The use of Glyphs in Ebon Architecture and resulting cultural observations.

From a throw away line in Mort....
[Morton has sinced claimed that no lines in Mort where throw away- so I appologies for any offence caused by this line :)]

"4-square has been designed to make Ebon races feel at home, and is decorated with many glyphs and runes ....... these glyphs cannot be made active however the management believe that the mere sight of them can make ebon customers more comfortable..... it unsettles the non ebon races..."

As John (mine) pointed out this is quietly telling about ebon culture and architecture / Decor. The implication is this: Ebon culture routinely use psychoactive environments to promote the feelings they wish to be associated with a location. In the above example the glyph would cause hungriness and well being. Reading between the lines this is the normal decor found in ebon eateries.

So lets explore this idea and its implications shall we.... Essentially the ebons appear to build into the fabric of their building glyphs that promote the correct use of that area. This is subtle quite an conformist society. It would be very hard for an individual to deviate form the accepted norm in these surroundings. So much so that even when there is no power in the glyphs, the pure sight of them exerts and effect on the populous. (even the 'rebellious' brain wasters choose to eat in 4 square, despite the lack of power in the glyphs)

On entering an ebon office building, we would find glyphs to promote concentration, clarity of thought, calm and efficiency. In this environment the ebon work force would operate at peek efficiency. The toilets, corridors and similar 'non productive' areas may include glyphs to discourage loitering.

Meanwhile in the home one may find different glyphs in the different areas, reflecting the way those rooms are use: This has interesting parallels with the increasingly popular Feng shui. Glyphs promoting sensations of well being and harmony in the lounges, restfulness in the bedrooms (or may be eroticism for that newly married couple), creativity and conscientiousness in the kitchen (to perform than mastery of Corden Bleu with out cutting your fingers on the mandolin), analytical thought and studiousness in the study, may be with a touch of creativeness to promote the amateur author or artist.

The piece of 4-square implies the glyphs are widespread and part of the decor rather than simply the odd picture on the wall. We may therefore expect to find 'glyph wallpaper" with the complex images interwoven into the patterns. Fabrics used on the furnishing may also be common. However one can also imaging temporary glyph carrying additions and trinkets to allow the ebon to subtly alter the emphasis of the room.
For example using a particular throw with "restfulness" on the favoured chair after a hard day at work, or a 'those special sheets' for a romantic evening with a loved one. Double sided screen for use in the smaller apartments to split them into a work orientated area and a rest or sleeping area.
Taking this concept further one may find glyphs for poise and grace woven into the design of a cocktail dress, business cards which carry a glyph promoting trust and professionalism, video phones with a glyph background to emphasis your point.
Similar the way that certain chinese sketch out the ideogram as they talk to emphasis a point; it could be that Ebons gesture glyphs during conversations (The body language John D referred to in his thresher piece) Though in most cases the the glyphs would not be powered we know from the piece in Mort that they still have an psychological effect on the ebon due to long term subconscious associations.

Of course this leads to the question of how such architectural effects are normally powered. It could be that the power the leached of the ebb users in the vicinity If this is the case, the more a room is used, the more potent the glyphs would become.
Alternative they could be deliberately charged by some trusted or respected group of individuals - Possible in some semi-religions method. Such people would have some influence over the culture as if they refused to charge up these glyphs it would result in the area falling into disuse.
Or it may be considered every ebons duty to charge these glyphs after they have used a room as a kind of flux payment for its properties.

As most other races find these glyphs uncomfortable they would explain some of the attitudes towards ebons. It is safe to assume that ebons prefer to do business in their own environment, but in addition to the distrust of what the ebons may be doing to you using their 'weird powers' there is the additional effects of the glyphs. The resulting racial tension is not something that SLA is going to want to develope unless they can control it in some way.

Going the other way, how does a lack of such environment effect the ebon. It could be that given a room without such cues the ebon may not be able to decided what a place should be used for. A hotel bed room may prove to be a hard place for ebons to sleep as it would lack the glyph cues they are used to. An ebon shown into a human office may find it hard to concentrate on their work.

It could be that the death-suit and its flux formulating powers can go some way to counter act this, which would make the ebon more and more dependant on it in and increasingly none glyph world (made necessary by the increasing contact with the non ebb-using races.)
This provides an additional pressure on the race to turn towards this technology, and hence plays into the hands of SLA:
Just as clumsy glyph cards have been surpassed by the Death suit.
Just as weapons with glyphs for destruction have been replaces by the flintlock and witchblade.
Just as vehicles with glyphs for speed have been superseded by the Flux bike.
So science friction is slowly eroding the old Glyph cultural cues by encouraging the next generation of ebons to turn to the products of Dark Lament. And for get the culture they grew up with.
Of course its going to take a little while so…

one step at a time eh?

Memo: Not for public release.
From: Mr ######
To ######## #####

The project is progressing well. Trial groups results have been promising.

It is expected that the Mort Ebon sub-race will be weaned off the glyph culture with in two generations at the most. There is little resistance to the new products and playing down the visibility of the glyphs will allow the effects to be lessened and eventually removed, leaving the eb user dependant on Dark lament technology.

There has been some objection from some quarters of Static. They view this as a "dumbing" down of their cultural heritage. Fortunately the test groups have treated this objection with the disdain I predicted. However should these groups gain attention on Mort it may be necessary to take action to keep them in order.

Dark lament will release the trial product in the next few days. In enclose the initial press release for your approval. As always I will keep you informed.

---

New products for the home from Dark lament..

In alliance with Gilly Dreamer, New Paris Fashion guru extrodinare and drawing on ebon glyphs but updating them for the modern world. Dark Lament presents a new "must have" range for the Eb users of Mort.

The DL Crib.

Incorporating all the glyphs usually found on a safe resting place for the new born but designed for the dangerous world you child has to live in. This crib cum carrycot provides your new born with all the protection you have come to expect from your own death suit. The crib has the added advantage of working in tandem with the Glyphs to make the place a warm and comforting environment for your most precious possession. In addition extra glyphs on the out side of the crib become more vibrant to give you that little extra hint of what junior means by his cries.
250c and up.

The DL workstation.

Designed for the student or secretary surviving on a smaller budget or the smaller apartment. As with any work station there is space for phone, fax, oyster and stage for all the related media your work may require. However where the dark lament work station wins over all competition is in the environment it creates for the eb user. The work station doors open up to reveal glyphs to promote the prefect environment for concentrated study and efficient work. Angling the doors help to surround the work area (desk, oyster and seat) and immerse the user in this positive aura. And at the end of the day, closing the doors reveal the glyphs for relaxation and entertainment, allowing you to put the work away and enjoy the fruits of your hard work.
Choice of colours available. 350C

The DL home furnishing range.

Why limit your choices? Gilly Dreamer's team has produced and amazing range of Cushions, throws, bed spreads, curtains and wall paper designed to surround you in a luxury whilst helping you control your environment. Ever up to date Gilly has interwoven the glyphs into the design, this has reduced the unsettling effect they have upon the non eb user and will insure you gain the benefits whilst not upsetting your comrades. Prices start from 5c so everyone can afford a little extravagance in their lives..

Greetings cards that make a real difference.

"Get well soon" cards incorporating glyphs to promote healing and recovery.
"Congratulation on your wedding" which when arranged around the new couples bed room are guaranteed to put them in the mood for celebration.
"Good luck in your exams" that help to focus the recipients mind and get it ready for the trial ahead.
The range is growing daily. 2C

Private communication via SLA-NET
Between Riesa Class (Human Mechanic SCL 8a) [sender]
and Flasque (Ebon media SCL 8c) [intended recipient]
Intercept date 27/6/900 9:31am

RE: Glyphs, death-suits and the origin of brain wasters.

You wanted to know about that 'nutty' theory I expressed last night when I was pissed. Ok. This probably have holes you can drive a battle taxi through. And its only in its infancy, I am not so sure on a few minor points ...... But here goes.

The theory is this...
Before intruder found the Ebon and taught them Glyphs there were brain wasters as well. But we have no records really of that time so it has been forgotten.

Glyphs work by setting up resonance's in the ebon brain, the patterns complement certain neural path ways. (similar to the 7 hertz buzz causing epileptic fits in humans)
This is how they work. By looking at the glyph card it allows the correct patterns to develop and this the effect to happen.

Brain waster brains are different, the resonance's they set up are subtly wrong...
This is what causes brain wasters to be irritable bastards.

As the ebon race embraces the teachings of Intruder and started using the glyphs the effects of them caused any Brain waster foetus to be aborted as exposure to the glyphs disrupted the delicate early brains. However as this was the loss of a troublesome element it was seen as a sign of the benefits of the control Intruder was teaching them.

Time passes.

The death suit comes into use. Those with access to Dark lament start using the glyphs less.
(We known form a nice bit of observational work that mothers who conceive at times of stress are more likely to have girls.. - May seem irrelevant now but hold that thought)

The first brain waster (in modern times) is born to a woman who's level of stress can only be described as Extreme.. She has just lost both her lovers, AND the one who came back isn't exactly happy to see her.
The theory is this.
The extreme emotional state disrupts the brain patterns of the mother and has a knock on effect on the child.
Perversely this disruption counter acts the effects of the glyphs.
Thus stressed mothers are more likely to have Brain waster children. Also as they are using fewer glyphs, Mothers using death suits are more likely to have brain waster children. (The death suit is individual to the mother and thus is not confining the brain patterns to a specific shape like the glyphs cards do.)

Mothers living on Mort - A high stressed environment if ever there was one, are more likely to be using Death suits and given the 'uncomfortable effect glyphs have on non-eb-users' (hey you've been in 4 square in the pit) are in a low glyph environment (compared to static say)
Thus more brain wasters on Mort.

Trouble is there is no way any one is going to give me permission to do the experimentation to prove the theory, so its never going to be anything more than a drunken theory :(

Well what do you think?

Intercept forwarded to Dark lament (Dept of the Ebon guard) for possible further action.

Tim enlightened us with the following CANNON ruling on glyph cards may 01

CANON: Each rank of each ability (and a number of other miscellaneous powers not encoded into a DeathSuit's glyph store) is a seperate Glyph Card. You do not need to own or even to have ever seen earlier rank cards to use a later rank Glyph (ie your feral ebon example is correct). You have to study a Glyph Card each time you want to use it -- the Ebon starts reading (1 phase), then makes Conc rolls at -X (where X is the Glyph Card's power's rank) until she passes the roll, at which point she can formulate. That requires a Formulae roll, also at -X; success triggers the card, and failure causes a blowback effect (D10 + X damage to the Ebon's head which ignores armour & combat drug damage reduction, Ebon knocked out by blinding agony, some form of wild Ebb manifests at GM's discretion and should hamper Ebon or her friends, perhaps greatly).
[Disclaimer: Jared, that is right, isn't it?]

GMs wanting hoopy Ferals should feel free to assume that NPC Feral Ebons can have huge Formulae & Conc without being noticed by Necanthropes. PCs, obviously, cannot.

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