soulping | rat-dogs

rat-dogs

[ As you all gather into the room, a blinding light floods the room. You're body feels like it's racing against the wind although you stand still. It stops abruptly and the light begins to fade around you.

The imagery is a starling contrast to the city in the sky. While the sky looks clear and beautiful even from here it's waves of water that crashes up between the wooden planks your on. Closer inspection will show you're on a moving island made of salvageable equipment. There's places connected by boats and wooden planks. While towards the edges they've built on with a maze of limber and cottages to make the island even larger.

The whole thing moves swiftly through the sea.

There doesn't seem to be anyone moving around, but once more you see gliders waiting for you if you really wanted... ]

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[There's only enough of a pause to get your bearings before a fog inches its way across the bridge you stand on. A cold rolls in with it that might make one grateful they're in winter wear. The mood goes from tranquil and free to something somber quickly.

Before the group appears a girl. She's dressed in blues and smiles lightly. Instinctively, you know she's about eleven even though she seems somewhat younger. Her hands remain in her pockets as she kicks at the bridge with one foot. She doesn't offer any words at all, instead a familiar voice pops up less fearful than ever:]

One day a long time ago there was a little girl. Her birthday had just passed and a very important time was coming around. She was both excited and scared. She'd heard the stories, every kid had. Most remained in this very town, but others were shipped off. Why? She didn't even know. She wanted to believe it was her friends making fun of her. They did that a lot. But as the days after her birthday crawled past she began to wonder more-and-more about their situation.

The more she thought about it the more scared she became.

The girl was usually not confrontational, but what started as a day turned into weeks. She kept asking questions and trying to get the whys from older members of the community.They all shook their heads and said nothing at all. No one would answer anything which made everything more suspicious. If she could just get away... maybe, maybe someone on one of the other islands could give her answers.

The same day she was working up the courage to sneak away the bells rang. Her and her parents were seated for breakfast at their small table. Her parents looked proud, but she couldn't shake the apprehensive feelings. When her parents noticed they asked her if something was wrong-- She just smiled and headed off to school.

Any idea of running away was lost in that moment. In the evening the ceremony would start. Her and many other children would face the city leaders. But as for now her feet follow in well-worn steps to the tiny school house just off the main part of the island. The whole day a single phrase catches her mind: What should she do?

[As the story proceeds the young girl acts out each of the emotions. When the part finally finishes she gives the group a smile and runs off into the school building. From here you must decide what you want to do.]

wE shOUld fOllOW hER aND fINd oUT whAT's gOINg oN, rIGHt?

We should definitely follow and see what's going on.

[Sometimes his curiosity got the better of him.]

anYthINg yOU wAnnA lOOk aT fIRsT?

Maybe we should check around the school first then head inside.

lEt's gO, thEN.

Follow after the girl to the school, but check around outside before heading in!

After you.

What is freedom?

[At the end of day bells ring once more. They're louder now and much more persistent. One hour they strike, one hour until the big event. As the girls runs down the bridges you can see the way she skips and hops before running into her home. You're not allowed to follow, but a little later she returns recently washed and newly clothed. She's busy tugging on shoes before she flies off on her way again.

Once more, you feel an urge to follow and are brought to the middle of the city. It's a platform raised far above the rest of the areas with bridges in ten different directions. The surface is large enough to hold a few hundred people, almost enough for the people that lived there. The watchers remain to the right side, while the city officials stand towards the left in front of a large fire.

Behind them stand seven kids who had been summoned as well. The girl fidgets slightly before she runs off to join them. As the girl files into the line, Rowena's voice cuts in once more]

"Good evening, friends," the elder said raising a hand with a hard-pressed smile, "as you are all are most certainly away, this is our coming of age ceremony! This is our quarterly even where we celebrate our youngsters and allow them a place in our community. We shall begin after the rites are read and offerings burnt."

The girl's too busy fidgeting with her fingers to catch the words the man offered. Only one word sticks to her and it was his choice of saying allow. It muddled her mind at the thought. Would they not be allowed to stay in their own home? Why would that ever be possible? She hoped she was just overthinking things.

No longer allowing herself to worry about such things, the girl straightened her head and allowed her eyes to fall over the rest of the community. Her parents stood towards the front and she ensured a feeble smile got sent their direction. Then she turned her eyes further, where the recently ceremonied were gathered.

That's when she noticed that one boy from the last ceremony was gone. He was a boy who used to attend classes with her in the school. How was it possible she suddenly realized he was gone after all of these months? She tried to shake it off as the men towards to the kids gathered there. She steps closer to a friend, tugging on her sleeve for support.

The men began their speeches calling the kids up one-by-one. They discussed their exploits and the good they did in their youth. Then at the very end always announced them as "A Good Water". This pattern continued for several kids before she's summoned to the front of the group.

The man closest to her smiles placatingly and offers her a hand. Suddenly, she's too scared to move. "This young girl," the eldest man advises, "we have watched for a long time." Silence follows and the girl moves anxiously in her spot.

"It would not be wrong to call her the best swimmer of her generation. We cannot forget her feat of reacting quickly when one of the nursery children fell overboard. She's bright and cheerful and we've always heard the best out of anyone she approaches," he smiles willfully at the girl, "and yet we are aware of her affinity to the air. It was a long time before she can swim, in spite of her skill. And instead of attending those lessons... she was playing with birds. She spends far more time being free-spirited and energetic than any I have seen in recent years."

She continues to squirm.

"These are all wonderful traits," he sooths, "she will do well."

The phrase isn't given to her and so she stiffens. Perhaps the man had just forgot? It wasn't impossible! But as she returned to her spot she glances up to her parents who were anxious and frightened faces. She quickly ducks her head away and curls her fingers into her skirts. The man continues on and the last one, the boy after her, is also told he would be a good water. Her heart sinks.

As the ceremony ends and the groups break up, each of the children are greeted by their parents. Even the girl's parents come up trying to hide their somber expressions with a tight smile. They tell her they're proud of her and they were going to take her to a special dinner for being brave...

They leave without speaking, the girl's hands tightened into balls against her sides. Not for the first time she considers running away.

You explore your surroundings. The outside seems to be normal from the outside. Paint on the walls of handprints and toys everywhere you can walk. The inside of the room bears a proper classroom: Desks, bags, posters. The most eye-catching thing is a community board the kids have been putting things on. A quarter of the posters read something about "coming of age ceremonies". And discuss if children disappearing really does happen. Most treat it like some dumb ghost story but you get some information: It always happens when a batch has turned eleven. They discuss what good they did and the kid goes on. Or do they?

At the end you receive a question. You may answer or continue to the next part.

[ considering... ]

thIs iS pRObAblY iMpORtANt.

[That is more than important, as far as he's concerned.]

Freedom is definitely important. It's the base of everyone's free will to allow them to do whatever they want. Whenever they want. Without it, we'd be screwed and probably stuck under someone's rule.

mEAnT aNswERINg tHE quEStIOn.

wE'Re dOINg thAT stUff hERE aNYwAY.

I know. But that's also the answer to freedom isn't it? Something that's the base of everyone's free will. Something that allows them to choose and do whatever they want whenever they want.

i'd tAKe nOt bEINg sUbjECtED tO aNoTHeR's wIll, mYsELf.

Then that's the answer then. Not being subjected to another's will and being able to do as we wish when we want to. Being able to choose.

sOUNds gOOd.

i dON't lIKe thIs.

Neither do I. I don't like the looks on her parents' faces. And I don't like the way the man was talking.

[In fact, he doesn't like the fear that seems to be going around.]

We should help her. I don't know how but we should definitely help her.

[He doesn't want to see anyone else disappear.]

tAKe hEr ANd thAT bOY aWAY? fIGHt thESE gUYs?

sHE wANtS tO stAY bUT wE'd hAVe tO cONvINce thEM oTHErwISe.

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rat-dogs

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ROUND 2

DISCUSSION

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