Post by Vir on Nov 29, 2020 10:33:40 GMT -5
In Sinis live two types of sentient beings - though really, they are the same type of thing, or at least were born the same, and in the same way. These two types of beings are called Humans and Mythou.
Humans are, well... humans. The same as you or I, but living in a slightly stranger society, mostly ruled by the superpowered Mythou. Technology varies, but is generally modern or sub-modern, just below the level of cell phones. There is no worldwide computer network, and computers are generally very few and far between, except in regions with high populations of technopathic Mythou. Basic cars of a sort exist, and in some areas there might be a telegraph network set up, but generally long-distance communication is carried by letter - though in-game, you might find letters seem to arrive much faster than one would expect. Notably, in Sinis there are no guns.
Mythou are... a source of controversy. Some call them the next step in evolution, some call them guardians, some call them gifted. Some call them demons, or witches. All know their power.
What the average Sinian might not know is that a Mythou is basically just a human who has received a source of power known as Aura. This Aura allows them to perform feats beyond the ability, and sometimes understanding, of any human. It extends their lifespan, too, to theoretical infinity (no Mythou has been known to die of old age). But, of course, this gift comes with a cost.
A Mythou will gain the ability to Activate one human - to give them half of their Aura and make them a Mythou - once they've had their powers for about a century. This is considered an analogue to human reproduction, except that it only involves one "parent" Mythou and one "child" who will become a Mythou. The process of Activation is very personal and involved, and exhausts the "parent" Mythou, weakening their power for a while afterward - they did just give up half their Aura, after all!
Humans may be Activated at any time in their lifespan, from birth until old age. When a human child is Activated, however, their physical and emotional maturity are often slowed, as Mythou age much more slowly than humans do. It isn't always obvious to the parent(s) - but that is the cost of being quick to Activate.
So, Mythou are basically humans, just with a gift, and they need humans in order to reproduce, if not survive... but in Sinis, especially, they don't always treat humans with as much respect as they ought. This way of thinking goes back to the Great War that was fought about three hundred years ago between the Solarians and the Aqrenii. The Solarian faction believed that humans should largely be trusted to live their own lives and rule themselves, and Mythou should only intervene to defend them from other Mythou - and in some cases other humans - who would infringe on their liberty. The Aqrenii faction believed that Mythou existed to rule over humans. So - it eventually came to war.
The Solarians won, and claimed the land of Terra for themselves, banishing the Aqrenii to Sinis and sealing them behind a Great Barrier with their combined powers. The Aqrenii way of thinking, therefore, became the dominant one in Sinis for many generations.
In modern times, though, it's becoming clear that that is no longer the case. Maybe Mythou are becoming tired of trying to rule, maybe they're learning to respect humanity, maybe they're the rare Mythou that dared to go against the flow and stand up for humanity way back when, and are only now starting to see the fruits of their labor...
But in any case, Sinis is slowly becoming free.
Some people don't like that.
Humans are, well... humans. The same as you or I, but living in a slightly stranger society, mostly ruled by the superpowered Mythou. Technology varies, but is generally modern or sub-modern, just below the level of cell phones. There is no worldwide computer network, and computers are generally very few and far between, except in regions with high populations of technopathic Mythou. Basic cars of a sort exist, and in some areas there might be a telegraph network set up, but generally long-distance communication is carried by letter - though in-game, you might find letters seem to arrive much faster than one would expect. Notably, in Sinis there are no guns.
Mythou are... a source of controversy. Some call them the next step in evolution, some call them guardians, some call them gifted. Some call them demons, or witches. All know their power.
What the average Sinian might not know is that a Mythou is basically just a human who has received a source of power known as Aura. This Aura allows them to perform feats beyond the ability, and sometimes understanding, of any human. It extends their lifespan, too, to theoretical infinity (no Mythou has been known to die of old age). But, of course, this gift comes with a cost.
A Mythou will gain the ability to Activate one human - to give them half of their Aura and make them a Mythou - once they've had their powers for about a century. This is considered an analogue to human reproduction, except that it only involves one "parent" Mythou and one "child" who will become a Mythou. The process of Activation is very personal and involved, and exhausts the "parent" Mythou, weakening their power for a while afterward - they did just give up half their Aura, after all!
Humans may be Activated at any time in their lifespan, from birth until old age. When a human child is Activated, however, their physical and emotional maturity are often slowed, as Mythou age much more slowly than humans do. It isn't always obvious to the parent(s) - but that is the cost of being quick to Activate.
So, Mythou are basically humans, just with a gift, and they need humans in order to reproduce, if not survive... but in Sinis, especially, they don't always treat humans with as much respect as they ought. This way of thinking goes back to the Great War that was fought about three hundred years ago between the Solarians and the Aqrenii. The Solarian faction believed that humans should largely be trusted to live their own lives and rule themselves, and Mythou should only intervene to defend them from other Mythou - and in some cases other humans - who would infringe on their liberty. The Aqrenii faction believed that Mythou existed to rule over humans. So - it eventually came to war.
The Solarians won, and claimed the land of Terra for themselves, banishing the Aqrenii to Sinis and sealing them behind a Great Barrier with their combined powers. The Aqrenii way of thinking, therefore, became the dominant one in Sinis for many generations.
In modern times, though, it's becoming clear that that is no longer the case. Maybe Mythou are becoming tired of trying to rule, maybe they're learning to respect humanity, maybe they're the rare Mythou that dared to go against the flow and stand up for humanity way back when, and are only now starting to see the fruits of their labor...
But in any case, Sinis is slowly becoming free.
Some people don't like that.