Selkirk system

These are links to posts in the Selkirk system.

If possible, I plan to make a mod based on this (for a civilization type game), although that depends on what mechanics i can include, and whether I have enough time.  While these ideas are just writing for now, they are influenced somewhat by how game mechanics would play out, as explained in individual posts.

Whether a mod is made, or I just write it out here, this is a setting that involves interplanetary colonization fleets of three intelligent species (humans, Quental, and Zithir) being taken to this system from their home systems.  Loosing contact with their home systems, the three groups of colonists would settle in this one, and things would go from there.

Some of the planets, if the mod gets made, would be settleable, and I have general ideas for how they would play out in gameplay terms.  However, a lot of these ideas just come from an interest in planetary science that I've had over the past couple of years (as of 2012), and are designed to combine cool features of solar system objects, or to try and imagine what other types might be like.

For the species themselves, I've attempted to create species with different ways of living, different social issues, strengths and weaknesses, etc.  On social organization in particular, I've tried to write the aliens to have completely different concerns from each other (So, for example, human arguments about, say, markets vs. government vs. other economic systems would make little sense to the aliens, as their methods of organizing result in different types of conflicts.)  Descriptions of each creature are written from the other two creature's point of view, with the generic description you might read elsewhere being the "human" description.  (This seems a more fun/challenging way to try and do it, plus is another way to reveal worldviews and mindsets that some aliens might have.)

Planets and Moons
 
Griddle: A volcanically active version of Mercury, with a strange atmosphere.

Kiln: A smaller, more volcanically active version of Venus

Cauldron:  A hot planet, made up to combine cool features of mainly Venus and Io, but not as hostile.  Highly volcanic, with sulfuric acid/water oceans.

Phobis Terra:  The Earthlike world of this universe, but more dangerous.

Cryolith:  Combines features of Mars and outer solar system moons, but not as inhospitable.  Has both rocky and icy terrain on much of the planet, plus ammonia/water oceans.

Behemoth:  A Jupiter like planet.

Fumarole:  Large ice/rock moon of Behemoth.  Highly active, with water geysers, water volcanoes, a large ocean under the icy surface.  (mostly based off Europa, Io, and Enceladus, but with some unusual features itself.)

Doppel:  Another large ice/rock moon of Behemoth.  Thick atmosphere, organic lakes and oceans, icy volcanoes and mountains.  (Pretty much a more active Titan.)

Frigis: The last Ice/rock moon of Behemoth.  Mostly old, eroded tectonics.  (Based mainly off the less active outer planet moons, mostly Ganymede and Callisto.)


Aliens

Humans:

In this universe, humans are the most skilled at technology, math, logic, constructions, and systematic thinking in general.  Social systems are the most legalistic, relying on rules to organize large groups.

Human History:  Doesn't actually describe all of human history, just a renewed space race and the colonization of other parts of the Solar system.

Humans (Quental description):  A Quental view of humans.

Humans (Zithir Description):  A Zithir view of humans.

Quental:

In this universe, this species is highly biologically adaptive, able to mutate themselves to fill various roles.  Social systems are based on dominance pheromones.  (Think anything from an insect hive to wolf pack type groups.)

Quental History:  A history of the Quental species.  (Very basic version, I haven't thought of any details beyond general outlines.)

Quental (human description):  "A human"'s view of the Quental.

Quental (Zithir Description):  The Zithir view of the Quental.

Zithir:

Species that can sense future and past events, and sense emotions or thoughts in surrounding creatures (the "Psychic" species).  Social systems are based on taking advantage of these abilities in various ways.

Zithir History:  A history of the Zithir.

Zithir (human description):  "A human's" view of the Zithir.

Zithir (Quental Description):  A Quental view of the Zithir.