Khlarke-ith

Summary

Only recently discovered by life outside of the Ucual system, this moon has been both a vacation spot and an opportunity for trade for the Phirrus. Never being properly terra-formed, this planet is littered with fissures that emit a hallucinogenic gas. This gas, Khlarkium, named after the composer Arthurias Khlarke from the 27th Century, causes hallucinations, generally of music playing, as well as severe emotional and physical reactions that range from lethargy to feelings of suicide. In mild doses however the gas has a much less chance to cause severe reactions. Recently awarded a place on the new periodic table, Khlarkium has grown in popularity.

While the Phirrus had originally used this moon for recreational purposes, the Phirrukup have expanded their trade to those outsiders interested in the home uses of the gas. Factories are scattered across the moon's surface, encompassing these fissures in order to capture and bottle the gas for export. Certain systems have banned the drug due to its severe side effects, therefore where it is not legally sold, it is distributed among black market dealers for a higher price.

Those Phirrukup who inhabit the moon have developed a sort of immunity to the Khlarkium, and while they do not prefer the name, those who do business with them tend to refer to them as "Khlarkians". Of the Phirrus living on this moon, a good 99% of them are Phirrukup. The only Phirruden that venture to the area are those visiting the luxurious Grandiose Khlarkanopy Resort that features every known use of Khlarkium for recreational purposes.

History

Early Difficulties

The first groups of Phirrus to populate Khlarke-ith were very surprised to find how difficult it was to live there. Those who showed up, found the atmosphere livable, however many of them seemed to come down with any symptom from mild lethargy, to severe mental degradation. The atmosphere was thick and the ground was surrounded by several fissures that emitted a type of yellow gas. Those not as harshly affected by the atmosphere began to build shelters. They had originally established that it was a type of “post-traumatic stress disorder” that each of the members of the crew had been feeling, because they often complained of seeing Ucual Corporation team members wandering the gas filled moon, and constantly trying to drag them away. Unfortunately, it was only after the first suicide attempt by one of the crew members who had been exploring the nearest fissure, that it was found that when isolated from the yellowish gas the crew members began to feel more normal. However, due to the lack of resources available to them, the enclosures that these Phirruden did manage to build were very small and could not sustain more then a dozen Phirrus.

Complications

Do to some of the severity of the side effects experienced by the original Khlarkians, and the increasing curiosity of those less affected, it was decided that those with the worst symptoms had to leave the moon until it was more livable. While this was hard for the crew, eventually about half of them left, only to return later when they’d been contacted by those who remained.

Not long after some of the Phirrus had left Khlarke-ith, others arrived, with testing equipment and supplies to help with some of the construction of livable quarters, and work on deciphering exactly what it is that they were up against on this moon.

Khlarkium

The Ucual Corporation identified that the gas that filled the atmosphere of Khlarke-ith was actually a new element, yet did it did not became a new addition to the periodic table until the ISA & Astrum forces arrived.

Once identified, and tested thoroughly, the Phirrus that had since built more than one livable outpost on the moon, decided to market this gas that as far as they could tell was a strong renewable resource. In addition, the longer they lived there, the more tolerant to the gas they became, so operations were a lot less stressful, and more easily carried out.

It took a few years to develop a reasonable technique to conveniently and inexpensively bottle the gas, but eventually selling “Khlarkium” became a booming business. Once other inhabitants of the Ucual system, and even those outside of the system heard about its hallucinogenic properties, it was almost immediately exported as the new “recreational drug” of the Universe. In many places it was banned, however that did not stop its spreading.

The demand for Khlarkium became so great that the Phirrus that inhabited the moon found it much easier to trade for resoureces, and thus were able to expand their small operations into a full blown multi-location business. Outposts sprang up all over the planet, and after more and more Phirrus began to visit the planet for a short “high” the Grandiose Khlarkanopy Resort was established to meet that “tourism” need.

Neutrality

Trouble arose on Khlarke-ith when those Phirruden that had decided to visit the moon either for trade, or for recreation brought their views on politics with them as well. Fights broke out wherever there was a “miscommunication” or lack of agreement on one or more parties end, and the side effects of the Khlarkium only managed to escalate the situations.

The government of Khlarke-ith reacted very quickly by limiting the access of any place except for the trade bureau, and the Khlarkanopy Resort to outsiders, and enacting a policy of neutrality in what areas visitors were allowed. While it took some enforcing, and a bit of a transition period, overall the policy was a success and quelled the violence that could have erupted from these conflicts. This was also the time that the KNLK, or the “Khlarke-ith Neutrality Lunar Knights” were established, their main priority being the enforcement of neutrality and good-behavior of any and all that visited the moon.

Government & Culture

Harsh conditions on the moon leave very few actual inhabitable outposts. Those that are livable are limited to gas collection posts, and the Khlarkanopy Resort. Due to its less than abundant population, Khlarke-ith's government is very unique. There is a main government, however it only sets basic ground rules for each outpost to follow. Due to the moon being more of a base for gathering gas rather than a typical populated heavenly body, each outpost is more like a mining town. Therefore, while the government takes care of official duties and has responsibilities in foreign politics, the moon is more or less governed by a finance bureau.

Open Fellowships

Khlarke-ith’s culture is very similar to that of a mining town. The Phirrukup that live at each outpost have developed very close-knit groups. It is very similar to what you would experience in any small town, everyone knowing everyone else, regular community activities, and a sense of closeness. They are generally very open-minded and even eager to have visitors to these outposts, as the inhabitants hope to learn of what is going on in the surrounding systems as well as current events.

Those Phirrukup that are old enough to work, get up everyday and spend a good portion of it collecting gas, and then transporting it to the local dispatch center, where it is tested for quality. After that, it is packaged and sent to the finance bureaus export station for its final inspection and eventual export. Children of these towns generally spend their times indoors, studying, practicing instruments, and learning the rules of the trade, as they are still too young to handle some of the lasting effects of Khlarkium.

After a long days work, the adults of these mining towns return to their homes, and as a community have been known to spend a few evenings now and again practicing music.It’s been speculated that because of some of the more severe side effects of Khlarkium, namely the hallucination of music, the inhabitants of this moon have become rather musically inclined. This affinity for music has only strengthened their small town closeness, and has even helped to develop new instruments that cater more closely to the Phirrus physiology.

Points of Interest

Grandiose Khlarkanopy Resort

The Grandiose Khlarkanopy Resort was established by the Phirrukup of Khlarke-ith in order to take advantage of the more recreational uses of Khlarkium. Surrounded by a clear dome, the resort resembles that of any typical getaway; large buildings, with exotic plants surrounding it as well as clear pools of water and peaceful waterfalls. Inside it caters to any type of relaxing setting; spas, massage treatment, banquet halls, as well as much much more.

The Khlarkanopy Resort not only guarantees a relaxing, enjoyable time, but also guarantees that all of the conflict that plagues the system will be left at the door. A very “neutral” mentality surrounds it, in an attempt to ease frustrations in the system, and at the same time benefit from both the Phirrukup and Phirruden. It even has a special spaceport that separates the visitors by their ideology, ensuring no conflict occurs. Of course, there are no weapons, or any Den-si operations allowed to take place in this haven. It is strictly a place to relax and escape from the harsh conditions of the Ucual system.

All visitors planning on staying at the resort, must contact it at least three weeks in advance to make a reservation, as it does fill up quickly.