Daneys is the only known to be in inhabited planet of the Sha System, the second planet from Shatal, a red dwarf.
The Marshalship Planetary Specs Database - Daneys
Average Heights: 5'3" - 5'7" (Male) 4'7" - 5'1" (Female)
Average Weights: 220-240lbs (Male) 200-220lbs (Female)
Skin tone ranges from very fair with light hair/eyes to dusky/cinnamon skin with medium hair and light eyes. Darker completions are generally from Retharan or the southern mainland. Each nation of Daneys practices the same basic caste system, therefore nearly all members of their population have a facial tattoo denoting their caste.
The Eyes (Mark: Two horizontal interlocking circles below the right eye.)
The Mind (Mark: A circle within another circle on the forehead.)
The Strongarm (Mark: A clenched fist upon the right cheek. The largest and most obvious of all non-Exiled marks.)
The Hand (Mark: A simple horizontal black bar under each eye.)
The Foot (Mark: A small opposing crescent upon each cheek. The only colored mark, each color is chosen by one parent.)
Exiled (Mark: Original caste marks are obliterated with obvious dots and blackened circles, echoing the pitted, crater-covered island of Rucksland.)
Countries:
1. The Empire of Avenley (King and Queen)
Capitol: Osfuld
This is one of the oldest large cities on Daneys, made of chiseled stone, carefully up-kept by world renowned stonemasons. Well known for its amazing ancient statues and artistry.
2. The Supreme Berlson Diarchy (Two Ruling Couples)
Capitol: Euphnium
This is a large, extremely crowded city defended by elaborate triple walls. The most populated city in the world, also the filthiest.
3. The Aristocracy of Retharan (Council of The Eyes)
Capitol: Rethaire
This is a sprawling, bustling city behind an impressive seawall, which is covered with beautiful murals. Well known for its trade, including a central market/plaza that never sleeps. Located on Retharan's middle island.
4. The Sovereign National State of Duna (Emperor)
Capitol: Shagard
This is a large fortress of a city, with its majestic and fairly new castle as the center piece.
Castes:
In all countries but Retharan, the populace may not marry outside of their caste. Children born by parents of the same caste are that caste, and very, very rarely ever become any other caste. It takes an official decree by a high ranking member of the Eyes to change caste-status, and only happens in exceedingly exceptional cases. Generally, the populace is encouraged to stay within their caste and strive to honor their caste and family line by performing to the best of their ability at their caste's work.
In Retharan, certain castes may intermarry depending upon wealth and social status. The Mind and Strongarm may intermarry, which is fairly common, and the Hand may intermarry with the Foot, though this is rarer. These marriages are only acceptable upon approval of a member of the Eyes, and the caste of children born from these marriages are also decided upon by a member of the Eyes. Upon this decison, the child is tattooed with their caste-mark, but no sooner.
Criminals with serious enough crimes (murder, rape, severe caste-related crimes) are exiled to the Rucksland, a cratered, pitted, nearly destroyed island off the edge of Avenley's western border and Berlson's northern. This island is considered inauspicious and the destroyed land is difficult to pick out a living from. There is an ancient, massive wall (The Saving Wall) running along Rucksland's borders, constructed by the ancient civilization that eventually grew into Avenley and Berlson. Each nation has a special group of Strongarm devoted to manning The Saving Wall and escorting criminals there.
The original names of the castes have been lost to time, they are now known by their colloquial terms:
The Eyes (Ruling Caste - kings, nobles)
The Mind (Scholar Caste - scientists, philosophers)
The Strongarm (Military Caste - soldiers, police)
The Hand (Agricultural/Merchant Caste - farmers, tradesmen)
The Foot (Serving/Entertaining Caste - servants, dancers, actors)
Exiled (Criminals are stripped of caste and their place in society)
Political Issues and Cultural Differences:
Retharan allows for caste intermarriage, which is considered highly offensive and a threat to society to Duna, uncivilized to Berlson and only odd to Avenley. The idea of intermarriage has driven Retharan and Duna to war in the far past; their current interactions remain primarily strained but outwardly civil. There tends to be a good deal of political subterfuge between these two nations, with assassinations and court-driven bribery and corruption.
The struggle between Avenley and Berlson is far more common, as they have warred over desirable land and control of the main continent since their split into two nations approximately six hundred years in the past. They are currently not at war, though border skirmishes often erupt in the Midland, which is currently under Avenley's control.
Duna is a fairly new country, splitting away from Berlson about 200 years ago. Duna was originally a Berlson colony, but split due to the development of new, wide spread religion - the first inter-caste religion upon the planet. Currently Duna has a peaceful relationship with Berlson, as long as Berlson does not actively ally with Retharan.
Religion:
There is no overarching planetary religion on Daneys, instead a caste-based religious system. In Avenley, Berlson and Ratharan, each caste worships its own deity or deities at their own leisure. Religion in these three countries varies in fervor and intensity; it is not considered strange to not actively practice a religion. Atheism is not widespread but it occurs without rebuke, usually in the Mind.
Duna was formed as a new religion took hold and spread, urging the former Berlson colony to seek independence to follow its own practices. The Dunan religion is Sha, founded on the idea that the suns Shagan and Shatal are the 'eyes of the sky,' ever-watching and observing. When displeased, the suns send down disease, harsh weather and at the very worst, a fist to pummel the planet - this is the Dunan explanation of Rucksland, which Sha tells was a caste-less land. Sha urges its practitioners to stay as strictly within the caste system as possible, to the point of where the populace's lives are organized by Caste Guilds and cities into caste-only quarters.
All countries of Daneys consider unfilled circles to be importable symbols, not necessarily from religious beliefs. The interlocking circle is particularly important, hence its distinction as the caste-mark of the Eyes.
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