Existing: Karrie Mentioned: Patty?
Otissa is a mushroom-shaped building located in one of Upwarp's Delta Sector pyramids. Its main features include a large open communal floor for entertainment and activities, several classrooms and several discussion chambers, and a large escalator which stands as an hommage to an original investor in the project which began many many years ago on a far-off planet known as Earth.
As soon as you enter Otissa, you can stop moving. The building is completely automated with moving sidewalks and elevators that can get you to your destination in a rapid, precice or interesting manner. Everything is decorated in an intellectually stimulating manner, with many quotes and mathematical theorems displayed on sound walls, usually changing to one that would appeal to you as you pass by.
And though it's very large and holds a vast population, most Otissians can live happy lives without leaving their home, which is why they are rare elsewhere in the Mess.
Otissa's philosophy stems from the wonders of automation. If it can be done by machine, it is done by machine. This includes preparing meals, organizing schedules, and general societal fine-tuning. As an Upwarp faction, they embrace all types of technologies that could increase the standards of living. Otissa's "assisted living" standards turn every menial task, and we mean EVERY menial task, into a breeze.
Most Otissians, in light of them becoming a hassle to maintain, have given up their bodies completely, and are, effectively, disembodied heads. They feel that bodies are overrated, and that Otissa's AI algorithms and robotics do way more for them than their primitive biological bodies could ever do. Besides, those that do retain their bodies tend to become morbidly obese, since physical effort goes against Otissa's ethical code. Why exhert yourself when Otissa can do it for you?
Because of their thoughts aren't devoted to boring activities such as walking, the residents of Otissa devote much of their time to increasing their knowledge and philosophizing. Most Otissians are scholars. Most of the fun they have is through interpersonal relationships, group conversations, and mind-expanding simulated experiences (through VR and drugs), things that can't be done well for you by machine. Though they refer to themselves as Otissians, many other factions share (head) space there and are card-carrying members. Like most of Upwarp, it's a pleasant place to stay.
Joining Otissa is like joining a monestary. You only do it if you're devoted to their ideals. It's extremely extremely infrequent that any Otissian under the age of 300 leaves the faction.
Otissa's whole culture is controlled by a non-sentient AI? that is, in effect, a slave to the masses, catering to their every whims. The AI has the ego of every Otissian averaged out, since it is simply the product of their cumulative observed experiences. This enables it incredible predictive power when it comes to satisfying the whims of the faction members. Unlike the rest of Upwarp that can satisfy your needs before you can do it yourself, Otissa knows what you want to do even before you know that you want to do it. It generally follows the curious nature of the Otissians themselves and places them in situations that frequently cause the Otissians to wonder whether the AI is functioning properly.
Otissians are generally genetically engineered animals with no body below the jawline with no or short-cut headfur. When in Otissa itself, the heads are carried around on conveyor belts or hanging cradles, and handled delicately by robotic arms. When outside Otissa, they tend to use large chromed robots that contain their food, their water, and their entertainment.
Until age 20, native Otissians have bodies, and are given the chance to opt out of the body-removal procedure.
At age 50, they begin Sentient Studies, and for the next 50 years learn to craft their own sentients. This is a deeply philosophical and psychological study.
At age 100, they begin Environment Studies, and for the next 100 years they learn about how the environment effects sentients. This is a sociological and organisational study.
At age 200, they begin Planetary Studies, and for the next 300 years they learn about how to craft a closed societal system. There aren't many 500 year-old Otissians left (many have, against all odds, gotten bored and left the faction, or simply found other things to do than education). 500 year plans are frequently submitted to authorities to be compiled for active simulations. Most Otissians disappear at this point, into their designed worlds.