spaceshipit: (Default)
The Mod Journal ([personal profile] spaceshipit) wrote in [community profile] driftfleet_ooc2017-09-01 08:59 pm

SEPTEMBER STAR SYSTEM

The Marsiva continues its drifting, tugging everyone along behind it, for about a week. Once everyone makes it through the rather light asteroid field, they will be greeted with a wonderful planetary view... as well as a somewhat familiar surge through the comms.

CALENDAR:
→ The fleet will be in this system from 9/1 to 9/28.
→ There will be a significant plot event on 9/16. More details will be given then.



CONSIDER THIS A SIGN…
As the fleet approaches the planet, those sensitive to magic and the like will feel the familiar tones of another Singing Planet. Like other Singing Planets the fleet has visited, the magically inclined and sensitive will feel energy flowing through them. The closer the ships get to the planet, that familiar buzz of interference washes across the comms. Messages will have a brief, but annoying delay in sending/receiving, and static will linger in all broadcasts - and just as before, that static does carry a sort of melody to it, full of feelings but absent of clear words. Adjust your frequencies however much you like, no solid words can be made out, only intention and emotion.

This time, however, the song of the planet has a small difference in tone - one of unease, foreboding. There's an anxiety that can't quite be shaken. The more sensitive or incredibly empathetic will surely feel this a lot heavier than others, but overall, it shouldn't be debilitating - just very present.

Wow, you know, this hanging tension in the air kind of makes those visions going around last week seem all the more freaky, doesn't it...? But for the moment, everything seems perfectly fine - totally normal! Nothing out of the ordinary! Too bad that nagging little feeling won’t quite go away entirely…


THE EYUZI SYSTEM.


Lyuku and Eynewa.


Despite the anxious tone of the song, the planet itself is absolutely beautiful. Blue and green, with a soft glow even from afar, Lyuku is a livable planet, if small in size. A single landmass is split through by a great river and surrounded on all sides by a massive ocean. The ring around its equator is wide, but thin - a loose collection of dust, ice, and rock. In its orbit sits a single moon, Eynewa, that shines a silvery-blue in the night skies. Old legends say that when the world was new, the goddess of the moon was as a huntress guardian, caring for and protecting the shy and radiant ‘prince’-- the planet.

Fleet ships and/or shuttles will be greeted kindly upon arrival and landing - the people here are very welcoming, and are always glad to show off their planet to any tourists or visitors. Given its beauty even on the surface, it’s easy to see why!

The inhabitants of Lyuku consist mostly of the orange-skinned humans seen in other systems. The occasional insect-like Nunnilis can be found making their way as merchants and traders in foreign goods, but the bird and fish-like citizens of the past few planets are completely absent.

COLORFUL CITIES.
Two things about Lyukian civilization centers stand out most. First, the buildings look old, but very well kept. Made of sturdy stone and metalwork, with a couple of carefully crafted wooden touches or flourishes, these buildings have clearly stood the test of time, weathered many a season and century, and are still fully standing. While some do appear to have been renovated or restored, the integrity of the original is always kept. Throughout, there’s an air of old-time traditions kept alive.

Second, everything is very lively, very bright, and very colorful! Those stone buildings? Many have been dyed or painted in vibrant colors. The metalwork? If it isn’t shimmering brightly enough on its own, you may find ribbons tied around it in multicolored patterns. Many homes have porches or patios that wrap around them, and rarely will you see a porch or patio that is bare - expect to see plants, statuettes, works of art, tapestries hung from the rafters, streamers and wind chimes swaying in the soft breeze… The people here seem very fond of knickknacks and baubles of all sorts, and they’ll happily leave them lying around where they can be shown off to the public!

Buildings in Lyukian cities are mostly built outward, not upward. While the occasional major metropolitan area may have a skyscraper or two, for the most part, the planet prefers to keep their skylines clear, their buildings close together, and their rooms in their houses quite large and spacious. Though city life may be cramped out on the streets, with large crowds and small shops packed into business- or commerce-specific buildings, the comforts found homes (and hotels!) are roomy, and the people are incredibly hospitable -- assuming your aura isn’t too orange. (Please note: there is nothing you can do to make your aura less orange, try not to worry about it too much.)

SERIOUS SUPERSTITIONS.
Lyukites are very, very particular about their superstitions. While they may not cross the street to avoid a black cat, they may curse a white critter or perform a strange hand gesture when someone sneezes. And if you don’t follow suit, they’ll avoid you, too! They don’t like to invite bad karma, so they generally don’t harass people to the point of rudeness-- but they may ask to see your palms before inviting you into the building anyway. (They want to make sure you’re not a trickster spirit after all.) Weird happenings and how they deal with them are a part of everyday culture.

To a lesser degree, it symbolizes their dependence on their beliefs, which have seen them through some very hard times. Out of this fervent prayer grew an interest in scrying the future and dream-reading, anything to comfort the soul and serve as a guidepost for the lost.

Death is not an ending for the people of Lyuku. When someone dies, they are celebrated by the close-knit community for a week at the very least. They believe those who have passed away have simply gone to the dream world so they can guide their families and loved ones. An especially virtuous soul may be reborn to start the cycle anew. It’s not uncommon to invoke the names of one’s family for guidance or good luck.

POINTS OF INTEREST.


A typical Lyukian city street


FORTUNE TELLING:
Care to have your fortune told? Here is the place to do it! Whether on the streets or in a dedicated parlor, you will find no shortage of people offering to examine your palm, decipher the pattern of the veins in your arm, or let you drink some tea so they can read the leaves left behind and tell you your future. Of course, with such a focus on this variety of mysticism, technology has made it all the better! Palm readings can be done with a scanner, and integrated programming will help the fortune teller interpret your specific fate. Do you prefer card readings? Well, perhaps you’ll enjoy one generated by algorithm, guaranteed to be truly random - and yet, truly unique and specific to you and only you! Exciting, yes? Others will use projector equipment along with real-time data on the positions of stars and constellations, specifically relevant to any date you request, the date of your birth, or maybe even perhaps in the future. With technology on their side, these people couldn’t possibly be wrong! Of course!

And what’s fortune telling without some aids to help you in your predicted future? Many shops will sell crystals, herbs, or other knickknacks, with the promise of enhancing some positive part of your life, or neutralizing something more negative within you. Heck, they’ll even give you a discount if you let them know that so-and-so told your fortune and sent you their way for help! Interested in your own palm-scanner, or a deck of cards with an accompanying on-board sorting algorithm? You can find one for purchase, surely! Learn to read your own fate, whenever you like!

CRUISE SHIPS:
Yes, you read that right, dear fleet! One of the benefits of having a massive ocean surrounding the mainland is that luxury liners are plentiful! You can always find one leaving port, and likely they are still taking reservations for rooms! These ships are full of entertainment options, from shows, to on-boat pools and casinos, to guided tours as the ship itself drifts from the mainland, to the outlying islands, and back again! Of course, the rooms and accommodations are absolutely to die for. Think: luxurious suites with large, plush beds, complimentary turn-down service every evening, free bath robes… And of course, the food is divine, and all-you-can-eat, at all hours! Who could say no to that?! Sign up today! Assuming, of course, you have a very large sum of credits to spare~

EXPLORING:
There are plenty of sights to see for those who are sick of bricks and people. Lyuku is rich in geographic features.

The most popular tourist destination is by far Yanti Rock, which is a huge rock perched at the mouth of a canyon. It’s at least six stories tall and it stands separated from the rest of the canyon. There are steps and wooden ladders carved into it so that people can walk the ‘thousand steps’ it takes to get to the top. Superstitious spouses-to-be will meet here on the new moon before the wedding date to ask their deceased loved ones for their blessing.

For those willing to travel for a while, there is a massive ravine housing an incredible old rainforest with all manner of fuzzy and scaly creatures reminiscent of Earth. The ravine is large enough to have its own weather system. There’s also ziplining for people who want a rush. This place is affectionately known as Eynewa’s Bow.

Toward the other coast, there are two mountain ranges. One of them is jagged and snow-covered for the entire year, and treacherous to hike. The other is arid and flatter as if the mountains have been worn down into hills. A trained eye and further exploration will reveal quarries the size of cities worming beneath these hills, including intricate limestone cave systems from thousands of years ago. But be careful-- they could always collapse!

SHOPPING:
Lyukites greatly value art and craftsmanship, and this shows in their varied and incredibly busy trade. For those wanting more of a handmade touch, there’s everything from beautiful pottery made with crackling glaze to gorgeous mural paintings that can be hung on the wall, as well as tall sculptures made from found objects. Ornamentation is also a big part of Lyukite culture, so those who enjoy shiny things (jewelry, crystals, coins, etc) will find a lot of one-of-a-kind objects.

The capital city has a bazaar that takes three hours to walk through, and no wonder: it’s jam-packed with merchants vying for the chance to sell their wares. Each deal is better than the next. If you have a few credits to spend, you can walk away with beautiful and functional just-about-anything.

Because of the rainforest situated on the continent, reptiles thrive on Lyuku. A few breeds have been domesticated over the years and are suitable as companions. The most common and easiest to take care of are the iridescent rainbow snakes, which can grow up to five feet long. They are perfectly tame and will eat everything from vegetables to fruit to space vermin. For those who prefer a few more limbs, tiny spangled lizards and slightly larger dragon-like ones have similar diets and will only grow to the size of a small housecat. The preferred treat of the domesticated reptiles is strawberries.

Weapons here are rather… frivolous. Most blades, polearms, and axes available are ceremonial or ritualistic in nature - sharp, and will get the job done, but not properly weighted for combat or war. They sure are beautifully ornate, though! Like everything else the Lyukites produce, even their weapons are beautiful works of art. As for firearms or other ballistic-type weapons, you won’t find any available to you unless you land a job in higher-up, specialized divisions of law enforcement - and even then, you are expected to return it when the job is through. (Could you steal? Yes. Is that a good idea? Not particularly! Contact us if you want to go down this road.)

JOBS:
Retail: Trade is very important here, and the days are long. Though they may not pay much, you can expect to make some credits by manning a booth while the owner takes a break or naps in the shade.
Cooks: The culture here is colorful and so is the food. If you have any cooking skills, you can make decent money as one of many cooks slaving over a fryer, or chef-ing it up in a fancy restaurant.
Fortune telling: No one really believes in that stuff anyway, right? You can always set up a booth and bluff your way through a reading...
Smuggling: The people of Lyuku do love their trade, but they like exotic goods even more. The black market is always looking for new things and for new people to handle them. Transporting ‘cursed’ items and dubious herbs/spices will see you raking in the dough… assuming you’re not caught by the authorities.
Bodyguards: Anyone doing shady business needs someone to watch their back, of course. On the more legitimate side, there are certainly celebrities and famous artists who also need a little extra protection from their throngs of adoring fans~
Mariners: Not the baseball team, but anyone with experience aboard a seafaring ship can get a job cleaning, cooking, or repairing all sorts of ships. Maybe they’ll even let you sail with them.

RECREATION:
For those who want some less catastrophically expensive things to do that don’t involve a ridiculously plush and luxurious boat, we have you covered.

Night life in large cities is pretty standard - clubs, bars, taverns, roaming the streets looking for fun… Or if you want something more low-key, some of the Lyukites offer special “Star Tours” - sightseeing walks throughout the city that not only point out popular places or important buildings, but also ghost stories tied to the history of the land. They also direct your attention to the stars and constellations above - because the position of the cosmos right now directly affects where the tour should go, of course! Many of these star tours take a break halfway through, somewhere just on the outskirts of town, where you can relax in a field and simply stargaze for yourself for a moment. It’s important for your own good luck and spiritual health, after all!

Speaking of stargazing, anyone interested in astronomy, star charts, and other cosmic goings-on without all of the superstition and mystical hullabaloo will certainly be interested in one of many observatories and planetariums. The fortune tellers aren’t the only ones who know where the stars are positioned at all times! Plenty of scientists and researchers are more than happy to share their knowledge, to educate you on the wonders of space in a less metaphorical sense. Any pilots or captains looking for an up-to-date star chart of the area? Look no further!

During the daytime, there’s still plenty to do! From shopping, to eating, to wandering the streets and doing tourist-y things, it would be very hard to run out of sights to see! Feeling more adventurous? Go hiking in the mountain ranges, spelunking in the caves and caverns throughout nearly every region, or rafting down one of the many small rivers that empty into the massive central river. Rafting adventures range from leisurely boating, to far more hardcore and difficult whitewater paddling. There truly is something for everyone along the rivers!

And if you’re looking for something off-planet, just in case you didn’t get enough asteroid-hide-and-seek in your shuttles on the way in, there are companies throughout the planet that offer to take you into the sparse asteroid field for some more aerial, daredevil-like fun. Compete against the locals for fun, or for prizes!

==========

Again: On September 16th (a Saturday), a post will go up with more plot information. Until then, feel free to explore the planet, make nice with the locals, get into trouble, or do whatever it is your heart desires! Enjoy yourselves, dear fleeters! ♥
heroofcocoon: (I only miss you when I'm breathing!)

Shopping

[personal profile] heroofcocoon 2017-11-30 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
Snow had spotted the woman at the weapons stall, but he's not really the most social. It's gotten better since his arrival to the Fleet, sure, but it's not like he was before. He now cuts a rather imposing figure and he doesn't like to force that on anyone who isn't ready to deal with him.

But he can't help but be reminded of the way that a certain someone had looked over gifts for her sister a million years ago. He pushes that memory down. Way down. This woman isn't Serah, doesn't even look like her, even superficially. Maybe it's just the fact that she makes him think about a good memory of someone long gone that he even approaches the woman in the first place.

"You know, you looked like you wanted that knife. Probably not a bad idea to pick something up while we're stationed down here. Never know what's gonna happen up there."
youdontneedapictureofme: (15)

Re: Shopping

[personal profile] youdontneedapictureofme 2017-12-01 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
Maggie looks up, surprised she was noticed and recognizing he wasn't a native. In her experience the Natives kept to themselves when they would go from planet to planet. She also had a habit of doing that in her own way. During her last stay, save for Takeshi and her family from home, Maggie had kept a low profile. That had slipped up once and only once when she'd had the bright idea to injure herself in an attempt to remove her augment.

That hadn't gone so well.

"True enough, unless you have access to the weapons the Security officers have available on the ships, right?" Looking from the man to the weapon's stall, she nods in agreement. Picking up the knife again, she turns it over in her hands, contemplating whether it was worth the money. She had wanted to steal it but, now that she had an extra pair of eyes on her, it was probably a bad idea. She did like the knife, though. Even if it probably wouldn't hold up too long in a more intense exchange.
heroofcocoon: (but my heart is screaming)

[personal profile] heroofcocoon 2017-12-04 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
Snow isn't really the type to pay attention to what the natives of the planets do or don't do. He's a big man and he's used to people giving way when he walks near them. And after that long, he just sort of oblivious to most inconsequential things like that. The other people trapped on the Fleet don't back away, and that's all he cares about in the long run.

But he's learned to spot the ones he doesn't share a ship with. And she's not on either the Blue Fish or the Red Fish.

"I guess that's true. I don't really need them, but I'm one of the Security officers for the Red Fish." Six people and two of them are Security. Over the top, maybe, but it's what it is. He's seen plenty of thieves in his time, both back on Cocoon and in Yusnaan. Without thinking, he hands over a few credits to the knife dealer, more than the thing is worth. "Doesn't mean you shouldn't have it though."