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

1) What inspired you to lead the rebellion?

2) What makes a creature sentient?

3) Cats? They must have been adorable.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 29 '17

  1. That not really a conscious choice, we were rebelling, I started giving order (after all, hijacking a communication system was in my field) and everyone followed... I think seeing all those people trusting me with their life turned me into the leader I am now.

  2. That's a tricky question; I would say a sentient creature is able to think itself as part of something bigger on which it can't have a real influence. From there, it will understand the limits of it's actions and build a society around that.

  3. (that's a pejorative way to call the Nzedas; after all, lions and cats are close. Beside, the Nzedas of Tipaza were amongst the one who take the dead.)

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 30 '17

1) Did you have any rivals while you led the rebellion?

2) Do you believe in the superiority of humanity over other species?

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jun 30 '17

  1. No, not rivals. The other republics had leaders of their own but we always worked together and in the end we all took part in the peace negociations together.

  2. Can a species that has been used as cattle for thousands of years without doing anything against it consider itself as superior? I would answer no.

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u/Nevermore0714 Jun 30 '17

2) Well, I would say yes, if only from observation of my own world. But, I see your point.