Gozolara

Gozolara, also known as Mynok II, is a barren desert planet located in the Mynok System, within the Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. Gozolara serves as the homeworld of the Gnimgian species. To describe Gozolara as inhospitable would be a gross understatement, owing to a range of environmental extremes that distinguish it sharply from nearly all life-bearing planets in the galaxy.
The first noticeable feature of Gozolara is its low gravity—only about 44% that of standard 1g gravity. This reduced gravitational force allows the Gnimgian to move with notable ease and agility but comes at a cost: their physiology lacks the structural robustness found in higher-gravity species. Gozolara's atmosphere, however, is its most lethal feature. Its surface air is a toxic cocktail of carbon dioxide (52%), methane (40%), and helium (6%), with trace gases composing the rest. Although the atmospheric pressure is nearly twice that of Earth (1.94 atm), the composition is entirely non-breathable to known carbon-based oxygen-dependent life. Without advanced filtration systems and sealed gear, exposure is fatal within minutes.
Complicating matters is the planet’s orbital eccentricity, which causes dramatic variations in solar exposure throughout its 73,000-day sidereal orbit. Gozolara experiences blistering highs of 58.9°C (138°F) during equatorial perihelic summers, while frigid nights and distant orbital phases plunge temperatures to -52°C (-61.6°F). Though the dense atmosphere slightly moderates these swings, Gozolara remains a land of extremes: a scorched, wind-scoured furnace by day, and a bitter wasteland by night. This unrelenting cycle of brutality has shaped both the landscape and the lifeforms into models of resilience, with the Gnimgian adapting beneath the surface in vast underground colonies carved into basalt and salt. Despite its hostility, Gozolara is not without strange beauty. Its skies are tinted a shimmering amber by the high methane content, and colossal sandstorms give rise to roiling walls of dust that obscure the sun for weeks. The surface is harsh and unforgiving, but beneath its dunes and scarred cliffs lies a world evolved around survival—a world where adaptation is not optional, but sacred.

Geography

Gozolara’s surface is a vast, desolate expanse that seems uninviting at first glance. The terrain is primarily composed of endless stretches of sandy deserts and rocky plateaus, carved and shaped by both time and the planet’s extreme weather. The desert itself is a deadly labyrinth of shifting dunes that can easily swallow travelers, creating a constantly changing landscape. These dunes are sometimes as high as several hundred meters, their peaks and troughs modified by the frequent, intense sandstorms that whip across the planet’s surface. The sands are not the usual golden hue but are tinged with a reddish-orange, a result of the planet’s rich mineral content. The dust storms are so powerful that they can strip entire rock formations of their surfaces, leaving them barren and uneven.
Gozolara’s volcanic past is visible in the form of black basaltic cliffs and jagged mountain ranges that rise abruptly from the ground, their sharp peaks standing in stark contrast to the sweeping sand plains. These mountains, while dramatic, are ancient and mostly dormant, though there are signs of past eruptions that have scarred the land. Dominating this tortured landscape is Mount Vath’Zul, the largest known shield volcano in the Milkyway Galaxy. Rising to a staggering 44 kilometers in height, Mount Vath’Zul towers above Gozolara’s surface, more than twice the height of Olympus Mons on Mars. Its base spans over 1,600 kilometers in diameter, forming an expansive, sloped massif that affects local weather and wind currents. The mountain's summit is marked by a collapsed caldera over 150 kilometers wide, surrounded by jagged sulfurous ridges and layered basalt flows that stretch for hundreds of kilometers in all directions. The sheer scale of Vath’Zul is made possible by Gozolara’s low gravity, lack of plate tectonics, and long geological stability.
The most notable volcanic region outside Mount Vath’Zul is the Shak'ra Canyon, a deep chasm that cuts through the heart of the planet’s largest continent, where remnants of old lava flows form a twisted, eerie landscape. These volcanic features have created a variety of caves and underground caverns that are vital to the Gnimgian species, providing shelter from the brutal surface conditions. Craters from impacts are scattered across the planet, creating vast, shallow depressions that are sometimes filled with salt flats. These salt flats reflect the sun’s brutal rays, creating a blinding glare that disorients any who venture near them. In certain regions, the salt flats give way to sharp, jagged rock formations that are the result of long-forgotten geological events. Water, a rare commodity on Gozolara, is found in deep, underground reservoirs and ancient aquifers that are almost completely inaccessible. The planet’s surface is covered in only a few small, ephemeral bodies of water—mostly toxic, salty lakes that appear during rare rainfall events. In the far northern and southern hemispheres of Gozolara, large ice fields and glaciers can be found. These ice sheets are constantly shrinking. These regions serve as a stark contrast to the hotter equatorial zones, where the heat is relentless. Despite its barren nature, Gozolara’s geography is far from monotonous. It is a world defined by extremes, where mountains, salt plains, scorching deserts, and rare ice fields form a rugged and harsh landscape.

Climate

Gozolara's climate is extreme and highly variable, a consequence of both its unusual atmospheric composition and eccentric orbit. With an atmospheric pressure of 1.94 times that of Earth and an air mixture dominated by carbon dioxide, methane, and helium, the planet’s surface endures sharp thermal gradients between day and night. The atmosphere is thick enough to slow down heat loss somewhat, but not enough to prevent dramatic diurnal temperature swings—especially given Gozolara’s long rotation period of 122.5 hours. During the extended daytime, temperatures can rise to 58.9°C (138°F) near the equator, with the dark basaltic terrain absorbing solar radiation and heating the surface to blistering levels. At night, the planet rapidly loses heat due to its thin greenhouse balance and low water vapor content, causing temperatures to plummet to -52°C (-61.6°F) in some regions.
The weak surface gravity exacerbates these conditions by allowing heated gases to linger closer to the ground and reducing vertical convection in the atmosphere. These still, superheated lower layers can create stifling conditions during midday, particularly across the salt flats and equatorial regions. The long rotational cycle means these temperature extremes are sustained for days at a time, making unprotected surface travel exceptionally hazardous. This contrast between brutal daytime heat and sudden nighttime cold is one of the most defining characteristics of Gozolara’s climate, shaping both the physiology and engineering solutions of its native species.
Gozolara’s atmosphere is also thick with swirling, toxic clouds that reduce visibility to near zero for much of the year. The high methane concentration contributes to localized greenhouse effects, further intensifying surface temperatures during the long daylight cycle. At the same time, methane’s chemical volatility under solar radiation contributes to unstable atmospheric chemistry, giving rise to frequent, violent sandstorms. These storms are driven by wind speeds exceeding 160 km/h (100 mph), fueled by uneven heating between regions and rapid atmospheric expansion during the day. They tear across the desert plains with little warning, flaying exposed rock and blinding anything caught in their path. Some storms persist for several days, even weeks, saturating the air with abrasive particulates and electrostatic charges that build up within the methane-heavy air.
The planet’s eccentric orbit further destabilizes its seasonal rhythm. When Gozolara reaches perihelion, it draws much closer to Mynok, triggering a brief but scorching season where the equatorial zones suffer temperatures approaching the upper bounds of biological tolerance. At aphelion, the planet swings outward into a colder region of space, triggering long, punishing winters that drive much of the ecosystem into dormancy. These transitions are not predictable like Earth’s seasons—they are erratic, with their timing and severity altered by orbital mechanics and solar flare activity from Mynok. The unpredictability of these cycles has forced native life to develop not only physiological resilience, but behavioral flexibility, with migration, hibernation, and subterranean retreat being essential strategies.
The air itself remains an ever-present threat. With 52% carbon dioxide, 40% methane, and 6% helium, the atmosphere is utterly non-breathable and neurotoxic to most known life forms. Even a brief exposure results in hypoxia and chemical asphyxiation. Specialized respiration systems, deep-buried habitats, and sealed environmental suits are not conveniences but necessities. Still, within this volatile atmospheric envelope, Gozolara offers an alien beauty—whirling sand towers rising into the twilight, massive thermals distorting the horizon, and shifting mirages painted across the reddish-orange dunes like ephemeral specters of a world that punishes weakness and rewards endurance.

Biodiversity and conservation

The biodiversity of Gozolara is defined by resilience and specialization. Despite its unforgiving surface conditions—low gravity, toxic atmosphere, extreme temperatures, and sparse water—life has not only adapted, but flourished within narrow ecological niches. Water, although rare, is the single most valuable resource on the planet. Organisms native to Gozolara have developed highly efficient mechanisms for locating, conserving, and metabolizing moisture, evolving in both isolation and co-dependence within the brutal confines of their habitat.
Plant life is sparse, low-lying, and highly adapted to Gozolara’s mineral-rich soil and thin surface moisture. The most dominant species are Ceratostemma and Thornbark, both of which evolved in conditions of extreme scarcity. Ceratostemma grows close to the surface in shallow pockets of subterranean moisture, its wax-coated leaves reflecting the sun’s harsh rays. Its specialized root systems use chemoreceptors to detect water vapor gradients underground, allowing the plant to extract trace humidity from fractured sediment. This plant’s thick, succulent stems store water for months, while its pale, nutrient-dense flowers produce a sweet nectar that serves as a vital hydration source for insectoid fauna—and for the Gnimgian themselves. Thornbark, a tougher, bark-armored shrub, possesses thermally regulated pores that remain sealed during the planet’s scorching daylight. At night, the pores open to absorb trace atmospheric moisture, a behavior critical for survival in the severe diurnal cycle. During rare but violent rainfall events, Thornbark can swell rapidly, absorbing significant amounts of water and storing it deep within fibrous internal reservoirs.
Animal life is dominated by hardy insectoid species that evolved to avoid surface exposure during peak thermal extremes. Chief among these are the Scorrah, an armored, water-efficient arthropod capable of withstanding both the toxic atmosphere and intense heat. Scorrah burrow deep into the sand during daylight, emerging only at night when temperatures drop. Their bodies contain specialized hemolymph sacs that store water scavenged from plants and prey, enabling them to survive for weeks without external hydration. They play a crucial ecological role, not only as scavengers and predators but also as nutrient recyclers and pest controllers. The Gnimgian farm and harvest Scorrah both for protein and for their moisture-rich tissues. Another dominant predator species is the Sandworm—a sleek, pale, serpentine invertebrate adapted for deep-substrate ambush hunting. Lacking eyes, Sandworms rely on seismic and chemical cues to detect prey above or near the surface. Their metabolism is among the most efficient known on the planet; they extract virtually all moisture and nutrients from their prey, storing reserves in internal bladders that can sustain them through months of dormancy during the cold season or prolonged drought. Despite their imposing size and predatory nature, Sandworms are vulnerable to overharvesting by the Gnimgian, who prize them for their nutrient-rich tissues and internal water stores.
Though Gozolara’s ecosystems are small in scope, they are highly interconnected and operate with razor-thin margins. Nearly all native organisms exhibit some form of water conservation, metabolic efficiency, or symbiosis. The Gnimgian are acutely aware of this fragility, having developed their society around biological restraint and resource equilibrium. Underground chambers are often co-built with moisture-recycling gardens that incorporate native flora, and hunting of fauna is regulated by caste and season. However, with the Gnimgian population nearing 10 trillion and continued surface disruption from mining, extraction, and urban sprawl, the biosphere is under increasing pressure. Conservation protocols are enforced in theory, but enforcement often collapses under resource demands—leading some castes to quietly violate ecological boundaries in order to sustain themselves. Despite the planet’s desolate reputation, Gozolara is ecologically alive—if barely. Its lifeforms are not abundant, but efficient. They do not flourish, but endure. And within that narrow margin between extinction and adaptation lies a brutally elegant survival system that has lasted for thousands of planetary years.

Known residents

The primary inhabitants of Gozolara are the Gnimgian, a resilient insectoid species uniquely adapted to the planet’s hostile conditions. They possess hardened exoskeletons, multiple jointed limbs, and specialized respiratory systems capable of filtering toxic gases. Gnimgian civilization is built around massive subterranean hive-cities carved into basalt and salt rock, where geothermal vents and aquifers provide limited sustenance. Their society operates under a strict caste-based hierarchy, with labor, military, and reproductive roles biologically and socially stratified. Despite advanced filtration technologies and efficient water reclamation systems, the Gnimgian face mounting pressures from overpopulation—estimated at over 9.6 trillion—forcing deeper expansion and increasing dependence on Imperial support from the Hivivian Empire.

Golozara

by Dawood

Astrographical Information

Galactic Arm

Sagittarius

System

Mynok System

Orbiting

Mynok

Orbital Position

Second Planet

Orbital Distance

0.795 AU

Orbital characteristics

Aphelion

1.151 AU ([coming soon] km)

Perihelion

0.439 AU ([coming soon] km)

Semi-major axis

0.795 AU ([coming soon] km)

Eccentricity

0.279

Orbital period (sidereal)

73,000 days

Average orbital speed

14.3 km/s

Mean anomaly

148.6°

Inclination

• 4.6° – Mynok's equator;

• 7.9° – invariable plane;

• 8.2° – J2000 ecliptic

Longitude of ascending node:

36.4°

Time of perihelion

56,973 days

Argument of perihelion

243.1°

Moon(s)

six

Physical Information

Diameter

7,836 km (4,869 mi)

Mean radius

3,918 km (2,436 mi)

Equatorial radius

3,931 km (2,443 mi)

Polar radius

3,898 km (2,421 mi)

Flattening

0.0037

Circumference

24,642 km; equatorial

24,537 km; meridional

Surface area 96,500,000 km²

Land: 88,973,000 km²

Water: 7,527,000 km² (7.8% of the Gozolara’s surface)

Volume

2.52 × 10¹¹ km³

Mass

2.6 × 10²³ kg

Mean density

3.2 g/cm³ (3,200 kg/m³)

Surface Gravity

4.35 m/s²

Moment of inertia factor:

0.330

Escape velocity:

7.4 km/s (7,400 m/s)

Synodic rotation period:

128 hrs

Sidereal rotation period

122.5 hrs (5.1 earth-days)

Equatorial rotation velocity:

38.1 m/s

Axial tilt

7.2°

Albedo

• 0.14 geometric

• 0.18 Bond

Temperature

326.5 K

Surface Temperature

• -52 °C (-61.6°F) Min

• 3.9 °C (39 °F) Mean

• 58.9°C (138.02°F) Max

Atmosphere

Surface pressure

196.758 kPa; 1.94 atm (at sea level)

Composition by volume

• 52% Carbon Dioxide

• 40% Methane

• 6% Helium

• 2% other gases (including trace amounts of nitrogen and argon)

Societal

Species

Gnimgian (Homeworld)

Population

Approx. 9.6 Trillion

Government

Tribal

Hivivian Empire

Gnimgian Government