Mhechtpaly

Mhechtpaly is the third planet of the Kyuenhat system and a colony of the Ngaojhk Republic. It's a warm world 79% of which is covered in water; much of the land is covered in thick jungle of the native carbon-based life.

Mhechtpaly is largely uncomfortably hot for the Nghaojk and their initial colonies were in the polar regions, though by this time they have spread across the planet, favouring underground or underwater settlements or, where this is impractical, domed cities. While some of the jungle has been cut down for agricultural purposes, most of it is now managed forest: wood is among the chief exports of Mhechtpaly, similar natural substances being relatively rare in the nearby systems.

Mhechtpaly has native intelligent life too, though initial surveys missed the fact entirely: the Mhechtpalyan shifters. These creatures had little in the way of a material culture: their lasting physical products were limited to a some landmarks (meeting places and/or ritual sites) and long polymer threads marking trails (in general leading to the sites). Many of the shifters still live in the wild, though some have now integrated themselves into Nghaojk society.