The following was written by the Courts, Astraea and the Rhymers.
Intro
by Astraea^Jay:
Picture the early 1960s Superman flying over a beautiful green planet. He thinks, "On this strange world, VERITAS, nearly everyone has MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES! They are born with MANY minds inhabiting their bodies -- but think and behave in a completely NORMAL fashion! They identify themselves with BADGES of a highly advanced MICRO-MINIATURIZED design ... each one keyed to the many personalities that may manifest in a SINGLE body!"
Good old early 60s Superman.
Veritas' Current World
by the Courts:
The current world of Veritas is as follows:
A system of nametags, similar to Nikolai Kingsley's Cache, has been in use, coming in the range from business cards to simple signs or badges. Since not all multiples can be read instantly by these lil' microchip-filled tags, some people have to set it manually by flicking it with a finger and so on to cycle through pictures and names.
The term of midcontinuum is borrowed with great thanks to the Vicki(s). People also say "median".
We haven't yet been able to ask specific permission for either of these. This depends on how much people believe in concurrent ideas.
Veritas is the collection of the world for us, and hopefully can be for others as well. Because we don't have much else to do with it, we're reworking our own inner world to contain Veritas or at least as much as we can. Everyone's free to visit. Stop on by.
All of these ideas for Veritas are entirely up to people. Life is an eternal first-draft.
General Setting
by the Courts:
Food in some places is ordered with varying portions; a group can indulge three or four or more tastes without overstuffing the body.
Body-name is the general designation for groups, although it's common to have a personal name for the whole. Body-name is only for the records, as that way it's possible for groups to change their group-name at will.
The architecture varies to fit. Most of society gets along wonderfully, due to the very strong principle that whatever another group is guilty of... it's likely that your own group can and will do the exact same thing.
Time
by the Courts:
Currently, the timeframe is approximately fifty years in the future from now, but plurality as a natural way of life has been accepted for the last two centuries. The practices of the singlet-only world and its history is viewed by some as equivalent to Asian foot-binding and equally outdated.
Technology
by the Courts:
Naturally, technology has evolved at a somewhat different level than in the mainstream singlet world. Sciences are less absolute; instead of the declaration that one fact is law, there is always room and indeed hope that there are other dimensions to the problem affecting it unseen. More resources have been spent in trying to come up with a supportive structure for the variety of human bodies, rather than forcing all to a single mold. Quantum sciences are high on the list.
Astraea^Jay adds: Many multiples in Veritas are gateway systems, with access to other worlds and dimensions; some of them have been able to bring ideas and inventions from their worlds into Veritas in such a way that they can be developed practically. So far it's unclear whether contact has been made with alien species in the physical, earth-dimension, but the reality of otherworldly existence in terms of the homeworlds of various groups is unquestioned.
Medicine
by the Courts:
Medicines have also evolved differently, being more tailored to accept systems that might reject them altogether or only work half the time. A good portion of this is giving more doses than normal singlets would receive, or a regimented dosage time.
Political
by the Courts:
The political system is still dual-partied to provide extremes for people to vote from. However, instead of Republicans and Democrats, the poles are for Inner and Outer worlds. Those who are strong supporters of the Outer party spend most of their efforts on improving or affecting the physical Veritas-world, and also have the interests of singlets on their agenda as a result, to varying degrees. Those of the Inner tend to believe that more time and energy should be spent on exploration of the inner or other worlds. Naturally no one is expected to stick with one party, and one only. Also, there are more than two major political parties. Probably more like a dozen, each incorporating aspects of the two counterbalancing belief systems.
To cut down on confusion, the rule still holds that one body has one vote. Groups are expected to be responsible enough to come up with a collective opinion. Many abstain, with no ill thought towards them for doing so.
Broadcasts
by Astraea^Jay:
There are many references to the "broadcasts from the West Tower" and the like. These are ethercasts from stations operating out of tall, graceful transmitter structures that look a bit like a cross between the space needle and the Eiffel Tower. There are six of them at the compass points. Each one contains several radio and television stations, usually operated by one or more groups who focus on a particular programming theme. Along with standard news and music formats, interviews and commentary are rife, on every subject imaginable, in a variety of languages. Not only are Earth languages heard, but the languages of Other worlds which have more than one body-gateway to Earth.
One listens to the broadcasts via receivers of various types. Most popular is the wireless audio plug, which looks like the gadget Lt. Uhura wore in her ear on Star Trek. One advantage to acknowledging that a certain percentage of the population actually inhabit other planets is that inventions from these worlds can be adapted to Earth usage. The audio plug came from technicians on Laura*. They have been in use on Veritas-earth for about forty years. Some people are using experimental ear or brain implants, but these are still considered somewhat iffy.
The City
by Astraea^Jay:
The first part of the Veritas story takes place in a large, unnamed city which we've been calling Veritas for lack of a better name. It encompasses a variety of districts, and our main character has just found himself in probably the most confusing of them. Some of the architecture looks insane, signs are in several langauges, and he's hearing ethercasts from the Towers everywhere. (This audio experience is anomalous; most people cannot hear the ethercasts unless they are wearing or carrying a receiver.) People tend to congregate into like-minded districts which they design to suit their individual tastes, so that there are really a lot of little villages and towns within the city proper.
John Smith
by various Astraea:
The Courts started John Smith out with a touch of amnesia so that he could be the outsider we can identify with who is introduced to the Veritas world. Our contributions are as follows:
John is bombarded with the ethercasts when he steps outside the hotel and can't think straight. This is not typical, it's not as if multiples can tolerate all that input and he can't because he is a singlet or an outsider. It is an anomaly peculiar to him. You shouldn't be able to hear the ethercasts unless you're wearing a plug.
John will soon figure out his own origins and you'll see how the plotlines tie together. John is a lifelong resident of Veritas and a singlet (which many consider a terribly tragic condition). He volunteered for an experiment that was supposed to do something to his brainwaves to gradually give him several minds over time. A little bit like that deal in that Robert Silverberg story, except we actually came up with it before reading that and we don't think it would have to be that drastic or violent. John is already showing signs of returning memory in the cafe, as when he remembers an acid trip he took with friends in college. Also, John is not from Veritas city. He was taken and left there as part of the experiment -- it was thought that an unfamiliar situation would help with the evolution of his possible other minds. However, the test has not worked. Either that, or it has a delayed reaction and he might turn up with another mind or two months or even years later. John will remember the name of the doctor who developed the procedure and other details of his life as the story goes on.
Laurem's Story (Astraea)
Laurem are pretty much as described in the original Veritas Characters file. They are catalysts; they are well-established members of the Veritas society. Over the years, they have been involved in a number of sociological projects having to do with communication, and the idea that singlets have the right to be just as they are, that it is not a disease. They are a mix of Inner and Outer party types and have "crusades" for issues on both sides. Probably won't show much in the way of "character growth" in this story, although they will of course have insights and make decisions. Many Laurem frontrunners are devoted to audio production and engineering, broadcast media and mediacast education. They have just been designated to operate the Western Tower broadcasts.
*Astraea are referred to as Laurem because that name is closer to how they really think of themselves; people of Laura (which is a planet, not a person).
Rhymers' Story
Rhymers, like Astraea are a mix of inner and outer party types and also have crusades on both sides. The reason they are for singlets' rights, partially at least is that their mother, who raised them, is a closetted singlet. They grew up with her. They know perfectly well singularity isn't so tragic as it's portrayed because their mom lives a happy enough life on her own.
They work out of the North Tower, in the format of news/current events with a broadcast that is not geared solely for multiples but has things for singlets as well. In that regard they'd most likely be considered quite liberal, like having a show on multiples' affairs might be in the earthworld.
They are not originally from Veritas City either. They grew up in a very small town, one in which if you were singlet you were kind of frowned upon. Hence why their mom is closetted.
They are a recent college graduate with a double-major in computer science and communications. Not sure how that'd show up on a degree.
They are a gateway system, not so well-established in city life and decently shy but also observant.
