Nede

Nede is a planet located in the Arkula System, not far from Expel. It appears to be contained within a "high-energy body," as some races call it, which shields it against contact from the outside.

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General Information
System	Arkula
Radius	m
Atmosphere	64% Nitrogen, 31% Oxygen, large amounts of ambient mana
Moon(s)
Age
Day/Year
Alias
Civilisation
Races
Population	~4.4billion
Places of Interest
Sovereignty
Sailor Senshi	none
Language(s)	Nedian/Expellian

The Geography of Nede

A map of the accessible areas on Nede

An actual energy barrier seems to be projected well above the planet's atmosphere. Another dome-like barrier surrounds the residential area of the planet, where the main cities are located. Therefore, even on the Synard, an engineered riding beast commonly found on Nede, a lot of the planet is permanently off-limits.

However, the Outer Wall Paradise also cannot be found from the Synard. It would seem to be somewhere in that large Western area, and commonly said to be habitable.

The main large land mass is the inaccessible area to the west; most of the population lives in their cities, on small islands in the central sea. The main road seen on Nede is the road between North City and Central City; the citizens either travel very little, or use other means of transport (Synards and teleporters.)

Nede appears to be full of plants, trees, and other sorts of natural life, and is commonly mistaken for an undeveloped planet.

The Culture of Nede

Nede's culture, like its people, has probably remained more or less static throughout its existence. The known history of Nede dictates that the Wise Men and their desire to change the natural order of things brought on pain and destruction, so now most change is strongly discouraged.

At any rate, the people of Nede mostly seem to stay in their hometowns. There is some travel between the cities, and of course all sorts of people go to Fun City to have fun once in a while, but there are very few people who want to go out and actually travel for its own sake. And if they did, they would probably be restricted to a very small portion of the planet.

Though the people seem to live at roughly the same technological level as Expel, they have what appears to be electricity, television, and other modern conveniences. They also have teleporters, utilize Virtual Reality generation on a regular basis, and harness Heraldic beasts to explore and travel. On the whole, the average Nedian seems to be complacent with their lot in life, and unwilling to go out and travel or take unnecessary risks. If he or she wants to be entertained, he can go to Fun City and watch the battles in the Arena.

Technology and Heraldry on Nede

In the past, Nede possessed enough high technology and advanced Heraldry to make it one of the leaders of the known galaxy. However, much of those powers were prohibited, in order to prevent incidents and invasions from arising. Since the destruction of the Heraldry Research Institute, the only Heraldic experiments permitted are the small-scale ones at Giveaway University. And only a small group of people in Armlock are permitted to manufacture weapons, although their use is forbidden.

General Technology

Nede's technology, on the surface, is similar to that of early 20th Century Earth, though on first glance, appears much more feudal in design. They have television, computers, light sources, and other modern conveniences. These things are powered by energy generated by Heraldry Stones (Quadratic Spheres). One large Sphere rests beneath each city in Nede, and provides the bulk of the power for it. The most obvious sign of how advanced Nedian technology really was during its peak is the existence of Energy Nede, a secondary planetoid created originally to house the Ten Wise Men, and the existence of the energy field that protects Nede.

Energy Nede is an artifical planetoid. It is apparently self-sufficient, and generates enough oxygen and water and other resources to keep its citizens alive and comfortable. It is possible for its dwellers to regulate the apparent weather and to project an apparent day and night, although real sunlight and starlight cannot pass through the energy shield on that planetoid.

It is unknown exactly how the Energy Shield is produced or what the exact nature of it is, but it is all but impossible to penetrate. It prevents most invaders from coming to Nede and Energy Nede and seals the Nedians' own powers away from the rest of the Universe. However, this is only when the Energy Shield is up, and even then, transporters to Nede can be found on other planets, such as Expel and Tetragenisis.

Weapons Technology

Weapons cannot be used on Nede, and only a few people in Armlock are allowed to make and study them. One of the discoveries made in the Heraldic Research Institute involved the use of LEA Metal to stabilize antimatter and antiprotons in space and make it usable for weapons. LEA Metal is a kind of mineral created by the metabolic processes of the Barkers. They are silicon-based lifeforms native to planet Barke that used the LEA metal generated in their bodies to contain antimatter reactions to generate energy from raw material. (A cave from Barke was transplanted to Nede, apparently to continue research on the LEA metal.) One of those weapons, properly used, could destroy a small planet.

In the case of outside weapons, anything with any technological basis greater than that of a feudal world must be registered before it is able to be used within the Time-Space Shield.

Time-Space Shield

This shield was created by the Heraldic Research Institute, and used to protect the rest of the planet from potential accidents. It worked through the generation of a large gravitation field, large enough to create a hole in the time/space continuum and transfer released energy to another place and time (where it would hopefully not damage anything.) With a sufficient gravitational field it would theoretically become possible to control the passing of time itself, and potentially allow jumps between times/places at will. But the mass required for such a field would be immense - "greater than that of a black hole." Narl states. He also says that to create a shield of that size, the energy of all of the cities of Nede would be required. But exactly what that means is unsure, probably deliberately vague.

Currently, the Time-Space Shield is used as a high-level planetary defense, capable of holding off mass invasions while the energy levels hold out. Clearance is needed to pass through the shield unharmed, and can be obtained through Mayor Narl or General Marianna.

Creation Energy Generation Device

While the North City Database claims that there were never any experiments done with this device, the tape concerning the Heraldic Research Institute's fate claimed that they were currently experimenting with a Creation Energy Generator, and that it went out of control. The device was researched as an alternative to using Quadratic Spheres as an energy source and could potentially generate even more power. The database calls it "a system that uses an artificially induced small-scale Big Bang to extract energy from the resulting imaginary number space." However, such a system would be difficult to control, would create a great deal of strain on the time/space continuum, and may well result in its collapse.

Genetic Manipulation

One of the most restricted classes of technology on Nede due, in part, to the fear of creating another powerful living weapon like the Wise Men.

Rena: Ummm... maybe it's explained by "The Genetic Terror's Escape?"

Ernest: Huh? What are you talking about?

Rena: Well, haven't you read the pulp novels? There are stories where a little boy befriends a monster made by genetic heraldry who escapes from a laboratory and turns out to be kind-hearted...

Noel: But in Nede we have been prohibited from genetic engineering for people.

Rena: Just because it's prohibited doesn't mean no one does it. Why, there are people who do prohibited things just because they like to be difficult.

Ernest: Come to think of it, when you consider that Synards are being produced, the technology must be available.

However, while the ban on gene manipulation for sapient Nedians seems to be irrevocable (although Rena's right that it might not necessarily stop everyone,) it seems to occur regularly on animals. In the Synard Home, we see Synards crossbred and actually grown in tanks, and information implanted directly into their minds, to provide riders with a source of air travel between the cities. Presumably other important animals are grown in the same way, including the Herush that are ridden to Fienal in L'Aqua

Heraldry in General

In the North City Database, the story is that Heraldic Arts originated from patterns "revealed in prayer and tattooed on the maidens of the Holy Shrine of Tria, God of Creation." (This is very similar to the legend given in Mars Village on Expel about the origins of Heraldry.) The patterns were observed to have different powers. Heraldry, then, is a catch-all name for the mysterious powers that these patterns can invoke. Tattooing Crests developed from various patterns onto a person's body enabled them to "convert their own mental powers into Heraldic powers, which are much more intense than their mental powers." Over time, Heraldic methods became very refined and powerful on Nede; a great many Crests were developed, and the Nedians eventually learned to harness Heraldic powers for themselves without the use of the tattoos. In fact, they even developed innate Healing powers, something that Heraldry users on Expel could never do. "True" Heraldry is only used for large-scale devices that require or generate a great deal of power, such as transporters and generators.

Heraldry Stones

A Quadratic Sphere

It is possible to crystallize Heraldic power into matter, through some secret means. This material is called "Energy Material," or "Heraldry Stone," depending on the world. (A note: The material found in the Hoffman Ruins on Expel is a kind of Energy Material. So are the Quadratic Spheres and Keys.) Quadratic Spheres are the most common Heraldry Stones on Nede, and can generate a great deal of energy - enough to power entire cities, or force a planet away from its orbit. In L'Aqua, a soldier claims that a great Quadratic Sphere is buried under each city and acts as a generator. A Sphere's power output is directly related to its size; the larger the sphere, the more it generates. They are of course spherical constructs with shifting squares over their surfaces; the Sorcery Globe is a Quadratic Sphere created by the Wise Men. Quadratic Keys are smaller pieces of Energy Material that resonate with Quadratic Spheres. They can increase the output of a Quadratic Sphere dramatically. Nedians carry pendants, which are Quadratic Key that apparently increased the output of the Quadratic Spheres on planets. They also amplify the power emitted by a sphere and re-transmit it, resulting in a feedback cycle.

The Crest of Annihilation

A Crest developed in Nede that, if improperly used, can cause the destruction of the Universe. It generates an immense quantity of mass at a single point in space. By amplifying its effects with a Sphere, it can create an infinite amount of mass at that point, which would cause a gravitational pull sufficient to stop the expansion of the Universe and cause "The Big Crunch," the collapse of the Universe (Essentially, it's the opposite of the Big Bang). The North City Database states that the only way to keep the Universe from collapsing when the Crest is invoked is to use another Crest to rewrite it and direct it towards something else.

Virtual Reality

Nedians have learned to use Heraldry to generate VR displays; the battle arena in Fun City uses VR to create its monsters, and at one point, virtual versions of the Wise Men. These monsters can kill or wound a careless fighter, just like real monsters. One man in Fun City, very late in the game, displays the power to recreate our subconscious memories using the Heraldic Virtual Reality system. Someone skilled with generating virtual worlds could recreate anything in VR, from someone's dearest fantasies to their most horrific nightmares. Dying in a virtual world, however, can cause serious psychological damage and result in actual brain-death.

Medicine

The item stores of Nedian stores sell the same herbs as the stores on Expel. However, while medicine on Expel is decidedly primitive, Nede can refine their medicines to a greater degree, and can probably perform the kind of surgical procedures that other highly advanced civilizations would be familiar with. However, genetic manipulation on sapient life on Nede is prohibited. Exactly what is considered "manipulation" is not specified. Some medical procedures may or may not be allowed.

Places in Nede

As one might expect, Central is the main city in Nede. It looks the closest to a modern city, with tall buildings, skyscrapers and tiled streets with streetlights. These buildings, however, still seem to retain a more rustic, medieval style to them. It houses the main government of the planet, and probably a significant portion of the population. Places and shops include:

• Tavern and Inn "Brandywine": a five-floor inn with a bar and restaurant on the first floor, and two bedrooms on each of the other four floors.
• City Hall: A five-story building.
  • City Hall Receptionist: Central City information center.
  • Nede Chronicles: The newspaper of Nede.
  • Nede Publishing Company
  • Mayor Narl's Office
• Skill Guild
• Tool Shop "Reverse Edge"
• Restaurant "Weight Lawyer"
• Weapons Shop "Hyper-on-Hyper"

At first glance it seems to be nothing more than a small backwater town – but it houses the largest computer network in Nede, as well as the Synard Home, where the synards are literally produced.

• "Account" Weapons
• "Smiley's" Grocery
• Inn "Landscape"
• Tool Shop "Blue Flask"
• Library "Encyclopedia": where the computer system and information database can be found. The secret information can never be accessed from here. Random tidbit: The computers use RASTIA ver. 7.02
• Synard Home: where Synards are grown and programmed for their owners.

Armlock is the only city left in Nede that it allowed to research and produce weapons, although no one is allowed to use them. It's a small town, not as advanced as Central City. The only remaining portal to the destroyed Heraldic Weapons Research Lab can be found here; generally, it is sealed with a special password.

• Tavern "Home Brew 54": just a small bar with a ceiling fan.
• Inn "Elation": A small one-room inn with a merchant that sells specialty items. Located upstairs from the bar.
• Weapon and Tool Shop "Milword's": As you might expect, they sells weapons and tools.
• Skill Guild "Skill World"
• Restaurant "Yamato-Ya": a restaurant where you can buy take-out. They also sell shakes, drinks and desserts during certain events. Some of their shakes are not to tastes, but their desserts are very good.

The snow never seems to stop falling in Giveaway, home of the biggest university in Nede.

• Rokumondo's Secondhand Shop
• Inn "Mandarin": A modest, two-story inn with three beds.
• Dining Hall "Fresh Meat": Sells excellent steak and hamburgers.
• Tavern "Tackle": a huge bar, with a large stage for bands and singers - the entrance goes into a walkway, which has stairs that lead down to the bar. It doesn't seem to be very popular, though. Odd.
• Giveaway University: contains a modest-sized library, a variety of classrooms, and the offices history researchers.

This city is the playground of Nede. Children love it; adults usually stay in the inn and relax. There are lots of fun things to do - the battle arena, the Cooking Master competition, and the Bunny Races, for example. Normally it costs seventy-five FOL per person to get into this theme park.

• Information Center: just a generic information desk that tells you some of the attractions.
• Tavern "Playgirl": the area for adults who don't feel like playing like children.
• Gift Shop "Gift Box": sells random knick-knacks, like all-purpose knives, berets, healing items, specialty items and so on.
• Restaurant "Light Step": sells a variety of prepared foods, such as Chicken Skewers.
• Inn "Fun City Hotel": a very expensive, very luxurious inn with many rooms and large, soft beds, not to mention a tacky carpet design. Apparently a popular spot to take lovers for a fun night.
• Fortunetellers' room: located above the Cooking Master arena. It’s rather obvious what it is for by the title.
• Magazine Spot Sale: located above the Battle Arena. Here you can purchase magazines and doujin. They look cool.
  

Games in Fun City:

• Bunny Races: This is where you can bet on the Bunny Races. You purchase tickets from the guy in the bunny suit for each race that you bet on. The announcers before the race will tell you about each bunny's stats, if you wish. To win, you must pick both the winning bunny, and the second-place bunny. It's possible to win some very nice items here, including the coveted Bunny Shoes, but it's difficult to do! (The guy standing outside will give you tips as well, but half the time he's wrong.)

• Cooking Master Arena: In this game, you use the Cooking skill to face off against chefs chosen by Yarma, the Food God and Prince of Darkness who likes to give people silly titles. If you defeat all of the chefs, including Yarma, you win a Master of EATS degree and a special ingredient kit that can make very powerful foods.

• Battle Arena: Looks almost identical to the Arena in Lacour, Expel. You have a variety of events to choose from here. All of the fights are against monsters created by the VR system.

• Duel Battle: A one-on-one match between one fighter and four monsters; you face one monster at a time.
• Bullying Battle: One fighter fights groups of monsters. There are three matches.
• Team Battle: Five one-on-one battles with five different fighters.
• Survival Battle: The most difficult battle. One fighter must face fifty non-stop battles ranging from the humble Funnythief to the very tough Hell Servant from the lowest level of the Cave of Trials.

Interesting tidbit: The Battle Arena has apparently been around for more than one million years

Nede's "port" city, of sorts. Herushes, a kind of Heraldic beast capable of taking people underwater safely, are kept here. The Nedian Defense Force is also assembled here.

It was destroyed by the Ten Wise Men, but was said to be a rather small town with nothing of particular interest. Due to this fact, it was never repaired. However, remains of the Ten Wise Men’s influence can be found there. It is unknown as to how to access this land, as it has since been blocked off.

Other Locations

A small island set aside for endangered species on the planet, such as wild Synards. The director is a strange, rather reclusive man, who loves animals more than anything.

According to the North City Database, the institute is actually not located on Nede, but "on an uninhabited planet in Arkula Sector." The only access point is the Portal of Sealings, a transporter in Armlock that is usually locked by a passcode that only Narl knows. The institute once housed the few studies of advanced Heraldry permitted by Nede. However, seven hundred million years before, a horrible malfunction of one of its experimental devices caused the institute to be destroyed. The time/space shield surrounding the institute was all that kept the planet from being destroyed, as it shunted the energy to another area of the time/space continuum.

A beautiful place, full of flowers and green plants. Presumably it's on the large continent to the west, behind the energy field.

Important People on Nede

The square-jawed, robed mayor of Central City. He seems to know a great deal things - a good deal more than most of the population, in fact. He’s said to be the strongest fighter on Nede.

The young woman who leads the Defense Force in L'Aqua. She is powerful enough to fight one-on-one with one of the Ten Wise Men, and said to be the second strongest warrior on Nede, behind Mayor Narl, who has adopted the General as a daughter. One point of interest about her is that she appears to have been born on Expel, not Nede.

A blue-haired, glasses-wearing researcher in a labcoat. He's one of the professors in Giveaway who study the history of Nede. He is curious about the contents of the secret files, and plays a major role in unlocking them. The dean of the university disapproves of his research, but secretly wants to know the secret information as well.

The Director of the Synard Home in North City. He has connections with the Endangered Species Preserve, and is one of the few who can actually give you access to the area.