Edegene
At a glance, Edegene is typical of many other worlds with large animal life; two polar icecaps, and several large continents, drastically varying in temperature and climate. Salt water oceans cover about 65% of the planet's surface. The main form of wildlife is typical of other such worlds, dominantly Archosaurian. Although some non-Golem intelligent species thrive on Edegene, they are not the dominant force of civilization on the planet.
To understand the complex social situation on Edegene, we must start with the definition of the word “Golem.” Golems are robot-like bio-machines. They are often, not always, the size of intelligent species. They are sometimes equipped with a modular, part-replaceable body structure. It is common for Golems to be built on an exoskeletal design, instead of having the endoskeletons most archosaurs have. Typically, most Golems take a subservient roll to other intelligent species, but on Edegene, the rolls are different.
The Golems on Edegene have powerful civilizations and cultures. Some of the other intelligent species on Edegene manage to escape the influence of the Golems, however, most of the non-Golem cultures of intelligent species are just a piece of the larger, dominant Golem cultures. While Golems on other worlds are typically dependent on other intelligent species for survival, these Golems have become more advanced socially, some of them having become particularly intelligent, independent and even evil. The two largest nations of Golems on Edegene are the Overlords and the Terraformers.
The Terraformers, the largest nation of Golems, generally holds the belief that Golems created most life, (including Archosaurs and therefore non-Golem intelligent species,) and thus have a responsibility to make sure that life thrives and is happy. These environmentalists make calculated decisions about how to affect even entire ecosystems in ways they feel are beneficial. As a society, they are violently intolerant of practices that damage “natural” habitats.
The Overlords, the rival nation of the Terraformers, generally holds the belief that Golems created most life, and thus have a right to do with that life however they please. Holding all life in low regard, the Overlords have frequent civil wars and other violent conflict within their society, and political turmoil is the norm. The Overlords, all though less in number, have more highly developed weaponry than the Terraformers. The Overlords also place a higher emphasis on searching out lost technologies, and developing new weapon related technologies. In most Overlord philosophy, the most important virtue is power.
All though most of the landscape and environment of Edegene is “normal” compared to other Abaddon worlds, there are bizarre abnormalities. Occasionally, some regions seem strangely planned: For example, crossing a mountain ridge could lead to a new land with an almost alien ecosystem, where the geology might be altered, with certain land forms being constructed from concrete, bricks, or other building materials or secretions. Sometimes landscapes are discovered littered with bits of giant egg shells and cases, chrysalises, and molted carapaces, especially near the nests, colonies, biomecha cities where many of the Overlords live.