NationStates Jolt Archive

Some of you may have seen, or even participated in, my RP about the Colonisation of Loompaland. Though I made this RP simply as a humorous response to Denecap's 'Creature Storefront', it gave me an idea.

What if the industrialised, internationalised, predominantly Human societies of the world stumble upon a continent inhabited by a far less advanced group of hominids*, biologically closer to apes than Homo Sapiens are? What if they made good labourers?

The result would, of course, be the birth of a slave trade.

This would bring with it multiple arenas for RP. The most obvious is the trade itself, and its effect on the world economy. There would also be the debate about whether the enslaved race is sentient or not, and whether they would deserve rights. The signatories of the Theeb Accords could, of course, get involved. And there would be the abolition movement as well, consisting of nations and organisations opposed to the enslavement of the species in question.

Now, this will not be a sign-up-and-you're-in style RP. Anyone can participate in any way. The issues involved can be brought out of the thread and into the larger II world. In fact, I think it would be more realistic if a large number of nations were to get involved.

So, suggestions? Ideas?

*I am not referring to Oompa-Loompas. A new species should be thought up.

How intelligent would these humanoids be? And would they be hairy as apes are all over? Do they have a language or culture? Or was this more like a brainstorming thread? Sorry for all the questions lol, but this topic seems pretty cool.

(Suggestion only)

Homo floresiensis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_florensis) (the "hobbits" whose skeletons were recently found on Flores), perhaps? They were self-aware, had cooperative hunting, used stone tools for purposes like cutting bones, and used fires for cooking; they probably had a language.

How intelligent would these humanoids be? And would they be hairy as apes are all over? Do they have a language or culture? Or was this more like a brainstorming thread? Sorry for all the questions lol, but this topic seems pretty cool.

It is indeed a brainstorming thread. And I thank you for your interest.

I personally think that they should be intelligent enough to work, but unintelligent enough so that their sentience can be questioned by some.

As for language and culture, I believe that they should have developed basic linguistic skills, and thus a simple culture.

Of course, this is all my preliminary opinion.

Sounds great, Kirav. If anyone needs to hold a conference of any sort, Altenberg is the new Geneva...

(Suggestion only)

Homo floresiensis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_florensis) (the "hobbits" whose skeletons were recently found on Flores), perhaps? They were self-aware, had cooperative hunting, used stone tools for purposes like cutting bones, and used fires for cooking; they probably had a language.

An excellent idea, DC!

Sounds great, Kirav. If anyone needs to hold a conference of any sort, Altenberg is the new Geneva...

Thank you.

Cool beans, I like everything you just suggested, but if they are to be hobbits I guess they would be more useful as domestic servants than laborers right?

Anyone ever read any of the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde? Whilst it is set in an alternate universe, where you do end up with home genetic engineering kits, they did (in the past) end up with large numbers of Neanderthals who were bred for slave labour, and were in the end able to buy their freedom.

Neanderthals would fit in here, since whilst they supposedly had inferior intelligence, they were also supposedly quite strong, so could do your slavery thing.

Anyone ever read any of the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde? Whilst it is set in an alternate universe, where you do end up with home genetic engineering kits, they did (in the past) end up with large numbers of Neanderthals who were bred for slave labour, and were in the end able to buy their freedom.

Neanderthals would fit in here, since whilst they supposedly had inferior intelligence, they were also supposedly quite strong, so could do your slavery thing.

A Novan! Yes!

I like your Neanderthal suggestion. It fits very well with the concept I have in mind. It also adds the interesting element of giving the slaves a better ability to fight back.

So if this is a slave trade I assume it would be ok for people to take slaves out of this RP and use them for their own purposes in different RPs right?

Three more posts to 4000... best make the up here. Thing is, since I wasn't involved in anything to do with Loompaland, you might have to bring me up to date with what it is. Whilst Alfegos would likely be against Neanderthal slavery, you'd find prospective customers in New Alfegos until any sort of laws were brought in. I'd enjoy doing an RP with that, especially with a riot of them in New Alfegos, outside of the Green Zone.

sounds interesting, hopefully it will go abit further along than the Oompa-Loompas one.

A Novan! Yes!

I like your Neanderthal suggestion. It fits very well with the concept I have in mind. It also adds the interesting element of giving the slaves a better ability to fight back.

Well, Freidlichen isn't a Novan nation, but the guy behind the keyboard is :D. Though we're neutral officially, we'd be willing to grant asylum to any slaves who escape with no questions asked.

You mean shoobs?

So if this is a slave trade I assume it would be ok for people to take slaves out of this RP and use them for their own purposes in different RPs right?

Exactly!

Three more posts to 4000... best make the up here. Thing is, since I wasn't involved in anything to do with Loompaland, you might have to bring me up to date with what it is. Whilst Alfegos would likely be against Neanderthal slavery, you'd find prospective customers in New Alfegos until any sort of laws were brought in. I'd enjoy doing an RP with that, especially with a riot of them in New Alfegos, outside of the Green Zone.

About Loompaland: The KE and a few other nations colonised an NS-version of Roald Dahl's Oompa-Loompa homeland. Some nations used their territories as labour pools for slave exports, while others made them overseas states and gave the natives citizenship.

sounds interesting, hopefully it will go abit further along than the Oompa-Loompas one.

Yes. A lot of this is to make up from the slave trade that I'd hoped would result from Lûmpalin.

Well, Freidlichen isn't a Novan nation, but the guy behind the keyboard is . Though we're neutral officially, we'd be willing to grant asylum to any slaves who escape with no questions asked.

Leistung, Wecca, or PAB?

/bump

when's this going IC then?

You mean shoobs?

Shoobans! Wow, that takes me back. It's been so long since anyone's mentioned Shoobans that I'd totally forgotten about them.

While the slaves in this RP do seem to resemble Shoobans in some ways, it does look like this RP will take the issue of slavery more seriously than it was 3 or 4 years ago, when instead of a big weighty thing it was more like "LOL, STUPID SHOOBANS"

when's this going IC then?

As soon as we can all decide about the specifics of the race, and get a large number of participants on both sides.

Shoobans! Wow, that takes me back. It's been so long since anyone's mentioned Shoobans that I'd totally forgotten about them.

While the slaves in this RP do seem to resemble Shoobans in some ways, it does look like this RP will take the issue of slavery more seriously than it was 3 or 4 years ago, when instead of a big weighty thing it was more like "LOL, STUPID SHOOBANS"

Excellent. Can we count you in, then?

I would join since part of loompa land belongs to me and I rely heavily on slave labor.

Count me in, I want to purchase a few to fight as mercenaries in another RP.

I thank both of you for joining.

Excellent. Can we count you in, then?

I am interested in participating on some level when the RP begins, although the level of my nation's participation is likely to depend heavily on factors that I imagine will be determined IC, like how smart these creatures are determined to be, if they resemble humans in a physical sense, and how ongoing events shape public opinion in the Democratic Colonies.

Edit: Actually, if there was a clear determination here in the OOC thread on exactly what these creatures look like, that might be helpful.

I am interested in participating on some level when the RP begins, although the level of my nation's participation is likely to depend heavily on factors that I imagine will be determined IC, like how smart these creatures are determined to be, if they resemble humans in a physical sense, and how ongoing events shape public opinion in the Democratic Colonies.

Edit: Actually, if there was a clear determination here in the OOC thread on exactly what these creatures look like, that might be helpful.

So far, it seems we're going with something close to a Neanderthal, if that helps.

As it doesn't involve furries but ancestral humans, I may join with BlackOps to fight against tyranny and set an underground railroad, in a risky gambit where failure equates a dozen of operatives swallowing cyanide pills to avoid leaking critical information.

As it doesn't involve furries but ancestral humans, I may join with BlackOps to fight against tyranny and set an underground railroad, in a risky gambit where failure equates a dozen of operatives swallowing cyanide pills to avoid leaking critical information.

Go ahead! :wink:

This sounds interesting. Count me in!

Although Mephras tends not to take any decisive stances in the realm of civil rights, we are willing at the very least to recognize the existence of this slave race. While slavery is prohibited within our borders, if our businessmen were to profit from ventures abroad that happened to involve slaves, they would most likely be praised for their "industriousness and entrepreneurial skill."

My free time is still limited, but maybe I'll be able to write an article or participate in a small RP. I'll have to see. The idea is quite interesting, though.

This sounds interesting. Count me in!

Welcome. Will you be a Slaver or Abolitionist? Note that we are in need of slavers.
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Although Mephras tends not to take any decisive stances in the realm of civil rights, we are willing at the very least to recognize the existence of this slave race. While slavery is prohibited within our borders, if our businessmen were to profit from ventures abroad that happened to involve slaves, they would most likely be praised for their "industriousness and entrepreneurial skill."

My free time is still limited, but maybe I'll be able to write an article or participate in a small RP. I'll have to see. The idea is quite interesting, though.

I welcome any involvement from you, Mephras. Feel free to contribute whatever you like.

Sorry for a bit of a bump, I wanted to respond;)

I was leaning towards slavers, myself. Sounds a bit more interesting.

The Charmuloj of Charma Island, Esperantujo 2, estimated numbers 30 thousand, are believed to be of Neanderthal origin. They are a tourist attraction, but only on permitted days. Now what would happen if slavers pretending to be tourists visit the island? Any other approach would mean war with the whole of A Socialist Paradise, and I don't think the Charmuloj are capable of becoming slaves anyway. Another possibility disguise as anthropologists ns2.charma.uni.eo2/charmula-fako/ would be the university website.

So, wait. This sounds very interesting, and I'd look to be involved. But is this a character RP of people directly surrounding the slave trade, or more of a story about the international slave trade that would be occurring as a result of this race being found?

Hey, sorry for taking so long, my computer fell down stairs, long story.

Anyway sign me up. Griffincrest is always looking for cheap labor :)