This collection of five asteroid clusters is all that remains of one of the worlds destroyed in the First Cataclysm. Strange ruins from before that time still remain on many of the asteroids. All are infested with undead, who have considerably inhibited the exploration of the ruins. The asteroid clusters are known as Achemon ([[Calidians|Calidian]]), Torin ([[Varan]]), Khel ([[Varan]]), Lumura ([[Illithid Empire|Illithid]]), and Mitiar ([[Calidians|Calidian]]). Achemon is the only truly free cluster here, since Mitiar is controlled by the illithids. Travel within the Dark Group is limited, but necessary to those interested in the age of men before the Cataclysms. **Type**: Cluster, earth **Size**: approximately 500 miles **Population**: 1,700,000 **Primary Inhabitants**: Calidian (Achemon, Mitiar), illithids (Khel, Lumura), Varan (Torin) **Natural Resources**: Shadowstone (Achemon), rare spices (Khel), livestock (Lumura), vegetables (Mitiar), iron (Torin), water, antiques (all) **Imports**: Food, wood, building materials, slaves (Khel, Lumura), mining tools (Torin) **Exports**: Shadowstone (Achemon) **Seen From Orbit**: The Dark Group is five asteroid clusters scattered outside of [[the Inner Ring]]. They are mostly inhospitable-looking places of lustrous black stone, with sparse patches of sickly yellow vegetation. Globules of brackish water float in and around most of the clusters, providing sufficient water for drinking and agriculture, though this liquid must be boiled before it is suitable for drinking. As travelers draw closer to the various clusters, strange ruins dot- ting their surface in seemingly random patterns can be seen.