Life in the rinth

[Royal]

Some things just puzzle me about the labyrinth and how it works:

Why don't the people living in the Labyrinth just go southside? I imagine anything is better than what they can find in the 'rinth. Grebbing certainly seems like a safer than surviving in the alleys at the first least or they could always join the Byn or become a sweep or pick up dung. Even if jobs are limited, I imagine being homeless southside beats being homeless in the rinth anyday. Besides, coming southside seems to be pretty easy at I see PCs always stroll into the Gaj and just sit there.

I also simply find it hard that families are raised in the rinth, I don't really know how that dynamic works. I can understand the organized crime finds a way to thrive but I see it difficult to find that the standard, average family unit (whatever that may be in Zalanthan terms) that doesn't go out and stab people and steal in the rinth has some sort of room or building to live in and a sort of job or way of finding food. After all, judging from the room descriptions, it seems incredibly inhospitable. Really the only way I can see food making its way into the rinth is if somebody travels southside and distributes it to other folk in the rinth. Though if somebody had the capability of doing that, why not just move southside then?

And how often would the average rinth head south side? How big of a deal would it be?

Running off no sleep so sorry if I make no sense!

[Jherlen]

I imagine one of the reasons is that there just isn't enough housing southside for all the rinthers, and what's available is too expensive. The militia probably does its part to chase homeless vagrants back into the 'rinth after a while, too.

[Narf]

I imagine one of the reasons is that there just isn't enough housing southside for all the rinthers, and what's available is too expensive. The militia probably does its part to chase homeless vagrants back into the 'rinth after a while, too.

As I recall in the helpfile it says a lot of people end up effectively getting banished to the Rinth due to criminal activity. I always imagined that's where first generation rinthers come from at least.

[solera]

Southside is foreign territory for 'rinthers. Militia are deadly, but fortunately mostly dumb. There's plenty of easy sids to be found there, but for most individuals, safety is back in the  home patch.
You may as well ask, why don't 'nakkis spend more time in Tukuk.

[TimTembo]

Why doesn't everyone in our world up and move out of places they dislike? You might have children who take up all your time and energy; you might be diseased; you might be injured and unable to work; you might have psychological  issues that make you unable to work; you might have legal issues that make you unable to work; you might be an addict of whatever kind - the list goes on.

Our PCs are often full of unlimited energy, insane courage and ambition. When they first enter the game, they often have no responsibilities or attachments.

NPCs and vNPCs, though, are more like real people in that they carry the weight of their lives - and sometimes when you're a middle-aged woman with a wrecked knee and a damaged psyche from growing up in the rinth, going out and grebbing simply isn't an option.

The consequences, as well, are much more severe for them. It's hard to work up the courage to go hunt or join the Byn when that light hit from a scrab can cripple you for life, or kill you, if it hits a vital area, instead of just taking 10 hp away.

NPCs and vNPCs can't sleep up to full hp or log out to get a break. Their shitty lives are crushing them all day, every day.

[Barzalene]

Better the devil you know.

[i love toilets]

I think a good amount of it is the hivemind psychology, the us v. them. For my rinthi pcs, it tends to be their everything. Whether they are risk-loving, proud southside law-breaking spice runners or keep-to-themselves scavengers or pickpockets, rinthis are proud of being free from the tyranny of Tektolnes. Sure, spend a year in the Byn, but you're there to learn to fight and to get some food, not to lick Tek's boots. Swallowing some pride to stay on for the food, maybe, it happens. You see it every now and then.

Better the devil you know.

I don't know what this means, but yes.

[HavokBlue]

The virtual rinth is also less dangerous than the in-game one. Virtually, not every single person will stab you for being the opposite race. Virtually, there are elves and humans on both sides of Hathors. Virtually, there is a lot more business and trade going down as it can't taxed or policed by the Templarate. As a result, not every single person in the Rinth resorts to 'backstab figure' to make their living.

[Lizzie]

I think a good amount of it is the hivemind psychology, the us v. them. For my rinthi pcs, it tends to be their everything. Whether they are risk-loving, proud southside law-breaking spice runners or keep-to-themselves scavengers or pickpockets, rinthis are proud of being free from the tyranny of Tektolnes. Sure, spend a year in the Byn, but you're there to learn to fight and to get some food, not to lick Tek's boots. Swallowing some pride to stay on for the food, maybe, it happens. You see it every now and then.

Better the devil you know.

I don't know what this means, but yes.

The extended version:

"Better the devil you know, than the one you don't."

Translation:

If you have to take risks, pick the one most familiar to you.

Explanation:

You have a better chance of defending against (or simply preparing for) something you're familiar with, than a complete unknown.

[Bushranger]

The virtual rinth is also less dangerous than the in-game one. Virtually, not every single person will stab you for being the opposite race. Virtually, there are elves and humans on both sides of Hathors. Virtually, there is a lot more business and trade going down as it can't taxed or policed by the Templarate. As a result, not every single person in the Rinth resorts to 'backstab figure' to make their living.

This is why.

Making a character is taking a perfectly good vNPC and screwing up the remainder of their, now shortened, life by making them incredibly visible to the rest of the world. When given the choice between hassling that vNPC 'rinthi or that PC 'rinthi most of the time the PC 'rinthi is chosen. Those two youngsters trying to make a name for themselves in the hopes The Guild will notice them will rough up and kill four people over the course of a fortnight. Taking the entire 'rinth population into account four deaths is nothing at all but when you talk about just the PC population that's half of all the characters created in the 'rinth that fortnight making it seem more dangerous than it actually is.

Also your new PC 'rinthi finds themselves with 400 - 700 coins in their pocket and so could afford a sword, Byn entrance fees and a couple militia bribes. Most of the 'rinth is not so fortunate however and with 15 coins and only a broken knife to defend themselves with going outside the city to greb becomes a lot more dangerous, the Byn Sergeants will just laugh at them and they can't bribe the militia when they're accused of stealing from the farming fields. I do think some 'rinthis would head out to greb up some food in the wastes to bring it back for their family - the crazy ones (i.e. the PCs)

As for business being conducted in the 'rinth I think if a certain bar was located closer to Hathor's Way so it wasn't quite as dangerous for southsiders to get to so they could do a little business beyond the purview of the Templars it would bring this side of the Labyrinth out of the virtual population.

[HavokBlue]

I'm skeptical of that, since the vast majority of rinth PCs are absurdly hostile to anyone of the opposite race or from a different geographic location.

I've pretty much accepted the fact that the in-game representation of the Labyrinth is that it's a perpetual war of attrition between east and west and that at any given time some new guy can come through and train backstab or sap for a couple weeks and then wipe out half the established PC population.

[RogueGunslinger]

The rinth' has high turnover because it's a dangerous place. One person usually isn't goign around killing half the population. Usually half the population is running around getting themselves killed.

[HavokBlue]

That guy or those guys who are out and about to kill whatever moves and loot the body don't really care if you're rich or poor or brand new or 30 days played or the head of the Guild or the lowliest Jaxa affiliate. They'll probably just kill you as soon as they spot you because they don't want to deal with your spam flee and you might have 1000 shiny newbie coins.

edit: And I'm sorry if I sound like I'm ranting or trying to apply my experiences to everyone elses. This is just how the vast majority of my experiences in the Rinth have played out.

[RogueGunslinger]

Sounds like you need to work on your groveling and being useful.

[HavokBlue]

You can't grovel or be useful if you get backstabbed by a hidden assassin you've never met while you're minding your own business, but alright.

[RogueGunslinger]

I guess all I'm trying to say is the 'rinth isn't that bad. Sorry your experience was bad. Maybe it's the hide/sneaking you need to work on then. Or running faster from one safe place to another.

[Zoan]

The secret to surviving the rinth: hide, sneak, spamwalking.

[Ourla]

The secret to surviving the rinth: hide, sneak, spamwalking.

But it's also entirely possible to have a blast in the Rinth without any of those things.  One of my most favorite PCs was a rinthi warrior. Such good times, and I sauntered everywhere I went.

[Royal]

Alright, I suppose all that makes enough sense. But what about the average rinthi that's not criminally involved? That's the part that bugs me the most. Do they live in "houses," or do they just kinda group up together and just find some roof to shelter under? After all, I imagine all the buildings are used for something. Every day life in the rinth still escapes me, probably cause I've never experienced anything like that in real life and I'm pretty sure the rinth would easily make some of the worse slums in our world look good.

[Morrolan]

You can't grovel or be useful if you get backstabbed by a hidden assassin who then tracks you when you flee and was a PC (it can be hard to tell) you've never met while you're minding your own business, but alright.

Yep. My favorite 'rinth character died just like that in a couple of hours played. It happens.

The politically powerful people in the 'Rinth are the ones who take idiots to task for such behavior.

[Qzzrbl]

The politically powerful people in the 'Rinth are the ones who take idiots to task for such behavior.

That's assuming the politically powerful people in 'Rinth don't likewise get ganked by someone wanting to test out that "backstab <master>"-- or steamrolled by a rogue 'gicker with nothing better to do than <redacted> all over the stinkin' place.

[joyofdiscord]

Virtually, not every single person will stab you for being the opposite race. Virtually, there are elves and humans on both sides of Hathors. Virtually, there is a lot more business and trade going down as it can't taxed or policed by the Templarate.

All of those things are well-represented in the non-virtual world.  Maybe they don't quite reflect the virtual world 100%, but they are all definitely taking place.  You might also consider that most of the business taking place there is secret, so it not being obvious is kind of the point.

I'm skeptical of that, since the vast majority of rinth PCs are absurdly hostile to anyone of the opposite race or from a different geographic location.

Flatly untrue.  Every rinth PC I've ever had has had civil negotiations with the other side, sometimes to negotiate a truce after violence, and sometimes for business purposes.  Not once have I encountered pointless hostility.  I've had PCs become friends with other PCs after getting in a fight with them.  Admittedly, there is a knack to social play in the rinth.  It can be tricky.  There are more settings than 'tough guy' and 'grovelling.'  (In fact, those are both pretty ineffective approaches most of the time, IMO.)

I've pretty much accepted the fact that the in-game representation of the Labyrinth is that it's a perpetual war of attrition between east and west and that at any given time some new guy can come through and train backstab or sap for a couple weeks and then wipe out half the established PC population.

I can only conclude that we're playing different games.  Yes, there are noobish players there, as in all areas.    And due to lawlessness, they can more easily harm your PC.  It's just part of the local scenery.  There are also long-lived veteran PCs that have learned how to avoid getting killed by the scenery.  Typically, they are secretive, but you can find them.  The rinth is not for everyone, but it's a lot more than what you describe.

[Ourla]

Alright, I suppose all that makes enough sense. But what about the average rinthi that's not criminally involved? That's the part that bugs me the most. Do they live in "houses," or do they just kinda group up together and just find some roof to shelter under?

[Inks]

The Rinth is amazing and if are not fucking around on the wrong side it is unlikely people are going to use you to twink backstab.Live in the Rinth and it really feels more safe than Southside,  and free.

[HavokBlue]

The Rinth is amazing and if are not fucking around on the wrong side it is unlikely people are going to use you to twink backstab.Live in the Rinth and it really feels more safe than Southside,  and free.

But I think you're failing to account for the fact that there is a virtual population of humans on the eastside, and elves on the westside. They are minorities, obviously, but having the wrong-shaped ears is not necessarily a death sentence in the virtual world.