| Tauron |
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| The flag of Tauron. |
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Table of Contents
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| Important Notice about Canon Material |
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| Material from the television program Caprica is NOT automatically considered canon, although players may adopt individual bits and pieces from what's depicted on Caprica into the regional cultural background of their character(s). When in doubt, please ask. To avoid contradictions in established RP, a policy of "localization" has been adopted. Apart from the Staff-written Overview and items firmly established in the main BSG series, there should be no all-encompassing tidbits for any of the Twelve Colonies. Players are wholeheartedly encouraged to create regional write-ups. Those seeking to deviate from the general "flavor" of the Overview should first consult with Staff. |
Overview
Before the Sagittaron Insurgency got off the ground, Tauron was famous for being the most troublesome Colony in the years after Unification. Though it was originally reliant on agriculture, the war against Leonis gave Taurian entrepreneurs the perfect excuse to capitalize upon their world's manpower advantage. The resulting industrial revolution catapulted this planet to the forefront of Colonial politics, though it came with the attendant labor unrest that the government's policy of de-unionization only exacerbated. Though the quality of Taurian goods has markedly increased, "Taurian manufacturing" is still considered something of a slur. That reputation is hardly deserved; indeed, the Colony is home to several major corporations and research labs, many of which were integral in the development of early Cylon technology. The stereotypical Taurian is poor, stubborn, backwards, and dedicated to her large extended family — but this image is more a product of crime dramas than anything else.
Its capital is Hypatia.
Geology & Geography
- Whereas Aquaria is 87% covered with water, the inverse can be said about Tauron. Approximately 83% of the planet is comprised of land, which is significantly more than any of the other Colonies. Most of its waterways are rivers, springs, channels, straits, or lakes. There are a few seas but no oceans.
- Due to this vast amount of land, Tauron doesn't have continents per se. Instead, it is divided into four quadrants (NW, SW, NE, & SE) and an equatorial region that is split into an eastern belt (Ardal) and a western belt (Kirikau).
- Agrarian areas range from the incredibly fertile to those where Taurian ingenuity has resulted in thriving arid-zone agriculture and the advanced development of aeroponics. Ranching operations are also rather extensive, and Tauron is reputed to produce some of the finest beef in all of the Colonies.
- Industrial areas tend to be extremely rich in ores, metals, and minerals, which culminated in extensive mining and refining operations, as well as manufacturing. Alloys made from Taurian materials are considered top-tier, although they are often produced off-world.
- Whatever geological differences there may be from region to region, one thing holds true for all of Tauron: flowers are rare, especially the non-arboreal varieties.
| Players are encouraged to add their own write-ups. If you'd like to add something to a region already listed, please speak with the player who created the region. |
Eastern Equator Belt: Ardal
City of Hypatia
Tauron's capital.
More to be forthcoming.
Western Equator Belt: Kirikau
Tau Garrison
Around 2007 AE, Tauron obtained the reputation for being a troublesome colony within the federal system of the Colonies, often disobeying directives decided by the colonies and "pushing their luck with the admiralty every chance they got." As a result, the Colonial Fleet decided to establish a military garrison on the planet in an attempt to curb some of the population's more restless elements. Tau Garrison is located close to the Tauron equator, allowing planes and troops to reach almost any location on the planet within a reasonable amount of time.
However, garrison duty anywhere is never a highly desired assignment, and the harsh climate of the area around Tau Garrison makes it a singularly despised post by most who end up there. It's widely regarded as a 'punishment station' within the Colonial Fleet, many of those stationed there having ran afoul of a previous superior in some fashion or another.
Contact: Staff
Northeastern Quadrant
The Black Country
Although once a key part of Tauron's military-industrial complex, the conurbation known as the Black Country never economically recovered from planet's withdrawal from the Colonial Civil War. Many factors were to blame for the disinvestment, de-industrialization, and depopulation in the region, including unionization and its subsequent corruption, the outsourcing of manufacturing to non-union facilities, major contracts going to off-world companies, mining and refinery operations becoming largely machine-automated, and the government's decision to curtail armaments production.
These rationales are often strictly applied along lines of political orientation, and labor remains the most divisive and polarizing local issue. As a result, the area is one of the most economically deprived communities in all the Twelve Colonies and suffers from an incredibly high unemployment rate. Urban blight plagues the cities and hooliganism has become a way of life. All the worst proletariat stereotypes apply.
Even by Taurian standards, Blackies are reputed to be particularly hardy, rough-and-tumble people. Not the sort to air their 'dirty laundry', they nonetheless are very forthright. So much so that the term Black Country blunt is part of Taurian lexicon.
Black Country folk have an extremely strong sense of regional pride and speak their own dialect of Taurian, in addition to government mandated Colonial Standard. Their accents are very distinctive, at least to other Taurians, and often lampooned in television, film, and the theater — the consonants are guttural; the vowels are softer but nuanced, as if filed down with a rasp and smoothed with a fine-grade sandpaper, but left unpolished; and there is certain vague sing-song quality that is more prominent in certain regions. Rumor has it that a Blackie can determine from where another Blackie hails simply by the way they speak. (This is keeping in trend with how the RL Black Country has its own dialect.)
Further details can be found in the Guide to the Black Country.
Contact: Trask
Northwestern Quadrant
Minoa Province
The province of Minoa is renowned for its verdancy, its artistic and musical innovation, and for its great class divide. Without dispute, it is one of the Colony's most affluent regions, although that affluence is relative. Demographically speaking, citizens are primarily middle- and working-class, although there is no shortage of welfare cases. Minoa is also home to the kind of old money that would make even the richest of Capricans take pause. Comprising not even 1% of Tauron's population, these few families of vast fortunes and influence nonetheless rank among the most financially flush 1% of the Twelve Colonies. Unfortunately, this economic elite tends to not share the wealth with the masses.
Contact: Rory
Minos
Also known as Tauron City, Minos is the regional, cultural, and economic capital. A prominent metropolis, it is analogous to a pre-gentrified New York City. Despite all the philanthropic efforts of the Valens family, Minos has no shortage of seedy elements. Having been glorified in film and television, the City is a highly popular tourist destination, as well as where many go in search of stardom. Sedgwick, a northern neighborhood, is the birthplace of Taurian hip hop. Being a veritable melting pot, Minos is very progressive and possesses a long history of social advocacy.
Contact: Rory
Wreath-of-Roses
Technically a part of Minoa province, governed under Minoa laws and represented in the local assemblies. It is, however, an outpost on one of Tauron's moons, a sprawling expanse of meticulously tended lawns and gardens, high-end estates and resorts.
Contact: Evandreus
Mycenaedd Province
Neither as relatively affluent as Minoa nor as legendarily impoverished as the Black Country, Mycenaedd is a province somewhere between the two. It is best known not for its economic situation, but for its pride in its rich cultural history and ancient religious traditions.
Contact: Devlin
Knossos
The most prominent town in Mycenaedd, Knossos claims to be the oldest community on Tauron, and to be able to trace its history back to an even earlier Knossos on Kobol. Many families from Knossos claim ancient roots and are particularly in touch with their lineages. The foremost museum of Taurian history is based in Knossos, possessing a collection of artifacts and documents from throughout the colony's history, with a particular emphasis on relics reputed to have come from Kobol or the original exiled tribes. Both scholarly and religious (and many overlapping) organizations interested in ancient history have clustered in Knossos, also the site, it is rumored, of some unique (and allegedly ancient) mystery cults. Of course, there is constant controversy over the accuracy of many of the city's claims.
Contact: Devlin
Pylos
Details to be forthcoming.
Contact: Damon
Southeastern Quadrant
TBD
Southwestern Quadrant
Tir Eidionnau
In the local Taurian dialect, Tir Eidionnau means 'Land of Beef'. Truly, the region lives up to its name. Centuries ago, the native cattle were domesticated, and a multi-billion cubit industry eventually evolved. Whether it be bison, ox, yak, or bull, Tir Eidionnau is reputed to produce some of the finest meat in all of the Twelve Colonies, and their steaks are particularly noted to be par excellence. Even though what they raise and slaughter may end up in the most upscale of restaurants, the people of Tir Eidionnau are very much the typical rancher stereotype.
Most working ranches do not cater to guests, though they may allow private hunters or outfitters onto their property to hunt native wildlife. However, in recent years, a few struggling smaller operations have added some "dude ranch" features, such as horseback rides, cattle drives or guided hunting, in an attempt to bring in additional income.
Contact: Trask
Cultural Details
- Taurians are reputed to be a stoic people with a dark sense of humor.
- Tatau (tattoos) are a significant part of the Taurian cultural identity. A guide detailing the various styles and the importance of tatau on Tauron can be read here.
- Tauron has its own language, although Colonial standard has also been taught since the Unification. (For OOC reference, it is analogous to a code-switching of Māori and Welsh.) Numerous decades later, many Taurians still remain resentful over what they deem to be Colonial imperialism undermining Taurian culture.
- In many regions, it is traditional to pursue revenge under the proviso blood for blood if a family member is murdered.
- When in mourning, many Taurians traditionally wear black gloves to distance themselves from the world. Funeral services typically include the gathering of family and friends. During a ritual exchange with a member of the clergy, coins are offered to pay for the passage of deceased loved ones into the spirit world. Afterward, it is not uncommon to receive a tatau to mark the occasion. These solemn respects are then followed by a celebration of songs, feasting, and reminiscing in honor of the departed. (This is largely inspired by the RL Māori funeral rite known as Tangihanga.)
- During the Tauron civil war in 1948 AE, many Taurians expatriated and were generally considered by the natives of their new homes to be "dirt eaters" and second-class citizens. As a result, some émigrés opted to adopt more local names. Those who chose to not assimilate tended to form insular communities that maintained many Taurian traditions. Any city on any Colony that has enough of a Taurian expat population probably has a "Little Tauron" neighborhood.
- The primary professional pyramid team was the Tauron Stampede.