Nufano is a small and lush jungle world, and the second terrestrial planet of the Elpis system. Settled as early as the
2nd cycle, it is the colonial homeworld of the Domain and of the
Mewei species as a whole. The Mewei believe that it is a sanctuary for a reclusive people who believe that their world is the embodiment of a godlike entity, the World-Goddess. In addition, Nufano boasts an usually large flora and antihistamines are often needed by visitors, a reason for which the Domain seldom allows outsiders planetside, who must pass through
Veena Station or else risk destruction at the phaser end of the satellite turret network dubbed the
Force-Shield.
Dense jungles of rainforests dotted with light green fungal towers cover above-water parts of Nufano. The rest is composed of a fairly shallow mangrove sea. Sinkholes dot the land. The wildlife of Nufano is highly varied, with wyvern-like creatures soaring into the skies, mingling with tall hexapods, carnivorous arcanic beasts and adventurer-eating lure-flowers. Nufano is a seismically active world; the thick forest canopy is often broken by active or dormant volcanos, roving fires, and noxious swamps.
Mewei settlements are scarce and spread out. They often mix advanced technology and sleek, sweeping lines with natural features and trees of relevance. In the 2nd cycle,
Matriarch Lynne left the initial landing site and launched an expedition of her own, focussing her efforts on the nearby valley of the Hazel River, away from strange alien sites : this area was dubbed the Warrenvale and became the centre of Mewei society. In its midst, they built a city - the
Astropolis. The city of half a million souls radiates outwards from the World Tree, in which was carved the seat of Domain power, the
Ravel of the Orrery. Avenues intertwine with the giant roots of hill-sized trees, forming a seamless mix of ancient flora, crystalline lighting, modular buildings, gravcars and high-tech devices.
The valley surrounding the capital colony is slowly being tamed. A monorail line towers and glides through the canopy and gravpaths twine and curl around the trees' tangled vines and roots, stretching for dozens of miles. Smaller colony sites are appearing along the twisted vale where land is sensibly cleared for land exploitation. Such cities include
Raithwall City and its psionic academy, or the grove-city of
Okladan. Further even, where gravtravel is hindered by soft ground and thick canopies, the reach of the Domain, spearheaded by
Matriarch Vanna's expeditions, fades and gives way to small river settlements and uncharted wilderness.
Nufano is littered with alien ruins and strange archives, indicating that at one point, hundreds of cycles before the
Great Jump, outposts belonging to the enigmatic
Ton'keena once tamed the jungle world.
Defence
Nufano is meticulously kept, either by the Domain, Acolytes of the Burrow, or regular citizens. The rich biodiversity of the Mewei world is to remain intact and the Mewei strive to find innovative way to thrive without damaging it. For that reason, outlanders are not typically welcome on Nufano , and are typically restricted to the
Visitors' District grown out of the Astropolis spaceport, unless they can convince Mewei officials to let them through. During spring season, antihistamines are often required by non-Mewei and Mewei populations alike. The planet itself is protected by a Forceshield - really a glorified defence grid that meets unauthorized planetfall, often tracked by the Valekeeper Shadow Fleet days before entering Nufano's orbit, with fire and fury from the colony's force-field and orbital defence facilities.
Nufano is orbited by twenty-four orbital outposts of varying size, including the small orbital outpost Veena Station.
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