In the Slipshot Series, the technology that powers the universe is as awe-inspiring as it is morally complex. At the center of this technological marvel is the Slipshot itself—an ancient and enigmatic device whose purpose, while not inherently dark, often brings about oppressive and destructive consequences. This tool is wielded by the Engineer Class Citizens, a technocratic elite who rule over Griddish with a focus on scientific advancement and technological dominance. The deeper we delve into the Slipshot’s capabilities, the more we discover the weight of its moral burden, which threatens to unravel the lives of those tied to it.
The Slipshot's Physical Form: A Tower of Power
The Slipshot resides within a structure known as the Silo—a long, slender tower with a striking, almost ethereal design. At the top of each Silo is a portal that emits a plasmic arc, a stunning display of energy that connects the Silo to something far greater than itself. But it's at the base of the Slipshot that the true power lies: a dark portal that serves as a gateway between Griddish, the sprawling, dome-shaped disk floating in space, and the Vars—worlds that the Slipshot anchors to.
Griddish itself is an enigma. Though it is home to countless Silos, it is unclear just how vast this floating world truly is. What we do know is that each Silo is tied to a specific Var, and with millions of Slipshots scattered across Griddish, there are millions of Vars. Each Var is a separate world that is bound to its own Slipshot, with the Slipshot acting as a parent figure to the child-like Vars, holding them in its sway under the ever-watchful eye of the technocratic Engineer Class Citizens.
Beauty Worlds: The Vars and Their Stories
Though there are countless Vars, the Slipshot Series specifically focuses on Var 7, known as Farth, and Var 8, known as Earth. By design, these two worlds share similar cultures and populations, a characteristic that is reflected in their close numerical sequence. In contrast, other Vars—often bearing far larger or drastically different numerical designations—can develop vastly different cultures and populations.
Both Farth and Earth were originally classified as Beauty Worlds and were developed by the Engineer Class Citizens of Griddish in collaboration with Matere Songgaard. Though initially aligned with the Council’s vision of spreading Griddish culture and technology, Songgaard became increasingly disillusioned by the oppressive way the Slipshot was being deployed. Fearing the Council’s growing autocracy, he eventually broke with them and sought refuge on Earth (Var 8), where he continues to resist the Council’s control and rally others to his cause.
Rather than serving as places of mutual enrichment, these worlds were designed from the outset by the Slipshot to embed Griddish culture and values within their very foundations. Inhabitants and ecosystems emerge in alignment with the Engineers’ vision, ensuring that the identity of each Var is shaped by the worldview of Griddish from its inception. The Slipshot, initially a means of spreading the wealth and technology of Griddish, has thus become a tool for enforcing a singular worldview—one that can subjugate and diminish any potential for truly independent cultural evolution.
A Tool of Corruption: The Council's Influence
The Slipshot was meant to be a means of controlled expansion and engineered progress. The Council of Engineer Class Citizens—Griddish’s technocratic governing body—uses the technology to enforce its control over the Vars. The power of the Slipshot enables them to impose their will on entire worlds, dictating the lives of their inhabitants and stripping them of autonomy. If the Council deems a Var unworthy of continued existence or influence, they issue a deconstruction order, and Mechanic Class Slaves, under duress, must dismantle these worlds. The Constructor Class Vérkatrae, relatively small and nimble machines deployed for this purpose, dismantle civilizations in a cold, mechanical fashion.
What began as a method for spreading Griddish culture and technology has devolved into a tool of oppression and control in the hands of a technocracy. The Slipshot does not arrive at an already existing world; instead, it creates the world, setting rules into motion so that the Var develops its own historical course. The Engineers’ original intention—to share their innovations—has been twisted by the Council’s unchecked ambition.
However, this process has led to unforeseen complexities, as the Vars—shaped by the Slipshot’s predictive analysis—are not purely deterministic in their development. At times, when a Var begins to deviate from its “logical path,” the Council dispatches Mechanic Class Slaves to intervene and steer its history back on track. This level of influence further constrains the Vars, leaving little room for genuine autonomy or freedom.
The Struggle of the Slaves: Opal and Rive
The Slaves, the very class tasked with maintaining the Slipshot technology, find themselves caught in a system that perpetuates this imperialistic, technocratic regime. Opal Fremmity, a Mechanic Class Slave, struggles with the moral weight of her role. Though she continues to maintain the Slipshot technology, she is deeply disillusioned by the oppression it causes. Her frustration with the regime manifests in her drinking, a way for her to cope with the deep-seated guilt of upholding an institution that she knows is unjust.
Rive Amber, another Slave, responds to the oppressive nature of the system with violent rebellion. Unlike Opal, who seeks escape in self-destruction, Rive chooses to disrupt the established order by taking direct, forceful action against the forces that have oppressed her. Her rebellion is fueled by a belief that the system cannot continue, and she risks everything to bring change to the Vars, even if it means making powerful enemies.
In one particularly revealing monologue from Slipshot Vol 1.0, Rive’s raw frustration comes through as she addresses Matere Songgaard:
“We can’t do this much longer. We Mechanics are at our limit. Another Var destroyed by the decision of those sheltered Engineers. Honestly, I don’t give a shit about the Vars. But it’s always up to us to carry out their plans. It has to stop, Matere. And it can only stop when you and the Vérkatrae have been wiped off the face of Griddish. Because you won’t stop. You want to protect the Vars. And in doing so, you protect the old ways, you protect Griddish, and you empower that which is crushing us. Times must change, my dear Matere. And we Mechanics are the ones to do it.”
Both Rive and Opal represent the moral burden that comes with maintaining such a system. The Slipshot, a powerful technology meant to enforce domination and control, leaves its marks on those who are forced to uphold it, creating tension between duty and morality.
A Universe in Flux
As the Slipshot Series progresses, Griddish itself is in a state of change. The technology that was once a marvel of universe-building has become a harbinger of destruction and revolution. The Slaves, particularly Opal and Rive, are torn between their duty to uphold the Slipshots and their desire to end the cycle of oppression that this technocratic rule has brought to the Vars. Meanwhile, Matere Songgaard—now a rebel and refugee on Var 8—works from the shadows, hoping to undermine the Council’s stranglehold on power.
The future of Griddish, the Vars, and the Slipshot technology is uncertain, but one thing is clear: as long as this immense power remains in the hands of those who seek to dominate and destroy, the moral burden on the Slaves will continue to weigh heavily. Yet, in the acts of rebellion sparked by individuals like Songgaard, Opal, and Rive, there may still be a chance for genuine freedom within this alternate universe.