Difference between revisions of "Firefly Locations"
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Revision as of 23:19, 8 November 2016
Planets and Moons
Core
White Sun System
Ariel
Like the rest of the Core worlds, Ariel is a paradise of technology. Tall buildings constructed of gleaming glass and steel reach into the sky. Holographic billboards advertise all manner of wonders. The night is filled with light. The day with the hustle and bustle of business. Ariel is known among the central planets for its excellent medical facilities. The technology in Ariel’s hospitals is the very latest, featuring such fancifications as holographic scanners and lots of machines that you gotta shout “clear!” to use. The restaurants on Ariel are so good that folk travel here from other worlds just to have dinner. All the famous chefs come from Ariel or go to Ariel to open their own restaurants. It is said that even the hot dog vendors on Ariel are gourmet. As with most planets in the Core, Ariel is a restricted landing zone. Only those with legitimate business (such as bringing in a Companion for a yearly check-up) are allowed to land. (Though, in most cases, if you look like you belong on a Core world, no one asks many questions.)
Bellerophon
Bellerophon is a world home to the private estates of the system’s wealthiest folk. Anything they want is shipped in from off-world, so they have no need for shops or local color. The estates themselves are each the size of a small town and float gracefully a mile above the clear waters of Bellerophon’s oceans. Each estate is a selfcontained world of its own. They all share a similar basic design and standardized amenities—such as a rubbish collection system. The wealthy pay well for their privacy and the skies above Bellerophon are patrolled by both the Feds and private security companies. Visiting the estates is by invitation only. Those who come to work on the estates have to provide a damn good reason why they’re here. (Fresh flowers anyone?) However, there is a lot of empty desert on this planet—a nice, quiet place.
Bernadette
After the initial colonization of Londinum and Sihnon, Bernadette was the first planet to be terraformed and settled by humanity. The only remaining ship that brought the folk who made the Exodus stands in the capital city of New Paris as a monument to their courage. The ark is a monstrous starship, at least five times the size of an Alliance cruise. The sheer sight of the ark inspires all manner of awe and jaw-dropping. The inside of the ark is a museum containing information about the journey, and also information on the cultures and history of Earth-That-Was. The great ark is named Prometheus, after the legendary god who gave man fire. Bernadette is a traditional launching point for those leaving to settle on other worlds. Settlers arrive here from other planets on the Core and make preparations to set off for a new life on the Rim. Many businesses cater to these settlers, selling tools and supplies. Best watch your step here. There is an underground slave-trade on Bernadette. Settlers are captured and hauled off to work on terraforming stations. The slavers are smart enough to leave locals alone. They figure outsiders won’t be missed. Bernadette is also home to many churches and religious groups. Buddhists and Christians rub shoulders with Islamic clerics and Hindu fakirs. In addition, the planet is home to a number of fringe cults and fanatical devotees. The Lu-Tsung temple also resides here, home of one of the original Earth-that-was sects of buddism, the one practiced by Shan-Yu. Bernadette is a restricted landing zone. However, if you claim to be a settler or you have a group of kiddies on board for a field trip to see the ark, you’re usually welcome. Bernadette is also the home office of the Alliance Colony and Settlement Authority. The majority of settlement ventures to the border and r worlds start with a form CSA-0010B Request for Resettlement and Homestead being waved to the central office at One OK Corral Plaza, New Tombstone, Bernadette.
Gonghe
Gonghe is considered the entertainment hub of the Chinese worlds. Whereas Sihnon is unrivaled for its natural beauty, Gonghe is known for man-made elegance. First-time visitors are generally awe-struck when seeing Gonghe’s capital, Gongbuei, from the air for the first time. Majestic theater complexes, graceful studio towers and vibrant hillside holo-promos epitomize modern architectural genuis. A rigid, intolerant Commission runs the city. All new buildings in the major cities must comply with the Commision’s meticulous standard of Eastern aesthetics and feng shui. Every design must blend harmoniously with all existing structures to form one congruous, gigantic work of art. Gonghe was originally intended to be a chief Chinese agricultural world, to take full advantage of its fertile environment and temperate climate. But when the Chinese-owned Ruby Phoenix Multimedia was looking for a place to film another of its blockbuster new series, they chose Gonghe for its rustic beauty and inexpensive labor. Hu Dieh Yin became one of the most popular (and profitable) dramas of all time. Other studios came to Gonghe to try to cash in and, as their margins continued to stay healthily in black, they drove the world’s economy in a totally unforeseen direction. Patches of rice paddies and pastures still exist on Gonghe, though farming has unquestionably become a distant also-ran to the booming entertainment industry. Currently fifty-five percent of the populace either works for or help support the major studios. Gonghe’s diverse terrain provides the production companies with the perfect backdrop for almost any scene without going off-planet. Underneath the glitz and glamour, the local flavor is strongly Hokkien, a modernized rural culture better associated with Taiwan on Earth-That-Was. Thus, the Minnan dialect is almost as prevalently spoken as Chinese and English, to the extent of approaching tradespeak status among insiders. Naturally, Gonghe attracts prospective starlets and anyone with show biz aspirations. There’s no shortage of the star-struck wandering the big cities, seeking to meet the big media celebrities and producers as dreams of stardom shine in their eyes. Who knows? A future celebrity might even wait on your table tonight. Gonghe is also famous for holding the grandest, most lavish Chinese New Year celebrations in the ‘Verse. Metropolises such as Gongbuei, Suhduong, or even Lo Mi Ta on the Xing Yun moon spare no expense in staging amazing parades, fireworks, star-studded operas, sumptuous street fairs and festive block parties (often hiring off-world talent for the occasion). All this plus the mega-parties the entertainment conglomerates throw, featuring their star performers, makes up for one shiny weeklong shindig.
Liann Jiun
iann Jiun is the gateway to Chinese commerce. The enormous skyplex, Gowye, circles high above the planet and is home to hundreds of import-export outlets, suppliers and affiliates. Gowye is so well known that the Sihnon guilds send special regulatory attaches to monitor and adjudicate all the skyplex’s business transactions. The surface world boasts numerous port towns. The biggest, Shing Hong Kong, has perhaps the toughest, most powerful union of dockworkers anywhere, making it costly to unload a haul. Unfortunately, it’s almost inevitable that every serious merchant will have to consummate deals here someday. A great many corporations have their headquarters in this city of five million people, which is also home to the primary Chinese stock exchange, the Luxia Index. The other notable corporations, Haimun, Mongku and Loon Se, aren’t much easier to negotiate with either, plus there are whispers of tong infiltration in regard to these three. Things do go smoother once you have made whatever deal you can with the union bosses. Liann Jiun’s municipalities are home to many legal and illegal retail operations (some are both!). If you’re in the mood to buy, you’re bound to find goods of nearly all kinds, especially of Chinese manufacture. If you’re in the mood to sell, you’re bound to find buyers for just about anything. Just remember that on this world, everyone loves to bargain. Folk here haggle for haggling’s sake, either selling or buying. Another caution: scams are provinces of the locals. If an outsider tries run the same scams or pass off the same shoddy knock-offs as a local, the outsider will be the one who ends up in the hoosegow. Lastly, Liann Jiun is famous for fantastic cuisine, heavily influenced by folk of Cantonese descent who dominate the planet’s population. Sealing a deal over a full-course meal is not only obligatory, but often more binding than any contract on a personal level. Note: monkey brains are considered a delicacy. And if you don’t eat them, you could offend your host.
Londinium
Of all the planets, Londinum is the most like Earth-That-Was and was therefore one of the first two planets to be settled, since it needed little work to make it ready for human habitation. Most of the original colonists from the European and American continents came to Londinum, where they honored their roots by combining old tradition with new technology. All the buildings are constructed of the most modern material, but they look as if they were built of stone and are of archaic design. The general look of the cities is what book-smart folk call the “imperial gothic” style of London from Earth-That- Was. May not look so shiny to those from the Rim, but it still makes the place popular with looky-loos and picture-snappers. The Parliament building and government complex that surrounds it are the most impressive sights on the planet. As big as a small city, the Parliament building contains the great debating chamber (“The House”), while the surrounding building complex provides offices for all the ministers and civil servants. It also features a huge clock tower that has become the planet’s symbol. Seems like almost everyone on Londinum works for the government or for businesses who deal with the government. Government is not the only business of Londinum, however. The planet is also home to some of the greatest collections of western art in the system. The Londinum Museum, which contains the Museum of History and the Museum of Art, is a splendid building that holds all manner of treasures. Most come from the early days of colonization, but the most valuable pieces are the ancient artifacts from Earth-That-Was. As the center of Alliance control, Londinum has a strong military presence. The Alliance flagship, Victoria, patrols its space. The planet is home to the elite SAS (Special Alliance Support) troops. The Ministry of Intelligence also has its headquarters here. Londinum is heavily restricted with “no fly” zones above and around government buildings. Any ship venturing near these areas is shot down, no warning given. Tourists arrive on Londinum via authorized shuttles that travel to and from the other Core worlds. Tourists may visit only those areas that are approved. Anyone caught venturing outside the approved areas without proper ID is immediately arrested.
Osiris
Osiris is the heart of the Alliance’s judicial branch. Here the High Court hears important cases. Their decisions affect the interpretation of parliamentary law with repercussions throughout the system. The Court is housed in a large pyramidshaped building (honoring the Egyptian god of the dead for whom the world was named) in Capital City. The most important law firms are also based here, linked to their branch offices on other worlds by the Cortex. The University of Osiris boasts the most prestigious law school in the Core, as well as a fine medical school. The corporate offices of the Blue Sun Corporation are also on Osiris. Originally on Sihnon, they were recently moved into a massive structure that is attached to a combined manufacturing plant, distribution center, and spacedock. The Corporation complex is off-limits to everyone except employees. No one enters, even on business, without first undergoing a thorough background check. The very latest in security Systems makes this complex nigh impossible to break into. Landing on Osiris is restricted, though not as heavily as some planets (just so long as you don’t go near Blue Sun). If you claim you need to see your lawyer, you’ll usually be permitted to set down. University students and their parents are always welcome.
Persephone
Persephone is an interesting mix of people and cultures. The world’s environment is much like Earth-That-Was: desert, rainforest, plains, tundra, and such. While not as heavily populated as the worlds of the Core, Persephone still seems a very big place to those from the Rim. Persephone has a tradition-oriented aristocracy, a small but thriving middle class, a fair share of the poor and desperate, and a shadowy underworld. The Eavesdown Docks is the largest spaceport on Persephone. Even folk who think themselves hotshot pilots are confused now and again by its chaotic layout. (And woe to the new pilot trying to make his way to a dock for the first time!) Ships often touch down only a few yards from street vendors selling cheap goods to the crews and potential passengers. The docks are situated in the poor section of town (the nobles and other rich folk have their own private airfields), but it’s just a short drive or a long walk to the business district—in which just about anything in the ‘Verse can be bought for the right price. The docks are home to several criminal “lords,” who collect illegal salvage, move contraband offworld and have hundreds of other ways to make quick, if not Alliance-approved, easy cash. A good crew with a flyable ship could make good coin here, so long as their morals aren’t overly high and they don’t mind avoiding the Feds. Not far away is a famous racetrack that is home to a famous derby that brings in folk from throughout the system (not to mention the throngs of Cortex-viewers), offering a huge cash prizes to the winning horse. Like the horses, the aristocracy of Persephone all lay claim to a pedigree. Then again, anyone with the right stack of coin can purchase his own lordship, what with its fancy sash and all. Noble families live on large estates, attending to business, dancing at opulent balls, playing golf or tennis, and settling matters of honor in formal duels. Persephone is an impressive cross-section of humanity, which is just another way to say that it’s a world with an over abundance of opportunity and danger. Persephone’ s Chinese community is reminiscent of the city of San Francisco back on Earth-That-Was. Surrounding the Eavesdown Docks, the district features old-fashioned Chinese architecture in even older disrepair. The people practice many of the ancient traditions. You can find food prepared the way it was thousands of years ago, aged storytellers who are living annals of the Eastern lore, herbs and medicines and practioners of the old medical arts. Unfortunately residents of the Chinese community have declared it off-limits to non-Chinese outsiders. Seems that after a nephew of a local nobleman was found severely beaten following a drunken binge in the area, the noble has threatened to seek revenge. Like most everyone else on Persephone, the Chinese are barely scraping by. A lot of folk eke out a living pushing hot buncarts or pulling rickshaws through the streets. Those seeking employment stake out spots on the pads and wait for offers of temp work off world. Needless to say, the tongs are very active on this world.
Santo
One of the great triumphs of terraforming is the planet Santo. The planet is picture-perfect, with clear blue seas, azure skies and ideal weather. Though it has a thriving agricultural base, Santo was once known for the tourists who thought it a paradise. The rich flocked to the planet as an exclusive vacation spot, and resort communities commanded every good view to be had. The war ended Santo’s glorious days as a destination for the rich and beautiful. Though the planet escaped destruction, no one from the Core worlds dared travel here while the fighting was about. Hotels and casinos were abandoned. Those that stayed open did so by finding other ways to Attract customers. Brothels, strip clubs, and other ventures catering to less savory appetites opened up. Santos has become known as a “fun” place, no matter what pleasures you’re into. After the war, casino owners found that they could avoid Alliance restrictions by operating in this out of the way place. The world became a Mecca for high rollers (and those who were not so high). Santo’s resorts are now beginning to recover. No longer a playground exclusively for the rich, Santos attracts a more middle-class crowd. Its resorts are still beautiful, its small towns picturesque, its casinos open twenty-four seven. You’ll have a good time here, but you might not want to bring the kiddies. Chinese are a gambling people and Santo is a gambler’s paradise. Elderly and retired Chinese arrive by shiploads every day to try their luck in the casinos of Santo. This influx of cash has had a very positive effect on Santo’s economy. Astute resort owners have started catering to their swelling Chinese clientele, featuring popular Eastern gambling games and employing Chinese to serve as table bosses and host/hostesses. It is now increasingly common to see Chinese players participating in high-stake tournaments. There may be trouble brewing, however.
Sihnon
The world of Sihnon is known for its beauty. Words alone won’t do the great city itself justice. At night, it is said to be an ocean of light. Sihnon is the heart of the Buddhist religion, a fact made obvious by the many monasteries and temples located here. Those seeking to learn more about Buddhism travel here to study. Sihnon is also the central hub for the guild system. The Companion’s Guild is based here, with multiple houses in the large cities, and a massive temple dedicated to the schooling of young girls and boys. All other guilds have headquarters on Sihnon or maintain a large presence here. Guild business takes place behind closed doors. Disputes are handled by registered arbitration houses. The city of Chang’Pei is given over completely to trade administration, making it the largest civil bureaucracy in the ‘Verse. The penalties for bribes, taking or giving, are harsh, but that doesn’t stop some folk. Officers of the Sihnon Trade Commission work undercover to root out the worst offenders. The officers know that they cannot stop the corruption completely, but they work tirelessly to see that it doesn’t get out of hand. These folk take their jobs seriously. They are well trained in combat and interrogation procedures, as well as espionage and accounting. The capital of Sihnon is Lu’Weng. Local legend maintains that Lu’Weng was once a fire-breathing dragon that fell from the sky and was bound to the planet with silken ribbons. The numbers of hot springs here seem to bear this theory out, and every home traditionally has a silken awning or a curtain across the door to keep the dragon bound. Lu’Weng (the city) is one of the largest producers of silk in the system. Raw silk is farmed all over the planet and then sent to Lu’Weng, where it is refined and bolted or made into beautiful clothing that never falls out of favor with the rich throughout the system. Landing on Sihnon is restricted, though there is so much traffic coming and going on this busy world that the government issues passes to those who come here on a frequent basis. Such passes aren’t hard to get, nor are they hard to forge. Sihnon is undisputedly the shining prototypical center of Eastern culture, epitomized by the Tian Bao Guan: a splendid repository of priceess Asian antiques, nestled at the foot of Falsim Mountain. These artifacts made their trek to the New World on a Chinese ark dedicated to their preservation under the watchful care of historians and guardians, many of whose progenies still work for the museum. Visitors can behold the wonders of Earth-That-Was, displayed safely inside secured steel-glass cases within the original ark. Sihnon is also home to revered Ching Shian University, the dean of educational institutes, which has produced esteemed alumni from prime ministers to billionaire philanthropists. There is still no better place to study Eastern history, law, culture, and philosophy. Unlike what is often portrayed on vid screens, the temples and monasteries on Sihnon do not teach or practice martial arts. Taifei is the lone exception. Monks of this secluded convent in the Three Moon Valley north of the Piaoyen Village are said to be trained in ancient deadly fighting styles that they teach only to those few who have proven themselves worthy. Whether this is true or mere myth, no one knows, for those who learn these arts are sworn to secrecy and may use them only in the defense of themselves or the innocent.
