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The Seed Roleplaying Community » Posts by Darkhawk
I got back into Lord of the Rings again during the last half year, seeing it more as a game than roleplay. That helped immensely, now it's actually cozy and funny to play on and off for me. Also, the episodic updates every 2nd to 3rd month or so are cool - makes it possible to jump in for one month of subscription every third month, and have good fun. Ah, and the Moria expansion is pretty great 
Dustman and Mehken are also playing currently.
Right first session is over. Next session is sunday the 21th, at 14.00 GMT+1.
Not sure when that is, but we start at 14.00 GMT+1 the 14th June
We have 6 players so far, with more hopefully upcoming - don't be shy 
And those of you who are in, please have your chars ready and discussed with me before that date. And those who don't know RPGChat, please grab a hold of me online, so it can be demonstrated to you.
Survivor: Samoa
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Introduction
Welcome to the tropical island paradise of Samoa. After numerous applications, castings, interviews and psychological tests, you have been selected as a participant in this years American run of Survivor.
During the next month, you will do all you can to stay on the islands that make up the playing area and vote opponents off, create and break alliances, forage and fish to keep alive, duel against others and above all, do what it takes to become the sole Survivor, returning back home with both wealth and fame.
With you are 13 others, mixed people from all areas and walks of life. Each of you shares the hope of winning the one million dollars at stake, though some crave the fame or the game itself more than the money. Around you swarm a horde of men with cameras and microphones, ready to tape all of your waking moments, sharing the juiciest bits with millions of viewers around the world.
Setting
The game takes place on a small chain of unhabited islands close to the island state of Samoa in the Pacific Ocean. Your character has, for reasons of his or her own, signed up and gotten approved for the annual Survivor show. This show pits several people against each other in a game of survival and intrigue. First in two tribes, and later, as more and more contestants are voted off the island, individual against individual. Participants must make do with only the barest minimum of survival gear, and must be able to survive on their own. In addition, there will be physical and mental challenges which result in the winning team getting bonuses like firemaking tools or a good meal, and the losing tribe having to vote some of their number out of the game.
As this continues, with twists and surprises, alliances are made to secure both the efficiency of your daily life as well as your chances at the Tribal Council, where participants are voted off the island. In the end, the winner will be the one who has navigated these alliances and challenges in the best possible way. The losers will be those who performed poorly at both the mental and physical challenges as well as the social intrigue and bond-making.
This is not a game for those who feel OOCly bitter when betrayed. In order to function, this game requires mature, motivated roleplayers who understand how to play a role and do as their character would do. As we play, no one will know who is playing what character, both in order to heighten the immersion and keep the game clean from OOC influence.
The game runs over 10 'recorded' episodes of Survivor, with the RP text produced being available after the campaign in an edited form, so that all can read what happened. As this is a game about player elimination, you must be ok with the fact that you might only ever see one session of play with your character - or you might make it all the way to the end. Some of those who get voted off, will still return for the final episode, where they have to decide who is the most worthy winner from the remaining final two.
For a feel of the setting and what might happen (in general terms of course), this is the Wikipedia entry on Survivor:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_(TV_series)
The ingame focus will almost exclusively rest on the social RP between characters, and not on daily survival or the challenges. These will be handled according to the underlying stats of your char, and will mostly take place with the GM narrating. Both to limit actual play-time as well as to focus on the actual, meaty stuff - the intrigue, backstabbing, alliance-forming, trust and deceit part of the game.
Characters
The game features 14 distinct characters coming from various states of the U.S. and having various backgrounds. Players can either opt to create their own character or have one assigned by the GM. If doing your own character, please provide atleast a minumum of background and feel on the character, including mention on education, age, hobbies, job, family/significant others as well as outlook on life. The GM will assign stat and skill values, and respond with a description of what he sees as that characters strengths. Note that all characters will have roughly the same total in stats - only how the points are distributed between the attributes will differ. Also note that you will not know the value of your stats or skills - only what you are good at. It is up to you to roleplay according your selected personality without rules getting in the way.
Any kind of character might have a shot at winning the game, if they play well - the simple but strong gravedigger, the lying and conniving bitch, the Christian radio-show host, the annoying and half crazy school-teacher, the friendly and naive young model, the overweight southern hermit, the gay New Yorker accountant, or the strategizing business-owner. All characters and all ages are allowed, from 18 and up, though elderly characters must be in somewhat good shape.
Weak or annoying characters are often kept on by the rest of the group, so that there is less opposition later, when the game becomes more about the individuals, while strong, team-minded players are usually kept on while helping the tribe, but backstabbed off when they start to become an individual threat - but not always. Not all characters are scheming or manipulative. Some are casted for their honesty or integrity as well, some want to change the way the game works, winning a 'noble' victory, and so on. The casters usually make sure that there is a little of everything present, then hope they've brought together the elements well enough for it to be entertaining. So do not think you 'need' to play someone scheming or doublecrossing.
However, as this is a game about social tension in a group closed off from the rest of the world, you must be good enough as a roleplayer to be able to play an at times (or all times, as you prefer) irritated, irritating, tense, irrational person - most roleplayers tend to choose 'perfect' characters to play. Those who react rationally and reasonably. That is infact unrealistic, especially under pressure, and this setting would come out best, if people got annoyed with each other, said something they should not have, and so on. I hope you'll welcome the chance to also explore the irrational side of humanity.
Rule-system
Survivor: Samoa features the bare minimum of rules needed to run it in its current form, and all rules/rolls are handled by the GM (though you can get this information after the game is over, with detailed breakdowns of any ingame happenings that affected your skills). However, you are free to make any kind of person you can imagine - the GM handles the conversion into the rule system, and as such, knowing about it now is superfluous and limiting to your creative freedom.
As for actual ingame rules, no participant is allowed to use physical violence, try to arrange a sharing of the first prize or to vote themselves off at the Tribal Council. These and other practical aspects of the game will of course be detailed for you before we begin play.
Structure
This game focuses on social interaction/manipulation and has been developed for 'quick' (we'll see about that ) 2-3 hour sessions, thus several aspects of Survivor will be toned down or just narrated by the GM. Day to day survival will happen outside of play for instance. As mentioned, there will be 10 episodes, but the final 9th and 10th episode will be a 'double-episode', so I estimate we will use 9 sessions on this game. I also think sunday afternoons GMT+1 will be the best time for the most players, so this is the target playtime.
When we play through an episode, we will roughly follow this structure:
1st episode day
Losers back from previous Tribal council, focus on their reactions.
Tree-mail about the Reward challenge, puzzling and strategizing about this.
Reward Challenge - Tribes compete for rewards.
Exile Island phase - someone is exiled for two days.
Reward for the winners/Life in the losing camp.
2nd episode day
Exile Island continued.
Reward possibly continued.
Tree-mail about the Immunity challenge, puzzling and strategizing about this.
Free RP until contestants are called to the challenge.
Immunity Challenge (exiled player returns in time).
3rd episode day
Losers talk about who to vote off/winners RP around their camp.
Tribal Council.
The one voted off says his or hers final piece in private to the camera.
RPGChat
This is the medium we use for our play. RPGChat is a text-only program you log into supplying a name and the IP to the host. The GM will introduce all new players to this program, its functionalities and the parser used before the first session. Yes, for those who didn't know it, play is text-only, over the internet for this first pass of the scenario.
To provide consistency and an easier later edit of the produced text, there will be a limited and constant number of channels(=locations) used. If you want to create a private scene with someone outside of these, just have your character initiate it ingame, and the GM will set up an appropriate scene for you automatically.
Closing words
Well, this will be tons of fun I hope! If you think 'Ugh, a lame American TV show?!' when reading about the setting, then I hope you'll be positively surprised by the mood, the competition, the backstabbing, the intense rivalry and strong bonds formed - I've always wanted to create an intense, goal-driven social RP with strong feelings and reactions from the characters. I think this setting is very ideal for that. Intensity and immersion are key-words, and I hope we will all be able to bring out these key-words as we play - it does take good and motivated roleplayers to make this work, but don't be shy or afraid, jump in, and we'll see where the ride goes
So, please tell me if you're interested - max. 14 players, I'll fill in NPC's to reach that amount if needed.
Actual playing will happen sometime during June and continue on for 9 weeks - though less for some If you are not there to play one session, your character will be played by the GM.
Yeah, great job webmistress and Dustman
Right, different instances to try something new and twist-y
You mean - "instead of browsing news about games" Dustman
Interesting idea. I'm in of course. I guess each participant would need a thread to him/herself in order for it not to become messy?
Well, most went offline true. But the TM'ers stayed online. That is, Mekhen, Norah, Kryigerofe and me. Oh, and Chimbot actually, so.. Probably not the server.
You should Oluf, but in this case, it won't help
So, as the steady IRC'ers know, I have been thinking, for quite some time now, to run a small (10 sessions or so) RP campaign via RPGChat, our text RP program. Due to the nature of my campaign and plans, I don't want to disclose any real details so far, before I've actually developed the setting, but here I want to know the following:
Who, if any, would be interested in being a player in this? The focus will be on plotting and personal interactions between characters. There will be a clear goal to accomplish, in, as stated, around 10 'episodes'. Some player characters will very probably not make it to the end, but as to who that would be is totally open.
So, I know I'm being vague, but you can be equally vague and tell me whether you're itnerested, or just 'maybe' interested. Play would take place weekly, most likely on a sunday, and your participation each time would be highly required if you want to make it to the end.
Yeah, 'rehabilitated'. Didn't go all that well the last time he slipped out either
HRMPPPFFHHHHHH!!! PFFFFTTTTT!!!
Not a bad idea for one specializing in deepthroat or something
Oh right, I know THAT trench, just thought someone was called like.. i.. Uh.. Never mind.
I.. think Midragar is reposting stuff from other forums here.. That.. That's what would make most sense?
ok, try irc.mkc.fr instead.. If my memory serves me well.
use irc.seedthecommunity.org for all of that + portrange 6667-6667
We don't have any #seed channel on a irc-net server, Skanx hosts us on our own.
And another one. This one is a simple, yet filling and pretty tasty soup. Note: You'll need a blender for this.
[big]Chili Bean Soup[/big]
Ok, you'll need the following:
2 onions
2-4 garlic cloves - that's kinda' subjective . I use 6
1-3 fresh chili's (again, depending on taste and disposition)
2 cans of kidneybeans
Olive oil
Salt
Ground pepper
Worchestershire Sauce (if you leave this out, the dish is a vegan one - wooh)
Lemon juice
Concentrated tomatopaste
1 liter vegetable stock/broth (I usually fake it by buying those premade vegetable 'bricks' and dissolving them in boiling water - it's quick and still gives the richer taste)
Chop the onion, garlic and chili. You can be rough here, it's ok, it'll all get mangled in the blender later anyway. Pour some olive oil in a pan, medium heat, then cook the vegetables until they've been softened up. Meanwhile, drain the kidneybeans and have the vegetable stock ready.
Now pour in the beans, stock, lemon juice (just a squeeze, maybe a tablespoon or so), Worchestershire sauce (2 tablespoons or whatever, depending on your preference) and 4 tablespoons of tomatopaste. Mix, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for around 15 minutes. With lid if you want a thinner soup, without if you want it a bit thick.
Now put the soup in your blender, you're probably best off doing this in two stages, or it might splatter all over. Blend until it's all smooth, then pour it back into the pan and season with salt and pepper.
There you have it. Serve with bread and again, something green on top for more visual points. A simple, tasty and quick dish to make. And this recipe yields around 1.5 liters of soup, at a total of around 800 calories (minus bread). That should be enough for around 3 people.
Now I can be quiet once more for the next 2 years
Alright, time for a new recipe from me. Not incidentially, my last post here was when I had just gotten a job, 2 years ago Now that I'm free again, there'll be more time for such stuff.
In the meantime I've come clean, and now I'm a calories obsessed, thin crossbreed vegetarian/vegan hippe.. Some days. Thus, here's a simple, quickly prepared (10 minutes) low-calorie but nourishing recipe. Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I present to you..
[big]Breadroll with Egg and Goatcheese[/big]
1 breadroll
Concentrated tomatopaste
2 eggs
Milk
Tarragon
Salt
Ground Pepper
Butter (a little - it's ok!)
Goatcheese
No curious and meddling cat (it would add too many calories)
Put the eggs in a bowl, add milk (two tablespoons or so), tarragon, salt and pepper. Mix it to one mass.
Cut the breadroll and toast it (it's best if it's not hot when served, so don't worry about that).
Heat a pan with some butter. Medium heat. Pour in the contents of the bowl and let it simmer and solidify somewhat, but keep the consistency creamy. Then crumble in some of your preferred goatcheese. You'll best know how much you'd like yourself.
Put the tomatopaste on the cut halves of the roll (note, in the picture I use olive tapenade instead of concentrated tomatopaste, but after some experimentation I find the different tastes complement each other better with the tomatopaste - it's too bitter with both goatcheese and olive tapenade).
Put the mix from the pan atop the bread. Et voila! Instant meal for one, or a snack/appetizer/starting course for two. This dish should have around 500 calories in total.
Put something green atop it, if you want to be artsy.
You're confused because you're never in #seed anymore Oluf, that's the explanation for all that's wrong in your life
Uhm right! Happy, happy birthday Nuala, and I totally didn't forget about this today! (I guess I could change the date of this message in the database to fool you..).
I haven't played any NWN2 modules yet, but I'd certainly recommend the Dark Waters trilogy (final episode not out yet) http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Mo … mp;id=5386
The creator was responsible for my favourite NWN1 mod, and this one has gotten a lot of praise as well. I'm pretty sure it'd be the best NWN2 module.
Edit: Whoops, wrong link, the correct one is: http://nwvault.ign.com/View.php?view=NW … amp;id=128
If possible, the Garden is even more crowded than it was two weeks ago, when the original trial was held.
This time, the atmosphere is less curious and excited and more tense than previously. The word is that the ringleaders have contemplated the sentences in several meetings, many of them not public. Rumors go around about people planning to use this opportunity to further their political agendas.
Bahar: "Let us begin with the sentence for Andrea, Jaana, Aviah, and Sinuhe, charged for aiding the Lurkers. Please bring forth the suggestions for the sentence."
Laura steps up. "The prosecuted have shown great disregard to a democratic tower ruling. They must be punished harshly. I suggest them being locked up in floatbeds."
"For how long?" asks Hansila. "Indefinately? How can they ever prove their repentance and loyalty if they're locked away in a dream?"
Andrea stands listening, a neutral expression on his face
Mizuki stands with hands folded, alert eyes following the speakers, face not giving anything away.
"The number one priority in these cases is to ensure the crime doesn't get repeated", says Thrayn. "The floatbed will take care of that."
Ishi stands next to Mizuki, looking worried and tense, occasionally glancing at Andrea.
Barbaros: "Oh, and I suppose we should lock away all of those who've done something to hurt the tower when they thought they were helping it? How many floatbeds did we have again?"
Ishi, Mizuki, and Sebastian are currently standing at the edge of the little clearing, in the middle of which Andrea and his friends are standing.
"Their actions can hardly be compared to the usual interring schisms", says Laura. "They knowingly went against tower law, risking the security of everyone."
"Oh, come on!" says Astran. "I can't really see how that could have led to anything dangerous, you're all just being paranoid! The Stargazer ring suggests freeing them from charges."
"That's hardly an option", says McGregor. "Some kind of a punishment must be given. But I know for a fact that these four are good workers, important to the tower's survival, even if their reliability can sometimes be... uncertain. Tower Engineering Society suggests finding a punishment that doesn't prevent them from working."
Alexandra: "I concur that breaching a towerwide decicion is a serious offence, since it undermines the reliability of agreements, and agreements are what any society is fundamentally based on. The punishment needs to be something that's felt."
The discussion goes on for a while, with various ringleaders, as well as others, expressing their opinions on the matter. It seems the two most popular options are floatbed lockup or finding a strict way of punishment that doesn't render the convicts useless to the tower, would they still be inclined to be part of the community.
Those sympathizing with the prosecuted are a minority, mostly consisting of member rings of the Liberal Alliance, who believe in the right for anyone to do the right thing at any time. And, as Astran states, it was the right thing to do.
"Well", says Thrayn. "How about my suggestions? I understand there's a need for volunteers in the Tyler's Ailment project..."
"Yes", says Khitasang. "And I wrote 'volunteers' completely on purpose."
"Still, you need them, and they're not exactly easy to find", says Thrayn. "And this would combine the need for them to contribute to the tower as well as be punished for their deed."
This spurs up another line of arguments, in favor and in opposition. In the end, it's accepted to make this option one of those to be voted on.
Ishi looks disgusted.
Andrea closes his eyes for a moment
Mizuki looks thoughtful.
Thrayn also suggests putting them up for dangerous work, but it doesn't get a great reception. It seems most consider themselves already working on dangerous assignments so it wouldn't even be a punishment.
"What are you going to suggest next?" Astran exclaims. "The death sentence you talked about on the boards?"
Thrayn calmly shakes his head. "I don't believe this crime warrants a death sentence."
The mention of a death sentence causes a series of hushed uproars from the Large Crowd.
Finally, after a long-winding conversation of various suggestions, a vote is reached. It's between four options:
1) Locking up into a floatbed.
2) Volunteering on the medical testing.
3) Working in harsh conditions.
4) Release.
Before the voting commences, Thrayn poses a question to Khitasang: "Please tell us, Khitasang, what's the status of the research. Have you uncovered many carriers during the initial screening?"
Khitasang seems reluctant to reply but as all the eyes turn upon him, he gives in: "Four other second generation colonists have been found to be carriers to the disease", he simply states.
Thrayn: "How urgent does this make our situation?"
Khitasang: "Urgent."
Thrayn: "How many test subjects do you need?"
Mizuki tilts her head, listening to the two.
Khitasang: "At least 20 for the control group, to cover for different genome types."
Thrayn: "What kind of risk are we talking about for the volunteers?"
Khitasang: "That depends entirely on the level of risk we're willing to take, balancing it against the risk of an epidemic..."
"It's been lying dormant for decades", says Thrayn. "How come it's suddenly so urgent?"
"Who's told you...?" Khitasang starts but takes a deep breath. "We were able to discover these five cases because they had started to show the first symptoms of the ailment", he says. "Based on earlier experience, that's when it becomes contagious."
Thrayn: "So, the lives of many are at stake here, I take it."
Khitasang: "Yes, which is why we urge everyone to think carefully if they'd be willing to cooperate with us as subjects to the tests..."
"Or..." says Thrayn. "Would it not be fair that those who were willing to risk the tower previously would now risk themselves for the tower?"
There's a lot of awkward muttering among the audience.
Andrea's eyes narrows and he starts to look somewhat angry
Jaana looks down at the floor, frightened.
Aviah looks furious.
Ishi shakes her head
Tagato shakes his head slowly, eyes halfway closed.
Mizuki's face does not betray any emotion.
Stayn looks thoughful and somewhat confused.
Sinuhe speaks: "We're all, of course, willing to help with this project", he says. "But I believe there are other ways we could better contribute to the success of the tower..."
"Oh yes", says Laura. "I'm sure you're a great mathematician, Sinuhe. But you're not irreplacable - we all have talents. If we could get to the vote - The Watch is in favor of option 2."
Sinuhe: "But certainly, we could find ways... we could remain under observation..."
Mizuki's lips curl downwards in a displeased look.
Laura: "And waste the time of those doing the observation instead of your own? Besides, what would that tell about the value of tower judgements?"
Finally, the voting commences.
When Tagato hears Laura 's statement about her whole ring, he laughs silently.
From the major rings, Dreamers of Gaia, and The Common Good, vote in favor of the floatbed lockup. The Watch, The Horizon and The Association of Scholars are in favor of medical experiments. Tower Engineering Society votes for work in harsh conditions, backed up by several small worker rings, such as Tubelift Central Collective.
Once the votes have been counted, the suggestion to subject the convicts to medical testing wins.
Khitasang protests but finally is outspoken by the rest.
Andrea pales somewhat, but doesn't react otherwise
Ishi looks shocked and disgusted.
Mizuki looks at Ishi quietly.
Relay is fazed by the judgement
The agreement becomes: The convicts will be on the responsibility of The Common Good. That is, they'll arrange for any surveillance that might be needed if they're allowed outside guarentine zones. They will become 'volunteers' to the Tyler's Ailment project, to be used in the tests as needed. After the crisis is over, they'll be free.
Andrea looks as if he doesn't know what to do with himself
Hansila steps up: "I'll volunteer as a test subject."
Mizuki turns her head to study Andrea, blue eyes unblinking, her face a little thoughtful perhaps.
Relay also steps up "I am also volunteering."
Andrea turns to look towards Relay, then Mike before finally settling his gaze at Hansila
Khitasang glances at Hansila, somewhat awkwardly: "Thank you, Hansila. I'd rather have you on the medical team, though, with your expertise..."
Hansila: "It seems you need test subjects more desperately, Khitasang."
Khitasang sighs.
"Well then", says Bahar. "The sentence has been given."
Two other members of Society of Free Colonists have also volunteered.
Mike steps up with the others
Tagato shakes his head at the sight.
"Then", says Bahar, "we shall move on to the second case. Sebastian, Mizuki, and Ishi are charged for emotional torture during the investigation."
Andrea runs a hand down over his face
"Their crime was at least as much against tower judgements as that of the members of our ring", says Hansila. "And, in addition, against the core values of humanity. I suggest at least as harsh a punishment for each of the three."
"That's just ridiculous!" McGregor says. "Risking someone as important to the Tower as Sebastian to something like this is wise on no scale!"
Mizuki stands at attention next to Sebastian and Ishi, face alert.
Andrea: "That's what it comes down to then? Sentence is not based on the crime, but on the person commiting it?"
Relay moves at his place appearing uncharacteristically agitated
Mizuki frowns.
Andrea speaks slowly, without emotion
Sebastian stands quietly, eyes showing no emotion.
Sebastian looks from person to person in the audience.
"I agree", says Laura. "The sentence can't be based on the person. I suggest these three to volunteer to the research as well."
Mizuki frowns some more.
Ishi still looks disgusted from earlier, and somewhat preoccupied
"Even more important than finding a punishment", says Reneb, "is to resolve the problem posed by the closedness of the investigation. I suggest part of the repercussions will be that The Horizon reveals all of the investigation's data to the major ringleaders."
Alexandra, Laura, McGregor, and a few others nod in agreement.
Mike's face shows approval
Barbaros: "'Major ringleaders' is probably going to be defined based on following, not actual responsibility as usual..."
Andrea nods at Reneb's suggestion
Ishi's mouth turns to something like an ironic grin.
Astran: "How about revealing it to all ringleaders?"
Mizuki's eyes flash in annoyance.
Andrea smiles wryly
Laura snorts at Astran. "If we were to disclose it to all ringleaders, we might as well make it public. Which would defeat the purpose of the investigation.."
"Agreed", says McGregor. "I'm in favor of limited disclosure."
Even with the criticism by leaders of smaller rings, this suggestion is accepted rather easily.
"This is not enough, though", says Laura. "We still need to find an actual punishment. I've already stated what I favor."
Alexandra is quiet.
Khitasang shakes his head privately.
Further discussion ensues about various options of punishment to the three, most importantly Sebastian. Many ringmembers of The Horizon express their opinions that their ring would collapse entirely if Sebastian were killed. "And that's in no way beneficial to the tower, no matter what you think!"
During these discussions, Mizuki's body look more tense than previously, and her eyes rest on Sebastian quite often.
The discussion goes on for a long while, but finally there's not enough political resolve, it seems, to subject Sebastian to this punishment. Of the larger rings, Laura and Hansila seem to be alone with her views. Alexandra quietly abstains, while McGregor sticks to his practical view. The Dreamers of Gaia openly support Sebastian's importance.
Instead, the discussion moves into finding other options to punish Sebastian and the other two. All this time, Sebastian himself is quiet, observing everything around him. Loss of factories to his ring is suggested, along with putting him under constant surveillance.
Andrea has a slight wry smile on his lips, as if he's not at all surprised
Ishi removes the band displaying her skills from her upper arm.
Some complain that mixing administorial politics with criminal punishment can lead to nothing but a mess. Can he get them back next election? Who'll receive them? Others claim that this is already messed hugely with politics so why not go the full way?
Mizuki suddenly looks at Ishi, her eyes displaying shock for a brief second, getting through her neutral facade.
Tagato opens his eyes and stares at Ishi 's arm with a look of disbelief.
Ishi stares straight ahead.
Some suggest diplomatic repercussions, such as excluding Sebastian from meetings and various agreements. Others say hampering his ring's function isn't the right way to treat this at all.
Quickly however, the shock fades, and there's displeased resigning on Mizuki's face, as she looks tired for just a moment before resuming her normal unfazed look.
Andrea, seeing some reaction by Mizuki, looks around before noticing Ishi's actions. His eyes widens at the sight.
Tagato shakes his head a little and closes his eyes again.
Even Stayn seems surprised.
Finally, the consensus becomes that The Horizon loses several key factories to an administrator selected by this meeting (turns out to be Reneb). In addition, he must hand over all data regarding the investigation to the major ringleaders.
Hansila laughs openly at this sentence.
Mizuki neutral face is unusually taut as she looks at the biggest tree in the garden.
Somewhere along the line, it becomes a consensus that Sebastian actually didn't commit this crime so this is acceptable. However, Mizuki and Ishi are finally sentenced to the same punishment as Andrea, Sinuhe, Jaana, and Aviah.
This latter is almost an afterthought among the discussion centering mostly on Sebastian.
Ishi: "I would protest to this."
Mizuki grimaces in obvious displeasure and perhaps worry.
Ishi: "It's not much of a punishment for me. I volunteered some time ago."
Andrea stays silent
People look at Ishi. Those not engaged in various arguments, that is.
Tagato smiles slightly at Ishi 's remark
The people hearing Ishi's words seem confused further by this.
Mizuki stays quiet at her position.
Ishi: "and I thought that would be known. I *was* under surveillance, wasn't I?"
Laura frowns. "Someone must not have been paying attention."
Thrayn: "We understood you were working as a medic."
"We can't treat you differently only because you volunteered", says Khitasang. "Consider it a reward for your altruism."
Ishi: "I volunteered both as a medic and a testsubject. "
Ishi: "If the tests mke me unfit to do the medic work I'd simply become a test subject only."
Ishi: "Plenty of medics of my level."
People start arguing, though not too enthusiastically, about Khitasang's point. It seems many of them are getting tired of this meeting already. Plenty are leaving The Garden for their jobs.
In the end, most agree that the sentence can't be changed just because the convict would have taken it anyway.
Who knows, maybe one of the others would have volunteered as well.
Andrea frowns slightly
The ending of the meeting is undramatic. The decicions have been made and recorded, and at some point Bahar calls the meeting to an end. Many don't notice at all, continuing their bickering amongs each other.
The necklink surveillance is ended for the time being. No one seems too interested in the actions of Mizuki and Ishi from now on, and The Common Good is given the responsibility to see that none of the convicts escape their punishment.
As the ending is concluded, Mizuki bows deeply to Sebastian, then goes to the small pond, looking at her own reflection quietly, face unmoving.
Stayn finds a quiet corner for himself to sit down.
Ishi heads off to speak to Khitasang
Relay also heads to Khitasang
Mizuki runs a finger over the surface of the water, watching the ripples thoughtfully. She looks at the distorted image of herself for a moment, before looking up at the approaching Tagato, nodding.
Andrea stops up on his way towards Hansila as she exits the Garden. Looking around as if trying to find someone, he ends up joining Mike and Jaana
Jaana is sitting alone, under a tree.
Tagato looks at their reflection in the water before saying "It's great to see Tower-bureaucracy at work."
People are already waiting in The Garden when Mizuki walks in, with Andrea, Sinuhe, and Aviah walking right behind her.
Ishi watches them walk in, expression mostly blank, looking tired or unhappy otherwise.
Andrea follows last, his face set in a neutral expression, but one hand twitching slightly
Sebastian and Nanto are standing on the stairs to the left of the entrance, above the rest, ready to lead the meeting. Nanto is standing one step below Sebastian, closer to the public.
Andrea scans the crowd with his eyes, a slight frown forming
Mike is standind under the tree, looking at the defendants
Tagato sits in a more remote place, with a tired expression on his face, his eyes are closed, and he rests his head on his closed fists, his elbows on his knees.
Mizuki leads the three people to their indicated place, then bows to Sebastian and takes up a position next to Ishi, face looking calm and neutral.
Andrea locks his eyes with Hansila's
The defendants' place is right at the foot of the stairs, where everyone can see and hear them. It seems the hum of the machines is slightly lower than usually in The Garden, so there should be no need to yell as long as everyone keeps quiet.
Nanto speaks: "Welcome everyone and it's good that you all noticed my message."
Nanto: "We've requested Bahar of Da Vinci Collaboration to chair this meeting for us, to ensure the neutrality of it. Please, Bahar, join us and let up begin."
Andrea's shoulders slumps almost imperceptively
Bahar steps away from the crowd and stands next to Nanto. "Welcome on my behalf too. We've gathered together due to a serious matter brought to us by the Lurker Investigation Project. Even though the matter at hand is serious, even dire, I'll ask that every one of you remembers the principles of a civil and impartial trial. Let us hear the evidence and judge the defendants on that and that only."
Bahar: "Nanto, as representative of the investigation, please read the charges against the defendants."
Nanto: "Thank you, Bahar."
A slight wry smile forms on Andrea's lips as he looks up at Sebastian and Nanto at the top of the stairs
Ishi keeps her yes on the defendants, mostly Andrea, expression and body posture indicating sadness, feeling down.
Nanto: "The defendants - that is Andrea, Aviah, Sinuhe, and Jaana of Society of Free Colonists - Jaana, will you join the rest please?"
With her head down, avoiding people's eyes, Jaana steps in to join the other three.
As Jaana gets close Andrea whispers something to her
Tagato looks up, scans the crowd with a thoughtful expression then returns to his earlier position, eyes closed.
Nanto: "The defendants have been charged with conspiring with a criminal organization, hiding things of crucial importance to the lives of the colonists, and working against the direct decicion of the Ringleader Meeting."
Mizuki's eyes glide slowly over the crowd and the defenders, settling on Nanto and Bahar afterwards.
Andrea turns his attention towards Nanto with a frown
"Please elaborate", says Bahar. "Put simply: what are you saying they've done?"
"Let's let them tell you themselves", says Nanto, and takes out a small holoplayer.
An image of a small room emerges between Nanto and the crowd. At the foreground, Andrea is standing, with Sinuhe and Aviah behind him.
Mike eyes the hologram suspiciously
Andrea looks surprised as Jaana says something to him
Tagato opens his eyes and looks at the hologram.
In the recording, Andrea starts to speak:
Recording: Andrea: "I don't know how contact was made initially. I was invited to a meeting with someone and showed up. It turned out to be Ma-Ti looking for
help with solving a hormonal imbalance that was causing the Lurkers to
become.. aggressive.. violent"
Andrea turns to look at the hologram, then pauses as his eyes widens
Andrea's head snaps around to look at Mizuki
Mizuki looks back at Andrea, tilting her head and looking slightly curious.
"Very good", says Sinuhe, looking at the hologram, "but I think you forgot the scholar.."
Recording: Andrea: "He allowed us to take a blood sample for us to check this for ourselves.. ""
Andrea seems to forget all about Mizuki as he turns towards Sinuhe, still not saying anything
Laura: "Has this material been verified?"
Hansila: "How could it? Our only reliable expert died - conveniently - in the Blackout."
Recording: Andrea: "The sample collaborated his story, but he didn't trust the entire tower with this.. so he asked us to keep this to only bring those in on it that we trusted and needed to know. Otherwise there would've been no more contact. I went along on the chance it might solve this Lurker problem"
Andrea seems to gather himself together and turns to the recording again, studying it closely
"You could still have told at least the ringleaders", Laura says sternly, looking at Andrea and the others. "We would have kept it quiet if needed!"
Recording: Andrea: "Regardless.. I was soon contacted by those two.. hmm.. Klatch and Simeone. They had some knowledge of the meeting we'd had. I suppose things began to go wrong for our cause there"
"As you must have heard", Nanto inserts, "Klatch and Simeone have been conducting some interviews for the investigation."
Recording: Andrea: "It didn't take us long to figure out that Sinuhe and I had been 'fitted' with a listening bug."
"Devious", McGregor comments, grinning. "Except for the discovery part, of course."
Andrea's clothing in the recording, as well as those of the others, looks shaggy, even broken at places. They don't look very clean in general.
Recording: Andrea: "Knowing we were suspected, we tried to great efforts to avoid being compromised. In the end, it wasn't enough. "
Recording: Andrea: "A week or so ago, we were ready to test a solution or cure, so we needed to arrange a meeting with Ma-Ti. It was planned, but then Mizuki here contacted me.. telling me of cameras not only in the populated areas but littered throughout the service tunnels as well."
Recording: Andrea: "In hindsight I should've called it off at that point, but the Lurkers were becoming more and more aggressive and I felt some pressure. I chose to trust, " Andrea sounds almost sick of himself "Mizuki when she offered to cover the cameras on the deal I'd speak with Ma-Ti and convince him to help get Shamha neutralized"
Hansila: "Very devious indeed..."
Recording: Andrea: "So we changed our plans slightly to work this in. When we finally did meet Ma-Ti.. and had begun testing the cure with very promising results, we were attacked by masked people with some kind of weapons"
Mizuki looks at Alexandra.
"Weapons!?" Hansila yelps.
Alexandra is watching the recording, quietly.
Recording: Andrea: "We tried to escape, but there wasn't anything we could do. They shot us with those things. Some kind of non-lethal guns, but they aren't exactly pleasant."
Mizuki's attention goes to Hansila for one moment, shaking her head slightly, before her eyes focus on Alexandra again.
Stina: "Shot!?"
Hansila: "This is outragous!"
Andrea casts a quick glance towards Hansila before turning his attention back at the recording, his eyes now narrowed in an expression of concentration
Laura raises her eyebrow. "You have... weapons?"
Mizuki smiles without humour at Hansila and Stina.
Recording: Andrea: "We woke up in a room with a locked door and was led to believe we had been captured by the Lurkers"
Everyone is quiet.
Recording: Andrea: "With someone acting the part of Shamha, they made us believe they'd kill us all but one.."
Reneb: "What... What is this?"
Ishi runs a hand over her eyes, keeping them closed for a moment before opening them again.
Reneb's face betrays disgust before he quickly rearranges it. "This will need to be discussed."
Tagato watches the recording without showing emotion.
Recording: Andrea: "I don't know Shamha, but Ma-Ti told us that Shamha.. hmm.. challenged the ways they did things in that community. Eventually Shamha took the leadership down there, something I suppose was made possible by the aggressive behaviour that had been introduced or enhanced beyond their ability to control. I believe Ma-Ti in this"
Andrea seems tense for a moment
Klatch: "Yeah, you seem to believe just *anything* he says!"
Andrea just looks up at Bahar
Recording: Mizuki: "Who contacted you for this meeting, and who were present at the meeting?""
Recording: Andrea: "Sinuhe contacted me""
At this point, the people have started talking loudly, almost drowning the recording underneath the horrified chatter. Bahar silences them proficiently.
Ishi remains entirely silent throughout it all.
In the recording, after this, Andrea also expresses a concern about how, in his opinion, the investigation should have been handled very differently. At request, he also lists the people present in the first meeting. That is, many of SoFC, including Hansila and Stina, who left halfway to the meeting. Then the recording ends.
The crowds begin to chatter again.
Tagato closes his eyes again, looking relaxed.
"People!" Bahar yells in his loud bass. "I know this is a lot to digest but now it's the more important to listen! Defendants, do you have anything to say in your defence?"
Finally, silence falls again.
Andrea looks at Sinuhe
"I'd just like to point out", says Sinuhe, "that the recording we were shown seems to have a little glitch. Maybe the person behind the camera wasn't very competent or maybe there's something more to it. But isn't it so that there's supposed to be a Mira with us on the background?"
At this, Mizuki smiles slightly, almost gently.
Andrea sighs slightly
"No", says Nanto simply.
Ishi still looks at the defendants.
"Yes there is!" says Aviah. "But the Scholars paid The Horizon off to keep her out of her responsibility!"
Andrea crosses his arms obviously not pleased, but apparently not willing to interfere
Nanto sighs. "Whatever your argument is with Mira, I can assure you she's not and never was, on that recording."
Andrea smiles wryly
"Something we can never be sure of, I suppose", says Laura, glancing at Alexandra. "Unless someone else has something to confess?"
Mizuki looks at Ishi.
Alexandra speaks calmly and quietly, almost icily: "We have been falsely accused of several things in the past", she says. "But usually our enemies have at least bothered to fabricate some proof. Have I missed something or are these accusations nothing but empty words?"
"She *was* there, with us from the beginning!" Aviah screams. "Who else could have made that floatbed fix for us?"
Alexandra: "I have no idea. Someone incompetent perhaps?"
Andrea's frown deepens
Aviah spits in Alexandra's general direction but she's too far across the room so it hits McGregor instead.
Andrea places a hand at Aviah's shoulder "This doesn't help anything"
Aviah: "They're idiots!"
Sinuhe: "I must agree with Aviah on this."
"Do you have any proof to back up your words with?" Bahar asks Sinuhe.
Andrea shakes his head slightly, but removes his hand
Sinuhe seems to think for a moment, then resigns: "No. This was well orchestrated."
"Very well", says Bahar. "Is there anything else the defendants wish to say in their defence?"
Andrea glances at Sinuhe and Aviah again, then speaks up. "Si. I do wish to say a few things"
Bahar: "Please do."
Mizuki turns her head to look at Andrea.
Andrea looks thoughtful for a moment then turns slightly, as if speaking to the crowd as much as the people on the stairs "The recording of my words is true. I said all that and meant it. I did do those things..."
The Large Crowd gasps.
Andrea takes a deep breath before continuing "I'll not excuse my actions, however. I was presented with an opportunity, I thought could avoid bloodshed and, at least partially, solve the Lurker problem. Had we not been stopped, I believe this particular problem would be severely limited already."
Mizuki's lips twitch, almost as if she looks darkly amused at something.
Andrea glances at Mizuki "And I wonder if it's not working as it is"
Ishi shakes her head in a tired way.
Hansila speaks: "I must say on behalf of Society of Free Colonists that we fully support Andrea and his actions. The meddlings of The Horizon and their investigation have not brought us closer to a solution but further away from it. Would it have been too much for them to see if it could have actually worked before rushing in with their guns blazing and destroying all hope of peace?"
The Prophet nods to Hansila's words.
Mike nods in agreement as well
Andrea: "We took a chance, si. Working towards a goal where people weren't firing weapons towards eachother. A chance on an opportunity, that would have disappeared, had we let it be known. At least that was our evaluation at the time."
"I think", says Nanto, "I and Hansila will have to agree to disagree here. As someone who's watched the investigation from close up, I can assure you that that very option was seriously considered. However, we had to put it aside as infeasible."
Laura: "I'm still saying the ringleaders would have kept it a secret if we'd thought it was a good idea."
Reneb: "I agree that going behind the backs of the Ringleader meeting was a grave mistake on your part."
Andrea: "Then, I'll ask this: could we have contacted all ringleaders with this information and trust it didn't reach the Lurkers' ears?"
Andrea: "In hindsight, perhaps it would've been a better option, but you can't look into the future when making a decision. You have to base it on what information you have available."
"You should have taken that chance, my friend", says McGregor.
Reneb nods. "Otherwise this tower will be headed towards chaos."
"I'd like to get back to 'infeasible'", says Hansila. "Why was the plan of the defendants so 'infeasible' that it had to be smashed with a steel mallet?"
Bahar: "Order, please! One topic at a time."
Andrea smiles wryly "Open exchange of weapon fire is too. I'm not saying it's nessecarily heading towards that, but we made our choice to fend it off, in case it is."
"Indeed", says Hansila. "This will need to be discussed seriously."
"As for 'infeasible'", says Nanto. "I'd like to ask the opinion of the tower's best phychologist about her opinion on the effect of hormonal imbalances. Eleonora, do you believe a hormonal imbalance is a feasible defence of violent aggression?"
"I must say I don't know all the factors here", says Eleonora. "But from what I've heard about the Lurker activities, they can't be explained simply by chemical imbalances. There must be other factors coming into play, many of which can be categorized under the heading of free will."
Nanto: "In other words, whether or not this imbalance is real, the Lurkers *want* to commit violent acts upon us. They've chosen to attack the colony and seriously hinder our survival. It's their choice and they must bear the responsibility.""
Andrea: "I haven't claimed it would be the final solution. Nor that this hormonal imbalance is the sole cause. But rather I think it helped one faction gain and keep control"
Reneb: "Do you wish to exlain these different factions further? What have you learned from them?"
Andrea: "Speaking of which.. What is it with this... singlemindedness. Thinking a Lurker is a Lurker? If one of them does something, they're all involved?"
Tino: "They've chosen to act as a group. They must bear responsibility for the actions of the group, or split from it."
Mizuki nods.
Isabel sits with the other The Horizon members.
Andrea glances at Ishi, then turns his head towards Tino
Andrea: "Split where?"
Tino: "Return to us perhaps?"
"That's true", says Alexandra. "We never banished them there if that's what you're saying. They could return to us at any time, if they're willing to accept responsibility for their actions."
Andrea looks up at Nanto, then at Mizuki "Do you wish to play the rest of the recording, or should I just repeat it all now?"
Mizuki looks completely unfazed.
Nanto raises his eyebrow. "If you have something to add, please do so."
Andrea snorts
Relay silently observes proceedings
Andrea seems deep in thoughts for a moment before turning towards the crowd "I'm not sure what they expect to gain from omitting certain parts of my confession. I fear I'm being manipulated in this. However.. Ma-Ti told us something.. and from the way our contact with Ma-Ti worked, we did come to a.. if not a conclusion, then an idea about some of what made people join them. One of the 'better' floatbed column six cases, to be exact."
Laura: "What do you mean?"
Laura glances at Sebastian and Nanto and frowns.
"What I'm getting at is this: If you don't feel you're treated well in this cluster, where do you go? Is it only crimes that might make people chose to take refuge? I don't doubt that some of the Lurkers became such because of this, but.. " Andrea pauses for a moment. "I don't think it's all of them. If a hormonal imbalance makes it possible for one of those criminals to take power and control the rest, then it can make a difference."
Nanto: "Please, continue."
McGregor: "I'm sorry, but there seems to be a lot of questions in there. Do we actually know any of this?"
Manny: "What we do know is that they've killed some people who've done nothing to them. All of this other stuff is just guessing and rumors!"
Andrea pauses again, then a quick glance back at Nanto, before continuing "Several things has not been mentioned here yet. The fact that Ma-Ti was also taken into custody, as far as I'm aware. We did get a blood sample of Ma-Ti. The hormonal imbalance was present. It might be, that Ma-Ti contacted us in desperation due to a power struggle amongst the Lurkers, but doesn't that suggest there's more than one opinion amongst them?"
Manny: "Guessing.."
Andrea: "Si.. as it is only a guess that they're all willing participants. Do we really know?"
Manny: "We haven't done anything to them! Why would they want to be with that group if they don't just love violence!?"
Ishi: "That was not the point. The point was that even if they are not willing participants, they stay with them and consider themselves part of that group. If they split off from us for less, as you are suggesting..."
Andrea: "Ma-Ti was clearly having trouble controlling himself, yet when we finally managed to produce a remedy and tested it, it did seem to help. And why join them? Before or after the violence flared? Staying with them? Out of fear perhaps? I know it can be seen as guesswork and assumption, but I considered them questions we couldn't ignore."
Mizuki smiles somewhat darkly again.
Laura: "There seems to be a lot of this guesswork and assumption you've based your decicions on. Had you told the ringleaders about this, at least we could have evaluated this together."
Manny: "Or maybe he's one of them full on and is just trying to defend them! Murderers!"
Mizuki raises an eyebrow, considering Manny for a moment.
Ishi shakes her head.
"Please", says Sinuhe. "Let's try to keep in mind what the charges are, shall we?"
"Agreed", says Bahar. "Manny, control yourself."
Manny: "I'll control myself when they start controlling themselves!"
Andrea narrows his eyes "Is that any less guesswork? My intentions were as mentioned; to make use of an opportunity to help our situation. If we made a bad decision there.. well.. then we did. But nothing more than that!"
Sinuhe looks at Manny. "Which is exactly what we were trying to achieve before..."
"End to the guessing!" Bahar shouts. "Does anyone have anything else tangible to say?"
Andrea: "I'm not done yet"
Andrea: "To round off the previous revelations; Ma-Ti told us that Shamha applied fear and threats to lead. True or not.. it's what we were told."
"Nonsense!" Ben snaps. "If they'd just come back to us, what could Shamha do to them? Random violence seems all she can do to anyone in the Middle Cluster."
Manny: "Oh, I thought it was the hormones that made them follow her."
Andrea sighs "Add to that the hormonal imbalance."
Andrea is beginning to look somewhat annoyed "I sure hope it's not neccesary to repeat everything in all sentences, in which case I'll never finish"
"Look", says Sinuhe. "It's a combination of many factors as is everything in life. If it seems complicated and incomprehensible to you, it is simply because that's what it is."
Manny: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Bahar: "Silence."
Andrea: "If there's nothing else, related to this particular topic, can I continue?"
Mizuki crosses her arms, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"I'm sorry but threatening people suffering from hormonal imbalance doesn't sound like a valid strategy of leadership", says Eleonora. "The subordinates could easily turn against the leader who's attempting to threaten them."
Eleonora: "I'd find it more feasible if she controlled the imbalanced by feeding their anger through encouragement, not conflict."
Laura: "Makes sense."
Sinuhe: "If we prefer simplifications of a complex circumstance, then yes, sense it makes..."
Andrea: "Look.. All I'm trying to say, is we believed this hormonal imbalance made things worse and tried to alleviate this. If it allowed Ma-Ti to take the leadership, then it could have had a major impact, if not, minor. But I still believe it would have helped"
Ishi sighs and shakes her head sadly again.
"I think we've been cleared of your motives", says Bahar and adds pressedly: "Did you have something to add?"
Andrea nods and looks at Laura, then McGregor "I'd simply like to know how much control there is with this Lurker investigation? How free are their reigns?"
Nanto: "Sebastian was given the authority by the Ringleader Meeting..."
"... And with authority, the responsibility", says Sebastian, who's remained silent for the entire meeting so far. "Which is why this trial needs to be two-fold."
Andrea: "Development of, admittedly, non-lethal weaponry, is sanctioned by all the ringleaders?"
Mizuki looks at Sebastian, changing her posture.
Ishi looks up at Sebastian.
Sebastian pushes this away with a wave of his hand. "Non-lethal weaponry was developed before I became leader of the project", says Sebastian. "Even though it was a wise decicion, I can't take credit for it. Instead, another matter must be settled here and now."
Andrea: "The order to trick us into believing we'd been captured by Shamha and claim we'd be killed off one by one, was sanctioned by all the ringleaders?"
Mizuki's lips twitch briefly.
Ishi looks resigned and seems to even look forward to what she suspects will come next.
Sebastian doesn't seem to be responding to Andrea at all, and as it is, most people's attentions are centered on him. "The investigation has used unorthodox methods during interrogations, and those responsible must be tried here." Sebastian walks down the stairs to stand next to Andrea and his friends. "Ringmembers Ishi and Mizuki: join me."
Andrea raises an eyebrow
Mizuki moves to stand besides Sebastian.
Ishi steps forward to take her place.
"The three of us will now stand to defend our actions", says Sebastian. "Colonist Andrea, will you read our charges?"
Ishi looks at Andrea.
Mizuki looks at Andrea
Andrea's eyes widen in shock
Tagato looks up and a touch of surprise plays on his face, his mouths curves in a small smile.
Andrea looks around the crowd, suddenly self-conscious
The Large Crowd looks at Andrea, expectantly.
Andrea sighs and looks questioningly at Bahar
Bahar nods at Andrea.
Mizuki looks up at Tagato briefly, then back to Andrea.
Andrea mutters something unintelligible to himself then speaks up "If you insist. But should we do this before investigating? That order came directly from you?"
Sebastian: "Please be more clear."
The people have started babbling again, apparently as a result of an unexpected turn.
Once again, Bahar hushes them into silence.
Andrea smiles wryly "I just find it hard to believe there wasn't any others involved in the.. unorthodox decisions. It is also somewhat.. difficult to read charges before making an opinion as to who can be said to be involved in what"
"I'm responsible for everything that happened during the investigation", Sebastian simply states.
Andrea: "I can do this with some of the more clear charges, however, and I will, if it is insisted upon"
"I volunteer to take my own part of responsibility in this," Ishi interjects after Sebastian, looking at him somewhat apologetically.
Mizuki nods. "As do I."
Andrea: "Va bene.. "
"Of course", says Sebastian, nodding to Mizuki and Ishi. "Responsibility isn't a
zero-sum matter, however."
Relay looks as if he was about to say something, but kept his silence
Andrea speaks up "Ishi, you are charged with applying a psycological form of torture. Mizuki, charged with knowingly collaborating in applying said torture as well as the use and application of unsanctioned weaponry. Sebastian, you are charged with the development of unsanctioned weaponry, as well as in knowingly ordering the use hereof as well as the torture." Andrea pauses and looks slightly appologetic "That's the best, I can do without an investigation"
"All right", says Bahar, perhaps a bit unsure of how to proceed. "Let's begin with psychological torture. Tell us more about this, Andrea."
"Well", says Sinuhe. "We were led to believe we were held captive by the Lurkers."
Ishi looks at Andrea again, expectantly.
Mizuki studies Andrea, frowning a bit at the edges of her eyes, looking thoughtful.
Aviah: "They threatened to kill us!"
"... but one", Sinuhe points out. "I think that one was a true work of art."
"Va bene.. When we were caught, it was by people wearing black masks and we were rendered unconscious. As a result, we woke up in a dark room, with very little information about our captors." Andrea pauses, seemingly considering something "As we were trying to test this remedy on Ma-Ti and since he was also going against some of the Lurkers.. when a dark silhouette of a woman appeared in the door, and threatened us, spoke of what they'd do to us.. kill us off, si. We were led to believe it was the Lurkers having taken us"
The Large Crowd gasps.
"This is outrageous!" Laura yells. "No Ringleader Meeting has ever approved of such inhumane methods!"
Sebastian stands still, as if not having heard Laura at all, focusing on Andrea instead.
Ishi raises her eyebrow a bit and inclines her head at Andrea, as if to tell him to go on.
"Defendants", says Bahar. "How do you defend? Sebastian?"
Andrea continues "It's a bit vague now, but.. she started out by saying Ma-Ti had been killed. As he wasn't with us. Then.. told us she'd use us as an example for the rest of the cluster
Ishi looks questioningly in Andrea's direction again.
"The reason for this method", says Sebastian, "was to verify Colonists Sinuhe, Aviah, and Andrea had not been in direct dealings with the Lurkers. We all know by now that the Lurkers have willing associates among us. The reactions of these colonists proved beyond reasonable doubt that they indeed weren't in dealings with Shamha, only Ma-Ti, and can thus be treated less harshly than they would be otherwise. It is regretful we had to resort to such questionable methods but as we know, fear drops all the masks."
Laura frowns at Sebastian's explanation. "And no other method could be found? And, again, no one thought of consulting the other ringleaders?"
Andrea looks from Sebastian to Laura then continues almost mechanically "Also.. asking us to decide which of us should be the 'messenger' to the rest of the cluster before seemingly changing her mind and pointing someone out"
Sebastian: "Ishi - the one performing as Shamha - had the orders to act like Shamha to the best of her ability."
Andrea: "Do orders make one excused?"
Ishi: "Why do you think I'm here?"
Mizuki nods at Ishi's words.
Andrea: "Exactly.. since you're there, I thought we'd get it all into the open to judge wisely"
Ishi: "Then go on and tell them all of it."
Mizuki looks at Andrea.
Andrea nods "I'm getting to it."
Ishi nods.
Sebastian: "I have nothing to add at this point."
The crowds have gone silent, everyone listening with anticipation.
"After we'd been left in that belief for a while.. how long.. " Andrea shrugs "Dark without necklink access. I only know it's been a couple of days since we were captured. Nevertheless, I was taken from the room first, and set down to interrogation by Mizuki. Seeing her, made me realize what had happened. During this talk, she expressed regret at the previous actions and I made her promise to tell the others back in the room in an attempt to alleviate their fears. I believe she did."
Bahar nods.
Andrea: "Later, all four of us had been interrogated and had to wait back in the cell, I was told Ishi wished to speak with me. I accepted and was led back to the same room, were Ishi told me it was she who had played the part of Shamha. She was not happy with it, believed it to be wrong, but she'd followed orders. She appeared to be sincerely regretting her actions""
Ben: "I think anyone would."
Andrea looks up at Ishi "If there's more I have missed, it is not intentional. Please add on to it, if I've forgotten anything"
Ishi nods at Andrea. "Do I get my say now?" Ishi asks of Bahar.
Bahar: "Please do."
"I promised I would be judged for this and here I am." Ishi takes a breath. "My voice, among others, was measured with some device and I was told I came closest to Shamha. I was told we would need to pretend to be Lurkers and instill fear so that we would get a confession. Later, this turned out to be wrong, they just wanted to know if they were working with Shamha. I could have vouched for this, I know Andrea, and to a sufficient extent, Sinuhe. If the real reason had been known to me I would have flat out refused, but that is irrelevant, because I should have anyway."
Ishi: "I questioned the usefulness of this method for the purpose of getting a confession, but in the end I trusted in someone's judgement, thinking I was missing something and afterwards it would be clear to me."
Ishi: "This is also no excuse. I should have trusted my initial judgement."
"So..." says Laura. "Are you saying this was a mistake?"
Ishi: "Even if we got a confession out of it, and even if it showed beyond a doubt that they did not work with Shamha, this was wrong and should never have happened."
Ishi: "I don't know if you can call such a thing a mistake."
Ishi: "But I'm not done."
Hansila: "What would you call it then?"
Ishi: "A crime of course. That is why we are here. Can I go on now?"
Mizuki smiles very slightly.
Ishi looks around, waiting.
Andrea just stands still, waiting
Bahar: "Please... Go on."
Tagato watches the scene with an amused expression on his face.
Sebastian stands still, face untelling.
The crowds look baffled and surprised.
"So, I went to their cell and spoke. I did not know if I was going to be able to do this, because I did not want to do this to anyone, much less someone I like." Ishi looks sad. "Regrettably I surprised myself. I don't remember if I was told what to say, initially, but I know I came up with most of it myself. I modelled it after the real Shamha, when she spoke like this to my group when we were really her prisoners."
Ishi: "I was more verbal than she, I think, and more subtle, but mostly I imitated her methods as best I remembered."
"I remember what it feels like, to be on the receiveing end..." Ishi seemingly drifts off a bit.
Ishi glances at Tagato.
"So", says Ami. "What should have been done?"
Ishi looks up. "What do you mean? And I'm still not done."
Ami: "If this course of action was wrong, and a crime, what should have been done?"
Ishi: "I'll get to that."
Ami speaks stressedly and loudly, with force in her low bass voice.
Tagato watches Ishi, and gives her just a slightest nod, a touch of sadness on his face.
Sebastian listens to the exchange.
Ishi: "It truly is unspeakable torture. I don't know if anyone is interested in hearing some of the things that were said, and I don't literally recall all of it, but I remember some..."
Ishi: "I think to understand better, even if not fully, people might need to hear."
Andrea closes his his eyes for a few seconds
Mizuki looks at Ami again, with a softer expression on her face than her usual completely neutral look.
Ishi: "No one?"
Ami raises her eyebrow.
Ami: "Just say it then."
The Large Crowd is listening intently.
They're apparently very interested.
Mizuki frowns slightly, a flicker of doubt in her eyes, looking at the crowd.
Ishi shrugs. "As they said, there were threatened with the death of all but one of them. I think I started by saying that they did not see all of them in their cell because they were the only ones left alive."
Relay stares at nothing
Ishi: "I also taunted them with the possibility of freedom. If they would betray the others."
The Large Crowd gasps.
Andrea looks at Sinuhe and Aviah, then scans the crowd
Ishi: "I'm happy to report not one of them bit."
Ishi: "I didn't expect them to, but for a moment I feared one would."
Sinuhe looks a bit taken back for a moment.
"So", says Ami. "Did you hit them?"
Ami: "Touch them?"
Mizuki looks at Sinuhe for a brief moment.
Andrea shakes his head
"She offered this to us as well, when all but one were under inhibitors..." Ishi recalls again, a bit unfocused. "I don't actually know if anyone but me was offered the same back then..."
Ishi: "Hmm? No, as far as I know no one was even in the room with them, or they'd have seen it was me."
Ami: "How long did all of this last?"
Ishi: "Not very long."
Andrea: "Scuzi, I must interrupt here. I did state the charge being psychological torture. Not physical"
Ishi: "In the end, we would not have been able to back up any of the threats and it was clear that they were not any more inclined to confess because of this, even if that was not the actual goal, and indeed it may have delayed things a lot..."
Ami: "So you, what, scared them off for half an hour, maybe? Made them fear death?"
Ishi: "I think I just said that. Can I go on now?"
Ishi: "You can save your questions for afterwards."
Ishi: "Just note them down."
Ami: "How can you seriously make such major fuss about three people charged for assisting the *Lurkers* fearing death for a few minutes? If I had the luxury of, just once, finding out my fear of death wasn't real when I had it, I'd thank the world for it!"
Ami doesn't seem to be in the mood for courtesies and court procedures, and her voice is a good match for Bahar's.
Andrea looks tired
Some in the crowd nod at Ami's remark.
Others shake their heads.
Mizuki seems to be struggling keeping her face neutral, though what she is feeling is still hard to see.
Ishi mutters. "I see my final suggestion is much needed." Ishi just ignores Ami. "Afterwards I questioned my own sanity for having gone through with it. It was no matter of simply following orders liek some kind of drone, if that even exists, because that is not what I am. I made a choice."
Hansila: "Just because we live in a world of fear doesn't give us the right to apply *torture*!"
Ishi: "Indeed."
Relay looks slightly exasperated
Ami: "So *what exactly* should have been done?"
"Ends don't justify means. And I'd like people to remember that and apply it to more situations than this one." Ishi continues. "So I told Andrea what I'd done and trusted he'd convey the message. I was too ashamed to tell them all at once. I said I'd try to see it brought to trial and I did."
Ishi: "What should have been done is trusting that they were not working with Shamha, of course. Enough people would have been able to vouch for each of them. Even if it was a risk it should have been taken. We don't have to stoop to their level in this fight, or we lose more than we think."
Hansila nods. "Makes perfect sense. If we went this far any time we have doubts about something, we'd be swimming in blood before we know."
Ishi: "Anyway. I have this more to say:"
Ben: "Trust them? They just tricked the entire tower.."
Ishi sighs, annoyed. "There are different types of trust."
Ishi: "Can I make a final statement?"
Andrea frowns at Ben's outburst
"Yes, you can!" Bahar shouts and is surprised to find out he didn't have to yell over Ami at this time.
The notion about trusting Andrea and the others doesn't seem to be very well received among the crowds.
"I would like people to keep something in mind." Ishi says. "You cannot treat someone in any way you like just because they have committed a crime, or are suspected of such. Likewise, being treated badly does not somehow make you right in all matters." Ishi takes a breath and seems to muster courage. "I have a suggestion to make. I know in the end we will all be judged. I'd like to ask, just for myself, not for my Ring, that you consider trying this: It feels to me like a some people here are not taking any self-reflection. Not considering others' point of view. This might have made a difference in all of this. Certain courses may not have been taken if things were considered by certain people, that others' did consider. I am wondering if it is possible to make a simulation. The viewpoints of people on the Investigation, of a few outsiders, and of Andrea and his companions will be loaded into it. Their knowledge and feelings, and such. Then people would be able to load the simulation and see from those points of view. I think this will accomplish more than punishment, whatever it is. Not much can be learned from that, but this has the possibility to actually teach. Afterwards, having seen others' viewpoints, more reasoned conclusions could be come to by the one who now has a broader experience."
Ishi: "That was long. I think Im done now. Unless anyone thinks of anythign else."
Mizuki looks around the crowd, waiting for their response.
The people seem baffled by the simulator idea.
Relay looks slightly curious
Andrea seems surprised as well
Hansila smiles. "We don't have the technology for this - it would require many things we're seeking in the Knowledge Transfer Project taken to the extreme - but I think this is an absolutely wonderful idea!"
Ishi: "I hope we can accomplish it sooner than we think. Punishment will serve no purpose except give some people a warm feeling inside. It will not help those punished."
Hansila: "I've always said that all the tower needs is that people understand each other through dialogue, but this is even better! I'm looking forward to researching this with you, Ishi!"
"More important than punishment", says Nanto, "is to make sure these things don't happen again. This should be the focus when we consider what to do with our criminals."
Ishi: "All of them."
Nanto: "Of course."
Mizuki waits for a moment, then speaks. "I would also like to speak, before any judgement is decided on."
Bahar: "Mizuki, what did you wish to say?"
Tagato smiles slightly, watching 3 of his batch on this strange trial.
Mizuki nods to Bahar, then looks at Andrea. "I am guilty of the interrogation part of your accusation, and will admit this.", she says, bowing her head slightly. "I was the leader of the interrogation process, and I was standing next to Ishi as she acted as Shamha. I adviced her on some of the things to say.", the dark-haired woman explains. "I also agree that we did indeed put fear into you."
Bahar nods. "Is that all?"
Andrea nods slightly
"Iie. I wish to say that the Free Colonists accused have shown a complete lack of regret of their own actions. At all times, they have thought what they did was the good thing to do, while we who have stopped them have been the evil ones, mindlessly following orders and not being able to see what is right. Their lacking self-reflection and arrogance in believing they can go against democratic decisions passed by the tower and still feel morally superior to those of us who stop them has been complete.", she says slowly, looking displeased with the attention she is getting. "Their arrogance in believing their own views to be the right ones rivals the arrogance they attribute to my own ring, which I find interesting.", she goes on. "However, I wish to say that this means I believe they are indeed sincere in their belief that what they did would be for the good of the tower.", Mizuki ends. "That is all."
"Good", says Bahar. "Anything else or shall we move to the charges about the weapons?"
Andrea's face reddens and his eyes narrows "It would perhaps.. have been better had we taken one trial at a time"
Tagato watches intently as Mizuki speaks.
"I would like to close this one first", says Sebastian.
Bahar nods.
Sebastian: "Before I make my statement I'd like us to spend a moment remembering Aleksei and the other brave Firefighters who perished with him. They are not dead because Li Ping was a Lurker - they're dead because we did not know it."
Ishi shakes her head.
Sebastian: "What we've committed in the course of the investigation is a crime - in all the books of law of the Technocracy. What matters in this tower, however, is the consequences of our actions. Due to our actions, Colonists Sinuhe, Andrea, and Aviah experienced mortal fear and great personal intimidation. Now, they're alive and healthy. If they so choose, they can find solace in the fact that they've proven their innocence to anything beyond naivete.""
Sebastian: "Our crime still stands, however, and we're willing to take any repercussions the colony wishes to subject us to."
Mizuki nods, looking at the crowd.
Some in the Large Crowd seem to have been impressed by the speech but most still seem to find the whole matter appalling.
Relay stares at all of the accused
Ishi is looking mostly at Andrea.
Bahar: "Well, I think that concludes this part."
Bahar: "Let's move on the the weaponry. Andrea, will you elaborate your charges?"
Andrea shrugs "I think it's apparent that I was thrust into this role as accusator without any chance of investigation or preparation. I know nothing more than the fact that they have these weapons"
Isabel: "Well, it seems they've admitted to all your charges so far, so what's the problem?"
Ishi: "May I?"
Andrea waves his acceptance at Ishi
After a while, Sebastian nods to Ishi.
Ishi: "The stunning weapons were developed almost at the start of the Investigation, long before our Ring took over. They are nothing more than sedations, in a projectile form, created because we found that the Lurkers had long-range weapons, so we could take them out without harming them without having to get close. No one has even hidden their existence, they've been worn openly and they've been talked about plenty of times. By me, for example, after I was resqued from down there with Tagato. I'd be surprised if no one else here remembers them at all."
"This is correct", says Sebastian. "We admit they were used in the course of this investigation to sedate the colonists under investigation."
"Hai.", Mizuki agrees.
Hansila looks baffled. "No..."
The Prophet: "There were weapons already?"
"This is correct", says Reneb. "This is basically common knowledge, and I don't know why this charge was ever made."
"Their usage was wrong then and it's wrong now", says Sinuhe. "It being common knowledge only means the investigation will be far easier."
Andrea sighs "Very well. If this was known and accepted by the tower population, this particular charge is retreacted"
Sinuhe: "That tower population never included me."
Andrea has a peculiar smile on his lips
Sinuhe: "One of the reasons, in fact, that made me realize this 'investigation' was going to cause more problems than it would solve. I rest my case."
Hansila and some people around her nod.
"Perhaps this would sound more righteous, had you included the tower population you refer to into your own decisions Sinuhe.", Mizuki suggests.
Sinuhe: "I'm simply stating facts, Mizuki."
Andrea: "As already stated, I see no reason to continue with these particular charges with the current information."
Bahar: "Well then. I think we're concluded."
Reneb: "I think we're going to need some time to process this. The question is, what shall be done to the charged while we're deliberating?"
Laura: "We could place them in sealed floatbeds temporarily, and reconvene in two weeks to decide their final fate."
"In floatbeds?" Jake sounds startled.
Ishi mutters. "Better not be another Blackout"
Andrea smiles wryly
Nanto: "I think this makes sense. The other options would be to release them, or return them to their cell."
Laura: "Can anyone provide reasonable guarantee that if they're released, they won't be joining the Lurkers once they're out of here?"
Ishi sighs.
Andrea suddenly laughs "I doubt we'd be welcome there"
Laura: "That's true."
Tagato smiles, opens his mouths but stays silent after all.
Nanto: "I believe we can release you for now."
No one seems to argue against release.
Andrea's laugh trails off as the circumstances reasserts themselves on him
Ishi: "You could place us all under constant surveillance? If you want to be more appeased."
Andrea sighs "Si.. I suppose we're used to this"
Ben: "You mean place Sebastian, you, and Mizuki under surveillance too? It makes no sense."
Hansila: "It would certainly be fairer that way."
Mizuki frowns slightly.
Ishi: "You never know when next I'll threaten people's lives under the guise of someone else... If you think there's a risk of them joining the Lurkers then you have to take that risk just as seriously."
Sebastian: "I will do whatever the tower decides, of course."
Relay appears relieved
Mizuki nods.
After some argument, the people finally decide to place all of the accused under surveillance of their locations and personal transmissions.
Andrea simply says "Si"
It's agreed that TSR is consulted in order to arrange this.
Mizuki doesn't look very pleased, though she agrees to everything.
Andrea runs a tired hand over his eyes and mutters "I hope we'll be allowed to wait for that surveillance in the floatbeds"
In the end, people take pity on Andrea and the others and allow them to enter their floatbeds.
Ishi: "If it's ok I'd like to spend some time in the floatbeds as well. Before or after the surveillance is fixed."
The people accept.
The Seed Roleplaying Community » Posts by Darkhawk
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