Narvala

**Narvala** is the homeworld of the Nirvaan and the capital of the Nirvas Imperium. Located in the Roma system, Narvala is a hot and unforgiving world covered in vast deserts and sprawling cities. A culture center for the Nirvaan people, Narvala has many of the greatest academies, pyramids, and trade centers of the entire Imperium.

## Geography

Narvala has a total of three large continents; *Novae*, *Ojuri*, and *Septa*. All three are separated by a large ocean divided into four bodies; *Kedrath*, *Korthon*, *Indon*, and *Velipae*. Small islands dot these four bodies, the most famous of which being the cluster of islands known as *Cata ir Cravos*... the "Gate of Splendor."

* **Novae:**
* **Ojuri:**
* **Septa:** Septa, or "Principle" in Nirvosi, is the capital of the Imperium and the center of governance and trade. It hosts 12 large cities, with the greatest being the *Septa Pyrad*, or "Principle Foundation". Like the rest of the continents, Septa is primarily desert and rocky terrain with sparse jungles, foothills, and mountains divided across the landscape.

## Year Cycle

The Imperium keeps to an 11 month calendar for all of their worlds regardless of natural seasons. Narvala, itself, undergoes a brutal year-long summer with a winter that lasts around 4-5 Terran months and generally consists of cooler winds.

The Nirvaan calendar consists of these outlined months, each named after a corresponding god of their pantheon:

* **Thalatos:**
* **Ivalor:**
* **Vilasor:**
* **Uraketh:**
* **Shalzala:**
* **Thorazan:**
* **Akràzas:**
* **Voradas:**
* **Zhirvata:**
* **Tarzias:**

## Native Life

### Sapients

Narvala has no inherent sapient life. Originally colonized by the Zhiphoids, it was taken by the more advanced and Magickally-capable Nirvaan. The present-day Nirvaan are the worlds' governing race, though they only number roughly 3 billion of the 7.8 billion people on the planet. The rest are diverse *parvat*, or "aliens".

## Vegetation

In the vast deserts of the planet, the few plants capable of sustaining themselves are prickly cacti - namely the *Vospa*, or "Sun seeds", and the *Kroxas* - tall, cacti with dark brown hues that have sharp spines and poisonous juices.

## Society

### Economy

The Imperium uses Nath, a gold-like mineral found on Narvala, Wren-ra, and Kheph, as their currency, forming them into coins with the head of Archon Salathàn Kolgan on one side and the god of riches, Akràzon, on the other. These coins are called *Nathani* (plural) or *Nathanus* (singular). They are the most valued currency in the Imperium.

However, due to the increasing rarity of Nath on Imperium worlds, a less rare but still valuable metal, Cothium, has been turned into smaller coins. One thousand *Cothi* are worth a single *Nathanus*.

While most *parvat* use *Cothi*, the significantly wealthier Nirvaan use the more valuable *Nathani* in their markets and districts. A single *Trossian* light carriage, a common means of transportation for lower-income Nirvaan, runs at around 2 *Nathani*. At the same time, a meal at a *Kistik* noodle shop, where many middle-class *parvat* are forced to eat, is generally 200 *Cothi*.

In times of economic decline, debts are often pacified with signed scrolls as promises of payment. The punishment for not repaying a debt seal is steep, with family fortunes having been lost to debtors and even whole *castra*.

### Religion

The Nirvaan revere a pantheon of twelve gods in the form of powerful serpents. These gods reflect the ideals of Imperium society.

* **Thalazàs** - God of fate, order, law, and time, Thalazàs the "Diamond Dragon" is the master of the Imperium's history and is the one who gifted the original Scion Lords of the Imperium with the foresight to build the great pyramids and study the arcane. Firm and regal, Thalazàs projects the Nirvaan's justification of their society through the argument that things are as the Diamond Dragon wills it. His fire is said to turn men to glass and planets to sand and his eyes project the history of the Imperium from beginning to end. His month is Thalatos, and he is worshiped with a large parade followed by a broadcast execution of criminals with solemn prayer.
* **Ivalon** - The "Jade Dragon", Ivalon is the god of purity, beauty, and majesty. The source of the Nirvaan's vanity and self-obsession, Ivalon symbolizes cultural pride and the perfection all Nirvaan must strive for. Young Nirvaan women are made to pray to her to enhance their own beauty and make them desirable wives for powerful Magisters and Exarchs. Ivalon is said to be the mate of Thalazàs and taught social conduct and formality to the Nirvaan. Her month is Ivalor and she is celebrated with the *Kelethìl Vatol*, or "Matchmaking Festival", where young Nirvaan women dress finely and attempt to enhance their prospects for a successful marriage.
* **Vilakon** - One of the most-revered of all the gods is Vilakon, the "Sapphire Dragon", who rules over power, Magick, nature, and mysteries. The Inquisitorius take Vilakon for their symbol and most credit him with gifting the Nirvaan with Magick. He symbolizes the raw power and majesty all Nirvaan strive to achieve. He is the younger brother of Thalazàs and older brother to Urakiel. His month is Vilasor and he is revered most during the week of *Ilìth ir Katras*, the "Hour of Awakening", where slaves are sacrificed on pyres made of spellbark within the Pyramid of Awakening for a week. At the end of the week, the stone dragon statue atop the pyramid with Sapphires for eyes spews green flames made from Magick while a horn is blown to signify the Hour of Awakening. With this, the entire Imperium joins in worship of the statue.
* **Urakiel** - Youngest of Thalazàs' brothers, Urakiel is the "Onyx Dragon" as well as the god of war, metal, fire, and blood. Urakiel is a blood-thirsty, temperamental god who demands tribute be in the form of conquest and subjugation of other races. Said to have taken Shalziel to mate by force, his brood are Akràzon, Voradun, and Tarzian. Described as a great, black dragon whose hide is like melted iron and whose stare can burn the sight from men, Urakiel stands as a paragon to Nirvaan warriors and a foreboding fate for the craven or greedy, as the priests teach that Urakiel devours enemy and traitor alike. His month is Uraketh, and he is worshiped during this time by a grand tournament within the Great Colosseum where prisoners, slaves, criminals, dishonored soldiers, and beasts fight to the death for the entertainment of the masses.
* **Shalziel** - The "Ruby Dragon" and goddess of passion, sex, and ambition, Shalziel is the mother of three other gods and the unwilling mate of Urakiel. Denied Vilakon by having her honor soiled by his younger brother, Shalziel gained vengeance when her own brother, Thoraziel, melted hot steel across the brilliant scales of Urakiel's dark hide, forever giving Urakiel a terrifying and hideous visage. Shalziel is generally revered by female Nirvaan but also by impotent men. Her month is Shalzala and she is venerated during the *Alvoth*, a questionable event that currently is celebrated by time spent between husband and wife or by unmarried couples, but used to be celebrated through city-wide orgies until birthing rates and social strife caused the custom to be re-examined.
* **Thoraziel** - Younger brother to Shalziel and the "Amethyst Dragon", Thoraziel is the god of honor, sacrifice, death, and memory. Often represented during funerals and prayed to when one fears death, Thoraziel is treated both as a grim guardian of the dead and a stalwart defender of those who are wronged, conveniently not counting non-Nirvaan. Thoraziel is reclusive but stern, and guards the gates to *Isthora Vala*, the Dead Halls. His month is Thorazan and he is worshiped and honored on *Vala ir Vhy*, the "Day of Death", where the living may visit the crypts of their fallen to pay respects and thanks to the Amethyst Dragon for guarding them.
* **Akràzon** - The "Pearl Dragon", Akràzon is a god of riches, travel, conquest, and fortune. Prayed to before journeys and battles for safety and success, Akràzon is the closest the Nirvaan have to a "luck god", and is said to be as magnificent as he is fickle. Like his father, Urakiel, Akràzon gives favor to those who honor him via conquering other species. His month is Akràzas, and he is worshiped by great feasts in temples and among families.
* **Voradun** - Voradun is the god of justice, strength of arms, patience, and general temperance. The "Emerald Dragon" is depicted as stoic, rigid, and aloof, approving of patience with all dealings and with careful planning and thought. He is revered by the Justiciars of Narvala as their patron, and drink to the dragon in cantinas and celebrations. His month is Voradas, with his holiday being *Voradir*, a public shaming and crucifixion of treasonous criminals, hated traitors, and infamous war criminals the Imperium managed to capture.
* **Zhirvor** - The "Topaz Dragon", Zhirvor is the god of duty, virtue, and courage, being the symbol for the Praetorian Guard and their patron deity. Zhirvor is said to be called upon to shield virtuous warriors from harm with his wings and reignite the fires of courage in Nirvaan when all hope is lost. He glides over those who are worthy in the eyes of the gods and lead them to their glory upon death. His month is Zhirvata and his holiday is a parade held on every Imperium-occupied world for his glory, that of their warriors, and of the Imperium itself.
* **Tarzian** - God of slavery, domination, and, ironically enough, freedom, Tarzian is the youngest brood of Urakiel and Shalziel, being known as the "Turquoise Dragon". Known also as the "Great Master", Tarzian governs slaves of the Imperium and enforcers strict rule over them, demanding they be used as the pillars for the Nirvaan's success and fuel for their Magick. Likewise, he holds the gift of freedom of body and spirit for the Nirvaan, an obvious excuse for their bigotry and supposed racial superiority. His month is Tarzias and he is revered with a great sacrifice of slaves, their blood collected and drained into a great river known as *Tarzian Talas*, or "Tarzian's Toll", supposedly as a payment for the freedom he has gifted the Nirvaan.
* **Orvàs** - The "Opal Dragon", Orvàs governs beasts, Vaan, and life itself. Young and elegant, he is the master of nature and oversees the survival and prosperity of the races he deems superior in the galaxy. His scales glisten with a wide range of bright colors to represent his purity. Where Orvàs treads, weeds and wildflowers grow in abundance. His breath is said to be cool to the touch and capable of giving and taking life, sucking the souls out of the unworthy and gifting desirable traits to those he sees as deserving. As a god introduced during the Age of Ascension, he has yet to be added to the Nirvas calendar and thus remains a god worshiped year-round with feasts and honor battles in the Arena.

### Military

Narvala has a standing army and navy comprised of the best of the Imperium's legions. Legionnaire soldiers patrol the streets along with large security autons. Patrols across the world are many and communicate with forts and garrisons to ensure any dissidence is dealt with swiftly and effectively. The Imperium military has complete control over the planet, with the Imperator having complete control over them. Overall, there has been little to no resistance on the world against the Imperium's control, being the heart of the Nirvaan realm. The military has, at times, conducted purges on alien *locum*, or "residential districts", as a means of punishment or control. Early in the reign of Vaes Azrin, *Kagora* or "family wars", often lead to destructive fits throughout the capital cities. It was only until the reign of Xython Septus I that Kagora on the planet was outlawed and any offenders were executed.

## History

The *Praxiat* teach that the Nirvaan originated from a foreign world that became rife with turmoil and conflict. The original "Scion lords" of the Nirvaan brought their followers with them to Narvala in a great exile, following a path laid out by the Draconic gods they worshiped.

These same gods are said to have taught the Scion lords how to shape stone, steel, wood, and water to their will with Magick and how to use this power to create what would become the Nirvas Imperium. Statues, pyramids, and palaces dedicated to their great families and gods were constructed using primarily slave labor from conquered neighboring races and imprisoned dissidents.

Generations later, the Imperium will have outgrown their own world and sought out other races to conquer and enslave, using them to further build a greater Empire. Fueled by Magick and a strong military, the Imperium continued to grow and amass further resources until they had expanded their territory into a large section of space. By now ruled by a single Imperator and a ruling council known as the Consulate, the Imperium became the dominant faction in the farthest quadrant of Aeos.

## Notable Nirvaan of Narvala

* Arishol Septus III
* Xhaevor Septus V
* Nephara Septus I

## Trivia

* The desert terrain and existence of pyramids and sprawling cities for Narvala was inspired by ancient Aztec and Egypt.