Consonance

Welcome to Consonance

Since the beginnings of time human beings have been connected to their surroundings, however, there are only few who have been able to harness and control these elements around and within them. First came Gaea, Mother Earth, maker of the planet through harnessing her powers. She created the entirety of the earth that had first started as a blank, white emptiness. Stumbling upon a simple speck of dirt, Gaea connected with and replicated it to create the planet in which humans would live on for the rest of their lives. Next followed, Brana, founder of fire. During the birth of humans, cavemen were common around the world. Brana, fascinated by the light of day, found a way to turn the darkness of night into the brightness of day by connecting with the sun. The first caveman to create fire was not simply a brawn but a brain, utilizing the sun’s energy to create fire. Third was Geneviere, a Celtic maiden, with a fine tuned connection with the moon. Surrounded by water all her live, Geneviere was exposed to plenty of death due to the strong seas. While she was just a young girl, her father’s ship was taken by the force of the seas, swallowing him up as well; thus, Geneviere bonded with the moon in order to control the tides and in turn, to master all the droplets she willed. Finally came Eamon, an elderly man of the age 83. He had lost everything he had: friends, family, possessions, and sense of direction spiritually. Escaping in the mountains, Eamon mediated for many years until he was able to let go of all dependency on material and earthly possessions in order to be as light as air. Eamon was then capable of floating, controlling the winds, and connecting with the spirits of those he had lost. The ability to self-command these elements is found within all humans, although few were able to tap into it. Thus, those who could control these powers found one another and connected, hiding themselves from the rest of human populations for the time being.

It was five hundred years ago that the factions separated from one another due to disagreement of superiority; each believing one element was greater than the other. The factions began to destroy, fight, and kill not only one another, but the rest of the human race became innocent bystanders to the war.  The War of Total Destruction lasted four centuries, until only a single ship with three hundred people survived the massacre. Human beings ceased to exist, the entire population whipped out. The ship, Baile, named after an Irish word meaning “Where We Come Home”, was the final ship to accept escapees from the war, to sail to the depths of the seas and cloak themselves in magic, to disappear. On this ship, three hundred members of various factions with numerous family members, boarded, unknowing they would be the last survivors of the planet. They all knew the war ended when the calmness overwhelmed the Elder on board, the only one having ability to harness all four elements at a time. She told the rest of the ship members, she felt a stillness in her soul while during the War there was chaos inside her mind. The War of Total Destruction was over and they were the only remaining people on the planet. A few weeks later, Baile stumbled upon an Island where they decided to start over and refresh for future generations. Welcome to Consonance.

In the northwestern coast of Europe, between the Atlantic and the North Sea, the hidden magical Island now named Consonance stood. In the centers of the Island were various  grand Mountain ranges with fresh water springs, flowing into small rivers. Surrounding and between these mountains, stood vast forests with endless amounts of plants and trees. Although the climate varied, the Island experience all four seasons with a temperate influence. Vegetation of Consonance relied little on the people but still managed to produce beet, potatoes, wheat, barley, and grain but various fruits were also found within the nooks of the island. The natural resources primarily found were within the mountains themselves, the minerals such as gold, silver, zinc and copper. With a population of a meek three hundred, all lived close to one another to work together and in harmony for the greater good of the community.

Deciding upon an economy very mixed between Command and Market, Consonance decided first and foremost the government they would set up. The overseer and main leader position belonged to the Elder, since she had the most knowledge and understanding of each faction. Following were four elected faction leaders, one per faction, chosen by the faction themselves. The overall involvement of this small government was fused in with their intentions. Due to a small population size to begin with, the people agreed with the four faction leaders to hold the minimal responsibility of overseeing each faction’s job(s) for the community. Setting up simple humanitarian rules such as, do not kill, rape, steal, etc., the faction leaders would also be a counsel to deal with the delinquents and bad behavior among the community. Choosing to have a barter system to increase free trade between those on the Island, there would be no currency produced since all would be equal in the amount of food,land, and labour distribution; the rest would be included as free trade. Focusing on producing clothing from the sheep on the island, schools for education, and jobs for welfare, the primary goal of the factions was to remember the Land comes before the people. Thus, the environment was the primary concern while setting up the community meaning only the basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing were necessary to produce.

The land for people to live on would be privately owned but evenly distributed, each family would be given three acres of land on the 3,000 mile island but the rest of the Island would be owned as a community. Although there were families of greater size, they would simply have a taller house to make room. Housing quarters would be spacious enough to have privacy, but still close enough to be linked as a community. Since housing involves each faction, all the powers would work together to build each other’s houses with a huge help from the Earth faction. While considering the needs of the environment, the only trees cut down to build houses would be to create initial space between the sand/dirt, near the water, and the forests. Since the overall goal of Consonance society is to live in harmony, that includes nature and animals. Everyone would have access to the land with few restrictions; as long as it does not damage or hurt the environment, the people are allowed to use or take it. For example, no one is allowed to cut down trees or steal minerals from the mountains, however water is of free access to all, as well as general plants found within the forest.

Labour distributed among the factions is as follows: The Fire faction is responsible for light and heat which includes general cooking for the community initially and helping with Oil Lamps to create light. The Water faction is in charge of irrigation and the plumbing systems. Next, the Earth faction would be helpful in mining, building public areas, and farming. Finally, the Air faction would be dependable for the Rehabilitation center, general security, and transportation. Although each faction has multiple assignments for areas they are responsible for, the faction itself may choose how they wish to go about these jobs; if they would like to assign individuals to each job, rotate individuals from job to job per however allotted time, or volunteer for one particular job within the faction’s tasks.

Another factor to consider, the primary jobs required to sustain the lifestyle the people desire are basic needs, there are a few that are also wanted to bring an extra value to the island of Consonance. Essentially the primary jobs required are farming, building, light, heat, education, security, trade/market, distribution, and sanitation. These jobs if they fall within the lines of one particular faction are dependable upon that faction. However, there are extra “society jobs” wanted by the community as well, such as educators, security, traders for the market, and distribution leaders for land or food. The Society Jobs are those to be chosen voluntarily if one does not wish to fulfill their factions job. For example, if an Air power decides they do not wish to contribute to the Air faction’s jobs, they may not join another factions, they are welcome to choose a society job. However, the jobs no one likes such as Sanitation or even Security, if no volunteers step forward, there will be a rotation of each faction for a week’s time. The final requirement in the topic of labour is that each person must have one job minimum, however they can choose to hold multiple positions if they have the time for it. Conclusively, the only way to be banished or kicked out of the community is refusing to work with the community but taking community possessions for personal gain. In that case, the individual would be expected to get their own resources and produce their own goods and remove themselves from the community.

As mentioned previously, the Air faction is in charge of the Rehabilitation center in the mountains. Once landing on the Island, it was evident that some of the members of our group had various social problems, e.g. drug addiction and mental illness. These people did not work very hard, at least in the beginning, and needed special medical care and psychological help. Since the Air powers have the ability to connect with the spirit, read the soul, and teach others to let go of earthly issues. Therefore, each member that had a social problem was taken to the mountains to meditate, detox, and find tranquility within themselves.The term limit of individuals at the Rehab center depends solely on the condition and until they get better. There were a few that were unwilling to go, and the Muter Dosage was introduced. This concoction of herbs that mute the powers, depends on the dosage to determine the effects. First dosage merely slows the powers down for twenty four hours, Second dosage allows the person to feel their ability but not actually do anything for two weeks, and the Third dosage takes away all power for a month. The first dosage was meant for the sick who needed to heal, the second dosage for the dangerous or mentally ill, and the third primarily for criminals or other felons. Each dosage may be repeated without any long term damage. The Second dosage was commonly used for those willing to retreat to the Rehab center for help, but the Third dosage was forced upon those with problems, refusing to go. The Third dosage would also be used in cases of criminals who partook in stealing or damaging something to the community, taking their powers away but offering them still a spot in the community until they were given back their powers. However, in relation to higher crimes such as murder or rape, the four faction leaders would be held accountable for the fate of that member.

As far as the land itself goes, it is the primary focal point of the the society’s harmony. The natural resources abundant throughout the island can be used to produce several goods. For example, coal mined will help produce heat and light within the homes of the community members or copper and silver would be used to create the utensils/utilities such as forks and pots for cooking and eating. Since tree cutting is not an option on Consonance, unless absolutely necessary, the Earth powers would be the primary contributors to creating buildings and community centers out of the dirt. In terms of housing, all factions would be required to contribute to help building each other’s houses; however, the buildings of the community such as the jails, the market, etc, would fall until the Earth faction. Rules governing use of natural resources mainly concern the Earth people themselves. For the mines, no one can own the minerals since they are for the use of the Island members as a whole. In relation to the trees, no one can cut down trees for personal use. Finally, animals have certain restrictions. First, there is only a three pet limit, meaning anyone may own a sheep or goat or horse, but no breeding may take place. Breeding sheep for wool is the only breeding allowed on the Island and is under the responsibility of the farming section of the Earth faction. The rest of the animals are free to the land. Again due to the harmony principal instituted by the factions, everyone vowed to be peaceful with nature and the animals, meaning all the people are Vegan eaters with a plant-only base diet. Therefore, people may choose to have private gardens in their yards and may have pets but are not allowed to hunt or randomly catch animals to breed or heard them.

In addition, due to the magical abilities of these people, the primary tools necessary for human survival are unnecessary for magical being survival, thus, the crucial tool or technology for the Consonance people is magic.  Regarding industry, there are several industries forming within their society, including farming, clothes, building, market, defense/general security, mining, and education. Since the economy foundation is both a command and market, the government controls the minimal restriction, but people may choose to trade what they wish.

Finally, the basic needs of Consonance’s society consist of each individual being provided for their basic needs and they are all equal to one another’s. The food, land, and clothing are each distributed evenly to each person and the community works together to secure their basic needs. Thus, the basic clothing and housing is given to each person/family and the individual is given the opportunity to do what they will with it. One common cultural belief among all the factions consist of trying to preserve animals and the land and in turn, calmly working in harmony with one another. The only challenges within the society would be the standard clashing of personalities between different types of people, but must be overcome for the greater good. The minimal social structure is a significant part of the harmony being that there are no classes, the only difference between people is only the power in which they possess control over. The genetic codes of mixing the different faction blood is unknown and random, but factions, of course, may intermarry and their child will possess one of the parents genes of an element. Found typically by the age of three, children are tested at the age of five to portray which power they can harness. Lastly, family and unity are major contributors as well to the flow of the community and due to the limited number in people, each faction is part the community and hence, one big family.