Moon of the Month: Everfountain

It's February, so it's time for the next Moon of the Month!  This time I
present Everfountain, a giant garden-shrine to Cupid :)

Adam

Everfountain

Planet Name:                Everfountain, Cupid's Garden

Planet Type:                 Spherical Earth

Planet Size:                   B

Escape Time:                1 turn

Satellites:                      1

Distance from Primary: *

Day Length:                  24 hours

Year Length:                 60 days

Population Analysis:      Elves, humans



            For those hopeless romantics ever in search of love,
Everfountain is often the place to find their soul-mate.  It is a small
moon, a mere 25 miles across, and is covered by extensive gardens.  The
whole moon is covered by park-like forests, flowerbeds, artistic statues,
and endless fountains.  These gardens are maintained by the Tenders, a
semi-religious organization devoted to spreading romance and love.  Most are
elves, but some are human.

            Everfountain is found orbiting a major world with a world-empire
or another largely "safe" territory.  It is a favorite vacation stop for
youths, couples rekindling their love, or those otherwise looking for love.
Those seeking a brothel leave sorely disappointed, as the laws prohibit
selling love for profit.



Climate and Weather

            The climate of Everfountain is Mediterranean, with warm pleasant
summers and short, barely noticeable winters.  Rain showers are uncommon but
enough to keep plants well watered.  Storms and even strong winds are
unknown.



Appearance from Space

            Everfountain is a green jewel when seen from afar.  It sparkles
in the night sky, beckoning those who seeking to be struck by Cupid's arrow.



Continents

            None; Everfountain has no bodies of water larger than a small
pond.



Native Creatures

            There are numerous small creatures, such as squirrels,
chipmunks, deer, and like animals.  There are a number of small predators,
mainly foxes, to keep rodents under control, but there is nothing that can
endanger even a small child.  Cupid's cult maintains tight controls over
what animals can be imported and allow nothing that could threaten the
stability of their peaceful moon.



Guide to Groundlings

            The gardens are maintained by thousands of gardeners, the
Tenders.  There are an estimated 5,000 Tenders, mostly elves.  The Tenders
are so named because they tend the endless gardens of Everfountain.  Most
are invisible to visitors, so good are they at not being seen.  They appear
when needed, but otherwise their influences as subtle.  Many act as
match-makers, guiding the hand of Cupid, they believe.

            The Tenders dwell in small, underground grottos under the roots
of large trees.  These grottos are dry, well maintained and furnished, and
cozy.  Halflings and gnomes would find much in common with a Tender grotto
and one of their burrow-homes.



Resources and Trade

             Everfountain's primary resource is a bounty of colorful
flowers, which are harvested and exported during holidays.  The inhabitants
make most of their money from services for visitors, a steady stream of gold
that has made them very, very wealthy.  Imports include all of the
necessities, tools, lumber, labor, and workable stone.  Everfountain is not
self-sufficient and must rely on imports to meet certain needs.



Ports of Call

            Everfountain has several small docks all designed to handle
small ships.  The largest ship these docks can handle is a dragonfly.  These
docks are marked by colored lights (magically illuminated) in circular
patterns.  The docks are clustered in trios surrounding a shining tower,
with a nearby inn that offers lodgings.  There are four of these dock/inn
clusters on Everfountain.

            Travel to Everfountain is restricted to ships of the Ruby Rose
Passenger Company, which has exclusive docking rights on the world.  Travel
must be booked at least a week in advance, and costs 10 g.p. to 100 g.p.
depending on the accommodations sought.  Actual travel time is about a day
and night along a fairly scenic route.  The Ruby Rose uses dragonflies and
hummingbirds for their passenger ships.

            A sight that cannot be missed is the Temple to Love.  This
enormous structure is decorated with all manner of beautiful statues,
columns, and art.  Individual shrines to many love deities can be found,
including Aphrodite, Hanali, and Sune, even if such deities lack worship in
the sphere Everfountain is located.  Cupid's shrine is the largest and most
elegant, with a gold-plated statue to the love deity.



History

            About a thousand years ago a cult to Cupid flourished during a
time of relative peace and tranquility.  The cult came into possession of
Everfountain when they managed to make the most beautiful woman in the land
fall in love with the Emperor's son (in truth, they acted as a catalyst for
love that already existed between the two).  They then turned the small
moon, at the time a barren wilderness, into the largest garden in the
Sphere.

            Since that time, the moon has flourished as the single greatest
temple to love in the Sphere.  At first, only the wealthy came to
Everfountain, but as time wore on, more and more people found their true
love in the glades and gardens of this small moon.  From love-lost
princesses seeking their prince charming to knights questing for their heart
's true love, Everfountain draws them in.



Satellites

            In orbit around Everfountain is the Song of the Void Inn, a
modified whaleship.  The Song offers an incredible view of both Everfountain
and the world Everfountain orbits.  The whaleship is quite large, well over
500 tons.  It was a failed attempt to create a super-warship, and was
abandoned after the armor proved too weak.  The Cupid Cult took it over and
converted it into an Inn.  Rates are quite high, 25 g.p. per night, but all
rooms are of the highest quality available.