Ashur
Ashur is a world of green savannah grasslands that stretch in every direction. Mountain ranges divide the savannah into seven distinct areas. It is within these mountains and atop the rock pillar escarpments that much of the population of the planet lives, leaving the dangerous grasslands to the wildlife and the ranchers who make their homes there.

The atmosphere is a pleasant oxygen nitrogen mixture with trace chemicals, for the most part untainted by industrial emotions which are strictly controlled by the Ashur Environmental Legislate. Open bodies of water are almost unknown on Ashur, though several great reservoirs are used for the supply of various of escarpment cities. Much of the planets water reserve is deep underground in an extensive network of caves and porous rock formations that ensure the preservation of the great savannahs. In many places air transportation is the safest as it permits people to avoid the predators that migrate across the plains fallowing the Lurmox herds.

The underground watercourses provide additional resources for those who know how to navigate them. With the right knowledge it’s possible to take a submersible to almost any point on the planets surface through the cave network. This is a favoured hiding place for wanted criminals or other secretive types who wish to live alone or operate with surprise. The proximity to Hutt space and the tight controls enforced by the Ashur Trade Legislate mean that smuggling is a lucrative business, if you can get away with it.

The Escarpment Capital of Tule
Perched atop a 2 km spire of rock and reaching a further 5 km to the top of the highest of the royal households. Tule is a city build to Ashuri theological ideals. The tall slender towers reaching upward toward towards the heavens. While no longer strictly organised by theocratic practices the general rule is the wealthy and powerful can afford to be closer to the divine and thus live on the higher levels. Government offices contrary to the ideas of many outsiders are located close to the base rock of the city as it symbolises the organisation of all things mundane and ordinary.

As well as being organised vertically the city is also structured in a series of concentric rings, with importance given to the central locations of the city while outsiders and tourists lodge in the outer rings. The idea\ being that centre indicates a level of importance and permanence. Republican contact specialists theorise that this may be linked to the hiving mentality of the Ashuri people, those on the outside are more like to be attacked by predators while those inside are better protected. Of course since the rise of tool bearing and intelligence the Ashuri have long since conquered their natural predators.

Ashur is ruled over by a cultural monarchy that sits as head of state over the various branches, called legislates, of elected government each with its own focus and goals. There are currently four legislates tasked with governing various aspects of Ashuri life. Legislates are not permanent bodies, if the need for a new legislate arises one will be formed, while if an existing legislate becomes obsolete it will be disbanded.

Ashur Cultural Legislate: Tasked with maintaining Ashuri cultural, this legislate runs much of the day to day government of Ashur, when not covered by other legislates. It ensures that traditional crafts and philosophies are observed and is the primarily law giving body. Police seen in operation on the streets of the Ashuri cities are members of this legislate.

Ashur Diplomatic Legislate: Rarely seen and little known on Ashur itself, this legislate deals in relationships with the Republic Senate and with other worlds. Of late it has also had to compete with the Trade Legislate who are expanding their off-world influence under the pretext of interstellar trade.

Ashur Environmental Legislate: Tasked with the protection and regulation of Ashur’s natural resources both mineral and wildlife. Because Ashurs natural mineral deposits are limited most of the legislates efforts concentrate in the area of conservation. Preventing the poaching of the lurmox for its ivory is major part of their mission. This tends to lead to jurisdictional problems with the Trade Legislate who claim that smuggling of ivory is their mandate. Environmental legislate also licence and inspect various ranch operation for domesticated lurmox.

Ashur Trade Legislate: Tasked with the insuring that supply and demand are met. The Trade Legislate control stock markets and govern both internal and external trade links between various cities and with other systems. The laws created by this legislate currently make it illegal to trade with anyone other than the legislate itself; consequently it’s a very profitable middle man. The Trade Legislate maintains a small cadre of soldiers and starships used to enforce its policies and concern itself mainly with the routing out of smugglers. As a result of these laws gambling is also considered illegal because it by passes the legislate.

Outsiders and Off Worlders: Outsiders are welcome on Ashur for the most part, provided that they obey the various laws and dictates of the legislates. The Ashuri have been a star faring species for over 5000 years and a staunch if quiet supporter of the Republic. Many of the Ranchers on Ashur are human, and the alien (non-Ashuri) population makes up almost half of the total population of the system. Aliens are also permitted to take up legislate offices, though not within the Cultural Legislate which is charged with the preservation of Ashuri culture, ideology and values.