Themes: resilience, determination, finding beauty, racism, family
One of the most famous masters of Lo Manthang stick fighting, or at least they insist on that. Kiran Kim’s skill and fame had secured a very comfortable lifestyle in Safre, including a place at medical school for their only child, Tai, a fine child-in-law in Lian, and two beautiful grandchildren themselves due to go to Safre University. The first time some snot-nosed little rat in La Cage spat at Kiran’s feet, mumbling some slur, was the first time they realised that life was gone. First, Kiran felt useless, unable to work beyond scavenging in filth and only a burden on their family, but a series of sculptures helped them see promise in this otherwise grim new world. Kiran committed themselves to staying in La Cage and wants to help solve the thug problem permeating the neighbourhood by opening a dojo to give the local youths a productive outlet for their aggression. With so much standing in their way, can Kiran help make La Cage a safe world for their grandchildren?
FULL GROUP TEXT
(mandatory for members of the group and Immigration Officers, optional for others - for example various other foreigners)
The immigrant housing occupies one whole wing of La Cage, the more decrepit one, hosting families that are far from home. People love creating distance between one another. Migrants from Graad and Oranje and some undocumented poor souls live here, stuck between horrible jobs in local sweatshops and old dreams. All together, squashed under one roof, the various cultures are clashing and mixing with each other, while everyone is still trying to maintain a sense of belonging. But is it even possible to call La Cage home?
An honorable, traditional artistic collective in La Cage, the Theatrical Taxidermy Society has been stuffing animals and delivering pithy social commentary for a long time. Some find the collections of birds with little hats and cloaks or Comrade Meerkat with their little lantern of progress a strange thing to find in the alcoves on their way to work, but the denizens of La Cage are now used to the sight. They know which windowsill to look on if they want some gossip told through stuffed mice. They marvel at the battles of old illustrated by the mangled taxidermy parrots. And they all turn up for the annual Great Taxidermy Expo, which always delivers a nuanced portrayal of the current affairs plaguing the neighbourhood in their main play - and a brand new specimen to boot!
“Come by and watch the spectacle! Watch adults pummel each other bloody! Watch the gladiators of our modern times face off for your amusement!” So read the worn posters and flyers every week. The Fights are happening weekly, and are one of the few entertainment establishments in La Cage. Everyone knows the story of the rise of the “Red Bannerman” and the “Twirling Moustache” - glorious fighters in a bloody sport. As part of the Fight Club, you might be one of these fighters, facing off with wooden sticks, some bringing the finesse of ancient samaran martial arts, while others beat down their opponents with brute force.
The La Cage day to day big decisions are - at least in theory - governed by the Block Council. A “government body” of some sorts, given legitimacy (and funding) by the Coalition through the Reconstruction office. The current members supposedly do their best to improve living in the tenement. But is it really the truth or only the fear of incoming elections speaking? They have little to no actual power. People still do blame them for everything, though. Some believe the Block Council to be the way to a better tomorrow, some take it as an opportunity to make their own political ideology visible, some just love to hate the establishment.
