Asti (world)

Asti's main world (the seventh planet in the system) is a small wet and lightly populated world with an orange atmosphere. The population occupies itself with non-industrial activities associated with planetary rotation cycles or 'rituals' that extend for many concentric cycles; the larger of which extend beyond the life spans of citizens and even the balkanized states that organize the planet. Though low by Imperium standards, the Asti'A, as they call themselves, make the most of their technology. A digital intelligence fabric regulates monetary and information exchange in a manner that optimizes the output and well being of the mostly satisfied citizens.

Spending time with their clan and prides, the Aslan are fairly peaceful due to a system interwoven in the ritual dynamics which allocates land in a manner that is both reflective of what is considered a just distribution and a relatively limited land mass on which to live on the surface. In fact, one of the most noteworthy features of Asti's main world is the uncanny situation where many clans dwell on large scale water vessels akin to cities sailing the planet. Aslan from Asti are marked by their rather unusual affinity and comfort with water. Asti was the subject of a study conducted by the Imperial College of the Aston sector. In it, a leading Astrobiophysican uses Asti as a prime example of the intimate relationship between planetary mineral composition and the emergence of culture. The central thesis is that Asti's main planet's preponderance of iron oxides and water combined to essentially leave the resident colonizing species with no choice but to create vast large iron barge like cities with platforms supplying grazing ground for species of stock animals that thrived on biomorphic algae that thrive in the tainted atmosphere.

The Travellers' Aid Society rates the planet aloof but tolerant to visitors. Travellers' logs advise visitors to the planet to expend extra efforts not to interrupt the dances and ritualistic harmonic creations orchestrated on a daily basis on a massive scale. The sound is said to be beautiful and 'indescribable' or 'like drinking like through your ears" in various traveler submissions to the central log. The Skinsbrow Inn and Bar is said to be a good place to secure trade in the starport. There is also rumored to be a drink that can have profound psionic effects on non-Aslan visitors but it does not appear to have that effect on the Aslan themselves. A botanist from the Imperial University of Eifau is currently investigating the properties of this beverage drawn from the pollen of a rare luminescent biomorphic state of an unusually colored sub-species of the Asti'A's algae harvest.