Vigilantes and Shajhalin

Within the ESE, the inner-city slums of Strathclyde and Javari are the places to be avoided most. Their inhabitants not only have to fear the sudden whims of their Emirs, they are also haunted by over-active solicitors.

Time and again some solicitors band todether and decide to take their anger out on those weaker then themselves. They put on black masks, steal or rent cars and drive out into the slums. Once there, they corner some beggars - essentially the lowest class of shajhalin there is. The unfortunate victims are then immolated, shot or beaten.

In certain areas this has even become a sort of gentleman-sport. Some of these 'clubs' are simple regular get-togethers of solicitors for a night out in the slums. Others are elaborate clubs with solicitors gaining a foothold in decadent circles by performing induction ceremonies and swearing oathes of secrecy among their brethren.

Then, of course, there are the loners. These are solicitors that somehow snapped. It has become a virtual tradition for those who can't stand the stress of a soliscitor's life anymore to go out with a bang. They usually pick up a gun, walk into the slums and don't stop shooting until someone takes them down.

What do the inhabitants of the slums do about this? They form gangs. Among the lowest of the low, these usually consist of mutual defense pacts between several families. They post guards always on the look-out for the vigilante's black limousines and help each other out. Their third job is to defend their turf against other gangs. Since the gangs also often deal in narcotics and have the ultimate say in alotting housing areas, having turf is prerequisite in surviving in the slums.

Another specific element in their lives is the daily feeding of the masses. The patriarchal regime employs a sort of 'bread and circuses' policy toward its shajhalin. On many days, those shajhalin without jobs obtain their food from public kitchens. The shajhalin receive ration cards for use in these kitchens. If they are unable to get their food, then their gang members must do the job. These are needed in any case as the lines at the kitchens are often quite contested among gangs, with the weakest waiting the longest for their food - if they get it at all.

Of course, there are those without families, friends and human support. These form the lowest of the low, the true dregs of Emirate life. It is most often them who run afoul of solicitor hate gangs or starve in the shanty towns.

Once in a while, the violence in the slums reach a certain threshold and boil over. Then, the slums erupt in a week of death and destruction with gangs fighting for their turfs, Emirate soldiers keeping the peace with heavy weaponry and widespread fires in the slums. Incidents like these sometimes even get reported on Dominion and Republican Media.

More often than not, the violence begins in one of the many screen places. The latter are virtual market places where the poorest of the poor gather to watch teevee. The 'bread and circuses' policy also entails entertaining the lower classes. As the lowest don't have the option of going to the great stadiums, the stadiums must come to them. Many Emirs have placed large video screens in their slums to entertain the masses. The market palces where these things happen are either areas under the sole dominance of the local gangs or virtual freeports where none may harm another.