Aegyn
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"This is the home-world of our species? This derelict world with hardly any inhabitants? Frankly, it is embarrassing for humanity that our home world remains in this condition. Craters from constant shelling, a sea floor littered with ruins, and the remaining once-great structures overgrown with plants not even native to this world. I cannot think of a world less fit to serve as a symbolic capital." -Chancellor Eris Sailem (8,921 CE)
Aegyn is the fourth world around Helyar located in Aylathiya. Like its binary sun, Olaris accompanies the world. These planets are home to the first Humans and collectively have a population of six billion. Once the center of Aylathiyan politics, Aegyn has fallen by the wayside. Today, it is a mostly derelict world that has still not recovered from its countless wars.
Humans first colonized the planet in about 150 CE. From there, they remained stagnant as development slowed to a crawl under the repressive First Aeternal Society. After the civilization collapsed in 7,500, Aegyn remained a backwater only reachable by Magi. Sedrua discovered the planet in 54,752 CE and granted its inhabitants minor technology in exchange for loyalty. After the galaxy suffered through the Sedrua-Triumvirate War, the Triumvirate Civilization won control of the Helyar-Byutix system. Aegyn would become the center of galactic politics; its massive population, production capabilities, and potent Magi population cemented it as a nexus of the vast galactic trade network.
With the collapse of the Triumvirate, Aegyn still clung to its high status. In 8,441 CE, it became the capital of Erstes Konsortium, a nation created by Human merchants collaborating with Florenta. Aegyn was the capital of Erstes Konsortium until 8,784 CE when the Gran Rubedo sacked it. The great cities fell into disrepair as refugees fled the planet in large numbers. By 9,000 CE, less than one billion people called the planet home. It wasn't until a recolonization program initiated by the Confederacy of Borealis that the population began rising again in 9,905. It has consistently remained in the background since then, only receiving enough outside support to maintain profitable tourist areas.
History
Prehistoric Era
Aegyn first formed 4.9 Gya and first hosted life 4.0 Gya. The life remained as simple bacteria and archaea until 1.2 Gya when the first complex cells emerged. From there, life exploded into a large variety of organisms. It would never quite make it onto land as various impacts consistently reset life's tentative presence beyond the oceans. 176 million years before the present day, Ma'eau came across the world only to discover that it hosted a locally evolved ecosystem filled mostly with single-celled life. Wasting no time, Ma'eau spread this life to Olaris, preserving it. Furthermore, Aegyn's carbon-phosphorus architecture inspired Ma'eau to use phosphorous instead of arsenic in its creations.
Father Zaphenim created Humans on Olaris; their first target for colonization was Aegyn whose fertile soil, unparalleled oxygen concentration, and vast seas made the world more desirable than their home. By 300, several million lived on Aegyn, and a smaller loyal number resided on Olaris. Aegyn had very little in the way of industry, economic output, or even anything beyond a subsistence economy. These early humans were potent users of Thaumaturgy, meaning they did not need technology to advance. Even after Zaphenim's civilization collapsed, Humans lived on Aegyn undisturbed for thousands of years.
In 3870, the cousins of the Aegan Humans returned. This group, the Svartálfar people, originated on Eos and possessed powerful magi in addition to advanced technology. They introduced millions of engineered land species onto the already-oxygenated world, making it quite like their home in only three centuries. They referred to the natives as the Dökkálfar, a term that was originally a mark of respect, this people being far closer to the, by this point, mythological Zaphenim.
With time, the line between the two peoples would disappear. Aegyn's inhabitants forgot their heritage amongst the stars. They began worshiping the twin suns, spirits, ancestors, or any other conceivable deity. Their technology was useless without Thaumaturgy, and the art had long since fallen into obscurity after large-scale suppression by the ruling class. Over centuries, far less effective means of channeling magic, such as astrology or geomancy, replaced Thaumaturgy. Over several more centuries, the population began rapidly falling as global cooling reduced the ecosystem's carrying capacity. Ma'eau did not intervene, preferring this more humble Human presence.
Pre-Space Civilizations
Civilization reemerged on the continent Yoasobi in about 5409. These civilizations started as small city-states surrounded by farmland. Throughout the centuries, they became sprawling empires with writing systems, an advanced grasp of mathematics, and territory taking up the whole continent. Around this time, they began spreading out from their home continent in the first ocean-faring vessels. They first colonized the continent Aimer, a northerly continent cooler than Yoasobi. They went on to colonize the other four major land masses of Rin, Ninelie, Oxt, and Ayaka. These landmasses, more accurately described as large islands, were colonized in a lifetime.
These civilizations remained primitive for the next one thousand years; those living on Yoasobi rediscovered iron in about 5500. Around this time, a probe from Sedrua encountered humankind. Wasting no time, it signaled home and began using its language algorithms to figure out how Humans communicated. Fortunately, it was an easy-to-decode sound-based language, allowing for quick translation. The 20 most influential governments on Aegyn, which all existed on Yoasobi, would be contacted in their dominant language. While it took quite a lot of explaining to get them to understand their place as the new subjects of a galactic empire as well as their standing as the descendants of it, they would eventually accept.
According to legend, one leader refused unless Sedrua proved who they were by granting their wish. Their wish was to have "unlimited material to finish their monuments." Sedrua secured an asteroid for the planet, processed it, and placed it into orbit around Aegyn. Each government received a set allotment of resources that would fall from the sky periodically. Convinced by Sedrua's true dominance over the universe, every nation declared loyalty. The flag of Sedrua flew over every capital as per the deal. Their religions abandoned, Aegyn's nations converted to Sedrua's Aeternalism.
Rise of Anthrovia
After the 20 civilizations achieved peace, prosperity, and unlimited resources, they would dominate their regions with their monopoly on material, technology, and infrastructure. Every conceivable resource became common. Gold lost all value, food became plentiful as rock phosphates fertilized fields, and there was no shortage of labor. Immense megastructures composed of what were then considered exotic materials, namely steel and aluminum, sprung up across the land. Vast temples, palaces, cities, and complexes emerged even on distant continents. With an infinite supply of material came infinite lust for growth.
The 20 civilizations eventually merged, creating a continent-spanning empire called "Anthrovia" meaning "land of the Humans." This sprawling nation had a single king and dozens of lesser lords beneath them. Beyond the largest continent, the so-called "barbarians" ruled. The smaller island nations remained independent due to the still-limited shipping technology. Despite their best efforts, they would never receive resources from Sedrua, forcing them to mine for their own. These so-called barbarians would remain technologically on par with the main continent. Any advancement made quickly spread to even the most distant islands.
In 6113, the Triumvirate Civilization created a large number of probes to monitor primitive races throughout the territory they gained during the Sedrua-Triumvirate War. The probes eventually detected and destroyed Sedrua's stations around Aegyn. As they noticed the populace loyal to Sedrua on the ground, they nearly obliterated Anthrovia until a signal from the homeworld spared them. The Triumvirate drafted a treaty in which humans would gain sovereignty over their whole system in exchange for absolute allegiance. Even though the Humans had no way to travel through space or understand the world around them, they signed the treaty out of fear of losing their resources. Anthrovia became a province within the Triumvirate.
Era of Magocracy
The birth of Moonmoon began a new era on Aegyn. Within the next few centuries, the practice of Thaumaturgy became common. While most civilizations gained access to Thaumaturgy well after having the science to explain it, Humanity could not parse this strange new phenomenon. Moonmoon's new religion, giving glory to a being called Silverstar, would rapidly gain popularity as well. With Thaumaturgy came a new class of people, the Magi. They soon conquered Aegyn, imposing their rule over the entire planet. Given their vast magical power, subjugating the free societies across the world became a simple task. Olaris became a penal colony where the Magi would transport prisoners. The undisturbed indigenous people of Olaris resisted fiercely. Unlike on Aegyn, Humans on Olaris maintained the Thaumic arts. Millions of Aegan commoners died during the colonization of Olaris.
The Triumvirate government would not step in despite Moonmoon's pleas. The prophet openly opposed the state religion and, given that the Triumvirate benefited from Magi rule, they had no reason to intervene. Moonmoon, distressed by the global empire Thaumaturgy created, began a new school of study, Esoteric Thaumaturgy. This field of study would remain fairly fringe, allowing Moonmoon to control who would gain the powers.
As more time passed, the Magi would realize that flying to other planets, and even stars, was relatively simple. The first Thaumic Ships created by Humans were crude pressure vessels containing colonists bound for new worlds. The first Humans to stand on a planet outside of Helyar's system were the Magi who landed on the nominally habitable planet of Albedo in 6120. This world and its 15% oxygen atmosphere, while hypothetically habitable, killed the vast majority of the commoners forced to settle it. Those that could adapt would be put to work turning the planet into an outpost for further exploration. Petra and Thalsiedeln were the next planets colonized.
Around this time, Esoteric Thaumaturgy became increasingly common amongst those living on the remote islands of Aegyn. As it did, Silverstar himself would protect its practitioners from the Magi ruling class. Silverstar, not using any of the more classical thaumaturgy, would go undetected by the Triumvirate, meaning his worshippers could practice in peace.
Anthrovian Civil War
Main Article: Anthrovian Civil War
Humans developed the scientific method around 6985 CE as the Esoteric-dominated world began an enlightenment period. Technological development exploded. After one thousand years, it became advanced enough to deliver power across Aegyn. The Magi ruling class hated this new technology and did their best to disrupt its advancement, but the Triumvirate usually stepped in to protect development. By 7020 CE, commoners brought nuclear power to all of its colonies, shed the need for the Magi in most areas, and began encroaching on the dominance of the ruling class. The moment Silverstar left for Azurullya, the Magi organized an interstellar movement to crush their opposition. Coinciding with a rebellion against the Triumvirate by nearly all of its provinces, the Magi were left undisturbed, free to attack their rivals. This marked the beginning of the Anthrovian Civil War, an interstellar conflict lasting over fifty years.
The conflict began as the former ruling class unleashed their exceptional abilities onto the populace, causing millions of casualties within the opening hours. The esoteric magi soon struck back, buying the commoners enough time to organize effective defenses against the superhuman magi. Esoteric Magi were not the only group targeted by Aegyn's nobility. Paladins devoted to Alkanism had long since been a disruptive force. The art of being a Paladin was available to anyone who truly believed in their cause. Since Paladins had superhuman abilities and could even counter Thaumic attacks, the Magi did not spare the peaceful paladins.
With large armies of immensely powerful people clashing over entire cities, over a quarter of Aegyn's population perished in the opening moves. Both sides drafted civilians for their cause; holding onto cities was impossible without hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Not just a war of power but of propaganda, the two sides remained locked in seemingly endless conflict until the bombing of Ongak, the capital of Aegyn. The Great Intendancy, the Triumvirate's police force, made short work of the remaining Magi. The Intendancy occupied Aegyn for a century afterwards.
Post War
The Triumvirate placed a large number of resources into Aegyn after the war. The vast cities and megastructures continued expanding as they were repaired, slowly creating a planet-wide "Anthrov City." Aegyn's population leveled out several years after the war at 43 billion, with the total population of Anthrovia becoming nearly 100 billion. After advances in medicine raised the average lifespan to 200 years, Aegyn's population exploded as death became far less common. This sudden increase led to many colonists leaving the planet as it became increasingly crowded. Space habitats increased in number during this time. Even Eos was not safe from human colonization, with large numbers moving to that world.
Until the beginning of the common era, the status quo remained unchanged. The planet had become an ecumenopolis following explosive population growth brought about by the Magocracy's end. Over one trillion people resided on Aegyn by 7500. After another century, Aegyn's growth resulted in over 2 trillion souls occupying the planet. Such a large population lived in massive cities and orbital habitats artificially lit by fusion reactors. Large numbers of humans migrated from Aegyn to surrounding star systems.
As the Triumvirate rocketed towards collapse, Aegyn would enjoy steady economic growth and a vast productive capability. Even as the civilization collapsed, Aegyn's prosperity remained.
Post-Collapse Era
In 8441, Erstes Konsortium emerged as Human organizations from across the Triumvirate banded together to preserve their interests. Aegyn would be the capital of this new nation. The new order was quite different, however. The leader of Erstes Konsortium, the Kaiser, would allow independent organizations to maintain order across Erstes Konsortium in exchange for joint sovereignty over the territory. Since the Kaiser directly controlled the population centers, this would result in a mutually beneficial deal for worlds across the Kaiser's domain. Normalcy soon returned as Aegyn continued to trade with nations such as the Commonwealth of Aggregate Aylathiya.
Aegyn remained under the control of the Kaiser until 8875 when the Gran Rubedo shelled the planet, killing the Kaiser. Gran Rubedo moved the capital to Albedo, stealing Aegyn's privileged position. While still the locus of much trade, the Party would soon blockade the world to starve out remaining loyalists. Most of the population fled this genocidal attack. After only a century, the decimated population halved. When the Rubedans ended their blockade, Aegyn's economy was in ruins.
Several centuries later, colonists from Erstes Konsortium occupied the planet and turned it into a minor production hub. The Great Empyreal Crusade made short work of these efforts. To this day, few call this world home. Even though restoration efforts are underway, Humanity has largely forsaken their homeworld. Once an economic powerhouse, Aegyn was now an irradiated wasteland.
Geography
Aegyn's oceans occupy over 80% of the planet's surface. Before the Great Empyreal Crusade, the figure was 65%. The planet's original continents of Yoasobi, Aimer, Rin, Ninelie, Oxt, and Ayaka have all since been buried by Aegyn's once-great ecumenopolis.
When Aegyn began falling into disrepair, various sections of the continental shelf had sunk below sea level, flooding many of the cities. Unchecked plant growth began overtaking much of its infrastructure. When Martial Space recovered from the Great Empyreal Crusade, most of the planet was uninhabitable. The regular bombardment razed all but the sturdiest buildings and drastically increased sea levels. The original continents have all flooded, leaving only artificial structures poking out of the waves. The bombardment killed most native life, eliminating all but a handful of native species.
What remains of the "land" is mostly sandbars made up of smoothed shards of metal, plastic, rock, and other common substances. The largest of these islands manage to house limited ecosystems made of genetically modified or foreign species. Few animals live in these environments. Aegyn's oceans are devoid of multicellular life; pollutants have long since rid them of complex food chains. Most of the ocean's inhabitants are bacteria that adapted to the polluted seas or genetically modified algae. Several newly-created artificial islands house the newest wave of colonists.
Civilization
Aegyn is notoriously hard to govern. Many criminals and organizations reside in the vast underground catacombs carved by ancient Anthrovia. The planet had become a haven for criminal cells, rogue artificial intelligence, and even terrorist organizations. Unsavory groups inhabited nearly every ruin on the surface. During the late War of the Ancients, the Confederacy of Borealis would release war criminals, deserters, and certain prisoners of war onto Aegyn. This practice continued well beyond the War of the Ancients until the 9900's. Aegyn's isolated position and lack of resources made it the natural choice for disposing of inconvenient individuals without outright killing them.
By the time the program ended, Aegyn was already teeming with many underground organizations and dangerous individuals. Helyar's local government decided to cull the planet's population by subjugating Aegyn to punishing radiation. This only served to drive the populace deeper underground. When the latest recolonization effort began in the early 9900's, the colonists had to contend with limited funds, hostile natives descended from deportees, and a dangerous atmosphere. Despite being humanity's homeworld, few people volunteered for recolonization. Colonists exclusively live in the walled city of Tshenst. Tschenst is the one place on the planet that meets legal standards for habitability. The rest of the Aegyn, from derelict spires to hollowed mantle, is a hostile environment foreign to modern living standards.