Valiens Nantaris
Head Admin
Image by Voyager 212
Name: Raevana
Region: Far Rim, Tingel Arm.
System: Ancona
Suns: 1 Medium Sequence White named Ancona
Orbital Position: 0.95AU equivalent.
Moons: 1 moon, Aquilia
Coordinates: South-East of Laekia, just outside Levantine Space.
Rotational Period: 33 standard hours
Orbital Period: 330 standard days.
Class: Terrestrial
Diameter: 11,400km
Atmosphere: Type I
Climate: Tropical/Sub-Tropical. The world is a hothouse with 80% of the planet being considered at least sub-tropical. Further to the north there are more temperate conditions.
Gravity: 1.05 Standard
Primary Terrain: The majority of the planet is a patchwork of thick jungles intermixed with large lakes and swamps, towering mountain ranges and impenetrable bogs. Further to the north and south towards the poles there are more temperate grasslands and forests. There are no ice caps.
In theory this all means that the planet should be covered in a large amount water, but the relatively stable tectonic system and the heat ensures that although there is constant rainfall it never builds long enough to cause permanent flooding without evaporating or running off. As a result, the planet’s surface is only about 55% water.
Native species: Raevana is a planet with a myriad of different species. Literally tens of thousands of species of plants, animals, insects and water life live in the swamps and jungles.
In the sea and lakes vast creatures inhabit the Bethnic zone, consuming the rich algae and microorganisms which live there. Most distinctively, a creature which seems a mix between manta ray and whale can reach over twenty metres across. Ferocious predators live in the warm water, some as big as the aforesaid grazers. One, a triple finned beast called by the Rebels a Render, can swallow a human whole.
Meanwhile in the sky predatory bird-like creatures vie with each other, some mammal, some reptilian. Most of these live in the mountains or the top of the canopy where they are protected from attack. However others live lower down and prey on ground based creatures.
As far as insects and other crawly creatures go, Raevana is a paradise. Of particular note are a species of army-ant like creatures shaped like centipedes which periodically swarm and consume everything in their path, breed and then die leaving only eggs behind growing from their bodies like fungus. Parasites of all sorts abound.
Plants are naturally a huge part of a jungle, and Raevana features some of the most interesting plants of their type. Large trees the size of Endor’s arbors (though nowhere near Kashyyyk’s) are common, but so are smaller ones. Of particular note are two, the first is an innocent looking leaf covered in fine hairs. These hairs are a defence mechanism, and if they contact exposed skin they inject a mind altering substance which causes irrational fear and flight reactions. Many animals have formed resistances though, but to humans the effect is unnerving. Secondly there is a powerful type of fast growing creeper known as a barbed strangler. Growing as much as 1-2 feet a day, they latch onto anything solid and are almost impossible to remove without severing the branch. After a couple of days this is impossible because of a tough layer of bark and razor sharp thorns. During the Alliance’s time on the planet they found their base and parked ships literally attacked and grounded in the course of a few days. Powerful pesticides are effective, but must be applied near the root of the plant, which is often hard to find and surrounded by thick hedges of thorns.
Though there is no intelligent, sentient lifeforms, there is one which is getting close. The Korhilli are a race of four legged reptilian creatures which seems to be in the process of evolving tool use and even some brief signs of being able to organise themselves. When the Rebels were based on Raevana they reported that the creatures had even been able to use (though not make) fire. Aggressive and territorial, the Korhilli fight amongst themselves for breeding rights, food and fresh water. However, they have been known to gather to attack larger creatures in a coordinated fashion.
Immigrated species: Formerly Humans, twi’leks, Bothans etc. Now none apart from a few Nexu who somehow ended up on the planet and went feral.
Primary languages: Formerly Galactic Basic. Now grunts, squawks and growls.
Government: Formerly oligarchic rebellion, now nothing.
Population: Zero intelligent.
Demonym: Raevani
Major cities: Tyson Base (Abandoned)
Major imports: None.
Major exports: None. The planet does have potential for rare plants, minerals and animals if anyone could survive there long enough!
Affiliation: Near Levantine space.
Culture: None, but see native species.
Technology: Formerly galactic standard for the Alliance period. Now nothing.
History: In a galaxy of billions of star systems, the number of life supporting worlds is still tiny. However, some worlds are just too hostile to endure. So the Rebel Alliance found when they came to Raevana.
Marked by an Old Republic probe scan as a life-supporting world in the decades before the Clone Wars, a survey team sent to the planet lost most of its members in a few days to heat exhaustion or the native animals.
The planet was marked down as a place not to venture to, and forgotten, at least until the Rebel Alliance needed a base. After the fall of the Yavin base most of the Alliance scattered, some to Hoth, others elsewhere. One particular group stumbled upon references to an uninhabited jungle world and set up a base on Raevana. They believed they would be safe there, and from the Imperials they were safe. Sadly, the world itself seemed to oppose them at every turn.
To begin with everything went well. Fresh water was found and a strong base with defences established. Several dozen acres of forest was cleared to make way for an airfield and the base itself along with a reactor.
Then things started to go wrong. Patrols sent into the jungles often returned battered and without some members, whilst others did not return at all. The constant rain and heat made movement difficult and the dense foliage made scanners hard to use. Add to that the constant attack of insects, including a swarm of vicious crawlers and many Rebels began to wonder if the Imperials could be any worse!
However, soon problems began to become alarming. Supply crates left outside would be coated in moss by the morning, fighters parked on the ground would be held fast by creepers in the morning, and wild animals and the Korhilli raided the base for food – usually the Rebels themselves!
After less than two weeks the Rebels had enough and left as well as they could, leaving the base to be consumed by the jungle again.
Raevana was marked as a place to avoid, and over the next eight centuries it was completely forgotten…until a distress beacon signal was found by a young Jedi Padawan named Valeria Aetani….
The planet had indeed been found before the Old Republic scouts, but that is the subject of the current RP, and must remain secret until then!
Intent: To create a world for the Levantine Sanctum to explore. A lot of what is listed here is not known to anyone yet in character. More will also be revealed as the planned RP series expands. I also wanted to create a tropical deathtrap without having sentients be the cause of the danger. Not directly anyway.
