The surface of Da´Valk is arid and barren. The KessRith considered the planet a challenge for survival - and conquered.
Da'Valk is an arid world whose shallow seas cover only 22 percent of its surface. The inhospitable plains that dominate most of the planet are due to Da'Valk's lack of significant tilt on its axis. The world has no changing climates, and dry winds blow over it year-round.
These same powerful winds have been carving out Da'Valk's topography for thousands of years. The most habitable areas are massive plateaus that tower a kilometer above the lifeless plains. These plateaus are often fertile as well as offering excelling defensive positions, which has made them the focal point of civilization on Da'Valk for centuries.
The freshwater Tranquility Sea is the largest of the two seas. This shallow body of water is surrounded by steep, wind-torn mountains to the north and south and by plateaus to the east and west. Tranquility Sea is no more then 200 meters at its deepest, and has little in the way of fish or other life.
The Bissid Sea is much deeper, descending to three kilometers. Despite its high salt content, it teems with fish and other sea life.
The forests are composed mostly of heavy, tall bushes, and hung with the ubiquitous, vine-like istaki. The istaki can survive on very little water and grows enormous, thorny protrusions. These thorns secrete a poison deadly to most mammals, but the vine-stem stores a liquid that is delicious to drink.
Early History[]
The initial survey vessel sent to explore Da'Valk crash-landed in a violent windstorm, killing almost all the crew. The few survivors did not last much longer, dying of starvation on the shores of the Bissid Sea. The planet was called Feral for its dismal welcome of visitors.
Between 3010 and 3400, several Commonwealth vessels investigated Feral and determined that its harsh weather and dry conditions made it inhospitable to most races. Though the Baufrin found it somewhat tolerable, they discovered nothing on the world worth developing.
Small pirate clans, on the other hand, considered Feral a perfect port. It was distant enough from the bases of the major elements of the Commonwealth Navy, yet within easy striking distance of other worlds in both counties.
Feral's population was always low, amounting to only a few hundred thousand at its peak in 3500. Organized crime took control of its small cities and makeshift spaceports, but soon the gangs turned against each other. In a bloody war of unification and subjugation, Feral came under the control of the Issiki Gang.
The Issiki years were marked by violence against surrounding planets, and lasted until the outbreak of the Snow Plague in Shannedam County. The gang had not been able to effectively quarantine the system because it was dependent on interaction (robberies) with other systems. When the KessRith arrived in the Warkent system, they found Feral's few towns abandoned. Nearly the whole population had died, and the the handful of survivors (mostly starving Baufrin) surrendered to the KessRith.
The KessRith commanding officer, Admiral Da Na'Valk, became so enchanted with the plateaus towering over the seas that he petitioned the Empire to relocate his clan-home to the world. The process took nearly 20 years, but the Empire eventually approved the petition, believing that the presence of such a powerful clan-home would serve to anchor the KessRith presence throughout the region.
More than 300,000 members of Clan Na'Valk migrated to Feral. At Da Na'Valk's death, those who followed his dream renamed the planet to Da'Valk honoring his vision and foresight.
The KessRith were never masters of terraforming, but had stolen enough ideas from the conquered Baufrin and Human empires to transform some of Da'Valk. They imported plants that needed little water, and stocked the Bissid Sea with fish from throughout the KessRith Empire. Clan Na'Valk continued to grow and prosper, as did its attachment to its new clan-home. The only problem was Clan Na'Valk's distance from the KessRith Empire. Old political enemies used its remoteness to their advantage, and soon began to spread rumors that Clan Na'Valk was hatching power plots in its new center of influence. Though none of the charges were true, the clan was so isolated in remote Shannedam County that it could do little to clear its name.
In a trial that was a mockery of justice, Clan Na'Valk's leaders were tried and sentenced to death while other members of Na'Valk were persecuted throughout thee Empire. It took nearly two centuries for the truth, that rival clans had acted without honor against the Na'Valk, to finally emerge.
During the turmoil of the 66th century, Clan Na'Valk stepped in as a mediating force between the KessRith Empire and the resurgent Commonwealth. In the peace accords of 6584, Asurka Na'Valk represented the Empire in the formal surrender of Shannedam and the Alaric March to the Baufrin Suphra Decla.
After Da'Valk officially became a Commonwealth planet, the KessRith population had difficulty adapting to a parliamentary form of government. The resulting civil disputes continued for almost 50 years, with much loss of life. However, terrorism within the clan was declared to be without honor, and the more rebellious members and factions were soon outnumbered and forced into submission.
Recent Events[]
A half-dozen minor KessRith clans live on Da'Valk today, but the powerful Clan Na'Valk still remains the binding force and the predominant clan in Parliament.
Despite the ups and downs of KessRith fortunes here, the world continued to attract new emigrés of the race. The arrival of the Renegade Legions and TOG's attacks on the county had a major impact on Da'Valk. As Human, Naram, and Baufrin war refugees poured into Shannedam County, the Commonwealth gently persuaded the KessRith to allow several thousand to settle on their planet.
The KessRith-controlled Parliament responded generously. They approved the distribution of food, the construction of new housing, and the renovation of the spartan old quarters of cities such as Pact and Breaker for the newly arriving Human and Baufrin.
The leaders of Clan Na'Valk were concerned about how non-KessRith would adapt to life on their world. This fear was put to rest when the Commonwealth requested that Da'Valk accept the 44321st Renegade Infantry Legion as garrison troops in 6810. This legion had lost more than 60 percent of its men and material in battles across Keserdal County, a fact that made a deep impression on the clans.
These Renegade legionnaires were not the kind of Humans the KessRith Empire had subjugated centuries earlier. Instead they were seen as honorable warriors, proud fighters, and competent troops. The KessRith began to see Humans as kin rather than as weak aliens.
With the TOG advance into Shannedam County, the 44321st was rotated to relieve garrison forces during operations on Caesar's Folly. To replace the garrison, the Commonwealth decided to raise a grav legion on Da'Valk using soldiers from its militia regiments. The militiamen of Na'Valk flocked to join the unit that would carry their Clan standard in battle against TOG.
The 60666th KessRith Armored Legion was formed and then armed by Da'Valk, the Commonwealth, and shipments smuggled in form the KessRith Empire. The only KessRith unit of its type in Shannedam, the 60666th is, as yet, untested in combat. This unit promises to be ferocious in battle, however, for they must uphold not only the honor of the Commonwealth, but that of all KessRith striving for freedom against TOG oppression.
By 6828, the 44321st Renegade Infantry Legion was rotated back to Da'Valk, having only seen light action in a raid on Caesar's Folly. Since that time, the two legions have trained together extensively, preparing for the day that TOG forces might reach Da'Valk.
KessRith and Humans split control of the planetary Parliament, with KessRith holding more seats in the House of Lords. Clan Na'Valk is still a political driving force on Da'Valk, and has shown great enthusiasm in working with the rest of the Commonwealth against the TOG invaders.
Planetary Timeline[]
3010
CW investigates but finds little to justify colonization.
3400
Last CW visit to the world Feral (Da'Valk).
3500
Peak of pirate-gang use of world.
6550
Reports from other worlds of rioting against KessRith.
6584
Da'Valk mediator instrumental in peace treaty with KessRith; Da'Valk turned over to CW.
6810
44321st Renegade Infantry Legion admitted as garrison of Da'Valk. The Renegades impress the local KessRith.
6828
44321st Renegade Infantry Legion rotated back to Da'Valk after fighting on Caesar's Folly.
Prefect Map[]
Da'Valk Prefect Planet Map