MARCHAND
The Sarnath System in the Tuvian Arm of the Ancerious Galaxy is inhabited by a pair of Unaligned planet-states, Zdeno and Marchand, with a combined population of nearly 20 billion. These two states represent a major trade hub in the Tuvian Arm and, whilst occasionally at odds with one another, are closely linked politically, economically and culturally. As of 2487 AT, the planet of Marchand is being occupied by the Imperial Jade Navy in the aftermath of the Sarnath Campaign.
GEOGRAPHYZdeno and Marchand are twin planets that orbit the star of Sarnath at an almost exactly equal distance, approximately 120° separate from one another. Both are rainy temperate in climate, with significant precipitation throughout the year. Winter sees some snowfall, particularly in interior upland areas, whilst summer sees frequent thunderstorms. The two planets have large oceans with significant stocks of sealife, including aquatic megafauna, and most landmasses consist of low-lying swamp and coastal regions rising to sharp volcanic mountain ranges and formations. The volcanoes on Marchand are largely dormant.
Marchand is covered by one large supercontinent with a few smaller islands dotted around the coast. A large mountain range, known as the Hornqvist Range, lies in the centre of the continent and shelters the nearby capital city of Hornqvist. Other major cities include Cass City, Blidh, Debrusk and Halak. GOVERNMENT |
MARCHAND
|
Following the Sarnath Campaign, the planet of Marchand was governed by the Coalition Provisional Authority, an interim government backed by the Jade Empire and headed by Premier Kuraly, formerly a Bailiwick with the Great Marchander Guild of Commerce. The CPA was the first unified public government the planet has had - previously the planet was ruled by a sprawling network of merchant guilds, trade unions and other corporate concerns, the largest of which was the Great Marchander Guild of Commerce.
The planet's first elections were held in early 2488, in which Speaker Sundin of the centrist United Democratic Party won a relative majority and formed a coalition with the collectivist Workers Labour Unity Front, with the reactionary Marchand Dignity Party forming the opposition. As a result of the election, the CPA was dissolved and replaced with the People's Democratic Republic of Marchand.
Various foreign nations, including the Jade Empire of Ingen, are still present in an 'advisory' capacity, providing military, political and logistical support to the nascent People's Democratic Guard. They are largely deployed in Camp Watanabe, west of Hornqvist, and at Camp Zhukov north of Cass City.
The planet's first elections were held in early 2488, in which Speaker Sundin of the centrist United Democratic Party won a relative majority and formed a coalition with the collectivist Workers Labour Unity Front, with the reactionary Marchand Dignity Party forming the opposition. As a result of the election, the CPA was dissolved and replaced with the People's Democratic Republic of Marchand.
Various foreign nations, including the Jade Empire of Ingen, are still present in an 'advisory' capacity, providing military, political and logistical support to the nascent People's Democratic Guard. They are largely deployed in Camp Watanabe, west of Hornqvist, and at Camp Zhukov north of Cass City.
ECONOMY
Marchand is rich in mineral resources thanks its their volcanic past, and has thriving seafood and aquaculture industries, as well as fertile swamplands that support a range of gums, reeds and, more recently, mushrooms imported from the Jade Empire such as the Great Shofu Mushroom.
The twin planets' domination by trade organisations and concerns, along with the system's position along several key trading routes dating back centuries, have made the Sarnath System into a regional trade hub. Although it does not rival the importance of entrepots such as the Ancerium hub of Aedleshaven, the Sarnath System is important to the economies of the nations around it and is a key location in the Avarian.
Orbital trade stations such as the Crossdock over Ba-sten see millions of tonnes of cargo flow through their ports, whilst planetside cities such as Hornqvist provide entertainment and consumer services for the countless travellers, crew members and tourists who pass through the system every day.
The twin planets' domination by trade organisations and concerns, along with the system's position along several key trading routes dating back centuries, have made the Sarnath System into a regional trade hub. Although it does not rival the importance of entrepots such as the Ancerium hub of Aedleshaven, the Sarnath System is important to the economies of the nations around it and is a key location in the Avarian.
Orbital trade stations such as the Crossdock over Ba-sten see millions of tonnes of cargo flow through their ports, whilst planetside cities such as Hornqvist provide entertainment and consumer services for the countless travellers, crew members and tourists who pass through the system every day.
PEOPLE
The Marchanders are a short, rodent-like race of sapients. Standing at an average of four feet tall, they are surprisingly strong and swift thanks to their planet's slightly higher gravity, but are still small in comparison to the average human or Yokari. Many Marchanders speak Galactic Common, and there are fears the Marchander language is dying out as Common is increasingly the primary language of Marchander households. They are typically abrasive and will take advantage of travellers, always looking to drive a hard bargain, and lack any central religion, instead worshipping a variety of small gods and deities, primarily rustic and tutelary gods.
HISTORY
Millenia ago, the first contact between Zdeno and Marchand quickly devolved into an arms race. A standoff war, marked by the deployment of tectonic agitator missiles, ended in a brief but punishing exchange of fire between the two developing nations which triggered vast volcanic upheaval, earthquakes and other natural disasters on both planets, leading to the collapse of national governments and the disruption of general societal norms.
After an extensive period of rebuilding, representatives from the two planets signed the Armistice of Ashen Skies, which banned the use of so-called 'planet-buster' weaponry and encouraged trade and co-operation in the establishment of solar system infrastructure. It was at this point that trade organisations grew to dominate the political landscape of both planets, as public governments had failed to handle the situation and had led the system to war whilst private corporations built a successful exchange network.
Despite this, mistrust between the two cultures continued, and organisations on both planets used the existence of the other as a spur to justify investment in arms, manufacturing and other industrialisation measures. Although was no appetite for war amongst the upper echelons of leadership in the Sarnath System, and they privately collaborate closely on many projects and issues, the tension kept the population focused and distracted from domestic issues such as poor pay, inflation, and inadequate service provision, especially in larger cities. The Sapient Development and Equality Index for Sarnath remains considerably lower than the average for other Tuvian Arm systems of a similar technological level, regardless of economic and political system.
In late 2486 AT, an oceanic deity cult known as the Carcaros Brotherhood began to gain traction on both planets. Believed to be a corruption of the Temnos deity of Zdeno, this cult rapidly spread throughout the system. Little is known of its practices, but it is believed that key iconography includes small statuary icons of some kind of arthropod deity, as well a crude pincer symbol formed by two lines of unequal length. The Carcaros Brotherhood is believed to have been behind rapid changes in leadership in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall and Guild of Commerce, and is known to have ties to the Merger. After the disappearance of a Jade Imperial secret service agent on Hornqvist, the refusal of existing MAH and GoC contacts to speak to Imperial representatives, and an increase in pirate activity in the area, the Jade Empire launched a campaign against the system in early 2487 AT.
Following the defeat of the GMGC navy, the occupation of the Marchander cities of Cass, Halak and Debrusk, and the orbital bombardment of Hornqvist, the GMGC capitulated. The Jade Empire swiftly formed the Coalition Provisional Authority to restore law and order to the planet of Marchand.
After an extensive period of rebuilding, representatives from the two planets signed the Armistice of Ashen Skies, which banned the use of so-called 'planet-buster' weaponry and encouraged trade and co-operation in the establishment of solar system infrastructure. It was at this point that trade organisations grew to dominate the political landscape of both planets, as public governments had failed to handle the situation and had led the system to war whilst private corporations built a successful exchange network.
Despite this, mistrust between the two cultures continued, and organisations on both planets used the existence of the other as a spur to justify investment in arms, manufacturing and other industrialisation measures. Although was no appetite for war amongst the upper echelons of leadership in the Sarnath System, and they privately collaborate closely on many projects and issues, the tension kept the population focused and distracted from domestic issues such as poor pay, inflation, and inadequate service provision, especially in larger cities. The Sapient Development and Equality Index for Sarnath remains considerably lower than the average for other Tuvian Arm systems of a similar technological level, regardless of economic and political system.
In late 2486 AT, an oceanic deity cult known as the Carcaros Brotherhood began to gain traction on both planets. Believed to be a corruption of the Temnos deity of Zdeno, this cult rapidly spread throughout the system. Little is known of its practices, but it is believed that key iconography includes small statuary icons of some kind of arthropod deity, as well a crude pincer symbol formed by two lines of unequal length. The Carcaros Brotherhood is believed to have been behind rapid changes in leadership in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall and Guild of Commerce, and is known to have ties to the Merger. After the disappearance of a Jade Imperial secret service agent on Hornqvist, the refusal of existing MAH and GoC contacts to speak to Imperial representatives, and an increase in pirate activity in the area, the Jade Empire launched a campaign against the system in early 2487 AT.
Following the defeat of the GMGC navy, the occupation of the Marchander cities of Cass, Halak and Debrusk, and the orbital bombardment of Hornqvist, the GMGC capitulated. The Jade Empire swiftly formed the Coalition Provisional Authority to restore law and order to the planet of Marchand.