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

[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.

[loyalrebel]

It is a port city, of course there are people from everywhere.

Do people not trade with other countries where you are from?

Private

[loyalrebel]

Everyone is made, Little Bird. That your making was different does not make you less.

Hate is a hard thing to carry, heavier than love and there is rarely anyone to ever share the burden of it.

[itsananimalthing]

[That's good enough. The lack of overt threatening is really what he'd wanted.]

Trust got nothin' to do with it. How about not sayin' you'll visit horrible death on somebody for askin' a question? I didn't exactly decide to go nosin' into your people's business on purpose. I didn't even know they were your fuckin' people. All I know is I apparently got a woman and a kid and we'll all wound up in them somehow.

[upcard]

... Not like this, I don't think... Or... if they do, I've never seen anything like this.

[It's hard being a modern girl.]

But...for the Jaunt we're supposed to be finding what's happening, so--I wondered if you'd have any ideas.

[permastubble]

Right. Thanks for clarifying. And it does seem common sense, but I’ve seen people who get touchy over less than a little mistake in address, so better to have an idea of what they’d expect going in.

Geometric. No faces; got it.

Anything else that you’ve noticed common and accepted among travelers that would make people from the Caliphate uneasy? Also! I don’t know if you can answer this one at all, but might as well. Maybe someone else will hear and answer if you don’t know. Do you have even a vague idea of the basics that someone should know, say history or current events-wise, about the Caliphate even if they’re from halfway across the world?

[loyalrebel]

As far as they know, you are one, Brother.

[Yeah he's throwing that back at him. A jaunt later.]

Short version of events, we have existed for at least a few thousand years in some form or another before my own time. Which is roughly... 700 years before the one we are in in the Jaunt. We have three rules; do not harm the innocent, do not act in obvious ways, and do not compromise the Brotherhood. Beyond that; Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted.

We exist to do what is best for mankind, regardless of politics though religion can and does play in to what each branch believes to be "best".

We remove tyrants and abusers from power, very often by killing them, and disseminate information to people who need it most.

[loyalrebel]

[This is going to sound really rude, and Malik is very well aware of it.]

You do not... share things. Things you like, things about your families. Unless someone comes in knowing about you it is as if nobody outside of that matters as a person. Community is... an important value, and it feels missing anytime we are all ourselves.

I am from 1195 by the Christian calendar, anything I think is a current event is ancient history.

[itsananimalthing]

[Riddick is puzzled, not sure what that word has to do with anything, but he doesn't pursue it. The rest is more important.]

Okay. So you guys kill people. I'm guessin' with poison and shit. You made sure those three rules're still in effect, seven hundred years later? I ain't got any contacts that I actually remember besides the woman I supposedly had the kid with, and I don't wanna make myself look too suspicious by askin' a lot of stupid questions.

She's one of us, in case that winds up bein' important.

[loyalrebel]

If they did not follow the rules, they would be more obvious to everyone and likely not as effective.

Poison, blades, projectiles whatever is most effective. One time we used a snake to kill a Queen.

Let them take the lead, and if you need a cover story for being gone... however long you have been use me. As far as I have told anyone I have been in the 'north' on business for the past decade and out of touch with events.

[itsananimalthing]

Wouldn't have to follow rule number one and still keep their cover, but I'll assume they are until I see proof otherwise.

[Mostly a lie, because he never assumes anybody's not likely to harm the innocent. But if he says that, he's pretty sure he'll piss Malik off again, and he still needs info out of him.]

I was apparently supposed to be gone already. Everybody seems surprised I'm back early. I mean, not unhappy, but surprised. I could use a good reason for hangin' around here, though, instead of gettin' sent out again. I guess this other guy's not home a lot.

You hangin' out with the local higher-ups, then?

Private

[shantiprayer]

...Do you really think so? Even though I was always weak and sick before? I always thought it was because I was made different so something wasn't right inside.

I know. Gale told me I mustn't hate them. I think hate is what destroyed the directors and I feel like Gale thinks so too... Uhm, Gale was the Tribe's tactician, so he was really smart. But if I can't hate even when I want to, even if it's a good thing, doesn't that still mean something inside me's all messed up?

[permastubble]

So they’re really private, got it!

The community thing makes sense, but if we need to ask them questions, those things could put put us in a rough spot, depending. Damn. I don’t think weather would make a good icebreaker. I’m guessing it wouldn’t be as rude to ask about current events where they’re from than to ask about personal things, is that about right?

Well, it was worth a try.

[loyalrebel]

No.

You asked me what about you Travellers that was commonplace would make people uneasy.

You all seem more afraid of talking about yourselves than you are of having your minds ripped to shreds by the Trumps. I have no idea about how trustworthy most of you are beyond being told to do so.

[permastubble]

Huh? Wh—Oh. Shit. I got turned— Oh never mind. I’m sorry for misunderstanding.

[He’s quiet for a long while before speaking up again.]

I don’t think it’s fear? I mean, I haven’t been here long but… It feels like I’d be burdening people with information they don’t want or need. Hell there are a lot of things I don’t want to—that I can’t think about—because if I do, I won’t be able to focus on doing what these bastard Trumps want us to do.

I think I get it, though? They’re all tossing us into this without giving us reasons to trust them, much less each other. If I didn’t need to get home as fast as I damn well can, I think I’d actually be more sympathetic to the people who are saying screw the Trumps. I’m not sure it’d be a good idea either way, but I’d understand the feelings better.

[loyalrebel]

I somehow doubt anything we actually do or desire has any bearing on how soon we are sent back home, if ever.

We are stuck together, and the people from home who already know you will not always be themselves. We should have a familiarity with eachother as a group, if only so when we are stuck investigating with people we are not friends with we know what topics to avoid discussing and who has what skills.

Right now I personally could not tell anyone who to go to for assistance in much of anything.

[permastubble]

I have to hope. I have to. If I don’t…

[He doesn’t want to think about it, but it takes him a minute to push the negative thoughts back.]

I can understand that much. It makes sense. I’m a police detective at home, but it’s already clear that it really hasn’t prepared me for this undercover stuff. My other skills, uh, I’m not really the best to explain, but I can try.

[loyalrebel]

I make maps, though before that I was something of a scout during the crusade... among other things.

Keep your head down and your ears and eyes open.

[permastubble]

Maps, huh? Those would come in really useful here.

And I’m trying. I’m sure I’m failing at it.