Post by Minister on Jan 5, 2004 14:48:39 GMT -5
The name of the Cardinal World itself is, for now, Dorvastor. I've been working on a few bits and pices for what is basicaly a traveler's guide to the planet, which someone out there may find interesting.
Climate: The atmosphere on Dorvastor carries a sulfur taint sufficient to require breathing apparatus (Anargo classifications F3 or better are recommended), but most visitors will remain within the sealed habitats of the cities for the duration of their visit. For those travelling outside goggles are also advisable, as windblown dust can often cause serious eye irritation. Local gravity is approximately 75% Terran Standard (average 7.6 N/Kg).
On on-planet Transportation: Personal vehicles are not normally available on Dorvastor. There is an efficient municipal transport system for travel within the cities, and travel to other cities and nearby habitation clusters is by means of sealed steam-driven locomotives. Further details of your route should be investigated before any major travel plans are made.
On Language: The standard tongue of both the populace and the administration is Imperial Base Gothic. The local accent is pronounced enough that outsiders will be noticeable by speech, but not normally to the extent that communication is impaired. An ancient local language also exists, but is primarily of interest to scholars and is not in general use.
On Attire: Clothing among the citizens of Dorvastor is generally very unobtrusive. Muted whites; greys and browns are favoured, and bright colours will mark out the wearer as either an offworlder or a person of low character. Robes, cloaks and long coats are favoured, but by no means enforced. Hair is worn short or shaved off completely for both genders, but beards are not looked down upon amongst older males.
On Diet: Food on Dorvastor is usually heavily spiced to compensate for the bland taste of the vat-grown algae which is its main component. Food imported from other worlds, particularly Q'Shen and Neshenda is relatively common, but expensive. The consumption of alcohol is legal, although a heavy tariff is placed upon its sale, but over-indulgence is very much frowned upon.
On Local Politics: As a Cardinal World, Dorvastor’s ranking official and Planetary Commander is the Cardinal Primus, the head of the Ecclesiarchy within the sector. He is advised in his capacity as Dorvastor’s ruler by the twelve-strong Grand Council, which includes representatives of all major planetary organisations.
For more details of the nature of this set-up see the section on Local History.
On Local Law: As a Cardinal World, the local law is decreed by members of the Ecclesiarchy. Local law conforms to standard form, but punishments are notably harsher for breaches than normal.
There is a separate section on Military, Paramilitary and Security organisations later.
On Accommodation: Visitors to the world are advised to check with the Travel Executive’s accommodation records department upon arrival, who will have up-to-date information on hotels, boarding houses and premises available for rent. Immigrants should contact the Housing Executive for information.
Housing among the Dorvastites is traditionally fairly spartan, with the basic dwellings being comparable to the common mid-hive levels on the more populous Imperial worlds. All dwellings will provide basic hygiene facilities and catering arrangements, although these are often communal amongst the middle and lower classes. The sharing of accommodation by unmarred couples is looked down upon, and many establishments will refuse to provide accommodation in these cases, but this has no official endorsement.
Religion: The local religion is a mainstream derivative of the standard Imperial Cult, and follows the standard Imperialist strictures closely. Psykers are regarded as dangerous abnormalities who are useful to the Imperium when properly controlled. Mutants are abhored as tainted by the evils of the beyond. Members of sanctioned abhuman races are not regarded as mutants, but are looked down upon by much of the populace.
Attendance at chapel every week (13 local days) is expected but not enforced. Several chapels of other branches of the Imperial cult exist, but will not always be easy to find outside the Spacers’ Quadrant of Los Votarbin. Several festivals are in place throughout the year, the most important being the Feast of the Emperor’s Ascension and Candlemass, celebrated on the standard dates as per the Imperial calendar, the Mass of Survivors (an ancient tradition, dating back to pre-Imperial times when xenos beasts preyed on the colonists) and the Mass of Lesser Saints.
Climate: The atmosphere on Dorvastor carries a sulfur taint sufficient to require breathing apparatus (Anargo classifications F3 or better are recommended), but most visitors will remain within the sealed habitats of the cities for the duration of their visit. For those travelling outside goggles are also advisable, as windblown dust can often cause serious eye irritation. Local gravity is approximately 75% Terran Standard (average 7.6 N/Kg).
On on-planet Transportation: Personal vehicles are not normally available on Dorvastor. There is an efficient municipal transport system for travel within the cities, and travel to other cities and nearby habitation clusters is by means of sealed steam-driven locomotives. Further details of your route should be investigated before any major travel plans are made.
On Language: The standard tongue of both the populace and the administration is Imperial Base Gothic. The local accent is pronounced enough that outsiders will be noticeable by speech, but not normally to the extent that communication is impaired. An ancient local language also exists, but is primarily of interest to scholars and is not in general use.
On Attire: Clothing among the citizens of Dorvastor is generally very unobtrusive. Muted whites; greys and browns are favoured, and bright colours will mark out the wearer as either an offworlder or a person of low character. Robes, cloaks and long coats are favoured, but by no means enforced. Hair is worn short or shaved off completely for both genders, but beards are not looked down upon amongst older males.
On Diet: Food on Dorvastor is usually heavily spiced to compensate for the bland taste of the vat-grown algae which is its main component. Food imported from other worlds, particularly Q'Shen and Neshenda is relatively common, but expensive. The consumption of alcohol is legal, although a heavy tariff is placed upon its sale, but over-indulgence is very much frowned upon.
On Local Politics: As a Cardinal World, Dorvastor’s ranking official and Planetary Commander is the Cardinal Primus, the head of the Ecclesiarchy within the sector. He is advised in his capacity as Dorvastor’s ruler by the twelve-strong Grand Council, which includes representatives of all major planetary organisations.
For more details of the nature of this set-up see the section on Local History.
On Local Law: As a Cardinal World, the local law is decreed by members of the Ecclesiarchy. Local law conforms to standard form, but punishments are notably harsher for breaches than normal.
There is a separate section on Military, Paramilitary and Security organisations later.
On Accommodation: Visitors to the world are advised to check with the Travel Executive’s accommodation records department upon arrival, who will have up-to-date information on hotels, boarding houses and premises available for rent. Immigrants should contact the Housing Executive for information.
Housing among the Dorvastites is traditionally fairly spartan, with the basic dwellings being comparable to the common mid-hive levels on the more populous Imperial worlds. All dwellings will provide basic hygiene facilities and catering arrangements, although these are often communal amongst the middle and lower classes. The sharing of accommodation by unmarred couples is looked down upon, and many establishments will refuse to provide accommodation in these cases, but this has no official endorsement.
Religion: The local religion is a mainstream derivative of the standard Imperial Cult, and follows the standard Imperialist strictures closely. Psykers are regarded as dangerous abnormalities who are useful to the Imperium when properly controlled. Mutants are abhored as tainted by the evils of the beyond. Members of sanctioned abhuman races are not regarded as mutants, but are looked down upon by much of the populace.
Attendance at chapel every week (13 local days) is expected but not enforced. Several chapels of other branches of the Imperial cult exist, but will not always be easy to find outside the Spacers’ Quadrant of Los Votarbin. Several festivals are in place throughout the year, the most important being the Feast of the Emperor’s Ascension and Candlemass, celebrated on the standard dates as per the Imperial calendar, the Mass of Survivors (an ancient tradition, dating back to pre-Imperial times when xenos beasts preyed on the colonists) and the Mass of Lesser Saints.