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Contents
Overview
"Resilience" is an apt name for the capital city of planetoid designation Ungstir-Two, home of the short, ebon-haired phantoms that haunt its chilly corridors. These people are the Ungstiri, the rough and rowdy mining people of the Rock. It is important to note that the Ungstiri can trace their roots back to the Slavic regions of planet Earth. Therefore, most have dark hair and eyes, and as they call the inside of an asteroid home, tend to be rather pale-skinned and are generally very comfortable in low or zero-gravity conditions.
Physical Data
History
The mutineers' landing
In 2143, during the Mankind-Zangali War, the colony ship Bonaventure fled Earth carrying a zealot named Corbin Daltanov and his followers. These people, primarily of Eurasian descent, believed Daltonov was a messiah delivering them to a holy land. After failing to find Eden, Daltonov proclaimed that if he could not find the holy land in this world, then it obviously must be found in the next.
Daltonov then commanded his followers to take their lives through an overdose of painkillers so they could transcend the realm of the flesh. Some were ready to follow -- a few even did -- but most soundly rejected the idea as ridiculous. Starshij Lejtenant Stefan Boromov and Mladshij Praporschik Illiyana Romanov lead a mutiny and seized control of the colony vessel, and on November 30, 2193, fifty years after their departure from Earth, these surviving mutineers were the first to step out upon Youngster. Youngster was the Eden that the original Daltanov followers had been searching for. A vast, lush land covered in flora and fauna Youngster was as close to paradise as one could imagine.
First Contact and Tyom'niy Pyatnitsa
In 2201, the Ungstiri crossed paths with the Odarites, their relative next-door neighbors in space. Trade jumped from interplanetary to interstellar, with the Ungstiri exporting raw materials and importing fascinating new technologies they had never seen the likes of. Not long after, in 2217, their distant brethren the Qua stumbled upon them, catapulting Youngster into an age of growth and prosperity.
It would not last long, for the next major exterrestrial contact would be uninvited and unwelcome. On April 2, 2257, or as it would later be called, Tyom'niy Pyatnitsa, the Nall came knocking at Youngster's door. Her hardy inhabitants, however, fought them to a standstill with hit and run raids and with the finesse of a fleet of starfighters led by Ungstiri folk heroine "Banshee" Ekaterina Danilov. Unwilling to retreat, the Nall blasted Youngster with the most infamous weapon in their arsenal, the dreaded coreseeker missile, which obliterated the planet, blasting her into countless scattered asteroids.
But the Ungstiri stayed, establishing transportation between the three major chunks, which they named Ungstir Prime, Ungstir-Two, and Ungstir-Three -- "Ungstir" being a corruption of the name "Youngster". They carved a network of caverns and tunnels, building into the rock instead of on its surface, and constructing complex support structures and systems to facilitate their needs in such harsh and unusual conditions.
Kretonian occupation
Things progressed peacefully for a few centuries, but peace is a fleeting thing for Ungstir. When the Kretonian launched their assault on the galaxy in 2651, the Ungstiri were among the first to fall. Ungstir Prime became New Kreton, capital of the new Kretonian empire, and three hundred years of slavery under the Kretonians' unwilling subordinates, the conquered conquerors known as the Nall, followed. It is said one could fill Ungstir-Two with the blood of those who died and still have it overflow across the belts.
When the Nall finally revolted in 2806, the Kretonians were defeated and the Ungstiri freed, but victory came at a cost: Ungstir Prime and Ungstir-Three felt the might of the coreseekers again. All that remained were the mining facilities on Ungstir-Two. But even then, the Ungstiri did not leave their Rock. On June 21, 2806, a colony on Ungstir-Two opened. It was dubbed Resilience.
Destruction
In 3007, after a brief one-day evacuation period during the Phyrrian Conflict, the largest remaining asteroid, Ungstir-Two, was destroyed by Phyrrian warships, marking the end of the Ungstiri as a single unified people.
Culture
If this race is known for anything, it is their unity as a people and the steadfast determination to defy anything that dares stand in their way. The Ungstiri are called Homo sapiens endurans for a reason: if they didn't have bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all, so they simply meet and face every challenge with the will to overcome.
Ungstiri are a simple mining folk. Not simple in the sense that they are uneducated, but rather their no-frills approach to life. Pragmatic is the operative word here; they prize practicality and function over glitz and glitter. This does not mean that they do not have an appreciation for the finer things in life, it simply means that when something does what it's supposed to do without a lot of unnecessary fuss, they recognize it for what it's worth.
This philosophy extends into their society. It is a community built upon hard work, common sense, and survival, and like wolves on the tundra, the Ungstiri are a pack that runs together. Those that fall behind are given a helping hand so long as they give back in some way, and those that betray their own often find themselves taking long walks out of short airlocks. No one is left behind. No one is forgotten. All for one, one for all. That is the Ungstiri way.
Family is an important element in Ungstiri culture, and the units are often quite large. Many children are still raised in the tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church, but then, many are not; it is a matter of how heaped in tradition a particular family is, but no Ungstiri is a fanatic follower of any cause. The average child will attend school throughout his youth, and while individualism and independence are encouraged, self-responsibility and teamwork are stressed. Elderly people seldom retire, usually taking jobs as teachers and advisors to guide the youth.
As space is limited, housing (which is often boxlike and carved out of mine shafts or rock hollows) tends toward the small side and the deceased are not buried. Rather, when one passes on, their bodies are cremated and scattered among the asteroids. Etched carefully into the walls of Ungstir-Two's corridors are the names of those who have moved on, a reminder that every Ungstiri is always a part of the Rock.
While the Ungstiri do have a citizen's committee, it is a small, democratic affair, as after countless disasters, they are wary of placing too much power in the wrong hands. Ungstiri justice, a household phrase in the Orion Arm, is often meted out by commissar and civilian alike when the peace is disturbed. Punishment generally matches the crime, and can be as simple as scrubbing decks... or as severe as death.
Also well-known among the Ungstiri is their propensity to play every bit as hard as they work. The Ungstiri drink of choice is of course vodka, always served chilled and never, ever cut with mixers or other liquor. The better exported brands include Petrov and Ikon, while Blue Rock and Russkaya are the very top of the shelf and rarely found offplanet. Miner's Brew, a mushroom ale, is another popular choice, but is a bit of an acquired taste. Lastly, tea is a staple in the Ungstiri household, prepared piping hot from a samovar and sweetened with honey or jam instead of sugar. Drinking to intoxication by oneself, despite the common offworlder opinion that Ungstiri are lush, is frowned upon. threatening.
Community
For all its battered history, the Ungstiri people are held together by hard won traditions. There is strength to be derived from such a close knit culture and the Ungstiri realize this, this interdependence and willingness to stand for Mother Ungstir is one of the two foundations of their world view. The second is their belief in indiviual independence and self responsibility. They are very much individuals and like to keep it that way. As such there is great emphasis on the right and responsibilities of the individual and of society, balanced so that one doesn't take over the other as much as can be helped.
This is borne out in many ways throught their culture, from schooling to the way the government works. Also, it's important to note that they're not a bunch of workaholics. Working hard for themselves and or for each other gives them a sense of community and self worth which is important to them. And in return, just as hard as they work, the Ungstiri are also known for how hard they play.
There are no old folks homes or retirement villages on Ungstir. This simple observation is an excellent illustration of the nature of this rough mining folk. Old people are not retired for they are recognized as being valuable. They do administrative work, they teach, they help raise their grandchildren and sometimes great grandchildren, they serve as advisors, do community service work and so on. The Ungstiri are extremely practical. Old folks are very useful people.
There is also a level of social security on Ungstir. However, it is not limited to those old or infirm. Simply put, the Ungstiri look after you as long as you are doing whatever you can to get yourself into employment or just do some work to support the community. This is not as much as a handout as assistance to people who haven't yet been able to break into 'decent' work and need a helping hand on the road to getting there.
The general theme is that your community is more then happy to give you whatever support you need - money, counseling, etc. - to help you get on your feet and support yourself. You on the other hand must repay this trust by seriously trying to get yourself on your feet and doing what you can to do so. If you refuse to try, you don't get anything. Simply put, it's a firm two way street.
Family Structure
The family is the most important social unit in the Unsgtiri culture. This is a holdover from when they first began to repopulate Youngster and later the shattered remnants that eventually became Ungstir Two. Thus a typical housing unit often has many interconnected rooms which are inhabited by two or three generations of a family. Not only are most family goups multi-generational, but most are large, only children an extremely rare thing within the Rock's corridors. In many cases it is natural for newly married children to live with their parents.
Coupled with the sense of independence and self responsibility, basic human rights for both adults and children are highly valued. A belief in self worth, self respect and being able to determine your own future follow naturally. In many cases adulthood is not measured by age but by the Ungstiri's ability to handle responsibity and act in a responsible manner.
Education and Careers
As part of the Ungstiri attempt to instill the concepts of independent thought, their children are taught early to take on responsibility, starting first in the family, then in school, and then to their district. From the beginning they learn lessons on responsibility to the whole and the whole's responsibility to the individual, both being important to survival of the self and of the Rocks. The day to day pragmatics of simply living in an artificial environment within a shattered world provides ample and continual first hand examples of the necessity of these values just to survive.
One way or another most Ungstiri have a job. They believe in being self reliant and independent, and you can't be that panhandling off someone else. On Ungstir, with it socialistic traditions, if you have the desire to work, work will be found for you. Like many starfaring cultures the typical gamut of occupations, from teacher to barkeep to adminstrator can be found within the Rock. The Ungstiri are a pragmatic people, and while it supports many occupations, those which are considered characteristcally Ungtiri are those relatining to asteroid mining.
These signature professions include asteroid prospectors who seek out new mineral strikes in the Fringes of Ungstir's three asteroid belts, miners who work the strikes the prospectors discover and insystem shippers who run food and supplies out to the small asteroid outposts and townships. A person might work on one ot the Liska class tender ships, which collect the ore from the miners transports it to the smelters. One can be independent, working the belt on their own, or they could be part of New Murmansk Mining and Manufacturing, one of the oldest industrial collectives on the Rock and a major engine driving the Ungstiri economy. New Murmansk is also famous for its Salvage Division, whose job it is to seekout and explore the many starship hulks which still haunt the Ungstir asteroid fields. This is a higly dangerous job, and there's a well founded saying that there is no such thing as an old salvage jock. In addition New Murmansk's Special Project Group is known for maintaining a cutting edge in mining technologies and related crafts, including the continual upgrade of Ungstir's rockhopper fleet. Working here would be an excellent job for any engineer. In addition, one might also work in the smelters or metal production facilities located in the City of Resilience.
There are also small time salvage operators, who primary livelhood comes from the recycling worn out materials.
Exciting job possibilities as a technician or engineer might be found in Vroom! Inc. Vroom manufactures modified rockhoppers for racing as well as small civspec starships.
Another potential employer is Boromov Technologies Ungstir, who make electronics, starship systems, weapons and worksuits.
For those of a more civil bent, one can easily participate in the Ungstiri government and become a member of the Ungstiri Citizen's Committee. Usually one is a representative of a particular family, district or block. For example, one current character, Mouse, represents the Akimov family. This is the closest Ungstir has to a professional politician. Participating in the Government is most often considered a civic duty and not something one should make their living at. Most members of the committee have a full time job and take on these additional duties as part of their social responsibility to Mat Ungstir.
Other civic minded trades include belonging to the Ungstiri Militia or being a Commisar. Militia careers are broken into three categories, Command provides leadership positions, Tactical are Ungstir's marines, specialists in zero-gee and deep space combat. Flight positions include crew on Ungstir's small self defense fleet or as the pilot of a Jackhammer starfighter. The important thing to remember about the Militia is that that they are tough and dedicated organization, with a tradition of defending Ungstir to the last. They are a defensive organzation; Ungstir's tendency towards isolation providing little support for expansionist tendencies.
Commissars are the Ungstiri police, maintaining the peace when matters get out of hand and investigating insystem crimes. Commisars have fairly broad powers, reminiscent of the federal marshalls of the 19th century North American wild west. Ungstir does have a darkside. While organized crime does not exist, that does not mean there isn't a fair amount of unorganized crime, ranging from confidence schemes to dark corridor muggings to rockrat fights. The common Ungstiri worker will bet on almost anything, and thus there are several small scale operators who can squeek out a living making book. Without courts or a codified legal system there are few lawyers on Ungstir. Those who hold legal degres often hold them on other planets and are brought in to consult on interstellar or offworld legal matters. The Ungstiri equivalent of a lawyer is the mediator, someone trained in mediating and negotiating a resolution between two people in conflict, be it criminal and victim or two folks on opposite sides of a claim dispute.
Those wishing to play phsyician or other health care types can easily find employment in the Ungstiri Health Clinic.
Sports and Games
While the Ungstiri are known for their rockhopper races in the belt, common entertainment is often concerned with 'small and portable.' Things like cards and chess are popular ways to pass time for the Ungstiri.
Language, Phrases, and Naming Conventions
Traditional Russian or Slavic names are very common amoung the Ungstiri. However that is not to say that the Ungstiri are all of Russian ancenstry. The entire Eurasian subcontinient is represented, that and a handful of others of mixed decent. This allows for a very wide diversity of character types and cultures that one can draw upon. Characters whose names come from the Russian roots include Alexi Nikolai Kriskosivich, Vechkov Prague, Ekaterina "Katya" Innoketevna and Riksavika Tsvetechsa. However, the other Eurasian cultures have also been represented, reflecting the wide deversity of the Ungstiri. These folks have included Erdene Ming, Mizuki Mikiashi, Bartholomew Abraham Denson and Nadeeda Aisling Rhys. The name you chose for your character should be original, and in general follow along those guidelines.
When trying to decide on a name, a baby name book is often a very useful reference to have at one's side. Many group their collection of names by background, making it easy to pinpoint a particular nationality or culture to draw upon. Teresa Norman's "A World of Baby Names" contains over 30,000 names divided into thirty one nationalities and has proven an invaluable resoure when naming Ungstiri Non-Player Characters.
If following the Russian traditions, often a person is known by a given name and patronymic. The patromymic usually consists of the father's given name to which the ending -ovich (son of) is added for a male and -ovna (daughter or) for a female. Thus Ekaterina Innokentevna roughly translates at Ekaterina Innokenti's Daughter. Other Rusian style surnames include place names or other nicknames. Both the Russians and the Ungstiri use many pet names and diminutives, which are commonly used in place of the formal given name, adding even more possibilities for one's character'. For example, this has seen use with both Mouse and Katya.
- The Rock - Common nickname for the planetary fragment Ungstir Two, the location of the City of Resilience.
- Mat Ungstir - Mother Ungstir, the personinfication of the Rock. Used in a similar fashion to the old world term "Mother Russia."
- Rock Gal - A traditional old-style ungstiri woman. Tough, stubborn, willfull and absolutely unstopable. Blood doesn't flow in her veins. Ungstiri steel does.
- The Dark - A common catch-all phrase, often used as the personification of death. Its roots are in the darkness of space, the deadly and unforgiving environment in which the Ungstiri live.
- Rockhopper - The small, rugged and highly maneuverable multi-purpose insystem spacecraft used my the Ungstiri asteroid miners.
- 'hopper - The shortened form of Rockhopper.
- Rockhopper's Welcome - Ungstiri euphemisim for causing as much damage to the other side as possible.
- Suitcase - Derogatory term used in reference to the Nall. Of course, it is not advisable to call a suitcase a suitcase to their face.
- Tourist - Term for anyone in Ungstir not an Ungstiri. In general a deragatory term, refering to one berift of the ravages of common sense.
- Worksuit - The standard industrial space suit favoured by the Ungstiri. The lighter duty atmophere suits are deemed suitable only for tourists.
- Ungstiri Coffin - A spacesuit, usually when alluding to a extra-vehicular accident when the person wearing the suit died because they failed to follow obvious and practical safety measures.
- Ruble - The currency of Ungstir. Rubles are either in coin or as credchips representing moneys debited from a person's accounts. With paper being a valuable import to the system, there are no ruble bills.
- Ungstiri Seel'niy - Ungstiri Tough
- Hoop - The most common Ungstiri expletive deleted, very flexibly conjugated.
- Da - Yes
- Nyet - No
- Dobry utra - Good morning, good day
- Dobry vyechyir - Good evening.
- Da svidaniya - Good bye
- Spakoyniy nochyee - Good night, but traditionally only used between two people who *care deeply for each other.
- Izvinitye - Excuse me!
- Ya - I, as in me, myself and ya.
- Ya nyi panimayu - I do not understand.
- Vi paneemayete - Do you understand?
- Spasiba - Thank you
- Kak dela, kak dyela? - How are things? How goes?
- Rat paznakomitsa - I am pleased to meet you (to a male).
- Rada paznakomitsa - I am pleased to meet you (to a female).
- Minya zavuk Ekaterina - My name is Ekaterina
- Kak vas zavuk? - What is your name?
- Bolshoy, bal'shoye - Very much of anything
- Atlichna! - Excellent
- Zamichatyel'na - Wonderful
- Kharasho - Good, cool, nice
- Pazhalusta - You are welcome
- Gospadi! - My God!
- Oy! - Ouch
- Prashu proscheniya - I apologize
- Chai, chyay - Tea
- Za vashe zdarov'ye - To your good health! A traditional toast.
- Ungstiri seel'niy - Ungstiri tough Deyvachka - Girl
- Mal'chik, malcheek - Boy
- Tovarish, tovareesch - Comrade Drook - Friend
- Gospadin, gospadeen - Mister
- Gospahza - Missus, Miss
Religion and Ceremonies
Many Ungstiri are religous, and many are not. In both cases the history of the Daltanov Expedition has rippled through the culture to the present day.
In 2143, during the Mankind-Zangali War, the Bonaventure fled Earth carrying a zealot named Corbin Daltanov and his followers, who believed he was a messiah delivering them to a holy land. Eventually, he asked them to take their lives through overdoses of painkillers so they could transcend the realm of the flesh. Some were ready to follow - a few did. But most rejected the idea, conducted a mutiny and seized control of the colony vessel. These surving mutineers were the first to step out upon Youngster.
Those that aren't religious have tendency towards a pragmatic aetheism, having seen where unbridled fanatiscm of any type can lead. For those that are, most believe in an equally practical manner, wary of becoming evangelical or of following in Corbin Daltanov's mad footsteps.
The primary religion on Ungstir is a survivor, just like her people. Having withstood the Tzars, the Soviet Era, peristroika, starflight and Daltanov, many Ungstiri belong to the Greek or, as it is also known, the Russian Orthodox Church.
Depending on one's upbringing, there is the potential for many holidays throughout the year. For those who belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, the traditional holidays, those that can trace their history all the way back to Earth, are still remembered. For those who choose the more aethiestic paths several days are celebrated, rising from Ungstir's own unique history.
Landing Night
With the fall of night on the last day of November the inhabitants of the Rock celebrate Landing Night. This night marks the arrival of the Daltanov Expedition on the planet Youngster. Back when their homeland had an atmosphere and seasons, it also marked the beginning of the Youngster winter, since the colonists had the ill fate of making landfall just before a heavy blizzard swept across their northern landing site. There is a saying amoung the Ungstiri, that if they did not have bad luck, they'd have no luck at all.
As such, this holiday is celebrated at home, with folks staying within from the beginning of second shift and its evening light change , through the alterday shift and to the arrival of first shift and the Rock's virtual dawn. Even the youngest of the Ungstiri are encouraged to stay up all the way through this nightime celebration. For Landing Night the Ungstiri celebrate hard, with much food, music, drink and noise. As the night grows deeper the toasts get longer, the vodka flowing freely. Come morning, many families exchange gifts, in rememberance of the final unpacking once the storms of landing finally subsided.
Tyom'niy Pyatnitsa
Known as Dark Friday, the second day of April marks the destruction of Youngster by the Nall in 2257. On this day the Ungstiri acknowledge those lost defending Youngster and the Rock. On this day of rememberance most families visit the wall-carven memorials of thier lost relatives. Small solemn picnics in the corridors of Ungstir are a common sight come the lastshift meal. Stories are told, of those fallen, passed down to the younger generation and as the day ends toasts are raised to those who have passed on.
While a bittersweet holiday, there is a grim foundation to the quiet rememberances, for while those who have passed are truly missed, they are often not mourned. For in many cases theirs was a last stand against hard odds, which they met knowingly and with purpose. Ungstiri tough.
First of May
The oldest holiday in the Ungstiri calandar, their May Day celebration traces its roots all the way back to Earth and the traditional worker's holiday celebrated throughout their varied eurasian background. A day of rest and relaxation, most families plan outings or visit relatives in other districts this day. All businesses shut down, so often on the last day of April there is a rush on the makets and shops to prepare for the next day's rest.
Resilience Day
The 21st of June marks the opening of the colony on Ungstir Two and thus the founding of the city of Resilience. Parties and dances abound, while the corridors of the rock ebb and flow with celebratory crowds, a rough and tumble frontier miner's version of a mardi gras or shivaree. This holiday best reflects just how hard the Ungstiri play. As the night goes on and the celebrations become deeper, it often becomes exciting, especially in the less reputable corners of the Rock. At the end of what would be the final shift there is a traditional fireworks display in the space around the city of Reseilience.
Perseverance Day
Once a year, on the 11th of February, the citizens of Resilience set aside their work for the annual Rockhopper races. The day of the races along the Perseverance Trail became a holiday by necessity. Work attendence throughout Resilience took predictable fall during the days of the races and those who did manage to make it to work exibited an equal drop in their productivity as they kept track of the race's progress on the Rock's commnet. By the race's fifth year it had become a defacto holiday.
Perseverance Day can be compared to a full shift picnic. The most popuar places to spend it are in those Resilience rooms which have windows that look out across the race course. Many families have claimed such viewing sites through years of tradition, while the remaining are fiercely competed for. The big spaceport docks in the Tereshkova District are often cleared, the landing strips used for spectators while against the Commons wall are performance areas, food vendors and all th other trappings one might find at a small country fair. Those who cannot find a vantage point to watch the races fill the taverns of Resilience, many of which bring in extra holoviewers for the day. Of these, of course, the most popular and most infamous for its race day celebrations is Rockhopper's Tavern.
For those Ungstiri who have died there is no grave or gravesight, for within the Rock space itself is at such a premium it cannot be wasted in such a fashion. Upon death an Ungstiri is normally cremated, their ashes scattered across the asteroid fields, so that they might then and forever rejoin their shattered homeworld. They are not just forgotten, however. Along the corridors of the Rock the fallen's names are carved, sometimes just the name, other times a small commemorative plaque noting their passage. Many families claim a particular length of corridor, usually along the less trafficked passageways.The more affluent, the more significant, the larger and more public such a memorial might be.
Vodka
The Ungstiri work hard and they play hard too. They take their drinking serious. Two types of liquor are traditionally produced on the Rock, with their export providing a sure and steady income to the Ungstiri economy.
The most well known Ungstiri drink is, of course, vodka. The traditions surrounding this clear liquor reach all the way back to Earth and Mother Russia. Most modern Ungstiri still follow these traditions, and one can tell a true Ungstiri rock guy or gal by how they handle their drink.
First is that vodka should be served cold, without ice. The colder the better. Most Ungstiri bars keep their stock chilled, with some of the local breweries maintaning storage facilities on some of the smaller rock chunks.
Second, vodka should never be mixed with any other liquor. True, mixed drinks are served in the Reslilience tavern, but its often a good way to distinguish a native ungstiri from a tourist.
Last, there is a definite manner of drinking vodka. Each time one raises a glass it is traditional to toast and then down the entire glass in one long draught. Thus, vodka is usually served in a shot glass, with the wiser ungstiri pouring out but a finger for each drink. "Za vashe zdarov'ye" or "Za nas!" are two often heard toasts as the evening rolls on, meaning "To your good health" and "To us!" respectively. At big events, such as weddings, funerals or political dinners, the toasts also get longer. Many involve a small story or parable, with a celebratory ending to fit the particular occasion.
There are many brewing houses on the Rock, each distilling their own particular type of vodka. Most go to export, their names familiar about known space. Petrov and Ikon are the two most heavily exported brands, fitting more moderate palates, but are considered a lower grade product by Ungstir standards. On the other end of the scale there is a true rivalry between the Blue Rock label and Russkaya, both considered the best and strongest that Ungsti has to offer, both rarely seen beyond Rockhopper's Tavern and the less traveled streets of Resilence,
The Rock's second most popular beverage is Miner's Brew. A dark ale carefully produced by a small Resilience company made up of retired prospector's and workers from the Archangel District mines. It has a uniquie flavor attributed to the addition of mushroom stems to the brewing process. This drink can be found in most bars of Ungstir and is a favorite of the rock workers. The die hard will often claim there simply is no other ale. This drink doesn't see much export, because even on Ungstir its considered an aquired taste.
Most beers, since they derive from hops and barleys, are imported.
A common mixed drink found outside the Perseverance system and not as often on the Rock is known as an Ungstiri Sunrise. it is vodka mixed with other various tinctures and tonics, which starts off black in color and then slowly turns to red and then orange as the other liquids rise to the surface. Eventually the dark liquor will settle towards the bottom and the lighter colored ones rest at the top. Because of the many different liquours it is a potent drink, but even so is considered a bit frivolous, a definite tourist drink.
While many offworlders often stereotype Ungstiri as heavy drinkers, if one takes a closer look at the culture one will find that there is much less tolerance to drunkeness that might expected in such a frontier. Being a closed environment, with the majority of the population working in asteroid mining and salvage, just having one's senses dulled is a dangerous condiion, and to be full fledge drunk often deadly. That's when other Ungstiri look out for their compatriots, making sure they are kept out of harm's way until they are capable again. However, if this becomes habitual, the lack of self responsibilty and control is often met with ostracism, the other Ungstiri simply not wishing to be around when the eventual accident will occur. "He got drunk alone" is often a euphenism for having died in a less than intelligent manner.
Dwellings
Since the Ungstiri built into the Rocks instead of on them, the housing tends to be very boxlike, often carved out of old mine shafts or natural hollows. Because of the rigurs of living within an enclosed artificial environment most Ungstiri tend to be very neat, with spartan, utilitarian homes. This again is a reflection of their practical nature. Think of how disease can spread in an enclosed area, and such practices become second nature. This doesn't mean that they don't like pretty things. But the art that they will have will also have some other use, such as a blanket or piece of furniture, or be rather small. Even their pets will double as guards or pest eliminators, never just serving as companions.