Protus

A planet scarred red-hot from ages of pelting from above. Scientists believe the Earth may have endured a similar beginning in its early years as the Sol System developed its current planetary base. Eventually Protus’s surface should cool, with the dwarf planet’s molten rock solidifying into whatever shape it decides is best for the ages. That day is far off, likely well past the time when man will have left the system, and as such people enjoy a relative stability in knowing Protus remains.

The small molten world has become a widely trafficked tourist destination for Inex Corporation employees as well as droves from outside the system interested in the unique experiences. The whole of the planet’s population lives on space stations in orbit around the dwarf.

History

Barrage

Protus is the sole survivor of at least three planets that existed in the Inex system long ago. The volatile nature of the system doomed the young planets, eventually the largest were ripped apart by the forces of the two suns. The debris field Stonehenge is a testament to this, alongside the fiery molten getaway of Protus.

Few can, or even try, to guess at what the world was like before it was struck by the debris left behind by its cousins. A number of guides have taken to provide rocks and other materials for guests to “strike” into the molten surface to recreate the ages past barrage.

Of particular fun are the odds and ends for sale with "Splooosh, Sizzle" and the ever popular shirt, "I threw the rock at Protus and all I got was this lousy shirt".

Steeping

Protus was originally left without any claim, after Inex Corporation expressed next to no interest in the dwarf. It took time but eventually adventurous souls found out about the free-flowing lakes of fire and rock. For those pioneers it was a heaven of untapped potential.

After several years the small groups of enthusiasts amassed enough interest in their position that outside investors put up enough equity to build the first small station, Romeo 6. Sadly by now all of these old pillars of the community are gone, lost to time, but their work laid the foundation for what became a small circuit for racing and other extreme sports.

Points of Interest

Pits

The Pits is a series of shifting racetracks mapped out across the surface of Protus as part of the Xifor Series Racing Circuit. During the off-season for tourists the planet comes to life with circuit racing next to geysers, waterfalls, and canyons of molten rock. These men and women races for some strange reason enjoy the death-defying speeds as they literally skim the shifting surface of the planet beneath. Quarters get a little tight on the space stations at this time of year as despite the off-season the entourage following behind race-teams in the form of staff and crews is substantial.

Each year dozens are seriously injured and more often than not deaths quickly follow as rescue crews are unable to cover the entirety of the molten dwarf.