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{{Navbox Unathi Lore}}
{{Navbox Unathi Lore}}


== Overview ==  
== Overview ==


While the [[Unathi]] were already a spacefaring species prior to first contact, exposure to human and [[Skrell]] technology helped to catapult their interstellar development, granting them access to warp and bluespace technology. Now, Unathi-made vessels are a common sight across the Spur, and the [[Izweski Nation|Izweski Hegemony]] continues to project its power across the stars. While to [[The Wasteland|Wastelanders]] or rural Sinta a spaceship may be a rare and miraculous sight, they are a frequent sight in the cities of the Untouched Lands now - and most Unathi are well familiar with the nature of interstellar travel, even if they have never experienced it themselves.
The Izweski Heartland, also known as the Sk’akh Heartland, is a region of Moghes in the Untouched Lands, stretching along the northern coast of the Moghresian Sea. Since the rise of the Izweski Hegemony, this region has been the centre of their power and influence, being nearly entirely spared from the Contact War thanks to Izweski anti-air and missile defence systems. The Heartland’s relevance continues well into the modern day, being the most populous and influential region of Moghes, and home to the Izweski clan themselves.


== Pre-Contact Spaceflight ==
While one might assume that the Heartland is ruled by the Hegemon directly, this is not the case. While Hegemon Not’zar and his clan do primarily reside in Skalamar, his attention is dedicated to the Hegemony as a whole - and as such, the region lies under the rule of an Overlord. Overlord Trikzara Sirax, brother to the Clanmother Izweski, is the ruler of the Izweski Heartland, from his seat in Skalamar. With the flood of refugees from the Wasteland, Overlord Sirax stands in a difficult situation, as the region grows more and more overpopulated.
To many, Skalamar and the Heartland are one and the same - it is the most populous city on Moghes, and the centre of power not just for the region, but for the Hegemony as a whole. The city, however, is overpopulated and dangerous, with large slum districts having risen outside the city’s walls, erected by Wasteland refugees following the Contact War. However, in the Gold District, home to the keeps and palaces of the nobility, some of the most elegant architecture of the city can be found. Rising on the hill that Skalamar is built around, Keep Izweski can be seen - the beating heart of the Hegemony, where Hegemon Not’zar holds his seat of power. A single road leads up to Keep Izweski, heavily secured by the City Watch and the Guwan Guard.


The Unathi first took to the stars 64 years prior to first contact, when the Izweski Hegemony launched their space program in 2339. Largely, this came in the form of unmanned communication and observation satellites, many of which have been refurbished for the modern day. The first manned Unathi missions came in 2332, when an Unathi named Kseok Hizra made history - becoming the first Unathi in space. Manned missions continued, with Unathi setting foot on Chanterel in 2361. The Hegemony space program received drastic upgrades in 2372, when [[Ouerea]] was discovered to be inhabitable. The Izweski poured money and resources into the colonisation of Ouerea, establishing a population of a few thousand on the planet, as well as establishing orbital installations for resupply of their crude and slow shuttles.This lead to the creation of what was at the time designated Izweski Station - the first space station put into the orbit of [[Moghes]]. Izweski Station fell into disrepair during the Contact War, and has only recently been restored with the aid of the [[Vaurca Hives|K’lax Hive]], now known as the IHSS Restoration.
Skalamar is by far the place that aliens can be seen the most in the Hegemony - representatives from every brood of the K’lax dwell within the city, as well as hundreds of Vaurca workers and warriors from the Hegemony’s vassal hive. Many humans, usually mercenaries or Hephaestus workers, also make their homes in the city - as well as thousands of traders, tourists and drifters that can be seen in the Skalamar spaceport. While a few from any of the Spur’s species can usually be found in the city, Vaurca and humans are the only ones to make up a significant portion of the population, with Tajara, Skrell, synthetics and Dionae being rare sights.  


== Spaceflight in the Modern Age ==
Skalamar also marks the historical centre of the Sk’akh Church, being home to the Third Scept of Sk’akh - rebuilt from the rubble after the Second Scept was destroyed during the Contact War. The city has a vast majority of Sk’akh, with other faiths being barely practised within its walls. Since the exile of High Priest Unzi, however, the Church has been divided and leaderless, and many whisper that its power in the modern age of the Hegemony is gone, never to be recovered.


During the [[Contact War]], the resources of the Izweski space program were turned towards a military purpose - instead of sending their rockets to the skies, they sent them towards the Traditionalist Coalition. When the conflict turned nuclear, several existing spacecraft were refitted to deliver atomic payloads to the Traditionalists, and development began on weaponizing existing satellites. The sudden lack of investment in the flourishing space program led to many problems, as Izweski Station’s systems began to break down, and the colonists of Ouerea struggled without shipments of supplies from Moghes. Cases of more advanced space crafts being used by the Traditionalists were recorded too, though with little to not success, such as [[Unathi in Dominia|Seryo’s Last Landing]], a battle which saw the Kazhkz clan acquire a large fleet of Human-made shuttles to use in an attempted landing against Skalamar.
To the northwest of Skalamar lies the city of To’ha’dat, a sprawling and filthy city, home to most of the industrial base of the Izweski Heartland. While its industry does not compete with the larger manufacturing bases of the Southlands, it still produces much of the Hegemony’s consumer goods, and is a stronghold of many industrial guilds. However, as the Hegemon and Overlord Sirax continue to deal with Hephaestus Industries, more and more of the local guilds find themselves in a struggle for influence against the human megacorporation - one that, if it continues, they will surely lose. To’ha’dat is also a centre of Sk’akh, with its ruler, Lord Glatazk Yu'huni, being fanatically faithful. He has proven fiercely loyal to the Church, even to the extent of raising his banners against the Hegemony during the Izweski Civil War. While he remains a staunch ally for now, he is unhappy with the current state of the Sk’akh Church - and should the Church take action against Not’zar, one of the Heartland’s most powerful nobles may rise with them.


When the War was over and the Hegemony stood victorious, they still lacked interstellar travel of their own, leading Hegemon S’kresti Izweski to offer an amnesty to the growing population of Unathi space pirates in exchange for lending their ships to the Hegemony’s service. This had mixed results, but it did allow the Hegemony to begin the assembly of an, admittedly rag-tag, fleet. This trend continues to this day, also helping the Hegemony deal with the more hostile kinds of [[Unathi Piracy|pirate fleets]]. As [[Hephaestus Industries]] began to expand into the Uueoa-Esa system, the Hegemony was able to partner with the human megacorporation to construct the Hegeranzi Starworks in orbit of the gas giant Omgolo, and with the aid of Hephaestus engineers begin constructing ships of their own. While it was once operated by the Shipwrights’ Guild, their failure to meet demand led to Hephaestus absorbing the guild as a subsidiary.
Further to the east, at the foot of the mountains separating the Heartland from the Northern Wastes, the city of Imas’hi stands. This city has been the financial heart of the region since the days of the Sarakus Hegemony, when the banking guilds consolidated their power. Even following the Contact War, Imas’hi remains extremely wealthy - though more of this wealth is funnelled to the city’s ruler, the Lady-Regent Amz’izi Kiae, who many suspect of the murder of her husband in a bid for power. Lady-Regent Kiae and her clan have grown incredibly wealthy in recent years, even as the city falls into squalor, with refugees from the Wasteland being thrown into overcrowded slums. In large part due to the influx of Wastelanders, the city is now split evenly between Th’akh, Sk’akh and Si’akh, leading to high rates of religious crime in the slums. However, so long as the credits keep flowing, the Lady-Regent will consider her rule successful - and given her aptitude for the politics of her position, it would take catastrophe to see her unseated.  


Today, the Izweski Hegemony is a notable regional power in the southern Orion Spur. Though their navy is impressive, it has been hamstrung greatly by the phoron crisis, as many of their larger ships are no longer capable of bluespace travel. This has led to an increase in pirate activity within Hegemony space, as the bulk of Izweski naval power is currently mothballed in Uueoa-Esa until phoron can be found again, or they can be refitted. As the Hegemony's economy continues to suffer through famine and phoron scarcity alike, many fear that its rivals in the region will look to take advantage of its weakened state.
Near the borders of the Eastern Wasteland lie the cities of S’th and Baandr. These cities have historically been rivals - though following the Contact War, S’th has seized much of Baandr’s lands. While S’th is now the wealthier of the two cities, almost all of that wealth has flowed straight into the hands of its ruler - the corrupt Lord Karkatus. As trade over the Moghresian Sea, and wealth from the stolen lands of Baandr flows in, the Karkatus Clan and their lackey guilds grow rich, even while the peasantry suffers beneath the ongoing famine. While Karkatus is corrupt, and mismanaging his lands extensively, he toes the line enough that he has fallen beneath the notice of Overlord Sirax - at least, for now.  


== Izweski Civilian Ship Classes ==
Baandr, ruled by Lord Mizaruz Izweski, is a smaller city - Lord Mizaruz is not a terribly effective ruler, and is easily overwhelmed by the difficulties of his position. Were he not of the Hegemon’s own clan, he likely would have been unseated by now - but as it is, he holds onto what remains of his lands, and makes plans to take back what is his from the upstart Karkatus to the west. Baandr was once the stronghold of the Marazilite Order, also known as the Iron Masks - but after the exile of High Priest Unzi and the disbanding of the Order, their presence has largely been replaced by Sk’akh Priests of the Warrior. The city is almost entirely and militantly Sk’akh - and while Skalamar is its heart, Sinta historians believe that the region around Baandr is where the religion has its origins. The city is also known for its peculiar vines that cover almost every building. During Versakh, they bloom colourful flowers and become a popular tourist attraction. They are carefully tailored by the local priesthood and inhabitants in general. While pruning is legal, clearing the vines entirely from a building is punishable by exile from the city.


Most Unathi-manufactured ships are constructed for the Izweski Navy - however, civilian classes have been produced in recent years, largely sold to rich nobles or powerful guilds. In addition, some criminal elements have been able to acquire ships of their own, with the Shortclaw Clan having managed to acquire a rare few civilian freighters for use in smuggling their ill-gotten gains across the Orion Spur. In addition, many Hegemony civilian ships have been stolen and retrofitted by pirate fleets, and it is not uncommon to see the below classes in the hands of such criminals.
== Culture ==


=== Azkrazal-class Freighter ===
The Heartlands have been known for centuries for their wealth, since before the Izweski ruled, and that is the stereotype that persists about Heartland Sinta, even the lowliest of peasants. It has historically been the first to receive the benefits of any new modernisation, whether by Sinta or alien hands. As such, Unathi from the Izweski Heartland are usually perceived as being worldly and having access to the full benefit of modern technology - which leads many to paint them all as soft and lazy.


A civilian ship design commonly owned by the traders of the [[Unathi_Guilds#Merchants_Guild|Merchants’ Guild]], Azkrazal-class freighters are designed for long-distance cargo hauling. They make up the majority of Hegemony trade and shipping vessels, and as such are a common sight in any port which trades with the Hegemony, from the [[Republic of Biesel]] to the [[Coalition of Colonies]]. With famine gripping Moghes, many Azkrakal-class vessels have also been repurposed as supply ships, bringing food from Ouerea and other outlying colonies to help alleviate ongoing hunger at the Hegemony’s heart.  
The Heartland is also known for its intrigue - it has been the centre of power on Moghes for nearly seven hundred years, and the intricate webs that have been spun between the noble clans of the region make the schemes of other Unathi look like child’s play. Even among the peasant clans, life in the Heartland is a constant struggle for advancement in life. As such, those from the Heartland are often viewed as being a proud and ambitious people - or, from a less generous lens, manipulative and untrustworthy.  


=== Voidbreaker-class Corvette ===
The Sinta of the Heartland are, perhaps unsurprisingly, some of the most patriotic citizens of the Hegemony. To them, the Izweski are not simply far-off rulers, and they are not simply a part of the Hegemony - it is their Hegemony, and criticism of it is likely to see one ostracised. While there is some criticism of Hegemon Not’zar, in the Heartland he is generally beloved by the peasantry - even as the famine drags on. Izweski banners can be seen flying far and wide across the region, being as common as local clans’ heraldry almost everywhere. Similarly, the Traditionalist Coalition is hated with passion in the Heartland. They are viewed as backwards savages and treacherous cowards, who nearly brought Moghes to ruin by beginning the nuclear war. While many Traditionalist refugees have come to the region since the end of the Contact War, they are often discriminated against and derided by the locals as traitors and the spawn of traitors, and will often be treated as barely a step up from Guwan.


Based on the original design of the Navy’s corvettes prior to the creation of the Foundation, Voidbreaker-class ships are unarmed and heavily armoured vessels, now primarily seen operated by the Kataphract Guild. These ships are primarily used as transport for Kataphract warriors, as they take on mercenary work across the Spur. While they tend to lack guns, they are often equipped with boarding pods and small, fast, Spearhead-class shuttles to allow their warriors to perform aggressive boarding actions. While a few of these can still be found in service with the Izweski Navy, they have largely been scrapped or sold off in favour of the newer Foundation-class vessels. A few of them can be found in the possession of pirate groups, especially older fleets such as Izharshan's Raiders.
Nearly every major Hegemonic Guild has widespread holdings within the Heartland, with many of them having their central guildhalls in Skalamar or the surrounding area. While Hephaestus has expanded its operations into the region, and often contends with the Unathi guilds for local contracts, so far it has managed to coexist without much friction.  


=== Sk’resti-class Colony Ship ===
== Faith ==


Named after the former Hegemon who oversaw their design and construction, Sk’resti-class vessels are the primary colony vessels of the Izweski Hegemony. Enormous. slow vessels filled with construction supplies, cryogenic stasis units, and everything that settlers may need to establish a new colony. No new Sk’resti-class ships have been constructed since the beginning of the phoron crisis, as the Hegemony can barely maintain the territory that it already has. There are none of these ships currently in service, as all of those constructed have served their function and been reassembled into the centres of various Hegemony colonies.
The Heartland is overwhelmingly Sk’akh, as the historic centre of the Church’s power. However, there is some presence of other faiths within the region. Imash’hi, due to the influx of refugees from the Wasteland, is evenly divided between Sk’akh, Th’akh and Si’akh - a state of affairs which has caused much tension, as the overcrowded slums frequently give rise to vicious religious violence, which the Lady-Regent seems unable or unwilling to quell.  


=== Vharazki-class Transport ===
Though one would not expect to find the Aut’akh in the Heartland, with the faith having been branded as a dangerous cult and outlawed across the Hegemony, one of the largest undercity communes of Moghes lies beneath the streets of Skalamar. The sewer system of the city, an ancient and labyrinthine construction, holds potentially hundreds of cybernetically enhanced Unathi, struggling to survive day by day and grow their faith. For Aut’akh seeking to get offworld, the Skalamar commune is their best bet, as the sheer size of the city’s spaceport makes it easy for them to sneak passage offworld with some of the less-than-reputable captains who dock there.  Overlord Sirax has been trying, to little avail, to crack down on the Skalamar commune - however, the City Watch is already strained to keep the peace as is, and while the Aut’akh faith may be viewed as an abomination, the amount of trouble it causes is relatively small, leading to it being treated as a low priority by local law enforcement.


Named after one of the Zyola worshipped in the [[Southlands]], Vharazki-class vessels are the main civilian transport of the Hegemony. They are small, cramped and generally uncomfortable, but are one of the cheapest and most reliable ways for a Hegemony citizen to travel offworld. Usually, they carry Unathi from Moghes or Ouerea to established colonies, or further afield to the Republic of Biesel. Hephaestus often makes use of these transports for their employees being sent offworld, and they are a common sight in Hephaestus installations across the Spur, bringing a fresh workforce at the behest of the human megacorporation. Like many civilian ships, a few of these can be found in the hands of pirate fleets, often stripped and modified to hold weapons and attack shuttles.
== Holidays ==


=== Seeker-class Freight Shuttle ===
Victory Day is a holiday of contrasts - a celebration of Izweski victory in the Contact War, and a subdued mourning for the lives lost to what the locals tend to consider solely the crimes of the Traditionalist Coalition. Traditionally, it is a day of rest and respite, with Sinta gathering with their clan-mates and loved ones to remember what they treasure, and spending the night in a quiet and subdued ceremony, to honour the souls of those destroyed in the nuclear exchange.


One of the most common transport shuttles found in the Hegemony, the Seeker is a fat and ungainly shuttle, described by some human pilots who’ve flown them as “Looks like a brick, but steers like a brick”. As such, they are largely used for short-range transport of cargo, and are often used by the crews of Azkrazal-class vessels for pickup of goods. While they are not often used by pirates where better shuttles can be found, there have been a few recorded cases of pirate fleets overriding the safeties of a Seeker, filling it with explosives, and transforming it into a devastating improvised missile.  
Traditionally, there are three main holy days of the Sk’akh Church, each dedicated to one of the Great Spirit’s three Aspects. The Day of the Warrior falls in the heat of Versakh, and is generally a time of wild contests of strength and skill, as well as a day when many young men seek to join with the City Guard or their local lord’s personal forces. The Day of the Fisher falls during Kasavakh, and is a day of feasting and merriment, in thanks for the labour of the fishers, which makes life possible for all. The Day of the Healer falls in Travakh, and is a day of reflection on how even in the darkest and coldest of times, Sinta are blessed with Sk’akh’s grace, and the power to bring life into this world.  


=== Glizkin-class Mining Shuttle ===
The anniversary of a Hegemon’s coronation is also customarily a holiday within the Heartland - though the anniversary of Not’zar’s is a mixed occasion, as it reminds all too many of the madness of Hegemon Sk’resti, and the doom he nearly brought to Moghes. However, it is still a joyous occasion, with Izweski banners flying in the streets, many peasants and guildsmen being given time off their work, and celebration of the glory that the Hegemon is sure to bring to all Unathi, in time.


Commonly used by the [[Unathi_Guilds#Miners_Guild|Miners’ Guild]], Glizkin-class shuttles are short-range mining vessels, designed for persistent mining of celestial bodies. They are viewed by their crews as small, yet reliable and enduring - much like the [[Tza Prairie]] folk hero for which they are named. These shuttles are too small to carry warp or bluespace drives, and as such they are usually assigned to planetary mining bases or remote space stations, where the Guild miners will live and work for extended periods of isolation.
== Entertainment ==


=== Brick-class Freight Shuttle ===
The Heartland has a thriving entertainment industry, having been the centre of Moghes’ television networks since their invention. The Keepers of Heirlooms oversee large parts of this industry, producing most of the movies and television series of the Izweski Hegemony. Some of the most notable productions of the Heartland are:


The Brick-class is an older model of Hegemonic freight shuttle, largely used for in-system transport prior to reliable access to faster-than-light travel. They are larger than most standard shuttles, which has led to the Brick largely being retired due to the difficulties of fitting them aboard modern Hegemony ships. A few of these vessels can still be seen in service in Uueoa-Esa, largely serving as supply shuttles between the system’s inhabited planets and installations.
Last Days of Kres’ha’nor - A historical drama series, focusing on the dying days of Hegemon Kres’ha’nor, in the moments before the First Hegemony collapsed. It follows a large cast of courtiers, including the Hegemon’s many vassals and children. The show has become wildly popular among both nobles and peasants, with strong arguments being held on Extranet forums as to which of the Hegemon’s children is most worthy of seizing his power. The show is currently awaiting its third season, with Hegemon Kres’ha’nor having finally died in a shocking moment at the end of the second season.  


Many of these shuttles have also proven bountiful targets for pirates, and as such they make up a significant portion of several groups’ fleets. Usually refitted with heavier armour and armed with whatever guns can be found, these shuttles are often used as attack vessels against small or poorly-defended targets. In particular, many of them can be found flying the colours of Izharshan’s Raiders, as they made up the bulk of Iklex Izharshan’s original fleet.  
The Waste Hunter - An action movie, focusing on the seasoned warrior Jharak Guwandi. Framed for the murder of the lord he was sworn to protect by his corrupt and villainous brother, Jharak is made Guwandi and exiled to the Wasteland. Swearing to clear his name, he fights against raiders, Traditionalist holdouts, and assassins of the Shadow Service as he works to bring down his brother and restore the rightful heir to his lord’s seat. The film has received mixed reviews, with some saying that Guwandi should not be depicted regaining their honour in any way other than a glorious death - but generally, it is agreed that the fights are impressive regardless.  


=== Kutah-class Mining Station ===
Venom Hearts - A television series primarily made for women, Venom Hearts is a story about the hardened spy and investigator, Zo’kaa Lhesk Yiia, as she runs her investigative business in the heart of Skalamar, solving crimes too tough for the City Watch. In the show’s many seasons, she has had numerous lovers both male and female, and come up against all sorts of adversaries - from the Shortclaw Clan to corrupt nobles and the assassins of the Shadow Service. The show’s seventh season recently aired, ending with Yiia’s desperate flight offworld, pursuing her arch-rival, a villainous noblewoman turned criminal mastermind, to the Republic of Biesel.
 
A station primarily used by the Miners’ Guild, Kutah-class stations are usually temporary outposts, constructed in mineral-rich systems and outfitted with one or more Glizkin-class shuttles. These small, slapdash stations are not designed for long-term operation, and will often fall quickly into disrepair when their operations are concluded. Guildsmen will live there for months to years, mining the local celestial bodies and shipping their ore back to Guild headquarters, where it is sold off. The stations are frequently complained about by miners, as they are cramped, ugly and prone to breaking down, but serving aboard a Kutah-class is considered a rite of passage by many Guildsmen, with the general terribleness of the experience bonding their crews strongly together.
 
=== IHSS Reclamation ===
 
The IHSS Reclamation, formerly Izweski Station, has been refurbished in recent years. While its crew were pulled out and the station abandoned during the Contact War, the arrival of the K’lax and the beginning of terraforming efforts against the growing Wasteland led the station to find a new purpose - as a key site of Izweski research and monitoring. Crewed by some of the Hegemony’s brightest biologists, geneticists and botanists, as well as workers of the K’lax Hive and even a rare few [[Diona]] gestalts, the station now serves as the centre of efforts to reclaim the Wasteland. Experiments are conducted on genetic modification of Moghresian flora and fauna, climate engineering, radiation cleansing and even genetic modification of the Unathi themselves - all in the name of saving Moghes’ crumbling ecosystem from total collapse.
 
 
== Izweski Military Ship Classes ==
 
The Izweski Navy currently has five main ship classes, as well as various associated shuttles, fighters and gunships.
 
=== Foundation-class Corvette ===
 
The forerunners of the Izweski Navy, Foundation-class vessels are slim, agile and fast, equipped with high-grade warp drives. They are small vessels, usually assigned to patrol actions, escort duty or anti-pirate operations, and can often be seen in regions such as the Badlands or Sparring Sea attempting to secure Hegemony assets in the region. These ships have seen increasing usage since the phoron crisis, as the bulk of the Navy’s force is currently incapable of interstellar travel. They are usually lightly armed, equipped with Hegemony Bruiser II cannons and lightweight rotary guns.
 
=== Brawler-class Destroyer ===
 
A larger vessel, Brawler-class destroyers make up the bulk of the Izweski navy, and are usually the first line in any major Hegemony military operation. They do not require phoron to run, and as such are the largest ships in the Hegemony fleet that are currently deployable. Currently, they are primarily concentrated within Izweski space, protecting valuable colonies and shipping routes from pirate incursion. Brawlers are equipped with heavy plasteel armour, as well as large mass driver weapons. While these weapons’ size and weight can lead to the Brawler-class being slower and more cumbersome than other nations’ equivalent vessels, they make it extremely effective at punching above its weight class. The more recent Brawler designs have also been heavily front-armoured, aiding in the ramming manoeuvres popularised by Lord Sakax Razi.
 
=== Bulwark-class Cruiser ===
 
One of the Hegemony’s larger ships, the Bulwark-class cruiser is an extremely effective design, having seen extensive use in Lord-Admiral Yizarus’s campaign against the pirates of Izharshan’s Raiders. Uniquely for Unathi ships, they are equipped solely with energy weapons, armed with front-mounted heavy lasers, as well as an enormous ion cannon capable of disabling smaller vessels rapidly. However, these energy weapons place an enormous strain on the Bulwark’s power systems, leading to most of them being equipped with large and vulnerable fusion reactors. Their bluespace drives allow them to travel between systems at rapid speeds, but the ongoing phoron crisis has meant that the Hegemony is currently unable to fuel these vessels. Currently, all active Bulwark-class vessels are assigned to the Uueoa-Esa system, protecting Moghes, Tret and Ouerea from any potential threat. They are also armoured for ramming manoeuvres, though due to the size and long-range nature of these ships ramming actions are usually reserved for desperate last resorts, when the ship is already at high risk of destruction.
 
=== Hammer-class Battleship ===
 
A theoretical design, as none have yet been constructed, the Hammer-class is designed to be the equivalent of a human battleship. Designs for these vessels are outfitted with heavy mass-driver mounted weapons, as well as bays for several Siro-class fighters and onboard missile systems. While previous designs were outfitted with bluespace drives, similarly to the Hegemony’s other large ships, rumours from Hegeranzi Starworks indicate that new designs have been updated for warp drives instead - rendering them much slower at interstellar speeds, but capable of operating without dependence on phoron. The immense power requirements of this ship would require an advanced reactor, though the exact specifications of the Hammer-class’s power source have not yet been made public.
 
=== Cataclysm-class Super-dreadnought ===
 
The pride of the Izweski Navy, Cataclysm-class vessels are some of the largest ships manufactured anywhere in the Orion Spur. At nearly a kilometre long and two hundred metres wide, these vessels are an awe-inspiring sight, and have traditionally been used as flagships for the Hegemony’s fleets. They are each armed to the teeth, with heavy railgun batteries, heavy laser cannons and mass driver weapons attached, and dual supermatter reactors as a power source. Due to the size of these weapons, their bluespace drives take enormous amounts of phoron fuel to operate, and they were taken out of active service almost as soon as the phoron crisis hit. Despite their intimidating visage, Cataclysm-class vessels have several major weaknesses, the most critical being the supermatter engines. Due to the highly unstable nature of supermatter crystals, minor damage to the engines can easily cascade into a catastrophic disaster, a weakness which was exploited by the pirates of Izharshan’s Raiders in 2458, when the HMV Cataclysm was critically damaged in an act of sabotage. Their size also renders them slow and unwieldy, and while they are devastating at long-range they are vulnerable to smaller attack craft, as their point defence capacity is relatively limited to compensate for the power of their larger weapons systems.
 
Due to the enormous expense of constructing a Cataclysm-class vessel, the Izweski Hegemony currently only possesses three of these enormous ships, with no plans to construct any more. Some critics of the class have called them enormous vanity projects, and that their only real utility is to look impressive, stating that manufacturing a higher quantity of smaller vessels would have been far more strategically viable in the long run. Currently, all three active Cataclysm-class vessels are located in the Uueoa-Esa system, as they are incapable of interstellar travel.
 
=== Siro-class Fighter ===
 
The primary fighter of the Izweski Hegemony, Siro-class vessels are largely found attached to Bulwark-class cruisers, as well as the Cataclysm-class super-dreadnaughts. They are small, two-person fighters, armed with a single rotary cannon. They are lightly armoured, but fearsomely agile, and a force to be reckoned with in large numbers. In recent years, some Bulwark-class vessels have been modified to hold small fighter bays, as the ships designed for carrying them are largely unusable due to the phoron crisis.
 
=== Spearhead-class Troop Transport ===
 
An older model of transport shuttle, the Spearhead-class is used as a troop transport by Hegemony vessels. While it is unarmed and lightly armoured, it is agile and capable of quickly delivering a boarding party to an enemy vessel. The Spearhead-class has largely been replaced by the cheaper Hunter-class in recent years, and many of these shuttles have since been sold off to organisations such as the Kataphract Guild. They are capable of striking fast and hard, and are often favoured as attack craft by pirates and mercenaries who can get their hands on them.
 
=== Hunter-class Troop Transport ===
 
The replacement for the Spearhead, Hunter-class vessels are now the primary troop transport of the Izweski Navy. Designed for both spaceborne and atmospheric operation, they are often used in larger engagements for the deployment of Izweski warriors clad in the fearsome breacher suits, dropping them into ground engagements. The Hunter-class is faster than the Spearhead, but larger and less agile. They can usually be found attached to Navy vessels of all sizes, and are never seen far from their motherships - not least because their thrusters consume large amounts of hydrogen and carbon dioxide, and require frequent refuelling to stay active.

Revision as of 03:13, 13 July 2023

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Corporations II-teal.pngIdris Incorporated · EinsteinEngines2.pngEinstein Engines · SCC logo.pngStellar Corporate Conglomerate · Nt-logo.jpegNanoTrasen Corporation · ORION SPUR LOGISTICS.pngOrion Express
ZH-lightpurple.pngZeng-Hu Pharmaceuticals Hephaestuslogo4.pngHephaestus Industries · Zavodskoi Interestellar.pngZavodskoi Interstellar · PMCGsmallogo.pngPrivate Military Contracting Group
Major Factions Sol Alliance Flag.png Solarian Alliance · Republicofbieselflag.pngRepublic of Biesel · Dominia Flag.pngEmpire of Dominia · Frontier Alliance Flag.pngCoalition of Colonies · Eridani Logo.pngEridani Federation · Elyra Flag.pngSerene Republic of Elyra · Jargon flag.jpgNralakk Federation
PRA Flag.pngPeople's Republic of Adhomai · DiamondALA.pngDemocratic People's Republic of Adhomai · New Kingdom of Adhomai.pngNew Kingdom of Adhomai · Moghes porposal.pngIzweski Hegemony · Eum flag.pngThe Commonwealth of Hieroaetheria
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    • Unathi Lore Pages
    Planets and Systems Moghes · Ouerea · Uueoa-Esa · Notable Unathi Colonies · Gakal'zaal · Tret
    Factions Izweski Hegemony · Unathi Guilds · Unathi Piracy · K'lax in the Izweski Nation · The Queendom of Sezk-Hakh · Free City of Vezdukh · Unathi in Dominia
    History Unathi History · Contact War · Unathi Recent Events · Notable Unathi
    Religions Sk'akh · Th'akh · Aut'akh · Si'akh
    Society and Culture Unathi Entertainment · Unathi Honor · Unathi Military Structure · Unathi Crime And Enforcement · Unathi Educational Institutions · Unathi Spaceflight · Unathi Abroad · Zandiziite Games
    Regions of Moghes Izweski Heartland · Tza Prairie · Southlands · Broken Coalition · Torn Cities · Zazalai Mountains · The Wasteland
    Lore Arcs The Titan Rises Arc

    Overview

    The Izweski Heartland, also known as the Sk’akh Heartland, is a region of Moghes in the Untouched Lands, stretching along the northern coast of the Moghresian Sea. Since the rise of the Izweski Hegemony, this region has been the centre of their power and influence, being nearly entirely spared from the Contact War thanks to Izweski anti-air and missile defence systems. The Heartland’s relevance continues well into the modern day, being the most populous and influential region of Moghes, and home to the Izweski clan themselves.

    While one might assume that the Heartland is ruled by the Hegemon directly, this is not the case. While Hegemon Not’zar and his clan do primarily reside in Skalamar, his attention is dedicated to the Hegemony as a whole - and as such, the region lies under the rule of an Overlord. Overlord Trikzara Sirax, brother to the Clanmother Izweski, is the ruler of the Izweski Heartland, from his seat in Skalamar. With the flood of refugees from the Wasteland, Overlord Sirax stands in a difficult situation, as the region grows more and more overpopulated. To many, Skalamar and the Heartland are one and the same - it is the most populous city on Moghes, and the centre of power not just for the region, but for the Hegemony as a whole. The city, however, is overpopulated and dangerous, with large slum districts having risen outside the city’s walls, erected by Wasteland refugees following the Contact War. However, in the Gold District, home to the keeps and palaces of the nobility, some of the most elegant architecture of the city can be found. Rising on the hill that Skalamar is built around, Keep Izweski can be seen - the beating heart of the Hegemony, where Hegemon Not’zar holds his seat of power. A single road leads up to Keep Izweski, heavily secured by the City Watch and the Guwan Guard.

    Skalamar is by far the place that aliens can be seen the most in the Hegemony - representatives from every brood of the K’lax dwell within the city, as well as hundreds of Vaurca workers and warriors from the Hegemony’s vassal hive. Many humans, usually mercenaries or Hephaestus workers, also make their homes in the city - as well as thousands of traders, tourists and drifters that can be seen in the Skalamar spaceport. While a few from any of the Spur’s species can usually be found in the city, Vaurca and humans are the only ones to make up a significant portion of the population, with Tajara, Skrell, synthetics and Dionae being rare sights.

    Skalamar also marks the historical centre of the Sk’akh Church, being home to the Third Scept of Sk’akh - rebuilt from the rubble after the Second Scept was destroyed during the Contact War. The city has a vast majority of Sk’akh, with other faiths being barely practised within its walls. Since the exile of High Priest Unzi, however, the Church has been divided and leaderless, and many whisper that its power in the modern age of the Hegemony is gone, never to be recovered.

    To the northwest of Skalamar lies the city of To’ha’dat, a sprawling and filthy city, home to most of the industrial base of the Izweski Heartland. While its industry does not compete with the larger manufacturing bases of the Southlands, it still produces much of the Hegemony’s consumer goods, and is a stronghold of many industrial guilds. However, as the Hegemon and Overlord Sirax continue to deal with Hephaestus Industries, more and more of the local guilds find themselves in a struggle for influence against the human megacorporation - one that, if it continues, they will surely lose. To’ha’dat is also a centre of Sk’akh, with its ruler, Lord Glatazk Yu'huni, being fanatically faithful. He has proven fiercely loyal to the Church, even to the extent of raising his banners against the Hegemony during the Izweski Civil War. While he remains a staunch ally for now, he is unhappy with the current state of the Sk’akh Church - and should the Church take action against Not’zar, one of the Heartland’s most powerful nobles may rise with them.

    Further to the east, at the foot of the mountains separating the Heartland from the Northern Wastes, the city of Imas’hi stands. This city has been the financial heart of the region since the days of the Sarakus Hegemony, when the banking guilds consolidated their power. Even following the Contact War, Imas’hi remains extremely wealthy - though more of this wealth is funnelled to the city’s ruler, the Lady-Regent Amz’izi Kiae, who many suspect of the murder of her husband in a bid for power. Lady-Regent Kiae and her clan have grown incredibly wealthy in recent years, even as the city falls into squalor, with refugees from the Wasteland being thrown into overcrowded slums. In large part due to the influx of Wastelanders, the city is now split evenly between Th’akh, Sk’akh and Si’akh, leading to high rates of religious crime in the slums. However, so long as the credits keep flowing, the Lady-Regent will consider her rule successful - and given her aptitude for the politics of her position, it would take catastrophe to see her unseated.

    Near the borders of the Eastern Wasteland lie the cities of S’th and Baandr. These cities have historically been rivals - though following the Contact War, S’th has seized much of Baandr’s lands. While S’th is now the wealthier of the two cities, almost all of that wealth has flowed straight into the hands of its ruler - the corrupt Lord Karkatus. As trade over the Moghresian Sea, and wealth from the stolen lands of Baandr flows in, the Karkatus Clan and their lackey guilds grow rich, even while the peasantry suffers beneath the ongoing famine. While Karkatus is corrupt, and mismanaging his lands extensively, he toes the line enough that he has fallen beneath the notice of Overlord Sirax - at least, for now.

    Baandr, ruled by Lord Mizaruz Izweski, is a smaller city - Lord Mizaruz is not a terribly effective ruler, and is easily overwhelmed by the difficulties of his position. Were he not of the Hegemon’s own clan, he likely would have been unseated by now - but as it is, he holds onto what remains of his lands, and makes plans to take back what is his from the upstart Karkatus to the west. Baandr was once the stronghold of the Marazilite Order, also known as the Iron Masks - but after the exile of High Priest Unzi and the disbanding of the Order, their presence has largely been replaced by Sk’akh Priests of the Warrior. The city is almost entirely and militantly Sk’akh - and while Skalamar is its heart, Sinta historians believe that the region around Baandr is where the religion has its origins. The city is also known for its peculiar vines that cover almost every building. During Versakh, they bloom colourful flowers and become a popular tourist attraction. They are carefully tailored by the local priesthood and inhabitants in general. While pruning is legal, clearing the vines entirely from a building is punishable by exile from the city.

    Culture

    The Heartlands have been known for centuries for their wealth, since before the Izweski ruled, and that is the stereotype that persists about Heartland Sinta, even the lowliest of peasants. It has historically been the first to receive the benefits of any new modernisation, whether by Sinta or alien hands. As such, Unathi from the Izweski Heartland are usually perceived as being worldly and having access to the full benefit of modern technology - which leads many to paint them all as soft and lazy.

    The Heartland is also known for its intrigue - it has been the centre of power on Moghes for nearly seven hundred years, and the intricate webs that have been spun between the noble clans of the region make the schemes of other Unathi look like child’s play. Even among the peasant clans, life in the Heartland is a constant struggle for advancement in life. As such, those from the Heartland are often viewed as being a proud and ambitious people - or, from a less generous lens, manipulative and untrustworthy.

    The Sinta of the Heartland are, perhaps unsurprisingly, some of the most patriotic citizens of the Hegemony. To them, the Izweski are not simply far-off rulers, and they are not simply a part of the Hegemony - it is their Hegemony, and criticism of it is likely to see one ostracised. While there is some criticism of Hegemon Not’zar, in the Heartland he is generally beloved by the peasantry - even as the famine drags on. Izweski banners can be seen flying far and wide across the region, being as common as local clans’ heraldry almost everywhere. Similarly, the Traditionalist Coalition is hated with passion in the Heartland. They are viewed as backwards savages and treacherous cowards, who nearly brought Moghes to ruin by beginning the nuclear war. While many Traditionalist refugees have come to the region since the end of the Contact War, they are often discriminated against and derided by the locals as traitors and the spawn of traitors, and will often be treated as barely a step up from Guwan.

    Nearly every major Hegemonic Guild has widespread holdings within the Heartland, with many of them having their central guildhalls in Skalamar or the surrounding area. While Hephaestus has expanded its operations into the region, and often contends with the Unathi guilds for local contracts, so far it has managed to coexist without much friction.

    Faith

    The Heartland is overwhelmingly Sk’akh, as the historic centre of the Church’s power. However, there is some presence of other faiths within the region. Imash’hi, due to the influx of refugees from the Wasteland, is evenly divided between Sk’akh, Th’akh and Si’akh - a state of affairs which has caused much tension, as the overcrowded slums frequently give rise to vicious religious violence, which the Lady-Regent seems unable or unwilling to quell.

    Though one would not expect to find the Aut’akh in the Heartland, with the faith having been branded as a dangerous cult and outlawed across the Hegemony, one of the largest undercity communes of Moghes lies beneath the streets of Skalamar. The sewer system of the city, an ancient and labyrinthine construction, holds potentially hundreds of cybernetically enhanced Unathi, struggling to survive day by day and grow their faith. For Aut’akh seeking to get offworld, the Skalamar commune is their best bet, as the sheer size of the city’s spaceport makes it easy for them to sneak passage offworld with some of the less-than-reputable captains who dock there. Overlord Sirax has been trying, to little avail, to crack down on the Skalamar commune - however, the City Watch is already strained to keep the peace as is, and while the Aut’akh faith may be viewed as an abomination, the amount of trouble it causes is relatively small, leading to it being treated as a low priority by local law enforcement.

    Holidays

    Victory Day is a holiday of contrasts - a celebration of Izweski victory in the Contact War, and a subdued mourning for the lives lost to what the locals tend to consider solely the crimes of the Traditionalist Coalition. Traditionally, it is a day of rest and respite, with Sinta gathering with their clan-mates and loved ones to remember what they treasure, and spending the night in a quiet and subdued ceremony, to honour the souls of those destroyed in the nuclear exchange.

    Traditionally, there are three main holy days of the Sk’akh Church, each dedicated to one of the Great Spirit’s three Aspects. The Day of the Warrior falls in the heat of Versakh, and is generally a time of wild contests of strength and skill, as well as a day when many young men seek to join with the City Guard or their local lord’s personal forces. The Day of the Fisher falls during Kasavakh, and is a day of feasting and merriment, in thanks for the labour of the fishers, which makes life possible for all. The Day of the Healer falls in Travakh, and is a day of reflection on how even in the darkest and coldest of times, Sinta are blessed with Sk’akh’s grace, and the power to bring life into this world.

    The anniversary of a Hegemon’s coronation is also customarily a holiday within the Heartland - though the anniversary of Not’zar’s is a mixed occasion, as it reminds all too many of the madness of Hegemon Sk’resti, and the doom he nearly brought to Moghes. However, it is still a joyous occasion, with Izweski banners flying in the streets, many peasants and guildsmen being given time off their work, and celebration of the glory that the Hegemon is sure to bring to all Unathi, in time.

    Entertainment

    The Heartland has a thriving entertainment industry, having been the centre of Moghes’ television networks since their invention. The Keepers of Heirlooms oversee large parts of this industry, producing most of the movies and television series of the Izweski Hegemony. Some of the most notable productions of the Heartland are:

    Last Days of Kres’ha’nor - A historical drama series, focusing on the dying days of Hegemon Kres’ha’nor, in the moments before the First Hegemony collapsed. It follows a large cast of courtiers, including the Hegemon’s many vassals and children. The show has become wildly popular among both nobles and peasants, with strong arguments being held on Extranet forums as to which of the Hegemon’s children is most worthy of seizing his power. The show is currently awaiting its third season, with Hegemon Kres’ha’nor having finally died in a shocking moment at the end of the second season.

    The Waste Hunter - An action movie, focusing on the seasoned warrior Jharak Guwandi. Framed for the murder of the lord he was sworn to protect by his corrupt and villainous brother, Jharak is made Guwandi and exiled to the Wasteland. Swearing to clear his name, he fights against raiders, Traditionalist holdouts, and assassins of the Shadow Service as he works to bring down his brother and restore the rightful heir to his lord’s seat. The film has received mixed reviews, with some saying that Guwandi should not be depicted regaining their honour in any way other than a glorious death - but generally, it is agreed that the fights are impressive regardless.

    Venom Hearts - A television series primarily made for women, Venom Hearts is a story about the hardened spy and investigator, Zo’kaa Lhesk Yiia, as she runs her investigative business in the heart of Skalamar, solving crimes too tough for the City Watch. In the show’s many seasons, she has had numerous lovers both male and female, and come up against all sorts of adversaries - from the Shortclaw Clan to corrupt nobles and the assassins of the Shadow Service. The show’s seventh season recently aired, ending with Yiia’s desperate flight offworld, pursuing her arch-rival, a villainous noblewoman turned criminal mastermind, to the Republic of Biesel.

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