Fanon Stygian Reaches Psykros

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PSYKROS

SYSTEM -
Psykros System.

GRID COORDINATES -
E-6.

REGION -
The Stygian Reaches (Satrapal Redoubt).

HYPERLANE -
N/A.

ROTATION -
24 standard hours.

TERRAIN -
Glacial wasteland, temperate alpine.

CLIMATE -
Temperate/arctic.

GRAVITY -
Standard.

INHABITANTS -
Humans, various other species.

RESOURCES -
Kiirium, hydrocarbons, exotic lumber.

TECHNOLOGY -
Stygian standard.

The planet Psykros is an ice-bound planet in a system at the heart of the Satrapal Redoubt, a defensible sub-region of the Stygian Reaches, encompassing about a dozen systems. Psykros has been the capitol of the Satrapy of the Frontier Territories since well before the Great Unmaking, and is therefore one of the oldest civilized worlds in the Reaches.

ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENT

Currently, Psykros is in the grip of a planet-wide ice age, with all but isolated regions dominated by vast ice sheets. According to the records of the Satrapy, the planet was originally a lush, temperate world, widely settled by the ancient Tionese colonists who came to the region; reportedly, Psykros originally had a robust weather control system, which failed some time during the Great Unmaking, causing unstable climatic conditions which eventually led to a rapid cooling of the planet. It is believed the current ice age could be reversed, however the Satrapy does not currently have sufficient resources or technology to effect the necessary climatic adjustments.

Not all of Psykros is covered by ice, of course; certain areas have managed to withstand the advance of the glaciers, usually regions protected by high mountains and other geographical boundaries. These regions harbor some of the last surviving examples of the planet's native life forms, chiefly a species of large evergreen tree which seems to thrive in the harsh conditions, the wood of which has become highly prized as a material for furniture and other wooden objects. The harvest and sale of these trees is the exclusive purview of the High Satrap.

HISTORY

HISTORY

Psykros was not the first world in the Reaches to be settled by human colonists, however out of the original stretch of settled worlds, it has maintained a constant population base the longest, while many others have failed and required resettlement over the millennia. After the Satrapy was chased off of Linchpin Station, the government moved to the more defensible worlds of the Satrapal Redoubt, at the center of which was Psykros.

At the time Psykros was settled by the Satrapy, it was a relatively rugged planet, although well within the habitable zone of its star. Though mountainous in many places, it still offered many good locations for settlement, plus ample natural resources to support industry and the creation of vital infrastructure. After a minor terraforming campaign and the installation of a sophisticated weather control system, Psykros became both an administrative hub and a major manufacturing world, vital aspects for the success of the Satrapy as a whole. Indeed, the planet was an early engine of the Satrapy's initial expansion phase, producing the weapons, ships and vehicles which equipped many conquering armies.

In the centuries after its establishment, Psykros underwent a series of shallow booms and busts, although it always remained the Satrapal seat, an aspect it retains to this day. These tribulations were as nothing compared to the cataclysmic event known as the Great Unmaking, a catastrophe which brought the Satrapy to its knees for centuries and left scars on Psykros which are visible to this day.

According to all known Satrapese records, Psykros has never been invaded by outsiders through its entire settled history. During the Unmaking, however, there are believed to have been some close calls, and the capitol did find itself vulnerable to economic forces. As mentioned in the Environment section, it is during this period that Psykros' weather control system failed, plunging the planet into a prolonged and extreme ice age. Since the start of the great freeze, the population of Psykros has had to adapt to the new environment; over thousands of years, the original settlements have been abandoned as they were consumed or rendered otherwise unlivable by the ice. The capitol of the planet is one of the sole exceptions, a city which has been covered over by a transparent dome, the interior of which is climate controlled to approximate the planet's ancient climate. Most other settlements have moved underground, burrowing into the mountains and tapping geothermal heat, while some others cling to slopes above the glaciers or huddle in the few ice-free valleys. Nearly all transport is by air, or by long subterranean transit tunnels.

Notably, there are many places on the surface of the planet where remnants of the old settlements can be seen. Entire cities are preserved beneath the ice, taller buildings broken off and moved by the slow shifting of the glaciers, the spires of ancient towers and palaces poking up above the snowy wastes, unknown treasures and mysteries within...

NOTABLE LOCATIONS

NOTABLE LOCATIONS​

As the capitol of the Satrapy, the planet Psykros has a number of notable locations on its surface and in orbit above. These include the following.

XIMOPOLIS

XIMOPOLIS​

Ximopolis, so named for the Satrapy's ancient patron, Xim the Despot, is an ancient city located in the northern hemisphere of Psykros. It is the capitol and administrative center of the planetary government, and also houses much of Satrapy's interstellar administrative mechanism, making it effectively the capitol of the entire Satrapy as well. After the onset of the global ice age, it became a point of pride for the Satrapy not to move their capitol; to protect the city, it was enclosed in an enormous, transparent, climate-controlled dome, preserving the city largely as it was thousands of years ago when Psykros was a more hospitable place.

Since the city was enclosed, there have been various expansions beyond the dome, largely underground but also on the surface. The "new city" is considered less desirable as a place to live and work; many outlying areas suffer from neglect and poverty, and can be dangerous for outsiders.

THE PALACE OF THE HIGH SATRAP

THE PALACE OF THE HIGH SATRAP​

The Palace of the High Satrap is a massive structure located not far from the city of Ximopolis, although it is isolated by geography and can only really be reached by air. Built into the side of a mountain, the palace is essentially a city unto itself, with a population in the hundreds of thousands, all servants of the High Satrap and his court, who live in a small open-air city at the apex. The Satrap's throne, court and residence are located in a tall tower.

Notably, although physically isolated, the palace is connected to the outside world via robust communication hard lines run through the mountains. It is extremely defensible; aside from heavy defensive weapons, independent supplies of food, water and power, including subterranean agriculture, mean that it could endure a siege almost indefinitely. Any attempt to storm the structure would require an enormous commitment of troops and resources, and would inevitably be costly.

THE GEOFRONTS

THE GEOFRONTS​

Built to shelter the population of Psykros through the long global ice age, the underground cities or "Geofronts" are home to the majority of the planet's population. Far from austere duracrete vaults, as might be expected of structures built in a relative hurry, the Geofronts took advantage of vast natural caverns found beneath many parts of Psykros, employing the best minds of the Satrapy to design and construct cities nearly as good as those being subsumed by glaciers on the surface. They are lit by piped-in sunlight through vast illumination panels, alleviating much of the claustrophobia which might otherwise be felt by some.

This is not to say the Geofronts are perfect. Built over the course of only a few decades, there were inevitable mistakes in their design and construction, and though millennia of tweaking have helped to improve conditions, there are areas which are decidedly shady, and not only because the light panels don't quite reach them. All manner of secrets hide in these dark corners.

THE SATRAP'S GATE

THE SATRAP'S GATE​

The Satrap's Gate is a large toroidal space station which orbits above the planet Psykros. Built prior to the Great Unmaking, the station is nearly a half kilometer in diameter, and serves a combination orbital spaceport, customs enforcement station, aerospace traffic control post, deep space communications relay, hyperspace beacon and orbital defense platform. All ships entering the orbit of Psykros must come close enough to the Satrap's Gate for visual inspection before proceeding to points on the surface; many larger ships use the station as a break-bulk point, transferring large cargoes to atmosphere-capable shuttles for delivery. The station is also popular as a commercial hub in its own right, and is famous for its full-circumference bazaar concourse, not to mention amenities for weary ship crews.

Notably, the Satrap's Gate has been remodeled and expanded repeatedly over its millennia of service. It is theorized that the station once had hyperspace cannon functionality, and may still, although the mechanisms are now deeply buried and inaccessible.

INTENT​

To create a planet to serve as the capital for the Satrapy of the Frontier Territories.