Barren, isolated and cold, there is little to endear Cheimeros to outsiders - and that is exactly how the Cheimerons want it. A tough and dour people, the Cheimerons are survivalists at heart and want nothing more than for the rest of the galaxy to leave them well alone. Although the planet has little by way of natural resources, its people have learnt to eke out a living from what it has: rocks, base metals and a lot of geothermal activity.
– The voiceover for an Achelian education documentary on Cheimeros.

• Cheimeros is a small volcanic planet with little to no arable land. No other planets in the system are habitable.
• Cheimerons are fiercely independent and resent the idea that they might be dependent on anyone
• The population have historically lived in small communities clustered around geothermal vents
• The planet was invaded by Kedalion but fought back aggressively, resulting in an ongoing war.

It isn't certain exactly how, when or why Cheimeros was settled. What little is known suggests that a large group of people all arrived at once, then promptly shut off communications and cannibalised their ships for the tools needed to make the blasted little planet habitable. A strictly hierarchical society grew up around the thermal vents that provided heat and nutrients spat up from the planet's core, the old and experienced ruling over the young and inexperienced. It wasn't until centuries later, when the first great Achelian trade ships burst into the sky, that they were even made aware of the rest of the Seven Systems again.

They weren't exactly thrilled by the discovery. Life on Cheimeros was hard, and in order to survive the communities had fostered an inward-looking attitude and a strong set of community ties and obligations. Dissent was discouraged as it weakened the fabric of society. While the gardens of Briareos filled their pantries and enabled the population to grow, the exposure to external culture threatened the aeons of hard work that enabled people to survive on Cheimeros. Not only that, but being more or less forgotten had allowed Cheimeros to slip by unnoticed as other planets fought. Now they were back on the scene, there was a risk that the stronger civilisations might see Cheimeros as a target, or worse…

The worst fears of the Cheimeran government were realised in 1269, when Kedalion staged an invasion of the planet. However, that is not to say that the Cheimerons were not prepared: thanks to either excellent intelligence or simply stubborn paranoia, they were able to effectively repulse the first set of invading vessels, using newly developed and highly powerful weapons.

Unfortunately, the conflict between the two planets turned out to be that of an unstoppable force vs and immovable object, and neither side was willing to give in and instead fought back against every attack with ever greater ferocity. Although much of the planet has now been scarred beyond recognition and the population reduced to a fraction of its previous numbers, the Cheimerons keep on fighting.

Extensive aerial bombardment and resource plundering during the early stages of the war left Cheimeros a barren shell, but the Cheimerons are a hardy people who have carefully protected the geothermal vents that provide their food supply of crustaceans and algae. Many of the planet’s production centres, such as they are, have been converted to producing weapons rather than food, but given the reduced population this is less of a problem than it might have been.

The people of Cheimeros still live in small, close-knit communities. Most Cheimeran civilisation is underground, close to the internal heat that keeps the planet alive and out of the way of the drones which roam the surface. These communities follow the traditional pattern, ruled over by a small group of elders chosen by the town, supposedly by their wisdom. These elders take care to ensure that the community's values – and its members – remain alive.

Many Cheimerons, particularly those who have never known anything but conflict, are not happy with this inward-looking attitude. There are rumours that some are considering doing the unthinkable and surrendering to Kedalion to escape. However, the vast majority are forced by circumstance to continue living as they always have until peace can be made with Kedalion.

Cheimerons are, as a whole, a dour people with a steadfastly practical outlook on life. While some may have loftier outlooks, Cheimeros, as a whole, is not a place for dreaming. Indeed, before the War, those who didn't quite click were often subtly sent off to Selas or Briareos. However, since the ongoing conflict has made this more difficult to do, more young dissidents have started to raise their voices against the traditionalist outlook of Cheimeran society. However, the effects of living in a society dominated by a vicious war have served to enforce a level of unity across the planet, and to keep those who speak out against the established order quiet.

This emphasis has also led to a level of ancestor-worship. While Cheimerons have no formal belief system, many choose to keep a shrine to their recent or most respected ancestors, and a common curse is 'I hope your descendants forget you.' Despite what some may call a lack of refinement, Cheimeros also has a vibrant culture, with community meals and dances forming a significant part of the average Cheimeron's social calendar.