Garden is a literal greenhouse.
It is hot and sweltering. The surface temperature never gets below 120 degrees. There are no permanent settlements on Garden, but there are occasional work sites.
The primary activity is on Jana, which despite not having an atmosphere does have a civilization. Jana, though small, has high mineral concentrations which made it worth colonizing. The original colonists were dwarves who landed in a Citadel about 500 years back. They made a dome over a crater with giant spider silk, and filled the dome with air brought from Garden. This atmosphere is maintained by plants. Ten towers stick out of the dome (holding its own atmosphere envelope). These towers provide the defense for the colony. Each tower is mounted with four heavy catapults. The dwarves named their colony Freehold, and did a very un-dwarvish thing and opened Freehold up for immigration by other people. The dwarves then dug into the mineral rich planet and started making fine metal goods. They specialize in tools, but also produce weapons.
The second wave of colonists to Freehold was a mixed group of humans and halflings from Realmspace. This group included several mages, who used Continual Light to light the interior of the dome. This allowed for more plant growth than the dwarves had gotten with their luminescent fungi.
During the next hundred years the dwarves moved deeper into the planet, leaving the dome to the humans and halflings. The mages of Freehold spent some time and energy enchanting the dome with various anti-fire spells.
The third (and so far, the last) wave of colonists was a group of Rastipedes. They have increased the colony's revenue by aggressively marketing the fine metal products the dwarves forge.
Currently the original dwavish Citadel is in stationary orbit above Freehold, to provide orbital defense. The Citadel is augmented by a smallish fleet of three Hammerships, five Damselflies, and two Wasps. All of these ships are well maintained, and stand ready to repel any attackers. The ships also serve to bring in water for Freehold, which is one thing it runs short of occasionally.
The mages established the University of Freehold, and take students occasionally, as well as maintain a well stocked library. They are on good terms with the Seekers, but have been experiencing some trouble from the Shapers.
The government of Freehold is fairly loose, and consists of a governing body called the Conclave. The Conclave has twelve members, three each of dwarves, humans, halflings, and rastipedes. They decide important issues, and deal with high justice. Low and middle justice is handled by Judges appointed by the Conclave.
Freehold maintains a small police force, and all citizens are part of the militia, they are equipped by the Conclave and trained by men at arms hired by the Conclave. Twenty years ago the neogi attempted a slaving run on Freehold, only to discover that 20,000 armed civilians are a dangerous force. The ruins of their Deathspider are beside the dome, as warning to any other neogi who happen by.
Garden has no seas, only largish lakes. The entire planet is covered with rainforest, and a day which passes without rain is unheard of.
The plant life on Garden is much like the plant life in a typical rainforest on Earth, only adapted to deal with temperatures which never drop below 120, and often reach 160. During the cooler months several Freehold foresters go to Garden to gather medicinal herbs, wood, etc.
Besides the extreme heat, no one lives on Garden because of the pervasiveness of the plantlife. The various vines, trees, grasses, etc. on Garden grow so rapidly that they quickly overwhelm almost any building. Likewise, the constant rain will allow the various molds and fungi of Garden to absorb most wooden structures in less than a month.
There are few animal species on Garden, and many of them are aggressive carnivores. Additionally Garden supports a multitude of animate mold and fungi which are capable of infecting the various sentient races. Think of the old SF about Venus, and you have a good idea of what Garden is like. There are also mold and fungi based diseases native to Garden which will rot a person in a manner similar to Mummy Rot.
The people of Freehold who venture to Garden are always accompanies by several priests who know the Cure Disease spell.
