H'Catha

H'Catha is the eighth and outermost planet in Realmspace, notable for its unique disc-like shape and its association with the beholders, who dominate its culture and politics. It is a mysterious and perilous world, a beacon for adventurers seeking intrigue but also fraught with danger due to its alien inhabitants.

Structure and Appearance

• Disc-Shaped World: H'Catha is flat and circular, resembling a massive plate rather than a spherical planet. Its edges curve slightly upward, giving it a shallow bowl-like appearance.
• Central Spire: At the center of H'Catha stands a towering, crystalline spire known as the Fountain of Infinite Portals. It is a focal point of magical energy and the most significant landmark on the planet.
• Atmosphere: The planet’s atmosphere is breathable and maintained by mysterious magical forces. Its skies are often dim, bathed in a perpetual twilight due to the planet's distance from the sun.

Geography and Environment

• Smooth and Reflective Surface: Much of H'Catha is covered in smooth, reflective surfaces, such as crystal plains and metallic deserts, giving the planet an otherworldly appearance.
• Sparse Vegetation: Natural vegetation is rare, limited to alien plant forms like crystal bushes and energy-absorbing fungi that thrive on the planet's magical energies.
• Scattered Water Pools: Large, still pools of liquid, often glowing faintly, dot the surface. These are believed to be magically enriched and hold strange, possibly toxic properties.

Inhabitants

• Beholders: H'Catha is dominated by beholders, the powerful and xenophobic aberrations known for their eye stalks and deadly magical rays. Each beholder considers itself the perfect being, and their societies are rife with rivalry and paranoia.
• Beholderkin: Other beholder-like creatures, such as gazers and spectators, also inhabit H'Catha, often serving their more powerful kin.
• Thralls and Minions: Humanoids and other creatures enslaved or controlled by the beholders populate the planet, performing menial tasks or acting as intermediaries for their masters.

Culture and Society

• Beholder Rivalries: The beholders of H'Catha do not form a unified society. Instead, they establish isolated domains, each ruled by a single beholder or a small faction, constantly vying for power and supremacy.
• Elder Beholder Influence: Ancient and more powerful beholders are believed to hold sway over significant portions of the planet, enforcing their will through terror and psionic domination.
• Magic and Technology: The beholders’ lairs are filled with advanced magical and mechanical constructs, often blending the two in ways that are as alien as they are effective.

Magical and Mystical Aspects

• The Fountain of Infinite Portals: This central spire is a source of immense magical power. It is rumored to contain gateways to other planes, hidden knowledge, or even the origin of beholderkind. Many believe it also stabilizes H'Catha’s unique shape.
• Psionic Dominance: The beholders' psionic abilities are amplified by the planet’s natural magical fields, making them even more dangerous on their homeworld.
• Alien Mysteries: The reflective surfaces of H'Catha are said to hold strange properties, such as showing glimpses of other dimensions or projecting illusions to mislead travelers.

Role in Spelljamming

• Dangerous Destination: H'Catha is considered one of the most dangerous places in Realmspace, as approaching the planet often results in encounters with hostile beholders or their thralls.
• Rare Resources: Despite the risks, the planet’s crystalline structures and magical pools attract daring adventurers and traders seeking rare materials or magical artifacts.
• Beholder Ships: H'Catha is a hub for beholder Spelljamming vessels, which launch raids or expeditions into other parts of Realmspace.

H'Catha is a planet of alien beauty, immense danger, and endless mystery. Its strange landscapes and formidable inhabitants make it a compelling yet perilous destination for those bold enough to brave its many threats.