recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Kismet

Kismet is a planet of the Virasana Empire, the ancestral home to House Ndewane. Kismet is a desert planet best know for the sprawling Ukhoko Necropolis, though it is also a centre of high-tech research and development.

## Climate

* temperature = +0,6 TS
* humidity = -0,8 TS
* one moon

## History

* low N'Ptalini population
* 70% of the population are slaves, no serfs

## Culture

Most of Kismet's music is shaped by ancient tradition - chants, chimes and bells feature heavily in every sanctioned piece.

Despite its desert climate, Kismet is the source of much of the empire's most sought-after fruits. Kismet's spices are pungent and yet delicate, and local curries are renowned for good reason. The Kismeti *Chantara* ceremony, serving the popular local beverage Chan'ta, is considered the height of good manners.

Monumental statues are such a mainstay of Kismeti culture that every citizen of the empire could probably draw one of them from memory. Giant, stern faces, odd chimeras and immense statues can be found everywhere on the planet, though nowhere as densely piled as within the Necropolis.

Only few plants grow in the Kismeti deserts, but those make for precious incense. Along the rivesbeds of the southern Tpoti plain grows Lokuma - a hard-shelled fruit that contains one of the core ingredients of MiracleMend.

With the only abundant material on the planet being sand, it is not surprising that glass-working has become a particularly cherished art from on Kismet.

Less obvious but just as consequential the mesmerizing art of designing gardens and fountains in the local palaces - stunning places that rival the legendary Medina gardens of old, only never open to the public.

The wide, empty swathes of desert have given rise to break-neck glider races, while the most popular sports are all sorts of endurance-focussed athletics. Kismet also has a relatively successful hoverball team - the Kismeti Izilwane

## Snippets

* Home to Kalikori Ndewane, Princess of the House, who lives in a secluded temple palace with her immediate family and does not appear publicly.
* The K'loma desert of Kismet is renowned for its fulgurite forests - remnants of ancient lightning strikes that turned the sand into finely branching sculptures of glass, laid bare by centuries of wind erosion.

## Notable Kismeti

 Bakuba Ndewane Kalikori Ndewane Nandi Makeba Ndewane
## Other Articles on Kismet

 Hamunaptra Kismeti Izilwane Thebaia Ukhoko Necropolis
Simal Kyothari

Simal Kyothari was a human noble of the Medina branch of House Kyothari and a Virasana Empress.

## Snippets

* Her niece Tahamoney Kyothari wasn't only a respected diplomatic envoy for the house, she also was crucial in introducing Li Li Kyothari to Iskander Quetzal. How much of a role Simal Kyothari played in that matchmaking is disputed.
Pets

Pets are a particular kind of Slaves that is kept by nobles and rich commoners in the Empire.

## Social status

Somewhere between pleasure slave and concubine, pets can have any rights and duties their owners allows them to have - ranging from none at all to holding positions at court. For example, Empress Lilitu's secretary Enrique  was her pet, making him one of the most powerful gate keepers but keeping him legally all but untouchable. Also, Sir Yaden Quetzal's guardian Darios is often considered his pet.

## Earrings

Abusing any slave never amounts to more than vandalism in the legal system of the Empire. Pet earrings, on the other hand, are treated as a clear order issued by the owner, so any perpetrator would not only be persecuted for damaging the owner's property, but also for defying a direct order by the owning noble (or commoner). Pet earrings alwarys come in twos, one denoting the rank of the owner, another one denoting the kind of use the owner considers appropriate.

As a rule of thumb, the simpler the earring, the higher the rank of the owner.

#### Some well-known ownership rings include

* plain gold - Imperial
* plain gold with a dangling lotus - Lotus Knights
* red-and-white candy cane strips - Duke of Malicorn

#### Some well-known status rings include

* clear - do not touch
* light blue - anything the pet consents to
* bright orange - can be borrowed, but will cost you

The tradition of pet earrings originated within House Quetzal, but has become pretty much ubiquitous among all pet owners, though local variations still exist.
Languages of the Virasana Empire

The official language of the Virasana Empire is Imperial Standard, but several less common languages exist as well as countless dialects.

## Snippets

* N'Ptalini is the second most common language of the empire, followed at a great distance by the old Grebenstein and Tô Genji languages
* Generally a native speaker will have a faint accent depending on their planet of birth, with the most neutral dialect being spoken on melting-pot worlds like Lagoona, Isfahan or Floor.

## Other Articles on Languages of the Virasana Empire

Category *Languages of the Virasana Empire* not found
Blob on a Stick

The Blob on a Stick is a popular streetfood dish all over Lagoona, but particularly beloved in Agami.

Everyone who has ever visited the Empire's capital has seen the blob vendors with the iconic carts - a large, transparent barrel filled with sea water brimming with hundreds of pastel-coloured little blobs, local creatures halfway between a mollusk and a squid rarely larger than a hand, a byproduct of the local fishing industry.

A customer is expected to pick their blob from the barrel, and the creature is then skewered and deep fried until crispy, covered in dry spice and offered with sauce. Most vendors will have different spices and sauces to pick from. If buying from a N'Ptalini  vendor, make sure to order the fa'lang version.
House Virasana

House Virasana was one of the Noble Houses of the Virasana Empire, best known for uniting the realm after the Lost Years and crowning the first Virasana Emperor. Its homeplanet was Gui Lin.

## History

With their inclusive approach, clear cultural identity and economic skill, House Virasana managed to rule the Empire for over five hundred years. In the end, the only enemy they couldn't outlive was their own success - complacent by centuries of near-unchallenged rule, they got literally overrun when old and new rivalries broke out, culminating in the lamentable assassination of Bibek Virasana in 1942 ET and the ensuing Age of Many Emperors.

It was formally declared extinct in 1963 ET.

## Style

### Genetics

* predominantly asian and polynesian, though explicitly inclusive

### Clothes

* colourful, light and flowing
* Saree and sherwani for formal occasions

### Architecture

* asymetric, tall, with curved roofs
* wood preferred
* ornate, detailed, fancyful, strong colours
* courtyards, water gardens, landscape parks
* tend to add asymetrical features to seemingly symmetric designs, a style called *Sharawadgi*

## Snippets

* some notable family lines include: Aloobari, Balasun, Dhajea, Gayabari, Gopaldhara, Kanchaan, Monkalbari, Moondakotee, Pussimbing, Surapana

 Abhishek Virasana Akheela Virasana Anandi Virasana Arundati Virasana Bibek Virasana Harendra Virasana Kamala Virasana Kishore Virasana Lilavati Virasana Nagendra Virasana Nalini Virasana Pallavi Virasana Rajesh Virasana Ravindra Virasana Rupinder Virasana Skanti Virasana Tagore Virasana Uma Virasana Uttara Virasana Varuna Virasana | Notable Holdings
Saint Cornelius Monastery

The Saint Cornelius Monastery is a Belligra  monastery on the south-west fringe of Malena, on Malicorn. It is a classic Belligra bulwark monastery with 50-feet-high, unadorned white fortress walls surrounding the actual buildings.

It is best known for being the home base for Saint Cornelius, whose popularity has turned the Monastery into one of the most successful Belligra recruiting centers. Also, the entire Saint Cornelius merchandize industry and its impressive profits is managed by the monastery.

The Seven Immortals live here, too.

Located right on the beachfront on the southern fringe of Malena, watching the morning excercises of the stationed Belligra has become quite a tourism draw, passively encouraged by the monastery.

## Snippets

* Almost 300 priests in active duty, plus a handful of laypeople
* There is a surprisingly large merchandise shop right at the main gate of the monastery, always well stocked.
* The monastery's archive and map room are run by Father Astergios, a Verata.
* The acting justicar is Father Hilpert of Temple Verata
Midnight Pavillion

The Midnight Pavillion is a compound on the south-eastern flank of Emperor's Island, situated between the Emperor's private quarters and the Iron Pavillion. It is the official headquarter of the Imperial Intelligence Service. While only a fraction of the IIS' offices are located there, 'the Midnight Pavillion' is often used symbolically as a stand-in for the entire intelligence agency.

## History

* Heavily damaged during the Age of Many Emperors and rebuild under the rule of Empress Amadeus Grebenstein.
Ivan Quetzal

Ivan Quetzal is a human noble of House Quetzal, nephew to the Duke of Yaiciz and brother to the Duchess of Vasconcelos and best know as the squire of Lotus Knight Yaden Quetzal.

## Appearance

> "At the age of fifteen, many boys turned lanky and awkward, but his constant physical training ensured that he was graceful and lean as a dancer. The fact that he wasn't a pure-blooded Quetzal had only improved on his beauty, with his skin the colour of burnished copper, his black hair falling down straight and thick in a braid over his back and his soft, brown eyes slightly tilted, like a cat's. Where I shared the more angular lines of my face with my father, he had inherited a kinder, softer cut from his slave mother."
>
>

*Anya Quetzal about her brother in 2269 ET*

## Breeding Program

As Ivans father, a weak pyrokinetic himself, desired a strong psion in his family, he explicitly searched a woman with the right genetic markers to sire a psion. He found those with an unnamed slave woman.

Despite all genetic tests showing that Ivan should have the potential to become a strong psion and he received the best training possible, his powers failed to manifest.

## Youth

* younger brother to Anya Quetzal
* considered a failure as he lacked both the desired psionic abilities and the necessary ruthlessness
* when his sister assassinated their father in 2269 ET and took his title, she claimed him as her pet
* gifted to a remote relative of theirs in 2270 ET
* fled in 2271 ET to live on the streets of Yaiciz as member of a local street gang
* send to Bora Bora in 2274 ET on the behest of his sister

## Lotus Squire

* during the events of 'The Windmines of Bora Bora', he met Lotus Knight Sir Yaden Quetzal who took him in as his squire
* In 2274 ET, he is send to investigate The Renegade Psion, his first official mission as a Lotus Squire. He helps rescue Myriam Tambô and moves to Sooraj Island with the rest of the family.
* In 2275 ET, during the events of 'The Bloodied Broom', he encounters a N'bosoti and trains at the Saint Cornelius Monastery on Malicorn.
* Also in 2275 ET, he assists Prince Ishikawa Kyothari in routing out a Vox Populi infiltration on Shang Zhou, leading to the events of The Shang Zhou Shuffle.

## Snippets

* He is portrayed by Kenneth Sath in 'The Windmines of Bora Bora'.

## Other Articles on Ivan Quetzal

 Bora Bora The Bloodied Broom The Demon Prince of Khadân The Renegade Psion The Shang Zhou Shuffle Windmines of Bora Bora
Morrigan

Morrigan is a human commoner and the current Vertex of Yaiciz. He is considered the strongest Suggessor known to humanity and widely considered to be of problematic character.

## Appearance

* skinny, tall
* pale skin, bleached blonde hair
* dark, modern robes with high collars, sunglasses

## Childhood

* son of industry bosses on Yaiciz
* highly educated
* originally supposed to inherit parental enterprise but joined the Psions Guild instead

## Snippets

* close friends with Kismet Vertex Angela Inkuwe
Races of the Virasana Empire

There are several sentient races living within the Virasana Empire.

(estimate in millions)
 N'Ptalini | 73,128
 Felids | 6,752

Some other races are known to exist in negligible numbers, like Souled Demons or EIs. Most races encountered during the history of both humanity and n'ptalinai have not survived those encounters.

A unique position as an 'elder race' is taken by the Soti: the Nosoti and N'bosoti, respectively.

Also, both the Psions Guild as well as the ISS are aware that there must be other planets settled by sentients beyond the borders of the Virasana Empire, but those are as of yet uncontacted.

## Other Articles on Races

 Evolving Intelligences Felids Humans N'bosoti N'Ptalini Nosoti Souled Demons
Serin Tumbleweeds

The Serin Tumbleweeds are the planetary Hoverball  team of Serin, renowned for their rough style of play.

* Team Colours are dark green with red gloves, boots and helmets
* They won the Imperial Hoverball League in 2257 ET in a game that is still notorious for its many fouls.

## Some Notable Members of the Serin Tumbleweeds

Category *Members of the Serin Tumbleweeds* not found
Tagore Virasana

Tagore Virasana was a human noble of House Virasana and is considered the first Jansahar priest and founder of Temple Jansahar. While her spiritual contributions can hardly be overstated, her involvement with demonism taints her legacy until today.

## Founding a Religion out of Boredom

A bored socialite in her youth, she inherited her parents' castle on Nanda Navana after they died in a mysterious accident. Returning to her family home in 1504 ET, Tagore realized her parents had been active Bloodmages and Demonists and most of the castle's basement was a dark temple filled with forbidden lore and remnants of human sacrifices.

After dabbling in demonic lore for a while, she realized that while there were a lot of powerful rituals at her disposal, the darker aspects went deeply against her nature. Why sacrifice a perfectly good virgin when there were so many other delicious things one could do together?

As if driven by a deeper instincts, she found that hidden underneath all those sinister promises and vile demands, there were bits of genuine power hidden, powers of life and creation. Bit by bit, she uncovered what the demons had been exploiting for eons - love and human life held the keys to powers beyond imagination, but there was no need for sacrifices or dark rites. Properly guided, this energy could he harnessed and used to heal, to grow, to enlighten. Suddenly, rejuvenation and even resurrection seemed within grasp.

Soon enough, she gathered a group of disciples around her from literally every walk of life, one of them later becoming known as Saint CoCo. Those original disciples became the founding parents of Temple Jansahar as we know it today.

## Legacy

From her teachings and rituals, the core of what is today known as Temple Jansahar developed. And while the Jansahar are beloved healers all throughout the empire, they never managed to entirely shake off the shadow that clung to them from admitting they were founded on a pile of converted demonic rituals.

Despite her enduring mystical and religious legacy, Tagore so far has not been raised to sainthood by the church founded on her teachings.

To this day, she is often called 'The Holy Whore of Nanda Navana', a title which she hated with a passion and yet also the title of her autobiography.
Red Tsubaki

The Red Tsubaki (*Aka Tsubaki*) is a military elite unit of House Kyothari, with its roots in the days of House Tô-Genji.

It takes its name from the red camellia flower that famously 'beheads' itself (looses its flowers and buds) if something is amiss. Among Tô-Genji, sending camellia flowers was a time-honoured reminder that now would be a perfect time to fall into one's sword. Because if not, someone else would come and do the job for you.

The Red Tsubaki consists mainly of highly trained single combat specialists who also have a significant training in etiquette, law and theatrics. The Red Tsubaki is meant to be seen and remembered, unlike its sister organisation, the Black Tsubaki.
I believe in Miracles

'I believe in Miracles' is the name of a TV show running all across the Empire, an allegedly non-scripted documentary about a team of three priests on the search for a true miracle. It is barely veiled church propaganda, but still manages to pull solid viewerships mostly due to its genuinely charming lead.

## Cast

Sister Candice - A genuinely pretty Jansahar priestess, she is the lead researcher of the show, her unquenchable hope and optimism pushing them from one incident to another.

Brother Richard - a taciturn Belligra Shield, he protects Sister Candice whereever she goes. He has not yet spoken a word onscreen, and his face is always obscured by the faceplate of his helmet. Despite that, he has quite the fan following for his wordless putdowns and monolithic devotion to his task.

Father Lanthelm - a Verata Inquisitor, acting as the main judge of the show. Until now, he has not accepted any of the weird incidents Sister Candice has come up with as a true miracle.

## Basic Format

Each season starts off with the team arriving on a new planet, Sister Candice having prepared a list of the potential miracles she plans on investigating. They investigate, get sidetracked, meet people, make friends, come up with new and different potential miracles, and in the end leave without having found anything.

## Other Articles about I believe in Miracles

Category *I believe in Miracles* not found
La Roche

La Roche is a planet of the Virasana Empire, best known for having been House Grebenstein's military industrial base and suffering heavy orbital bombardmend during the Black-and-White War.

## Climate

* two moons
* shallow oceans
* much of the higher latitudes is low-density taiga
* originally temperate to sub-tropical maritime
* now ice-age climate due to atmospheric dust from the orbital bombardments, quickly receeding due to greenhouse gasses from the volcanic activities.
* Except for the larger population centres, most of the planet is post-apocalyptic wasteland.

## History

* orignally an industrial Grebenstein world, home to much of its formidable military industry
* in 2233 ET, Duke Yves-Olivier Grebenstein refused to accept the ascension of Lilitu Quetzal to the imperial throne. She had him captured and tied to her throne while forcing him to watch the prolonged orbital bombardment of his planet. Once he bowed to her and swore his fealty, she had him executed unceremoniously.
* Was awarded to House Ndewane after the Black-and-White War.
* Planetary infrastructure and much of the surface flora and fauna still hasn't recovered.

## Culture

* While LaRoche's upper class still struggles to reconcile the planet's former greatness with its current state, the general population is making a point of their post-apocalyptic lifestyle which in turn is considered 'cool' among many people of the empire.
* 'Death in the Ruins' is a cocktail invented on The Floor in honour of the LaRochian style. It has become wildly popular across the empire and is now considered the signature drink of LaRoche, even by locals. It is a luminescent beverage that's startlicngly sour and bitter, not exactly pleasant but often a welcome palate- and mindcleanser.
Semiramis

Semiramis is a planet of the Virasana Empire, best known for being the 'lesser' granary of House Ndewane.

## Climate

* humid maritime, ranging from temperate to tropical
* three moons
* lush vegetation on large islands, high precipitation leading to countless meandering rivers
* forests not useful for extensive agrobusiness, but yield continuously high amounts of first-quality fruit and vegetables

## Culture

* Clement temperatures and high humidity have led to a particularly high and airy building style, often incorporating runoffs, waterways or even entire rivers into the building interior.
* Semirami Members of House Ndewane tend to dress more colourful than the general family, adding feathers or flowers to their - still rather revealing - outfits.
Teani Stingrays

The Teani Stingrays are the planetary hoverball team of Rayatea.

## Snippets

* relatively successful in the Imperial Hoverball League
* team colours are cream and turquoise, their uniforms are showing a notorious amount of skin
* Their main arena is nothing but three glamorous rafts with seating, centered around the playing field projected right above the water. Matches often end with the zero-g field switched off with all players still inside for an instant cool-down.
* Financed quite generously by the duchess. It is rumoured that she either wants to honour her impossible dream of one day becoming a professional hoverball player herself, or that she wanted to please one of her husbands, who is a great fan of the sport.

## Some Notable Members of the Teani Stingrays

Category *Members of the Teani Stingrays* not found
Tahamoney Kyothari

Tahamoney Kyothari was a human noble of House Kyothari.

## Appearance

* tall, caramel complexion
* black hair, usually braided
* gold plate armour or red sarong
* skilled sword fighter, prefers a narrow jian

## Snippets

* a niece to Simal Kyothari and remotely related to Lilitu Quetzal, she played a crucial part in introducing the latter to her future husband, Crown Prince Iskander Quetzal
* renowned as a diplomatic envoy for her House, particularly during the Black-and-White War
* went MIA in 2233 ET
Imperial Holdings

Imperial Holdings are estates or domains under the direct rule of the Virasana Emperor, with no other noble between. Often, this is the case with newly discovered planets, or with holdings that have lost all rightful heirs.

Usually, the Emperor names an Imperial Governor to rule Imperial Holdings.

## Some noteworthy Imperial Holdings include

 Emperor's Island Garami Palace Lagoona Nassau Trinidad
Takumi Sikhulu

Takumi Sikhulu is one of the currently active Lotus Knights, formerly a commoner and one of the very few publicly operating Mages.

## Appearance and Iconography

* skinny, dark asian
* wavy dark hair
* black clothes, fashionable narrow jacket with fur collar
* usually depicted holding an open book in his right hand and a thick marker pen in his left, with a white plushie cat standing at his feet

## Youth

* born on Shibuya to upperclass commoner parents
* his mother is a R&D scientist, his father an independent psychologist and renowned amateur kendo fighter
* Takumi is the second of three siblings, he has a younger and an older sister
* avid computer rpg player, great fan of Lady Tahira
* discovered his powers while trying to convince the devs of his latest favourite game that they were 'portraying necromancers all wrong', conjuring the ghost of the recently deceased family cat Confucius into a plushie
* searching for a safe environment to train his abilities, he applied for a scholarship at the University of Malicorn (Coding and Mathematics)

## Malicorn

* eventually revealed his powers to his friends (among them a Teani, a Yaicisi cybershaman and a lesser Ndewane noble) when trying to prevent a murder
* went on quietly exploring his powers
* literally stumbled over Sir Ekai when both were trying to rout out a necromancer on Yaiciz

## Lotus Knight

* brought to the Emperor's attention by Sir Ekai
* famous for his broad knowledge, analytical mind and ability to listen.
* one of the very few known Mages and the only publicly operating Necromancer .
* always travels with his assistant, Sister Agnes of Temple Verata who initially trained at the Saint Cornelius Monastery
* a particularly famous mission of his was made into the 2283 ET movie Sir Takumi and the Necrobombers

## Snippets

* loves riding bicycle
* considered one of the more fashion-forward Lotus Knights
Hammerfest

Hammerfest is an aquatic ice planet of the Virasana Empire, best known for its unique style of technology and non-chalant (some say cold-hearted) culture.

## Climate

* three moons, turquoise sun
* 100% aquatic, with surface temperatures rarely above -50°C, the entire planet is encrusted in ice of varying thickness.
* Water temperature is a stable 4°C, rich underwater life makes planet hospitable none the less

## History

* originally settled by colonists from House Grebenstein
* isolated during the lost years, but not fallen into chaos
* rejoined the Empire only in 2004 ET, under the condition that House Hammerfest was recognized as an independend noble house.
* basically no N'Ptalini population, lots of prejudice against N'Ptalini
* about 25% of the population are slaves, working in the factories. No serfs

## Culture

While the upper class enjoys chamber music, the taverns and pubs are filled with swing and jazz music. The SeaBassIsts are a local jazz band that's surprisingly popular all over the Empire. The submarine and bathymech crews have a unique shanty tradition where one lead singer starts the song with the entire crew anwering the chorus, often using their entire vessel as an instrument.

Food on Hammerfest is on the bland side, so the cooks have become genuine masters of molecular cuisine. Tourists have been known to come to Hammerfest solely because the got a reservation with one of the top restaurants.

Icebeer is a spectacular exception to the limited larder of Hammerfest, and its production is a closely guarded secret.

With limited resources at hand, art on Hammerfest is known to make most out of virtually nothing, with trompe l'oeil painting being in a class of it's own.

Ballroom dance is popular all over the planet, but the real crowd-pleasers are Gladiator Fights - either with humans or with bathymechs pitted against each other in giant underwater arenas. Hunting is popular too, and despite its small population, Hammerfest has a top-notch Hoverball team (the Hammerfest Hammerfists) that has won the Imperial Hoverball League seventeen times over the last century.

## Snippets

* Port Smokestack is the main spaceport, located close to Nacrea, both on the sea floor, inside the ice crust and on top of it. It is probably the only city in the Empire that is far taller than wide.
* Ambergris Castle is the ducal palace in Nacrea

 Other Locations

* Ambrosetown
* Oberaalstadt and Underaalstadt
* Coral Gardens
* Sprocket-upon-Rye
* Kelproot Forest
* Flatfish Crossing
* Shiver-Me-Timbers
* Medusa Meadows
* Fort Beaufort
* Fathom's Deep

 Famous deepsea vessels (Submarines have female, bathymechs male names)

* Barnacle Betty
* Herringbone Harlot
* Porpoise Pete
* Crablegged Curtis
Lorelei

Lorelei is a planet of the Virasana Empire, best known for the export of alcolic beverages and its beautiful landsapes.

## Climate

* one moon
* Lindwyrms - originally imported from Svansgard as hunting sport, they have multiplied and are now a widely spread pest all over the planet.

## History

* low N'Ptalini population
* while originally quite a backwater planet, it has become a tourism destination as 'cheaper sister' of Shiraz
* appr. 30% serfs, almost no slaves

## Culture

Lorelei has a strong tradition of folk music, widely performed both in private homes and on the ubiquitous folk fairs that happen regular all over the place. The local folk-pop band 'Homestead' is quite popular across the Empire.

Loreller food is simple, hearty and comes in big portions - venison and charcuterie is renowned all throughout the empire.

But the main export of Lorelei is Schnapps - fruit of all kind are fermented and destilled in countless ways. Loreller Schnaps and cider are well known and beloved all over the Empire.

Hunting is a big part of Lorelei culture, and the local craftsmen have perfected the skill of turning leather and natural materials into personal armor that is at the same time handsome and highly effective.

## Notes

* Several towns in the northwest are significantly taller than wide, narrow piles of high-towered buildings that maximize security. Of those, particularly Ellenberg, Wyrmfels and Lofteringen are popular tourist locations
* Of the countless *Schützenfests*, the ones in Backlandringen, Vorderalmberg and Maritzburg are the most popular. Also, the Schützenfest of th capital, with its traditional costumes and husband-carrying competitions is a major tourism draw, planetary as well as imperial.
* Sonnfels Distillery - making some of the rare fruit-based whiskeys of Lorelei, a sought-out specialty all over the Empire.

## Other Articles on Lorelei

 Lindwyrms Lofteringen Lorelei Lumberjanes Svagatha Vheli Wyrmfels
Psions Guild

The Psions Guild is one of the Big Five Merchant Guilds, best known for its unique capability of offering superluminal travel and communication to the Empire, via Teleportation and Telepathy, respectively.

All Psions in the Empire have to be listed with the Guild, though they can choose to work with them or not. The planetary directors of the guild are called Vertexes and are highly influential public figures.

Its headquarters is a mind-bogglingly verdant biological structur on The Floor, aptly named The Glade, which has less to do with any particular ecological interests of the guild and more with the pure joy of showing off that for them, the impossible can be achieved overnight.

## History

* attempts of founding a psions guild have been made locally throughout history, since the time of Empress Anandi
* the Imperial Psions Guild was founded at the End of the Age of Many Emperors, with the support and maybe guidance of Emperor Gregorius Quetzal
* one of the founding members was Lieutenant Blumhardt, a teleporter

## Snippets

* planetary director - Vertex
* subdivision director - Convex
* switchboard operators, hello girls
* trebuchets, catchers and pitchers

## Notable Guild Psions include

 Angela Inkuwe Athena Ardenberg Ciel Diego Amarosa Gabriel Ardenberg Helen Reinhardt Ian Forlano Margarete (Molly) Weidpfahl Morrigan P'tau Tilda Tjure Björndal Ulysses
Rayatea

Rayathea is a planet of the Virasana Empire.

## Climate

* two moons
* aquatic - many long strings of islands along the equatorial region, barely anything larger than a few miles.

## History

* high N'Ptalini population
* almost all commoner population

## Culture

Despite the gruff and warlike appearance of the Teani, their songs revolve around family and dance, and there is little occasion where there isn't a choir and a dance troupe around.

As with any marine culture, seafood is the mainstay of Teani diet, mostly prepared over open fire. But also, the islands of Rayathea offer a bounty of fruits that have found their way into local recipes.

Probably the best-known Teani artform is the colourful tattoos that almost every local sports to various degrees. But also artisan jewelry, weaving and clothesmaking are a big part of Teani lifestyle.

Quite obviously, diving, sailing and boat races are popular sports, though hunting and rugby are surprisingly popular, too. But the real planetary sport of Rayathea is parties - enormous folk fairs that happen for every half-way bearable excuse, and often sweep up entire cities in colourful, good-natured revelries.

A notable detail is the fact that despite its low population, Rayathea sports a planetary Hoverball team that does reasonably well in the Imperial Hoverball League - the Teani Stingrays.

## Snippets

* peaceful whaleray herds fight with local warriors against bright blue crab spiders
* Anandi Day is celebrated by street festivals and giving away food.
* Rheabur is the capital of Rayatea, covering a cluster of several islands. The main spaceport rests on pontoons, only for shuttles.
* There is a cyberclinic near Rheabur spaceport, called 'The Sunshine & Chrome'
* Ultur is a northern regional capital, dotted with the white ruins of a previous, failed Shangri-La era settlement.
* There's an insurance company offering to rescue unaccompanied males in case they get 'married'.
* The main arena of the Teani Stingrays is nothing but three glamorous rafts with seating, centered around the playing field projected right above the water. Matches often end with the zero-g field switched off with all players still inside for an instant cool-down.
Mukeibat Al Sukar

The Mukeibat Al Sukar (lit. 'Sugar Cube') in Soukh Ateima is a hoveball arena renowned for its splendid rose-and-gold architecture, and the home of the Isfahan Sugar Puffs.

* triangular layout, with three diamond-shaped seating blocks rising around an empty space where the playing field is projected.
* built from local stone, it is the same rose-gold colour as the uniforms of the Sugar Puffs.
Ravindra Virasana

Ravindra Virasana was a human noble of House Virasana and 9th Virasana Emperor from 1682 ET until her death.

## Snippets

* Famous for his quote: 'The day that noble law bows to church law is the day that the three churches agree on one thing'. It was based on the notion that at that time (the late 1600s), all three churches were fiercely battling each other and often enough gave the impression to disagree on general purposes.
* It led to the first triecclesial verdict in 1767 ET, during the reign of his grandson Rupinder Virasana, who accepted the ruling with the equally famous words: 'You'll get away with it this time, but never again.'
Saint Tarquinius Division

The Saint Tarquinius Division is an organisation within Temple Verata dealing with all sorts of Faith-relevant organized crimes, like larger demonist covens, or conspirations within the church herself.

## Snippets

* named after Saint Tarquinius, one of the rare Verata saints
* headquarter in Soukh Aleadl on Isfahan
* consists mostly of Verata barristers
* local head of operations on Isfahan is currently Sister Isadora

## Notable Members of the Saint Tarquinius Division include

Category *Members of the Saint Tarquinius Division* not found
## Other articles about the Saint Tarquinius Division

Category *Saint Tarquinius Division* not found
Opera

Opera is one of the central city quarters of Agami.

Encompassing the area between the ducal palace and the Old Opera, it is home to many stately mansions, parks and the finest shopping and dining streets in town.

## Landmarks

* the Old Opera
* Gongjue Palace, the traditional seat of the Duke of Lagoona. A pile of pagodas on the wingtip of the Opera cliff, the ducal palace forms one half of the iconic rising-wave skyline of Agami.
* the Kurasee celebrity cementery
* the Pavitara Ilaja cathedral
* the Amadeus Fairground
* Bernardo Enamorado, a statue of Sir Bernardo that has become something of a patron saint for young people looking for love
* the Thermal Baths
* Das Scharlachrote Fröschl, one of the oldest continuously operating brothels in the Empire
* the Seven Amsterdams, a cinema where the most prestigious movie premieres are held
* the Beverleyan Rainshields
* the Marina
* Rangoon Court, the Headquartes of the Ducal Crescent
* the grand hotel
Pebble

The Pebble is a spaceship owned by the ducal family of Erys. Originally built during the Lost Years on Erys, she was refurbished several times and is considered on of the most durable ships of the empire.  These days, she is best known for being the personal yacht of Lotus Knight Sir Yaden Quetzal and featuring frequently in his missions and the resulting movies.

## History

Renowned for its missions during the Black-and-White War under the command of Duke Dimitrios Quetzal, where she acted as a blockade runner during the Siege of Espen and played a crucial role during the final battle over Kalidor.

During an eruption of Mount Meruae in 2243 ET, she was buried under molten rock on the landing field of Cerisia spaceport. While the ship itself remained mostly undamaged, its armour plating fused with the lava and rendered the ship unsalvageable.

For years, the buried ship was the playground of young Yaden Quetzal, and his grandfather bequeathed the ship to him in his last will.

When Yaden Quetzal returned to Erys in 2275 ET, he unearthed the Pebble and had her teleported to Floor for refurbishing. Subsequently, the ship became part of the events of 'The Bloodied Broom'.

## Design

The Pebble was designed as a blockade breaker, though in this case, this assignment was taken literally. The ship mostly consists of over-dimensioned Ngcolosi Shields and skeintilt buffers, plus a respectable armouring, allowing her to acutally ram enemy vessels at significant speeds.

This comes at the cost of maneuvrability, and she flies 'like a thrown brick', as Duke Dimitrios Quetzal never got tired of pointing out.

## Tech Specs

* a triple set of grade seven skeintilt buffers
* two mark 21 Ardenberg fusion generators with synched blindswitch reload capacity
* a Decollimation Field and a prototype 'cloaking shield'
* load-bearing extensions for the skein cradle
* an *umbani* setting for the energy shields
Richie Favier

Richie Favier is a human commoner and the current mayor of Malena.

## Appearance

* tall, athletic and tanned, he exudes youthful charm and easygoing cameraderie
* sunbleached, wavy hair
* prefers tight jeans and shirts

## Snippets

* several time Malena surfing champion in his youth
* has a pet pig that he usually credits before his wife in official speeches
* known for being a party animal and quite open to affairs, which his wife does not only condone, but seems to actively encourage
* Frequent hookup wingman for his son Savannah Favier
Rayan Square

The Rayan Square (lit. chubby square) is the central square of a Medina style Ateima food market, surrounded by stalls selling only the best sweets and desserts as a grand finale to a full meal taken while walking though the other parts of the market.

Stalls are usually in the same hands for generations, and the privilege of being awarded an vacant lot is about the highest honor any artisan shopkeeper can receive.

The square itself is usually a large public seating area, often with a small water feature and a small stage for entertainment.
House Medina

The Medina were one of the Noble Houses of the Virasana Empire. They merged with House Tô-Genji at the end of the Dakka War, forming the present-day House Kyothari. Also called 'the Golden House' or 'the Generous Ones'. Their home planet was Isfahan.

## Culture

Many traditions of the golden ones have fallen out of use with the creation of House Kyothari, but several still live on in commoner families on Isfahan and other former Medina worlds. Some classic Medina manierisms that can be encountered even today include

* Overpaying a due sum by a fraction, ie instead of one thousand herons you pay one thousand and one.
* Gilding as method of execution, reserved only for high-ranking nobles convicted of treason against the house: The offending party is encased in a solid block of gold that usually is displayed for several years on top of the ruins of their former home.
* Traditionally, Medina women lived secluded, while the men were running every outside business. Importantly though, any property was held by the women only, and inherted through the female line. This created an odd but functional power balance, with a public day-to-day world run by men and a second layer of female power making the big decisions in tea houses and parlour rooms.

## Style

### Clothes

* either: rich robes, embroidered shawls, ostentatiously accessorized, expensive
* or: very little, showing off physical beauty, accessorized with few but sinfully expensive pieces, often jewellery
* gold in any form

### Architecture

* ostentatious
* highly decorated and ornate
* grand rather than large
* artful
* generous

Public architecture is a core value on former Medina worlds, offering gardens, parks, theaters and libraries of unmatched splendour to the unwashed masses.

 Cleonea Medina Saïd Medina | Notable Holdings
NutriBars

NutriBars are a widespread brand of proprietary food bars that is used as lowest-level sustenance and emergency food due to its low costs and almost infinite shelf-life.

> "The only food that will sustain a man's body but will slowly chip away their soul."
>
>

*Ivan Quetzal in 'The Windmines of Bora Bora'*

## Snippets

* Main ingredient is dehydrated NutriGourd pulp from Peach
* Contains all nutrients for long-term use, one bar roughly equals one meal
* Notorious for having no taste at all and no particular texture. Can be soaked in water to form a soppy mush. Grey. Can be friend until crisp, then it'll taste of slightly charred nothing.
* Most vessels with have a stash of them somewhere near the emergency life support systems, hoping never to be in a situation where they might need them.
* Standart food in prisons and slave pens
Matsu Kemori

Matsu Kemori is a planet of the Virasana Empire, only known for being the last planet beyond already isolated Qufu. Also called the 'dead appendix of Kyothari worlds'.

## Climate

* almost completely covered in ice
* equatorial regions habitable, alpine humid
* looks like a snowball with a brown rubber band around its middle
* habitable regions covered mostly in invasive terran vegetation, pines and herbs
* occasional warm summers trigger ecological imbalances when previously ice-covered native species return into the ecosystem

## History

* almost no N'Ptalini population
* population barely three thousand people
* spaceport is barely more than a concrete square

## Culture

* Due to the low temperatures, local pine trees create high concentrations of aromatic sap. Fatwood sticks from Matsu Kemori sell as incense for high prices on some worlds.
House Kyothari

House Kyothari is one of the Noble Houses of the Virasana Empire (realm). Its homeplanet is Isfahan.

## History

> "We all serve the House. And the House serves the Emperor."
>
>

Created in the merger of House Tô-Genji and House Medina after the Dakka War. The new name is a merger of Tô-Genji and Medina expressions, basically translating to 'wealthy kings' or 'royal wealth' - pretty much the only thing connecting the two houses at that time, as some critics say.

Highly educated and flawlessly mannered, the Kyothari are the least obviously aggressive of the noble houses, and culturally surprisingly diverse. Ranging from the colourful merchant princes of Isfahan to the austere and pious sages of Qufu, they are united in the preference of sly wit over blunt violence and a penchant for long-term and intricate scheming. Slave trade, misogynism and religion are a common denominator on all of their worlds.

## Dress and Demeanor

The dress code of House Kyothari falls along two lines: Either you show off what you have, or you try to hide it. So either you wear gold and jewels on silk (or naked skin in case you want to show off your perfectly designed body), or you dress in ‘humble’ robes of muted colours.

## Notes

* Two famous military elite units (or three, depending), all of them also fulfilling duties of an intelligence service
	+ the Red Tsubaki and the Black Tsubaki (formerly of House Tô-Genji)
	+ the Jawahir Alttaj - the Crown Jewels (formerly of the Medina)

* House Kyothari does not merge the title of Prince of the House with the Duke of their main planet, in this case Isfahan.
* Fond of unbreakable traditions as they are, the sons of any high-ranking noble are always raised and trained in the same manner. The firstborn as the designated heir, is trained in politics and law, the second son takes over the military, while the third one is trained in culture, history and the arts. Personal preferences or aptitudes, of course, are irrelevant.

 Faisal Hairuz Kyothari Ishikawa Kyothari Katsumoto Kyothari Li Ma Kyothari Naotoshi Kyothari Shimomura Kyothari Simal Kyothari Tahamoney Kyothari Tahira Kyothari | Notable Holdings

## Other Articles on House Kyothari

 Black Tsubaki Isfahan Jawahir Alttaj Red Tsubaki
Hall of Thousand Splendours

The Hall of Thousand Splendours is the main reception hall of Emperor's Island and the official throneroom of the Virasana Empire with the Lotus Throne in prominent display. It is here that the Emperor holds most of their press conferences and public audiences, and it is a well-known and often broadcast location.

## History

* Heavily damaged during the Age of Many Emperors and rebuild under the rule of Empress Amadeus Grebenstein.

## Layout

* In keeping with House Virasana's penchant for asymmetric layouts, the Hall of Thousand Splendours only mostly continues Emperor's Island's central axis of the Alley of Emperors, the gatehouse and the Heron Court, but sits slighty askance to better catch the afternoon sun.
* For similar reasons, the Lotus Throne is set up on the eastern wall of the room, so the souther view out onto the bay and Agami's rising wave skyline is perfectly framed by the open pavillion.

## Other Articles on the Hall of Thousand Splendours

Category *Hall of Thousand Splendours* not found
Mel Ohm Quetzal

Mel Ohm Quetzal was a human noble of House Quetzal. Born a commoner, he was adopted by the Duke of Malicorn in 2214 ET. He is best known for turning Malicorn from a backwater farm planet into the thriving tourism centre it is today, and for being one of the richest Dukes ever.

## Snippets

* "Rich as the Duke of Malicorn" refers to Duke Mel.
* Friends with both Saint Cornelius and Beverly Corusant, complicated relationship
* married for political reasons, well known frequent patron of the Courtesans Guild
* founder of the Ohm Quetzal family line
Heraklion

Heraklion is a planet of the Virasana Empire.

## Climate

* maritime temperate to boreal
* 65% oceans, high humidity

## History

* a recent coup has left the planet without a duke
* three nobles of House Ndewane are competing for the throne
* both the prince of the house and the Emperor have refused to talk to any of the contenders unless the issue is resolved

## Culture

* industrial powerhouse of House Ndewane, rivalling Yaiciz
* massive amounts of workers in large manufacturies
* despite the overall low-tech ambience, many of the empire's common Ngcolosi shields are produced here
Luanshi

Luanshi is a planet of the Virasana Empire.

## Climate

* barren, young world, rocky, lots of small oceans
* no ecosphere yet, no indigenous lifeforms
* breatheable atmosphere and clement climate
* stunningly beautiful night sky due to the giant ring system of a neighbouring planet

## Flora and Fauna

* Carefully attempting a low-tech terraforming by bringing select fauna and flora from other planets
* Scientists hope to create a second Shiraz
Holidays of the Virasana Empire

There are countless holidays observed across the empire, from all religious and secular backgrounds. Some of the most widely recognized days include the following.

## Some notable Holidays include

 Anandi Day Ancestor Day Dia del Bernardo Diwali F'oariagi Garunalia In'tila Nach'Tarr's Night Saint Ulrich Day Siege of Geshi N'Ptah
## More articles about Holidays of the Virasana Empire

Category *Holidays of the Virasana Empire* not found
Pop Bugs

Pop Bugs are deep-fried pupae (usually of the N'Koti beetle), dusted with salt and spices. They are a classic N'Ptalini street food and are served from food stalls all over the Empire. While the N'Koti beetles are rather easy to breed, the spices necessary for the classic Beetle Spice blend are hard to get by unless one has access to a spice pool. Natually, there are countless variations and local favourites to be had.
Ivory Tower

Ivory Tower is the name of a long-running comedy TV Series, dealing with the travails of an imaginary Psions Guild Vertex and his crew, drawing much of their humour out of the half-god-like Vertex' troubles of relating to his more or less normal co-workers.

It is commonly accepted that Isfahan Vertex Ulysses has been used as template for the series' main character, and he has more than once remarked on being a fan of the series himself. It remains in debate as to how far he has been involved in the conception of the series, as several employees have confirmed that many of the situations depicted in the series are based on real events that somehow must have found their way onto the writers' desk.