Editing Avalonus (section)

===Culture===
A more proletarian hive than its two older neighbors, Jaranoct is ruled not by the nobles who take its seat at [[Avalonus#Notable Locations|the Grand Court]] but by the great guilds of tradesmen, artisans, and commercial agents who know its commercial heart inside and out. In Jaranoct, money matters as much as blood, and the merchant-lords care not where either comes from. 

In Jaranoct, everyone wants their cut. It is said that nothing in the hive is done without coin changing hands, a statement so true it might well be a commandment from the Emperor. From the most ink-stained Administratum drone to the most gilt-encrusted lord, every Jaranoctian has an opinion on the value of their time and labor, and will be damned before they are paid for it. This attitude fosters an air of what would in other places be called "casual corruption," but in Jaranoct it is simply good business. No Jaranoctian would dream of signing a contract without exchanging gifts of great value, or dream of passing a holiday without treating a potential client or obstacle to an extravagant meal. As a result, many oridnary hivedwellers are wealthier and better off than you'd expect; the gentle corruption of daily life serving as a de facto form of welfare or noblesse oblige.

Jaranoct is the beating heart of Avalonus' economy. While other hives have their role to play in production or exploitation, Jaranoct is the one place where new, planet-spanning, star-faring companies are chartered on a regular basis. That a good deal of these companies are the creations of grifters or fail within a decade doesn't change the fact that Jaranoct, unlike all other hives on the planet, is the one place where an ordinary hivedweller can dream of success and, thanks to the relative wealth of its citizens, find investors to make it a reality.

Jaranoct fashion tends towards the garish, with each converted mineshaft, light-studded hab-cavern, and towering blade sponsoring its own uniquely indentifiable parti-colored pattern. Such colors often reflect the ruling house or dominant company, or reference a significant historical event. Even the usually somber Ecclesiarchy is involved, with many temples and cathedrals using increasingly elaborate costumes to inspire the faithful and reinforce the lagging.