The Newcomers
The Newcomers is the name given to the sapient beings who have come to the Tomeverse from some other reality or plane of existence. The term came into common usage after Queen Sable Aradia spoke to Perdita Mane in a OneWorld News interview:
We've got quite a lot of "Newcomers" to our reality since the Awakening of The Tome, don't we? I guess I call them that when I'm speaking about them to my friends... We used to say people were "New Canadians" as opposed to "immigrants" or "refugees" or something like that, because it felt more inclusive... I think about it in the same way. Through whatever means, they came here to join us... they're all "one of us" now.By definition, this is a broad category of people, with an extremely diverse membership who have been thrown together by fate. However, they do share some common concerns and interests in the Tomeverse reality, and they have the mutual bonding experience of exceptionally intense "culture shock." The majority of the Newcomers fall into one of the following groups:
Animalkin
About 300-500 thousand anthropomorphic beings have found their way into the Tomeverse. They are descended not from primates, but from other creatures. Examples include the Bunnykin and Badgerfolk.1337 Speakers
Due to the efforts of Operation GTFO, about 2.5 million people from another Earth, known as the 1337 Speak Reality, immigrated to this reality when theirs was about to be destroyed in a fiery apocalypse. They are Human, but in their reality, technomancy was fairly common, they had achieved more advanced technology, and everyone wrote in "1337 Speak," a language that is associated with computer geeks and hackers in the Tomeverse.Litwalkers
Litwalkers are conjured beings from realities that may have been created by Literomancers in their fiction or RPGs, summoned into this reality. Some of them choose to stay, and although the population is not large (perhaps a total of a few hundred) they are a significant faction.Void Creatures
Again, while not numerous, sapient creatures who have come from The Void are highly visible. The most famous is Boodles, a conjuration associated with Prince Galakrond, who has chosen to forsake his native plane whenever possible. However, this group also includes creatures such as the "Void Mimics" who have made themselves at home near the Void rift in the basement of The Warren, and who like to play pranks on the Warren's inhabitants — especially the Bunny Queen.Cryptids
Cryptids are rare, but are becoming increasingly more common. This group generally describes distinctively non-human creatures who came from other realities, and many are sapient. Dragons might be included in this group, but the most famous dragon, AttorraRu, is a native of this reality.Fae
Some include the fae beings who have begun to appear in the Realm among the Newcomers, but since many of them originated in this reality before becoming one with Faerie, such as Changelings, or are fae-blooded but not fully fae, this is a controversial point. Some wish to be included, while others resent the implication that they were ever separate from this reality in any way.Culture
Shared customary codes and values
While they are extremely diverse, even comprising several different species, the Newcomers share some common interests and concerns in the Tomeverse. They are often eager to preserve what they can of their diverse cultures, and where needed, they advocate for public acceptance and necessary recognition and adaptations in public systems and in the law. Some examples:
The International Criminal Court changed some of its definitions to be less humancentric, to compensate for the presence of non-human sapients, and even established rules of engagement for the treatment Zombies in war
The Lapin Protectorate provides all government services in 1337 Speak as well as their official languages, and other Protectorates are following suit
The Protectorates established a system to fast-track citizenship for 1337 Speakers during The Great Migration, and most established a "community sponsorship program" to help the refugees integrate more effectively into their new communities
The Ailurus Protectorate is making a cultural shift to uphold the Fae cultural system of deal-making and implied obligations, although this has not yet spread to other Protectorates
While Void creatures used to be regarded with suspicion and fear, they are gaining broader acceptance, thanks to the activities of Voiders Anonymous
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Newcomer's Day
Because the Great Migration was completed on August 6, 2023, the 6th of August has evolved into a solemn observance of the sacrifices and loss of life, but it has also become a day of celebration of the arrival in the new reality. 1337 Speakers are lobbying in most of the Protectorates to have this date recognized as a state holiday. In the Lapin Protectorate, a bill has been passed by Parliament to accomplish this, calling the proposed holiday "Newcomer's Day," and expanding its mandate to include all Newcomers. It is expected to receive Royal Assent in the next few months.Major organizations
Operation GTFO
Operation GTFO were the group responsible for coordinating the evacuation from the 1337 Speak Reality. While they have now been disbanded, they remain an important part of Newcomer history and culture.1337 Speak Archive Project
The 1337 Speak Archive Project works to preserve as much culture, technology, and history from the 1337 Speak Reality as it can. Due to its advocacy, government service in 1337 Speak is provided in many Protectorates.The March Hares
The March Hares as an elite special forces platoon that is part of the Princess Rowean's Royal Light Infantry regiment. Made up entirely of Bunnykin and Wererabbits, they are a highly decorated and highly respected part of the House Lapin Armed Forces.Voiders Anonymous
While the Voiders themselves are people from the Tomeverse who have been altered by their contact with the Void, they advocate for public acceptance of Void creatures, and most Void creatures who choose to remain among the Newcomers work with them to this end.New Creatures Division Task Force
The New Creatures Division Task Force is a division of the World Literomantic Academy who volunteer for frontline action and intervention in studying and working with cryptids. Although they were originally geared to working with non-sapients, they have also interacted with sapient cryptids to prevent misunderstandings that might have broad-reaching consequences.WIP
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Encompassed species
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From time to time, Newcomers wander in through ancient, forgotten portals by Pixabay
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