driftfleet_ooc | February Star System

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February Star System

This has been a pretty uneventful drift, and there appears to be no word from Atroma - as usual. Seems like the lovely new hosts don't have much to say currently... Still, the show must go on, and as such, the Marsiva has to take its faithful little fleet somewhere!

Towards the end of the drifting period, the typical waystations have been slightly more busy, housing tourists who are making a quick pit stop on their way to or from somewhere close. Sounds hopeful! Maybe the upcoming system has a lot going on? The Fleet will very soon find out!

CALENDAR:
→ The fleet will be in this star system from 1/26 to 2/23.
→ We’ll put up a very general mingle post on 1/27 for the planets, but feel free to make your own as well!

The Shinda BR-10 System

Stuck in the middle with you.

The Marsiva eventually comes into range of an interesting sight: two very bright stars - suns! Suns that are close enough to each other, that the planets of this system orbit the both of them! It seems almost like a figure-8 racetrack, the way they cycle around and even between the brightly burning giants. Welcome to the Shinda BR-10 system!

Double the sun, double the fun!
The Shinda system is different from other systems the Fleet has visited, and for probably very obvious reasons, it's quite the tourist attraction for many the curious space traveler. This system has two suns, Turi and Tari, spaced far enough apart that while they don't have their own binary orbit between the two of them, the planets in the system are completely subjected to both gravitational pulls. This results in figure-8-shaped orbits! How unique! It sure does come with its own problems, though, as the Fleet will find out when contestants visit each habitable planet.

It's Like Goldilocks, Honestly...
Of the ten planets in this strange orbit pattern, seven are totally gaseous. The other three of them are habitable: Duotera, Ebrion, and Philias. It won't take long for the locals to acknowledge that the Fleet has entered the system, and the Fleet will find that they're very welcoming! Establishing communication, getting permission to land, and going through standard visiting ship protocols? Easy as pie, totally painless, and probably the most seamless it's been in a very long time, much to any communication-augmented-Fleeter's joy~ Yep, this system has welcoming visitors for any reason down to a precise science. They're very good at this!

The whole of the system is populated by the same orange-skinned humans seen throughout the Drift Fleet’s travels, as well as the occasional Nunnilis in a mercantile position. Additionally, tourism is a big thing here - and so is interplanetary travel! There are very fast, regularly scheduled transit trips between all three planets at all times. Getting around is very easy! Which means, there's no reason not to visit all three, right?

Well, actually, there are some drawbacks to orbiting two suns at once... Namely? Temperature extremes. And it just so happens the Fleet has stumbled across these planets in a pretty polarizing season...

A picture-perfect sunrise on Duotera.

Duotera is the lucky planet, currently! Located very fortunately closer to one sun than the other at the moment, Duotera is enjoying some fabulous weather. Standard, livable conditions can be found across the planet, ranging anywhere from your typical cold-climate winter, to your typical warm-climate summer. There's plenty to do on this planet! There are urban areas, huge cities with tons to do that never seem to sleep; and there are patches of still-uninhabited land for any nature-loving folks to enjoy.

Of course, the favorable climate means it's definitely the height of tourist season here. Cities are crowded and busy, and odds are you won't get very far without bumping into someone. There’s plenty to do and see around here, though, and everyone seems to be in great spirits!

You’re so cold, keep your hand in mine...

Ebrion, on the other hand, is having a pretty hard time. Currently situated very near to the outer limits of its orbit, away from one sun and very far away from the other, Ebrion is in the middle of a very cold and icy season! Temperatures are a bit more livable toward the equator, but on the whole, this planet is very, very cold. But hey, look on the bright side: if you didn't get enough snow in the last system, or you prefer that your snow doesn't taste like sticky sweet goodness, you could very well make up for it here! Icy mountain trekking, anyone~?

While Ebrion boasts the same spread of city-vs-wilderness as Duotera, it's evident that there are fewer people currently willing to leave the warmth and comfort of their homes without good reason. Cities are - for the season - far less hustle-and-bustle, but they're still very large and impressive in their own right, comparable to Duotera, and the locals are still quite polite! That warm, inviting hospitality clearly spans the entire system. They're clearly very happy to have tourists even during the off-season, and they're glad you clearly don't mind the cold too much to come visit them! Still, if you do want to visit Ebrion, might we suggest you take your coat? Or two?

Make a dragon wanna retire, man.

Philias might have it worst of all... You'll find Philias settled in a very unfortunate spot: right between the two suns. It is unbearably hot here - think of the worst summer weather you've ever experienced, and multiply it by a lot. Sure, life near the poles might be survivable and far more mild (but still pretty darn hot), but don't even think about attempting to visit anywhere along the equator, unless you plan to spend the whole time either inside or underground! It's so very hot here, most vegetation that isn't succulent in nature has already shriveled and died, waiting for the season of unbearable heat to pass so they can come back to life once they're on the other side of a sun.

Cities, while still as tall and accommodating as those on the other two planets, are far less currently active. Seems like even the locals have opted to either stay inside all day every day, or vacate the premises entirely! While areas near the poles might see some beach-goers, warm-weather fans, and other typically-summer-sun-fun-inclined individuals, life elsewhere is just plain miserable for the time being. Still, life and commerce must go on! Coming to Philias for a visit? Expect that same friendly hospitality, though there's probably an underlying current of surprise that you'd choose to visit them during double-sun season... but hey, they won't turn you away! They hope you enjoy your time here in any way you can! Please wear sunscreen at all times.

Oh Dear, Do These People Need Our Help?!
Actually? No, not really!

Your concern is greatly appreciated, but they all assure you, this is a very common situation for the planets of the Shinda BR-10 system. As they go along their orbit, each planet experiences the same extremes at different times. They're actually very used to this! Many families have homes on more than one planet, living in whichever area has the least extreme weather at the time. Other families are completely nomadic, bouncing from planet to planet to planet in order to enjoy just one specific kind of climate year-round. As for the families who choose to stay in one place, they know what's coming, and they always prepare accordingly. They'll even happily lend you a hand if you find yourself suffering from the extremes too much!

Of course, if you want to help them with the little things that keep everyday life going, they'd love the extra hands. Businesses on Ebrion and Philias are surely down a few workers as locals flee to the currently far more habitable Duotera, so if you're willing to endure the heat or the cold to help everyone maintain their own lives, they'd appreciate it - and compensate you very well for it!

Things To Do
EXPLORING:
Each planet is rich in natural resources, so there are a lot of things to see! Stunning green forests, deep valleys, dry plateaus, estuaries, and incredible cave systems all await you… but they are made that much more treacherous by the ambient temperature of their respective planets. A cave system on Ebrion might seem like a great refuge from the cold until the ice traps you inside. A beautiful lakeside area becomes a deadly mire when the temperature is hotter by a few degrees… Many of these areas are tourist-friendly, though, so there are usually paths to stick to. Just don’t wander off and you’ll be fine!

SHOPPING:
Tourism and natural resources means that the shopping in this system is bountiful! If the temperature is right, anyway. You’ll find anything from handmade knick-knacks commemorating your stay to more artistic things. Each planet has something they specialize in and export.
Duotera exports wood and plant-based products. The wood that grows in this system is of a particularly hardy type, resilient enough to resist the rapid fluctuation in temperature. It’s great for construction yet supple enough for carving and weaponry. Duotera has the largest concentration of these trees, and most artisans settle here year-round.
Ebrion is a wealth of more traditional fossil fuels. While digging for ore, people discovered a type of silica based semisolid that could be used to make parts for computers and spaceships as well as fuel. Unsurprisingly, anyone still needing repairs should be able to find something cheap here.
Philias exports stones and metals, like gold, copper, etc. All mining operations have come to a halt during this horribly hot season, but jewelry and other products can still be found in the markets.

JOBS:
The tourism - or lack thereof - creates many opportunities for helping hands. Staff are needed on-hand for the typical customer service jobs: running stalls, cooking, taking orders, cashiering, basically anything you can imagine. Transport jobs are also in high demand, whether it’s just driving something from city to city or delivering goods to another planet.

Every system like this has a dark side, of course. With the shortage of workers on the more extreme planets, some people turn to the black market to procure what they need. People (and shuttles) are needed to guard and transport these materials, whatever they may be.

RECREATION:
Hiking. There’s plenty of hills and mountains to ascend for the nature lovers. Philias has incredible canyons, too, but they might be a little hot right now...
Swimming. Duotera and Philias are the best destinations for this at the moment. Just try not to look too hard at a Nunnilis in a swimsuit. It’s a fashion thing, just… move on.
Fishing. With how the water’s frozen up on Ebrion, this is actually a great pastime. Duotera also has some excellent fishing holes open at the moment. Some of the fish have a strange number of eyes, but that’s normal here.
Crafter’s Hall. Duotera is holding a convention of sorts for artisans in the system. It’s hosted in a different place every year depending on the most habitable planet. By far this is the best place to see artistry in action, from incredible woodworking to paintings made with brilliant pigment. Some of it can be bought - or sold, if you have that talent. You can find just about anything here, from lectures on how to take care of your string instrument to classes on advanced glass-blowing. There’s a lot to see!

There are plenty of things to see in this system, plenty of jobs to get involved with, and plenty of ways to have fun ~~or get into trouble, or both~~! Have a question? Feel free to reach out to us in the thread below! Enjoy your stay!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ask away!

I'm not saying I WILL but.........

......are there several moons in the sky and can I glitch Vash into accidentally blowing a hole into one?

Again not saying I will. So I'm happy with a no. Just thinking of things.

There are indeed moons orbiting these planets! They are also uninhabited.

And, well, we know you aren't saying you WILL... but... if you did perchance want to continue thinking about glitching Vash into accidentally blowing a hole in one, we'd allow it! Just don't blow up one of the planets, please!

If you need to keep working with us directly to logic a way for it to happen, our inbox is wide open.

Nope! Uninhabited moons only! Thanks mods! If I do go through with it and need more advise I shall get back to you!

(Just... ignore this wrong account.)

So, like... if anything weird pops up in relation to the visions like how the dreamers got bad feelings in relation to cannibal planet... we'll be poked about it, right?

Absolutely - if anything weird were to crop up, we would most definitely be poking players about it. (We're very bad at staying quiet and not being absolute trolls when we do a thing like that~)

Specifically related to the visions, though: All three visions have already been dealt with in the September and October/November systems. We're not saying to write them off entirely now that the major plot is done, as they were certainly trying to tell you some hints to deeper lore about singing planets in general as well! However, the major disasters have already come to pass.

[Watches everyone panic for reason.]

Sound perfect. :D

Can we assume that the planets on this system have plenty of air traffic and personal air-taxis for rent like the big metropolitan one a few systems ago?

...Asking for a friend.

You can tell your friend that yes! There is plenty of air traffic! Hovering vehicles, flying vehicles, etc can be found here. Unlike the previous system, however, there are no automated, self-flying cars. All of them require a driver to operate.

Are there any government officials around who characters could talk to? Thor would be interested in talking policy with someone (not for threading out, just in the background somewhere).

And what kind of weapons would be for sale?

Unfortunately, it seems that officials aren't open to talking with people right now, especially tourists; with the influx of people during this critical time, it's important that they focus on their jobs. If Thor is very persistent, however, he might be placed on a waiting list, with no guarantee he'll be seen for at least a few weeks.

As for weapons, there are plenty of excellently-crafted weapons at the craft show! They're artistic as well as functional. It's also possible to gather raw materials on all three planets and commission an artisan-- or even bother one of Drift Fleet's very own engineers/blacksmiths! Guns are somewhat difficult to find, however. It'll require delving into the black market (don't get caught!) and the only available guns are very... very old/primitive. Early pistols/muskets, and no assault rifles.

Awesome, thanks!

Just out of curiosity, I know there wasn't anything specificly said but, is there any exotic/interesting foods or ingredients? Asking for science >×>

Where there is art, there is culinary art, friend!

Due to being a tourist hotspot, many of the restaurants and cafes on Duotera have a sort of... hipster-esque flair. Though the ingredients may not seem familiar, everyone can tell when a chef is trying too hard (or perhaps not enough).

Some of the more accessible ingredients include: kelp that tastes like bacon, juicy and crunchy leaves with the distinct taste of tomatoes, rainbow-colored triangular beans (in both sticky and spongy varieties), sweet and starchy 'pastry' apples, and squarrots (square carrots, not to be confused with square roots).

As for seasoning, salt and pepper exist as one would expect them to, and there's a leafy parsley-like herb used in basically everything that tastes like lemon or grass depending on who you talk to.

Jumping in here. Would it be possible to get plants/cuttings of the things mentioned here to at least attempt to grow on the ships? I know they already have some bacon-flavored kelp from back in Vision's day on the Twin Roses and I'm assuming things on trees like apples are a bridge too far, but maybe squarrots can live on? (Because I need to say squarrots a lot. It's fun.)

Sure! Squarrots grow like any average root vegetable, no special requirements. Enjoy!

As a note - trees are also fine, so long as you plant them somewhere spacious. We'd recommend the Iskaulit. They won't grow to be as tall as their planetside sources, but it's possible to care for them well enough to get something out of them. You'd also probably be waiting a substantial amount of time, depending on how young/old of a sapling you're starting with, but it is an option.

Awesome! Thanks!

Just a quick check — would it be safe to assume there’s a tattoo parlour to be found, especially in the touristy areas?

Yes, absolutely!

Question can Maggie have a bonfire or something on the "not too hot or too cold planet" or would the locals get mad

We don't see why not! There is plenty of space, and she has her choice between hosting it at some sort of designated campground/park, or finding a place out in the less populated, more nature-y areas of the planet.

Oh excellent!! thanks for the fast response gonna make this part of my top level for my goldstone mingle now :) you are the best!!

So how do the day/night cycles work in this system? Like how long is daytime vs nighttime? Is there always a sun up in the sky? Or are there periods of time through the day when it's completely nightfall?

Things you think about when your character can't do sunlight.

It varies, depending on the planet!

Currently, Duotera only gets about three to four hours of nighttime out of a 29-hour day cycle. Its current position in orbit means there's usually at least one sun visible in the sky - often both! There might be slight variations in timing depending on how close to the poles/equator you travel, but for the most part, the ratio stays roughly the same.

Ebrion is currently experiencing a 50/50 split of daytime and nighttime. It looks an awful lot like both suns rise and set at essentially the same time - that's how far at the outskirts of its orbit the planet is at the moment! Again, latitude may slightly affect exact timing, but not much.

Philias continues to be a hot and fiery dust-ball nightmare and is currently ~~suffering~~ experiencing a period of no nightfall at all. Unlike the other two, it doesn't matter where you go on this planet. The suns are everywhere and there is no escape.

Thank you so much! This is very helpful!

I may have missed it after looking through the info, but is there any wildlife active on the three planets besides fish? Specifically underground on Philias that might be disrupting mining operations for instance?

There is plenty of wildlife, of all sorts of varieties! Like many past systems, animals look almost familiar, but still slightly alien. (Examples: fish with extra fins, birds with two sets of wings, beasts with slightly longer legs, or bushier tails, or rounded ears, etc.) Feel free to get creative!

As for specifically Philias, and specifically anything that might be disrupting mining operations... many species do make their homes in the mines on Philias, and with the planet as hot as it is, there are many more down there currently. This would absolutely affect mining crews, and they would hire people to clear them out as necessary. You can go for the more docile option of fuzzy rodents, cavebirds, or harmless bugs who just happen to be in the way (sizes of all creatures can vary as much as you'd like)... Or, you can go with the meaner option, and take care of some GIANT CAVE SPIDERS! (Canon flashbacks, much~?) Or GIANT, ANGRY, VICIOUS MOLES with a horrible-sounding hiss and equally as horrible bite! Or, well, anything you'd like to come up with!

Hopefully that answers your question - if you have others, or need anything else, hit us up again!

Absolutely perfect. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

February Star System

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