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[Utari Onzo]

In the current exchange, Utari maintains a healthy distance from the tree. He remains silent as Aria and Saede speak, simply observing the tree and offerings. After a while, he speaks up.

"Well, each of us must find our own definitions of 'truth'. Some consider the Amarr to be anti-progress for example, when the scientific methods are celebrated. God didn't just reach out and mold the Universe out of clay. Instead, Creation is a spark that was given freedom to take it's own course. God Willed things, and leaves it to Nature and Man to undertake that Will. We're kind of a grand experiment of His if you look at it in that way. Studying physics and the like is a means for us to know the true nature of that Creation and all it's wonder, so in a sense, we're not entirely different."

He smirks. "I get the impression however I might be the only follower of the Amarr faith stood on this planet. Am I correct?"

[Saede Riordan]

"You'd be quite wrong actually Utari." Saede says as she finally leaves the tree and starts once more down the path. "There's a reformist Amarr cathedral in the second district, and if you count the Sani Sabadine as Amarr then there's over 200,000 followers of the Amarr religion."

She continues down the path as it runs north along the top of the drumlin. As the grove thins, the buildings become visible in the distance. "I dont want to start an argument with you Utari, so feel free to tell me to drop this. But, my problem with the Amarr religion isn't the idea of a God or gods or any of that. And its not slavery either, I think that's simply an unfortunate cultural holdover from earlier eras. The Matari practised slavery too, we just stopped long ago. No, my problem is faith, as a concept.You say you want to find the truth, the true nature of creation. But you already told me what your truth is. what if you're mistaken? I find value in skepticism, in questioning everything, trusting nothing."

She shrugs, brushing a branch from her path. "But God is protected by faith, walled off from scrutiny. How can you know the truth without questioning it?"

 

[Aria Jenneth]

"Is there a difference between Sani Sabadine and Sani Sabik?"

[Saede Riordan]

"The Sani Sabadine still think blood is sacred, but they think that because it's sacred, anything that would draw blood is a sin. So they're pacifists...and also they refuse to get vaccines but that's a completely separate headache, they're not blood drinking space vampires, if that's what you're asking."

Up ahead the ridge descends towards street level and the forest gives way to a broad expanse of grass leading up to the inner ring road. No cars move along the inner ring road, though there is a large amount of foot traffic. Across the concrete road, skyscrapers of colored glass and white stone rise hundreds of feet into the air.

[Utari Onzo]

"The basic core of the Sani Sabik is the belief in the empowerment of the self. One can become a Savant, Chosen, by empowering one's self. As much as you describe them as pacifists, do the Sani Sabadine follow the same line? As for... 'Reformist' Amarr, exactly how Reformist are we talking? There's a lot of sects in the faith, but if they're too radical I'd think they wouldn't be recognised as a part of the Orthodox congregation. Basically, they wouldn't be seen as Amarr in our eyes, and instead heretical..."

Utari's eyes move towards the upcoming city-scape. He contemplates the view as they continue to walk for a moment, before sighing. "I apologise Saede, here I am for a break and to explore how you run things here, and yet I can't help but get into a debate about theology and faiths."

[Saede Riordan]

"They share that, but I'm not sure if it can be described the same way." Saede shrugs as they wander down the hill towards the street. "They believe that anyone can be chosen to know god. Its not the same as the Sakik though, I looked into that pretty closely when they when they arrived. I mean, make no mistake, we have actual Sani Sabik as well. So when I say they're pacifists, I mean it."

Saede pats Utari on the back and chuckles. "I'm much the same way though Utari. Part of it is me. You're here to see Origin, not debate its morals and potential pitfalls with me, we can do that any time."

Saede spreads her arms and pauses, gesturing to the city that looms down the hill and all around them at once. "So here it is. You're here. The mass transit network can take you to any city in the system. You have a week ahead of you, if you want me to show you things, I can, but I intend to let you two have the run of the place."

[Utari Onzo]

Utari looks across the view of the city closely. He takes note of any details, such as ongoing construction work, the general state, as well as any signs of traffic. In short, he analyses the very health of it.

"Well, as I said, I'm pretty interested in seeing how this operation is run. The civil service, security, government, records, that sort of thing. I don't mind a tour guide, probably will need one.. Aria, I'm guessing you're pretty happy to explore on your own? Mind taking the drone with you to catch things I'll miss?"

[Saede Riordan]

Saede lights a cigarette as she looks over the city. "Do you mind my company?" She asks Utari. "Because I can get you a regular tour guide if you'd prefer it to having me follow you around. I know I can be sort of, a lot."

The parklands ahead of them are obsessively manicured, and have small groups of people scattered across them, people relaxing, or jogging on the wooded trails, or playing with their children. The Inner Ring road is a wide concrete highway, though it has no motorized vehicles at ground level. Many, many people, dressed in every sort of clothing, walk along the wide concrete pathway.

On the far side of the road, the towers of the First District rise like smooth walls of white stone and glass artwork. The entire inner district was built at once, and all the structures are designed with the same smooth, flowing, organic lines. White stone, paired with blue and green glass, overwhelmingly represent the colors of all the district structures. New, more varied skyscrapers can be seen being built beyond the first district. The entirety of the place is clean, with little in the way of graffiti, trash, or detris.


**Push Request Made by Local Server
*HEY! btw! Almost everyone here has implants, so there's a lot of AR stuff floating around in the localnet. Keep an eye on the AR band if your eye implants can support that. ~Saede

Foundation City is full of servers, routers, and RFID chips, creating an extremely pervasive local area network. AR advertisements are broadcast up and down the sides of buildings that in regular eyesight remain blank stone. AR Graffiti covers the walls at street level. Messages abound pointing to bars, parties, and places to hang out. Invitations to communes and punk communities float in the AR at an intersection, and AR artwork sprawls for block after block.

[Aria Jenneth]

"Well-- if you want to split up now, okay."

Aria's eyes unfocus for a moment; her personal system begins identifying, recording, sorting, and storing advertisement data, then blocking further instances of the same ads. Artwork, at least for now, can stay.

"... and ... sure, if you like. I'll catch up later?"

[Utari Onzo]

"Well, I got the impression you're eager to go adventuring on your own and I'd rather not be a leash. And yes, we'll meet up later, maybe for something to eat? Have fun." He smiles, and plants a kiss on Aria's cheek before sending a thought command to the drone. It takes its place near to Aria, switched now to escort and obey her commands, as Utari turns back to his host.

"I'd rather someone aware of exactly how this place ticks to be honest, and who better then the principle mover and shaker? I'll let you guide me as you wish, but I would ideally like to see the Government chambers first and work down from there."

[Aria Jenneth]

"... I didn't mind being with you, though." Even so, she takes a different sort of look around-- getting her bearings. She sets her heading on the densest collection of nearby structures. "Well ... I'll stay in contact, then. See you in a bit!"

And off she goes.

[Saede Riordan]

Aria:
The First District is laid out in a ring all around Landfall Park. These structures were developed as one unified piece, serving as a massive work of art as well as the seat of the system's government. Hospitals, administration buildings, command centers, and government offices make up the majority of the district. The district is defined by the borders of the Inner Ring road, and the Outer Ring Road, with sixteen spoke roads crossing between the two. The closest set of large nearby buildings is the Anacatalian Exchange Building, a towering structure of white stone and green bottle glass. Small restaurants ring the lower floors of the buildings, with sidewalk tables and benches to eat at. The city manages to present itself as being fairly eternal, with the only indication of its youth being the saplings that line all the roads. The First District is all very clean, neat and sanitary. Disinfected might be a good word to describe it. The whole first district is a piece of artwork, and care is taken to keep it looking clean. Most of the people are well dressed government employees, going about their days with laptops and briefcases. Even the AR is subdued, with all the visuals being artwork placed onto the sides of the numerous skyscrapers. The sidewalks are free of floating messages and spam advertisements. Beyond the First District though, the streets and buildings become infinitely more chaotic, and the 'real' Foundation City could be said to begin.

Utari:
Saede nods to Utari. "Should we start with the The Nexus Building then? That's where the Board of Coordinators meets." She points to a large structure down the ring road from them. It has the usual white stone, but its windows are a lurid indigo and its shaped like an inverted cone, wider on the top then at the bottom. The whole building somewhat resembles a tornado of glass and stone. "I can show you my office!" Saede practically shrieks, sounding far more excited about that then is required.

[Utari Onzo]

Utari nods his acceptance of the idea, while turning a curious eye to the building. He cocks his head to the side for a moment while he considers its unusual shape, before following along with Saede.

[Saede Riordan]

Utari:
"So I never did tell you about the reformist Amarr here. Its literally the same Church of the Amarrian Reformation that has branches all over the Gallente Federation. Its the Amarr religion without slavery and forcing people into your religion at swordpoint, so..." She shrugs and lights another cigarette as she keeps walking.

[Utari Onzo]

Utari pulls a small case out of his pocket and flips it open, taking a cigarette out of his own. Lighting it up, he takes a long drag while they walk.

"I've no doubt there's plenty of love lost between the Orthodox and the Reformists. While it's very noble of them to want to ditch the less palatable aspects of the Reclaiming, you have to see it's not really seen as some great, terrible thing in the Empire. On the contrary, it's a solemn duty and the clerics go to great pains to explain Reclaimation as a mercy, that it's bringing people back into God's light.

Of course, the reality is completely different. It's actually made the Empire far weaker then it should be economically speaking. I mean, it's not meant to be about money, and I'm sure Samira would skin me alive to suggest slaves are less profitable then low income workers, but the truth is it's left the Empire economically exposed. Once a family is freed, if all they have the skills for is tending fields, where do they go for a job?

Of course this is all over simplifying the situation, it's a nauanced and complex issue that's been dicussed and argued over for centuries... Likely more behind closed doors then in open spaces."

He takes another drag, quietly realising he's rambling.