Kusyu (world)
| Kuzu (Dark Nebula 1226) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classic Era (1116) | A876986-E
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| See also | UWP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kuzu/Yataw (Dark Nebula 1226 A876986-E)
Kuzu is the homeworld of the Aslan and capital of the Aslan Hierate. Its name comes from the Trokh word Kusyu for "motherland" or "home". All of the 29 Tlaukhu clans (and about 300 others) have landholds on Kuzu. Aslan consider land on Kuzu especially valuable, and clans gain both power and status from their landholds on Kuzu.
Kuzu has three major continents, two of which straddle the equator. Several large archipelagos lie off the continents' shores. North and south polar ice-caps, anchored by island groups, cover about 15% of the total world surface.
Kuzu has no capital, per se. Each clan has its own hyufteirlerye - the word refers to a meeting place and could be translated as "city" - but there is no one city or administrative centre which speaks for the entire planet. Individual cities are identified with specific clans, and each clan large enough to control several such cities generally has one htahyu, a "first place" where judgements are made, challenges accepted, and the records kept. The Tlaukhu ("Council of the Twenty-nine") meets periodically at agreed-upon sites in rotation.
Canon conflict
Different canonical sources have reported Kuzu as located in different places. See the Ulane Hoax for a possible explanation for the confusion. See the discussion page for more information.
- Supplement 8 Library Data (A-M)
- Twilight's Peak (book) (Adventure 3)
- Aslan (Alien Module 1)
- MT Alien - Solomani & Aslan
- ↑ "Jump Map API" and map location from Travellermap.com
Non-Canon
Kusyu/Kilrai'/Dark Nebula 1919
A8769H6-E U Hi, In 703 As G4V M0D
Primary: Close binary system. Tyeyo, spectral class G4V. ICN S5G0309G4V. Mass .96 standard. Stellar diameter .934 standard. Luminosity .778 standard. Saietaie, spectral class M0VII. ICN S5G0309M0VII. Mass .154 standard. Stellar diameter .256 standard. Luminosity .011 standard.
Planetary System: Nine major bodies. Two inhabited world (Kusyu, IV; Aoshi, IVa). Three gas giants. No planetoid belts.
IV Kusyu: Mean orbital radius, 150.3 million kilometers (1.004 AU). Period 320.02 days. Two satellites. Diameter, 12980 kilometers. Density, .99 standard. Mass, 1.05 standard. Mean surface gravity, 1.02G. Rotation period: 36 hours, 2 minutes, 23 seconds. Axial inclination 2°2.1". Albedo, 0.268. Surface atmospheric pressure, 1.1 atm. Composition, oxygen-nitrogen mix. Hydrographic percentage, 63%; composition, water and frozen water-ice. Mean surface temperature, 9.1°C.
Remarks: Kusyu (often spelled "Kuzu" in Galanglic) lies in the center of what we know as the Dark Nebula Sector (or I'aheako, to those of the Hierate). It is the homeworld of the major race calling itself the Fteirle, which humans know as the Aslan.
The world is much like Terra in many respects, with similar mass, density, and gravity. The mean surface temperature is somewhat cooler, but the minimal axial tilt and orbital eccentricity results in a stable, year-round climate with a continuous growing season.
Kusyu's equatorial temperatures are quite comfortable for humans. The slightly larger land surface area has resulted in greater desert and tundra regions than on the Solomani homeworld. Despite the extreme territorial nature of Kusyu's natives, large tracts of less hospitable land have been kept as wilderness.
Kusyu's temperate regions are characterized by broadleafed plant life, heavily pigmented a blue-green color. This lush flora, rich in color and form, tends to give much of the planet's surface a jungle-like feel.
Society: Of particular geosocial interest is the fact that Kusyu has no capital, per se. Each clan has its own hyufteirlerye - the word refers to a meeting place and could be translated as "city" - but there is no one city or administrative center which speaks for the entire planet. Individual cities are identified with specific clans (huiha), and each clan large enough to control several such cities generally has one htahyu, a "first place", where judgements are made, challenges accepted, and records kept. The Aslan "Council of the Twenty-nine", the Tlaukhu, meets periodically at agreed-upon sites in rotation.
The principal starport is Firuahfahr, an excellent class-A facility on the south coast of the continent of Tafohti. The site is perhaps the closest thing on Kusyu to an international city, since all the major clans and many of the minor ones maintain trading and mercantile houses here, convenient to the port. The port itself is directly administered by the Tlaukhu, which maintains a legal presence within the floating complex known as the L'Ihahtoi - the Floating Gardens.
Being a tourist attraction as much as a practical structure, the Floating Gardens is a vast, saucer-shaped building hanging 2 kilometers above the starport's ground terminal. Housed here are certain administrative functions of the starport as well the world's principal human enclave. Hotels, bars, shops, restaurants, and other facilities catering to humans and other non-Aslan line the gaily decorated boulevards.
Other notable places of interest on Kusyu include the cataracts of Saukhaeeah Falls, cutting through crystal-encrusted cliffs along the upper reaches of the Tiyrl River. The isolated splendor of the mountain city of Stausye'asarereah provides a breath-taking panorama of the terrain below, while the Five Cities of Aslan legend (Ihraaohealraoa, Ekhtiysakhoikhailr, Hwiaoheahrih, Khtyereahlaoh, and Seaoul) on the Tafohti continent allow you to drink deeply of Aslan history and lore.
Advice for Travellers: Though the sites beyond Firuahfahr are tempting to visit, it is not a trip you should make casually. Aslan outside of Firuahfahr are generally far less tolerant of human ways. It is highly recommended that any excursions be conducted under the company of an Aslan guide. In addition, you should keep the following behavioral guidelines in mind:
Don't send a boy to do a woman's work
The Aslan are sensitive to the importance of sexual roles. Males do male work (like hunting and fighting) while females do female work (administrative and technical activities). Since Aslan find it hard to distinguish between human sexes by external means, you will likely be assigned a sex based on the activities you undertake.
If you seem ambiguous about your role (say you arrange a business deal, then pilot a ship), you will confuse most Aslan. Such behavior is perceived as "unnatural".
Do not show your teeth In public
Due to their carnivorous nature, Aslan often interpret a toothy smile as a challenge, unless that Aslan is used to dealing with humans. An unstifled yawn could have similar results.
Do not offer a male money
This restriction also results from Aslan's gender-related activity structure. In Aslan society, it is the females who handle money. Males often don't know the first thing about about handling monetary matters. Offering money to a male may be perceived as trying to take advantage of him.
Do not refuse a challenge
Of course it is best to avoid situations where a challenge is required. However, if a challenge-of-honor is given, it should be accepted. Though it is not an activity that most wish to endure, it is usually only to "first blood". Turning a challenge down will lead to ostracism and possibly outrage by all Aslan who view this. In outback areas, it could even lead to fatal confrontations.
Do not trespass without leave
Though Kusyu seems possessed of large tracts of seemingly unclaimed land, it belongs to someone ‑ usually a noble who regards his landhold as a measure of his wealth and status.
If you are found on an Aslan's property (by the land owner or his representatives), you are expected to deliver ekhtaowetyu, a formal, ritual obeisance (esteem/worship) which asks the landowner for permission to enter his territory.
Delivery of the ekhtaowetyu entails the following. A representative of your group (preferably male) should drop to one knee, his eyes lowered. One or both hands are extended to face level, palms up, with the thumbs (representing dewclaws) held upright. The petitioner then says: siyeikhtaowetyu kakhteiyatai ("I formally request the protection granted under the terms demanded by your honor and beg your leave to enter your domains.") or, more informally: fiya'("l am your vassal, sir, and obliged to you.").
Although the Aslan lord has the right to deny the request (legally, he could kill you on the spot), common courtesy generally demands that he reply: ka'tai ("you have my gracious consent.").
Near Orbit: Kusyu has two natural satellites, Aoshi ("Swift Spirit") and Aoka'ah ("Slow Spirit"). Both are planetoids with diameters of only about 400 kilometers. As such, they appear merely as bright stars from the surface of the planet.
There is little to interest outsiders, here. The innermost moon, Aoshi, is characterized by its multi‑clan naval base, while Aoka'ah is a barren sphere. In addition, there are numerous orbital facilities, including two large habitats in what would be the inner LaGrange positions (L1 points), if the moons were more massive.