Zänya is a planet rich on water and also has an abundance of plant life as a result giving the opportunity for a varied and unique fauna as well. Despite all the downpour Zänya has a varied geography thanks to the evolution of Näyians, the sentient race on the planet, with their large population and large cities the climate in populated areas is drier with a more controlled flora and outside the cities damp nature takes over, marshlands, swamps and large unusual flora grows. On a planet as rich on water as Zänya it may seem strange that the Näjians almost worship it, but their entire society relies on water. Everything is powered with water, and sometimes aided with magic, and without their water they wouldn't survive, a fact that they know full well, so water is highly priced and strictly cared for so as to not pollute it.
Culture
Despite their large cities and advanced use of water the Näjians live in an era closer to medieval than modern, they have no electricity instead relying on fire, but their mindset is decidedly more modern although they live in a stone hewn culture allowing little stride from what they know. Led by an Imperial family that rule with unquestioned authority from the capital and placed in the other cities are governors, often related to the Imperial family, that cares for the matters in their city. Men and women are equal as long as they do their share of work in whatever way they can and both genders have just as much right to inherit, rule or study there is however distinct tiers in their culture. They are mainly divided into six ranks; The Imperial family, Merchants and Craftsmen, Mages, Military, Workers and Scholars. Children are quite free, generally having shores but nothing major except school until they are above fifteen which is when their schooling for a job starts and they are expected to start doing their share of work to aid them all.
Weapons are forbidden to use by civilians, a law that is strictly upheld, the only exceptions are if civilians for some reason has to or wants to leave a city, perhaps to study the nature, then they are given weapons by the military. Weapons is most commonly swords and spears but bow and arrows is fairly common especially if they are aided with magic infused crystals that gives the arrow unique properties, this is also used for other weapons as well. Crystals infused with magic can also be used as weapons in themselves, depending on the magic a crystal can be helpful, like summoning water to put out a fire when help is not close by. Or they can be harmful, like icicles that can be let loose towards a threat. These crystals can be owned by civilians as long as they are bought from mages affiliated with the Academy of Magic, however harmful magic is rarely given to civilians.
Groups among the Näjians protest against the strict no weapons rule against civilians claiming that if only the military can wield weapons it is a threat towards the free will of the people. That the Imperial family holds to much power as well, that they can strike out as a tyranny any moment and no one could go against them with their skilled and loyal army. These groups are what have caused a few rebellions during the years but most people treasure the peace and safety brought by a stable government and the rule for no weapons keeps them safe amongst themselves as well.
Relations
As the only sentient race on Zänya the Näjians have no interracial problems to deal with instead they live spread across the planet and has during early wars formed clans and claimed their own lands. Now they are much too large to be called clans however and wars tend to be much larger but during the last few hundred years peace has reigned. Architecture and culture has remained strangely similar between the different countries and that is the reason why they have so large amounts of peace and also why they tend to break out into war, they are too similar.
Trading is common between the countries, they import and export regularly to get their hands on what their own country can not offer and the trading caravans are highly guarded against rogue thieves and wild animals. A job as a caravan escort offer a lot of money for the skilled ones mad enough to fight against the large animals and dangerous nature.
Magic
Magic exists on Zänya and many animals and even plants can either use magic or draws from it but among the Näjians it is slightly uncommon and any magic user receives a high rank by just knowing magic. As indicated by their home planet their skill with the manipulation with water is exceptional but they use other elements as well and can also manipulate inanimate objects. Experts argue on the point but studies seems to indicate that a mage's skill with a certain element is related to their family line, in that some families have a greater skill with air while others are more in tune with fire.
Mages are in charge of many things, their affiliation to elements and their skill with it are specified while they study at the Academy of Magic and after a period of four years they are sent out to their new jobs. Those who want to or those who are unable to get a job as the places are full have the option of continue their studies and eventually can become sages, exceptionally skilled mages with a wide area of skills of multiple elements and have plenty wisdom of many subjects. These sages often become major figures in society and control the Imperial Army Mages, the Water Shrines and the myriad of temples throughout Zänya.
Religion
There is no set religion in Zänya, many gods are worshipped and have their own temples, many too prefer to believe in their own strength or in logic and what they can see. Priests and priestesses that oversee temples and care over religious matters are almost always mages, although those in lower ranks can be normal people but the head priest or priestess must be a mage. People believe that magic was given to Zänya by the gods and that only by honouring them can they keep the magic, therefore mages have always had high ranks in temples. However no one has any real physical proof of the gods existence, whether that is because they do not exist or that they never walk on the mortal plane or even that they are so good at hiding as mortals that no one can see them for what they are no one knows and it is the source of many debates.
Architecture
Houses are built mainly of stone while the unique opalescent marble is used for temples and other important buildings and decorations. The appreciation and love of water is seen everywhere in the cities of Zänya, fountains decorate squares and gardens while elegantly carved channels lets water flow on houses themselves, framing doors and creating small waterfalls down walls to join another channel or even a larger aqueduct. Houses are generally large and has an open design on the inside allowing for a lot of light inside, the exterior is beautifully decorated and has carvings around windows and doors. Houses are generally large, housing large families and people rarely live alone on Zänya, houses have many rooms allowing most to have their own rooms, with younger kids and couples sharing rooms. Much time is spent in the large living rooms where people interact. The interior is often carved by hand much like the exterior, paintings and tapestries are also common decorations as is potted plants as Näjians love nature and gladly takes it inside as well has having their city full of it.
Power
Everything on Zänya is powered by water and touches of magic, large aqueducts stretch through out cities gathering up rainwater as well as spring water from where the aqueduct originates, these are protected by a special branch of the PPSS that focus only on the care and safety of the water lines. These aqueducts branch of into smaller ones and also goes underground to reach every building and area where water is needed, special systems make it possible for houses to have running water, cold and hot, as well as drainage systems and sewers to flush out the used water.
As the Näjians are so reliant on water in their society they are very protective of their water sources and are very careful about what they let back out into the nature, anything that may be polluted or harmful to the land is placed in special containers that are stored in underground bunkers while the mages work on the long process of removing the pollution before letting the water back out into nature.
Locations
The Wänjian Swamp: The largest swamp on the planet and home to one of the most unique flora and fauna as well.
Creature Training Centre: The many facilities throughout Zänya where the specialists trains a variety of wild creatures to safely aid the population as well as the army. These facilities deals mostly with the large or especially dangerous animals as well as newly caught ones.
Breeding Centre: Often, though not always, attached to the CTC these facilities hire expert handlers to breed and train creatures before they are sold to civilians or the army.
Kaetehanu: The capital city of Zänya located slightly south of the centre of the country, it's extended use of the opalescent marble has given the city it's nickname, The Jewel of Zänya.
The Academy of Magic: The only certified school for mages to learn how to control and develop their special skill, it is located in the capital offering a a perfect distance to anywhere in the land. Students live on the school grounds and can roam Kaetehanu whenever they do not have class or other duties, students can also chose to continue their studies here to become sages or to become teachers themselves.
PPSS - Public Protection and Safety Squad
This large military unit is especially trained to handle wildlife and minor crimes, being stationed in every city and village to keep law and order amongst the citizens and also protect them from wild creatures that stray from their own habitat. They are not heavily armed and doesn't have all the fire power that the Nävian army has but what they have is enough to handle the wild animals and minor criminals. Whenever harsher action is required the more heavily armed army is sent out from their stations in major cities. PPSS soldiers patrol the streets and borders in small troops or in teams of three, inside cities they patrol alone, and their duties is just as much to help citizens as it is to guard them.
The Imperial Army
The large and well armoured military in charge of violent crimes and warring against other nations, they are much more skilled and heavily armed in comparison to the PPSS. Divided into large regiments that in turn are divided into smaller squads the army is incredibly well trained as they spend a lot of their time training when they have nothing else to do during peace. They also have a special regiment of mages led by a sage that also aid the Imperial family when there are no wars.