Chapter 3

Redeemer's Ring

The galaxy teems with percolating lights, as lamps cast about the firmament. Tens of billions of stars shine through the void of the universe from within the galaxy. While looping around millions of these stars there lay habitable worlds. Around even more stars lay worlds just outside or just beyond adequate habitation. Yet, even these have seen life come to them. Explorers, traders, smugglers and beings of all backgrounds, intents and types found colonies and homes on worlds many would have deemed unsuitable. Greater still are those worlds that would be considered 'extreme' by many. Yet, these worlds breed unique life of their own. Sullust and Elom, Kamino and Felucia, but several among their rank. These names being merely among the most well known, but in truth, nothing more than the tip of a great iceberg as the saying goes.

Within the galaxy's Mid Rim there lay the Maldrood Sector. Countless worlds exist within the bounds of said sector, and even more countless lives. With the coming end of the Clone Wars, the sector was to experience a great deal of change. Much, if not all of the systems within, would fall under the control of the Confederacy of Independent Systems in the Treaty of Bestine.

Importantly, however, there lay a previously unexplored system. One among millions that even to that point remained unknown, unseen and unspoiled. If not ever before then certainly not touched in many long years, centuries or even millennia. At the heart of this system lay a massive blue star. Radiant, powerful, imposing, but cast against the endless dark...beautiful. It is far larger than many stars in the galaxy. It hangs burning, strong, and young in the count of stars. In the passing of the years the star would be gifted a name by the one who made this system His home. Known ever after as Lúnoranna. In the Quenya tongue from whence the name originated, it meant 'Blue Gift.'

Around the great blue luminary circled five worlds. The first two were far too close, and far too inhospitable. The first became known simply as Firië, meaning 'Death' in the Quenya language. The world was vacant of life. A husk of gray dust and cavernous craters made by asteroid impacts in its early existence.

Around the small world of Firië loomed a ring of blown out rock created by asteroids and the matter of the planet itself jettisoned into its own orbit. Many such debris rocks would then fall back down to Firië, and eject more rock and matter into space to be recaptured and repeat the cycle again and again. Though, some would be cast into the void of space towards Lúnoranna. To be smelted in the Blue Gift's great flame.

The second of the two nearest worlds became known as Nairalca, Quenya for the 'Dreadful Ray of Light.' The world cast a pale radiance seen from afar, and especially on nearby worlds of the same system. At night upon sister worlds one would see Nairalca shine as a shimmering but ghostly, luminous dot. The planet was encased in a gaseous fog that would seep through a thin atmosphere out of the planet's clutches. Creating gas clouds that would dissipate and reflect Lúnoranna's light in a dim casting that burned white. Nairalca was itself covered in rocky canyons. Alongside which was a great sea of liquid magnesium ripe for extraction and utilization. Seeping vents climb into the skies, sending fumes from the planet of the very same magnesium boiled from a hotter than average planet core. Releasing white gasses that create the plumes that engulf Nairalca. The world looms as a pale ghost, but sees extraction of its vast magnesium deposits, including facilities on planet for industrial harvesting.

The third world of the Lúnoranna System became known as Mandotanwë, the 'Prison of Construction.' The world is habitable. But, it boasts sweltering heat at a near constant. Vast savannas are present across the world's two continents, along with jagged sprawling mountains, and blasted rocky landscapes made from recent but fading impacts in decades past. Mandotanwë's skies are hazy from the endless heat. Fires often rage on equatorial portions of the world. The constant introduction of smoke creates an ash tinged atmosphere. With the coming industry of the world, the haze would become even more interminable. Creating a sky of varied red hues ranging from magenta to the deepest crimson. The light of Lúnoranna faded, distant, and heat endless.

Vast pits would be dug into the rock and soil. Complexes would be created for research and development at the behest of the Lord of the system proper. This world would become home to a newly introduced assortment of beings. The orcs, the trolls, the wargs, and other assorted fell creatures brought to the world from distant Arda. From here the beings would be perfected to their Lord's wishes. While new things – new twisted amalgams, and new horrors would be born from a Great Foundry.

The fourth world of the Lúnoranna System is known as Bâlmírdan, the 'Divine Royal Jewel' in Quenya. The world lay perfectly set within the habitable zone of the massive blue star. Bâlmírdan boasts vast landscapes of perfect ecological conditions for life as is commonly understood. Vast forests, mountain ranges capped with snow to trickle into rivers and lakes. Fields and sprawling country upon plains where winds carry pure breathable oxygen. The skies pelt renewing water upon the lands and the seas are filled with burgeoning life.

The world itself is large, but its gravity and atmosphere are conducive towards sentient life. Indeed the planet would likely be on track towards joining similarly habitable and open worlds of the outer galaxy such as Dantooine. However, with its founding, came the colonization of the new Lord. Known as Valdaran to some, as Sauron to others.

The world of Bâlmírdan became his new throne, the seat of power from whence all future actions would emanate. From Bâlmírdan, the Dark Lord would create his new Palace. Built into a range of seven mountains closely linked and rising together. As though intended for him. The mountain range forms a crescent in the topography of the planet. Three smaller, but no less great mountains rise upon one side, while three more upon the other. Between the twin set of three, a large rocky mound, the final of the seven rises as the tip of a crown. Great halls would be created. Vast living spaces, lights affixed by droids and the enslaved rabble of orcs before they were cast far off, onto Mandotanwë. Thus, halls within halls, in pursuit of outmatching all prior mountain holds and kingdoms. The Dark lord created a home for himself, his retinue, and his servants greater than any he had held before, even compared to mighty Angband. His new domain would be forever known as Tár-Ostoli, or 'Seven Kings.' Every mountain of the Seven Kings, or Seven Brothers as some called them in the Basic tongue, would be linked. Halls and connective ramparts or bridges. Every one of the seven mountains was part of His Palace, His home. While within the ring created by the mountain range a great city would be built. Known after as Mardorithil, the 'Redeemer's Ring.'

Finally, Bâlmírdan sports a single moon that also supports life. Known as Piacalma, the 'Little Lamp.' The moon is host to a vast and dense forest, with a single ocean taking up half of the moon's total surface, the other encased in the woods. Within, can be found a great many large insects and reptile creatures known and unknown from other worlds of the galaxy. The growth of said creatures is great due to high oxygen concentrations, imbuing their blood.

Lord Sauron would deem that the moon would remain untouched. Valuing the soft glow cast in the night upon his throne world during its cycles. Though satellites would be placed around the moon in order to study the local flora and fauna from a distance. Done so in an orderly, and directed fashion by the will of the Dark Lord, and himself alone.

At last, the fifth and final world in the Lúnoranna System became known as Helcarta, the 'Icy Cold Fortress.' A barren world sporting an incredibly thin atmosphere. The distance from it to the star is vast. It shares its system with three small asteroid moons known respective to their sizes as: Utum, Angba and Bara. The names of which were chosen by the Dark Lord in honor and respect to his personal past – his trials. Though this information was not shared with many. The tidal lock that Helcarta holds on the asteroids often causes the three to release frozen water ice locked on the surfaces of the asteroids back down onto the small icy world of Helcarta itself. Creating a residue of dirty sleet atop the already frozen oceans of water present upon Helcarta.

The world would come to sport several outposts for system monitoring and outer defense. Orbital stations and refineries would be built to take advantage of the vast water resources present on Helcarta for consumption and use on other worlds through purification packaging, and distribution. Though, the planet is devoid of life, but for microbial presence in the waters under the ice glaciers. These, however, would be systematically wiped out per Sauron's instruction to cleanse the waters for his own uses. For they served no purpose he could design for them. The disordered made orderly.

This system, these worlds, and the great blue star of Lúnoranna – this is where the center of power now lay from where, at its core, resided the Dark Lord, Sauron. Unbeknownst to the quadrillions of lives that became citizens of the Confederacy through choice or enforced treaty, it was here the true power resided. As the remnants of Darth Sidious' machinations, the Separatist Council, fostered new political engines: parties, economic groups, interest advocacy forums and profiteering action committees, it was upon Bâlmírdan the Master of these beings reached out from afar. Unseen tendrils nipping the heels of those who both heeded knowing and unknowing to His will.

There he sat upon a great throne wrought of gold and silver-steel. Shining, as lights burgeoned within crystal gems and diamonds that gave ethereal light upon all who were given the honor of beholding the sight. The throne room at the heart of Tár-Ostoli, connected by imposing bridges, richly ornate walkways, and connective paths. From whence he would receive his guests, and his coming servants.

The Herald to be, when he came from the unknown to kneel at his foot and speak the righteous word.

The onyx-dark clad Knights who would serve in his honor and under the wing of the Nine come before them.

The Lord reborn with scar upon brow, and great power at his whim. Crimson warriors at his command.

The Daughter of a great hunger that bound and broke her, resurrected and enthralled by his will and promises.

A Lord who spreads plague, disease, beasts and horror. Indestructible, as so understood, humbled before the new power.

The Supreme Commander of the machine-men. The great host from whence old ambitions steeled new order.

And, a Son shaped in his Father's image.

Among many more and many more varied. Both the called and the summoned. The commanded eyes of the lower in need of a Father's firm hand. All sprung forth from the great Palace of Tár-Ostoli. The shining city before it of Mardorithil but the start of His glorious vision.

The Lúnoranna System – sat at its heart, the great blue jewel, the Blue Gift. But, from afar, it sat in respects as many wheels and circles looping about. A great ring from whence Sauron's will would seep as coated oil to countless minds, their wills, and their very beings. Great things, terrible and beautiful, wonderful and wretched born within.

As the city within the bounds of the Seven Brothers is known as Mardorithil, or 'Redeemer's Ring,' in unspoken truth that title belonged to the System entire.

Beautiful Lúnoranna, its system, its worlds...it entire – Redeemer's Ring.

L's Note: Definitely a less narrative based chapter. But, this falls in line with the more 'Silmarillion-lite' aspects I told you all about! Hopefully, even though it's short, it is intriguing, or enlightening...or, more likely, teasing. ;) But there's some stuff in here for the future everyone should remember! Lots f hints, but I shall say no more. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! Every one of them helps push Lord Kun into doing more writing! Archon65, Thomas Drovin, TheRightPrice, Bobblehead, Darth Kyuubi kurama, Lordban, newboy, darth krayt1, and Wandering Scion in NO particular order! ;P

Don't expect me to write all those names as often though. Lol, my dyslexia gets wild when looking at the names sometimes...ahem, anyways I digress, please enjoy and review or at least tell us what you think of this new lore. :D

Till the next!

-L

Edit Note: Edited/Updated 08/17/2023