1. Circulation Study:
P.O.V. Native/Inhabitant & Visitor/Viewer
Just as with current cities, there are few explicit barriers such as walls preventing free movement across districts, city movement is only enforced through social expectations and norms. For instance if you are a short strand wandering around in long strand districts there will be whispering among the residents surprised to see you straying from your designated district. On sight, an officer of the law will kindly ask you what business you have in the district and escort you back to your proper district. Visitors to the city exist under the same social rules as inhabitants of the city.
Entrances / Exits
Most areas of the city are fairly permeable with many entrances and exits along all main roads with only a few exceptions. Access is strictly regulated to both the high upper class and lowest class citizens. Explicit boundaries exist around the governmental buildings of both the long seer tower and the seat of government, with physical walls that restrict the public’s access. Much in the same way, the short strand light confinement and prison areas are walled off from the rest of the city. Each of these walled areas have one point of entry and exit to facilitate security screenings of people entering and leaving.
Paths
The paths of the city vary greatly with respect to the districts. The Long Strand districts are built under strict urban planning, with all streets radiating outward from the Long Seer Tower to facilitate their sight of the city. The government districts lie at the center, surrounded by long strand residential neighborhoods, which are surrounded by the business districts that provide a buffer zone between the long strand districts and short strand districts. The business districts and short strand districts are much more chaotic, with random paths as a messy web among the urban sprawl. The short strand paths were not built as with grand oversight, but simply arose as those lanes most travelled by the people from one location to another.
–
2. Laws/Rules/Authority
Physics
-A new sense has emerged in the human public which allows them to see their potentials for action (referred to as strands) a short range into the future, varying from several seconds into the future to several days.
-This foresight is divided into two distinct abilities: the length of a person’s strand, and their ability to see their’s and other’s strands. So for instance if a person’s strand projects only 5 minutes into the future, if their strand sight is the norm they will see 5 minutes of the strand, if below average they may only see 2 minutes of the available strand, or if their vision is way above average, they may see even more of the strand than is available to the average citizen, seeing almost 10 minutes into the person’s potential futures.
-There are regional zones which carry a greater affinity for the new sight, much like the idea of ley lines. Many of the newest cities such as Delphi, NC where the Long Seers reside and New Geneva, UT were built on these regional sites that amplify this foresight.
Religious
-The new sight is seen as a gift of God, and society has come to be led by a theocracy of sorts which is a melding of Christian extremism and new age spiritualism surrounding the new sight.
-Those people with way above average strand sight are referred to as long seers. They are seen as oracles to the government and are revered almost as religious leaders. What they see of the potental futures guide the path this society will take.
-It is an implied law that the words of the long seers is truth. Since they have the potential to see further than any others, their version of the future cannot be disputed.
Governmental
-Those people who have visible strands shorter than ten seconds into the future due to their unpredictability make law enforcement of their actions difficult and as such are to be relocated to a light confinement walled district of the city, so that their special needs may be met.
-Education is given based upon your potential for future success, namely your strand length.
-Anyone who acts out or speaks out against the long seers or the seat of government are to be seen as enemies of the state and will be imprisoned as such.
-Those citizens born with exceptional strand sight are to be trained in long seer tower to be trained to fill their future role as long seers.
Societal
-It is expected that short strands will not stray from the short strand and business districts.
-It is expected that long strands will remain in the long strand districts.
-Due to both educational restrictions imposed by law and their own lack of foresight into their futures it is a societal expectation that short strands will grow up to fill lower working class jobs.
-Long strands are generally expected to fill upper class and high government roles due to their good foresight into their own potential futures and their own ability to choose the best possible path for their lives based upon this foresight.
–
3. Blank Space
The current blank spaces of this world are most of the areas outside of the city limits. They are populated cities and suburbs under this same governmental regime, but the area of interest is this primary city of Delphi, NC since this is where the government and religious center exist. Much of what happens in Long Seer Tower and the Seat of Government is not made open to the general public making this a blank space for the average citizen.
I curious whether or not there is a potential for a native (and player/visitor) to experience a change in their strand length/abilities. And of course, what might affect that ability. Also, it is interesting that the view into the future is very short (in minutes) limiting its use for long range planning. I wonder what institutions might change or develop in response to this short range, ie. Gambling offices would close down 11 minutes before a trade, certain professions might be required to be of a certain length. How might one disguise their length? Is that possible? Can someone feign predictability?