Qel

Qel
Astrographical Information
System	Qel System
Suns	Atlei
Moons	Multiple
Rings	None
Orbital Position	3
Orbital Period	1.13 Years
Distance from Alpha Sol	5565 LY
Galaxy	Milky Way
Rim	Mid Rim
Grid Coordinate	O21
Physical Information
Class	Terrestrial
Atmosphere	Breathable
Climate	Varied
Primary Terrain	Varied
Surface Water	42%
Habitability (%)	100%
Societal Information
Official Title	Qel Planetary Commonwealth
Government Type	Constitutional Monarchy
Administrator	Czar Aphora II
Capital City	New Prareus
Demonym	Qelian
Native Species	Usodine
Immigrated Species	Humans
World Languages	- Qelgalari - English (Lingua Franca) - French
Population	300,000,000
Notable Nations	- Greater Qelian Commonwealth - Free State of Rydel - Directorate of South Sokoria - Naveux Republic
Sector	New Africa
Affiliation	Yatan-Theian Accord

Qel is the third planet from the Atlei Star in the Qel System. It is a terrestrial water world with a global ocean covering approximately 42% of it's surface and has a similar, though slightly weaker, gravitational field to Yata. Situated 5565 LY from Alpha Sol, the planet takes 1.13 Yatan years to orbit it's sun and is host to a number of natural satellites. Qel is currently the only known populated planet in it's system, and is home to the native Usodine species, alongside a significant population of immigrated Humans.

Geography

Continents of Qel

Continents and Terrain

Qel is split into two large continents, Sakhara in the east and Draqar in the west, split by a large ocean. Both Draqar and Sakhara are continuous landmasses, with a number of islands wrapping around the southern hemisphere of the planet.

Each continent is host to varying types of terrain, though Sakhara is host to a vast majority of the planet's mountain ranges and tundra. Qel is otherwise mostly temperate, with only the most northern regions experiencing more extreme seasons.

Most of the planet's rivers and water sources are located in Draqar's east and south, and are therefore the most densely populated, especially in regards to the immigrated human population. North Sakhara is also host to a large population.

Oceans of Qel

Oceans

The landmasses of Qel are surrounded by the planet's three oceans. The North Daqaran Ocean envelopes the north of the planet, cutting off at approximately the equator line on the coast of Prareus. It is the deepest and most biodiverse ocean of the planet.

Below this, on the south of Prareus and Southeastern Sokoria is the Sokorian Sea, the smallest of Daqar's oceans. Compared to the planet's other oceans, the Sokorian Sea is much warmer, denser, and saltier - hence why it is categorised seperately.

The Sea of Rydel is the most violent ocean region, commonly host to strong monsoons and violent ocean currents. It connects to the North Daqaran Ocean through the Sakhara-Daqar channel.

Regions of Qel

Regions

Qel's continents are divided into six regions - two on Sakhara and four on Draqar. These regions are marked for both cultural and geographical differences, though they also act as boundaries for the regional councils of the planetary government. Egoros and North Rydel are the coldest and most mountainous, being the only regions of the planet to experiences negative temperatures during the planet's winter season. South Rydel and Aphora are the the most dry regions, with semi-arid climates and sparser vegetation compared to others. Sokoria is the most temperate of the regions and also the most diverse, with a large number of conserved forests and fauna. The final region, Prareus, consists mostly of flat plains and valleys, and is named after the planet's former capital. It is the most urbanised and highest populated of the named regions.

Culture & Demographics

Qel is host to a number of native species, but the dominant and most technologically developed species are the Usodine. The Usodine are a sentient, intelligent species capable of wielding the vast resources of their planet. Most Usodine live in the large cities of the commonwealth, though Sakhara and Aphora are host so significant rural populations. Although the planet has, for the most part, been politically unified for centuries, there are marked cultural differences between the Usodine of Sakhara and those of Daqar.

Religion is a large example of this as Qel is host to two interpretations of a larger faith. Clyism is a polytheistic religion and is the overarching faith of the Usodine, with approximately 55% of the planet actively practicing a form of it. However, the Great Schism of 1200BCE created two forms of Clyism: Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Terranist). Terranist interpretation contains a much greater emphasis on the Gods' blessings to the land and it's people, whilst the Orthodox belief leans much further towards worship and the ideas of punishable sin.

North and South Rydel have historically been hostile to one another as a result of conflicting beliefs - differing terrains created two different identities. South Rydel has a uniquely nomadic culture with it's dryer, resource-sparce terrain, with a strong belief of worship given to the land and to the Terranist interpretation of the Clyist faith. Comparatively, the more resource-rich and mountainous terrain of the north created settled communities with a much more centralised, typically atheistic identity. Daqari Clyism is somewhat present in North Rydel as a result of missionary work from early Usodine history.

Though not native to the planet, Humans make up roughly twenty percent of the planet's population. The current population is comprised of refugees of the Yatan-Theian War and their descendents. The influx of humans significantly boosted the technological development of the planet, particularly in consideration to space travel as no formal attempt had been made by any Qelian government before the human arrival. Initially given refuge by the Qelian government, the human populations formed breakaway states during the Qelian Civil War that remain sovereign as of current day. Human religion was also brought over, primarily Christianity.

Two languages dominate Qelian life. The native Qelgalari is still the most common among the Usodine nations, spoken on a local and administrative level. English, however, is also dominant, having been brought over by human refugees and acting as the de-facto lingua franca between the native and immigrated populations. French is third to this, though is only significantly used in the Naveux Republic as their language of government.

History

Proposed sites of the first Usodine tribes.

Pre-Civilisation

The Usodine are a relatively new evolved species in terms of the greater universe, and so little of their history is known before roughly 2000BCE. People of Early Qel likely lived in hunter-gatherer communities of no more than a few dozen, living off the local fauna and hunting in small groups. These communities were nomadic in nature, sheltering in caves and using local animals to travel across the continents. It is also theorised that there used to be a land bridge between the two continents, providing an explanation as to how the Usodine developed so similarly across the oceans.

Researchers estimate that the first organised tribes were likely to have developed in Sokoria, due to it's forgiving climate. Stone structures and cave art have also been discovered in lower Egoros and North Rydel, indicating the existence of tribal groups in these regions as well. The culture and practices of these tribes have been poorly preserved and so are largely unknown outside of a clear and committed worship of the Qelian Loghust, an animal that is still considered sacred in the modern Faith. There is no known evidence to suggest any unification beyond small tribes in this period.

Ancient Prarean Flag c. 1425BCE

Ancient Prareus and the 'Fragmented Period'

Recovered and preserved documentation indicates that the first Usodine nation-states on the planet emerged within the period of 1980-1800BCE, with the oldest named state being governed from the ancient city of the same name. By 1425BCE, 'Ancient Prareus' was the dominant power of Daqar, ruling over the majority of the east. The continent was otherwise scattered with a number of city-states, often in loose coalitions, creating what is referred to as the 'Fragmented Period' of Qelian history. Many of the cities in the east swore fealty to Prareus or provided tribute to their leaders - what is referred to as the East Daqar Accord - though the Western Cities had complete independence and were commonly in conflict with Prareus or each other. Some Western cities would unify into small nation-states, though their powers were usually regional and most were susceptible to infighting and collapse.

In contrast to this, the Sakharan people unified much faster, often attributed to both it's smaller geography and the lesser availability of resources to create a large number of settlements. North Sakhara was possibly unified as early as 1500BCE, with records of communication between Western Daqar and the continent indicating the existence of a large, unified (if indirectly) group of people. The people of South Sakhara, with it's strong regional identity and later belief in the Western Faith, remained independent of this state. For much of this period, the South would remain with fragmented groups of nomadic people.