Fwurg

[Veolian Commonwealth]

((OOC: This thread is only for the opening of Purgatory.

I intend Purgatory to be a place where senators and other high-profile persons (anyone that can afford, or is given a membership; this includes most Jedi, senators, official representatives, succesful businesspersons, etc.) can talk to each other in a casual setting; a bit like the Meditation in the Garden thread for Jedi. However, instead of a single large thread, I invite everyone to start a thread in Purgatory should you want to have a more private conversation.

When in doubt about the club's features, or whether some service is offered, drop me a PM. Though as the club is mainly aimed at high-profile clients you can expect most services to be arrangable very easily (though absolutely nothing involving slaves, Purgatory management has a strong opinion on slavery!).))

View of the open roof. Inside the cone, but outside the main building.

Purgatory is a large club, in a well-appointed part of Unity City. The club itself consists of a few buildings in a large dome. The entrance to the dome is by feet only, and a small garden surrounds the main club building. Unlike a normal garden, this garden features all kinds of black and purple plants, and has a sweet smell to it. Some benches were strategically placed in the garden to provide privacy to those sitting.

The main building is four stories high, and is shaped like a cone. Once the building is entered through the main entrance and the lobby, it quickly becomes clear that the cone is just the outer hull, protecting the actual club building from the prying eyes of long-distance camera's. The top of the cone is open, offering a view of the galaxy, not unlike the senate hall.

The club building itself is surrounded by platforms mounted between the main building and the cone, offering islands of relative privacy and quiet. The main area of the club is the public area, which is a massive misnomer, as only members are allowed on club grounds normally.

Both the lords' lounge and the ladies' lounge connect to the public area, as well as to some of the platforms outside and the gardens. Roughly half of the platforms connects directly, or indirectly to the public area, with a quarter dedicated to the lords, and the other quarter dedicated to the ladies. The platforms dedicated to either of the lounges are protected from spying into by a subtle semi-translucent wall. Knobs on the platforms allow the changing of the wall's opacity.

The lord's lounge takes up most of the second floor of the club building, and offers an area for dancing, a bar manned by a well-dressed veolian man, and contains some alcoves to allow quiet conversation. Roughly a quarter of the lord's lounge is filled with a library offering old-fashioned paper books, cigars, and drinks in style. The library is suspiciously quiet, as if some technology is employed to keep out sound.

The ladies' lounge takes up the second floor and mimicks the lords' lounge, though the aesthetics have been changed drastically. The bar is run by a veolian woman, assisted by two attractive waitresses. The ladies' library furniture is drastically changed, as it mostly offers sitting pillows.

Though currently not yet accesible, the club is already expanding to build a specific senators' lounge, reserved for those members with a vip membership.

[Veolian Commonwealth]

Kamuka Yatana is personally available to shake hands and greet all arriving guests. She shortly informs them about the club's layout, before allowing one of the veolian hostesses to take the arriving guests on a tour of the club.

"Dareal Noxim and Zatiri Ferumdra, thank you for coming!"

...

"Lady Nehket, what a pleasure to meet you. Please, do not forget that there are no slaves in Purgatory. Miss Serrah, it is a pleasure to welcome you to Purgatory."

...

"Lady de Montrève, it is such an honour to invite you to my club."

...

"Senator Danar Tassar, Fect Mirabi, welcome to Purgatory."

...

"Senator Atheos, welcome, welcome!"

She kept busy, greeting as the visitors arrived. The group of visistors seemed to be a most diverse group, though all invited shared a common factor: importance and influence.

[Veolian Commonwealth]

Once the majority of the guests had arrived, Kamuka Yatana moved to the center of the public area of the club, and when she stood there, multiple holo-images of her popped up all over the club. It was really not possible to miss her short speech:

"Honoured ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming. It is my hope that this club brings you some much deserved respite from the public eye, and the incessant questions of the press. Please enjoy your stay, peruse our amenities, and welcome to Purgatory!"

Kamuka Yatana stayed in the public area, to answer any questions, and to ensure that the guests weren't wanting for anything.

With all kinds of high profile people around, and absolutely no press, this seemed like a perfect moment to mingle and socialize.

[Senator Danar Tassar]

The senator of the Teprogrenaian Consensus entered the great club together with his wife. Followed closely by the personal doctor of Mirabi. At the entrance, they greeted Kamuka Yatana, after which they moved to the public area.

[Serrah]

Just after the veolian senator entered the club, Serrah left her owner, leaving Nehket Aeka alone with her date. Serrah walked towards the entrance of the ladies' lounge, where she met another twi'lek whom she greeted with a smile, and started a conversation.

[Nehket Aeka]

The veolian senator greeted the club owner, and walked into the club. She seemed less then amused when her slave suddenly walked away, but did nothing to prevent it.

Nehket Aeka's date was a well-dressed veolian man, wearing the colours of house Dewa. His posture was just a tad arrogant, and he looked around like he owned the place.

[Atheos]

Senator Atheos stood outside the building for a moment to take in the grandeur of it visible from the outside. He put his arm around his date, a Astai woman. Together they walked to Kamuka Yatana, he greeted her, explaining that he had brought along a date after all and if she could join him inside. If there were no problems at the door, he would lead into the public area and set about procuring drinks.

[Veolian Commonwealth]

"That is absolutely no problem, senator Atheos.", the club's owner informed him. "Enjoy your visit, and don't forget that some of the platforms offer privacy from prying eyes.", she said with a smile.

[Nehket Aeka]

Nehket Aeka first visited the bar to get a drink. Then, she walked over to the teprogrenaian senator.

"Senator Tassar, Mirabi.", she greeted the couple with a nod. "What do you think of Purgatory so far?"

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Chancellor, sir." The senator greeted the veolian couple back with a nod. "The place is a little to flashy for my taste. I always have preferred a more sober approach, just a cultural thing I think. Still, I think the owner did a great job trying to create a club fitting for every species, normally an impossible job. Even fecta Guardians have the capability to walk around here, may they ever come to Unity City "

[Nehket Aeka]

"I have heard that the owner is planning on opening an extra wing, specifically designed to offer quiet and calm. I remember that it was called the Senator's Lounge. Maybe that would suit you more."

The veolian woman took a sip from her drink, and looked at her date with a smile.

"Senator Tassar, Mirabi, please allow me to introduce Asisht Kisān; Asisht Kisān, meet the Teprogrenaian senator Tassar, and his lovely wife Mirabi", she introduced her date to the Teprogrenaian couple.

"Senator, lady, it is an honour to meet you. I have heard of the Teprogrenaian fascination with cybernetics, but I had not expected such explicit augmentations.", the veolian man continued, his voice a full baritone.

[Dareal Noxim]

Dareal Noxim looked around in the establishment and slowly moved towards the Chancellor after spotting her. After overhearing part of their conversation he joined the group followed by Zatiri who waited next to him while keeping a bit more distance.

"Greetings Chancellor. It is an honor to meet you in person. Let me introduce myself. I am Dareal Noxim, liaison for intergalactic trade at the Praetorian embassy."

Dareal pointed towards Zatiri. "This is my partner Zatiri Ferumdra." Zatiri made a quick bow and made a small step forward.

Dareal Noxim continued. "A senators lounge would be interesting. Ardios would be pleased to hear this.

Greetings Senator Tasser."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"Asisht Kisān, the pleasure is all mine." The senator said with a tone that he said it merely out of courtesy. Then Dareal Noxim and Zatiri joined their small talk.

"Ah, greetings, Dareal Noxim. I have to say, you are smaller than I imagined." The senator said while he had to look up to the much taller dragon. "And greetings Zatiri Ferumdra.

Yes, a senators lounge would be quite enjoyable I think."


It looks like that Mirabi misinterpreted the words of Asisht Kisān for a compliment as she said with a small blush: "Oh thank you Asisht Kisān, but this is nothing. You should visit Dhiahamara, there can you behold the true marvels of our cybernetics."

[Nehket Aeka]

"Dareal Noxim, Zatiri Ferumdra, it is a pleasure to meet you.", the veolian senator greeted them. "My date, Asisht Kisān", she indicated the man who was currently talking to Mirabi.

"Mister Noxim, I have a question for you. Your culture values the accumulation of wealth and the open market, if I am correct? Why then does the position of 'liaison for intergalactic trade' need to be filled? Wouldn't it be better to leave this to the respective leaders of the large corporations, so competition is not hindered, and trade goes according to the laws of the market?"

[Dareal Noxim]

"I still have many years to grow Senator Tassar. Are you still growing Senator?"

Dareal Noxim made a small bow with his head towards Asisht Kisān.

"Greetings Asisht Kisān."

After greeting her date he continued to talk with Nehket Aeka.

"Wealth is a representation of power in our culture. Letting all corporation make deals for themselves is not in line with our hierarchy of command. The emperor has given this power to the Praetorian Embassy to make sure that every faction is handled with care and to make sure we find the most profitable solution. With all those different cultures it would be problematic to let the corporations do this themselves. It is not their place to trade but to produce."

[Nehket Aeka]

"Then explain to me if you would, Dareal Noxim, how this hierarchy combines with seeing wealth as a representation of power. Surely, the owners of such enormous companies, such as the Praetorian shipyards for the construction of mass transit cargo freighters are exceedingly wealthy.

Is wealth an effect of being placed high in the hierarchy, of is being placed high up in the hierarchy a function of wealth?"

[Dareal Noxim]

"Our shipyards and other large corporations are owned by the Empire. There is no single individual who owns these facilities. The responsibility for these corporations eventually falls to the Emperor.

Wealth does not simply buy you a higher place in the hierarchy. Providing your company or the Empire with a large increase in wealth could give you a promotion but this is not the only way. Normally Praetorians are promoted due to honorable service, good deeds or mastering a new skill set.

Maintaining a high position in the hierarchy has its benefits. When you have more responsibility you are entitled to more wealth."

[Nehket Aeka]

"So wealth is not really a representation of power? If the amount of wealth does not determine how much power one has, wealth is a function of power, and not the other way around. Or did I miss a detail?

If I understand you correctly, you really have a lot in common with the Unified Republic of Darya. Both your factions have government-owned corporations, and the leader of your faction is responsible for the running of the corporations."

[Dareal Noxim]

Dareal Noxim waited for a moment to process what Nehket Aeka said.

"I guess you are right. Wealth is more like a function of power on the personal level. But when it comes to how much wealth a individual brings in for the emperor or his corporation it is a representation of power. Although this does not always work this way since some things are just hard to price, there are always exceptions of course. I guess that on the facts you mentioned we are similar to the Unified Republic of Darya. Still we differ on many other things. We take our time and have different opinions on internal leadership compared with the Daryans as far as I have heard. Those daryans are an interesting race, a bit too hasty for my taste."

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"As far I have observed Dareal Noxim, your people are very efficient in taking their time. If you want or need something you do not seem to wait a moment to achieve your goal."

[Dareal Noxim]

"Thank you Senator Danar Tasser. Efficiency is very important. There is a difference between losing potential profit and taking your time. We do like to plan ahead, but when it comes to trade you need to be fast some times or risk losing potential profit. "

[Nehket Aeka]

"I agree with senator Tassar. Your people do not seem to take their time at all, mister Noxim.

In fact, they sometimes seem overly hasty in coming to a decision. Maybe this has to do with your desire for wealth?"

[Dareal Noxim]

"Yes.

We learned over time that when it comes to business opportunities you can not wait but have to act.

What does wealth represent in the Veolian Commonwealth?"

[Nehket Aeka]

"That depends on who you ask. Some veolian strive to acquire as much wealth as possible, others see it as little more than a tool. I myself hold to the view that ones goal is not to acquire is much wealth as possible, but to use what one has to further ones goals.

Of course, wealth is very useful for maintaining slaves, a certain level of life, and the buying of services of skilled individuals. It is a common language everyone speaks."

[Chancellor Dewa Lanadi]

A young and lightly dressed veolian woman enters the common area from the entrance, walking arm in arm with an old veolian. The man's old age is apparent from his white hair, and his frail body. Observant onlookers will notice that although the young woman seems to carry herself in a relaxed manner, she actually supports the older man while he walks.

The couple moves in a straight line to the stairs towards the Lords' Lounge, and disappears from view.