XII

[shotapope]

[There is a map of Europe drawn out, obviously copied carefully from a book. It is properly labeled with the names of countries. Underneath the year "A.D. 20XX" is written, since Alessandro could not find an exact date for the creation of the map. Next to it is a rough map of the same area, but with different country lines, and different names. Underneath it is labeled as "A.D. 3060". Below both images is a merged one; the first map drawn out carefully with the second map superimposed using light colours so the regions of the other can be seen through it.

Below the maps are a few simple sentence written out just as carefully.]

What does your world look like? What kind of countries are there? What are their names?

Comments

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

... Aa. Good. I suppose. Has it all been peace, then...?

[shotapope]

It has b-been... peaceful i-isn't exactly the word. On edge?

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

About to fall apart?

[shotapope]

More the s-smallest thing could s-send us into war d-destroying and k-killing everyone....

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

- Are those weapons of old gone?

[shotapope]

M-most are, but m-many have been found and s-studied.

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

[long pause.]

I see. I hope it does not come to that.

[shotapope]

I h-hope so too. I was told there h-have been attempts at p-peace, from b-both sides. So I have f-faith things will get b-better.

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

I would hope people would not want to wipe themselves out.

... Ah.

[it takes a bit, but he draws this (http://chiekot.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/asia3.jpg) out in ink.]

That is what your Rome is overlooking.

[shotapope]

I've s-seen that in one of the atlases. It's the area that's d-dead now.

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

... For your world, maybe. But that was centuries ago?

[shotapope]

In my w-world currently. Th-these maps are all from a-about a millennia ago.

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

The land might be back, then.

[shotapope]

I-it's not.... I h-heard that the Empire was a-able to reclaim s-some of it, but th-they're the only p-people who have m-managed to do so, and th-their technology is b-better than ours.

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

Much better?

[shotapope]

F-far more. V-Vatican isn't very a-advanced in m-machinery, mostly the G-Germanic Kingdom and K-Kingdom of Franc are good with that, A-Albion has advances for a-air craft and c-computers. W-we mostly have m-money and r-records. We h-hold the most history and documents, so w-we can r-research the old t-technology better. We d-do more restoration and a-adaption.

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

So Germany and France-- you are all combined into one against the Empire, are you not?

[shotapope]

M-more or less, I s-suppose, though, it's n-not so simple as that.

[closedmarket.livejournal.com]

Nothing ever is.

[shotapope]

Very t-true.