Miscellaneous Loroi question-and-answer thread

[Hālian]

What other elements are found ① commonly ② at all in teidar psychokinesis?

[Arioch]

How would a battle of Teidar vs. Teidar work out? Could they sense each other's telekinetic attacks? Is it possible to dodge, block, disperse, or even intercept them with a counter-blast?

It's mostly a case of who gets off the first "shot," but there are countermeasures. It is possible to sense an ability in use or in preparation for use. It is possible to jam psionic abilities. It is possible to dodge an ability (though you'd have to be really fast). And it is possible to apply a counter force against an ability in use, though you'd have to somehow know what was being done, and have enough time to react.

What other elements are found ① commonly ② at all in teidar psychokinesis?

The range of PK abilities is pretty basic -- the list here covers pretty much everything. But the various ways in which you can manipulate matter are limited only by the user's skill and ingenuity.

[spacewhale]

More serious question here, why is Tempo so smug?

[Bamax]

More serious question here, why is Tempo so smug?

I dunno... but I can only go off real world experience with women.

Smug women in real life are often but not always good looking and rely upon that and skill for their smugness.

You take away the beauty and if they at least have skill they can retain at least some smugness.

Tempo has both.

Do you really think this was the first time she mind controlled a umiak?

I doubt it. She is good at what she does... and furthermore without her I reckon they would all be dead now except for Fireblade... who against all odds would somehow find a way to survive among the wreckage of a blown up Umiak cruiser.

Girl must have really strong self-preservation senses about her.

[Hālian]

Girl must have really strong self-preservation senses about her.

did you mean: elf-preservation

[spacewhale]

Girl must have really strong self-preservation senses about her.

did you mean: elf-preservation

*smugness intensifies*

[Bamax]

Did Beryl ACTUALLY see human pornography or a rendition of it from Alex's Historisn possesed pad?

She did not sem phased.

If so my guess is she is probably thinks Alex is like her males but deprived to be watching stuff like that.

And by now she has probably told others or kept it to herself.

[gaerzi]

Did Beryl ACTUALLY see human pornography or a rendition of it from Alex's Historisn possesed pad?

We have no reason to assume she saw anything but the desktop screen with its icons, as the Historian app minimized itself, and probably no latter than when she said "let me see". She also hasn't learned the language, even if she has figured out (well, partly) the letters, so she wouldn't know that porn means porn, just like she wouldn't know that local storage means local storage or that messaging means messaging, or that BelNET means the defunct local network of the destroyed ship Bellarmine.

Finally, even if she did know what the letters P, O, R, N mean, she would have no reason to assume that this was here due to Alex, or that this was what Alex was looking at. She knows it's just one of the data pads recovered from the Bellarmine, not Alex's personal pad in particular.

[Arioch]

Beryl is cautious and sensible enough not to just start pressing buttons willy-nilly on an alien device that she doesn't understand.

If she did see pornographic images or video, it would be embarrassing for all involved, but I think she would just assume that it was some kind of therapeutic program to help human males keep from going crazy in the absence of regular sex.

(Which it kind of is.)

[Quickdraw101]

OK, need some clarification on a certain matter. It's said that Teidar only speak in warning or in challenge. Now since they can easily sanzai to another Loroi whose pissing them off or in danger and needs to be warned, is that saying mostly aimed at aliens who aren't telepathic? I've been pondering this one for a while and I'm kinda slow, so I just want some clarification on that end.

[Bamax]

OK, need some clarification on a certain matter. It's said that Teidar only speak in warning or in challenge. Now since they can easily sanzai to another Loroi whose pissing them off or in danger and needs to be warned, is that saying mostly aimed at aliens who aren't telepathic? I've been pondering this one for a while and I'm kinda slow, so I just want some clarification on that end.

More or less so yes I would imagine.

I mean speaking audibly when you can do it telepathically can be done for emphasis I suppose.

[Snoofman]

OK, need some clarification on a certain matter. It's said that Teidar only speak in warning or in challenge. Now since they can easily sanzai to another Loroi whose pissing them off or in danger and needs to be warned, is that saying mostly aimed at aliens who aren't telepathic? I've been pondering this one for a while and I'm kinda slow, so I just want some clarification on that end.

More or less so yes I would imagine.

I mean speaking audibly when you can do it telepathically can be done for emphasis I suppose.

Hasn’t it been mentioned that loroi are vulnerable to telepathic attacks while they are sending? Or using PK attacks? If that is the case, maybe verbal words allows loroi to keep her mind shielded.

Also since some loroi like Stillstorm have next to no respect for verbal communication, perhaps an audible warning/threat demonstrates a loroi’s lack of respect/trust to her opponent.

[Snoofman]

I understand that Cry of the Wind is the mobile capital, but since Deinar seems to be the Imperial Seat, is there an imperial palace there? If so, could it be seen from Fireblade's flashback when she is looking over Toridas in the comic?

[Arioch]

OK, need some clarification on a certain matter. It's said that Teidar only speak in warning or in challenge. Now since they can easily sanzai to another Loroi whose pissing them off or in danger and needs to be warned, is that saying mostly aimed at aliens who aren't telepathic? I've been pondering this one for a while and I'm kinda slow, so I just want some clarification on that end.

Communicating telepathically with a hostile Loroi is dangerous, as the telepathic link is potentially an avenue for attack for either party. It is customary to use speech in a confrontation between potentially hostile Loroi, as any telepathic overture could be interpreted (rightly or wrongly) as an attack. It's also possible for telepathy to be jammed, further increasing the possibility for misunderstanding of the (potentially diplomatic) message. Spoken warnings, challenges, or diplomatic messages are considered the "safe" option.

In non-hostile situations, this is why spoken words are often considered very rude. The speaker is saying, "I don't trust you; you are an outsider or an enemy." Or worse; spoken language also has to be used with aliens and animals. Perhaps ironically, this is sometimes used as a provocation.

Teidar are forbidden from speaking at all during diral training (with notable practical exceptions) so that they have to practice their telepathic defenses, and this habit lingers into adult life; some Teidar never really develop good speaking skills. Teidar will sometimes use telepathy even in a hostile situation, as a kind power move to demonstrate their confidence in their abilities, but a spoken challenge carries with it both a sense of ritual and a sort of declaration of contempt for the enemy.

I understand that Cry of the Wind is the mobile capital, but since Deinar seems to be the Imperial Seat, is there an imperial palace there? If so, could it be seen from Fireblade's flashback when she is looking over Toridas in the comic?

There are government buildings in Toridas, but they are not shown in the harbor district image on page 179. The capital building complex is farther up into the foothills. Similar to the Teidar Academy, the capital plaza is built around historical structures, and so it is less of a palace and more of a repurposed medieval citadel.

[Bamax]

I presume Loroi do not use cell phones but rather rely on wearable comms... on their armor or wrist?

What about civillian Loroi? No armor but do they also wear wrist communicators or some other wearable communicator instead of an actual phone?

Like if Alex wanted to prank call Fireblade while she is on Deinar via a communicator, he would not use a Loroi cell phone right?

[Arioch]

I presume Loroi do not use cell phones but rather rely on wearable comms... on their armor or wrist?

What about civillian Loroi? No armor but do they also wear wrist communicators or some other wearable communicator instead of an actual phone?

Like if Alex wanted to prank call Fireblade while she is on Deinar via a communicator, he would not use a Loroi cell phone right?

Even in today's mobile phones, the "phone" part of the device takes up a small fraction of its mass and volume, and the "phone" is really mainly a small personal computer.

Loroi warriors integrates this functionality (among others) into the armor or a headset, but at this tech level it's fairly trivial to add to any device. Civilian Loroi will most often integrate it into jewelry such as a bracelet or pin, but it could be anything appropriate or convenient.

[Quickdraw101]

Ok, another question regarding Teidar. I saw before that you mentioned they are killing machines with attitude, so its got me wondering something. Are Teidar particularly aggressive, angry, or otherwise have poor attitude to anyone that isn't either themselves or their superiors? Or is the bitchiness we've seen due to Alex being aboard and 2/3 of the Teidar we've seen not trusting him?

[Arioch]

Are Teidar particularly aggressive, angry, or otherwise have poor attitude to anyone that isn't either themselves or their superiors?

Not particularly.

[Cthulhu]

Would a couple of trivial questions about Loroi everyday life be fine?
1. How big would a civilian or military Loroi living space be? Since they prefer a bit of distance, it can't be too cramped, right?
2. What kind of transport do they use planetside? I'd guess that they would lean more towards public transport, or are personal vehicles also common? What would those be? Do they have something futuristic like hovercars, or just more advanced wheeled cars?
3. Are there any Loroi which like to show off in a materialistic sense? Expensive clothing, jewelry, luxury vehicles, etc.?
4. The warriors do get paid, right? How much money do they earn if compared to civilians?
5. Do warriors commonly carry weapons with them, even when off-duty?

[Arioch]

1. How big would a civilian or military Loroi living space be? Since they prefer a bit of distance, it can't be too cramped, right?

It depends on the circumstances. Warrior accommodations tend not to be very grand, as they are usually owned by the state, and there are many cases in forward deployed units (like aboard warships) in which space is limited. Aboard ship, sleeping space is merely where the warrior sleeps, and off-duty time is usually spent in one of the ship's facilities rather than in one's room. For the lower-ranks, this means small bunks (and in some cases of very small craft they may have to "hot bunk," or share sleeping space in shifts). Stillstorm's cabin aboard Tempest is a relatively small sleeping chamber surrounded by a ring with shelves for her collection of stuff.

The exception here would be if an individual happened to be a member of one of the prestigious old warrior families that was stationed near her family fief; she might spend her nights and off time in the Loroi equivalent of a manor. But that's an unusual case.

Civilian Loroi vary as widely in wealth and circumstance as humans do, and their accommodations vary accordingly. Most live in rental properties or guild-provided housing, but some may own their own lodging, which can be whatever they desire and can afford.

2. What kind of transport do they use planetside? I'd guess that they would lean more towards public transport, or are personal vehicles also common? What would those be? Do they have something futuristic like hovercars, or just more advanced wheeled cars?

All of the above, according to the circumstance. Warriors generally won't have any need to own personal vehicles, and in cases where they are needed, they will be provided by the state. Residents of urban areas will mostly use public transportation, but personal vehicles will be widely used and heavily licensed. Personal vehicles will be more necessary in rural areas, but even there flying vehicles will be strictly licensed like aircraft today, as they can cause a lot of damage.

3. Are there any Loroi which like to show off in a materialistic sense? Expensive clothing, jewelry, luxury vehicles, etc.?

There are strict limitations on personal property for military Loroi, so ostentatious displays of wealth are not socially acceptable. Loroi like to show off their style, and they will do so within the limitations of uniform code (mainly hairstyle and the occasional pin or hair adornment). Antiques or relics are more prized as jewelry than something made of very expensive materials (like gems or rare metals).

Although civilian Loroi aren't under the same legal restrictions, they are part of the same culture, and so materialistic display is muted. There are still fabulously wealthy collectors and hoarders of expensive objects, but such displays of wealth are mainly limited to private displays for a small audience.

4. The warriors do get paid, right? How much money do they earn if compared to civilians?

Most Loroi warriors receive some kind of stipend, but most of their needs are provided as part of their duty to the state, and there are limits regarding how much personal property they can keep around, so there isn't a lot for them to spend money on, and these stipends tend to be small, especially for the lower ranks.

Civilian workers in the lower echelons of a guild or company may also live in communal accommodations, but in general a civilian receives a larger amount of pay than a warrior of analogous rank.

5. Do warriors commonly carry weapons with them, even when off-duty?

It depends. A large percentage of warriors don't normally carry weapons even when on duty, but for some that do (such a police officers or infantry soldiers) it may make sense for either practical reasons or legal requirements to carry weapons off-duty. At certain higher ranks it is traditional for officers to carry weapons as symbols of rank, and these may be worn at any time.