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 Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 10:42 am
.: Almanac of the Stars :.So the universe is a pretty big place to try wandering around in, and if you're not prepared for the trip you are bound to get very lost. You're going to need a map. And perhaps a neat little guide to tell you what sorts of things you can find at all the places you'll be going. You know, some kind of traveller's handbook for all the hottest hangouts and coolest retreats. And that's exactly what this thread is for -- to be your handbook! ...Unfortunately, the pages seem to be a little... well, they're completely blank, actually. But this is where you can come in! If it's your cup of tea, you can post any information you know about your senshi homeworld right here. That way, anything we'd like to know about all the best hotspots in the cosmos can be found in the same place! Please put the name of your star at the top of your post, in bold size 20 font. This is for the sake of making browsing a little easier!
You can otherwise format and edit your entry at your leisure and discretion. You're not obligated to tell us everything about your star if you want to keep a few secrets, and you don't have to post here at all if you don't want to.
Please keep it to one post per star and one star per post.
This thread is for DATA ENTRY ONLY. We don't want it to get too cluttered, so please keep all plotting to plot threads.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A POST UNLESS YOU HAVE ACTUAL INFORMATION TO PUT IN IT. This means NO reserving!
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 10:44 am
.: The Pages of the Almanac :.It looks like this space is meant to be an index of sorts. However, there's nothing here at the moment, and it looks like someone got bored and doodled a picture of Queen Beryl with a butt for a face in the margins...
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:01 am
Bellatrix
Main Export/Trade: Military Training, an Army, and Creation of Treaties.
Main Imports: Food and Water, as well as other goods.
The star of Bellatrix is a world shrouded in glimmering blue mist, with buildings comprised of white marble and decidedly Grecian in style, and eternal night. No roads mark which way to go, no paths, because there is no land. Just a swirly, water-like mist. All the buildings are built upon floating platforms, and boats to take you there.
To the center is a large platform known as the Market Square, for this is where merchants set up their stalls selling anything from food to jewelry. It is a common gathering place - especially the fountain in the center.
Surrounding the square, detatched and accessed by gondola, are the houses of residents, a hospital(East side), and a large inn(west side), comparable to a large hotel by our standards, although many come here for food and drink as well as lodging.
To the north of the square a magnificent building that would have been the pride of any Greek architect floats, tall upon the large platform built as if it were a man-made mountain. This is the castle, comprised of six levels, and like the housing, is detached and accessible by gondola.
Level 1, the bottom level, is a solid platform of steps as well as a open balcony-like walkway around the perimeter.
Level 2 is host to the large public baths. Many archways in this platform work as doors. Pillars inside support the weight of the above layers.
Level 3 is another solid level of steps much like the first.
Level 4 is the granary, or place in which their food is stored, as well as other goods. Common folk are only allowed in a certain part of the granary, and what they take is highly regulated. Somewhat like food stamps or tithes. Since the Star of Bellatrix is unable to grow its own food they have to trade smartly, and make sure that enough food and other goods is given to all its citizens.
Level 5 is the castle's basement, home to the large kitchen and host to the servant's housing. The public is not allowed in this part unless a servant or castle worker has invited them.
Level 6 is the top layer where upon the castle stands large and proud with tall Corinthian-style pillars and otherwise resembles the castle on the moon. The courtyard and in the area in front of the castle is the only place on Bellatrix with plant life, which has been imported from other places, and meticulously cared for.
On Bellatrix's sattelite star is the military barracks, armory, and training grounds. It greatly resembles a Colosseum.
Formation:
Bellatrix started as a military base. Before then it had been completely barren. After all, what could live in these watery gasses? Whoever's idea it was to forge a military base comprised solely of women has been long since forgotten. However, buildings were built, and over time what started as a military base became an independent Monarchy.
The Monarchy:
Bellatrix has forever since then been ruled by women - one Queen - and the role passed from mother to daughter. On Bellatrix, it is the women who have the power. Women are the knights in shining armor, the fighters, the protectors, the care takers. The men of Bellatrix are supposed to be the gentle, delicate ones in need of protection, and virtuously deserving of that protection. Men are the writers, the poets, and healers. More masculine men (masculine by our standards) were weapon makers and armorers, builders, etc. It is the woman's job to fight and defend. To be a pillar of strength. They weren't all quite butch, however. Women were still prized for beauty, and elegance. Somehow everything worked out.
Alliances:
Orion: Women for food.
Themis: Water
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:09 am
Gunn
Plural/Possessive: Gunn
Main Export: Metal, tools, fuel, water
Main Imports: People, specialty items
World:
At its peak, Gunn can best be likened to a steampunk, dystopian Victorian London in appearance; it was soot-stained, driven by steam-powered machines, with skyscrapers reaching to the sky. Though it was an ice world, the metallic and organic deposits near the core of its nucleus provided all the material the inhabitants needed to build themselves a single, massive city, as well as its defining landmark: A tower, built into a spiral shape that rose over the rest of the city, towards the rose-gold sky.
Gunn lacks the distinction of night or day; the sky is always a pale rosy-gold from the shedding of ions, lending its ice a rather lovely shade of sunset pink as opposed to the usual blue.
In the present day, Gunn's single city is dilapidated; the friction of ions mixed with the intense pollution of untended fire going out of control has created an eternal lightning-storm, which creates more fires.
Culture:
Gunn was highly industrialized: Its goal, its driving force, was production. They were very individualistic--and its government was very much almost invisible, functioning only as a police force to deter violent crime with a figurehead Queen who was elected for terms of ten years. If you had money, Gunn was your oyster; if you didn't, it was still okay, there was probably a job that you could do. Those with talent went to the top of the social order. Those without, well, they mined. They produced. And the vast majority of them were proud to do it, too. Because they were so individualistic, trade with other worlds was very limited. Only if it could absolutely not be made on their own planet would a Gunn merchant look off-planet.
Basically, their main trade was in PEOPLE. People SELLING THINGS--such as the metal and fuel mined from Gunn's nucleus. Gunn's inhabitants would venture through the galaxy, probably harassing Merope and any other center of trade any time they had the opportunity, selling things, providing services, and making money. Then they would go home and brag about how much money they made. They believed that at no time could an individual's rights be suborned for the rights of the mob, except in one case...
They had a close tie with Hestia, and its government was always known to host at least one Keeper at any given time. They also were interested in hiring bodyguards from many different places--some for the Queen, and some for their senshi, who was rarely if ever seen by offworlders, leading to rumors that the comet of Gunn had no senshi and all letters claiming to be from their senshi were faked. (Spoiler: they did have a senshi. they just regarded her as a danger to all production on Gunn. So they kind of kept her on a tower out of range of blowing up fires. Yeah.)
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:29 am
ThemisMain Export/Trade: Water/Ice, Ice Instruments, Crafts, Musical/Theatrical Talent Main Imports: Meat, Millitary Training ImageXMain InspirationCrystalsong Forest from World of Warcraft (not all of it, just the silver trees and stuff. This is pretty spot on to get a decent mental image) Imagine stepping inside a world of ice and frost, glimmering at every side and turn as soon as there was the tiniest bit of light illuminating it. A world where even the barest wind was amplified to become audible beauty. That world was the Themis asteroid at it's peak. WorldThe sky of Themis is rather dark, constant night only broken up by the tiny dots of distant stars - but the pathways of ice were always kept well-lit by the axferians - creatures akin to what is known on Earth as wills of the wisps - that wandered freely from lantern to lantern as they willed. The free-willed lights made up for all the lighting the asteroid needed, and the only species of tree natural to the world were paper-skinned silver ones, adorned with pale blue leaves. The ice was tinted a light shade of blue, and highly reflective. For what sights Themis lacked in it's skies, the surface more than made up for. The Themisians often chose odd shapes for their buildings, the biggest and most well known of being it's triangular castle - as well as the fact that all buildings were made from ice, stone, and the silver wood natural to the asteroid. Even the ruins that still remain are still beautiful - the ice no longer reflective, the trees now dead and barren for the most part, the lights all gone - but the broken world still echoes the slightest sound that happens within it, as if knowing to honor it as something special and precious. The only building that remains more or less in good state is the castle itself, even though it is missing a few walls and those that remain have deep cracks. ClusterThemis was the first and main asteroid of the Themistian Cluster and while all of them remained individual, autonomous kingdoms, Themis and it's senshi kept a close eye on the rest of the cluster, as it's nearest trading opportunities. What involvment Sailor Themis had with these asteroids, if any at all beyond action that kept the whole group safe, is long forgotten, and will probably only come to light if the senshi of these asteroids ever awaken. CultureThe people of Themis were very much artists - mostly dealing with sound, with a few artisans there and there specializing into making instruments out of echoing ice the asteroid was renowned for, or even windchimes of pure ice and silver wood - one of the biggest exportation of the asteroid. The Themis asteroid also produced a few scholars, most of which left for the Moon to serve the Queen. The people of Themis were renowned for their artistic sense and ability to get things done, but not so much for their fighting prowess - so the asteroid tended to stay out of conflict, save for it's chosen senshi who would be sent out to assist allied kingdoms as needed and tend to relation with the rest of the belt, as well as with the rest of the empire of the Moon - but otherwise remained as a teacher-figure and member of the council. On Themis, there was very little separation in between genders - both sexes very viewed equally and every position of the asteroid was open to anyone, regardless of his or her gender. A family could be a man and a woman, or same-sex couples who adopted orphaned children. Families were close-knit, but not always truly related by blood - it was common for hear someone from Themis call their closest friend 'brother' or 'sister'. This could easily get so complicated that it would easily make an outsider's head spin. They had their own language, resembling elven in nature and sounds, but children were taught the language of the cosmos, as the predominant language of the Moon Alliance was called, at a young age. While falling under the reign of Queen Serenity's rule, Themis also had it's own ruling system, with a reigning family (though never calling itself royal blood - either they were not royal blood at all, or the rulers had abandoned their title so long ago that no one remembered) at the head of a council of multiple individuals, the ruling role passed from parent to eldest child at the child's majority, regardless of the gender of those involved. The parent remained the 'symbol' of head of rule until his or her passing. Their duty would then become sorely symbolic - teaching, mostly - while the children would run the council proper. Should the ruling person fail to produce any heir, they would be expected to adopt at least one child to continue the tradition, though most chose to adopt more than one. Should the ruling person die before their oldest child reached majority, his or her oldest brother or sister would take the title until that day. The age of majority on Themis was 16. ProductionThemis' main resource, trade-wise, was it's ice - it more or less covered the planet, and while they were able to more or less provide their own food with the local crops and vegetables, it made growing most fruit, as well as raising cattle, impossible. The ice on Themis had a very high melting point, making it easily trade-able to the other words allied with the Moon that lacked their own water - cart the ice, and melt it once it's there. Their second biggest exportation was their own talent - Themis people were renowned musicians and craftsman, the ice windchimes sounding like pure crystal. Themis entertainers were often sought for important events.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:37 pm
EuropaPlural/Possessive: Europan Main Export: Water, ice, crafted goods and art, seafood. Main Imports: Wood, glass, metal, fruits and vegetables. Picture: =X=World: Europa is the fourth-largest moon of Jupiter, and sixth nearest to the planet. As a tectonically active world, there are very few permanent features and if not for the rust-colored canyons that sweep across its surface, there would be almost nothing distinct about it at all. In fact, the most striking feature of Europa isn't even on the moon at all, but rather above it: the sky is dominated by a view of the gas giant Jupiter. Surface vegetation is limited to hardy lichens in the equatorial regions, and is non-existant in higher latitudes. In its heyday, Europa's inhabitants grew many crops in greenhouses, and imported what they could not, but it was no secret that the world's true wealth was in its subsurface ocean. Beneath the ice was a complex and thriving ecosystem based around deep sea vents. Invertebrates, crustaceans, and fish were all hunted by the ancient Europans, though if you were to descend to the depths today you wouldn't find more than tube-worms. The surface ecosystem was overly simple: Europa was home to only two large forms of surface life. The first were large, shaggy bovines called Zeuk in the local dialect. Zeuks' dreadlocked pelts were in fact a photosynthetic organ, and zeuk herders followed their herds across the moon in a cyclical migration, "Chasing daylight." The flesh of the zeuk was eaten as meat, and the pelt could be removed as a whole piece with skin included for use as leather or fur, or could be removed in loose portions for weaving into wool. It could also be boiled into a starchy vegetable paste, a staple of the pastoral diet that tasted something like taro. The second major life form were the Great White Bears, predators that roamed the Europan landscape feeding on zeuks and fish, but seldom on humans. In some communities, hunting a Great White Bear was considered a rite of passage. Furs taken from Great White Bears were warm and supremely durable. It was customary to give new brides a piece of Great White Bear fur, possibly in reference to the Europan Myth of the Bear-Faced Men. Architecture on Europa was primarily done in an art nouveau style, intended to work with the natural curves of the landscape and also to embellish it. Coming from such a plain world, Europans sought to embellish it however they could. There are lots of arches, teal and rust orange glass, and domes. While wood is sometimes used for interior elements on Europa, it is infrequent to find it on exterior surfaces - it isn't durable enough to withstand the climate unless heavily treated first. They tend to build with the shape of the land, lying low in canyons to be protected from icy winds on the moon's surface, or else contouring themselves to have a minimum amount of wind resistance. Most buildings are anchored a few meters into the ice, and some actually protrude all the way through and into the ocean below. Many a Europan noble could once be heard to boast about having an "underwater room" in their home. Because of this construction style and the nature of Europan tectonics, many buildings are either perfectly preserved, buried partially in ice, or else simply gone, quietly rusting at the bottom of the ocean. Economy: The Europan people tended to be thinkers rather than fighters. As one of the four largest worlds in the Jovian system, and one of the largest exporters of ice and water in the middle solar system, they found themselves in a prime position at the heart of a great many trade routes. Typically goods underwent two rounds of exporting and importing: water was traded for raw goods, which were shaped into artisanal products, which were traded for food. The world had a reputation for its craftsmen, but was also a center of philosophy and science. Less so much theatrical arts and painting - No matter how embellished a piece of Europan architecture was, it was still functional. There was no room in the system for frivolity, nor for people unwilling to pull their weight. While their trade relations allowed them to live comfortably, knowledge was that life on Europa could get very hardscrabble very quickly. Culture: The Europan central government as it existed during the silver millenium was a relatively recent institution. As a single-party socialist state, they were mainly able to come into power simply by being unopposed. Being allied with the then-Sailor Europa (Brynja Powys, a steely-haired senshi who had served the moon for well over half a century) certainly helped but the fact that Europa had no strong central government made anyone promising to maximize resources and organize trade sound like a fair deal. The Europan central government divided the moon into districts divided not by land area but by population and geographic boundaries. All regions had roughly the same population, despite them ranging in size from small, tightly packed urban areas to large, sparsely-inhabited stretches of ice. Each region had a branch of the government responsible for overseeing the production and distribution of resources. These petty bureaucrats unilaterally dreamed of earning jobs in better districts and eventually the capitol, as this was how you got to real positions of power. In the capital, the government operated in a fairly systematic and uncomplicated manner - ranks and positions were straightforward, everyone knew exactly who they answered to, right on up to the Prime Chancellor, who was the political leader of the whole moon. The position was an elected one, voted on every three years by every Europan adult over the age of seventeen (in theory - in practice, votes came mostly from urban regions). Candidates were selected from a closed pool, usually top-ranking party members, and no one could hold the title of Prime Chancellor for more than nine years. Those familiar with the Europan government observed that it was very focused on organization and appearance, with very little regard for underlying tradition. While the moon's native religions and superstitions were still practiced by the general populace, the government was secular. Sailor Europa's proper title in the moon's government was "Captain." Upon awakening, each new incarnation of the senshi, who was perhaps no more than thirteen or fourteen at the time, would be whisked off to the capital for training - in politics, history, combat, mathematics, and sciences. The expectation was that Sailor Europa would be able to hold his or her own in any conversation and represent all the values the moon stood for. While Europans considered themselves craftsmen, art for art's sake was discouraged. It was held that beauty ought to flow from the architecture, and that rather than building a plain wall and covering it with a tapestry, which was a waste of resources, why not make the wall beautiful to begin with? Trades and professions were typically passed down through families, generation to generation. As such, parents typically relied on their children to take interest in their craft, and families were close. Craftsmen working in a single field of interest might belong to a guild, and these functioned as extended families even when there was no blood relationship between members. Your craft guild would be who you turned to in times of hardship or who you would trust to take care of your children if you couldn't. Adoption was widely practiced on Europa, but typically only between members of the same craft guild. Europa and the Moon Kingdom: Despite its day-to-day independence, historic Europa held itself as a sovereign state under the power of the royal house of Jupiter, and by extension, Serenity. It was a natural arrangement: citizens of the moon needed only to look up at the sky to remember whose power they were indebted to.
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iStoleYurVamps
iStoleYurVamps
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:07 pm
Castor
LAND OF THE BADASS Imports: Grains, Fruits/Veggies, metal works, New fighting tactics, new animals, basically anything that would help them in battle, also art, they lacked it, but they needed it for victorious celebrations Exports: Never Melting Ice, Armies/Warriors, Armor and Acid from Castorian Beetles, Ice/water, Castorian Vodka (minor) Self sufficient in: People at arms, armor (non metal), water, furs, meat Main Inspiration: SPARTA To not mix up the planet from senshi I'mma put a * next to the name when talking about the planet. GENERAL LIFE So, Castor* was like basically a planet based on: WAR. WAR FOREVER. Everyone was trained for battles and war. Yes, EVERYONE. Like, if you could pick up a weapon, you could fight and die with honor in battle. When kids were 5 ish they were taken from homes, put into barracks, and were raised with all of the other kids in a military style commune sorta thing. War orphans were always taken in, so were the rich and the poor. EVERYONE started off in the barracks. They all started on the same level. No exceptions. If you got picked on, bullied, you were moved. The main goal was to place a child where they we be at their strongest, while also developing them to learn how to work as an unit, all with the goal of an ideal battle squad in mind. A child with good agility would be placed with like, and they would train and live together. Around 11-13 they would have shown obvious traits that would place them into the fighting style they would learn and master. It wasn't uncommon for kids to grow up with same peers all their life, and were often encouraged to treat comrades in arms as siblings. 14-17 they would train in their field and if at around the end showed even more potential, they would be given specialized training to become eliets, the best of the castorian race. So, in theory, by the time one generation was done with training, you now had a whole new generation of fighters. And when your entire race was constantly at war, making sure everyone knew how to fight was damn important. EXPORTS Their main export was castorian Never Melting Ice. It was ice that did it's name sake, it never melted. However, over long periods of time off/away from castor*, the ice would turn into a thick jelly like substance, meaning a mage from castor* would have to come out and re-infuse it with castorian magic. People would buy the ice at a great cost, and every so often just hire a mage to re-infuse it with magic for a smaller fee. The reason was: The ice was a part of their natural home planet. Removing it in vast amounts would ******** up the ecosystem and then...Well, everyone loses. So, mages of castor* had to create the ice, drawing from the natural magic of the planet and their own powers. Creating the ice was SRS ******** BSNS. If you ******** up you would end up putting too much of your own magic/life into it and end up dead. Hence, high cost for buying the ice. Going out and re-infusing it? Not that expensive. If you ended up not wanting to re-infuse it...uh..you kind of got left with this clear jelly goo that had no use. Literally. It was worthless, since unless you got a castorian mage to come out a draw the original magic, it wouldn't turn into water, and it wouldn't fade very quickly. When it did fade, (taking a long a** time) It left behind clear clumps of solidified rock. Still use less, just now took up less space. So the ice was like a car if you need a comparison. You own it, but you still need someone to go to to upkeep it and take it away if it breaks or you don't want it. WHY IS THIS s**t GOOD? Food preservation, decoration, keeping warm places cool. If you use ice for it IRL, chances are it could be replaced with castorian ice. Only unlike ice it just never melted C: The other item Castor* exported was acid resistant armor from the castorian Beetle, a creature about 5x larger then a normal human, and it's pale crystalline shell held both meat and valuable sacks of acid that could be used for a variety of purposes when treated. The shells and acid were sent off Castor* for whatever use people could find from them. The Beetle was a plight on the castorian people, and they loathed the creature. Killing one was seen as a great victory, and it wasn't atypical to see castorian youths to go out to try and kill one. Besides Nevermelting Ice and Castorian beetle products, they did hire themselves out as warriors. It wasn't so much to gain profit as it was to earn honor and glory. THE PEOPLE The people of Castor* thought that the greatest glory came from battle, and centered pretty much their whole faith on that fact. Everything rode on battle. You wanted to marry? You had a battle. You wanted to have a child? You had a battle. You wanted a discount on your home owner's insurance? Mother ******** battle. People established themselves in battle. The better you fought, the more respect you earned. That wasn't to say however the 'stronger' was always the winner. You might loose the battle but still get what you want. How? By proving your merit, your determination, your will. Strength of the mind and the heart was just as equally, if not more, valued then physical or magical strength alone. Say two men want to wed the same woman. They fight in the arena and one wins. HOWEVER, the guy who gets the girl is the one who lost the physical battle. Why? Simple, he showed in battle to have the will power and determination to prove his desire, and so, even though he lost the contest of raw physical power, he won. Most relationships on Castor* were like this. Marriage was often looked at from two views, from the side of emotions and the side of 'who would make the best co-pilot' so to speak. When you 'married' it was actually seen as a sort of contract or agreement. They viewed homes as units, and at any time you could get called to all go to war. So, naturally you wanted to hook up with someone who you knew you could fight well alongside and would be your equal. So it wasn't odd for a person from Castor* to 'marry' young to a companion from their days in the barracks, have a child or two, separate, and then 'marry' later in life to someone out of love or other factors once you had served in the armies. One exception was those who were born 'inherently weak'. :c You would do what every other child did, go through every trial..but if you were born that way pretty much everyone would look at you with pity. They understood being weak in certain areas of battle compared to others but to be born with a weakness...It would have tormented them endlessly. You would be allowed to live your life as you wished provided you didn't put others at risk, you had personal strength, and you find a personal strength. If your 'weakness' was known to pass down bloodlines however, you were all but told to never have children. The reasoning being that castorians were people who lived and died for battle. If you allowed weakness to go unchecked in the gene pool, it would go out and diminish the chances of top quality fighters. So, if you had something that would get passed on genetically, no baby making, but, you could adopt as many war orphans as you wanted. (Those who couldn't have children often did. Again, EVERYTHING was done to better their race as a race of fighters. One child could be the next war hero) The other exception were the elite forces. The true masters of battle. Considered the prime or their race, they were required to have at least one child with another elite. In fact, for them, they were heavily encouraged to have as many children as they could. The more children sired by the strongest of their race the better. GOVERNMENT The government on Castor* was a mix of democracy, theocracy, and nobility. The King and Queen ruled as equals, and were in not so much in charge of the people as being the last voice of the people. They acted as the diplomats to other worlds and nations, setting up the trade routes and figuring out who would stand to be the best allies in what wars. They also were the ones who could issue the commands on the battle field. This also followed to the nobles. Diplomats, tacticians. You would find them heading Castorian armies and leading campaigns. Under this system commoners or regular low born children could in fact become nobles. You just had to have prove your strength to be in the field of tactics. By this, you also prevented inbreeding of noble houses, since each house would adopt children with the skill and train them. Theocracy was not in a deity so much as their beliefs of battle, glory, and honor. With battle came glory, with battle you could establish honor. Running from battle was seen as the greatest crime and sin you could commit. The only time it was okay was if you were told to fall back, or, you had to run to fight another day. Even then however, it was still seen as a very very VERY bad thing. Outright abandoning your fellow troops was the fastest way to earn execution. Even if you managed to avoid being killed for leaving your comrades and leaving battle, the social stigma you would face would be hell. The only way for redemption was either to go out and do some great act of heroism in war, or return to battle and die. Democracy came in the form that the people were all but self governing. They had leaders and mayors and such if only to have someone in charge making sure to record who was fighting in the arena over what, who won, who lost, why they fought, ect. General paper pushers. Mostly, the people of Castor* settled things in arenas and with fights, and if not that, then with voting. Majority won and the ruling could only be overturned if parties involved chose to fight. Voting served as a counter measure for cheating and fixed battles. SO WHO WAS SAILOR CASTOR? Sailor Castor was considered a God like figure for his people. The mantle of Sailor Castor was not handed down by blood line or given to the strongest fighter alive. Frankly, no one on castor* knew how the next senshi of their planet was chosen. But when he or she was, the end result was that individual became the ideal. Sailor Castor would awaken at the same time other children would begin to find their callings and be taught final mastery of battle. Once awoken, Sailor Castor would begin pretty much the most intense and more brutal training of any of his race. For about 3 years, his or her life would be hell, as each moment, the goal of the people was not to worship or train Castor, but to KILL Castor. The senshi had to become the best of his race. They were supposed to be the best of their race, and in the 3 years of 'training' the senshi would be pushed to every limit they could. They had to become the best, survive the worst, and prove they were indeed, the strongest. After this short time in training hell, they would have become hardened to the point they were considered the ideal fighter, and could in fact deal with the elite forces of his own race and take them down. At this point, Castor would have held the same role as the King. Acting as both war leader and diplomat. The only difference was that Castor was just seen as above and better. It didn't matter if it was true or not. All that the people of castor* thought their senshi was the best living fighter. He or she, was a paragon. CASTOR ON THE MOON KINGDOM: Castorians saw the moon kingdom as an ally, mostly against Chaos forces. They held respect for them as fighters and mages, but beyond seeing them as allies, Castorians did not think they fell under the sovereignty of the moon kingdom.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:37 pm
RegulusMain Export/Trade: Glass, Mosaics, dyes of various forms Main Imports: Water, Ice (magical and non), Wood, fine metal works and unusual luxuries Inspiration: X x XWorld: A world without night, Regulus’s home-world is a small planet caught in the orbit of two stars, also orbiting each other, while one is setting on any given part of the planet, the other is rising, making the sky vary between a pale white-blue, and an fiery red as dawn and sunset are simultaneous. A largely desert world, water is drawn from beneath the ground, or found in sheltered springs where solid color slows or prevents evaporation. Since wood was rare, Regulus was not a friendly world to trees, many buildings were stone, or clay, and surprisingly delicate tile mosaic’s were popular, used not only for decorative fixtures in houses, but even for elaborate footpaths’, displaying epic stories of the worlds history underfoot. Culture: Regulus was more or less a monarchy, though truthfully, it had two rulers at any given time. The King or Queen and their partner, a system designed to imitate the two orbiting suns, and the culture (ironic in the eyes of some outsiders) was based on the balance of equal partners, seen as a form of completion, and dedication to said partner was considered one of the higher virtues. The emphasis however being on ‘equal’ partners tended to make the Regulans come off as a bit stuck up, since as a proud race, they considered themselves as overall superiors to many other cultures, and had a tendency to throw the planetary version of a tantrum and refuse to cooperate if they felt they had been culturally snubbed, and the planet was therefore in negotiations with others fairly frequently. The Rulers, who were chosen meritoriously by the people, who had the given right to overthrow any ruler who’s rein proved to be detrimental, though lengthy periods of observation were known, and it was not impossible for the child of two rulers to take their place, if they were seen as fit rulers. Below them: all positions were also meritorious, and high titles did not necessarily equate to great wealth, if the subject did not have the cunning to obtain it. Like the highest rulers, if you could not prove your value in your given position, another would be put in your place. Regulus accepted only the best, because, in their own eyes at least, they were the best. Clothing was largely white, light weight, and flowing, the better to keep the wearer cool, but beads, jewels, and trim and embroidery of any imaginable color were popular at every level, though the finest weights of cloth were often the most expensive, and therefore found among those who had earned the greatest wealth, so people with less money often just wore –less- overall. Modesty becomes less of an issue when heatstroke is an every day concern. Symbols of rank were stylized, and could be made of any material, due to the lack of connection between title and wealth, though getting caught wearing a rank that didn’t rightfully belong to you was a serious offense, if you were caught. Glass, and the related art of the mosaic were considered high art, as was the production of the incredible colors the glass was infused with, and overall, Regulus had a reputation for fine glass ware, even if there were a rumor or two about it being melted over the hot tempers of the populous. The Senshi of the planet was expected to embody the values of the planet, and be both skilled at courtly matters as well as skilled on the battle field, and trained accordingly. Since the position of ‘senshi’ was not as readily replaceable as any other titled position, it was reviewed with a special eye, since they’d been clearly chosen for their position, and therefore must live up to it. It was not required for a Senshi to consider taking a permanent partner, since they were considered to be the embodiment of the double-star, and therefore theoretically already complete, though a previous Regulus apparently created some scandal by courting an off-worlder. ((The other asteroid/world/moon: space historians note, was not remotely scandalized.)) Views on the Moon Court: Regulus as a world was just as happy to throw one of their patented tantrums at the Moon court as anyone else. They saw the Moon Court as an ally, but refused to admit that the Moon Court might conceivably be their superior.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:50 pm
The Moon of MuCephei
A small moon it is commonly lost in the bright red glow of the dying star it orbits. It’s culture was small but intense, simple philosophies and a emphasis on savoring each moment are the core values of this culture. The air is still and lightly perfumed, though sweet and invigorating it carries with it a light taste of copper and as the moon rotates, late evenings bring a sort of weariness.
Faith - MuCephi deals with Death, all life comes to this point, all must end and be returned to the space cauldron. They prepare the dead for burial and charge the most expensive ‘coin’ in the galaxy to do so… blood. Freedom, Slavery, life and death, all is paid for in blood as far as the culture of MuCephei was concerned.
This did not ‘rise them above’ anyone, it was simply their faith, for all people had the currency they respected and far too many had to pay its coin early in life.
Aqueducts - much of the main city of MuCephei is defined by its aqueducts, they are carved of red stone, and it makes the water that flows through them appear to be like the blood that flows through the veins of all. Each house has a well that is called the heart, and in this heart the water flows in and out of each home, or did.
Life – some agriculture, mostly revolving around water based plants like rice, (space rice), but time has lent them a different skill that let them trade with other cultures and stars. The precious stones that they harvested from their world were sent to many other stars. There are some myths about the planet that the Garnet which Pluto’s staff holds came from the Garnet star itself, though the accuracy of this myth remains unconfirmed.
They say it is because their star is dying but it is also a home for diamonds, and blood rubies, they call them the signs of their stars slow funerary pyre, and by sending out these stones to other worlds and their guardians they are sewing the seeds of new life and new beginnings. Blood makes the flowers grow...
The Sacred Tree – something in nature like a plum tree, it’s black truck is twisted and old, wider around than 5 men it blooms once for each new keeper of the world, never called Sailor, Super or Princess they are always called Lady or Lord, on the day they ascend to take the reigns of the world the tree blooms with wide red blossoms, they last only a few moments before raining down like drops of blood.
The Castle and surrounding city – the City itself is set into 12 quadrants, each city at the edge of a great circle that surrounds the castle. The castle itself is shaped notably like the ‘hand’ of a sundial. This is to signify that time passes for all; with each beat of ones heart time passes bringing you closer to your time of ending.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:12 pm
MEROPE
Exports: ???, Space Pirates, ???, ???, ???, ???
Imports: ???, Wood, ???, ???
So far all that is known about Merope is that it contains a pirate ship, hinting that most likely Space Pirates live on Merope. The only building (if it could be called that) is a wooden ship that reminded the present Sailor Merope of a pirate ship, hence the assumptions that SPACE PIRATES COME FROM MEROOOOOPE.
More will be revealed as Sailor Merope explores his homeworld more~
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:01 pm
HestiaMain Export/Trade: Keepers, stone work, Sailor Hestia Main Imports: Some agriculture, pilgrims, the Farm and Quarry would also import tech where they could afford to Images: Past >> CurrentWebsite: http://hestia.thesporkedken.comQuick Notes to avoid getting a double dose of my tl;dr: (more detailed world information in link)- Hestia is part of an asteroid clump, the largest body was referred to as the Temple, the next largest two were the Farm and the Quarry. - Life centered around the Temple and it's sacred fires. - It did not have a ruling monarchy but instead centered around the religious philosophies of the Sacred Fires. - The Temple's priests were referred to as Keepers. - While many Keepers remained on Temple, many also traveled to other world's to either set up small temples or give aid where requested. - Keeper Services (they didn't hire out, the price of their presence is mainly having to hear a lot about tending to the fires within) xxxxcounseling (spiritual and emotional) xxxxcaretakers xxxxguard and body guard xxxxphilosophical discussion xxxxa noted side effect of Keepers is that things suddenly start getting really clean- Sailor Hestia was considered to be a Keeper, and spent much of her time after her awakening and training, going to whatever worlds that requested her presence.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:02 pm
Taranis
Taranis is an Amor asteroid that moves in a near-Earth orbit, along with the handful of other asteroids that share this distinction. Currently, Sailor Magellan and Sailor Boreas are the only known senshi who originated from this same type of asteroid.
Political Structure
The political structure of Taranis was composed of a council of five leaders: Commandant, Shah, Vox, Premier, and Augur. The council was known as the Senatus Assembly of Taranis, or more commonly in slang, the SAT or Assembly.
The Commandant was the military leader of the asteroid. This role was held by the asteroid’s resident senshi. As Taranis was not a very militant nation, the position was largely responsible for managing the conduct of the citizens and presiding over any cases that might arise from violations of the asteroid’s law. Crime was not rampant on the small asteroid, limited largely to instances of theft, but all cases came before the Commandant. The senshi served as judge and jury.
The Shah was the religious leader of the asteroid. As Taranis was a scientifically-minded people, this ruler was more concerned with the energy of the universe, not the strict worship of a single deity. The Shah preached the importance of balance, of harnessing energies, of finding a way to make civilization and nature grow together, as opposed to destroying each other.
The Vox was the mouthpiece of the asteroid. At the great celestial parties, this individual was the one rubbing elbows, greasing palms, and otherwise playing the political game on behalf of the people of Taranis. This position functioned in many public relations avenues, as well as keeping tabs on the goings-on throughout the universe. Sometimes considered the diplomat of the asteroid, the Vox had a considerable say when it came to relations with other societies and the neighboring asteroids.
The Premier was the cultural leader of the asteroid. All ceremonies and functions were presided over and organized by this person. In short, the Premier was the social secretary. Historically, this position was held by the chosen mate of the planet’s reigning monarch.
The Augur was the scholastic leader of the asteroid. Often called the Historian as well, this individual was the head of all research and knowledge-seeking endeavors put forth by the people of Taranis. Most of the studies done on the asteroid related to the harnessing of the atmospheric lightning, but Taranis also produced many small pieces of machinery, the design of which was often overseen by this leader.
From these five members, the people of Taranis voted on a ruling monarch in a democratic process. The monarch held veto power on the council and traveled as a representative of the asteroid on official universe-wide business.
Environment
The terrain on the asteroid Taranis could not support much plant life. Instead, the people grew the necessities for nourishment in great hydroponic farms housed in massive underground facilities on the outskirts of the city. Still, much of the meat was imported from neighboring asteroids. The only animals on the asteroid were desert-dwellers, ranging from waterlizards to scavenging camelhounds, but the most notable creatures on Taranis were the worms.
Beneath the surface, an exquisitely carved network of tunnels formed a refuge for the citizens of the asteroid, especially during the regular lightning storms that pummeled the surface once a week. These tunnels were forged by the lumbricus -- the great worms of Taranis. Growing anywhere from fifty to a hundred feet in length, these massive creatures fed on the tiny minerals and organizations trapped in the rock and sand of the asteroid. Their feeding patterns were most akin to that of baleen whales; they filtered the terrain and then repositioned it in their wake. Most off-worlders thought of these worms as destructive, evil creatures that only the people of Taranis knew how to coexist with, but truth be told, the lumbricus were more like gigantic land manatees. Many people of Taranis rode on them for fast transportation, but many others just liked to feed and pet them. You know, like giant kittens.
The only plant life on Taranis consisted of low-lying brittle shrubs and great prickly catcus-like trees. Water was scarce to nonexistent on the surface of the asteroid. The citizens got water from the collecting pools underground and used a complex system of irrigation to bring that water to the shelters on the surface. Underground, large gardens of low-light acclimated foliage grows, but it is not visible on the surface.
At a distance, Taranis seemed every bit as desolate as the deserts of Earth, but it was what lurked below the surface -- an entire world encased below the crust -- that made their world special.
Housing & Architecture
The homes of Taranis were all forged of sandstone on the surface with thatched roofs lined with the same golden wire that seemed to fill every crevice of the culture. Large, golden metal rods protruded off of every building. At first glance, their purpose might not be evident, but in the midst of one of the planet’s weekly lightning storms, that became perfectly clear. Lightning struck the metal wiring and rods and funneled down into the energy system of the asteroid. That energy was used to run all of the technology on Taranis. The lightning, in fact, consisted of blown glass orbs that contained crackling bolts of electricity.
The above-ground portions of the housing facilities looked small. To the naked eye, the culture might even appear rudimentary, or rural. But each building had a hidden hatch in the floor of a room, and beneath that lie the true shape of the home. A great society sprawled beneath the sand, kept safe from the lightning storms that broke the atmosphere above. Homes, buildings, and communal areas had been built in the hollowed out tunnels carved by the lumbricus.
The overall aesthetic of the architecture could be described as industrial, desert-rural, and steampunk.
Society
The citizens were a scholastic, hard-working people who dressed in steampunk fashion and believed that industry and invention were the keys to a successful life. They believed in strong community ties, a communal system for sharing basic goods, and prizing intellect and integrity above all else. The Castle was less a palace for the ruling elite and more of a community center where any member of the people could find shelter and support. Because the population was very small and clustered over a small area, the people were very tight-knit. Their distance from some of the larger ruling planets helped foster this intimacy within the people. It was very common for citizens to hold massive parties that everyone was invited to, or to otherwise organize group events.
Major Exports
Universe-famous glassware and glass sculptures, sandstone bricks, harnessed lightning orbs, fine metal wiring, giant worm mounts/pets, and steampunk fashion.
Role in the Universe
As a small asteroid, Taranis was not governed by any of the major kingdoms for some time. It existed as a colony, its own nation-state, but lacked any major political power. Its donations to the universal culture were based entirely on its exports and the general trade channels. Then came a dark time in the history of the universe. Evil forces came to power and began to attack. With a small population and only one magically powered being on the asteroid, the Senatus Assembly of Taranis saw no other option but to seek the protection of the neighboring Moon Kingdom.
By swearing allegiance to the Moon Kingdom, Taranis came under the rule of Serenity and her fellow senshi, but they retained their independence and their political structure. (Think of Taranis as Puerto Rico to the Moon Kingdom’s USA.) They worked with the Moon Kingdom to protect the interests of themselves and their allies. At this time, the results of that alliance remain unknown.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:08 pm
Iris
The Asteroid The Basics: (Information which was already discovered from Earth)(7) Iris is a large main belt asteroid. It was the seventh asteroid discovered, on August 13, 1847 by J. R. Hind from London, UK. It was Hind's first asteroid discovery. Iris is among the S-type asteroids and it ranks fifth in geometric mean diameter after Eunomia, Juno, Amphitrite and Herculina. Its bright surface and small distance from the Sun make Iris the fourth brightest object in the asteroid belt after Vesta, Ceres, and Pallas.
Lightcurve analysis indicates a somewhat angular shape. This gives an axial tilt of 85°, so that on almost a whole hemisphere of Iris, the sun does not set during summer, and does not rise during winter. On an airless body this gives rise to very large temperature differences. Iris' surface likely exhibits albedo differences, with possibly a large bright area in the northern hemisphere.
The surface of Iris is overall very bright and is probably a mixture nickel-iron metals and magnesium- and iron-silicates.Main Export: Nickel-Iron Metals (unrefined metal or crafted), paint, Beasts of Burden, Wool, ???
Main Imports: ???, Oil, ???, Ivory, ???
The asteroid of Iris is covered in what seems to be a sand-like substance and comes across as a desert to the casual glance. As known from Earth research, the sun doesn't rise during the Winter Season, and the Sun doesn't set during the Summer Season on one face of the asteroid.
Not too much is known at the moment as to what the asteroid was like in the past, but here are a few key points that should be noted.
There was apparently an open market based from covered wagons and carts.
The people and setting seemed similar to those found in the Middle East (on Earth).
Fair-skinned people were exotic in the population, but fair-hair was not really considered exotic, since it was as common as darker hair.
The northern territory is part of the Sacred Lands.
There were various beasts of burden that resembled Camels and Llamas. The Camel-like ones were called Sand Crunchers and the Llama-like ones were called Sand Munchers. More will be revealed as Sailor Iris learns more about her homeworld!
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:09 pm
Flora  The Asteroid of SpringMain Export: Honey, Beeswax, Flowers, Fruits Main Imports: Concrete, Glass, Meat, Technology WORLD
The asteroid Flora is a large, bright main belt asteroid. Flora was known to be a popular vacation spot to many as it is Spring all year round, boasting vibrant plant life. The landscape of Flora was mostly that of a grassland, filled with blossoming flowers and fruit trees. Many flowers of different colors sizes grow on Flora, and it was said to possess the prettiest flowers.
The people of Flora were called Floran (plural: Florans) and were generally spirited and outgoing. They were mostly given flower based names. The Florans depended mostly on magic and not technology, only utilizing some imported from Mau to make harvesting fruits easier. Their magic were mostly used on flowers; keeping them fresh and vibrant even when they were brought to other worlds until the magic wore out. One of their special products, the Flowerglobes, was created by their magic; they shrank flower arrangements and placed them in glass globes with magic dust to keep the flowers alive.
The furniture was carved out of wood, decorated with the traditional carvings of flowers and vines. The higher your status was, the more delicate the carvings on your furniture usually was.
Architecture resembled Ancient Roman architecture, though the Temple, on the other hand, resembled Ancient Greek temples.
Flora was also home to pollinating animals, especially bees. Beekeeping was a flourishing business in Flora as Floran honey was said to be one of the best in the entire galaxy. Flora was also known for creatures who made Flora its home; the Flusia.
The Flusia were light delicate birds which resembled hummingbirds of the Earth. Their plumage resembled that of the flowers on Flora; they pollinated the flowers according to their respective colors. Another distinguishing feature was a small leaf on the top of their heads which resembled a miniature version of the leaves of the plant they pollinated.
It was forbidden for the Flusia to be exported outside of Flora as it was difficult to maintain them without the honey from the flowers of Flora. The only other known place to have Flusia was the Zodiac Castle, as flowers in the Castle gardens were grown from Floran seeds.
Temple
The Temple of Flora was a highly sacred place on Flora. It was a large building made of white marble, decorated with intricate floral designs. Within the Temple is the Statue of Flora. She is depicted in a flowing dress, her hair braided with numerous flowers. X X The base of the statue has many flowers carved into it, and fresh flowers were offered daily on the altar.
Young Florans who wished to serve their patron were enrolled there and were taught to be Priests. The Priests not only cared for the Temple and the sacred Statue of Flora, but also played an important part in managing the asteroid itself.
CELEBRATIONS
Festival of Floralia
(April 27 to May 3)
The festival was a seven-day festival to honor Flora, who was treated like a goddess by the Florans. It is only during this period itself that Flora returned. Her stay ranged from the night of the first day to the last day, which was called the Florae.
During the Festival, Florans were decked out in bright clothes and flowers. Flowers were not only being used as garlands, necklaces, and such, but also to decorate the buildings and especially the Temple of Flora.
The start of the Festival began with the planting of seeds, representing fecundity. Many flocked to the Temple of Flora to make offerings of honey and milk to the Statue of Flora. The first night when Flora returned is when the Floralia Parade was held. The Parade consisted of floats decked out in flowers and Flora seated upon the last float. There are also nightly feasts during the Festival, and the best dishes of Flora are brought out, including meat cooked with flowers and honey.
The rest of the Festival was populated with plays put on in the Theatre and many booths set up for carnival games.
Many people celebrated their birthdays during the Festival, as it was a popular period of time and believed to bring good luck to families.
During Florae, another Parade was held, this time in the day, with a life-sized float of Flora made out of flowers, to bid farewell to their patron as she returned to the Zodiac Castle.
Spring/Vernal Equinox
The Florans also celebrated the Spring Equinox, praying for the safety of not only their patron, but for Queen Chronos and the Zodiac Soldiers as well. They would lit candles made out of beeswax in the Temple and in their homes as well, as a symbol of their prayers.
This celebration was generally smaller and more solemn than the Floralia festival.
PATRON
The patron of Flora was identified upon birth by the mark of Flora upon her head. Once identified, the baby and her family were brought to live in the Temple of Flora. Young Flora was taught by the priests of her heritage, responsibilities and powers. Florans gathered at the Temple of Flora once it was time to send their patron off to the Zodiac Castle, giving her their blessings and farewells.
POLITICS
As their patron had a long term of absence from the asteroid; having to fulfil her duties to serve Queen Chronos, the rule of Flora was put in the hands of the Flora Council.
The Flora Council was made up of distinguished Priests of the Temple of Flora. The Council made decisions by discussion and voting, though the Vernalis, the Head Priest, had the most say. The Vernalis is seen as the Leader of Flora and was elected by the Flora Council each year on the second day of the Festival of Floralia. This was to take the opportunity of Flora's return to seek her approval of the new Vernalis. It was not uncommon for the same Vernalis to be elected over a few years; if he or she were to prove capable at the job.
Still, Flora was essentially under the rule of Queen Chronos of the Zodiac, the Lady of the Seasons. The Florans were loyal to Queen Chronos and the Zodiacs, and therefore also had a good relationship with the Moon Kingdom. As Florans were peace loving, they did not have any enemies and generally welcomed anyone whom wished to take a vacation on the asteroid. Their known alliances were also the asteroid Boreas, and the moons Neso and Carpo.
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:28 pm
Scylla
Home of the Kraken
Major Exports: Fish, Mercenaries, Messian Gems
- the asteroid was small, and what better way to keep room (and safety) for humans than to export some of their biggest, most deadly, most exotic fish?
- Being a planet that thrived on being badder than their predators, Scyllans would often leave planet as sellswords, if they were going to leave at all. They ran a very tight ship, and it helped that their chosen work was also their chosen play; You got what you paid for- and it was best that you never 'forgot' to pay your Scyllan Merc.
- Messian Gems were prized for their beauty. They were incredibly hard, at least as hard as diamonds, and were found only rarely at the bottom of the World Pillar. A Messian gem reflected its light in a way that made it seem as if it were made of pure water, the colors shifting deep inside. They were not only hard to get because of the depth that one would need to go to, but because of the fact that the seas of Scylla were notoriously dangerous.
Main Imports: Glass, Metal, Food.
Political Climate: And you thought Scot-Irish history was rocky.
Basic Data
Scylla was once covered entirely in water, and populated by the most bizarre of creatures. Chief among these creatures, and the subject of worship by the Scyllan religion, was the Kraken. Unequivocally, the Kraken and his (or her) children were some of the largest, most feared creatures in the sea. In fact, the primary predator for the Kraken was the Leviathan Whale, a large, aggressive, toothed whale that hunted in packs and was about a hundred feet long, sometimes bigger. Other sea creatures included things such as mermaids, giant turtles (to the size that there were a few with small cities built on their backs) and sea serpents.
Most of the asteroid was covered in water, with only a few hundred miles of viable land space, and the floating mountains. The floating mountains were chunks of Scylla believed to have been flung in the air by the Great One at Scylla's creation. Scientifically, it was regarded as magnetic pull and low gravity- though frankly, most Scyllans weren't exactly scientific in mind. If it weren't for the presence of viable magic, there would have been almost no place at all for the Scyllan people to expand and grow. Thanks to what magic the Scyllans did have, they were able to live on the backs of the Zaratan, which became floating towns. Thanks to their magic, they were able to build homes among the huge coral reefs that lines the shores, and in the undersea caves that lined the borders of the small amount of viable land they did have. It was mostly the warriors and nobles who were able to live in the beaches, the clerics who lived on the floating chunks of sky-earth, and the common people who braved the ocean deeps or worked the inland area for food and trade items.
The White Temple, as the current Scylla calls it, was not only located on the biggest chunk of water-contacting land on the surface, but it was the only place on the planet that was safe for off-worlders to ply their goods. It was protected directly by Scylla (resident of the Temple) and their guard. Any place else, there was a high probability of being killed and eaten by the animal life- or worse.
The Scyllan society was mercenary, warlike; it is easiest to compare them to the Spartans of earth's past. Physical strength and power was important to their survival, as was being able to outwit some of nature's most vicious, perfect predators. Their coming of age ceremonies included bringing in their catch of a smaller- or bigger- sea predator, or diving to the bottom of the deep trench at the World Pillar- what they called the large stalk of coral that rose out of the sea and bloomed among the floating rocks- and collecting one of the Messian Gems, gems that were incredibly hard and had great aesthetic value to outsiders. These gems were common gifts to lovers, and no one would be taken as a spouse until their mate had proven themselves by gifting them with a gem.
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