Phase 1: The Foundations of Teletus

Week 4: Civic Duty & The Household

Taxes: Who pays, how much, and when?
Retirement: When you can’t work anymore (Filing papers).
Play: The Empty Purse (A comedy about tax evasion).
Household: The Head of Household's authority (Law 1.7).
Family: Free Companionship & Children.

Week 4 Production Package.

This week tackles the practical side of living in Teletus: Money (Taxes) and Family (The Household). These are the laws that affect people inside their own homes.

📂 PROJECT: THE CIRCLE - WEEK 4 (DUTY & HOUSEHOLD)

Theme: Taxes, The Head of Household, & Inheritance Goal: Teach the financial obligations of a Citizen and the legal authority of a Father/Husband.

🔔 LOGISTICS: CRIER MACROS

Give these to the slave running the streets.

15-Minute Warning: /shout 🔔 HEAR YE! The Circle gathers in 15 minutes! Death and Taxes are certain—come learn how to pay one so you avoid the other! 🔔

Start of Event: /shout 🔔 THE CIRCLE is now in session! Fathers, Husbands, and Taxpayers—gather round! The Hearth is lit! 🔔

📜 DAY 1: THE LECTURE (Script for Kati)

Topic: The Coin of the Realm (Taxes)

[OPENING] "Tal. Welcome to Week 4. We have talked about high ideals like Honor and Treason. Today, we talk about something heavier: Copper." "A city needs walls. Walls need stone. Stone costs money. That is why we have Law 1.10: Taxes."

[SECTION 1: WHO PAYS?] "Law 1.10 says all Citizens and Residents aged twenty-five or older must pay quarterly taxes. It does not matter if you live in a mansion or a hut. You pay individually." "The rates are set: 30 copper for Citizens and Residents. 20 copper if you just run a stall. It is a small price for safety."

[SECTION 2: WHEN?] "Taxes are collected every three Gorean months. Do not wait for the Scribe to knock on your door with a guard. Have your coin ready."

[SECTION 3: WHAT IF I CAN'T PAY?] "Life is hard. Sometimes the net is empty. Law 1.10.3 allows for an 'Economic Crisis.' If you truly cannot pay, you must get a civil advocate to certify it. The Ubar may show mercy." "But be warned: If you simply refuse to pay, that is a crime. The Administration will prosecute you. Do not gamble with the Treasury."

[CLOSING] "Tomorrow, our players will show you a man who tried to hide his coin from the Tax Collector. It... did not end well. Dismissed!"

🎭 DAY 2: CREATIVE BRIEF (For Aria/Actors)

Topic: The Empty Purse

To: Aria / Caste of Players From: Kati Evans Theme: Law 1.10 (Taxes) & 1.8 (Debts)

The Goal: A comedy about a stingy merchant trying to dodge the Tax Collector.

Characters:

BOGGS: A miserly merchant.
THE COLLECTOR: A Scribe with a ledger.
THE GUARD: Looming silently.

Plot Outline:

The Hiding Spot: Boggs is seen stuffing coin bags into a flour sack or under his hat. "They won't get my hard-earned copper!"
The Audit: The Collector arrives. "Name? Age? You are over 25, Boggs. That is 30 copper."
The Lie: Boggs claims poverty. "Oh, business is bad! I am destitute! I declare Economic Crisis!"
The Catch: The Collector asks for his Civil Advocate's certificate (Law 1.10.3). Boggs doesn't have one. The Guard finds the coin bag.
The Lesson: Boggs is fined double or dragged off. The lesson: Law 1.10.2.d—Failure to pay leads to prosecution.

🖋️ DAY 3: CREATIVE BRIEF (For Aria/Poets)

Topic: The King of His Castle

To: Aria / Caste of Players From: Kati Evans Theme: Law 1.7 (The Household)

The Goal: A poem celebrating the Head of Household. In Gor, a man's home is his fortress, and his word within it is law.

Key Elements:

Law 1.7.1: The Head of Household handles minor offenses. He judges his family.
Autonomy: The Magistrate does not enter a home unless invited or for a great crime. The Father rules the dinner table.
Responsibility: With power comes duty. If his household is chaotic, he is punished.

Sample Imagery: "Within these walls of wood and stone, The Father sits upon his throne. No Magistrate may cross the sill, To challenge the Master's sovereign will. He guards the fire, he keeps the peace, Until his breath and heartbeat cease."

📖 DAY 4: STORY BRIEF (For Guest Speaker)

Topic: The Unsigned Will

To: Guest Speaker / Storyteller Theme: Law 1.8.2 (Inheritance)

The Goal: A drama about what happens when a rich man dies without a Will. This teaches the Order of Precedence.

Story Arc:

The Death: Rich Merchant Varrus dies suddenly. He hated his brother but loved his Free Companion.
The Conflict: He never went to the Scribes to seal a Will (Law 1.8).
The Law: The Scribe reads Law 1.8.2.b: Inheritance passes to the nearest male child, then female child, then relatives.
The Twist: Varrus had no children. The hated brother gets everything. The Free Companion gets nothing because without a will, she is last in line (or not in line at all depending on the specific city interpretation, but usually family comes first).
Moral: Go to the Scribes. Seal your Will. Protect your loved ones.

🗣️ DAY 5: THE FORUM (Script for Kati)

Topic: Companionship vs. Slavery

[OPENING] "Tal. We end Week 4 by looking at the women in our homes. The Free Companion." "Many confuse 'Companionship' with 'Marriage' from other worlds. They are not the same."

[SECTION 1: THE CONTRACT] "Law 1.9 is clear. A Free Person may have only one Companion. And here is the key: It expires." "A Companionship lasts one Gorean year. That is it. If you do not renew it within two hands of the anniversary, it dissolves. You are strangers again in the eyes of the law."

[SECTION 2: DISSOLUTION] "If things go wrong, you do not need a war. You file a dissolution with a Magistrate, or you simply fail to renew." "But remember Law 1.7.1.c: A Head of Household may enslave his Free Companion... unless a contract forbids it. Ladies, read your contracts closely."

[Q&A SESSION - PLANT QUESTIONS] "I open The Circle. Ask me about Families and Contracts."

Plant Question 1: "Mistress, can I have two Companions?"
- Answer: "No. Law 1.9.1 says only one at a time. If you want variety, buy a slave."
Plant Question 2: "Mistress, if my Companion dies, do I get her things?"
- Answer: "Only if she wrote a Will! Otherwise, her father or brother might come claim her property. See the Scribes."

[CLOSING] "Next week, we begin the most visual part of our laws: Free Women. We will talk of Veils, Taverns, and the crimes that can get you collared. Tell your wives and daughters to attend. The Circle is closed!"

📜 SCRIPT 1: WEEK 4, DAY 1 (THE LECTURE)

Host: Kati Evans Topic: The Coin of the Realm (Taxes)

(Instructions: Stand at the podium. Wait for Crier to finish.)

[LINE 1] Tal. Welcome to Week 4. We have talked about high ideals like Honor, Treason, and Caste. Today, we talk about something heavier. Something that weighs down every purse in this city: Copper.

[LINE 2] A city needs walls. Walls need stone. Stone costs money. That is why we have Law 1.10: Taxes. It is not a suggestion. It is the fuel that keeps Teletus burning.

[LINE 3] Law 1.10 says clearly: All Citizens and Residents aged twenty-five or older shall pay quarterly taxes. It does not matter if you live in a mansion or a hut. You pay individually. The Ubar does not care about the size of your household; he cares about the size of your contribution.

[LINE 4] The rates are set. It is 30 copper for Citizens and Residents. It is 20 copper if you just run a stall. It is a small price to pay for the guards who keep your throat uncut while you sleep.

[LINE 5] When do you pay? Taxes are collected every three Gorean months. Do not wait for the Scribe to knock on your door with a guard. Have your coin ready. If the Tax Collector has to come find you, he will not be in a good mood.

[LINE 6] Now, life is hard. Sometimes the net is empty. Law 1.10.3 allows for an "Economic Crisis." If you truly cannot pay, you must get a civil advocate to certify it. The Ubar may show mercy and delay your payment.

[LINE 7] But be warned: If you simply refuse to pay because you are stingy, that is a crime. Law 1.10.2.d says failure to pay results in prosecution. Do not gamble with the Treasury. The Treasury always wins.

[LINE 8 - CLOSING] Pay your share. Keep the walls strong. Tomorrow, our players will perform a comedy called "The Empty Purse," about a man who tried to hide his coin from the Collector. It... did not end well. Dismissed!

🗣️ SCRIPT 2: WEEK 4, DAY 5 (THE FORUM)

Host: Kati Evans Topic: Companionship vs. Slavery (Contracts)

(Instructions: This is interactive. Be prepared to pause.)

[LINE 1] Tal. We end Week 4 by looking at the women in our homes: The Free Companion. Many new arrivals confuse "Companionship" with "Marriage" from other worlds. They are not the same. One is a contract; the other is a fairy tale.

[LINE 2] Law 1.9 is clear. A Free Person may have only one Companion at a time. And here is the key detail most people forget: It expires.

[LINE 3] A Companionship lasts one Gorean year. That is it. If you do not renew it within two hands of the anniversary, it dissolves. You become strangers again in the eyes of the law. Do not let your contract lapse unless you intend to leave him!

[LINE 4] If things go wrong, you do not need a war. You simply file a dissolution with a Magistrate, or you fail to renew. But there is a darker side to the Household laws.

[LINE 5] Law 1.7.1.c says: The Head of Household may enslave his Free Companion... unless a binding, certified contract forbids it. Ladies, read your contracts closely. If that clause is missing, your "Husband" holds your collar in his pocket.

[LINE 6 - Q&A OPENER] I open The Circle. Ask me about Families, Contracts, and Wills.

(Wait for questions. If silence, use a PLANT QUESTION below).

(If needed - Plant Question 1): "Mistress, can I have two Companions? I have a big heart."
- Your Answer: "No. Law 1.9.1 says only one Companion at a time. If you want variety, buy a slave. A Companion is a partner; a slave is property. Do not confuse the two."
(If needed - Plant Question 2): "Mistress, if my Companion dies, do I get her things?"
- Your Answer: "Only if she wrote a Will! Law 1.8.2 says inheritance passes to children or blood relatives first. If she has no Will, her brother might come and take her jewelry, and you get nothing. Go to the Scribes and seal a Will today."

[LINE 7 - CLOSING] Next week, we begin the most visual part of our laws: Week 5: Free Women. We will talk of Veils, Taverns, and the crimes that can get a lady stripped of her silk.

[LINE 8] Tell your wives and daughters to attend next week. It concerns their safety. The Circle is closed!

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Week 4 - To Do Items

🛠️ Immediate Setup (Administrative)

[ ] Create Notecards: Create 6 separate Notecards inside Second Life (Logistics/Crier + Days 1–5).
[ ] Distribute to Staff: Pass the relevant Notecards to your staff and talent pool.
[ ] Update the Crier: Ensure the slave running the streets deletes Week 3 macros and installs the Week 4 versions (Topic: Death and Taxes / The Household).

🎭 Creative Assignments (Delegation)

[ ] Send Brief to Aria (Day 2): Deliver "The Empty Purse" brief.
- Action Item: This is a Comedy. She needs a "Boggs" who can play a sweaty, nervous miser.
[ ] Send Brief to Aria/Poets (Day 3): Deliver "The King of His Castle" brief.
- Action Item: The tone should be solemn and powerful—emphasizing the home as a fortress.
[ ] Recruit Guest Speaker (Day 4): Select the Storyteller for "The Unsigned Will."
- Action Item: Ensure they understand the specific legal twist: The brother inherits over the Companion because there was no will.

🗓️ Daily Execution Checklist

Day 1: The Lecture (Kati)

[ ] Review Script: Memorize the specific tax rates (Law 1.10: 30 copper for Citizens/Residents, 20 for stall owners).
[ ] Prep Answers: Be ready to explain "Economic Crisis" (Law 1.10.3) if someone asks how to apply for it (they need a Civil Advocate).

Day 2: The Play (Aria/Actors)

[ ] Prop Check:
- Boggs: Needs "Coin Bags" and places to hide them (a hat, a sack of flour/grain prop).
- Collector: Needs a Ledger/Book.
[ ] Blocking Check: Ensure the Guard is looming silently to make the arrest intimidating when the lie is discovered.

Day 3: The Poem (Aria/Poets)

[ ] Content Check: Verify the poem mentions that even the Magistrate cannot enter the home without invitation (Autonomy).

Day 4: The Story (Guest Speaker)

[ ] Tone Check: This is a tragedy/warning. The ending should feel unfair to the Companion to drive the point home: Seal your Will.

Day 5: The Forum (Kati)

[ ] Review Contracts: Brush up on Law 1.9 (Companionship)—specifically the 1-year expiration and the "Enslavement Clause" (Law 1.7.1.c).
[ ] Prep Plant Questions: Ensure your confederate is ready with:
- "Can I have two Companions?" (No).
- "If my Companion dies, do I get her things?" (No, not without a Will).

THE CIRCLE

Week 04 February 02 - 07