Name: New Serpentum
Habitable: Yes
Terrain: Mixed Biomes consisting of lush jungles,barren deserts,marshy wetlands and volcanic valleys.
Size: Large {Twice the size of Earth}
Population: 8.1 Billion {As of 2568}
Development Thread:
Technology:Home to the advanced Varanus race as well as thousands of other races native to the Imperial border,the Capital city is considered to be one of the most advanced and developed cities within the Imperium,being at the forefront of it’s technological prosperity.
Several other settlements are scattered across the world and connected to the capital via the Kurr Mag-Tram System.
Old ruins of the former pre-Helix Crisis Imperial city can be found forgotten across the planet,it is a favorite past time of the Varanus archeologists to visit and preserve such sites.
Almost all the settlements are within the Imperium’s universal technology level.
History:New Serpentum was once a forest world before the Varanus crashed their ark into the planet with such force it ignited the planet’s biosphere and turned it into a barren desert. For 50 years the Varanus struggled to rebuild their civilization but was able to not just rebuild by prosper thanks to vast amount of mineral wealth they used to expand outwards to the stars once again.
- New Serpentum after the crash:
The planet had one city that was the seat of Emperor Sagess and the heads of the old empire,the planet remained safe from any threat of invasion until the sudden arrival of the Helix scourge,who in turn over the course of a three year defensive war breached the Imperial line and attacked the Capital during a civil war,killing both loyalists and rebels tearing the leadership of the empire apart and causing its collapse.
It was with the aid of the ‘Zodarrin-Ka’ that the New Imperium was able to retake the barren and ruined planet…..
- Terraforming Of New Serpentum:
At request of Viscount Raxus Imar the planet underwent an ambitious terraforming project to revitalize the ecosystem to mimic that of Old Serpentum as well as being a testament to the resilience of Varanus,the Imperium and its member races.
Today that testament stands strong.
In 2568 the terraforming project was completed.
- Planet before it was terraformed:
- Planet after it was terraformed:
Description:
Temperature: 23 to 27 °C in the tropical hemisphere
32 to 40 °C in the Badlands.
Rotation:29 Hours
Moisture:Get’s dryer the further away one is from the lush coasts.
Moons:Two {One purpleish gas dwarf named Deelo and a barren moon named Stom’Cho}
Local star:Class A {Draconus Maer}
Type:Large Iron/Carbon planet.
Size: 12742 Km [2x Earth]
Physical composition: 31.0% Carbon, 29.6% oxygen, 19.0% Iron, 13.3% titanium, 5.1% sulphur, 1.1% other metals, 1.0% other elements.
Atmospheric Composition: 66.3% nitrogen, 23.4% oxygen, 10.3% argon, trace other gases.
Biomes:
- Scarlet Coast (Coastal jungles)
The lush coastal jungles are the cradle of life on the planet much in contrast to the badlands.
Most of the settlements are tied to this biome because of the optimal living conditions,access to water and bountiful resources. Despite this most of the coastal region remains uncolonized and untouched thanks to effective city planning restricting the overall expansion of urban areas in this region.
The region itself is relatively safe with most fauna living off of the vast array of plants or schools of fish.
This region is also a popular tourist attraction leading to a profitable tourism industry dedicated to showcasing the Scarlet coast.
The Citadel Badlands is the largest desert biome on the planet containing the ruins of the ‘Old City’ and the ‘Ceaseless Citadel’ alongside other fragments of the Varanus civilization,the Helix machines and the resulting battle for New Serpentum scattered across the sands.Many adventurers scour the deserts looking for scraps to sell back to the Galactic Museum or collectors of artifacts of either the Varanus or the Helix Crisis.
The Badlands are the single hottest area on the planet with a average temperature of at least 41 °C,alongside the heat is many other dangers including desert-dwelling fauna such as feral Isonade hounds or Traxorian Desert worms,frequent sandstorms,rogue bandits or rival excavators that would rather have their competition be consumed by the sands.
The orange and lemon coloured sands are also a favorite sight for artists interested in the barren landscape.
Home to some of the thickest jungles on the planet,this biome is largely uncolonized and has little indication of civilization save some of the Imperial radar towers and military outposts placed for planetary security.
Many say that smugglers hide deep within the jungles doing their best to avoid Imperial patrols,but so far the local security forces dismiss this as a bored rumor to play coy with the Garrison.
This biome is thick with wildlife and dangerous to the hapless explorer who wanders unprepared through the vast green,many ambitious Varanus 'You'gar' travel here to engage in their maturity hunt.
One of the most dangerous places on planet,home to poisonous plants and fauna,most plants here excrete toxic sap that weakens other lifeforms if consumed and emits a burning sensation to open skin.The Varanus have scales to resist this but still advise against exploring the marsh without protective gear as the sap makes scales brittle enough to seep through and make some Varanidae ill should they be exposed too long.
The Shadows of Kumaktole is rumored to send initiates to gather the sap naked to their scales,some say this is part of their ritualistic practices while others believe it to be a means of developing natural anti-toxins thanks to the race's quick adaptation.
It's considered a punishment for the local garrison forces unlucky enough to be stationed in the outposts dotted across this biome.
- Ebo’viar Volcanic Ashlands.
Despite the danger of hot molten magma oozing in lava lakes across the ashlands this biome is relativly safe as very little fauna thrive here,the only thing that thives here are the Covelain Pod that feeds from the mineral rich soot and can survive without water for days.
Water arrives here usually from brief rainfall that passes over from the tropical biomes and mountain ranges surrounding it.
Despite the Varanus preferring to limit any mining operations on the planet,the Merchant guilds have a few small facilities dedicated to harvesting diamonds from the magma,this operation generates millions of revenue the guild uses to support the planet whilst still keeping localized industry to a point it doesn't hamper or damage the newly build ecosystem as per the planet's industrial regulations.
Cities/Settlements:
- Serpentum City/Prime/Sser’Ondra/The Capital
The Capital city of the Imperium and the seat of the Imperial Throne,the city is home to the Varanus as well to any considered Imperial citizen,the massive 21,000 square kilometer city is known for it’s beauty where artistic conception and complex engineering mingle to create a series of buildings that value form and function and showcases the empire’s prosperity.The city consists of 3 surface levels.
The upper platforms where most of the administrative buildings are situated on raised platforms that double as buildings itself.
The surface where most of the residential and commercial buildings are placed in open flat areas.
Undercity where most of the factories and a large residential district lies alongside other important parts to the city's infrastructure.
The City is most commonly known as the Capital or Serpentum Prime
Places of interest:
A place where scholars and explorers from across the galaxy converse to study historical artifacts both scientific and magical to unlock the mysteries of extinct races and cultures.
The massive museum is placed on the outskirts of Serpentum Prime and holds 7000 seperate halls both on the surface and the underground to house artifacts and texts for study.
The Museum has it’s own security force and Zikah guards protect some of the more valued treasures owned by the Court but kept open for public view.
The I.J.F HQ is a complex building with a central tower built upon a raised hill,the HQ spans three city blocks and holds both the training centre for the galactic police force and the city’s prison block located in the lower parts of the platform.
The central plaza that connects most of the city’s districts with one another,it also holds most of the city’s marketplaces and a golden statue of the deceased emperor Sagess .
The Path of Warriors:A road to the Eyrie depicting statues the greatest soldiers and commanders of the empire.
The Path of Minds:A road to the Eyrie depicting statues of the greatest scholars and scientists of the empire.
The Path of Lords:A road to the Eyrie depicting statues of the Vikah nobles and duchy lords of the empire.
The Helix monument: A statue depicting a Varanus,Some Humanoid,Sun Elf and human each holding a mechanical skull in the air.Signalling the victory over Helix in retaking the planet and sparking a symbol of Imperial defiance in the Helix campaign and organic dominance over machines.
- The Palace {The Eternal Eyrie}
Situated in the inlet of the city coast the Eternal Eyrie spans over 700 square kilometers alone,5400 meters high and contains several hundred rooms for the Varanus nobles,head administration and the Imperial family currently elected as regents.The top of the spire holds the Throne room,War room,Inner garden,Regent hall and the Eyrie trophy,artifact halls and the chamber of memory.
The lower section of the Eyrie holds the administrative headquarters of the entire empire including any embassies of other galactic forces safe within the halls of the Central Complex.
1:Throne Hall:Where the Court gathers to discuss the affairs of the empire and where the Terrasque throne is seated {The room itself is made out of a living metal}
2:Imperial Archives:Where the court stores it’s secrets and collected information regarding the empire and the state’s activities.
3:Inner garden:Lush inner garden with a variety of plants native to New Serpentum.
4:Royal museum:Where the court stores it’s most prized artifacts from various points in Varanus and Imperial history.
5:War Room:Where the Court can plan war efforts,the command hub here is also directly connected to the primary one in Legion’s Hold
6:Royal pantry:Where food and drink is prepared for the Court and the rest of the staff.
7:Zikah Guard Barracks:Where the Zikah Guard reside in luxury.
8:Hospital/Royal Vault:Where the Court is taken should they be injured/Where the Court keeps it’s most dangerous artifacts.
9:Viscount’s chambers:Chambers of the Imperial Viscount
10:Grand Imperator’s chambers:Chambers of the Grand Imperator
11:Regent’s chambers:Private chambers of the Imperial regent
12:Outer docking bays:Docking bays where diplomatic ships and the court’s private vessels can land.
- Mahu-Mahu {Fishing village}
Situated between a freshwater dam and the ocean,Mahu-Mahu is a prosperous fishing town with a large population of Varanus artisans and fishermen who wish to escape the urban life to live more humble lives,it's a popular living space for various other races.
Named after the Mahu fish that became native to the area,the fish is a major export sold as a delicacy to the Capital
Among the town is a council of respected elders who represent the interests of the town to the capital administration.
- Vil’Kar’s Nest {Frontier town/Kumaktole Sect training halls}
Situated deep within the jungles and home to the secret training hall of the Shadows of Kumaktole,the mysterious Varanus Assassins who serve as political assassins at the behest of the Imperial Court and the mysterious god of death they serve.
The rest of the town holds villagers that simply work the land for the Shadows in return for protection and the chance to offer their offspring as initiates for the Shadows.
- Desar Marr (Coastal city/Research base/dune mining)
Desar Marr holds some of the more prestigious academies of science in the entire Empire,many praise it for its coastal beauty being far less urban compared to Serpentum Prime.
The Serpentum Trade guild also does dune mining off the Marr Coast to harvest precious minerals on a sustainable level without damaging the local environment
Legion’s Hold is the Military mega-complex that is home to the administrative headquarters of the Serpentum Legion and the Imperial Army as a whole.
Built around the entire Legionis Isle and packed with numerous barrackses,armouries,and factories.The hold has almost as much defenses as the Capital and is a backup fortress should the Imperium lose control of the capital city.
The presence of the hold makes extensive ground assaults aimed at taking the planet close to impossible due to the vast garrison it holds.
The 12,000 square kilometer fortress also features it’s own spaceport capable of housing a sizable fleet.
The hold contains as of yet non functional planetary shield generator.
Places of interest {outside the city/settlements}
Disc: Named after the industrial Kurr family in honour of Lasaa’r Kurr who died in the attack on New Serpentum,the Mag-tram system connects all major settlements on the planet to the capital,it also allows cargo and supplies to be moved to and from the various settlements within a moment’s notice,given the speed of the tram system that is known to travel at speeds that break the sound barrier without losing stability to ensure comfortable travel it is widely supported by the public who use it as their main way of travel to the various settlements.The mag train system itself is maintained by the Trade Guilds and run by the Kurr Terminus Administration.
Citadel ruins
A chain of cave systems that house the remains of the Ceaseless Citadel,many adventures explore here to recover forgotten Varanus artifacts whilst avoiding malfunctioning drones and dangerous fauna.
The large Ivetus Temple is the home of the ancient Varanus Warrior-monk order that uphold a code as old as the race’s first steps as a civilization.Situated in the Citadel Badlands,their secrets and artifacts guarded by the Gurands of the order.The temple has over 200 rooms and an underground vault.
The most notable of the Varanidae is part of this order is Kaiyan Vivar who was exiled from the order shortly after the fall of the old empire.
Defenses:
- The Capital Orbital Defense Array.
A series of Higra-X Orbital Cannons placed around key points of the planet to provide full orbital coverage in the event of a planetary siege.
Subject: New Serpentum. 
