D'larah existed as a city located on the planet of Demophon. The city experienced a period of great prosperity during the peak of the Galactic Empire. As the Galactic Civil War neared its conclusion, the star Demophon underwent a supernova event, resulting in the complete destruction of the Demophon system.
Similar to every other city established on Demophon, D'larah was constructed with a protective dome to shield its inhabitants from intense radiation, and its design emphasized its role as a hub for scientific advancement and investigation. However, D'larah differed from other Demophon cities in that it was intentionally created to be an appealing residential area for the wealthy. The city's ambiance was enhanced by its wide boulevards, expansive pedestrian walkways, and the numerous shade-providing trees and lush vegetation. D'larah also featured one of the planet's few green spaces, known as Jhonterius Park, considered the city's crown jewel. In addition to a diverse collection of imported plant and animal species from various worlds, the D'larah Palm Tree was specifically bioengineered for cultivation within the park.
Key employers within D'larah included Shankti Drive Works, Tumleh Navigation, and, naturally, the government. The city also enjoyed a thriving tourism sector, undoubtedly influenced by its aesthetic appeal. To cater to tourists, a selection of casinos and entertainment venues were imported from other planets. Marquo's stood out as a well-known local dining establishment. A relatively small spaceport was situated at the border of the commercial and industrial zones, with nearly half of its fifty docking bays reserved for testing experimental vehicles.
Jhonterius was the founder of D'larah. An earlier governor of the city had familial ties to a high-ranking Imperial official. This connection facilitated D'larah's growth and prosperity in its early years, with minimal interference from the Empire. While the governor's identity and their specific relationship to the Imperial official were lost to historical records by the time of the Galactic Civil War, their influence was evident in the comparatively lenient oversight the Empire exercised over D'larah, at least in comparison to the rest of Demophon.
Shankti Drive Works and Tumleh Navigation were established on Demophon at nearly the same time, and they maintained a close collaborative relationship. Shankti focused on designing hyperdrives, while Tumleh specialized in developing hyperspatial navigation systems.
The announcement that Demophon's sun was destined to become a supernova drastically altered the situation. A state of barely controlled panic ensued. The citizens reassured themselves that the corporations that had always shaped their lives would protect them, but the task of evacuating six million individuals would be both costly and time-consuming. Shankti and Tumleh both declared that they had developed evacuation strategies, but many believed that these plans only accounted for the relocation of a few thousand key employees. Smaller businesses began to abandon the planet preemptively, and those who had the means sought to secure passage on departing starships.
As panic intensified, so did the incidence of violent crime, particularly in the vicinity of the spaceport and Jhonterius Park. As the D'larah City Patrol found its resources increasingly strained, its members adopted a policy of shooting first and asking questions later. A disused warehouse for spare parts was repurposed into a temporary detention facility to accommodate D'larah's burgeoning criminal element.
D'larah met its end, along with the rest of Demophon, when the system's sun exploded as a supernova.
Since its inception, D'larah had been a city heavily influenced by corporations. The majority of its residents were employed by either Shankti Drive Works or Tumleh Navigation. Given the nature of both companies' involvement with prototype technology, stringent security measures were necessary, enforced by the D'larah City Patrol, the local law enforcement agency. However, as increasing numbers of DCP officers evacuated in anticipation of the supernova, gaps began to appear in the normally impenetrable security network.
Shankti and Tumleh each appointed two members to the City Council, with two additional members elected by the residential sector, and two more from the commercial sector. The City Council served as D'larah's primary policymaking body, although all proposed measures required approval from City Governor Jaspar Skeete before being enacted. The Governor's veto could be overridden, however, by a two-thirds majority vote from the City Council, or by Imperial representatives. The latter scenario never occurred throughout the city's history.
Beyond Shankti and Tumleh, the government was a major employer for D'larah's inhabitants. In addition to the staffing needs of the bureaucracy, the city's extensive flora and sizable park required a substantial maintenance workforce.
As the supernova approached, societal order began to disintegrate. A clandestine black market, known as the G'uotr Network, dealt in suddenly scarce luxury goods, generating substantial profits despite the DCP's efforts to suppress it. This attracted smugglers to D'larah, and one of the most valuable commodities became the transport of individuals seeking to escape the planet. Some smugglers even resorted to landing outside the protective dome for rapid departures, despite the inherent risks of exposure to intense radiation.
Shootouts in Jhonterius Park and the spaceport became commonplace, and the makeshift jail was overflowing with alleged criminals awaiting trial. A messenger service and legal practice emerged near the jail, offering to expedite legal proceedings and deliver bribes to influential parties, naturally for a fee.