"This particular planet is one of our most beloved worlds. Its harsh arid and sandy deserts have forge the Saikanians one of the most iconic peoples of the Union. Strong in will and might, the people of this world have a strong bond within themselves, a particular culture that makes them stand out. This rich world is a proud spot in the cosmos for every Unionist Citizen". - Annik Marrash
Saikan is a planet of the Union, located in the Zeurel System, in the Lewis Galaxy and in Herschel Space. The Planet is one of the most famous worlds, with a very particular culture and way of living. Saikanians, as they are known, are somehow unique in their ways and culture. They have colonized many planets and spread their particular culture to other Galaxies of the Union's territory
Several orders exist in this world and many in the Union worship. This World is home to the famous Red Legion. The Inquisitorial Headquarters of the Religion, in charge of conversion of newly conquered worlds in times of war, chasing heretics, runaways and those who take their gift out, among many other things.
The Parasites called "the Gifts" are slightly different to those found in other places, as they had to adapt to a very different environment to their own natural one (a Marshy like world). Psychokinesis is one of the abilities the gift bred in Saikan (and those who have been implanted with gifts bred abroad as kids but grow up in Saikan). It turns the peoples eyes usually into bright colors, usually yellowish tonnes. Sometimes, hard conditions to raise the Parasite, makes the locals having to import them from the nearby planet of Neldum, also in the Zeurel System.
The most famous order coming from Saikan is The Saikan Matriarchs, a Religious order who follows war to bring peace and Strategy and Planning to bring Humanity towards greater goals. They have their own ways and techniques of war and potence and connection with the parasite.
Geography[]
The Planet is an arid, rocky and desert world of dunes and other similar landscapes. Barely enough grows on its rocky deserts, and water is scarce. Actually, most of it has to be imported or taken from natural water sources, usually underground. There is just a couple dozen large lagoons, which support animal life in the planet during rain season (just some weeks of rain a year in some areas, an in others just a couple days of rain every 2 years)
The World has no continents, as there is a large mass of land, but 10 distinctive regions can be located:
- Aramanai
It's the largest sand desert, it covers a vast size of the planet and it's very hard to get around. Usually the population stays out of it, in the margins of this massive desert. Some large animals live here, and some oasis exists inside the desert. One is called "the Sacred Paradise of Hell". It's one of the only places where green can be seen in Saikan and it's the homeplace of a City, called Yumeda.
- Keleka:
it's a rocky desert, known for its stone like floor. Locals call it "the Plain where Rocks Rained", due to the lay out of the rocks all over the desert as if they had fallen from the sky. Some large structures can be found, eroded by time, most notably in the margins. It's the home of the Keleka nomads, a tribalist like Saikanian peoples. They extract water from morning dew. They use the Mokemoke, large animals adapted to this sort of terrain to travel vast distances, trade, and look for food and water. The Mokemoke is also really important to gather food for locals.
- Neramoth:
Neramoth's flora rich region
The region is a tiny area of savannah, with small trees, and bushes and some yellowish anemic grass. It extends between two large lagoons, the lake of Treik and the Lake of Gorin. It has a high concentration of Fauna and Flora. It is protected on one side by the Mukulai Mountain range. The water from the high mountains flows directly in the region's lagoons, bringing live alongside it.This area holds the large city of Misen and it's the only place where an anemic agriculture can develop. Due to this, it holds one of the planets largest populations. It's the seat of the Planetary government.
- Huilo:
Huilo Region
It's a tiny desert of sand located in the north hemisphere of the planet. It's not warm but rather arid, with one of the hardest living conditions in all the planet. It's northern fridges are protected by the winds from the Rudei Mountains. The area is however known for its large mining deposits of gold, silver, crystals, iron and other precious metals... so a large mining city known as Eulekeyon has appeared in the mountain range of this region.
- Umun:
Entrance into the Umun region. The Fortress of Tulkurk guards the pass into the region.
It's an area of the Planet, known for its large canyons and its suspended rocky mountains, eroded by time, standing still like large pillars. The canyons contains large populations with several towns as it gives protection from the Sand storm who sweep the region coming all the way from Aramanai.
The most important city is Aral-Tenek. Its has important economic, mining, popular and historic significant in the region. Many seek refugee in the Canyons during the Imperial-Unionist War.
- Minoida:
It's the most populous region, with a flat and somehow arid landscape, is one of the only regions with some sort of clearly seen flora and fauna, who grows as anemic grass. It is protected by the large Mountain range of the Mukulai Mountains.Some tiny rivers and lagoons arose here and there, due to the small ice that forms in high altitudes in the mountain range.
- Alikai:
Isolated and venerated training Temple of the Way of the Seer, in the Region of Alikai
It's one of the most sacred place in the planet. It is a beautiful desert. In its southern most exposed areas it is covered in dunes of sand but the more you move towards the north of it, the sand disappears and a rock grey plain appears. Monoliths and structures of rock appear, with large eroded mountains standing far from each other, forming arches and rocambolesque structures of imagination. On top of the "Lonely Mountains", a path welcomes visitors into a very large and retired Temple. It was constructed many millennia ago for visitors to meditate and rest on their travels. Right begin the Temple hidden by the mountains, a lake rests in peace, and it's one of the few places where the parasite "the Gift" can flourish on its own. Other hidden water sources from underground flourish. During raining season, high storms form and rain can fall for several weeks non-stop, transforming the area for a couple months before it goes back to its deALDy appearance. Animals from all over the planet migrate to the area after the rain falls to take advantage of this small miracle. This is why early Saikanians thought of the region as a holy sacred place for life.
- Meikri:
It's an area located in the Eirod Mountains, It is divided in two regions. One it's a large plateau with a high volcanic activity. A salty river exist here, very much used for producing salt and sodium used in the chemical industry. While most of it is uninhabitable, there are some areas with high rains (due to altitude). The City of Zhukerai flourish here, basing itself in Chemical production. The Second region lies in the slopes and plains near the Eroid Mountains. "The Plains of Spikes", as it is known is made of large High Pillars, that stand alone from each other. The Spikes lead to a flat sandy desert, that connects with the southern fringes of the Region of Alikai. Here alongside the pics small settlements exist, draining water from the nearby mountains and underground deposits. The largest city in the second area is Likauda.
- Oipeka:
The Releken Pics, between the Plain of Spikes of Meikri and the Oipeka region.
It's a region located near the North Pole. It holds frozen winds and nights here cover the area on a slight cap of ice, that melts while the sun hits again. It has some large underground water deposits, and large tuberculae, fungus and moss grow here, allowing for some large mammals to thrive. The Oipeka peoples thrive in the environment and are known as agricultural people. The city of Lerikai flourish here and it's the largest one in the north.
- Rateka:
It's a region near the Southern Pole. As Oipeka, its frozen during night and winter, although not truly ice forms, it temperature drops, allowing for some flora and fauna to exists. Water is their best resource that they trade with the central regions. Koloima it's their biggest City.
History[]
The Zeurel System was colonized in 35 344 CE, as one of the first colonies of the Union. Its importance is rather spiritual and historical than economical, which has been taken from the other nearby world. Saikan however, used to have a large population, most of whom scattered in Several Saikanian colonies all over Unionist space. During the early times of colonization, life was hard in this world. It's beginnings were very complicated and many died. People had to adapt to the world quickly and due to the arid and desert conditions, many populations of Saikan remained isolated, creating a particular culture.
Its economic importance grew over the years, most notably due to the strategic route of the Zeurel System. Many Hyperspace routes travelling throughout Unionist space had to go through this world. Many came here to rest and meditate, and a big Temple was erected here. The place started to acquire a holy status. Several schools of thought were created in the Planet as well, like The Paths of the Seer and the Path of Wisdom.
By 36 010 CE, the Red Legion Headquarters were moved to this world. Not much later Saikan gained an important status, when the Hidden Temple in Alikai was improved and many came here to encounter peace within themselves, creating a sort of small pilgrimage of Unionist citizens to the planet.
During the War against the Empire, the Saikanian General Eirin Sokosha was one of the best in the Unionist military, gaining a hero status, famous even to this day. He saved many worlds from Imperial aggression, and was one of the Unionist Generals to cause more casualties among Imperial fleets. All of his brilliant military strategies, combat techniques and offensive-defensive thoughts were collected in the Sokoshan Grimoires, taught to the present day in the Military Academies and to any one who follows the Path of the Warrior.
Culture and Society[]
Traditionally, the culture of Saikanians has been based on a desert life. Covering is a common practice in this people. Also they have lived tobe survivors, and most known how to track water in the planet and have a deep knowledge of the local flora and fauna. This can be life or death in such a harsh world.
Society is divided in many subcultures, but in general, most share similar cultural aspects such as covering and tattooing or painting of some sort. They have a special bond with the parasite, and usually the people of Saikan excel at the Path of Dexterity, and the Path of the Warrior. A high amount of Saikanians are in general good at all paths as their bond with the Gift is among the strongest ever found. Some say it's due to the harsh conditions the parasite has to adapt to, making survival of both, the host and the parasite, a top priority, strengthening the Warrior and the Dexterity of its host to find water and food. The Gift Parasites born and raised in the shallow ponds of Saikan form even stronger bonds with their humans, as they have been raised and grown in an already hard environment so different to their natural Marshes from Isso.
Gastronomy[]
The traditional dishes of Saikan are mostly based on meats, tuberculous, moss, seeds and fungus. Very little fruits exist but are consumed often as a source of water. Many foods are imported from other planets although the planet is pretty much self-sustaining.
- Aokinian Steak meat
Its a very common dish, from one domesticated animal who has very little needs of water. It is marinated with some cooked seeds.
The Parasites[]
Saikanian women, with a distintive eye color given by the Gift Parasite.
The World of Saikan is special in some way for the "Gift" Parasite. Here, they have to evolve in a very different environment to their own. And thus, since Saikan was among the first worlds to be colonized and the technology was not as advance at it is now, the Gift had to adapt to the new environment of this world. Thus some adaptations and modifications occurred, and the Gift change slightly from the other common parasites found in other worlds.
It granted new abilities to the humans on Saikan, like a reduced need for water, a more efficient way of releasing hit, faster agility on sand, less nutritious needs, better resistance to radiation and most notably Psychokinesis. Thus the Path of the Seer is followed in this world, one of the hardest and most powerful of the Paths. It also made its people have a distinctive yellow-orange tone on their eyes.
Biodiversity[]
The Flora and Fauna of the Planet is unique in itself. It is perfectly adapted to the arid conditions of Saikan. Some of it's species have been successfuly introduced into foreign ecosystems. Many of them are unique and have been used in various industries such as meet production, dairy, pharmaceuticals, cargo and transportation etc...
Several predators and Hervibores exist within the planet. This range from extremely large animals to tiny ones. Flora however is rare due to the aridity of this world. Due to this animals have found other special ways to find nutrients in order to flourish. Sometimes to sheer sizes.
Some of the animals found come from other areas of the universe and have been successfully introduced into Saikan. Usually as domesticated animals used for human benefits. Some as pets, others as meat and fur production, others for transportations and many more.
Fauna[]
- Aokian
Saikan during the Imperial-Unionist War
Its a an animal that lives in the Meikri region, it is common throughout several areas, and was domesticated by the early settlers. They have large pawns to excavate under the surface in need of tuberculous, and some other seeds. Sometimes even small animals. They live in large family herds of around 20 to 50 individuals. Their skin is used for many items, such as clothing and their meat is very much appreaciated in the Saikanian cuisine.
Flora[]
- Sehuki Cactus
Its a plant, similar to a cactus. It endure very dry and arid conditions. When fog, humidity (mostly at night) and rain appear, they open up from their shells and let the plants flourish, recollecting as much water as they can. They also liberate spores to reproduce. It is consider a source of water in times of need, in case of being lost in the desert, but also used for its medical and nutritious properties. However, it has itchy appendices, and in some varieties they are venomous. So extraction has to be done carefully. This is a protection design of the plant against herbivores.
Orders[]
- Sisterhood of Kryso
- Order of the Arkons
- Seulikirian Priesthood
Notable People[]
- Eirin Sokosha
- Levira Tolkaum
- Selka Rashaura