[INFO] The Aquarius Outpost

[DivineSaturn]

Cosmology brings us face to face with the deepest mysteries
With questions that were once treated
Only in religion and myth

The desire to be connected with the cosmos
Reflects a profound reality
But we are connected; not in the trivial ways
That Astrology promises, but in the deepest ways.

 

[DivineSaturn]

Aquarian Culture

Once upon a time, Aquarius had a bright, curious populace. The conditions they lived in were arid and water was scarce, making it easily the most precious resource. Much of their time and energy was spent on trying to conserve or reuse water, which, it is told, gave birth to the next-most precious resource to Aquarians: ingenuity. When Aquarius was no longer able to survive on its own, due to a mixture of barred trade routes and lack of a personal army, its people were invited to Uranus. While Aquarian ideas of privacy and secrecy were at odds with Uranus' openness, the two had similar climates, which went a small way to helping the Aquarians adjust. Still, most found themselves yearning for their true home, and even the next generation didn't quite feel like they fit in on Uranus.

Aquarian Traditions

- Schooling on Aquarius was mandatory, not just for early ages, but up through what would be considered high school today. It taught not only reading and writing and arithmetic, but experimentation, logic, and the most-accepted theories in the galaxy. Most Aquarian schools also taught magic, but in the same way as everything else; most of the mysticism was stripped away and it was reduced to formulas and calculations. While post-mandatory school was optional, most Aquarians chose to further their education in some way, though the types of learning institutions were quite varied and specialized for adults.

- While most Aquarians had basic jobs- merchants, servicepeople, and clerks were all quite common- their true profession was always considered to be that of a Researcher. Aquarians were not ranked by class or job, but by their research. It was the goal of all to make new, groundbreaking discoveries, and their day-to-day jobs were just necessary evils.

- Because of this, it was normal in Aquarian society for people to stop what they were doing for the sake of discovery. Maids would stop to discuss hypotheses with their masters, cooks would argue over the outcome of an experiment while people waited on their food- if they were impatient, they would go into the kitchen and get sucked into the discussion. This played a large part in the downfall of Aquarius; even in the face of grave danger, their thirst for knowledge prevented them from taking timely action.

- Aquarian architecture bears some similarity to Moroccan, and most homes were very similar to Moroccan Riads. Their exteriors were fairly plain, with no windows or ornamentation. Their interiors, on the other hand, were lavish, with all rooms connecting to a central courtyard. This type of building served two purposes- it kept out the weather, and kept any secrets from leaking out, while research could be shared freely among colleagues inside. Because of this, was highly unusual to be invited to someone else's home, and such an invite was a mark of great honor and respect.

- Walls were very common on Aquarius: all cities were walled, as were most homes and many important public buildings such as schools and libraries. The reasons for this were twofold- privacy was always a concern in Aquarian culture, and walls helped to keep traffic into and out of a place limited to the very elaborate gates constructed in the walls. In addition, explosive experiments were common, and walls helped to protect those outside from a potential disaster, as well as protecting those inside from anyone foolish enough to experiment out in the open.

- Aquarian libraries were first-rate. All Aquarians had personal collections of books that they would consider libraries, mostly filled with documents they were using for their own research and books written by friends- for what self-respecting Aquarian hadn't written a book on his or her discoveries at least once? Public libraries were slightly more discerning but far less specialized, and contained, in addition to a wide selection of scientific tomes, general knowledge needed to get through life, fiction, and a number of rare books.

- Water was extremely precious to Aquarians. While water was imported from other planets to satisfy their needs, Aquarian water was never exported. This had nothing to do with its rarity and everything to do with their belief that Aquarius contained the Water of Life itself. As such, the use Aquarian water was strictly regulated, and punishments for misusing it- magically, scientifically, or wasting it on something like a (non-ritual) bath- were severe. Even outside water was conserved and regulated, since it did not come cheap, and so Aquarians were taught that water in itself was more valuable than anything, though of course Aquarian water was superior to anything else. By far the most upsetting thing to Aquarians when they had to leave their homeworld behind was the loss of Aquarian water and what it represented to them.

- Most cities were centered around oases, and regulation of water use was left to the Aquarii Council. Membership in the council was not subject to birth or age, but depended on one's intelligence, wisdom, and creativity. Only those who were widely considered to be the best scientists and researchers were involved. The one exception to this rule was Sailor Aquarius, who received an honorary seat on the council thanks to tradition- though it was noted that Sailor Aquarius was usually a renowned thinker in his or her own right.

- Water was the biggest business on Aquarius, in terms of money exchanged and sheer manpower. The next largest industry, after water, was protection, a necessity for Aquarian culture. The arid climate took its toll on buildings, but that damage paled in comparison to the explosive results of a standard experiment-gone-awry. Any self-respecting citizen who dabbled in chemistry or neo-physics had extensive barriers protecting the rest of their assets from fire, smoke, dust, or just from being manhandled by other people. What walls started with their isolation and physical bulk, barriers finished with their magical strength.

- Aquarius had mages as much as any other job class, but their view of it was less as a mystical process and more as just another branch of science. As such, their magic specialized in potions, charms, and other things that had tangible results, as well as in the standard protection spells that were commonplace. Magic was also commonly experimented with, as were all other sciences, adding to both the necessity of strong barrier spells, and the unusual effects that could be seen coming out of a mage-scientist's home. It was not uncommon to see mages walking around with unusual afflictions- blue skin, for example, or fifty-foot beards, the results of experiments gone wrong.

- Due to the Aquarians' constant flirtation with injury over badly-executed experiments, the third largest industry was healthcare. Aquarian medicine was equal parts mundane and magical, and the study of it was often as experimental as anything else there. Everyone, including the doctors themselves, had several practitioners in case something happened to one of them. Most Aquarians at least dabbled in the healing arts, so they could tend to the more minor of their accidents without having to bring in outside help; this was yet another security issue, since doctors were one of the few occupations able to pry into an individual's research, in order to find a cure for whatever ailed them.

- While Aquarius had its fair share of artists, and art was an important part of Aquarian culture, paying homage to royalty, great minds of the past, and the Waters of Life, most art followed a pattern or rule. Sonnets, haiku, and ethban (an Aquarian form of poetry) were common, while freeform was considered an experiment in and of itself. The most highly prized Aquarian art was new and unheard of, but few people were willing to take a chance on unknown and unproven methods, so for every artist that got a new medium or technique recognized, there were dozens that lived and died in obscurity.

Aquarian Festivals

The most important Aquarian festival was by far the period during which the sun was in their sign, which was considered to be the peak time for research and development for the year. It began with a ritual to bless the work people would be undertaking, continued furtively for a month, and ended with a grand celebration that often lasted for several days into Pisces, as projects were completed and discoveries announced. Other important festivals included celebrations honoring royalty, local festivals for well-known scientists of the past, various water rites and ceremonies, and the Winter Solstice, the dark of winter and time when thought was believed to shine brightest.
 

[DivineSaturn]

Aquarius Outpost

Aquarius Outpost is the home of the Eleventh of Twelve, located at the ten o' clock position on the rim of the Surrounding. It is connected to Capricorn and Pisces. Its design is influenced by Morrocan and Moorish architecture, and per Aquarian tradition, is surrounded by a high wall on all sides. The complex consists of a square, windowless, two-story building constructed of simple sandstone, with a domed roof, and an attached minaret behind that stands one story taller than the main building. The area between the outer walls and the inner complex is fairly plain; while there are some shrubs and even a few plants that resemble cacti, there is no proper garden setup, or even a path. The temperature outdoors is generally around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the air is quite dry.

The Wall and the Courtyard

The wall surrounding Aquarius outpost is, like the main building, two stories high. It is circular and completely unbroken, save for the two gates leading to neighboring outposts. These gates- known as Capricorn Gate and Pisces Gate- are ornately carved on the outside, the only decoration on an otherwise plain sandstone wall. The doors, nearly as tall as the walls themselves, each bear images of the Zodiac sign they represent, and can only be opened by members of the Zodiac Guard, Chronos Knights, or guests of Aquarius. Above the gates are small watchposts; these, like the walls themselves, exist more out of tradition than necessity, and most actual watching is done from the complex.

The courtyard outside is hot and dry, but not unbearably so. The ground is hard-packed with a thin layer of sand on top, except where there are remains of plant life, where the composition of the soil is mostly sand. Towards the back of the building, where the minaret lies, the flora becomes more prominent, and the ground more difficult to traverse. In contrast, the front has no plants whatsoever, and the flat terrain was often used as an outdoor training ground. The only visible entrance to the complex is here, at the midway point between Capricorn and Pisces gates. Unlike the elaborate gates, this entrance is a simple double-door made of wood, rounded at the top and carved with the symbol of Aquarius.

Reception Hall and Atrium

Upon entering the building, guests find themselves in a fairly plain reception hall. There are stairs to the second floor here, as well as a few chairs and tables for weary travelers to rest, or for those who were only to stay a short time to wait. Despite the simplicity of the area, several quirks of Aquarius outpost are apparent to those who only make it this far inside. All lighting comes from sconces in the ceiling, and despite the small number of them, the room is brightly lit. The floors are tiled in intricate mosaics; those in the entrance hall depict a flowing river that almost appears to be moving in the light, despite the layer of dust that coats it. A delicate trickling sound helps to support that notion, though further investigation would reveal the sound's origin as being further inside- most likely behind the curtained arch that seems to be the room's only other door.

Most notable, though, are the bookcases that completely line the walls from floor to ceiling. There is no inch of wall space that doesn't contain a book of some sort, though the titles are difficult to read- many of the books are old and worn, and even if they were not, appear to be in languages other than English. An invisible force stops anyone trying to take a book a couple of inches from the shelves. This might explain the lack of dust, cobwebs, or other debris that might collect on bookshelves over a millenium- and that certainly have collected elsewhere in the complex.

Beyond the curtain, the source of the burbling noise is revealed to be a beautifully tiled fountain at the center of the next room. This room is bright, airy, and a complete change of pace from the reception hall, and indeed the rest of the complex. The only ceiling to be seen is the domed roof of the building, painted like the sky outside in contrast to the tiles seen everywhere else. The interior balconies are clearly visible, yet no stairs lead to the second floor from this room. The bookshelves are gone, the walls adorned by crumbling mosaics in the same style as those that decorate the floor and the fountain. There are too many pictures for the eye to take in at once, but the most elaborate by far is the Zodiac Wheel in the fountain, surrounding a statue of the Water Bearer, the urn in its arms trickling water onto a layered pedestal beneath it.

Equally spaced around the room are four young trees, all of the same, yet unidentifiable type, each in a different state of growth: one is green with delicate blue and white flowers, one is heavy with dark blue fruit, one bears purple and teal leaves, with many leaves on the ground beneath it, and the last, completely bare. A fifth, slightly larger tree grows behind the fountain, offering shade to those who sit around it; its state reflects the current season. Tilework in the floor confirms what those who are familiar with the Zodiacs might suspect: those trees are tribute to the four Seasonal Handmaidens of Princess Chronos, and to Chronos herself.

There is more comfortable seating here, mostly consisting of plush chairs and lounges, and a long table pushed up against one wall, presumably used whenever Aquarius entertained guests. Lighting in this room appears to be natural sunlight, despite the dark, starry ceiling. The entrances to the other rooms are ornately carved arches, but unlike the portal to the entry hall, their curtains are pulled aside. The other rooms of the first floor are clearly visible from the atrium; likewise, the atrium is clearly visible from all other rooms.

The entrance hall is currently serving as the records office, and the atrium is the main gathering spot in the outpost.

The First Floor

There are six arches leading from the atrium into the rest of the building. One leads back to the reception hall, one is directly across from it. Two are in each wall adjacent to those. Each of these four arches leads to another room covered in bookshelves, all with tiled floors and all quite well-lit. These rooms all bear different equipment: one seems to be for chemistry, and contains chemicals and test-tubes and burners, while another seems to concern geology and botany, with hundreds of labeled samples of soil and rock and plant. The other two are harder to define, with equipment that looks like nothing seen in a science classroom on Earth. The supplies are worn, but only from constant use, and seem quite well preserved under the thick layer of dust. The samples are not so lucky; while those inside containers fared fairly well, the many left on tables have collected dust and are unusable. The same force that protected the books in the entry hall exists here. At first it appears that the tables and equipment have the same protection, as any motion towards it throws up a resistance. This force, however, is easily broken, and the components in the open are able to be freely explored.

The room in the back is roughly twice the size of one of the experimentation rooms, and is clearly meant for sparring. The backmost wall is completely mirrored, except for a cabinet on either side that contains weapons, both live and those meant for training. Oddly, the other walls in this room are filled with bookshelves as in the other rooms; these are protected by the same force. The floors are not tiled, as in the rest of the building, but plain wood and quite scratched and beaten from many, many practice sessions- a few sections appear to have been carved out entirely and hastily replaced. In one corner is a stack of mats for practice, and in another is a selection of dummies and other obstacles for training by oneself. The training hall is as well-lit as the rest of the building, making the thick layer of dust that covers everything quite apparent. There is one section of ceiling that is oddly shaped, with a short cord hanging from it: this is a trapdoor, and leads to the second-floor hallway.

The training hall, due to it's size and open floor space, serves as camp for the people not staying in bedrooms.

The Second Floor

The second floor is accessible by the stairs in the entrance hall, as well as by a trapdoor in the training hall. Both of these passages lead to an inner balcony, which wraps around the inside of the building and overlooks the atrium. The floor here is decorated with larger tiles in simpler patterns; the lighting is softer and easier on the eyes. Wooden partitions carved into graceful Arabesques stand about waist-high, wrapping around the inside of the balcony to protect careless travelers from walking over the edge. The outside of the balcony is, like the rest of the building, covered with bookshelves; these too are protected by an invisible force. The only places not covered are the eight archways, two in each wall, that lead to the living quarters. Out of consideration for guests, they are equipped with carved wooden doors.

The four rooms above the experiment rooms are all guest bedrooms. Like the balcony, they are tiled more simply, yet each has a unique pattern. Lighting is controlled by a small device mounted next to the door. They are simply furnished, each containing a single bed, a desk and chair, a nightstand, a cabinet for clothing or equipment, and- yes, more bookshelves covering the walls from floor to ceiling. Unlike the bookshelves in the rest of the house, these are not protected by a very strong force, but by a weaker one similar to that covering the equipment below. Once broken, it is easy to see that most of these books bear the marks of age and wear, and all are unreadable, either by accident or design. In each of these rooms, one bookshelf is left empty or mostly so, with only a few books scattered carelessly on the several levels.

The two rooms above the entrance hall are a kitchen and pantry, placed so that food can be easily taken into the hall or the atrium. The kitchen, unlike the rest of the house, appears to be hardly used at all, with the surfaces relatively unscratched and the hearth bearing few signs of ash. The pantry explains this somewhat, being well-stocked, mostly with foods that require little to no preparation. Preserved fruits and vegetables are prominent, as are already-cooked foods that have been put into a stasis of some type. There are also some ingredients for cooking from scratch, which appear to be untouched. Both of these rooms are dusty and, in the case of the pantry, quite pungent, a sign of a failed stasis spell. Fortunately, most of the supplies appear to be edible. While the pantry's shelves are filled with food, the kitchen also bears floor to ceiling bookshelves on all unoccupied walls. These are only protected by the weaker field, and most, upon inspection, bear pictures of various foods- did Aquarius really have a room full of of unused cookbooks?

The two rooms at the back are a spacious common bathroom and- to all appearances- a library. While the bathroom bears the same floor to ceiling bookshelves- covered by the breakable force, and their contents unreadable- the library has bookshelves filling the center of the room as well. There are one or two cozy chairs wedged in between shelves, and at the end a small writing desk, but on the whole, the room appears to be nothing but books. The library's shelves are protected by the stronger force, but there are also stacks of books atop the shelves, and on the floor, that can be leafed through.

The Minaret

The minaret has no apparent entrances, either on the outside or inside the main building. The entrance is hidden in the training hall, under one of the sections of replaced wood. Below the trapdoor is a short stone stairway leading to a narrow, dimly-lit passageway. At the other end, atop another short set of stairs, is another arch containing a wooden door, this one bearing the symbol of Aquarius.

The bottom floor of the minaret is essentially a small museum, containing artifacts from Aquarian society and from past Soldiers. It too is covered in bookshelves, of a higher grade than those in the main building, and bearing a finer quality of book. These shelves, and the display cases as well, are also protected and their contents cannot be touched. The artifacts are contained in glass cases in the center of the room. Most prominently displayed is a large crystal vase, said to be a gift from Aquarian royalty to the first Soldier Aquarius to protect the line. Aquarius of the past would often bring new knights and soldiers to this room upon their first visit to the outpost, to share his view of what they were fighting for.

A narrow spiral staircase off to the side of the door leads to another trapdoor in the ceiling and beyond it, the second floor. Aquarius' personal room is here, consisting of a bed, a writing desk, a cabinet, and a large worktable cluttered with more scientific implements. A partition on one side hides a private bath. Of course, this room as well contains bookshelves filled with untouchable books. More books are scattered everywhere else: on the desk, the table, the floor, the bed, even in the bathroom. The desk is full of folders and documents; like the bookshelves, the drawers of the desk are protected by an invisible force. The floor is spectacularly tiled with Aquarius pouring the Waters of Life, while a simpler mosaic of Aquarius' symbol is set into the ceiling.

Beyond the mosaic is yet another hidden trapdoor and the topmost floor of the minaret. While Aquarius might have invited someone to his personal room if he felt the need to talk in private, the top room is protected by the same force that guards most of the bookshelves, one only he could pass. Only Aquarius knew what lay beyond the mosaic, though he implied to other Zodiacs that his outpost contained a shrine to the Waters of Life that their culture was bent on preserving; could this be its location?

The minaret is not currently open for exploration; people may look for the entrance, but it will not be discovered until later.
 

[DivineSaturn]

the story of humans is the story of ideas
that shine light into dark corners

So my meta civ is camped at Aquarius Outpost! What can I do?

Good question! Here's a selection of mini-quests:

• In the beginning phases, help set up camp.
  

++++There are sleeping bags and various amenities to be set up. Maybe you should help people settle in? You could go check if the kitchens on the second floor are functional (they are!) and use supplies to start a meal. There are a few bedrooms on the second floor to be claimed, and room for sleeping bags in the training hall. It's up to you!

Dust, sweep, and clean up the place.
++++There is enormous amount of dust all over the outpost, clinging to every available surface. Despite the lack of windows, there's also a great deal of sand around the first floor. Many of the mosaics have gaps and weak spots, and while there's no clear way to repair them, clearing the loose tiles and other debris away might be a good idea.

Organize the unshelved books.
++++Aquarius Outpost is home to an absurd number of books. While most of the bookshelves themselves are protected by barriers, there's still a vast quantity scattered about otherwise clear surfaces. The books are not written in any Earth language, but many of them have pictures or other identifying marks that could help with sorting them.

Experiment with the equipment.
++++The workrooms of the outpost are home to scientific implements, both recognizable and foreign. The notes on the tables are unreadable and most of the samples are too covered with dust to be of any use, but there's some unusual looking gizmos there, and if you're bored, it might provide something more interesting to do than yet more cleaning.**

**Aquarius will be rather ticked off if you disturb her research, so if you must monkey around with the equipment, put it all back where you found it or prepare for a scolding.