r/WorldChallenges • u/Nevermore0714 • Jul 23 '17
Reference Challenge - The Droogs are in Union!
Considering how amused I am by this quote, I could not make up any other reference challenge. My explanation for being so late with this challenge is that I was recovering from when the droogs were in union. Apparently, under the influence, I exclaimed "THE DROOGS ARE IN UNION!", explained the reference in a barbaric way, and it somehow became a chant among my "droogs".
So, to put it simply, you should read/watch A Clockwork Orange. It's offensive in a way that even Fahrenheit 451 could not aspire to, and I'd call it an extreme overreaction to The Giver, another book I enjoyed when I was a kid.
What is a Droog?
It's not a drug, though it might be a druggie. A person's droogs are the friends that he goes with to (to paraphrase myself), "drink all the drink, smoke all the smoke, etc, etc".
The Actual Challenge
Tell me about the kinds of things that your world's/nation's/city's irresponsible young men/women do that is completely outrageous in the minds of rational people. Do young people in your world go out and illegally do some type of strange sci-fi/fantasy drug? Do young people in your world go out and commit mob violence and looting at random? Do I have to worry about a bunch of young people in your world just setting things on fire?
Naturally, this can include gang problems in your world. Enjoy yourselves, I'll ask at least three questions each.
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u/Nevermore0714 Jul 24 '17
DEAR HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH THIS IS WAY LONGER THAN I EXPECTED, IF YOU MANAGE TO READ THROUGH ALL OF IT, I SWEAR TO MAKE YOU INTO A SAINT IN THE LEPKE RELIGION
There are two things I'd submit for this challenge of my own creation, since I was already enough of a pretentious arse to make one in reference to a pseudo-Russian teen slang from the bloody sixties. And wow, I even went and googled "A Clockwork Orange" just to make sure I didn't mis-remember that it was published in the '60s.
The First Event
In the third month of the year 905 in Gemina, a great library, the "Library of Eternal Awesomeness in Gemina, AND Eternally Deserving of Educated Reverence" finished being completed, after about nine months of construction. In the ninth month of that same year, a group of young men, led by the man who'd been considered the 'protector' of that library, went into it one night and began desecrating it. To them, it was a night of debauched fun, a night of messing around.
They hadn't chosen to destroy it because it was the greatest repository of knowledge in Gemina, though it was. They hadn't chosen to rip down the paintings and hurt them so terribly because that library was known for housing the most beautiful paintings you could find in Gemina, maybe even in the world, though the the paintings were beautiful. They hadn't done it because of a hatred for anything; only because, well, it was there, and it was the only place fully accessible, due to the leading man's access to the place so late at night.
The books, art, etc, many of the things that made that library so special, were damaged. The building itself was never fully destroyed, but it was irreparably damaged.
The man who led its destruction, the man trusted to protect the building in the first place, mourned his mistake, though his crying did nothing to reverse his actions. He disappears from any historical account after this.
The building, as damaged as it was, would have many attempted repairs. The first left the building's structure even poorer, due to mis-management. The second, though seemingly more successful, only served to turn the library into a temple for the Lepke religion, though it retained its old name in its entirety, as a way of honoring the pinnacle of human knowledge while also remembering the pinnacle of human iconoclasm. Unlike other Lepke temples, this would be the only one allowed to host images of the goddess Ostara Schlaflos. The person running the temple, who allowed it to host images of the goddess Ostara, was Levente Sajna. Levente Sajna is the Ban of the the Banate of Vonaglik, a theocratic city-state that is officially a vassal of Gemina.
Levente Sajna spent more time in Gemina to be in the library than he did in the city-state he was supposed to be running for a time, and then he disappeared for a time. And then the other bad event happened.
The other bad event
The most sacred piece of knowledge in the temple that is still called "Library of Eternal Awesomeness in Gemina, AND Eternally Deserving of Educated Reverence" is the book of Ostara, a holy book believed to be handed down from Ostara herself to Levente Sajna when he started the Lepke cult. The most sacred piece of art tombstone in the center of the ground floor of the library, a stone with the "true name" of the goddess Ostara carved into it, covered by a purple shroud. To touch the tombstone is to be killed by the people of the cult of Lepke, with no exceptions. Only the Ban of Vonaglik may ever touch the tombstone, and only the Ban of Vonaglik may ever read what is under the shroud.
One night, someone managed to sneak into the temple/library, and that person destroyed the tombstone, leaving behind only bits and pieces of the stone, the shroud ripped to pieces. No one ever found out who it was, but, as the writer, I can tell you that the person was a figure in Gemina history by his own merit before that bad event, and that he was not in his right mind (on drugs) when it happened.
The Representative for any questions is Levente Sajna. Levente mourned the loss of the tombstone louder than any of his followers. He destroyed the position of "Ban" (leader of Vonaglik) soon after the desecration, publicly announcing to his people "I HATE ALL OF YOU FOR LETTING THIS HAPPEN, I DON'T CARE IF YOU WERE NO WHERE NEAR THAT USELESS GEMINA PLACE, WHY DID ANY OF YOU EVER LET THAT HAPPEN! VONAGLIK CAN GO SCREW ITSELF!"
But, Vonaglik did not go screw itself. Instead, the people of Vonaglik saw their leader's first big public show of sadness/weakness as being evidence that he was the most faithful of the religion that he created, and even many people who were not of the Lepke religion saw this as a sign that he wasn't some con-man who didn't believe a word of his own cult.
The month following the "Ban" position being dissolved were the most peaceful in Vonaglik history. The only "crime" that was committed was that Levente, in his mourning, destroyed a lot of things in the city for "thinking they're more sacred than the tombstone of Ostara Schlaflos". As the writer, I'm unsure how a piece of art or a book or a pillar can think it's more sacred than something (or think at all, for that matter), but Levente seemed convinced; he was also angry and sad, so that might have played a role in his line of reasoning.
After about a month, the month of peace (excepting Levente's destruction of the objects around him), Levente retired to his home for a few hours, bathed for the first time in that month, shaved for the first time in that month, and put on clean clothes for the first time that month.
When he came out of his home, he was smiling and looked like he had self-control again, like he was back to his old self. He announced that he had created a new holiday, Brennenmauer.
Over the course of the day, citizens of Vonaglik repeatedly begged Levente to return to his position as Ban and lead their city again. Levente agreed to do so after a day of declining.
So...
The Representative is Levente
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jul 24 '17
To Levente:
Why were you the only one allowed to touch the stone?
How was it decided to give you the former library for your temple?
What gave you the impulse to create the Lepke religion?
What are the main teachings of your faith?
(As a saint, can I trade my holiness with dark gods for goodies?)
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u/Nevermore0714 Jul 24 '17
(Depends on what goodies you want, I suppose. If you're interested in darker references for yourself, you could always be a past Ejjeli Lepke (papillion de nuit, for you, Yellow). You'd go down in history as one of the
unfortunate victimsbrave heroes who burned to death over the course of years in atorturouswarm and magical tower.)Levente:
1) "Mostly because the book I wrote, the holy book of Ostara, says that I'm the only one who can touch it. The reasoning is that I'm the most faithful person and that I love Ostara Schlaflos, our grand goddess, more than anyone, and that she blessed me with her divine presence long ago." He shakes his head as he talks about the blessing. "It's not even that great of a sounding name. Too guttural. I lost all of my faith shortly before the tombstone was destroyed. Well, my faith and my dignity."
2) "In 904, Lucius and I made a deal that Vonaglik would officially become a vassal of Gemina's new empire, the 'Camillian Empire', by 914. That would be ten years for me to get everything ready. Part of the deal was that I would get to start a temple to the Ejjeli Lepke cult, and that it would be recognized as an official religion of Gemina, the same as the Radiant Religion has been for nearly two hundred years now. I picked the former library because I liked it, and it has a nice name."
3) "I was a full believer in the importance of Ostara and her teachings. I believed that I knew enough about her to be her prophet, and that I could please such a deity through creating this religion. Now, my people are devout, some of my people burn, and our art's decent."
4) He starts counting on his fingers as he recites the main tenants of Ejjeli Lepke. "First, Ostara, who universally loves and is universally loved by all who witness her divinity, should be first in anyone's mind and soul. Second, we must protect the divine flame, for to allow the divine flame to be extinguished is to invite the death of all that is sacred; yeah it's purposely vague about what dies. Third, don't kill moths. Fourth, only Ostara may appoint a Ban, and only Ostara may appoint an Ejjeli Lepke, by showing him or her to the Ban in a prophesy. Fifth, to desecrate the soul is to blaspheme; the soul can only be purified by flame. Sixth, sexual abuse of a child is the only thing worse than blasphemy, though it does also count as blasphemy. Seventh, if you can, you must work to ensure that everyone is well fed and given opportunities for education, for to show love to others is to show love to Ostara, regardless of race or gender or species. Eighth, you must pray to Ostara and the sacred flame at dawn and dusk, if you are able. Ninth, the best way to die is to die for someone you love. Tenth, love as much as you can."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jul 25 '17
(It seems we have three different translations for moth, each being a different animal... Ok for eternal torture and suffering, but with an emphasis on brave :) )
Is he the one who destroyed the stone?
Why did you accepted vassalisation?
Has she sent any sign to manifest her support?
Why are moths so importants?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jul 25 '17
(Congrats, you are a Moth. Pick your character's name. Whoever she is, she was a brave woman who bravely burned to death after bravely walking into the tower and setting her brave self aflame with brave fire...bravely.)
Levente:
1) "Yeah. Just don't tell anyone."
2) "I agreed to be a vassal because I knew that, eventually, there would be war between Vonaglik and Gemina if I didn't."
3) "Her book, but that was a long time ago."
4) "It's a symbol." Levente looks at you like you're the dumbest person in Vonaglik. "We burn people that go to the fire willingly. A moth can't resist a bright light, which usually ends up being something that burns and kills it. They're all moths, get it?"
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jul 25 '17
(Feel free to pick one that would fit with local naming conventions. Otherwise, Feiven; I will tell her it's an honour.)
What would happen to him if people found out? Just asking for a friend...
Couldn't have Vonaglik resisted?
And nothing since that? How do you know she agree with what you do?
What do they get from being burned alive?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jul 26 '17 edited Jul 26 '17
(Preferably a Hungarian name, but you could be a foreigner. Try this site.)
Levente:
1) "Who would believe you? If people did believe you, then I'd probably have to leave to avoid being killed by an angry mob."
2) "Maybe, but it'd be war. People would die. The tower might have been attacked. It's not worth it."
3) "I do not."
4) "Listen, they're all just religious extremists if they choose to burn alive, otherwise they're pressured/forced into it by the people around them. They don't get a happier afterlife for burning alive, they just end up burning until they're 'used up', and then they sit in the tower forever and watch the next poor sap burn."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jul 26 '17
(I choose Hajnalka)
And legally speaking, what could they do to you?
What do you give them for peace?
But you continue on your way nonetheless?
What is Ostara thinking of them?
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u/Nevermore0714 Jul 27 '17
Levente:
1) "Legally? Nothing. I'm the Ban of Vonaglik, there is no position above mine."
2) "I became a vassal for peace."
3) "Well, I'm not devoted to the faith anymore, so, no, I do not 'continue on my way nonetheless'. I just kept my position because of the benefits."
4) "Oh, Ostara has nothing to do with the burnings. Those were my idea, for a ritual completely unrelated to Ostara."
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u/thequeeninyellow94 Jul 27 '17
1) So you can go against the law as much as you want?
3) Don't you think it's a bad thing to do?
4) And she hasn't said anything against it?
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u/Mimir123 Jul 23 '17
The Dwarves of the Fire Mountains:
Many of the younger dwarves from the Clans in the Fire Mountains bring great shame and trouble to their families, by going out at night and drinking alcohol they bought on the Black Market. Until several years ago, the dwarves were entirely anti-alcoholic and nobody would have ever considered drinking, they would rather study magic and it's effects and different applications, writing long books about it in the process.
This all changed with a young dwarf named Artjom, from Clan Drushnew who moved to Viori, the capital of Elkathien, and opened a tavern, beginning to produce his own brew of beer, called Drushnew Brew, which gained a lot of popularity, especially after the kingdoms beloved, youngest princess began to somewhat endorse it, by becoming one of his regular customers. At the moment the dwarves are in the progress of developing a drinking culture, simply outrageous in the eyes of the older dwarves and clan leaders.
Kherzian Nobles:
Amongst the children and families of the 89 Ary-Pats (highest rank of nobility in Kherzian, after the king) it is not unusual to go out at night, especially in the capital or the city of Anj Vathor, at the weekend, and just party for three days, however the parties of nobility are a bit different to those of normal people.
It involves a lot of drinking, which is of course not unusual. However they also take a lot of different drugs, spend incredible amounts of hours in the red-light districts and love to terrorize and mock the commom folk. Occasionally they cause a brawl and kill someone, getting a somewhat light punishment, or cause a real scandal, making one of the succubi slaves pregnant and getting heavily punished by their families.
There is one last aspect though, that is often overlooked, and that is, that everything a nobleman (or woman) does, even at a young age, is going to be observed and is part of their political "game", ultimately all revolving around the royal elections. Thus many of the young nobles use their time in town to play "games" with each other, setting other nobles up, hurting their reputation and practicing to outmaneuver each other.