Difference between revisions of "Rumors"

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<center>''"I don't remember where it came from. Everyone just started talking about it..."''</center><br>
 
<center>''"I don't remember where it came from. Everyone just started talking about it..."''</center><br>
  
Rumors typically are are nothing else but. Just a story, if one with the potential to damage reputations. This isn't quite so in Sumaru City. Termed 'kotodama' (literally, 'word spirit') by some, rumors exert an inescapable influence on the metropolis. What rumors are and what effects they are capable of having on people will be covered in this newsfile.
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==What are rumors? What is this 'kotodama' thing people are talking about?==
  
==Rumors==
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By spreading word about something and getting enough people to believe in it, within Sumaru City it becomes real. This is the basic core behind the power of rumors. This power taps into the unspoken desire for the new and the interesting, and trying to manipulate it intentionally can be very dangerous and may not result in a given or expected outcome.
  
'If enough people talk about something, then it becomes true'. This is the core of the power of rumors. Words and stories gain power in Sumaru City the more people speak about them, and sometimes even impossible things can become real... if, of course, they gain enough sway among the populace. Rumors can't exist in a vacuum, after all. People need to actively be talking about the rumor, though belief is optional. Of course, stories can twist and alter in the telling, so anyone seeking to manipulate this force had better be prepared for surprises.
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Rumors are also called kotodama (lit. 'word spirit'), which itself derives from the old Japanese belief that words have power.
  
Most rumors are fairly general in nature. Overly specific rumors tend to become less specific over time as people tell it and parts of the story get lost or other new aspects get tacked on; unlike the famed genie's lamp, too much material can work against the intent of the one who first spreads the rumor. Rumors that are a little too much to one specificly named person's benefit--such as 'so-and-so is actually very rich'--typically don't spread very well without some added reason for people to particularly care about this fate. Furthermore, self-serving rumors are particularly inclined to end up distorted in the telling. To use the above example, perhaps in rumor about a particular person actually being very rich might mutate into them being very rich because they robbed a bank. Caveat emptor applies to rumors too.
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==How do rumors spread ICly?==
  
Rumors typically don't last long. They're fads, in essence. There could easily be one hot story sweeping the city one day, only to be replaced by another the very next morning. While the turnover typically isn't /that/ fast, the window where a rumor has influence and can affect reality can be small. In the end, it all comes down to the story. A good story can keep going for a long time.
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Typically, what one needs to do is craft a rumor that will self-propagate: word it so that it's interesting to other people, tell it to a few choice individuals, and sit back while it spreads.
  
While a rumor can live and die quickly, the effects can be somewhat longer lasting. In the end, it comes down to what the rumor initially said and what effects were created. Particularly egregious violations of reality tend to disappear outright as reality reasserts itself once the story's gone cold and uninteresting. For example, ancient and out-of-place Mayan ruins in Sumaru cease to exist once the rumor about them is no longer of any interest. However, the effects of more plausible stories just might continue indefinitely. The rumor that a particularly handsome young man has a modeling career, for example, might stick around for a long time. Ultimately, though, it is all rather subjective.
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Rumormongers, people who are adept at tracking and spreading rumors in Sumaru City, are often useful to talk to get get a rumor going... or just to see what rumors are popular. The Kuzunoha Detective Agency is also capable of spreading rumors for a price.
  
For those who would spread a story, for their own gain or not, there are those in Sumaru City who keep their fingers on the pulse of the stories spread by the cities' people. Called Rumormongers, they tend to know exactly who to talk to get the latest word, and also just who to talk to to get the ball rolling on a fresh rumor. In particular, the Sumaru branch of the Kuzunoha Detective Agency is adept at spreading rumors... for a fee.
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==What kinds of things can be rumors? What limits are there?==
  
==Rumors on the MUSH==
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What can be a target of a rumor is very broad. In the end, the only IC qualifiers are that it's interesting enough to most people to spread, and that it's believable. Believable does not have to mean logical, technically possible, or even reasonable.
  
A rumor is spread by submitting a +request (+HELP +REQUEST). It should include the rumor that the character is trying to spread, the outcome they're hoping for, and the people or medium they're spreading it through (it could be as simple as 'my classmates' or as complicated as 'getting the rumor to go viral on the internet').
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For the first, self-centered and self-beneficial rumors tend not to spread very well unless there's something in it for other people. It's generally not very interesting in and of itself to say that someone became rich suddenly unless there's a particularly sordid reason for that to have happened, for example.
  
ICly, spreading a rumor is all about having the right story and getting the right people to spread it. But what about in an OOC sense? There are a few that things should be taken into OOC consideration when spreading a rumor.
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Rumors that come at someone's expense or are otherwise dangerous are likely to become true via rumors.
  
First of all, would the rumor be of interest to the media or the average person on the street? Consider the type of gossip that spread in real life and even urban legends. People tend to find stories with a sensationalistic edge more interesting than something more mundane. They also tend to like stories that purport to detail some shameful secret about people or groups.
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For the second, a rumor that seems unlikely won't spread because why would something that be true? To take the example from before, why would someone suddenly become rich? It should make sense in context. Care needs to be taken to set up the situation so that it won't seem so unlikely.
  
Secondly, are there multiple ways in which the rumor can be understood? Some rumors can be taken in a variety of different ways, which means that they can more easily alter in the telling.
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Conspiracy theories and urban legends are good examples of the sorts of things likely to become true via rumors.
  
Thirdly, is the rumor a part of a player-run plot? If it's relating to a plot run by another player, you will want to get in touch with them first to make sure that what you're trying to do works out for them. If it's your own plot and you are looking for a particular outcome, then you will want to make specific note of this in your +request.
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==Can rumors change in the telling?==
  
Finally, if a rumor will directly affect another character, make sure they are aware of your intentions before you submit your rumor. Rumors are consent-based.
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Absolutely. Think of it like a game of telephone with supernatural consequences. Rumors can and will shift over time (though for OOC plot reasons a rumor may remain steady if desired).
  
It should be reiterated that a rumor may change in the telling, and will not always have exactly the results the character was aiming for.
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==Are rumor effects permanent?==
  
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It depends. In some cases, the effect vanishes when the rumor is no longer spread. In others, the change remains. Typically more 'absurd' rumors tend to fade when the stories do, while ones that are more believable or just persistent can continue on perhaps indefinitely.
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Gone or not, though, the effects are rarely forgotten. They /happened/.
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==Is there anything else I should know about rumors?==
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* Rumors can be used to generate demons, called rumor demons. See [[Demons]] for details.
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* Similarly, contradictory rumors about a person can generate a Rumor Shadow. See [[Shadows]].
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==OOCly, how do I start a rumor?==
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There are two ways, depending on how much support you want from staff. You can simply make a post on board 20, or submit a '''+request'''. '''+request''' is recommended for plot or TP-dependent rumors, particularly ones that are intended to have a large effect on the game.
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In the request, submit the rumor you'd like to spread, what you intend to affect with it, and any other information you think may be needed. You should also note if you are looking for a specific outcome.
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[[Category: Newsfiles]]
 
[[Category: Newsfiles]]
 
[[Category: IC]]
 
[[Category: IC]]

Latest revision as of 02:18, 3 February 2014

Contents

"I don't remember where it came from. Everyone just started talking about it..."

[edit] What are rumors? What is this 'kotodama' thing people are talking about?

By spreading word about something and getting enough people to believe in it, within Sumaru City it becomes real. This is the basic core behind the power of rumors. This power taps into the unspoken desire for the new and the interesting, and trying to manipulate it intentionally can be very dangerous and may not result in a given or expected outcome.

Rumors are also called kotodama (lit. 'word spirit'), which itself derives from the old Japanese belief that words have power.

[edit] How do rumors spread ICly?

Typically, what one needs to do is craft a rumor that will self-propagate: word it so that it's interesting to other people, tell it to a few choice individuals, and sit back while it spreads.

Rumormongers, people who are adept at tracking and spreading rumors in Sumaru City, are often useful to talk to get get a rumor going... or just to see what rumors are popular. The Kuzunoha Detective Agency is also capable of spreading rumors for a price.

[edit] What kinds of things can be rumors? What limits are there?

What can be a target of a rumor is very broad. In the end, the only IC qualifiers are that it's interesting enough to most people to spread, and that it's believable. Believable does not have to mean logical, technically possible, or even reasonable.

For the first, self-centered and self-beneficial rumors tend not to spread very well unless there's something in it for other people. It's generally not very interesting in and of itself to say that someone became rich suddenly unless there's a particularly sordid reason for that to have happened, for example.

Rumors that come at someone's expense or are otherwise dangerous are likely to become true via rumors.

For the second, a rumor that seems unlikely won't spread because why would something that be true? To take the example from before, why would someone suddenly become rich? It should make sense in context. Care needs to be taken to set up the situation so that it won't seem so unlikely.

Conspiracy theories and urban legends are good examples of the sorts of things likely to become true via rumors.

[edit] Can rumors change in the telling?

Absolutely. Think of it like a game of telephone with supernatural consequences. Rumors can and will shift over time (though for OOC plot reasons a rumor may remain steady if desired).

[edit] Are rumor effects permanent?

It depends. In some cases, the effect vanishes when the rumor is no longer spread. In others, the change remains. Typically more 'absurd' rumors tend to fade when the stories do, while ones that are more believable or just persistent can continue on perhaps indefinitely.

Gone or not, though, the effects are rarely forgotten. They /happened/.

[edit] Is there anything else I should know about rumors?

  • Rumors can be used to generate demons, called rumor demons. See Demons for details.
  • Similarly, contradictory rumors about a person can generate a Rumor Shadow. See Shadows.

[edit] OOCly, how do I start a rumor?

There are two ways, depending on how much support you want from staff. You can simply make a post on board 20, or submit a +request. +request is recommended for plot or TP-dependent rumors, particularly ones that are intended to have a large effect on the game.

In the request, submit the rumor you'd like to spread, what you intend to affect with it, and any other information you think may be needed. You should also note if you are looking for a specific outcome.

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