Keres - Part One

Keres is a beautiful island world full of lush green forests, crystal-clear lakes, marshes, and of course, that vast ocean. The Auya, being careful and responsible stewards of the land and water, have thrived on this planet for a very long time. Possibly longer than they know.

Transcript

In the quiet hours, as the world settles into stillness, every dreamer needs a guide. Embark on a journey of imagination in worlds filled with adventure, mystery, science, and maybe even…the impossible.  As I hold the Dreamer’s Compass, let me be your navigator to exciting destinations limited only by the far reaches of human creativity, ingenuity, and imagination.

 So find your comfortable place, close your eyes if you wish, and let’s begin.

Hidden from the prying eyes of Earth’s telescopes lies Keres, a small planet orbiting a young star. A day on Keres is 20 of our hours, while a year or solar cycle is 400 days. With only a quarter of its surface being that of dry land, Keres is a water world. All but one of its creatures thrive in the vast ocean and inland lakes. Keres lacks large landmasses. Instead, its dry land is composed of numerous small islands, some as small as 500 square feet. The largest island on Keres spans an impressive 23 square miles, roughly the size of Manhattan. These islands are situated slightly north or south of the Keres equator, creating a climate similar to Florida. Notably, the north and south poles are not landmasses but enormous glaciers.

Bipedal light-skinned humanoids known as the Auya inhabit the land. They all have jet-black hair and large, piercing blue eyes. Their hands resemble ours but have a longer opposing thumb and only three fingers. While the average life expectancy is 120 solar cycles, the female Auya will give birth only once in her lifetime. As you can imagine, life is very precious to them. The Auya primarily survive as herbivores, with the occasional Wajui, a small fish considered a delicacy and served only during special occasions. Unfortunately, catching the Wajui requires fishing near the waters’ edge where Tajna, a large amphibious carnivore, may be lying in wait. But the Auya are very intelligent while Tajna is not - he is easy to fool. Not that Tajna doesn’t eat - he does, which can be unfortunate for the unaware “little” that has wandered off. Although a rare occurrence, it is a horrible tragedy.

The Auya, whom I refer to as somewhat modern primitives, construct their dwellings from long stalks of thick grass, similar to bamboo. Their homes are well-designed and remarkably strong. The floors are made of kiln-fired dirt and stone, while the windows are simple openings with shutters, usually left open as there are no insects on Keres. The doors are exceptionally sturdy, crafted from a plant the Auya call Cici. Female Auyas adorn their walls with colorful, hand-woven rugs, and the air is always filled with delightful cooking aromas. Male Auyas spend their days cultivating and gathering essential plants for building materials and food. Despite their primitive tools, crafted from hardened stone and Cici, they are sturdy and very sharp.

The Auya people, skilled sailors, navigate the islands in 40-foot outriggers called Tolas.  Crafted from Cici, these ships feature two triangular-shaped sails made of hand-spun cloth, similar to cotton. Despite their primitive design, these vessels are remarkably stable, providing comfort during long voyages between islands that can span over two weeks.

The airplane has yet to be invented - and likely never will be. You see - there are no birds on Keres, so there is nothing to watch or research that would reveal the science. Actually, the Auya have never really thought about flying. But a group of skilled shipbuilders is designing an underwater craft for exploring their hidden world beneath the waves.

The economy of the Auya is a simple barter system. Landholders can barter their crops, while others make things or offer services like sewing or labor. Being a small population on a small planet, an economy based solely on the perceived value of money makes no sense to the Auya. It was not difficult for them to envision the greed and corruption that a money system could cause. The largest transactions involve shipbuilders, who can negotiate for entire homes or properties worth the value of a Tola. Regardless of the size of any transaction, the outcome is determined by the terms agreed upon. There are no contracts, no fees, and no lawyers. Simple. 

Reporting the news of the day is simple as well. Closer islands communicate with a code using a polished stone aimed at their sun. The codes are then deciphered by trained observers, who promptly report messages to the Council. Replies are returned the same way. Islands farther away still must rely on Tolas to send and receive messages, which sometimes takes weeks. However, there has been the idea of using this technique in an island-to-island “relay” system. As this makes perfect sense, the Auya will likely adopt it.

The leadership council of the Auya is comprised of 3 male and 3 female elders. Although every Auya has a say in important matters, the council makes the final decision. Historically, as the Auya have no politics, decisions have always been for the betterment of all. The council also decides the punishment for crimes— which could be anything from losing some personal property to banishment. There are no lawyers or jails. The Auya trust the council’s wisdom to apply justice that is appropriate to the severity of the crime. It’s worth noting that the last banishment occurred 80 solar cycles ago. A female Auya, after confessing to murder, was abandoned on a small island surrounded by Tajna.

Keres is a beautiful island world full of lush green forests, crystal-clear lakes, marshes, and of course, that vast ocean. The Auya, being careful and responsible stewards of the land and water, have thrived on this planet for a very long time. Possibly longer than they know.

Next week, I reveal the secret of Keres— as together we follow the Dreamers Compass.