System Manual:Hiran

Hiran is an oceanic world, the only land-mass being archipelagoes of massive island chains. The world's largest island, Kratum, holds the planetary capital. The 400 square-kilometer island is completely covered by Kratum City, a bustling starport on the equator of the world. However, due to its extreme elliptical orbit, Hiran becomes a frigid wasteland during its winter months. The vast oceans become mostly frozen, requiring transport companies and agencies to convert from large ocean going convoys to smaller, faster "Icesail Barges". These 300 to 500 meter Icesail barges carry the latest environmental, navigation and communication equipment and are equipped for the worst icestorms Hiran offers. These Icestorms often rage for days across the wide open topography of the planet, with no significant mountain ranges of continents, these storms can be deadly to the unprotected.

The inhabitants are a short, stocky breed of humans (Old Republic colonists) who will do nearly anything to make a credit. Although the standard of living on Hiran is one of the highest in the Outer Rim Territories, its prices are equally as extravagant. It is rumored that the docking fee for Kratum Galactic Starport (The largest in the sector) for one night would feed a Tatooine family of four for a month. However, the steep prices do not scare away traders, though, as the variety of exports provides a wide opportunity for profit. Smugglers often deal with the Hirani, but they prefer the PLT Paradise to Hiran's exorbitant prices.

Kratum City also holds the headquarters of the Pirath Defense Force (PDF) and the spectacular Parliament House. In the space above Hiran is the PLT Kraken, the PDF Operations Center and in the interests of money making, The Majesty StarHotel. The Hammer's Fist, the ground forces contingent of the Emperor's Hammer Strike Fleet, has two permanent garrisons stationed in Kratum City. The garrison consists primarily of stormtroopers, with the hustle and bustle of the City being too awkward for AT-ATs so only several AT-STs are stationed in the major population centers. The aquatroopers and snowtroopers garrisoned in Kratum City also find variations between the surrounding oceans and iceseas to be perfect for low-cost training facilities. However, there are also several detachments of Scout Troopers stationed planetside outfitted with their speeder bikes, they more than make up for the lack of larger AT-ATs and AT-STs.

Apart from the Hirani, and despite the unusual extremes in climate, there is plenty of life. In the few short weeks of "spring", the planet literally explodes with life almost overnight. Stunted jungle-like vegetation covers any exposed land masses within days. Life in the oceans likewise goes into overtime. During the winter, most aquatic life dives to the great depths of the planetary oceans to escape the extremely cold surface temperatures and freezing oceanic ice caps. These varied and unusually adapted creatures quickly rise to shallow depths to spend the few summer months gorging and feasting on the abundant life widely available.

In the jungles, on the islands, many predators prey on peaceful Pouds, small, quick bipedal herbivores. In the air, giant Aithers swarm in groups. Their size (~10 to 20 meters wingspan) poses a threat to small vessels, and for this reason a sonic agitator has been set up on Kratum to scare away the Aithers. A large variety of fish are present in the oceans, and the equatorial Hirani reefs, which have shown a remarkable resistance to the temperature extremes, are some of the most spectacular in known space. The most deadly creature in the oceans is the Giant Kraken, a massive squid over 150 feet long with deadly, poisoned tentacles capable of easily disabling its intended prey. In early Hirani history, many fishing vessels were destroyed by the Kraken. These giant predators were hunted to the verge of extinction by the Hirani during their Industrial period, and sightings of this monster are now few and far in-between.

The Credit Overload Casino attracts many wealthy gamblers to Hiran, with the casino complex and hotel covering an entire island on one of the more remote, tranquil equatorial archipelagos. The Credit Overload boasts every type of gambling in known space, and the owner has promised to put a blaster to his head if he's missed out just one. Overload seeks to be on par with the great casinos of Rodia, where the best in the galaxy reside, and Overload is apparently even more unfair, with more than one man losing all his money at the tables, although this doesn't scare away potential gamblers. What does the owner have to say about these claims? "There's only one winner at the Overload - the bank!"

Facilities

• Kratum Galactic Starport (Kratum City/Hiran)
• PLT/4 Kraken (Hiran Orbit)
• Bounty Hunter`s Guild Outpost (Hiran)
• Credit Overload Casino (Hiran)