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Description
This is an updated map of "modern" Priapus Prime, from my exobiology project . The black dots are major cities and the red ones are national capitals. The thick lines are national borders while the thinner lines are domestic borders. It is the homeworld of the Priapans .

Population: 2.98 billion
Size: 472 million square kilometers
Approx. 85% water/15% land

Although there is an international space exploration authority, Priapus Prime remains a planet divided by nationality, race, philosophy, and political opinion. Civilization began around the South Sea (which, as the name suggests, is just south of the Strait dividing the Island and the Peninsula), with particularly powerful cultures appearing on the Southern Island, North and Mid Peninsula, in the South Sea, and the coast of the Continent. The cultures of the Strait influenced much of the Peninsula's political and philosophical thought, much like the Ancient Greeks or Romans of Earth. And in turn the Peninsulars went on to found empires and republics (sometimes not mutually exclusive) that would spread that influence to the rest of the planet.

The North Island Union is the world's leading economic power, dominating the world economy through trade. It is the most culturally and racially diverse nation on Priapus Prime, the result of a legacy of the ancient slave trade, colonialism, and and open immigration and egalitarian policies. It is a federal union of several former colonies of many nations, giving it a history of multiculturalism.

The Great Imperial Republic is the industrial and military superpower of Priapus Prime, using its superior navy and army to keep the global political climate stable (and occasionally to bully other nations into economic or territorial concessions). The East Imperial Republic often clashes with the Great Imperial Republic over control of the food supply from the fertile Mangrove Republic and the River Republics (which were once a single River Republic, prior to the clashes).

The North Sea Imperial Republic once dominated the oceans and held a vast overseas empire, but these days its only distinguished by being the artistic capital of Priapus Prime, as well as its role in establishing stable republics from its former colonies (somewhat like a Priapan Great Britain, although it has a very different history). The Great Canopy Empire has for centuries been the breadbasket of Priapus Prime, growing large melon-like fruits on vines in vast gardens in the canopy, collecting them by catching them in vast nets they string up below; however, since the introduction of genetically modified crops a few generations ago the Peninsular Moor Confederation has produced enough food to essentially end starvation on Priapus Prime.

The Continental Union was formed by various groups of refugees after the Continental Imperial Republic invaded and colonized their original homelands on the other side of the Continent. They were driven into the drier regions of the planet, where Priapans have trouble retaining water and respirating (they absorb oxygen through their capillary-rich skin, so their bodies must stay moist or they will "suffocate" slowly). They were aided by nomads, who had lived there for thousands of years and sympathized with others who had been forced from their homes and left to wander the wastes. Together they formed their own civilization, eventually culminating in the Continental Union. This nation is mostly underdeveloped, with most of its populace living around the more temperate coasts in large cities. It has the largest amount of natural resources in the world, but lacks the infrastructure and manpower to harvest them. However due to its clearer skies (relatively speaking; the amount of moisture in the thick atmosphere keeps the entire planet covered in a constant overcast, but here the clouds are thinnest and a patch of clear, green sky is occasionally visible) and stable weather, it has become the ideal location for aviation and spaceflight testing.

The Central Island Federation is the last nation worth mentioning. It is a federal republic consisting of the Central Island States that were the only Island natives to avoid being colonized or conquered by foreign powers. They have their own unique culture, and it is the most ecologically diverse nation on the planet, stretching across many different types of habitats and biomes. The inhabitants are fiercely proud and independent, although the infrastructure of the nation is greatly outdated and it is somewhat lacking in modernization and industrial development. Even so they manage to make excellent money through outsourced foreign manufacturing, much like many Asian nations on Earth.

Overall Priapus Prime is surprisingly peaceful compared to Earth, although it is hardly a paradise. As mentioned earlier, the eastern areas of the Peninsula, particularly around the River Republics, are wreaked with warfare. The two River Republics on the map are really just scapegoats created by the Great and East Imperial Republics; in reality nobody in those regions, save for the puppet governments, consider themselves to be in a "River Republic." Historically there were many small scribocracies (the priapan equivalent to kingdoms in ancient times; ruled by an oligarchy of scholars rather than a hereditary monarch) and chiefdoms. In modern times the situation is somewhat the same, except that territories are ruled by warlords and syndicates (the priapan equivalent of a corporation, not a criminal organization, although there are those too) rather than a council of scholars. There are constant skirmishes and small civil wars in the region as every now and then one overambitious despot attempts to reunite the region and reform the ancient empire that once thrived there (in fact the culture of the East Imperials is derived from said empire).

There is also massive amount of economic disparity between the regions of Priapus Prime. The South Island Confederacy, once the wealthiest region in the planet's history, is now plagued with poverty; 99.8% of its citizens live on the bare minimum amount of money it takes to survive. Africa, the poorest region on Earth (all 10 of the top 10 poorest nations are African nations), is about as wealthy as France compared to this single Priapan superstate. The reason for this dramatic change is obvious just by hearing the name of it's capital; Slave Bay Harbor. Although slavery still exists in most nations on Priapus Prime, it is no longer in the form of the mass subjugation and brutal forced labor of certain races and ethnic groups. Instead slavery is now a punishment for criminals and a career option for the destitute, as with industrialization and modern technology slaves are no longer the largest source of manufacturing power. Slaves are protected by laws and well treated, most working in shifts and being allowed to own their own property; some even earn wages they can spend on whatever they like, possibly their freedom (this situation was actually the same for human slaves for much of antiquity, particularly in Egypt and Greece).

Oddly enough, while the biggest problem with human civilization is the preservation of Earth's natural resources and biosphere, Priapus Prime has the opposite problem: nature is too damn pernicious. Nearly 90% of all priapans live on the coast or on the banks of a major river, mainly because the planet has a very stable global climate. The odd tectonics cause thermal bulges that keep the planet on a constant axial tilt of nearly 180 degrees, much like Venus. This means that the planet is more or less the same temperature all around, from equator to poles. In fact it is so warm that ice and snow do not form naturally anywhere on the planet, even atop the highest mountains (and there actually aren't that many mountains to see either, since most of them are under the oceans).

The pervasiveness of this tropical climate is accompanied by the odd lighting situation. A massive ring surrounds the planet, and the reflection of sunlight off of the ice that composes it creates an effect called ringshine. This ringshine is so bright that night does not exist on Priapus Prime, instead there is merely a noticeably dimmer day (not as bright as the daytime, but much brighter than a clear night with a full moon on Earth by far). With this plants can undergo photosynthesis at night, and massive tree-like organisms called arboriterra ("world trees") dominate much of the Peninsula and Island. The arboriterra are not something to take lightly, as they dwarf skyscrapers in their size; supporting their massive height with great girth and city street-sized prehensile limbs that wrap around their neighbors. Entire cities and civilizations have been founded in these great canopies, and most of them persist to this day. These canopies are difficult to navigate and settle though, and harvesting natural resources from them is an enormous investment under even the best circumstances. This limits the economic growth of many regions, and without the funding to update agricultural infrastructure to modern standards there just simply isn't enough food for the global birthrate to remain anywhere but stable. Priapan civilization has reached a major hurtle it must overcome before it can continue to advance, but the priapans are a fiercely determined and inventive, if not peculiar, species that almost certainly can one day overcome their problems and spread out into the stars.

Description
This is an updated map of "modern" Priapus Prime, from my exobiology project . The black dots are major cities and the red ones are national capitals. The thick lines are national borders while the thinner lines are domestic borders. It is the homeworld of the Priapans .

Population: 2.98 billion
Size: 472 million square kilometers
Approx. 85% water/15% land

Although there is an international space exploration authority, Priapus Prime remains a planet divided by nationality, race, philosophy, and political opinion. Civilization began around the South Sea (which, as the name suggests, is just south of the Strait dividing the Island and the Peninsula), with particularly powerful cultures appearing on the Southern Island, North and Mid Peninsula, in the South Sea, and the coast of the Continent. The cultures of the Strait influenced much of the Peninsula's political and philosophical thought, much like the Ancient Greeks or Romans of Earth. And in turn the Peninsulars went on to found empires and republics (sometimes not mutually exclusive) that would spread that influence to the rest of the planet.

The North Island Union is the world's leading economic power, dominating the world economy through trade. It is the most culturally and racially diverse nation on Priapus Prime, the result of a legacy of the ancient slave trade, colonialism, and and open immigration and egalitarian policies. It is a federal union of several former colonies of many nations, giving it a history of multiculturalism.

The Great Imperial Republic is the industrial and military superpower of Priapus Prime, using its superior navy and army to keep the global political climate stable (and occasionally to bully other nations into economic or territorial concessions). The East Imperial Republic often clashes with the Great Imperial Republic over control of the food supply from the fertile Mangrove Republic and the River Republics (which were once a single River Republic, prior to the clashes).

The North Sea Imperial Republic once dominated the oceans and held a vast overseas empire, but these days its only distinguished by being the artistic capital of Priapus Prime, as well as its role in establishing stable republics from its former colonies (somewhat like a Priapan Great Britain, although it has a very different history). The Great Canopy Empire has for centuries been the breadbasket of Priapus Prime, growing large melon-like fruits on vines in vast gardens in the canopy, collecting them by catching them in vast nets they string up below; however, since the introduction of genetically modified crops a few generations ago the Peninsular Moor Confederation has produced enough food to essentially end starvation on Priapus Prime.

The Continental Union was formed by various groups of refugees after the Continental Imperial Republic invaded and colonized their original homelands on the other side of the Continent. They were driven into the drier regions of the planet, where Priapans have trouble retaining water and respirating (they absorb oxygen through their capillary-rich skin, so their bodies must stay moist or they will "suffocate" slowly). They were aided by nomads, who had lived there for thousands of years and sympathized with others who had been forced from their homes and left to wander the wastes. Together they formed their own civilization, eventually culminating in the Continental Union. This nation is mostly underdeveloped, with most of its populace living around the more temperate coasts in large cities. It has the largest amount of natural resources in the world, but lacks the infrastructure and manpower to harvest them. However due to its clearer skies (relatively speaking; the amount of moisture in the thick atmosphere keeps the entire planet covered in a constant overcast, but here the clouds are thinnest and a patch of clear, green sky is occasionally visible) and stable weather, it has become the ideal location for aviation and spaceflight testing.

The Central Island Federation is the last nation worth mentioning. It is a federal republic consisting of the Central Island States that were the only Island natives to avoid being colonized or conquered by foreign powers. They have their own unique culture, and it is the most ecologically diverse nation on the planet, stretching across many different types of habitats and biomes. The inhabitants are fiercely proud and independent, although the infrastructure of the nation is greatly outdated and it is somewhat lacking in modernization and industrial development. Even so they manage to make excellent money through outsourced foreign manufacturing, much like many Asian nations on Earth.

Overall Priapus Prime is surprisingly peaceful compared to Earth, although it is hardly a paradise. As mentioned earlier, the eastern areas of the Peninsula, particularly around the River Republics, are wreaked with warfare. The two River Republics on the map are really just scapegoats created by the Great and East Imperial Republics; in reality nobody in those regions, save for the puppet governments, consider themselves to be in a "River Republic." Historically there were many small scribocracies (the priapan equivalent to kingdoms in ancient times; ruled by an oligarchy of scholars rather than a hereditary monarch) and chiefdoms. In modern times the situation is somewhat the same, except that territories are ruled by warlords and syndicates (the priapan equivalent of a corporation, not a criminal organization, although there are those too) rather than a council of scholars. There are constant skirmishes and small civil wars in the region as every now and then one overambitious despot attempts to reunite the region and reform the ancient empire that once thrived there (in fact the culture of the East Imperials is derived from said empire).

There is also massive amount of economic disparity between the regions of Priapus Prime. The South Island Confederacy, once the wealthiest region in the planet's history, is now plagued with poverty; 99.8% of its citizens live on the bare minimum amount of money it takes to survive. Africa, the poorest region on Earth (all 10 of the top 10 poorest nations are African nations), is about as wealthy as France compared to this single Priapan superstate. The reason for this dramatic change is obvious just by hearing the name of it's capital; Slave Bay Harbor. Although slavery still exists in most nations on Priapus Prime, it is no longer in the form of the mass subjugation and brutal forced labor of certain races and ethnic groups. Instead slavery is now a punishment for criminals and a career option for the destitute, as with industrialization and modern technology slaves are no longer the largest source of manufacturing power. Slaves are protected by laws and well treated, most working in shifts and being allowed to own their own property; some even earn wages they can spend on whatever they like, possibly their freedom (this situation was actually the same for human slaves for much of antiquity, particularly in Egypt and Greece).

Oddly enough, while the biggest problem with human civilization is the preservation of Earth's natural resources and biosphere, Priapus Prime has the opposite problem: nature is too damn pernicious. Nearly 90% of all priapans live on the coast or on the banks of a major river, mainly because the planet has a very stable global climate. The odd tectonics cause thermal bulges that keep the planet on a constant axial tilt of nearly 180 degrees, much like Venus. This means that the planet is more or less the same temperature all around, from equator to poles. In fact it is so warm that ice and snow do not form naturally anywhere on the planet, even atop the highest mountains (and there actually aren't that many mountains to see either, since most of them are under the oceans).

The pervasiveness of this tropical climate is accompanied by the odd lighting situation. A massive ring surrounds the planet, and the reflection of sunlight off of the ice that composes it creates an effect called ringshine. This ringshine is so bright that night does not exist on Priapus Prime, instead there is merely a noticeably dimmer day (not as bright as the daytime, but much brighter than a clear night with a full moon on Earth by far). With this plants can undergo photosynthesis at night, and massive tree-like organisms called arboriterra ("world trees") dominate much of the Peninsula and Island. The arboriterra are not something to take lightly, as they dwarf skyscrapers in their size; supporting their massive height with great girth and city street-sized prehensile limbs that wrap around their neighbors. Entire cities and civilizations have been founded in these great canopies, and most of them persist to this day. These canopies are difficult to navigate and settle though, and harvesting natural resources from them is an enormous investment under even the best circumstances. This limits the economic growth of many regions, and without the funding to update agricultural infrastructure to modern standards there just simply isn't enough food for the global birthrate to remain anywhere but stable. Priapan civilization has reached a major hurtle it must overcome before it can continue to advance, but the priapans are a fiercely determined and inventive, if not peculiar, species that almost certainly can one day overcome their problems and spread out into the stars.