of Suraph from an approaching shuttle is treacherous. A network of roads to mining camps Tis the huge delta sprawling over its shoulder like runs through the safest areas, but it is common to lose a purple bruise against the white sand of the desert, at least a few caravans each year to the shifting sands, and over it all, golden clouds reflecting the sun. Small heavy storms, or simply the heat and lack of water. turquoise oceans dot the southern region, remnants of an era when the planet was covered in salt water. THE LADY OF CERTAINTY The planet itself is incredibly beautiful. The sand is brilliantly white, dotted with strange rock outcroppings hough Zaban is more populous, the government, that look like they could have been made by alien hands. Tlaw enforcement, and trade in Adriel all run The atmosphere lends itself to vivid sunsets which through Starfall. The government has gone through a reflect off of the sands. The purple of the delta grasses, number of changes, from a democratic effort early in slow herds of herbivores, and massive blue-and-gold its days to the current autocratic religious government semi-aquatic venomous serpents in the oceans add to currently in place. the otherworldly beauty. Travel within the Adriel System is heavily regulated, with all travelers required to fill out extensive paperwork, THE SUMARK DELTA sign away rights, and subject themselves to regular detainments and questioning. This is passed off as ed by a massive water and ice table far beneath security for the highly sensitive patented manufacturing Fthe planet’s surface, the delta is fed by six springs, taking place in Knightlore, but even loyal citizens are which were likely triggered by a long-ago asteroid strike. starting to question the government’s continued The water is icy-cold in the center of the delta, warming removal of rights and movement. toward the edge of the region. The hardy purple grasses The current head of government came up as a that thrive in the specific mineral composition of the charismatic and volatile priestess, using her powerful region are rich fodder for the famba, mid-sized, passive foresight to guide the system through a wave of Defiler herbivores that inhabit the region. attacks, keeping them safe when all hope was lost. In There is a strong tourist and leisure economy in the the final battle with the Defilers, the previous leader, delta, including pleasure cruises, famba-rides, resorts, a well-liked but often ineffectual half-elf from Zaban, and casinos, each more fabulous and richer than the last, was killed while holding off an attack on the Hall of and all heavily taxed and monitored by the government. Wisdom, the center of government. Kilgirin Farsight stepped up and took control. After the Defilers were driven off, Kilgirin became the leader of Adriel, styling herself the Lady of Certainty. 6 ADRIEL SYSTEM SURAPH Now, fifty years later, her iron grasp on the system KNIGHTLORE has not softened in the least, and she has survived assassination attempts, rebellions, and attempted coups. he largest manufacturing business in an industrial There is growing unrest concerning her rule, and the Tcity, Knightlore is the property of the Alabasters, an whispers that she killed or caused her predecessor to old engineering family that made the system’s fortune by be killed, are growing. Adriel is rich and powerful, but inventing a new forging method for engine components. its foundations are shaking. Generations later, Knightlore is losing its importance as newer, better options are being invented. However, THE WATERWORKS the Alabasters wield immense power and influence in the system still. he towering arch welcomes anyone with official The manufacturing compound rests in the eastern Tbusiness, curiosity, or a scientific goal. Wells were quarter of the city, overlooking the desert, and a small sunk into the water table nearly two hundred years residential court is built nearby, but the Alabasters’ ago, and sophisticated pumps draw it to the surface, main residence is a warded and expensive manor in where it is portioned out over the city. Recently, water the Sumark Delta. reclamation and purification systems have been added in an attempt to stop the water loss the planet is suffering. HALON REMONSTRANCE However, graft and corruption within the Waterworks is threatening those projects, and systems long neglected rbiting high above Suraph, the Halon Remonstrance are beginning to fail. Ois the pride of the system. A state-of-the-art warship technically owned by the citizens, but under control of the Lady of Certainty, this ship is used to demonstrate the power and skill of the Starfallian Hegemony. 7 ADRIEL SYSTEM HaMUA The ship is unlike anything else in the Widow’s Tear, Much of the system’s food comes from its fields, and its sleek and fast, and loaded with strange weapons that only sources of industry are the processing and packing no one is allowed to examine too closely, but if they plants built to distribute the system’s food. did, they would find traces of necromantic magic and Zaban is considered a protected zone by the a very particular power signature that is not from any government. There are many species here, mostly known race. herbivores and omnivores, with no natural large predators. Some of these creatures have been DEAD VEIL domesticated, while others provide no particular benefit. small city on nearly the other side of the planet THE SHADOWED ISLE A from Starfall, Dead Veil is a city of outcasts, rebels, refugees, and undesirables. The city has a reputation s gentle and productive as the planet is, the south for being dirty and dangerous, but the inhabitants Apole is an anomaly. Some malevolent energy seems understand how thin their margin of survival is, and to make its home here, warping the creatures and they do the best by each other that they can. The city animals. The planet’s seasons lock the south pole under gets its name from the sandstorms that sweep regularly heavy storms for most of the year, creating a seasonal through the area, touched with some strange magic that ocean that locks it into a small continent from which reanimates dead souls for the duration of the storm. nothing can escape. The souls do no damage, but the fear and grief they However, twice a year, the planet’s rotation tilts, the sow can drive even the stouthearted mad. storms cease, and the ocean pulls away from a narrow straight of land. During these seasons, the twisted PYRIEL creatures flood into the southern farms and towns, tearing into crops, flocks, and people. They can wipe n uninteresting small gas planet, Pyriel is notable out a settlement in a matter of minutes. Aonly for its space station, Sielec Point. The planet Because of this threat, the southern cities and towns is red, with swirls of white, and three small moons. The have built walls, but Zaban is soft and offers little in atmosphere is acidic, so even respirators can’t be used the way of natural building materials. As such, stone on the surface. and wood have been brought in, and the Selkie fleet deploys from Lacha during the Ravage to provide fast- SIELIC POINT moving air defense. Even so, at least two towns and several Selkies are lost every year, and creatures often he very epitome of a working space station, Sielec escape to keep moving north. TPoint is the main port that services both Suraph and Zaban. Oddly, every permanent resident of the THE TERRACE station is an android. The space station is mostly automated, and a stop-over only: a place for visitors ost of Zaban is covered in cropland or pastures, to the system to be checked, papered, and approved Mbut the Terrace is a sprawling hill system that has or turned away. been completely terraformed into terraced farms. Using traditional techniques, exotic and unusual foods are KIELIK grown here, and the Terrace serves as a research site for Tl’aja’s bio research departments.