Lupus Maximus
Tekniker
Jag har suttit och knappat på en text, egentligen en bunt punkter. Syftet är för ge det absolut minimala en spelare skall behöva känna till för att vara med när jag är spelledare, samt att de som vill ha en mer insatt rollperson kan ge en snabb bedömning om de vill sätta sig in mer.
Texten är på engelska.
Vad jag är ute efter är detta:
* För er som inte är så insatta i Noir (speciellt inte min tolkning), är den begriplig? Samt, finns det något som nu uppfattar som en kunskapslucka som ni tycker borde tagits upp?
* För er som är insatta i Noir, finns det något som ni saknar, som vem som helst i settingen borde känna till?
...och själva texten:
Texten är på engelska.
Vad jag är ute efter är detta:
* För er som inte är så insatta i Noir (speciellt inte min tolkning), är den begriplig? Samt, finns det något som nu uppfattar som en kunskapslucka som ni tycker borde tagits upp?
* För er som är insatta i Noir, finns det något som ni saknar, som vem som helst i settingen borde känna till?
...och själva texten:
Note 1: There are local variations, and different people have different opinions. So while some things might get a person driven out from one village, it might just be a common secret but no big deal in another village.
Note 2: The points of describing the two major religious fractions is because a naive religious character will know a bit of the fraction the character believes in. Having both mentioned is to help the player decide which to pick, in case the character is to be religious, practicing or not.
- There is a war that has been raging against "the enemy" for generations. The enemy is vile, treacherous, and spreads lies and misinformations.
- A second war broke out five years ago, when one of the provinces rebelled.
- The state and the Citizens Party is working hard for a better world. Had it not been for the enemy and some subversive criminal elements, it had been a perfect world.
- Expressing the wrong opinion at the wrong time, and one might end up in a reeducation facility or just disappear. You never know whom might be an informant, and rat you out, if you have any troublesome opinion.
- Everyone is taught in school they should report anyone having faulty opinions and reasoning. It is for their own good that the Ministry of Truth reeducates them. Also, letting misconceptions fester will lead to openings for the lies of the enemy to spread through and take hold. Not reporting them will not only lead to them not getting help, but endangering everyone else. Some believe they are doing a good thing when they report someone for an opinion.
- While there is only one political party, there are still votes on different topics. All Commoners are required to vote, and the vote is open (a person should of course be able to stand for their opinion).
- There are three "castes"; nobles, commoners, and slaves.
- The commoners are divided into those having citizenship (Citizens) and those not having citizenship (Commoners). Being a citizen leads to getting better services, priority lines, better social status, etc.
- While someone can become a citizen by just being the recognized child of a male citizen, it costs money to remain a citizen. It is possible to become a citizen by paying a fee, doing military service, or being awarded citizenship by the state (a common reason is by being an useful informant).
- Most commoners (non citizens) have only five years of education. Quite a few have even less. Most of that is reading, writing, and patriotic indoctrination.
- Most farmers actually survives on the food they hide away from the state, making their life swing between "short of food" and "very little food."
- There are no such thing as a retirement age, from when a person will receive a pension from the state. Those too old and weak to work, without any relatives to care for them or money to pay for their care, are put at the poorhouse.
- Of the seven main noble houses, Arkady, Mengal, and the treacherous rebel house Todescu, has a woman as head of the house; while Guiskard, Kriger, Orlok, and Zovrin has a male as head.
- The empire is huge, made up of seven provinces, and has a lot of people. The Copper River is going through it. A few hundred years ago, a huge fleet from the enemy once sailed up through the river. It wasn't until the different nations joined together into the empire, that the enemy finally was repelled.
- The four ethnic groups in the Empire are Vagyar (often just called "the people" and is the dominant group), Celenk (nomadic minority group), Hragher (minority group that is the dominant one in the rebelling province), Arkarer (minority group rumored to deal with the occult and mysticism).
- Religion is suppressed by the state. The religion is fairly Christian-like, and the god is going by the name "The Only One". Even being a practitioner of the legal church, Janoism, is seen by suspicion from authorities. Maurism, a variant of Church of The Only One, is illegal but still openly practiced in distant parts of the Empire. An off-shot if Maurism, Siferism, is the dominant one in the rebelling province and is fueling religious fanaticism. The oppression of both Janoism and Maurism has increased due to the war.
- Janoism: Based on a man of simple origins, Janos, whom after he had lost is family in a tragedy, reinterpreted the old religious text. Church and the people are one, and the core of belief is within each individual. It is belief, prayers, and recognizing The Only One and his son (a Messiah that sacrificed himself for the sins of humanity); and not ceremonies, that are the important things. The foundations are; work hard, abstinence, temperance, harmony with nature, and follow the ten commandments. No one is completely doomed; everyone can find salvation. Separation of Church and state, where the church will tend to the spiritual needs of the people.
- Maurism: Based on the gospel of Maur; filled with mysticism, hard to interpret prophecies, and divine laws of how humanity should be ruled under The Only One. The people shall submit under The Only One. There is no forgiveness or salvation for those breaking the divine regulations, but eternal suffering in the afterlife. Those serving The Only One Well can be rewarded with status and riches in this life, or even become a saint. Saints are often depicted and worshiped on icons and statues. Maurists have erected huge cathedrals, with statues and paintings (including painted windows) depicting angels, demons, and events from the holy scriptures. Use of ceremonies and rituals are a big part of Maureism.
- Siferism: A very recent version of Maurism originated from the very religious province that now is rebelling. An prophet often referred to as The Fallen is their spiritual leader, and many has taken the step from deeply held beliefs to fanaticism.
- The capitol of the Empire is Sandukar and is close to the mouth of the Copper River. The city also doubles as a fort, guarding the river. It is "the jewel of the empire" according to the Ministry of Truth, "Sin City" or "the city of the damned" is not uncommon in popular speech on the countryside (well, not if a state official or suspected informant is nearby).
- To travel in the Empire, commoners are required to have travel permits. This is not just between provinces, but for example someone wanting to get to the next city. Shorter trips is easier to get approved, and it is easier for citizens to get a travel permit.
- Law enforcement are the police and STAPO (state police; think KGB, Stasi, and Gestapo). Then there are also rumors and myths about a police force called the Commissars, that can take over a case from anyone, and no one ever returns alive from their interrogation.
- Corruption is rampant, and the police protects the state first and the people second.
- Quite a few youths dream of moving to a big city, while the older generation tries to talk them out of it (it is too dangerous, etc, and there is quite a bit of tension between rural and urban areas).
- There are a lot of superstition and rumors about the occult.
- Common entertainments: Going to a cinema; big titles are black and white sound movies, while smaller ones are mute). Going to the pub. Listening to radio or a gramophone. Dancing. The cities also have things like clubs, and more expensive entertainments like theaters and operas.
- Male homosexuality is referred to as "trench disease" and is believed by the Ministry of Health to be contagious. There is a strong stigma.
- Prostitution is believed by the Ministry of Health to be an important part of slowing down the spread of trench disease. Men are encouraged to go to prostitutes.
- There are a strong "Madonna or Whore" mentality among a lot of men. To many, the idea of having hot sex with the mother of his childes is offensive; his wife is a madonna one shouldn't have dirty thoughts about. Among other things, this lead to a lot of sexually frustrated wifes, some of whom looking for sexual satisfaction elsewhere.
- Beside the stigma of getting pregnant outside of wedlock and being a prostitute, those also gives a permanent mark in a womans records and passport, barring them from certain lines of work.
- Divorce is only legal if there is proof of infidelity (going to a prostitute as a man, or being a prostitute as a woman, is not infidelity), or infertility. The one being cheated on can however decide to not file for divorce, no matter of how much proof someone else presents.
- Abortions is only legal if there is a threat to the womans life.
- Like quite a few RL countries before 1950's, there is no law requiring a husband to have his wifes consent to have sex with her. Basically, the only sexual harassment, assault or exploiting the law in the Empire recognize is rape by a stranger.
- There is a "the man is the bread winner, the woman stays at home" ideal in the Empire. However, as even most middle class commoners can’t get by on just one salary, workers and farmers are used to the idea "everyone has to work to put food on the table."
- While some women are working because they need the money, others do it for personal freedom or making a career. The last four years has seen an substantial increase of females in male dominated work places.
- The only occupation barred to all women is in the military as a soldier or sailor. Still, once in a while there is a woman getting caught as a soldier, and might have been fighting at the front quite a while.
- The only occupation barred for men is prostitution. While not as easy to find as female prostitutes, male prostitutes can be found in every larger city, if knowing where to look.
- Technology advancements happens very slow. The only difference between a new car and a fifty years old one might just be the wear and tear.
- Most technology is quite similar to 1930-1940, except for the army as they mainly fights with early WWI equipment in trench warfare. As with that era, while cars exists, most on the countryside are still using horses and oxes.
- Air transport is done by airships (Zeppelins). Airplanes are extremely rare, and they are also quite fragile things.
- Not everyone home has a telephone. Some that has a phone might not have a dial, but a crank which will create the ringing tone (usually with only the ear piece on a cord), connecting to an operator that will manually connect the call. Of those having that old type of phone with a crank, several households might share the same number, making it possible to snoop on each other calls.
- A lot of places are polluted, some rural areas to the point of the farmers having to abandon their land.
- Tobacco and alcohol use are common, and so is alcoholism. Vodka and beer are the common cheaper ones, as even cheap Whiskey and wine are a little bit more expensive.
- The currency in the Empire is called Zovrin. An average bicycle is about 400z, a newspaper 1z, a blanket 7z.
- Names in the setting should not sound English, but more have a feel like Central European, East European, or Russian names. French, Italian or Latin sounding names can also work.
Note 2: The points of describing the two major religious fractions is because a naive religious character will know a bit of the fraction the character believes in. Having both mentioned is to help the player decide which to pick, in case the character is to be religious, practicing or not.
- There is a war that has been raging against "the enemy" for generations. The enemy is vile, treacherous, and spreads lies and misinformations.
- A second war broke out five years ago, when one of the provinces rebelled.
- The state and the Citizens Party is working hard for a better world. Had it not been for the enemy and some subversive criminal elements, it had been a perfect world.
- Expressing the wrong opinion at the wrong time, and one might end up in a reeducation facility or just disappear. You never know whom might be an informant, and rat you out, if you have any troublesome opinion.
- Everyone is taught in school they should report anyone having faulty opinions and reasoning. It is for their own good that the Ministry of Truth reeducates them. Also, letting misconceptions fester will lead to openings for the lies of the enemy to spread through and take hold. Not reporting them will not only lead to them not getting help, but endangering everyone else. Some believe they are doing a good thing when they report someone for an opinion.
- While there is only one political party, there are still votes on different topics. All Commoners are required to vote, and the vote is open (a person should of course be able to stand for their opinion).
- There are three "castes"; nobles, commoners, and slaves.
- The commoners are divided into those having citizenship (Citizens) and those not having citizenship (Commoners). Being a citizen leads to getting better services, priority lines, better social status, etc.
- While someone can become a citizen by just being the recognized child of a male citizen, it costs money to remain a citizen. It is possible to become a citizen by paying a fee, doing military service, or being awarded citizenship by the state (a common reason is by being an useful informant).
- Most commoners (non citizens) have only five years of education. Quite a few have even less. Most of that is reading, writing, and patriotic indoctrination.
- Most farmers actually survives on the food they hide away from the state, making their life swing between "short of food" and "very little food."
- There are no such thing as a retirement age, from when a person will receive a pension from the state. Those too old and weak to work, without any relatives to care for them or money to pay for their care, are put at the poorhouse.
- Of the seven main noble houses, Arkady, Mengal, and the treacherous rebel house Todescu, has a woman as head of the house; while Guiskard, Kriger, Orlok, and Zovrin has a male as head.
- The empire is huge, made up of seven provinces, and has a lot of people. The Copper River is going through it. A few hundred years ago, a huge fleet from the enemy once sailed up through the river. It wasn't until the different nations joined together into the empire, that the enemy finally was repelled.
- The four ethnic groups in the Empire are Vagyar (often just called "the people" and is the dominant group), Celenk (nomadic minority group), Hragher (minority group that is the dominant one in the rebelling province), Arkarer (minority group rumored to deal with the occult and mysticism).
- Religion is suppressed by the state. The religion is fairly Christian-like, and the god is going by the name "The Only One". Even being a practitioner of the legal church, Janoism, is seen by suspicion from authorities. Maurism, a variant of Church of The Only One, is illegal but still openly practiced in distant parts of the Empire. An off-shot if Maurism, Siferism, is the dominant one in the rebelling province and is fueling religious fanaticism. The oppression of both Janoism and Maurism has increased due to the war.
- Janoism: Based on a man of simple origins, Janos, whom after he had lost is family in a tragedy, reinterpreted the old religious text. Church and the people are one, and the core of belief is within each individual. It is belief, prayers, and recognizing The Only One and his son (a Messiah that sacrificed himself for the sins of humanity); and not ceremonies, that are the important things. The foundations are; work hard, abstinence, temperance, harmony with nature, and follow the ten commandments. No one is completely doomed; everyone can find salvation. Separation of Church and state, where the church will tend to the spiritual needs of the people.
- Maurism: Based on the gospel of Maur; filled with mysticism, hard to interpret prophecies, and divine laws of how humanity should be ruled under The Only One. The people shall submit under The Only One. There is no forgiveness or salvation for those breaking the divine regulations, but eternal suffering in the afterlife. Those serving The Only One Well can be rewarded with status and riches in this life, or even become a saint. Saints are often depicted and worshiped on icons and statues. Maurists have erected huge cathedrals, with statues and paintings (including painted windows) depicting angels, demons, and events from the holy scriptures. Use of ceremonies and rituals are a big part of Maureism.
- Siferism: A very recent version of Maurism originated from the very religious province that now is rebelling. An prophet often referred to as The Fallen is their spiritual leader, and many has taken the step from deeply held beliefs to fanaticism.
- The capitol of the Empire is Sandukar and is close to the mouth of the Copper River. The city also doubles as a fort, guarding the river. It is "the jewel of the empire" according to the Ministry of Truth, "Sin City" or "the city of the damned" is not uncommon in popular speech on the countryside (well, not if a state official or suspected informant is nearby).
- To travel in the Empire, commoners are required to have travel permits. This is not just between provinces, but for example someone wanting to get to the next city. Shorter trips is easier to get approved, and it is easier for citizens to get a travel permit.
- Law enforcement are the police and STAPO (state police; think KGB, Stasi, and Gestapo). Then there are also rumors and myths about a police force called the Commissars, that can take over a case from anyone, and no one ever returns alive from their interrogation.
- Corruption is rampant, and the police protects the state first and the people second.
- Quite a few youths dream of moving to a big city, while the older generation tries to talk them out of it (it is too dangerous, etc, and there is quite a bit of tension between rural and urban areas).
- There are a lot of superstition and rumors about the occult.
- Common entertainments: Going to a cinema; big titles are black and white sound movies, while smaller ones are mute). Going to the pub. Listening to radio or a gramophone. Dancing. The cities also have things like clubs, and more expensive entertainments like theaters and operas.
- Male homosexuality is referred to as "trench disease" and is believed by the Ministry of Health to be contagious. There is a strong stigma.
- Prostitution is believed by the Ministry of Health to be an important part of slowing down the spread of trench disease. Men are encouraged to go to prostitutes.
- There are a strong "Madonna or Whore" mentality among a lot of men. To many, the idea of having hot sex with the mother of his childes is offensive; his wife is a madonna one shouldn't have dirty thoughts about. Among other things, this lead to a lot of sexually frustrated wifes, some of whom looking for sexual satisfaction elsewhere.
- Beside the stigma of getting pregnant outside of wedlock and being a prostitute, those also gives a permanent mark in a womans records and passport, barring them from certain lines of work.
- Divorce is only legal if there is proof of infidelity (going to a prostitute as a man, or being a prostitute as a woman, is not infidelity), or infertility. The one being cheated on can however decide to not file for divorce, no matter of how much proof someone else presents.
- Abortions is only legal if there is a threat to the womans life.
- Like quite a few RL countries before 1950's, there is no law requiring a husband to have his wifes consent to have sex with her. Basically, the only sexual harassment, assault or exploiting the law in the Empire recognize is rape by a stranger.
- There is a "the man is the bread winner, the woman stays at home" ideal in the Empire. However, as even most middle class commoners can’t get by on just one salary, workers and farmers are used to the idea "everyone has to work to put food on the table."
- While some women are working because they need the money, others do it for personal freedom or making a career. The last four years has seen an substantial increase of females in male dominated work places.
- The only occupation barred to all women is in the military as a soldier or sailor. Still, once in a while there is a woman getting caught as a soldier, and might have been fighting at the front quite a while.
- The only occupation barred for men is prostitution. While not as easy to find as female prostitutes, male prostitutes can be found in every larger city, if knowing where to look.
- Technology advancements happens very slow. The only difference between a new car and a fifty years old one might just be the wear and tear.
- Most technology is quite similar to 1930-1940, except for the army as they mainly fights with early WWI equipment in trench warfare. As with that era, while cars exists, most on the countryside are still using horses and oxes.
- Air transport is done by airships (Zeppelins). Airplanes are extremely rare, and they are also quite fragile things.
- Not everyone home has a telephone. Some that has a phone might not have a dial, but a crank which will create the ringing tone (usually with only the ear piece on a cord), connecting to an operator that will manually connect the call. Of those having that old type of phone with a crank, several households might share the same number, making it possible to snoop on each other calls.
- A lot of places are polluted, some rural areas to the point of the farmers having to abandon their land.
- Tobacco and alcohol use are common, and so is alcoholism. Vodka and beer are the common cheaper ones, as even cheap Whiskey and wine are a little bit more expensive.
- The currency in the Empire is called Zovrin. An average bicycle is about 400z, a newspaper 1z, a blanket 7z.
- Names in the setting should not sound English, but more have a feel like Central European, East European, or Russian names. French, Italian or Latin sounding names can also work.
