Things in Project FERGUS are getting serious now. I am wanting to start naming things, such as the cultures, the locations, and the names of the Gods in the pantheon, but I think it is important to consider factors like WHO is doing the naming.
So to that end, before we can determine the names of things, we need a timeline and basic descriptions of the cultures as they develop according to our story. So I’ll start with a smallish timeline that depicts only the events we have determined so far.
Basic Timeline
- Arrival of Advanced Humans on Eos.
- Breakdown of Society, First Rogue AI Initiates Memory Mitigation, creating a new society.
- Eventual cascade failure as AIs go Rogue, create Human, Little Folk, Lizardfolk Populations.
- War between Lizard race and all others culminating in destruction of their creator and banishment to Cruor.
- First Afterlife Matrix Created.
- Matrix revealed as a hell, AI cut off, begins war of conquest, Lizardfolk return to help.
- Hell AI killed, Afterlife Matrices banned
- Afterlife matrices allowed with strict oversight.
- Hell AI makes a doomed attempt to return and start another war.
- Large chunk of populated land, containing reality core that allows demons to possess people, transported to Cruor to prevent another such attempt.
Using this as a guideline, I have created the following divisions and a slightly more elaborate and specific timeline to work with.
So I can determine from this three/four main chronological areas in which new civilizations would have been established, and what they might look like.
The First Era would be like the dawn of civilization. Lots of barbarian tribes, some city-states are built in fertile areas, trying to hold on to their land but maybe being razed by marauding armies at times. This is what really establishes any ancient hatreds and mistrusts between the races. Weapons are probably relatively simple, (Bows, slings, swords, axes) but nothing elaborate, mechanical, or chemical in nature. Civilizations surviving from this time would be ancient like Rome, with grand ideas of their history and probably very proud, or very grounded and long lasting, not clashing with large forces, keeping to themselves.
The Second Era looks more like the dark ages. Real widespread civilization- and empire-building, probably the first major roads, the first alliance kingdoms and more strategic warfare when needed. Very basic crossbows, knights with shining armor, Think of this as an arthurian time. Still a lot of superstition, and focus on the wonder provided by the gods, this new afterlife, so a likely very unified religious time. Lots of hope and high-minded ideals. Also, there was zero contact with the Lizardfolk, so they would have been an evil ancient boogeyman nemesis. The fears would have been established by lack of exposure and dark memories. And of course, all the shininess of this era was doomed to collapse when it was revealed that the afterlife was actually a hellish nightmare and the minds sent there returned as demons. This could have torn down or vastly reshaped the hierarchies and civilizations that had developed here.
The 3rd Era is a much more mature time. Civilizations here have the cynicism not to trust Gods and their afterlives implicitly. Also a lot more gods are playing the recruitment game and being kind of rival-ish, so religious conflict may proliferate. Connection to Cruor and the Lizard folk race has been reestablished on almost friendly terms, since they fought the demons together and won. This is much more like an era of exploration. Almost a renaissance, with ship-building, even ventures into Cruor as the gates are reopened. More advanced technologies and devices can now be seen, such as automatic crossbows, simple engines. Possibly early firearms, though maybe the Gods would seek to curtail that.
The Exiled Land was present for the 3rd era, but has now been cut off almost completely and thrown into a land ruled by the Lizard folk zealots who don’t like them much. There is a sense of fallen greatness, possibly even a little bit post-apocalyptic, as things have reordered not around tradition and alliance, but around who could grab and keep power. It has gone back to a tribal 1st era time, but with the structures, weapons, tactics, tools, and appearances of the more advanced times. On Eos it is probably just considered a lost city. I think that Cruor is still accessible from Eos, just not the desert where the exiled land has been placed. An explorer could theoretically still find the city.
Conclusion
With these ideas in place, I have the language and structure I need to begin creating and placing the various civilizations within the framework. I can determine where they fit best, what prompted their creation, and how they would have adapted to changes, split apart, or found ways to adapt.
But that will be for next time 🙂
See you then!
—Charles