synopsychic

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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.

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[That is... definitely not what he's expecting and he softens considerably.]

What about it is cruel? I did not say that love does not happen, or at the very least a good friendship. Focusing on something besides physical beauty is not a bad thing. Is being pretty more important than being good at making a good meal or being able to weave something beautiful? How someone looks changes, we get old or injured and focusing so hard on being good looking enough leads to vanity.

I... do not expect whomever my wife ends up being to love me, or even like me very much, but that does not mean I will be cruel or needlessly mean to her.

"Time heals all wounds" sorta thing?

No, I have simply come to understand that there was nothing that would prevent what occurred and always being angry and hurt over it would only cause more hurt and anger in myself.

What if that person has nothing else? What if they have no future to look forward to? What if the small compliments are all that keeps them from hating themselves? What if they can't cook or weave or do anything because they've been treated like a tool their whole life and the hope of falling in love with someone that will save them from all that is the only thing that can make their horrible life bearable!?

[Her sobs take on a renewed force, and if he was wondering if she was speaking from her own experiences? That's confirmed with the next thing she says. A single sentance whispered so quietly she likely doesn't even realize she said it out loud.]

The labs weren't even that hopeless...

Old instincts?

I was a priest. I never had to teach, but sooner or later, I would have.

Where I come from, most everyone that calls themself a god has alien DNA to thank for it. Even Thor and Loki. Maybe even Hercules.

Oh wow, I didn't know that! Were you a Warrior Priest?

You could say that.

[As utterly unprepared as Malik is for dealing with a crying girl. He's fairly well equipped to help out someone having a crisis.]

I think... you are reading too much of yourself in to this. Where, and when, I am from is different than most others here.

What has led you to think that your only worth is in finding someone else to give it to you?

Oh, let them threaten. Some people get off on feeling self-righteous.

They try to touch any of us to enforce their nonsense, then they'll have real gods to answer to.

You're probably right... I'm sorry...

[Why would there be anyone in a situation like her's? Her situation wasn't natural, she wasn't natural. She was a freak.]

[Private from this point on.]

Because I never had any worth before. Not before I became part of the Embryon. No one ever cared about me, they just cared about what I was. The Cyber Shaman. Even when I was right there that's what they called me. They never spoke to me, only a few of the doctors did. And the Director. She would always call me by my whole name even when I asked her not to. When I dared to complain she told me that I didn't have a choice, that besides my abilities I was just a sickly, worthless little girl.

You must have been different from the Warrior Priests I knew. Because you're not a robot that was programmed without feelings...

... When we see Phedre again, you're going to hsve to share that insight with her.

You had worth from the moment you were born, regardless of what anyone has told you.

The only way anyone loses their worth is by their own deeds, by harming the innocent, by betraying those who they have the confidence of. They are often the ones like that Director, hurting and ignoring those under their care so they feel worth more than they truly are.

You are kind, and care more about those around you than others. That is something that can only be taken if you let people.

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.

Even if I. I wasn't born like a normal person? I was made. I was never meant to be more than a tool. The Director is my mother and my father, but she always made her call me by her title. It's strange. I should hate her. I tried to hate her. But I never could. Maybe that means you're right. Maybe that just means I'm defective and was never worth anything more than being the conduit to speak to God.

Somehow I doubt that is going to happen.

[Because really.]

What would you like to know?

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.

Um...it's about what they're doing here. I know you may not know, but... everyone is trading a lot here, right? And there are some political things happening, but...

Is that why so many different people are here in this place?

[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!

[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.

[Malik doesn't really care how angry he is. This is his real life here, not some jaunt persona forced on him by the trumps.]

I literally helped write the book that kept the Hashashin alive for centuries, I was born in to the Brotherhood and my loyalty to them outweighs anything and anyone else.

And you have stumbled upon them, upon us and I cannot allow you to single handedly destroy everything because they are not really ""your"" family and you care nothing for them. It may be hundreds of years after my time here but they are my family by bloodshed and birthwater.

Well, then, fuck off. Keep your fucking secrets, I don't want no part of it.

[Watch him ignore Malik, now, unless he calms his shit. Riddick has no respect for somebody who's going to immediately assume he's out to wreck things just because he can. It's not like they hadn't been friendly before, or anything, no. Let's just assume.]

[There's a difference, espeically with Malik, between being calm and regaining apparent control of himself. Calm isn't something he's truly been since the first day of the walkabout they got dumped in to.]

Riddick.

Hate me all you like for it, but I do not trust anyone at first anymore. The last time someone found out, who was not told by one of us, I was tortured and dozens of children were killed.

I would not be able to live with myself if I allowed it to happen again.

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