Star Trek: Vulcan Read online

  KIR PROVINCE

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  MAP OF KIR PROVINCE

  GETTING AROUND

  SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES

  Fire Plains

  Keretak Gorge

  Jovorel Kilns

  M-daran Library

  Mount Tar’hana

  Phelsh’t Fortress

  Vulcan Institute of Defensive Arts

  SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT

  Daloren Market

  Historic District and Living History Museum

  Zett’s Emporium

  Clash on the Fire Plains Live Performances

  DINING AND NIGHTLIFE

  Higher Grounds Coffee Shop

  T’Mirak Hak-el

  vLive

  LODGING

  The Caverns

  Kir Prison Hotel

  Selota

  THOUGH IT DOESN’T TYPICALLY SHOW UP on many travel agencies’ top-ten “don’t miss” lists, seasoned travelers know that Vulcan’s Kir Province is one of the planet’s best-kept secrets. Located along the coast nearly five hundred kilometers east of ShiKahr, the much smaller city of Kir and its neighboring network of villages and farms don’t attract the attention of most tourists but are actually the ideal setting for those seeking a microcosm of “the Vulcan experience.” Tourists who come here are often looking for something different from what they’ll find in the larger cities and areas listed as “the places to be.” There’s also been an increase in expatriates from a number of different planets who have come to enjoy living here. Immigration into the area became so constant at one point that the Kir City Council had to enact zoning restrictions in order to stem the influx.

  The Thanor Sea provides the region’s eastern boundary, while the northern and western borders are dominated by an array of waterless grasslands, which are choked by spiny wahmlat plants. These areas can be challenging for hikers and campers, but don’t let this discourage you. Once you get past the grasslands, you’ll find yourself amid the region’s most notable geographic features: Mount Tar’hana and the Fire Plains. Both are frequent destinations for geologists and mineralogists from the Vulcan Science Academy. Prospective treasure seekers often find specimens of kevas, trillium, and even dilithium amid the canyons and crevasses carved millennia ago by lava from the still-active volcano.

  GETTING AROUND

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  Expect to find public transportation that’s in line with what you’d encounter in one of the larger cities, though the schedules tend to be more structured and limited. Most magnetic-rail lines halt service in the late evening, though taxis can be found around the clock. The city itself is small enough that most points of interest are within easy walking distance of your hotel. If you’re truly daring, you can rent unicycles from one of the local merchants. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a Vulcan riding a unicycle.

  KIR: RESTFUL FOR MIND AND BODY

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  (First published in the 2362 Edition)

  Though I was born in ShiKahr and still consider the capital city my home, I have journeyed to many of my home world’s other cities and provinces. Each has its own allure, but it was in the province of Kir that I discovered a tranquility unlike anything else I had found in my travels, either on Vulcan or on any of the seventy-six worlds I have visited. The foothills of Mount Tar’hana and the Fire Plains are conducive to meditation, and while I prefer solitude during my visits here, I find myself enamored with the growing number of non-Vulcans who are discovering this region for themselves. It is agreeable to see this heightened interest. In many ways, Kir provides one of the most accurate living depictions of traditional Vulcan society, though not one hopelessly locked in the past.

  —Ambassador Sarek

  SIGHTS AND ACTIVITIES

  * * *

  Unlike with the more popular destinations, such as the larger cities or Lake Yuron, once you leave Kir City proper the rest of the province remains, in many ways, untouched by the passage of time. Monasteries and other historical sites are maintained with an eye toward preservation, not just of the physical structures but also of customs and traditions dating back hundreds if not thousands of years. Outworlders are welcomed at most of these locations, but disruptions and other misconduct are not tolerated. Be on your best behavior when visiting these sites.

  Fire Plains

  This is definitely not the place you want to visit if you’re looking to escape the heat. Situated to the west of Kir City, the lava fields of the Fire Plains wind through scores of ancient ruins and thousands of years ago provided a natural buffer against enemy forces attempting to advance on the original Kir settlement. Enormous statues carved to depict Vulcan warriors tower over the fierce, intimidating vista, reminding visitors of the planet’s turbulent past and Kir’s origins during the Age of Expansion. Though the plains can be observed from surrounding plateaus and ridgelines, the best way to experience them is to follow the paths used by Adepts and other High Masters, who often venture deep into the region in order to meditate.

  The Kal Rekk Observance and Festival

  Vulcans observe the Kal Rekk, or day of atonement, by individually reflecting on perceived lapses in logic or emotional control during the previous year. The influx of offworlders to the outlying provinces and cities has seen to it that the occasion now is marked by a variety of festivals and other events. Most of these celebrations are very modest and respectful of the observance’s established protocols, serving as a means to honor the Vulcans who have welcomed the outsiders in their midst. If you happen to be visiting during this period, take advantage of any opportunity to participate in one of the ceremonies, as they offer unique insight into long-standing Vulcan customs and societal mores.

  Keretak Gorge

  Visitors are drawn to the hot springs here, which flow into natural pools in and under the volcanic rock, formed after thousands of years of abrasion and erosion from the subterranean rivers running beneath the canyon. Remnants of a long-abandoned fortress bear mute testimony to the wars fought here in ancient times, for control of the springs was a driving force behind the establishment of the original Kir settlement. In ancient times, priests and Adepts incorporated the springs into a host of religious ceremonies including betrothal and marriage rites, inviting those receiving such sacraments to let the waters cleanse their bodies and souls. Visitors are invited to tour the excavated dig site, where historians offer insight into the city’s genesis and the battles fought here by rival clans to rule the precious water source. The low-alkaline waters are an excellent restorative for sore muscles after a day spent hiking the Fire Plains.

  Jovorel Kilns

  Observe and interact with talented potters and other artisans as they create all manner of functional and decorative vessels, stones, sculptures, and just about anything requested of them. The fires are hand-stoked just as they’ve been for centuries, and it’s rumored that the trio of elder Vulcan women working the kilns have been here all that time. A gallery overlooking the city houses a vast collection of antique ceramics, ancient weapons, and other artifacts recovered from the numerous archaeological expeditions that have been undertaken in the area.

  Rumarie Festival

  Though the majority of Vulcans have not observed Rumarie for nearly a thousand years, those living in some of the smaller villages and settlements outside Kir City still celebrate this rather anachronistic holiday. The festival’s ribald, heretical ceremonies and dances evoke Vulcan mores from the Age of Antiquity and have understandably fallen out of favor with mainstream society. Not all of the communities that celebrate Rumarie welcome outworlders, so check before you attempt to observe such a ritual.

  M-daran Library

  One of Vulcan’s oldest historical archives, M-daran was founded nearly three thousand years ago, and its catacombs hold the remains of the first Vulcan elders who called it home. Legend holds that Surak made many pilgrimages here in the years preceding the Time of Awakening, and curators still tend to numerous examples of his earli
est formative writings. Reprints of several of his notable texts from this period are available in the gift shop. Indeed, the library’s expansive archives attract historians from around the Federation. Tours are offered, though only a dozen outside visitors are allowed into the library each day, so plan accordingly.

  Mount Tar’hana

  Visible from ShiKahr, Tar’hana is an active volcano that emits steam on a routine basis along with the occasional lava flow onto the surrounding plains. According to legends dating back thousands of years, the mountain spewed fire and lava at the whim of the ancient god Shariel as a way to subjugate those whose worship he sought. To this day, the volcano ejects lava at frequent intervals, though almost always without serious danger to the city or surrounding region. Scientists monitoring the mountain’s activities predict that the next significant event isn’t due for several decades, so don’t let it impede your travel plans. Visitors hoping for an adventurous hike should be warned that the volcano is inaccessible to visitors except those traveling as part of a formal tour group. Those who partake of such opportunities are likely to observe volcanologists and other geology experts working in and around Tar’hana’s enormous crater.

  Phelsh’t Fortress

  Vestiges of this ancient stronghold still jut from the side of the mountain from which it was carved, facing west toward the Fire Plains. Constructed more than one thousand years ago, the fortress protected a natural subterranean water source that still serves the Kir Province and outlying territories to this day. Centuries ago, the sands bore silent witness to fierce battles, as invaders sought to seize control of the local water supply. Conflicts raged between the armies of various sects. One particularly oppressive tyrant, Sotek, decimated the region and caused many settlers to flee the city for the relative safety of the harsh surrounding desert. What remains of the original citadel is now a national historic site, with curators on hand to guide visitors through the maze of walls and tunnels, which include a lone surviving guard tower as well as ramparts from which archers defended the fortress from attack.

  Vulcan Institute of Defensive Arts

  Despite their general pacifist nature, Vulcans are accomplished masters of unarmed combat. Tours of this institute trace the history of personal combat through the ages, illustrating how the martial arts are one of many aspects of Vulcan civilization’s more violent early history that was repurposed over the centuries as the Vulcan people struggled to embrace peace and enlightenment. Exhibitions of suus-mahna, an ancient unarmed defensive art with many similarities to Earth’s jujitsu, take place on the hour, along with demonstrations of the famed “nerve pinch” and the use of traditional weapons such as the heavy-bladed lirpa and ahn-woon sling. Introductory classes are also available, though you’ll have to sign a waiver before you handle any of the weapons.

  Tal-Shanar Observances

  Like the Rumarie holiday, Tal-Shanar harks back to ancient Vulcan civilization, though it is a much more spiritual celebration that showcases many of the traditions and values that have come to be synonymous with the planet’s modern, stoic society. The rites observed during these celebrations are almost never shared with outsiders, whether local or outworlder, and to this day, most of the holiday’s protocols are closely guarded by those few Vulcans who still practice them. Those portions of the ceremonies that are open to outworlders focus on self-examination with respect to the planet’s violent past.

  SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT

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  Kir City boasts a modest selection of shops and performing arts venues and very little in the way of tourist-targeted souvenirs or curios. You’re more apt to come away with a beautiful handwoven scarf or robe, or a book of Vulcan poetry, which is perhaps a good thing. After all, the universe doesn’t really need any more Vulcan sand globes (the Vulcan equivalent of Earth’s chintzy snow globes).

  Daloren Market

  The closest thing to a dining district that you’ll find within the Kir city limits, Daloren Market has more than two dozen different restaurants ranging from chic to seedy. The menus, prices, and quality vary, but if you’re the sort who doesn’t mind trying new things, this could be the place to unleash your inner foodie. Don’t leave without sampling one of the local t’mirak rice dishes or farr-kahli soufflés. Other delicacies might not be so forgiving on non-Vulcan digestive systems.

  Historic District and Living History Museum

  At this popular venue, reproductions of ancient villages, temples, and battlefields bring the original Kir settlement to life. The district is dedicated to preserving the era in which the original city was founded, with costumed performers acting in the manner of Vulcans from thousands of years ago. Furthering the illusion is the absolute prohibition of any modern technology or anything else that might present an anachronism. Visitors are asked to leave such devices in secure lockers at the district’s main entrance. As you wander the streets, you’ll be able to observe the performers carrying out everyday tasks just as Vulcans would have done generations ago. Other performers—jugglers, magicians, stand-up philosophers, and impersonators of celebrated Vulcans—entertain patrons while wandering the trails connecting the “villages.” Games of chance and skill tempt many a guest, and independent vendors offer a wide selection of period-themed clothing, crafts, and food.

  DON’T MISS: FALOR’S JOURNEY SEASONAL FESTIVAL

  If live theater and music is your thing, then you won’t want to pass up a chance to take in this renowned piece of Vulcan literature performed as it was meant to be seen. Nightly shows bring alive the story of Falor and his pilgrimage across the Voroth Sea and the Fire Plains on his way to Kir and toward greater spiritual awareness. Be prepared, though, as the original tale consists of 348 verses, all of which are included in the performance. Plan on staying after the show to meet the cast and crew.

  Zett’s Emporium

  The Nalori have been one of Vulcan’s most active trade partners in respect to exporting retail brands and opportunities to Vulcan from their home world. Created by Zett, the prominent Nalori fashion designer, this chain of interplanetary boutique shops has several locations around the planet, and it’s here that you’ll find a vast assortment of jewelry, fragrances, and other gifts showcasing Nalori culture. Only the Tholians produce silks to rival those used to handcraft the apparel that fills Zett’s Emporium stores. His material has in recent years become popular with younger Vulcans, who tend to prefer it over the heavier, more conservative fabrics that dominate local fashion, such as the renowned dr’thelek silk that is indigenous to this world.

  Clash on the Fire Plains Live Performances

  A notable, enduring example of proto-Vulcan literature, this twenty-three-part drama recounts the story of the war to control the Kir region, fought between forces loyal to Surak and those of Zakal the Terrible, the infamous yet enigmatic Kolinahru “mind-lord” who opposed the great philosopher. The play is a faithful adaptation of this revered text, performed nightly on the main pavilion in the Historic District. Accurate print and digital re-creations of the original work are available for sale from several of the district’s merchants.

  DINING AND NIGHTLIFE

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  If you’ve read this far and still have doubts, it’s true that Kir can be rather reserved when it comes to its nighttime entertainment scene. Locals tend to stick to the taverns and restaurants within the city limits, preferring to retire afterward for private meditation. Meanwhile, tourists and other outsiders flock to the waterfront establishments, where the parties can extend through the night.

  Higher Grounds Coffee Shop

  Get your morning started on the right foot with one of the delicious concoctions available here. Whether you like your coffee from Earth, or the Klingon home world, or just about anywhere in between, the shop’s talented staff is ready to meet your brewing needs. Forget the replicator in your hotel room; every cup here is brewed to customer order using beans imported daily from more than three-dozen worlds. Vulcan spice tea is also in abu
ndant supply, but be sure to get here early, as the lines sometimes form well before the shop opens.

  T’Mirak Hak-el

  Loosely translated as “home of t’mirak,” this is the place to come if you’re hungry for this popular Vulcan rice variant. Tucked away within the city’s commercial district is this collection of more than a dozen t’mirak shops, each with their own spin on this dietary staple. Accept no substitutes; this is the original t’mirak as prepared for countless generations, and these vendors are serious about distancing themselves from imposters. That said, even outworlders have gotten in on the act, setting up their own shops and introducing new recipes and side dishes to accompany the rice.

  DID YOU KNOW?

  KIR’S COFFEE CULTURE

  Though Vulcans prefer their soltar spice tea, coffee is a mainstay beverage in many areas, and local merchants in recent years have been seizing the opportunity to cater to humans and other outworlders. If you’re a visiting coffee connoisseur, then you’ll have your pick of no fewer than two hundred different coffee shops and cafes and an uncounted number of mobile or street vendors. Check out some of our favorites from the Kir coffee scene: