NO IT'S TOTALLY OKAY I neglected to include a description of the city, which was my b
(also if it makes you feel any better, Vorkosigan Vashnoi is a nuked-out husk by the time the actual canon series begins, so there's not much to go by)
Clarification: there is no spaceport in Vorkosigan Vashnoi; Xav's plan was to rendezvous with Micah and smuggle them back to Vorbarr Sultana (the planet capital), where there is a spaceport.
Vorkosigan Vashnoi is the capital city of the district, so think Big City in a feudal era. In the short twenty years between the end of the Time of Isolation and the start of the war, the larger cities on Barrayar were just starting to adopt and incorporate modern techology, starting with the basics like electricty and an efficient sewage/plumbing system. In general, Vorkosigan Vashnoi is a bustling, busy city: it's the center of trade for the district and more densely populated, and people are generally a little better off than the villagers, although not so much since the occupation began. Lots of crammed-together but well-built houses, shops, restaurants and bars and the like (you can buy alcohol almost anywhere in this city, it is Barrayar). It has the sort-of sprawling feeling of a city that's gradually built outward and outward. Since the occupation began, the city's population has skewed more heavily toward the proles -- the Vorkosigan line itself is limited to Piotr and Olivia, and most of the Vor in the district are either fighting in the army or collaborating with the enemy.
The people in the city are more urban in demeanor and generally better educated than those in the villages (which, compared to galactic education, still isn't saying much), but about on the same cultural level when it comes to suspicions and attitudes toward the disabled and nonhuman-looking (so, you know, not great). However, if you're not allied with the Cetagandans and you don't stand out too much, they'll be more or less civil. Beasts of burden are as ever the default and fastest mode of transport, but you'll find more people walking than riding in the narrow streets.
The Cetagandans have been occupying Vorkosigan Vashnoi for several years, which has, of course, brought some changes upon it. While they have brought some more galactic technology, such as powered vehicles, and set up some more modern structures like medical facilities, it isn't really for the benefit of the locals. While the city is not entirely segregated, and life goes on, but there are most definitely some areas of the city that would be considered ghettoes for the poorer (or less cooperative) proles.
I can't think of any cultural landmarks that would particularly stand out to someone from Earth, other than its general Russian flavor like the rest of the area. They'd each be given a small amount of Imperial marks (Barrayaran currency) for food'n stuff and so they can move about without suspicion, but it's not a whole lot of money, and the group has secured lodgings with some contacts they have in the city.
LMK IF THAT HELPS I don't want to go too detailed to a point where it'll restrict you guys, but hopefully this will provide some local color (and I'm going to link this elsewhere for the benefit of the other players).
no subject
(also if it makes you feel any better, Vorkosigan Vashnoi is a nuked-out husk by the time the actual canon series begins, so there's not much to go by)
Clarification: there is no spaceport in Vorkosigan Vashnoi; Xav's plan was to rendezvous with Micah and smuggle them back to Vorbarr Sultana (the planet capital), where there is a spaceport.
Vorkosigan Vashnoi is the capital city of the district, so think Big City in a feudal era. In the short twenty years between the end of the Time of Isolation and the start of the war, the larger cities on Barrayar were just starting to adopt and incorporate modern techology, starting with the basics like electricty and an efficient sewage/plumbing system. In general, Vorkosigan Vashnoi is a bustling, busy city: it's the center of trade for the district and more densely populated, and people are generally a little better off than the villagers, although not so much since the occupation began. Lots of crammed-together but well-built houses, shops, restaurants and bars and the like (you can buy alcohol almost anywhere in this city, it is Barrayar). It has the sort-of sprawling feeling of a city that's gradually built outward and outward. Since the occupation began, the city's population has skewed more heavily toward the proles -- the Vorkosigan line itself is limited to Piotr and Olivia, and most of the Vor in the district are either fighting in the army or collaborating with the enemy.
The people in the city are more urban in demeanor and generally better educated than those in the villages (which, compared to galactic education, still isn't saying much), but about on the same cultural level when it comes to suspicions and attitudes toward the disabled and nonhuman-looking (so, you know, not great). However, if you're not allied with the Cetagandans and you don't stand out too much, they'll be more or less civil. Beasts of burden are as ever the default and fastest mode of transport, but you'll find more people walking than riding in the narrow streets.
The Cetagandans have been occupying Vorkosigan Vashnoi for several years, which has, of course, brought some changes upon it. While they have brought some more galactic technology, such as powered vehicles, and set up some more modern structures like medical facilities, it isn't really for the benefit of the locals. While the city is not entirely segregated, and life goes on, but there are most definitely some areas of the city that would be considered ghettoes for the poorer (or less cooperative) proles.
I can't think of any cultural landmarks that would particularly stand out to someone from Earth, other than its general Russian flavor like the rest of the area. They'd each be given a small amount of Imperial marks (Barrayaran currency) for food'n stuff and so they can move about without suspicion, but it's not a whole lot of money, and the group has secured lodgings with some contacts they have in the city.
LMK IF THAT HELPS I don't want to go too detailed to a point where it'll restrict you guys, but hopefully this will provide some local color (and I'm going to link this elsewhere for the benefit of the other players).