Scuttle Buttin'
Demons at bay
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2003
- Posts
- 15,881
The Sojourn of Cortland (semi-closed, PM if interested)
On Monday, July 9th, 2046, the bombs fell. For some, it was their first day back after a long 4th of July weekend. For others, it was the first full week after a broken one to celebrate the American Independence Day. And for a full 2/3rds of the population, they never had any idea that a new war had started. They simply perished in the blasts, the fires and radiation quickly killing those that didn't die from the initial impact.
Humanity numbered over 9 billion when the hot July day dawned on the United States. After the bombs had been flung, others fired back shortly thereafter in defense and counter-attack, and by the time all fell quiet deep into August, most of the great cities of the world were in ruins, and the total population of the globe had fallen below 4 billion for the first time since the 1970's. Where once stood landmarks, centers of commerce and medicine and technological innovation was now despair and destruction, mass graveyards that may never again be inhabited by humanity.
Economies quickly collapsed, and as summer turned to fall crippled governments were quickly overthrown by the remaining citizens. Some, more than once. In countries that were not quite First World to begin with, the lifespan of a given country's leader could be measured in days, not years. In virtually every country on earth, those that were in power when the bombs fell were soon as dead as those they dropped bombs on, and the true story of who-started-what was quickly lost to the darkness of death and time.
At first, food and water became the biggest problem faced by most. Huge swaths of farm land and significant sources of water had been irradiated, leaving only the desperate or unaware to try and consume anything that came from either. They died, perhaps, the worst death possible since the beginning of the Last Great War. As the winter of 2046 set in, it quickly became apparent that humanity would have another obstacle to overcome: a nuclear winter.
The Last Great War became the gift that kept on giving as the globe was effectively gripped in the freezing fist of a new Ice Age. For most of the US, it was well into June before water flowed freely again. The first winter sent the global population below 3 million for the first time since the 1950's. With electricity relegated to something seen only in the form of lightning, people quickly returned to a frontier-like lifestyle, using wood fires and animal skins to protect against the cold, and raising their own crops and animals as best they could. Water quickly became more scarce as the effects of the nuclear winter ended the vast majority of the rainfall that fell on the land, turning large stretches of land into icy deserts.
Money only had value as paper. Clean, drinkable water was quickly the most valuable thing on the planet, something that could be exchanged in any country, with a person of any language. Edible, unspoiled, nourishing food was a very close second, and often one who had enough of one was quite low on the other, making bartering the new global economy. Gangs of bandits formed quickly in the wake of this new economy, criminals working together (though, often, betraying each other not long after) to steal from those that had anything that would help them survive just a bit longer.
As social creatures tend to do, humanity began to form into groups again, and soon small cities were forming, built entirely by hand. Small societies began to form, often completely isolated from the outside world, and overtime new religions and customs evolved, each with a twist on them unique to their particular region.
By the time the remaining population of the world was on 2048's doorstep, some semblance of order had returned to the world. Bandits still roamed, often unchecked by any form of law enforcement, and coups overthrowing governments were still a common occurrence in many parts of the world. But people still fell in love, had children, and raised families. Life found a way. It resembled the life of those that had lived in the earlier half of the 21st Century in only small ways, but somehow people were able to find tiny slivers of peace and, though more rare, moments of real joy. People still died, quite often in fact, whether by bandits or starvation or dehydration or, in the most tragic cases, of radiation poisoning. The world was still dangerous and ugly.
Humanity persevered.
Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns
driven time and again off course...
Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds,
many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea...
Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus,
start from where you will—sing for our time too.
driven time and again off course...
Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds,
many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea...
Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus,
start from where you will—sing for our time too.
On Monday, July 9th, 2046, the bombs fell. For some, it was their first day back after a long 4th of July weekend. For others, it was the first full week after a broken one to celebrate the American Independence Day. And for a full 2/3rds of the population, they never had any idea that a new war had started. They simply perished in the blasts, the fires and radiation quickly killing those that didn't die from the initial impact.
Humanity numbered over 9 billion when the hot July day dawned on the United States. After the bombs had been flung, others fired back shortly thereafter in defense and counter-attack, and by the time all fell quiet deep into August, most of the great cities of the world were in ruins, and the total population of the globe had fallen below 4 billion for the first time since the 1970's. Where once stood landmarks, centers of commerce and medicine and technological innovation was now despair and destruction, mass graveyards that may never again be inhabited by humanity.
Economies quickly collapsed, and as summer turned to fall crippled governments were quickly overthrown by the remaining citizens. Some, more than once. In countries that were not quite First World to begin with, the lifespan of a given country's leader could be measured in days, not years. In virtually every country on earth, those that were in power when the bombs fell were soon as dead as those they dropped bombs on, and the true story of who-started-what was quickly lost to the darkness of death and time.
At first, food and water became the biggest problem faced by most. Huge swaths of farm land and significant sources of water had been irradiated, leaving only the desperate or unaware to try and consume anything that came from either. They died, perhaps, the worst death possible since the beginning of the Last Great War. As the winter of 2046 set in, it quickly became apparent that humanity would have another obstacle to overcome: a nuclear winter.
The Last Great War became the gift that kept on giving as the globe was effectively gripped in the freezing fist of a new Ice Age. For most of the US, it was well into June before water flowed freely again. The first winter sent the global population below 3 million for the first time since the 1950's. With electricity relegated to something seen only in the form of lightning, people quickly returned to a frontier-like lifestyle, using wood fires and animal skins to protect against the cold, and raising their own crops and animals as best they could. Water quickly became more scarce as the effects of the nuclear winter ended the vast majority of the rainfall that fell on the land, turning large stretches of land into icy deserts.
Money only had value as paper. Clean, drinkable water was quickly the most valuable thing on the planet, something that could be exchanged in any country, with a person of any language. Edible, unspoiled, nourishing food was a very close second, and often one who had enough of one was quite low on the other, making bartering the new global economy. Gangs of bandits formed quickly in the wake of this new economy, criminals working together (though, often, betraying each other not long after) to steal from those that had anything that would help them survive just a bit longer.
As social creatures tend to do, humanity began to form into groups again, and soon small cities were forming, built entirely by hand. Small societies began to form, often completely isolated from the outside world, and overtime new religions and customs evolved, each with a twist on them unique to their particular region.
By the time the remaining population of the world was on 2048's doorstep, some semblance of order had returned to the world. Bandits still roamed, often unchecked by any form of law enforcement, and coups overthrowing governments were still a common occurrence in many parts of the world. But people still fell in love, had children, and raised families. Life found a way. It resembled the life of those that had lived in the earlier half of the 21st Century in only small ways, but somehow people were able to find tiny slivers of peace and, though more rare, moments of real joy. People still died, quite often in fact, whether by bandits or starvation or dehydration or, in the most tragic cases, of radiation poisoning. The world was still dangerous and ugly.
Humanity persevered.
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