132 réponses à ce sujet

[Navasha]

So what would the life of a typical Qunari citizen really look like?   Qunari society is highly controlled with a major focus on efficiency.    Here is how I would imagine the typical role of Farmer is carried out from day to day in probably any Qunari village or city.


  The farmers all awake to the sound of a bell ringing from across the room.   They all sleep in bunkbeds 20-30 in a room.   They dress in all the same attire and sit around a giant table, where the meal-preparers bring out a couple large trays filled with simple brown bowls filled with a rather bland tasting nutrient protein paste.    They quickly eat this up while sitting in silent contemplation of the day's tasks.   
  
  The plates are again collected and all rise and walk outside and form 5 perfectly formed and uniform lines.   Before them stands a member of the priesthood and a very identifiable member of the Ben-Hassrath (another member of this secret police force is also one of these 30 farmers, though none of them knows who that might be).    The priestess leads them all in reciting the relevant portion of the Qun relating to their role.   Repetition is key.   The Ben-Hassrath watch them all closely with trained eyes looking for any sign of non-compliance or disdain for the words being spoken. 

As the first rays of the sun break the Horizon, the farmers all walk quickly to their designated fields, stopping only briefly at a small building to be handed their tools for the day.    They go about diligently tending their fields.   Plowing, hoeing, weeding, watering.   When the sun reaches the apex in the sky, one of the Qunari "merchants" arrives bringing the mid-day food allowance.  They halt long enough to be handed water and another bowl of paste, which is consumed quickly taking great care to get every bit and not waste a drop.   They return to their fields.

As the sun begins to set, they gather again into a line and are marched back to town.   Stopping to turn in their tools, which are marked and cataloged for damage by a Qunari of another craftsmen role.   They line up again before the priestess, who delivers another sermon about the unity and strength of the Qunari, offering the closest thing to gratitude that they will ever see.   They then return to their barracks where they partake of the last meal of the day, another bowl of nutrient paste but this time with a slice of Qunari cheese.

At this point there are a few hours with which each Qunari has 'to themselves'.   Most seek the healers to tend to the days wounds.   Others meditate on the day, resting their bodies, and contemplating actions for the following day that may aid in their farming tasks.   The younger members are taught by the older members the techniques that are the most useful and efficient.    The bell is again sounded and all return to their bunks, where they promptly fall asleep.   Each day and every day follows a similar structure regardless of weather.    


This is how I see Qunari efficiency.   Workers dedicated to solely to the task they have been assigned.   No 'free' time.  No education for anything that lies outside of the task assigned.    Let me know how you envision Qunari life for the "average" Qunari because I honestly want to know what so many people see in this that is so compelling.

[David7204]

That sounds familiar.

[Richardthelionbutt]

Sounds like my average day at work :/

[Potato Cat]

I've read somewhere that Qunari labourers generally have a quota they have to fulfil, and as long as that daily/weekly/monthly quota is filled, they have performed their role. Outside of that, we know they have have hobbies, so long as it doesn't interfere with their role. Sten likes art and other big softie items for example. Whether he's a collector, or an actual artist isn't clear. (I like to imagine he dabbles when he's stationed in Qunari territory) And of course, they can spend timed with their family, or just do that while they work. They also have their own tool which they keep. It's symbolic of their role and key to it. They look after it like Sten looks after Asala. They can have clothes, as much as they would need, but they need to look after their clothes themselves and obviously keep them together.

More recently I read about rural Qunari areas. My interpretation was they each had their own small house, if not large house with which they shared with their family, and the village itself has a grid layout. And that whatever the weather idea you have seems silly to me. If they are out in the pouring rain every day they would get sick, a lot. And being in such close quarters as you imagine would only serve to spread it quicker. Not to mention the constant work you think they do would no doubt send them to the Qunari care homes early.

[Navasha]

Elfman wrote...

 And of course, they can spend timed with their family, or just do that while they work.
.

Families?   Would there even be such a thing?   I don't get the impression that children are raised by their parents.   Efficiency would best be served if all children were raised together under the tutelage of someone in that role.

Elfman wrote...
More recently I read about rural Qunari areas. My interpretation was they each had their own small house, if not large house with which they shared with their family, and the village itself has a grid layout. And that whatever the weather idea you have seems silly to me. If they are out in the pouring rain every day they would get sick, a lot. And being in such close quarters as you imagine would only serve to spread it quicker. Not to mention the constant work you think they do would no doubt send them to the Qunari care homes early.   

Individual houses also sounds pretty wasteful.   That's a lot of extra space being wasted.   I have worked at theme parks in my youth and the dorms there consisted of a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and 8 bedrooms with 2 beds to a room.   

Modifié par Navasha, 07 octobre 2013 - 12:31 .

[TK514]

1. Wake up
2. Spend day in mindless slavery to the Qun
3. Go to sleep.

[Potato Cat]

Navasha wrote...

Elfman wrote...

 And of course, they can spend timed with their family, or just do that while they work.
.

Families?   Would there even be such a thing?   I don't get the impression that children are raised by their parents.   Efficiency would best be served if all children were raised together under the tutelage of someone in that role.  

Sorry, using the Qunari definition there. Children are indeed given to the Tamassrans where they spend their lives up until the age of twelve, (at least), there they are raised, educated and tested for aptitude. I imagine at twelve, when they recieve their first role, they are sent to older Qunari who had that role for tutoring and further specialisation and training.

As for the family, the Qunari consider their co workers family, and those are the ones they generally form emotional bonds with, (though Tallis didn't like her family when she was Athlok, but to be fair, they were humans)

[Johun]

Sten mentions they would find empty homes when investigating Tal-Vashoth. Qunari civilians likely don't live in barracks.

The Arishok also corrects Hawke when they call the rule of the Qun military. People indoctrinated into discipline all their life wouldn't necessarily need to display it outwardly, such as marching in formation everywhere.

Qunari cuisine wouldn't be quite so plain. They have mostly settled I ttropical regions, there would be fresh fruit and vegetables aplenty. You mention farmers,  what are they farming? A homesick Sten mentions the smell of tea, spices and the sea. I'd take my chances with Qunari cuisine over Alistair's traditional Fereldan lamb and pea stew.

[David7204]

I can't tell if you consider this 'efficiency' good or not.

If it was effective, they should certainly be eating something other than gruel.

[Richardthelionbutt]

As a member of the Technological Departments, this is my image of your day.
The mind of the Qunari is split into three departments,
Economics and Logistics
General Sciences
Military Sciences

Each department consists of a ladder based on merit. Each department contains several different subsections of "scholars" researching on how to improve the life of the Qunari. Each of these groups must submit some kind of innovative concept that also must be applicable and straightforward in a given time. Groups that do not submit any kind of progress will be reassembled into other groups or departments. Individuals that exhibit special talent or are extremely active participants and thinkers can rise up the ladder into more advanced positions. Due to the higher level of education required in these fields, a secondary school of learning will be established besides from the Tamassrans, staffed by accomplished "scholars" who are closely monitored by the Tamassrans. Daily needs like Food and Free Time are traded with a system of credits, in which the more you accomplish, the more credits you earn. Leisurely time is carefully given to optimize working efficiency. The mind of the Qunari is perhaps the least materialistic part of a Qunari, yet it is highly important in order for the other two counterparts to operate efficiently. This is why the departments are also guarded by Ben-Hassrath, making sure that the higher level of education this specific group receives do not conflict with their views on the Qun.

[Potato Cat]

Yeah the paste thing seems weird to me too. I think it was Gaider who said the only reason the Qunari don't have cookies is because biscuits were apparently first created by using leftovers. Qunari efficiency means there is no leftovers, and so they never had biscuits. Sad that. But they had the ingredients, they are making proper food.

[David7204]

Perhaps now would be a good time to point out that efficient and productive are often very different things.

For example, the bicycle is the most efficient mass-moving machine ever invented by man. It doesn't pack quite the same punch as a jet engine, however.

[Giant ambush beetle]

This sounds very much like an agrarian version of my time in the military, well, if you leave out the ''free time'' part.

[Lokiwithrope]

"For you, the day I entered your village was the most important day of your life. But for me... it was Tuesday."

Modifié par Lokiwithrope, 07 octobre 2013 - 03:19 .

[sky_captain]

Lokiwithrope wrote...

"For you, the day I entered your village was the most important day of your life. But for me... it was Tuesday."

But why, why do they still call me a warlord? And mad? All I want is to creat the perfect genetic soldier, not for power, not for evil, but for good

[sandalisthemaker]

They are like insect colonies. A combination of termite and killer bee describes the Qunari quite well.

[GodWood]

>Farmers farm food all day.
>Only eat bland protein paste.

Yup.

My own vision of the typical "Qunari lifestyle" is similar to that of Elfman's. An individual will have their daily quota that they need to fulfil and once that is complete they have performed their role.

Outside of that there would be the occasional mandatory education in the basics of the Qun in particular the passages relevant to their own role as well as numerous 'group activities' and exercises to encourage solidarity and group cohesion.

The idea of the Qunari being 'insular, soulless, automatons' seems to be entirely contradicted by Sten's interactions with his comrades in the Fade.

[HSomCokeSniper]

TK514 wrote...

1. Wake up
2. Spend day in mindless slavery to the Qun deadlifting and stuffing proteins
3. Go to sleep.

Fixed

[Rolling Flame]

Tupexi wrote...

TK514 wrote...

1. Wake up
2. Spend day in mindless slavery to the Qun deadlifting and stuffing proteins
3. Go to sleep.

Fixed

I probably enjoyed that a little too much.

[LOLandStuff]

I'd say very boring but who would know that since they can't try any other activities.

[Reznore57]

I don't think they are bots .
We've only met armies /soldiers , I'm sure they are a "normal " society .
They probably have social gathering , free time etc...

[Kidd]

While much of this is likely accurate, I think your bias is showing

Some points,

1) No reason for the protein paste, as you mention it. This contradicts what we've read about the Qunari already for one, and doesn't sound very efficient for the second. You'd need balance, otherwise you may end up catching scurvy or similar diseases. This balance would automatically bring with it plenty of taste. Spice keep bacteria away, so they would not have to eat plain food without seasoning.

2) They are already educated and have learnt the benefits of the Qun. They don't need to listen to somebody hammering that in every morning and evening. That sounds more like something you'd do to war prisoners.

3) Your description of their free time sounds needlessly negative. While I wouldn't know their exact schedules, an overworked body is hardly a well-functioning body. Free time would indeed exist, and with less people amassing money from previous hard work or mere luck there will be more bodies to look after the work that needs to be done - thus the hard worker's tasks will be lessened. Social time, especially amongst family, is not discouraged at all nor seen as only an excuse to teach juniors how to better ply their trade. But I imagine, like so often in our society, people would bond over such activities as well just like you say.

4) Sick or dead Qunari do not benefit the Qun. They would not work under conditions hazardous to them. Whether that means they get to sit on their asses or if crucial crops are tended to under a roof, with the Qunari given plenty in the ways of warm clothes, I do not know. It does not really matter any way.

What is compelling about the Qun? A society without economic oppression. A society where there is no fear of being fired and starving to death should you screw up at work tomorrow. A society where nobody has to feel like they are useless. The virtues and duties of your life are defined so that you can work with what you are good at and never have to under- or oversell yourself.

[Navasha]

My reason for assuming a protein nutrient bland food is again for efficiency. You would have members whose role it is to prepare the food for the masses. It would be wasteful and time consuming for everyone to drop their own activities to prepare their own food. You don't cook the same way when you are preparing large quantities of food. Soups, gruels, large vats of vegetables would be the most efficient way to prepare such meals.

I would also assume that these meal preparers will have refined their techniques to provide the maximum amount of benefit with the fewest amount of wasted resources and the quickest amount of time to consume them. Serving a slab of ribs for instance isn't that efficient for the consumer. The amount of time it takes to chew off the meat off of each bone is MUCH higher than if they simply boiled all the meat off of the bones during preparation. I could see the meals being heavily spiced though pretty easily. Strong flavorful teas that have some added nutritional value, I could see as well provided that the ingredients to make them are quite plentiful.

As for the walking in groups, why wouldn't they? It doesn't have to do with a military formation. It has to do with group cohesiveness and discipline. Besides all of them are heading out to the same destination at the same time, why wouldn't they walk together? Other than lining up for their "inspection" and "sermon", I don't believe they actually "marched".

I would also assume that there are quotas to be met. However, these quotas are not going to be lax either. Efficiency is again the standard. I very highly doubt the quotas are set so low that people can just spend half the day sleeping and still meet that quota.

Working in the rain is not unheard of even in our modern society. Work doesn't stop just because it rains. You might wear different gear that day, but you don't get a day off because of it.

Modifié par Navasha, 07 octobre 2013 - 12:24 .

[Navasha]

KiddDaBeauty wrote...

2) They are already educated and have learnt the benefits of the Qun. They don't need to listen to somebody hammering that in every morning and evening. That sounds more like something you'd do to war prisoners.

I will actually have to disagree with you here.   I added this portion under the assumption that this is a controlled society of free-willed and free-thinking individuals.   This repetition of societal laws wouldn't be necessary if they were mindless automatons.   However, for a society to keep such rigid control of individuals.   Repetition and reinforcement of societies demands would absolutely be necessary.    The more rigid the control, the greater number of reminders are necessary.   Honestly, they might require a mid-day reminder as well to "motivate" those tired bodies.

3) Your description of their free time sounds needlessly negative. While I wouldn't know their exact schedules, an overworked body is hardly a well-functioning body. Free time would indeed exist, and with less people amassing money from previous hard work or mere luck there will be more bodies to look after the work that needs to be done - thus the hard worker's tasks will be lessened. Social time, especially amongst family, is not discouraged at all nor seen as only an excuse to teach juniors how to better ply their trade. But I imagine, like so often in our society, people would bond over such activities as well just like you say.

I have worked hard days in my youth.   Trust me, after a 12-16 hour day of work, "free time" is usually spent just resting in a chair and talking about what you did that day.   Especially when you do this day after day.   I will concede that elders teaching the youth the tricks of the trade are probably likely done during the work day when they can actively be shown it in practice.     However, I don't think I have portrayed it as overly negative, just simply realistic.   After a long day of work, you don't have the desire or energy to "go out with friends".    Sitting around would be commonplace.