Xyvax

Xyvax was a planet in the. A possession of the Golden Empire, it was infamous in the Empire for its general absence of centralized civilization and its native sentient species, the reclusive and deadly Zorphax.

Geography
Xyvax was a dark, gloomy world. It orbited a star and, atypically, supported native life. However, a combination of the star's dim light and Xyvax's dense foliage meant the planet was dim even at high noon. Its thick atmosphere contributed to its humidity; Xyvax was often foggy, which did not help visibility. Many native species, including the Zorphax, evolved infrared or ultraviolet vision in place of or in addition to vision in the visible spectrum.

Over eighty percent of Xyvax's surface was water, mostly in vast oceans, although swamps often stretched for kilometers on end. Craggy peaks and rock formations jutted from the swamps, and also existed as islands, archipelagoes, and miniature continents. Most supported a wide variety of fungi and molds, which were a primary food source for Xyvax's herbivores, along with swamp grass and plants.

Society and Culture
Xyvax was atypical in the galaxy for having an evolved sentient species which had little real civilization. The Zorphax were isolationist and territorial by nature, often preferring a nomadic existence, and even those who settled down in one spot rarely welcomed neighbors. A handful of areas with rich food supplies saw loose confederations for self-defense, but internal conflict was common. Technological innovation consequently progressed slowly, and though individual Zorphax traded and bartered based on their skills, fully functional trade routes were uncommon.

The Zorphax spoke a single language, though with hundreds of dialectical variations, leading xenobiologists to conclude the species had a single common origin point which had developed at least until the time of spoken language. The language had multiple written scripts, but literacy was uncommon before the arrival of the Golden Empire.

Under the Empire's rule, some centralization began, but many Zorphax regarded the government with suspicion or, at best, a “live and let live” indifference. Voter turnout for the Tribune of Xyvax was routinely low, and the post of the planet's Consul was dreaded among the Empire's government elite and occasionally viewed as a form of punishment.

History
Xyvax had little in the way of written history prior to its incorporation into the Golden Empire. The necrocannibalistic Zorphax left few remains for examination, and the swamps and other scavengers tended to wipe out any Zorphax who died alone, making historical research based on fossils next to impossible. As such, most xenobiologists regarded the study of Zorphax evolution as a pointless endeavor.

The Empire's arrival was not warmly received by the Zorphax, but resistance was also minimal; most took the imposition of central government in stride as long as the Empire did not take too firm a grip on the planet. A comparatively small percentage of Zorphax settled into a loose, sprawling settlement that functioned as Xyvax's capital, which housed its only (small) spaceport. Aliens visited very rarely, and only the very bravest and most foolhardy ventured out of the capital. Most scientists who visited for government research purposes did so with bodyguards.

Behind the Scenes
Ahrrie created Xyvax, but allowed Sakaros to publish this article to SWFanon on her behalf.