The distant, icy world of Vesk-7 is one of the two outermost planets of the Ghavaniska system, home to the shaggy behemoths called kothamas. Kothamas refer to Vesk-7 as simply 'new home' in their native tongue. Vesk-7 and Vesk-8 share virtually the same orbit (making their planetary years equal), though Vesk-7's orbit is retrograde, taking it in the opposite direction from Vesk-8 and Ghavaniska's other planets. Twice each planetary year, the two planets converge, bringing them so close that their shared moon, Traverse, transfers its orbit from one planet to the other. Magical gates on both worlds and the moon activate only at these times, allowing kothamas to engage in the Meet — a deeply sacred journey between worlds. Vesk-7 has a hot molten core that keeps the planet from freezing entirely, allowing liquid water to exist in its equatorial region. Most of the northern and southern hemispheres are too cold for liquid water, with massive glaciers stretching from the poles to the tropics. A deep ocean called the Ice Sea forms a band around the equator, littered with vast ice floes and gigantic icebergs some as large as continents. Deep beneath the water, hydrothermal vents create small ecosystems of aquatic vegetation and deep-sea creatures. The Ice Sea encompasses three small equatorial continents: Asekora, Offinik, and Ulathaz. These planets are poor in minerals and other natural resources, so most vesk assign little value to them, and a posting here is usually a punishment for dishonored vesk or those exiled for controversial political views. The Veskarium's authority extends only a few kilometers around major settlements, leaving most resident kothamas free to do as they wish. While officially Veskarium citizens, kothamas' solitary and contemplative lifestyle leaves them with little need for centralized government. Their supernatural calming auras make enforcing discipline difficult, and both species tend to ignore each other unless interaction is absolutely necessary.