[WORLD TWO | INTRO LOG]

[spellbindmods]

Who: All coven members
Where: In and around the new world’s apartment building where the coven is staying
When: Day (the calendar isn’t syncing for me hELP)
Open/Closed: Open to All

You’re in a room. It’s pretty bright — blindingly so, even. There’s something very stark and very clean about the place, and also the person you’re sitting in front of. You’re sitting? You’re sitting. There’s also a pane of very powerful plexiglass separating you from the uniform-clad person who is now speaking to you. It’s impossible to transcribe what they say verbatim, but here’s the gist of it: - You’re being welcomed to a city called Shehui. Depending on who you are, the level of technology may be light years ahead of you or child’s play. - There’s a very strict policy about magic. While there are measures put in place to prevent magic from happening, this is still something that they reiterate over and over. They don’t want to take chances. - Crime is also frowned upon. Small infractions will result in credit deductions, while major crimes will get you banned. Antisocial behavior is also looked down upon. You’re locked in the city for your initial eight weeks. You can leave afterwards, but trying to break out of the city or cause social unrest will result in monitoring and a potential ban. - This city is supposed to be somewhat relaxing. Is it a free pleasure cruise? No. Is it a self-contained society that runs on community and indulgence? Yes. - You’re being given an allotment of credits in order to stay in the city, which is what the economy there runs on. This goes on for quite some time. - You’re being moved to a housing location. Despite the slotted speaker in the middle of the plexiglass, the only time you have a chance to ask questions is when a small slit opens in the bottom and a package is slid towards you. - What’s in the package? There’s a credit card-like apparatus that has apparently taken a picture of you. It contains a place to write your name, an identification number and barcode. It also has a thin strip near the top that has scrolling script floating by. It states “WELCOME TO SHEHUI. YOUR ID WILL UPDATE WITH COMMUNITY NOTICES AND PERSONAL PINGS FOR JOBS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO YOUR INTEREST.” It’s a lot to take in, but that’s the long and short of it. Have questions? The person will reiterate a few times that there are information desks around the city. That’s all for now…now you’ll be traveling to your next destination: your new home. The floor slowly lowers as if you’ve been in an elevator the whole time. It connects to several other glass containers, much like your own, all suddenly clanking together in a chain. After a short wait, the chain begins to move — quickly. Faster, maybe, than you’ve ever gone before. It’s hard to even make out the scenery when you’re zipping past everything so quickly. Where does this trip lead you? The ground floor of your new apartment building. The plexiglass cases open up and you’re in a hotel lobby. There’s a flashing board on the wall — NEW ARRIVALS, COME HERE. A ▢ So now’s the time to get settled into your new digs. Your name is on the board, and there’s a promise that your things — which, by the way, were mysteriously taken — will be located in your room. No need to fight over bedrooms; those also hold name placards that are digitally installed. Maybe everyone else is already there. Maybe you’re the first person there and need to find a way to stake your claim on the fridge or a bathroom. B ▢ Maybe you don’t want to fuck with anybody right now and are busy exploring the apartment building. You may encounter some aliens, some strangers, some ice machines. There IS that floor that’s nothing but recreational stations. If you’re overwhelmed, the garden is a good place to start. The sport court is pretty empty right now, if you want to have any regrouping meetings.

The apartment building is locked up tight for three hours in order to let new arrivals get their bearings. After that, the ground floor lobby doors open into the city of Shehui. There’s a lot to take in, but let’s cover the biggest bases: C ▢ Right outside this communal apartment building is a large, digital job board. The list of available jobs and credit opportunities are constantly flashing by. Want to pick one out? Just hold up that ID card you were given and the instructions and location will be sent to the ID’s text scroller. D ▢ You’ve got 500 credits to blow on clothes, food, strippers…whatever you’d like? Right next to the apartment complex are tons of local businesses, from bistros to outlet malls. A movie theater, an arcade, a video game store…and the best thing about Shehui? Most everything is dirt cheap. Where are you shopping? What are you buying? Enquiring minds would like to know! E ▢ Right next to the shopping area is a wooded park. It’s akin to a nature trail that’s similar to Yellowstone in scenery and topography. If you’re more comfortable someplace less…tech or modern…then this may be exactly where you’d like to be. F ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

[splinten]

You mean none of your lusii felt it was appropriate to kick their young charges into do-or-die situations in the interest of toughening them up for the harsh life on Alternia?

[terezias]

Mine certainly did not. I cannot speak for other trolls, although some lusii place their charges in somewhat dire situations just by existing.

[splinten]

What do you mean? The Condesce's efforts to set lusii to raise human kids didn't go well, but I assume that they're less likely to eat trolls than little mutant monkeys with strange red blood.

[terezias]

. . . well!

[There is a lot in that sentence, but for the moment she concentrates on answering the question.]

Lusii do not eat their own trolls. [A pause.] Typically. Some lusii of highbloods do, however, subsist on other troll children, in which case it becomes their wiggler's duty to feed them.

[splinten]

That's thoroughly fucked up, yeah. That's exclusive to the lusii of highbloods? [Curiously,] About what caste and higher?

You can imagine most of the knowledge I have about troll society and biology is somewhat inaccurate.

[terezias]

As far as I know. Those types of lusii always seem to select highbloods, due to what the Empire would probably tell you is their--our, perhaps--obvious genetic superiority. I knew a tealblood who fed their enemies to their lusus, although that might have just been for effect rather than out of any biological imperative. But mostly it is ceruleanbloods. A few of higher castes.

[Talking about this reminds her of Vriska, which is a whole font of confused feelings. She frowns.]

It is a difficult life, when such a lusus chooses you. Although that is not an excuse for--other things.

[splinten]

It would be interesting to know whether that was the case in Beforan society. I know there were a number of variables that changed, and I imagine that their culture wouldn't quite accept the cooler-blooded castes feeding other kids to their caretakers.

[Not from what little he'd picked up about it over time. He sees the frown. He knows 'other things' has to be a very specific kind of thing]

Some reasons don't serve as justifications. Others do. How exactly you determine which is which is fairly subjective.

[terezias]

No matter how difficult your life and choices are, at some point you have to stop using it as an excuse and take responsibility for your actions. That was one thing she never understood.

[But that echoes oddly in her head, considering how Vriska's story ended.]

Never mind that. I believe you humans have a tradition called "not speaking ill of the dead."

[splinten]

[He doesn't know which troll it was. He imagines it must be one of the players. He'd heard there were a lot more than made it through.]

We do. We could set a permanent ban on anyone talking shit about us.

[a lighter topic: how THEY are all dead]

[terezias]

[She gives him a critical look that slowly sharpens into a grin.]

Ah, yes. How could anyone be so negative about us after we have been through so much trauma?

[splinten]

[Man she reminds him of a hyena lots.]

It's considered in bad taste.

[terezias]

Only nice things, please, we are delicate souls.

[She stretches. Do hyenas stretch??]

At any rate--to answer your question, I do not know much about Beforus, but I doubt feeding trolls to one's lusus fits their concept of "culling." Which raises the question of what those lusii do, in that case.

[splinten]

[Probably? Clearly, a hyena stretch. Look, when it comes to cackling animals, he has more familiarity with dolphins.]

You make it sound like 'take care of their wigglers' isn't a reasonable option.

[terezias]

One needs to eat to do that!

[splinten]

There have to be alternate food sources to small children.

[terezias]

Lusii can be very picky about what they will eat. But perhaps they learn differently on Beforus.