Legacy of Darkness (3.5e Campaign Setting)/Geography/Dryx'a and Yellik

Dryx'a and Yellik, The Dark Twins

 * Size: Small(State) (Dryx'a), Large (Small country) (Yellik)
 * Shape: Sphere
 * Location: Outer Ring
 * Climate: Temperate (Dryx'a), Unique (Yellik)
 * Terrain: Plains (Dryx'a), Insubstantial Shadow (Yellik)
 * Race:
 * 99% Dryx'alin


 * 1% Others

Civilization Traits

 * Owner: None
 * Dominant Alignment: Lawful Neutral
 * Civilization State: Independant nomad tribes
 * Religious Beliefs: None
 * Other Civilization Traits: Ex-Imperial training shards

History and Background:

Established as a military training world seventy years ago, the shard Dryx’a was chosen for it's close proximity to its twin Yellik, a much larger shard populated by incorporeal wraiths dubbed “Langs”, (after the first mate of the ship who discovered the shard, he was also the first person to be slaughtered by the wraiths). The theory was that once they had completed their training, the soldiers would travel to Yellik to keep themselves honed ready for battle by practicing on the wraiths. However, around five years after the facility’s founding, an anomaly occurred. Dryx’a’s orbit around Yellik brought the two shards so close they nearly touched, allowing the wraiths to enter Dryx’a. The larger shard soon moved to block the sunlight, creating an effect similar to an eclipse. Dryx’a became partially integrated with Yellik as the other shard dragged it into its orbit. The training facility was almost entirely destroyed and the very few survivors were driven into hiding for the next two years until Yellik disengaged and moved far enough away that sunlight finally warmed the now barren plains of Dryx’a. Years passed and it seemed the Empire had forgotten about the ten thousand soldiers of Dryx’a. The remaining soldiers soon separated and formed small roving groups, each with their own form of fighting. More years passed and there was still no sign of the Empire, deepening the survivor’s resentment towards it. Finally, fourty years later, a small contingent of warriors claiming to be Imperial evaluators trying to determine whether Dryx’a was colonizable or not. Shocked to find a thriving population already existing, the evaluators reported the shard as in hospitable due to the closeness of Yellik, further abandoning the survivors.

In recent years, Void pirates have begun recruiting the anti-Imperial Dryx’alin to raid convoys and shards, and just generally pester the Empire. From pirating, many Dryx'alin went on to become mercanaries and warriors for the Confederacy and the Rebels.