The Moons of Synergasia

In the skies above Synergasia, two celestial bodies are in orbit around the planet - two quite different bodies. For the regions of the world where technology is just taking hold, these are likely to be the source material for superstition, ritual, and divination. For regions where technology has advanced, they may be merely curiosities - known to exist beyond the world, but unreachable and unknowable.

But for the highest technology regions of Synergasia, these could be far more. In fact, for any author interested in a truly unique environment in the Synergasia pocket of the universe, they could be home! That's right... we're opening up the two moons to colonization!

For anyone who is interested, here are a few quick facts and special "ground rules" that would be in play should anyone decide they want to create a moon colony... or moon civilization... as their contribution to the Synergasia effort.

Syntrofos (the Companion)

The smaller of the two moons orbiting Synergasia is approximately 950 miles (2100km) in diameter. It is a cratered world with no atmosphere. Tall mountains and deep, vast crevasses streak the surface as well - the result of seismic tidal action due to the gravitational pull of Synergasia. Occasional moonquakes are possible. The moon is tidally locked; the same face points toward Synergasia at all times. Its 28 day revolution period means a day/night cycle of 14 Synergasia days of sunlight and 14 of darkness for any spot on the moon.

The surface is a deep iron oxide red. While there is no surface water, there may well be hidden deposits of water or ice beneath the surface - that would be up to you, the Author!

Has Syntrofos always been a dead rock in space? How do air-breathers survive here now? Did it once hold an alien civilization? The answers to questions like this will also be up to you, the Author!

Voithos (the Helper)

Larger and farther from the planet than Syntrofos, Voithos differs from its small companion in many ways. The moon is approximately 3800 miles (8400km) in diameter - about half the diameter of Synergasia itself. It is not yet fully tidal-locked to its parent; it has a day/night cycle that spans approximately 6 Synergasian days (3 light and 3 dark) as it makes its 72-day rotations around the main planet.

Voithos is a "Sulfur World". It has an atmosphere composed primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of carbon dioxide, but instead of an abundance of water and water vapor, the planet's "solvent of choice" is sulfuric acid. Yellow sulfuric acid clouds blanket the entire surface, allowing only a hint of sunlight to peek through. Volcanos spew sulfer into the sky. Sulfuric acid rain falls from those skies, and flows in rivers to sulfuric acid lakes and seas. Sulfuric acid fogs rise on humid days, and leave sulfuric acid dew on the flora and rocks of the world. Yes -- remarkably, this world can support life, but this life has developed to make use of the acid instead of water as the principal liquid comprising its cells and nutrient pathways. Temperatures on this world are similar to cool temperate / not quite subarctic on Synergasia.

What sort of life is this? Are their higher forms of animal life? Was there ever a native civilization on this world? Is there still?! How do water-based creatures survive here? These are the questions left for you, the Author, to answer!

The Ground Rules

As with any region on Synergasia, if you choose to settle on one of the moons, you will be assigned an autonomous region that is yours and yours alone to build out. If several choose a moon, each will get a slice.

But there is one additional - and very important - ground rule that comes with selecting to build your piece of Synergasia on one of its moons instead of on the planet surface:

You may not incorporate transportation or even communication with the planet itself as part of your world.

You will find that there is an ionic "shield" surrounding the moon - one that traps all known frequencies of communication. This field is also sufficiently energetic that it is capable of blocking - or more likely destroying - any ship or projectile that attempts to cross it. A similar field envelops Synergasia itself, so you don't have to worry about unwanted visitors from there either.

So... if you choose to build a colony - or a civilization - on one of the moons, it is cut off from the rest of humanity (or elfity, or whatever it is you call your base civilization). Just as all of the other authors are "alone" in their little regions on the planet, so too are you alone on a moon.

Of course, if more than one of you choose to give this a shot, you will be free to collaborate (or not) as much as you wish - within the confines of your moon. That choice is left entirely up to you.