Kivria (kˈivrja)
Kivria is a large oceanic planet with limited land yet substantial biodiversity above and below its vast waters. This planet's unique environmental conditions have caused Kivrian scientists to describe it as "a perfect nursery for life to flourish, even attain higher intelligence," yet limited by its "inability to adequately support the needs of a civilization sufficiently technologically advanced enough to traverse space."
One thing all of Kivrian civilizations have in common is that they are ever changing, passed down from generation to generation of mortals. Their creativity has led them to scientific discovers and technological marvels unfathomable to all who came before them.
Geography and Climate
Continents
Oceans
Current Climate Trends
Terrestrial species are in a seemingly never-ending battle with their oceans to maintain the lands they have. Erosion and flooding are a source of constant concern, especially for the extensive island fauna and flora. This general climatic situation alongside significant technological advancement has led to twomajor, dueling priorities amongst the peoples of Kivria in the modern era:
- Focus on environmental sustainability and preservation of Kivria, even if it stymies technological advancement.
- Focus on extracting resources to fuel the development of advanced technology needed to colonize new planets, even if it damages their planet.
"It's the only home we have, we need to take care of it!" "For now, sure, but my money's on terraforming Ebitus."
Flora & Fauna
Native Sophonts
Kivria is home to a myriad of native sophonts, but only a few dominate. The four major civilization builders of Kivria include the homogenous Awassi and Henin as well as the hybrid Hewas and Astris. Other sophonts are classified as "feral sophonts," a term for species that belong to neither of the above four species.Awassi
The Awassi were the first Kivrian species to achieve measurable sophonce. This ovine species is best known for their high intelligence and surprising versatility as well as an unfortunate susceptibility to illness and injury. Within recent memory, a plague nearly rendered them extinct, toppling thousands of years of Awassi civilizations and creating a population bottleneck by the time in ended. While their population is on a promising upward swing, the long term viability of their species continues to be alarmingly vulnerable.Henin
The Henin are the most common Kivrian sophont species. They are canid in nature, an otherwise rare biological family on the planet in the modern era. They are highly intelligent and social creatures, as well as hardier and more proliferant. They are the only species to have been studied through their rise to sophonce. Their canid ancestors evolved alongside the Awassi with a range of relationships, from feared predators in the earliest records, to beloved companions and guardians, and eventually to bona fide equals.Hewas
Astris
"Feral" Sophont Species
Native Flora and Fauna
Meta Note
The vast majority of Kivria's flora and fauna are taken from existing species on Earth, which are usually given unique in-universe traits and breeds. Maybe one day I'll get hit with inspiration for more fantastical creatures and overhaul this, but don't worry, ducks are eternal.Extraterrestrial Invasive Interference
Yashelin: No Such Thing as a Prime Directive
With the exception of significant yet natural astronomical events, all extraterrestrial interference can be traced back to the carelessness of the Yashelin, a sophont species from the planet of Aravu. The Yashelin are directly responsible for the introduction of many invasive species, some of which are now so deeply entrenched in Kivrian ecosystems that it would cause more damage to remove them. Additionally, the Yashelin massively impacted the early development of native Kivrian sophont societies, most egregiously by helping early native peoples develop advanced technology more rapidly than would have otherwise been possible."How could you earnestly say we should let generations worth of people die from preventable diseases because they hadn't intellectually earned life-saving medical knowledge yet? What did we go through all the anguish to perfect fucking, I don't know, water pipes if not to share it? I'd rather risk a dragon infestation or inspire weird religions than say that I stood by and let people suffer."
