(WWEU) Welcome to Luz

NEW UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

CIVILIAN SERVICE CORPS

OFFICE of CULTURAL RELATIONS

Welcome to Luz!

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you have been assigned to join your fellow Service Members and Commissars as part of the joint CSC diplomatic outreach to the world of Talveras to be stationed in the city of Luz. Whatever your function in this venture, it is highly likely that you will be spending quite a bit of time in Luz and among her people. While a comprehensive briefing on city culture, traditions, and decorum is available on the OCR database; this pamphlet will provide a short over-view of Luz’ history and what to expect when you’re there.

-LOCATION: Luz was built in the center of a vast savannah on the Shavitessen continent. It commands the Yetrenya River, the only reliable source of water for a hundred miles. These grasslands are home to a variety of unique and interesting creatures, but due to the many carnivores; unsupervised forays into these grasslands are not recommended (and are, in fact, prohibited for all CSC personnel). It is consistently hot and dry for most of the year (months 4-10), but experiences periodic deluges for the remainder – even occasionally snowing.

-FOUNDING: The first novum who would become Luzine had established a great many nomadic tribes along the banks of the Yetrenya. Due to the aridness of the land, there was little in the way of farming that could be accomplished. It was not until an exploration party from the lands of what would become the Golo province brought the gernaki –a fruit that thrives in hot, arid weather that requires little water- that more permanent settlements could be established. One of these settlements, built upon the fork of the Yetrenya and the Kasur’n, became a major destination for all civilizations conducting overland travel across Shavitessen. Offering brothels, taverns, gambling houses, as well as legitimate trading posts and currency exchanges; this settlement soon became an economic powerhouse. The natives called their settlement Lukuru’oda’ven’hasemuz (Warm place of family/friendship by the river’s fork), but of course the foreign travelers simply called it: Luz.

-EARLY HISTORY: The city officially named ‘Luz’ was founded 515 BHII(tv), the circumstances of its founding came about during a great drought that had driven away much of the wildlife. Famine became rampant. Even the established animal farms were unable to meet the water demands of their livestock, and tens of thousands of heads of morntenitril (A large fury herd animal similar to a water buffalo) died in their pastures. To combat this crisis, several inventive Luzine engineered radical agricultural constructs whose basic utility still endure today. The first of these were ‘vertical farms’, constructs that might actually be considered the first ‘skyscrapers’ to appear on Talveras. Resembling large cylinders or tiered pyramids, these wildly successful agricultural facilities made use of imported sea water from the Goloine coast artificially evaporated to provide the much needed moisture to the plants within. Mirrors and greenhouses were able to direct the requisite amounts of sunlight into the buildings without drying the plants, allowing Luz to field a variety of fruits and vegetables apart from the hardy gernaki for the first time. Eventually, domed ranches and even domed parks and artificial ‘beaches’ began springing up all over the town. These boom times were not without their cost, however.

-GOLOINE VASSALHOOD: Though the sea water being regularly shipped to Luz was basically worthless to anyone except the Luzine, the first Goloine Empire capitalized on Luz’ vulnerable circumstances and threatened to cut off the supply unless Luz became a protectorate of their empire. With the southern route to Alo’ashi blocked by dense jungle, and no other nations nearby willing to put forth the resources, the loose council that governed Luz had no choice but to accept. Thus in the middle of the driest wet season the Luzine had ever known in the year 515 BHII(tv), the settlement on the fork of the Yetrenya and Kasur’n officially came to be called Luz: vassal territory of the First Goloine Empire.

-INDEPENDENCE: The Goloine wasted no time in exploiting the ore in the nearby stonelands, however the Empire proved too industrious for its own good. The sheer amount of prospectors and miners taking up residence in Luz, along with soldiers, police officers, merchants, and government officials meant that the city’s populace quickly began to outpace the output of the farms. While building new vertical farms would not be difficult, it soon became apparent that the regular water deliveries from the Goloine coast would not be able to match the requirements. Rather than simply purifying the water locally before delivering it, the Goloine decided to hack through the lush jungle to Luz’ south and set up a second delivery artery via the Alo’ashi province – connecting the isolated territories to the outside world for the first time in history. However, rather than negotiate with the Alo’ashine for the water, as the Luzine had done with them, the Goloine opted to add Alo’ashi to their own empire. There was resistance however, and while the war in itself makes for fascinating reading, the underdog Alo’ashine were able to push the Goloine back. When the time came to take Luz, the Luzine bargained for their own independence in exchange for desperately needed war material. Since both holding Luz and continuing the fight against the Goloine would have been strategically impossible for the Alo’ashine armies, the southern leaders agreed and Luz became an independent state again in 468 BHII(tv).

-PRE-INVASION LUZ: The Luzine were the first to develop shot-and-powder weapons on Talveras, securing their sovereignty as an unassailable power for many years. However, despite their ability to defend their territory against any incursion, the Luzine were unable to field sufficient supplies or personnel for a single successful invasion into any of the adjacent nations or kingdoms –despite trying. In time, Luz found that there was more profit as the economic powerhouse it had always been than as an empire, thus it became the business and academic capitol of Talveras for several centuries right up until the day of the Hilean Imperial invasion.

 

*  *  *

-WHAT TO EXPECT: Novum of all color and caste reside in Luz, and any where you should travel on Talveras; you are bound to find a few people who speak Luzine despite the Empire. There are no shortages of things to do in Luz, as it fields a number of both indoor and outdoor parks and recreation areas. Its many theaters, both of stage and screen, regularly feature shows and stories from around the Talveran globe. The populace, in general, has proven friendly enough to American personnel, but there is a certain social strata with which one must become familiar. Talveran culture is very much defined by one’s facial features, and while more nuanced details are available in the data base, the highlights are as follows: Red or maroon hair means one is a descendant of the original Luzine and should be identified as such. Differing hair colors (such as blue or green) denote ancestry in different provinces. Though such people may have been born or raised in Luz, they are to be identified by their ancestral lands (again, the data base is your friend). In general, you need not be too specific about the city or sub-climes, so long as you are able to identify traits from the main provinces, due respect will be considered given. However, there is one trait you should familiarize yourself with that exists regardless of ancestry: grey eyes. The novum tend to prize their vibrant hair and eye color, and having grey eyes is considered a very undesirable trait. Such people are usually at the bottom of the social order, and extended interactions with them will not be encouraged by the populace at large. In case it needs to be stated, official CSC policy is to treat the ENTIRETY of the novum people with respect and deference. Americans may, understandably, feel compelled to step in upon witnessing certain excesses; however the Secretary of State and the Senior Commissars of your respective offices have all agreed not to interfere with interactions between novum unless requested by lawful authorities. If you feel it necessary, you may request an interaction be stopped or suggest an alternate resolution but BY NO MEANS are you authorized to physically intervene or impede.

-APPROVED ACTIVITIES: While all leave from the Commissariat must be pre-approved by the Senior Commissar, you are limited to only a certain amount of interactions as a member of the Civilian Service Corps both in and out of uniform. (This is an over-view, consult the DB for more)

-YOU MAY: Attend shows in any of the pre-approved theaters, enjoy parks or recreation areas respectfully, dine or shop in any of the pre-approved districts, fraternize and accompany any member of the novum populace (upon approval from your SC) for as long as they are comfortable with you, partake in any non-wagered sport or contest, discuss matters of history and culture with anyone interested.

-YOU MAY NOT: Consume the services of any brothel, tavern/bar/saloon, casino, or establishment offering prominent services in erotic content, gambling, or alcohol or other inebriants. You may not spend the night in the company of a novum individual or family (your SC cannot authorize you to do so), nor make use of a hotel, inn, hostel, or lodging of any kind (exceptions are made for hospitals if injured). There will be no haggling over prices in any authorized establishment (you must assume that the price is the price and if it is too expensive; you cannot afford it). You may not lend, bet, or gift any portion of your stipend or allowance. Further, you may not consume any service for free, nor accept a loan, wager, or gift from a novum (exceptions do exist, consult your SC). Intimate contact of any kind with a novum is strictly prohibited without express written consent for both you, your partner, a CSC witness, and your Senior Commissar upon completion of the proper forms. Do not discuss your personal religion or politics on any issue under any circumstances. You WILL NOT threaten, strike, intimidate, extort, assault, curse at, deceive, or impugn any novum.

-REMEMBER: You are about to enter an alien culture that is rich and varied, but is not your own. Be respectful, polite, sensitive, attentive, deferential, professional, and friendly. Most importantly, however, remember that you are the first taste of humanity the novum will have. Make a good impression.  

YOU CAN BUY WOUNDED WORLDS HERE