Interview with GoranIndex | Time Under Chaos | Player Characters | Goran | Interview with Goran "Goran. The Politska sounds like a terrifying environment in which to have been raised. From what I understand it is a world that, despite your clearly unique nature among them, might have snuffed you out like a candle flame before you ever discovered just how important and special you really are. And very nearly did." Goran nods thoughtfully. "Your father's decisions could be construed as to be somewhat responsible for the death of your mother, and uncle as well. How do you feel about that, and what will you do if and when you finally meet your father?" Goran looks confused for a moment. "Not... exactly," Goran answers, narrowing his eyes in thought. "And I did meet him. It was he who came for me and took me to 'walk the pattern', as he called it. In truth, it was he who gave me the tools to escape when things went bad. "You have to understand, life was not all bad under the Politska. It was more like it was gray. Dreary. To stand out was to die, or disappear mysteriously. But if one worked in the rules, or worked the rules to his wishes, you could live adequate life under the Great Leaders, which was what they called themselves. "I don't blame my father for the deaths of my mother and uncle. After a few early mistakes, I realized it was better to hide the new talents I'd learned from him and do things the old way, so it wasn't that. It was the Death Squads. Those who wanted power after the Politska fell. They were ruthless - like rabid dogs more than humans. They took what they wanted. They killed for nothing more than killing. For the thrill of it. Because they could. They were the ones who killed my family and they are the only ones I blame." Now that you're here, what will you be doing with yourself? "I'll work. And learn. I have much to learn. I am still learning the language, as you can hear," he grins self-deprecatingly. "And meet people. I've been here a while and am still building connections. Networks and connections are important. Vital. They must be built and nurtured and grown, like a plant to blossom. One cannot know too many people." You grew up in a totalitarian state which devolved into anarchy, which brought about the deaths of your family. Do you believe this is the fault of the totalitarian state... or of anarchy? Might not it be best to live without a strong overarching government, with each community able to defend itself against aggressors but no large standing military forces? Goran leans forward in his chair, steepling his fingers before him with his elbows on the table. It takes a moment for him to answer. "'Es good question. There were things the Politska did wrong, yes. Srebija was a country that was knit together from several small republics over many, many years. They brought them together by force, like stuffing chickens into net. Perhaps if they had done more to make these republics WANT to work together, things would not have fallen apart. "But what happened was the strong hand weakened. The net broke. The country split apart into its republics, but every republic now thought it owned part of the others. What they had before was no longer enough. Every warlord thought he was king and made war on his neighbors. And all the alliances with other nations fell apart as well. Other leaders wanted to deal with the Grand Minister of Srebija, not a dozen little warlords all demanding more goods with no money to pay. When goods grew scarce, the little kings turned on each other and on their own people. "So. What is better? I don't know. If there was some way to get the leaders together without the squabbles, that would be best, I think. But how to do that? I don't know." Why won't you tell us who your father is... did he ask you not to? What does that tell you about your father, and/or you? If your father was, or is, alive, would you work with/for him? Goran grins widely, his blue eyes sparkling as he chuckles. "I will answer these two together. First, it would tell you I am man of my word. First thing you learn in negotiations is you must keep your word. If you do not think you can keep it, do not give it. On our way back to Srebija, my father asked for my word not to reveal the relationship between us. For my safety and for his. It would be wrong of me to break my word, whether he lives or not. "As for working with him, I would welcome the opportunity to work with my father. We had only a short time on our journey to become acquainted, and I would be pleased to get to know him better." What is the most important thing in your life right now? "Right now?" Goran asks. He thinks on this for a long moment, then shakes his head with a chuckle. "That question is harder than it should be. I think I might be between important things now. Years ago, there were people I thought important. And I hope, someday, to have... others. Who are important to me. People are important. "Things? Things are just... things. In Shadow you can find anything. Even that gusle," he points to a stringed instrument in the corner. "It looks like the one my mother had, but it's not. I could not go back for that. I looked for another in Shadow and found it. So things, no. Things are not important." What's your vice of choice? Goran laughs. "Um... cars? Trucks? I like to drive, lots of things. Many fast cars in shadow. And big trucks. I like to go fast, and fix engines to make them go faster." He leans forward conspiratorially, smirking. "Ladies like fast cars, you know. I miss that. No cars here. Just those dam#ed horses." He winks. "It's harder to hold a lady on a horse." Were you involved in revolutionary-type activities while living in the Politska? "No. Would have been bad for business. One had to cultivate the Politska. Work with them... long long time. Weeks, months, sometimes more. They had to trust you, know how much they could allow, know what you would do with what they gave you, and what they would get in return. The revolutionaries...," he shakes his head, "they break that trust. It would not have worked for me." Assume that you are an inmate on death row. What would your final meal be? Goran looks dubiously at the interviewer. "Ooo-kay..." he looks up at the ceiling, thinking. "Pecenje, roasted, smothered with ajvar, and grilled onions. A big bowl of prebranac. Kacamak, warm from the oven, and punjene paprike, spicy. For dessert, creamy sweet snenokle. Washed down with lots of slivovitz, so smooth you don't know you're getting roaring drunk until you're there. Ah, yes," he sighs with satisfaction. "Yes, I could die then without regret." What are your current hopes in terms of position and influence? What are your political views? "Influence? Me?" Goran snorts incredulously. "I came here because it is my father's homeland. It seemed the place to go after I had seen the things I wanted to see. I hope to eat good food and have a decent bed at night. I'm not political. Being political limits opportunity. I'd rather keep my opportunities." It's been a while since you heard from your father. Have you spoken with him once you got to Amber, or have you been unable to locate him? Goran smirks slyly, seeing right through the effort to flush out his father's identity. "My father has always done things in his own way. I have left word of my whereabouts. If he wished to contact me, he would contact me." The smirk stubbornly refuses to elaborate. What sort of work do you think Amber can offer for someone used to dealing in contraband and exploiting corrupt officials? Goran laughs. "I have not yet found a shadow where such skills are not useful in some way. And my father explained that the shadows are a reflection of Amber. I'm sure I can find something to keep me busy," he says with a wink. How would you compare the rule of Amber to the rule of your home shadow by the Politska? "From what I've seen, they are very similar. Perhaps not as... unweildy as the Politska became, but they might be at a different stage right now. Lord Mandor seems to have the same strong hand that the Grand Minister had in his younger days. The soldiers I see on the streets - oh, they think you do not see them, but yes, they are there - they look much the same. Soldiers all seem to stand the same, do they not? Funny how that is. "I'm still learning here. The Chaosians have abilities that we do not, and that I of course am not familiar with from where I grew up. I am certain they have their weaknesses as well. All men do. It's just a matter of finding them and learning to use them." Tear brushed a bang from her cheek, "If I could ask one question, any question… it'd be this. Considering your past and your belief that you cannot know too many people… do you still form close relationships or do you prefer to keep a distance from people. In other words, do you prefer to form connections… or friendships?" Goran starts to answer, then stops, cocking his head to reconsider. He looks down at his hands, his eyes narrowing as he ponders the question. Then he looks back up, and smiles at the shy girl before him. Not a smirk, but a genuine, somewhat wistful smile. When he finally speaks, his accent has thickened, as if she has called up some deeply-buried piece of his heart. "Friendship...es something that is... too long gone from me. In Srebija, I had friends. Loves. But they are gone. In shadow, no. In shadow, only connections. People who could give me what I wanted or... had something I need. Or I had something they need." He looks down at his hands, blushing bashfully, "I... would like to have friends again. I think in Amber I can. Connections are for business, for survival. Friends not for business. They're for life. I keep separate. Feelings are not hurt that way." |
