Castrovel

Castrovel

(Cosmos)

Titles

The Wild

Type

Terrestrial planet

Adjective

Castrovelian

Diameter

×1

Mass

×1

Gravity

×1

Atmosphere

Normal

Year length (PST)

1/2 year

Day length (PST)

1 day

Orbits

Sun

System

Pact Worlds system

Satellites

Elindrae

Inhabitants

Lashuntas, elves, formians

Images of Castrovel

Source: Core Rulebook, pg(s). 438-439

More information about this subject might be available on PathfinderWiki.

Castrovel, also known as the Wild, is a terrestrial planet of incredible biodiversity in the Pact Worlds system. It is the homeworld to three major native sentient species: the lashuntas, elves, and formians. It's orbit is second from the sun, between the orbits of Aballon and Absalom Station.

Geography

Castrovel is a warm, verdant world with intense storms, powerful tides, and sprawling jungles and swamplands in which a tremendous variety of plant and animal life roams freely. The wilderness is kept wild, and the planet's resources harvested sustainably, due to a lashunta desire to allow the same evolutionary processes that created them to develop and improve other life on the planet.

Castrovel's surface is divided into four major continents and several oceans. The lashunta-dominated continent of Asana is the largest of these landmasses and is north of the formian homeland known as the Colonies. The southern island continent of Sovyrian, long isolated by harsh weather and oceanic life, is the elven homeland, while the southern ice cap of Aurovas is home to the white-furred predatory aurovaks. An ice bridge forms between Aurovas and Sovyrian's southernmost fortress of Southwatch, where for many years—and until recently—defenders fended the creatures off every winter. The continent of Ukulam was once the frequent site of clashes between lashuntas and formians, but is now a tightly regulated and patrolled ecological preserve.

Moldstorms

The most dangerous weather phenomenon on Castrovel is a moldstorm, which can occur after a mass flowering event known as a death bloom. Moldstorms are thankfully rare, but appear without warning and cover a wide swath of land in rapidly-growing fungi that eat most organic materials in hours, and can eat through seals and circuits. Although nanocarbon and polycarbon armor can offer protection from the fungi, scientists warn that moldstorms are becoming more and more dangerous.

Elindrae

Castrovel's rocky moon is named Elindrae. It has no atmosphere, but it hosts most of Castrovel's shipyards and heavy industries, where the pollution can have no effect on Castrovel's ecological balance.

Aiudara

Many parts of Castrovel (especially major settlements) are connected to each other via a system of magical teleportation gates known as the aiudara network. These were built by the elves in ancient times and the secret of their construction has been lost. Not all existing aiudara gates are operational, and some lead to off-world or unknown destinations.

History

Castrovel has hosted civilizations since long before the Gap. Its lashuntas formed rival city-states, the formians built massive continent-spanning hives known as the Colonies, and the elves kept to their nation of Sovyrian. The world also has numerous ancient magical portals called aiudara that have linked Castrovel to other parts of the Pact Worlds system for thousands of years.

Due to lashuntas naturally gravitating toward the promotion of individualism, while formians are fiercely collectivist, it was only a matter of time before these two native telepathic species came into conflict. This conflict eventually blossomed into a millennia-long war that only came to a close when the shirren, a relatively recently-arrived (and also telepathic) species, brokered a peace deal in 287 AG.

Economy

In general, the economy of Castrovel is strong due to stability of Asana's corporations and universities and the relentless effeciency of the manufacturing sector in the hive-minded Colonies. Even the isolationist elves of Sovyrian participate in off-world trade, although they do restrict trade with non-elves to certain of their port cities.

Natural preserves

Despite the threats posed by the dangerous plants and creatures native to Castrovel, its populations are remarkably protective of the natural environment, setting aside large portions of the planet in eco-preserves. These regulated wildernesses are used for research and as a destination for eco-tourism.

Inhabitants

Raia, a damaya lashunta technomancer.

Even though relationships between the planet's three major sentient species have been troubled in the past, they seem to have put direct conflict behind them, and all three now have outposts outside of their home continents.

Lashuntas

See also: Lashunta and Lashunta city-states

Most lashuntas on the planet live in independent city-states on the continent of Asana that are largely governed by democratic matriarchies. These city-states historically competed with one another and were frequently engaged in rivalries and even armed conflicts. This is less common today due to the influence of the larger corporations who see long-term wars and conflicts as a deterrent to profit. Many politicians are directly in the pay of these corporations, and some settlements are even directly owned and operated by corporate interests.

One exception, however, is Qabarat, the planet's largest spaceport. Its leader, Lady Morana Kesh, keeps the Shining Jewel of the Western Sea independent, and the city-state is well-known not only for being the planet's entry point for interplanetary travelers but also for its renowned academic institutions, beautiful architecture, and role as a hub to other city-states.

Formians

See also: Formian and Colonies

Formians are an insectile hive species that dominate the southern continent of the Colonies. They pledge allegiance to the Overqueen, which is a philosophical entity formed during their Meeting of Queens rather than a living person. Formians live in tunnel-ridden hive-burrows that can stretch for miles and sometimes bulge up into artificial hills; they are notoriously hard to take by force.

Elves

See also: Elf and Sovyrian

While lashuntas and formians have made peace, interact with each other, and participate in the Pact Worlds' broader culture and trade, Castrovel's elves stay bound to their ancient continent-spanning nation of Sovyrian. They are isolationists and traditionalists, engage in little unnecessary trade, and ban outsiders from their capital of El, a city overflowing with canals that is run by the Great Houses. Sovyrian's ruling elite frequently violate their own isolationist laws by hiring non-elves for secretive or specialized missions.

A ksarik, a living and mobile plant creature native to Castrovel.

Khizars

Castrovel is home to a fourth sentient species, the plant-like khizar people, who dwell in small, mobile communities of a few dozen individuals on the continent of Ukulam. They live in this way so as not to overly impact the natural environment, but also because they love to travel.

Fauna

See also: Category:Castrovel/Fauna

Despite occasional "accidental" burnings of protected natural regions in rural areas due to attacks from dangerous megafauna like bug-eyed mountain eels, poison-beaked sky fishers, or highly adaptive ksariks, a robust Xenowarden presence typically prevents such activities from escalating. Despite their efforts, the wildlife occasionally is desperate enough to attack a settlement, which can cause significant loss of life and property damage.

Religion

Castrovel has the highest population of adherents to the Green Faith in the Pact Worlds system.

Visiting Castrovel

Off-worlders are welcome on Castrovel, although the elves of Sovyrian do restrict trade with non-elves to certain of their cities. Visitors to the wild continent of Ukulam are advised to treat the environment with care and respect when in the presence of the native khizar people.