Part 19 takes place at the start of spring break for Andrea, Megan and Zainab. Andrea and Megan join Zainab and her family as they travel back to her home country of Surda. Spoilers below.
Click Here to see all summaries
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Meet the Characters: Zainab's family
In Part 19 we get our first look at some of Zainab's family. This includes her father Farhad and mother Leyla, as well as her uncle Omid. The following goes a little above and beyond what's covered explicitly in the story, but it should add a little background for those interested:
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Surda
Surda is a fictional country, invented for the series. I did so in order to be more able to have it suit the story. It takes elements from the real world, but still leaves me the freedom to make it however it is I want to make it for the story.
Surda is a small chain of volcanic islands at roughly 22°N, 63°E where the Indian and Arabian tectonic plates meet. It is 100 km long end to end.
History
It was first settled by Indian traders in the 500s BC. A strong navy and the wealth from being a trading hub kept them as many small but prosperous independent kingdoms throughout the classical age. They had tin and copper mines, but they had problems of impurities that made them not particularly profitable. And while it allowed them to cheaply make bronze, the bronze age had long passed before the mines were active. Those not involved in trade or mining were usually involved in fishing. Very little of the islands were suitable farmland (with no major rivers to feed them) so aside for some minor grazing land, seafood became the primary staple food. In 714 they were attacked by an Arab fleet who successfully conquered the wealthiest island of Madtha. The other islands joined together to retake it over the next three years. When trying to decide who owned the reclaimed island, since its former rules had been killed, infighting broke out and continued off and on for generations. It resulted eventually in the first unified kingdom of the whole island chain in 802.
This new unified Surdanese Kingdom reemerged as an important trading port between India, the Arab world, and the East African Coast. They formed a particularly large and prosperous slave and spice trade and were famously good boat builders. Because of the constant contact with the Muslim world, more and more Muslims began to settle on the island chain. While still a minority, they made up a lot of the traders and were disproportionately wealthy. There were tensions, but the Hindu Majority still held most of the power.
During the Delhi Sultanate, war broke out with the Surdanese Kingdom leading to eventual conquest of the whole island chain by 1386. Muslim families largely supplanted or married into the old Hindu ruling class over the following generations. In 1451 as the Delhi Sultanate fell to incursions from another dynasty, the islands broke off to form the Surdanese Sultanate with its seat of power in Dakhari. They quickly worked to build a gunpowder navy and were able to resist conquest from both the Mughal and Safavid Empires. Muslims remained a numerical minority, but quickly grew to adopt many of the traditions of the island. Inter-faith marriage, especially among the ruling families was exceedingly common as a way to ease religious tension. One of the early rulers in particular, Shaha the Wise even went so far as to blend Hindu culture and festivals into official observance even by Muslims.
As Britain began to build it's power, both in India and Iran, Surda felt the pressure as well. They eventually relented and signed a treaty in 1861 to make itself a protectorate of Britain just as most of India had become. It remained part of the British Empire for almost exactly a century, gaining independence November 1, 1963. It became a constitutional Sultanate with an elected parliament. The prime minister runs the government while a restored Salton has limited powers but is the head of state.
Modern day
The country became noteworthy to global affairs after the fast rise in value for certain rare earth metals. The mines on the island produced copper and tin, but were always burdened with higher than usual impurities. Impurities that had no use throughout most of history but which became essential and lucrative minerals to the technological world. By 2020, their production was second only to China. As technology allowed them to mine deeper than they ever had, they also began to find large veins of platinum and other precious metals. It has brought in a fantastical level of money for an otherwise small country, concentrated in the hands largely of the rich, but the prosperity has not gone totally unnoticed by everyone else.
At the time the story takes place, the population has grown to 480,000. It makes it a very dense nation, ranking in the top 20 densest sovereign nations on earth. Most of the population has historically been concentrated on the main five islands that surround the Bay of Surda. The outer islands are now however a tremendous source of wealth, most of the (easily accessible) mineral deposits are found on those less populated and less developed islands. The GDP per capita is very high, $68,494 in modern dollars. However, there are a hand full of people who make so much from their mines and mineral rights that it greatly distorts the picture. A more "typical" income would be closer to ~$19,000.
Surdanese culture is largely a mix between Hindu and Muslim practices, but has many unique features. The tie to the water is unmistakable. Swimming is a near universal activity. Pools and water gardens have traditionally been the sign of decadence and luxury among the rich. The warm and consistent temperature also kept dress minimal, airy, and commonly topless. The history of inter-marriage between the two religions kept the people unusually tolerant of religious diversity. It also lead to a fusion of Indian and Muslim style in art, architecture and music like is common in much of Northern India. This slightly more liberal attitude kept the Muslim population from ever really radicalizing in any significant numbers.
One tradition imported from India is the Basivi. Basivis are woman who offer themselves in ritual servitude to the Gods. They would serve however the priests would need them to serve, which often included time serving in the courts and homes of nobles who are patrons of the temple. In return it's a way for these women to elevate their family's status, and to bring support to their family from the religious order they serve. Some offer themselves for life, which is a commitment that elevates not only the living family, but all future generations beyond them. Since the move towards employment contracts and the rise of unemployment, there has been a resurgence in the Basivi tradition. Contracts puts in writing what had been custom for a long time, the basic needs of a family of a Basivi would be met making it a very attractive offer for many.
Zainab comes from one of the older and wealthier families of the island. They came to power following the conquest by the Sultanate, and have been an important family since. The current head of the family (and therefore the bulk of its wealth) is Zainab's eldest uncle, Omid.
Surda is a small chain of volcanic islands at roughly 22°N, 63°E where the Indian and Arabian tectonic plates meet. It is 100 km long end to end.
History
It was first settled by Indian traders in the 500s BC. A strong navy and the wealth from being a trading hub kept them as many small but prosperous independent kingdoms throughout the classical age. They had tin and copper mines, but they had problems of impurities that made them not particularly profitable. And while it allowed them to cheaply make bronze, the bronze age had long passed before the mines were active. Those not involved in trade or mining were usually involved in fishing. Very little of the islands were suitable farmland (with no major rivers to feed them) so aside for some minor grazing land, seafood became the primary staple food. In 714 they were attacked by an Arab fleet who successfully conquered the wealthiest island of Madtha. The other islands joined together to retake it over the next three years. When trying to decide who owned the reclaimed island, since its former rules had been killed, infighting broke out and continued off and on for generations. It resulted eventually in the first unified kingdom of the whole island chain in 802.
This new unified Surdanese Kingdom reemerged as an important trading port between India, the Arab world, and the East African Coast. They formed a particularly large and prosperous slave and spice trade and were famously good boat builders. Because of the constant contact with the Muslim world, more and more Muslims began to settle on the island chain. While still a minority, they made up a lot of the traders and were disproportionately wealthy. There were tensions, but the Hindu Majority still held most of the power.
During the Delhi Sultanate, war broke out with the Surdanese Kingdom leading to eventual conquest of the whole island chain by 1386. Muslim families largely supplanted or married into the old Hindu ruling class over the following generations. In 1451 as the Delhi Sultanate fell to incursions from another dynasty, the islands broke off to form the Surdanese Sultanate with its seat of power in Dakhari. They quickly worked to build a gunpowder navy and were able to resist conquest from both the Mughal and Safavid Empires. Muslims remained a numerical minority, but quickly grew to adopt many of the traditions of the island. Inter-faith marriage, especially among the ruling families was exceedingly common as a way to ease religious tension. One of the early rulers in particular, Shaha the Wise even went so far as to blend Hindu culture and festivals into official observance even by Muslims.
As Britain began to build it's power, both in India and Iran, Surda felt the pressure as well. They eventually relented and signed a treaty in 1861 to make itself a protectorate of Britain just as most of India had become. It remained part of the British Empire for almost exactly a century, gaining independence November 1, 1963. It became a constitutional Sultanate with an elected parliament. The prime minister runs the government while a restored Salton has limited powers but is the head of state.
Modern day
The country became noteworthy to global affairs after the fast rise in value for certain rare earth metals. The mines on the island produced copper and tin, but were always burdened with higher than usual impurities. Impurities that had no use throughout most of history but which became essential and lucrative minerals to the technological world. By 2020, their production was second only to China. As technology allowed them to mine deeper than they ever had, they also began to find large veins of platinum and other precious metals. It has brought in a fantastical level of money for an otherwise small country, concentrated in the hands largely of the rich, but the prosperity has not gone totally unnoticed by everyone else.
At the time the story takes place, the population has grown to 480,000. It makes it a very dense nation, ranking in the top 20 densest sovereign nations on earth. Most of the population has historically been concentrated on the main five islands that surround the Bay of Surda. The outer islands are now however a tremendous source of wealth, most of the (easily accessible) mineral deposits are found on those less populated and less developed islands. The GDP per capita is very high, $68,494 in modern dollars. However, there are a hand full of people who make so much from their mines and mineral rights that it greatly distorts the picture. A more "typical" income would be closer to ~$19,000.
Surdanese culture is largely a mix between Hindu and Muslim practices, but has many unique features. The tie to the water is unmistakable. Swimming is a near universal activity. Pools and water gardens have traditionally been the sign of decadence and luxury among the rich. The warm and consistent temperature also kept dress minimal, airy, and commonly topless. The history of inter-marriage between the two religions kept the people unusually tolerant of religious diversity. It also lead to a fusion of Indian and Muslim style in art, architecture and music like is common in much of Northern India. This slightly more liberal attitude kept the Muslim population from ever really radicalizing in any significant numbers.
One tradition imported from India is the Basivi. Basivis are woman who offer themselves in ritual servitude to the Gods. They would serve however the priests would need them to serve, which often included time serving in the courts and homes of nobles who are patrons of the temple. In return it's a way for these women to elevate their family's status, and to bring support to their family from the religious order they serve. Some offer themselves for life, which is a commitment that elevates not only the living family, but all future generations beyond them. Since the move towards employment contracts and the rise of unemployment, there has been a resurgence in the Basivi tradition. Contracts puts in writing what had been custom for a long time, the basic needs of a family of a Basivi would be met making it a very attractive offer for many.
Zainab comes from one of the older and wealthier families of the island. They came to power following the conquest by the Sultanate, and have been an important family since. The current head of the family (and therefore the bulk of its wealth) is Zainab's eldest uncle, Omid.
Map of Surda
Here is a map for the fictional location of Surda:
I will update this map if more places become important, but for now this should be all the major islands and locations. Most of the population live on the five islands named here that surround the Bay of Surda. Zainab's family, the Tahrinis, live on Madtha. The family just above them, the Dalals, are the wealthiest family in the county who do become relevant to future stories.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Part 18 - Sophia and the Changing Venue
Part 18 - Sophia and the Changing Venue - PDF Version
For the full story in html click "read more"
Click Here to see all published stories
This is new and as of now, not posted anywhere else. I hope you all enjoy.
For the full story in html click "read more"
Click Here to see all published stories
This is new and as of now, not posted anywhere else. I hope you all enjoy.
Part 18 Summary
Part 18 takes place over a nearly two month period of time, mostly following Sophia starting from shortly after the Barbarian Horde. Major spoilers below.
Click Here to see all summaries
Click Here to see all summaries
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Lots of change
So as most of you can probably guess from the last episode, a lot of things are about to change. Lea's reaching the end of her contract. I still need to "go back" chronologically to catch up with some Sophia stuff that happened before then. However, at the end of the story a lot of things will be different. As such it's important I make sure things still work. I will be posting it soon, but the delay has been because I want to get ahead on future stories for a bit before releasing this one to make sure they work properly.
It also means a lot of things may seem up in the air, but sometimes that's just what change looks like even if it seems like a mystery at the time. I will also be broadening things as Andrea and Megan take a trip to Zainab's home country of Surda. I like to try as much as possible to not change my work (aside from the typos I always seem to miss no matter how much I proof read!) once it's posted. That way, once it's up that's what basically happens. So when I'm upsetting the balance of things like I am now, I really really want to make sure I'm upsetting it the right way before releasing the thing that starts it all.
So the long and the short of it is: it will be about a week or so (as a target at least) because I really want to get ahead on other stories before posting part 18 which will create a lot of ripples. I know you are all thankfully patient, but I just wanted to explain why there's been a delay with this part after earlier saying there shouldn't be long delays with these three parts.
It also means a lot of things may seem up in the air, but sometimes that's just what change looks like even if it seems like a mystery at the time. I will also be broadening things as Andrea and Megan take a trip to Zainab's home country of Surda. I like to try as much as possible to not change my work (aside from the typos I always seem to miss no matter how much I proof read!) once it's posted. That way, once it's up that's what basically happens. So when I'm upsetting the balance of things like I am now, I really really want to make sure I'm upsetting it the right way before releasing the thing that starts it all.
So the long and the short of it is: it will be about a week or so (as a target at least) because I really want to get ahead on other stories before posting part 18 which will create a lot of ripples. I know you are all thankfully patient, but I just wanted to explain why there's been a delay with this part after earlier saying there shouldn't be long delays with these three parts.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Part 17 - Lea and the Alien Experience
Part 17 - Lea and the Alien Experience - PDF Version
For the full story in html click "read more"
Click Here to see all published stories
This is new and as of now, not posted anywhere else. I hope you all enjoy.
For the full story in html click "read more"
Click Here to see all published stories
This is new and as of now, not posted anywhere else. I hope you all enjoy.
Part 17 Summary
Part 17 takes place over a nearly 2 month period following Lea as she goes to the end of her contract with the casino. Spoilers below.
Click Here to see all summaries
Click Here to see all summaries
Meet the Characters: Rora (Kiara McLeod)
Birthdate: April 4, 2010
Hair: Straight brunette hair, usually dyed one color or another
Eyes: Brown
Skin: Slightly tan
Height: 5’7” (170 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Measurements: 35B-26-34
Kiara McLeod is first introduced in part 17, originally under the name Rora. She is 25 years old and is paired with Lea for just over a month and a half. She is nearly identical in stature and facial structure, which is the reason the two were paired together. Kiara is bisexual, switch, and very sexual. She originally worked as an accountant, with a long string of sexual relationships as her primary off time activity. After a year on the job, she realized she might have more fun if sex were simply her job, and so she signed up with Olsen resorts in part because of their experimentation and their integration of NESICs. When she meets Lea, she is only a few months in to a one year contract.
She is mostly laid back, and is open to at least try most things both sexually and non-sexually. She is very keen in having other people enjoy themselves. She doesn't have strong preferences about what she would rather to do in order to make that happen, since she can generally enjoy herself no matter what as long as sex is involved and the other person likes it. However, she also is very competitive in games or anything that by rules have a clear "winner" and "loser."
Hair: Straight brunette hair, usually dyed one color or another
Eyes: Brown
Skin: Slightly tan
Height: 5’7” (170 cm)
Weight: 130 lbs (59 kg)
Measurements: 35B-26-34
Kiara McLeod is first introduced in part 17, originally under the name Rora. She is 25 years old and is paired with Lea for just over a month and a half. She is nearly identical in stature and facial structure, which is the reason the two were paired together. Kiara is bisexual, switch, and very sexual. She originally worked as an accountant, with a long string of sexual relationships as her primary off time activity. After a year on the job, she realized she might have more fun if sex were simply her job, and so she signed up with Olsen resorts in part because of their experimentation and their integration of NESICs. When she meets Lea, she is only a few months in to a one year contract.
She is mostly laid back, and is open to at least try most things both sexually and non-sexually. She is very keen in having other people enjoy themselves. She doesn't have strong preferences about what she would rather to do in order to make that happen, since she can generally enjoy herself no matter what as long as sex is involved and the other person likes it. However, she also is very competitive in games or anything that by rules have a clear "winner" and "loser."
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