16.6.3 The Holocene Gallery

(This is an entry for The Shop Contest 963 A.E. See - SHOPCONTEST)

Shop Name: the Holocene Gallery

Location: Fontain Station, Diamond Belt. (Entrance UP from v6817)

Room Names and Descriptions:

the Palladium Gardens (UP from v6817)
Stately white ceramic tiles span a palladon-plinthed colonnade as it encloses these sprawling gardens, interrupted only occasionally by glass-domed displays proudly lauding a variety of artefacts and curiosities for the consideration of passersby. Soft grasses, ferns and wildflowers have been carefully tended to create diverse and aesthetic lawns, while stands of silver rosala and cotton-blossom glimmer beneath the forcefield-tinted immensity of the Diamond Belt beyond the station. An elevated gallery rises above colorful awnings, containing a restful courtyard with ample seating and discrete terminal access within the curling arm of its access ramp.

within the Holocene Gallery (IN from Palladium Gardens)
Many variations in height and shape dispel any perceptions of structural uniformity here in this spacious, ivory-enameled gallery; instead, it is divided by dozens of lower levels and elevated platforms to form open-plan alcoves for public exhibitions or private conversations alike. Occluded ivory ombre r-glass forms most of the walls, granting clear views of the palatial surrounds while controlling the ambient light. Matte silk blackout curtains encircle the walls above the gallery, clusters of spotlights and projectors discretely speckle the ceiling, and small LED-lit vents line every platform - all clear indicators of AR-compatible infrastructure.

Stock List: The NPC attendant will be only too pleased to assist visitors to the Gallery by supplying a wide, seasonal variety of holograms, masks and a postcard, as well as refreshments, bottles and glasses.

Décor/Furniture:
(In the garden)
I’m hoping to have these display stands, where I can put an item in and close the lid to prevent/reduce decay in order to facilitate more design contests. Looking at the plinth should show the appearance and examined fields of whatever has been placed inside of it.

a glass-domed palladon plinth with solar rays
Golden rays streak across a palladon plinth and form a wireframe corona around its display dome.

a glass-domed palladon plinth with lunar crescents
Elegant crescents twirl across a palladon plinth as it solemnly upholds its display dome.

a glass-domed palladon plinth with crystal comets
Crystalline comets arc across a palladon plinth, encircling its display dome with light.

NPC Backstory:

Ankhem is a former Oteel slave, indoctrinated into a service-oriented mindset by his original Fatar owners, a state of zero-self-esteem reinforced with violence by the pirates that scavenged him from the wreckage of his original master’s ship.
My character was plying this particular group of pirates with drugs, alcohol and games of chance in pursuit of new smuggling connections when he met the Oteel. Though my character prefers to follow the path of least resistance, the casual cruelty of the crew and their inclination to maim him for every perceived slight moved him to intervene – he did what he could to repair the Oteel’s carapace and wings, drugged the pirates’ hooch and escaped the illegal refinery with Ankhem in tow.
Unwilling to exert ownership but understanding the altogether different cruelty of leaving Ankhem alone in the sector, my character invited him to join his dynasty, placing him somewhere between employee and adopted family. Even so, Ankhem struggles to come to grips with his freedom, unable to completely accept his own self-worth – to this day, he still refers to himself as an object, and feels uneasy without the familiar feeling of chains around his neck.

NPC Description: a gilded Oteel attendant – Ankhem

Buzzing out a murmured mantra as he ambles through the gardens, a gilded Oteel attendant waits to be of service to guests here.

Dull grey-green carapace as smooth as porcelain gives a polished sheen to this Oteel attendant, disrupted only by craggy black protrusions along the anterior of the forearms, shoulders and head. Glassy black and amber panels form the mosaic of his eyes, matching the color of his eight-jointed mandibles, his thin and curling antennae and the tapered point of his sting-tipped, waspish abdomen. Though appearing to be in good health, he has sustained significant damage in some former fracas, with tattered iridescent wings and deep cracks in his exoskeleton seemingly repaired by striking veins of gold, an electrum wing-lattice and dozens of colorful nanoplastic panes. Several flower chains drape around his neck, limbs and thorax, clearly hand-made and likely soon in need of replacing.

Greet: say (Dipping into a bow with wings outstretched) This one bids you welcome to the Palladium Gardens. It hopes your time here is pleasant.
Greeted by a Dynasty member: say (With a single moment of eye contact and a nervous buzz) Ankhem greets you, <name>. It is… I am happy to see a friendly face.

Response: What is this place?
say (Flexing his mandibles) This one understands that the Palladium Gardens are for the pleasure and use of all visitors to Fontain Station. Please feel welcome to stay for as long as it pleases you.
Response: What is that building over there?
Say (Looking up to the structure overhead) That? This one understands that it is named ‘the Holocene Gallery’, and is a place to view fine things and enjoy fine company.
Response: Is that a trade terminal?
Say (Antennae flicking towards the terminal) That is correct. This one is tasked with providing any amenity possible to guests. It would be only too grateful to provide anything you care to order through the terminal.

Ambient: A droning insectoid buzz catches your attention momentarily as the attendant passes by, offering an attentive glance and a polite dip of the head.
Ambient: Taking a seat for a few moments, the attendant fashions a new flower-chain from freshly-plucked wildflowers and freshly-chewed cotton, donning it with care before returning to his duties.
Ambient: After a long period of contemplation, the attendant hesitantly removes a flower-chain, placing it respectfully among the other blooms.


Part 2:
My character is an Elgan of no small ambition; he hopes to be an influential merchant, famous artist and legendary hedonist, and to his mind, it is impossible to become any of these things without a seat at the table with the movers and shakers of Fontain Station, where the sector’s glitterati meet to spend money on luxuries that poorer spacers can hardly dream of.
By opening the Holocene Gallery (and the Palladium Gardens surrounding it) in the Diamond Belt, he hopes to participate in the splendor of the station and provide a service to all of his clients regardless of such petty things as factional politics. By providing a place for anyone to gather and hold events, the Gallery could quickly become a cultural icon – Echanini fashion shows, Wrocyn Weaponry viewing shows, faction-sponsored trade faires, art auctions, diplomatic conferences, Fontain society galas and more would all be welcome under his roof, winning him a front-row seat to the finest the sector has to offer.
As a facility nominally owned by his dynasty, my character would be the curator of the Gallery, and for that reason, only his selection of items and refreshments is available in the garden’s shop terminal. By customizing this terminal seasonally, or for events, he would be able to cater to a wider variety of needs, supporting cultural affairs of every kind while turning a tidy profit in the process. The day to day operation of the Gallery is inconsequential however – anyone is welcome to use the facilities whenever they please (it is intended as a place for Starmourn’s player community to host events in!).
One additional fact of note – the gallery is also intended to be a public access holosuite, with references in the roomdescs to that effect, and a wide variety of AR/VR holograms available in the terminal outside. It would be helpful to include a ‘reset’ button in the gallery that deconstructs any ‘built’ items for ease of use for those without the relevant tradeskills.