Caedyn
Planet Overview: Caedyn
Coordinates: Mega Star Grid West | Sector Tartarus - F7 - 2
Primary Features: Post-Cataclysmic Environment, Formerly rich in Geothermal-based minerals and energy
Pre-Fracture
Nearly a millenium ago, a group of colonists arrived on Caedyn, barely surviving the unstable stars of Sector Tartarus. Caedyn itself was a luscious planet thriving with rich biodiversity, and clearly unbothered by the advanced tech civilizations in the neighboring sectors. Seeking to becoming the first colonist to settle, they studied the planet and learned of it's rich geothermal energy potential. Installing an underground geothermal reactor, they managed to power their early infrastructure. They established a radio beacon inviting in others on the frontier. With an increasing population, expansion was required. Upon establishing new smaller scale settlements, they quickly learned they were not the first intelligent lifeforms inhabiting Caedyn. Descendants of other species that had previously settled on the planet were making a living through a mix of pre-industrial and rudimentary engineering methods.
Such species included Sylvan Elves who were, at this point, the most commonly found Caedynfolk where grass took roots and trees provided shade. They rarely strayed away from their verdant territories except for trade or quests. Terraborn Dwarves had outposts near cave entrances where their engineering industry was shared with everyone. While most Terraborns are social, there is a sizeable population with hermitic tendencies of wishing they didn't have to rely on outside commerce for the continued . Boldhearts was the nickname given to the Orcs who made their home on Caedyn due to their peaceful and community-driven clans that roamed the land. They preferred areas where they could safely expand without bordering other settlements or territories, which mainly lead them to dominate the arid lands of Caedyn. Boldhearts were also the only race to tame or repel the large predatorial creatures known as the GorKlawz (wolves as big as rhinos, with coarse and thick fur, and claws as jagged as rocks). Innovarii was what all other races referred to the Gnomes who traveled in packs and adapted to nearly any environment thanks to their technical ingenuity.
Within years, the colonist recognized that their use of the geothermal reactor was beginning to negatively affect the fragile ecosystem when their settlements began to experience rapid decline in their harvest seasons. Once the general consensus agreed to shut off their precious geothermal reactor, the quality of their livelihoods returned to normal within mere months, and with greater reaps after the years proceeded. Over generations, the humans adapted to the limitations of the lack of advanced technology. Stripped down to the bare essentials, they realized organizing into medieval-style kingdoms would be the most effective method of establishing themselves on Caedyn. They did not completely abandon geothermal as their primary source of energy, as they worked tirelessly to optimize it's use into smaller form factors. While the other races had long since found their own way to harness geothermal energy without skewing the balance of harmony, humans were a bit more careless of it's use. Unfortunately for the native species of Caedyn, primitive human instinct is to ensure it's dominance and self preservation. Division between kingdoms stoked a fire that would end only in total annihilation.
The abandoned geothermal reactor, overgrown and forgotten, eventually became a resurfaced topic centuries after it was deactivated. It was a power race between kingdoms and loose allegiances when it was discovered that it could easily be reactivated. After several years of war, a council was inevitably created that would be entrusted with fairly distributing the power. Behind the scenes, the council was a cult known as the Dragon's Claw. The cult consisted of humans who genetically modified themselves to embody the traits of their so-called Dragon Lords. Sowing distrust amongst the kingdoms, they fueled a decade long war caused by greed and desire for the total control of the reactor's power. The Dragon's Claw could do nothing but stand back or be slain as one of the kings finally managed to take over.
The king became all powerful, disregarding the overbearing effect on the surrounding environment. When he realized the reactor's potency was diminishing, he ordered his men to force the reactor to output more power. The result was the reactor releasing intense geothermal energy and widespread radiation, permanently altering the planet's environment. The event is known as the Great Fracture, which caused massive ecological damage and biological mutations across Caedyn.
Post-Fracture
The once luscious planet is now a harsh and irradiated wasteland. While the ecosystem has healed, it has now adapted itself to thrive in unstable conditions.
Inhabitants
Humans
Descendants of the once ambitious colonist, now must endure the results of their selfish actions. Authoritarian lords and opportunistic individuals exploit the weak for their personal gain. Castles have become disgusting slums where only the desperate resort to scraping out a living when elsewhere does not suffice. Most settlements have managed to become self-sufficient, although they are forced spend more resources fending off the dangers that lurk outside the safety of their walls. Peasants that populate these settlements rarely life a long life as they contend with raiders and mutated wildlife.
Sylvan Elves
Once the most abundant species on Caedyn, their longetivity heavily relied on the ecosystem. After the Great Feacture, they've been reduced to fragile beings. The remaining Sylvans have resorted to integrating into human societies where they experience segregation, and have long since abandoned their ways of valuing all life.
Terraborn Dwarves
During the Great Fracture, many of the Terraborn underground kingdoms were destroyed. Their reliance on Caedyn's mineral wealth has left them to scatter into smaller tribes and adapt to news ways of living. There are tales of survivors living deep beneath the mountains where the kingdoms were located. At least according to the Terraborns that live on the surfaces of mountains as roaming traders.
Boldheart Orcs
Once consisting of powerful clans, the orcs are now reduced to primitive brutes. Many have turned to their primal instincts forming clans of raiders that rely on brute force to secure resources. Remnants of the old ways have built smaller villages where diplomacy and warfare coexist. Despite the existence of Boldheart Remnants, the Orcs are generally mistrusted.
Innovarii
The highly adaptive Gnomes have leveraged their technical ingenuity to make a living in the Post-Fracture world. Innovarii have rapidly repurposed salvaged human technology to create tools and devices allowing them to improvise in just about any condition. The small Innovarii settlements are sometimes more advanced than a relatively prosperous human settlement as they require far less resources to sustain themselves with affording them slightly excess resources.
Low-Scale Kin
Also descendants of the original colonist, Low-Scales are the leftover Dragon's Claw cult who were genetically modified humans. While they retain the enhanced strength, endurance, and sensory capabilities, they never developed organizational skills forcing them to adapt to living as enforcers for the stronger factions.
Ecology and Environment
Mutated Flora and Fauna
While the ecosystem has healed making the surface of the planet hospitable once again, it has now adapted itself to thrive in unstable conditions. Rather, it now sustains itself on the living and the dead alike. Where green grass once flourished, the radiation has converted fertile soil into what is known as corrupt dirt. Nothing grown on corrupt dirt is safe for consumption by any species.