Citizenship Papers
This is the first article I've written for Lens that wasn't largely made up of fantastic or anomalous things, but the truth is certain needs exist even in very foreign environments and extraordinary worlds only make sense when they have at least some ordinary elements. With my world so heavily intertwined with notions of politics and ethics, demonstrating what team you're on, so to speak, had to be possible.
I initially considered some kind of anime-esque "scanning stone" that read the information off the person, as it would solve the problem of adventurer's losing their papers and having to pursue a long journey for a boring sidequest, but that struck me as too much of a cop-out. The "cultural norm" that keeps people from stealing your papers isn't that much better, but it's the best I've come up with.
Citizenship papers should be the first thing brought up when meeting guards, soldiers or other officials. While the GM can usually just note that they've been examined if there's no issue, it pays to remind the players that how you're treated in this world has a lot to do with which country has your back, and how much.
Citizenship Papers
Governments in the world of Lens rarely treat all people as equals, and one of the defining marks of status in a nation or city-state is citizenship. Citizenship comes with different formal and informal privileges depending on the territory, but some type of citizenship is essential for being treated as a person by most states.
Citizenship papers are what they sound like: papers, markers, medallions or other symbols used to demonstrate that a particular person is a citizen of a certain territory, and in some cases what kind of citizen. Many different types exist despite multiple attempts to establish a common standard, and for now border guards in most nations include one or two individuals trained in reading or interpreting the various acceptable forms of identification. Such a person will not necessarily be with any given patrol, which can sometimes cause delays in verifying the identity of travelers until their assistance can be obtained.
Stealing or destroying citizenship papers is a very serious crime on the continent, so serious that even muggers and thieves who deprive victims of all other possessions will typically leave them their citizenship papers. This is partly because they do little good for others, as most nations have extensive protections against forgery. Mostly, however, they are left out of a combination of a mutual cultural respect and the threat of prosecution for a major crime with no real benefits. Even in wartime, taking the citizenship papers of an enemy soldier other than for verification purposes is not permitted, and Shovani in particular does not tolerate it. On the few occasions Shovani soldiers have done this, their field commanders have carried out immediate military trials and field executions.
Citizens of the lizardfolk nation of Shovani typically carry ornately carved pieces of keratin or bone. Usually the size of a marble, these so-called “citizen markers” can be interpreted by feeling the ridges and grooves carved into the surface which describe among other things an individual’s species, height, weight, coloration and given name.
Groups from human lands usually carry a small, watertight leatherbound pouch that opens to display a thick piece of card with the information written or sometimes inscribed. Allacraus, Pandora’s Cross, Highspire and some of the smaller city-states use this method. Some especially careful citizens have been known to keep small pieces of metal with the information etched in using acid, though this is more common in Highspire where such things are more readily available. Evergrace citizens typically carry their information in a similar format, but carved into a small piece of hardwood.
Citizens of Voltaire carry a songstone, a small rock which can produce a distinct series of musical notes while subtly shifting in color. These are generally the most difficult “papers” for border guards outside Voltaire to interpret, with numerous requests for something more easily translated routinely ignored. Many border interpreters find this annoying, and wise travelers from Voltaire obtain actual, legible paperwork for any foreign travel.
Those without paperwork of any kind cannot claim any of the formal legal rights accorded to citizens by the various treaties between the nations, and must fend for themselves with only basic legal protections which vary by territory.
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