Situated in the
heart of the galaxy, Coruscant was the seat of
government for the Galactic Republic and the Empire that supplanted it. Over thousands of years of civilization, the planet has been entirely enveloped by cityscapes and urban sprawl. Immense skyscrapers reach high into the atmosphere, and
stretch down deep into the dark shadows. Crisscrossing the
skyline are streams of unending repulsorlift traffic. Even in the depths of night, Coruscant is alive with glittering lights and rivers of traffic, a bustling megalopolis that refuses to
sleep.
Some of the most important decisions, affecting the lives of trillions, have been made on Coruscant. It has long been the center of
government, and the site of residence for the galaxy's Supreme Chancellor. From a towering high-rise overlooking a gleaming range of mountainous edifices, rulers such as Valorum and Palpatine have carefully plotted the future of the Republic.
Though the Chancellor steered the
government, issues were ultimately settled in the cavernous rotunda of the Galactic Senate. Thousands of Senators and galactic representatives from the far-flung worlds of the Republic would debate pressing issues and push forward countless agendas.
As Coruscant was the center-point for decisions affecting the massive engines of commerce in the galaxy, it was also a nexus of graft and corruption. Vast fortunes were spent to ensure that corporations were allowed to operate without profit-stunting restrictions. Entities such as the Trade Federation and the Commerce Guild held incredible sway over the inner workings of Coruscant
politics.
Removed from this corruption and encased in a gleaming tower was the Jedi High Council. Coruscant was
home to the Jedi Temple, and the
august order was answerable to the Supreme Chancellor himself.
A quite different
world exists beneath the shimmering surface of the city-planet. In the lower levels, where sunlight never reaches, is a
haze of artificial lights and flickering holograms, promising entertainment catering to a myriad of
alien species and the full spectrum of morality. Citizens from above and below intermix in countless establishments offering escape, anonymity, jubilation and more than just a hint of danger.
