Tarsus

> *"The epitome of beauty. Everything is a delight to the human senses. Its people, its architecture, its style, its wealth, its landscapes, its artist and philosophers... Thats what make this world the pearl of the Union. The Parliament of our nation is here and so are the souls of all citizens of the Union"*  - **High Priest Annik Marrash**
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Tarsus is a Terran World, located in the ***Aura System***, in the Lewis Galaxy, in Herschel Space. The planet is rotating a Yellow Dwarf Sun known as **Aura** and it's one of the most populated world of the Union as well as one of the main economic center of this nation. It was the first colony of the Union, outside Isso, settled in 35,022 CE (14 856 ALD) and today is one of the main trading hubs of the nation, being the center of several crucial companies and key activities..

## Political and Social Data

### Denomination

Tarsians

Since the year 37 230 CE (17 064 ALD), the parliament or assembly was relocated to the Planet from Isso, since it was necessary to decentralized all power from one single point, in order to keep the system working and prevent corruption. So it has been consider a capital world. Ever since, the Planet has been gaining power, being one of the top planets in the Lewis Galaxy.

Tarsus is one of the most beautiful planets in the Lewis Galaxy and has prospered like any other in the Galaxy. The planet holds the seat of many multinational companies and international companies, embassies and other important organs of the Union. This is the reason why Tarsus is amongst the most sophisticated, advanced, wealthy and luxurious planets in the Lewis Galaxy.

Tarsus has one of the biggest temples of the Unionist religion in the entire universe. The Temple is known as Dar-Mikur.

## Climate

The main climates of Tarsus are very varied and so is it's fauna and flora. Most of the planet is covered in continental and oceanic climates for the most part, except for some areas towards the equator that provide a savanna/tropical sort of climate and the top poles and nearby areas which provide a more tundric and cold climate.

It does not surpass 40ºC, anywhere in the planet, meaning that excesive warm is rare. In summer in the equator, temperatures do not exceed that measure and usually are somewhere in between 25ºC to 38ºC, while in winter its more around 15º-25ºC degrees.

On the mid-half northern and southern hemispheres, temperatures in summer are around 20º to 35ºC while sometimes it gets lower than that during nightime or dawn. In winter in those lattitudes, temperatures can reach minimums of -15ºC while usually staying somewhere around -5º to 5ºC degrees.

Closing into the poles, in the nearby areas of tundric climate, temperatured in summer varied from -5º minimum (mostly at night) to maximums of 30º degrees (with average of 20º), while in winters, temperatures there might get to -40º degrees minimum and to 5º maximum but usually, they orbit around -5ºC, 0º and 5º degrees.  In the Poles, things change drastically and minimum temperatures may ge to -70ºC degrees and to maximums of 15ºC.

## Geography

The planet has 4 small moons, known as *Hisa*, *Akalia*, *Tera* and *Irkos*, who have reached special mythological status among the Tarsians. It is also filled with several oceans, most notably the ***Yuranisian Ocean***, the ***Agethel Ocean*** and the ***Celebar*** ***Ocean***.

Tarsus has three large continents: ***Wirka, Hashut*** and ***Elissar.***

* **Wirka**

   Its a vast continent on the east side, completely surrounded by forests and with some savanna areas in its equator. Ice and tundric forests cover most of the southern tips who lie in the south pole.

**Alexandria** is the biggest city of Wirka. It has beautiful scenery and hold some of the most impressive mountain ranges in the planet.The architecture mimics the old neoclassical styles and may buildings in rural areas are made of stone.

The total population of the continent is about 30 billion.

* **Elissar**

   Its the second vast continent covered in the south and the north by oceanic and continental forests, with large beautiful green plains. The North of the continent is tundric with ice covering the farthest north areas. ***Beuren*** and ***Ilodan*** are located here. Beautiful cities imitating clasical buildings and ancient cultures covered the entire continent. Some modern structures are only to be found in the main cities, while rural areas have an idyllic lifestyle.

* **Hashut**

Its the smallest continent. Set on a large superisland continent, it is warm and lush with very dense jungles and the southern slopes are covered in some marshy lands. This are perfect for Gift Parasite cultivation as they mimic quite a lot the enviroment of Isso. Unless in Isso, great care has been taken to prevent contamination of local fauna and flora with the parasite. The largest city is **Lobelai**, a large city in the frontier land between the lush terrains and the marshes. It is a center of the local economy.

## History

One of the oldest worlds of the Union, and one of the most populated and historically significant alongside to Isso. During the early days it was a refuge for runaways slaves from the War of the Slave Revolt in the Empire of Mankind. There, many had stablished large settlement that kept increasing. It was very well located through hyperspace lines that had not yet been well explored by the Empire but had been explored by ex-slaves in search of a far away home to stablish a base of operations.

Tarsus was the first world where the Gift Parasite was transported to in massive quantities. There it extended over the population which massively converted to Unionism. Many who had refused to convert or be implanted at all left the planet and travelled far away through large interstellar hyperspace routes to find themselves in the Akai Nebulae, where they founded Mirdan and Nova.

Later on, Tarsus alongside Isso, created a campaign to relocated the huge amount of refugees who where moving to those planets in order to avoid overpopulation. This later migrants were resettled in new colonies founding several worlds. Later on, Tarsus born and raised settlers were sent to found their own colonies, making Tarsus one of the main origins of most settled worlds. Many settlers of Unionist worlds can trace themselves back to Tarsus and its culture and heritage has spread among its colonies.

### Founding

#### First Settlements

The early settlers where a group of scaped slaves that tried to find planets in the region away from the Empire. They had arrived in this loosely explored area of the Galaxy (by that time) looking for a suitable world to settled and create a free heaven for scapees and equality in their eyes. By this age, Isso was recently settled and Tarsus was discovered so some settlers chose Tarsus instead of Isso to settled in. Isso however was better connected to scape routes from the Empire becoming more populated than Tarsus.

The core of settlers however, came from Isso later on and mixed with the local inhabitants which were fewer. At this point both planets had less than 20 million inhabitants but had close ties. It was when the Slave Revolt openly began in the empire that massive amounts of people arrived in Tarsus on a third wave, over populating first Isso and later Tarsus. Due to this, the authorities managed a plan to resettle most of the newcomers.

In this period, the Gift Parasite was also transported to Tarsus as the religion had openly begin in Isso and was growing in numbers. The first converts appeared soon and in a matter of decades or a century most of the population was converted to the religion.

#### Expulsions

The formation of the Union came with tumultuous reception among Tarsians just as it had happened in Isso when the Government dictated that to be a citizen someone had to be officially implanted with the Gift Parasite. It was then than different religious sects of the Unionist religion who were not forcing implantation or had not converted to the Unionist faith, were relegated and thus either forcefully converted to the main religious branch or expelled. Most went to the planets known as Mirdan and Nova, which will later become core worlds of the Intergalactic Federation.

### Imperial-Unionist War

During this time, the Empire tried to launch an attack over Tarsus. Most of the war occured in the early stages and happened in the Tarsian space. It was in this time that the Tarsians managed to win the first assault over Tarsus successfully. However, the Empire, knowing how crucial an invasion of Tarsus should be, tried to launch a second invasion which was politically maneuver in accordance. Tarsians will surrender the planet to Imperial forces if they did not forced the extirpation of the Gift Parasite. And with this, Tarsus was peacefully occupated by the Empire in order to avoid a masacre. War and destruction still happened as almost quarter of the population was actively involved in a resistance against the invaders. Peace was signed among both nations and Tarsus peacefully was returned to the Union in exchange for other valuables worlds of the Empire.

## Culture

The national colors of this planet are Blue, White and Black. But blue is very special and is worn by most in form of tunics with some white touches. Golden and silver jewels and other garments are very popular as well. Silver and white are predominantly used in architecture and decoration. Sculpture artists are also very famous and sculptures, fountains, parks, domes and beautiful architecture are to be found anywhere in the Planet.

Tarsian Women are set to give their first born daughters a necklace that is to be worn by them from the day they are born to the moment of their deaths. Women are set to give theirs to their first born daughters while giving their second daughters a new personally made one. So females pass on their silver necklace from generation to generation. In turn, Tarsian fathers are set to give a golden ring to their daughters and sons. The one given to its daughter has to be new and personalized to them, and the one given to their son has to be theirs, so it gets pass from male generation to the next male generation. This is all made in a ceremony called "*The Passing*".

 File:Tarsus Kids.jpg  Names are also something very characteristic of Tarsian society. Tarsians have usually two names. The first one is given to them by their Parents at birth, but the second one is chosen by them in Adulthood, when they reach voting age, which is right when the Parasite of the Gift is implanted in them, in a ceremony called "*The Rebirth*". Some individuals, have a Third name, given to them thanks to the achievements and honors they have bring to Tarsus or the Union. Having a Third name is a sign of high respect among Tarsians.
Tarsians are known for being hard workers, bankers, traders, merchants and excellent in artistic deeds. That has made the Planet one of the most rich and wealthy of the Union, and thus has attracted many people to the planet.

 File:Tarsianstatues.jpg  One of the main traditions of the Tarsians is the Festival of the Tarsian Flowers, in which Tarsians make white wooden boats and Arassa Flowers are made in beautiful and exquisite decors and thrown into the rivers of Tarsian Cities and towns with candles at night.

The festivity is one of the main local attractions. After the throwing of the flowers, the Tarsians have huge feasts and music festivals all over. It commemorates the arrival of the first settlers to the Planet from Isso.

The Planet is home to several large paths schools. The Wisers, the Seers and the Sentients have a large presence in Tarsus. One large temple, known as Dar-Mikur has been erected here, being one of the biggest Unionist temples in the Universe.

 File:Tarsus parade.jpg
## Fauna and Flora

There are many fauna and flora species from very varied parts of Herschel Space and even beyond on Tarsus, but most of the local fauna is characterized by its beauty. Not without reason Tarsus is called one of the most beautiful worlds in the Lewis Galaxy, alongside Elpida.

* **Arassa Flowers**

The national flower of Tarsus, it is white and beautiful and is considered almost sacred in the religious and spiritual practices of the Tarsians. It can be seen almost in all special ocasions and in every single garden in the planet being one, if not the main, sigil of the Planet. It is commonly put in graves and also wore in the hair by Tarsian women, specially young ones. It is used in several festivities as well. The Flower grows mostly just in Tarsus but it has been successfully cultivated away even if it vanes faster over there. Some of the worlds where the Arassa Flower is cultivated include areas of Nuon and Arkon.

* **Mulpen**

Its

* **Shuxandor**

Its

* **Arugon**

It's a predator.

* **Shineara Bird**

   Its a majestic creature of feathers that is considered synonym with beauty. It preys on little animals and eats as well plants and seeds from the soil and the branches. It's common to see domesticated Shineara on Tarsian gardens or inspired Tarsian gardens in other planets.

Male and female animals are both equally beautiful and lay around 5 eggs in each clutch. They live around 15 years and may lay around 4 clutches in their lifetime. The rate of survival is around 50% of their offspring making it to adulthood. This means that out of 4 clutches of 5 eggs, around 20 fletchings would be born but just 10 would make it to reproductive age. They are native to Elissar.

* **Hanaris Bird**

    Very similar to the Shineara bird, this is a predator and only eats small animals and fish. A bit like its relative, it likes to live in the threes and puts it clutch of eggs in nest over the threes laying just 2 to 3 eggs. They usually pair for life and are consider to be majestic animals as well. They are native to the continent of Wirka. They are not domesticated but they can be seen in parks and reserved belonging to the very wealthy. Possesing a pair is considered to be a sing of wealth. It's the national animal of the city of Yilosen, in Wirka, which is a center of cultivation. The Hanaris live around 20 years.

The Hanaris is a bird that is usually found near forests by the shore of lakes and rivers as it likes to diversify its prey between earth animals and water animals. Its feathers are somehow preyed upon to make elegant decors or wealth garments. Even if protected, it has been hunted sometimes excessively.

* **Berivan Bird**

    The last of the three majestic bird breeds is the Berivan bird. Differing from its two other relatives, the Berivan only lives in very cold climates and its by far the largest of the three. It lives only in the tundras, snowy terrain and cold areas of the planet, as well as mountains in more southern lattitudes. This bird is a predator that hunts much larger prey than the Hanaris and Shienara. It lays around 2 eggs at each time and mate for life. They have around 4 clutches of eggs as well. They are the largest of the three in terms of lenght and weight.

They are also considered to be the most aggresive of the three and keeping it in captivity is only possible in reserves or zoos well adapted to them. Having them in personal gardens or reserves is forbidden by Law in order to protect the species from furtive hunt.

The bird lives around 30 years being the breed that lives the longest out of the three majestic birds of Tarsus, which are called the triad.  They are perfectly suited for cold and snow, and have a hard time adjusting to other climates.

* **Tarsian Dog Breed**

    It's a popular  breed of dog famous all over herschel space for being ideal pets on top of beautiful. In recent years the breed has been popularized due to it's majestic nature. The first dogs were brought to Tarsus by it's human settlers and here, local shepherds and fancy elites come up with several particular breeds of dogs that ended up then mixing to give birth to the Tarsian Dog. This dog is very popular and seen in many houses over the planet. They are intelligent and have a perfected sense of smell and obedience. It has been made to look bluish, in order to imitate the colors of Tarsus and the Unionist religion. Most of the Dogs garding temples are intentionally infected with the gift parasite.

Just like most dogs, they live up to 12-15 years and are extremely loyal and dependant on their owners. They have around 6 puppets on average but can breed less than normal dogs, about 1 every 2 years. This has been selected by the breeders to avoid excessive amounts of puppies or to prevent unwanted pregnancy in female dogs. it also avoids extremely young dogs to get pregnant too early.