Primoria
Vertebrates never evolved on Primoria; instead, beings that are often considered less advanced life-forms—such as fungi, invertebrates, and plants—greatly diversified and evolved to form complex food chains and fill ecological niches usually occupied by vertebrates. Primoria’s two moons, the blood-red Acryllae and steel-gray Mandarth, cause regular significant tidal changes in sea level, and because of this, a relatively high proportion of the species on the planet are amphibious or at least capable of surviving both on land and in water.
Primoria has three major climate zones. The cold regions near the planet’s poles are unforgiving wastelands, where frost worms tunnel through the ice and most organisms live under the snow cover or in warm subterranean caves. In the temperate zone, giant mobile fungi graze on wide plains of moss, and cockroaches the size of bears feed on carcasses and plants alike. In the tropical zone, flesh-eating giant worms snake their way through fern-filled rainforests, and surprisingly agile trilobites hunt like tigers.
The biggest landmass on Primoria is the supercontinent Eukarya, which makes up 78 percent of Primoria’s land surface and spans all climate zones. Three large island continents named Cyrontia, Laurentia, and Velluria are the only other significant landmasses on the planet.
Two sentient, sapient species have evolved on Primoria: the invertebrate Scyphozoan (who evolved from the seas and moved into coastal areas early in their development), and the fungal mycelars (vaguely bipedal masses of stringy fungal growths who originate from the planet’s vast fern and moss forests). The two species fought great wars against one another for centuries, but roughly a hundred years ago, they signed a great truce and started exchanging technology, resources, and information. This has lead to significant, rapid advances in science and biotechnology for both groups.
Tourism
The following are some of Primoria’s most notable settlements and geographic features.
BISPORIA
Located deep in Arbaath, Bisporia is the largest mycelar settlement on Primoria. A notable scyphozoan population lives in the Metazoa District, where mycelars conduct most of their trade with outsiders. Despite a century of peace, there are still mycelar groups within the settlement who want to drive the scyphozoans back into the ocean, and attacks on scyphozoans and other outsiders are among the most common crimes.
CAVES OF SILURI
Entire ecosystems live completely isolated from the rest of the world in this extensive, air-filled cave system at the bottom of the Ordocan Ocean. According to local myth, the air in the Caves of Siluri is kept breathable by the life support system of a crash-landed alien starship that sank in the ocean millennia ago.
CYRONTIA
This island continent lies some 1,200 miles south of Eukarya’s southern tip. Primoria’s south pole is located near the southern edge of the island, which is also the coldest place on the planet, reaching temperatures as low as –130° F. A scyphozoan research station was established on Cyrontia 75 years ago, but it now lies abandoned. Popular rumors insists the station’s living technology awakened into a malicious sentience.
HEART OF ARBAATH
At the center of Arbaath stands an ancient stone ziggurat, the origin of which is unknown. A group of scyphozoan explorers entered the ziggurat 50 years ago, but whatever they found there caused the Council States of Primoria to seal off all entrances to the structure.
LAURENTIA
The island continent Laurentia lies some 1,500 miles off Eukarya’s west coast. The huge tropical island is home to numerous endemic animal species, such as giant carnivorous butterflies, flying scorpions, and armored insects reminiscent of crocodiles. A hidden valley within the island’s mountainous interior is said to be a paradise that holds the secret of life itself, while others claim that the place contains only terrible secrets that could end all life on the world. Most dismiss these stories as ramblings of explorers who encountered hallucinogenic plants on the island.
TARINTH
The most populous and prosperous city on the planet, Tarinth is often called the capital of Primoria despite lacking any formal planetary authority. It is a thriving center of learning and science and remains the only settlement on Primoria where the fungal mycelars and intelligent species from other systems live among scyphozoans in large numbers. Tarinth is situated in the temperate zone on Eukarya’s west coast in the northern hemisphere. The city extends from land to sea, and there are buildings even in the transitional zone, which is above or beneath the waves depending on the tides.
TARINTH
N city-state
Population 233,482 (74% scyphozoan, 23% mycelar, 3% other)
Government council
Qualities academic, biotech-focused, technologically average
Maximum Item Level 15th
QUALITIES
Biotech-Focused The settlement relies less on devices that can be hacked or short-circuited, but it is more susceptible to diseases and toxins.
VELLURIA
This temperate island 1,200 miles off Eukarya’s east coast is known for the Glass Plains, a 1,000-mile-long stretch of black sand and jagged volcanic-glass formations. Only the hardiest plants and animals—such as black liverworts and legless ash scorpions—survive here. Rare mineral deposits have enticed people from other star systems to explore the Glass Plains, but strange radiation in the area distorts communication and sensor signals, rendering most navigation systems useless. The area’s lava geysers, lightning storms, voracious predators, and sudden downpours of glass needles make short work of most visitors.
Planet of Evolved Invertebrates; Diameter: ×1; Mass: ×1; Gravity: ×1; Location: The Vast; Atmosphere: Normal; Day: 17 hours; Year: 200 days
Type
Planet
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