Post by Fedifensor on May 5, 2021 10:37:39 GMT -7
Long ago, the human race reached its greatest heights. The world became unified, medicine extended human lifespan by decades and improved quality of life, and technology was on the brink of letting humanity travel to the stars.
Unfortunately, the sacrifices made along the way created pressures that built up until they could no longer be ignored. Those who felt they were being marginalized with the rapid changes in society turned to violence...and technology had made weapons of destruction extremely easy to make. Regional conflicts arose, and when the world was distracted, terrifying new weapons were unleashed. Transform viruses caused people to drop dead on the spot - or worse, change into feral, barely human creatures. Nations reached out in their death throes, launching the missiles that brought nuclear fire to their enemies. Had all the missiles landed and the transform viruses continued unabated, the Earth would be nothing more than a desolate rock. Countermeasures were deployed - many missiles were destroyed before impact, and counter-viruses were released to attempt to keep people alive...and human. However, it is far easier to destroy than protect.
Within days, civilization was gone, and those who remained struggled to survive. Most of mankind's accumulated knowledge was wiped away when the vast majority of electronic devices ceased to function. One of the transform viruses targeting the linguistic center of the brain made it difficult for the survivors to even communicate with each other for many months. In a short span of time, centuries of human progress had disappeared entirely, and the world was reduced to a barbaric state.
Many years passed...
You stand at the dividing line between the rest of the village and the ancient ship that fell from the sky long ago. A metal bridge extends over the canyon fed by the nearby waterfall. Walking out from the ship is an athletic, dark-skinned woman with thick black hair and brown eyes, that could pass for a Pure to those who don't know she is a Mut, like many beings in Fedrex. She wears a white jacket and hat made of a strange material, each with multicolored lettering of the ancients that displays a version of the town's name upon it, for those who can decipher such writing.
"I am the Navigator, as was my mother before me. I am not the speaker my brother is, but it falls to me to explain the Road of Cargo. I have traveled further through the lands of Hi-West than any other citizen, so you know what I say comes from experience."
"You know of the Great War. Some, such as the Stargazers, view what happened as the vengeance of an angry god. Others blame the tech. Those of Fedrex believe that the fault lies not with God, nor with tech, but as the failings of thinking beings who made poor choices. Who here has not been tempted to violence with those with which we disagree? The first rule of Fedrex is that all citizens are equal, and violence between them is forbidden."
"We do not blame the tech - it is a tool, for good or ill. Fedrex was gifted much tech of old by the three members of the Crew - the Great Lot, the First Lot, and the Navigator. They brought the Ship of Cargo to these mountains, creating a place of safety that remains to this day. The Cargo keeps us alive. It gives us Good Water to drink, ways to find the Rads that can kill, cures our illnesses, gives us tools to tame the land around us, and provides weapons we can use to defend what we have made over many years."
"Fedrex has much Cargo, but without new Shipments, we would eventually run out. The Road of Cargo is what ensures our survival. Each being who wishes to gain citizenship must undertake the Road of Cargo at the conclusion of their first year of adult life within Fedrex. We mark the coming of life with the signs that the snow is beginning to melt, and the growing season will soon be upon us. Now that the harsh winter is ending, we send each of you away from Fedrex to find Cargo, and to not return until you have done so."
"What is Cargo? Those of you who were born in Fedrex already know the answer. However, we have new arrivals that seek a place in our village, and do not yet fully know our ways. Some of you think Cargo is tech, or weapons. Those can be Cargo, but not always. Cargo is life. Cargo is anything that lets our village survive a little longer in this harsh world, and it is the wisdom of our village Elders that decide what is and isn't Cargo. When you return, you will present what you believe to be Cargo to the Elders, and they will judge its worth. Bring nothing of value, and you will be cast out of Fedrex for good. Offer something small, and you may buy yourself a season, or a year...but you will not be given citizenship. Only an offering judged sufficient by the Elders will make you a full citizen of Fedrex."
"Know that while each individual must bring their own Shipment of Cargo for judgment, you are considered probationary citizens during your journey...and citizens work together. As long as you travel together on the Road of Cargo, anything you find will be fairly divided, or all involved will be denied citizenship. A being who commits violence or theft against another upon the Road is no longer upon it, and may be dealt with accordingly."
"Now, whether for good or ill, there has been some sort of calamity in Cassrock, the closest civilization to Fedrex. We do not seek to profit off of misfortune...but neither will we sit idle while bandits prey upon what is left of a once-great town. We suggest that the first place to look for Cargo is in Cassrock. Go elsewhere if you wish, but it is likely there is Cargo to be found there."
"We offer you a short time for contemplation of the Road ahead of you. Wait here, and you will be summoned to meet with the Elders for one final gift before your journey begins. May the Road favor you, and the blessing of Cargo be in your future, as the Navigator points the way."
The Navigator turns, walking across the metal bridge and back into the ancient ship, disappearing into the darkness within.
Unfortunately, the sacrifices made along the way created pressures that built up until they could no longer be ignored. Those who felt they were being marginalized with the rapid changes in society turned to violence...and technology had made weapons of destruction extremely easy to make. Regional conflicts arose, and when the world was distracted, terrifying new weapons were unleashed. Transform viruses caused people to drop dead on the spot - or worse, change into feral, barely human creatures. Nations reached out in their death throes, launching the missiles that brought nuclear fire to their enemies. Had all the missiles landed and the transform viruses continued unabated, the Earth would be nothing more than a desolate rock. Countermeasures were deployed - many missiles were destroyed before impact, and counter-viruses were released to attempt to keep people alive...and human. However, it is far easier to destroy than protect.
Within days, civilization was gone, and those who remained struggled to survive. Most of mankind's accumulated knowledge was wiped away when the vast majority of electronic devices ceased to function. One of the transform viruses targeting the linguistic center of the brain made it difficult for the survivors to even communicate with each other for many months. In a short span of time, centuries of human progress had disappeared entirely, and the world was reduced to a barbaric state.
Many years passed...
You stand at the dividing line between the rest of the village and the ancient ship that fell from the sky long ago. A metal bridge extends over the canyon fed by the nearby waterfall. Walking out from the ship is an athletic, dark-skinned woman with thick black hair and brown eyes, that could pass for a Pure to those who don't know she is a Mut, like many beings in Fedrex. She wears a white jacket and hat made of a strange material, each with multicolored lettering of the ancients that displays a version of the town's name upon it, for those who can decipher such writing.
"I am the Navigator, as was my mother before me. I am not the speaker my brother is, but it falls to me to explain the Road of Cargo. I have traveled further through the lands of Hi-West than any other citizen, so you know what I say comes from experience."
"You know of the Great War. Some, such as the Stargazers, view what happened as the vengeance of an angry god. Others blame the tech. Those of Fedrex believe that the fault lies not with God, nor with tech, but as the failings of thinking beings who made poor choices. Who here has not been tempted to violence with those with which we disagree? The first rule of Fedrex is that all citizens are equal, and violence between them is forbidden."
"We do not blame the tech - it is a tool, for good or ill. Fedrex was gifted much tech of old by the three members of the Crew - the Great Lot, the First Lot, and the Navigator. They brought the Ship of Cargo to these mountains, creating a place of safety that remains to this day. The Cargo keeps us alive. It gives us Good Water to drink, ways to find the Rads that can kill, cures our illnesses, gives us tools to tame the land around us, and provides weapons we can use to defend what we have made over many years."
"Fedrex has much Cargo, but without new Shipments, we would eventually run out. The Road of Cargo is what ensures our survival. Each being who wishes to gain citizenship must undertake the Road of Cargo at the conclusion of their first year of adult life within Fedrex. We mark the coming of life with the signs that the snow is beginning to melt, and the growing season will soon be upon us. Now that the harsh winter is ending, we send each of you away from Fedrex to find Cargo, and to not return until you have done so."
"What is Cargo? Those of you who were born in Fedrex already know the answer. However, we have new arrivals that seek a place in our village, and do not yet fully know our ways. Some of you think Cargo is tech, or weapons. Those can be Cargo, but not always. Cargo is life. Cargo is anything that lets our village survive a little longer in this harsh world, and it is the wisdom of our village Elders that decide what is and isn't Cargo. When you return, you will present what you believe to be Cargo to the Elders, and they will judge its worth. Bring nothing of value, and you will be cast out of Fedrex for good. Offer something small, and you may buy yourself a season, or a year...but you will not be given citizenship. Only an offering judged sufficient by the Elders will make you a full citizen of Fedrex."
"Know that while each individual must bring their own Shipment of Cargo for judgment, you are considered probationary citizens during your journey...and citizens work together. As long as you travel together on the Road of Cargo, anything you find will be fairly divided, or all involved will be denied citizenship. A being who commits violence or theft against another upon the Road is no longer upon it, and may be dealt with accordingly."
"Now, whether for good or ill, there has been some sort of calamity in Cassrock, the closest civilization to Fedrex. We do not seek to profit off of misfortune...but neither will we sit idle while bandits prey upon what is left of a once-great town. We suggest that the first place to look for Cargo is in Cassrock. Go elsewhere if you wish, but it is likely there is Cargo to be found there."
"We offer you a short time for contemplation of the Road ahead of you. Wait here, and you will be summoned to meet with the Elders for one final gift before your journey begins. May the Road favor you, and the blessing of Cargo be in your future, as the Navigator points the way."
The Navigator turns, walking across the metal bridge and back into the ancient ship, disappearing into the darkness within.
It is meant to mimic the blinking of a cursor.]