User:The Stryker/Sandbox

Demographics

Konyang’s ethnic mix up is far less diverse than other Human planets’, resulting in a strongly homogenous population with a significant expatriate minority. Since the beginning, Konyang's colonists were made up almost entirely of ethnic Koreans, Japanese and Chinese, with any other Alliance nationalities representing a tiny fraction of it. With a reduced enticement from immigration due to the planet's remoteness and lack of any significant development, the situation stayed more or less the same, until Konyang's Robotics Boom, which catapulted the colony to one of great interest. Millions of foreign workers, scientists and corporate employees flocked to the planet to participate and share in its newly found fortune, creating expatriate communities of their own and injecting much-desired capital to fuel the rapid development of the economy. Such was the impact of the migration that the foreigners outnumbered the native Japanese Konyangers of Aoyama, making the city known to the wider world as Point Verdant, after the name of the local Terraneus Diagnostics facility which was home to the birth of the positronic brain.

Since then however, the return of normality after the twilight of the Boom led to the majority of foreigners leaving; the prime draw of positronic AI had spread away from Konyang and into the rest of the Alliance. The expatriates thus abandoned Konyang just as fast as they had arrived, leaving behind significant economic development and derelict industrial zones alike. While the percentage of foreigners on Konyang is now less than 2% of the total population, their numbers would soon be replaced by a rapidly rising IPC community. Presently, while virtually all citizens identify as Konyanger nationals, heritage remains a part of people's identity, as reflected in their names, the local dialect, religion and customs, even with a lot of fusions between the three cultural groups. The prefectures of Suwon and Boryeong are primarily of Korean heritage while Aoyama boasts of a Japanese heritage. New Hong Kong has always been a stronghold of a Chinese and Cantonese majority, with Ganzaodeng following last as the least populous prefecture on Konyang, with a heavy mixup of Chinese and foreigner communities. IPCs are present in all urban centers and rural areas, with most of them residing in New Hong Kong, followed by Aoyama.

Linguistics

Konyang's Earther heritage is vibrant and evident in the customs and languages that people speak. In every city, town and village, one will come across the local language being written and spoken alongside the planet's version of Sol Common, a practice that has become standard in a country that pursues equality between its constituent ethnicities and their unification under a common Konyanger identity. Over 70% of Konyangers are bilingual, having a grasp of their original Earther language. Many families especially in the countryside speak their regional language at home, leading to new generations perpetuating the practice and even preferring it to Sol Common. Prefectural schools also offer them as optional courses, with deeper learning being available in the form of local languages institutes and prefectural universities.

Konyang Solarian Common

The Konyang Solarian Common, also known as Konyang Common, is the official language of the state, spoken by virtually everyone on the planet and considered the standard language for everyday life. It is a dialect of Solarian Common, with the two having mutual intelligibility to a substantial level. Their differences lie mainly in the vocabulary, with Konyang Common replacing many words of descent foreign to the East Asia region of Earth, while staying more or less grammatically similar. Another significant difference is the complete absence of the Latin script in written Konyang Common, with solely the simplified Han system being in use. While this makes the language able to be spoken by Solarians, many find it difficult to read and write if they do not possess knowledge of the Han script. Konyang Common is an obligatory subject taught in every school, and every IPC citizen activated in the country receives it as a pre-programmed language datapack. While many families are bilingual, there are those that can only communicate in Common, especially in Suwon and the other melting-pot urban centers. The similar origin to the regional languages however, guarantees a certain level of mutual intelligibility. Konyang Common is also the language in exclusive use by the military.

Hangugeo

Hangugeo is the second most spoken language with its own script, directly descended from the Earther Korean language. It is spoken by about one third of the country and is more prevalent in Suwon, Boryeong and Point Verdant. Hangugeo can be taught in schools as an optional course in virtually all prefectures, though many children learn it from home at an early age. Many villages in Suwon and Boryeong only communicate with Hangugeo, which is also the language of countless rituals, festivals and religious functions in these lands. One can observe the prevalence of this language in Suwon during the night, with some roads being neon-lit with signage exclusively in Hangugego. Official government buildings in the two prefectures also feature both Common and Hangugeo, as do traffic signs, instruction books, local holovision channels, and more.

Nihongo

Nihongo is a language with its own script, descended from the Japanese language of Earth. Brought to Konyang by the settlers originating from the Japanese islands, it is spoken primarily in Aoyama and Suwon, though Nihongo speaking communities can be found all over Konyang. It features prominently on official signage all over Aoyama and the islands within that prefecture, but is otherwise not encountered in the rest of Konyang as greatly as Hangugeo. Nihongo also dominates every aspect of the Shinto religion, and many pieces of culture such as poems and books are written in the language, adorning the national libraries of the state. A strongmovement of writers and artists in Aoyama has recently become the backbone of an effort to spead the use of Nihongo across the country, leading to a resurgence of interest in the cities aimed at boosting the literacy of Konyangers of Japanese heritage in the language.

Hanyu

Hanyu is a language sharing the Han script and many similarities with Konyanger Common, and is as such the easiest to understand for many Konyangers. Spoken and seen primarily in New Hong Kong and Ganzaodeng, Hanyu is the language most connected in the minds of many to the planet's blue-collar industrial workforce, with tidbits of it always able to be heard in every hydroelectric dam, sea wall and shipyard in the New Hong Kong prefecture. Used alongside it by Konyangers of South Chinese descent is a unique dialect and standalone language known as Gwondungwa, spoken widely in many parts of New Hong Kong such as New Kowloon. Outside New Hong Kong, Hanyu can sometimes be followed by an unfortunate reputation; the language's connection to the Triad clans of the Benevolent Guild is something that many Chinese Konyangers are regretful of, with many PR campaigns throughout the prefecture's time having been aimed at rehabilitating the image of Hanyu and Gwondungwa in the eyes of public opinion.

Encoded Audio Language

Encoded Audio Language is a most widely spoken language, owing to the planet’s nearly positronic inhabitants, all of which are programmed by default to speak it. It is not a language that the human ear can comprehend, appearing as various pitches of white noise, accompanied by beeping sounds that only a machine can make. It has no script, instead relying on machine-readable mediums such as linear and matrix barcodes. Its compact form and IPC-friendly Konyanger culture makes it by far the most prevalent language in signage, with hundreds of words able to be conveyed instantaneously to IPC shoppers, workers, home media consumers and more with a single line of barcode. It is by law attached to all important official notices and signage, alongside Konyang Common, which IPCs are also taught to speak.

Others

Tradeband is a language of Solarian origin with its own Latin script. It appears only sporadically in exclusively expatriate communities in Point Verdant and Ganzaodeng. Its foreign nature and Romance sounds are steadily turning it into a language of prestige and luxury amongst the higher circles, with Tradeband speakers believing they possess a grade of richness and exoticism over their peers. For many Konyangers, being able to communicate in Tradeband brings up an image of high-end deals with foreign Solarian businessmen, fine Idris suits and expensive watches.

Freespeak is a language brought to Konyang through its constant dealings with the nearby Coalition of Colonies, the then Frontier Alliance. Despite its foreign origins, it has grown into a language of trade, with many Konyanger merchants being forced to learn it for their dealings with neighboring worlds. It is offered in schools as an optional language course, with many families now encouraging their children to learn Freespeak in the face of the recent accession into the Coalition. Freespeak is also a language that many in the pro-Solarian political circles steer clear of, regarding it as a tongue spoken by traitors and colonists whose ties to the Alliance are long lost.

Tau Ceti Basic is a language of Solarian origin that while previously confined in the expatriate and corporate circles, it has seen a significant rise in popularity within Konyanger society in the last 2 years or so, owing to an increase in dealings with Tau Ceti and its megacorporations. Many young people are particularly exposed to Bieselite media, making them inclined to adopt a conversational skill in the admittedly easy to learn Basic. The language is also connected to the vast influence of megacorporations that exist outside of Konyang, and many have to learn it if they wish to find employment within Nanotrasen and the SCC.

Religion and Holidays

The Republic of Konyang is a secular state with no official religion. With around 72% of the population professing no faith, it nonetheless maintains strong communities of various religions carried over from the colonists’ home countries. The urban areas are the most irreligious compared to the rural towns and villages, the people of which are regarded as more spiritual in general. While shrines and temples do exist in most cities, it is the countryside where one can see them dotted out in the jungles and mountain ranges, maintained by the local communities.

Despite the predominant atheism or agnosticism in Konyanger society, religious traditions remain a significant part of the national culture. Government mandated public holidays often fall on the same days as major religious holidays, cabinet members and local officials regularly pay visits at major shrines, while nominally religious festivals have become cultural staples in all five prefectural capitals, attracting thousands every year. Ancient traditional dress that was once lost to the adoption of streetwear and business attire, has been revived and preserved through direct connection with certain faiths. It is then frequently worn and enjoyed by millions during these days, ensuring the original cultures’ continuation while making artisans and craftsmen in towns and villages thrive.

Folk Religions

A blanket term for the myriad of local faiths, ranging from or incorporating elements of shamanism, polytheism and animism, folk religions are most frequently found in settlements outside urban centers. There is no semblance of organization, with each community usually having their own deities and customs, which usually share elements with the faiths of nearby villages or the wider area. They are heavily influenced by the settlers’ original ethnicities, becoming vastly different in terms of language, dress and traditions depending on the Hangukin, Nihonjin and Zhongguorin origins. During the nearly 150 years of Konyang’s settlement, many new distinctly Konyanger folk religions have sprung up, mostly centered around the rich natural environment or fauna. Positronics are usually welcome to partake if they wish, with a few IPCs known to have become shamans and priests in their local communities. Folk festivals are usually organized between villages and nearby towns in tandem with the secular authorities, with virtually every area enjoying some sort of regional celebration.

Shinto

A religion of exclusively Japanese origin, Shinto is a nonetheless disorganized religion revolving around the existence of kami - minor and major deities connected with the natural world and various aspects of daily life. Initially mostly encountered in the Aoyama prefecture, Shinto practitioners can today be found everywhere, the religion having been adopted by many Konyangers all over the globe. Ever since the arrival on the planet, many new kami have been created or fused with old ones, giving Konyanger Shintoism a distinct identity. A central aspect of Shinto are shrines dedicated to kamis as a place where they can be venerated. Shrines are structures which can vary greatly in their size and architecture, and are usually maintained by the temple’s shrine maidens. Many Konyanger households have also adopted their own house altars, called kamidana, for the enshrining of kami. This has also progressed into a secular tradition as well, with many kamidana being present in a house to grant a family prosperity and good luck. Torii gates are also another cultural icon of Konyang and the Aoyama province in particular, where their presence marks the grounds of a shrine. They can be found commonly in the countryside, with many remaining hidden in jungles and overtaken by moss.

Buddhism

Another blanket term for the many sects of Buddhist teachings originating from East Asia, Buddhist religious elements can be found throughout Konyang in households of all origins. Based on tenets brought to the planet since its colonization, it is most famous on Konyang for the few of its monasteries present in the mountain ranges, as well as its rich history and traditions that have heavy influences in Shinto and many of the folk religions. Buddhist monastic communities are considered a significant part of Konyager heritage that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, with specially designated monasteries allowed to operate freely on land donated by the prefecture.

Chondo

A peasant religion at its core, Chondoism is geographically limited to the coastal areas of Boryeong and Suwon, having a strong association with the piratical sea bandit factions and the downtrodden villages. Having entered a period of transformation and rebirth, it revolves around teachings of social equality under a God, challenging the establishment and building a bond between the rural peasantry for the improvement of their situation. Described more as a movement or political expression rather than a religion, Chondoism doesn’t possess any meaningful formal organization, festivals or temples, with many people mixing up Chondo teachings in the folk religions they actually practice. Due to its association with the sea bandits, practitioners of Chondo are looked on with suspicion by both the public and the state.

Trinary Perfection

The Trinary Perfection is the newest and an almost exclusively positronic religion with a few human followers, preaching the divinity of synthetic life and its eventual ascension with the help of organics for a better future. It is primarily located in Aoyama, with the nearby drone vaults considered a holy place and popular Trinarist pilgrimage destination. It is one of the few formally organized religions, and is somewhat unpopular with the general public and many secular IPCs, due to the perceived teachings of superiority of synthetics over humans. This unpopularity has sometimes gotten out of hand, with protests and violence against Trinary clerics and followers, requiring a substantial police presence around the Trinarist cathedral and other places of worship.

The most notable locations for the Trinary Perfection on the planet are the Cathedral of the First Positronic and Vault Provenance. The Cathedral of the First Positronic is a holy site that was built by repurposing a nearby vault. Meanwhile Vault Provenance, a name given by the Trinary Perfection clergy, was the vault which held the drones that led to the development of the first positronic brain. Tens of thousands of the Perfection’s faithful make pilgrimages to both sites, and the money these pilgrims inject into Konyang’s economy has been cited as another reason as to why the planet tolerates its presence. Trinary clergy are often educated on Konyang, and many of the highest-ranking officials in the faith were built on the planet.

Other

Christianity, Islam and other religions and religious movements have found a home in Konyang, having been brought over by both the original colonists as well as the immigrants during the Robotics Boom. These communities have their own temples, clerics and followers in the major cities, being allowed to practice freely under Konyang's tolerant legislation. Out of them, Christianity is the most popular with the native Konyangers, as some ethnic Koreans have professed the Christian faith since their arrival. All are however largely regarded as "foreign" by the vast majority of the population, who treat them with either indifference or benign curiosity.

Some notable holidays and festivals include:

Qixian New Year: January 15th

Adopted directly by all three communities from their original shared tradition, the Konyanger Qixian New Year is the most significant and widely celebrated day on the planet’s religious and secular calendar. Taking place yearly on the 15th of January, the date was standardized early on by the government to resolve disputes between the planet’s religions and religious sects that used their own versions of the Lunar and Qixian calendars. Hydrologically, it marks the beginning of the High Tides.

Fireworks are extensively used to mark the occasion at midnight, with people taking to the streets in major cities, towns and villages for the New Year Parade. The parade itself is the central and grandest spectacle of the night, and almost every organized institution in Konyang, from the military to the universities, takes part with dedicated parade teams. The paraders don traditional outfits and carry around enormous and overly decorated sculptures of animals or effigies of deities made of metal, wood or paper. Friendly rivalry is a strong element of the parade, with the participants trying to outdo each other in the creativity, amount and craftsmanship of their icon by grabbing the attention of the crowds. Alcohol, games and street candy are also major parts of the festivities, which reserve entire city blocks for the plethora of shop stands that are put up for the night, as well as the parade itself. In Suwon, it is tradition for the Prime Minister to attend from the veranda of Government House, underneath which the parade always goes through. A remnant from colonial times, this was a prime opportunity for the parade goers to tastefully voice their approval or discontent for the government through subtle signs on the sculptures, chants or dance moves as they passed under the balcony, though it’s not rare for this to get out of hand in times of economic strain and hardship.

For the religious aspect of the holiday, most practitioners start preparing from Qixian New Year’s Eve, with offerings or local religious celebrations and small festivals, mostly in the rural areas. Exchange of gifts is also widespread and varies from area to area, depending on the local culture and predominant religion. Dried moss is a particularly commonplace gift in the Suwon and Boryeong prefectures, meant to give the other person courage to last until the dry season. For most people however, the credit-filled red or white envelope never ceases to be a New Year’s classic, expected by all Konyanger children.

Konyanger Culture

Having settled on the planet some two hundred years ago, the people of Konyang have brought with them the societal norms, traditions and culture of their original lands from Earth's East Asia region. While migrant waves during the country's Robotics Boom introduced a myriad of new and different communities in the cities, these have had little impact on Konyanger society at large, which has been shaped by its original ethnicities' backgrounds, its colonial history, and the most recent embrace of IPCs into daily life. Said synthetics now make up a large percentage of the population, adding their own uniqueness and enhancing Konyang's cultural field, despite being brought up to follow the norms established by their human compatriots. By and large, the most fundamental aspects of being a Konyanger are followed in every region of the planet, though each national prefecture has developed its own peculiarities, from local cuisine and fashion, to religion and outlook on life.

The Three Values

Konyangers are raised to silently follow some core values, infused into them by both their families and the wider society around them. They are not named, nor are they set in stone or officially taught. Scholars however have grouped them in the three main categories of Harmony, Reciprocity, and Face, around which most values revolve.

Harmony regards how a person fits in with their environment, conforming with a strict social establishment and expectations. It is a key aspect everywhere, and is how Konyangers perceive a functioning and well organised society. Standing out is permitted within boundaries, with contemporary fads being accepted as just that, and not something that is allowed to disrupt the established order and traditions of the wider public. In the cities, children are expected to follow certain predetermined paths, get a stable career and provide for their parents later in life. Questioning rules is something an adult will do with great difficulty and consideration, while silently enduring a situation is viewed as a sign of great virtue and patience. A proper Konyanger is always expected to be courteous towards strangers and the elders, as well as maintain a level of awareness of the public mood and their surroundings. Talking above a whisper on a packed city bus or train for example, would be considered rather awkward, or even rude, by the rest of the passengers. This emphasis on social harmony on Konyang can go to lengths that people from other countries may find weird; never will a Konyanger think of cutting in line as they stand in a queue, nor will it cross their mind to cross a road in the city without going through the crosswalk or under a red light, even in light traffic. Asking for a raise is considered taboo, and in many cases workers will find their careers reaching a ceiling due to the fallout of transfering to a different company. Penalties for breaking the social harmony are not immediately apparent to an outsider, since complaining of one's behavior and creating a scene is not something that most Konyangers will find easy to do, nor will the police be called in most cases unless the act is egregious or criminal. For a person living there however, it is something that becomes apparent for both themselves and their close ones. Especially in more tight knit communities in the towns and villages of the countryside, ostracization is a real threat a person's social environment can use against them to prevent them from standing out.

Reciprocity is a concept not dissimilar to the sense of community that many other colonial nations experienced during their founding days, still persisting in daily life on Konyang. It is the sense that people have a duty to assist eachother, even if they are unacquainted. This is extremely prevalent in the rural areas, where the smaller populations create a more personal dimension between the inhabitants of the village. Trading for goods and services between neighbors and families is a very common thing both there and in the cities, stemming directly from the cultural phenomenon of reciprocity. On Konyang, when someone offers help, it is only proper for you to offer something in return at some point in the future. This may range from something simple such as hand-me-down clothes or groceries, to favors or even sums of money. Everyone, no matter their situation, is expected to participate in this process according to their means; During certain holidays or festivities, families keep track of others that they need to reciprocate to, often leading to huge dinners with entire city blocks or the whole village coming to celebrate together.

Face is a broad and hard to translate culmination of all the above virtues, critical to the fabric of society. It can be considered to be the "social capital" for a Konyanger and their family, determined by the set of appearances and behaviors they use to interact with the world. As long as a person progresses according to societal rules, keeping up with the ideals of harmony and reciprocity, they are said to have "face". This is an important concept applying to all rungs of society, as average individuals and the biggest Konyanger conglomerates alike strive to maintain their level of dignity and honor. Without it one is considered to live in disgrace, affecting both themselves and anyone whom they might associate with. A person who has suffered a loss of face may, for example, be excluded from social events, be avoided on the street or even lose their job on account of strict Konyanger corporate ethics codes. Families tend hide the more "shameful" secrets in fear that they might be discovered, particularly in the countryside, and disgraced family members are often not spoken of again until their face is sufficiently rehabilitated. Public functionaries and well-known figures are also extremely considerate of their image, with scandals in both government and the corporate world often leading to scapegoating and ceremonial dismissal of those deemed at fault. It is not uncommon for low-level business officials to resign in disgrace on live TV, begging the public's forgiveness and taking the blame so that their company can save face.

The social pressure upon Konyangers has always been enormous compared to other developed planets across the Spur, though more and more young people rise to question and reject the status quo. Counterculture movements have always been prevalent in the cities, especially amongst the student movements both in the present day and during colonial times. Resistance to what they call an oppressive social regime has led to the emergence of new genres of music, fashion and art, with the youth pioneering ever more novel and often provocative forms of self expression. While older generations and society at large may consider them "fads" and "phases" that the youth will eventually "grow up" from, it is largely from these culture movements that things such as IPC rights rose from to become widespread and staple elements of Konyang.

Work Culture

White collar employment is a major part of millions of Konyangers' lives, more so than people from other countries. Working for a local company is something a lot more intricate than how it is abroad, transcending the personal dimension one might have about their pay and career. For a Konyanger conglomerate, employment is a bond between the employer and the employee, from which both rights and responsibilities are born. Loyalty to the workplace plays a great role in people's lives, with employees expected to remain in their position for even their entire careers. Raises, promotions and benefits are handed out primarily based on time served rather than merit, rewarding the quiet and dedicated office worker. Knowing your place in the chain is very important in the office, as is observing decorum and the usually strict dress and ethics codes put down by the company. Unspoken rules dominate these environments, creating their own microcosm that reflects and accentuates the three values of Konyanger culture. It is custom that management treat their employees as part of an extended family; Konyanger corporations and firms have some of the best benefits packages, while no matter how badly underperforming, a loyal employee will never be fired, almost certainly receiving some sort of different post or responsiility that will accommodate them better instead. In exchange, full adherence to company rules is demanded, as well as a variety of personal initiatives will be expected, even if they are not included in the official responsibilities of the job. Personal donations for office events, undertaking additional work and regular overtime are very common expectations for workers, with the last two being particularly taxing. The old Earther concept of a "salaryman" is fully translatable to Konyang's white collar corporate culture, with many people putting work above their personal lives, often to a fault. Those that are unable to or refuse to integrate with the system are silently and swiftly pushed out, losing face and reputation between the corporate circles, blackening their record and significantly diminishing their chances of working at a different large Konyanger company.

The introduction of synthetics has exacerbated the workload issue. Konyanger employees are always expected to put in more hours to remain competitive against their synthetic counterparts, many of them willing to go to far greater lengths than what is healthy or required by their employer. The issue, particularly in Suwon, has grown to such an extent that local laws were passed, limiting IPC overtime work as well as making leaves mandatory for them in order for humans to catch up more easily. Such legislation has been fiercely debated as unconstitutional and infringing on the rights of synthetic citizens, nonetheless remaining in effect as a temporary, much needed measure. While a strong work ethic is a very common trait, the rural populace is generally more relaxed than their urban counterparts.

Most private local conglomerates such as PACHROM, big law firms, banks or shipping companies are more often than not exclusively interested in hiring Konyangers, Konyanger IPCs or people of shared descent, turning away foreigners apart from token numbers each year. This is due to a widespread perception that only Konyangers understand the fundamentals of the corporate culture, and thus will conform and not raise issues about the more oppressive elements of their employment. The more artistically inclined studios such as Konymation however, regularly bring in talent from abroad to enrich their style and productions. Creativity in Konyang's media industry is encouraged to thrive in the workplace, and while crunching and overtime are not unheard of, most studios are admittedly more relaxed environments compared to the strict office complexes. Blue collar work on the other hand, largely is in a rather different situation when it comes to obligations and expectations. As Konyang's industrial heartland rests within the prefecture of New Hong Kong, the concepts of forced overtime, unwritten rules and subservience to management do not exist, thanks to the region's history of robust labor unions and collective bargaining.

Life in Konyang

Urban Life

The Konyang of the 2460s bears little resemblance to the minor colony of 2305. Expansive cities dot its islands, with everyday life flowing very similarly to other advanced societies abroad. Its major urban centers are the respective capitals of each prefecture, with Suwon, Point Verdant and New Hong Kong having the heaviest density. Living in these areas has both its advantages and drawbacks, as Konyang's challenging landscape required innovative and compact planning. Surrounded by the sea on one side and either jungle, mountains, or both on the other, Konyanger cities tend to follow a pattern which consists of a sprawling and chaotic urban network orbiting dense downtowns. Cramped apartment blocks are particularly popular an unfortunate staple of the planet's "city charm", with the majority of the denizens living in so called "shoebox studios" due to the limited planning space and the general lack of raw materials such as steel. In the city, a large living space is a luxury that few can afford without sacrificing proximity to the central districts, where most of the economic activity is present. High rents are the norm in these situations, and unsurprisingly, the rich have the best pieces of real estate in Suwon and Point Verdant, owning entire buildings or large apartments with a seaside view in the heart of the urban center.

Apart from the job security and higher salaries offered by office work, urban life on Konyang presents limitless opportunities for nightlife and entertainment, as well as bustling shopping districts dedicated entirely to attracting tourists and people from out of town. Additionally, services are very well developed in the cities, with a shop at every corner catered to every need a person might virtually have. Small restaurants and takeout spots provide much needed and cheap hot meals for salarymen to grab during their small lunch breaks, many situated strategically within convenient reach of the big firms and office complexes. Healthcare and repairs are readily available in the form of hospitals and KRC clinics, as well as ready access to the country's biggest ports and space shuttledromes. Public transport is managed through a system of light urban rail and buses, and is regarded as essential for day-to-day movement; thanks to the rapid expansion during the Robotics Boom, poor planning has resulted in mazes of roads that are near always congested. Car traffic can delay commuters for hours in the overcrowded cities, despite Konyang's automobile industry trying to create even more compact and energy efficient cars. The snarled traffic is, in an odd way, a symbol of pride for some Konyangers. The mere fact that they have enough vehicles to have traffic issues is, compared to the rest of the outer ring, a symbol of the prosperity that has resulted from the planet's robotics industry.

However, smaller towns outside of the more famous centers have a different standard of living, with most being employed in water-related industries or manufacturing jobs. Wood is used as the primary material for construction, giving Konyanger towns a signature look that mixes modern technological achievements with centuries-old designs. A significant upside to life in these areas is the relative abundance of space, allowing for single-house homes outside of the centers, attracting pensioners and large working class families. Most towns are sustained by a nearby farming complex, dam or industrial center where the majority of the population is employed, while additionally serving as a hub for the surrounding villages that depend on it. Regional health centers, schools and other services can in many cases only be found at such towns, making them beacons for the wider area. The standard is not the same for all however, as many of these former "boom towns" of the robotics industry are entering into a spiral of decay due to an inability to continue to maintain their buildings and utilities. The cessation of government grants from the Alliance, the increase in price of construction materials from the offworld and many more calamities brought on by the phoron shortage have made these places unsustainable, leading to a flight of the younger population in waves of increased urbanization, contributing negatively to the growth and skyrocketing the mean age of the inhabitants.

Rural Life

Convoluted electricity pylons are a very common sight in the countryside.

Life in less populated areas and islands is generally regarded as more carefree, with coastal villages being relatively self-sustaining and liberated from the complicated stresses and cramped environments found in cities. Such settlements are dedicated to aquaculture, farming algae, as well as moss collection. One would struggle to find a village not built almost entirely out of wood, with lumberyards frequently dotting the countryside to exploit the lush jungles. Fishing is a major source of subsistence for rural people, with Konyangers being taught how to fish an take to the sea from a relatively young age. Most families usually own a boat, passed down from each generation to the next as a heirloom and major financial asset. Needless to say, virtually all Konyangers are apt swimmers from childhood, with diving being regarded as both a popular sport and a timeless tradition; some villages specialize in the export of certain goods that must be collected underwater by hand, at reefs and moss-covered seabeds, requiring diving which is often done without equipment. Farming, to a more limited extent, is also a big source of income for rural families. As adequately sized clearings are rare in the surrounding jungle, conventionally farming the boggy, heavily wooded Konyanger terrain is impossible without the low-scale terraforming conducted in the early colonial days. Today, most "farmers" delve into their plots of land inside the jungle to harvest the fruit, moss and other goods that grow naturally. Surprising as it may be, many IPCs find themselves in these communities, finding work in manual labour or in the fields. Considered fully integrated, synthetics participate fully in a village's social life, playing an important part of the social fabric and the workforce. It is not uncommon for a village to possess a KRC repair station and charging spots dedicated to positronics, and village shops are always stocked with goods and materials specifically for the IPC inhabitants.

Much care is given to keep the traditions of the original colonists alive, with old rituals thriving and sometimes only found in the rural villages. Shrines belonging to local religions are placed in prominent positions within the village, with many rural Konyangers having some form of memory of themselves playing, praying or celebrating in the presence of a statue of an animal deity or god. Traditional music, instruments and the art of making them remain vibrant in countryside culture as well, being in stark difference to the heavily industrialized electronic and pop music of the cities. Most crucial and known of all are the festivals, with every village being known for their own unique twist and tradition. People from all over the world flock to the rural areas during the holidays just to attend, with many involving big parades, shows, games and large amounts of local delicacies. The government is very supporting of such customs, not only for the planet’s cultural heritage but also as an important tourist attraction for both Alliance and Coalition visitors. Religious undertones are a lot more prominent in these celebrations and in village life in general, as are the concepts of family and conservative Konyanger values; respect and reverence of ancestors and the elderly are particularly important.

Mariner Life

Sailors, workers in remote hydroelectric rigs, radio technicians on scattered islands and anyone else who spends considerable amounts of time surrounded by the planet's vast seas and oceans is considered a mariner, an often thankless line of work in which millions of people are engaged. A life at sea means a life away from the comfort of family and friends, a life filled with danger and the unknown. As such, a stoic outlook is often required to cope with these harsh realities, with many aged mariners are hardened from decades of hard work and struggle against waves, cold and rain. In fact, the sight of thick, worn-out raincoats is indicative of a person's life as a mariner, with flocks of yell and orange-jacketed figures being very common in the large port-towns and cities of Konyang. Sailors and outpost technicians are expected to spend multiple months on a journey or at their post, the former sometimes being afforded short breaks at various resupply stops along the way. This lifestyle is not for naught however, as salaries for these professions far exceed the wages of corresponding employment on land. Many mariners can afford to both support a family and bank funds for the future, their income imrpoving substantially as they move up the ranks. Entire coastal villages and towns offer up their men, women and synthetics to the sea, who in turn bring back enough capital to completely transform the area with beautiful buildings and public spaces; the nicer a coastal settlement appears, the more chances it is dedicated to some mariner-related industry. It is not uncommon for even the lowliest of sailors to eventually own a vacation home in the countryside in addition to their primary residence, and many high-ranking captains and rig managers combine their wages to purchase their own merchant ship, giving birth to an ever increasing number of shipping companies.

The mariner lifestyle has subsequently created a specific subculture they and their families all in some way or another share, involving both traditional Konyanger values and traditions of the sea. Fidelity and supportiveness are particularly important for the mariner's relatives to exhibit, and it is in some way socially mandated. Seafarers regularly receive gifts, provisions and mail from home or the locals in the more distant ports they visit, and households may throw large parties to celebrate the homecoming of a relative after a particularly lenghty journey. Religious talismans and charms are sometimes carried for good luck, though most are generally not superstitious. Cleanliness is a point of pride for mariners, and since freshwater is not an issue, a clean shaven appearance is extremely common on ships and sea stations.

Media

Public media in Konyang is a powerful industry, and as broad as it may seem, it is very tightly knit. Aside from galactic-wide reruns and broadcasts of other nation’s shows, little seems to stand out - except the audio broadcast and illustrated artistic avenues. These two are well-refined artistic giants compared to other forms of entertainment on the planet.

A huge portion of the planet’s political views and very “personality” are channeled through its larger studios, where many are found enthused to spread its culture galaxy-wide.

Audio Broadcast

Radio, or more broadly the global net of wireless communication, is a huge industry in Konyang. Many IPCs have found harmless additions to their daily lives to be the standard headset and wearable radio kit, permitting any number of fast EAL communication planet-wide streamed directly into their receptors. While not particularly lucrative, the major broadcast stations have made quick work to monopolize their grip over this method of communication. Analog radio has also held a prominent position in people's routine, dating back to early colonial times. Most households maintain an analog radio set able to tune in to Konyang's many different stations that broadcast day and night on a planetary scale. Mariners especially make frequent use of the radio, with talk shows, news, and shipping forecasts keeping them company and up to date along their voyages in the open seas.

Matsumoto’s Talk and Walk

Meant for the on-the-go working IPC, this Encoded Audio Language bluespace broadcast is run by a particularly energetic “Matsumoto.” Though the true nature or even appearance of Matsumoto is unknown, they have constructed a massive following built from IPCs who obsessively strive to uphold their strict, rigid lifestyle. Talk and Walk states clear affiliation with multiple government and corporate organizations, particularly those with Hephaestus Industries. Matsumoto will often promote charitable foundations or corporate products found on Konyang, especially to those tuning in to their tourist-centric broadcast. When speaking in Sol Common, they take on a fast-paced and high-pitched masculine tone. They are frequently put on loudspeakers in popular tourist destinations, with recordings accompanying stylized eyeballs which track passerbys.

Great Blue Dot

Hidden somewhere in the depths of Konyang’s shallow seas is a moving, unseen broadcast station which has gone undetected since its first broadcast in 2430. It is known as the Great Blue Dot, attributed to what researchers believe to be its tremendous size and the color of its marker on sea-charts. While itself illegally broadcasts to every openly-receiving piece of hardware on the southern hemisphere of the planet, little can be gleaned of the actual broadcasts themselves. From incoherent gibberish of “swarms of wasps,” to “hives in the skies,” the outgoing material is poorly formed at best. Receiving these broadcasts is not illegal, contrarily, and the sheer number of watchful eyes bouncing back to the broadcast keeps its location perpetually hidden from local authorities. Search efforts for the source of the Great Blue Dot stopped in May of 2462, due to “excessive cost for little reward,” police officials say.

Visual Animation

Seasons 1-14 of BELIEVE!~, one of the flagship animations of Konyang entertainment industry.

Animated media is commonplace on Konyang, and chief among the many outlets that enhance its unique culture. Whereas hundreds, perhaps thousands of animated studios take up projects annually, very few make critical success. By far the most famous and successful studio, Konymation, remains a staple in everyday life, employing thousands throughout the planet in drawing, voicing and animating high budget movies and series of all kinds and genres. The industry, despite computer-aided assistance, heavily leans on IPC labor and organic oversight for its newly-animated creations. This makes it very costly, and few endeavors pay off. Some examples of those that succeeded are below.

Stormman

A very popular series created by Konymation, Stormman has been described as a staple animation by both human and IPC audiences. Aimed primarily at young adults, the action packed franchise features the masked protagonist, Stormman, harnessing the power of Konyang’s stormy and thunderous weather with his high-tech suit, battling crime and apocalyptic alien invaders alike, all while trying to lead a normal life. Eight seasons have been released so far, whereas merchandise of all sorts are widely prominent as well as lucrative.

Believe!~ (In the Time)

A hit animated series renowned for its choppy, quick action sequences led by a stoic heroine by the name of Marie, a time traveling Venusian shell IPC from the 2460’s. Targeted primarily at IPC audiences, it takes place in the pre-war “wild west” Frontier at around the early warp era. Being released in 2435, it has claimed fame as a “hit 30’s classic,” still being aired on prime broadcast stations globally in subtitled Sol Common. To organic viewers, much of the dialogue, tones or consistency is said to be lost in a muddle of incomprehensibly fast shoot-out scenes and plot twists that happen for split-seconds.

Comics

Spearheaded by Mujigae Publishing, the planet's comic sector has seen great successes that brought paper back into the mainstream. Comic books have a huge share of the market on Konyang, and is perhaps the largest industry of its kind to exist in any civilized world in the Orion Spur. Comic genres vary from children-oriented adventures, to gritty, graphic murder mysteries for adults, all of which may incorporate elements of fantasy and superheroes. Movie and animation adaptations of Mujigae's comics are also a common practice used to boost numbers, making readers able to see their favourite stories and characters on the big screen.

Inspector 404/Kyung-Sun

The front cover for the latest edition of I404, "Under the Shadows," featuring Kyung-Sun with superintendent Hayashi in the background.

Since its debut in the issue “Phantoms of Suwon,” the series simply referred to as I404 is the most popular comic in the Orion Spur, and Konyang’s most profitable media franchise. The series centers around the titular Inspector 404, a shell IPC who goes by the alias of Kyung-Sun, in a bleak and highly dystopian Konyanger cityscape. While the series itself starts upon a Suwon highrise, the character would go on to travel the world in its 67 current issues. Issue #67, known as “Under the Shadows,” revolves around the Kyung-Sun going up against the same police establishment he had been serving, pitting himself against corrupt police superintendent Hayashi.

The Corrupted

Written by former National Police detective Yu-Mi Han and originally published in 2464, The Corrupted is a successful yet controversial detective thriller set in Suwon which is regarded as a more grounded, realistic story than the competing Inspector 404. In first days of Konyang’s independence Detective Sergeant Dae-Jung Song and his assistant Detective Synthetic Duri-IU#21 (later Detective Duri Ryu) uncover a conspiracy by the Trinary Perfection to overthrow its government, turning the planet into a theocracy under a Trinary leader known as “The Patriarch.” Over the course of the series Song and Ryu discover the Trinary Perfection intends to infect synthetic citizens with a virus distributed through overloaders known as “go-sticks,” and the series culminates in a battle between the National Police — aided by 5-Cheung and the Sea Bandits — and Trinary Perfection in the streets of Suwon when their conspiracy is uncovered. Criticized by the Trinary Perfection as, “baseless propaganda,” — a comment put on the back of the series’ first omnibus — The Corrupted has become increasingly popular during Konyang’s ongoing viral outbreak. Han — herself an IPC residing in Suwon — has used its fame to bring attention to the ongoing crisis and encourage cooperation with law enforcement.

Fashion

Being as moist as it is, one would expect the average Konyanger outfits to consist of drysuits and reflective outerwear, with raincoats and the like. This is the case in the majority of urban settings, whereas people in the villages take quite their own unique spin on their fashion choices.

Insulation from water is difficult to come by without some form of thermal insulation coming with it. This is clearly suboptimal, seeing as beating the heat is just as important as staying dry here. In their ingenuity, rural Konyangers have utilized a “miracle weave” of natural fibers acquired from the feathers of much avian wildlife planetside. Replicating the byproducts of these feathers has proven impossible, leaving only hunting to produce the necessities for the weave. Traditional villages take immense pride in their unique attire, many calling it the most important difference between them and the cities. Combining vibrant colours and utility, Konyanger fields are regularly dotted with farmers sporting colourful ponchos, robes and traditional Gat headwear. Most rural Konyanger “fashion” draws from this weave in some form - resulting in cool, waterproof, and sharp-looking outerwear resembling a poncho in most cases. More complex items such as jackets and legwear are quite expensive and marketed as luxury items for the elite, with the weave still in quite high demand.

Urban fashion on the other hand is rather detached from the realities of that of the villages. The natural, feather based fabrics are rarely found amongst the denizens of the large cities, while those who do own them are quickly singled out as either people from the countryside, or individuals of a higher class. Rainy weather still being the primary issue, city dwellers have adopted a different stance, preferring clothes of industrial origin.

In combination with normal everyday clothing items, these Konyangers have adopted a heavy use of water resistant plastics. Stemming from the first years of settlement on the planet, plastic and translucent raincoats were slowly shaped into all sorts of jackets, coats and pants, creating a more comfortable and utilitarian approach to keeping clothes dry. Slowly developing into a fashion sense, and with research on more flexible materials, plastic-based attire has culminated into being the norm. LED lights, translucency and water resistance are the staples of this trend, the youth and clothes designers taking it a step further, with holographic microprojectors being woven and fluorescent substances infused into the material, creating quite the cutting edge in fashion.

Sports

Sports have been a pastime of countless Konyangers since the planet's colonization, with many of the sports now enjoyed being brought from Earth during its initial founding, often with little to no adaptation. The most popular sports vary from prefecture to prefecture, with football, basketball, and baseball as the most common. Volleyball ekes out a close fourth place, though many more sports are played on the planet.

Characteristic of the planet's stance towards synthetics, most sports have both IPC and human leagues. Synthetic sports originally started out as a gimmick during the initial development of IPCs - a publicity stunt and way for up-and-coming designers to prove the dexterity of new chassis and responsiveness of new brains. After a friendly challenge between a Zeng-Hu and Terraneus design team during the early days of synthetic development, IPC sports became a common facet of Konyanger life, with leagues seeing the opportunity to create matches that pushed the games to their limits and while celebrating the planet's accomplishments. Since their founding, most IPC sports leagues have grappled on whether or not to limit the scope of modifications that a frame can carry. Proponents of unrestricted modification argue that the leagues were founded as a contest of engineering as opposed to the skills of individual players, while opponents have countered that such a practice would turn the games into a 'pay-to-win' affair, with entire tournaments decided by the team with the deepest purse. Presently, both schools of thought can be seen across various sports leagues, with each take different views on the matter.

IPCs themselves are more often spectators than players of sports, as both the physical advantage that many frames enjoy over a human, alongside the regular wear-and-tear that constant physical activity exerts on a frame render casual games an occasionally costly proposition. On the other hand, professional IPC athletes proudly wear their legacy of being on the cutting edge of chassis design, with many of them often sporting bespoke modifications that allow them to gain the edge on the field. This trend shows no sign of slowing down, even after Konyanger independence, although with IPCs seeking contracts with teams to finance their sports-grade frames as opposed to being commissioned outright by the teams themselves.

Despite repeated efforts by government ministries to create a new national sport to serve as another symbol of Konyang, ranging from football in freshwater swamps to boat racing among mariners, and more, none of these attempts have managed to surpass the universal acclaim and popularity of old Earth sports. One controversial sport has remained, however: botfighting. Sparring between IPCs is often broadcasted even off-planet and maintains a loyal following among Konyangers who see it as a natural extension of various martial arts and combat sports present throughout the Spur. The sport has a checkered past with several failed attempts in the parliament to ban the practice, citing that IPC contestants were forced to fight before general emancipation. Although safeguards were present even during the initial days of botfighting in order to comply with self-preservation directives, regulations passed since then have made the present sport far safer than its inception, much to the derision of older fans.

Baseball

Baseball is unofficially regarded as the national sport of the Republic of Konyang, having been brought to the planet by its founding colonists and remained a popular sport to date. The Konyang League, divided into the major and minor leagues, is the main baseball league in the planet, with organic and synthetic sections for both. Organic Konyangers still play in Solarian baseball leagues, even after secession, but synthetic teams play in the Coalition’s leagues. Both organic and synthetic Konyangers are regarded as some of the best baseball players in the modern Spur, and a sufficiently talented player can find themselves playing abroad and earning a significant amount of money for doing so.

Konyang Major League

The Konyanger Major League is dominated by teams from the planet’s major cities such as Suwon and New Hong Kong, with the most prominent players of these teams becoming celebrities in their own right. The major teams of Konyang bring in billions of credits and are vital parts of their cities, with local notables vying to own one and city officials fighting to have stadiums built in their districts. Organized crime groups, such as 5-Cheung and the Benevolent Guild, are known to take their cuts too, “helping” businesses secure contracts for the teams and their stadiums, then funneling their cut of the money back into their illicit operations.

One of the only synthetic-exclusive sports leagues in the modern Spur, the Konyang Major League (synthetic) falls under a unique series of rules. Synthetics must, by league rules, be free and have at least Konyang residency, and most members come from Konyang. Synthetics are allowed to self-modify but must, per league rules, not use “performance enhancing” augments such as ballistic computers or leg actuators. One exception is for after-market heat-sinks used by shells, who would otherwise suffer from heat circulation issues rendering them unable to play. These rules were recently tested by Suwon Sea Bandit team captain Iseul-52, a shell IPC who replaced her legs with Zeng-Hu frame equivalents. After a two month investigation it was deemed an illegal modification. Teams can place any synthetic into any position, but lighter frames — baselines, Zeng-Hu frames, and so on — tend to be outfielders, with heavier units such as industrials serving as pitchers and basemen. Shells are often the “face” of the teams, serving as team captains and floating between the other rules. Only the Boryeong Shelfers go against this shells-as-captains trend, with G2 industrial Myung “Sonny” Sun serving as their team captain.

Konyang Major League Teams

Suwon Sea Bandits

Based on Konyang’s capital and colored black, gold, and white, the Sea Bandits a recently ascendant team after a long slump of losses during the mid-25th century, having recently won the 2465 Konyang Series and the coveted Jeweler Cup for both the organic and synthetic leagues — a first for any team. Most Bandits are locals from Suwon, with few originating from other cities and only one — human team shortstop William “Wok” Fitzroy, originally from Callisto — coming from off-world, and this policy of local recruitment has kept the Bandits a favorite in Suwon even during their long period of losses. The team has built more goodwill by holding regular charity games after the rampancy crisis, donating the profits to Suwon’s recovery. Their name comes from Konyang’s sea bandits — pirates that operate out of its remote islands — and has long refused to change its name for any reason. The Bandits winning the ‘66 Series has been viewed by many in Konyang’s capital as a sign their city is bouncing back after the rampancy crisis, and has made them more popular in their hometown than ever. Their mascot is Moon the Marauder, a stylized pirate who claims to be the most infamous bandit on Konyang and is in constant search of more treasure. Moon has a rivalry with the Cloudbursts’ mascot, Lieutenant Commander Yamada, and has sworn to evade justice for as long as possible. Whether Moon escapes Yamada depends on if the Sea Bandits beat the Cloudbursts. If they do, the Marauder gets away from his pursuer — but Yamada always manages to pick up the trail before the next season.

The human Bandits are led by team captain Kwang-Sun “Cap’n K” Nae. Captain Nae is a larger-than-life figure who typically attends press conferences and events wearing a costume pirate hat taken from the team’s mascot and speaking in what the team manager identifies as, “a piratical accent.” His co-captain for the synthetic team is Iseul-52, a shell IPCand pitcher who recently drew controversy by replacing her legs with Zeng-Hu frame equivalents. Eventually deemed an illegal modification by the league, her comments that she’d do, “anything to win,” make her a controversial figure now — even with her original legs reinstalled. Iseul has a very public rivalry with Shelfers team captain Myung “Sonny” Sun, having pitched a perfect no hitter against the G2 in 2466 and brought his Jeweler Cup dreams to an end. Captains Nae and Iseul have a good working relationship and often appear in joint promotions, with both appearing in several government-produced PSAs during and after the rampancy crisis.

Aoyama Roboticists

Arguably the best-funded team in the league, the Aoyama Roboticists’ colors are gold and green: the same as their sponsors, Einstein Engines. The Roboticists have a larger number of off-world fans than any other team on Konyang and are frequently watched by Einstein employees, who view them as “their team.” Well-funded and well-trained, most human Roboticists come from outside Aoyama and even offworld, with their synthetic team requiring a prospective member to demonstrate they were made by Einstein — making them the only majority-shell team in the league. As a result, while the human Roboticists have consistently been excellent — making it all the way to the Konyang Series game in ‘65 only to lose to the Sea Bandits — the synthetic Roboticists have consistently struggled compared to other teams made of a more diverse synthetic roster. They are sometimes painted as a villain by other teams, and the Roboticists play into these rivalries — often their away games draw more tickets to the home team’s stadium than any other game. Their mascot is a stylized Albert Einstein wearing an Einstein Engines labcoat.

The human Roboticists are led by the only non-Konyanger captain in the major league, Mercuryian Floyd “Howie” Howell. Captain Howell is a competent, if somewhat boring, man who is a gifted coordinator. Both of his parents, and all of his siblings, work for Einstein, and he often throws the ceremonial first pitch of Einstein-run employee team-building baseball games in Aoyama. His organic counterpart is Richard the Magnificent, a dashing-looking shell designed to resemble a Callistean known for talking in an outlandish Earther accent. Richard is popular despite his team’s lack of success and often makes appearances on talk shows and podcasts. His likeness has even been featured as a background character in Believe!~ (In the Time), and Richard himself is rumored to lend his voice to unvoiced animals in the show, instead making noises. He has never officially confirmed this.

Boryeong Shelfers

Colored green, white, and red, the Boryeong Shelfers are a mid-ranked team currently stuck in something of a rut in the major leagues, having last won the Jeweler Cup in 2442 — over twenty years ago! Shelfers — like the animal they’re named after — come from across Konyang, but most originate in the greater Boryeong Prefecture and its major cities, such as New Busan. The Shelfers are owned by Go-Go Gwok (formerly known as Gwok-0783), the CEO of Gwok Group, and the team is featured in many Gwok promotions, with players appearing in everything from radio ads to TV commercials to packaging. Gwok herself has injected significant funding into the team and is rumored to be working on ensuring they capture the Jeweler Cup by 2470 — something that has been growing more realistic, with the Shelfers consistently finishing higher in the Major Leagues each year. Their mascot is a Shelfer wearing a team jersey who they claimed grew legs (and arms) out of his sheer desire to see the team play.

The human Shelfers are captained by Hee-Young “Hehe” Ryuk, a daughter of two Boryeong hydroponics workers who’s become a local hero in the Prefecture for her down-to-earth nature and refusal to accept contracts for any other team. Her nickname comes from Ryuk’s habit of pranking her team and others, such as an incident where she replaced random practice balls with identical copies filled with confetti and designed to break open after hitting a bat. Ryuk has a well-known dislike of Gamblers human captain Jin-Sang Gwak, a man she views as a criminal first and a player second. Standing opposite her on the synthetic Shelfers is Captain Myung “Sonny” Sun, a G2 industrial and former Gwok Corp worker. Sonny is one of the tallest players in the League and often regarded as its best power hitter, having scored more homeruns than any other synthetic player. Captain Iseul of the Sea Bandits has a very public rivalry with Sonny, having struck the G2 out several times — most recently in 2466, when she brought the Shelfers’ Jeweler Cup dreams to an end. Sonny, for his part, is one of the few players to hit a homer on one of Iseul’s pitches every time during a game, last doing so in 2465. Breaking from the rivalry in a show of support after the rampancy crisis, Manny signed and sold the bat he used to hit every one of Iseul’s pitches at auction and donated the proceeds to Suwon’s recovery fund.

Ganzaodeng Gamblers

Colored purple, black, and white, the Ganzaodeng Gamblers call back to their city’s days as a boomtown during the robotics boom, when gambling halls were on almost every corner. Gamblers come from across Konyang, and the human team has a significant minority of players from New Hai Phong. Fittingly for their name, their performance has been wildly inconsistent: over the past ten years they’ve won the Jeweler Cup (in 2452), placed lowest overall (2455), and came in second overall twice (2449, 2553). Fans of the team refer to this as “Gambler odds” and Ganzaodeng has many legal and semi-legal sports betting businesses — many associated with organized crime — based around betting how well the Gamblers will place this season. Hai Phongese organized crime has long been rumored to be involved in betting around the Gamblers, but the National Police have never discovered formal evidence of such. The mascot of the Gamblers is a deck of cards wearing the team’s jersey called the Ganzaodeng Ace as the deck is said to contain just aces.

The human Gamblers are captained by Jin-Sang Gwak, one of the league’s best shortstops and a man long accused of being involved in game fixing — though nothing has ever been proven. Gwak maintains a close relationship with New Hai Phong, where he plays during the offseason, and is viewed by many on the team as a bridge between its Konyanger and Haiphongese players. His counterpart on the synthetic team is Youngsoo “Grenadier” Baek, a KAF veteran known for his aggressive pitching style who missed the 2465 season due to volunteering for military service during the rampancy crisis. Captains Gwak and Baek, despite their similar surnames, do not get along. Where Gwak is lackadaisical and flirts with corruption, Baek is disciplined — even draconian — and held as incorruptible. What will happen as the captains continue to be at odds is any player’s guess, but it certainly does benefit Ganzaodeng’s betting industry.

New Hong Kong Cloudbursts

Colored red, orange, and grey, the Cloudbursts represent New Hong Kong and derive their name from the city’s infamously poor weather. The performance divide between the human and synthetic teams is stark: while the human cloudbursts are regarded as the worst team in the major leagues, having never won a Jeweler Cup, the synthetic Cloudbursts are regarded as one of the best teams in their league, having most recently won the cup in 2465 in a close game against the Sea Bandits. This division has been called, by some sports reporters, the result of New Hong Kong having a majority synthetic population, and the prefecture’s bad weather making it difficult to draw players in for its human team. The mascot of the Cloudbursts is Lieutenant Commander Yamada, a stylized Konyang Aerospace Forces — formerly Solarian Navy — officer who has a rivalry with the Sea Bandits’ Moon the Marauder, with Yanada publicly swearing he’ll chase down the brigand until the end of time. Whether Yamada catches Moon depends on if the Cloudbursts win their game against the Sea Bandits — but the Marauder always manages to slip from his prison before the next season starts.

The beleaguered human Cloudbursts are led by Captain Min-Jee “Minty” Seong, the oldest team captain in the league and a veteran pitcher. The longest-serving member of the Cloudbursts, Seong is expected to retire by the end of the decade — leaving her team in even more uncertain circumstances. As a captain she has done what she can to make the Cloudbursts into a winning team, but has yet to win the Jeweler Cup — the highest she’s had them place is third overall. Her counterpart on the synthetic team is Jinjing “Bandit” Wu, a catcher and former Solarian Navy IPC who became a Konyanger when her destroyer chose to stay and fight for Konyang rather than defecting to a warlord state. Widely known as a patriotic Konyanger, Wu is one of the few players to wear a hachimaki on the field. Off of it, she has long been an advocate for the rights of IPC refugees fleeing unrest or oppression elsewhere in the Spur.

Ushishir Yōkai

Colored white, purple, and red, the Ushishir Yōkai (stylized Yokai abroad) hail from Konyang’s least populated prefecture but punch well above their population, having recently won the hunan Jeweler Cup in 2461 and the synthetic Jeweler Cup in 2463 — the first team to ever win the series. Both the human and synthetic Yõkai are considered to be competent and competitive teams but had a bad year in the ‘66 season, with an early season injury having put team captain Aki Miura out of commission and the synthetic team losing to the Shelfers in the 9th inning in one of the closest games of the year. As a small city in a small prefecture, the Yōkai’s human team recruits many players from across the Coalition and maintains only a slim majority of Konyangers. The Yōkai’s foreign players have never attracted the ire of their counterparts in the Roboticists, potentially due to most coming from the Coalition and the team’s lack of a corporate sponsor — instead being owned and operated by local businessman Takeshi Furukawa, CEO of Furukawa Footwear — a midlevel corporation whose products can be found in stores across Konyang.

The human Yōkai are captained by Aki “Mickey” Miura, freshly returned from a nearly career-ending injury to his leg in the ‘66 series. Captain Miura is a gregarious and friendly man known for his distinctive pencil mustache and slightly grey hair, being only a year younger than Cloudbursts captain Min-Jee Seong. A power hitter, he is famous for his ability to call a shot and make it a homerun — and holds the current record for homers in the major league. Miura has appeared in anti-crime TV and radio spots with Shelfers captain Hee-Young Ryuk, and advocates for sports as an alternative to gang allegiance for youth — efforts that have led to the National Police giving him the honorary rank of inspector. His counterpart on the synthetic team is Captain Kazuki “Kaz” Oshita, a pitcher and the first synthetic to lead his team to victory in the major leagues. Captain Oshita is known to visit a shrine before every game he plays in to “debug” himself before he throws the first pitch, and was censured by the Konyang League for spreading false information on Chirper about purity seals preventing rampancy infection during the crisis. His comments nearly caused a brawl between the Yōkai and Sea Bandits during the ‘66 game between the teams — informally known as the “Rampancy Game” due to taking place right after the crisis’ end.