Caldera

Caldera is a volcanic planet in the First Sector, inhabited by the reptilian Calderians and famous for their Bismuth. It is notable for The Scar, a deep ravine that houses all that is left of Caldera's once-lush jungles and rich atmosphere.

## History

Once a dense global rainforest sprinkled with colorful and vibrant flora and fauna, Caldera was struck by a meteor during its golden age, bringing about an intense drought and heightened volcanic activity. The atmosphere was torn apart, killing nearly all the life on its surface. The last survivors of the Calderian race took refuge in The Scar, a deep ravine where the last of the breathable gases had pooled.

### Intelligent life

The first Calderians evolved from small lizards, ones that could scurry beneath leaves and avoid larger predators undetected. As time went on, they grew in size, and in numbers they could overtake these predators. In time, the once-small reptilians evolved into a great and powerful race of intelligent jungle nomads, ones that could develop stone weaponry and tools, construct shelters, and even cultivate livestock and farm crops.

### Rise of empires

Calderians quickly became a dominant force on Caldera, united by the primal affinity for exploration and conquest. Enormous stone temples and cities were erected, populations climbed rapidly, and mining operations all over the planet warranted an immense growth in power in every corner of every empire. The Calderian race had become a culturally rich and powerful force.

### Meteoric impact

During the height of Calderian society, an enormous meteor, almost as large as the one that destroyed the last of Earth's dinosaurs, struck the capital of their largest empire, wiping out nearly all plants and animals on the surface. The few that survived were rogue miners, who had taken refuge in a deep artificial ravine before the meteor had struck. The immense structures built by Calderians in the Old Age were destroyed, and the planet was struck by heightened volcanic activity. The atmosphere was ripped away, and never again would Calderians live on the surface of Caldera.

### Taking refuge in The Scar

The last of the breathable gases on Caldera blessed the rogue miners by pooling within the last habitable area of Caldera: a large mining colony nicknamed The Scar. Tasked with rebuilding society and surviving as the last of the Calderians, the mining colony soon became the last of the lush jungles and large cities, with intricate dwellings and buildings lining the cavern walls and floor. Most livestock and crops had escaped into The Scar, in a desperate attempt to escape from the oncoming volcanic activity.

## Culture

Calderians are a traditional and conservative race of people. They believe that change could bring about a certain doom, as their current and old way of living has let them just barely scrape by for so long. Futuristic technology that is common throughout other areas of the galaxy touched by the United Human Alliance is nigh impossible to come across, and all attempts to introduce them to this type of technology is met with much resistance.

### Cuisine

The Calderian people enjoy foods littered with many spices, with a wide variety of noodles, meat, game, herbs, leafy greens and some peppers all being a part of their diet. As the dominant species of what's left of Caldera, nearly all forms of life have been domesticated and cultivated for food.

## Notable locations

The Scar is mainly comprised of one city, which remains untitled and is just referred to as simply Caldera, as it is the last of all habitable areas on the planet. Locations listed below are simply just notable areas within Caldera.

### The Dojo

In order to escape The Scar and continue on their journey to the 100th Terra-annual Intergalactic Cook-off, Chef must ask for the help of the great martial arts master Majimo to learn the ancient Calderian art of Rock Climbing and hone their skill of handling the Tonguzu. It is accessed from a stairwell on the Great Bridge.

### Yowai's Observatory

Gripping to the cavern wall with precarious wooden stilts, Yowai's Observatory can only be accessed by Rock Climbing and moving Hot Bismuth with the Tongs. The Observatory's lone shut-in inhabitant, Yowai, agrees to help chef in exchange for collecting Rare Bismuth Clusters around The Scar. However, it is revealed that the Observatory was part of an ancient Mech from the Old Age, and Yowai plots to use it to destroy Caldera.