Stories from The Stellar: Harris' Visit

0:00Welcome to Stories from the Stellar. This story, Harris' visit is a standalone tale ahead of the release of the Stellar origins, a fundraiser series that will be a page-shan exclusive. No worries though, this story introduces you a bit to the world. You can check out the existing stories on fastforward.info, no need to even sign up, and we will share the first story from the Stellar origins here on the public podcast so that you can decide whether you want to pay to get access to the series now and help fast forward paid web hosting bill, or wait for whenever the Stellar to TRPG or tabletop role playing game receives an upgrade to hear the rest then. Please note that this podcast is made possible through patrons supporting our efforts. There's a link in the description where we really appreciate you recognizing the effort we put into this. If you can afford even a cup of coffee and support, we seriously genuinely appreciate it. Now for the story. Harris' visit.

1:01Preface is saying this story might have a couple slightly preachy seeming lines, but don't worry, it's not a preachy story. Okay, so Harris' visit. So it's named the Stellar, quote unquote, and just anybody can come to one as Harris? Well yeah, we interview potential housemates, make sure we think we'll get along, but yeah, it's all free and anyone is welcome. Explain Satya. So like, I don't pay rent, I have free food growing in the garden and greenhouse, I can go to the 3D printer and feed it to organic matter, I just find around the place to make anything I'm missing, and I have all the time when the world takes for my psyche, work on my issues, or even learning magic. Well, the magic part is we don't know what it is really is yet, sit Satya cautiously. We're kind of learning as we go, tapping into ancestral practices, but yeah, pretty much. It's a costless way to become an expert in your own humanity rather than a factory worker.

2:02We are in 2045, it's a time where we can push for better life styles than times where everyone just live to work and works to live. We're no longer driving off to our own demise with unequal ecological systems, we're no longer in the crisis, the world kind of works now, we have time to think about ourselves and who we want to be. This is a place to do that. There are more and more stellers around the world and it's really caught on in the public imagination since we started getting news coverage in 2040. Five years later and anyone who wants a mental health break thinks immediately of joining a stellar, it's a nice time to come on board, we're no longer seen as weirdo enclaves. Uh, Harris interrupted, the weirdo thing still sticks. Really, Satya? Yeah, really chuckled Harris. Sorry, it's the magic stuff. You pass stellers and see people mixing powders and doing all sorts of weird stuff, people think you're bad neighbors. Not uh, conquered Satya with a laugh, we always give food to our neighbors, people love us.

3:03Maybe here but not where I'm from, Satya. Well, can't win them all but we certainly will try, there's nothing wrong with being weird. Magic though, Ashtaris? Yeah, well, we noticed way back that mental health and herbalism make a good pairing, especially with decentralized medicine these days making your own cure, it kind of happened organically. Also, people who are outside of the norm were once your tribes medicine man, local oracle, the seer, the witch doctor, carers of a different sort. Service oriented divergence. There was a place for them. In the world we just left, instead the place for them was a mental hospital. This is a sort of return to Eden quote-unquote. We have a place in society that the modern quote-unquote world forgot. We're finding our roots again. It's not mandatory or anything if that's getting in the way of you staying here though. I'm kind of teasing Satya Harris and kind of trying to find where the catch is. You make it sound so ideal. There's gotta be a catch. Oh, laughs, Satya, there's plenty.

4:08One, magic. You got dark quote-unquote magic. We don't like this over the Austrian dichotomy of lighting dark quote-unquote. We tend to say gravity in quotes. So you've got grave magic in quotes. Alluding to death for a reason, you fear for your life when you hurt others because you fret over retaliation. It's a mortality aware type of magic to harm others with it. So grave magic is discouraged. But humans are humans and sellers don't overpolice. Anyone can make a stellar. They just have to go through the inspection and be upfront about what kind of show they're running to be indexed. We are going for a quote-unquote universal moral arc bends towards justice and quote-unquote karmic timeline kind of thing where between local policing and self-regulation, people will eventually find their way towards the good. But stethers are enclaves of chaos. Each one different in what they will tolerate. Some people use grave magic. The rest of us use growth magic. Some use gris. What's that? Ask Tarris. They were in the sun room sat having tea and it was a

5:09pleasant place with stained glass art of a sun and crescent moon in balance filtering afternoon sun lights in pinks, signs, purples and burnt orange. Gris is the slimy, annoying mosquito hovering by your air wanting your blood but too chicken to do anything about it. It's people who wish to do you harm but don't want to get in trouble. They operate in the in between and can't be pinned down like a slimy worm slithering away from being caught due to their slick stupid ways. Okay this is personal. Harris could tell. Yeah, side-satia. Can't pin them down. Wrestling within all-up sumo. Harris laughed. So there are drawbacks bad people in the network. Yep, so nothing is perfect and the worst part is that this is just a part of the human spirit that persists. You cater to people's basic needs, give them therapy, provide them with all the tools needed to self-actualize and excel at whatever they choose, but free will and curiosity persists and people do

6:11bad things just because they can now. Of course it's less people because the reasons for doing bad things have narrowed but they still remain and it's almost worse because they do it just because they want to and some of them have a religious fervor about it which is yeah not based on anything rational you can argue with. Why didn't you guys do something about it Harris asked? We have gathering dedicated to working on it. We pondered philosophically how much should be reign in free will and ostracize it but ultimately if they do something illegal it's for the law and if it's legal like someone who uses a doll and whispers cursors on you every night well I don't know you can't lock them up. Yeah but you don't need to house and feed them either or sit Harris. Yeah but if it's their house they build okay then you don't need to be affiliated. We think it's gonna work out to some ultimate good and we try to persuade people off-brave paths we try and we definitely point out the instances where karma acts to show the logic of falling growth paths but in the end

7:11horse water drink etc so not an idyllic bucolic utopia then asked Harris far from it but we're getting close and if they're not in your house then it's pretty darn good hence the interview process such a epicum percentage so how am I doing asked Harris pretty good said Sasi around a monthful you're asking all the right questions nice I would really enjoy it here he said I have so much childhood trauma to unpack gay guy in the countryside amongst inarguable beliefs some people picking the love and acceptance quote-unquote part of the scripture some more enamored with fire and brimstone quote-unquote gravity and growth said Sasiya it applies to most of society actually you're not supposed to practice witchcraft or horde and scripture said Harris he found a coconut macrune with a candy cherry on top from the teared snack tray to try this is true but again with the universal moral arc

8:11and allowing people to grow into themselves said Satiya we need their discourage nor encourage we give people the freedom to find their own answers we have some people who find their solace in scripture in meditation in song in art in dance it's not just one thing we do get a name for ourselves with witchcraft stuff just because well it's kind of flashy and it seems to be growing in strength that sounds scary said Harris eh magic or no humans are scary when they succumb to gravity I guess do you want to tour now as Satiya sure but I wanted to try this cream puff looking thing first the snacks are so yummy you can thank kata or culinary expert she's a professional chef on pizabatical with us and she just takes everything from the garden and greenhouses and works magic such a winked and Harris laughed she's been with us for six months so all her fermenting preserves are coming in now we are so spoiled Satiya kata said Harris he he we took it as a sign when she interviewed with us

9:15Satiya got to her feet taking up another cucumber sign as she did we can actually walk with the tray nice said Harris he picked it up by the round hook at the top and let Satiya lead the way they walked through the large space and old clinic turned into a house this would be your room Satiya the previous person she sounded uncharacteristically serious or even a bit unpleasant they finished their time with us uh oh what's with the tone asked Harris um nothing said Satiya no come on he held up the tray I'll give you a piece of cake if you tell me otherwise I won't share the snacks Satiya laughed it's that grist thing I told you about the previous person well yeah oh Harris lowered the tray I'm so sorry did they do stuff to you we can't tell she said at the top and frustrated sort of smile that showed a veneer of pleasantness that she had to maintain given that she had no proper

10:16evidence of something to be upset about that sucks what happened I mean you don't have to tell me I can show you actually we caught it on camera and still can't do crap about it thank god they're gone is all and we're not letting them back in she finished with the pouch I'd like to see it to Kara seriously I need to know what to watch out for yeah I don't know if you'll see it though Satiya they walked to the den it was a cozy room with the curtains drawn a receptionist desk still in place to show the former use of the space as a clinic and a projector screen behind the receptionist desk had a few closed glass containers of snacks nuts and candies Harris wanted to take from it but felt really while still holding the snack tray there was a sofa against the wall where waiting room seats normally would have been Satiya turned on the projector and attached her phone to the cable she tapped her screen a few times when a video appeared on the projector screen Shin Harris sat down on the sofa so for some background info Satiya began to say we sat next to each other

11:21metallic snap tray in between them Liam was with us for three months I am the right scholar here it makes me the most senior quote unquote person who assists everyone arranging their learning I administer test scenarios to ensure people are achieving what they wanted to when they interviewed to come I also lead daily lectures during the week of one hour based on the specialization of the stellar that people chose to be here for and to discuss philosophical topics related to people's studies and journey I'm like a professor at a super relaxed university right Harris knotted Liam didn't like that he came from a super religious background in what was likely a cult and he believed that he should be the right scholar he was after my job instead of like going to another stellar and trying to be the scholar there like a normal person he thought I wasn't good enough how do you know that did he say it Harris asked it's more what he didn't say he would never address me by title when he like introduced me to people didn't happen often but I always noticed they'd visit him his friends or whatever and they'd say who is this and he'd be like

12:25oh this is Satiya and then they'd ask what does she do and he'd be like oh she assists around here like I was well like a maid or yard worker or something which I don't care but also he would be like asking me about my job and stuff and he asked more than once with like a really puzzled expression how did you get to be a ripe scholar it was never oh how did you you know it was always how did you with an emphasis and I would just get a bit irritated but who cared right okay Harris sounded responsible and remained cautious and open to hear the full story yet so I didn't care right he would sometimes say something about women like why is she studying solar power she's 36 and single stuff like that oh brother sexist cult background he can't help himself and it was distinctly not a part of his study to unearth that and I couldn't force it he was here for the magic he'd like left his past behind in his parents cult and had gone super hardcore from a belief in a fire regard to a fiery magic he just switched out extremism

13:28basically and every time I implied he may want to do some self inquiry he would just dismiss it as a whiny woman stuff to talk about feelings all the time and that the feminization of society had led to men becoming children oh gross said Harris yes he was anyway so like all this is happening and guarding him to grow more as he might like traditions he might want to study looking for all the growth opportunities trying to suddenly imply you need therapy good friend etc doing my job that's my job this is my show etc next thing now we have a neighborhood block party we throw one every season to share excess crops with the feast good music local performers local arts and show and when it's autumn we also have a craft fair section for people to sell local make goods for Christmas presents nice time right oh that does sound good my aunt makes these candles because she sell them here oh for sure yeah she's super welcome nice Harris made a note to self the messages

14:28aren't what he was done okay sorry go on so like leading up to this like a month before we had a new comer to the house and I quite liked him and we got involved pretty soon after he moved in ooh girl getting your freedom he's Harris sautee giggled I mean I know it's a bit you know I'm in charge and so power imbalance in whatever but the guy was close to becoming a ripe scholar himself so you know blurred lines and whatever okay you guys still seeing each other he asked no he's a ripe scholar in Asia and I'm seeing this girl who works at the neighborhood bakery now but whenever he visits we get down and dirty and it's like on again off again because he's also seeing someone else too so oh so Harris sounds complicated it isn't isn't but yeah we got involved pretty quickly I just really liked him so like in week one we did it in the sunroom and Liam Cardis after that he would like text me and and he don't got no vocabulary really but all

15:29of a sudden he found every reason to say however but he always misspelled it without the w Harris gasped what he said yeah however calling me a ho basically but when I had challenged him about it kind of like asking what's with the misspelling bro he was all typo so I wasn't sure girl that's shades at Harris in the dramatic whisper I'm gay I know shade that's shade all up in them guts I know right but I can't say anything so fine I go along anyway deal with this crap and unnecessary however next thing now we're getting ready for the block party we're deciding on the theme he suggests charity nice right knowing him no sit Harris already citing Satya she smirked I'm like oh cool charity how would you do that Harris nodded following along he says well like how this stellar is so nice to let you lead in stuff like that I thought it might be something we extended the community Harris gasped again I would not take that if I were you

16:35he snipes like this all the time it's exhausting so why did you do Harris asked my job just asked if anyone else had any suggestions so Harris is a bit puzzled is this the grist thing I'm not quite it's more indicative of the type of personality and build up towards grist the kind of way the person is to do it if you get me totally said Harris just shady people got it yeah I would not be able to keep my cool with all that crap and supporting him learning stuff well you have to teach you know said Satya it's a job not every student is gonna be great and it's also like not a hierarchy thing so I don't have to be respected or anything I'm here to assist okay so what happens next next s**t you have tada s**t we have a dinner with all the ripe scholars in advanced stellar acolytes in the area the ones who have been around a while and are on their way to becoming ripe scholars themselves

17:38grimy lian tries to ingratiate himself with them but they like me more than they're gonna like him obviously because they know me also because you're very likable said Harris ha flattery will get you everywhere said Satya with a chuckle i am trying really hard to get in he jokes don't worry about that she said kindly anyway so yeah all of a sudden he's talking about life back home and he says you know back where i'm from Satya would be bowing down to me you said Harris shaking his head yeah but luckily no one really likes him for it just makes him stand out in a bad way everyone kind of directs the attention back to me and how things are going with my other acolytes and how i'm doing we kind of ignore Liam and his antics good he sounds so unpleasant and jealous sometimes he was nice but yeah anyway we finally get to the big day so here's the video of the book party said Satya she played the video it was too noisy to hear what anyone was saying

18:39with the musical the performer on the stage at the beginning of the clip in focus however the camera pan and Satya was seen speaking to a brown haired man with a goatee and a long sleeve teal turtlenecks shirt and cocky pants he and Satya were having a heated discussion and suddenly Satya stopped speaking her eyes bulged and she then proceeded to bow to the man who smiled in unpleasant and somewhat frightening smile before turning away and leaving the video stopped oh said Harris what did i just see there okay look at his right hand when i played back she played the video again although the camera was facing the man's left side at one point his right hand appears to be holding something round like a ping pong ball or a small cushion with a picture on it that was unclear as his thumb covered the image he pressed upon the cushion and suddenly satya curved in a bow his eyes glitter with some mix of surprise and satisfaction then he leaves

19:41what's he doing as Harris why did you bow to him okay satya he and i were talking well i had asked him to bring out more appetizers from the kitchen he had responded how if a woman had told him to do kitchen work back home she would have been shuttered in the punishment house for a week i got angry instead if he keeps on talking about stuff like that that i might have to ask him to leave the house because i was getting sick and tired of off his misogyny he gets angry but says nothing he presses that cushion thing and i never saw it but i just know it's my picture on it he presses it and i suddenly start to crow forward without any real understanding of why i'm doing it it's an involuntary movement of my body he sees that his magic studies are turning into something real he leaves he leaves the house entirely soon after and i'm pretty sure the last whispers i heard from the other ripe scholars is that he was seen in a stellar intubate studying gravity forces at this stellar that's super hard to reach and super secretive that we're worried about the worst

20:42of the worst go and seek out that stellar and magic if you could do that to me magic is getting more potent i've never experienced something like that i bowed and i couldn't really understand why or how it just happened i hated it satya's eyes shown with tears she blinks how is that grist though asteris he totally did that we can't say for sure there's nothing definitive satya sniffed he's gone so good brilliance why else would you bow though asteris the other scholars say it looks like i leaned forward you bowed though yeah i didn't lean forward for anything i wanted to get away from that fricking cheeside they say there's nothing definitive or illegal they can't do anything he made you bow with witchcraft said Harris it's like a voodoo doll thing and his eyes you can tell how happy he is he got it to work how horrible i'm so sorry satya i know but it's not illegal yet

21:45this is why it's against scripture Harris his yeah i don't know i've seen people do really cool things with their growth magic again it's down to the person that guy when his parents came to visit one time their nose up in the air reaching and quoting the old testament all day long and cursing condemning us the hell and everything i could see why he was the way he was they did not come back to our den of inequity quote unquote and they nearly disowned him he needed a stellar for sure he just wasn't using it correctly i wish he could have taught him said Harris horse water drink etc repeated satya can't you like force someone to drink if you plug their nose he countered satya laughed Harris she stated juggling do you want to move in Harris nodded yes i do i'm gonna protect you from that guy satya smiled i can protect myself she said simply but i'm happy to have the backup i'm serious though said Harris i'm gonna learn what he did and make it so

22:47no one ever does that to you again that sounds horrible there's gotta be a way to guard against it you think we can make it so people are protected against stuff like that and that there are laws against it she asked yeah besides working on myself it's also work on that he stated for rindy satya smiled i'd hug you she said but we don't really know each other that well if you could level up on that right scholar week one you can hug me as it Harris teazingly satya laughed place the snuck tray on the table beside her and hug tarris i'll make sure you have the time of your life here she whispered i think i'll love it even with the scary guys he whispered back the end and that was stories from the stellar Harris's visit hope you enjoyed it and we would love to hear what it's certain you as you listened and whether you want more let us know on the page on the mastodon or on fast forward where these stories find their home the sellers currently being workshoped to be an infinitely replayable lunar punk tabletop role playing strategy game based

23:50on custom lunar punk tarot cards and the moon solar cycle of 33 years we have quite some work to get it there and in the meantime there are stories we've got bills bleh and so we are rolling out a series of stories from the stellar defundaries are web hosting fee so get ready for more stories from this world and share it around build the hype and let's share visions of a lunar punk future you can also get jiggy with us on fast forward where we game a fight climate action that's f-a-s-t-f-r-w-r-d dot-i-n-f-o hope to see you there this podcast has been offset through trees.org planting food forests in climates chicken regions and was recorded in Jamaica for my territory of the taino music from the lunar punk lounge at all bye