Description: Zah-Kit is the first planet that was colonized in the Fonn system. Most of the planet is a huge rocky desert with temperatures soaring to a high of 69oC during noon near the equator. In the south pole is a large but relatively shallow body of water, the Jannyce Sea, with warm ocean currents and waves that lap gently at the rock-strewn coastline. The shores of the sea hold the greatest number of inhabitants of the planet in no less than five bustling urban centres. Across the desert in the northern hemisphere is Brackish Lake where two cities attempt to eke out an existence by fishing and mining. Incidentally, an interesting story about the desert is often repeated to awe visitors. The Curnowski Desert is named in honor of the sole human who made a trek from the city of Katl'Klik to Yahl Pagh by foot. And, Curnowski only did it to raise money for charity. Curnowski made a second attempt to walk from Helmdun to Fodah, but he never made it back alive.
Cities of Note (in order of population size):
K'rak-tik - The largest city of Zah-Kit lies atop a hill overlooking the Jannyce Sea. Zah-Kit is ruled by a council of five Vrusk senators and it is here in the T''rik'nlik Senate House where they can be found. In addition, the city is well known for its huge conglomeration of trading malls that offer competitive prices. It is also said, that for a price, anything can be bought in K'rak-tik. (44% Vrusk, 24% Dralasite, 20% Human, 12% Others)
Katl'Kilk - Katl'Kilk lies north of a beautiful stretch of golden beaches that is always crowded with tourists. The city is the only one on Zah-Kit equipped with decent docking facilities for offworld travellers. (50% Vrusk, 30% Human, 10% Dralasite, 10% Others)
Helmdun - A large air-conditioned dome encloses most of the city center to lower the temperature, which can easily reach 50oC at the current latitude. (30% Human, 29% Dralasite, 20% Vrusk, 16% Osaka, 5% Others)
Aryli - This mid-sized city is mainly a large industrial centre. Recently, residents have been complaining about the pollution that is poisoning the land and the Jannyce Lake, however, the governing and law officials have been ignoring the problem. Rumors persist of corruption and bribery. (40% Dralasite, 40% Human, 15% Vrusk, 5% Others)
Fodah - This small city lies south of several large geysers that regularly spurt steaming hot water about a hundred feet into the air. It is an awesome sight that attracts many visitors. (Mixed)
Yahl Pagh - Once surpassing and almost rivalling Kat'l Klik in terms of size and power, Yahl Pagh's destiny was altered when an errant asteroid from Ring X crashed into the western part of the city just two years ago. (Mixed)
Swakala - A small domed village that houses a reclusive group of people. (Mixed)
Adventure Hooks:
All Heated Up: A bunch of terrorists has taken over the Helmdun Dome in the wee hours of the morning. They have locked up all exits and turned off the cooling systems. As noon slowly approaches, the temperature gets noticeably hotter while the air gets more stale with every breath that the trapped and panicking citizens make. The adventurers could either be trapped in the dome or they could be a rescue team trying to find their way in before thousands of victims succumb to the unbearable heat.
Star "Trek": Jack Dyllard, a famous holovid actor, stuntman, director and writer, has taken up a bet to follow in Curnowski's footsteps and cross the desert from Helmdun to Fodah. A day after Jack's beacon signal disappears, the adventurers are approached by Jack's manager and publicist to find him. During the desert trek, the adventurers find Curnowski's body and a heretofore undiscovered carnivorous creature (ala Dune or Tremors starring Kevin Bacon, etc.). If they defeat the creatures, they will find eventually find Jack, dehydrated but thankfully alive. Unbeknownst to the adventurers, someone else is following them. The new group could be kidnappers, robbers or worse.
Secret of Swakala - Most of the people living in Swakala are actually members of the Free Frontiersmen Foundation (FFF: See Zebulon's Guide). This FFF branch steadily migrated from the Frontier region over a century ago and have come up with a hideous plan to overthrow the UPF from the Palalyrn Cluster. Led by a Dralasite called Maalgar, the FFF's members have been covertly infiltrating the UPF and several important top secret plans of the UPF have even been copied/stolen and sent to Swakala. In fact, during the adventurer's visit to Zah-Kit, a human FFF agent running away from his enemies bumps into them. The FFF agent carelessly drops an envelope with important top secret UPF plans within and runs off. Not surprisingly, the adventurers are drawn into a web of intrigue and espionage as they are chased all over Zah-Kit by both the UPF and FFF.
Unique Flora and Fauna: Other than several specimens of cacti-like plants, a handful of small fish-like creatures and zoo-plankton that inhabit the Jannyce Sea, there are no other significant forms of indigineous lifeform on the planet.