Geography
Terion is a cryo-volcanic body sheathed in hard basalt and glassy tephra, fractured by a global network of pressure seams. Beneath, briny pockets loaded with silicates flash-boil and erupt through “chimneys” that vent silica snow directly into space. A ragged belt of impact-glaciers skirts the terminator where captured frost sublimates at dawn into glittering sheets that slide downslope like slow avalanches.
Landmarks
The Zephyr Field
A plateau of a thousand active geysers whose vents open and seal in a rhythmic pattern, sending braided plumes into low orbit. Loanbularan skimmer-labs perch on retractable pylons between eruptions.
Glassfall Basin
A crater lake of fused silica plates. When Terion flexes, the plates grind and ring like crystal bells—useful for predicting vent surges and timing safe approaches.
Settlements
Ventwatch Array
A daisy chain of anchored labs linked by pressurized walkways, coordinated by an AI called Bellow. It tracks particle composition and “launches” collection kites into plumes.
Chrys Station
Half buried in tephra near the southern pole, this refinery flash-polymerizes silica dust into aerogels and photonic foams bound for Skyhold Anchorage and Gleamshore.
History
Terion was first mapped by echo-sounding from the Chain Isles. Early teams lost entire platforms to unpredictable vent belts until the Zephyr Field’s cadence was modeled. Post-Gap, Terion became the moon most entwined with Loanbula’s economy: its silica feed measurably alters the gas giant’s lower chemistry and seeding pathways into the Quartz Furnace.
Residents
Loanbulara predominately; micro-tough extremophiles line warm conduits, extruding elastic mats that trap minerals. A handful of offworld contractors maintain tug service for plume skiffs.
