content/stories/a-favour.md

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+---
+title: A Favour
+date: 2021-06-20
+tags:
+ - unstagnation
+---
+
+*Ring…ring…ring…*
+
+Hello?
+
+<!-- excerpt -->
+
+Oh, Blue! I almost didn't recognise your voice; it's been forever since we chatted! How've you been doing?
+
+Yeah, I know you have work and all, but…it's been, what, a year since we last played League together and it'd be great to get together again — remember that time when you were killed by a minion at bottom —
+
+You don't play anymore? That's…a shame. Right, work and everything. So, uh, what'd you want to talk about?
+
+A favour? Sure! What is it?
+
+Uh…I think that's fine, but how much?
+
+*A hundred thousand* — damn, did you buy a house or something?
+
+Come to think of it, your voice is kinda raspy, and you're coughing a lot too. Are you all right? Should I come over?
+
+A small fever, eh? Oh well. If you insist... I'll send the money over to your bank account, don't spend it on drugs, hehe.
+
+Hm? Why not? Direct deposit's really safe now, you know. Why would you want it —
+
+Right. Sorry. Sure, I'll come by and drop it outside your door, your address is still the same, right?
+
+Ah, let's see... 135 Redwood Drive, is that right? You know, are you sure you're all right? I think I hear something smashing in the background...
+
+Oh, yeah. Ugh, Fortnite. Right, I'll get the cash ready... I still don't know about dropping it off in an envelope; what if someone steals it? When would be a good time for you to pick it up? I'll swing by around that time if I can make it...
+
+As soon as possible? Of course, Blue, my boyfriend's going to do groceries today; I'll send him your way at around...hm, three o'clock? Sounds good?
+
+No problem! Friends gotta help each other out, right? I still wish we could play some League together, though...
+
+Yeah, yeah, lots of work and everything. Well, you take care, Blue!

content/stories/growing-pains.md

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+---
+title: Growing Pains
+date: 2021-05-25
+tags:
+ - barin
+ - unstagnation
+---
+Renge Academy\
+No address\
+Biyori, Asvyn
+
+<!-- more -->
+
+Hina Asvyn\
+Empress\
+1 Kansei Road\
+Emina, Asvyn
+
+Empress,
+
+With all due respect, as one of Your Majesty's principal advisors, the mass annexation of Enigmatic territories is not only in grave violation of Section 2 of the Enigma Agreement, but has also led to Empire forces being stretched far too thin across the nation. The Principal of Intelligence informs me that they are unable to conduct adequate surveillance to prevent uprising. Combined with the Favonius resistance and ongoing struggle against Asvish control from the previously Enigmatic territories, I urge you to reconsider the attack on further Enigmatic territories lest they fully commit to war — a war we will be unable to defend against.
+
+I send this letter to you from the Renge Academy in Biyori, one of the few newest regions taken from the Enigma Alliance. Empire officials are few and far between, and it is only because of the lethargic nature of the citizens here that this region is currently stable.
+
+To quell the rebellion and restore order to the Empire, I would like to put forth my agreement for the suggestion of the Principal of Continental Security to accept aid offered by the Farelean nation of Ciers. No matter how it might appear on the world stage, Empress, the domestic situation is truly dire and the Empire is at serious risk of becoming fractured. Although not my place to say, I would place under consideration that building a positive relationship with other nations would be beneficial to Asvyn's continued survival after the impending withdrawal from the Enigma Alliance.
+
+I shall be visiting and examining the statuses of the far more conflicted regions of Sayoasa, Yuru, and Aineiru in the upcoming weeks. In order to make a proper assessment, I request for a small dispatch of bodyguards in the event of chaos.
+
+Yours,\
+Kuvira Smith\
+Principal for Homeland Security\
+25 May 2021

content/stories/kuro-in-baccalor.md

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+---
+title: Kuro in Baccalor
+date: 2021-08-19
+tags:
+ - ibia
+ - unstagnation
+---
+"…And never come back again, boy!"
+
+You fall to the ground with an *oof!* as the bartender tosses you out of the tavern. Scowling, you yell behind his retreating back, "You're wrong! All of the goddess cities are wrong! The only way for people like us to prosper is to take control of our own lives!"
+
+<!-- more -->
+
+It's been only a few hours since you entered the goddess city of Baccalor, but since then you've been forcibly removed from nearly every business you've gone into. How incredibly rude — but to be expected of a goddess city, filled with entitled, lazy sheep who refuse to look ahead past the blindfold in front of their faces.
+
+The symbol of the goddess cities on the tavern sign, a heptagon inscribed in another heptagon, cowers before your knowledge.
+
+Brushing some dirt off from your rear, you think that the library across the street must contain people who are even *somewhat* more enlightened than the women — with the occasional man — drinking their problems away.
+
+"Welcome!" a young woman greets you warmly with a smile as the bell above the door rings to signify your arrival in the library. It's only natural that she would.
+
+You nod politely in return, attention stolen by the rows upon rows of bookshelves that fill both floors of the building. There are many more books in Baccalor's library than in your hometown of Stuco's. But of course, unlike Stuco, you scoff as you skim the titles across each shelf, goddess cities don't curate their selection and so the junk such as the (false!) *glorious history* of the goddesses lies on the wooden racks.
+
+The book is worn, well-read. It appears that the disease that is worship runs much deeper in this city than you had imagined. You'll need to work harder if you want to show them the truth.
+
+Strutting up to the nearest group of women reading at the long wooden desk — seriously, where did all the men in the library go? — and clear your throat to announce your presence. Only a few raise their attention from their books.
+
+"Yes?" asks a rich woman with glasses. "What do you want?"
+
+You have to admit that less than half of the people there giving you attention is a little disheartening. "Ah — I'd just like to ask you all if you knew the goddesses' role in the destruction of Malum?"
+
+Collective exasperated sighs come from all around you, even from those who weren't looking at you.
+
+"Look, child," says the rich woman again, "How old are you, exactly?"
+
+Ad hominem. A classic diversion tactic. You'd never fall for it —
+
+But she questioned your age! Really, even as a teenager, you'd know way more than these Baccalorean snubs.
+
+"I'm fourteen," you declare proudly.
+
+The woman places her open book face-down, resting her elbows on the table with clasped hands. "Please understand," she says firmly, "that Malum isn't real, no matter what Stuco always says. Historians from across the six goddess cities have investigated our history and found no evidence of another goddess city. There are only six goddesses, anyway, so who would rule over this supposed Malum?"
+
+The clear disrespect from the uneducated women is really testing your limits. You can accept blissful ignorance, yes, but to actively defend lies even when the truth is right in front of them? Utterly unacceptable.
+
+"Lady," you don't quite mean to but your tone comes out a bit harsher than you'd like. "I know you've all been brainwashed by your so-called patron goddess, but think with your own heads for a moment, okay?" You spread your hands as if lecturing a child. "That's what the goddesses want you to think. They have you all wrapped along their little finger. They just want to control us people so they can exploit us! They just want to —"
+
+A finger taps your shoulder, interrupting your tirade. You whirl around to see who dared to interrupt the truth.
+
+"Excuse me." The librarian who greeted you earlier still smiles as her voice turns hard. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave. You're disturbing our guests."
+
+The rich woman shakes her head as if she thinks she's so much smarter than you. "You'll understand when you're older," she says off-handedly, returning to her book. The rest follow.
+
+As you're led by the shoulder to the exit, you call back, "When the goddesses take all your crops and force you to kill, don't say I didn't tell you so!"
+

content/stories/re-education.md

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+---
+title: Re-education
+date: 2020-06-30
+tags:
+- barin
+- unstagnation
+---
+Welcome to Herdit's Social Education Course! As the successful completion of this course is compulsory for acquiring citizenship in Herdit, we hope you learn from your experience in this program.
+<!-- more -->
+
+When you are admitted into Herdit, you will receive your very own hPhone, provided free-of-charge from the government! This phone comes with unlimited access to the internet as well as 500 gigabytes of storage for all your personal data. Herdit will use your hPhone to collect data for the sole purpose of adjusting your karmic score, colloquially known by the population as "karma". We use end-to-end encryption to keep all your data safe and secure on our servers.
+
+In addition to your hPhone, your karmic score can also be modified from interactions in public spaces via security footage and others' hPhones, too! When you interact with others, your topic of discussion, mood, tone, and speaking style all are put through sophisticated technologies to ensure that your karmic score is as accurate as possible.
+
+Your karmic score is very important to your life in Herdit. It is visible to every citizen in the tribe, and higher scores indicate that you are a better person in society! Herdit encourages competition for the highest possible karmic score, so engage in meaningful and factual discussion, work hard, and aim to help others raise their karmic scores, too! When you have a high karmic score, you are eligible for discounts, early access to public services, and other rewards!
+
+Unfortunately, lower karmic scores may pose risks to a happy life in Herdit. Scores may be lowered as a result of an impolite demeanor, a lack of contribution to society, and the discussion of improper topics. If your score is too low, you may be required to head to the nearest Re-Education Centre so we can help you raise it back up to an acceptable level.
+
+Thank you for considering Herdit citizenship, and we hope you strive to become the best person you can be!

content/stories/wet-hair.md

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+---
+title: Wet Hair
+date: 2020-06-26
+tags:
+- unstagnation
+---
+
+*Splash!*
+
+A flying projectile hits the back of Cloche's head. It explodes, soaking her whole body as she lurches forward from the impact, which is not quite strong enough to cause any lasting pain. She pauses for a moment, then slowly turns around to face the perpetrator.
+<!-- more -->
+
+Garson is smiling obliviously at her inner demons, and laughs at her misfortune.
+
+"Ha! Got you, Cloche!" 
+
+Cloche runs her fingers through her now-wet hair, which stretches down to her waist. Her voice becomes quiet. "That was you?"
+
+"Man, I thought I'd never be able to sneak up on you! I bet you didn't hear a thing, did you!"
+
+Cloche stays silent for a few seconds.
+
+"Uh, Cloche? Are you okay? You seem…a little bit more annoyed than I thought you were…"
+
+Finally, she can take no more of this *boy's* nonsense and explodes.
+
+"You *inconsiderate* *scoundrel!"* she yells, shaking. "Do you *realise* what you've done?"
+
+Garson looks to be taken aback. "What—"
+
+"You *wet* my *hair!* It takes *hours* upon *hours* for this mass of keratin to dry out properly, and does it *look* like we're near a hair dryer anywhere? I trusted you, Garson! I trusted you! And you had the sheer *nerve* to go behind my back and *soak* me! I should take you to court for assault!"
+
+"I'm sor—"
+
+" 'Sorry' isn't going to cut it here, Garson!" Cloche steps closer to him, glare intensifying. "What you have done to me is completely unacceptable and condones *cruel and unusual punishment*, but since I'm a forgiving girl, I'll let you off with one last warning. Do I make myself clear?" She hisses the last sentence right up to the pale-faced Garson.
+
+"Yes, ma'am!" Garson squeaks.
+
+Cloche spins around, causing her waterlogged hair to follow after, slamming into Garson's face like a sledgehammer. He stumbles backward, disoriented.
+
+"Owie…" Garson mutters. "Are those rockets, mommy?"