Mundi (Moon-die)
Mundi is known as the centre of the galaxy due to its connection to every other World. They invented a galactic wide communications network that allowed them to contact seven of the eight other Worlds. It was then through said communication network that they informed every World of each other’s presence. The ability to communicate and collaborate with every single World led Mundi to grow to never-before seen heights and quickly became the most technologically advanced World in the galaxy. When the Spiders created The Web, it was Mundi that spread it to the different Worlds.
Due to its spatial position in the galaxy, Mundi believed that it needed to remain a politically neutral force if the varying ideologies found across the galaxy were to ever cooperate with one another. They allowed each World to use Mundi as a platform to express their beliefs with one another. This delayed hostilities, but ultimately Mundi’s neutrality was unable to properly halt the growing tension between the two sides of the galaxy despite their noble intentions. Even to this day, Mundi believes that a civilised discussion can be had to reach a compromise.
Social and Political Customs
In almost all regards, Mundi attempts to remain politically neutral in the name of fairness to all galactic bodies. The United Nations of Mundi firmly believes that if they were to take a strong political stance during political debates that they would sway the direction of the discourse being held so heavily that it would be best for them to exempt themselves from such discourse unless it directly affected them. This somewhat extends to the Mundian population, as while Mundians can be heavily opinionated even at the best of times, as a culture they deeply respect communication and open mindedness. Mundians are also very accepting and encouraging of interplanetary migration, both from and to their World. In many ways The Web was seen as a salvation for their people, so they are deeply thankful for the presence of the other species. In turn, they also believe that they can assist the other Worlds thanks to their long history and advanced technology. This is mostly in reference to the ways in which they have assisted Chatibos and Otiosus, though this sentiment still persists when regarding the other Worlds. However, because of this there have been occasional accusations of the UNM overreaching and interfering beyond their bounds. The United Nations of Mundi operate on an entirely democratic system, in which representatives from each nation discuss and deliberate upon the course of the planet and its people. This senate includes political representatives from the various sectors of the seven major settlements as well as representatives from General Massive Systems. In total there are 63 representatives that comprise the senate, and for a motion to pass through the UNM senate there must be a majority vote that is over 75% in favour of it. However, due to the recent addition of seven senate seats from the formation of New Arcadia the previous status quo was upended and no one knows what will become of the United Nations of Mundi.Pre-Web History
View full timeline in: History of Mundi The beginning of Mundi's history follows roving bands of Mundians that stuck to the wooden areas of the World. These Mundians formed various clans and tribes, and for thousands of years engaged in a more barbaric and primal way of living. While many clans were peaceful and often participated in trade with one another, tribal warfare was rampant throughout the planet. Through this warfare came minor advances in weaponry as well as a transition from nomadic living to settled living. The ancient Mundians primarily occupied forests and heavily wooded areas during this time, a tradition that has survived well into the modern day. As the clans established their walls and borders, modern Mundi would begin to take shape. During this period, The Mundian religion: Order of Codite would come to prominence. It is believed that as the tribes began to settle land and congregate in livable areas, the gods that these tribes worshipped began to fuse into the celestial figures we know today. This can also explain the variations and contradictions surrounding the gods, their personalities and their actions within the Order's many myths and parables. Eventually, the Order's religious beliefs would begin to be transcribed and codified by the Mundians that would become the first priests of the Order. This era of budding civilisation would also come to witness a discovery of epic proportions that was steadily growing around the Mundians. As the people of Mundi inhabited the trees of the World they would come to see the slow expansion of forests (both outwards and upwards) across the generations, but there were four sites of growth that inspired awe and wonder from these people. These were the Four World Trees, massive evergreens of which at least two can always be seen across the Mundian skyline regardless of where one stands. In ancient times the Mundians believed that these trees grew to such heights because the gods themselves planted and nurtured them, and that they represented the growth of the Mundian people and their way of life. Therefore, these trees became the most important holy sites in the World. Unfortunately, because of the reverence held for this natural phenomenon modern Mundian scientists have been wholly unable to run tests on the World Trees. Many years would pass and the Mundians of old all came to congregate around these World Trees, building their cities around, within, and beneath the collosal trunks. Three nations would construct their major cities in these locations, and the World Trees became strongholds of Mundian civilisation. The four cities also came to participate in extensive trade with one another, sharing ideas and resources together. This would eventually culminate into an annual event known as the Bridge. The Bridge was a time and space devoted exclusively to the collaboration of the various Mundian nations. After this began, there would never again be a major conflict within Mundian lands and eventually the four nations would congeal into one: The United Nations of Mundi. The Bridges would also see the rise of General Massive Systems. GMS was an initiative founded by the UNM to reach new scientific and academic heights for the good of Mundi. This resulted in numerous technological advancements throughout Mundi that would not only lead to groundbreaking discoveries such as space travel and worldwide telecommunications networks, but would also greatly improve the quality of life of the average Mundian. General Massive's wide array of research projects would also eventually lead to the development of artificial life in the form of the androids. Through many trials and tribulations, GMS and the UNM would successfully create a brand new species and grant them their own space to build an android city on Mundi's blue moon: Gwener. General Massive Systems was able to offer them this land thanks to another sect of their organisation that had spent a large portion of GMS' funding to pioneer off-world colonisation. Specifically, they worked to build self-sustaining habitat domes that could house the growing Mundian population as well as Mundi's finest trees. Over the course of multiple decades, this technology would eventually be refined to an extent wherein the dome could support an entire city, though it takes many years of development to achieve such a scale. The land given to the androids was the site of a failed habitat dome that the androids were able to repurpose thanks to them not requiring oxygen or other forms of sustenance that Mundians require. This work would also lead to further increases in asteroid and moon mining, though these practices were restricted to Mundi's red moon: Sarvis. Eventually, Mundi's era of peace would be disrupted. A corruption in the Lake of Tears began to grow from the bottom of the lake and quickly began spreading to the nearby banks and surrounding land. When it became apparent that this corruption was not going to fade away, General Massive began employing tactical measures in an attempt to heal the lake and lands to no avail. The corruption would slowly swallow and consume any barricades that the Mundians set up, poisoning anything it came in contact with, and it came to be known as Hemlock. Many sects of GMS were made to focus their efforts on the Hemlock scourge as the corruption continued to extend toward Valhalla's World Tree, however as the years passed by no one could present a solution to the growing threat. As no treatments to this ailment could be found on Mundi, distress signals began being sent out by the Mundians to the far reaches of the galaxy in a desperate plea for aid and advice.Post-Web History
It took a little over a decade, but another World would eventually return Mundi's intergalactic messages: Malum Auctori. The two planets quickly encountered a language barrier, but through mutual collaboration they were able to overcome it by finding ways to communicate through the written word. They also wished to build some kind of bridge between their two solar systems, a desire that would eventually result in The Web. Further, after receiving return messages from the Auctori a domino effect began to unfold wherein six more planets would begin communicating with Mundi. Each species would encounter the same language barrier, though luckily Mundi's experience with the Auctori made this a minor struggle for most of these planets. The exception to this rule was Sani'Tatem, who proved themselves intent on retaining their culture's oral tradition despite the difficulties it would cause in participating in intergalactic dialogue. This issue would persist up until the Sani'Tonians constructed a device that actively translated all spoken language. There was a seventh World that would later join the galactic stage that the Mundians would not be able to communicate with during this time: Yilvyke. Instead, it was the Teleans who initially reached out to this World and would remain in contact with them during this period of communication. They were unable to directly speak with this civilisation due to the extreme spatial distance between the two planets, meaning Mundi would only receive second-hand information about the Yilvykians from the lens of Telea's interactions with this alien species. Many speculate that this is one of the reasons that the two Worlds (Mundi and Yilvyke) would struggle to connect later down the line. The Mundians would also discover that two of the other planets: Otiosus and Chatibos, were in dire need of assistance as well. At the time Otiosus was a civilisation on the brink of collapse and Chatibos was so young and technologically lacking that they would not be able to participate in an intergalactic World. Therefore, General Massive Systems began constructing a massive transport ship (of which they now have three) known as an Immensely-long-haul ship, which could travel to these planets at a speed that would only take seven years (on average) to reach another World. This was necessary, as The Web was still far from completion. GMS would also share their designs with the rest of the galaxy, and Telea would construct their own ILH ship to travel to Yilvyke. Yet, these ILH ships would be rendered useless in time as The Web would soon come into full effect. The Web was always intended to allow for any ship to achieve intergalactic travel, and would achieve this goal well beyond the Mundians' initial estimations. Thanks to the input and hard work of Malum Auctori and the occasional assistance provided by other Worlds, The Web would be able to send ships between nearby solar systems in one hour. However, this could only occur if these planets were able to funnel the number of resources required into the project, as well as the labour costs and precise skill that were needed to complete the design. Understanding the importance and gravity of this technology, every single planet began constructing the nodes that would send them to their neighbouring solar systems. Over the course of three years Mundi would build seven nodes, each one leading to one of the Worlds surrounding Mundi. Sadly, during this time the Hemlock had grown to such an extent that it had reached one of the World Trees: Yggdrasill, killing it. Worse still, none of the other species knew of a cure or treatment to the plague that haunted the Mundian people. Regardless, Mundi still welcomed every species to their planet for the first Galactic Bridge. While the Yilvykians required some cajoling to attend, delaying the event by a number of months, this first Bridge was a success and a terrific way to introduce the various galactic civilisations to one another. Soon after, the Spider Alliance would officially form, an event that the Mundians would view to be emblematic of the Bridge's success. It is widely believed that the United Nations of Mundi were also invited to join this alliance, but declined out of their commitment to political neutrality. As the various Worlds continued to meet and interact in the Bridges, their effectiveness would have a noticeable decline. Tensions would steadily rise between various galactic factions, most noticeably Telea and Malum Auctori, with each planet bringing their closest allies into their political conflicts. The Mundians would attempt peaceful resolutions to the various conflicts that sprung forth, and were for the most part successful up until The Split. The Split is the event wherein Yilvyke destroyed their nodes, completely severing themselves from The Web and leaving millions of Yilvykians stranded throughout the galaxy. In a fit of chaos and uncertainty, tensions between the Worlds grew exponentially. Now, Mundi struggles to maintain a fragile peace in the face of impending war.Species and Geography
Mundians are a mammalian, four-limbed, bipedal species that is almost completely covered in fur. Their fur ranges between shades of white, grey, brown, and black, and they often have coats of fur that are a mixture of these colours. Their hands and feet are clawed, and are perfect for climbing trees and traversing the terrain of Mundi. They have four round, circular eyes that face forward, granting them increased depth perception. Mundian mouths are akin to a cylindrical tube, only allowing them to eat small or liquid foods. This also affects their language as they use this feature to communicate via whistling. Mundi is a beautiful and lush World, though smaller than most of the other Worlds within the Pontision System. The planet is rich with greenery, as the planetoid is filled to the brim with deep forests, rolling plains, and swamplife. However, its most beautiful feature is the Four World Trees. These are four massive trees that are found in the various corners of the World, and many Mundians believe that they were the first trees planted by the Ten Gods. Two are located on the continent of Etren, and one each on Bisen and Graplai. The oldest of the major settlements within Mundi are located either within or around these four trees.Settlements
Mundi has four major settlements on the planet's surface, and three on Gwener, the blue moon that circles the planet. There are also various villages and towns spread throughout the planet's surface, though they are very minor regarding Mundi's structural makeup. Many years ago there were three major nations, each presiding over one of the three continents. However, ever since the United Nations of Mundi formed these nations have slowly degraded and fused into a single entity. As a whole, Mundi has an estimated population of 255 million people.Elysium
Elysium is the capital of Mundi and the home of General Massive Systems. Elysium is built around a massive lake that the World Tree Hyperion has grown from. The wealthiest citizens have homes along the banks of the lake as well as the roots and trunks of Hyperion, though recently many Donerthian migrants have built homes at the bottom of the lake. The bulk of Elysium's planetary mining operations are located in the desert areas of Graplai just south of the World Tree, whereas residential and commercial sectors of the city are typically in the northern forests. GMS has many of its research and manufacturing facilities in this sector, and the majority of Entelligence (a Chatibosan corporation) and General Massive Systems collaborations occur here. Elysium is seen as the most liveable and hospitable of the Mundian cities in large thanks to the successes of GMS. It also has the largest population amongst them, totalling to 96 million residents.Valhalla
Once a beautiful northern land, Valhalla has since been ravaged by the Hemlock. The city always bordered on the inhospitable, as not too far north from them was an ice-ridden forrest in which few Mundians could live. Therefore, for most of their history they relied on the land south of them. This proved fruitful, and allowed the city to thrive for centuries. Until, of course, the Hemlock slowly grew to swallow these southern lands. This threatened to starve the people of Valhalla, and very well might have if it were not for the assistance of the other cities within the United Nations of Mundi. Eventually, the Hemlock would reach the World Tree Yggdrasil, corrupting it too and making it the first World Tree to ever die. Due to these events there has been a mass exodus of Valhallan residents, though the population still stands at an impressive 14 million Mundians.Synod
Synod is where the head of the United Nations of Mundi resides. UNM's senate building is built around the World Tree Menara and it is where these leaders deliberate on the future of the planet and how best to serve the people of the World. This is also the site wherein the Galactic Bridges are held each year. As such, Synod is one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the entire galaxy, though many of these migrants struggle to acclimatise themselves to the smell and climate of the swamplands the city is built upon. Many species see this land as a welcoming place where anyone, regardless of background, can find success and happiness. This has seen a boom in the population, bringing the city to a population of 68 million residents. Yet, ever since The Split occurred, the looming shadow of war has rested over the heads of all its citizens.Cockaigne
The city of Cockaigne is one of luxury and decadence. It is located on the island continent of Bisen and is one of the most popular tourist locations in Mundi due to the land's beautiful pastures and natural scenery. The wealthiest Mundians live in Cockaigne or have holiday homes there that go uninhabited for most of the year. However, in the holiday season Cockaigne is as lively as any other city and hosts the grandest festivals in all of Mundian space. Cockaigne is home to 8 million Mundians. During the working seasons of the year there is a minor squatting issue due to the vast number of properties that go routinely uninhabited, though the leaders of Cockaigne are working hard to alleviate the concerns of homeowners within the city.Elysium 2
Elysium 2 is the first functioning moon city ever built. Named after the capital, Elysium 2 was built to represent the future of the Mundians as they expanded their civilisation beyond Mundi's stratosphere. This city lives under a massive hemisphere known as a habitat dome that can replicate hospitable environments. Elysium 2 specifically replicates the forest that surrounds and is intermingled with the great city of Elysium, though on a smaller scale. Due to religious heads barring General Massive Systems from conducting tests on the World Trees, habitat domes are unfortunately still unable to recreate this humongous form of plantlife. It can house 20 million Mundians, and is almost at maximum capacity. This technology was originally crafted out of concerns that Mundi's population may exceed the limits of the planet's surface area, however it may now be the Mundians' best hope in surviving the Hemlock.Eden
The city of androids, Eden is a plot of land specifically for androids to inhabit, though all are welcome there. Mundi gave this location to the androids shortly after their successful creation in an act of kindness and goodwill. Eden is the only moon city that does not have an active habitat dome, as the androids that occupy it do not need an atmosphere, water or food to live. However, certain important buildings such as android manufacturing plants, city halls, and places of communal gathering often are designed to have oxygen flowing through them (much like spaceships do). They have a population of 36 million androids, all of whom have helped in developing their own culture independent of the wider Mundian zeitgeist.New Arcadia
New Arcadia is Mundi's most recent settlement, named after the Chatibosan city Arcadia. The city was part of a joint project between General Massive Systems and the United Nations of Mundi to create multiple habitat domes across Gwener and Bragg after the threat of the Hemlock became apparent. It was the first to be developed as a part of this effort, and only became fully operational shortly after the construction of The Web. New Arcadia has been a popular settlement for alien migrants looking for a new home, as many Mundians have worked hard to allow the city to cater to most of the species within the Pontision System. Thus, it has come to house a wide variety of species with the slight exception of the Donerthians due to a lack of large water sources that they can inhabit. The 12 million inhabitants have come to live in harmony with one another, and are emblematic of the future that Mundian politicians strive for.Superbia
Superbia is Malum Auctori’s colony that was built on Mundi shortly after the first nodes of The Web were operational. It is located south of Cockaigne inbetween the desert and mountainous regions of the continent. It has a close relationship with the Mundians of Cockaigne, and for the past six years the leadership of Superbia have accompanied the Mayor of Cockaigne and his retinue to Mundi’s Domestic Bridges. For meetings and conferences between the United Nations of Mundi and Malum Auctori’s Royal Family, the two factions will often meet in Superbia.Important Figures
- Quercus - Chairman of General Massive Systems
- Dr Scorchedroot - GMS Scientist
- High Priest Cherryfang - Leader of the Order of Codite
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