Opsithe
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| Orbital characteristics | ||
| Mass (Kg) | 5.57E+22 | |
| Radius (Km) | 1,474 | |
| Solar Day (h) | 31.2 | |
| Orbital Period (days) | 20,523 | |
| Semi-Major Axis (Km) | 2.03E+09 | |
| Periapsis (AU) | 13.5 | |
| Apoapsis (AU) | 13.7 | |
| Albedo | .57 | |
| Surface Temperature (K) | 41.3 | |
| Surface Gravity (m/s^2) | 1.71 | |
| Axial Tile (degrees) | 7.88 | |
| Inclination (degrees) | 1.6 | |
| Orbital Speed (Km/s) | 7.23 | |
| Satellites | None | |
Opsithe is the planet farthest from the star Atos.
North Polar Regions
The North Polar region of Opsithe is an inhospitable domain of perpetual darkness and extreme cold. The surface is encrusted with layers of frozen nitrogen and carbon dioxide, creating an otherworldly, glistening landscape. Towering ice spires and vast, dark plains define this area, sculpted by relentless katabatic winds that descend from the polar cap. These winds drive massive, slow-moving ice storms that occasionally produce eerie auroras, casting ghostly lights across the icy expanse. The region is also marked by deep, labyrinthine crevasses that crisscross the terrain, hinting at tectonic forces at work beneath the surface.
Equatorial Regions
Opsithe's Equatorial region is a realm of contrasts, where vast, shadowed plains give way to steep, jagged mountain ranges. The landscape is composed of dark, basaltic rock and rich deposits of rare minerals, which give the surface a varied palette of deep greens and browns. The equatorial zone experiences fleeting periods of twilight, creating long, haunting shadows that accentuate the rugged topography. The most striking feature of this region is the "Midnight Forest," a dense expanse of crystalline structures that resemble a petrified forest. These formations emit a faint, phosphorescent glow, illuminating the surrounding area with an ethereal light. The origins of the Midnight Forest are shrouded in mystery, with some scientists speculating they are remnants of an ancient, now-extinct alien biosphere.
Southern Polar Regions
The South Polar region of Opsithe is a frozen expanse dominated by intricate ice formations and vast, frozen seas. This area is slightly less cold than the North Pole, leading to a more dynamic and ever-changing landscape. The polar ice cap here is riddled with complex, fractal-like patterns, created by the interplay of freezing and thawing cycles driven by geothermal vents. The South Pole is also home to the "Veil of Shadows," a persistent, swirling storm system that encircles the pole. This vortex of dark clouds and ice particles creates a mesmerizing spectacle, reflecting and refracting the faint light from Atos in a dazzling display.
Mythology
In the religious cosmology of the Reformed Stripping Path, Opsithe is venerated as both a planetary body and the divine embodiment of harvest, fertility, and the nurturing cycles of nature. As the Lady Divine of Harvest and Abundance, Opsithe represents the sacred rhythm of sowing, growth, and reaping—the continuum by which life is sustained and renewed across mortal and divine realms.
According to canonical tradition, Opsithe emerged from the fertile soils of Micras itself, her form arising from the pulse of life that stirs within the earth. She is regarded not as a distant cosmic force, but as an ever-present maternal spirit—one whose blessings are felt in each seed that sprouts and each table filled. Myths such as the Hymn of Opsithe emphasize her role as a compassionate provider and stern guardian of balance, reminding mortals that gratitude and stewardship are the cornerstones of abundance.
Worship of Opsithe is particularly strong in agrarian communities like those surrounding Sylvapolis, where the Mystery of the Verdant Embrace maintains her rites through seasonal festivals, planting rituals, and communal acts of care for the land. Her festivals—especially Chag Tvuah and Panagia Therizis—celebrate the reciprocity between humanity and the natural world, reinforcing her teachings of harmony, humility, and renewal.
Through her association with the distant, ice-laced planet Opsithe, whose dim twilight and crystalline features evoke the mystery of life's dormancy and quiet potential, she is understood as a patient and generous divine force—a cosmic gardener whose touch sustains the world’s abundance, and whose silence instructs the soul to listen to the rhythms beneath its feet.
