Last Star System of the Earth Year

[spaceshipit]

'Tis the season to... slip on gigantic patches of ice, probably.



CALENDAR::
→ The fleet will be in this star system from 11/12 to 1/4.
→ An event with the Interceptors will happen on 12/2. More information, and an NPC post, will come at that time, so stay tuned!!
→ The mods will put up an end-of-the-year mingle post on 12/26 to cover the planet's final New Year Celebration! We encourage players to post their own system/ship/personal mingles whenever they wish during this system.

Crystal Clear...
As the Marsiva continues its slow, purposeful journey into the system, a few odd things become apparent. They may be familiar to seasoned passengers…

Anyone with a talent/knack for magic or psychic powers will feel as if they've gotten a jolt of energy to their system. Like an extra shot of espresso in their coffee or a blast of fresh air, this feeling only grows as they approach the surprisingly habitable planet of Libuscha IV. Visiting the planet will alleviate any restless anxiety, though passengers may feel they are being called by something if they resist for long enough. Spending a few hours on the surface will replenish their mana/resources and leave them feeling extremely refreshed. Best spa day ever!

Additionally-- and more audible to everyone else-- all communicators and in ship speakers have a constant low-volume interference. At first it sounds like static, but it grows clearer with their proximity to the planet: a soft song of low, metallic tones. The notes seem to be different for each person, for those who are good at picking that sort of thing out. To some, it may even sound vaguely familiar, like a melody they heard as a child.

Whatever the origin of this odd singing, it's less obtrusive than previous iterations of vocally ambitious planets, and can be safely tuned out by listening to slightly louder background noise or music.


Blue and white, shining and glowing -- singing, even...

A Cozy Getaway…?
The RR-0451 Aquilae system is home to a bunch of rocks and a small, cool sun from which the system gets its name. The most hospitable-looking planet-- less barren than the others-- is a modestly-sized ball of ice visible from space known as Libuscha IV. The vast expanses of mountains, evergreen forests, and snowy tundra give way to oceans of a cool blue, which are sometimes covered in continent-sized chunks of thick glacial ice. Sailing here isn't a safe bet by any measure, and the sound of waves on the northern and southernmost coasts is accompanied by the thunderous complaints of cracking ice.

Because this place is so darn cold, the settlements all follow a similar sort of theme. They're of medium size and built solidly out of stone. Their technology level isn't as high as some planets the Fleet has visited; whatever spaceships they've seen are nothing compared to the Drift Fleet, so landing within town limits means you'll get a lot of curious questions.


A warmer set of city lights

Overall, the people here are kind and welcoming. Most of the population is human - some orange-skinned, and some not - though a still significant number of Co'kal and the finny Dasioe have come to call this planet home as well. All of the ice and snow is difficult to live in all the time (though the Dasioe mind much less), but they manage, and always help each other out along the way. They're very proud of their homes and communities, and will gladly open up to the Fleet and share what they have - especially if the Fleet wants to help them out in return!

Feasts and Festivities
As Passengers grow acclimated to this chilly getaway, they will notice that there is an air of joviality and excitement at every corner. It's the last (and coldest) month of the calendar year for these folks, which means having an absolute blast to ring in the new year. There are extravagant, multi-course feasts every day until the end of the year for them, and they're open to the public! The more the merrier. In fact, it's said that inviting travelers brings good luck and fortune in the next year, so there's a little bit of competition. Many are even willing to share delicious recipes passed down in their families - give them a hand in the kitchen, and you'll learn how to make some incredibly delicious dishes whenever you like!

In addition to feasting, there's a ridiculous amount of gift giving-- not only between the city dwellers but to Fleeters, too! Don't be too alarmed if a stranger hands you a small trinket or token - there's no catch, they just want to give you something nice, honest. There's lots of gifts to buy, both extravagant and smaller, more personalized tokens of generosity. T'is the season, after all~

What festival season is complete without traditions and rituals? Townspeople hang string lights from every surface that can hold them, drink a glass of hot berry tea with their breakfast, tie wishes to rocks and skip them across bodies of water, and kiss beneath sprigs of winter berries. They also hold neighborhood/community sales where people buy, sell, and trade items for the new year, which goes hand-in-hand with their general habit of "winter cleaning" - out with the old, and in with the new!

The loudest and most exciting event in town, however, are the parades and float-decorating competitions. You can build your own float and decorate it or help someone else, or even decorate your ship and enter it into the contest! Prizes won't be extravagant, but it's a neat little sum of money if your credit account was emptied after the ribbon fiasco.

The biggest celebration takes place on the night before the new year (for them, anyway)! This involves firework shows, boats sailing out over the glowing water, and large choirs of bells all over the world ringing loudly and joyfully as the clock ticks down. The mods will be posting a mingle for this event on 12/26. Grab a friend or a boo and enjoy the festivities!


Time to celebrate a whole new year!

POINTS OF INTEREST.
Luminous Waters Everywhere!
There is one extra feature on this planet that stands out immediately, for good reason: all of the water on this planet glows. From the rivers, to the lakes, to the oceans -- any natural body of water in this system has a faint, beautiful light all through it. It doesn't carry any heat with it, and it doesn't affect the taste, feel, or chemical composition of the water in any way -- it seems to be an intrinsic quality that just... is. It's perfectly safe to drink, use, and/or swim around in. Gathering any water into a container will cause it to slowly lose its glow, and while some freshly-solidified ice might have a faint shine to it, it will likewise also fade away in a matter of time.


Deep blue mysteries

Those who are magically-inclined may feel more energized when near to (or drinking) any of this glowing water, but there's no definitive proof that it's actually affecting anything. Some of the locals have their own superstitions and/or opinions about the waters and how good they are for magic, like any other folksy, handed-down remedies, but others are skeptical about actual benefits. Just chalk it up to one of life's mysteries~

Castle of Regal Family Min'rith Tell
Long, long ago, civilization on this planet was ruled by religious monarchy. The family that was said to have divine right, and therefore ruled over all the land, was the Min'rith Tell family. Though the age of their rule has long since passed, several monuments remain in recognition of the things they did for the people of Libuscha IV. Most impressive among these is the still-standing castle that used to be, for all intents and purposes, the center of the world.


Experience the lifestyles of the rich, famous, and divinely blessed!

The castle is still open, even though it's no longer a seat of power in any sense. Instead, it serves as a museum of the history of the family, as well as the world - even the building itself is historic and carefully preserved, so why not, right? Visitors of all ages are welcome! There are guided tours for those who want to learn everything possible, or self-service tours for those who wish to wander the halls and look through exhibits at their own pace. Be sure to visit the several gift shops -- including a famous fudgery! -- and many fancy restaurants while you're here.

For those less inclined to visit museums and more inclined to want to live like royalty for a night or two, for a (ridiculously) high amount of credits, there are luxurious (dare we say, royal~) suites you can stay in. Included in the price are all the trimmings and services one would expect to be given to royalty, so you're sure to enjoy the experience, no matter what.

Jobs
With all of this ice and snow, it might be tempting to just curl up by the fire with a nice, hot beverage and a good story... but there's still work to be done! Always! Besides, some Fleeters might have emptier bank accounts than usual, depending on what they got up to in the last system... Now is a good of a time as any to make up for that! Especially if you want to have money to buy presents for all of your friends and/or crew, right?

Hunting and fishing are huge here, especially with the current feasting season upon them - but they're also pretty difficult compared to planets with milder climates. Snow makes it hard to move around undetected, ice-covered waters make fishing a little more dangerous... Locals need all the help they can get, and they're more than happy to let you take some of the haul home with you in addition to your full pay!

Mining is another huge industry around here. The planet has many sturdy varieties of stone with all kinds of uses, as well as plenty of metals and precious gems to be found deep in the icy caverns. If you don't mind the cold and enclosed spaces, there's a very pretty penny to be made if you help out -- and you can keep some of what you find! It's a win-win situation!


Whatever you do, don't lick it.

Other jobs include: ice harvesting, firewood gathering, engineering and maintenance for the heating systems industry, retail, hospitality, bodyguarding, food service... There are all sorts of openings in many, many areas! Get creative!

RECREATION
Even though it's cold as anything, these people are very proud of their national sport. In practice, it looks a little bit like Earth hockey: very fitting for people who value cooperation, dressing in layers, and warm hugs. It is played professionally all year long in an ice arena outside, marked with paint that doesn't completely align to the Earth version. The number of players on each team is different and there are two pucks for maximum chaos. Also, there's some guy dressed in black and red who just skates around trying to tackle people on both teams. While most players and spectators are good sports, things still get a little heated from time to time - you might even catch a fight breaking out on the playing field! Don't worry, it's pretty routine, and will be handled easily by the refs. Usually.

For those with an adventurous taste, a short hike into the mountains leads to the hot springs. Beautiful pools of just the perfect temperature, crystal clear and… weirdly glowing like all the other water on this world. Bathing in it gives magic users and other sensitive types an energy boost, and feels like a nice spa day to everyone else.


So magnificent you can hear the soundtrack of John Cameron's Avatar in the background.

After a dip in the hot springs, why not a dip into the numerous ice caves just beneath the surface? This might be in pursuit of rumors of some special tree (see below!) or just for fun. The ice caves are majestic beyond measure, full of millions of shiny facets reflecting light from explorers and bioluminescent fungi.

Let it go, let it go...
There's a very powerful rumor on this planet that gains even more traction around the year's end holiday season -- the rumor of the ice-stone tree. The tree is believed to be planted by the planet's goddess herself, deep, deep underground, to protect it from the harsh blizzards above. It glows even stronger than the planet's waters, and all year round, its translucent leaves shimmer like crystals of aquamarine and sapphire. Even better, legend has it that it will grant a wish to any traveler with a strong will. Or... maybe the legend says the traveler must have a kind heart? Or, wait, no, this version says the traveler must be unburdened and true to themselves... Yikes, looks like there are multiple interpretations... But, maybe it's worth investigating? Especially since all of you are from off-planet, locals will certainly encourage you to give it a try. It's a rumor for travelers, after all, and what's more traveler-like that interstellar travel?

More than just pure speculation, the tree does exist! However, it takes quite a bit of exploration and spelunking to find. There is a system of icy caverns near to the ocean, somewhere along the equator. (Locals can point you right toward the many entrances!) It's a slightly treacherous journey, due to the slippery, water-weathered stone and the even slippier patches of ice, but the still-running water beneath provides plenty of soft, glowing light to illuminate the way down.


The Ice-Stone Tree ( art credit )

Those in the Fleet who brave the journey to find the tree will hear those metallic tones all the louder. The magically/psychically-inclined will feel inspired, filled with an uplifting, positive energy, and will perhaps find themselves unable to sit still while down here! And, if you wish to see if the wish-granting rumors are true, go ahead and give it a shot! You just might regain an item from home / a previous game experience, generously given to you by the melodic forces of this planet!

You might... run into a small problem, however: the specifics of how to get the tree to listen to your heart and grant you something vary from rumor to rumor, and it turns out... they're all true! To an extent. The requirements differ from person to person. Therefore, it's likely you might try a few things before finding the thing that actually works! Or, you could get lucky, and it works the first time! You might have to confess a secret to the person you're with, meanwhile the person you're with must do a good deed for you. Who knows!

ICly, characters will have to try a few things and see what happens to work. There will be no way of knowing which one will work for them. OOCly, it goes like this: There are three ways to get the tree to cough up a regain/gift, but only one of them will be the one that works for your character. Your character is free to try as many of the methods below as you want until it finally works!

1) You must "let go" of something you're holding onto. This could be a physical item that you throw into the watery depths of the cavern - like a ring from a past lover you're still not quite over, or a broken doll that you never apologized to your brother for stepping on - but the intent is to actually free yourself from some amount of guilt you're experiencing. If there is a physical item, hopefully that guilt will be lifted once the object hits the glowing surface. If there's no item, and it's just a monologue - or even a silent meditation - then let yourself feel the heaviness ease away, finally. If the tree can feel that you've unburdened yourself, and you can begin the upcoming new year with a lighter heart and conscience, you can have your wish!

2) You must share a heartfelt secret with someone. No, turning to your traveling buddy and saying "I'm actually wearing heart-print boxer shorts right now" doesn't count. It has to be harder than that! Tell someone how you really feel about them, whether they light up your life or you think their breath is awful. Confess something about yourself, whether it's a dark moment from your past or just an important fact (or opinion) you've kept close to your chest for ages. Whoever you confess to doesn't even have to be directly involved - they might have no idea what you're talking about! But if the tree can feel that you've shared a part of yourself, and you can begin the upcoming new year with a stronger heart, you can have your wish!

3) Do something good/nice/kind for someone. Go work in a soup kitchen for a week, then come tell the tree how you did. Clean your entire ship without being asked to do so. Help your friend (or enemy??) through a difficult spot. If the tree can feel that you've been considerate to the lives of others, and you can begin the upcoming new year with a more generous heart, you can have your wish!

The degree of guilt, secrecy, kindness, etc. is up to you as the player. You can make it as easy or as difficult as you want for your character to clear whichever requirement they must! So long as it's not too easy -- because honestly, where's the fun in that~?

Here are the rules and stipulations for regains in this system:

• Regains do not need to be mod approved, EXCEPT if it is a living thing, a weapon, or a memento from a previous game/psl.
  
• Regains must be able to be carried by a typical human being. No cars/vehicles, etc.
  
• Personal keepsakes, costumes, pictures, letters, books, your character’s favorite frying pan-- these are all allowed and won’t require mod permission. No sign up necessary!
  
• For items that are actually part of a set, we will leave it up to your discretion. You don’t have to ask for one spice at a time when you’re aiming for a spice rack. You can regain a trilogy of books, or maybe even a few more books, as long as it’s carryable. If it’s a weapon or something else that needs mod approval, however, please mention this in your comment.
  
• Only canon pets/companions are allowed. As usual, they will be greatly nerfed if they have special abilities. You will need mod permission for this type of regain.
  
• Weapons and parts of weapons, such as upgrades to a person’s mechanical arm or other equipment, are allowed. You will need mod permission for this type of regain.
  
• Items and mementos from a previous game are allowed as long as they aren’t specific to the mechanics of the game, i.e. no sentient Exsilium weapons, no Crosschecks pets, no collars from Facility. If it’s an item from another canon that your character received from another character, these will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You will need mod permission for this type of regain.

Please reply to the "REGAINS" comment below if your regain needs mod approval, or if you have a question, need clarification, or aren't quite sure.

If you want something other than a regain, just drop us a line at the "REGAINS" comment below and let us know what you think you'd like to be gifted with! We will work with you (following the same general stipulations for regains, as outlined above) and make sure you get something you want, too!

Any other questions? Leave us a comment below! And as always, you are free to use this post for plotting purposes if you so wish.

Go forth, and have some Holiday Fun, dear Fleet!

Comments

QUESTIONS?

[spaceshipit]

[hollowedfaith]

Are there any specific opportunities for charitable giving/volunteering?

Re: QUESTIONS?

[padadin]

All this looks and sounds so lovely, thank you mods! Questions:

-When the tree grants their wish, how do they acquire the gift? It appears in front of them or they'll find it later in their bedrooms/cargo hold/etc?

-This is for game mechanics in general: when the fleet arrives to a new system, does the system tell them what date they're leaving? Or they just find out they day it happens?

Because this is so very important

[eternallyoutrageous]

What is the shopping situation like on this planet? Lord Akeldama is in desperate need of a wardrobe and he wants to know what is available or if he'd be able to commission someone to make him something.

Re: QUESTIONS?

[tsunergy]

here's a few!

1) with the water glowing, is it due to the nature of the water, or the planet itself that's making it happen? if someone happens to have a strong elemental connection could they possibly be affected by this glow? ....basically I'm asking if Mikleo as a water seraph would be glowy at all because the mental image is amazing, please

2) since the planet is is so festive and is itself singing, is it safe to assume that music is A Thing here? are there any music stores, places to play, any sort of call for musicians with the locals?

3) is there anything especially noteworthy to find in the castle museum, or is it one of those "BS it for funsies" situations?

4) same question as the above re: exploring the caves (besides the tree, obviously).

Thanks as usual for all of this, mods! <3

REGAINS

[spaceshipit]

[twosidedsword]

Can Shin-Ah regain his little squirrel friend, Ao? She's literally just an adorable squirrel with no special abilities aside from being super cute. Though if looking great in a dress counts as an ability then she has that too.

[ananym]

Can Alucard get his sword back? It's not magical and it looks like this.

Re: REGAINS

[padadin]

Hello mods! I'm about to tldr so sorry in advance. This is for Shiro's regain but the question also applies in case the rest of the cast wants to ask for the lions (this time or in the future).

So! I want Shiro to regain a mini-version of his new ship, Atlas. The reason why I wanted to tldr is because I want her (and the lions if my castmates if they go for it) to truly be a mini version of her and not just a toy model. That would mean they would "fly" and by fly I mean float around your head. So mighty! They would still be kinda-sentient and connected to their bonds with their pilots, and the pilots could -well- pilot them with minds (again by pilot them it would mean silly toy races). Atlas would be able change between her ship form and her thicc mom robot form just like a Transformer toy, and if one day we get all the lions they could form Voltron - just for fun like mecha toys because it wouldn't make any difference since no powers. Speaking of, all powers would disappear completely (except the mind bond) and would get, to quote Akai, the Buzz Lightyear treatment: trying to shoot the tail lasers would only make a light appear on the tip, their weapons on their back or mouth appear but just like a toy they're blunt and can't do anything, they're decorations. Their roars would be cat like instead of mighty lions.

In short, they would be like little android pets, if that makes sense. We would love it if the lions were cat size and Atlas baby size, but I know I'm already pushing the limits here so I'll go with toy size if that's your condition. Thanks a lot for reading! sorryformycastcake.png

REGAINS

[tiedonastring]

Is there a chance that Hux can receive an orange stripped tabby kitten? It's not considered cannon that Hux has a orange stripped cat named Millicent, but it's a popular fannon idea.

[dothelokimotion]

Also, can Loki get back the Casket of Ancient Winters! Super nerfed, of course. Maybe limited to freezing 3 - 5 people.

Re: REGAINS

[theladyofwinterfell]

Sansa would like her direwolf back, Lady, which she had in canon and in her previous stint in DF. Lady has no powers she’s just you know, a giant well trained wolf.

Re: REGAINS

[necromanswers]

I'd like to request the Umbra Staff for Lup!

[tempredmental]

I would like to ask for Keith's space wolf. He can teleport, even between ships, but I'm willing to nerf that if needed. The wolf jumps from Lion to Lion during a dog fight, even when the Lions are several hundred meters apart. Also, he can teleport people with him in the show, as he does this to move people around in the Lions a few times, and even into an enemy ship to help Pidge and Lance escape a pursuit, and then also assists Keith in a one-on-one sword/magic battle with a druid where they are teleporting around each other in mutual attempts to gain and maintain an upper hand on each other while fighting and running through a system of caves and tunnels.

[princessences]

Would Allura be able to regain her space mice? Preferably she would like all four and I'm not certain if her ability to telepathically communicate would be nerfed or not. They are the true MVPs of Season 7.

[wakemelater]

Can Nico get his sword? It's a three foot long black Stygian iron sword that glows purple. It can absorb the essence of its victims and sucks up the light around it, making everything dreary and dark. (The essence sucking can be nerfed. He just wants his sword!)

[abracafcku]

Could Taako get his Pocket Spa? Just checking because it creates a pocket dimension technically. He can't use it to get out of DF obviously, but just wanted to make sure it didn't break anything.

[eternallyoutrageous]

requesting to see if Lord Akeldama can get his weapon. It's essentially an articulated haladie hidden inside a length of decorated gold pipe.

The exact description is:
"[...] a hidden button in the midpoint, and a curved, hooklike blade sprang out each end of the pipe and clicked into place. One was of sharpened ironwood, the other solid silver"

Re: REGAINS

[pidge_out]

Pidge would like to get the Green Lion! in its tiny kitten-sized toy form :)

Re: REGAINS

[the_tailor]

Lance would like to get the Red Lion in kitty toy form! :D

[jolting]

Victor's going to ask for a dog he and Jim owned in Riverview. It's just a regular German shepherd dog, no special powers.

[knowledgeordeath]

Can Kolivan get his Marmora sword? It looks like this and the only thing special about it is that it is a knife when not held by a Galra. When held by someone with Galra blood it can become a sword like you see there. He personally only ever wears it as a sword.

[winscenario]

I would like to ask for Jim to get the following item that he got back in Riverview, during a mission:

A small carving of a whale, made out of what looks like soapstone, grey with golden flecks, warm to the touch. When Jim touches the carving and thinks about its shape, a glowing golden whale made of spirit energy will appear. The whale is tangible to the touch and can be variable in size anywhere from the size of a small house pet to a full-blown whale, and can 'swim' in the air. This whale will obey spoken or thought commands and will fight on Jim's behalf and protect him. The whale can take and deal a significant amount of damage and can be visible and active for up to 3 hours at a time, with a 3 hour cooldown.

I understand if this not acceptable, since I'm not sure if you would count this as an item specific to the mechanics of the game. If that is the case, I will gladly ask for something else!

[woodcarving]

/zooms in late

Can Magnus have Steven? He's a goldfish in a magical glass orb that does absolutely nothing. Except be cute. He's Magnus' best friend besides Taako and Merle ok.

maybe a drift-wide feast?

[spellsteal]

IDK if anyone will see this, but!!!

Would any characters with cooking skills want to put together a huge feast for the Fleet? Belth tries to do this every year, but his CR has shrank considerably so I thought it might be good to ask if anyone was already working on something like this too.

Also adding that characters who can follow simple directions, organize things, grab ingredients, etc will be needed ~

[necromanswers]

Y E S