synopsychic

Entry tags:

OPEN

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Whaaaaaaaaaat!?

[She switches from her mental "voice" to her actual one there, using her audio streaming abilities.]

That's so dumb though! I'm just giving a compliment to make her feel nice, why is that so bad!? All the people that like girls over there must be really jealous and insecure because girls find each other pretty all the time and it doesn't mean anything! Pretty and attractive are not the same thing! Does everyone over there want to go kiss paintings? I doubt it! Hmph!

They are not insecure, or any more jealous than any other lady anywhere in the world. There are very few paintings of people anyway, they are also discouraged.

Finding attraction or beauty in another woman, or a man in another man, is forbidden in part because no children will come of such a thing. That and other laws are in place to protect the society that was envisioned by their prophet hundreds of years ago, to change the laws would be saying that they know better than god himself what is good and what is bad.

What do you mean paintings are discouraged!? They're paintings!

[This is the most offended, incredulous, and exasperated Sera has ever sounded. Literally. In her entire life. She just does not get what he's trying to say about the Caliphate here. ...Also pretty convinced the Caliphate is full of imbeciles as ignorant and self-serving as the Karma Society. That's impressively bad. Then Malik keeps talking and while she just sounds so, so done.]

That's even dumber than not liking paintings! They could adopt! Or bring a nice person of the other gender into the relationship, or or- That is the worst excuse ever! And maybe they do know better than that prophet then! When Alcuin told me about Elua's Blessed Tenant he said some other places disagreed but he didn't tell me the reasons were that bad! People can't love who they want to love just because some old dead guy said they couldn't forever ago? That is so dumb!

Tenet.

[It takes her a moment to respond, taking deep breaths to calm herself down first.]

I'm sorry, did I say it wrong?

A little. But that isn't important. I suppose the old instincts haven't entirely gone away.

Old instincts?

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

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

You could say that.

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.

Calm. Down.

[Malik's mental voice is snappish and as irritated as it can sound.]

They are seen as a form of idolatry, or at least a gateway to it. Portraits of a person can lead to distraction from prayer, or making that person above one's duty to god. It is not only who is represented but how that matters, so it is easier to not depict a person at all and focus on showing other things. They do not hate art or beauty only dislike that which puts more emphasis on an individual than another.

[There is a long pause, he has a feeling he has to steel himself for whatever reaction she's going to have from what comes next.]

Marriage is, largely, not about love. It is about advantage and furthering family lines.

[That actually gets her to calm down and stop yelling for a moment.] I'm sorry. It's just that I... I just...

[Then, for all that he was braced for her to get even angrier, she does not yet. Instead, she begins to cry. The audio live-feed lets the network hear her sobs clearly. Even as she speaks again, it's obvious the tears are still coming.]

How could they? How could they be that cruel!? What reason do those poor women have to face a new day every morning? No one can tell them they look nice that day, no one can tell them they're doing well, no one can tell them that thing they must do that makes them feel so small and weak and useless is actually a big accomplishment and they did so much better than they think they did!? They don't even have the hope of love to keep them going, to help them focus on that to someone out there they're irreplaceable!? They just have to keep going thinking they'll never find love, never have anyone care, that not one person can make them feel like something better, even for a moment!? How do they live with that hopelessness!? How!?

[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.

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...

[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?

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 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.

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.

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.

...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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OPEN

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Private

Private

Private

Private