Halruaa, the Homeland
The second planet of the system, Bytha-II or Halruaa, is home to most of the system's population. It is a breadbasket controlled by the corrupted but nominally representative Bythan Mandate, under which the planet's six nations have joined.
Trade data with the Bytha system
Trade data with the Bytha system
Bytha-II ("Halruaa", "The Homeland")
Street scene on the Homeland's main city, Natha Nar.
Slums and popular district in the heart of Natha Nar (artwork by Fealasy)
Most of Natha Nar is swampland and jungles, where predators and bandits run amok, the trees providing cover from most orbital scans.
Bytha-2a ("Mol Lareth")Orbital Period : 29 local Days
Radius : 2750 KM Day Length : 24 local Hours Atm Pressure : N/A Surface Gravity : 0.3g Atmosphere : none Biosphere : non-existant Temperature : varies The Byrian moon is a small, icy world that does not support any kind of life. Many moonbases lay in ruin from pre-Scream times, but a few are active, either mining minerals or belonging to rogue elements. Travel to unmapped or uncharted territory is unadvised. Prisons dot the far side of the moon, all of them from pre-Scream times, and all of them inoperative. STARPORT Starport Alpha (Planetside) - small outpost of the Bythan Mandate and main nexus for all moonside operations. Located in a crater, the moonbase also deals with radioactive waste from the Mandate worlds, and is the home of the Fleet Academy, where all aspiring Fleet pilots and staff train. It is rumoured that the Bythan Mandate keeps a secret base somewhere on this moon. Everybody speculates, but the government denies its existence, and even its name is unknown. Starbase 01Starbase Population : 12'441
Racial Makeup : 87% Elven, 4% Khddari, 9% other Technology Level : Cat 4 Starbase 01, in its prime, was one of the main stations in the entire Neutral Zone. Built far before the Scream, it suffered significant damage as ships docked to its structure exploded during the psionic calamity. Nowadays, even though a lot of the station is still mothballed, Starbase 01 serves as the central command for the Bythan Fleet. Orbital shipyards around Starbase 01 serve all ships that come through, from refueling to repairing to outfitting. Along with the food the Homeland produces, Starbase 01 is the cornerstone of turning around the whole system's fortunes. Starbase 01 is known to far traders cleared from Lyne Dock for its bar, the Gallow's End, ran by friendly Kalimshari face Saraka, a known singer and entertainer on Natha Nar who now spends her days running the gambling tables and holosuites while an army of cute Elven boys and girls scour the tables for patronage. Starbase 01's low psionic gravity field also means it is the prime location for the system's premier Blitzball Stadium. The sixteen core Bythan teams meet there for the Bythan Cup every four years, an event that draws masses, even from neighbouring systems. Starbase 01's shipyards are partially damaged from the war with the UMF, and are working at full capacity; with a lack of qualified shipwrights and orbital stations, the number of ships that gets built is somewhat limited, which pushes ship prices up. As a result, outsiders can no longer order ships from the Bythan shipyards, and must fall back to lesser shipyards in other systems in the subsector. REGULATIONS : WEAPONS are forbidden on station premises. ARMOR is restricted to non-lethal sidearms at all times. NARCOTICS are forbidden. ALCOHOL is a restricted commodity subject to customs checks. |
Orbital Period : 1.0 local Years (1.81 Imperial Years)
Radius : 6547 KM Day Length : 1.0 local Days Atm Pressure : 1.10 atm Surface Gravity : 0.94 g Atmosphere : breathable Biosphere : terraformed biosphere Temperature : Temperate, varies locally Leader : Luaryna Orlyduis Leader of Natha Nar : Durnel T'sal Head Priest : Fileth Barrityl Also known as Halruaa and in some texts Mol Nashae, Bytha-II is a gem on the rough frontier, and this system's main port of call. As the only truly temperate world (albeit terraformed), it is the system's breadbasket, dating from Pre-Scream efforts to colonize this slice of the galaxy divided by the Empire and the Republic. The extra food supply allowed the settlers to thrive where many other planets died during the Scream, even if most of the planet has returned to an unsteady wild state in the days since then. The planet's Six Nations, and many other roving tribes, are somewhat united under the control of the Bythan Mandate. Notable towns include the six capitals, all clustered around the early colony site : Natha Nar (de-facto capital), Chednazzad, Rilauven, Telnarquel, New Undrek, and Undrath Nar. They are all located on an island at the tip of the bigger of three mainlands. Other continents and off-shore islands are wild, unplanned, and home to roving tribes as well as outlaw groups. Nathae is known for its herds of airborne jellyfish-like Bull Netches, as well as its large flocks of Cliffracers, imported to serve as race material in pre-scream times and which, without a strong predator to keep them in check, have become of the planet's most feared predators. Cities on the Homeland are cramped, mostly due to the extensive space rigidly given to agriculture. The initial colony site, on a small island, is by far the most built up area where all six main cities can be found. Sprawl is religiously avoided as much as possible. The zoning restrictions are due to the fragile ecosystem and climate on the Homeland, as is typical of most terraformed worlds. Transport on the planet is done by the means of high speed monorails between the main cities. Private shuttles and hovercars are also not uncommon, though the Mandate frowns on unnecessary atmospheric flight, citing pollution concerns and the fragility of the Bythan ecosystem. BYTHAN MANDATE COLONY Capital : Natha Nar (local dialect : Netha Nan) Capital Population : 3'565'102 World Population : 6'415'874 Racial Makeup : 89% Elven, 3% Khddari, 8% other Technology Level : Cat 4* (specializes in agro-tech with limited shipbuilding) Natha Nar is the capital of a unified planetary colony. Wars have erupted in past centuries, however today the planet is ruled by the Bythan Mandate and its High Council. Most people live in the six main colony cities; the ranches and fields are extensive, and mostly automated, with limited supervision. Scattered Khddari hives exist on the edges of the colony's borders, and further out, roving tribes of outcasts and bandits. The Bythan Mandate maintains a strong fleet and presence across the entire star system. STARPORTS Starbase 01 - Coriolis spaceport and mandatory gateway for all out-of-system ships, easily tracked as soon as they warp in.. Starport 01 is also the nexus of the Mandate's fleets. All around Starport 01, orbital shipyards have been recently reactivated and now serve to maintain the fleet. Lyne Dock - Orbis spaceport under Mandate control. The older of the two spaceports, Lyne Dock once served as a marshalling station for transports Empire-wide. With FTL severely curtailed, it has been repurposed as a quarantine station, meant for outsiders to dwell in before wandering on the planet's surface. There are many planetside docking facilities, however outsiders must first report for quarantine at Lyne Dock. TRAVEL ADVISORY Only land at pre-approved Mandate landing facilities for the sake of air safety as well as avoiding other dangers. The Golden Sun : Far from the colony sites, on remote wilderness land on unsettled continents, the Golden Sun cartel controls abandonned Kalimshari military sites. The Golden Sun also controls several ships, which do contraband runs from the nearby systems as well as the mining facilities. They wield little power, but can pose a problem to ill-equipped trader ships. Pirate Presence : Piracy is fairly common on unsettled wilderness. Tribal wars have occured across swathes of untamed jungle and woodlands, hidden bases dot the unsettled continents, and any travel to these parts is forbidden. REGULATIONS (within settled areas) : WEAPONS are restricted only to non-lethal sidearms within city limits. Out of city limits, weapons are unrestricted so long they're man-portable. ARMOR is restricted to civilian-grade suits at all times. NARCOTICS are banned, but ALCOHOL is permitted (no drink driving of any kind). Intoxication is an aggravating factor in infractions. |
Points of Interest on the capital city, Natha Nar...
Natha Nar Spaceport - the major spaceport on the entire planet. It can refuel and repair ships of all kinds. Sector 01 and 03 are civilian sectors, Sector 02 is the main cargo tarminal. Below the spaceport, a massive transit hub is intertwined with a giant mall, and maglev and local monorail lines serve all cities and city districts.
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Imperial Void Shrine - Religion has taken a beating in the years post-Scream, but the Chantry still maintains a strong presence on the Homeland. Quite some way outside the city, the Imperial Void Shrine is open to everybody. It is also known as the headquarters of the Healer's Guild, which plays a large role in everyday life as well as in the training of new psionics.
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Number 42 - the premier bar and lounge facility in the entire world! Rated Natha Nar's #1 watering hole for spacers and locals alike. Friendly barkeeps and friendlier girls, as well as ship-calibrated air recirculator. Number 42 also sports pre-Scream holosuites as well as the Lucky 42 Casino and Fine Dining Establishment.
Tribunal House - The capital of the Bythan Mandate. Surrounded by acres of peaceful parkland, this is where the Parliament and the Executive Branch meet and where most decisions are made. The House is equipped with an Orbital Defence Bunker, just in case.
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Bytha System Repository - Initially a galactic "lost and found" exchange, nowadays the Repository is home to the planetwide police force - B-SEC - as well as the local branch of the Bythan Fleet. Access the Bounty Board here or on the commweb system or apply for a challenging, exciting carrer as fleet freelancer commander.
The Keyhole - one of the slums of Natha Nar, and certainly not the nicest place to live. If you value your life, don't go near the Keyhole. All monorail stations serving the area are currently disabled, and security checkpoints control who comes in and out, by order of the Mandate.
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The Seed Vault - it is no secret that the Mandate has ambitions to become a regional overlord. As the main breadbasket world in the entire subsector, they have a massive bargain chip - food. Agricultural Affairs is a state-controlled vault where scientists tailor bespoke seeds and formulations that are then exported to other worlds - usually with no option to regrow a seed once harvested, forcing them to rely on Bythan food hegemony to thrive. The Vault itself contains several seeds and is a treasure of lost Imperial foodstuffs, and due to its importance placing the Mandate on the map, it is easily the most guarded place in the entire system.