Seen
From Rice Boy Wiki
Seen, the last of the Linking Cities, is a vast underground complex that is, at the time of Rice Boy, the last connection between Overside and Underside. At one time, Seen was one among many Linking Cities-- it was likely constructed in the Green Age along with the other Cities. However, after the Plague, all of the other Linking Cities were either shut or razed, making Seen the last of its kind.
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Inhabitants
Seen is populated by a number of relatively-silent creatures, who all wear loose clothing and veils. Their eyes, angled at roughly 45° from the horizontal, are echoed in the design of Seen itself, which features numerous eye patterns. The people of Seen are ruled by a king, who does not speak, although he might have some kind of telepathic ability (as others speak for him instead[1]). A king (possibly the same one, depending on his lifespan) has ruled over Seen since at least the Blue Age.[2]
Notable inhabitants (and semi-permanent residents) include:
Location
In Rice Boy, the location of Seen is ambiguous, as the reader is not shown where along the Trench Rice Boy enters the city. However, Seen's location is marked on one map in the published edition of Rice Boy, and it is shown to be located northeast of Parod's home, at a portion of the Trench that is east of the Red Mountains. Its connection to Underside is near to a large group of White Formless, who once used the connection to bring Rice Boy to Overside.[3] Later, Rice Boy himself came to Underside by the same path.[4]
Architecture
The clearest motif of Seen's architecture is the eye (as noted above), but a number of important designs from the history of Overside have also been incorporated. For instance, relief images of Trills in various poses adorn visitors' rooms.[5]
The Library of Seen also has depictions of Trills, who along with statues of White Formless are buttresses for the Library's large bookshelves.[6] Also, there are small White Formless book-stops near the entrance to the Library.[7] Three individual statues of important people from Overside's past are shown, including Gerrah (or another member of Serínger's lineage)[8], a Tree Keeper (most likely Negat the Tall)[9] and Koark[10][11].
The Mark of Seen
The Mark of Seen is an eye-shaped mark with a black and red pupil that is placed on the body of a visitor to Seen. It is considered dangerous to travel through Seen without a Mark, and travel outside of Seen-- once one has already entered-- is forbidden. The only Mark seen in the comics is T-O-E's, as shown in the image to the left. He received it some centuries before the events of Rice Boy.[12]
The Mark is also required for entrance to the garden of Memoar.
Seen-Script
Main article: Seen-Script
The writing system known as Seen-Script is named after Seen, since the first instances of it were observed in a book in the Seen Library. It is likely not the case that the inhabitants of Seen created this writing system in the first place.
References
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=317
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=326
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=197
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=337
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=321
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=323
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=322
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=323
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=323
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=324
- ↑ http://www.formspring.me/evndahm/q/769363424
- ↑ http://www.rice-boy.com/see/index.php?c=328
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