Description: Q’alyth Nor appears a dull gray color from space; only 10% of the planet’s surface is habitable, with a few small lakes providing the only water supply. The rest consists of a beige/gray, pasty fluid that has none of the elements or nutrients necessary to produce life of any kind. Called “Mollic,” the fluid has the consistency of oatmeal and the properties of quicksand. No one knows its true depth, except very near stable land masses where the depth ranges from 2-8 meters.

It’s unclear if the planet ever had an indigenous race. Rumors claim that a species once occupied the land and, out of desperation, created the right conditions to turn their planet into a commerce planet. If true, the planet’s limited ability to produce nutrients would have severely restricted the population. Such stories matter little to the current inhabitants, however. If such a race does still exist, they long ago blended into the hundreds of races that swarm the planet’s surface.

Commerce planets in the Uncharted Territories impose no rules or standards on trade, meaning a buyer with the right currency and/or enough currency can find virtually anything he desires. Q’alyth Nor is no different; business districts and warehouses cover all stable surface areas. The only apparent government seems to be the Commerce Regulatory Committee – a group consisting of the richest merchants and tradesmen. They treat all disputes which come before them as business transactions, with the highest bidder receiving a favorable judgement by the council. To suggest that such corruption causes problems would be incorrect: corruption is the only non-variable on a planet known for a dangerous underworld, staggering crime rates, and a black market so bold as to have storefronts and neon signs proclaiming their wares. The enduring corruption provides at least a modicum of stability and predictability.

Each market sector is responsible for their own security; most simply hire security teams consisting of the most dangerous dregs of Q’alyth Nor. Since the planet has no penal system, and a justice system entirely dependant upon the wealth of the accused, poor criminals (or poor suspects) often find themselves stripped of all possessions and sinking into mollic. The Commerce Regulatory Committee has no restriction on armament for visitors, so various forms of holstered hand-held weapons — and even larger firearms such as pulse rifles and the like — are common sights.

Encounters: Q’alyth Nor is the most popular commerce planet within 200 million zacrons; hundreds of races with countless agendas crowd the streets and alleyways of her urban areas. Gang-style street punks, overzealous security guards, and black market enforcers (a.k.a. commando-trained guards) mix with arms-dealers, Luxan warriors, and bad-tempered merchants to make a truly lethal populace. If a fight starts, the experienced traders and shoppers disappear in a puff of dust; no matter how outrageous the crime, no one will get involved if they can possibly avoid it. Even security forces look the other way if they could get hurt, though they may very well swoop in after the quarrel to pick up the pieces (and shake down the survivors).

Of all the residents, only a small handful stand out above the others. The first is a half-breed Vorcarian/Sebacean named Hiat, who serves as Q’alyth Nor’s premiere information broker. He seems to know everything important that happens, not just on Q’alyth Nor, but all over the Uncharted Territories. He charges high prices, but his information is unerring. Buyer beware, however; Hiat also accepts payment to give a client faulty information. Usually sedate and in command, he rarely suffers from nervousness or apprehension. When it does show, however, his Vorcarian blood becomes highly visible. Despite his duplicitous nature and numerous enemies, Hiat remains alive; many residents see him as incredibly useful and are willing to fight to defend him.

A group of assassins-for-hire called the Vantoo have their headquarters on Q’alyth Nor as well. Though they demand exacting standards for their employees, the Vantoo recruit skilled assassins from any race, and anyone talented enough at killing can make an excellent living in their employ. They have no political, religious, or cultural goals; they are a completely commercial venture.

The last resident of note is L’wia, a Nebari. who owns and operates numerous shadow-businesses, providing an assortment of less-then-legal goods and services. In addition to her commercial concerns, L’wia also leads a small cell of the Nebari Resistance. Though some distance from Nebari space, she is able to gather significant intelligence to pass to the Resistance. In addition, her location allows her to acquire all manner of exotic supplies (a.k.a. firearms, explosives, and munitions) to keep other cells well-armed.