alex_greene
Guest
The Zhodani have been conditioning their people for aeons.
Nobles and Intendants of the Tvarchedle' can freely enter and leave buildings painted red, but Proles cannot even see them. The Agency once experimented with extending the same compulsion to red-painted ground vehicles exclusive to the Tvarchedle', but casualties skyrocketed when non-agents found themselves unaware that the vehicles even existed in their minds, so they kept on crossing what they thought were empty streets ...
And then there is Shafernaker, a drink the Zhodani never seem to be able to refuse.
Pronounced Zhiafrnatl, it is an infusion of leaves from a plant found deep in the Consulate. Both stimulating like coffee yet calming like tea, Zhiafrnatl works wonders for Psionic Strength recovery after hard psychic exertion.
Everything about Zhiafrnatl is calming and soothing. Trid audiences who see people sharing Zhiafrnatl during broadcasts feel a strong sense of calm pervading them. Even just the picture of a green ceramic mug of steaming Zhiafrnatl on the trid is enough to calm arguments and soothe ruffled feathers. Diplomats and Tvarchedle' interrogators alike begin their interrogations with a nice, hot cup of Zhiafrnatl served in a green mug. It is always a green mug. Never blue, white, black, yellow or red; never patterned or festooned with comic book pictures.
Always a plain green mug.
The association of a plain green mug with feelings of calm is one of the Tvarchedle's greatest, and most subtle, triumphs. A century ago, they began using green mugs in association with subliminal music, use of Suggestion and Telempathy to project feelings of calm. A generation of Zhodani, from the lowest Prole to the Consuls themselves, received an anchoring trigger implanted deep within their unconscious minds, associating feelings of profound calm, peace and - most of all - deep seated trust in the person handing them the drink. Along with the trigger was a compulsion to begin using green mugs to symbolise calm, peace and trust, whoever was offering Zhiafrnatl - Tvarchedle' or not.
And that generation unconsciously devoted energies to training the next generation to trusting people who hand them Zhiafrnatl in a green mug, and that generation taught the next, and the next, and the next. After the first two generations, the Tvarchedle' no longer needed to reinforce the meme with psionics and subliminals - the green mugs themselves seemed to radiate an almost holy nimbus of calm all on their own.
To this day, Zhodani citizens cannot sit and watch trid for half a Zhodani hour without seeing someone holding, or drinking from, a green mug. Zhodani newscasters appear on screen holding green mugs as they deliver the most appalling news, and it is a custom to salute the general public by raising one's green mug at the end of each news broadcast and taking a sip.
It is also a custom for every loyal Zhodani citizen watching the news to stand up, at the same time, and do the same with their own green mugs, saluting the distant newscaster on the screen with a mouthful of Zhiafrnatl.
Zhiafrnatl served in a green mug. All is well, Citizens. Go about your business, and let the Path of Morality be your guide.
This informational article has been brought to you today by the Tvarchedle' Department of Inspirational Media.
Be well.
Nobles and Intendants of the Tvarchedle' can freely enter and leave buildings painted red, but Proles cannot even see them. The Agency once experimented with extending the same compulsion to red-painted ground vehicles exclusive to the Tvarchedle', but casualties skyrocketed when non-agents found themselves unaware that the vehicles even existed in their minds, so they kept on crossing what they thought were empty streets ...
And then there is Shafernaker, a drink the Zhodani never seem to be able to refuse.
Pronounced Zhiafrnatl, it is an infusion of leaves from a plant found deep in the Consulate. Both stimulating like coffee yet calming like tea, Zhiafrnatl works wonders for Psionic Strength recovery after hard psychic exertion.
Everything about Zhiafrnatl is calming and soothing. Trid audiences who see people sharing Zhiafrnatl during broadcasts feel a strong sense of calm pervading them. Even just the picture of a green ceramic mug of steaming Zhiafrnatl on the trid is enough to calm arguments and soothe ruffled feathers. Diplomats and Tvarchedle' interrogators alike begin their interrogations with a nice, hot cup of Zhiafrnatl served in a green mug. It is always a green mug. Never blue, white, black, yellow or red; never patterned or festooned with comic book pictures.
Always a plain green mug.
The association of a plain green mug with feelings of calm is one of the Tvarchedle's greatest, and most subtle, triumphs. A century ago, they began using green mugs in association with subliminal music, use of Suggestion and Telempathy to project feelings of calm. A generation of Zhodani, from the lowest Prole to the Consuls themselves, received an anchoring trigger implanted deep within their unconscious minds, associating feelings of profound calm, peace and - most of all - deep seated trust in the person handing them the drink. Along with the trigger was a compulsion to begin using green mugs to symbolise calm, peace and trust, whoever was offering Zhiafrnatl - Tvarchedle' or not.
And that generation unconsciously devoted energies to training the next generation to trusting people who hand them Zhiafrnatl in a green mug, and that generation taught the next, and the next, and the next. After the first two generations, the Tvarchedle' no longer needed to reinforce the meme with psionics and subliminals - the green mugs themselves seemed to radiate an almost holy nimbus of calm all on their own.
To this day, Zhodani citizens cannot sit and watch trid for half a Zhodani hour without seeing someone holding, or drinking from, a green mug. Zhodani newscasters appear on screen holding green mugs as they deliver the most appalling news, and it is a custom to salute the general public by raising one's green mug at the end of each news broadcast and taking a sip.
It is also a custom for every loyal Zhodani citizen watching the news to stand up, at the same time, and do the same with their own green mugs, saluting the distant newscaster on the screen with a mouthful of Zhiafrnatl.
Zhiafrnatl served in a green mug. All is well, Citizens. Go about your business, and let the Path of Morality be your guide.
This informational article has been brought to you today by the Tvarchedle' Department of Inspirational Media.
Be well.
