Holm

Frigidia (3rd Planet)

Orbit: 70

Type: Solid Giant

Gravity: 1.3389756

Length of Day: 22.6 Hours

Length of Year: 2717.0 Local Days [Earth Years = 7.0]

Average Temperature: 10 o C

Axial Tilt: 29 o

Diameter: 4278.414 km

Hydrosphere: 6%/Water - Slightly acidic

Atmospheric Density/Weather/Pressure: 40%/Turbulent Weather/1.22

Climate/Terrain: Sub-arctic/Mountainous

Population: 60% Humans, 20% Vrusk, 20% Others

Description: 

Frigidia is the only planet supporting life in the Holm system. It is a dismal planet covered by dark green noxious clouds. Only 5 colonies exist near the equator - located near the base of a vast mountain range that stretches across the land. The colony centres - many hundred of miles apart - are linked by huge tunnels that also act as fungal farming areas. The largest colony is called Spector II and it houses the largest artificial subterranean cavern in this sector. Within this cavern is a vast farm of several types of fungi. They are considered a wondrous delicacy throughout the Federation.

History: 

Holm was the very first system explored by the UPF when she arrived at the Palalyrn Cluster over a 150 years ago. The very first settlement of Spector was founded in the first year of Frigidia's discovery - the impetus being the discovery of an enormous cavern system nearby filled with rooms of edible fungi. It was perhaps fate that the first manned explorer vessel to the surface of Fridgidia discovered the lone cavern entrance at the foot of one of the higher mountains found on the equator. Within its dank depths, the explorers found a huge swath of fungi growing on nearly every possible surface; they were even growing on the ceiling. After careful analysis, it was reported that the fungi were edible and very delectable - in fact most of them tasted even better than portabello and shiitake mushrooms that are cultivated and so sought after by humans. In fact most of the fungi found on Fridgidia are of a genus that resembles a mix of these two types of mushrooms found only on Sol.

Shortly thereafter, a settlement was founded just outside the cavern entrance and an agricultural extraction system was set up to extract and then export the delectable mushrooms to the rest of the UPF. Slowly, the city of Spector grew around it and many cavern surveyors delved deeper into the cavern system. The city continued to expand into the cavern system and an attempt was made to map it. However, the Spector cavern system is so expansive that it was not fully mapped. The first mayor of Spector was Sergol Avaasta, an outspoken human mycologist (a person who studies fungi).

Within a short ten years, 3 more cities were founded (Abhrams, Xylus, then Quell in that order). And, as they say, the rest is history.

Cities of Note (in order of population size) :

• Spector II - The largest colony on Holm is located in a gigantic cavern located 5 km underground . Spector II accommodates a racial mix of 70% Human, 25% Vrusk, and 5% other species. At last count, the population ranges between 3 to 4 million inhabitants. The main traffic artery to the heart of Spector II is via a vertical tunnel that has many levels of landing zones. This vertical tunnel nicknamed "The Chute" is also defended by defensive doors and laser turrets. Spector II's main cavern was dug out over a period of 10 years and the real estate was originally zoned to house huge agricultural farms growing Rhanswid mushrooms - a common and succulent food staple for the inhabitants of Frigidia. Over recent years, extensive renovations and further excavations to the cavern have expanded Spector II to a 40 km by 40 km square cavern with huge man-made cera-titanium pillars supporting the cavern at many points. Today, only 40% of the colony is agricultural while the remainder are commercial and industrial focused.

• Abhrams - Xenophobic citizens after discovery of alien artifacts which sparked city-wide murders . Almost exclusively a surface domed colony of humans (90%), Abhrams is the second oldest city on Frigidia. This city of 50,000 inhabitants live in a cluster of interconnected trans-cerasteel domes. Abhrams was recently a buzzword for the UPF military - it was reported that a mysterious alien artifact was discovered - a dodecahedral shaped apparatus of unknown composition and purpose. The first few persons initially exposed to the device entered a state of psychosis for no apparent reason. After which, these people started murdering everyone in sight. Anyone who came near to the device also fell prey to the state of psychosis. Fortunately, 24 hours later, the artifact fell silent. It was retrieved by the military and whisked away for further investigation. The damage however, was already done for Abhrams. Most of the people in the city became wary and cautious with anyone they encountered on the street. The word is that the artifact induced psychosis may be a contagious disease. A quarantine for the city is only a matter of time.

• Xylus - Hi-tech research into fungal farming being performed here. Drug lords reputed to be here (50% Vrusk, 45% Humma)

• Quell - Although remote, this busy industrial and agricultural city is gaining in size with Xylus (70% Human, 25% Vrusk)

• Spector - Originally a pioneer settlement, Spector is now a small fungal farm, after a disastrous earthquake several years ago . The history of Spector is intertwined with the history of Fridgidia - please refer to the History section above.

Adventure Hooks :

• "Stop the Druglord" : A secret underground organisation is producing an addictive drug that causes victims to be high and suffer from fantastic hallucinations. The organisation is said to be led by a Vrusk named K'rit-tzaw-lrr - a monstrous but brainy mutation with two insectoid heads. Recently, the xenophobic citizens of Abhrams have become victims of the druglord and his gang of Vrusk punks. K'rit actually answers to a mysterious higher-up, and the adventurers will find this out through the course of the adventure. The higher-up could be Sathar or some other evil person.

• "Tetrahedral Terror" : Excavation for a new cavern near the outskirts of Quell has revealed a huge chamber housing a mysterious black pyramidal building of unknown origin. It begins to hum whenever any living being comes within 100 metres of it. Within days, tremors are felt which gradually increase in frequency and magnitude. Unless something is done, another disastrous earthquake will take place possibly burying thousands alive. Related topic: Ebony Pyramid of Quell

• "The Runaway Express" : An automated express train carrying hundreds of rush hour passengers from Abrahms to Spector II goes out of control with the adventurers aboard. Checking the control cabin, they find the maintenance crew either unconscious or dead. It appears someone has inserted a virus into the neuro-computer system and locked out control to the brakes. The twist is that the psychotic mastermind is actually masquerading as one of the maintenance crew aboard the train and will covertly make his demands to the authorities from another communication point. The train ride ends in two hours, so the adventurers don't have any time to lose...

Unique Flora and Fauna :

• Aabader

• Jharzzlark

• Lumbeni

• Mushrooms - Fridgidia, Prytl