Adzharis

Adzharis is an Earth-like planet in the Barnum System, located on the Rim of the Terran Star Empire. It is the sole habitable world in its system and serves as the ancestral homeland of the del Drago clan -- the dragon witches -- a matriarchal society of PSI-gifted women who ride dragons and wield formidable psionic powers including weather manipulation. Adzharis becomes one of the saga's most pivotal locations when David terGorden plants a Yggdrasil seedling there, transforming the planet into the birthplace of the Second Driver Space Age.

The planet is divided between two fundamentally different civilisations: the corporate-controlled outer territories, dominated by Barnum Seafood Inc. and the Gray Guards, and the Sealed Land, a forbidden interior zone protected by an energy barrier where the dragon-witch clans have maintained their ancient way of life for centuries.

Physical Description

Planetary Characteristics

Adzharis is described as the second planet of the Barnum System and the only habitable one. Its environment closely resembles Earth, with breathable atmosphere, temperate climate zones, and abundant natural resources. The planet possesses a single major continent.

Key geographical features include:

• Coastal regions -- Urbanised zones with cities such as Transit City and the hotels and commercial infrastructure of Kyriain Bay, controlled by corporate interests.
• The interior -- Wild, largely uncolonised territory forming the Sealed Land, shielded behind an energy Barrier and inhabited by the dragon-witch clans.
• Northern valleys -- Remote, untouched terrain where David terGorden ultimately plants the Yggdrasil seedling (059).
• Rivers and waterways -- Navigable rivers flowing through the Sealed Land, populated by River Dragons (056).

Moons

Adzharis possesses at least two moons. The second moon, Chrama, is a source of powerful and dangerous PSI emanations. Chrama's radiation is associated with madness and "PSI-fire" -- its influence drove Queen Stella by Starlight insane during her tenure as military commander of the planet (060). The moon also plays a role in dragon-witch ritual life: the Spider Clan attempted to sacrifice David terGorden and Nayala del Drago to Chrama (059). In one of the saga's most striking cosmic events, the moon Chrama "devours the sun," ushering in a new epoch on Adzharis (059).

Orbital Infrastructure

The planet is served by the spaceport at Transit City and the orbital transit platform Poseidonis (060). The courier ship TASCA was placed in parking orbit around Adzharis after the Terranauts escaped from Rorqual (058).

The Sealed Land

The Sealed Land is a forbidden zone in the interior of Adzharis, protected by an energy Barrier that seals it off from the outside world. It is inhabited by the descendants of a failed colonisation project who, over centuries, developed extraordinary PSI Powers and a distinctive culture centred on dragon-riding and matriarchal clan governance.

The Sealed Land is described as a wild, verdant territory crossed by rivers and dotted with clan settlements such as Belgam Tower, where Nayala del Drago's family resides (056). The barrier prevents casual intrusion, though smugglers like Nell Ohara occasionally guide tourists across it illegally (056).

The Sealed Land's autonomy is perpetually threatened by corporate interests. Barnum Seafood Inc. and Music Minus One have repeatedly attempted to abolish the barrier and exploit the territory for tourism and resource extraction (056). Rogan Helmer, a manager from Barnum Seafood, and Roley Anjak from Music Minus One are caught illegally exploring the Sealed Land with plans to turn it into a tourist attraction (056). The dragon-witch clans, led by figures like Nayala del Drago, fiercely resist these incursions.

The del Drago Clan and the Dragon Witches

The dragon witches of Adzharis are an ancient matriarchal society of PSI-gifted women organised into rival clans. They are one of the saga's most distinctive cultures, combining formidable psionic abilities with an intimate bond with the planet's dragon population.

Clan Structure

The witch clans of the Sealed Land are organised around totemic animal affiliations. At least three major clans are identified in the saga:

• The Dragon Clan (del Drago) -- The primary clan, led by Clan Mother Murdala. Members include Nayala del Drago, Vandel, Trut, and historically Myriam del Drago, mother of David terGorden. The Dragon Clan is the most prominent in the saga and provides the del Drago lineage that connects the dragon witches to the broader Terranaut narrative.
• The Spider Clan -- A hostile clan that opposes the planting of Yggdrasil's seed and attempts to sacrifice David and Nayala to the moon Chrama (059).
• The Cat Clan -- Initially hostile to David but ultimately swayed by his words, which echo their ancient prophecies (059).

The clans are governed by a Witch Council, which deliberates on matters affecting the Sealed Land as a whole. The Council is represented externally by a figure known as the Nobody -- a very old dragon-witch with limited powers who serves as the Council's chosen messenger and spokesperson (059).

PSI Powers

The dragon witches possess a range of psionic abilities that set them apart even in a galaxy where Drivers routinely use PSI for space navigation:

• Weather manipulation -- Nayala del Drago is specifically identified as a "weather-witch" capable of summoning storms, creating cushions of air to slow falls, and generating winds powerful enough to change a ship's course (057, 058, 059).
• Telepathy and clairvoyance -- Nayala uses her PSI abilities to confirm the location of the Great Abyss on Rorqual (057) and to track Olgar Nordstrom across hostile territory (057).
• Dragon bonding -- The witches ride dragons, most notably Sufnor, Nayala's personal dragon, who is capable of flying through Space II from Adzharis to Rorqual (057).
• Collective PSI amplification -- The Dragon Clan can pool their psionic energy to boost the powers of allies. During the Battle of Adzharis, the Dragon Clan provides a collective PSI boost to the Terranauts fighting Queen Stella by Starlight's forces (060).
• Communion with Yggdrasil -- The del Drago bloodline appears uniquely attuned to the World Trees. Myriam del Drago achieved an unprecedented bond with Yggdrasil on Earth (030, 031). La Strega del Drago served as a spiritual intermediary helping David connect with Yggdrasil (002, 003). The saga consistently positions women of the del Drago lineage as the primary conduits for cosmic PSI forces.

Matriarchal Society

The dragon-witch culture is deeply matriarchal. Leadership rests with Clan Mothers like Murdala, and the Witch Council -- which governs the affairs of all clans within the Sealed Land -- appears to be dominated by elder women. The Nobody, the Council's external representative, is female (059). Young women like Nayala del Drago serve as cartographers, patrol riders, and warriors. Male members of the clans such as Vandel and Trut are present but occupy supporting roles (059, 060).

The admission ritual for outsiders is significant: when Narda seeks to join the Dragon Clan, she must agree to become a Dragon Rider as a condition for the clan's assistance (056). This ritual transforms Narda from a Terranaut Driver into a full member of the dragon-witch tradition, and she later remains on Adzharis for training with the Dragon Clan (060).

The Yggdrasil Seedling and the Urbaum

The most consequential event in Adzharis's history is the planting of a Yggdrasil seedling by David terGorden in approximately 2502 AD -- an act that transforms the planet from a Rim World backwater into one of the most strategically important locations in the galaxy.

David's Trial (Booklets 059-060)

When the TASCA arrives at Adzharis carrying David and the seed for a new Yggdrasil, the dragon-witch Council -- represented by the Nobody -- initially refuses to welcome them, fearing the influx of Terran technology and culture. Asen-Ger argues that David, as the "son of Myriam del Drago," has a hereditary right to the clan's support (059).

The Nobody proposes a trial: David must sow Yggdrasil's seed alone, naked, without weapons, tools, or reliance on his PSI abilities (059). This test is both practical and symbolic -- it requires David to prove his worthiness not through power but through vulnerability and commitment.

David and Nayala del Drago descend to the surface on Nayala's dragon Sufnor. They are immediately attacked by the Spider Clan, who capture them and intend to sacrifice them to the moon Chrama. Nayala recharges her powers and they escape, but the amulet containing Yggdrasil's seed is stolen -- only to reappear, now mystically integrated into David's chest (059).

David encounters the Cat Clan, who are initially hostile but are swayed when his words echo their ancient prophecies. Guided by apparitions of Merlin III and Lithe, David plants Yggdrasil's seed in a valley in the north of Adzharis (059).

The Nobody sacrifices herself to empower the witches of the Dragon Clan for the coming conflict (059).

The Battle of Adzharis (Booklet 060)

While David tends the growing Yggdrasil seedling in the north, Queen Stella by Starlight -- the blind military commander of Adzharis, driven mad by Chrama's radiation and still loyal to the banished Max von Valdec -- launches an assault to destroy the seedling.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Patran Grevenhart, the acting Manag of Kaiser Corporation, manipulates the Council of Corporations into sending an investigation team to Adzharis, secretly plotting with Queen Yazmin, a Valdec loyalist, to destroy the seedling.

The battle reaches its climax when the Terranauts, bolstered by a collective PSI boost from the Dragon Clan, confront Stella's forces. Grevenhart is exposed as a traitor and killed when his connection to Yazmin's ship is severed. Queen Yazmin's ship is destroyed. Stella is left mentally broken (060).

David gives the first new Mistletoe blossom to Narda del Drago, laying the cornerstone for the Second Driver Space Age (060). Narda and Nayala remain on Adzharis for Narda to continue her training with the Dragon Clan.

The Urbaum

By the 2590s, the Yggdrasil seedling planted by David has grown into a mature Urbaum (Primeval Tree), becoming a vital source of Mistletoe for Driver space travel across the galaxy. The tree is guarded by Altamont O'Hale (089).

The Urbaum's strategic importance makes Adzharis a target: Max von Valdec, now self-proclaimed "Kaiser of Berlin," orders an attack on Adzharis specifically to disrupt the mistletoe supply (089). Manipulated Drivers, transformed into psionic weapons by Clones, are sent to destroy the Urbaum. The attack is thwarted by the Steersman Morgenstern, who sacrifices himself to contain the psionic threat, aided by Claude Farrell and the Dragon Witches of Adzharis (089).

Nayala del Drago: Defiance and Legacy

Nayala del Drago is the saga's most fully realised dragon-witch character and the living embodiment of Adzharis's role in the broader narrative. She first appears in booklet 056 as a young cartographer living in Belgam Tower in the Sealed Land, riding her dragon Sufnor and serving on patrols to protect her people from corporate intrusion.

Key Actions

• Booklet 056: Discovers Barnum Seafood Inc.'s plan to abolish the Sealed Land barrier; joins a patrol to investigate; helps capture the intruders.
• Booklet 057: Travels through Space II from Adzharis to Rorqual on Sufnor; tracks down Olgar Nordstrom in Xalihat and retrieves the stolen Yggdrasil seed; uses her weather-witch powers to summon a storm that helps the Maryjane escape a whirlpool near the Great Abyss.
• Booklet 058: Explores the hollow interior of Rorqual with Thorna and Bo Nilsson; creates a massive storm to extinguish a fire threatening the Tau Ulema.
• Booklet 059: Accompanies David to the surface of Adzharis on Sufnor; saves them from a fatal crash with her weather-witch abilities; escapes the Spider Clan with David; guides him to the northern valleys where he plants the seed.
• Booklet 060: Defies the Witch Council to help David protect the growing Yggdrasil seedling from Stella's assault -- the defining act of her character arc. Remains on Adzharis with Narda after the battle.
• Booklet 072: Meets David when he returns to Adzharis to collect mistletoe; accompanies him to Earth and helps thwart an assassination attempt.
• Booklet 079: Serves as a member of David's personal guard on Earth, alongside Narda and Mandorla.
• Booklet 083: Leads a team into the brood vaults beneath Sarym to destroy Cosmic Spores.
• Booklet 094: Travels with David aboard the Collector to the Old Forest as Narda del Drago.

Nayala's defiance of the Witch Council in booklet 060 is a watershed moment for Adzharis itself. It represents the younger generation's rejection of isolationism in favour of active participation in the galactic struggle -- and it establishes the dragon witches as permanent allies of the Terranauts.

Key Characters Associated with Adzharis

Corporate and Political Control

Outside the Sealed Land, Adzharis is administered as a Rim World of the Terran Star Empire, subject to the Council of Corporations. The primary corporate presence is Barnum Seafood Inc., whose fishing operations have caused environmental damage -- including mutations in local fauna caused by fish feed dumped into the seas (059). Deputy Manager Tonn Sprott represents the corporation on-planet (059, 060).

Military authority is exercised by the Gray Guards under commanders such as Feng Litau (059, 060) and, more prominently, Queen Stella by Starlight, who serves as the "Military Mistress" of the planet. Stella's rule is complicated by her loyalty to the exiled Max von Valdec and her progressive madness caused by Chrama's radiation (060).

The political status of Adzharis is contested. Stella accuses the Terranauts of plotting to detach the planet from the Council and ally it with the League of Free Worlds (059). The tension between corporate exploitation, Gray Guard military control, and the Sealed Land's autonomy defines much of the planet's political landscape.

Timeline of Key Events

Themes

Nature versus Corporate Exploitation

Adzharis embodies the saga's central tension between organic, nature-bound civilisations and extractive corporate power. The Sealed Land's dragon-witch culture, rooted in dragon-riding, weather-magic, and communion with living ecosystems, stands in direct opposition to the strip-mining, tourism-commodification, and environmental poisoning practised by Barnum Seafood Inc. and other Council corporations. The planting of Yggdrasil's seedling -- a living cosmic tree -- on Adzharis rather than on a corporate world is itself a statement about where the saga's moral sympathies lie.

Isolation versus Engagement

The Witch Council's initial refusal to help the Terranauts reflects a deep isolationist impulse -- the desire to preserve the Sealed Land's culture by keeping the galaxy at bay. Nayala del Drago's defiance of the Council in booklet 060 represents the counter-argument: that isolation is ultimately unsustainable, and that the dragon witches must engage with the wider galaxy to protect what they value. This tension between preservation and participation runs through every Adzharis storyline.

The del Drago Women as Cosmic Intermediaries

Adzharis is the origin point of a lineage of women who serve as bridges between humanity and cosmic forces. Myriam del Drago communed with Yggdrasil and bore the prophesied "son of Yggdrasil." La Strega del Drago channelled Yggdrasil's messages across space. Nayala del Drago rides dragons through Space II and summons storms with her mind. The planet itself, with its Yggdrasil seedling growing in its northern valleys, becomes a physical manifestation of this intermediary role -- a place where the human and the cosmic intersect.

The Second Driver Space Age

The planting of Yggdrasil's seed on Adzharis and the production of the first new Mistletoe blossoms mark the dawn of the Second Driver Space Age -- a restoration of psionic space travel after the catastrophe of the Kaiser Force. Adzharis is thus not merely a setting but a turning point in galactic history: the place where humanity's relationship with the cosmos begins to heal.

Appearances

See Also

• Sealed Land
• Barnum System
• Yggdrasil
• Adzharis Urbaum
• Chrama
• del Drago
• Nayala del Drago
• Narda del Drago
• Myriam del Drago
• La Strega del Drago
• David terGorden
• Asen-Ger
• Dragon Rider
• Sufnor
• Belgam Tower
• Transit City
• Kyriain Bay
• Barnum Seafood Inc.
• Queen Stella by Starlight
• Terranauts
• Rorqual
• Mistletoe
• PSI Powers