Society and Culture
Marzionite society can be summed up in two words: “safety first“. Living in orbit in dense industrial environments, nothing is more important than knowing where to go and what to do in an emergency: infants learn decompression drills before they learn to read. Marzionites know that others will pick them up when they fall, and provide them with whatever they need to get the job done; in turn, they lift and support others whenever they are in need. Pride is found in teamwork, in mastery of one’s craft, and in helping the entire group to give their all.
IX is a harsh workplace; discipline is needed to navigate the gas giant’s moods and claim its treasures, and only sticking to procedure keeps everyone safe and accidents rare. Marzionites may seem like spoilsports to crews from other planets – but, when lives are on the line, they spring into action with a courage and efficiency that has given them a reputation across the Alliance for heroism. The preservation of life, from daring rescues to coordinated relief efforts, is given a focus in their culture that other civilizations give to historically significant military victories.
The interconnected relationship between the various rafts and the moons is as symbolic as it is practical. Each contributes something vital to the whole and none can persist without the others. This is expressed in Marzionite values of working for the collective and valuing every contribution, no matter how small or menial. Conversely, holding accountable anyone who endangers lives or prioritises themselves at the expense of others is also key to Marzionite culture.
Space is at a premium in Marzion IX society, so Marzionites are usually very comfortable in communal spaces and with communal activities. Food rituals are conspicuously absent – a life on call has led to a preference for short, calorie-dense meals produced at maximum efficiency (and seasoned to a heat beyond belief). Marzionites show a preference for high-impact sports, the better to unwind after a mentally and physically exhausting shift. They are also known for their shanties and work songs, which vary wildly from one raft to the next and represent the heritage of every world and species from which they hail.
While Marzion is technically self-sufficient, its industrial focus means it wants for creature comforts; hydroponic staple grains, FABREP proteins and synthetic fabrics are all functional, but unexciting. The planet’s workers therefore import almost as much as they produce, in the form of exotic foodstuffs, textiles, and cultural artefacts from other worlds – they indulge in any luxuries they cannot make, and share them with their crewmates.
Those who live in the orbit of Marzion IX are colloquially referred to as “Niners”. On official documentation, the noun for an inhabitant of the space around the gas giant, and the adjective to describe something of or from it, are both “Marzionite”.
