Winston's Wayfaring Resort
This article needs some polish no doubt, if you find any typos let me know!
I got a glance at the person to my left. A Chea, strapped with muscles and thick horns that arced around their head like a halo. I looked down, within their glass was a swirling ocean of blood-red with glittered flecks of whatever flavor they wanted.
It was just translucent enough for my eye to catch the red and white eel grub that circled within. I could only imagine the crunch it would make as it served its final purpose.
"Hey, I could order you one too? Always fun watching a Human's reaction to real alcohol." They tipped the glass back, sucking up the excited little grub and swallowing it whole. That got to me more than the crunch I imagined.
Did not feel great getting called out, thankfully with the hundreds of people crowding this particular lounge, no one else heard. Their confident voice made me consider. What could it hurt to have a drinking buddy especially on arrival night?
"If it won't kill me, or make me wish I was dead. I'm keen."
A notification blinked in the corner of my eye. Orn has bought you a drink. It will arrive in four minutes.
I leaned back into my chair, the soft mesh curving so I could lay back and stare out the massive window before the hundreds of patrons. "You on business?" I asked, letting myself get lost in the twisting incomphrehensible river-like void of the WayHall.
"Oh yes. Working planetside on a job." They stole a sip from their glass. I caught a healthy whiff of the drinks potency. "I made enough last time to let me travel in luxury this time. Never got to see coming out of a wayhall in anything other than a scratched up peep hole."
We passed the next few minutes in conversation. I learned they were a prospector, specializing in Affinities, if they had an employer they didn't want to tell me. In return, they learned I was an evoluntionary biologist. I was out on a research and cataloguing trip to this rediscovered planet. The Syndicate paid well for information even if it was just as small as the evolutionary differences of a Euphraesthi's Mane between worlds.
"Your drink!" A Hiserabi dressed in the crews silver uniform darted through the crowds to my table sliding another blood red goblet right in front of me. In an flash, and with a smile they were gone.
I didn't even get a chance to taste the drink, as a soft voice flowed through the speakers. hushing the crowd around us. "Exiting Wayhall in thirty seconds, we recommend heading to your nearest viewing port."
Adventures Abroad
Winstons Wayfaring Resort is a Pleasure-oriented Wayship that brings customers on adventures around the galaxy to planets in development.
It is popular with mercenaries, bounty hunters, prospectors, and adventurers with money to afford a ticket.
The Wayfaring Resort has its own first-come first-serve job board, which populates with local jobs at every port. Between ports, customers can enjoy the on-board entertainment, lounges, and fine dining. The resort is staffed by monolithic crew who specialize in everything from navigation to cooking.
A Bar in the Stars
Traveling the universe can be a slow, dangerous, and lonely venture. A trip through a WayHall can take weeks or even months to accomplish. Those who don't have a ship of their own, can find themselves cramped on a commercial WayShip with hundreds of thousands of others. For those with the connections, the employers, or just deeper pockets, they can take Winston's Wayfaring Resort.
Dozens of themed lounges with enough booze to inebriate a city, Monolithic chefs hailing from the corners of the universe, and the security of an entire battalion of wayfaring specialists and mercenaries. On your travels, you can meet new faces, find new jobs, and even plan your next outings. Winstons Wayfaring Resort travels around the Universe, taking time to dock in sparsely populated planets.
The ship makes these journeys to provide entertainment, work, and challenges, to those riding aboard the vessel.
There is little new to see in the known universe. Hubworlds are tourist traps, well established planets have no danger.
Only place to get an adventure out here is in the unknown, so that's where we go.
Or where ever else!
Winston's Colony-sized Wayship is equipped with meissner engine flight gear, utilizing these engines the Resort can stay stationary in the lower atmosphere for weeks at a time. Patrons can take shuttles planetside, taking jobs, seeking pleasures, or just exploring the locale at their hearts content.
In the days before departure, new customers can purchase their fares from kiosks set up near shuttle landing points. After payment is complete, they are welcome to board a shuttle for the Resort. With a final parting speech from the captain and a final festive lightshow, the ship sets its course for the next Wayhall.
Route
Winston's Vessel sets sail on "expeditions" that lasts about two years give or take a month. Each of the expeditions have started at the same home port of (NAME REQUIRED) just at the border of Andromeda Syndicate core territory. From there they travel to the furthest reachs of the known Wayhall network. Some routes go through Syndicate frontiers, while other Expeditions have frequented Pact or Federation space.
At the end of the two year Expedition, the Resort reverses course and begins travelling back towards home. This is to allow any embarkees to return home, and to take on more patrons on the way back.
We research our expeditions carefully, taking into consideration all of that destructive variance of the universe. We plan our route to hit just enough danger to make it lucrative.
Too boring? No jobs, no passengers. Too exciting? We all die.
Limited Time Offer for all denizens of the System!Do you seek adventure in the stars? Looking to escape the land-bound life and seek jobs amongst the stars?
Now is your chance! Winston's Traveling Resort is coming to you! We have multiple fare types that fit most budgets! And if you need help paying, we'll work with you!
Reach out now via CommLink to gain your early-purchasing bonus of free drinks for a week!
Fares
With a route that takes years to cover, the demand to ride aboard for the entire route is relatively low. In order to stay profitable, the Resort offers many different fare types.
Short Run Voucher
The lowest cost tickets are valid for only a single wayhall trip. The amenities are comfortable, but not entirely luxiorious. Short Runners sleep in pods, affording a comfortable bed but little personal space. Food is included, but the drinks are full price.
These tickets are popular as a way to get off a planet, especially in the less travelled outer worlds.
At-Will Voucher
For those looking to make a longer trip comfortable, the At-Will Voucher is a recurring fare that charges with each departure. These fares serve as the primary income of the Resort. Each Voucher comes with a room that can fit up two people.
Drinks, recreation, and onboard shopping are discounted to those paying for an At-Will voucher.
Tour Voucher
Expensive, and all-inclusive. The Tour voucher is for the big spenders who are seeking out adventure amongst the stars. A Tour voucher covers the drinks, food, and recreation for an entire tour.
Tour Voucher holders enjoy an entire suite for themselves and their party. With in-room service and entertainment, exclusive access to the Touring Lounge, and first access to jobs and equipment, the Tour Voucher is the finest way to explore the universe.
Employment and Entertainment
"You riding an At-will?" My new traveling buddy asked. The Chea preened their horns and hair as we walked.
"Yeah, the University bought me enough legs to get to the planet. And when I show them the findings, they'll pay for my trip back too." I always hated that return clause, really hit the nail on the head that the chance of my death on this mission certainly was more than zero.
"Me too. I'm hoping to find enough here to set me up for a while. Find a nice place to settle and carve out my own place in a fresh world."
"Didn't picture you the settling type." I looked to my feet as I walked, following the holographic symbols to the Commerce Plaza.
"I know right?" The Chea chortled. "Most people see me and think I plan on dieing with my boots on and blade in hand. Probably'll be the case, but I'm feeling a bit better on my chances with a pal." They glanced at me, as if expecting me to decline their subtle offer.
"Wheel knows I need some help. So sentiment is shared."
We were both ready to get planetside. As nice as the Resort was, the Orga-filtered air could never beat the crisp atmopshere of a planet. First things first, we needed supplies. We were both at-will, meaning the Commerce Plaza was mark-up free.
The two-story Plaza was packed with people of all Kinds and creeds. A Parisan in armor that made him look more like a vehicle, a Sauthei near the entrance tested his new vector-shield with an audible snap of metaphysical energy. A whole squad of black-dressed hiserabi oggled and fondled matching rifles in front of the weaponry shop.
I played a mental game with myself, trying to imagine what each of these hundreds of people could get into planetside. Only a few of them wound up with the answer of 'Killing me.'
"So what do you need? Ammo and rations? I thinking about putting a fire mod on my blade, heard there's a lot of greenery on this planet." The Chea's eyes flickered, no doubt browsing the inventory through their CommLink.
"Yeah, I got a budget, but I might see if I can purchase some scouting reports from the planet. It would be nice to find a good place for us to start."
"Sure, 'information comes power' as you humans say right?" I was too enamored with their fang-filled smile to correct their idiom.
"We'll meet at my room in an hour. We can plan there." My traveling partner suggested, though they imparted a strange emphasis on 'plan' that made me wonder what they really had in mind. Something to worry about later. For now, there was shopping to do.
Schroedingers Supply
Schroedingers Supply is the General Supply store aboard the Resort. A single franchisee of the much larger Schroedinger Supply Corporation. Their store sells everything that the adventurer could need; Impact Gel, axes, shelters, rations, ropes, medicine, and much more.
First Strike Prospectors
The First Strike Prospectors is a store-front that offers a compendium of curated and cross-checked information for any planet. Customers can license these reports, and read them over both before they land and planetside through their CommLink. More expensive packets may come with leads to good finds.
Karls Kustom Mecha and Orga
Karl runs the Armory of the ship, the monolithic armorer works by contract. Most of his income comes from servicing and upgrading the equipment of the patrons aboard the vessel. He works both Mecha and Orga tech inside of his workshop.
House of Meta
House of Meta is the Metaphysical dealer aboard the Resort. The House maintains a squad of specialist Gadgeteers, each trained in their own school of Meta. Whether people need Meta equipment like a spare Cask, or they need to upgrade their Wand to cast a higher level spell, the House of Meta is the one stop shop.
The Ashore Board
Good day crew and patrons, we have just entered our mooring position over the city of Rilikh. If you are looking to disembark, please head to the drop bay. If you are looking for jobs to take on, make sure to visit the Ashore Board or tap into the Ashore Board broadcast channel.
The Ashore Board is a digital and physical bulliten board listing any local jobs that people planet-side have to offer. These jobs can encompass tasks for hunting, exterminating, exploring, or collecting.
When someone aboard picks up a job, they are given the contact information of the poster and are given passage planetside to begin their work.
After the job is completed, payment is made to the Resort, which deals a majority of the proceeds back to the party who took the job.
The resort does not stand just on fares alone. We keep our patrons and hosts engaged by offering ourselves as a mediation. Before we moor, we send a first party to gather contacts and tasks that need completion planetside.
We post those jobs at our Ashore Board, and with each job completed we get a small cut of the pay.
Sounds like a nice way to do a cruise vacation when you can afford it, to lay low for a while, or to make connections as a grifter!
Too low they build who build beneath the stars - Edward Young
Oh yeah, it's a sort of floating continental in a way. A mercs paradise.