Kharaal Baina

(Before annexation)

* United Cassiopeian Republic
	+ Kharaal Baina Parliament

**Kharaal Baina** was an arid terrestrial planet in the Cassiopeia Galaxy covered in shrublands. Located in the Central Expanse, Kharaal Baina was home to the Bainans, a cultural group of people descended from Pithecans, Penumbrians, Xiavans, and Aetherians.

After foreign intervention and aid with their internal struggles, Kharaal Baina became a colony of the United Cassiopeian Republic.

## Description

Kharaal Baina was located in the Central Expanse region of the galaxy. The planet orbited a single star and had three rocky moons.

The surface of the planet was covered in arid shrublands, with the occasional freshwater lake where life could thrive. Unfortunately, an ancient curse plagued the planet with droughts, famines, sickness, and overall weakness that stunted the growth and prosperity of the planet and its people for much of its history. The planet was said to have a strange quality that prevented ships from leaving the planet's atmosphere once they landed on its surface, said to be another effect of the curse.

Most Bainans lived in the main capital city of Bainastra, where several hundred thousand civilians lived. Other tiny settlements existed all across the planet, but contact with the main capital city was rather minimal. Aside from these settlements, ancient pyramids built by an ancient civilization were found not too far away from Bainastra.

### Government

When migrants settled onto Kharaal Baina, a single oligarchical **council** of ten ruled over the Bainan people at any given time. These ten individuals were, more often than not, well-respected members of Kharaal Bainan society. One of these ten individuals was the Sentinel themself.

After the UCR annexed Kharaal Baina as a colony, a **provisional parliament** was set in place as a replacement to the old council of ten. Most councilmembers of the previous government maintained their positions as politicians in the new Republic government, including the Sentinel.

## History

### The Ancient Pyramids and the Ancient Curse

Eons ago, an ancient curse was placed onto the planet by the Deceiver, a dark and sinister deity with mysterious intentions. This curse manifested in the pyramids of the planet, built by an ancient civilization long before any new migrants travelled to the planet. Ever since, anyone living on the planet suffered the abnormalities and miserableness brought upon them by the curse.

Settlers from around the galaxy desperately came to Kharaal Baina in order to find a home for themselves, but eventually found that leaving the planet was incredibly difficult because of the curse. These settlers descended from Pithecans, Penumbrians, Xiavans, and Aetherians. After many centuries, this population mixed entirely to form a distinct sentient species known as the Bainans. Very few Bainans were able to leave their homeworld's airspace, and those who did only barely managed to survive the dark magic that tried preventing them from leaving.

The powers of the Sentinel made life significantly easier for the planets inhabitants, as the Sentinel was gifted with the ability to cure illnesses of any kind. Even so, the Bainans still lived in poor conditions, as the curse created famines and droughts that weakened Kharaal Baina's prosperity for many years to come.

### Republic Intervention

Late in 5956 ASA, an expedition team was sent to Kharaal Baina on behalf of the United Cassiopeian Republic, led by Commander Abroma Venina of the Cassiopeian Military. The team worked hard to understand the conditions of the planet, interviewing many of Bainastra's citizens about the oddly impoverished state of the city. The Republic even delivered canned goods to the ruling council.

Doctor Alma Erifuh, accompanied by a Stannuprum labourer named Fillmore, met with the council and the planet's Sentinel, Udirdagch. Sentinel Kharaal Baina told the two Republic workers about the ancient pyramids of the planet, and how many people on Kharaal Baina believed that these pyramids were the cause of a planet-wide curse. Alma agreed with Udirdagch's notion and decided that the expedition team would look into the pyramids, to which the Sentinel was thankful for.

After being granted permission from Commander Venina to enter the pyramids, Alma and several other members of the expedition team—including Doctor Jasiruusir, the Ologan researcher Beth, and the Antumbrian labourer Ergazo Sipal—ventured into the pyramids to discover its secrets. The team made direct contact with the Deceiver. The dark god appeared to them through a cloud of green smoke, tempting them with promises of fulfilling their deepest wishes. Ultimately and fortunately, the team managed to escape the pyramids with their lives, albeit with a chilling experience to tell their colleagues.

### Freedom and Annexation

The curse was eventually lifted after the UCR expedition team investigated the pyramids. Researchers and soldiers informed Commander Venina of a strange phenomenon involving an encounter with a demon-like entity that appeared through a green cloud of smoke, and so reports were furthered down through the hierarchy of the Cassiopeian Military.

After the curse was lifted, the entire expedition team was able to leave Kharaal Baina with their mission completed. Kharaal Baina later joined the UCR for further aid and became a colony, with the planet finally being able to prosper and with life and purity returning to the once accursed planet.

Once Kharaal Baina was annexed into the UCR, a provisional parliament was established to replace the old council of ten. The planet was granted their own elected Senator, a former member of the old council named Toloolokh, to represent the planet in the Cassiopeian Senate.

## Inhabitants

The main inhabitants of Kharaal Baina were the Bainans, a cultural group of people who descended from Pithecans, Penumbrians, Xiavans, and Aetherians. Their mixed ancestry made them appear as an interesting hybrid of all four sentient species.

After Republic annexation, others from all walks of life throughout the galaxy migrated to the planet and made a home for themselves alongside the native Bainans.

### Sentinels

Sentinel Kharaal Baina was gifted with the ability to cure illnesses of any kind. Before Republic annexation, the Sentinel was often a member of the ruling council of ten. Afterward Republix annexation, the Sentinel still worked closely with the new, provisional, Republic-backed parliament.

### Notable Figures

* **Toloolokh** - the first senator to have represented Kharaal Baina in the Cassiopeian Senate.

## Locations

### Bainastra

**Bainastra** was the capital city of the planet Kharaal Baina. Much of the planet's population lived in Bainastra, where several hundred thousand civilians were able to live together in relative safety. The structures of the city were built with colorful sandstone bricks that made the city look somewhat livelier than it would've been, given the planet's poor condition for most of its history. Bainastra was also home to the operations of the council of ten that looked after the city and, by extension, the entire planet.

After Republic annexation, Bainastra maintained its role as the planet's capital city and became the base of operations for the Kharaal Baina Parliament.