The Dichoterra System

Planet Name: Dichoterra (dīˈkät-ə-rä)

* Mass: Approx 0.7 terran standard
* Size: Approx 1.1 terran standard
* Orbit: 1.2 terran years; \*special, see below
* Day Cycle: 30 terran hours

Known Moons:
Name: Maern

* Mass: Approx 1.151 terran standard
* Size: Approx 0.735 terran standard

Name: Eirdras

* Mass: Approx 1.176 terran standard
* Size: Approx 0.741 terran standard

Special Properties:
Dichoterra has a rather unique internal working compared to most life supporting planets, in
that it has a non-standard electromagnetic field. Normally an EMF of great strength is projected
from life supporting worlds, acting as a shield from harmful radiation. In the case of Dichoterra, this
field is almost non-existent, relying instead upon the twinned fields of it's orbiting moons to protect
the surface.

The two distinctively different moons, Maern and Eirdras, orbit Dichoterra in a rather odd
manner; the two moons are each roughly +64~68% of the total mass of Dichoterra itself, despite
each being rouhgly only 2/3rds of the physical size, due to a much more dense core for each of the
moons. This leads to a very tight figure-eight style pattern of orbit, wherein the two moons orbit
each other as a localized binary system, which becomes a trinary as Dichoterra itself weaves back
and forth between the two on a regular basis.

With this pattern in mind, Dichoterra maintains a waxing/waning effect from the two moons
over a 14 day weekly lunar cycle. If the 1st day is directly between the two, then so, too, is the 8th
day. The 2nd and 7th days are spent nearing and leaving Maern's orbit, the intervening period
completely under the influence of Maern's rather unique mananetic field due to the specific
presence of a nearly solid Anardrite core.

The 9th and 14th days are spent, likewise, entering and leaving the orbit of Eirdras, which has
an especially potent electromagnetic field, owing to a highly magnetic Neodymium core.
The effects of this orbit and polarized fields means that, upon the 1st and 8th days of the lunar
orbit, Dichoterra essentially has canceled out effects from both moons, disabling all forms of magic
and electric-based technology temporarily during the transitional period. It also means that
combined arcannotechnology fails to operate properly upon Dichoterra entirely.

Due to the field mechanics of it's moons, Dichoterra relied heavily upon steam powered
technology and hydraulics for most of it's evolutionary history of technology, as these continued to
operate even during the period of Maern's supremacy in the sky. This is anticipated to be replaced
with nuclear, and eventually antimatter tech in future years to replace the steam operated machinery.
Electrical based technology and magical effects are completely nullified while the opposing
moon is in supremacy. As such, though both are considered to be highly valuable during their four
days of strength per lunar period, but otherwise neither are relied upon as they're non-consistent
features within the world.

One other abnormality due to the trinary localized system's orbit, is that of the sheer size of
the moons and the relative tightness of their orbits. This tends to lead to a rapidly shifting amount of
daylight upon Dichoterra itself, due in large part to extended lunar eclipses. This predictable, yet
unstable day/night cycle has led to rather unique flora and fauna habits, with an abnormally large
percentage of omnivores occupying the ecosystem due to such.

With such a wide variety of omnivores present, the plant life upon Dichoterra has developed
many potent defenses for survival, as well as many plants developing enormously accelerated
growth cycles, often lasting only a few days at a time.

The Ærdrael plant, for example, features a very potent method of growth wherein the root
system dips down into one of Dichoterra's ley lines, drinking greedily of the mana in the ascension
of Maern as the ley line is filled to the brim with energy. The plant then uses the energy found to
rapidly accelerate its growth cycle, generating a series of vines which form a circle and pentagram
with a large flower upon each point, each flower containing a brightly lit phosphorescent stigma
which continue to emit their mana-derived glow even after the planet's orbit shifts to that of Eirdras.

The purpose of the flowers and vines are to emit a surprisingly potent magical ward over the
entirety of the plant, barring entry within the circle laid out by the vines. Within, the residual energy
is depleted throughout the next week, feeding into a large seed. As Maern begins to ascend once
more, the Ærdrael begins to wilt, the decomposition process releasing a combination of chemicals
which lifts the seed directly into the plant's own protective ward, causing the last remnants of
energy to shatter the seed, casting it about in all directions, each seed released having a weighted
spine which drills into the ground where it lands, beginning the process anew.

As can be expected, life upon Dichoterra can be found within either extreme of magic and
electricity, with many creatures channeling potent electrical currents, and others utilizing magical
effects, and some few showcasing traits of both at different times.

Due to the typical nature of most neurons relying upon electrical signals being relayed, the
development of the brain upon Dichoterra is significantly different from elsewhere in the universe,
typically relying upon a two-hemispherical brain with one hemisphere devoted to the relatively
normal electrical impulses, and the other devoted to mananetical impulses. This dichotomy leads to
a complex array of inherent battery-like systems and large amounts of redundancy.

In larger, more complex creatures, a second brain developing has become the standard, with
each devoted to maintaining control during its own half of the orbital cycle. The interim between
the two moon cycles tends to be handled by way of a form of torpor as one brain shuts down,
entering into a low-level hibernation with the dominant brain taking control as the related moon's
field grows in strength once more.

What this has led to in practice, is that each individual of more complex species tend to have
two distinctively different personalities which have little to no interaction with one another, nor any
real similarity between their wants or desires.

Much akin to damage within the corpus callosum in more traditional creatures, the one brain
will tend to make up excuses for why a given action had been performed by the alter ego, allowing
for a surprisingly high degree of cognitive association even among less advanced creatures.

For the only sapient race to evolve upon Dichoterra, the Polaris, this issue of twinned yet
divergent lives was confusing at first, though as written language was adopted, the issue was solved
and soon the two halves of a being could at last communicate with one another by leaving messages
for the previous half to read.

This communication between the two halves quickly led to several individuals growing
enamored, and eventually falling in love with their own other half.

As the Polaris began to migrate out into space, however, and it was discovered that their
own trinary system was largely unique among the worlds they came across, the species found that
worlds with both magic and technology could sustain both brains simultaneously, allowing for
direct conversation with one another.

This doubling of the processing power and insight at any given time has led to the Polaris
becoming one of the most advanced species after leaving their homeworld, rapidly accelerating in
technological growth in a very short time span within the standards of the universe as a whole.
Unfortunately for the Polaris, the issues with having two distinctly different brains each
attempting to control the same body at the same time results in a significant amount of cooperation
between the two halves required. Due to the complexities associated with such, and the vast
differences of lifestyle and physiology between the space faring Polaris and the home bound Polaris
has led to a series of remarkably destructive civil wars over whether to abandon their homeworld or
refuse to leave it entirely.

In the end, the severing of the Polaris who had been to space from their other half led to an
inability to act as one, and despite having a powerful advantage against their homeworld dwelling
cousins with the state of Torpor at regular intervals, those who had touched space still failed
repeatedly in each of these wars until those remaining upon Dichoterra became xenophobic of their
own people to the point of banishing them forever from the face of the planet and forbidding any
further members of Polaris to leave again.

As the species fragmented into two halves, one bound together with their second brain in
space, and one which led separate lives on their world of origin, each of these groups renamed
themselves.

Those who remained behind on Dichoterra declared themselves the true Polarians, and took
on the name of The Pure, speaking only of their wayward cousins as The Fallen.

In contrast, those of the Polaris who left their homeworld behind know of themselves as The
Kin, in regards to the kinship gained by being able to directly communicate with their second brain,
while deeming those who remained behind as The Stagnant.

Over time The Kin have spread to many other worlds, and the story is rather one sided in its
telling to other species. Until recently, it was thought that the homeworld of The Kin had been
destroyed entirely, though the truth has since been revealed, though The Pure continue to refuse any
trade nor communication with outside species for fear of a repeat with what had happened with
those they deem to be The Fallen.

Internal politics aside, Dichoterra's moons have proven to be remarkably valuable sites for
outposts, with The Pure refusing to leave their primary planet to do anything about such
settlements, and The Kin refusing to go anywhere near either moon due to the physical severance of
their bond with their mindmate.

With neither half of the native species interested in staking a claim, mining and research
bases have been created upon either moon, with Maern's great experimental research facilities and
magical colleges providing almost as famous of a learning ground as Nocturne.

Eirdras, meanwhile, has been converted into an enormous generator, with nearly the entirety
of the moon's surface being mechanized and built into an intricate series of facilities with which
several entire civilizations draw their planetary consumption of power.