Harvest: Rusalka

 

 Rusalka
The Solid-State Republic

 Where every mote of light that shines is a flicker of cold comfort in the concrete fortress of those living here, shielded from the blue sky. Rusalka or TSSR is the demoautocratic empire consisting of the broad sovereignty up northeast, along with its 13 satellite states ("tsepochka blokov"). It's lead by an entity with limitless legislative, judicial and executive powers known as the 'Monotone Minister', a role selected by the citizenry.

Isolated from most of the internal community, Rusalka is seen as cold, despotic and darkly draconian beyond compare. The architecture is unique to the SSS or S3 philosophy of their people and the land is a cold blizzard-coated myopia of obsidian towers and blocks from end to end. This urban landscape betrays the true scope of the landscape, with both the rarely seen Agricubicles providing food underground and the Industrial complex producing factory and material-goods around the clock. Rusalka is militaristic, but not expansionist- instead choosing to focus its vast networks persecuting and prosecuting its own local body of dissidents around the clock.

 
History

Originally the former Rusalkan motherland was founded as a confederation of principalities under a monarchy and his children, a uniting of various tribes and kingdoms. The 'Black King' as he was said was eternal, when his children inherited the throne they would take on the throne and their second-in-line children would too be considered eligible for overtaking these principalities, ruling aristocratic powers over the motherland volk. The title was gender-nominal: Regardless of whether male or female, one took on the Black King mantle (Likewise, all principality rulers are "Princes") and was expected to fulfill their duties as ruler and provider. If crops failed, if wars went badly, insurrection and replacement was common. Any citizen could challenge the Black King's rule, abit typically with backing from principality militia.

This blessing had a crippling flaw- the Princes themselves were susceptible to both corruption, and their own solidarity. Despite typically being raised apart, the royal sovereign came to realize the royal head could only be overthrown with the assistance of one of their children, thus they were truly in control so long as jealousy and division did not overtake them. This corrupt philosophy of 'Sovereign-solidarity' would lead the country to ruin and degradation for nearly two centuries to come, until the state's overthrow. The incident that lead to this overflow of rebellion came from the co-existence of the land's monstrocity.

Temnayaborg

Temnaya Sperma ("Dark Sperm") is an S- class Nomos that has lived in the skies of the land since a millennia past when Nomos flooded the world. It flies the upper and lower atmosphere as a leviathan of unimaginable length and stature, controlling storms and carrying disaster whereever it goes. By its mere presence, temperature drops to 487 thermodynamic units  (below -10 C) or "Quarter cold" as they call it. The previous swamps and marshes of the land were previously subject to severe storms and flooding in its presence. In the past, Kings were tasked with all the resources as its disposal to hunt and rid of it in a neverending trial. Successful hunts would destroy it temporarily, only for it to evolve and assimilate to successive weapons through history, growing exponentially in its efficiency and lethality. A harpoon able to pierce its hide in one incarnation, may find itself shattering against iron-like scales the next. Poisons used to capture it lead to it able to integrate and use venomous gas based on said poisons. Usage of numerous Ultras overtime merely temporarily gave the nation the illusion of success in keeping it at bay. Around two centuries prior, the volk of the motherland grew witness to the horrors after the Monarchy did the unthinkable to curb it.

They used a barrage of nuclear weapons.

Temnayaborg afterwards gained the ability to divide itself, regenerate and re-merge at its leisure to an unstoppable degree. This not only had the effect of making its location and reach vast, itself too numerous to permanently destroy but its control absolute over the weather, scorching the land in frost by eternal winter. An absolutely indestructible Nomos soon brought an everwinter that turned the landscape into a horizon of phantoms. Looking to their goverment for answers, the Monarchy shelled up. Then-current Black King hanged themselves after a splinter of Temnaya crashed into the royal palace and left it in ruins. The Prince that took his place, did no better, and the solidarity of aligned princes meant no hope for a new leader. With starvation at the motherland's doorstep, society turned to new philosophies. Those days was said to be sublime, as the consciousness of the volk arose into a special caste beyond history's corridors. The succeeding revolution saw the common people skewering the aristocracy, placing their bodies on long 'hooks' and using them as bait for the Temnayaborg - or perhaps one might think of as a sacrifice.

As the remains of the once-proud royalty swung from the hooks, a new era dawned on Rusalka. While the Black Kings had failed in their dealings with Temnayaborg, the collective will of the people rose up to face this existential threat. Communities of citizens, without the shackles of the monarchy, began to form ad hoc committees, pooling knowledge, resources, and expertise. They began to innovate like never before, introducing the era of Solid-State technology and thinking. Within these committees arose a new class of leaders: The Engineers of the Cold. Trained in both the ancient arts and the cutting-edge technologies.

From the ashes of the toppled monarchy and aristocracy, came the TSSR.

Monotone Minister

"I am the Motherland. Mona is me."
-Mona

Officially, TSSM is 'demoautocratic' - it's Monotone Minister or 'Mona' is chosen by the people. The Mona wears a white, gimped suit with a stylistic mask in the ideal of the revolutionaries. She (all Mona's use female she/her pronouns, regardless of sex underneath as a mocking sort of inversion of the previous Black King's male-gendered dominance) is seen as an instrument of the workers-caste and the 'bones' of the motherland, with the people as her blood. The citizens give him or her all control and expect them to carry the weight of the entire Republic behind them. The 13 satellites have limited autonomy in their own leaders, but are superceded by the will of the Monotone Minister.

Once elected, the Mona serves their state until they die. A new Mona is selected immediately after. They are never to be seen without their mask. As the Mona is monitored by their advisors, workers, and citizens- they essentially give up their entire life for this purpose.

All Monas use a voice synthesizer, and are expected once elected to undergo specific training that conforms their behavior and personality to that of the Mona proper- an enigmatic dignitary and cordial, classy representative of Rusalka for all other nations. They will never use the term 'head of state', as they believe they are no more a head than any citizen capable of wearing the mask and assuming their identity. The Mona afterall, reflects the will of the people and is no more than that. If the Mona is sick or unable to perform their duties, another is chosen temporarily and transitions with said uniform, role and mannerisms as if nothing was out of the ordinary until the original recovers. The electoral transition from one Minister to the next is seamless, taking the previous Black King philosophy to the extreme- essentially the Mona is eternal. He or She is every citizen of Rusalka embodied, and can live on until even the last member of the population is left to take their place.

Culture

The S3 Ethos: Central to the Rusalkan identity is the S3 ethos: Survival, Solidarity, and Statecraft. While Rusalkans view survival as of absolute importance, the Solidarity aspect truly embodies the collective spirit of Rusalka, while Statecraft lauds the building and maintaining of the solid-state structures that enable their way of life. To describe the importance of SSS is difficult, one can liken it to an almost feverish, quasireligious devotion to the state and community, or a modern government-sanctioned religion by some. It is a ideology of iron-discipline, dedicated service, interconnectness and absolute belonging. Children are taught from birth a role or service they can follow, and like blocks become the iron-bricks of the motherland. While seen as anti-social from the perspective of other nations, being completely objectified and atomized into service and utilitarian utility is the absolute for a Rusalkan. Individualism is looked down upon as distasteful.

In Rusalka, all Somaforms are said to be one and any individuality in gender, body or mind, identity are said to be non-existent. The only difference in Somaforms considered are expats and foreigners, those who share the 'State' share one Somaform. Gender transitioning is allotted as a medical intervention, but they/them is the only acceptable pronoun equivalent in the Rusalkan-language. To use he/him or she/her is distasteful, with the exception of referring to the Mona. They/them is not only seen as correct, but identifies one as one with the State in a linguistic sense. One uses 'they' when referring to either property, inanimate objects, buildings or people. To the confusion of outsiders whoview  it as calling people 'it', it's closer to the speaker referring to tools and property as people. Most native Rusalkans feel greatly confused when in other countries with language systems that differentiate male and female, but see objects and material as seperate from themselves.

 The concept of "us versus them" is virtually non-existent within Rusalka, as everyone is seen as a vital cog in the machine. To betray a fellow Rusalkan or to act in self-interest at the expense of the community is the highest taboo. This intrinsic solidarity creates a sense of belonging and interconnectedness rarely seen in other cultures. The vices of greed, lust, envy, deceit and so on are redundant, sharing the common betrayal of the motherland.

In essence the S3 Ethos teaches a connected philosophy of absolute integration with the state apparatus, but one should be careful when reading what is considered 'State' here. To Rusalkans, a mother is the state. A newborn child taught to pry out rust from machines is as much 'The state' as said assembly line is. The tools in their hands are the state, connected to the holder who is seen as in perfect integration with the building they're in. Men are jokingly said to have a "a Hundred million and one wives" due to this. Each object, institution, and even individuals are viewed as integral parts of the state, and every action contributes to its functioning.

Rusalkans believe in such an intense integration with the state apparatus that everything and everyone is treated with a kind of reverence and respect usually reserved for interpersonal relationships- complete strangers are offered housing if they need on the spot, not as a courtesy but the common kindness of SSS. Tools, items and personal possessions are shared and given out freely as if they belonged to every citizen with personal property nonexistent- the only concept of 'stealing' that exists in Rusalka is the refusal to give freely or hoarding of material. No one ever starves as long as food is present, and if a child is found hungry, the saying goes a mob asks the child 'Who refused to feed and cloth you? We will bring them the Hook.'

Buildings are constructed not for aesthetic appeal, but purely for functionality, using highly sophisticated architectural plans. There is no extravagance in the architecture, only efficiency and durability. These are modular living units that can be easily assembled, disassembled, and reassembled to fit the needs of its inhabitants. Designed for maximum efficiency, each unit is self-sustaining, powered by cold fusion reactors and with advanced climate control to counteract the effects of the ever-present Temnayaborg. The compact nature of these structures means that there is very little wasted space. Every inch is utilized for some purpose, whether it's storage, sleeping quarters, or work areas. Typically an area around 3'x3' is the norm, roughly the same area as the insides of a Rusalka beatle-tank. Typically 2-3 live in one, although a whole family may reside in one if space is scarce that season.

Triadic Caste System

The three types of citizens are known as tsepochka ('block'). Every citizen is born into one of the 'Blocks', which are known as 'Semi-States':

 - Tselis ("Hive")

 - Sel' ("Heart")

 - Sluga ("Gear")

Hive citizens are a workers caste that tend to agricublocks, textiles, children, landscaping (Snowplowers), and builders. Gear citizens work in factories, are technicians and engineers, maintain military equipment and operate its machinery. The Heart castes runs the vast surveillance network that monitors the paranoiac citizenry as much as it does the Temnayaborg and its own government, aswell as the media, weather reports, and various government functions, including both diplomats and psychdocs for reeducation centers. All 3 are seen as integral to the 'state', a turnip farmer underground is as much a state-representative as a beaucrat, and a mutton chef as intensely trained and depended on as a munitions expert. There is no hierarchy to this caste system in terms of privilege, wealth or dominance - the soldier serves the farmer, the farmer serves the worker and the worker serves the soldier in a triadic structure. Thus the wonders of Solid-State philosophy.

Paranoic State apparatus 

A typical block contains a small food holder unit, a trash compactor, 2-3 monitors (1 is the absolute minimum), various wires, generators, heaters and a dozen containers are placed along walls. A small sack sewn from silvery durathread textiles are typically one's sleeping quarters. One may occasionally see a single furnishing- a portrait, a figurine, a small digital videogame or picture of their loved, but never more than one, to do more would be excessive vanity. Bookshelves are common and seen as not indulgent, as knowledge and self-betterment itself and its integration is too seen as integral to the Solid-State Solidarity philosophy.
The buildings one see are only a fraction of the existing space utilized- the skyscrapers and blocks go deep underground, where vast tunnel networks and facilities are managed to keep the State going, to grow its food with artificial light and churn material, tools, weapons, and building materials in sprawling factories.

From the outside landscape of the Solid-State regime, Rusalkas seem to live in a neverending urban sprawl with ashen snow coating over at all times. Those familiar with them have dubbed this the labyrinth thanatopsis, or "Labra of death." To keep buildings insulated, plastipaint sealant coats every block and building in a pitch-black polymer. A multitude of colored lights without backflicker or obscurity allow those to navigate the way outside, different lights signal different functions on a building, i.e. a residential dozen, a library, clothes storage, an armory, a linkstation, etc. Outside of knowing these colors, these black buildings look near indistinguishable. The citizens oft dress in white and grey to blend in with the snow, and make themselves limited to the vision of the Temnayaborg.

The vast links in communication mean a home unit is never free of connection. There typically 4-6 links at all times, with a dozen for busier citizens. These link to family, to local suppliers, to agrifarmers underground for food, to military comms and street watchdogs, there's always 1 specifically  for the Mona Minister to make special announcements.

In Rusalka, waste is synonymous with moral depravity and degeneracy. One is expected to consume everything they're given and use everything they take- not only is hoarding not acceptable, but not using what one is given is a strike against the State. Efficiency in space, in time, and thought and mind are key. Idleness is a gift to the Temnayaborg, every second not improving efficiency is giving the killing edge to a being that never sleeps and hovers above the wintery misted skies at all times.

The State Ultra Commission (SUC) is both a military installment, spy-network and surveillance unit, seen as part of Heart and Gear castes simultaneously. Ultras are honored children of the state who use their specialized ability to protect its functions and fight the Temnaya whereever it may appear.

Shield and Spear

The cities are crowded not only with caste blocks but surveillance towers with high-powered beams of light casted over, shifting back and forth at nearly all times. The stormclouds above make the land appear as if perpetually cloaked in a wintery night. Military blocks have Rover-units (suited individuals in canine-like mecha or "Spears") and beetletanks ("Shields", their bulldozer-like broad-caliber blockades meant to block in targets) out at all times patrolling not only for citizens wandering off, but for Temnaya fragments, appearing like wriggling beings that grow and mutate rapidly as they sneak along the streets looking for victims. Those infected by Temnaya are shot on sight with extreme prejudice. A single uncaught infectee can return to their densely populated caste tower, agricfarm, or barracks and lose the State entire populations if not caught. Outsiders with no ID or verification are hunted by Rovers and captured in the traditional "Block and spear inwards" tactic known since ancient times. Patrol Strikelight teams are highly efficient and deathly coordinated, a single report in a block will go out to all links and communication channels within seconds and the 'entire state' will be upon the target within moments notice at any given time. To say that the wintery regime outside is well-witnessed and heavily guarded would be a grave understatement. State Ultras may be deployed as Spear-units if the target is able to transverse the terrain after Striketeam pursuits, marksmen and soldiers strangle their position and mobility.

Re-education centers can regularly deal with such troublemakers to install loyalty and S3 ideals. Those not yet processed within are not yet considered part of the "State" but rather as a parasite until they're properly adjusted.