Kas

Kas is the homeworld of the Ruun, one of the two member races of the Helix Alliance that originated out of the solar system Hylon. Kas is tidally locked in orbit to the gas giant Gahux. As such, it has a permanent dark side where the planet faces the gas giant. This, combined with the planet's slowly-failing core, has caused the planet's surface to be cooler than normal for its position inside the habitable zone.

Surface Geography
Kas' dark side is a land of permanent winter and glaciers, completely inhospitable to advanced life-forms, including the Ruun. As such, the sunward side of the planet is its cradle of life and civilisation, though is still notably colder than its sister moon, Fayis. Kas is likewise denser than its sister planet, an has approximately 6% higher gravity than the galactic norm. The landscape is heavily eroded by glacier movements, but contains arable soil and an abundance of vegetation including grasses and pseudo-trees. The planet contains a moderate amount of metals and ores, and practically no Dacium deposits.

Atmosphere
Kas' atmosphere has marginally lower oxygen than is normal, at only 19%. The rest of its atmosphere is made up of nitrogen (76%), traces of other gases (1%) and a super-heavy water vapour called Kaskik (literally, "Fumes of Kas") that is found only in the coldest regions of the sunless side of the planet. It is coveted for scientific experimentation, and contains many unusual properties.

Settlements
Ruunic settlements are often sprawling affairs, as cramped enviroments and conditions have always unnerved the Ruun, and early urbanisation was nearly offset by a steady exodus of people from the cities, seeking tracts of land they could live on with their clan, even if it meant a loss in material wealth. As such, most Runnic living quarters contain large open spaces and shared gardens. As a byproduct of this, but also of the political system of Kas, rules as it is by aritocratic families, there is no capital city. Instead, hundreds of highly-advanced business and political areas can be found across the temperate region of the planet, connected to each other and to the populated hinterland by fast and efficient transport networks.