Formositas
From Hyfenwiki
| Formositas | |
|---|---|
| [[Image:{{{image}}}|330px| ]] | |
| Physical Data | |
| System | Indah |
| Natural Satellites | 2 |
| Rings Present | None |
| Obliquity | 19.89° |
| Diameter | -- |
| Circumference | -- |
| Surface Area | -- |
| Volume | -- |
| Mean Density | -- |
| Demographical Data | |
| Affiliation | Terran Sphere |
| Sentient Species | Formosan(Species)Formosan |
| Population | -- |
| Persons of Note | None |
Contents |
Planetary Environment
Formositas is an average sized planet in the Indah System with two moons and indigenous but primitive sentient humanoid life. There are 6 other planets in the system, including 3 gas giants labeled as Indah Prime, Indah II, and Indah III with respect to a decreasing size and from innermost to outermost. The other three terrestrial planets include Jikaku, Ees, and Tidameng. The two moons of Formositas are in synchronous orbits around the planet but at different distances. The smaller moon, approximately .45 the size of Diana of Terra Magna is called Cantik and orbits at an average distance of 285,688 kilometers. The larger moon, about .91 the size of Diana of Terra Magna is called Karei and travels in an average orbit approximately 408,670 kilometers from the planet. The synched orbits are caused by Karei’s gravity. The larger moon is slightly ahead of the smaller Cantik when viewed with respect to their continuing orbit, and drags the smaller moon along with it, keeping both moons’ orbit stable. This results in a double moon rise or moon set as viewed from the planet. Both moons revolve about the planet roughly in line with it’s celestial equator.
Surface Overview
The climate on the planet is varied. None of the three large continents cross the equator, and so there is little tropical climate which is mostly limited to islands. The smallest continent, located mostly in the north and west hemispheres, but slightly crossing the Prime Meridian is home to all of the sentient life on the planet with the exception of some nearby islands. The biomes are easy to identify as they are heavily striated according to latitude. The northernmost part of the continent is taiga and tundra climates, with small parts considered to be boreal forests. Below these latitudes are large areas of mixed temperate forests and prairies, with forests being predominant among the two. These two biomes make up the largest amount of land area on this continent. To the extreme south is almost exclusively chaparral scrubland.<p> <p>Oceans, ponds, rivers, lakes, estuaries, etc. can all be found on this planet.
Sentient Species(s) Overview
Main Article: Formosan(Species)
The sentient species on Formositas is commonly referred to as Formosans, and technically as Race 581002. While considered primitive, the species is on the verge of early empire building but have not begun colonizing, giving it a secular developmental type-rating of EA-1223 (this is debated, as certain elements of pre-existing culture and outside interference have lead to abnormal development). This stands out in contrast to the socio-cultural developmental type-rating of NSA-1495. The average height of males is 177.2cm (~1.8m) and the females 173.6cm (~1.7m). Physical characteristics include dark, but not black skin, as if deeply tanned; black, brown, auburn/red, and blue hair colors (curiously, blonde hair does not naturally occur in this species); and no outstanding features. Although physiology is understandably different from that of Terrans, at sight a Formosan has the appearance of a standard Terran. It has been noted that they bare a striking resemblance to the people of the Iroquois Nation in Terran history, though the differences in physiology makes the notion of any kind of connection virtually impossible.
The global population is divided into tribes. Some of these tribes have begun forming together in proto-nations and primitive confederacies. Tribes are headed by a khan, who is elected by the patriarch of each family. The khan makes the majority of decisions concerning the tribe as a whole, and in some cases, leads a khural (a democratic meeting of the family patriarchs). In the cases of tribe alliances or the national groupings mentioned earlier, the khan acts as a member of a special khural made up of only khans from the tribes concerned that meet to discuss inter-tribe issues. There is no definitive head of these khan khurals, but it is generally accepted that at each meeting one khan is designated to lead the proceedings. This is becoming an often invoked practice by the khurals, as they are being utilized to issue edicts and solve disputes more often in recent times.
Please note that these facts are generalizations of the overall population, and exceptions are not uncommon. While males still hold a dominant position, there is a high rate of tolerance among the Formosans, and females are treated very well, much better than the Terra Magna equivalent when at the same level of development. Females are allowed to hold some positions of authority, occasionally, though rarely, including military positions and the position of khatun, a female khan. Property can be owned and managed by females, and there are no social inhibitions outside of the galactic “norm.”
Fauna
Many of the species of Formositas are akin to those of Takari and Hydrus. Having an environment so dominated by temperate forests, many of the animals found on Formositas resemble those found on Takari, if not the same ones. The meadows and prairies of the planet feature several types of grazing and burrowing animals as found on Hydrus.
One very common animal that can be found in both categories is the species Merychippus Palamanus, more commonly called the Formosan Burrowing Horse or Spade Horse. It is very small for a horse (standing only 116cm at maximum height), and its two front legs resemble large spades, hence the name. The spade may appear to be one large hoof, but is in fact the hoof part of three separate toes that grow together as the organism matures. The hind legs do not feature this, but merely have three hooved toes. The spades have three known purposes. First, it helps the organism dig into the ground when it runs, and keep it airborne slightly longer than the average horse. Secondly, it is used for the very purpose any spade is for, digging and burrowing. The community herds of Spade Horses live in an underground structure similar to that of Terra Magna’s merecat or Hydrus’s Prairie Ferrets. The last use is closely related to the second use, and it is that of attracting mates. The males compete in early spring by digging the most comfortable and large underground home for their mate to propagate with them in.
Flora
Flora on Formositas is of average diversity. The meadows and prairies, unsurprisingly, are dominated by grasses, and the forests trees. Though this diversity does exist, there are very few highly unique plant species on the planet.
The exception to this is the plant called Tenshabu, which is known to grow rarely in the dry, hot scrublands of the far south of the Formosan inhabited continent. It is said to cure almost any injury or disease (tests have shown even cancer and some space-born diseases regress when introduced to it), and even boost the growth of replacement tissues and the immune system. It is a gangly plant with smooth, green stalks that are easily broken. The yellow-green leaves are soft with small hairs like that of a peach’s skin. Inside the stalks growing from the base in the ground is a thick, sticky syrup like what’s inside a dandelion. The syrup contains the healing solution, but the stalk is sometimes chewed by important locals to improve oral hygiene.
Galactic Forces Activity
Formositas is within the Terran Sphere, Freikorps controlled territory. It does not have any establishments of galactic class civilizations on it, as it is being allowed to develop to the point of galactic capabilities before being officially added to the Terran Alliance. It is interesting to note that this planet is not monitored by any artificial satellites.
