Heir to the Emperor, Senator of Denon
- Intent: To continue to expand Denon's lore.
- Image Credit: Generated by AI
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Starship Name: The Velvet Eclipse
- Starship Model: Boa Carrier MK.X
- Classification: Casino and Entertainment Venue
- Homeport: Denon
- Travel Route: N/A it remains on Denon
- Affiliation:
Ayumi Pallopides
- Crew Complement: Lightly Manned
- Notable Crew Members: N/A
- Accessibility: The Velvet Eclipse is a private, high-end establishment. Access is restricted to members and those with pre-approved reservations. It is a large, distinct structure floating high above Denon's hyperdense skyline, making it a prominent landmark but also isolated from the general public below. Security checks, including biometric scans and background verification, are required for entry. The location is not hidden, but its exclusive nature and security measures ensure that only the intended clientele can access it.
- Description: The Velvet Eclipse is a colossal multi-level cloudcutter suspended high above Denon's glittering sprawl a soaring monument to the planet's surging affluence and architectural ambition. Its obsidian-black hull traces sleek, interlocking curves that capture and refract the city lights far below, while vast holographic projections ripple across the surface: deep violet nebulae threaded with indigo tendrils and faint, shifting rainbow auroras that suggest cosmic veils draped over planetary dominion. At the structure's dramatic core lies the eclipse atrium, a towering central void spanning nearly the full height of the cloudcutter. Crowning it is a massive inverted dome of reinforced transparisteel laced with holo-projectors, presenting a flawless, live holographic starfield that mirrors Denon's night sky in real time crisp constellations, drifting nebulae, and occasional orbital traffic rendered in luminous detail, subtly accented by distant supernova blooms and auroral ribbons to evoke unchallenged mastery over both surface and stars. Sweeping atria descend in tiered galleries ringed by curved balconies of polished obsidian and translucent alloy. Plush velvet banquettes and intimate gaming pods nestle into alcoves along these tiers, their deep indigo and midnight-purple upholstery drinking in the light to intensify the glow from above. Chandrilan crystal chandeliers some the size of small shuttles descend in precise helical formations, scattering the holographic starlight into drifting prismatic cascades that play across the space like captured auroras. The atrium's broad base forms a circular plaza of mirrored black marble, the focal point for high-stakes tables and central bars. Discreet gravity-lift platforms glide silently along the outer edges, ferrying guests between levels without disrupting the panoramic flow. Mirrored wall panels multiply the starfield overhead and the endless cityscape visible through climate-sealed terraces, generating an infinite recursion of lights that amplifies the sensation of extravagant, untouchable wealth. Throughout, the design blends monumental scale with calculated intimacy: sweeping helical staircases of translucent alloy, walls veined with faint luminous channels that pulse in quiet rhythm, and open-air terraces offering unobstructed vistas of the metropolis below towers of prosperity, rivers of traffic, and the soft radiance of planetary opulence stretching to the horizon.
- Gambling Floors: The main gaming area features high-stakes sabacc and pazaak tables. Holographic dealers, modeled after legendary female figures like Asajj Ventress, manage the games. For a more intimate experience, private booths are available for more private games. Slot machines are also available, themed around galactic heroines like "Leia's Legacy," which offers Rebellion-era bonuses.
- The Sapphire Lounge: This upscale bar offers a variety of exotic cocktails, such as the "Nightsister's Kiss" (a spiced ryll-infused elixir) and the "Hapan Royale" (a bubbly beverage imported from rare sources). The lounge is dimly lit and features plush booths for private conversations. Live music is provided by Twi'lek harpists and Zeltron singers who use pheromones to enhance the ambiance.
- Zero-G Dance Floor: A unique entertainment feature of the casino is its zero-gravity dance floor, which incorporates anti-grav ball elements. It serves as a stage for sapphic performances, from exotic dancers inspired by Rylothian traditions to holographic shows that tell tales of force users.
- VIP Suites: Located in the highest sections of the cloudcutter, these orbital-view penthouses offer exclusive privacy. They are furnished with gravity-defying beds and are protected by privacy fields. These suites are often used for high-stakes business dealings, including the smuggling of spice and negotiations with powerful syndicates like The Family.
- Droids: The Velvet Eclipse employs a team of corporate droids sponsored by Obsidian Star Technologies for general surveillance and security.
- Bouncers: Discreet, highly trained bouncers are stationed throughout the casino to ensure privacy and handle any disruptions.
- Anti-slicing Fields: The entire structure is protected by advanced anti-slicing fields, designed to prevent Darkwire hacks and protect sensitive data and financial transactions.
- Surveillance: The casino is under constant surveillance via hidden cameras and sensors.
- Privacy Fields: VIP suites are equipped with privacy fields that block both visual and auditory surveillance.
The Velvet Eclipse emerged from the ambitions of Ayumi, who at the time served as a director within Denon's reformist bureaucracy and later completed the project after returning to her senatorial seat. Conceived in the turbulent aftermath of the Planeshift of 902 ABY an enigmatic galactic upheaval that displaced entire populations, shifted planetary alignments, and scattered elites across the stars the cloudcutter was envisioned as both a glittering beacon of recovery and a discreet fortress for the kinds of dealings that inevitably followed such chaos. The Planeshift had left Denon shaken but uniquely positioned: a world already accustomed to flux, migration, and the constant churn of commerce suddenly found itself a crossroads for the disoriented and the opportunistic alike.
Ayumi recognized that Denon's strength had always been its ability to absorb disruption and turn it into momentum. The Upcities, with their vast reserves and labyrinthine financial networks, were flush with capital that needed new channels. Through the Ascendancy Reforms her own sweeping initiative to modernize Denon's infrastructure and diversify its economic engines she quietly funneled resources into a project that many initially dismissed as frivolous. A casino? A tourist destination? In the wake of a galactic crisis, such a thing seemed almost decadent. But Ayumi saw further. She understood that the galaxy was entering a new era of uncertainty, and in such times people sought not only stability but spectacle. They needed places that promised escape, anonymity, and the illusion of control. The Velvet Eclipse would be all of these things: a sanctuary for the displaced, a playground for the wealthy, and a neutral ground where deals could be struck far from the eyes of rival powers.
Construction began in the upper strata of Denon's atmosphere, where the cloudcutters drifted like jeweled leviathans. The Eclipse was designed to stand apart even among these giants. Its architecture blended Denon's sleek industrial aesthetic with influences drawn from worlds affected by the Planeshift shimmering crystalline motifs from relocated Alderaanian enclaves, kinetic light structures inspired by Mirialan refugee artists, and acoustics engineered by a displaced Ithorian sound‑sculptor. Every corridor, lounge, and viewing deck was meant to evoke the feeling of stepping into a place unmoored from ordinary reality. Funding flowed easily once the boarrds realized the potential returns. Investors from across Denon after seeing her work in distrrict nineteen were eager to attach their names to a project that promised both prestige and privacy. The Eclipse became a symbol of Denon's continued growth.
Yet Ayumi knew that a casino alone would not be enough. Denon had countless attractions, but none that could compete with the galaxy's legendary entertainment hubs. To truly stand out, the Velvet Eclipse needed a signature draw an act so compelling that travelers would cross sectors just to witness it. And so began the talent search, a sweeping, months‑long endeavor that spanned dozens of systems. Scouts were dispatched to find performers displaced by the Planeshift, rising stars seeking new stages, and legends rumored to be in seclusion. Ayumi wanted not just a performer, but a phenomenon someone who could embody the Eclipse's ethos of reinvention and possibility. As the opening approached, the Velvet Eclipse existed in a state of shimmering anticipation. It had no long history, no storied past, but it didn't need one. Its power lay in its potential: a place built for a galaxy trying to redefine itself, a monument to survival and ambition, and a promise that even in the aftermath of cosmic upheaval, there would always be room for wonder, risk, and reinvention.
