Are You Ready for the May Star System?

[spaceshipit]

The waystations are steadily getting busier and busier (well, as busy as the hunks of junk get, really) as the Fleet enters the next system - and even from a distance, it's easy to see why: That... is a whole lot of planets, a whole lot of moons, and a whole lot of space traffic. Wow.

CALENDAR:
→ The fleet will be in this star system from 4/29 to 6/8.
→ There will be a light-hearted Ending Event on 5/30, and we will post a mingle specifically for this event! See the post for further details!
→ Please feel free to post your own planet/system/ship mingles throughout the month!



Welcome to the Yadrolla System!


"Home of The Starstrikers, The Waves, The Brightbirds, or The Green Gliders"

The Yadrolla system is an incredibly busy little section of the galaxy comprised of a multitude of planets and their moons, and various other smaller space stations. Because there’s so much to see, there’s a lot of traffic, and it makes the travel routes congested! Still, if you can navigate around the various-sized ships and other tourists, it’s worth exploring.

The planets are all varied in climate, some with multiple moons. The larger gaseous planets are clearly being used for resources, but the hubs on the others share the same characteristic: clean energy. There are no fossil fuels here.

From the streetlights to the largest skyscrapers, everything uses some form of renewable energy. Whatever can’t be reasonably powered by solar panels or turbines is taken care of by rechargeable batteries. The best thing, though, is that it’s all wound together with the natural greenery of the environment. Some settlements are built directly into the sides of hills, with grass and brush in lieu of a roof. The largest cities have colorful solar panels as part of the architecture as well as parks and gardens on rooftops. Roads, billboards, quietly-purring electric vehicles and trains, massive stadiums, grocery stores-- all of it is fueled by the sun.

The population has the usual mixture of orange-skinned humans and smaller populations of the insect-like Nunnilis, as well as other humanoid species that the Fleet hasn’t been officially introduced to yet.

As busy as this place is, however, something else becomes apparent no matter where you go-- namely, the presence of four main groups. And there’s a very good reason for that...

System Showdown - Meet The Teams!
The Yadrolla System is full of things to do, and some of those events can get very competitive. From sports, to games, to any kind of competition, people come from far and wide to watch teams square off against each other! There are four main teams in this system, and all of them are constantly striving to be known as the true #1 team in the system!!

The Starstrikers

Colors: black and silver

Mascot: The Spaceperson

Likes: SPACE, winning everything

Dislikes: people who don’t get straight to the point, giving up, the fine points of politics
The Starstrikers are an excellent group, with winning records across several sports and events, and a great reputation to back them up. They excel in track and field and team sports, as well as snow sports. It's pretty easy to spot a Starstrikers fan: they're usually decked out in monochrome or shades of gray, and probably nerding out about space - when not cheering for their team, obviously!

The Waves

Colors: blue and silver

Mascot: The Shark

Likes: overcoming challenges as a team, cooler weather, parks

Dislikes: sore winners and gloryhounds, abstract art, wasting time
Wave fans are a dedicated bunch - you won't see many of them not wearing team colors, or waving team flags from their vehicles or homes. They have plenty to brag about, to be fair - the Waves are an excellent group, with teams that can easily dominate whatever field they play - but they're especially known for their water-based sports teams. The Waves and the Starstrikers are especially competitive with each other, with a rivalry that goes waaaay back. Want to get involved? Pick a side, and have some good ol' fashioned sports rivalry madness fun!

The Brightbirds

Colors: purple and red

Mascot: The Parrot

Likes: whatever they consider #aesthetic, charity/volunteer work, gambling, parties / social gatherings

Dislikes: people who take things too seriously, people who don't take things seriously enough, existential nihilism.
As bright as their mascot, the Brightbirds are certainly the flashiest bunch around. They reign supreme in arenas of creative competition and professional gaming - card, board, interactive/video, or otherwise. Brightbird fans tend to be very fashionable - their merchandise is certainly the most unique, and tailored to fit all kinds of people with all kinds of tastes! Don't let the group's #flawless outward appearance fool you - they can still beat you in any sport, or at least give you a very good run for your money, and they will look great while doing it~

The Green Gliders (or just Gliders for short)

Colors: green and gold

Mascot: The Pterodactyl

Likes: The All-Day Food Channel on TV, the outdoors, social gatherings.

Dislikes: sore winners OR sore losers, making waves (ha), cheating.
The Gliders have a very loyal fanbase who all have such a WONDERFUL amount of fun hanging out together to watch sporting events! They're even super nice to the opposing/visiting team fans, inviting them over for watch parties, tailgating, or just to hang out! As for The Gliders themselves... Well... They tend to be... not as good as the other groups. Their longest streaks are losing streaks (they are, actually, currently in one) and their best records come from rather... impressive... losses. It's true, the only winning bet for the Gliders is a bet against them. But that's okay! It's all about the fun, right? And their luck is totally going to turn around next season! Surely! Maybe one day...

Want to compete for one of the teams? Go find a team's headquarters and get yourself signed up! Want to show your support from the stands? Anyone can be a fan, no prerequisites required! This is all about camaraderie of the competitive sportsperson variety, so get yourself involved and have a good time!! While the atmosphere of team loyalty and competition does get many people riled up, it rarely incites needless violence, or any sort of out-of-control fannish behavior. That isn't to say there won't occasionally be That One Jerk In The Parking Lot Trying To Pick A Fight Because They're Incredibly Drunk And Just Want The Negative Attention, but rest assured that you could probably punch them in the face and no one would blame you their behavior is not indicative of a true fan, and is majorly frowned upon.

Of course, not picking a team at all is also an option - and don't worry, there are no consequences for not throwing yourself into all of this team madness! However, fans usually help out other fans - by hooking them up with some discounts, or rare items, or maybe a useful service or two... But hey, if that's not enough of a perk to entice you, then no harm!

It's Game Time!
If you’re feeling like you want to test your abilities, the ways are endless. There is always something going on, even if it’s not on this planet-- it’s definitely on another! People are used to bouncing between planets for different competitions, though of course they can watch them at home or on a screen somewhere, too. Not all of the events are sports-centered, either!

(The following list isn’t exhaustive, so if you’d like to make up some other kind of competition, we absolutely encourage that!)

Fashion shows / art contests (includes ship painting/decorating, murals, etc.)

Races (people, cars, shuttles, bicycles, some with alien controls)

Variations on football, basketball, american football, hockey, track and field, figure skating, extreme ice and water sports

Cook-offs / bake-offs

Trivia / quiz contests

Chess / checkers / board games (with absurd rules that outsiders might not know!)

Poker / card games (gambling or not, doesn't matter)

Pageants and talent shows

While anyone can participate in a competition, if you want league points, then you’ll need to join a team! Naturally, the recruitment drive is high, and having famous Fleeters represent them in competition is a huge honor, so they’ll be thrilled to have you!

Select Your Stage!
There are far too many inhabitable places to list, so players are free to choose from the following and make up a planet/moon if it suits them! Each team got their start on one of the planets, though of course they can be found everywhere as part of the competitive diaspora, representing their team in some capacity.

Desert - Dry and hot during the day, yet cold and sometimes raining during the night, this is the environment where the Starstrikers shine the brightest. The view of the galaxy at night is unrivaled.

Snow - Powdery wet fluff (not marshmallow goo, promise!) awaits anyone who likes winter sports or just wants the cold beauty of the highest places on the planet. Hot springs, spa treatments, and skiing are just some of the things people do here.

Urban jungle - Solar-powered skyscrapers and an aggressive parks & recreation campaign have made these places beautiful in a unique way. Said to be the favored location of the Waves, and not just because of the water parks.

Plains and woodlands - Popular for track and field, archery and hunting, and other sorts of sports. These areas occasionally have beautiful and dense forest. The emphasis on nature suits the Green Gliders, who got their start here.

Tropical - Color and life is everywhere, especially on the tropical-leaning planets. It’s humid and hot like you’d expect but worth the trip. The Brightbirds take a lot of inspiration from these areas, including their mascot.

Sandy shores - For those who eschew cold mountain relaxation, there is always the warmer alternative. Breezy beaches with crystal blue waters, colorful coral reefs within diving distance, and white sands greet those who visit the resort-filled shore areas. Team colors and tourists congregate in abundance at the waters; these seem to be a major attraction for the Yadrolla system.

And Finally - The Main Event!
With so much competition all across the system, it's difficult to keep up with everything going on! Who's in the lead? Who won what games today? Who will be facing off against each other tomorrow? If I look away from the game on this TV screen to check the score for the game on the other TV screen, am I going to miss something?! These are all very important questions! But here is the most important question: which team is currently, actually, really number one?

Twice a year, a large festival is held to celebrate the total victory of whatever team has won the most competitions since the last festival. They consider everything: sports, games, pageants, events, competitions, game shows, so on. If it's official, it counts. That festival is held on the planet where the celebrated team got their start, and it's always a huge spectacle - parades, marketplaces, fairgrounds, concerts, prizes, and much more! And the best part is, it's almost time for the next festival!!

Festival Day will be on May 30th! What team will come out on top? Who is truly number one?! Well, that's up to you, dear Fleet! We will be posting a poll closer to the time of the event (approximately a week or more beforehand) to get a tally of which team gained the most Fleet fans in the end. Whichever team wins will be crowned The Ultimate Team!! ... until the next festival, anyway. Trust us, you don't want to miss Festival Day - it's a cultural phenomenon that people from even far reaches of space come to witness at least once in their lifetime!

There's bound to be a surprise or two for the Fleet as well... So stay tuned~!

"I'm More Of A Spectator..."
Not the competitive type? That’s a-okay! There are plenty of activities to do around the system. You can shop, your can spectate various competitions that are going on, you can be a tourist. If you don’t want to join a team or compete in an event, no one will fault you. There are still plenty of other fun things to do. (Beach episode, anyone~?)

Points Of Interest
Tourist Traps
For those who love sightseeing there’s plenty of natural landmarks to visit, though most of them are tied back into the games in some way. Every tour of a mountain comes with a coupon for a ski rental or a spa package, and the beaches are lauded for their views of anti-gravity volleyball matches. There are more educational monuments for those who are so inclined, including museums dedicated to every sport (even the non-physical ones) and complete histories of the most spectacular players. These museums also include the most random keepsakes, such as the socks Morghun Mee’lain wore when he won the Blibbitus Bowl in 259 E.N., or the underwear that the Starstrikers’ dimeback donned on her head during the infamous Rainy Games of 1567.

One museum in particular houses a theatre that plays a complete recap of the one time the Green Gliders won a single game of Fraliaza Ball. You can read all about everything that happened that day, including the weather, the time the sun rose and set, and the alignment of the stars. You know. Just in case. (Maybe one day...) You may or may not find some hardcore Gliders fans there, watching it over and over again, tears in their eyes.

Jobs
Professional Athletes - Feeling like getting into the competitions? Every sport you can think of has been turned into part of the fun. Think Olympics! Surfing, Football (and soccer, of course), Skiing… you name it, this system has a version of it. It might not be exactly like you remember, but you can probably catch on fast enough. Not thrilling enough for you? You could look somewhere a little bit shadier - maybe some no-rules sort of "events"... but you might want to make sure no one catches on or follows you, especially no law-enforcement types, eh?

Commentators - With every sports game, there’s a commentator… color commentary, calling the event for radio listeners, news reports, interviews with athletes… you name it, it exists. Want to get that locker room exclusive? They’d love you for it!

Marketing - Maybe you fancy yourself to be on Mad Men. Think you’re an amazing salesperson? There are plenty of companies looking to sell or buy ad space during broadcasts. Super Bowl, anyone?

Security - Not the suit and tie type? Would you rather bust some heads? Pro athletes could use bodyguards. Stadiums need screeners at gates. Want something even shadier than that? You might have a look underground, so to speak - where there are games, there are illegal gambling rings, surely. Perhaps someone needs help watching their back, or wants to teach someone else a "lesson"...?

Vendors - Refreshments and souvenirs are a very important, integral part of attending any games - whether it be a pre-season event, or The Big One. So, as one would imagine, nearly anyone and everyone who sells anything is pretty much always hiring people to man their stadium shops or food stands! It might not be the most glorious job, but it will pay well, and you're pretty much guaranteed steady hours.

Shopping:
This system is massive, and so is the shopping! You're pretty much guaranteed to find something you want if you look hard enough - or at the very least, you can find something incredibly close.

Keep in mind that many things in this system are color-coded toward the four main teams, so expect a lot of branded merchandise. For instance, you might be in the mood to buy a new screwdriver! Well, it's probably going to come in Brightbird colors, or branded with the Sharks logo...

And because we know you will ask... Very generic weapons can be found in some shops on this planet! Simple short swords, longswords, daggers, polearms... There are many, many planets and moons here after all, so surely there are weapons enthusiasts out there too! They may not have anything fancy, special, flashy, or custom, but you can pick up weapons that will get the job done! ... The catch is, of course, that all of these weapons will absolutely be team-branded. So, enjoy your Green Gliders broadsword, or your Brightbirds throwing knives! At least it's a functional souvenir, right?

Those who want to dig a little deeper out of sheer curiosity might find a rather sizeable black market ring that operates throughout the system. Don't be too impressed, though - sure, there are some good finds and rare deals to be made here, but... a lot of the big-time draws tend to boil down to super rare, exclusive, or autographed team merchandise. Still, if you wanna play the game, you could buy and sell your way into a few extra credits! Or, hey, if you end up that enthusiastic of a Waves fan, maybe you actually do want a first-edition holographic out-of-print Rulite Zzorz'ilda with a rare typo in the upper left corner... Whatever floats your boat, man.

Hunting
For many in this system, hunting and fishing can be just as competitive as any other sport! For others, it's another (very important) way to get food. Either way, if you want to know where the best hunting and fishing spots are throughout the entire system, no matter what sort of climate you prefer, you won't have to search very far. Just ask some of the natives! They can point you in the right direction, easily.

Wildlife and game around these parts consists of your standard slightly-alienized fauna, fowl, and fish. Think: birds with multiple sets of wings (or none at all), deer with three eyes or incredibly ornate antler patterns, and other such differences.

Have a question? Feel free to reach out to us in the comment thread below!

Comments

Questions?

[spaceshipit]

[vartex]

hey look at me asking things on day 1 instead of the last 5% of the event

1) weapon-wise, are they all melee or would guns be findable? I know historically bullet-based guns were a no, but even better/more diverse laser weapons than the security augment weapons would be cool. even if they're neon

2) would there be a place to get tattoos somewhere?

3) what's the general team breakdown as far as # of fans/members, are they sort of even or are some bigger than others? this is mostly because I'm curious >>;

/will return if anything comes up eyyyy

[spaceshipit]

1) Guns are findable! They will be team-branded just like everything else, but they do exist. Again, there isn't anything fancy: handguns and rifles with photon energy bursts instead of actual bullets. (Greener weaponry!) There are guns that use bullets - also handguns and basic rifles - for antique lovers and weapons-collectors! They will just take a little bit more asking around.

2) Absolutely! Go wild.

3) The Gliders have the fewest number of fans and official team members, but the other three teams all seem to be about equal.

[goldenglasses]

What about less high tech weapons like swords/katanas. Is it safe to assume something like that will be attainable?

[spaceshipit]

Yes, of course! Per the entry:

> Very generic weapons can be found in some shops on this planet! Simple short swords, longswords, daggers, polearms... There are many, many planets and moons here after all, so surely there are weapons enthusiasts out there too! They may not have anything fancy, special, flashy, or custom, but you can pick up weapons that will get the job done! ... The catch is, of course, that all of these weapons will absolutely be team-branded. So, enjoy your Green Gliders broadsword, or your Brightbirds throwing knives! At least it's a functional souvenir, right?

[goldenglasses]

Sorry!!!! I am an idiot. I must have skipped that paragraph during my quick re-read. That's what I get for sneak reading event info at work. Thanks mod team!

[apurrstate]

Okay a question and then a follow up!

1) I assume if there are bikes and cars there's something resembling a motorcycle in some of these races. Is that a fair assumption?

1a) If there are motorcycles and Bucky were to participate in a race with said motorcycles, could he then keep the bike or, at least, find an older/run down model to buy and fix up over the next several systems?

[spaceshipit]

1) Yes! Feel free to rent one and get your race on.

1a) No, Bucky will not be able to acquire a motorcycle to keep. Atroma will beam it back to the surface every time, without fail.

If Bucky buys an older model to fix up over the next several systems, it will have to be one that is not able to be used in its current state, or completely scrapped parts to be put back together entirely. Additionally, he will find it incredibly difficult to do any work on it, given his augment is Communications and not Engineering. He is welcome (and encouraged!) to recruit engineers for help, but he will not manage to fix it up on his own. And finally, it will remain unusable for several systems. Atroma does not like people having their own vehicles!

[hollowvictor]

Rude, Atroma. Ok sounds good! Thank you

[tough_love]

So do they have more combat-oriented sports going on, like boxing? MMA? Gladiatorial games???

Asking for a friend. A very aggressive friend.

[spaceshipit]

Yes, they absolutely do! Tell your very aggressive friend to get their game face on~

[tough_love]

EVEN THAT LAST ONE?! though I mean, not... to the death. At least not for the not-underground scene.

[spaceshipit]

Even that last one!!

Gladiatorial games/events not underground will of course be very controlled, for the safety of all participants. Fights aren't to the death, but to the knock-out, much like other combat sports. They also would not include the fighting of any animals - however, you can certainly square off against a programmed combat robot that behaves like one!

The underground scene is much more dangerous, with potential animal cruelty involved. We'll leave participation in something like that up to the morals of characters. Busting up a few rings and tipping off law enforcement is totally an option as well!

[shroudedsecrets]

1. Is there anything inherently magical/unique that can be sensed around the system if attempts were made to search for it? (Aside from the obvious renewable energy and such)?

2. Any library/records areas detailing any sort of history (beyond just related to the sports) in regards to the system and the planets related to it and such, and any potential tidbits from that?

Sorry, what is a vacation

[spaceshipit]

1) No, there is nothing inherently magical or special about this system! Everything seems totally normal.

2) There are libraries and records that can be read through, but it's just system history/events. It's all typical stuff. If you are looking for anything related to the Fleet, Atroma, or anything relevant like that, you won't find a thing.

[monolike]

A Q

If Sorey asks, will any of the companies let him take a closer look at the solar panels and mechanisms? If so, will he be able to bring any of that back with him, re: blueprints or various assemblies, etc?

[spaceshipit]

Sorry for the delay!

Sorey will find that the locals are very enthusiastic about sharing their technology. He should be able to take back blueprints for solar panels, batteries, turbines, geothermal devices, and the other various things they use to harness energy. Sorey will be able to take back some of the constructs too, but we ask that you keep it reasonable: i.e. he can bring back panels and lithium batteries but not a full size wind turbine. He will not be able to steal any of the eco-friendly vehicles either; see Bucky's question above if you think he'll go for a joyride.

[monolike]

YAYYYY thank you!! follow-up question:

would sorey be able to integrate any of this technology into the ships?

[spaceshipit]

Absolutely! Fleet ships already run on a mysteriously-clean power source so the engines don't need modification, but he may find other uses for the technology here. He can install solar panels to lessen the stress on the power grid, for example. If it's a huge and permanent modification, feel free to drop us a note on the ship statuses page!

[angelofthevored]

AH THANK U!!! yah sorey is probably gonna do that so i will hop on over o/

ANOTHER QUESTION!!! lmosiadf sorry guys, uhhhhh is the marvisa as inaccessible as usual when they're docked like this?

[spaceshipit]

Never apologize for questions!

Yes, the Marsiva is inaccessible as always. Nothing's changed...

[angelofthevored]

TWO MORE QUESTIONS IN THAT CASE!!! u gave me an inch...so i took two inches...

1) i'm assuming if someone tried to approach the marvisa in a ship from this planet, it would shoot them down just as it would a shuttle from the fleet?

2) if cas used a locator spell on sam (currently removed from ship via hiatus), would he be able to see where sam is?

[spaceshipit]

1) Ships that approach the Marsiva aren't shot down! We're sorry if we gave that impression - let us know if we need to change something somewhere in the game info! The Marsiva is inaccessible in that there appears to be no way to dock - no way in and no way out.

2) The locator spell would not work! Feel free to have it fail/404 in whatever way you would like to play with, but it will not accurately locate Sam at all.

[moseyin]

1) NAH THAT'S ON ME, i just looked over shit again and i was mis-remembering. probably like, fixating on them nuking the shit out of that other fleet and like, went, OMG THEY'LL SHOOT IT DOWN. my bad o/

2) THANKS BUDDY will do

[angelofthevored]

OKAY....GOD............... i have another question

loki and cas can survive the vacuum of space so what would happen if they just plain got out of the shuttle and tried to breach the marvisa by force

[angelofthevored]

OKAY UHHHH this kind of snowballed and i'm not like in a mega hurry, so i'm actually gonna go post this over in the player-plot section instead. it won't be huge but ideally we would like to complete it before ashlee comes off hiatus at the start of june. however y'all wanna tell us how this plays out i'm down with, IT JUST KIND OF HAPPENED

[veilstrike]

ON THIS BLACK MARKET could a sister, perhaps, find some kind of decent prosthetic arm? C:

[spaceshipit]

The prosthetics found in this system are very high end, powered by a variety of things (most commonly by the kinetic energy of the wearer). The ones on the black market will be tougher and more suited to fighting with plenty of room for enhancements. Leilani will need the help of a Fleet engineer if she'd like to add any fun surprises, however!

[veilstrike]

AWESOME, thank you! Super quick technical question - would these prosthetics need to be attached to a base that would be attached via nerves? If so, would the base stay so that people can switch them out and have a set of prosthetics?

[spaceshipit]

Just as there are many different kinds of people, there are different kinds of prosthetics. It's completely up to you and whatever you think sounds the best!

[lord_wizard]

Just so I don't assume, there are hotels and such on the planets/moons for fleet members to stay if they wish?

[spaceshipit]

There are lots and lots of hotels and places to stay! Some of them (especially in the more touristy areas) have the bonuses you'd expect, like spa treatments and coupons for scuba diving. Others might have discounts for certain team affiliations, but there's no real downside if you're unaffiliated.

[lord_wizard]

Perfect. Thank you!

Re: Questions?

[universal_charm]

Would there by anything like space-ship races? Something like small, personal craft in closer orbit around the planet or barring that flying-vehicle/anti-grav type races?

[spaceshipit]

Yes! All kinds of races exist, as mentioned in the entry - feel free to create your own sort of race!

[universal_charm]

Awesome! Thanks! :)

Re: Questions?

[nomadeupname]

Quick question!

What type of subject would be covered by the trivia/quiz contest? Would it be just general questions or more like this system's pop culture? And if so, would there be a place like a library where characters could read up on this place?

Thank you!

[spaceshipit]

The trivia/quiz contests tend to cover knowledge specific to this alien system when referencing things like history, art, pop culture, music, etc. Science-based knowledge would be more universal, though with different names attached to theories/findings/etc. depending on who in this system discovered them. There may be some references to known historical Earth scientists (think BC/BCE times), but they will be rare.

Libraries around here can help you study up on the local material, so you can ace these trivia/quiz competitions for sure! Hit those books and then get your game face on!

[nomadeupname]

Perfect! Thank you!

[passingthrough]

Hi, I'm confused about this line, "Naturally, the recruitment drive is high, and having famous Fleeters represent them in competition is a huge honor, so they’ll be thrilled to have you!"

Does that mean the fleet is famous here? Have people seen the show? Are they famous for some other reason in this part of space? The game info under THE SHOW says, "If anyone is watching Drift Fleet in this stretch of the galaxy, the fleet hasn't found them yet... because no one in Marsiva's flightpath seems to have heard of it before. Go ahead and try asking them."

[spaceshipit]

Hi! Sorry for the confusion!

Nobody here actually knows the fleet, no. OOCly, we include lines like that to drum up atmosphere - you are on a reality show, after all! ICly, Atroma will do the same whenever hosts do contact the contestants, as they have done in the past, mentioning that the viewers are watching, and that the Fleeters are celebrities. Always keep it in mind!

If you want fuel for conspiracy theories, do remember that there have been exceptions in the past: some systems have indeed heard of the Drift Fleet! This is just not one of them.

Characters are of course always free to feel super disappointed that they actually don't have celebrity status~