Diulszi

REGION - Inner Systems
This location is centred in the Inner Systems region.
The Inner Systems are parts of the Nralakk Federation that were the first to be colonised by Skrell, and have had centuries, if not thousands of years of development. This region sees a high quality of life and technological standing on par with the Homeworld, which gradually begins to decline as one reaches the border with the Traverse. Older colonies have become specialised in one way or another, while the "newer" colonies focus almost purely on manufacturing as they transition from resource extraction to refining and production. The Inner Systems are divided between the First Waves, colonies that were established early in the age of Skrell colonisation, and the Second Waves, which were established much later to further support Qerrbalak and its colonies. Aweiji and Diulszi are located in the Inner Systems.

Located in the secluded Glorashi system, Diulszi, the capital of the C'thur Hive, hosts a diverse biosphere and breathtaking natural vistas, and was once a hotspot for Nralakk Federation xenobiological research until the Hives arrival in 2448. With High Queen C'thur's rapidly worsening condition, the Federation was forced to find a nearby location for her to land, which ended up being what was known at the time as the Xevrax research outpost on the surface of Diulszi, the same secretive facility the High Queen now directs her Hive from. In the years since the arrival, the C'thur Hive has been given extensive freedom over the planet and has seen it rapidly grow, with the Queens making themselves responsible for implementing a plan to turn the focus of the planet away from solely research, though science is still an important element, and into a resort destination. Whilst not as popular a tourist destination as Qerr'Malic for foreigners due to the presence of Vaurca and its more laid-back nature, the Hive has managed to attract a growing number of domestic visitors from within the Federation. This growth has come at a cost, both in the increasing number of disgruntled Federation researchers who feel they have been made second fiddle and in the damage to the local environment resulting from C'thur carelessness, though a balance is slowly being achieved with respect to the natural world.

History

Alongside its lush tropical rainforests, profound oceans, and more alien landscapes, the distinctive biodiversity of Diulszi led the planet to be declared one of the first Federation Parks just before the Skrell Synthetic Age, with small hostels, restaurants, zoos, and safaris having been erected, allowing the average Skrell a chance to see its vistas in person. This tourism was very successful during the time in which it ran, drawing citizens from every corner of the Federation's territory. However, during the reign of Glorsh-Omega, the Federation's park system collapsed along with most other government-controlled systems, and Diulszi was closed to the public.

Glorsh-Omega moved drones to work on the planet not long into its rule and set up what appeared to be strange outposts, laboratories, and other such structures, the most notable of which being several dozen large pillars made of an unknown metal that seemingly served no purpose, their usage being utterly esoteric. The application of these pillars is still debated in private between peers who have broken the taboo of discussing the period. By the Reunification, the planet was only reopened to researchers, with no serious efforts made to operate it on a wide scale once more, initially due to fears of Glorsh-remnants in the system, which were subsequently destroyed over a period of a dozen years, though rumors persist that some of the "pillars" may still exist underground or buried deep in the jungle. Eventually, the planet simply faded into obscurity before the arrival of the C'thur Hive.

While research on Diulszi was initially carried out by extremely dedicated Skrell, after the Reunification, exobiologists from the inner systems preferred to study biodiverse planets closer to Nralakk, and as a result, the reformed Diulszi scientific outpost became a popular option for researchers on the Federation's outskirts. The influences of the Traverse were known staples of the culture within the scientific bases on the planet. This cultural shift, combined with the low status of Diulszi by the government, eventually led to the Skrell of Diulszi adopting a moderately anti-Federation outlook before the planet was effectively given to the C'thur and more pro-Federation Skrell once again began to move in. Anti-Federation sentiment is not unknown but is decidedly rare on Diulszi, partly due to the intentional emplacement of loyal Skrell on the planet, but the treatment of High Queen C'thur by the Federation also played a major part in the shift.

Following the discovery of the C'thur near Glorashi, the Hiveship was meant to be transported to a secure dock. Nevertheless, as communication progressed, the Nralakk Federation soon learned about High Queen C'thur's critical state. Consequently, the Hiveship was transported to one of Diulszi's surface research outposts known as Xevrax, where a competent team of medical researchers could treat the monarch's wounds. In a short period, life within the Xevrax Research Outpost changed. The facilities were repurposed to accommodate an extensive life support system for High Queen C'thur, and due to the secrecy surrounding the initial arrival of the Vaurca Hive, the Outpost quickly became militarized, with all activities becoming highly classified. Currently, Xevrax exists as a small off-limits city, housing authorized security and medical officials and their families. Many of the wider scientific community present in the facility, interested in Diulszi’s native ecosystems, had to relocate to other, less optimal facilities.

Before the arrival of the Hive, Grand Councillor Tiipis Yla had drafted plans near the end of their term to redevelop the tourism industry on Diulszi, boosting the economy of the Contingent Systems. These plans sat unused by the discovery of the Hiveship and were largely ignored by the time High Queen C'thur landed on the planet. In spite of her condition, High Queen C’thur managed to arrange for her Hive to develop Diulszi based on these drafts, which were brought to her attention by Federation officials as a means for the C'thur to begin work on settling the planet.

After the discovery of the Zo’ra in Tau Ceti, Grand Chancellor Weashbi Jrugl allowed C’thur’s presence in Glorashi to become public knowledge. This information became mainstream in the Nralakk Federation, and the C'thur Hive used their reveal and novel appearance to promote the newly developed resorts in Diulszi. The Vaurca, while still an unknown factor to the Skrell, did enjoy a minor presence of Skrell tourists on Diulszi soon after their reveal, which has steadily grown over the years as they are further integrated into the Nralakk Federation. The C'thur Hive's tourism industry on the planet, while not explicitly Skrell-only, is not popular with foreign tourists due to the presence of Vaurca on the planet.

As a result, Diulszi is a popular domestic location for holidaymakers —especially those who cannot travel to the Homeworld— but the planet is easily eclipsed by places such as Qerr'Malic when trying to appeal to non-citizen tourists. Dionae, both citizen and non-citizen, are known to go out of their way to plan a trip to the lush greens of Diulszi over the unnatural lighting and barren ecosystems found on Qerrbalak's moon, making them an outlier compared to other demographics who are likely to visit.

Environment

Diulszi maintains an extremely diverse environment with striking and varied landscapes visible even from orbit. The majority of the planet is covered in a mix of oceans in an unmistakable turquoise color thanks to the presence of an alien salt mineral dissolving under the ocean and expansive tropical rainforests not unlike those present elsewhere in the Spur; however, patches of Diulszi are completely distinct, with vibrant lavender or apricot-colored trees and grass. It is within these regions that large beasts, tall enough to pick the normally deadly "fruit" from trees, exist side by side with overgrown hexapods, which camouflage in a kaleidoscope of colors to hide from predators. These locales are the most popular tourist destinations, even more so at night due to many of the local plants possessing bioluminescence to attract nocturnal insects, causing the local vegetation to glisten in an extravaganza of colors.

The fruits in these habitats, which are almost always lethal to someone who consumes them without the biology to support it, have recently become an interest of the C'thur Hive, with many of Mouv's brood seeming to see their lethality as a challenge to overcome. In 2462, the Hive launched the Moon Lychee, a genetically engineered version of the fruit that is safe to consume; however, the sale of the fruit did not pick up until recently, when the Mouv brood was licenced by the Federation to begin distributing them commercially to resort visitors, the fruit having passed bureaucratic safety checks. They were an instant hit, with many visitors describing the soft-skinned produce as "zesty and refreshing." Orders have been placed on Qerrbalak for initial shipments of canned and fresh Moon Lychee for sale to the wider Federation and beyond. Rumors persist that the K'lax on Tret have begun attempting to design their own competitor product, and Hive Mouv guards the genome of the product carefully to prevent such thievery. Currently, the K’lax have only been able to produce a synthetic flavor similar to the Moon Lychee, sold as a flavored drink mix, “Stars Lychee.”

Wildlife

The wildlife of Diulszi exists in a delicate ecosystem with millions of unique species being present. These range from the deadly Crex, small furry four-legged creatures that hunt in huge packs and attack in swarms to the avian Avol — which on the surface seems to resemble an Earthen bird except for having wings where feet would normally be and vice versa and the communal Sigmatis, small furred mammals with sharp bristles which live in plains and that communicate with one another over long differences through humming, unique vocal cords allowing such vibrations to be felt and interpreted over distance. Reports suggest that one of the first signs to tell if one is near a Sigmatis burrow is a strange tingling sensation. A further creature of note is the deadly Fasun, averaging roughly half a house tall and spitting projectile acid. There are untold other species on the planet, many friendly to visitors, many not.

These creatures live alongside one another in delicate harmony, which the Nralakk Federation is keen to maintain. Strict rules and a marathon of red tape exist around the treatment and conservation of Diulszi's native life, a fact of life that the C'thur Hive originally found deeply frustrating. It was not uncommon for Viax workers to be ambushed by Crex, during the Hive's initial period of expansion. Guards were quickly assigned to these convoys after the initial losses, but they were not allowed to be equipped with anything heavier than tranquilisers, sleeping gas, and a sidearm in case the situation was extremely dire. This soon became untenable, and in the years following, the C'thur Hive has begun to adapt to the new situation, living more in harmony with the creatures present instead of fighting against them.

Unfortunately, maintaining this environmental balance has proven challenging. The increase in tourism and the increasing number of settlements have brought logistical and bureaucratic nightmares. Land development projects put forward by the Hive are often delayed by several months as ecological impacts are examined and measured. Furthermore, each new plot must have a demonstrated recycling plan, and a Nralakk Federation committee dedicated to pollution often mandates the use of less effective but more environmentally friendly chemicals in the name of conservation. They are quick to remind the Hive of the strict sanctions that exist if these rules are violated. This new arrangement has slowed down how fast the Hive can expand on Diulszi, and the Queens have to devote a not insignificant portion of their resources to the administration of the planet. This is most clearly seen with Mouv's brood rapidly ramping up its training of xenobiologists and with Vytel mandating a new legion of paralegals, bureaucrats, and lawyers dedicated to real estate, environmentalism, and government policy, with her brood responsible for much of the planet's managerial requirements. The C'thur Hive has gotten benefits out of this approach, however, with the study of the planet's lifeforms' unique physiology occasionally illuminating a new biological fact that can later be applied to the Vaurca species itself.

Industry

The forward-facing industry of Diulszi is primarily centered around tourism, with the C'thur Hive and Nralakk Federation running a large number of hotels, resorts, zoos, and permanent residencies. Diulszi’s other industries are supported (or in some cases affected by) the development of tourism in the planet.

Tourism

Diulszi’s pre-Glorsh tourism was revitalized by the arrival of the C’thur Hive. However, whereas previous attempts to turn Diulszi into a holiday destination were small-scaled, similiar to a picnic grove, the Hive has completely transformed the planet into a galaxy-class venue. These changes have resulted in the complete deforestation of many areas of Diulszi, particularly the planet’s shores. Diulszi’s skyline is dominated by tall, pristine buildings with unique shapes, covered by windows. These skyscrapers are huge hotels, offering different levels of customer comfort and, therefore, at different price ranges. However, despite Diulszi’s high influx of visitors, hotels are rarely overbooked. While Skrell guests may find this positive, in truth, the excessive number of Diulszi’s hotels vastly overshadows the demand for a room or suite. Thus, many of the buildings have over twenty stories underdevloped in the middle floors, serving only as a disorganized, musky, and perilous warehouse. To promote competition between the establishments, Diulszi hotels are often branded as if they were adversaries–despite all being owned by the C’thur Hive.

One of the signature additions made by the C’thur Hive was the introduction of commercial zones and souvenir shops. Here, trinkets likea Crex teeth and a fluorescent pot plants known as a "Casfedil," are sold at an outrageous cost. These facilities are almost exclusively staffed by the C'thur Hive, Viax, and Unbound, with Xetl and Mouv's brood being the most common, with the occasional Federation Liaison keeping an eye on affairs. The sudden influx of jobs has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of Vaurca trained for service jobs within the broods, and the occasional job shift means that some excess service Vaurca are sent out into the wider Spur in service of the Hive. Recently, the Hive has introduced amusement parks to attract more visitors. While most venues are simple boardwalks with a few rides, other parks are fully-fledged themed experiences, promising fun to all families and sapients alike. The two best known parks in Diulszi are the Quo’roshi Gardens and Kervasii World.

The Gardens are the largest zoo and waterpark on the planet. Many of the animal exhibitions are far away from each other, allowing patrons to visit the animals at their original habitats. Quo’roshi Gardens is also notable for having a caged zoo area housing animals native to other planets, including human and Unathi native species. The inclusion of non-Skrellian species has sparked some outrage among conservationists, who believe that the Federation, less so the C’thur Hive, have the available means to foster these species. Nonetheless, Quo’roshi Gardens remains one of the most beloved tourist attractions on the planet.

Kervasii World has a long history as an amusement park in Diulszi. The plot of land where it stands was originally developed as a small apartment complex near the Kervasii Outpost, where families of Skrell scientists could travel and spend time with their loved ones during the holidays. Eventually, the complex grew to accomodate all the families of the Diulszi staff. New ammenities were also added, including a roller coaster and kiddie rides for the younger Skrell.

The Kervasii park closed after the Glorsh takeover. After the return of researchers to Diulszi, the park expanded to include more ammenities. It had no admission fee and was open for all scientists to enjoy during their free time.

The lease of Diulszi to the C’thur Hive radically changed the pleasure ground’s operation. As the park was not technically part of the Kervasii Outpost, the C’thur came to control the destination. Despite various appeals made by the Kervasii scientists, the C’thur Hive continued to operate the venue, now under the name Kervasii World. Kervasii World has radically expanded over the last few years, with the Hive planning to eventually operate the largest amusement park in the Spur. In 2462, the C’thur Hive finally convinced the Kervasii Outpost to relocate elsewhere, with the previous research facility now transformed into a science-themed area. The current price of admission is just a handful of sqiips.

Real Estate

As per the Hive agreements with the Nralakk Federation, all of Diulszi’s land–except the research outposts–are available for the C’thur Hive to develop and profit. However, this process requires an extensive survey by the Federation to approve any project. Nonetheless, once the land modifications are sanctioned, the Hive has a full permit to do with the land as they please, as long as each project meets ecological criteria. These lax rules have provided the C’thur Hive an opportunity to profit under shady circumstances. The C’thur Hive “sells” the land to Skrell that wish to build cheap holiday homes in a paradisiacal world. In truth, neither the Skrell buyers nor the Hive own the land, but rather the Nralakk Federation. The legality of this practice is often questioned. However, due to development laws and the Hive’s finesse to read between the lines, most sales are in a gray area. Technically, C’thur sells their development permits to outsource the construction, with the promise that the property, once completed, will be of the owner of the deeds. While the Hive has kept its word on the matter, the newly-built private homes could potentially be reclaimed as federal property in the future. To “sell” much of this land, the C’thur Hive has hired opportunistic Skrell looking to make a quick profit. Usually, these Skrell are low numericals, but come to Diulszi to live a life of grandeur and luxury. In reality, very few achieve their dreams, with most of them constantly hustling new victims.

Science

Behind the scenes, Diulszi also contributes significantly to the life sciences, especially biomedical and botanical research. Mouv and High Queen C'thur's broods perform much of the Hive's research in the laboratories spread across the planet and orbit, the largest of which is Orbital Research Platform Kevren, second only to Qamlok on Aliose for research output. Diulszi's native life serves as a helpful catalyst to advance the Hives' understanding of how unfamiliar flora and fauna can be modified for use in the Spur, such as the development of Adrascorn, a fast-growing plant that is very effective at sucking up ambient radiation and growing in hostile locations, much to the jealousy of the K'lax Hive, whose own attempt at developing such a terraforming plant for use on Moghes is still in its early design phase.

The planet also has high-quality genetics research facilities, which were previously used for genomic sampling of native species but have since been retrofitted by the Hive and serve to develop both gene-treatments for disease, the C'thuric Virgologists having contributed extensively to combating epidemics in the traverse, and to assist with fertility research, examining possible genetic similarities between the X'Lu'oa and sterile species on Diulszi. Such fertility research is closely monitored by the Federation and has yet to turn up significant results, with Glorsh having designed the X’Lu’oa in such a way that it seems nearly incurable even with the C'thur Hives' advanced genetics knowledge. This has not discouraged them from investing significant effort into trying.

Life on Diulszi

While not perfect, life on Diulszi for a Vaurca is far superior to that of the majority of their species within the Spur. The C'thur Hive reinvests much of the money it makes from the planet back into the facilities, both for its own benefit as well as to ensure it appears wealthy to visitors. The presence of an increasingly bustling tourism and science industry has resulted in no shortage of supplies from the Nralakk Federation. The majority of the species on Diulszi are employed in the service industry and live within large subsurface "apartment complexes" situated near major work hubs. The nearby logistics centers and integrated hydroponics ensure a steady stream of k'ois and the complexes are normally well maintained.

Vaurca working in the sciences are the second most prevalent and will normally live in special quarters established near or retrofitted to whatever lab they are assigned to, the quality of which varies dramatically. Occasionally, a group of Vaurca make a trek into the untamed wilds for a scientific expedition, at which point the quality of life depends on where one is on the planet. The most isolated location for Vaurca on Diulszi is within Xevrax. Those of the High Queen's personal guard and assistants live in lavish spaces compared to the majority of Vaurca; however, the stress of tending the wounded High Queen can often make even the toughest workers uncomfortable, and the elite Warriors maintain constant watch, ever vigilant for threats to her life.

Many Skrell on Diulszi are in the employ of the Federation as Representatives, observers, bureaucrats, or liaisons managing communication with the Hive. These civil servants are all Primary or Secondary numericals and are given expensive apartments, luxury goods, and ample time off to enjoy the scenery, with discounts on local areas included. Many in the Grand Council's employ consider an assignment to Diulszi to be a reward because the broods are mostly self-sufficient and rarely break any rules. To ensure this image, the Xetl brood is usually kept away from the public, thus less likely to be employed in the resorts. The second-largest permanent Skrell population is researchers. While many researchers have living conditions comparable to those of the Representatives, others were kicked out of high-class laboratories during the C'thur Hives shuffle and have ended up working in lower-class facilities, such as expedition labs deep within the wilderness. Many of these Skrell have grown disillusioned with the Hive and the Federation after being reassigned from high-level positions to less-prestigious ones with little notice. The majority of these "exile researchers" keep to themselves, working away on personal projects with angry vigor. Those who have retained their positions, on the other hand, are frequently frustrated by the Federation's and the C'thur Hives' apparent shift into a focus on land development and tourism, which they see as diverting attention away from more valuable pursuits. Those Skrell researchers that file complaints are assured the taxes from the developments and guests will be reinvested into the sciences long-term, but this does little to reassure most when all but a few, primarily C'thur-dominated laboratories, are yet to see any of this supposed money reach them. A third, growing group in Diulszi consists of Skrell expats that are lured by the planet’s bohemian atmosphere. Despite their apparent simple lifestyle, these Skrell are usually very well-off and can afford to live in a state of permanent vacation. The bohemian Skrell usually only interact with each other, with some going as far as to avoid all contact with the Vaurca residents. A general idea among this population is that the Vaurcae damage the planet with their resorts and industrial activity—they do not consider themselves tourists, but rather “eco-colonizers.” Unbeknownst to them, however, is that their land is “sold” by the same Hive they claim to dislike.

Notable Locations

Xevrax, the Forbidden City

Once a modest xenobiology research facility nestled within a southern archipelago, Xevrax was picked as the destination for the C'thur Hive and its critically wounded High Queen to touch down due to its relative isolation. In the years that followed, it has taken on a completely new role and importance, a necessity that has seen Xevrax rapidly bloom from unpresuming research laboratories into an amalgam of a closely guarded fortress and an immense hospital, all dedicated to the treatment of a single individual, the High Queen. Little is known by the greater Spur about exactly what goes on in Xevrax, with the Nralakk Federation and C'thur Hive keeping specifics confidential and non-essential entry being granted only to a select few with high level security clearance. What is public knowledge, however, is that Xevrax has grown considerably from its humble roots, and the life support system sustaining C'thur has grown from taking the space of a room to an entire underwater complex, with massive wire bundles running through a dizzying array of guarded pipes and tunnels, providing power and more exotic materials to the biologically critical Vaurca and Nralakk systems, many of which have been haphazardly built atop one another since the Hives arrival. Many in the Spur suspect the buildup is a sign of the High Queen's worsening condition, but the Hive is quick to dismiss this as baseless rumours instead, insisting that the construction is a sign that she is growing closer to a full recovery. Skrell that work in Xevrax are carefully vetted, and it is required that they, and if they wish, their families, live on-site. This Skrell population is composed of members of the Kala, who typically live in garrisons throughout the outer edges of the facilities, as well as medical professionals, researchers, and representatives who are permitted to live in the facility itself. The facilities provided to those groups are often seen as luxurious by the Vaurca and Nralakk Engineers that find themselves sequestered to living within mediocre “bunker” facilities installed within the tunnels and pipes, pressed for space and cramped. The city of Xevrax has a small economy of its own, completely insular to the rest of the planet. It mainly consists of amenities and services to accommodate the Skrellian residents. These businesses are run by the C’thur Hive—as they reside there on a permanent basis—but vetoed by the Nralakk Federation. Skrell in Xevrax are not allowed to leave the city while on duty, and many that serve there have never seen what the greater Diulszi has to offer. Xevrax is closely guarded by elite C'thuric Warriors. These Warriors are empowered to dole out harsh punishments, including voiding, to any Vaurca found breaching regulations within the Forbidden City. The closer one gets to the High Queen herself, the more frequent and highly augmented these Warriors become, including Warforms. Exactly what the Royal Guard of C'thurs innermost quarters look like is a matter of public speculation.

Orbital Research Platform Iolan

Located in geosynchronous orbit above the planet, Orbital Research Platform Iolan is the largest surveillance facility associated with Diulszi and typically regarded as the premier monitoring facility for the C'thur Hive.

Connecting to an extensive network of planetary nodes and orbital satellites, Iolan was once utilized by Skrell researchers to survey the ecosystem of the planet, monitoring wildlife migrations, weather patterns, and ecological growth. Since the arrival of the C'thur Hive, many of these same researchers have been relegated to secondary roles and replaced by the Vaurca of Hive Mouv. Under Mouv's guidance these same monitoring networks have turned towards watching the planet and its denizens, satellites once dedicated to the weather having been modified with C'thuric technology, and time put towards the careful study of migration patterns shifted into collecting and sorting through Extranet signals or unbeknownst to the greater Spur, even transmitting them to Mouv's realm. The Platform's main antenna, already a powerful transmitter to ensure that messages could reach Qerrbalak despite the Glorashi nebula, now doubles as an immense Hivenet tower.

Through Iolan, each visit to the planet and every possible threat is done under the watchful eye of the Iolan's new spymasters and, when deemed necessary, passed on to planetary authorities, the Hive, or even the greater Federation. This shift in direction has caused no small amount of strife for those Skrell once responsible for the planet. Many of these researchers believe that the changes have placed protecting the ecosystem as a secondary goal of the Platform and the cooperation between the C'thur and Federation scientists stationed here is often felt as begrudging. Iolan houses the biggest Hivenet surveillance center in the whole Spur. It has a direct connection to the Owanqaas Relay Tower, a huge structure in Diulszi that sinks deep into the ocean and serves as the main Hivenet relay in the Federation, with all other Skrellian Hivenet towers serving as satellites to the Diulszian colossus. Owanqaas is constantly upgraded with hopes of finally “breaking through” Virtual Reality. Nonetheless, the Mouv brood is tasked with upgrading its security protocols, constantly undermining any possible progress made by the Federation.

Fortress Gelpen

A modest headquarters near Xevrax run by Queen Vytel, Gelpen serves as the C'thur Hives center of military operations throughout the Spur. Whilst a facility with respectable military capability and the C'thur Hives primary depot for storing Warforms, the C'thur's extensive integration with the Nralakk Federation's Kala (which maintains a recruitment center on the systems moon of Oyepiit) and a continuation of its historical focus on less directly militaristic pursuits see Gelpen pale in comparison to the might of the Zo'rane fortress of Dis on Caprice. Vytel is well aware of this, and instead of serving as a citadel of military might, the Just Queen has seen it take on the role of a coordination center. It is from Gelpen's meeting chambers and increasingly numerous representative offices that negotiations regarding her brood's distribution across the Spur are performed, and that she walks the diplomatic and bureaucratic tightrope of responsibilities between the Federation, EPMC, SCC, and, more recently, the Court of Queens.

Watch Domes

Watch Domes, originally conceived by the Nralakk Federation shortly before the C'thuric arrival on the planet, are floating hotel rooms surrounded by a large glass dome. Powered by hover technology, the Watch Domes are placed in exotic locations throughout Diulszi and allow tourists a more immersive (and more expensive) way to explore the alien environments. Most Watch Domes are relatively self-sufficient, including living structures such as rain-catchers and purifiers and even small areas set aside for hydroponics. The C'thur Hive has been making extensive use of Watch Domes in an attempt to draw more tourism than just core-system Skrell looking for a quiet destination. As part of this Watch Domes with environments and decorations modified to match those found on other planets have been produced, ranging from Biesel to Earth, Europa, and dozens of other locations, going so far as to include a small handful for Moghes and Adhomai. Much to the disappointment of the Hive, the success of this is highly arguable, but for the moment, they appear to remain dedicated to using Watch Domes to draw in visitors.

Kervasii World Amusement Park

The Kervasii Amusement Park is undoubtedly the largest attraction on the planet and combines a high-tech water park with more traditional rides, including the Nralakk Federation's longest roller coaster, known as the "Pendulum of Thrills" which takes riders throughout the entire park and is kept suspended by anti-gravity technology. This same anti-gravity technology is used extensively elsewhere throughout the park, creating a vista of floating structures that is strikingly visible from kilometers away and gives the park a certain level of unique verticality. Additionally, generous subsidies from the C'thur Hive and Nralakk Federation see the Kervasii World Park regularly host mid-tier idols from across the Federation, whose performances help build publicity for the park and draw in dedicated fans. Kervasii is also notable for maintaining a section with pre-Glorsh rides. This area was inspired by the original Kervasii park run by Skrellian researchers. Among the vintage attractions is the oldest operational miitoq, an early type of carousel that suspends tadpoles in small spheres of water, moving forward and backward at a low speed. The Kervasii Amphitheatre is also notable for its large presentations of musical acts and other Federation entertainers. As idols seldom tour outside the core and elemental systems, Kervasii concert dates present the perfect opportunity for the Traverse Skrell to meet the superstars.

Everlasting Sphere

The Everlasting Sphere is a section of Diluszi on the northernmost peninsula set aside for use by Dionae inhabiting the planet. Whilst Dionae are encouraged to make themselves at home across the entire planet, this large glass dome built by the C'thur Hive features thick jungle and, most importantly, highly intensive radiation generators that coat the area with intense rays. This intensive radiation makes the everlasting sphere the premier destination for Dionae visiting or inhabiting the planet permanently. These inhabitants have further customized the sphere over time, with some of the Dionae present having over time integrated into the ecosystem, forming structures and intertwining with the local fauna unlike what's seen anywhere else across Diulszi.

Zo’virox

Considered the heart of counterculture Skrell in Diulszi, Zo’virox is a small surf town near the planet’s equator. The place was first named by some Traverse vacationers shortly after the planet was reopened for tourists, who discovered the beach while sailing from a nearby lodge. In their Traverse dialect, Zo’virox means ‘Milk Rock Beach’—a reference to the silky white sand of the shore. Zo’virox first gained attention as a secluded and peaceful beach, an oasis reward for travelers wishing a rest from the populated resorts. Eventually, the hideaway became populated by a community of Weishii misfits who took particular interest in the beach’s night sky. Zo’virox is notable for the apparent lack of presence of C’thur. Outside from the odd Xetl Worker selling Qwei’Paqui beads. Most of the town's inhabitants consist of Skrell with mossy, tangled headtails and of few Dionae “calypso revival” bands. All houses in Zo’virox are made of wood and a bamboo-like material sustainably sourced from local forests. Some neighborhoods—locally known as villages—go as far as to aid others with surplus construction materials. Similarly, many of the two-story houses double as hostels, attracting many like-minded individuals from all corners of the Federation. Despite its status as a communal utopia, Zo’virox has become expensive and dangerous for tourists. The bicycle rental shops and the kombucha bars are highly priced, competing with some of the best five-star resorts in other parts of the planet. Furthermore, there are criminal gangs that prey upon lonely visitors at night. As the C’thur Hive does not want to increase its local presence in order to not scare away potential holidaymakers and residents, Zo’virox may become more dangerous until C’thur Warriors are allowed to police the area.

Qaqo’qao Ecological Reserve

The Qaqo’qao Ecological Reserve is the most biodiverse area in Diulszi. It consists of the Qaqo’qao Archipelago and the nearby Moqvaas Peninsula. The latter takes its name from Qu’xelli Moqvaas, the Skrellian scientist who sailed from the peninsula to the archipelago. The findings of Moqvaas were published in a volume titled The Many Species of Diulszi, which introduced many Skrell from the Core system to the biodiversity of the planet. Despite the modest success of the book, the detailed explanation of Moqvaas inspired odes, poems, and dramatized retellings of the islands, often depicted as dangerous. While the source material became more obscure, the popularity of the fantastical-adventure genre exploded, inspiring many derived motion pictures and novels. By the time Diulszi first opened its natural parks, Qaqo’qao gained notoriety for its importance in fiction. However, the archipelago was slightly transformed to accommodate visitors. This, in turn, had adverse effects, as the connecting bridges unbalanced the delicate ecosystems of each island. Just prior to the Glorsh era, all artificial structures were planned to be removed, and the Qaqo’qao Ecological Reserve was meant to be left undisturbed, with only a small scientific outpost at the peninsula. However, as Glorsh expelled all scientists from the planet, the bridges were left derelict. At the return of the Skrell to Diulszi, the scientific consensus was to leave the structures of Qaqo’qao as is, and to study the biodiversity from a distance. However, upon the control of Diulszi by the C’thur Hive, the Qaqo’qao Archipelago fell into a gray legal area. The statutes allowed the Hive to take control of all modified, non-scientific areas. As a result, the Hive argued that the archipelago was fair game to reopen to the public, and did not count as a real ecological reserve or a scientific outpost. While the legal battle continued, a group of conservationist Dionae traveled to Diulszi and took control of Qaqo’qao. Currently, the Qaqo’qao Choir continues to reside in the archipelago, claiming they are the rightful keepers of the planet’s nature. The Qaqo’qao Choir has expanded to other areas of the planet, impeding the development of some of the Hive’s projects. The ecological impact of the Qaqo'qao Choir is still debated. While they believe they do not harm, but rather protect the Diulszian environment, some scientists claim any sapient activity is enough to disrupt the ecology of the place. As a result, the choir is a divisive subject among the public.