Nicolia is a planetary system orbiting HIP 28393, an orange K2V ☼ star in the Pictor constellation of the Inner/Sol Region.
At first glance, Nicolia’s primary world appears to be a paradise. Vast forests blanket the continents, lush vegetation stretches from horizon to horizon, and the planet orbits comfortably within its star’s habitable zone. Surface temperatures are mild, liquid water is abundant, and the atmosphere contains high levels of oxygen—conditions that would normally suggest a thriving biosphere.
Beneath this idyllic exterior, however, lies a far more hostile reality. Nicolia is an intensely volcanic world, with thousands of active volcanoes venting carbon monoxide and other toxic compounds into the atmosphere. The planet’s unique plant life flourishes in these conditions, but the air remains lethal to most complex animal life and to unprotected humans.
As a result, Nicolia exists in a strange ecological state. Dense jungles, towering forests, and vast fields of alien vegetation dominate the landscape, yet higher life forms are almost entirely absent. The world is alive with plant growth but eerily silent, lacking the diverse animal ecosystems found on truly habitable planets.
The small human population lives within sealed habitats and enclosed settlements equipped with extensive atmospheric filtration systems. Outside these protected environments, colonists rely on breathing apparatuses or fully enclosed environmental suits. Despite the risks, Nicolia’s unusual ecosystem continues to attract researchers, botanical specialists, and industrial interests eager to study one of the most deceptive living worlds in explored space.
