Zhodani Aethetics
- Thread starter ottarrus
- Start date
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
A psionic with Shields blocks Read Surface Thoughts and Probe attempts. A person's emotional state can easily be read unless someone is exercising extraordinary control over them. For most people, this requires conscious thought to do. A highly disciplined person 'defaults' to a poker face, but the emotions are still there. When the Tavrchedle' encounters someone with Shields, they have to talk it out with them instead of Read Surface Thoughts. They can request that the Intendant or Noble drop their Shields, and this is most often automatically given, but they don't instantly attempt to Probe every person who is angry about something.
Here's how it would play out on a Zhodani world:
A Tavrchedle' officer is patrolling and senses intense negative emotions. She investigates and find that they are emanating from a Noble. The officer is an Intendant herself, but she's within her authority to inquire whether the noble is alright. The noble, who is going through a romantic breakup, does not perceive the Tavrchedle' officer as an intruder or a threat. On the contrary, the Tavrchedle' is seen as helpful presence, like a paramedic or a police officer at a traffic accident. She cannot automatically Read Surface Thoughts on the Noble, he has shields. What's more she doesn't have the authority to do so. The Noble has the right to mental privacy. But she gently asks what's going on and the Noble engages with her as a counseling patient. The Noble hasn't done anything that is illegal, he's just emotionally troubled, so the Tavrchedle' files an incident contact report and that's the end of the matter. There is no embarrassment involved, any more than if paramedic administered oxygen to you if you were hyperventilating.
The Tavrchedle' has two 'divisions', so to speak: the vast majority of officers are Civilians, charged with preventing illegal activity by engaging with the public about their negative emotions [anger, frustration, jealousy, desperation, vengefulness]. The second division is the Military Tavrchedle', which oversees military units and ship crews and also has a military intelligence function when deployed into combat zones or occupied areas. And these latter are the 'thought police' that are so often vilified in Imperial propaganda... the stereotype is a turbaned SolSec monitor, part KGB and part Gestapo, that mind-rips anyone at the drop of a hat.
Here's how it would play out on a Zhodani world:
A Tavrchedle' officer is patrolling and senses intense negative emotions. She investigates and find that they are emanating from a Noble. The officer is an Intendant herself, but she's within her authority to inquire whether the noble is alright. The noble, who is going through a romantic breakup, does not perceive the Tavrchedle' officer as an intruder or a threat. On the contrary, the Tavrchedle' is seen as helpful presence, like a paramedic or a police officer at a traffic accident. She cannot automatically Read Surface Thoughts on the Noble, he has shields. What's more she doesn't have the authority to do so. The Noble has the right to mental privacy. But she gently asks what's going on and the Noble engages with her as a counseling patient. The Noble hasn't done anything that is illegal, he's just emotionally troubled, so the Tavrchedle' files an incident contact report and that's the end of the matter. There is no embarrassment involved, any more than if paramedic administered oxygen to you if you were hyperventilating.
The Tavrchedle' has two 'divisions', so to speak: the vast majority of officers are Civilians, charged with preventing illegal activity by engaging with the public about their negative emotions [anger, frustration, jealousy, desperation, vengefulness]. The second division is the Military Tavrchedle', which oversees military units and ship crews and also has a military intelligence function when deployed into combat zones or occupied areas. And these latter are the 'thought police' that are so often vilified in Imperial propaganda... the stereotype is a turbaned SolSec monitor, part KGB and part Gestapo, that mind-rips anyone at the drop of a hat.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
paltrysum
Emperor Mongoose
There are no indications that “negative thoughts” can be detected in a fellow psionic. You’re blocked from detecting their thoughts, so why would you be able to detect their emotions? Psionic nobles and intendants are beyond reproach unless they voluntarily lower their shields and allow a probe. However, you could argue that occasional probes are allowed as as matter of course.
With psionics mechanics as written, it’s unrealistic to think that the Tavrchedl could scan everyone all the time, anyway. Their jobs are harder than that. They also need to be experts at reading non-verbal communication, a skill from the CT Zhodani book.
With psionics mechanics as written, it’s unrealistic to think that the Tavrchedl could scan everyone all the time, anyway. Their jobs are harder than that. They also need to be experts at reading non-verbal communication, a skill from the CT Zhodani book.
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
Condottiere
Emperor Mongoose
You'll NEVER Wear A Mood Ring Again
Today we are travelling back in time to talk about the history of mood rings...and their darker sides.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSxnE4VvoM
GypsyComet
Emperor Mongoose
The FASA material on Zhodani ships included some clues, such as not having "secure" divisions between crew and officers like locked hatches. They may still do such for vacuum safety engineering reasons, but not for social reasons.
Sigtrygg
Emperor Mongoose
What happens to an intendent or noble who refuses to be examined by the social workers?
Refusal means something to hide...
Ok they may want a social worker of equal social status to conduct the examination - there may be security implications after all, but obstinate refusal will likely have consequences...
Refusal means something to hide...
Ok they may want a social worker of equal social status to conduct the examination - there may be security implications after all, but obstinate refusal will likely have consequences...
ottarrus
Emperor Mongoose
In Zho society, only Nobles have the right to complete mental privacy. Noble children are closely monitored at home before they develop Shields to ensure that any anti-social or psychiatric issues are dealt with BEFORE their psionic training begins. However, it should be noted that Nobles have been conditioned just like the rest of society to regard the Tavrchedle' as a friendly, helpful social safety net. Also, Nobles are required to submit to examination whenever ordered to do so by a superior... a supervisor, officer, even family head, etc.
The presence of Telepaths as social workers has made Zhodani society far, FAR more fundamentally honest than any other Human culture in history. The Zhodani culture has fewer secrets and therefore fewer causes for negative, socially impairing emotions like shame, avarice, jealousy, sexual desire, etc. What's more, Zhodani children are trained from a young age to be honest with themselves and therefore honest with those they encounter. And for those with more severe issues, there is always reeducation.
I think a mix of Indian and Arabic stylistic cues is heavily implied. However I have no seen any significant examples of anything except clothes and uniforms. Probably make a hell of a product if you develop it.
