The culture of the ExoHumans on planet VOI 700 D in the Gamma Age is defined by scarcity, communal systems, and the restrictions of the Peace Treaty with the Alliance of Native Tribes. Despite carrying the heritage of Earth’s knowledge and traditions, resource limitations force a life of improvisation and frontier resilience. Citizens live in a paradox where advanced systems like the GAIA AI coexist with rudimentary practices such as animal-powered transport.

This tension between progress and austerity shapes every aspect of ExoHuman cultural expression.

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With the decommissioning of the Web after the Peace Treaty, information returned to paper. Printing and curation are centralized, making media both essential and contested.

The Federal Encyclopedia Commissioned in 2634 under Supreme Councilor Aisha Patel, the Federal Encyclopedia consolidates human history, sciences, and social systems into a paper-based reference. Written by GAIA and overseen by the Federal News Agency, it became the Confederation’s cornerstone knowledge source. Critics, especially Individualists, denounce it as biased toward Communard ideology.

The Federal Library System Established between 2634 and 2635, the Federal Library System ensures equitable access to curated books chosen from the Federal Longlist. GAIA selects these works under parameters set by the Federal Council. Libraries also act as cultural centers, hosting readings and workshops. The Federal Library of Hope’s destruction in 2636 underscored the libraries’ political symbolism.

Newspapers: Gazette vs. Firetown Post Two weekly newspapers dominate discourse:

• The Weekly Gazette, printed by the Federal News Agency, serves as the official public press of the Confederation. Distributed in Federal News Lounges, libraries, and hostels, it embodies Communard civic culture but is accused of partiality.
• The Firetown Post, founded by the Individualist Party in 2634, counters the Gazette’s narratives. Labeled “party information,” it operates outside Federal regulation, with rumors tying its printing to the Jane Mendoza Gang and its financing to the black market.

Federal News Lounges (FNLs) Because private distribution is considered wasteful, the Gazette is read communally in FNLs — small mycelium-built pavilions located in the Habitual Belt. They provide tables, seats, and copies for collective reading. Firetown has no FNLs; its citizens rely on subscriptions or workplaces.

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Paper scarcity makes books precious.

Federal Longlist All titles in libraries come from the Federal Longlist, selected annually by GAIA. Earth classics dominate, alongside reference works like the Federal Encyclopedia and GAIA-authored textbooks. Contemporary fiction is rare, with only a handful of part-time authors.

Private Collections Personal libraries are prohibited under Communardism, but hidden Beta Age volumes survive in secret. Discovery can lead to confiscation and penalties.

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All public art is designed by GAIA and executed by craftsmen under the Federal Confederation, ensuring alignment with communal values and preventing wasteful celebrity culture. Statues, murals, and performances emphasize collective resilience and sustainability.

Amateur Contributions Amateurs still contribute within approved boundaries:

• Jean Jacque Courtier (Writer): Author of *Like Leaves From a Tree*, a multi-generational novel of survival on the Last Frontier.
• Sandra Yamamoto (Musician): Composer of *Endless Days*, a folk anthem of Habitual Belt settlers.

These works endure because they reflect communal experiences, not individual stardom.

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Exercise Culture Physical activity is state-regulated: running, yoga, and gymnastics are encouraged to maintain workforce productivity. High-risk or resource-intensive sports are banned.

Board and Dice Games Games thrive as low-resource pastimes:

• *Frostpunkt* — a dice game born in Firetown’s mines.
• *Twenty One* — a variant of Blackjack common in saloons.
• *Zugzwang* — a strategic board game in Federal Libraries.

Shadow District Gambling Despite bans, Firetown’s “Shadow District” hosts hidden casinos with high-stakes gambling, where rations and smuggled goods are wagered.

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Weddings Mass ceremonies are held quarterly at the Federal Administrative Service Building in New Kourou. Couples pledge loyalty to the Confederation and the two-child policy, exchange wooden rings, and inscribe their names on the “Wall of Names.” Personal celebrations are limited to modest family gatherings.

Birth and Registration Births are scheduled at the Medical Station of New Kourou or handled by General Practitioners in emergencies. Every newborn is registered by GAIA, added to the “Wall of Names,” and linked permanently to communal records.

Funerals Death rites vary by region but are centrally recorded. In the Asari Region, bodies are composted in Federal Funeral Homes; in the Ralar Region, cremation in volcanic fire is practiced. Names of the deceased move from the Wall of Names to a memorial wall for one year before erasure, marking the end of public identity.

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The Great War remains a cultural shadow. Families preserve secret oral stories, but public commemorations are banned. State-controlled memorials describe the conflict as a “necessary transition” rather than a tragedy. This erasure fuels quiet dissent and nostalgia, especially among veterans and their descendants.

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The Individualist Party accuses the Communards of cultural censorship disguised as curation. Their claims include:

• GAIA filters out dissent under the pretext of “unity.”
• Pro-Individualist perspectives are systematically excluded.
• Official art, books, and newspapers serve as “shadow propaganda.”

To resist, Individualists smuggle alternative texts, illegal records, and unauthorized histories, undermining the monopoly on cultural production.

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ExoHuman cultural life provides fertile ground for campaigns:

• The Forbidden Book: PCs find a manuscript contradicting official history. Do they spread it or hide it?
• Smuggling Words: PCs escort a rebel writer publishing an underground newsletter.
• The Lost Ballad: A folk song with hidden anti-Communard messages spreads unrest.
• Casino Heist: PCs infiltrate Firetown’s Shadow District to recover stolen Beta Age artifacts.

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• Federal Confederation
• GAIA
• Communardism
• Communard Party
• Individualist Party
• Federal Library System
• Federal Longlist
• Federal Encyclopedia
• Weekly Gazette
• Firetown Post
• Federal News Lounges
• ExoHuman Funeral Rites in the Gamma Age
• Alpha Age, Beta Age, Gamma Age