Strategic Location: Toward the outer edge of the Yaeger
sphere of influence.
Temperature: 13% above standard.
Atmosphere: Breathable, with a slightly lower than
average oxygen percentage.
Hydrosphere: 62% of the surface of Athar is water, with
an average salinity of 12%. Athar's primary groundwater reserves
contain larger than average percentages of several toxic compounds,
making it undrinkable by non-natives without purification.
Gravity: 102% standard.
Terrain: Athar has many fast moving continental plates,
which cause enormous numbers of active faults and volcanic areas.
This leaves the planet with a very jagged terrain, having
incredibly high mountains and equally precipitous gorges. Due to
it's substantial water reserves, high temperatures, and
particularly tenacious native flora, almost all of this terrain is
highly forested.
Mineral Resources: Athar has substantial reserves of
calcium, bromidium, iron, silver and ornamental obsidian and
marble. However, the instability of the planet's crust, and the
inaccessibility of much of the planet have prevented large scale
mining operations.
Length of Day: 23 standard hours.
Length of Year: 310 local days.
Sapient Species: The Atharin, a near human race, are
the only native sentients.
Capital City: Kelthos, pop 2,843,212 (+/- 1%)
Other Cities: Tekral, Muthor, and Elibar are the other
major cities of Athar.
Starport: All of the major cities have planetary class
starports, and there are several other landing strip class ports
scattered throughout the planet.
Population (within +/- 1%): 10,945,210
Government: Athar is ruled by a representative
democracy, with a pair of equally strong executives, and a large
legislative Senate.
Tech Level: Medium Space.
Major Exports: Soldiers, Military support personnel.
Major Imports: Technology, food.
System: Marlitan
Star: Marlit (Medium Yellow)
Name
Planet Type
Moons
Isti
Ocean World
5
Yslang
Toxic Wasteland
2
Charbon
Desert World
0
Athar
Underdeveloped
1
Thrasor
Gas Giant
17
System Capsule:
Isti: Substantial amounts of algae give this water bound
planet it's bright red coloration, and render it uninhabitable by
any other life forms.
Yslang: Apparently inhabited several thousand years ago,
Yslang is still uninhabitable due to the effects of the war that
killed off it's original inhabitants.
Charbon: This pale lavender world is virtually sterile,
inhabited only by a few varieties of microscopic life.
Thrasor: This silver grey world has a spectacular series of
rings, as well as a pair of life bearing moons.
Planetary Capsule:
Flora and fauna: Athar's biosphere is fairly uniform,
due to the rather warm environment, the perfectly spherical
planetary orbit, and the large substrate aquifer. The lowland
regions are characteristically heavily forested, and the rather
precipitous mountains tend to have light scrub or bare rockface.
The forests are primarily composed of broad leafed succulents, with
a particularly thick underbrush layer, composed of shrubs and thick
vines.
The wildlife of Athar is similarly homogeneous, with a few
species inhabiting most of the planet. Some of these creatures are
remarkably deadly, such as the barb fanged night adder, the giant
hunting rachnid, and the king crescent. Others, such as the
mountain dwelling blue rodan, and the herbivorous giant floaters
are far more impressive, and also far less deadly. The general
homogeneity of life on the planet would render it ideal for
agriculture, were it not for the geographic factors that prevent
large scale farming and animal husbandry.
Sentient Species: Athar is home to a near human race,
the Atharin. Biologically, they qualify as a subspecies of homo
sapiens, being genetically distinct, but capable of crossbreeding
with ordinary humans. Their separation from mainline homo sapiens
occurred recently, perhaps as recently as a hundred and fifty
thousand years ago, and a fair amount of recessive sports with full
human characteristics still appear among the Atharin. Generally
speaking, Atharin are completely hairless with slate grey skin,
though variations exist.
History: The early history of Athar is a matter of some
dispute. Most historians believe that it was colonized during the
pre-despotic area, and lost contact with the rest of humanity
almost as soon as it was colonized, while others prefer either an
earlier or later time of settlement. All agree that the Athar
colonists quickly regressed to a hunter/gatherer society and then
slowly worked themselves back up to near space levels of
technology.
Almost 5,000 years ago, during the Yrotha War, the Yaeger
established contact with the Atharin, who had been waging a rather
effective guerilla campaign against the occupying Yrotha. Trade
with the Yaeger began almost immediately, as did cooperative
military actions, and military trainee exchanges. After the Yrotha
were defeated, relations between the Yaeger and the Atharin grew
closer, until in Y 6,233, the Atharin officially became members of
the Yaeger Nation.
Since that time, the Atharin have been a fairly important part
of the Yaeger nation, most notably in the armed services, were they
typically serve with loyalty and dedication. Because of the
emphasis the Yaeger political system places on military service,
Atharin have often achieved considerable political power, with
several Atharin having held seats on the Gii Yaeg, and one Atharin,
Shinlag Atura, having served as Yaeger high commander.
The world of Athar has always presented difficulties for
nature friendly development, and due to the relative wealth and
high regard the Atharin have in Yaeger society, that development
has not been attempted. While most Atharin are now civilized and
live in the few large cities of the planet, there are still several
tribes of hunter/gatherer Atharin, whose nomadic habits enable them
to cover vast amounts of terrain, and to avoid those that wish to
find them.