Roella Arwyn
The Rose Always Has Thorns
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To expound upon a canon planet that I have written several characters for, but contains almost no information for.
- Image Credit: Made with this online tool.
- Canon: Wookiepedia TOR Wiki
- Links: N/A
- Planet Name: Talravin
- Demonym: Talravani
- Region: Core
- System Name: Talravin System
- System Features: The Talravin system features three other planets of note: Kirby, Loxworth, and Ashwick. All three are uninhabitable, but are rich in resources. As such, they are crawling with mining colonies. Orbiting the planet itself are two moons, Norley and Norton. Both have been converted into large shipyards, the crux of the Talravani navy.
- Coordinates: W-27.
- Major Imports: Luxury items and foods.
- Major Exports: Steel, fuel, gold, lumber, starships.
- Gravity: Standard.
- Climate: Temperate.
- Primary Terrain: Grasslands, forests, hills, and mountains. Most of Talravin is still covered in nature.
Major Locations:
Numenthas: The largest and main continent of Talravin, Numenthas has been the seat of the Talravani crown for over 23,000 years. As with most of the planet, it maintains a natural feel, with the majority of land outside the main cities still broiling with grasslands and meadows. Numenthas features the only space ports accessible to offworlders, and is the center of tourism.
Empyrea: The Empyrea is a large space station orbiting Talravin. It features docks and a large market, and is the only place for offworlders to trade. It is strictly policed and regulated, with Talravani knights and women-at-arms patrolling it constantly to keep the queen's peace. It has few permanent residents, but sees much traffic, as Talravin is a bustling trade stop along the Hydian Way.
POPULATION
- Native Species: N/A
- Immigrated Species: Human
- Population: Heavily Populated
- Demographics: Talravin's native population is completely human. One of the worlds of the 'Human Core' from before the Republic, its population has been regulated, but steady. However, most of its citizens are pushed into slums and cities along the coastlines of the continents, with the interior left to the hands of the hundreds of noble Houses.
- Primary Languages: Galactic Standard basic
- Culture:
- Gender Roles: The concept of gender has always been important on Talravin. Unlike most monarchy governments, Talravin is a queendom: a monarchy made up entirely of a queen. The office of king does not exist whatsoever. As such, the women among the Talravani have always played a dominant role in their politics, businesses, and daily lives. Men are equal, of course, legally. They may vote, own businesses, enlist in the territory, and even own land, but they may not inherit. Any titles or lands go only to female heirs.
- Nobility: There are two castes on Talravin: the nobility, and the commoners. Commoners work menial jobs, bakers, smiths, farmers, merchants, and soldiers. The nobility are commanders, executives, politicians, landowners, and artists. Nobility hold the power, of course, and hundreds of Noble Houses divide up the lands outside of Talravin's cities.
- Royalty: Normally, royal succession is rather straight forward. Not on Talravin. You see, there are dozens of Houses that all have legitimate claims on the throne of Talravin. When a queen dies, it's not always guaranteed that the throne stays in her House. Sometimes, a war decides. Sometimes, it's political backroom backstabbing. Sometimes, it's bribery.
- Art: The Talravani pride themselves on their contribution to art. Song, poetry, paintings, sculptures, they produce it all, and Talravani art is very expensive.
- Knighthood: A sign of military command for nobility, knighthood is granted to nobles that distinguish themselves in some fashion. From then on, they are addressed as 'Sirrah' for their title.
- Religion: The Talravani worship a pantheon of goddesses known as the Seven Sisters of Song. Nameless, they represent beauty, love, and civilization.
- Daily Life: Daily life is rather dull on Talravin for most people. Working for the commoners, matters of state and excess wealth for the nobles. Unless a war between two Houses erupts, things have stayed relatively the same for 23,000 years.
- Government: Feudalistic absolute monarchy.
- Affiliation: The Talravani queendom.
- Wealth: Very high. Due to their location along the Hydian Way, Talravin is a major trading port.
- Stability: High. The queen keeps a tight grip on her people. While wars do sometimes break out between Houses, they are usually not destructive, and resolved quickly. The average Talravani citizen is very safe.
- Freedom & Oppression: To keep track of all the squabbling Houses, the queen keeps a tight grip on things. Her personal guards and city watches patrol the streets regularly, and keep an eye out for trouble. However, as long as one does not disturb the Queen's Peace, then they are generally free to do what they wish.
MILITARY & TECHNOLOGY
- Military: While Talravin is a spacefaring planet, they have a fascination with ancient primitive weaponry. As such, blasters are not common on the world, and skill with a blade or bow is much more desirable than a blaster. However, the Talravani navy is paramount. Constantly patrolling Talravani space and around the system, they maintain Talravin's neutral and isolationist stance. The actual military is feudal as well, with the queen calling her banners in times of war, and her banners calling upon their levies to make up the bulk of the army.
- Technology: Spacefaring.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Talravin was first settled shortly before the formation of the Galactic Republic. Records that far back are spotty at best, and there is debate amongst Talravani scholars as to how and why exactly Talravin was settled. Talravin's first settlement was along the western coastline of its largest continent, Numenthas, and began to venture out to establish mines and other outposts to exploit the world's resources. The credits began to flow, and select Talravani became very, very rich.
When the Galactic Republic was formed, Talravin was amongst its members, although it had not reached its potential as of yet. It still only had a few settlements, but its position along the Hydian Way hyperspace lane gave it power and influence. After much time passed, the wealthy elite amongst the Talravani did something not really anyone was expecting. They established a government. They established a monarchy, declaring the dynasty of House Payne, and several other Houses, including Houses Arwyn, Rousseau, and Lorraine, amongst others. It was a controversial decision, but putting money in the right places silenced the now-suddenly-peasants.
Although it had membership in the Galactic Republic, it stayed out of many conflicts and internal stress. Talravin was devoted to Talravin first, and establishing its new hold over its people. The transition to a complete monarchy was not welcome everywhere, even with the bribes the new nobles tried to give out. The first dynasty, House Payne, had a series of kings that were . . . abrasive, to say the least. Despotic at the best, tyrants at the worst. Approximately 20,000 years ago, the other Houses rose in rebellion against the rule of House Payne, led by the Arwyns. The civil war raged for many years before the Arwyns won, and put House Payne to the sword.
After the end of the Paynes, it was decided that kings could not rule effectively, and Talravin abolished the office completely, becoming a queendom. It was then that a law was implemented that males could not inherit land, as well. And for several millennia, Talravin knew peace.
With the establishment of the queendom, The Talravani entered a period of isolation that extends to this day. They closed their space to offworlders, excepting tourists, diplomats, and traders. Immigration was rare, and heavily regulated. The Talravani put Talravin first, and no one was going to get in the way of that.
No matter the way, Talravin stayed out of it. For 20,000 years, they stayed completely neutral. The queen did not call her banners except to defend themselves, and this was mostly from pirate raids. The Talravani wished to keep their sovereignty, and made whatever deals they had to.
When the Galactic Empire arose, they bowed to Imperial rule. The Talravani navy was nothing to shake a stick at, but compared to the might of the Imperial War Machine? Nothing. They did what they had to keep their sovereignty. When the Empire fell, they made treaties with the various democratic governments that came afterwards. Things were good.
Then the Gulag Plague. Their isolation kept them relatively safe, but the Talravani were still hit. Millions died, and during the Four Hundred Year Darkness, the queendom went into recovery, until the disease died.
And then we come to now, the Era of Chaos. Factions rise and fall, and once more, Talravin does what it must to stay sovereign. Treaties, deals, but no direct involvement. Always officially neutral.