Jadd

Jadd is known as the Planet of Fire. It orbits a large carmine (red) sun. The planet has three moons: two white and one green, appearing collectively pink-tinged. The largest moon, Taiph, is fully terraformed with terraced tea plantations, paradise gardens, and singing groves. The lethovirus plague has taken root on the moon.

From space, Jadd appears black and green. The planet features golden grasslands, black and white sand beaches, and the Varkanan Sea. The volcano Hephaistos (Kauf Adar) is a major geographic feature, with rainforest on its far slopes and lava flows. Crystal halls, singing trees, and water gardens are characteristic features. No foreign ships are permitted to anchor in Jaddian space without authorization.

Jaddian culture places strong emphasis on genetic beauty and eugenic aesthetics. Members of the ruling class may purchase aftermarket genetic modifications. Higher-caste Jaddians are distinguished by copper skin and dark coloring. Jaddian palatines wear painted porcelain masks in formal contexts. Jaddians maintain their own language, including: Talaq (fire), davoi (demons, used for the Cielcin), sayyiph (a Maeskoloi's true highmatter sword), alkidar (paramour), and Al Neroblis (the Black Devil). Jaddian is descended from Latin and incorporates Spanish, Arabic, and Persian elements. Their currency is the hurasam. Jaddian sentiment toward the Holy Terran Chantry is hostile. The God of Fire, the Lord of Wisdom, and Atash are objects of Jaddian worship. The fravashi is a Jaddian theological concept for the portion of the soul that remains always with God. Jaddian priests inter their dead in towers exposed to the open air for crows. The Jaddian national anthem moves from low steady drums to silver trumpets. In Jaddian, the word for 'bastard' carries sufficient gravity to constitute cause for violence.

Jaddian society is organized around the eali al'aqran, a class of pureborn genetic nobility. Women of the eali are visible in public; men of the eali wear porcelain masks. Men of Jadd are more willing than most palatine houses to edit their own genes. The aryabite caste is a military class, identified by azure dolmans and pale trousers. Jadd produces enormous cloned mamluk armies; mamluks have no instinct for self-preservation. The Maeskoloi are Jadd's legendary elite swordmaster order; their initiatory trial is called il Ebtellah du Qal, sworn at the caldera of Hephaistos. The Domagavani is Jadd's governing council of princes. Jadd operates its own highmatter foundries. Jaddian officers wear white and blue uniforms. Jaddian artisans are capable of intricate metalwork, including adding gold enameling to armor.

Jaddian warships are large, curving shapes resembling whales, with swollen rounded prows like a cachalot head, in black and gold. Jaddian soldiers wear white and azure plate of mirrored chrome, pointed helms, and carry spears. Their battle cry is 'Alala'; the response is 'Il Jaddi!' Cassandra Marlowe, a Maeskolos of Jadd, is described as having Jaddian-altered physical enhancements. Nemrutti created by Jaddian methods are known.

Jadd comprises eighty-one principalities at the galaxy's outermost edge. Prince Aldia du Otranto is High Prince, First-Among-Equals, nearly one thousand years old. Prince Kaim du Otranto (Al Badroscuro / the Darkmoon) commands the Jaddian forces; Olorin, who held the title Darkmoon Prince of Jadd and Swordmaster of the Second Circle, was killed at Gododdin. The aryabite Azhar and Admiral Serpico continue in service.

Jadd won its independence approximately nine thousand years before the present day, when Jaddians obtained genetic codes from the Imperial network, developed clone armies, and rebelled against the Solar Throne. Following the fall of Hadrian Marlowe at Tenba, Prince Kaim withdrew the Jaddian fleet rather than face Alexander's forces, taking his people and ships from the engagement. Hadrian gave Prince Kaim a Darklight weapon as a final gift, to aid against the Lothrian assault. Many refugees from the Gododdin campaign, including Cielcin converts, Danuan survivors, and others, departed for Jaddian space for safety.

The Lothrian Commonwealth continues to burn Jaddian worlds at the time of Hadrian's execution. In retrospective narration, the Jaddians ultimately burned the Lothrian Commonwealth in response. The Yahmazi are Jadd's secret police.

Jaharrad is the capital city of Jadd, containing the Katanes starport and the Tholo Orothano (a hundred-story tower with a golden dome).

Islis di Albulkam is the shore and island where the Fire School is located.

The Fire School (Il Casa du Burkan) includes the Grand Canal, Grand Agiary, Court of Swans, library, and the military examination base Islis Ulta, where Hadrian Marlowe spent approximately twenty years during his exile.

Alcaz du Badr is the great ringed palace of the Jaddian princes, with approximately 12,000 acres of pleasure gardens, a hall of mirrors, a silver fountain, crystal lamps, and a pool of deathless fish.

Hephaistos (Kauf Adar) is the great volcano of Jadd, with rainforest on its far slopes and lava flows. Maeskoloi take their initiatory oaths at its caldera.

Numara is the northernmost Jaddian satrapy capital, described as black-towered with gold-crowned cities, fallen to Lothrian invaders.

The Celestial Gardens are crystal spheres approximately three meters across, each containing a sealed microclimate.

Taiph is the largest of Jadd's three moons, fully terraformed, with tea plantations, paradise gardens, and singing groves. The lethovirus plague has spread here.

Otranto, Marashti, and Satavan are named Jaddian principalities among Prince Kaim's titles.

Mnemon was Prince Kaim's flagship, destroyed at Gododdin. A bridge section approximately half a mile long was salvaged and used during the Aurora escape action.