**Type**: Belt, earth **Size**: Varies **Population**: 10,000,000+ **Primary Inhabitants**: Mixed **Natural Resources**: All **Exports**: All **Imports**: All Seen From Orbit: The Inner Ring is the most densely populated asteroid belt in the Cluster. There are literally millions of asteroids, and a large percentage of these are inhabited by one sort of creature or another. From the outside, the Inner Ring is a great accumulation of asteroids. On the larger ones can be seen the tell-tale lights and columns of smoke that tell of civilization. On others are small forests, and on still others there are gardens and other cultivated areas. Ships are omnipresent in the Ring, traveling from one port to another or merely passing through. Some areas of the Ring can be seen as darker than others, hidden from the sun by larger asteroids. These sections are known as the Grim Regions, and are largely unexplored and inhabited by all manner of strange creatures and hostile monsters. ## Description: The Inner Ring is the center of civilization in the [[Astromundi Cluster]]. Nowhere is population so dense and so varied, or cultural tensions so lax. Ironically, it is the [[Neogi Empire|Neogi]] who are largely responsible for the success of the Inner Ring, and for keeping the peace. When the neogi were first establishing themselves as the trading power in the [[Astromundi Cluster]], civilized areas were few and far between. This scattering of small communities spread across millions of miles was not exactly an economic paradise. The neogi managed to convince the other races to establish trading bases within the Inner Ring. There, they promised to provide price breaks and other incentives to keep the people there. The Inner Ring became a sort of free market, though the neogi controlled who could trade with who. The other races balked at this at first, but quickly succumbed to the greater economic might of the neogi. Over time, the trading colonies grew larger, and eventually support colonies were needed to maintain them. Now there are all manner of settlements within the Inner Ring. When the [[Illithid Empire]]/[[Antilan Empire]] disputes began to bring their unrest to the relatively peaceful Inner Ring, the neogi stepped in. Using their economic clout, they forced the signing of the now-infamous Neogi Agreement. In short, all those who trade in the Inner Ring must abide by the following three restrictions: 1) They must never bring their wars or disputes into the Ring. 2) A portion of all profits must be given to the neogi who so benevolently established the wondrous trading circle of the Inner Ring. 3) No one may raise a hand against a neogi. These restrictions are enforced by fears that the neogi will withdraw their support from the Inner Ring, causing its collapse. All races have become somewhat dependent on the trade generated by the Inner Ring and will do nothing to jeopardize their status in the Ring. If anyone does break the strictures of the Neogi Agreement, all other races in the Inner Ring will turn against them. The neogi are aware that their power in the Ring is a legacy left over from an older age, but also know enough to promote the image of neogi as trade rulers. The other races may someday realize how simple it would be to turn against the neogi, but are now content to benefit from the Ring and the peace generated by the Neogi Agreement. The Ring is not populated evenly, but in clumps based around trading colonies of various sorts. The three most important colonies are discussed below, and following these is a description of another largely populated area of the Belt. ### ![[Atalan]] ### ![[Sharona]] ### ![[Thundazar]] ### Lesser Ports #### ![[Graz]] #### ![[Pakrill]] #### ![[Port Slythe]] #### ![[Solango]] #### ![[Lojir]] #### ![[Sulimi]] #### ![[Makasi]] #### ![[Calinok]] #### ![[Makaz]] #### ![[Belgeron]] #### ![[Mangeer]] ## Images ![[inner_ring_colonies.png]]