[X] Plan: Staking out a Strike!
-[X] [FORCE] Train the Militias
-[X] [AWARENESS] Stake Out Government Buildings
-[X] [RESOURCES] Establish a Strike Fund
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Create Agitprop
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Meet with the Acclimation
-[X] [SOLIDARITY] Send a Delegate to the CGT
Scheduled vote count started by TheInnerMoon on Jan 17, 2023 at 8:53 AM, finished with 4 posts and 4 votes.
[X] Plan: Staking out a Strike!
-[X] [FORCE] Train the Militias
-[X] [AWARENESS] Stake Out Government Buildings
-[X] [RESOURCES] Establish a Strike Fund
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Create Agitprop
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Meet with the Acclimation
-[X] [SOLIDARITY] Send a Delegate to the CGT
[X] Plan: Staking out a Strike!
-[X] [FORCE] Train the Militias
-[X] [AWARENESS] Stake Out Government Buildings
-[X] [RESOURCES] Establish a Strike Fund
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Create Agitprop
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Meet with the Acclimation
-[X] [SOLIDARITY] Send a Delegate to the CGT
[FORCE] Train the Militias (19-2=17)
"Attention, fellow Toilers! My name is Instructor Thefoon. As per the militia's guidelines, I should not be considered your leader. Let that be your first lesson: you are all free individuals! Is that understood?"
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"Very funny! I appreciate some good humor before training! Naturally, you may address me however you wish henceforth. Now, here is your second lesson: do not be fearless! Fear is going to keep you alive out there, if you can learn how to live with it. Those who try to repress their fear only double it! You must learn to enjoy your fear instead.
In the next few dies, before we will even teach you how to handle a repeater, your mental state will be the focus of our attention! A militia member should be mindful, both of themself and of their fellow fighter. Only when you've learned to simply exist in the heat of battle, will we teach you how to survive in a physical sense. The latter cannot proceed without the former, and if you are not trained in that before your first strike, only trauma will result from that. I will not have that on my conscience! Is that understood?"
"Ma'am, yes, ma'am!"
"Again, hilarious. Now let's begin."
[Force +2, Power +5]
[AWARENESS] Stake Out Government Buildings (18-2=16)
Blue Rebirth Mayoralty observation notes, by TAT Intelligence Entity Buraan Nickel:
Got a job in a barbershop, right across the street from the Mayoralty. It's a middle class joint, so a lot of the municipal workers come here to wind down. I've been privy to a lot of their gossip thanks to that.
Based on what they've been implying, it seems that the city has been having financial troubles. As the trade lanes are being increasingly disrupted, the Mayoralty is having a hard time maintaining the public workdomes. The resulting tax increases are just causing capital flight, as prominent Creatives are being poached by the private domes. It's a shitshow, frankly, and there are whispers of a Sublime delegation coming to offer a bailout. We should strike before that happens.
Since my new position technically makes me a Creative–thanks for the forged genchip, by the way–I've gained a whole new perspective on the contempt this government treats us with. On the face of it, it seems ridiculous that any of the managerial positions would be kept from us. What's so Creative about the bureaucracy? The way these people talk about us, though, it's obvious they just want to keep us far away from any real power. Even the quotas don't help us one bit, since they openly talk about shunting us into the least important departments. Hell, I had one guy the other die talk about inventing a whole new "Material Logistics Section" to serve as nothing but a glorified moving company. He got a real chuckle out of that. I had to resist the urge to cut his throat right then and there. At least he left with a few solid nicks.
At the same time as all that, I've also been able to keep track of the local security measures. A floating patrol passes by twice an hour, and the building's own entrances are fitted with biometrics. The only loophole there is the guest policy, which trades the DNA registration for a custom pass with the clearance level gencoded on it. Trouble is, you only get that pass once you're in the building, and you have to hand it back when you leave.
If you're wondering how I know that; well, here's the kicker. Apparently this business is held on retainer by the mayor herself, who prefers a no-nonsense haircut from a trusted barber. She seems to have taken a liking to my smalltalk; I've already been in the building thrice now. Were we to storm it, I think I could lead our vanguard past most of the guard stations. Of course, if you really want to kick things off with a bang, we could plan our strike around the time of my next visit to the Mayoralty. If I give her a short shave right then and there, we'll have decapitated the city's authority right from the start. Quite literally so.
[Awareness +2]
[RESOURCES] Establish a Strike Fund (16+2=18)
In these extraordinary times, a strike fund is quite different from what you're used to. In the midst of a full on insurrection, no amount of Reputation Score, Labor Notes, or Company Stock is going to save you from any undersupply. Instead, you'll have to command the Autonomy directly, either seizing the Means of Fabrication or creating them yourselves. Naturally, much of this work must proceed in secret. The people of the domes are keen to check each other's logistics, if only to get some sense of what one's creative competitors are up to. If any of the Collectives or Mayoralties catch wind of what you're up to, your uprising could be over before it begins.
Thankfully, your opsec proves impeccable. You divide your illicit labors between several different sources, each delivering just a part of the greater machine. Among these sources are public fabricators–which aren't monitored for anything besides the illegal–the private Autonomies of certain reformist Collectives–who think you just want to start your own business–and finally, your newfound allies among the Acclimation–who mostly provide the hiding spots for your new acquisitions.
While the general strike will still be a precarious affair in any case, your logistical preparations have made everyone involved breathe a little easier.
[Resources +2, Power +5]
[CREATIVITY] Create Agitprop (12+2=14)
[We open on a Toiler carefully checking the balance of plant life in a patch of cultivated meadow. A Creative approaches them, and stops to inspect their work]
CREATIVE: What is this? I told you, this meadow is supposed to be all red!
TOILER: But Boss, you simply can't have a meadow like that and maintain the proper ecological balance!
CREATIVE: I don't care! Our client is coming to check on it in three dies! Get it cleared up, now!
[The Creative walks away. The Toiler looks dejected, then turns their face to the camera. The scene pauses.]
NARRATOR: Are tyrannical Creatives all up in your business? Has this happened to you?
[The Toiler walks into a local TAT headquarters. They look around in wonder at the laidback socializing of their fellows.]
NARRATOR: Here at the Toilers Against Toil, we know what it's like to have your work go unappreciated. To be treated like the mere appendage of someone else's vision. That's why we've banded together to demand our fair share of Blue's dividends. And we've already achieved some important changes.
[The scene from earlier replays]
CREATIVE: What is this? I told you, this meadow is supposed to be all red!
TOILER: Well, Boss, regulation says I can't deviate from ecological convention without a pre-existing agreement. Should we draw that up now? I can go get the TAT representative!
CREATIVE: Uhh…No, that's alright. Carry on!
[The scene pauses again]
NARRATOR: But wait, there's more! While our Minimal Program has already borne fruit, our full aims are to completely overhaul the way Toil and Creativity are conceived of in our ideonomy. Let's take a look:
[The scene shifts back to the beginning. The Toiler is still cultivating the meadow, but looks significantly more relaxed. The meadow looks less regimented, though beautiful nonetheless. The Creative from earlier walks past, now dressed in the same gardening uniform as the Toiler.]
CREATIVE: Oh, wow, that looks really nice!
TOILER: Thanks! How's your plot going?
CREATIVE: Pretty well! It's a lot of work, but I'm digging it. Literally!
[The two laugh]
NARRATOR: This is what our Revolution can do for you! Join up today!
[Creativity +1, Power +5, Glory +5]
[CREATIVITY] Meet with the Acclimation (9+2=11)
Technically speaking, the Acclimation consists solely of Creatives, and should therefore be considered a collective of class enemies. The details make all the difference however. First off, these people actually know how to toil. In fact, they make you work the scrub fields with them for an afternoon before they even deign to give you an audience. You don't mind, though; it's nice to work outside of the domes for a change. When your shift is done, it's time to head inside for supper, into the transparent tent camp that they've set up around one of their monitoring spires. Then, after a hearty meal of hot noodles and spiced beverages, their Improvised Assembly finally commences.
As you begin to lay out your case, you focus on the shared struggle of Toilers and Acclimators. What you have in common is a class antagonist: the dome-based Creative kind. If you band together to overthrow this class, you can come to share the planet as equals: while you will occupy the domes, the rest of the planet could easily be left to the stewardship of the Acclimation.
Before you can even finish your offer, a part of the assembly is already responding. As it is, they point out, the Acclimation already controls most of the planet. Why should they commit to a violent uprising for just a bit more influence?
Thankfully, you'd expected this kind of reaction. First, you assure your hosts that you will be doing the heavy lifting during the Revolution. You just need their aid for logistical purposes. Secondly, the Creatives are far more intrusive than the footprint of the domes would imply. What about their toxic off gassing practices? Their monopoly on the trade of native species? Their ongoing contempt for the 'Uncreatives'? All of this would change under a TAT government.
These points already seem to be swaying a lot of them. What clinches the deal is your willingness to hear a counteroffer. To your surprise, they ask for something you didn't know they wanted: a dome. Having a controlled ecology to call their own would really help them with testing out their life-shaping strategies. It would also provide a preemptive quarantine for species that might turn invasive. All in all, it's a very sensible ask, and one you can easily promise to meet after the Revolution.
Once the final deal has been agreed upon, you drink to your newfound alliance. You have a good feeling about this.
[Solidarity +1. The Acclimation will help out during your uprising.]
[SOLIDARITY] Send a Delegate to the CGT (5+2=7)
A message retrieved from a Blue Star dead drop:
"One of your guys got caught by prefectural customs. Those weren't supposed to be there, but with the trade margins being what they are, every region wants their cut. And I gotta say, whoever you sent was not exactly a seasoned smuggler. They didn't even have a mid-tier telepath on staff, yet still managed to suss out that your Toiler was hiding something. When they put them in deep scan, the Dark Frequencies flowed out of them instantly. Bad form.
Lucky for you, I have some contacts in GalMod, and they managed to get your agent remanded to them. They'll be coming my way before long, and then I'm sending them right back to Blue. You owe me for all this, naturally.
Next time you try something like this, send someone who knows how to be mindful."
[Resources -1. You won't be able to ask the FCC for any favors next turn.]
[Total Results: Force +2, Resources +1, Awareness +2, Creativity +1, Solidarity +1, Power +15, Glory +5]
In the dark depths of Zending, there is a bar called the Ecumenical Conclave. This bar is a much-loved get-together for some of the planet's most famous (and infamous) thinkers. Given the religious bent of the greater Zending White Zone, the questions these thinkers occupy themselves with trend inevitably towards the metaphysical. There is a local myth that every night, the drunk dialectic at the Conclave gets closer and closer to discerning the true nature of the universe. Unfortunately, by the time they're reading to draw their profound conclusion, it's already closing time, and the idea is lost. (So far, all attempts to extend the bar's opening times have merely led to the same aporia striking at a later hour.)
So what kind of questions do the patrons of this establishment busy themselves with? Well, it tends to change by the season. Generally speaking, it seems that the quality (and quantity) of the bar's intoxicants has a lot to do with it. As their assortment changes, so does the content of their discourse. Who could forget that time the bar stocked fungal psychedelics, and its regulars declared the ability to shift between Realms at will? For as much as they insisted, their claims were never replicated afterwards. Or what about that time the bar became an outpost for the God-Builders? This was more than twenty seasons after the Battle of Tenzo, mind you, when the philosophy of God-Building had lost all relevance. Not that the Conclave was ever interested in being relevant.
Taken together, these tipsy thinkers were and continue to be masters of mental misadventure. It should not surprise us, therefore, that they have recently turned their bar-shaped brain to one of the greatest mysteries of all: death!
Now, there is good reason for this shift in focus. In these waning days of the Commonwealth, everyone and their ancestors can tell you that great violence is in the offing. Indeed, many a soothsayer has been driven mad by their prophecies of doom. In order to ameliorate this dire prospect, the Conclave's regulars have tried to put a positive spin on the idea of death. If the latter is not so bad after all, then perhaps people can make peace with the suffering to come.
So far, the results of this palliative exercise have been mixed at best. As usual, the gathered regulars have gotten lost in the weeds of their subject, fixating on single facets instead of the bigger picture. In this case, they've been unable to go beyond the notion of the soul, and what its potential existence or nonexistence might mean for a person's eternal fate. In spite of its diversionary nature, at least this topic has generated a wave of ontological innovation, with various soul-based magics now flourishing on Zending. What set this wave off was a single curious anecdote, which I will relay to you here.
As it happened, the Conclave had delved into the divisive topic of the soul's own divisibility. One of the patrons, a robotic theologian named Silver Majestic, had been arguing fiercely in favor of the 'forge-based' model of the soul. Basically, she claimed that the soul was like a metal vessel for lived experience, parts of which could be melted down and reforged in the fires of death itself. New souls would be made through the fusing of old vessels, with an esoteric ore known as Metal-Physical standing in for the generation of new spiritual material. As she argued this position into the wee hours of the night, an opposing theologian challenged her to prove her position 'empirically'. Basically, if the soul was so malleable as to be easily reforged, and this could be shown in practice, then surely she would have no trouble reshaping her soul right here and now.
Silver Majestic's retort came instantly: to remake the soul would be akin to death! What's more, without the presence of any additional spiritual material, she could at best become a botched clone of herself. Even if she were to attempt such a grand experiment, who could be asked to lend their soul for the proving?
Upon hearing of this dangerous requirement, her challenger would offer up their own soul for exactly this reason. If they charged Majestic with making history, then it was only fair that they share in its risk!
Now, a cynic might interpret such foolishness as a callous invitation to murder-suicide. In context, however, it was known to all present that Majestic and her detractor were caught up in a bit of intellectual courtship, each sniping at the other as they hid their actual fascination. This latest challenge was just the ultimate dare, a way of forcing their mutual cooperation even as they each affected their antagonism. Again, not that this wasn't obvious to those present.
In this instance, we should count ourselves lucky that this daredevil dalliance did not result in disaster. Instead, in the presence of a crowd of drunken onlookers, the souls of two beings were fused successfully. Once it had gotten its bearing, the new soul would call itself Gold Celebrant, and continued to frequent the bar as if it were just another patron. So it goes on to this day. Only in certain quiet moments does Celebrant's strange nature come to the fore, when it stealthily shifts into the shape of two embracing lovers.
So far, the Conclave's regulars have chosen to let this mystery be. Still, the success of such a revolutionary technique has led to a wave of similar initiatives, each trying to outdo the others in the quest for absolute omnipotence. While few concrete advances have yet resulted from this effort, at least it has graced the Ecumenical Conclave with many new drinking stories. Perhaps I should share some of them with you. Some other time, though. Right now, I have an experiment to prepare!
Author's Notes: The first proper update on the God-Builders will be coming shortly. Before it does, though, here's a short interlude on one of the locations y'all didn't pick. With all its various cults, criminals, and crazy inventors, Zending is an overwhelming place at the best of times.
"Exactly what I'm telling you. We're looking at them right now."
"Have they spotted you?"
"If they have, they're not showing any sign of it. What should we do?"
"Stand by."
Eight-Five the God-Builder was not having a good time.
Back on Agon, they had been one of the movement's strongest street preachers, gathering support for the cause at a time when all hope seemed to be dwindling. They were someone who could open people's eyes, to make them see the revolutionary opportunities right in front of them. It also helped that they knew a bit of God Magic. A crowd would be all the more excited if they could see what the God-Builders had achieved first-hand. And that was just due to the God-In-Becoming. Once the gathered saw that things could only get better, at least a few of them would join outright. And the passive support of the rest of them had been a resource in itself.
But this was all before the mission to Fark had reported back in. For some God-forsaken reason, Regimental Command had decided to go all-in on this abandoned 'fortress world'. Not that there seemed to be much left of these vaunted fortifications. At least not on its surface. Still, they were stuck here now, back in their old role as comms operator. All in all, it had been a real lousy turn of events. But as this was ultimately a volunteer outfit, and they were still committed to the cause as such, there wasn't much to do but their duty.
In this case, that meant reporting this strange sighting to their immediate superior. This was going to be fun.
"Captain," they began, "you gotta see this."
"What is it, operator?"
"Scouting party Sept is claiming to have come upon some people in the sublevels. They don't seem to have been spotted yet."
"Sept? That's Officer Darn's squadron, right? What the hell does he think he's up to, running into people?"
"Well, ma'am, that is part of his mission."
"Smartass. Did he say what these 'people' are doing?"
"...I didn't ask."
The captain looked at them sternly. She didn't need to say anything.
"Will do, ma'am."
They turned back to their comms terminal.
"Ehmm, scouting party Sept? Come in, please. Command is asking what your purported 'people' are doing."
The voice on the other end sounded almost as uncertain as they did.
"That's the weirdest part, command. They're not acting like any kind of patrol or expedition. We just watched them set up a portable table, and now it seems like they're having breakfast? Or brunch, I guess, considering it's almost midday. Whatever it is, it seems like they're just on a friendly outing. Definitely not dangerous."
Eight-Five turned to their captain. "You hear that, ma'am? Sounds like there might be people here after all. That's going to blow up the betting pool."
"Ugh, I'm going to have to run this up the chain of command. In the meantime, tell Sept to stay put, observe the natives for as long as they can, and come back to base if this little picnic doesn't produce anything interesting. Got that?"
"Of course, ma'am." They relayed the orders quickly.
"Also, speaking of a picnic, are we still on for dinner tonight?"
The sudden shift of tone caught Eight-Five by surprise. But they knew to match her familiarity, if so prompted. "Well, not if you're going to keep me at my post, dear. Uhm, ma'am, I mean."
Shit. The two had made a game of their professional facade, but now they'd gone and broken it. She would not let that slide.
"How undisciplined! I should make you stay late just for that. But let me think about it." The captain winked at them, then moved back to her own station.
Ah, the troubles of being married to your commanding officer. It was something they hadn't had to deal with in a while, what with the lax situation back on Agon. But now that the regiment was getting back into the swing of things, they'd have to balance their spousal duties with their military responsibilities.
At least they were having fun with it so far. While there was much they resented about their stay in this place, at least Eight-Five could count on their wife's playful presence.
They were looking forward to dinner.
Faction: The God-Builders
Location: Fark, The Fortress-World
Force: +2 (most of you still know how to fight, if barely)
Resources: 0 (you brought enough gear to survive on Fark for a while, but not to do anything special)
Awareness: -1 (Fark is a mystery to you, although your scouting missions are already in progress)
Creativity: +4 (the years of hardship selected for those who knew how to improvise)
Solidarity: -4 (while your popularity is recovering, God-Building as a movement is as dead as ever)
Power: 60 (you're only a few hundred being in total, but at least you're all semi-professional soldiers)
Glory: 47 (you've preserved some of the old ways of God-Building, but the years have not been kind)
Number of Actions: 6D20
[] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize: Any military outfit worth its name must stay in shape. Your regiment is no exception. In order to bring some levity to this tedious necessity, command has decided to revive the old sports tournament known as Exercise and Exorcize. Though the regulars have always considered this peppy initiative to be somewhat 'cringe', it does admittedly make for a good distraction from your terrible jungle posting. A bit of faith-based fitness never killed anyone, right? Right?
[] [FORCE] Call on the God-In-Becoming: To call the God-Building movement an outright failure is not only offensive to you, it's simply untrue. As billions if not trillions of beings committed themselves to your cause, their devotional energy began to shape the very God you were building towards. Naturally, the almost total decline of the movement set this development back quite a bit. But by uniting yourselves with its residual aspects, you can tap into the power of those who came before you. The Ultimate I shall at last be realized!
[] [RESOURCES] Sell your Services: Even though you've moved your meager regiment to Fark, you're still tied into the galactic Ideology. Where would you be without it? Not only is it a way to keep up with your outstanding obligations, but it can help you build up some resource reserves. There's always someone looking for professional military training or special operations by proxy. As long as you touch some grass once in a while–and there's lots of it here–then there's no reason not to go online.
[] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden: Just because you've exchanged the urban jungle of Agon for a more literal interpretation of that term, that doesn't mean there's nothing of value here. Even as the civilization of Fark was left to wither, its natural splendor flourished. Indeed, it flourished a little too well–your botanical division suspects sapient interference. Still, the dense jungle it's resulted in is a fairly wild place, one which could use some immediate stewardship. By building an experimental garden out of some of these species, you can begin to turn them to a greater purpose. Yours, to be exact.
[] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives: From your initial investigation of this planet, it's clear that you're not the only sapients around. Whatever its indigenous population is about, they seem to keep to the lower levels of this former metropolis. If you're going to find the kind of game changing technology you're looking for, you'll inevitably have to go down there as well. Better to contact these natives now, before they catch you by surprise on their home turf.
[] [AWARENESS] Watch the Watchmen: Thanks to your early scouting parties, you know that a certain part of the Commissariat has taken an interest in Fark. While you failed to contact them directly when you had the opportunity, perhaps this "Special Committee on Galactic Precedent" will send another research vessel this way. Or maybe you can inquire with your external, see what they know about this obscure faction of the Commonwealth's leadership.
[] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline: Even though it was a democratic decision, some of the lower ranks continue to grumble and grouse about your move to Fark. You can see why: your command structure back on Agon was decidedly looser, which gave these folks more opportunity for personal cultivation. Why ruin that? As a way of pleasing the dissatisfied, perhaps you could maintain a small outpost of God-Builders back on Agon. That would also make for a nice bit of redundancy, should your efforts on this world fall apart.
[] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark: In case you forgot, the reason for even coming to this God-forsaken place is that regimental command believes there might be interesting technologies to pick over here. The Empire of the Strands was an infrastructural powerhouse back in the day, and was responsible for the initial creation of the Canal network. As many of their feats are yet unparalleled, you could get a real edge on your enemies by studying them. Like any scientific endeavor, that process starts with a literature review. Get to reading, soldier!
[] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries: Back during the height of the God-Building movement, each regiment was equipped with an experimental set of 'regimental rosaries', a devotional necklace that let the different parts of the Army of Me check on one another through a backdoor network in the Dark Ideology. Since the Battle of Tenzo over a century ago, this network has become defunct. With a bit of ideological expertise, though, perhaps you could get it going again. It would be the first step to making contact with any other regimental remnants.
[] [SOLIDARITY] Promote the Movement: As noted before, your soldiers are still as terminally online as ever. The bandwidth may suck, but the God-Builders aren't logging off anytime soon. There's a culture war to win! In this vein, command has suggested that your Ideological activity take a more deliberate approach. Interest in God-Building is going through a bit of a resurgence, though it mostly consists of nostalgia rather than conversion. By letting the peoples of the Commonwealth know that you're not dead yet, perhaps you can shift that balance towards the latter.
Please vote by plan, along the guidelines set out in the FRACaS rules post.
There will be a voting moratorium for 24 hours as you discuss and design plans.
[] Plan: Intelligence & Logistics
-[] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries
-[] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives
-[] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden
-[] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize
-[] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark
-[] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline
What the name says on the tin. We're soldiers, and we'd better act like it!
[X] Plan: Intelligence & Logistics
-[X] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries
-[X] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives
-[X] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden
-[X] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline
[X] Plan: Intelligence & Logistics
-[X] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries
-[X] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives
-[X] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden
-[X] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline
[x] Plan: Intelligence & Logistics
- [x] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries
- [x] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives
- [x] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden
- [x] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize
- [x] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark
- [x] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline
[x] Plan: Intelligence & Logistics
- [x] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries
- [x] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives
- [x] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden
- [x] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize
- [x] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark
- [x] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline
Since the results seem so unanimous, I'm closing voting now. Time to roll some dice!
Scheduled vote count started by TheInnerMoon on Feb 27, 2023 at 12:51 PM, finished with 5 posts and 5 votes.
[X] Plan: Intelligence & Logistics
-[X] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries
-[X] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives
-[X] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden
-[X] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline
[X] Plan: Intelligence & Logistics
-[X] [SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries
-[X] [AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives
-[X] [RESOURCES] Build a Garden
-[X] [FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark
-[X] [CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline
[SOLIDARITY] Consult the Regimental Rosaries (18-4=14)
>OPEN ROSARY OS, EMERGENCY MODE.
>LOADING, PLEASE WAIT.
> …
> …
> …
>WELCOME %USERNAME%. THIS IS THE REGIMENTAL ROSARY FOR REGIMENT 1204 MY SACRIFICE. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS WILL RESULT IN CLASS 2 INFRACTION. WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODIE?
>REQUEST REGIMENTAL STATUS
>YOUR CURRENT REGIMENTAL STATUS IS LISTED AS ACTIVE. CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING ELSE?
>WHAT ABOUT OTHER REGIMENTS
>SORRY, I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT QUERY. CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING ELSE?
>REQUEST REGIMENTAL STATUS, OTHER
>MY DATABASE CONTAINS NaN ACTIVE, INACTIVE, AND UNMADE REGIMENTS. LISTING ALL OF THESE AT PRESENT NETWORK CAPACITY WOULD TAKE 3 DÉCADES, 8 DIES, 5 HOURS, 46 MINUTES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PURSUE THIS QUERY?
>N
>UNDERSTOOD. CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING ELSE?
>REQUEST REGIMENTAL STATUS, ACTIVE ONLY
>MY DATABASE CONTAINS 7 ACTIVE REGIMENTS. LISTING ALL OF THESE AT PRESENT NETWORK CAPACITY WOULD TAKE 2 HOURS, 15 MINUTES. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PURSUE THIS QUERY?
>Y
>UNDERSTOOD. PLEASE WAIT.
>...
>...
>...
>...
>...
>HERE IS YOUR LIST OF ACTIVE REGIMENTS: 1 406 I ALONE. LAST RECORDED LOCATION: PALACE
2 555 FOREVER LUCKY. LAST RECORDED LOCATION: ERROR OUT OF BOUNDS
3 897 REMEMBER TENZO. LAST RECORDED LOCATION: TENZO
4 1080 PRECISION ENGINEERING. LAST RECORDED LOCATION: 3RD MOON OF BEZOS
5 1204 MY SACRIFICE. LAST RECORDED LOCATION: FARK
6 2433 NAME WITHHELD UPON REQUEST. LAST RECORDED LOCATION: ZENDING
7 7654 PLEASE CONTACT US. LAST RECORDED LOCATION: FARK
END OF LIST
CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING ELSE?
>HOLY SHIT THERE'S ANOTHER REGIMENT HERE
>SORRY, I DO NOT RECOGNIZE THAT QUERY. CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING ELSE?
>SHUT DOWN
>UNDERSTOOD. SHUTTING DOWN NOW. KEEP THE FAITH!
[Solidarity +1, Awareness +1. You have acquired new potential contacts.]
[AWARENESS] Seek out the Natives (16-1=15)
"Perfection is Impossible, until it is Inevitable. Keep the struggle alive!"
"You cannot fail unless we have failed you. Report any discomfort!"
"Build, build, build! The work isn't complete until you are!"
If she judged this community by its slogans, printed on grand banners which hung above the avenue, then Siena the God-Builder could only describe it as 'ominous'. So far, though, her interactions with them had been perfectly lovely. Even with her considerable experience in diplomacy, this encounter stood out in terms of overall smoothness. They had approached the Fark natives with the customary display of supplication and generosity, and they had reciprocated this gesture with their own boundless hospitality. Even before she had taken note of their ideological slogans outright, she already suspected that comfort was part of their repertoire. And so it was.
From the initial meeting point, her hosts had taken her on a tour of one of their vast underground cities, claiming it to be a relatively median one in terms of size and sophistication. Personally, Siena could easily have mistaken it for their capital; she hadn't expected this overgrown city-world to hide urbanist masterworks beneath its surface. What a strange place this was.
As far as she could tell, their whole enterprise revolved around the 'Integrated Ideal', a central political principle which united the primacy of self-development with the necessity of social structure. In practice, this came down to an obsession with urban planning and social engineering: rarely had she seen such an ordered society. The examples that came to mind were all either vile dystopias crushed by the Commonwealth, or else required some kind of direct mental networking or 'hiveminding'. At first glance, this society seemed to involve neither. "It all comes down to good design," her hosts told her. For now, in spite of all the eerie slogans, Siena would just have to believe that.
[Awareness +1. FRACaS Opportunity "The Integrated God" unlocked.]
[RESOURCES] Build a Garden (12+0=12)
In the most sterile meeting room of the new Operations Center, the 1204th's Psychiatry Section was giving an important presentation. It began with a holographic projection: a member of the Botany Section was being interviewed about the recently established 'Fark Adaptation/Cultivation Experiment'–better known as the FACE Garden.
"So," the interviewing psychiatrist began, "how are you enjoying your new project?"
Despite their haggard appearance–exemplified by their dirty overalls, unkempt fur, and the considerable bags under their four eyes–the botanist reacted with enthusiasm.
"FACE? Oh, it's marvelous! It's really allowed me to rekindle my connection with nature, you know?"
The psychiatrist looked unfazed. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, back on Agon, while I still got to do some botany, it was all either hydroponics or greenhouse-based. No offensive to Command, of course, that's just all there was on offer. But here, I get to cultivate an actual garden. It's a world of difference!"
"Your friends tell me you spend a lot of time out here." There was a touch of concern in their tone, something the interviewee failed to pick up on.
"Oh? I guess. I just don't feel the need to go inside much, not when everything I like is out here. Why sit in a boring canteen when you can watch the stars?"
"You're out here at night then? Have you been sleeping well?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It's just a standard part of these interviews. Humor me."
In the room where this recording was playing, the same psychiatrist looked slightly uncomfortable, well aware that they had told a white lie here. While asking after a patient's sleeping habits was a common part of any standard interview, this was far from a standard interview.
"Well, I guess I've been sleeping outside a lot. The fresh air does me good. And some of the plants need a lot of attention, even at night. That's when the pests sneak up on them." The botanist was balling their fists now, as if subconsciously emphasizing their point.
"I see. And how about personal hygiene? Any problems there?"
"Are you saying I stink, doc?" The botanist chuckled. "Nah, I get it, I'm not as lab-sterile as I used to be. But dirt isn't dirty, I like to say. Being out in nature makes you cleaner in my book. Purer. There's less chemicals and mutagens to mess you up. You understand."
On the holo, the psychiatrist shifted nervously, aware that the end of this interview was in sight.
"I'm sure I do. Now, one final question. Command is planning to establish an outpost on Agon, just to maintain some of our old connections. What would you say if I recommended you for that position?"
"Me? I just told you doc, I like it out here. I'm a free being! You can't put someone like me in a cage like that. There's no nature there! How would I get pure again? Nah, fuck that. Can I go now? Those plants are wilting out there. I can hear them, you know. They need me!"
The botanist got up, clearly distressed, and made to leave the room. As they sprinted out, the holo recording came to a stop, and the psychiatrist in question began their actual presentation.
"Friends, comrades, what you have just seen is a disturbing display of what we are calling 'eco-mania'. While initially reminiscent of the far less harmful phenomenon of Environmental Rapture, this malady quickly proceeds in a maladaptive and essentialist direction. If left untreated, we expect these symptoms to culminate in a Stage Four Purist-Primitivist Outburst. Since you're all familiar with the history of the Wilderness Wars, I don't need to tell you what such an attitude could result in."
An uneasy silence filled the room, punctuated with a whispered "My God" from one of the Regimental Councillors.
"While we don't expect FACE to have this effect across the board, Eco-mania must be considered an occupational hazard from this point forward. In the next hour, I will teach you how to recognize its early signs, and what some of the treatment options might be for those unfortunate souls like our botanist here. Don't worry: with vigilance and care, we can continue to embrace our common lifeworld without any risk of Natural Essentialism. But it is something to look out for."
The psychiatrist took a moment to let this advice sink in.
"Alright, now let us begin. Next holo, please."
[Resources +1, Awareness +1, Glory +5]
[FORCE] Exercise and Exorcize (9+2=11)
HEY FRIEND! DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JUST A WORTHLESS SPECK OF DUST AMID A VAST, UNCARING UNIVERSE? YOU DO? WELL, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE DEAD WRONG, SCRUB! YOU ARE A PROFOUND AND NECESSARY PART OF THE GOD-IN-BECOMING! AS IS EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR MOVEMENT, FROM THE MOST HONORED ANCESTORS TO THE LOWLIEST GARDEN WORMS!
NOTE: WORMS AND OTHER DETRITIVORES ARE A VITAL PART OF ANY ECOSYSTEM!
NOW, IF YOU STILL FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO OVERCOME YOUR OWN INNER INSECURITY, I AM HERE TO OFFER YOU AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY: GO TOUCH SOME GRASS!
NOTE: IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY ARE VIRTUAL GRASS SPECIES OR LOCAL GRASS SUBSTITUTES! JUST TOUCH IT!
EXERCISE IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO EXORCIZE YOUR INNER DEMONS! THOSE WHO ALIENATE THEMSELVES FROM THEIR BODY AND ENVIRONMENT ARE DOOMED TO THE CIRCULAR MISERIES OF EXCESSIVE RUMINATION!
NOTE: MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT!
ARE YOU A BAD ENOUGH DUDE TO OVERCOME THE DEPRESSIVE SOLIPSISM OF AN OVEREXPLOITED GALAXY? DON'T ANSWER THAT: IT'S A RHETORICAL QUESTION! JUST JOIN OUR PROGRAM, AND WE PROMISE TO BUILD YOU THE FUSION POWERED EXOSKELETON YOU NEED TO ABSOLUTELY ANNIHILATE YOUR INNER DEMONS! HOO-RAH!
NOTE: BOTH THE FUSION POWERED EXOSKELETON AND THE INNER DEMONS ARE METAPHORS, MEANT TO SYMBOLIZE THE LONG PROCESS OF GRADUAL SELF-IMPROVEMENT!
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! WHILE WE USUALLY ONLY OFFER THE EXERCISE AND EXORCIZE PROGRAM TO OUR GOD-BUILDING COMRADES, WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS HIGH TIME THAT THE GALAXY AT LARGE BEGINS TO BUILD ITS DEMON-SLAYING POWERS! THUS, IF YOU PLEDGE TO OUR IDEOLOGICAL PATRONAGE PROGRAM AT THE TRIPLE DIAMOND LEVEL, WE WILL GRANT YOU THE EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SACRED TRAINING EXERCISES! THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE STEAL, MY DUDES!
JOIN UP NOW!
[Force +2, Glory +5]
[CREATIVITY] Read up on Fark (7+4=11)
In hindsight, perhaps you should have tried learning more about Fark before making it your new headquarters. Your collective decision had mostly been based on the idea that 'the enemy of your enemy is your friend'. The old Empire of the Strands was often remembered as a 'dark mirror' of the Commonwealth; from your point of view, that had to mean something good. Now that you were looking into the actual history, though, you weren't so sure anymore.
Based on your readings so far, you at least understood where the 'dark mirror' designation came from. Like the Commonwealth, the Empire of the Strands had been run as a semi-direct delegate democracy, albeit one of a more technocratic. Instead of diversity and popularity, it was a vague notion of 'expertise' which formed the basis of political valuation. Another major difference was the considerable influence of Integrity, the state religion. Its doctrines were centered on the inviolability of the empire and the holiness of its infrastructure, and its clergy believed themselves to be part of a grand historical mission. As far as you could understand it, the Empire of the Strands was obsessed with its own position in galactic society, believing that it had a duty to shepherd any civilizations to come towards greatness. In practice, this led it to pursue various planetary life-shaping initiatives, along with the foundation of the Canal network. By great works such as these, the Empire would create the conditions for galactic flourishing, cementing its legacy through this sacred infrastructure.
In the end, the Empire of the Strands became a victim of its own success. The structures it created began to be used by other galactic powers, including the Commonwealth. The diplomacy which resulted from this interaction would then grow increasingly sour, as many polities felt violated by the Empire's heavy-handed development strategy. An alliance of convenience led to the conquest and division of the Empire's territories. Only their fortress-world of Fark would remain sovereign, unable to be taken in a siege which lasted decades. This minor victory would not lead to a comeback, however; while the fate of Fark's people remains a mystery, it is generally thought that they destroyed themselves in a brutal civil war, leaving their former capital as the abandoned and overgrown husk that it is todie.
So much for the history books. From your own investigations so far, you at least know that some natives yet remain on Fark, and that they still pursue Integrity in their own unorthodox way. While their ambitions are no longer galactic in scale, they've at least let you get a look at some of the Empire's old designs. Thanks to these, you now know what the many derelict space structures in the Fark system used to be: they were the conduits for a Nexus Point in the original Canal network. Most of them are still pretty intact, come to think of it. Would you be able to get them operational again? Should you, for that matter?
As always, every answer only brings more questions.
[Awareness +1. FRACaS Project "Restore the Nexus" Unlocked (1/4)]
[CREATIVITY] Establish a Lifeline (3+4=7)
New Army of Me Declares Their Own "War On Post-Work"!–The Agon Enquirer
As our readers will no doubt be aware, we here at the Enquirer have been much intrigued by the recent schisms within our local God-Building movement. In case you missed it, the endearing group of street preachers and mercenaries recently abandoned our little planet for parts unknown. Those of us who had taken a liking to their eccentric ravings were much distressed by this development; we didn't know what we had until we lost it! Thankfully, some of these prodigal children have now returned to us, and have even shed some light on their curious disappearance. In an interview with our religious affairs desk, their spokesperson had this to say:
"Yeah, so, Command thought we'd be better off on some God-forsaken jungle planet. I swear to you and the God among us, that place was made of monsters! That's how they seemed to me at least; they might have looked better in other light spectrums. It wasn't for me, that's for sure. How can a place be both boring and terrifying?"
"Anyway, that wasn't even the bad part; I could have just gotten some new sensory package installed (I got this one last décade, by the way, check it out! [affiliate link redacted]). Nah, what really bothered me were the working conditions. It was all 'you shall fish in the morning, garden in the afternoon, and criticize after dinner'. What was Command even thinking? I'm no fisherman, gardener, nor critic! Give me a job, God-dammit! Something that defines my sense of identity and self-worth! Is that too much to ask?"
"So yeah, as soon as it was announced that some of us would be establishing an outpost here on Fark, me and my comrades jumped at the chance. The chance to jump ship, that is. Say hello to the 'New Army of Me, Agon Detachment'! It's the God-Building movement you know and love, just with less of that post-work nonsense. We're just gonna do what we're good at, and let that define the absolute essence of our being. You know, how it's supposed to be! If any of your readers, they can reach us at this Ideo-Location: [Ideo-Location redacted]."
Well, folks, there you have it! At this rate, the God-Building movement will end with a thousand petty gods fighting over the capital G of Godliness! But let us not be too hard on them; it's not like the rest of us are not spiritually lost in some fashion. I know I am! Why not take a trip down to the Dialectical Thunderdome? If we could get some of our local Battle Priests to syncretize their views, then perhaps there's some hope for us yet!
Gods, I sure hope so.
[Power -10. 1 die has been transferred to the splinter faction on Agon]
[Total Results: Force +2, Resources +1, Awareness +4, Solidarity +1, Power -10, Glory +10, -1 die]
Phew, that's all the movement stuff for Season 1 done! Next up, probably another Informational post, followed by an update on the galactic goings-on, and then it's on to Season 2! Btw, if you're curious what FRACaS Projects and Opportunities are: don't worry, all will be explained in time.
