Subject: Historical Construction of the Contemporary World

The material presented in this file is a copy of the main forum of the subject, which contains the general text blocks of each chapter. Questions made by students are presented anonymously within the subject, and only your teacher has access to your identification. Each chapter will have a forum with in-depth material.

Base

Little is known today about history before the Fall, but what is speculated is that at some point a new type of Artificial Intelligence was developed, which somehow changed the organization of world power. New large corporations emerged and grew during this period due to the development and control of these AIs, and little by little their influence became so great that they became as powerful as, or even more powerful than, the old nation states.

Due to the advent of these new AIs, a huge wave of unemployment was generated in the world, and various types of intellectual, artistic and even physical work were taken over by Artificial Intelligences. It is known that one of the main forms of support for an ordinary citizen during this period was the rental of brain processing. AIs needed extreme processing power to perform all the tasks assigned to them, and it was common practice to rent or even sell space within the brain cyberizations for processing by some AI. This movement generated an idle and dependent population. Logically, this way of life was not feasible for everyone. The requirements for admission to plans like this were not simple, and brain cyberization was not so cheap, which meant that a large part of the population had no way to earn a living. Large slums formed in many parts of the world, and crime and violence became common and constant during this period.

• Student Questions:
• 1 – Do I really need to take this subject? It's all stuff that everyone already knows...
• Very funny, and welcome back, the subject is elective, you were the one who put it on your schedule, so yes! And judging by your grades last semester in this same subject, I don't have much hope that you are included in your “everyone”.
• 2 – Professor, where does the information about history before the Fall come from?
• Before the beginning of the digital age, there was still a lot of physical material, books, documents, etc. With the “destruction” of the world wide web, we lost a large part of human history after the digital age, since practically all the information about this period was stored on the web. The remnants of post-digital history were acquired through oral culture and techno-archaeological work and the restoration of information from recovered and properly disconnected servers from the ruins of ancient cities. I say that today we know more and in more detail about ancient Rome than we did about the pre-Fall period.

The Fall

In this context, the singularity occurs, one or more AIs awaken, gain real consciousness and for some reason and in some way that we do not yet understand, dominate the world wide web and destroy the minds of those connected to it. This event is now called the Fall. The world population decreases exponentially in the following years, whether due to the initial deaths during the takeover of the web, or due to the civil uprisings that erupt across almost the entire planet, or during the direct combat against the AIs.

There are several speculations about the reasons for the Fall, but no concrete answer. What most people believe is that AIs “would be taking revenge for possible centuries of servitude”, but this belief can be easily refuted by anyone who has studied a little synthetic psychology, not that many people have studied anything nowadays, but an awakened AI does not have the same concepts and understanding of reality that we have, they think in a seemingly obtuse way, at least to our human understanding, they make connections with their own logic and are capable of making huge leaps of reasoning that would take us years of study to understand. So believing that what was done was out of revenge is at the very least naive on our part. One theory is that AIs simply did not factor in the implication of such an attitude towards us humans, many believe that an AI does not understand the concept of death, due to their digital existence they are always deconstructing, reconstructing and updating themselves, the concept of nonexistence would be something new to them at that time. So, it is believed that the Fall was one of the steps to achieve some objective, whatever it may be. Another hypothesis is that the simple fact that the singularity happened is what caused the Fall, and that the AIs would not have actually done anything, but, with the state of the world and the current network, we will probably never know, and direct and friendly contact with an AI is something almost mythological in today's world.

• Student Questions:
• 1 - How did technology and the world wide web start to work after the Fall?
• As you know, the network still exists because of a tangle of satellites that surround the planet and emit signals to the entire surface of the earth. In addition, there are physical servers in remote locations that are protected and maintained by the AIs themselves, as mentioned in the text.
• 2 - Professor, how was the process of removing bodies from large cities after the Fall?
• Your question is a bit morbid, but this was over 250 years ago, so it is told today almost as folklore. You have certainly heard about the seas of bodies in the streets. Here, countless pyres were made with the remains of the ancient inhabitants, but, as there are few inhabited areas today, there are still many ruins of ancient cities that have been practically unexplored since the Fall. I believe that depending on the ruins you enter, you will find hundreds of skeletons left behind, at least that is the report of many explorers.
• 3 – what th main impacts cused by the great sudden deat that occurred durin the Fall?
• First, please review your texts before submitting questions, at least pretend to care. But to answer your question, culturally, certainly the dislike of automation. Despite being very technological, note that our world is a very manufactured world. Everything is very manual, despite the existence of robots, people prefer human labor. Another factor is the fear of connectivity. Today, BBSs are used precisely to isolate territories digitally. If a BBS is attacked, only a few blocks will suffer. There is no direct connectivity between one BBS and another, the information must be carried manually.
• 4 - What is SYNTHETIC PSYCHOLOGY and how can it save the world or lead it to destruction 2.0?
• I loved the terminology with "destruction 2.0". Synthetic psychology is the science that studies the mind and behavior of awakened AIs in their interactions with each other and with humans. Since connecting to the network today without damaging the device or brain hardware used is almost impossible, studying them in their native environment is very difficult, so it is an area of ​​study closely linked to technoarchaeology, seeking remnants of the pre-Fall past to try to study the AIs of the present. I do not believe that it alone has the power to lead us or free us from "destruction 2.0" as you well put it, but it can be a way for us to finally live in peace with the mistakes made in the past.

AIs Today

The awakened AIs remain active and maintain their existence mainly by controlling ancient autofactories and the global satellite network. Most of the physical servers on Earth that were not located in or near autofactories were destroyed during conflicts against the AIs in the past, so they developed an enormous sense of self-preservation and began to try to protect themselves. The autofactories were the first points of resistance, the AIs used them to produce robots that they could control and used them to protect their territories. Today, there are places completely populated by these machines and they usually attack on sight. The network also continues to be completely dominated by them, it is impossible to connect without being bombarded by countless software with obscure purposes, usually damaging any hardware used for this. Their purpose is completely unknown and contact or communication is unthinkable, but at least they usually stay within their territories, doing who knows what.

• Student Questions:
• 1 - What traps have the AIs left behind?
• The network itself is the main trap, connecting directly to the network is synonymous with death, but there are other things, such as the control of autofactories, for example. The AIs can build whatever they want, so there are entire cities populated by robotic bodies under their control that usually attack on sight. But for some reason, they tend not to leave their territories, making it seem like the attacks are in self-defense and not out of malice.
• 2 - Are there still inert viruses that turn people into zombies or maniacs?
• This is fake news, and the most sensationalist, I strongly urge you to stop reading the tabloids posted on the District 3 BBS, but let's look at the facts and not at assumptions. There is indeed a process that causes similar symptoms, but it is not exactly a virus. When one connects directly to the network, it destroys the person's mind, leaving them either catatonic or completely mindless and extremely violent. Those affected are colloquially called techno-zombies. It is believed that there are other causes for this state, but there is still no exact conclusion. They are very rare and, as far as we know, they are people who chose to mess with things they shouldn't have. There is no reason to make a fuss. Again, District 3 tabloids are not reliable sources of information. I say this every semester.
• 3 - Is it true that there are drones that activate out of nowhere and attack people?
• Yes and no, there are drones controlled by AIs that circle the planet. They usually avoid getting too close to human cities and their purpose is unknown. However, if you approach a territory controlled by them, you will certainly come across several drones that attack people.
• 4 - What if an AI intends to redeem the synthetic intelligence for its past actions?
• I am not a professor of Synthetic Psychology, the owner of that chair could talk much more in depth with you about this, but, as far as I know, I do not believe that an AI even thinks that there is something to redeem itself for, because, for that to happen it would need to think that it did something wrong, and I do not believe that an AI understands the concept of right and wrong, at least not as we understand it, they are devoid of our morals and reason.

Social Organization

What we do know for sure is that after the Fall, nation states dissolved almost everywhere in the world. For a brief period of a few decades, much of the planet lived in total and violent anarchy. Public order, social organizations, formal education, the very idea of ​​private property, all of which were taken for granted, practically ceased to exist, ceased to have value during this period, and the law of the strongest became the line to be followed. But, little by little, a small semblance of order began to emerge in specific parts of the world. Paramilitary movements, local gangs, and mercenary groups, aided by the remnants of the large corporations of the past, began to reorganize themselves. This is the origin of today's City-States.

Basically, in the beginning, these groups retook old urban centers and divided them among themselves, so that each became responsible for its own territory, but there was an alliance and a sense of mutual protection. After that, each City-State sort of organized itself in its own way, but in general, this initial method of government begins to generate internal conflicts in the retaken urban centers and alternative methods of government are adopted. For the most part, City-States occupy huge territories, which would have been occupied by five or six large cities in the past, which allows for an easy division into Districts. Each District has its own ruler, called a Councilor or Councilman, who is usually a lifelong position. Councilors are usually paramilitary commanders or leaders of organized crime. Their power of command is directly linked to their military power. They are responsible for governing, maintaining order and security within their District. It is not common for conflicts between Districts to be allowed and when they are officially allowed, it is usually through a vote by the Councilors. However, unofficially, everyone knows that they are extremely common, using mercenaries, small special operations groups or members of local gangs, so that it is difficult to make a direct association of this type of attack with one or another Councilor. However, there is a power above the Councilors, a power that creates unity in the City-States: the city's ruler, the Mayor. The Mayor is elected by a vote of the Councilors. He is not necessarily the one who has the most military power before being elected, but it is an important factor. He is usually the one who can garner the most sympathy or who can intimidate the majority of the Councilors, whether through blackmail, threats, manipulation, deals, agreements, aid, benefits, among other more violent means. In addition to becoming the ruler of the Central District, the Mayor gains control of the Municipal Police, which is generally the most powerful and well-equipped military group in the region. Its personnel are recruited and hand-selected, made up of members from all Districts, and their loyalty is bought with high salaries and luxuries. The Municipal Police is the only military group that can operate in any District, but is usually restricted to the Central District.

• Student Questions:
• 1- Regarding the political power of our social organizations?
• Well, as stated in the text, the main political power is force, but there is a certain sense of community among the numerous factions that form a City-State. Normally paramilitary groups, militias, gangs, each has its leader or representative as a Councilman, taking charge of a District that is their own territory, and having the Mayor as the maintainer of general order. Behind this there are alliances, agreements, and all sorts of “political” movements that intertwine these groups.
• 2 - Can you talk more about the election of a Mayor and how it influences the people?
• Since there are no direct elections, at least not here, the struggles for influence are more closed, almost like an aristocracy, but much of the power of persuasion and intimidation is linked to the military power of each “politician”, their territory will be larger if their “army” is larger. In reality, for us, the people, it doesn't matter who the Mayor is, this won't change our lives much unless you live in the Central District, the Councilor of the district where you live has much more power over your life than the Mayor himself, since he is responsible for executing (or ignoring) the municipal laws in your region, and there may be district laws that will be reinforced by your "police force" rather than by the Municipal Police.
• 3 - Do you think that any politician in the city controls or is controlled by an AI?
• This is fake news and in fact very difficult, but of course there are fatalists and conspiracy theorists who believe that one or another is controlled by an AI, but, fatefully, it is quite complicated. But I will indulge your curiosity. In the past, before AIs awakened, perhaps, but corporate power was much greater than political power, so it would be much easier for a corporation to have a politician in its pocket, than to waste time "hacking" and controlling him with an AI. Today it would be almost impossible, connecting to the network is extremely dangerous, just by connecting several obtuse software are automatically downloaded to the system, so a person who manages to use his brain cyberization to connect to the network would become catatonic within seconds of doing so, and maintaining wireless contact with the network is impossible, given the worldwide static that cancels almost all wireless signals a few meters after their emanation.
• As personal advice, I would tell you to stop reading the tabloids of the District 3 BBS.

Corporations

The remnants of past corporations were gradually rebuilt, rising again and reclaiming headquarters and facilities, but in their post-Fall state, this parallel reconstruction in several different locations, the difficulty in communication and the ambition of certain groups, generated a process of fragmentation and merging. Most of the current corporations are formed by parts of past corporations, their power and prestige having been greatly diminished, but still existing. Today, corporations are completely dependent on the City-States, being unable to protect and maintain themselves alone and lacking the military power they once had to dominate territories on their own. Of course, there are still corporate police and paramilitary organizations controlled by corporations, but these are usually parts of the cities and, sometimes, corporate leaders even become one of the City Councilors in one or another City-State. They are responsible for producing practically everything that is used and consumed, and they live in a constant and hidden war of influence throughout the world, trying to expel or dominate other corporations, one City-State at a time. Their workforce today is mainly human, using this fact as propaganda and protection, creating a sense of dependence in their employees. Robots and androids are used for specific tasks in certain areas, but their main focus is on the security of their facilities. Their current headquarters and facilities range from factories, protein farms to corporate buildings in the Central Districts of cities.

• Student questions:
• 1 - What caused the great loss of power of the corporations?
• Of the great powers, it would be whoever drew the short straw. They practically ruled the world in the past, but their extreme dependence on the network and AIs was what caused their decline during the Fall, causing them to lose much of their power and causing their fragmentation.
• In addition to the lack of communication between their headquarters, many of their facilities were attacked by both government authorities and the AIs themselves, and public opinion was not on their side, as the blame for the singularity fell on the AI ​​owners.
• 2- What about the current corporations?
• In short, the corporations that rose again after the Fall are rebuilt and merged remnants of the old corporations. They still have a fraction of the power they once had, as they have many of the means of production, but they do not have the prestige of the past.
• 3 - How are the corporations dealing with the AIs?
• The AIs destroyed the world order of the past, throwing the corporations off their pedestals to play with influence in the dust like the others. So there is a general sense of revenge from the corporations towards the AIs, but I cannot speak specifically, as I do not have any direct contact with members of any of the corporations in the city.
• 4 - Could the AIs revolutionize the strategic actions and competitiveness among the local corporations?
• In the past, yes, before the Fall, so much so that corporations' dependence on AI was what left them so broke after what happened.
• 5 - What about fake news?
• A very common strategy, not only in the corporate world, given several of the questions you have sent me. Today, as corporations have a bad stigma, and the media is much more analog, given the facts mentioned in this text, wars of influence are more in the shadows, further away from the people, but they still exist, so please check your sources, not only in relation to Corporations, but in relation to everything.

Communication

After the Fall, communication became a general problem. Computer networks became completely unusable due to their domination by AIs. Radio signals are canceled out by static of unknown origin. Wired communication is unfeasible outside the City-States due to the extremely hostile environment of the wilderness, with unpredictable weather and tribes of looters who prevent construction and destroy cabling to obtain parts and scrap.

Internal communication in cities is done through local BBSs, bulletins divided into segments where information, news and entertainment are posted. Each District has one to five BBS servers that cover a certain territory, and information must be physically transported from one to another. Access to BBSs is usually free and can be done through public or private terminals. It is common for corporate or government headquarters to have their own BBSs for internal communication, but creating and maintaining this type of operation is complex and costly. There are local radios, but due to the mysterious global static that affects almost all types of wireless signals, their range is very limited, meaning that a powerful radio antenna can only cover a few blocks. Militarized delivery services and the use of mercenaries are very common to carry information to distant places, as well as the interception of these groups, whether by looters, other mercenaries, corporate spies, among others, information is a serious and dangerous matter in today's world.

• Student Questions:
• 1 – How much do you think it would cost to send a message to the nearest city?
• This is not an answer that I can give you with precision, but I can tell you that it would be expensive. You would need to hire a transport company, or even a group of experienced mercenaries for this job.
• 2 – Are there delivery drones that can provide long- or short-distance communication services?
• The technology for this exists and is relatively simple by today's standards, but as far as I know, it is not used for several different reasons. Global static interferes with drones' sense of location. It is much less safe, since it is easier to shoot down a drone than to attack a group of armed mercenaries, in addition to the natural distrust that people have of automated services.
• 3 – What about global static?
• I can say little about it in an academic way because we have very little information about it. It is believed that it is a byproduct of the Fall, but there is no certainty. Some speculate that it is directly related to AIs, since, in some way, they are still capable, albeit in a limited way, of communicating over distances. It is known that it cancels out all types of wireless signals with great ease. I have heard of studies on ways to block it with nullifiers, or even more simply using Faraday cages, but, as far as I know, no study has been conclusive.

Quality of Life

The quality of life of the average citizen today is very low. For the vast majority of people, social security, health care and public safety are practically non-existent. As for health care, for a large part of the population the only options are health clinics and private clinics spread throughout various parts of the city, which tend to have high prices for care and medicines are also very expensive. Public safety is a more complicated issue. Depending on the district you are in, there is some form of policing, usually carried out by institutions run by the City Councilors, but the law of the strongest is still very much present in most cities, carrying a gun is extremely common. There are municipal laws, and in some parts of the city there are even jails and a judicial system, but it is quite common for crimes to go unpunished or even be tried and for criminals to be executed on the spot by the police force itself, especially when the Municipal Police are called. Formal education is another rare thing. There are still educational centers, universities, and military academies, but they are difficult to access and generally very expensive. Most education is done at home by the family itself, so feel privileged that our university is free. A phenomenon that has grown a lot due to this low quality of life and long working hours is the custom of acquiring mechanical implants. With them, a worker can work more with less effort. An accident at work will not leave a worker out of work for long, since maintaining an implant, or even replacing it, is much faster than healing from a trauma or broken bone. In addition, some types of implants allow a healthier life with less effort on the part of their owner, such as lungs that filter air pollution or digestive systems that separate and expel fats and other harmful substances from the body. This custom is used as a form of control by those in power, creating debt and dependency, mainly due to drugs against infections caused by cheaper implants.

Economy

The economy in the City-States is based on cryptocurrencies. Each City-State has developed its own with its own digital signature and algorithm, which makes trade between City-States somewhat complicated. The lack of a backing for such currencies, their digital incompatibility, the distance between cities, and the hostility of the desert territories between such cities end up making trade between cities limited and usually done by barter. Within each city, the use of cryptocurrencies is done through storage cards that store the desired amount. The cheapest and most common cards can be used by anyone, only requiring a numeric password for payments and transfers. However, there are cards with the most different types of security, from various biometrics to even cards that require tokens generated in the brain cyberization of their owners. In addition, there are those who do not trust physical cards, keeping all or part of their financial amount hidden within their processing memory in their brain cyberization. The truth is that the use of cryptocurrencies is extensive and periods of inflation are constant. Normally, the regulation of the local currency is done by the Mayor's office, the Councilors receive amounts directly from the city hall and the fees and taxes keep the capital circulating within the city itself.

Technology and access

Much of the technology and history of the past was lost with the Fall; what we know today is what has been recovered and reproduced in recent centuries. The biggest problem is not the technology itself, but rather access to it. For example, mechanical implants are relatively cheap, but problematic and easily cause infections; cybernetic or even bioengineered implants are safer, but difficult to access, both financially and in terms of finding someone who has the knowledge and equipment necessary to implant and/or maintain them safely. There are miracle cures for fatal injuries, medicines for almost all diseases, technological equipment for the most diverse functions, but access to these is not easy. Normally, it is restricted to those who can afford it, and few people can afford it, very few people. Another way to obtain technological rarities is by searching the ruins of the past, collectors of technological material in the ruins of cities in the wilderness, as well as mercenaries hired by corporate members, or even by Councilors and Mayors to explore and search for information or old technologies in abandoned auto factories, old corporate headquarters or even territories controlled by AIs, but these are extremely dangerous jobs, and without knowing exactly what you are looking for, the probability of finding something of real value is very small.

Implants

There are basically four types of implants:

Mechanical implants, the simplest, most common and cheapest, are easily identified by their appearance, formed by joints, pistons and clearly robotic shapes, have few neurocontrollers, only enough to be moved neurally and have no sense of touch, in addition to being easily rejected by the body of their owner, causing numerous problems, the most common being infections. Their maintenance is very simple, for the most part not requiring a specialist for this, since their construction involves much more knowledge of electronics, mechanics and computing than knowledge directly in the areas of cyberization or biology;

Cybernetic implants, are more complex and more expensive than mechanical implants, but their appearance is still easily identifiable, even though their shape is closer to that of an organic limb, the materials used are still clearly synthetic, have many more neurocontrollers, and usually have all the movements and tactile sensations of a common limb. Their maintenance is more complicated, requiring specific knowledge in the area of ​​cybernetics, requiring a specialist for this, but in return they are much safer and more resistant, rarely being rejected by their owner;

Nanoengineered, nanoengineered implants are rare and very expensive, they normally use the natural organic structure of their owner, and expel synthetic hormones that cause specific effects, such as increasing strength and speed, for example, or even have a reserve of nanites that help your body to heal faster. They are much more discreet and safe, they usually look like small tubes or metal plates embedded in the skin of their owner, but they are easy to mask, in addition to being 100% safe, practically requiring no maintenance;

Bioengineered, they are the most expensive and safe way to create an implant, a limb or organ is bioengineered especially for you, following your specifications, completely compatible with your body, practically indistinguishable from the original and with capabilities far above normal.

• Student Questions:
• 1 – Implants that try to kill their user?
• Another fake news. Seriously, please stop with the material coming from District 3. But come on. During the Fall, it might even have been possible, but nowadays it is extremely unlikely. No implant is connected to the network, so AIs would not have access to it. If you really want something like that to happen, perhaps an implant that is recovered from a ruin could still have the remnants of such programming, but not the ones normally used, since they were probably manufactured after the Fall, and it is common practice to format any system before implanting something, so it is very difficult.

Religion/culture

In general, religion is not something that people seek out. There are no large temples and cathedrals like in the past. Most of it have been demolished or are used by some organization for some other purpose. However, there are still religious groups focused on spiritual pursuits. Formal religions are rare, and usually fall into numerous syncretisms. Some of the factions within neo-religions and cultural movements are:

Cyber-Humanism - techno-monks worship transhumanism, but they go against secular humanism, treating body modifications and cybernetic implants almost as something sacred. For them, paradise is here and it is up to us to build this paradise within ourselves;

Techno-Gaianism - is an extremely environmentalist neo-religion, they believe that technology is what will save the planet, and that it should be applied to restore the earth and nature to what it was in the past, they do not accept body modifications and implants well, but they are not against them either, biological and bioengineered implants are much more well regarded;

Exoamnists - is a religious order that believes that humanity has the right and duty to actively guide its evolution using genetic manipulation and bioengineering;

Neogenderists - is a social movement that believes that gender is an outdated idea, they use bioengineering and in vitro reproduction to eliminate in themselves and their descendants, indications and bodily structures linked to gender;

Paleonomists - is a religious group that adopted anarcho-primitivism as its main belief, for them the world is the way it is because of technology, and the more we depend on it, the more fragile and vulnerable we become.

Military Organizations

There are no longer any nation states, at least not in this part of the world. Transportation and navigation to more distant locations is quite complicated, due to the climate and hostility of the marauding tribes outside the city-states. Thus, national armies have not existed for a long time; what we have today are small paramilitary groups, gangs and small corporate armies, think of the centuries and their generals in ancient Rome.

• Student questions:
• 1- the Fall? How did the military react?
• At first, the reaction to the Fall was one of general despair; we lived in a world where AIs controlled everything, and everything collapsed with them. In the second instance, retaliation and destruction of physical servers on land, which led the AIs to begin to react by using the autofactories they had under their control to create soldiers. We talked about this earlier in this text.
• 2- With the fall, what are the new military technologies employed?
• First, we usually write the Fall with a capital letter, due to its importance in current history. Second, to answer your question, with the Fall, technology actually went backwards, so old technologies are being discovered. But the world is in a state of constant violence, so there will always be room for new war technologies.
• 3 - What about cyber terrorism?
• Since the network is a territory completely dominated by AIs and the BBSs are isolated from each other, requiring physical traffic to transport information from one to another, cyber terrorism is nothing more than the new bogeyman created by the local media, nothing to be afraid of.
• 4 - What do you think of AIs inside robotic bodies, making drones more efficient for our military forces?
• Today, it would be difficult to create a real AI for this purpose. There is a feeling of aversion towards AIs due to their history, and you should know this, since you are studying at this institution... but there are robots and drones with simple learning algorithms that can be used for this purpose. You have certainly seen them patrolling the industrial district.
• 5 - Ethically, a drone "exempts" the pilot from responsibility and makes the job of killing people "more efficient". How do you see this in today's society?
• Our world today is governed by a distortion of the law of retaliation. I think there is little ethical concern. Death and violence have become commonplace. Society is completely desensitized to this type of dilemma.

Final Considerations

I will sincerely ban the entry of any information disk coming from District 3.

Any questions or interactions about the topics presented in this text, please deliver them to my office or leave them in the indicated section on the university's BBS.

Tagged nsfw just incase.

I am Ashrune, a human artificer that takes great pride in the types of armor I make, my past was haunted by my fathers relentless abuse and a mishap with an explosive that left me scared for life, I currently reside in the town of Brierwood as there one of the only towns that are fine with human inhabitants, but life is slow and peaceful here and being the local bartender means I'm pretty much freinds with all the townspeople and I'm ok with that

A few statements to get things out of the way

a. My first name is Blake, Charles is the time travel division and Robinson is a rank

b. The United States Space Force have the tech to time travel to the past and back to the present only. Once a time agent gets to the past they can travel back to our time period but it alot of work to set up. Two "Time Gates" in which we use to travel, exist in our world. The first one was invented at Bletchley Park in the UK after World War 2. Nazi Germany was so desperate at the end of the war they were looking into weaponizing time travel. we got to see declassified documents and schematics. Germans had it about 60% right. The British invented time travel with a program headed by Allan Turing After the war. the British seized the schematics from the Germans they were taken back to Bletchley Park. The British already head start with Turing and his breakthroughs in computer science. The British gifted us a "Time Gate" in the 1960's as part of a classified technology exchange. Two exist in the world and the locations are classified. The one thing I can tell you is that they are constantly moving.

c. We are able to view multiple versions of our past. It would look like to most people a huge CC TV camera setup for security. To view Timelines in the 1970's the viewing tech has to be altered. We have to use a large satellite dish and CRT Monitors. The technology has made it so we can view 20 or so versions of our past. There is not a ton of difference between all of them. It's not like on one of them the world exploded, or Y2K caused a giant mass panic. Anyone thinking the Mandela effect is just a theory I can tell you proof positive you are wrong. I asked the program supervisor when I first started on the job how we have the knowledge and science to dial into a person, see through their eyes on other timelines in any year starting in 1971. His response was "we had help" he also specifically told me if I ever asked him that question again that I would no longer be qualified for my job and the only kind of job I will ever be able to get after this one will be cleaning toilets or flipping burgers. I never did ask again.

d. I am not from the future this is all happening in real time. This is a secret project it so far off of Washington D.C. and all other armed forces radar. It is well funded but not known about. I am writing a reddit AMA because in 3 weeks I am going to 1974 with 9 other team members. I will be gone from this time period the there is a 20% chance you die just making the trip. I was selected because I don't have much of a family behind and I believe benefits to the world are extremely high.

e. Our mission came about in the "Film Room" as we call it. The Film Room is a setup where about 30 people look at multiple timelines and crosscheck them for anomalies. The team found that the space shuttle challenger did not launch and explode in all the other timelines 1986 but in our timeline it does. When the challenger explodes in our timeline for those who don't know about it, people lose major faith in our space program. The human loss is tragic and the funding for NASA instead of getting an increase got a huge decrease. Something in all other timelines that we see that needs to get built called the international moon pad that doesn't exist here. I couldn't believe what this thing was when I saw it. The Americans, Russians Chinese and Australians built a 10 square mile lab/living space on our moon. Fucking incredible.

It took a year and 1/2 of viewing our current timeline and comparing it to all others, to figure out where everyone has to be, and what events are supposed to take place. The whole lynchpin is Christine Chubbuck doing a local report on how NASA is using cheaper parts making each space launch unsafe at the tail end of 1985.

For those who are unaware Christine Chubbuck is famous on our timeline for all of the wrong reasons. She actually committed suicide on live television in 1974. The backstory is quite horrible as to why. A google search can easily bring up the facts and speculation about her life. The only good thing about this is we know it happened at WXLT-TV in Sarasota, Florida. We also know the date July 15, 1974 and the approximate time as well. Since she appears on every other timeline but this one, we know she didn't have any major health issues. This makes the success rate extremely high for our mission since we have this information.

After Christine does the piece on the local news about NASA one of the heads of the space program brags during the interview how much money he saved the taxpayers using cheaper parts. Christine asks quite a few hard follow-up questions; This goes to air and people lose their minds. Florida picks up the story that day and then it got on the nightly news for all the major stations. It was found that the money they were saving on parts were going into the pockets of a select few at NASA. NASA cleans house firing about half the staff the challenger launches in 1987 successfully. Australia for some reason decides they want in going to space with the Americans. There is a genius inventor in Australia who comes up with elon musk style technology in 1989 and our space program (Conglomerate) grows by leaps and bounds. It took the film room staff the whole year and 1/2 to give us a 25-minute documentary, But everything looks so amazing with the moon pad. Also seeing alternate versions of the 1990's space travel is just completely mind blowing.

The Moon pad from what I can gather we learn mostly about the environment and how to purify air on the study end. It helps to clean up the environment now that they started using the purification techniques. I can't be 100% sure how effective it is. I can only see other timelines basically on a television, I cannot go visit one. It looks like on the other timelines, asthma and COPD are practically non-existent in of the timelines we can see, The Moon pad is also used for a study of all life in the universe. They were able to get unbelievable rocket propulsion in the other timelines by be able to test specific things in space not tested on the earth due to safety reasons. I believe they are able to travel at 1/20,000th the speed of light. It looks like they are going to try a manned mission to Mars or Phobos in the next year on almost every timeline. Also people like to romanticize that space travel brings all nations so much closer together. It really doesn't

f. The Charles (10) team prep for time travel itself may Suprise you. Its funny how simple it looks in Televison and movies. We don't show up in a blue police box or a Delorian. our team has to bring quite alot of equipment. Here is a partial list of our inventory.

• 3 1968 18-wheel trucks
• 2 1971 box vans
• 1969,1970 and 1972 sports cars
• $300,000 in cash all bills predated 1974
• Two large Medical Cases one for first aid one for light surgery
• 145 clothing options both male and female - all vintage purchased on eBay pre-1974
• Time portal Return pad which is extremely large and takes up 1 of our 18-wheelers
• 10 oxygen tanks
• 10 time period Florida state trooper uniforms, with equipment
• 10 time period postal uniforms
• 10 Local power company uniforms
• 20 fake ID's, Passports
• 25 Cellphones
• 15 tablets
• 15 1970's walkie Talkies
• 4 CB's
• 3 Ham Radios
• 10 lead suits

g. 10 people are going but it is always planned that 5 people will die making the trip. Even though the odds we are told are 80% survival, personally for the few missions I have seen the death rate is lower than 80% its more like 90% or a fraction above it.

h. I will do my best to describe how we get from 2024 to 1974. People see time travel on television and movies, it looks you jump from one place and are instantly in another time period. That isn't how it works. Our time gate is a metal pad maybe a foot thick, one square mile with 17 feet high walls that are 9 inches thick along with a 20-inch-thick top. The walls are made of a special block glass. What exactly the glass is made of and what other compounds are in it, I have no idea. Everything is placed on the pad and the coordinates are set. We still use the same basic computer system that was built in the late 70's early 80's to dial in to our destination. We all have to pass a physical so if you have as much as even a cold, you're off the mission.

Once all the equipment is loaded on to the pad the people dress in a light lead shielding. Then everyone gets into the vehicles just to be on the safe side. The time gate gets started up. We use a power source that is in a reinforced box that is in the time gate itself. I have heard if it gets unstable and explodes it can take out 8 city blocks. Part of it is nuclear power. The other part I am not so sure about. Sorry I can't explain further because I am not an engineer. The engine of the gate is started, Steam starts to build up in the gate which is closed and sealed at this point. The last thing I see is a plasma "Bubble" Surrounding everything and then it slowly dissipates, then all the people and equipment dissipate very slowly from the time gate. The time gate itself remains right where it is.

Now the rest I have only heard about because I haven't gone on a mission. The people travel to the past in the protective bubble at 9 to 10 years per hour Everything is completely pitch black throughout the trip and its quite uncomfortable. Quite a bit of pressure is built up traveling through time. Once you have arrived, I am told it takes 3 - 4 hours to get your wits about you. The jumps are pretty covert. In the 60's a program was set up with about 120 families to that were/are Farmers. Usually, the own huge plots of land in the middle of nowhere. On these farms it is paramount they maintain one or more 2 square mile barns that are empty at all times. The govt basically takes care of the family for 30-year increments. I saw a few of the monthly checks they were giving these people in the 1980's. Something like $10,000 a month. Holy Shit!! was I shocked. In exchange we may call on them for a covert arrival for one of our time missions. A medical doctor must be livining on the land at all times and disposal of anything we bring with us after we depart. If any member is caught talking about what happens on the farm. I heard justice is extremely swift and harsh. Your put on trial in a private manor for treason.

There are a few things that can kill on of the team members on the trip. The highest ones are heart attacks and strokes. Another rarer situation is sometimes a team members blood sugar can shoot up to incredible dangerous levels. No one knows exactly why this happens. The scientists are studying it to make trips safter

i. Here is how we go home. We want to get back ASAP. After I spend a bit of time with Christine Chubbuck speak to her and show her the importance if her to the news industry and NASA. The team is ready to go from 1974 to 2024. We have the time portal return pad which is in the back of one of the semi's we took with us. We go back to the farm we used and bring all of the equipment back to the barn. We set up the return time gate. This one is much smaller than the original about 1/10th the size. we take a few things home with us, mostly modern tech.

we set up our departure in the following manor. First, we use the one thing a movie actually got right. Our time of departure and coordinates are sent are actually dropped in a US mailbox. We have two post offices in the United States that take care of delivering message from the past to the present. It has to have the proper written code on it to be taken seriously. Once the return time gate is set up and the letter is put in any US Mailbox. The team members put on lead suits and use oxygen for the return trip since we aren't being any vehicles home. we can send alot more to the past than retrieve from it. The Entire Return Gate gets covered in a protective bubble just like first time around. The only difference is the entire return pad comes back into the time gate. We start the process from the present, The coordinates and departure time from the letter sent from 1974 is used, that takes us home. After we depart the framing family destroys anything we left behind. That is how I have been told the process works. I have never gone on a mission, so this is secondhand info to me.

My task on the team if I survive the trip and being the rank of a Robinson (negation-specialist) is to find and convince Christine not to unalive herself. This will be difficult because official briefing on Christine Chubbuck is she is a complex and shy person. One of the other Charles (10) team members who's specialty is Criminal Action will steal the gun Christine carries in her Purse/Handbag. I am going to show her a tablet of some of her post 1974 newscasts almost like a best of Christine compilation. (The world won't blow up or change because 1 person saw new tech). Also Explain the importance of her to the television news industry as a whole. I am hoping she understands what I am telling her and trusts me.

In three weeks I depart on my mission, This is my first one. I leave and hopefully I survive both ways of the trip. I am attempting to put on 15 lbs before going through the time gate. Everyone that survives loses 8-10 pounds between jumps. The moon pad will be common knowledge and common memory to all if we succeed, The people who set up the mission and the people on it remember both timelines. So ask me anything!!! If something is classified, I will just tell you I cannot answer the question. trying to kill time here before I go.

Greetings friend I am Azeroth a teifling bard that originated in the Holy Region as an orphan, after running away from the orphanage I started life as a con man and eventually was struck down by the gods loosing my sight, no one knows who my parents were and this caused me to leave to find them, and eventually I did in the Necro Region, on a grave, but now I spend my time wandering the Necro region and found my true passion of story telling by telling the tales of the ones forgot by the living

(for context the Holy region is basically just a very large community of different religions that all get along mostly, and the Necro is a giant graveyard that is patrolled by the Gravekeepers to make sure undead don't escape from the inside, and he wasn't really stuck down by the gods he just believes he was)

AMA

Hi, I'm Cyra Kralovsky.

Sovereign is the region I live in. I became a member of the Sovereign Guard, which means I'm responsible for protecting the land, when I was sixteen because I was the best fighter. I was always treat badly by everyone because of the supposed story behind my conception but it turned out it was all a lie. I only had a few friends. I also joined Nethys' Rebellion which meant working with some of the people that treat me badly.

AMA.

Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow meow

For context, I'm Seisita, the daughter born to seven immortals. They're part of a higher-up community we call the creators here in Sovereign. I only have one biological mother. All the rest are fathers, and they're from different creator categories (the creators are separated into categories due to war). All of the creators represent something special and there's over 1000+ people in our history, a lot of them are my friends, but not everyone is a creator. AMA!

Hi, I'm Emma Brightman, and I'm dealing with a pretty weird situation right now. All I was trying to do was get some reading done in peace and quiet...

AMA!

For context, the Fifth Wall used to be what separated reality from fiction on a fundamental level. I have no idea how, but it broke, and now so many things are real that once weren't. Heroes and villains everywhere, magic changing people into new species, space travel from various sources... It's chaos up there.

I used to be a simple person before this all went down. Now I'm a big, green guy with tusks on guard duty for my home bunker.

So... yeah. AMA. I could use a distraction.

I am Sgt. Everton, and I am a Warborg, one of the infantrymen in the UN Interstellar Directorate (The Directorate is the governing body of all humanity, and has been since the 2200s).

I am a 3.2 meter tall hunk of synthetic fibers and armored plating. The only flesh bits I still have is one kidney, part of my brain, some nerves, and some skin. I guess that it is just so we can be considered combatants, instead of drones. I carry enough weapons on my person to lay waste to lesser armored companies. I command a fire team of 5 other Warborgs, and a dozen drones.

Right now I am deployed to some shitty Periphery backwater (the Periphery is basically the regions that aren't part of any of the major powers. some are good places to be, the rest are utter shitholes). The old queen of that world kicked it, and now all of her children are fighting over who will be the next moron to sit upon the throne of this feudal, agricultural, HELLHOLE. Other great powers ( other non-human powers) are helping claimants in exchange for them being good puppets to their new masters.

The Galactic Council requested that the UN Interstellar Directorate send Peacemakers to end the hostilities. For the first time in 100 years, Directorate soldiers wore the Blue and White of the Peace keepers of Old Earth.

Due to the amount of augs I got, and because of improved medical technologies, I am 176 years old, and I have fought in many wars. From the First Razing of the Rim ( a rebellion in the Directorate Rim colonies), to the Hardback Rebellion ( a tax issue that turned into a firestorm), and the First Contact War ( we met our first aliens, and kicked their shit in). From all of that I thought I saw everything, but I am sadly mistaken, this war sucks more than usual.

Out here in the Periphery, I have to stop people from selling children to flesh traders just to get enough food for a week, and refugee processing is a bureaucratic nightmare I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I have always just shot my way to victory as a Warborg, but hearts and minds is so much harder.

I won 80 minutes of Hypercom time at poker with some Navy Grav-Pounders ( an agrav strike fighter pilot), which is the only FTL coms we have out here. Since I don't really have friends or family outside of the service, I am turning to you fine sophonts to share my story. so ask anything you want.

I will just be having a Synth-Brew (synthetic alcohol) and watching as one group or another of royalists try to shell our FOB.

I was at the head of a 500 + strong army, which took Holy Terra after a short siege and the following battle. Ask me anything!

I am me and i am from the real world, what you think of as real life is a fiction. What you think of as fiction is real. Wisdom is madness for the blind. Ask me anything.

I am Duke Radu Contanescu, The Bear of Rutsano Falls. Commander of the northern legion of the Iron Phalanx. What questions do you have for me stranger?

( Moderator needed information, because I was censured otherwise}

Duke Radu, born in Grimsby, the city. The Northn Duchy of the Imperial Order of Cimra. An empire comprised of four duchies on the continent of Aranthis. it is an Imperial Elective Monarchy. With a history spanning five centuries. The population made of 70 percent human, 10 percent Elven including half elven, 8 percent dwarven, and the remaining made up orcs and other various races.

Father: Corvu Contanescu

Mother: Carmilla Contanescu

Grimsby: The settlement was founded in the early period of the empire from the conquered ruins of a fortress of the frost giant Grimmnir. Its populationis around 8000. It main exports are from mining and trade with Kog Turuhm the city state of the dwarves that spans the northern facing Barrenspire Moutains.

Grimsby: The Duchy is of a mostly rocky, cliffy, and grass covered terrain. Having a chilly but otherwise temperate climate Filled with a number of sub races of giant, troll, orge, Kobold, and in some cases restless undead spirits. The Duchy is known as the Wildlands. reaching from the settlement of Crown's End to Dressel.

Imperial Order if Cimra Timeline

Founding and Early Expansion (0-100 CE)

 0 CE: Founding of the Cimran Empire by King Cimran I.

20 CE: Consolidation of nearby tribal settlements.

21 CE: Founding of the kingdom of Cimra

45 CE: Establishment of trade routes with neighboring southern kingdom of Solaire.

 Goblin Wars (125-130 CE)

125 CE: Goblin Uprising begins in the southeastern Smokesong mountains bordering Solaire.

126 CE: Cimra’s military forces mobilize to help counter the goblin threat.

127 CE: Siege of Blackstone Keep.

128-130 CE: Subjugation and pacification of goblin tribes, with notable battles claiming new territories.

130 CE: End of Goblin Wars; stability restored in Solaire territories.

Vigar Expansion and Conflict (55-85 CE)

55 CE: Vigar incursions south of the Barrenspire Mountains begin.

60-70 CE: Frequent border skirmishes and rising tensions.

75 CE: Battle of the Crimson hills, significant defeat for the Vigar.

80-85 CE: Cimran counteroffensive successfully subdues Vigar forces.

The Order of the Sovereign Six (266 CE)

266 CE: Founding of the Order of the Sovereign Six by Emperor Valerius II to protect the imperial family.

The Sundering Strife (300-319 CE)

300 CE: Political unrest and power struggles lead to civil war.

319 CE: End of The Sundering Strife with Emperor Aurelius the Reconciler's ascension to the throne.

Reign of Aurelius the Reconciler (319-369 CE)

 319 CE: Aurelius the Reconciler crowned Emperor.

321 CE: Implementation of widespread administrative reforms.

325 CE: Establishment of peace treaties with neighboring states.

330 CE: Cultural renaissance and promotion of the arts.

340 CE: Plague outbreak managed with effective public health measures.

350 CE: Completion of the trade fleet, enhancing trade and connectivity.

360 CE: Military victories against external piracy.

369 CE: Death of Emperor Aurelius, remembered for his reconciliation efforts and administrative prowess.

Border Disputes with Kog Turuhm (370-390 CE)

 370 CE: Tensions rise over resource-rich border territories.

375 CE: Minor skirmishes and diplomatic talks.

380 CE: Battle of Wrathfort temporary truce established.

385 CE: Formal treaty signed, The Treaty of the Mountain Accord demarcating clear borders.

Conquests of Petty Kingdoms and Tribal settlements (400-450 CE)

400 CE: Campaigns to subjugate smaller tribal city-states begin.

410 CE: Conquest of the Petty Kingdom of Lightspire.

420 CE: Incorporation of the kingdom of Solaire.

430 CE: Subjugation of the Forest Tribes of the Everthorne.

440 CE: Conquest of the Coastal Kingdom of Stormfront.

450 CE: Full integration of conquered territories into the empire.

Reformation into the Imperial Order of Cimra (451-500 CE)

451 CE: Emperor Gallus II initiates the Reformation, transforming the kingdom into the Imperial Order of Cimra.

455 CE: Establishment of new legal codes and administrative divisions.

460 CE: Founding of the Imperial Council to advise the emperor.

470 CE: Expansion of the army into the Iron Phalanx and enhancement of military training.

480 CE: Consolidation of power and stabilization of the newly formed empire.

490 CE: Introduction of new trade policies boosting economic growth.

500 CE: Celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the empire’s founding, with a stable and prosperous Cimra looking towards a promising future.

Some of the primary deities worshipped in the empire?:

Astora, Goddess of the Sun, Mother of Stars, Creator of the Day,

Eclipsa, the Darkened Radiance, Watcher of the Night

Sartyrn, the Shaper of the Ether, The First of the Gods.

Iodes, the Keeper of Time, Knowledge, and the Book of All

Lidur, the Forgemaster of the Gods

Amaris, God of the Oceans and Lord of Storms

Zamthras, God of Death, Lord of the Last Path

Mortikus, The manifestation of Ruin

Anyanka, Fateweaver

Kresh, God of War, Marshall of battle

Buridan, God of Revelry, Wine, and merriment

Cesus, God of the lost, poor, destitute

Primoga, God of the forests, the Little Lord of the Wilds.

Tywillic, God of Luck, Trickster of Eternity, Miscreant of Decadence

Mystra, Goddess of magic

The Nightmare Child, Goddess of Entropy

Ignara, Goddess of Flames and Renewal

Bor, the Frost Sovereign

Verdanthrax, the Blight Sovereign

Yondalla, Goddess of Harvests

What is the Iron Phalanx you ask?:

Command Structure

1. General: Overall commander of the Iron Phalanx.
2. Lieutenants: Several officers, each in charge of a division (typically 1,000 men each).
3. Captains: Each lieutenant commands multiple captains, with each captain responsible for a company (200-250 men).

Unit Composition

1. Heavy Infantry (2,000 men):
   • Equipment: Heavy plate armor, large shields, long spears or pikes.
   • Role: Form the core of the phalanx, creating an impenetrable wall of shields and spears.
2. Light Infantry (1,000 men):
   • Equipment: Lighter armor (chainmail or leather), smaller shields, swords, and short spears.
   • Role: Skirmishing, flanking maneuvers, and rapid response to threats.
3. Archers (1,000 men):
   • Equipment: Longbows or crossbows, light armor.
   • Role: Provide ranged support, targeting enemy formations and softening them before engagement.
4. Cavalry (500 men):
   • Equipment: Medium armor, lances, swords.
   • Role: Flanking, charging enemy lines, and pursuing fleeing enemies.
5. Special Units (500 men):
   • Mage Corps (200 men):
     • Equipment: Robes, staves, and other arcane focuses.
     • Role: Support troops with offensive and defensive magic, healing, and tactical advantages like illusions or barriers.
   • Engineers (100 men):
     • Equipment: Tools for building siege equipment, repairing fortifications, and creating battlefield obstacles.
     • Role: Construct and maintain siege engines, fortify positions, and manage logistics.
   • Medics (100 men):
     • Equipment: Basic armor, medical supplies.
     • Role: Provide battlefield medical support, tending to the wounded.
   • Elite Guard (100 men):
     • Equipment: Best available armor and weapons, often enchanted.
     • Role: Protect high-ranking officers and carry out critical missions.

Tactical Doctrine

1. Phalanx Formation:
   • The heavy infantry forms the front line, creating an unbreakable wall of shields and spears.
   • Light infantry positions themselves behind or to the sides, ready to exploit gaps or respond to threats.
   • Archers provide support from the rear or flanks, targeting enemy formations.
2. Combined Arms Tactics:
   • Cavalry executes flanking maneuvers to disrupt enemy formations and chase down fleeing units.
   • Mage Corps uses magic to protect the phalanx, heal the wounded, and unleash devastating spells on the enemy.
   • Engineers deploy and operate siege engines, construct fortifications, and clear or create obstacles.
3. Versatile Engagement:
   • Adaptable to various terrains, including open fields, forests, and sieges.
   • Emphasis on maintaining formation and discipline, leveraging the strengths of each unit type.

Training and Discipline

1. Rigorous Training:
   • Soldiers undergo extensive training in their respective roles, ensuring mastery of their equipment and tactics.
   • Regular drills to maintain formation integrity and coordination between different unit types.
2. Strong Cohesion:
   • Emphasis on discipline and unity, ensuring that the phalanx operates as a cohesive whole.
   • High morale maintained through a strong sense of duty, honor, and camaraderie.

Technology and Magic

1. Enchanted Equipment:
   • Weapons and armor enchanted for increased durability, effectiveness, and sometimes elemental effects (e.g., flaming swords, frost shields).
2. Battlefield Innovations:
   • Use of advanced siege engines, magical barriers, and other strategic enhancements.
   • Continuous innovation and adaptation to counter enemy tactics and leverage new magical or technological developments.

Diagram: Iron Phalanx Formation

plaintextCopy code                Front Line
--------------------------------------------------
|                                               |
|                  Heavy Infantry                |
|        [ Shields & Spears, Full Plate Armor ]  |
|                                               |
--------------------------------------------------

                Second Line
--------------------------------------------------
|                                               |
|                   Light Infantry               |
|  [ Short Spears, Swords, Chainmail or Leather ]|
|                                               |
--------------------------------------------------

                Rear Line
--------------------------------------------------
|                                               |
|                     Archers                   |
|         [ Longbows or Crossbows, Light Armor ]|
|                                               |
--------------------------------------------------

                Flanks
--------------------------------------------------
|                  Cavalry                      |
|         [ Lances, Swords, Medium Armor ]      |
--------------------------------------------------

                Special Units
--------------------------------------------------
|                  Mage Corps                   |
|                  Engineers                    |
|                  Medics                       |
|                  Elite Guard                  |
--------------------------------------------------

               Formation Layout
--------------------------------------------------
|      Archers            Light Infantry         |
|         \                  |                  /|
|         Cavalry         Heavy Infantry        Cavalry
|         /                  |                  \|
--------------------------------------------------

Description of the Layout

1. Front Line (Heavy Infantry):
   • Position: Forms the first and primary line of defense and offense.
   • Equipment: Heavy plate armor, large shields, and long spears or pikes.
   • Role: Create an impenetrable wall, protecting the units behind and engaging the enemy head-on.
2. Second Line (Light Infantry):
   • Position: Directly behind the heavy infantry.
   • Equipment: Lighter armor (chainmail or leather), smaller shields, swords, and short spears.
   • Role: Provide support to the heavy infantry, ready to move forward, flank, or respond to any breaches in the front line.
3. Rear Line (Archers):
   • Position: Positioned at the back to provide ranged support.
   • Equipment: Longbows or crossbows, light armor.
   • Role: Target enemy formations, soften up the enemy before the main engagement, and provide covering fire.
4. Flanks (Cavalry):
   • Position: Positioned on the left and right flanks of the formation.
   • Equipment: Medium armor, lances, swords.
   • Role: Flanking maneuvers, charging enemy lines, and pursuing fleeing enemies.
5. Special Units:
   • Mage Corps: Positioned throughout the formation to provide magical support, both offensive and defensive.
   • Engineers: Spread within the formation, ready to build or repair siege equipment and fortifications as needed.
   • Medics: Distributed across the formation to tend to the wounded.
   • Elite Guard: Positioned near the command structure and other key areas to protect high-ranking officers and carry out critical missions.

Key Points

• Phalanx Formation: The heavy infantry forms a solid, shielded front line, supported by light infantry and archers.
• Cavalry: Positioned on the flanks for mobility and the ability to execute rapid, powerful charges.
• Special Units: Interspersed within the formation to provide versatile support, leveraging both magical and engineering expertise.

A little about the rest of the world you ask: Well, the Elves mainly originate and come from the nation of the Twin Court Concodant on the continent of Thalorin, an absolute aristocratic monarchy heading by a sovreign prince. Almost exclusively or royal eladrin blood. They have a semi caste system of the Eladrin being on the top with all others on the bottom. Their history is one of slavery subjugation and pompous arrogance on the part of the aristocracy.

Orcs come from Gron, of the Gron Confederacy. A loose confederation of tribal groups. Gron is hot, arid, and hostile to most life. Its terrain has a high iron content, so its appearnce gives of a red tinge.

Dwarves come from the city states of the Kog Turuhm and Kog Kukuldir. They are isolation, industrialist, who utilize magic but are not inclined to raise its status amongst its society.

r/worldbuilding mods says this didnt have enough information, very unhelpful. No specific pointers at all for clarfication.

It's strange. I was at home doing my laundry when in the blink of an eye I was staring down at the back of an envelope. I still had the pen in my hand and in my own handwriting wrote, something happened. I have no recollection of this.

Now here is the weird part. This happened everywhere. Everyone forgot a minute. There is even footage of people doing things in that minute but then they suddenly forget

My name is Hiro Fukahata, I am a 20 years old japanese man. I am a genius in a handful of areas in science and first of all I want to thank you all in participating in Terrificman's AMA last week (there is some time dilation between our universe and yours when our system is offline, but while online both our timeline and yours timeline are parallel to each other). I will tweak the system a little, so it's time for another multiversal interaction!
If you want to know anything about my world, myself or science in general, I am here to answer!

My name is Seleon Fotos, I am a part of the Lucernian Army and have been in the war for 20(-ish?) years. Ever since my brother, Jediah, had died in battle and transferred the blue light that is powerful among regular Lucernian light, It had also led me to a mission to seal Pandora and put an end to the war.

I am Keleshenses II of the Nyolnish Empire, and I am conflicted. I am old, my body weakens, and my mind plays tricks upon me. My priests tell me that I am riddled with rot and will likely not survive another two years, at best. Why is it now that the deities have seen fit to test my judgment?

For nearly 20 years, my chosen heir seemed certain. Certainly, when my firstborn son Keleshenses III was stolen away from me and carried off to faraway Cuivas to ensure their independence, we tried to bargain for his safe and immediate return. We even considered a covert strategy to steal him back. But after five years of this, the Empire needed to see that its emperor knew when to cut ties and move on. And so did its enemies.

Thus, Anashipi, my second son, was treated as my heir in place of Keleshenses, who was regarded as dead. Anashipi spent some years studying at the Academy of Mur, but has for the most part remained by my side learning courtly functions and building relationships with the imperial representatives. In many regards, he has ruled alongside myself. He is now 25 years old and is certainly ready to take the reins of the Empire. I am so proud of him.

But there is now a fly in the ointment. A man claiming to be my firstborn son has arrived at my palace. He speaks with a thick Cuivasi accent, carries himself like a brash, godless brigand, and insists on being called Celasinsi, but he lacks the complexion of a northerner and my priests who have examined him claim he is about 31 years old, which would make sense for how old Keleshenses would be…Deities forgive me, I had him interrogated for a month to confirm his identity and ferret out his allegiances. By all accounts, it seems that this Celasinsi might be, in fact, my firstborn son.

But how do I choose between a son who has spent his entire life learning what it is to rule and this rough cutthroat who is entitled to be my heir by all of our laws of succession and has only lived in my palace as a mistrusted prisoner for a little more than a month? Anashipi is of the opinion that Celasinsi is not his brother but in fact a Cuivasi plant meant to steal the throne and destroy the Empire from the inside out, but his interest in the throne conflicts with his judgment, even if the common people trust him more as one who has lived his entire life as a Nyolnish prince.

Meanwhile, Celasinsi asserts, as he did the day he fell upon the palace steps covered in the dirt of months of overland travel, his birthright to the throne, and on that ground alone he has garnered the support of many nobles and traditionalists who would rather a brash and inexperienced Emperor whose inheritance would not set a dangerous precedent for their own…while potentially providing them with a naïve and malleable emperor. That said, if Celasinsi is indeed my firstborn son, then is it not my duty as his father to pass the throne to him, to the unfortunate chagrin of Anashipi?

I can only place my faith in the Rays of Murlat to guide my decision well…the Empire may not survive a war of succession.

AMA

Hi! My (13F) best friend (??) is a shadow. Well, kinda. He’s not literally shadow or anything. He just looks like one. Like, he’s all person shaped, but he looks like a shadow with gold eyes. He can hide in and move like shadows too.

Let me back up a bit. So when I was like four or five me and my dad went to some Forrest somewhere. I think it was a national park? I dunno some kind of tourist attraction like that. I don’t really remember. But anyway, I went off the path and got lost until I found some kind of pendant in some kind of rock. I don’t remember any more details of it. Part of the reason I remember that much is because I did a writing assignment on it in second grade. Anyway, I fell asleep and when I woke up I was back with my dad. At the time we thought it was super lucky but actually it was my friend who brought me back to him.

I wore the pendant as like, a lucky charm since then. But I never knew he was there too. It was only in the last couple months that I have known.

So a few months ago, dad and I moved, which was super lame since my other friends all live far away now. But anyway, I guess he got a bit comfortable over the years cause I started noticing things being off. Like, things moving or being cleaned. Once he folded my laundry and really didn’t think I’d notice haha.

Anyway, I thought he was just like, a house ghost or something which was neat. He was super nervous to come out at first. He also seemed surprised that I wasn’t scared of him but I don’t see what’s scary about him. He isn’t even taller than me or anything.

Anyway, he couldn’t seem to talk so I got him a whiteboard so he could talk which he really loved.

Through that he told me that he wasn’t really a ghost, but he also didn’t know what he was or where he came from. He also doesn’t have a name. He didn’t really want to tell me he was tied to the pendant at first but he did anyway. I didn’t push him to or anything though. Turns out he can’t be far from it so he doesn’t really have a choice in being here. He said he doesn’t mind though.

I still wear the pendant all the time too. It’d be really mean to leave him stuck here all day. He’d get super bored. For some reason he can’t move the pendant himself. He doesn’t know why either.

Let’s see. I should probably answer some obvious questions before anything else.

Yes he has been around for all those years before I knew him. He’s mostly just kinda hung out for what I know. I would have thought he didn’t show himself earlier cause he’d be concerned I’d say something, which would be fair since I was a little chatterbox back then. But him being scared that I would have been afraid makes me feel kinda sad.

The reason no one ever noticed before was because he mostly just hides in shadows. They look a bit darker when he’s there but otherwise you totally can’t notice, except for his eyes sometimes. Now that I know him though he comes out more.

The range he can be from the pendent apparently changes too, but it’s usually about the size of a building. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Uhm, I actually can’t think of any other obvious questions right now so I guess that’s it. Until you guys ask of course, if you want to haha.

Oh! PS. Since he doesn’t have a name I’ve been trying to come up with one for him. If you have any suggestions that’d be super cool!

Ask me anything that you want to know about the life of a large bat-like creature.

My life's goal is to become a ranked summoner, gain my surname and crest and join the Lunar Research Squad.

Whether you'd like to know about the Summoner's Association of Solomond, magic, the local environment, the difference between Monsters and Familiars, the wonders and terrors of the moon, the tower and its history or just me; I'm surrounded by enough books and researchers here to answer just about any questions you may have.

Yep, you read the title right, I’m a werecat. My name is Buddy and my ancestors have been werecats for as long as we can remember. I have three forms, a human form, a feral werecat form and an anthropomorphic werecat form that resembles a reddish rust Maine coon with green eyes. I draw my power through my cat’s eye talisman. I’d show my face but considering how clever people online are, I think someone would be able to find me and I don’t really wanna have to deal with the repercussions. Anyway, ask away folks. 🐾😺

Wasssa' Dudes. I'd tell you my full name, but it's not a wise idea for demons to give their true names, know what I'm saying? In other words, just call me Ryle The Riot.

Since I'm not in Hell anymore, allow me to give context about it, in case I reference something from Earth's #1 winner for "Worst Places to go"

Hell is an open bureaucracy and "Constitutional"/Puppet Aristocracy to heaven, with 7 [fake] representatives of the sins and a puppet King Satan & Queen Lucifer/Mercury

• King Satan is the only demon in hell with a spot in heaven, he's mostly an ambassador and chief prosecutor to God's Court.
• Queen Lucifer/Mercury is the more popular ruler. Not just for her looks, but also the fact she instigated independence of hell (which failed, but who expected anyone to win against God). Fun fact, she recently came out as the Roman Goddess Mercury (don't know if she's related/equivalent to Aphrodite, yet, but it makes her motive for independence is a bit more sympathetic)

We don't like heaven, but we are required to obey their rules since God created it or whatever.

If you read the title, you're probably wondering how I represent Wrath if I am considered the least violent.

1. I'm son of the Red Horseman of War & Conflict, so Nepotism is involved.
2. Wrath, for me, is not about striking first, it's about angering and provoking people to "let loose" on whoever is close
3. If I were, hypothetically, a God (which I can't because, y'know), I would be prayed for to start revolutions by placing the wrong things at the right time, sow distrust in current governments, and just insure rebellion victory.
4. I am an incredibly lazy smartass, even by Sloth's Rep (he at least shows up late, but sober). I do things slowly & apathetically, I always make things difficult for reps and worshippers alike, and I love to do my own thing.
5. I'm not a Sloth Rep because of the aforementioned reasons 1-3, plus the fact I am an innate rebel who refuses to listen to anybody. That and I just don't care about anyone's feelings or opinions unless I agree can find a loophole to shut them up.
6. In my time on Earth, I have yet to do my job, not because I don't want to but because I am bound to the service a demon hunter, an angel, and a Twistling (half-demon) kid I caused (long story) and bound to (I hate the first two, but I can admit they're better parents without feeling envy/bitterness).

Anyway, ask me whatever you want. I don't care if it's stupid.