Poluss

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Object Name: POLUSS (POLL-uss)

Celestial Classification: Class C Planet, Arctic

Planetary Size: ~26758.160352 kmd or 2.1 times the size of LE

Number of Moons: 7 Small Asteroids that orbit the Planet

Rotational Period: 21 ESH (21 hours per day)

Orbital Period: 434 PRY (planetary rotations per year)

Atmospheric Conditions: Category II

Population Size and Diversity: ≤4,700,000 Inhabitants (Polans)

Technology Level: Level II-III (Polans) 

Poluss is a medium-sized frozen world that only the most fortified and fortunate can hope to survive on. With surface temperatures ranging between 170K°- 255K°, Poluss’ high-speed arctic winds engulf everything in snow and ice. Most of Poluss’ waterways are permanently frozen solid, or at least infrequently flow. Moreover, the hard, sterile topsoil subzero subsurface temperatures make raising crops impossible on Poluss’ surface. As a result, life on Poluss is often short and brutal, with hostile forces around every foreseeable corner. Only the most experienced survivalists have a chance of continued subsistence on this icy world. 

Poluss’ bleak frozen landscapes are among the most desolate and dangerous environments in the Galaxy. Its algid temperatures make nomadic life nearly impossible, as traversing without substantial shelter or sufficient knowledge of the local terrain is deadly. Cultivation of crops is impossible, and the little plant life that does exist on Poluss’ surface is as tenacious and unrelenting as the planet itself. The animal life present on Poluss is similarly steadfast, especially the canine-like Ousédïr (oh-SAY-DEERR). Lean but musclebound hexapods, the Ousédïr hunt in large packs, preying upon those without ample sense to avoid traveling across the Glacial Plains alone. They, like many other species on the planet, actively stalk the native Polan people, and apparently crave the flesh of all other species foolish enough to land on the arctic planet.

Outside of Polan settlements, the only traces of civilization persisting on Poluss are the ancient remains of large mining operations clustered near the Kynøggigg (nie-NAW-ggeh-GIG) Mountains. Looming over the Northernmost ice shelf, these frozen factories once harbored gigantic machines capable of drilling deep into Poluss' surface. 

Local chronicles stipulate that Poluss was once a more hospitable planet, with swaths of temperature vegetation and animals living in the present-day Glacial Plains. Mining operations founded by local populations and various intergalactic corporations provided the locals enough fuel to live in comfort and luxury. This newfound access to resources also pushed Poluss into the intergalactic market, bringing additional economic prosperity to the already thriving world. 

However, one of the most controversial and dangerous of these operations was the investigation and extraction of the planet’s core. For decades, this allowed Polan civilization to advance at an incredible rate; large cities, advanced horticulture, and scientific advancements were all commonplace during this golden age. 

But this was not to last. The dangerous mining operations irreversibly damaged the planet’s core, shattering the increasingly fragile balance of the planet’s ecosystems. This, coupled with the extensive mining operations closer to the surface, triggered a chain reaction that propelled Poluss into a permanent ice age. Though Polan historians claim this as their origin story, their relation to these “calamity-bringers” has not been confirmed. Furthermore, Poluss’ former existence is skeptical at best, as written records detailing Poluss’ complete history are nonexistent. What is certain is that the planet once held flourishing civilizations with thriving industries, all of which fell to the unrelenting powers of nature. 

Though it has no typical moons surrounding it, a series of seven large asteroids orbit around Poluss. Theorized to be the remains of a long-destroyed moon or the shattered sections of the Poluss itself, the local populations now deify these asteroids. Given the local title of “The Holy Septs of the Snow-ridden Lands,” the Polan consider these asteroids the eldest survivors of their planet's demise. Subsequently, many Polans have created extensive rituals and religions centered around the Septs, with most of them focusing on praying to the orbiting rocks and gaining wisdom. In any event, few have chosen to explore the surface of the Septs as to “not disturb their ancestors” and have elected to leave them alone. 

The Polans (POH-luns)

The people who currently inhabit the planet claim they are victims of their ancestors’ hubris. Polan culture is centered around remembering past mistakes while honoring the memories and experiences of their loved ones. Polan culture does not seem to have extensive gender norms, outside of emphasizing an equal role in raising young. It also appears that there are few distinctive responsibilities held between Polan males and females: their only expectation is to have as many children as feasibly possible. 

However, this belief does not seem to be birthed from gender inequality or particularly gendered societies, but are instead caused by a high infant mortality rate. Moreover, Polan governance is solely based on regional histories and conditions—one group of Polan survivors may be patriarchal and patrilineal in nature, while others may be matriarchal and matrilineal or some other combination. To the Polan, their various societal classifications completely depend on the area and environments they inhabit.

Most Polan survivors choose to live among the remains of their relatives. Some have managed to retrofit some of their ancestor’s advanced technologies to utilize crude fuels sources for warmth and mild sustenance. Conversely, other survivors have persisted by cobbling together the wreckage from the old mining operations and the ships of long-dead explorers near the Kynøggigg mountain ranges. Due to these different methods, two distinct classifications exist within Polan society; the “Kynvarrøgg” (KIIN-varr-AWGG) and the “Ourdörrii” (orr-DOOOR-eee), the Polan words for “Lauders” and “Hoarders” (respectively).

Polan Social Classifications

Typically, Kynvarrøgg are viewed as “superior” to the Ourdörrii, which are viewed as “inferior” or sub-class. To be Kynvarrøgg, one is passively honoring their ancestors by living in the remains of their ancient dwellings and using their technology. Meanwhile, being an Ourdörrii signifies that one is lowering themselves to scavenging the remains of the long-dead to survive, forgoing their ancestors' ancient lessons in the process. 

To many outsiders, this classification between honored scroungers and faithless foragers is arbitrary and ironic: both social classes rely heavily on the vestiges of past civilizations for survival. Moreover, most Polans claim to reject the beliefs of their ancestors, for “it was they who doomed us to this fate of forever winter.” If this statement is widely believed, typical Polan ontologies directly contradict with their subsistence patterns. Whatever the case, Polan culture is centered around simultaneously honoring the teachings of one’s ancestors while trying to survive a world that abandoned everyone to a fate worse than death. 

Polan Transportation

Crawling, rolling, and rocking across Poluss’ frozen wastes, powerful or resourceful Polans are rarely apart from their Skâlgygg (skawl-GIIG). Using liquid nitrogen and kerosene, diesel, and other natural oils as fuel, these metal behemoths protect and house semi-nomadic Polan tribes as they travel across niveous valleys and frozen oceans. Ranging from squat multi-wheeled cavalcades to titanic towers, the Skâlgygg offer lengthy—albeit constricting, grimy, and acrid—reprieves from Poluss’ frigid environments. Typically used by Ourdörri scavengers, a few Skâlgygg were restored and operated by Kynvarrøgg engineers. Now, these menacing mobile monoliths roam near Kynvarrøgg settlements, patrolling for any enemy interlopers who dare stray or scavenge too far into their tribal territories.