Athor System

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by Goblinardo

Star Data
Star Type K2 Orange Main Sequence
Radius 6.09 x 105</sup) km (0.87 Sol)
Mass 1.46 x 1030 kg (0.73 Sol)
Temperature 4,300 degrees Kelvin
Luminosity 1.03 x 1026 W (0.27 Sol)

Contents

Athor System History

Discovered in 250 PF by the scouts to the Yazirian Exploration Fleet, the Athor system was notable for a few things:

  1. There are two separate asteroid belts around the system. The closest one to the star is about 0.9 AU and farthest one is about 102 AU out. This means that the system is protected by a “speed bump” that prevents a ship from safely jumping into the Athor system any further than the farthest asteroid belt. However, in a quick nod to the phrase that, “nothing is for free,” the farflung asteroid belt also prevents ships from quickly leaving the system.
  2. There is a (barely) habitable planet lying about 0.5 AU from Athor. This planet, named Yast, is a large desert planet which, in turn, is orbited by the moons Exib and Ime1.

1 The moons of Yast were supposedly named after the children of the Captain of the Yazirian scout ship that discovered the Athor system. In light of the characteristics of the moons, one wonders how the children liked their namesakes.

The system was left as is and acted as a “scenic stop” of sorts for ships traveling in and around the Yazirian Arm of Frontier space for around two decades until a dedicated push from the Hierarchy on Hentz put (read: exiled) a concentrated group of colonists in place in the system in 235 PF.

These colonists had the distinction of being from a block of eight clans who were notable for their increasingly strident protests against the injustices (real and perceived) from the theocratic – one clan based government of Hentz. Also, the discovery of other sentient life forms led to a greater questioning of accepted religious doctrine, and these eight clans were chief amongst those loudly asking these questions. The Hierarchy decided to displace these clans rather than destroy them completely, but few would have considered relocation to Yast as an “escape” of any sort.

The Hierarchy terraformed Exib in during the 222- 203 PF period to relieve the pressure on Hentz’s resources of having to feed those on Yast (and other places) and also to have an additional source of food for themselves if and when they needed it. This relatively helpful gesture by the Hierarchy was offset in the colonists’ eyes by the continued use of Yast as a dumping ground for the unwanted of Hentz. Yast, it seemed, had become a penal colony in all but name.

The years of 200-170 PF are noted for the increasing independence of Yast from the (slight) assistance of Hentz. The combination of the natural minerals in the soil on Exib, the results from the terraforming, the proximity of Athor, and the unexpected response from native Yazirian plants to all of the above provided a tremendous amount of revenue and clout for the colonists on Yast. In addition to the Yazirian market, the bounty from Exib found receptive markets on Prenglar and further, which in turn, provided invaluable contacts outside of the Hentz regulated channels that were the norm. These contacts would pay dividends as seen in 168 PF.

Tensions between the colonists of Yast and the Hierarchy came to a head in 168 PF after the Church Elders had decided the previous year to take a stronger role in colony oversight/control. This meant an increased presence of Church Controllers and Church Security Forces in and around Yast. For those in the Athor system, who had wrested something away from a system that had so little to offer initially with very little support from their home, this act by the Hierarchy was the last straw. In mid 168 PF, the Thirty Cycles War began between the colonists of the Athor system, and the Hierarchy on Hentz. The independence of the Athor system was the prize.

The colonists fought a purely defensive war, and the nature of the Athor system itself provided the edge needed for this strategy to work. With all of the approaches mined, a highly mobile fleet hiding in the two asteroid fields, and a ground force forged from the unforgiving desert itself, the colonists were also bolstered by support from various groups elsewhere in the Frontier.

The (now) rebel colonists also utilized mercenaries to harass some of Hentz’s peripheral operations, but this was done more to draw off forces from the colonists’ necks than to cause lasting damage to the Hierarchy.

The Hierarchy could not crack the lines to get into Yast, and once engaged the colonists fought with a fury that was shocking even to Yazirians. By late 168 PF, and after several failed invasion attempts, the Hierarchy capitulated to the colonists’ terms and formally recognized those of the Athor system to be “well and fully independent from Hentz from this time forth.”

A quiet, if somewhat uneasy, peace has existed between Araks and Athor since.

The People

(An excerpt from The Greater Frontier Gazetteer; 5th Ed. By Lazlo Fee, Professor Emeritus, Zebulon University, Zebulon)

“Fierce, but free,” (description of a Yazirian from Yast by Dralasite trader Kayeku Duuya).

The Yazirians from the Athor system are, generally, a serious bunch. They work diligently, almost feverishly, at a problem until it is solved. Also, when a problem occurs, it is accepted that anyone and everyone who can will help out until they are not needed any more. Granted, these are broad statements to be sure, but they are fairly accurate of the Athoran mindset as a whole.

2 When mentioning “those native of Yast,” or, “native Athorians,” keep in mind that this phrase applies to those that are living in the Athor system; everything and everyone are inextricably tied to a single future. To make reference to the planets, moon(s), and anywhere else in the system over and over would be somewhat dismissive of the linked nature of their culture.

The ability and social proclivity to work together on a problem should not be mistaken for weakness in those native to Yast2; there are no weapons laws per se (although toting a surface-to-air missile through town is looked at as bad form, for example) and duels between individuals are commonplace. “Native” Athorians speak Gnarsh (an old variant of the Argonian language spoken on Araks) amongst themselves, but Pan-Gal is, of course, the accepted alternative.

The rule on Hentz of the clothes denoting your job and position was done away with on Yast. Instead, personal choice is the rule of the day. However, it was noted that some kind of uniform is necessary for some jobs. But, it will be a fact that no two uniforms will look alike either. Capes, always popular amongst Yazirians, are even more so to those from Yast.

An interesting side effect of the “anti-Hentz” way of life that developed on Yast is that the Athorians are quite private when it comes to who they are and what they do. While they certainly are not ashamed of whatever job it is that they have, they do not wish to advertise it either. This has lead to a unique job niche available for robots and foreigners who act as go-betweens or proxies for those Yazirians who feel that their jobs might be somewhat distasteful or otherwise looked down upon by others. It seems that despite the hard won independence, the years of making their own way in the Frontier, and the resolute desire to not be anything like the Yazirians of Hentz, the people of Yast, the former colonists of Hentz, cannot yet get over a part of their history. Time will tell if and when this particular idiosyncrasy of Athorians will ever go away.

Traveler’s Warning: Do not ever utter the phrase, “You wear your position well,” or something similar to a Yazirian from the Athor system. This is taken as an insult (it refers to their much hated history on Hentz), and will most certainly result in an honor duel. A duel with not only the person you are speaking to, but to any other Yazirian who might be in earshot. And as a bit of spice to that tasty cake of wisdom, if you happen to survive the (doubtless) multiple honor duels you will undertake, you will most certainly have the (iffy) authorities to deal with as well afterwards. Remember: the prisons of Athor are dark, deep, and full of “accidents.” You’ve been warned.

Places of Interest

Other Items of Note

The government of Athor is built upon a democratic model in which all eligible citizens are expected to serve a 2 year term at some point or another in their life. These representatives are chosen through a variety of ways: random selection, volunteering when able to, and if their skills are needed. Those that do well in this capacity can expect to be well compensated for their work. Those that abuse their position can expect to pay for their mistakes one way or another at some point down the line. While chancy sounding, this type of government works well for a people who value freedom as much as Athorians do.

Freighter captains traveling into the Athor system who do not belong to the system’s only sanctioned transportation line and are picking up/dropping off any product at Yast or Exib can expect to have their vessels quarantined and thoroughly inspected because of fear of contamination of the crops on Exib by diseases or insects. Officials from the Health and Safety Services will comb over every single centimeter of every ship coming in with various devices in order to find any trace of contaminant and a total clean up of a “dirty” ship is not uncommon. The inspection/clean-up complex for this parked in orbit just on the far side of the nearest asteroid belt from Yast. A secondary complex, which is in orbit at the same point on the opposite side of the system, fulfills the same duty and allows for a much faster pass-through period for everyone.

System Data

Athor I (Yast)
Type Terrestrial, Arid, Cold
Orbital Radius 8.1E+07 km (0.541 AU)
Year167.93 Standard days
Gravity0.99
Habitable World Data:
Day 15 hours
Hyrdosphere 0% (12.4% Ice)
Atmosphere Thin, breathable
Climate -67.6oC to 54.3oC, Avg. -3.1oC
Trade Many and various enterprises exist
Native Life No sentient life found. Native life
generally small and simple.
Government Democracy
Population Light, 90% Yazirian
Athor Ia (Exib)
Type Terraformed moon, Terrestrial
Orbital Radius 8.1E+07 km (0.541 AU)
Year167.93 Standard days
Gravity0.74
Habitable World Data:
Day 37.80hours
Hyrdosphere 81.6% (4.2% Ice)
Atmosphere Breathable
Climate -30.3oC-44oC, avg. 8.6oC
Trade Agriculture
Native Life None, all imported by colonists
Government Democracy
Population Moderate, 90% Yazirian
Notes:
Terraformed moon which has become the economic

center of the Athor system.


Athor Ib (Ime)
Type Moon, airless rock
Orbital Radius 8.08E+07 km (0.540 AU)
Year167.9 Standard days
Gravity0.28


Athor II
Type Ice Planet
Orbital Radius 2.54E+08 km (1.70 AU)
Year538.5 Standard Days
Gravity1.21
Notes:
Athor II has been named several times by different writers, poets, and explorers. No name ever stuck for certain, but many children of Athor refer to this cold, lifeless world as the place that bad little Yazirians go when they die. This is more urban legend than religion, and adults may occasionally be heard to say someone has the “Heart of Athor II” – meaning cold and evil.
Athor III
Type Sub-Jovian
Orbital Radius 4.94E+08 km (3.3 AU)
Year3406.03 Standard Days
Gravity--
Notes:
This sub-jovian world didn’t quite blossom into a star, and didn’t quite settle into a solid mass. The surface is constantly in motion, colored in blue hues (though these colors are muted from view by the ammonia in its sparse atmosphere).


Athor IV (Srah)
Type Jovian
Orbital Radius 9.72E+08 km (6.5 AU)
Year43562.49 Standard Days
Gravity--
Notes:
Athor IV was named after the first female elected official, Premier Srah of Athor. She was noted, as is this planet, for fits of catastrophic fury that can destroy those who stand too close to it. It is known that three of Srah’s moons have been destroyed, pulled into and absorbed by this unstable planet over the eons. But four still remain.
Athor IVa (Jik)
Type Moon, airless rock
Orbital Radius 9.72E+08 km (6.5 AU)
Year43564.40 Standard days
Gravity0.34
Athor IVb (Ezvoe)
Type Moon, airless rock
Orbital Radius 9.72E+08 km (6.5 AU)
Year43564.40 Standard days
Gravity0.45
Athor IVc (Faan)
Type Moon, airless rock
Orbital Radius 9.72E+08 km (6.5 AU)
Year43564.40 Standard days
Gravity0.34
Athor IVd (Spe)
Type Moon, airless rock
Orbital Radius 9.72E+08 km (6.5 AU)
Year43564.40 Standard days
Gravity0.33

''Note: The two asteroid belts at 0.9 AU and 102.5 AU are not given detail here. These belts are composed of typical asteroids and are generally moderate to light in overall composition (meaning, their density in relationship to each other). Other than the usual sort of mineral mining that occurs in these belts, there is nothing more to add. It is possible for scavengers to come across outdated wreckage of ships left over from the Yazirian civil conflict “The Thirty Cycles War.”