by Gwendoline Forne Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:01 pmI'm very, very new. And I know it's gutsy of me to post my own roleplay without anyone here knowing me at all, and without posting before this, but the reason I joined this site was because of this setting.
Setting: Imagine that, at the age of six, you were taught how to read. This may not be strange to some of you- in fact, I was taught how to read at the age of six. But the purpose for this in the world of Carna is different. On Earth, children learn to read to better educate themselves, communicate, find information, and countless other reasons. Here, many but for one are similar, and it is a new concept to you and I.
Children on Carna are required to read by the age of six (note: This means read well- what you may consider an eighth grade level) in order to read their scripts. 'Scripts' is short for 'Life-scripts.'
Fate has a way with Carna. She toys with it. She plays it around on her string, and every year her workers publish the set of scripts for the children turning seven that year. They are sent to schools around the planet from an unknown location in the north, and passed out by countless teachers on the first day of second grade.
There are children with short scripts, and children with long scripts. They bring them home and parents know what it means when their script is less then two inches thick. Often, children scurry to bed early that night, reading and memorizing their script by heart.
On Carna, there are several cultural things that should be noted:
If you're carrying your script around after fourth grade, you're considered stupid.
You cannot defy the script. It's just not done- there's not a jail for it, there's not a criminal punishment at all. It's just something that you do. Not. Do.
Parents do not read their children's script, and friends do not read other's scripts.
Everything is in your script- not just words, but actions as well.
Each script is easily organized by date and year.
Scripts are generally a foot to 26" thick, but made of light material to make it easy for children to carry them around.
Keep in mind: your scripts tell you who to love, who to marry, who to be friends with, who not to sit with at lunch.
Also keep in mind: You cannot read a bad situation in your script and avoid it. It'll just happen.
Disasters, such as a death of a friend or natural complications will be recorded in the script.
Now, the problem.
There are a group of us that have read far enough into our scripts to know that we are all recorded as dying early deaths. Suicide, murder, unnatural ends. The time varies of course, but each one of us is dreading it. And then someone comes up with a bright idea:
Defy the script.
The plan forms. Defy the script but be subtle about it. Little things at first: changing lines, slightly. Talking to people you aren't scripted to talk to, being somewhere you're not quite supposed to be.
No one will question you if you act confidently.
And when the time is right, run away.
Carna is an urban planet: Colonized almost completely, it's mostly city. However, the town we live in happens to be surrounded by forest that's about 50 miles deep. The plan is to run there, and live with each other, avoiding the deaths that had been set for us.
But will it all work out?
Roles:
General ones, of course. I'd like someone to step up and be mr. Bright Idea. I'd like there to be doubtful people, hopeful people, traitorous people.
What do you guys think?
NOTES THAT ARE IMPORTANT:
You do not know about Earth. As far as you are concerned Carna is the only habitable planet on Earth.
Let it all unfold slowly, don't rush it.
No sex. I don't know if I have to put that warning here but I will anyway.
Setting: Imagine that, at the age of six, you were taught how to read. This may not be strange to some of you- in fact, I was taught how to read at the age of six. But the purpose for this in the world of Carna is different. On Earth, children learn to read to better educate themselves, communicate, find information, and countless other reasons. Here, many but for one are similar, and it is a new concept to you and I.
Children on Carna are required to read by the age of six (note: This means read well- what you may consider an eighth grade level) in order to read their scripts. 'Scripts' is short for 'Life-scripts.'
Fate has a way with Carna. She toys with it. She plays it around on her string, and every year her workers publish the set of scripts for the children turning seven that year. They are sent to schools around the planet from an unknown location in the north, and passed out by countless teachers on the first day of second grade.
There are children with short scripts, and children with long scripts. They bring them home and parents know what it means when their script is less then two inches thick. Often, children scurry to bed early that night, reading and memorizing their script by heart.
On Carna, there are several cultural things that should be noted:
If you're carrying your script around after fourth grade, you're considered stupid.
You cannot defy the script. It's just not done- there's not a jail for it, there's not a criminal punishment at all. It's just something that you do. Not. Do.
Parents do not read their children's script, and friends do not read other's scripts.
Everything is in your script- not just words, but actions as well.
Each script is easily organized by date and year.
Scripts are generally a foot to 26" thick, but made of light material to make it easy for children to carry them around.
Keep in mind: your scripts tell you who to love, who to marry, who to be friends with, who not to sit with at lunch.
Also keep in mind: You cannot read a bad situation in your script and avoid it. It'll just happen.
Disasters, such as a death of a friend or natural complications will be recorded in the script.
Now, the problem.
There are a group of us that have read far enough into our scripts to know that we are all recorded as dying early deaths. Suicide, murder, unnatural ends. The time varies of course, but each one of us is dreading it. And then someone comes up with a bright idea:
Defy the script.
The plan forms. Defy the script but be subtle about it. Little things at first: changing lines, slightly. Talking to people you aren't scripted to talk to, being somewhere you're not quite supposed to be.
No one will question you if you act confidently.
And when the time is right, run away.
Carna is an urban planet: Colonized almost completely, it's mostly city. However, the town we live in happens to be surrounded by forest that's about 50 miles deep. The plan is to run there, and live with each other, avoiding the deaths that had been set for us.
But will it all work out?
Roles:
General ones, of course. I'd like someone to step up and be mr. Bright Idea. I'd like there to be doubtful people, hopeful people, traitorous people.
What do you guys think?
NOTES THAT ARE IMPORTANT:
You do not know about Earth. As far as you are concerned Carna is the only habitable planet on Earth.
Let it all unfold slowly, don't rush it.
No sex. I don't know if I have to put that warning here but I will anyway.
and this seemed the best way.
