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[lastofthebog]

Good afternoon, my fellow imPorts. I've been here for a month now, and I believe it's time for a proper introduction. I was rather overwhelmed on my arrival, as I'm sure we all are, and overlooked doing so then. So, I will begin again, and I will try to answer the questions that I know you will have for me.

I am Galla, and I come from a world that is nothing like this one. I'll save you all time and explain that my world is several hundred years behind this one when it comes to technology. Electricity is unheard of. The industrial revolution has yet to happen, although we do have one or two cities that are quite advanced for our era. One has even begun trying to develop an airship, but I am not sure how the progress on that has gone.

Magic is quite prevalent as well. All of my "powers" are either my own magic, or magic that was gifted to me by my patron Goddess, The Pale Maiden. And yes, Gods and Goddesses are very real, and they will frequently descend to walk among us or offer guidance if we are devoted enough and request it.

The Pale Maiden is a Goddess of...shall way say the natural cycle of life and death? She does not wish for death or an end, but oversees the natural course of things. She is the promise that after tragedy or loss, something new will arise. It is that promise that I am devoted to, and the reason she accepted me.

I was also a leader in my world, but the title and rank I held have no meaning here. Here, I am a Multi Cultural Events Coordinator, and I would like to begin by focusing on the wide array of different cultures that we, as imPorts, come from. So, to begin, I have a question for all of you:

What has been the greatest difference from your home world that you've experienced since coming here? What change has been impossible to ignore?

I have many more questions I would love to ask, but I believe this will make for a fine start.

Comments

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[flightforfreedom]

didn't really put a lot of stock in the idea of gods until i actually met some, here, so

i think you'll find that people believe that they exist more than they might have otherwise

as for the greatest differences

personally?

being stuck on one rock out of few billion

i can't believe we're only now getting to this planet's moon.

[lastofthebog]

You are not the first I've met who's felt that way. It must be quite an astounding ability to be able to travel between planets so easily. I must say I'm rather envious of it.

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[ghoulking]

I believe we talked about it before, the lack of an extra sentient species. [ his own ]

[lastofthebog]

We did, yes. I am missing several from my own world as well, and it's quite a strange thing to realize. I still find myself expecting to read about a species other than humans here, but it just doesn't exist.

At least we have some variety among imPorts.

[Text]

[generalgrievous]

There are vast differences between all the worlds in the galaxy. My own home world was not as technologically advanced as some, however I am well away of many technologies over my time of traversing space.

Coming here has provoked many changes in form and focus since there may be tension but there is a decided lack of actual battles.

[lastofthebog]

Another space traveler then?

I hope the lack of battles is a welcome change. What sort of tension have you found here instead?

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[fehus]

less apocalyptic shit hitting the fan, honestly. less death.

what exactly are you coordinating?

[lastofthebog]

That's quite a welcome change. I am glad you're getting something of a break here.

It seems that I'm free to coordinate any event I would like, as long as it encourages awareness of other cultures. I'm hoping that the answers I receive here will give me some ideas I can use to arrange one soon.

[slightlyoffchilt]

The paranormal abilities of imPorts is incredibly foreign to my world. Along with the substantially lowered rate of serial murderers.

[lastofthebog]

Serial murderer...? I can make a good guess as to the meaning, but that is not a term I've heard before. How common is it in your world to have earned a phrase specific to it?

[continuousgroaning]

we didn't have superpowers at all where i come from, so that's the biggest thing.

that and time seemed to work weird. i'm 13, my brother is 11 and my sister is 9. we all obviously grew to those ages because mom and dad have pictures of us when we were younger, and i remember things from being a kid. but once i reached 13 it stopped. we'd go through school years and holidays and stuff and never age. but none of us noticed or thought it was weird either.

[lastofthebog]

I'm sorry; you stopped aging in YOUR world? How long has it lasted?

[governorkang]

After four years, one gets used to many of the differences. No matter how long I am here, though, I will never get used to this world's lack of any race other than human.

It often makes my interactions with the Natives... interesting. I still can't get one of my coworkers to stop using 'wife' when referring to my mate.

[lastofthebog]

I couldn't agree more. Should I take it that you are not human yourself?

Whether you are or not, it's quite inconsiderate of your coworker to ignore your customs in that regard. Are they a native or a fellow imPort?

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[reexamined]

Being respected as a sentient individual, for the most part.

I could argue the lack of technology, lack of spaceflight, and lack of other alien species is a large difference, but I find that that has less of an affect on me on a regular basis, by comparison of a simple change in attitude.

video

[lastofthebog]

[ Galla switches her own video on too, revealing that she's an old woman bundled up in a fluffy house robe with a warm mug of coffee. She does look surprised to see K-2S0; fascinated and enthralled at the mere idea of a robot, but it's a feeling she's doing her best to keep to herself. ]

Really? I have to admit I've never seen a being like yourself before, but even listening to you for this short minute it seems obvious that you're as much a person as I am. [ She pauses, head tilting curiously. ]

Although...you do look like a person of technology rather than a person of flesh like myself. Does the lack of technology affect your...hm. Would it be called medical care for you?

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[itssacrifice]

For the most part this place is pretty similar to my world. What with the superheroes and the alternate dimension travel and all that. The major differences are:

1. You don't have to register with anyone to be a hero.
2. My world left the Cold War panic behind several decades ago. (Mostly)
3. Certain cities here: Maurtia Falls, Nonah, etc. don't exist.

[lastofthebog]

1. The registration is, I think, the most distasteful part of this new world. I don't know that I'll ever be comfortable with it.

2. Mostly?

3. I'm told they were built specifically to be save havens for imPorts, so that is unsurprising.

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[rebelarchivist]

The biggest difference? I've only been here a few days, so everything is very different yet. But the one I've least been able to ignore is that there is no Fade.

But you say your magic still functions here? Is it much the same as it was back in your own world? Does it work by the same principles and in the same fashion? You mentioned a Goddess that you follow, does that Goddess exist here as well? Have you communicated with her as you would back in your own world?

I'm sorry if I seem overly curious, but I've found that while my... well I hesitate to call it my magic, but it functions here, yes. But not in the same way or by the same principle that it functioned back in my own world. It's like... trying to play a harp with thick gloves on. I try to light a candle and instead turn the entire thing into a puddle of wax. And that's if I'm lucky and I don't make the damn thing explode. And these clothes they gave me are nowhere near as durable against flying globs of molten wax.

[lastofthebog]

There is no need to apologize. This is precisely the sort of conversation I was hoping to spark. I hope you won't mind that I have some questions of my own for you as well.

As far as I've been able to tell it is the same magic, although I haven't had much reason to test my ability to heal or my earth magics yet. My Maiden, however, is definitely not here. I have always been able to speak with her at will in the past, but since arriving here... She has not answered a single one of my calls. I have not been able to even summon the sacred beast she granted me. I cannot remember the last time I couldn't summon her to me.

I am sorry your magic feels dull. It sounds dreadful to have to deal with. Could it have something to do with this Fade that is missing? What is the Fade?

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[viced]

These are all very excellent questions.

It's interesting, because this world still has the Cold War, which is something that ended almost thirty years ago now. It's a little disconcerting to be back in a world with a mindset that's been antiquated for literal decades. When I was a kid, we'd do the drills, but... Even then, the tensions were slowly crumbling in a way they aren't here.

As for what's impossible to ignore... I think it's the embrace of corporate technology. Companies that can use your DNA to create a scent that works for you specifically is cool as shit, but also...kind of makes the old hippie in me a little nervous.

[lastofthebog]

[ There's something of a delay while she responds to other imPorts and, more importantly, looks up what some of those words mean. ]

I...see.

No, I'm sorry, I don't. I understand about the continuing war that ended in your world, but what is this about DNA? If I'm understanding this Wikipedia right, it's...something like your essence? People would GIVE that away to someone? To a strange business?

[youresovein]

Where to begin! When I was a young man, we had to sit for hours to have selfies painted.

[fehus]

wouldn't you have to paint it yourself?

for it to be a selfie.

+1 teenage mythology nerd

[disentombs]

I've found that the "brand" of magic, if you will, that existed in my home world is not present here. There is far more magic here compared to there, but otherwise it's not very different.

Do tell about the gods and goddesses of your world. Have you discovered any equivalent beings here or that may have existed in other time periods or universes?

[lastofthebog]

Hm.

I am not sure. I did speak briefly with a God of thunder here, but he did not remind me of my own God of thunder. Much more interested in his family, even when he was meeting new members for the first time.

I met a child of the gods as well, but I did not think to ask what his domain was, or the domain of his father. I suppose he reminded me a little of my own Maiden, but only because of his capacity for healing.

So I suppose my answer is yes and no. I have met other Gods since arriving here and I would assume they are equivalent in their power and dominion over different aspects of existence, but I have not met any that would make me think of home specifically.

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[pummelgranite]

[ This was long and she would not have read it, except... ]

So you served a death goddess?

[lastofthebog]

And of new life, but yes. Death itself is solely in the domain of my Maiden.

[d33tached]

Good evening, Galla.

It seems that you have been adjusting rather well since your arrival. I hadn't realized that "magic" itself was so commonplace in the world from whence you came.

I suppose its presence in this world would be the greatest difference that I have experienced - any sort of supernatural ability, that is.

"Superpowers" is what I suppose they are more commonly called here.

[It's not really a dishonest answer, though, when D33 does stop to think about the differences that he's experienced between this world and the one from which he came, the presence of superpowers is, oddly enough, not the first thing that comes to mind.]

[lastofthebog]

D33, it is good to hear from you again.

I see... Then both magic and Gods were not truly present in your world? It must have been quite a shock to find yourself with powers when you arrived here.

Have you come to appreciate them now? You do not need to tell me what they are if you prefer not to. I'm only curious what your feelings about them are, whatever they are.

video.

[functusofficio]

I see you found your most important question.

We've spoken some on this already. For me, it would have to remain the ability to access only one planet and there being only one sentient species within it.

How goes the knowledge gathering?

Video

[lastofthebog]

[ Galla obliges by turning on her own video, although she's clearly dressed for a day lounging around the house. A fluffy bathrobe is wrapped snugly around her, and her hair is pinned back in a loose bun. ]

I must say, it is a relief to hear as many answers about the species of this world as I have. I believe you are the fourth.

I'm getting an interesting set of answers so far, although I'll have to take some time to review them as a whole to see what I can learn from them.

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[partoftheirheart]

I think maybe that there's only one World.

Uhh... Planet. Place? It's all in one place!

Plus, there are a few foods that are different. And sports, too.

[lastofthebog]

Another common answer. It is surprising to find so many people accustomed to more than one.

What about the food and sports though? Is there something missing that was present in your world? Worlds?

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[k31rfree]

[K31 thinks on this question for a bit, staring down at her phone for a long while before typing up a message. Something that she feels strongly about. It feels relevant now.]

It seems that is one thing that differs greatly from my world. At least from yours. The Gods there were never real.

I've found that personal liberties are rather welcome in this world. That was unheard of for me where I came from. I was not permitted any of the pleasures I have encountered in my month of living here.

[lastofthebog]

They do not seem to be real in this one either, apart from other imPorts who can claim that status. That too is an aberration to me... The idea that a God could be pulled from their own world to this one and made to stay.

I hope you have been enjoying the freedom you have here. It's a freedom you should have always had, and even this feels restrictive to me.