Rai.p'uāng

Kayfa II is the religious heart of the Xi’An Empire, thanks to its unusual astronomical properties. One day on the planet lasts 100 Xi’An years, which roughly equates to 128 Standard Earth Years.

It is the custom in the Xi’An Empire for planets to be assigned a purpose and developed with only that purpose in mind. Kayfa II’s spiritual associations mean it was terraformed to be a place of peace, tranquility and meditation. Cultivated gardens and fields cover much of the surface with sacred temples built so that there would always be one on the horizon no matter where you look. The temples provide the bare minimum in resources and amenities for Xi’An monks pursuing the ultimate enlightenment in Li’Tova: spending a full day meditating on Kayfa II. To preserve the planet’s tranquility, Kayfa II has only one city, Su’Shora.

Kayfa II’s religious focus means there is no manufacturing or mining, and only essential economic activity. All other necessary products are shipped into the system by the Xi’An government. Some black market activity exists, but perpetrators caught are severely punished. The planet’s solitary, legal export is the Centennial Bloom plant, which is famous for blossoming beautiful bell flowers once every hundred Xi’An years. Originally native to Koli (Eealus III), the Xi’An discovered that these temperamental plants thrive in Tovaroh’s gardens. Law grants each Xi’An one complimentary plant on their first visit to the planet. Humans can purchase them, but should not expect a discount. As a way to dissuade Centennial Bloom bulk haulers from clogging the system, the Xi’An tie the plant’s price to the going rate in the UEE. So buying a Centennial Bloom on Tovaroh simply guarantees that the plant is authentic and not one of the genetically modified knockoffs commonly found around the UEE.

Travel Warning: The Xi’An consider Tovaroh sacred — a designation extended to the entire system, so be respectful. No violent activity of any sort will be tolerated; it will be immediately suppressed.

"Footpaths wind through the gardens and fields with no apparent rhythm or reason, sometimes leading to temples well beyond one’s original location. It can be disconcerting to those acclimated to the Xi’An’s precise and orderly nature, but that’s the entire point. In a culture that plans almost everything to the last detail, the disorder of Tovaroh’s trails must be mentally liberating for those brave enough to get lost on them."

- Margo Lekman, Li’Tova: A Beginner’s Path, 2851

"Two things that you should know about visiting Tovaroh: one is that there are a lot of temples. As many as you are picturing now, it’s like ten times more. If you love temples this is the place for you.

Two, don’t wear leather shoes. Didn’t quite understand why, but had to buy a pair of expensive flip flops at the gift shop in Su’Shora in order to walk around without monks giving me dirty looks."

- Harry Tenny, A Complainer’s Guide to the ’Verse, 2939

Su'Shora
The city has a small number of permanent residents, mainly government or religious officials and their support staff, who deal with visiting Xi’An tourists and religious pilgrims. Humans are welcomed but expected to adhere to the planet’s customs. Unless given special dispensation, Human visitors are also required to stay within the limits of the city.