So I suppose I should offer some observations and point out some things about the choices and what they say about Arachne and the Empire both. Some of this might not have been more than hinted at in the thread, but I'm going to try to keep worldbuilding spoilers to a minimum and barring that avoid anything which wouldn't be common knowledge to citizens. The interesting thing about all these choices, first off, is how they're all obviously Empire-loyal to a pretty significant degree. None of these are heterodox or heretical viewpoints or backgrounds.
So simply from there, you can conclude that OG Arachne believed pretty strongly in the Empire.
[] Exalted Among Refuse. Born to a world that saw you as trash, detritus, excrement of society, you cower from the light. The Emperor thinks differently, and as they reach out Their hand and offer you a dream of true potential, they whisper a single sharp command: Rise.
A pretty basic protagonist background - overcoming humble origins via talent and determination and no small amount of luck. This is the generic space opera protagonist background for Weaver, but for Arachne it implies that she built herself up to fairly high heights - getting assigned to embody a Weaver/Builder chassis as an individual intellect is no mean feat.
[] Traitor to Her Class. Against abject monstrosity, against a society that places you in a position of power only if you will suppress the serfs that rise against it, the Emperor offers you a different path: Turn, and say together to the masters and the hand that holds the whip: No.
Remember what Mappi said about how the Empire tended to handle successful slave revolts by going "you won, you can keep what you fought for" if they won big enough? This is an illustration of that principle in action. So the story here is
probably that Arachne defected to the side of the proletariat revolution when one of those happened in a megacorp, either for idealistic or for cynical reasons, then got rewarded with more power and privilege because she helped them win against those odds. This might make Arachne more idealistic, but it also might mean that she just got out while the getting was good, or even that she took a gamble on an underdog for the sake of personal power.
[] Maverick Climbing High. Hero, legend, monster, riding on a confidence that takes you to the top, utterly relentless, superiors split on whether you should be elevated or executed. The Emperor asks: Who among my subjects can truly face the dark? Without hesitation, you respond: I.
ISHTAR: "Weaver, your ass is writing checks your body can't cash. You've been busted. You lost your qualifications as flight commander three times, got suspended from active duty twice, and you have a history of danger close passes on five carriers and one marshal-superior!"
Pretty straightforward. You're extremely good. Very
nearly as good as you think you are. In some ways, fairly straightforward - the Empire rewarded those with ambition and the talent to achieve that ambition. Lots of toes who got stepped on, lots of people who might or might not hold grudges - sure, holding a grudge is immoral in the Empire but that's not to say people never do it - but also, probably lots of admirers. That's for Weaver and Arachne both. Although the circumstances might not align, the core this suggests - arrogant, but at least
almost as good as her ego - wouldn't change.
Built for Different Purpose. Crafted for a caste, made to fulfill a role, reduced to fit your task. But the Emperor sees your dreams, offers you the sensation of the new, asks what it is you want. Against the rules of your stifling clade, you break from tradition. And you answer: More.
So in this case, Arachne (and Weaver) were purpose-built entities for some purpose but found that purpose unsatisfying enough that they switched career tracks to something else entirely. What does it take, for, say, a FORCE/COMBINED fire support voidcruiser's tactical AI or a megacity administration superintendent to decide that they want to switch careers, spending possibly centuries grinding back to a position of similar standing? I suspect an Arachne from this background would be more passionate about her new career choice, because she's doing something she
wants to do rather than something she was
made to do.
[] Heir Aberrant. Cruel responsibilities, dull stock reports, moronic decisions, all weighing down on the princess' crown. Wouldn't it be nice, you ruminate, to just run away? The Emperor turns fantasies of escape real, whispers in your ear as you stand at the corporate castle's edge: Fly.
So this choice seems to make Weaver (and Arachne) some sort of corporate scion, except instead of going into the family business, she decided to take her stuff and change careers. Corporate failchild, Arachne was not. It suggests some level of corporate/social connectivity and a rebellious streak (within Empire norms). What corporation Arachne hails from and what this legacy means for her in the post-Collapse Fringe sector is an open question. Maybe she's Big, Jr. (does that make her actual name Moderate-Size?
) Maybe she's from Axiom. Maybe she's some minor daughter of the Duchess of Zanj Arms Concern. Maybe she's one of the progeny of the fourth bloom of the CEO of Kaajkalbh Femtoscale Development.
