un: kantera, text

[happydreamed]

If this adventure with chain mail has taught me anything, 'tis that many of us here are having our first exposure to the internet, with all its amusements and pitfalls included. Thus, I thought it might be nice to introduce another 'getting to know each other' game that some of us might not know yet. This one won't involve pictures or ratings of attractiveness, not to worry.

This game is called 'two truths and a lie'. The premise is simple. You list three statements about yourself, two true and one false. Ideally they should all be similar levels of unbelievable. Then, other people respond to you to guess which one is the lie. We all learn a little about each other and have a bit of fun.

Comments

[nihilmancy]

That's surprising, though it's an unsurprising given what I have learned about others coming from different realities from my own.

Yes, 2 is the lie, though the Union of Free Systems, as well as a few smaller fringe states have done away with private property. I do not count myself a citizen of those places.

[attempted_purity]

If you wouldn't mind giving me the layman's understanding of what a black hole is, I might be able to determine why my people don't know about them.

Ah, I see. There are some relatively small cultures that operate without private property, especially various nomadic peoples, but nothing on the scale of a union of territories.

I've done some light reading to assess how my world compares to others, and the majority of regions would be described as being under the feudal system of government. Republics have been experimented with, but haven't quite fully formed.

Ah, and one last question. How literal is the "username" that you've chosen?

[nihilmancy]

As I told somebody else: A black hole is an object formed from the death of a star. It is so dense that it exerts a pull that bends space and time. It pulls everything in, even light. It is inescapable. Beautiful in a way, I think.

I would call the system of class that governs my society feudal as well. [ Unfortunately. ] There are republics on some worlds, but they're smaller. Weaker.

I exorcise entities that the Goetic Circle deems a risk, or an active danger, so fairly literal. Why, would you call yourself a demon? We may mean different things by the term.

[attempted_purity]

That does sound quite beautiful. Now I understand why there is a gap in knowledge, though. My people haven't deigned to create the technology to travel the stars in such a way. We're far more preoccupied with planes of existences adjacent to our own.

So then when you say "worlds" you mean your people have taken up residence on a number of planets? That's quite interesting!

Yes, I'd consider myself a demon, but I've been briefed that demons aren't quite the same thing everywhere.

To keep my own situation brief. Demons were entities crafted by a number of mages seeking to overthrow the world, and the gods themselves. The plan failed, of course, Both by the united front of the people already existing and the demons themselves, who had free will and thus did not have slavish loyalty to their creators.

This was a long time ago, so not something I was personally witness to.

[nihilmancy]

That is exactly what I mean. Billions of souls living across numerous planets, moons, orbital habitats, even nomadic fleets across the void.

Different planes of existence, though... in thousands of years, nobody had ever developed the means for humanity to enter such realms. It wasn't certain that any existed that would be compatible to existence of matter as we knew it.

I see. No, that is not much at all like what I would call a "demon." It strikes me like the story of a fantasy sim, or the like. Though I suppose we have "mages," and that humanity created new forms of life, of a kind.

[attempted_purity]

I'm sure in some ways it's mundane to you, or at least you're more familiar with the harsh realities of your own society, but that sounds amazing to me. Traversing the void and spreading out in such a fashion to explore new locations.

Ah, I've run into someone else who said much the same of my world sounding like something akin to fantasy fiction. It's surprising given how "normal" it is to me, but it's almost charming that the sort of life I live has been romanticized.

It is something of a shame that the username wasn't less literal. I don't begrudge you your duty, of course. More that I was perhaps hoping for a different kind of "breaking".

[nihilmancy]

Even still, I find it marvelous. It requires incredibly intricate engineering to build and maintain a ship, and it can be quite inspiring to watch a crew working in harmony. A testament to what we are capable of when we pool our genius. Actually travelling in them can be terribly tedious, though. Months long voyages, cramped space, terrible food. At least I've been frozen for much of the time I've been in transit. Even the most romantic things are seldom so glamorous up close.

But I digress. In the line of duty, we do not simply blindly vanquish every anomalous entity. Even if we wished to, that would not be feasible. We exorcise those that cause problems. Sometimes we may be ruthless, but they are very different organisms from what we are, and even still we do not know if they can truly "die."

My, are you flirting with me? You really are a charming devil, aren't you?

[attempted_purity]

Ah, yes, that does sound like some journeys I've been on. Save for the being frozen part. I take it to mean you can freeze somebody in a "sleep" to make journeys quicker? I've heard of doing such things with magic, but the applications in my world are quite sparse for the moment.

Then I think we will get along just fine as far as that. I've heard some hunters are quite perverse in their enjoyment of hunting down demons. Using deliberately antiquated weapons to add some sort of thrill.

My particular strain of demon are known for speaking our minds. Especially on such matters. Although my upbringing was atypical, being raised in the elven lands of my father, some of those traits have made themselves known in my adulthood.

What can I say? I have a weakness for strong, determined women.

[nihilmancy]

Yes, it is like that. They are placed in suspended animation, unconscious and untouched by time. However the power requirements can be quite substantial, so it is not feasible to keep every passenger frozen at all times on long distance journeys.

Interesting. I would like to hear more about the sort of demon that you are, and of elves, and your world and culture more generally. [ Elves? That really does sound like a fantasy story. ]

As it turns out, I have a weakness for intelligent women who are willing to speak their minds. I would very much like to know you better. I am Hlasoh sat Kerhet a'Rhen.

[attempted_purity]

I see, in our case it's much the same. Using magic to allow someone's form to remain youthful and untouched by time as they slumber. It's expensive, so only the eccentric and wealthy even consider it.

I'd be more than happy to meet you at a place of your choosing to discuss ourselves and our respective peoples.

I am Fajra Gauthier-Amoureux. It's a pleasure to correspond with you, my lady. Thanks to the magic of the season I am apparently under the purview of, I can get to any outdoor location in nearly an instant, so you need only contact me with a place.

[nihilmancy]

I am perhaps more limited, but I have a similar ability, even leaving aside my seasonal affiliation.

[ Hmm. How forward does she wish to be? She gets the impression that Fajra is quite bold herself, so that's not an obstacle. ]

Perhaps at a park or cafe? My current lodgings, meager though they may be, are also available, particularly if I have not mistaken the offer in your words.

[attempted_purity]

You're not mistaken in what I'm offering, I'm just minding my manners since this is something anyone could see.

If you'd invite me into your home in this place, I would not dream of refusing.

[nihilmancy]

I'll meet you at the transportation stop outside my apartment, then.

I shall await you eagerly.