Kua

“The jungle is Kua, and Kua is the jungle” is a Sogoi saying that sums up the general view of Kua in the Horizon: heat, damp, rain, and gigantic trees are what make up the jungles that cover most of the planet. The jungles are inhabited by wild beasts, crazed Firstcome tribes and, if the holodramas are to be believed, mighty Portal Builder relics. The immensely popular Bulletin series, The Plantation Owner’s Daughter, is set on Kua, and this is usually where most people’s knowledge of the planet ends. Life deep in the jungles is a completely different world from the city life in the Conglomerate or elsewhere. Every day is a struggle against the wild forces of nature in the form of heavy rains, monsoon storms, and flash floods, as well as more slowly eroding effects such as damp, rust, mold, and the diseases that thrive in the humid climate. But the jungles can also be benevolent, with their rich supply of fruits, lumber, and other raw materials.

Ekilibri Ekilibri are small, lemur-like semi-intelligences that can be trained to work on plantations. They are indigenous to the planet and roamed wild in the jungles before the Sogoi began training them. Some zoologists say that the ekilibri are much smarter than they let on, but the slummers who have seen the little creatures rummage through the Conglomerate’s garbage piles know that scientists can’t be trusted. A rare variant is the silver furred ekilibri who are popular pets because of their beauty and docility. Silver furred ekilibri are considered a status symbol both on Coriolis and in the Monolith.   Azalean The mystical Azaëleans live in the Kuan jungles. The jungle tribes treat these mighty forest dwellers with almost the same reverence as the Icons. They come charging through the trees like a battering ram of fur, muscle, and teeth. They have several ring-shaped mouths with rotating rows of teeth, surrounded by watchful eyes and venomous salivary glands. The Azaëleans leave wide corridors of destruction in their wake. The forest peoples use these tunnels through the undergrowth for traveling, but the jungle soon seizes the opportunity to rejuvenate itself, fresh sprouts and plants filling the hole. The tunnels are so large they can be seen from space using the right kind of sensors. Very few can brag about having seen an Azaëlean – if you get in the way of a moving Azaëlean, start running, or death is a certainty.

Lumber, fruits, and other raw materials