Aeotheran, also known as Orian III, and formerly Sepros III when the star system was still known as Sepros, is one of the three core hospitable planets in the Orian system, along with Sepros and Tarthos. It is located in the Esstran Sector at the northern end of the Trans-Hydian Borderlands between the two super-hyperroutes: the Hydian Way and Perlemian Trade Route. Orian rests on the northern outskirts of the Stygian Caldera, the large nebulosity that encircles the worlds of the original Sith Empire. It is not far from the Listehol Run, which connects with the Shaltin Tunnels, therefore placing Aeotheran within trading distance of the Corporate Sector where the Dlarit Corporation regularly does business through its subsidiary, Kaldex Transport Inc.
Aeotheran was originally home to the Ombi and once part of the Rakatan Infinite Empire. Thousands of years later, a Sith Lord from the first Sith Empire named Urias Orian came to the Sepros system and subjugated the Ombi, renaming the star system in his own name. The native people were either transformed through Sith alchemy into the monstrous Ekind, or else died when the Star of Ombus, the life-giving crystal the Ombi were linked to, was destroyed by Orian.
The only civilised settlement on the planet is the mining city of Seng Karash which is the home of the Dlarit Corporation. Marakith Skyhook floats above the city and serves as the headquarters of House Ludo Kressh who, unbeknownst to the general public at large, covertly serve as the planet's de facto governors through their front as officers of the wealthy mining corporation. There are a number of temporary mining operations across the planet but no other permanent settlements, however there are the two small island holiday resorts of Lor Zatean and Pandaemonium. The planet has a tropical climate and is primarily covered in jungle and rainforest, within which remain the ancient ruins of the temples built by the planet's original inhabitants–among them the haunted Bastion, which was once home to House Primus Goluud until the Third House's fall in the war against the curse loosed from Antei in 21 ABY.
Description
Despite being temperate and habitable, the jungles of Aeotheran pose a major challenge for anyone who attempts to survive there. The planet suffers from constant rains and wet climate, leading to regular mechanical failures making life tough and hard for the workmen of Dlarit Mining. Life outside the walls of Seng Karash is dangerous, the jungles are inhabited by many predators, both native and imported during the days of the Sith Empire. It is suicidal to step into the jungles unarmed and the mining population is almost completely dependent on the Dlarit Police for protection, both inside the city and out.
History
Early history
Aeotheran was discovered by the Sith Empire more than five thousand years ago. It became the home of Urias Orian, a Sith Lord during the reign of Marka Ragnos. Signs of the planet's history litter the landscape with numerous abandoned and ruined Sith temples across the surface. Most are now reclaimed by the harsh and savage jungle, though a few are utilised by the remaining natives, all of whom have been forced to return to more primitive methods in order to survive.
Much of the planet's population were killed during an early investigation by Orian into the nature of the Star of Ombus which resulted in the explosion that formed the Karash Crater, leaving a massive scar on the land, the surrounding plantlife withering and dying. Later, the remaining Ombi population, those who had not yet submitted to Orian's rule and been converted into his Ekind servants and cut off from the Star of Ombus, all died when the Star of Ombus was shattered as part of a ritual designed to make the Sith Lord immortal, killing those still linked to it.
Recent history
Aeotheran was rediscovered in 17 ABY when Trevarus Caerick rediscovered the Orian system. During the following two years as the clans prepared for the Exodus the Dlarit Corporation began diverting resources to the Orian system, choosing the tainted scar where Orian had sacrificed untold numbers of Ombi as the site of the city which would later become known as Seng Karash. The Clan chose the site because of the dark energies that still covered the scar, believing they would provide the perfect cover to mask their presence.
After the Exodus the Disciples of Kressh were chosen as the custodians of the new city, their quaestor becoming synonymous with the planet's governor. To protect their true identities Seng Karash was kept separate from the Clan's military forces, who came to reside on Tarthos instead. The city remained exclusively policed by the civilian recruits of the Dlarit Police. A mayor was also selected from the civilian population to maintain the façade of a municipal government.
The city underwent significant changes to its defensive arrangements in 23 ABY at the instruction of Governor General Xanos Zorrixor after he began having nightmares of the galaxy in ruin. Future Governor Malisane de Ath oversaw the construction efforts of Marakith Skyhook which would serve as the city's primary defense and as a rather more private training facility for House Ludo Kressh.
After the outbreak of the Yuuzhan Vong War in 25 ABY the Orian system was forced to take in refugees from nearby systems which had fallen to the extragalactic invaders. The population of Seng Karash quickly began to increase and the city was forced to expand beyond its original borders, a second ring of quarters being erected outside the main wall. The outer city was forced to dispense with the already meagre luxuries of the inner city and has become known as the "slums" by many.
During the Invasion of Orian in 27 ABY the True Brotherhood held Seng Karash hostage after destroying a large section of the residential district using the weapons onboard Marakith. After the skyhook was captured the residential district was rebuilt with increased facilities to house the growing numbers of citizens and refugees.
Transportation
The city of Seng Karash is the only one planetside that boasts a spaceport and is large enough to warrant an taxi system; as such the remainder of the planet and unsettled at large, those far-flung areas are accessible either by bullet tram, monorail, or shuttlecraft.
Hovertrain
As of this writing, there is one known line operating on Aeotheran: the dedicated line from Seng Karash to Pandaemonium. This is no accident, as Raistlin has designed everything associated with the lavish resort to be an exercise in excess. The exclusivity afforded those who can avail themselves of Pandaemonium's services extends to the bullet tram; passengers are waited on hand and foot whilst dining on the finest foodstuffs the galaxy has to offer. Excepting this system, the city is connected to its mining outposts by a more spartan system.
Monorail
Seng Karash is connected to its outlying mining outposts by a variant of the 10-T monorail train. This system is cost effective, easy to maintain, and replace, as the surrounding jungles, and its fauna, are ever threatening to overgrow it. In 33 ABY, the Voice of Justice, led by Deliverance, commandeered the Monorail, and set a bomb off on it, killing several hundreds of people.
Points of Interest
Seng Karash
Seng Karash is the principle city of the Orian system and home to around three hundred thousand employees. The majority of the Dlarit Corporation's civilian employees can be found on Aeotheran in this city, and to a lesser extent the cloud city of San Korinar on Amphor. It is the only major population center on Aeotheran, with miners working shifts at the various mining outposts across the planet and traveling predominantly by shuttle to and from work, or in the case of the outposts nearest Seng Karash by a limited rail network.
Seng Karash at TwilightThe city of Seng Karash is the jewel of the Dlarit Corporation. While mostly prefabricated, its citizens are entitled to comfortable living conditions, despite the long hours and hard labour the mines demand. Between the commercial and entertainment districts, civilians are provided a range of opportunities, and support for spouses and families. The city was erected in a barren crater that marked the otherwise endless jungles of Aeotheran; the result of an investigation by Urias Orian into the nature of the Star of Ombus that killed much of the planet's population. Seng Karash is protected by a heavily shielded city wall that rings its entire perimeter and is constantly patrolled by units from the Dlarit Army.
Resettlement Center
Tent CityWith the recent upheaval wrought by the refugee influx resulting from the Yuuzhan Vong War and the destruction of Dystopia, a portion of Seng Karash's population has been forced into living in canvas and burlap structures provided by the Dlarit Corporation. Although the Dlarit Corporation has assured the residents of the so-called "Tent City" that these are only temporary accomodations, grumblings of dissent persist. However, back in the city, the Dlarit Corporation has worked hard to maintain the scenic image portrayed in the media to hide the true face of the Resettlement Center.
Despite the bar on entry into the city for those without the necessary clearance, it is believed the Blue Hutt cantina is used to illegally traffic supplies and materiel in and out of the city. Furthermore, the Greasy Hydrospanner, which is located in an abandoned warehouse in the city's sub-levels, is rumoured to serve as a route into the city by those prepared to brave the gauntlet of the automated machinery in the city's power plant.
Marakith Skyhook
Marakith is a skyhook that hovers over the government district of Seng Karash, supported by its own repulsor engines. Marakith is the official residence of the governor of Aeotheran and his staff. The skyhook is guarded by soldiers of the Dlarit Special Operations Group and serves as the main base of operations for the warriors of House Ludo Kressh. The security of the Marakith Skyhook, or simply Marakith as it is known to the members, is essential to the house and clan. The official reason for the high security is that it contains many of the senior executives of the Dlarit Corporation and is for their safety. In fact, it is to conceal the presence and nature of the clan from the general population. Though members of the clan do visit the public areas of Marakith, the wearing of robes or the carrying of lightsabers in these areas is forbidden for obvious reasons.
Marakith
Rumor has it that if necessary Marakith can leave the atmosphere in an emergency and has basic hyperspace capability. This drastic action would only be used in the likelihood of the planet Aeotheran being overrun by a hostile force. It is also rumored to have extensive defense capabilities though the nature of these are highly classified.
The Bastion
Built thousands of years ago by the original Ombi inhabitants of the planet, before even the days of Urias Orian, the Bastion stands alone, deep within the shadowed wilderness. The ancient temple was the site from which Xanos Zorrixor originally oversaw the colonisation of the Orian system in the year running up to the Exodus, after which it served as a secluded home for the remaining warriors of House Primus Goluud until the Third House finally fell during the Sixth Great Jedi War. Blamed for the Third House's fall, the haunted Bastion was abandoned again until its rediscovery by Malisane de Ath in 31 ABY and–against the wishes of the rest of the Sons of Sadow–reclaimed in the name of the Disciples of Kressh in order to train their elite warriors.
Lor Zatean
Lor Zatean is a small island resort in the Menaris Ocean near Aeotheran's Equator, a thousand miles south of Seng Karash. This dormant volcanic island was colonised in 28 ABY in a joint venture between the Dlarit Corporation and Dystopian Leisure and is rapidly becoming popular with personnel of both Dlarit Mining and the Dlarit Security force, due to its many entertainment and relaxation facilities, and its all year round hot and sunny weather. It is a pleasant island, with both natural black sand and artificially constructed white sand beaches, volcanic formations, exotic plant life, and many imported species of none threatening animal and birdlife.
Among the entertainment facilities offered are marine tours of the depths of the coast around the island, sports such as surfing and paragliding, shuttle tours over the volcanic center of the island, and fishing trips on the oceans surface, depending on the tastes and funds of the visitor.
In 33 ABY, the Voice of Justice planted a bomb underneath the resort, and after some intense fighting and the death of Deliverance, the members of Clan Naga Sadow evacuated the resort just before the bomb went off destroying the resort.
Kel Rasha
- Main article: Kel Rasha
Kel Rasha is the name of a city on the far side of Aeotheran on a western shore near the equator. Its construction is coinciding with the construction of the Gilded Archipelago approximately 145 kilometers away. Kel Rasha is very much everything Seng Karash is not. The area is somewhat lazily sprawling, with most buildings near the shore no higher than two stories. Further away, into a low set of mountains, a number of large skyscrapers are in construction, meant to house several large corporations, banks, and the like. A large portion is also set aside for holofilm studio lots as well.
Much of Kel Rasha is built with the philosophy of Subdued Opulence. Much of the architecture is deliberately meant to convey a very aesthetically pleasing yet austere feeling. The roads are specifically wider by a half a meter, with somewhat lower speed limits. The focus is less in material comfort, and more in stress free relaxation.
The businesses found in Kel Rasha are also conspicuously "Small Businesses" as there are very favorable taxing and zoning permit breaks to ensure this.
Gilded Archipelago
The Gilded Archipelago is a chain of over 45 islands within a cluster approximately 13,000 square kilometers. Only 15 of these islands however, are larger than a decent sized residental subdivision. These 15 islands are zoned for hotels, businesses, restaurants, and sundry other 'tourist' stops. The largest island is something of a major hub, sitting very roughly center in the island cluster. It boasts a very well appointed, and very large starport, capable of handling even the largest of transport yachts, a few very high profile skyscrapers, hotels, upscale restaurants, couture shopping, and many public transportation hubs.
Approximately 15 meters below sea level are transparisteel covered speeder roads which permit very quick and effecient travel between the different districts within the islands.
Pandaemonium
Pandaemonium, Home of ExcessAfter the destruction of the Dystopia Nightclub during the Vong Invasion known as "The Children of War.", much of Seng Karash began to rebuild and reconstruct. Raistlin, already involved with several other business interests throughout the galaxy, decided to take a major gamble, and divert a portion of his resources into a construction project of truly epic proportions. Realizing that much of Seng Karash would be in disarray, Raistlin needed a way to rapidly construct his vision, aware that securing either the spot of the former nightclub, or any piece of prime real estate inside the city would simply not be time-efficient, Raistlin spared no expense to have a man-made island constructed off the coast of Seng Karash. Approximately 10 Miles long and 5 miles wide, the island was made through massive construction in the ocean floor bed underneath the man made island. Millions of tons of sand were imported from exotic beaches across the galaxy, and the entire island is anchored by a pair of repulsor-tethers, built deep into the bedrock of the ocean floor.
Pandaemonium is a resort that rivals any of the best the galaxy has to offer. Accesible via bullet-tram from the city of Seng Karash, as well as several private hanagars and landing pads across the island, it has quickly become one of the hottest vacation spots in the galaxy. Consisting of one massive skyscraper, and dozens of smaller structures dotting the island, as well as some, non-visible features. A resort, a casino, and numerous other amenities await the traveler who chooses to stay on the premises.
Mining Outposts
Back entrance to one of the planet's underground mining facilities.Dlarit Mining maintains effective control of the economy of the Orian system, having full ownership of all major imports and exports; Aeotheran is no exception. As such, surrounding areas around Seng Karash are dotted with mining outposts, connected with Seng Karash by rail, and to one another by shuttlecraft.
Generators
Most known is Generator 2, which powered all the mining outposts, and the Monorail to the Mining Outposts from Seng Karash. Generator 1 is actually underneath the city of Seng Karash, and powers the city's electricity. In 33 ABY, the Voice of Justice made their way to Generator 2 after the Monorail had exploded, killing hundreds,in an attempt to shut the power off to blame it upon the Dlarit Corporation. The team, would sneak into the building but Fremoc Pepoi and Kano Verda would remain outside as back up. Roxas wound up tripping an alarm, causing Teu Pepoi to become captured by Dlarit Security Forces. Fremoc and Kano blew a hole in the wall of the structure, making their way into the facility, killing as they moved. Methyas helped his friends until he was injured. Kano set the generator to explode and made everyone evacuate the facility. With the destruction of the generator, power to the Monorail and Mining Outposts, became non-existant. Generator one was tasked to help power the Monorail and Mining Outposts, leaving parts of Seng Karash without power. Fremoc feeling terrible about having blown up generator two, sent parts and portable generators to help alleviate the stress on generator one.
Population
The majority of the civilian population on Aeotheran can be classified as human, although other species can be found here. As conditions on the planet are harsh, so, too, are the general attitudes of the mining class.
As there are many disparities in living conditions and levels of privilege on Aeotheran, there are just as many within each social class. On the whole, each segment can be considered isolationist and territorial; where a mining outpost's population will be beligerent towards 'city dwellers', they'll also be beligerent and untrusting of those from a different outpost, even though they both are in the same class. It is generally accepted that those dwelling in the Tent City are the most despised; ironically, the Tent City dwellers can be considered to be, other than the Force-users and military, the most feared as they have the least to lose should full-scale conflict erupt.
Some astute sociologists have surmised that the Dlarit Corporation encourages these rifts, as they distract the mundane from divining who and what their Landlords truly are.
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