Permafrost

An island on the edge of the Void

As seen in

To Know Your Enemy

Permafrost is the name of both an icy disk of a planetoid on the far reaches of the Draconian System , and the town that has grown on its glacial face. Sustained by the elliptical orbit of the system's secondary sun, Ballock, it is the only available place to replenish air, water, and supplies on the far edge of the expansive solar system. Only the sunward side of the tidally-locked disk is inhabited. The other, which experiences greater extremes of heating and cooling, bristles with hazardous, unstable ice formations, pits and chasms. Despite its size, Permafrost has about 85% of the usual earth planetary gravity and, despite lacking a molten core, a strong magnetic field. Geologists believe it might have a Mithril and Starmetal core instead. Most of the planetary body consists of water ice, while the remainder is regolith. Its atmospheric pressure is equivalent to typical high mountain climates.

Permafrost by Michael Hiraeth

Demographics

Breakdown

Children: 954
Adults: 2505
Elderly: 517
Ill/Infirm: 396
Known Criminals: 30
Urban Population: 2688
Rural Population: 1288

Species

Elf: 1192 (30%)
Allyri: 995 (25%)
Human: 397 (10%)
Gnome: 278 (7%)
Dwarf: 159 (4%)
Uruk: 119 (3%)
Other: 836 (21%)

Through the summer, there are about three times as many travellers on Permafrost as there are residents. During the cold and dark winters, that number dwindles to about twice as many. Of "visitors," about half are members of the Avalonian Imperial Navy and Marine Corps.

Government

Permafrost is a demarchy, run by a cooperative of "guilds." Each governs a particular area of concern, such as construction, mining, fishing, luxury imports, etc. The Navy and Marine Corps are also considered a "guild," in charge of defense and security. Many residents resent the presence of the Navy and would prefer to be left to run their own affairs.

Defences

The Docks are defended by three ballistae, which are in the process of being replaced by rail-guns. The only wall is the one surrounding the Gate District, since any attack is likely to come from the sky. However, it is strongly enforced by the Draconian System Fleet; especially since the surprise attack and occupation of the First Interstellar War (IW1).

Industry & Trade

Fisherfolk: 709
Oyster Rakers: 646
Clamdiggers: 627
Dockworkers: 302
Service Industry: 287

Miners: 230

Haulers: 122

Labourers: 102

Farmers: 50

Greenhouse Workers: 27

An "unofficial" industry is contraband smuggling. One can arrange to acquire almost anything here for the right price. There are 30 known fences and smugglers who operate mostly in the Docks. Many more remain unknown.

Permafrost Soil by Nikondian

Infrastructure

Permafrost is devoid of trees and supports extremely limited plant life. As a result, houses are constructed of stone, brick, or in the colder season, ice blocks. The Manor House and Gate District utilize the beautiful alabaster that is one of Permafrost's distinct natural resources. The other two districts use laterite stone or brick, which is fire-dried in dedicated tunnels. Roads are made of cobblestone. Most terrestrial geologists would be surprised by the availability of laterite in this frigid climate, because this iron-rich rock is usually associated with tropical regions. However, Permafrost is an asteroid, and since it does not have a molten core, siderophile elements, including iron, remain close to the surface. It is possible that the wet and dry cycles of the melting and freezing creates the necessary flooding and drying conditions that are needed to form laterite. The Frosties make use of the regular flooding and freezing cycles with basin irrigation and raised beds. Cold climate crops such as spinach and kale, carrots, turnips, and leeks are grown in the summer months to sustain the local population, leaving little for travellers. Still, some enterprising Frosties have begun to invest in greenhouse technology, and they sell the results to starfarers at inflated prices. Water reclamation is an important part of Frosty infrastructure. The major local water source is Crater Lake, and its heavy salinity prevents it from freezing most of the year. While this salt water is a good environment for supporting food supplies and industries, it also makes the water undrinkable. The Frosties reclaim fresh water by melting ice, and through an ingenuous process of filtering with the natural freeze-drying of the Void. By tradition, starfarers are welcome to mine as much ice as they want for free, as long as they take it from outside the recognized town limits. Void-filtered water may be purchased at 1*N a barrel. Ice may be purchased from ice miners for 1*S a block. They also trade the salt byproducts of the filtration process, at 1*Sp per pound.

Districts

Lake District by IsmailPhotography

Gate District by Sabine Ruhland

Permafrost divides itself into three districts. The inhabitants of the Lake District are subsistence farmers, fisherfolk or miners. The Docks are populated by labourers, especially dockworkers; and locals in the service industry, from innkeepers, to launderers and tailors, to bouncers and prostitutes. The Gate District is reserved for administrators and the Navy and Marine Corps, who maintain a base here. By default, they also serve the functions of security and policing; mainly limited to keeping people from robbing or killing each other. The Manor House is the traditional residence of the Rear Admiral of the Draconian Fleet, who is responsible for the system's defense. They often seek promotion or retirement more quickly than Rear Admirals of other fleets do.

Lake District

Type: Coastal
Population: 323
Primary Building Style: Laterite
Secondary Building Styles: Fire-Dried Bricks
Aesthetics: Normal
Cleanliness: Dirty
Upkeep: Handsome

Dock District "the Docks"

Type: Docks
Population: 188
Primary Building Style: Stone
Secondary Building Styles: Adobe
Aesthetics: Normal
Cleanliness: Filthy
Upkeep: Lived-in

Gate District

Type: Gate
Population: 242
Primary Building Style: Laterite and Alabaster
Secondary Building Styles: Fire-Dried Bricks
Aesthetics: Tasteful
Cleanliness: Orderly
Upkeep: Well-Kept

Assets

Traditionally, the Frosties have acquired the many things they need by trading in mined water ice and alabaster, iron and zinc. Recently, trace amounts of Mithril and Starmetal have been discovered in the run-off, and it is almost certain that large deposits must be present somewhere nearby. Locals fear it won't be long before their home, already over-populated by starfarers, will become overrun with a "gold rush."

Slope Mine

Gathers Zinc
50 workers

Slope Mine

Gathers Iron
50 workers

Slope Mine

Gathers Ice
30 workers

Fishery

Gathers Saltwater Pearls and Mother-of-Pearl
646 workers

Placer Mine

Gathers Mithril
50 workers

Placer Mine

Gathers Starmetal
50 workers

Points of interest

Special Features

Bottomless Pit: 1.10 miles northeast - The Navy's surveys have confirmed that this pit literally is bottomless, as it pierces right through to the other side of the disk.
Ancient Temple: 2890 feet south - A crystal temple of Arianrhod, of ancient Avalonian construction, is within visible sight of the town. Arianrhodians still come there to worship, and a few clergy live there year-round.
Ruined Fortress: 1.20 miles southeast - These ruins are thought to be of ancient draconic or giantish construction.
Butte: 1.95 miles southwest - A distinctive laterite butte serves as a visual landmark, just a couple miles outside the town limits. Locals say it is haunted and never travel there.

Permafrost is also known for its spectacular starry vistas and auroras.

Natural Resources

Stones

Igneous: Granite
Sedimentary: Alabaster, Laterite, and Limestone

Ores

Metals: Iron, Zinc, Mithril, Starmetal

Fish and Seafood

Clams, Oysters, and Haddock

Other

Water Ice

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Permafrost View from Space by Rolandoemail

Founding Date

4355 AC

Type

Outpost / Base

Population

3976

Inhabitant Demonym

Frosties

Location under

Draconian System

Owning Organization

Avalonian Imperial Navy

Crater Lake by Natalia Kollegova

Climate

Polar Ice Field
Avg. Annual Temperature: 7F / -13C
Avg. Annual Precipitation: 16.97 in
Avg. Annual Snowfall: 50 feet
Seasons: Polar Summer and Polar Winter
Prevailing Winds: east to west