The Crown Jewel Cluster is a large designated star cluster, which is nested above the galactic plane of the Via Lacrimosa Galaxy. It is very much isolated, and is home to a civilization known as the Lanoir Confederacy, a small and isolationist affiliate of the Confederacy of Borealis (Local Universe). The Crown Jewel is noted to hold an exceptional level of life in its borders, with 497 of its planets containing organic, and 21 planets containing more biochemically improbable life. A vast majority of these also hold sapient species on their surface. However, the Lanoir Confederacy is known to be above all of these species.
In the years since detection and arrival by the Confederacy of Borealis, the Crown Jewel has been heavily influenced by it. Most notably, the Lanoir Confederacy has felt very threatened since the arrival of the CoB, though peace talks have allowed both nations to speak on a more regular basis.