Commander Truestar
SOC-13
On an occasion, the player characters IMTU had a chance to share a dinner with the crew of a Zhodani Courier ship....
The Zhodani had been invited to cater the meal and brought the best they could of their ship's stores, carried by a ship's 'droid
The Zhodani with talents sensed Mikah had a psi-shield built into her head jewelry and were disappointed at the lack of trust implied
With introductions: Jocelynn was on edge, Fesic was angry the Zhodani were invited, and the rest varied in reaction to their presence.
The Zhodani seemed prepared for the "Imperial reactions" and didn't need their talents to see what was written in the Imperial faces
Seeing the 'droids, Mikah's crew saw the Zhodani had a more standard user relationship with androids. It seemed the Zhodani were
comfortable with assigning roles to the inclusion of androids on their ships to handle the skut work, etc...
Mikah's crew tested the new tastes of the Zhodani delicacies
Some of her crew felt the food tasted bad and used that as a reason to insult the Zhodani while others enjoyed the fare
The Zhodani helped by explaining the condiments, dips and other sides
When Mikah questioned their presence in the Tremous Dex system, they said they were Merchants just like any Imperial merchanter, and they
looked for markets where ever they could. They also pointed out that profits could be found in independent and Imperial markets
despite the "attitudes and paperwork"
They also liked to make contact with other cultures and learn
When one of Mikah's crew asked about Zhodani courtship, he was told they were not like the Vilani, needing a Shugilli for reproduction, and
felt their customs were more honest than the Imperials or Solomani. They were encouraged to be more honest since made no sense to lie
or manuver in society where one in the couple, or in their families, might be able to sense the honesty or lack in the relationship.
It also blocked motives of pure lust, selfishness and other negative motivations, so their relationships were likely much more honest and open
They admitted relationships of pure passion existed, but happened as a course of social need enforced by social growth and convention
That was compared to Imperial vice, where relationships were frequently based on economic need or even social-slavery, with couples involved
for differing and sometimes opposing reasons.
When they asked Mikah's crew of another ship in port, Mikah herself asked "Arn't you the ones who read minds?"
The Zhodani Captain pointed out that there were ethics. Admitting he could tell they were wearing psi shields, even if covertly, they were
having a polite dinner and would not have tried to read minds without permission first.
He also explained those raised in a psi-talented society learned "mental manners" as a child, which Imperials didn't have nor were those
manners explained to them so they don't learn to be as mentally polite as they try to appear outwardly.
That meant the Imperials were rarely polite, externally or internally and not reading an Imperial's thoughts was protection against the true
horrors they might find in Imperial minds.
The conversation continues for some paragraphs and even covers differing views on The "Tavrchedl", called the Mind Police by Imperials.
The conversation is as honest a "compare and contrast" of Zhodani beliefs as I could make possible.
If you'd like to read the full conversation., check: http://www.usedstarships.com/Hist_167_verbal_fencing_cultural_Anthropology.htm
The Zhodani had been invited to cater the meal and brought the best they could of their ship's stores, carried by a ship's 'droid
The Zhodani with talents sensed Mikah had a psi-shield built into her head jewelry and were disappointed at the lack of trust implied
With introductions: Jocelynn was on edge, Fesic was angry the Zhodani were invited, and the rest varied in reaction to their presence.
The Zhodani seemed prepared for the "Imperial reactions" and didn't need their talents to see what was written in the Imperial faces
Seeing the 'droids, Mikah's crew saw the Zhodani had a more standard user relationship with androids. It seemed the Zhodani were
comfortable with assigning roles to the inclusion of androids on their ships to handle the skut work, etc...
Mikah's crew tested the new tastes of the Zhodani delicacies
Some of her crew felt the food tasted bad and used that as a reason to insult the Zhodani while others enjoyed the fare
The Zhodani helped by explaining the condiments, dips and other sides
When Mikah questioned their presence in the Tremous Dex system, they said they were Merchants just like any Imperial merchanter, and they
looked for markets where ever they could. They also pointed out that profits could be found in independent and Imperial markets
despite the "attitudes and paperwork"
They also liked to make contact with other cultures and learn
When one of Mikah's crew asked about Zhodani courtship, he was told they were not like the Vilani, needing a Shugilli for reproduction, and
felt their customs were more honest than the Imperials or Solomani. They were encouraged to be more honest since made no sense to lie
or manuver in society where one in the couple, or in their families, might be able to sense the honesty or lack in the relationship.
It also blocked motives of pure lust, selfishness and other negative motivations, so their relationships were likely much more honest and open
They admitted relationships of pure passion existed, but happened as a course of social need enforced by social growth and convention
That was compared to Imperial vice, where relationships were frequently based on economic need or even social-slavery, with couples involved
for differing and sometimes opposing reasons.
When they asked Mikah's crew of another ship in port, Mikah herself asked "Arn't you the ones who read minds?"
The Zhodani Captain pointed out that there were ethics. Admitting he could tell they were wearing psi shields, even if covertly, they were
having a polite dinner and would not have tried to read minds without permission first.
He also explained those raised in a psi-talented society learned "mental manners" as a child, which Imperials didn't have nor were those
manners explained to them so they don't learn to be as mentally polite as they try to appear outwardly.
That meant the Imperials were rarely polite, externally or internally and not reading an Imperial's thoughts was protection against the true
horrors they might find in Imperial minds.
The conversation continues for some paragraphs and even covers differing views on The "Tavrchedl", called the Mind Police by Imperials.
The conversation is as honest a "compare and contrast" of Zhodani beliefs as I could make possible.
If you'd like to read the full conversation., check: http://www.usedstarships.com/Hist_167_verbal_fencing_cultural_Anthropology.htm
