Lastelle Island: Difference between revisions

*'''The Palace.''' Kaen Tan's glittering palace was for millennia the center of regional power. Today it is a museum which presents a white-washed history of the sector to visiting tourists.

*'''Kaen Tan University.''' Kaen Tan University is literally as old as the Par'tha Empire, the first emperor dedicated it the year he brought his new government to [[Oscion]]. The small and ancient campus once housed the entire Tan University, but the school grew too large for Lastelle Island and its outrageously expensive real estate long ago; the rest of the campus is now located on Satado Island, 400 kilometers away. This original campus contains only the legal graduate school, the university's upper administrative offices, and a museum.

*'''Kanda Park.''' Kanda Park ranks as some of the most valuable underdeveloped real estate in the sector. It is a large preserve of rolling grassy hills, flower and rock gardens, and isolated stands of trees. One of its highlights is the Greenhouse, a large teahouse with a picturesque view of the sea. The Greenhouse, which is expensive but open to all, derives its name from its walls of heavy crystal glass.

*'''Dinalda Opera House.''' The Dinalda, named after Emperor Dinalda VII (patron saint of the Par'tha Opera), is a huge multi-level building containing three theaters, numerous rehearsal halls, a dance academy, and apartments for performers-in-residency. During capital season, at least two operas are running concurrently, and often three. In the off-season, performances are less frequent.

*'''Great Council Chambers.''' The [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]] meets in this huge capitol building. The maze-like interior of the Chambers contains several large meeting halls and thousands of offices and meeting rooms. Access is restricted to Council members and their staffs, government employees, and those with visitor permits (which can be obtained from the front office).

*'''Senate Building.''' The Senate Building is small, cramped, and drafty, but so imbued with the sector's heritage that no one dares suggest the Senate move to a larger and more modern building.

*'''Golhano IV Museum.''' Named after another emperor, the Golhano is Par'tha's most prestigious art museum. It regularly sponsors exhibitions of established and upcoming artists. The museum's art collection is extremely valuable; it has an excellent security system in place to foil would-be thieves.

*'''Tanith Library.''' The library stacks contain tens of thousands of books, scrolls, manuscripts, as well as computer databanks. The collective history of the [[Par'tha Expanse]] going back almost seven millennia is stored here, with surprisingly few gaps - the staff over the centuries have been zealous in protecting the historical record from politically-motivated revisionists anxious to portray their ideological enemies in a bad light by rewriting history. Their greatest failure is also the most recent; the names and bloodlines of known [[House Kerraron|Kerraron]] dissidents have disappeared from the records. No one knows whether this was done by the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]], one of [[House Kerraron|Kerraron's]] domestic enemies, or by a [[House Kerraron|Kerraron]] agent seeking to protect house members who have escaped initial persecution.

*'''Imperial Embassy.''' Though the [[Par'tha Expanse]] is officially a part of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian Empire]], the Empire maintains an embassy on [[Oscion]], as it does in other client states within its sphere of influence. The embassy is very modern and represents the hard edges of Imperial architecture as seen on [[Valcaria]]. State functions hosted by the Grand Governor are often held at the embassy.

*'''Lanaxa Embassy.''' [[House Lanaxa|Lanaxa's]] embassy is an ostentatious building. It has, by far, the largest ballroom of all the embassies. House members make good use of it.

*'''Rettaan Embassy.''' The [[House Rettaan|Rettaan]] embassy is a large modern building constructed in the modern [[Valcarian]] style - a symbol of the house's progressive, forward-looking attitude. An unusual feature is the all-Valcarian security staff.

*'''Barahn Embassy.''' [[House Barahn|Barahn]] has a large embassy belittling its status as a greater house, but it doesn't host many social functions, since house leaders prefer to entertain on its private islands.

*'''Beruna Embassy.''' [[House Beruna|Beruna]] maintains a handsome but modest embassy cloaked attractively in ivy and hanging mosses. Like the house, it is quiet but dignified.

*'''Larokon Embassy.''' [[House Larokon|Larokon's]] embassy is, surprisingly, one of the smallest house embassies on [[Oscion]]. Paranoid that any new building would be infested with bugs planted by spies from other houses, Larokon prefers to remain in its centuries old (but secure) mansion rather than move to less cramped quarters. As the head of the ruling coalition, however, it has commandeered nearby offices to supplement its embassy staff.

*'''Tadere Embassy.''' [[House Tadere|Tadere's]] embassy is large, ornate - and green. No one remembers exactly why the building was originally painted green, but it has been for so long that tradition dictates that it stays that way. The embassy is rumored to have an ancient torture chamber in its basement. Most of these rumors kindly suggest that it is no longer in use.

*'''Kerraron Embassy.''' Against all odds, [[House Kerraron|Kerraron]] has managed to keep possession of its large embassy through the years of purges. Its embassy has the largest gardens associated with any of the house embassies.

*'''Par'tha Royal Spaceport.''' The Royal Spaceport is a compact but extremely advanced facility. It is also an exclusive one; ships need special permission to land here, and only those associated with the upper tiers of government, one of the houses, the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]], or a favored group obtain such permission. Those lacking such clearances are directed to [[Oscion|Oscion's]] major commercial spaceport on Satado Island.

*'''Gorian Airport.''' Most of the people who work on Lastelle Island actually live on less expensive islands. They fly into the city every morning on commuter transports and flock home again at night. As many as two million people a day pass through its causeways (up to five million a day during capital season). The airport also brings in a large number of cargo vehicles from spaceports elsewhere on [[Oscion]].

*'''Lastelle Seaport.''' The island's small seaport is its major supply link with the rest of the planet. Most of the consumables and retail products sold on Lastelle Island come in through the seaport.

*'''Illaran Merchants' Guild Guildhouse.''' The IMG maintains a hostel on [[Oscion]], which provides relatively cheap food and board for members, even during capital season. It isn't as large as the guildhouse on [[Aelann]], but it serves the needs of traveling [[Illaran]]s nicely.

*'''[[Mining Guild]] Sector Headquarters.''' The [[Mining Guild]] sector HQ is ensconced in a large and imposing building constructed from high-grade polished marble. Guild lobbyists and negotiators have offices here to represent member companies operating in the sector before the [[Par'tha Expanse Great Council|Great Council]].

*'''Par'tha Exchange.''' [[Par'tha Expanse|Par'tha Expanse's]] primary financial center. Shares in [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]] companies are bought and sold here, as are futures in various foods and raw materials. Not surprisingly, the various ore futures are most active. Office buildings surrounding the Par'tha Exchange are also dedicated to the financial field.

*'''Jintha Center.''' The largest shopping mall in the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]]. Nearly two kilometers long, with as many as seven levels in parts, Jintha Center hosts thousands of retail stores. Many of the stores are local outlets of exclusive [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Valcarian]] establishments which serve only the elite. These shops keep the upper class (especially the young), clothed in the absolute latest Valcarian styles, which is important since there is a constant flux of nobles coming to and from the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Empire]] to show up those who lag behind.

*'''Pratari Club.''' The Pratari Club is one of many exclusive private clubs in Lastelle City. Pratari's is over a thousand years old, and caters to the most important families of the [[Expanse Sector|Expanse]]. Membership has little to do with house affiliation, but to avoid unpleasant rivalries creeping into the club, firebrands and house partisans tend to get blackballed. The club favors intellectuals, academics, and military careerists.

*'''Logris Casino.''' Logris is a luxury casino that caters to the Par'tha and [[Valcarian]] elite. It is a large palatial building with numerous gardens and quadrangles - and dozens of gaming halls devoted to most major gambling pastimes. Private chambers on the upper floors are available for private parties and particularly high-stakes games.

*'''Vexan Theatre.''' The Vexan is a beautiful theater with two stages. It tends to carry more contemporary plays and operas than the Dinalda Opera House.

*'''Shenir's Royale.''' Shenir's is one of the most exclusive restaurants in the [[Expanse Sector|sector]]. You just can't get in unless you know Somebody.

*'''Grand Royal Hotel.''' The Grand Royal is the primary luxury hotel on an island of luxury hotels. Sprawling two city blocks, it contains not only the very best accommodations in the [[Expanse Sector|sector]], but also an elaborate garden, an aviary, several restaurants and bars, two dance halls, a sports center, an art gallery, and a complete business center. Getting rooms in the Grand Royal is very difficult unless you are a sector noble or come recommended by one; during capital season, there are no rooms available at any price.

*'''Par'tha Imperial Hotel.''' The Par'tha Imperial is also very luxurious, but not as exclusive as the Grand Royal. High-ranking [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperials]] and megacorp executives stay here when visiting [[Oscion]]. Getting rooms here is usually no problem as long as you can afford the outrageous fees. Again, during capital season, rooms are booked solid.

*'''Imperial Grand Governor's Estate.''' The official residence of the [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] Grand Governor of the [[Par'tha Expanse]] was once the estate of Kaen Tan's grand-nephew. It is a large building, used for both entertaining and business.

*'''Imperial Governor's Estate.''' The [[Valcarian Imperial Republic|Imperial]] Governor of [[Oscion]] also lives here, but his home is not at imposing as the Grand Governor's. Unlike the Grand Governor, the Governor's offices are in the Historial District.