User blog:Tofu21/The Systems of "Chosen"

Within and outside the Tower, it seems there are many systems of "Chosen", where one is chosen for a certain purpose. Though such systems may also extend to Shinheuh or items like Pockets, Ignition Weapons, etc.

Below explains how one forms the logic or even the assumption, that such systems even exist.

Introduction
In TOG, take note there is a system of fixed and highly restrictive rules governing what actions someone can take depending on factors like:


 * their rank


 * battle Position


 * job position


 * type of equipment


 * their access to a certain area


 * Ranking and Grading

Such rules likely, also govern how an item may operate or is issued, based on factors like:


 * Ranking and Grading


 * only items which help people to use Shinsoo, need to be contracted


 * Floors an item(which can use Shinsoo) has been contracted to


 * skills and qualities of a person

How SIU obtains a possible set of results
That there is a system of rules, is derived from the fact SIU has mentioned TUS(Talse Uzer Story) is governed by a set of laws and that history cannot be changed, indicating restriction to obtain a fixed output of results.

It means SIU tends to put in stringent restrictions in order to obtain a possible set of results:


 * normal Residents have to stay in the Floors they were born(Ch 10)


 * only Rankers may take the staircases in Middle Area


 * who may or may not become a certain Position


 * only those chosen by Headon are called "Regulars" and get to take tests in the Inner Tower(Ch 10)


 * only Irregulars can request to take a Guardian's test(Ch 58)
 * only Regulars who've passed a test, can be chosen to take the next test


 * only Regulars who've passed all the texts of their current Floor may be chosen to proceed to the next Floor in the Inner Tower


 * what each Position may or may not do

This implies only certain people are qualified to take a certain form of action and so on. It also eliminates the classic plot syndrome where one sees a protagonist over-powering himself, even though he'd already reached most of his limits, by chapter 145 out of 1000++ chapters. And it allows characters to expand in many different or even, unique ways.

It also prevents characters from suddenly obtaining some rare and highly coveted item, without explanation. Baam was lent the Black March by Yuri Zahard, simply because she loved chaos and was interested in Irregulars. Otherwise, she might have decided to let him die if she was completely loyal to the the Zahard Empire.

Sources where "Chosen" is mentioned
From the above, we can assume people are chosen for a certain purpose and there are "systems of restrictions", as in "how is SIU intending to restrict a current system/item/technique/area/___?" where ____ refers to "whatever purpose" SIU intends.

The term "Chosen" isn't made up but rather, it is mentioned at random points in the comic:
 * "chosen Regulars" versus "unchosen Irregulars" shortened to Regulars versus Irregulars(Source: ) and "chosen Regulars" is mentioned in Ch 10 and "unchosen Irregulars" is mentioned in Ch 58.
 * the concept of being "worthy to be chosen" is mentioned in Ch 11.
 * "chosen Princess"(Ch 27)
 * Ha Yuri Zahard being the only one out of all the "chosen Princesses" in the last 500 years, to receive one of the 13 Month Series (Ch 32)
 * Headon told Rachel that "you're not the person the Tower has selected" and "you have not been chosen"(Ch 76)
 * Rachel mentioned that the world above the cave was "a place where the chosen children play" (Ch 73)
 * chosen Regulars being chosen once more(Ch 81)

From translated profiles on the Batoto forum:
 * The Eurasia main Family opposed to Zahard Princesses being chosen from their Family or perhaps, Zahard Princesses being chosen in general
 * Disciples of the Gong Bang are also chosen, by the Teachers of Gong Bang

Take note, that Baam "choosing" to become Rachel's legs is probably not the same as "being chosen".

Who does the Choosing
Only the qualified get to choose. They must be in a position of power, must have the authority to do so and must have the relevant skills and knowledge, required to conduct the process.

Example One: Yu Han Sung, as the Testing Director probably had the final say on who got to pass the Hide and Seek test. Of course, Lero-Ro and the other Testing Admins were allowed to rate the respective teams and students, based on their performance and abilities. They were likely appointed by Evankhell, as it's unlikely anyone else has the authority to appoint them. It's possible Yuga killed or kidnapped the real Wave controller teacher and impersonated him, so he could get to wear the House Badge.

Example Two: Urek Mazino and the other leaders probably choose who gets to become a member of Walhaiksong. Now, other members with a high position, might weigh in on the selection process. But the leaders have the final say.

Example Three: Androssi Zahard was a Princess candidate, presented by the branch Family she belonged to. Upon proving herself to be worthy, she was chosen by Zahard. It's possible other Princesses might be present when a Princess is being chosen. However, the King has the final say over who gets chosen as a Princess and who gets to join his Family.

Example Four: The victors of the yearly fights between the Koon children(of branch families), are chosen by Koon Eduan to become his "chosen children".

To be chosen
Before a person can become a "chosen one", he or she is likely subjected to a series of several tests or processes, designed to select a "chosen one" from a pool of candidates(those who may be "worthy of being chosen"). And of course, the candidates are probably selected from a larger group of "hopefuls". And these "hopefuls" are filtered from an even larger group of "hopefuls" and so on.

And these tests are probably designed to test the candidate's qualities, to determine if he or she is worthy of being "chosen" for a certain purpose. Sometimes, there're no tests. Rather, the system makes use of available data, drawn from various sources in order to select a "chosen one". It's unknown if the Gong Bang tests an individual, before giving an item to him or her.

Also, it doesn't matter if the candidate is receiving help from behind the scenes or if she may have powerful connections. Each person still has to be "chosen", based on their personal abilities and efforts. If they do nothing, things will never happen and they'll never get "chosen". There's no such thing as a "free ticket".

And if they're being secretly helped, they still have to rely on themselves. The systems of chosen, are designed often or always to include many who aren't "involved" with such secret manipulations. This includes some who're in a position of authority to affect the process where one is chosen, even if they may be of a position of lower authority.

Example One: Despite Baam's talents, he wasn't good enough to pass early, so he had to take the Hide and Seek test. He had chances of scoring better for the Hide and Seek test, due to Koon Agero Agnis' manipulations but he needed to pass the test by eliminating the Ranker. This was so he could be chosen to take the next Regulars' test. If his team had failed to catch the "It", he would've been kicked out of the Tower.

Example Two: Despite any assistance from Yu Han Sung or even Headon, Rachel still had to be chosen from among a pool of Light Bearer candidates. She'd to show an affinity for technology, being able to multi-task with many screens, analysing audio-visual data input to influence and issue battle commands, making strategies and being able to control the Light House with Shinsoo. In passing the Position Test, she became a chosen Light Bearer.

Example Three: Koon Maria Zahard still had to show she was qualified of being chosen to be an informal Princess, even though her lover's manipulations allowed her to be chosen as a Princess candidate. It's unknown what kind of tests or processes she had to undergo but she had to excel and using her personal qualities, prove she's one who's worthy of being chosen.

Example Four: Despite Ha Yuri Zahard's assistance, Baam still had to summon enough determination and courage to ignore all his other fears and face the Steel Eel head on.

Example Five: Despite the fact she hailed from the most powerful Special Family in the Empire, Androssi Zahard still had to pass the Position test. However, she was fooling around with Anak Zahard and fell off the pillars so she received a severe penalty to her score. Thanks to her abilities and earlier performance, she wasn't disqualified and she became a chosen Fisherman, by barely making it.

Also, just because someone meets or even exceeds some of the desired qualities, doesn't mean they're worthy of being chosen. The other set conditions(known or unknown) of the relevant system of "chosen" dictate this.

Example One: Baam is able to ignite the Black March but he is unworthy of holding it, as he is not a formal Princess chosen to wield a 13 Month Series.

Example Two: No matter how strong or skilfull Akryung, Kang Horyang, Lero-Ro, etc. are, they're unworthy of wearing the ring Ja Wangnan holds. They've not been recognised by the King.

Example Three:

Examples of Systems of "Chosen"
There are systems of "chosen" practised inside and outside the Tower. And a "chosen one" may be chosen again at 1 or more points. This means a person has to show certain qualities, to prove he or she is worthy of retaining her status of being chosen. There are Rules for each system and no character is exempt from them, unless the person enforcing the Rules has enough authority to overlook them.

Example of such systems of "Chosen" are:


 * females are chosen to become informal Princesses while formal Princesses are referred to as "chosen Princesses"


 * "chosen Regulars" vs "unchosen Irregulars" in the current political system


 * Regulars being chosen again on the 20th Floor and likely, on a few other Floors


 * Irregulars chosen by the Tower to enter to take the Guardian's test and to climb the Tower


 * only Irregulars who've passed a Guardian's test may be chosen to proceed to the next Floor


 * chosen children where Rachel lived, outside the Tower


 * a Ranker who has applied to be Testing Admin and he has been chosen


 * Gong Bang creating items for "one who is worthy"(chosen ones)


 * a person chosen to be a Disciple of the Gong Bang


 * besides Zahard, only the RED and the Zahard's Princesses are chosen to be part of the Zahard Family. Not even the 3 Lords or the 10 Great Warriors are allowed to be part of it.


 * which Guardian is chosen to have close to full authority
 * chosen children from outside the Tower, where Rachel lived
 * how weapons from outside of the Tower, had to be re-developed, so some could be chosen for usage within the Tower


 * only LightBearers may use a LightHouse


 * how objects bearing symbols(Wing Tree, FUG, Zahard, 10 Great Families, other Special Families, house symbol worn by Testing Admins, etc.) are bestowed


 * how special items like 13 Month weapons are issued or bestowed


 * who may learn a certain Special Position


 * who may Ignite a 13 Month Series


 * who may learn a technique belonging to an organization or group like Wingtree, FUG and so on

Rules governing the systems of "Chosen"
These systems of "Chosen" are likely governed by sets of Rules which determine how the tests of selecting a person from a pool of candidates, are conducted.

These Rules probably vary, based on what purpose the person is chosen for.

Example One: only a formal Princess may be chosen to be bestowed with a 13 Month Series. And only a formal Princess may be able to ignite it, though some like Anak Zahard or Baam might be able to ignite one.

Example Two: only someone chosen by Headon can be considered a "chosen Regular".

Example Three: only Regulars who've passed the tests on the 20th Floor may be regarded as "chosen Regulars" once again.

Using all these restrictions, we can assume there're systems designed to filter out the unqualified, to obtain the "chosen" ones for whatever purpose. It may even apply for many jobs in the Outer Tower.

However, just because one isn't "chosen" for a purpose, doesn't mean they're useless. It just means they're unqualified for that specific purpose.

For example: Rak Wraithraiser might be an awesome Spear Bearer but given his personality, he'd probably be terrible at planning strategies and be an atrocious Light Bearer. Note that "Crush!", "Yank out their bananas!" or "Hunt them!" don't qualify as battle strategies. And same for tossing out the Light House to show he is King. Well, Lero-Ro would be more than happy to show who is King by booting him back home.

Exceptions
Exceptions can be made to side-step certain rules or to allow someone not "chosen" to pass. However, they can only be made by a person who has relevant authority or an opportunity to.

Example One: Headon might've had close to full authority, so he "allowed" Baam to borrow the Black March, which was actually against the rules binding an Irregular's test. Otherwise, the boy might not even have passed the test, as he had no weapon capable of piercing the Ball.

Example Two: Yu Han Sung was only able to manipulate from behind the scenes because Evankhell, the Floor Ruler was away. Otherwise, he wouldn't be allowed to do so since Evankhell probably has rules the staff must abide by.

Example Three: Prince's father was able to bribe the 20F Floor staff into allowing several Da-an tribe members, to be registered as test-takers.

Sometimes for such exceptions to take place, a person must make a sacrifice of great and equal value, in exchange for gaining something. Such a sacrifice might be forever or just, for the moment. And it seems only the Guardians and possibly, a few select others, might demand such a price. Or perhaps, much of the Tower also practises this.

Such a price must be something or someone, the person treasures, values or views as extremely important. It could be things like a weapon, eyesight, another person's life, etc. And that "price" is a "condition" which must be accepted, for a trade to take place. And he must accept the personal consequences of such a sacrifice, may be grave or even deadly.

It doesn't matter who the person is. If they really want something, they might be asked to make a trade.

Note: It's unlikely Baam was asked to make a similar trade, so those not chosen by the Tower(his friends) could take part in the Guardian's test with him. It's more likely the Guardian respected his wishes because he was one chosen by the Tower.

Example One: Hendo Lok Bloodmadder sacrifices his children and descendents so he may retain his status of being immortal. And he must live with the consequences of sacrificing the lives of people, he might hold dear. And the Guardian of the 100th Floor likely chose his kin to be sacrificed, so the price is harsher.

Example Two: Yuri Zahard had to lend her Black March, which was probably one of her most treasured possessions. And she had to be willing to accept her fate of being executed, if the King found out. Of course, Headon teleported Baam away with the weapon, so the consequences would be graver, if she failed to retrieve it.

Example Three: Rachel had to fulfill a request of Headon's, so she could become the heroine of the story(Ch 77) and get to climb the Tower. It's very likely she was also asked to sacrifice Baam. And she had to be willing to live with the consequences of killing him as she shared certain bonds with him and may even have viewed him fondly, though she was terrified of the night(Baam).