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]

It does not sound so, with the pizza incident.

[kingside]

You have me there.

[nihilmancy]

It is quite alright. I hope that I was able to whet your curiosity.

[kingside]

You did, yes.

By all means ask me a question in return, if you like. I can't imagine what I would talk about otherwise.

[nihilmancy]

I spoke of what circumstances I came from. Tell me a little of your world, or of yourself.

[kingside]

[Hmm.]

Twenty-first century Earth... if that means anything to you? Although I'm given to understand that my Earth's calendar may be different from others. There's a major political power there that I've not heard anyone else mention yet.

[nihilmancy]

Yes, the planet we now call Gaia. Well, we call other things Gaia too, but they all amount to the same, in the end, or so it is said.

That was after the industrial revolution, right? I apologize, but this is very ancient history to me, and there are some gaps in the historical record. Studying the history of humanity before it left its cradle is considered sort of a romantic thing by some people.

[kingside]

[... This is a new experience. An utterly bizarre one so far, but it could be worse.]

After the industrial revolution, yes.

[And... well. Now is as good a time as any.]

The political power or rather nation I was referring to is called "Britannia." It's all right if you're unfamiliar.

[nihilmancy]

[ This is the problem, when your alternate history nation has the same name as the real one which it also is an offshoot of. ]

Oh, yes. An island nation, where industrialization and the full development of the capitalist mode of society originated. It grew rich through colonial exploitation and advanced technology, and it and its offshoot, America, ruled most of the world for quite a while.

[kingside]

[the dumbest fucking world-building yes you are correct and I am sorry] [Well, she's not completely off-base.]

America never got off the ground in my version of Earth, and that whole experiment was later subsumed by Britannia itself when we lost the British Isles.

[nihilmancy]

[ That much she does know. It's a basic summary of those centuries of history. ]

Multiple histories? I suppose that only stands to reason.

[kingside]

It's been very interesting to learn about, yes. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if other worlds don't have sakuradite either.

[nihilmancy]

I have never heard of that, but perhaps it simply goes by another name.

[kingside]

[........ okay, so he'd mostly been joking before, but now uh.]

A super-conductive material found in large quantities in the nation of Japan. Also known as the "Philosopher's Stone?"

[nihilmancy]

No.

[kingside]

[... okay. Okay, cool. No, this is—fine. He feels totally normal about this.

Right. Taking a deep breath.]

Anyway, where were we?

[nihilmancy]

Britannia.

[kingside]

[Damn it. Fine.]

What would you like to know about it?

[nihilmancy]

Only what you are willing to tell me.

Why is Britannia not based on the island that it is named after?

[kingside]

[Mrr.]

Because Queen Elizabeth III was forced to abolish the monarchy, and the royal family fled to what is now the Britannian homeland. You may know it as America.

[nihilmancy]

I see.

[ She will leave aside her feelings about monarchy (and aristocracy) right now. She's not a huge fan. ]

That would have created some very... complex cultural ferment. Would this have anything to do with those revolutions in America and France?

[kingside]

Washington's Rebellion failed, but yes, it was Napoleon who ousted Elizabeth III.

[And he's getting a mild headache. Maybe he should just see if he can find a book on Britannian history from the library. Somehow.]

[nihilmancy]

It's hard to remember all the ancient names, I'm afraid. I mostly remembered the general shape of things. When you're raised as a noble, and a "gifted" one at that, your head gets crammed full of whole libraries worth of things.

[ She wouldn't begrudge him stopping soon. It's already been a productive conversation. ]

[kingside]

[Ancient, right. He's still wrapping his head around that.]

Then I'll wrap up by saying that Ricardo van Britannia, Elizabeth III's lover, was named her heir. There have been over ninety emperors and expresses since.

[nihilmancy]

How long has the empire existed? That's... an impressive amount of sovereigns.