Giolla

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Object Name: GIOLLA (JII-OH-luh)

Celestial Classification: Class B Planet, Mountainous 

Planetary Size: ~12996.8207424 kmd, or 1.02 times the size of LE

Number of Moons: 3; YIULORK (GUEH-lorrk), Class a Moon, Mesa ~694.850354 kmd or 0.2 times the size of Lunar 1, PANTORES (pan-TORR-ess), Class a Moon, Grassland ~869.31295675 kmd or 0.25 times the size of Lunar 1, ILOIS (ILL-OIISS), Class a Moon, Frozen, Icy ~1250.73065772 kmd or 0.36 times the size of Lunar 1

Rotational Period: 28 ESH (28 hours per day)

Orbital Period: 280 PRY (planetary rotations per year)

Atmospheric Conditions: Category II

Population Size and Diversity: ≤3,200,000,000 Inhabitants (Aplexans, Gios, Polans, Shadow Dwellers)

Technology Level: Unknown (Shadow Dwellers), Level III (Gios), Level IV (Aplexans) 

Giolla is a medium-sized mountainous planet inhabited by multiple species. The Native Gios dot the planet within their groups of semi-nomadic pastoralists, herding their large groups of R’gañans (REH-ga-NEYAN) across the planet’s rocky terrain. These gigantic, dragon-like winged snakes are coveted by the Gios for multiple reasons, most for the versatility of their various body parts. Utilized as dwellings, armor, weapons, and medicine, R'gañan body parts are regarded as highly valuable and adaptable by their Gios shepherds. 

The small valleys between each colossal mountain ranges are homes to the other prominent species on Giolla, that being the Polan colonists, the Aplexan science teams, and the reclusive and dangerous Shadow Dwellers. Though Giolla has rather temperate climates along its lower elevations, its mountain ranges are more arctic and inhospitable. There, the planet’s wet seasons bring many meter’s worth of snow each rotational period, feeding Giolla’s many waterways through continuous snowmelt. As a result, despite the mountain rainges lacking consistent precipitation during the warmer months, droughts are quite uncommon across the majority of Giolla’s landmasses.  

Giolla is a world lined with hills, valleys, and peaks and is an environment catered towards various versatile lifeforms. Though much of the elevated landscapes remain relatively void of plant life (aside from the most toughened and hardened of grasses, shrubs, and trees), Giolla's valleys host expansive trails of weeds and roots weathered by the herbivorous goat-like Ovelins (OHV-ih-lins) and large and stubborn bovine Bisslins (BIH-ss-lins). These two animals serve as both the primary livestock of the native Gios and the primary meal of the lizard-like R’gantanns (REH-gan-TANNs). Cousins of the winged serpentine R’gañans, the R’gantanns traverse their hunting grounds, searching for any organism unfortunate enough to be all alone as they wander the Eastern Frostfields or climb the Southern Windshorn Peaks. 

Giolla’s three moons are quite different from their host planet. Yiulork, a small mesa moon, is covered in a series of hills, lakes, rivers, and tall sedimentary outcroppings. Despite its arid and rocky landscapes, Yiulork's surface is rather unique. Featuring dense and multi-layered molecular structures, Yiulork's terrain is incredibly durable and resistant to cracking and shattering. Moreover, despite the moon’s incredibly low rate of precipitation and high rate of evaporation, Yiulork's soil is naturally porous and is an excellent insulating agent for rudimentary building materials. 

Due to its small size and rough terrain, Yiulork has become an ideal location for small mining operations. Private geological research companies have surveyed and sectioned off sections of the moon, hoping to discover what makes the moon’s terrain as durable and damage resistant as it is. Though not many profitable minerals have been extracted from the moon’s surface, Yiulork continues to attract groups of prospectors looking for a potential vein of rare and exotic minerals for extraction and refinement. 

Pantores, Giolla’s grassland moon, is similarly sought for its natural resources. Despite Pantores having a more diverse population of plants and animals than its counterpart moons, its main coveted resource is its arable soils. Pantores’ expansive fields are prime locations for localized subsistence farms, and the low populations of indigenous organisms makes basic horticultural survival relatively easy. As such, swarms of desperate colonists from across the Galaxy have flocked to the moon in hopes of starting new lives free from environmental, sociopolitical, or economic dangers.

Ilois, Giolla’s dwarfish arctic moon, is covered in gigantic icy oceans, long frozen solid from frequent ice-ages. The small sections of land floating within seas of frothing frozen waves and arctic storms house few lifeforms. The few beings able to exist on Ilois are as cold and desolate as the frozen moon they inhabit; predatory, dangerous creatures that attack indiscriminately, they thrive underneath the cold waves of Ilois as they search for prey. It is therefore strongly advised that anyone who attempts to land on Ilois bring a plethora of climate-control gear and weaponry.

Giolla's four main species are the Polan colonists, the Indigenous and semi-nomadic Gios, the scientific and curious Aplexans, and the reclusive and dangerous Shadow Dwellers. The Polan colonists and Aplexan scientist teams both share small territories around the planet's north pole, with other settlements scattered throughout the northern hemisphere. The Polans, who are well-adapted for frozen climates and rocky terrain, have benefitted from their alliance with the local groups of Gios natives. For generations, enclaves of Polan warriors have migrated to the northern Icelands of Giolla and back again. 

The Polan (POH-luhn)

Like their Gios counterparts, the Polan migrants are semi-nomadic, cultivating small herds of livestock while traversing the frozen wastes of their home. In addition, Polans worship similar deities to the Gios, and both cultures hold a reverence and respect for the world around them. To both species, nature is the ultimate decider of one’s fate, and survival is deemed by one's humility and acceptance that they are not the centers of their existence. Due to these cosmological similarities, many Polan migrants have commingled and raised families with some members of the more prominent Gios pastoralists. 

The Aplexan (AY-PLEKS-an)

Like the Polan pilgrims, these Aplexan scientists are also wayward migrants. However, unlike the Polan, these Aplexan scientific groups mostly consist of political and economic refugees, fleeing from a planet devoured by corruption and civil war. Therefore, these Aplexan migrants are conducting their scientific research as a way to pay for their stay on the planet, to guarantee the sanctity and aid from the Polan and Gios groups around the planet. Aplexan groups tend to inhabit some of the more hospitable and vibrant regions of the planet, located along the equatorial plains. Despite this, these Aplexan refugees are relatively unfamiliar with Giolla's ecosystems, and thus, are typically unable to provide for themselves in substantial ways. However, the Aplexan are eager to trade with their Indigenous and non-Indigenous neighbors, and any potential travelers arriving on the planet. It is highly advised that if one lands near an Aplexan outpost on Giolla, they bring surplus amounts of goods to trade. Otherwise, your visit may be cut short, as these Aplexan scientists prefer not to waste their time with anyone who cannot benefit their survival or research. 

The Shadow Dwellers

Not much is known about Giolla’s mysterious and elusive Shadow Dwellers. Rumored to inhabit the more temperate sections of the planet near Giolla’s equatorial valleys and hills, these murky creatures do not traverse their territories through any typical fashion. Those who have caught rare glimpses of the creatures claim that they “shimmer and shift” in and out of existence, appearing in one location in one instance and another in the next. Though none have confirmed if the Shadow Dwellers possess technology capable of teleportation—or if it is somehow a biological ability—this rumored ability would certainly explain the lack of consistent sightings. Whatever the case, the Shadow Dwellers are Giolla’s proverbial “boogeymen,” blamed for every unexplainable occurrence or “bump in the night.”

The Gios (JEE-ohs)

The Native Gios are the most populous species on the planet. Organized in an adaptable society of semi-nomadic pastoralists, the Gios covet their herds of livestock and the natural world above all else. Among their herders, Gios also specialize as traders, naturalists, and healers, each well-suited for mountainous survival. Their natural proclivity for fashioning remedies is enforced by their culture of extensive utilitarianism. To the Gios, everything has a definitive use and nothing cannot be utilized to benefit the individual and those around them. In summary, many of the Gios believe that the more one knows about the world and how it can be applied, the better they can continue to survive in a harsh landscape. 

One such skill considered invaluable by the Gios is the ability to tame and ride the R’gañan Sky Serpents. Gios faith states that the Great Climber, the first Gios able to successfully tame and ride a R’gañan, rode a large crimson beast called “The Blood of the Sky.” It is said that since that first instance of Gios-R’gañan bonding, both species have become emotionally dependent on one another. 

However, despite many R’gañan younglings being paired with Gios youths at birth, the creatures are still able to hunt and fight for themselves. It appears that they simply prefer to live near their Gios partners. There, these winged serpents protect the herds that their masters so covet, in exchange for unrestricted acceptance into Gios herdlands and food sources. It is also rumored that the Gios have found some way to communicate with the R’gañan. Many have turned to this theory as an explanation for why both species have bonded so closely. Nevertheless, there are few beings outside of the Gios who know why or how this mystical bond between these two species exists. So far, no Gios has offered to share these sacred secrets with any cultural outsider.