OPEN

[loyalrebel]

I have some information about the situation as well as advice regarding the Caliphate.

As far as information goes, they do not have any allies among the other kingdoms despite having rather vast holdings. Which is... less surprising than most of you will likely find that. They still control Carthage and quite interestingly Al-Andalus, which does explain a great deal of how they have kept ahead of-- ah, right. That probably means nothing to any of you.

What does matter is that they and the Prussia-Zaporizhian Empire are after two individuals that are apparently here in Nova Venezia, an inventor who left the Empire and a Pirate who... I am not quite sure what they did but they apparently enjoy blowing things up. Quite sizeable bounties have been put out for them, which I would suggest most of you take advantage of for cover stories if you need one.

Beyond that, we are above Venice which is essentially held by the Christian Church which... makes this a rather delicate situation with the Caliphate as they are as a general rule it seems followers of a branch of Islam.

Which brings this to a great deal of warning and advice about how to behave properly and not find yourselves on the receiving end of harsh punishment. These laws are... likely to be different than you know as they were written hundreds of years even before my time and are unable to be changed. I do not know if they apply here or not, but they will likely apply on Caliphate vessels and be observed in areas they reside in.

I will keep these general, though feel free to ask for further explanation if you wish it.

Do not swear, or otherwise blaspheme. I would also advise against public displays of affection, including hand holding. Do not stare at a woman, and do not be offended if someone does not directly look at you. There are strict laws concerning modesty and most of you tend to break them.

My biggest point of advice is this: whatever you do, do not claim to be from anywhere within the Caliphate. Being ignorant can rather literally save your skin in this.

If you need someone to help you in this, call on me. I will answer as best I can or come to where you are to help however possible.

Comments

[oftoomuchfaith]

Is it blasphemous to swear by god when you are, in fact, a god?

Or, I guess probably is it blasphemous to declare yourself a god when it's true?

[ TOTALLY INNOCENT QUESTION. NO REASON FOR ASKING THIS. ]

[loyalrebel]

Yes.

And it will likely get you stoned to death.

[oftoomuchfaith]

They're welcome to try... [ it wouldn't do them much good. And then Luci would probably kill them all. ]

But good to know!

[notinthecards]

... That might depend. Which god, petite?

[oftoomuchfaith]

Definitely not Allah, I can tell you that.

[playing coy? yes she is.]

[timelessinventor]

Important personal question, darling.

Where is Britain in all of this? Al-Andalus, if I do not miss my guess would be somewhere around what I know of as Spain.

[loyalrebel]

I believe it falls under the Empire, though that is from what I have gathered a rather recent change within the past decade.

[timelessinventor]

[She gives what is a definitely a derisive snort.]

I know a few people who would be utterly horrified to hear that one.

Thank you for the information. I know more about Islam than most of my contemporaries so I can try not to offend.

I have seen multiple cultures around, however. Is everyone so...uptight, or are there kingdoms that are not, ones that it might be easier to pretend to be from?

[shantiprayer]

Oh, is that why that nice lady got all weird when I told her her scarf made her eyes look pretty?

[loyalrebel]

Most likely, yes.

Not that it was not likely appreciated, just sudden and from someone not related to her.

[shantiprayer]

I was staring at her too because her outfit was pretty. Oops. I guess that explains why the man she was with was giving me such a mean look. I thought he was just really grumpy but I guess I was the one doing a bad thing. So how do I tell someone they're pretty without upsetting them on accident?

[neverfeltthatway]

...Islam and the Christian Church are two religions that don't get along very well, we're near the jurisdiction of both of them, and Islam is very strict regarding their idea of modesty. Right?

[Trying to keep up while being totally at sea with regard to religion is difficult, okay? He's trying.]

[loyalrebel]

Saying they do not get along is putting it mildly.

[A couple crusades and the like tend to sour such things.]

Islam is strict in a great number of things, from how to dress to how to eat and when to pray.

[neverfeltthatway]

...How bad are we talking about, here?

[For a soldeir from a world where humanity is nearing extinction, a war between humans - especially over something as strange and simple as religious ideology - is hard for Armin to wrap his head around.]

And good to know. But I imagine dress is likely to be what they police most in those who do not ascribe to their religion?

[leftbehindagain]

Well, there's an area that still passes for Japan, from what I've picked up - might be more under Okinawan control? I was planning to stick to that for a story if I need one. It at least makes it easier to explain why I don't know the area.

Thank you for the information, though. I don't know nearly enough about Islam to even try to get through a conversation, but that'll at least help some.

[A pirate... is that why Yua was in disguise? But he doesn't have enough information about that to say anything, and he certainly didn't get a name from her. Not worth speculating on right now, in any case - if he can confirm it later he'll bring it up then.]

[loyalrebel]

Being "foreign" will make things easier, just being polite and respectful will likely keep you from making too big a mistake.

[leftbehindagain]

Good to know. I'd hate to get in trouble for something I don't know I'm doing wrong.

[upcard]

That's...so much.

[She's trying to keep up, but there's a lot of information here, and Mai's not all that brushed up on other cultures, much less AU cultures.]

But um...thank you for telling us all of this...! I'll...try to remember it.

[loyalrebel]

I would be happy to explain anything you do not understand.

I just ask that you do not attack me over it.

[upcard]

E-eh? Attack you...?!

[She sounds scandalized at the thought.]

No, I could never...! You're helping all of us so much!

[itsananimalthing]

What if somebody thinks we already got a connection to this Caliphate thing? I've apparently got a life here already set up, and I'm part of this... assassin thing that's connected to 'em.

[loyalrebel]

That is an interesting situation. Take the lead of whomever thinks you are connected to them and play along as best you can is all I have for the moment.

[Private]

If you betray the Hashashin and our secrets to anyone, you will find yourself with a group of enemies within the Travellers that will do everything we can to make your life as difficult as humanly possible.

And that is only because killing you would only last a few days.

[itsananimalthing]

[Riddick locks it down on his end, too, which only makes his angry reaction to that more focused at Malik. He kind of has a lot of psychic power on his end.]

The fuck was that for? I just asked a fucking question!

[permastubble]

[His response is almost immediate, and even if it can’t quite convey properly without tone of voice, he’s pretty eager.]

This is really helpful, thank you! Even if things have changed, having even a vague baseline to go off of will hopefully keep us all out of trouble. I do have some questions; I hope you don’t— Wait a sec, lemme get my pen…

[There’s a break of maybe a minute or two.]

Okay! I’m out of the street and can actually take some notes now. First, any way we can tell Caliphate ships and neighborhoods apart from others? Like, color use or common symbols they put on their things, stuff like that. I can rule out a couple things based on my own experience, but better safe than sorry.

Second, conversation! When we’re talking to someone on the street, aside from not looking directly at them I guess, what are a few very basic does and don’ts? Polite address too, because I’m sure as hell regretting not keeping my keigo really up to snuff. Hell, I’m not sure if that would be appropriate with anybody in this time period, especially with the … Uchinaans but it’s the politest I know how to be, even if I only half remember it.

[loyalrebel]

There is a difference between looking at someone and staring or gawking, eye contact is perfectly fine when speaking to someone.

[Malik feels like he's having to explain that rain is wet there.]

'Sir' or 'Ma'am' is just fine, if someone gives you their title then use it and if they correct you follow their directions. Which, really, is what you should do with anyone you ever meet but that is neither here nor there.

I do not know much of heraldry yet, but their ships will likely have more geometric patterns as decoration than they would animals or especially the faces of people.