Eufez (planet)

Eufez is a small temperate planet with a favorable earthlike climate, making it a comfortable home for hundreds of animal species and several races, such as men, elves, and even dragons. The planet has one moon and day and year cycles nearly identical to those found on Earth (though the day is 3.16 hours shorter). Eufez's topography is rather unique in its appearance, with its relatively scarce land area consisting of several elongated continental strips called Lyzoy. The meteorological conditions of the planet (at average maritime) are also as enigmatic as its geology, with the subtle nuances of its weather being governed by four elemental crystals. In recent years the power of these essential crystals has waned, incurring bouts of tumultuous weather and gradually decaying soil. Crops and harvests have consequently suffered and the crisis has caused famine and conflict across several nations

With much of Eufez's conditions being influenced by these subtle forces of nature and an ancient history barely understood even by its oldest cultures, the planet is a hotspot for magical activity among its sixteen known races. The operations of magic in the world are unregulated and restricted to the internal affairs of certain guilds; for good and for bad. The various civilizations found across the world generally do not have amicable relations and warfare and strife is common among the lesser races. Eufez's more civilised races have in contrast developed an aura of peace which is still agitated by subtle strife and a deep historical animosity between certain races. While men are the most accomplished race on Eufez they are also the youngest, and for this reason they are lamented by a small number of older races who resent the progress of human achievement.

The men on Eufez are according to their own legends believed to have descended from an ancient sky-faring race which crashed upon Eufez after a certain calamity. This impact is believed to have created the Nelkretic Desert. While these legends cannot be definitively proven, archaeological evidence has shown that the presence of men on Eufez dates no farther back than 2,000 years. In comparison surviving settlements of other races on Eufez (such as the ancient faeries and dwarves) have shown that they have lived on the planet for at least 235,212 years. Men are biologically distinct from the rest of Eufez’s inhabitants and are unable to procreate with other races. The chemistry on Eufez has also resulted in men developing new genealogical characteristics, such as blue and green hair. As for the origin of Eufez’s other inhabitants, modern scholars can find no records of them bearing an external origin similar to those of men. Among the modern human civilizations on Eufez, only the Lufenish and Orlaconians attempt to preserve the older ways of life that their progenitors enjoyed.

Before the arrival of men, it is believed that land-dwelling amphibious Sahagin were the last race to hold hegemony over the planet with a rule lasting for an estimated 135,525 years. This hegemony slowly crumbled when men first began to migrate into and across the northern continent, forcing the Sanhagin to retreat to their ocean colonies. This mass migration caused war with the territoriality dominance of the mermaids. Some Sanhagen still despise men in the modern era for this reason, and have been known to collaborate with pirates strictly because of that animosity.

The dominant religion of men on Eufez is Christianity, which has been inherited from the far ancestors and it is believed that they will someday reunite with them. Practices such as slavery, usury, sodomy, fornication, and even war are viewed as taboo on Eufez; with almost all races condemning these practices. This protection is strengthened by the devout devotion to Christianity prevalent among men. Despite these resolutions, there has unfortunately been some recorded instances of fornication between men and mermaids in recent years, while such attempts with elves remain unheard of it. Unfortunately, Eufez also has a jewish and humanist element which has thus far received little attempts to dismantle. The practices of fornication rumored with mermaids has been tied back to jewish infiltration.

The nature of the planet is largely enigmatic even to the oldest races on Eufez, such as the dragons. It is believed that many magical energies operate on the planet making it a target for ethereal and unseen warfare. Eufez’s elemental crystals are believed to have come from angels who in the past sought to bring stability to the energetically tumultuous planet. Because of the dependence of Eufez’ seasons on the stability of these four crystals, the current crisis has resulted in a political reformation in the south. An ancient prophecy foretold that four Warriors of Light would bring stability back to the world and while it was unknown if they would be men or otherwise, they have recently been revealed to be travelers.

Little is known of the other astronomical bodies in Eufez’s system, though there are believed to at least be one to five. Besides from the elemental turmoil currently experienced on Eufez, the geographical history of Eufez has seen little distress. Because of this, many unique fauna and even dinosaur species have survived onto the present day. The planet is famous for its beautiful scenery, and some portions of its continents even remain unexplored.

Etymology
The name of the planet itself comes from the elven language Lumok spoken predominantly by the southern elves but shared as a common language between all elven folk. The word "eue" is an adjective which means 'peace' and is a cognate of the English word 'euphoria', meaning joy and happiness. The term "Fez" is derived from an ancient Gigas and later Lumok word which means home; therefore the name Eufez has been interpreted to mean "home of peace".

The Elven curator and writer Hilip vur Talondone famously wrote concerning the name Eufez and in his book The Pillars of the South he explains:

"The usage of the name Eufez which is antiquated to our people but novel to men does seem to speak ill of our age. It hearkens back to a time when Eufez was indeed peaceful, and before the crystals of our world were painfully waning before our very eyes. I do not know why men adopted it, as it seems that many remain interlocked in constant battle throughout the forests and plains of this small world. While elves and men may be on ambiguous terms and neither friend or foe, the fact remains that the word Eufez signifies something very close to what I believe men seek today - a place where peace may exist."

Geology
The lyzoy on Eufez are its most striking feature and are believed to initially be the remnants of an ancient flood which impacted the planet's former supercontinent sometime during the late Crejassic period. The impacts and collisions of later asteroids are then believed to have exaggerated the already existing geological formation of these continental strips. Geological limestone molding seen on certain coastal mountain ranges display an origin with these impacts, which are believed to have pushed sedentary rock surrounding the lyzoy to above sea level. The tallest peak on Eufez is Mount Krasus is located in the south, but was not affected by these impacts.

Lyzoy are separated by wide straits called rims, and are usually composed of sedimentary rocks. The composition of each rim varies depending on its location. The eastern rims consists primarily of sandstone and mudstone, whereas western rims contain mainly clay, silt, and gravel. The crust beneath the lyzos is believed to be made up of metamorphic basalt, which makes up the majority of the northern continent. This crust is subject to the movement of tectonic plates and is slowly breaking apart from the mainlands. It is estimated that they may be entirely separated within 511 million years. Despite the soft crust of lyzoy, underground dwarven settlements are not as common as one would believe.

The length of each lyzoy varies greatly with the average length totaling at 506 km. Some strips are bordered by several dotted islands each separated by narrow straits, and then in groups by stretches of open water. These long and relatively thin stretched arms of land make up roughly half of the continental surface area of Eufez. The majority of the planet's population lives within these areas, although smaller communities outside of the lyzoi. Many lyzoi regions are dominated by large lakes which mark the divisions of their winding arms.

Large bodies of freshwater include Lake Sibir, Lake Bakhchisarai, and the Aldis Sea.

It is not known why lyzoy are less prevalent in the northern continent, but theories have been presented about the possible causes of this phenomenon. One theory proposes that the north had a higher concentration of volcanic activity throughout the early part of the planet's history, leading to the formation of numerous lava flows which covered much of the northern hemisphere's lyzoy. Evidence of basaltic bedrock has been found along the edges of certain northern lochs. A second explanation posits that the north's geographical nature has been influenced by its dragon inhabitants, or that the elemental crystals have an influence on lyzoy (this has been disproven). More recent ideas have suggested the mixing of cold and hot waters, drift ice, and the solitary movement of the arctic plates.

Eufez' core is believed to be formed of ice and is geologically inactive, and is part of the reason why magma more rarely seeps out of the mantle. This magmatic intrusion between the mantles could explain the higher quantity of volcanoes around the equator, where tectonic movement occurs more often. The most common metals on Eufez are iron ore, nickel, copper, zinc, silver, gold, tin, and platinum. Most ores are found near the poles, which are believed to be due to the cooling effect of the planet's magnetic field. Mining activities are restricted by how one defines "ore" as different races have different definitions (particularly dwarves). For example, a dwarf considers any metal as an ore, while humans consider only precious minerals as such.

Because of the scarcity of natural resources since the beginning of the elemental crisis, mining operations have become very important in the development of Eufezian society in response. The largest mines are located in the southern region of the planet. However, these operations are not without controversy. While many miners view themselves as selfless heroes saving the world from starvation, critics in literary journals see them as greedy villains destroying the environment for profit. Regardless, the demand for rare earth elements, particularly neodymium and dysprosium, has skyrocketed in the last two decades.

The logistics of the escalation in mining is largely tied to food shortages. With so few crops able to grow in the harsh climatic conditions of Eufez, many nations have resorted to using mining resources in economic negotiation.

Furthermore, underground water sources have appeared to be unaffected by the decay of the elemental crystals. Since this water can be used to irrigate fields and forests, it has created a boom industry. A great deal of money made by the mining industries of kingdoms is invested into farmers. The largest source of revenue comes from selling the processed minerals extracted from the planet's crust for use in certain substances and potions.

Complaints have been made against the dwarves, for it is believed that they have been affected the least by Eufez’ elemental crisis. The waning of the crystals has mostly affected the climate above ground and in the oceans, resulting in famines and strange weather patterns for men, elves and mermaids. Dwarves however, seem to have remained immune to the effects of the crisis and continue to mine the mineral rich soil below. Because of the increase in famines, there have been claims of subterranean farms producing enough food to feed an entire kingdom Though this claim remains unsubstantiated.

In response to these criticisms, the dwarves have argued that they have been exploited during the crisis and that their assistance has been greatly understated. Many isolated dwarven communities have even made startling claims of effective slave labor for faeries. In truth, the dwarves claim that their isolation from the rest of civilization has allowed them to avoid being infected by waning of the crystals.

Additionally, they argue that they are not without their own troubles. Dwarves have reported that the waning of the earth crystal has caused a rise in the number of monsters roaming through the tunnels, which have forced them to adapt their methods of excavation. They also say that their ability to produce steel has diminished due to metals rusting far faster than they used to, requiring them to import certain raw materials. Foul stenches have also been reported in some caves.

Climate
The climate on Eufez is considered temperate with a strong maritime climate across most of its coastal regions, though there are variations between the various biomes. Because of the prevalence of sea currents across most of Eufez (and espeically its lyzoy), there no true winter season on Eufez except for in its far northern and southern regions. Eufez instead has distinct summer and autumnal periods, and snow is a rare sight in most of its countries. Paintings of winter landscapes are popular among Eufezians due to the novelty and unfamiliar nature of snow for many.

The average temperature on Eufez is 25°C, though these temperatures have been declining due to the elemental crisis resulting in some minor migrations. Temperatures are highest along the coastlines and lowest in the mountains. The planet's polar caps are also generally cooler than the surrounding lands. During the hottest months of the year, Eufez experiences high humidity which is sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms and hurricanes. The wettest month on Eufez is August with an average rainfall of 9 cm/4 inches. On average, precipitation levels range from 100 mm to 300mm per annum, though it is known to rain over 200cm every now and then. The dry season lasts from November to April when winds pick up, causing dust storms around Eufez's desert regions.

Across Eufez rainfall averages at 42 meters per year with snow falling occasionally in the highly elevated and mountaneous regions. The planet receives significant amounts of solar radiation, which is reflected off the ocean creating warm tropical climates in the lower lying areas. This is especially apparent along the coasts of the southern hemisphere where the heat is tempered by the constant presence of the cool sea breeze. These processes drive up the evaporation of seawaters and increases precipiation around coastal areas. Many cultures in Eufez have adjusted to the predictability of rainy weather.

Winds in Eufez are generally moderate, except during the spring storms when winds can reach speeds of 60kmh. Winds blow predominantly from the southwest, which helps maintain a consistent moisture flow from the oceans into the atmosphere. Eufez's three seasons are generally dictated by wind and precipiation: the wet season from May through September; the dry season from October to April, and the monsoon season that runs from March until June. The monsoon season has become less significant since the beginning of the elemental crisis, but in turn precipitation is now more often mired with acid rain. Eufez's hurricane seasons differ based on the geographical locations and vary widely from year to year. The continents collectively generally experience one significant cyclone per year between them and often in differing locations.

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Hydrology
Eufez' primary oceanic biome covers the majority of its northern hemisphere including the vast majority of the Northern Continent and the North Pole Ocean. Its waters are divided into three major zones: the tropical seas off the coasts of the Southern Continent, the temperate seas in the center and the frigid Arctic sea in the north. As the name suggests, the tropics lie closest to the Equator and experience warm to hot summers and mild winters. Due to the lack of a permanent ice pack in the Northern Polar Ocean, the waters here are warmer than those further south. There is also a seasonal variation in the amount of sunlight received in this zone; the farther you travel away from the equator the colder the climate becomes until the pole itself. The temperate seas in the middle of the planet are home to the majority of the planet's marine life and human habitation. The climate here is moderate, though the winds do occasionally get quite gusty.

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Formation
Although it is commonly thought that Eufez was formed from meteors crashing onto the planet, scientists today believe otherwise. Scientists suggest that Eufez formed from the collision of two larger planets with 126% the mass of Eufez. Evidence supporting this hypothesis includes the fact that Eufez's moon appears to have a similar composition to Eufez itself. The impact of these celestial bodies caused a significant ring of dust, debris and accretionary materials to develop and over time lead to the formation of Eufez. Eufez in general is a young planet and the oldest geological records suggest to an age of roughly 764 million years. It is unknown whether the original parent body still exists somewhere beyond our current knowledge.

Though it may seem odd to think that two massive objects collided in order to create a small planetoid, Eufez is actually not unique in this regard.

Early History
Conditions of Eufez are believed to have been inhospitable to life before the formation of the elemental crystals which now govern and stabilize its climate. These ancient rocks have not been completely deciphered by modern science and their origins remain somewhat ambiguous. The sacred status of the crystals among all races makes the study of them highly disapproved of in virtually all circles. It is difficult to imagine Eufez without the protective presence of its elemental crystals, and the planet's early state is one of great mystery.

Eufez's atmosphere and oceans were formed rapidly and its magnetic sphere took even less time to develop. Significant levels of water predeposited onto the planet's crust through comet collisions proved enough water to fill Eufez's oceans from an early time. The weather and climate on Eufez quickly became consuming due to its rapid development as compared to other planets. Weather conditions would have been described as "hot and dry" with little to no wind, resulting in dried and soiless sedentary rock. Furthermore, the lack of significant tectonic movement or volcanic activity on Eufez may have led to an environment similar to that of Venus. Fires would also consume any vegetation that would sprout upon the early planet due to the high temperatures caused by its awry axial tilt. It is unclear why Eufez developed so quickly and why its natural forces were never able to regularly abate themselves, and much of these peculiarities have been tied to the density of energetic mass on the planet.

Eufez's crust was formed of an iron-rich metal called rhenium, which was then covered in a mantle of lava that cooled and hardened. This resulted in a mineral rich crust with a highly volatile surface. Due to the extreme heat and pressure, Eufez' crust has remained stable for millions of years. The crust is very thick and is is several kilometers deep across most of Eufez. It is known that the crust has been slowly moving northward at a rate of approximately 4mm per year since the beginning of the elemental crisis. The crust has also begun to buckle due to the pressure from the water underneath, though it is unknown whether this is caused by the loss of the crystals or the gradual movement of the planet's shifting layers.

New continental crust forms as a result of plate tectonics, a process ultimately driven by the continuous loss of heat from Eufez's interior. This process causes the continents to slowly shift and move around the planet. It is believed that the crust is still being formed today, and that the recent shift in the North Pole Ocean is the result of continental drift. However, the rate at which Eufez moves is extremely slow and is not thought to be related to the loss of the crystals.

The elemental crystals have kept Eufez's climate stable for millions of years but in turn have created an environment completely dependent on their existence. Eufez had never experienced an ice age or global warming period but because of the crystal's waning a warming period has been observed as beginning. It is unknown what will happen if the crystals continue to fade, but there are some theories that suggest the planet could enter a period of decay.

Life
The process of life creation on Eufez has not been impeded by any major extinction events thanks to the stability offered by the elemental crystals. Most biological species on Eufez are aquatic, but knowledge concerning marine life is relatively restricted due to the secretive annals of mermaid cultures. Other creatures on Eufez can be broken down into three broad categories: animals, plants and fungi. Of these, animals are the most numerous, and are divided into many subspecies. The seldom occurence of extinction events has allowed vulnerable species such as dinosaurs to survive and continue into the modern age. While it is impossible to know all the different species that exist on Eufez, some of its most recognizable endemic fauna include Gigas worms, bloodtigers, and barettas. The earliest fossils found on Eufez date back to roughly 300 million years ago and are the remains of a primitive amphibian believed to be related to the basilis k.

Most life on Eufez is reliant on the chemical process of oxygen, carbon and baeurs production, though certain species of bacteria and fungi are known to exist which can survive without. Baerus is an atmospheric gas unique to Eufez, which is believed to be produced by the elemental crystals. The element is extremely volatile and is sometimes used as a fuel source for energy production. Most life on Eufez is reliant on baerus to survive, but because men are not native to Eufez they have experienced adaptive changes to Eufez's climate because of their inability to ingest the gas. The most obviously aesthetic changes that resulted because of this include a higher chance of subtle green and blue tints in the hair. Men also have a harder time tolerating the cold and have increased resistance to viral diseases such as smallpox. The ability to absorb vitamins from the sun have shown to be strangely ineffective in most of Eufez's native races, and has led to theories that they may have a more ancient otherworldly origin similar to the readily evident origin of men.

Future
Eufez's long term future has remained uncertain since the beginning of the elemental crisis. It is unclear whether the planet will continue to develop and evolve with the loss of the crystals or if it will fall into decay and collapse. The dimming of each crystal has predominantly affected the lands closest to them first and therefore some southern countries did not experience effects until recently. The first crystal to wane was the air crystal which began to dim in 1600 and effect the areas around the Nelkretic desert around the mirage tower. The climate change in the area was not connected to the crystal until a team of explorers noticed its diminished state n 1603.

While attempts were made to keep the information secretive in order to prevent widespread panic, the crystal's gradual decline was eventually leaked to the public. The knowledge of the crystal's status was shared by a splinter faction of the Crystal Vanguards, who seriously opposed the secrecy being imposed by the society. The knowledge of the air crystal's weakening state was shared with the south through Vanguardian ambassadors and was initially interpreted as an exaggerated report by southern Eufezians.

It was not until 1649 that the waning of the crystals was interpreted to be a fulfillment of ancient prophecy. A period of panic ensued as the population became fearful of when the other crystals would also weaken. Measures were therefore made to protect the surviving crystals at any cost and such measures were seen t be successful until the water crystal also started to wane in 1800. While the waning of the air crystal caused an increase in Eufez's temperature as ocean winds weakened and cloud cover diminished, the water crystal's absence made such conditions even worse. This change in climate resulted in a noticeable decrease in the amount of precipitation and in turn the oceans began to warm and become increasingly acidic. This has resulted in an estimated 28% loss of sealife.

While the crisis was endurable up until this point, the collective loss of both the air and water crystals resulted in Eufez experiencing widespread droughts and famine. Further on, the southern continent began to experience comparable consequenses itself after a few decades of no exposure. This was followed by the earth and fire crystals which both began to sometime around 1946, and such has galvanized much of Eufez's southern nations. Countries that were for long unaffected by the crisis such as Cornelia are now experiencing famines and droughts. It is currently unknown how the situation will evolve, but there have been proposals to create artificial crystals to replace the lost ones. These proposals have met with resistance from the Crystal Vanguards, who argue that the crystals have an esoteric nature that can be hardly understood let alone replicated.

With all four crystals dimmed, the climate of Eufez has entered a period of intense irregularity. The crystal's current conditions are largely unknown as the Crystal Vanguards have refused to disclose the ongoing status of the remaining crystals. It is thought that the southern hemisphere is now facing a more severe crisis than the northern, which may explain why the south has seen a larger increase in population migration in recent decades. Some speculate that the dimming of the crystals has resulted in an increase in seismic activity, which has led to a large number of sinkholes forming in the Lykion desert.

The first one was discovered in 1855 and was named the "Hole of Sorrows". Such sinkholes have continued to occur since then and the rate of occurrence has increased exponentially since the loss of the water crystal. As a result of these sinkholes, the soil has become highly unstable and is known to be a potential hazard for humans making crops difficult to grow.

Governments have admitted that there is not much that they can do about the crisis apart from wait for a miraculous renewal. The Crystal Vanguards have expressed their belief that the crystal's revival is imminent, though no credible evidence has been produced to support such claims. It is believed that the Crystal Vanguards will continue to prevent any form of intervention as older members view any kind of view as controversial.

While this period of time is usually marked by widespread depression and fear, it is believed that it may also be the reason why the people of Eufez are so well known for their optimistic outlook and their sense of humor. On the other hand, the most pessimistic estimates theorize that if at least one of Eufez's crystals are not renewed by 2006, that the effects may be irreversible.

Shape
The shape of Eufez is believed to be flat, however its geography is so complex that it is impossible to make a definitive statement on its shape. The planet has been compared to a pancake or a fried egg, and there are some dragons who believe that the planet has a hexagonal shape. The lack of any reliable sources makes it impossible to know how accurate any of these theories are. The diameter of Eufez is believed to be around 29% the diameter of Earth. It is estimated that the planet is approximately 1.8 times as dense as Earth, and that its gravity is approximately 0.65% that of Earth.

Heat
The major heat-producing isotopes within Eufez are potassium-40, uranium-238, and thorium-232. These radioactive elements are produced by cosmic rays interacting with the atmosphere, which in turn creates an abundance of heat. This heat is then trapped inside the planet through the process of conduction and convection. Due to the nature of Eufez's composition, the heat that is generated is extremely uneven and can vary widely. This effect has typically been balanced by the earth crystal. However, since the crystal began to wane, the temperature has begun to rise and the planet's heat cycle has become erratic. It is not clear when Eufez will naturally regulate this effect itself.

At the center, the temperature may be up to 6,000 °C (10,830 °F),[104] and the pressure could reach 360 GPa (52 million psi). Because much of the heat is provided by radioactive decay, scientists postulate that early in Eufez's history, before isotopes with short half-lives were depleted, Eufez's heat production was much higher. At approximately 3 Gyr, twice the present-day heat would have been produced, increasing the rates of mantle convection and plate tectonics, and allowing the production of uncommon igneous rocks such as komatiites that are rarely formed today.

Eufez is believed to have once possessed a number of additional crystals that were not included in the original four. Heat crystals are speculated to have been removed by the Crystal Vanguards, but this theory has not been proven.

A portion of Eufez's thermal energy is transported toward the crust by mantle plumes, a form of convection consisting of upwellings of higher-temperature rock. These plumes can produce hotspots and flood basalts. More of the heat in Eufez is lost through plate tectonics, by mantle upwelling associated with mid-ocean ridges. The final major mode of heat loss is through conduction through the lithosphere, the majority of which occurs under the oceans because the crust there is much thinner than that of the continents.

According to Dwarven legends, the immortal dragons had more influence on Eufez in the far ancient past as far back as 6.6 million years. The current king of the dragons Bahamut is believed to be 2,509,017 years old, but he has only ruled for 24% of that period.

Other
The rest of Eufez's mechanics are identical to those of earth.