Planet:Nerophion

Introduction
"Nerophion; it is the shining azure jewel of the Imperium. It's beauty, painstakingly untouched by the Paingler, is a stark contrast to it's inhabitants. Nerophion is home to an unusually large collection of predatory species."

Welcome to the Imperial Codex! The following entry will detail data on: Nerophion, the beginning of and the seat of the Imperium.

History
Nerophion has seemingly always been a globe of water, with fish prowling it's depths ever since the planet sustained life. The planet is believed to have been repeatedly settled by space explorers, as evidence and traces of small camps, perhaps used for observation, have been discovered. The only sentient species (apart from imported slaves) are the Paingler, a bipedal, fish-like people who evolved from predatory fish before crawling out of the depths onto land.

Early in the Paingler's history of sentience, a scout ship crashed on an island inhabited by the tribal Paingler. The captain was quickly killed and eaten, but not before sending the coordinates of the planet back to his home empire. The primitive Paingler scavenged metal from the wrecked ship, using the shards for speartips and arrowheads. The ship was left relatively intact, and numerous decades later, with the Paingler on the verge of spaceflight, the craft's datalogs were used to give the planet a formal name. It was named Nerophion after the scout that had discovered it.

When the Paingler evolved to an industrial level society, they painstakingly constructed their city, Kanjhe to leave as little of an impact on the planet as possible. When the Paingler unified under a single banner and achieved spaceflight, Nerophion became the center of their empire; the Paingler Imperium, as well as the center of Imperium territory.

Terrain
Nerophion is a world covered mostly in water, with a global ocean broken only by strings of islands. These islands are home to rainforests, mountains, beaches and tide pools. The rainforests cover nearly every inch of the islands and are dense with numerous types of tropical plants and vegetation. These islands are often home for Nerophion's non-amphibious or aquatic organisms, which are relatively few in number. The ocean is home to a dazzling number of fish and aquatic life, ranging from small plankton-eaters to colossal sea beasts known as leviathans. The tidepools that dot the islands are shallow pits of rock and coral, often home to smaller fish, shellfish or aquatic invertebrates.

Apart from rainforested islands, beneath the ocean surface are expansive underwater "forests"; huge tracts of seaweed.

Climate
The planetary climate is tropical, and as such, very warm and humid. The climate remains relatively constant throughout the year; the average temperature is 97°F, with the temperature reaching 100°F and above during the hot season, and going as low as 70°F during the cooler season. Due to the climate and humid conditions, rainfall is common on the planet and thunderstorms and vicious monsoons wrack the surface and churn the oceans frequently during the hot season.

Wildlife
Nerophion is a dangerous place, thanks to the unusually large number of predatory animals, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, primarily aquatic or amphibious. Schools of fish swim in the ocean's waters. On the islands, avian wading creatures stalk the tidepools and shallows for food. The rainforests that cover the islands are home to varieties of insects and colorful birds. Oysters and crustaceans cling to rocks jutting from the waves along the beach.

The waters are prowled by fish of all types, many of which are carnivorous, and range from a variety of sizes. The largest, most dangerous, and by far the rarest of which, are called Leviathans. Leviathans are believed to live only in the deepest depths of Nerophion's ocean and are said to feed off of each other. Leviathans have been dismissed as beings of myth by many, but throughout the decades, giant carcasses have washed up on island shores, confirming their existance.

The islands are home to birds, insects and reptiles. The most fearsome species of life on the islands is a large creature called the dragon-wasp, a large insect has resemblence to dragons of ancient myth. The dragon-wasps are large, standing a head taller than the native Paingler, with four transparent wings, powerful jaws and six pointed legs. They primarily hunt the larger birds on the islands.

The plantlife include fruits grow from trees, seaweeds that drift in the currents, weeds, grasses, trees and flowers that bloom with every color imaginable.

Capital
The only city on Nerophion, and it's capital, is the expansive city of Kanjhe. The lack of centers of civilization on the planet is attributed by the lack of solid land; most of the islands that dot the surface ocean are too small to house a city. As such, Kanjhe is centered on the largest island and is large enough to provide to the needs of it's citizens. Kanjhe is home to tall, spire-like structures, and wide, mosaic patterned streets. The streets are filled with open merchant stalls, bazaars, squares and plazas. The skyline of Kanjhe is dominated by the Imperial Palace, the tallest spire and structure on the planet. The Imperial Palace houses the Emperor, his family and the Council chambers. The Palace is situated on the Palace grounds, an expansive collection of gardens, fountains and arboretums.

Imports and Exports

 * Exports: Weaponry, munitions, seafood, seaweed, teas, spices.


 * Imports: Medicine, technology, slaves, foodstuffs and raw materials.

Trivia

 * Nerophion is an ocean planet, which is a type of hypothetical planet.


 * Nerophion is based off of several ocean planets in works of fiction, namely Caladan (Dune), due to the surface water and similar ecosystems on habitable land, and Manaan (Star Wars), as both only have one city on the surface and both have amphibious, fish-like natives.


 * The capital city, Kanjhe, is similar to the name of a planet, Kahje, in Mass Effect. In addition, Nerophion and Kahje are similar, as both are mostly covered with water.