Jarod Summers Erika Carlsson Randy Brink RaJahn Rage Owens Emelie Bergman Rob Samhain Jeremy Summers We only have one life. One fleeting moment of existence and to not live for the moment is to waste it. We lived by this philosophy and put it as the highest of all human learning, delving into our wishes, every end justifying our means even as it began to kill us. The sixth extinction was rapid and global, but largely ignored by all but a few of us who gathered resources in preparation. Having realized the end they abandoned the civilisation of Conquest and at the right time they left their dying people and sought a new beginning in the birth of human civilisation amidst the ruins of Jericho, as a symbol of the new beginning. And so Jericho was rebuilt. Leveled fields where victuals grew fed the people, strong winds and bright sunlight provided never ending power, deep wells watered and history was remembered and the knowledge was taught. The new society knew the mistakes of our past and was built as an ark, carrying our species through the new age to one day prosper again. The Initiates knew and taught their generations that we all have a purpose in life, a mission we are born for and a place in our world. Soon though small numbers from the dying world discovered the living shard of the past utopia but was denied a place in it. While Jericho remembered the consequences of the outside worlds philosophy the outsiders remembered only the rewards. The outsiders were fleeting and self-centred and this thinking was feared by Jericho. Our species perpensity, and inherently creative, passionate and sympathetic qualities lived on within the new generations and while the consensus that none of the old world had a place within Jericho some came to defy this. Facing the threat of being conquered by the needing outsiders both philosophically and practically the Walls of Jericho was again built by the technologically advanced society, and the few who sympathized practically with the outsiders were given the choice of leaving or complying with the consensus. For a time Jericho remained, but more wandering survivors came to its walls. The generations came to call this gathering of nationalities and ethnicities the Scythes, like the equestrian Scythians that aspired to Jerichos paradise long ago. While Jericho remained the Scythes gathered under one flag many times, each hoping to penetrate the forbidden lands to conquer the treasures within. They grew strong in number and capability and the generations of Jericho grew worried for the future of the city. Inspired by the doctrines of the Scythes and concerned for the citys mission a young man abandoned the principles of Jericho to become its protector. He became known as the Daemon inside and outside Jerichos walls, summoning both the original meaning of Guardian and the horrifying evil creature. While never forgetting his reasons the outsides philosophy began to take hold of him and like the utopia of the past all means came to justify the end, even as, inspired by the history of Vlad the Third and his war against the Ottoman empire, the Daemon had his army execute defenseless Scythes and raise their bodies before the citys walls in a forest of sharpened poles. Through-out his strife he became feared and abandoned by Jericho as a whole, their approval and acceptance of him waning for every exsanguination made by him as well as his growing army. Even as the generations of Jericho sent Scythian assassins for him he never stopped his campaign to protect the city. The Daemons eventual murder brought a truce between Jericho and the Scythes. In exchange for a delivered share of Jerichos abundant resources the scythes agreed to accept their banishment outside the Walls of Jericho. Having agreed to this the generations of Jericho now turned their gaze inwards and realized that it was in their human nature to fleet from ideals and morals, and they could not be trusted to carry on their mission. They sought a solution, a change in their basic human nature, and eventually a new species was born from their experiments - the Ideals. Artificially designed biological vessels carrying the digitized minds of a few chosen, carnally devoted to their herd with the intention of incorruptibility, given the responsibility of ruling a people admitting their flaws and inadequacy. Over time the humans of Jericho had less and less authority, replaced by their new Posthuman masters. For a time it was good, but as the new generations came the flaws of the Ideals became apparant. The new species was born with inaccuracies in its genetic base code that made a few prone to rash decisions, irresponsibility and egoism. These flawed creatures were alternatively treated experimentally or banished from Jericho. Outside Jerichos walls the limited supply of resources had brought the Scythes together into a unsteady internal peace. The resources were divided in orders in exchange for serices performed. The eventual congregation began to relearn to farm and build from the plundered land and in the unfertile soil a minor village started beside Jericho. The society attracted the few remnants of our species and the inhabitants started to procreate. The village grew into a city where the old philosophy of conquest and achievement lived and the personal happiness was aspired in a careful system of law and governance. And the Scythes called the city Babylon. With the laws becoming firm and enforced and the scraps of the past being gathered and given a tentative new life Babylon began to grow. And as Babylon grew Jericho thrived.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Aug 2014 19:45:52 +0000