INTERLUDE:
ALTERNIAN FACTS AND TERMINOLOGY
The world of Homestuck is quite rich in mythology, backstory, and terminology. For non-fans, this can be somewhat daunting, even when one strips out virtually everything to do with SBURB, SGRUB, and so on. Therefore, while Harry is unconscious, there will be an infodump of various terms and facts that are relevant to this story. Most of this is derived from Andrew Hussie's writing on the subject, but I have also deviated from Homestuck canon in many places. Homestuck fans will no doubt notice where the deviations are. If you want to complain, resist the urge. I may have also gotten a few details wrong by accident. If that is the case, the wrong details are canon for this story. So there.
TROLLS:
Humanoid beings native to Alternia. Generally look like humans, albeit with grey skin, orange sclera, similarly-coloured horns, and sharp teeth. Their technology is highly advanced: at this point where the story begins, about 2006, Troll society has already mastered FTL spaceflight, and has abused that on a campaign of conquest sweeping across the galaxy. Their society is belligerent, even towards each other.
Trolls, biologically, start off in life as larvae known as 'wrigglers'. The standard method of reproduction is for a number of partners to contribute genetic material to a bucket, which is then delivered to an organism known as a Mother Grub. The resulting mix is gestated in what has been charitably described as an 'incestuous slurry', and then, the Mother Grub gives birth to many wrigglers, who then have to weave a cocoon to metamorphose into a new form, that of a humanoid Troll. A number of wrigglers are culled in the process. The Troll must then undergo a series of trials that, if they survive, they will be chosen by a guardian beast known as a Lusus Naturae. Lusii act as a custodian, guardian, and even a belligerent mentor. A Lusus of particular note is the massive beast known as Gl'bgolyb, the former Lusus of the Condesce, and the current Lusus of the present heir, Feferi Peixes. Gl'bgolyb, a massive writhing mass of tentacles and mouths, must remain quiet, as should its voice ever be raised, it could potentially wipe out all life on Alternia.
Apollo Amduat, and indeed many scientists in the Amduat line, are noted for their controversial stance that Troll reproduction can be somewhat more direct and physical than using buckets. The Condesce is of the opinion that this stance is disgusting, puerile and plain sad, and not the prerogative of a civilised species. Whether the Trolls count as a civilised species is something that has never occurred to the Condesce, or really the vast majority of Trolls. Certainly their victims of conquest vehemently disagree.
In order to prevent any potential threats to her position, the Condesce, with few exceptions, has all adult Trolls fighting in her forces in a campaign of offworld conquest. In addition, she is known for murdering the current heir to her position when they come of age. The aforementioned current heir, Feferi Peixes, is yet to come of age, but that time is approaching.
The annual time period of Alternia is a 'sweep', and is equivalent to 2.16 (recurring) Earth years. Six sweeps, in other words, is exactly equivalent to 13 years. A sixteen year old human, like Harry is at the beginning of this story, would equate to approximately 7.4 sweeps.
Due to the intense sunlight of their homeworld, Trolls are nocturnal. Even going out in the day is dangerous to all but those with Jade blood (see below), if only because of the risk of going blind. On Earth, they would have less trouble. Their sleep is also frequently plagued by nightmares, so they need to sleep in recuperacoons filled with sopor slime.
THE HAEMOSPECTRUM:
An important cornerstone of both Troll biology and their society is the 'haemospectrum'. Trolls do not have the uniform colour of blood human beings all possess. Instead, they have a wide variety of blood colours, which denote their rank in society. This actually has some basis in their biology rather than being a merely frivolous means of discrimination: those higher on the haemospectrum are generally stronger, longer-lived and more aggressive, though the latter is not a hard and fast rule. Also, those lower in the haemospectrum are more susceptible to psychic control.
The top six colours are called 'highbloods', and the lower five (standard) colours are called 'lowbloods'. In order from lowest to highest, the colours run burgundy, bronze, yellow, olive, jade, teal, cerulean, indigo, purple, violet and fuchsia. Violet and fuchsia are the province of the sea-dwellers, the highest-ranking Trolls, with fuchsia being indicative of royal blood.
Candy red blood is a rare mutation, and closest to human blood colour. Few Trolls are known to have possessed it. Sadly, one of the most infamous was known as the Sufferer, a figure from Troll history who protested against the inequities of Troll society…and who paid the price for his activism with a prolonged death. The Amduat line is rumoured (truthfully) to have candy red blood.
While the haemospectrum matters to the mainstream of Troll society, amongst the circle of younger Trolls presented here, it doesn't matter as much, to some at least.
A curious subset of the haemospectrum are the Rainbow Drinkers. Only those with Jade blood have been known to become Rainbow Drinkers, which are the Alternian equivalent of vampires. Interestingly, Jade bloods are the only Trolls who can withstand the intense sunlight on Alternia, an irony, considering vampires on Earth are said to be nocturnal.
For reference, here are the blood colours of the various Trolls mentioned or currently in this story, or yet to be seen:
CANDY RED: The Sufferer, Karkat Vantas, Apollo Amduat, Ofiuco Amduat (Harry Potter)
BURGUNDY: Aradia Megido
BRONZE: Tavros Nitram
YELLOW: Sollux Captor
OLIVE: Nepeta Leijon
JADE: Kanaya Maryam
TEAL: Terezi Pyrope
CERULEAN: Vriska Serket
INDIGO: Equius Zahhak
PURPLE: Gamzee Makara
VIOLET: Eridan Ampora
FUCHSIA: Feferi Peixes, Her Imperious Condescension (aka the Condesce, formerly Meenah Peixes)
TROLL ROMANCE:
It is perhaps worth pointing out, before we go on, that Alternian notions of romance are considerably more complex than human notions. These concepts of romance are called the Quadrants, and some Alternians have given them symbols not unlike those on playing cards on Earth. 'Red romance' are those relating to more positive emotions (though they frequently involve pity where Trolls are concerned, but Trolls classify 'pity' as any emotion other than hate), and 'Black romance' relate to more negative ones (especially hatred).
MATESPRITSHIP (Heart): The closest thing to a romantic partner by human standards. A matesprit can be of either gender (Trolls, oddly enough by human standards, are bisexual by default). It is one of the 'concupiscent' quadrants, that is, one of those most focused on reproduction, and is the one based on the most positive emotions. At its best, there's actual romance and love.
MOIRALLEGIANCE (Diamond): This can be described as a form of platonic relationship where a Troll has a friend called a 'moirail', effectively someone who keeps them on the straight and narrow. It is both a form of moral guardianship and brotherly love.
AUSPISTICISM (Club): A three-way relationship, where the auspistice is a mediator, of sorts, between two rivals, or even enemies. Important if these rivals are also kismesises (see below).
KISMESISSITUDE (Spade): A form of mutual hatred that bleeds over into an obsession, which the Trolls believe to be a kind of love, albeit 'black romance'. It also requires a certain mutual admiration as well. Each member of such a relationship is called a 'kismesis'. As an example, Terezi and Vriska are potential kismesises for each other.
TERMINOLOGY
APPEARIFYER: A form of teleportation technology.
CAPTCHALOGUE: A form of item storage system not dissimilar to a video game inventory, based on special cards. The items are stored in another dimension. Many have specific storage methods. Weapon storage is via a subset of the Captchalogue, called a 'Strife Specibus'.
CONDESCE, THE: Short for 'Her Imperious Condescension'. Formerly known as Meenah Peixes. Has ruled Alternia for centuries with a manner that makes an iron fist look desirable by comparison, and is responsible for the current nature of Troll society. She has a habit of murdering any potential heirs when they come of age to prevent anyone from becoming a threat to her powerbase. She has led a campaign of ruthless conquest and domination against other worlds to found a vast intergalactic empire. If the above didn't clue you in, she is NOT a nice person by any means. And unlike Homestuck canon, she doesn't have the excuse of external influence…
FLARP: A form of Live Action Role-Playing that is considerably more dangerous than standard forms, potentially fatal, hence the acronym. Both Terezi and Vriska are enthusiastic FLARPERs, though after Vriska paralysed Tavros during a session, leading to the events where Vriska and Terezi injured each other, Terezi doesn't generally play anymore. Aradia enjoys LARP, but generally prefers to not play FLARP, especially after Tavros' injury.
HIVE: The term for a Troll home.
IMPERIAL DRONE: The enforcers of the Condesce's will on Alternia, usually sent to collect genetic material for reproductive purposes in buckets. If none is provided, the offending Troll is promptly culled by the Imperial Drone. And Trolls can be culled for other reasons.
LEGISLACERATORS: The name of the prosecuting counsel in Troll courtrooms, as well as bounty hunters. There is no such thing as a defence counsel in a Troll courtroom, and most Trolls find the concept of a defence counsel offensive. Terezi had ambitions to join the Legislacerators.
LUSUS NATURAE: A massive beast that acts as a younger Troll's 'parent', of sorts, as well as a somewhat aggressive mentor. Some will even eat other Trolls. Commonly called a Lusus. Plural: Lusii.
RECUPERACOON: A pod-like structure filled with sopor slime that acts as a bed for Trolls.
SOPOR SLIME: A soporific substance that Trolls sleep in (in a recuperacoon filled with it) to keep their nightmares at bay, as well as inhibit their more violent tendencies. While ingesting this substance is not recommended, Gamzee Makara does so, contributing to a mental state that can be called questionable and relaxed.
SUBJUGGLATORS: A form of religious organisation (and probably military or at least police) used to subjugate the lower classes. Gamzee is related to them.
THRESHECUTIONER: Part of the Alternian military, and known for their success in offworld conquests. Karkat aspired to join them, and enjoys a television series called The Thresh Prince of Bel-Air. No, really.
TROLLIAN: The standard chat software of Alternia.
