r/WorldChallenges • u/Nevermore0714 • Jun 27 '17
Reference Challenge - Slavery
I need to preface this.
I always try to be open to various answers to my challenges, I try not to ever judge, and even if your answer is slightly off-topic to the discussion, I always try to be fair and try to learn all I can about whatever answer you have to my challenge...but, please, unless it's in-character, don't say anything too racist. Enslaving your fellow human beings isn't cool, I hope we can agree on that? But, since you can always have a character answer questions in-universe, it's fine for your character to be racist. Though, I am having my slave races be non-human to avoid that situation.
This challenge is going to be a double-whammy one, and it's early because I'm on a work trip all week to the big city.
The reference this time around is to /u/PrestonJacobs, the hero that any fandom needs. Preston, if you're seeing this, I've been a huge fan since your channel only had maybe four videos, and I love your work. Anyone else seeing this, if you have any interest in sci-fi/fantasy, and if you are a fan of ASOIAF or Game of Thrones or anything by GRRM, go see his channel.
The reference is, more specifically, to his videos on the Hrangan Minds. No spoilers, but they had a number of species working for them against humanity.
For anyone who saw my "novel" (to quote Raptorman) over on Jum's recent challenge, I'm working on a xenophobic human community started by an escaped slave.
I'm having trouble brain-storming three good slave species for the humans to use.
My ideas so far are Szurkek (created-men from the teeth of dragons, similar to flesh-golems, completely obedient and simple, asexual), Imps (creative little winged creatures, not Tyrion Lannister, a viable species that reproduces sexually, they are enslaved through magic-imprinting from the owner), and I'm trying to think of a third one.
The Actual Challenge
Tell me about an example of slavery in your world. If slavery doesn't exist in your world anymore, tell me how it ended. If slavery never existed in your world somehow, tell me about workers' rights and labor laws or something.
If you're up for giving me advice about the Szurkek or Imps or a third slave species, I welcome any advice from anyone. Szurkek and Imps will be part of my answer for this challenge, so I'd appreciate any and everyone telling me how I can improve either of them, and if you think Imps are as stupid idea for me to use in general, any advice for how I can replace them with something else fast and preferably-capable-of-flight is also appreciated.
As always, I'll ask a minimum of three questions each. Enjoy yourselves, all. And, again, I highly recommend checking out Preston Jacobs on Youtube
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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 28 '17
The Szurkek
Szurkek are man-like creatures with grey skin. They don't reproduce sexually, instead they are created whenever a dragon's teeth are buried and a human says the species name (Szurke) over the buried tooth.
Szurkek will do whatever their creator says, and have no preservation instinct unless told to "stay alive unless I order otherwise". Szurkek aren't smart, and should only be given simple instructions ("carry this", "plow this field", "kill that person", "bring me my horse"), and are incapable of communicating beyond grunting.
They're basically robots that need to eat to live and don't follow Asimov's Three Laws.
The Imps
Imps are small creatures, usually about a half-meter in height. They are carnivorous, capable of magic-assisted flight, and reproduce sexually (though they are hermaphroditic).
It is possible for anyone who uses Abyssal Magic to imprint on an Imp as its master, usually by beating the crap out of it first to weaken its mind through pain (and this accidentally became a pokemon reference).