A General Note about the Labyrinth

[Veselka]

I don't like Tuluk doing that nowadays, either, and think it was poor form to implement that. Mandating less interaction is not a good thing. In the end, this conversation is just a bit confused, and I'd prefer we leave the pretense of Allanaki citizenship as the IC lie that it is.

Tuluki citizenship has it's pros and cons. I don't think it bars interaction so much where it's unplayable. Sure, it might be in the beginning of the foreigner's time in Tuluk, which leads to the pro. Tuluk does have a process for a foreigner to get their citizenship. Maybe there should be a small hint in the helpfiles about this.

The process of a foreigner getting citizenship is pretty opaque I think on purpose. People become citizens when they are born (mainly) before they can be corrupted by the outside world/politics/concepts.

There's definitely a way for *semi-important* foreigners to defect and become citizens of Tuluk, but it usually comes with a pretty rigorous vetting process. Remember -- Not in the so-distant past, Southerners infiltrated Tuluk's social strata by getting replica inks installed on some spies. Those spies were responsible for Blowing Major Shit Up and Tuluk may or may not have recovered from that since. In fact -- The Listless, all of the spooky shit, and the Unified Order were KINDA related to these Spies being overlooked and destroying Isar's Tree among other things. One could argue Tuluk is what it is today, because of this.

1627 (Year 10 Age 22)
Rumors emerge from Allanak that a team of spies in deep cover were successful in plotting sabotage against Tuluki forces during the lead up to the battle at Tyn Dashra, with whispers that the destruction of Isar's Tree might have been one of their prime targets.

In Tuluk, at a public celebration, High Precentor Ardith Lyksae steps down from his position to become Precentor of the Jihaen Order. A relatively unknown Lirathan by the name of Oralia Negean takes the mantle of High Precentor. Later in the proceedings, an Allanaki templar and soldier are executed publicly by the hand of the High Precentor and the Precentor of the Jihaen Order, respectively.

Over the next month, rumors of widespread disappearances spread throughout Tuluk.

So Tuluk definitely has precedent to have the level of xenophobia that they have, for not letting 'just anyone' into all parts of the city, and having the barricades as they are. They have good reason to be distrustful of Outsiders, who took advantage of their trust/kindness in the past, and fucked them for it.

[Veselka]

As to the pros and cons of Tuluki Citizenship --

Foreigners/Outsiders can definitely trade in the city. They get a license, and can trade as much as an "independent trader" can manage. They'll never have access to warehouses, apartments, or lodging. So, by design, they can scoot in, trade, and scoot out. Even Greater Merchant Houses don't have Estates there anymore, and may or may not have access at all (Find out IC).

Citizens on the other hand have a much broader range of possibilities. They can start their own businesses from the ground up, eventually renting warehouse space and so on. They can rent shops that are free standing. For instance, there is the Blue Chalice Gaming House -- A Tuluki PC could feasibly rent this tavern in about 2-3 RL months of play, and run it in perpetuity, if they wanted to. They could become a public partisan of a Noble, or a secret partisan of a Noble or a Faithful even. They could become a Shadow Artist, or try and join the Poet's Circle if they have a penchant for songs and stories. They could open a trading company for imports and exports, they could base themselves more firmly out of Morin's Village. They could start a mercenary company that also hires loggers. They could join the military, they could join a criminal organization. They could eventually addition to join the High Market, where their wares are exclusively bought and sold by nobles and templars and other artisans of high caliber.

So yes -- Options are more limited for foreign elements in the city by design. There is a sort of 'sub human/racial inequality/class inequality' undertone in Allanak that pervades all aspects of society that isn't as present in Tuluk. In Tuluk, it's more of a meritocracy that is highly xenophobic. The 'Other' and outsider always takes precedent in suspicion over an inked citizen. Even an inked elf is considered greater than a foreign human. It creates a completely different dynamic compared to Allanak, which I think, is what makes it appealing.