Planet:Hespis

"Many off-worlders do not understand our home. They see only the shining crown jewel of the Sacrosanctity; a planet that we will be there to defend to the very end. But Hespis is no planet... it is our heart."

- Patriarch Hirai'i Namoil, c. 254 BC

Hespis is an arid savanna planet orbiting Hiroghain, the primary star of the binary system it forms alongside the smaller Ikara. Situated within the Imi-Khattok Sector of the, Hespis is the homeworld of the and the capital of the  - which was named after the very binary star that Hespis orbits. Bearing immense historical and religious importance to the Ezesi'i, the planet is among the most well defended within the Sacrosanctity with various military installations dotting the immediate space around it. In addition, Hespis is known as one of the galaxy's largest slave markets, causing many of the galaxy's more unscrupulous parties to have a nearly constant presence on the planet.

History
Earliest surviving historical records from Hespis date back to little over thousand years before the official founding of the Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara. However, it is reasonable to believe that the Ezesi'i society came to form much earlier in their history - even if not in the exact same form as it is today. The species itself is suspected to have developed in the swamps of the western hemisphere; first as simple carnivorous plants eating insects and other smaller animals, before - coupled with their overall growth - shifting their dietary habits towards larger prey such as reptiles and mammals. As time passed these proto-Ezesi'i began to show signs of sapience, with the plant-life beginning to communicate with each other through telepathic links, and eventually forming a massive neural network still in place today.

This group mind gave rise to further evolution within the species, finally reaching its apex with the development of the modern Ezesi'i and formation of society. Due to this collective unity that still allowed individuality to exist, concepts such as nationalism never rose to prominence, and Hespis never saw a time of warring nation-states. Instead, the unity experienced by the Ezesi'i allowed them to make incredible progress towards development of new technologies, and eventually in 3041 BC achieved spaceflight.

In the coming centuries, Hespis acted as the economic and cultural heart of the Sacrosanctity of Hiroghain and Ikara, and saw it become a new home for dozens of different species enslaved by the Ezesi'i. The planet also managed to survive untouched during the Sacrosanctity's major conflicts against the Manindron Star Empire and. However, Hespis suffered its first taste of conflict during the Sacrosanctity's civil war, with both Namoil and Kiris loyalists present on the planet. These skirmishes between the two groups lasted all throughout the war, only ending with the broadcasted execution of the Namoil heir. In the times following the war, Hespis has risen to be the unquestionable center of the Imi-Khattok Sector, with trade - both in slaves and otherwise - passing through it in great numbers.

Geography
As is to be expected of a savanna world, much of Hespis' terrain is dominated by flat grasslands with sparsely situated trees forming open canopy forests wherever large concentrations of these trees are located. Given the heat of the planet and the near constant sunlight provided by the binary star, these areas are extremely prone to forest fires, and when sufficiently powerful the flames can consume hundred acres of terrain in a near instant. In areas that fire has cleared of trees and other shrubbery, desert usually begins to form a short while after; with large sand dunes especially common in the north where next no plants have existed for likely ten thousand years. On the western hemisphere of the planet one can find multiple swamps - some of which are hundreds of kilometres wide. The soil in these areas is typically less nutritious, giving way for more specialized forms of plant-life to develop, with the main example being the Ezesi'i themselves.

Additionally, no oceans exist on Hespis, and instead water is primarily found within inland seas and numerous rivers jutting across the landscape. These rivers are known to not always lead to a larger body of water, and are better likened to naturally formed canals which will only refill during the rain season. This makes fresh water scarce on the planet, and has led many animals to develop means to survive through the drought during which the canals are empty.

Society
Of all the planets in the Sacrosanctity, Hespis is the most urbanized with nearly 96% of its population living in major cities. However, most cities tend to be built in a way so that density wouldn't be a prominent issue; most buildings connect to each other through wide overpasses which typically form together a spiral-like structure to the very top of said buildings. Additionally, Hespis greatly differs from many other capital worlds in its more classical style of architecture, with buildings and other structures being built with considerably older methods, and materials such as stone. The usage of gold is also a notable trait in Hespis' cityscape; intricately made filigree fencing and windows can be seen throughout the cities. Much of this excessive desire for details stems from the inherent decadence present among the Ezesi'i and can often be seen better in the estates of Ezesi'i dynasts. The major estates that reside on Hespis belong to Kiris and Saris families, with the properties previously belonging to the Namoils having been auctioned off. Most estates are typically located in the outer cities, while the inner cities are known to be more contemporary in their design.

Quotes
"Home is a beautiful thing isn't it? All know it to be so in their hearts, yet never truly come to appreciate it. Bittersweet memories are all that is left once you leave it behind. And what are memories but want for what once was?"

- Solei'i Saris, famous Ezesi'i explorer