[Rearing Stallion] We Meet Again (Mason)

[Hadrian]

"It's that," he allowed, "but it's also that we have fallen out of the habit of civilization." It wasn't often that he was able to talk about anthropology now that he was outside of the University, but this man seemed interested so Hadrian allowed himself to pontificate a bit. "Few population centers exist with enough people to support a sophisticated civilization. Syliras is diverse, and it will probably forge a new synthesis of cultures because most people aren't as brave" or foolish "as your family, to farm outside the walls of a city with an armed force to keep off monsters and other marauders. "You're also a newcomer and people can sense that easily. If you don't look like you know where you are going and what you are doing, you're more prone to being pickpocketed or otherwise conned. And normally friendly people might project frustrations upon you because you're an outsider for now... until you begin to blend in. It's almost like pack behavior or herd behavior, but don't tell people that they act like kelvics or they will get mightily upset." He paused, took another drink, realized they were empty and waved for more. "Sorry... A university education can make a man jaded."

[Mason Sinovian]

Kelvics? Mason thought to himself, remembering fragments of a story he heard his grandfather tell him. Receiving another drink, he was enjoying the charity of the fellow sitting across from him. "Thank you, friend. Allow me to get the next round." said Mason with a smile. Switching back to the conversation, Mason thought about the man's response for a second. "What do you mean by habit of civilization? I think I understand how cultural diversity can affect a society and how sophisticated societies take a large majority of people to propagate ideas and collaboration, but what of the role of time? Syliras is a pretty dense city from what I've seen. And, it has been around for what." Mason paused to think. "200 years or so?"

[Hadrian]

Hadrian nodded acquiescence. He would certainly allow Mason to buy him alcohol, though he wondered if he would be able to stomach the Zeltivan kelp beer when he returned after so long away from the noxious stuff. He was out of practice. After a ruminative sip, he began to speak again. "The habit of civilization," he said. "I think what happens to us gets written into us on many levels. In the blood and bones we inherit from our parents, in the chavena that our souls feed, in the socialization that parents give to children... Even after the Valterrian, when the resources and infrastructure for advanced and sophisticated civilization left us, the survivors cling to it as best they can. The Eypharians in there ruins... And even Zeltiva still uses its ruins. Syliras is a newer attempt at civilization, it's true, at least, speaking in terms of the progression of the species and not just in one man's lifetime... Sylir was killed, but His legacy remains. We are trained toward civilization on one hand, though of course we are still animals on another. Part of a dual nature... but we have a dual nature in many regards... "As to the role of time as you mentioned, if Syliras and Ravok don't actually destroy each other, then they will likely develop into the next Suva and Alahea, at least regionally. Their values and goals are such that there can be no true peace, but merely an absence of violence, which isn't the same thing. But civilization is fragmented now. Syliras has a bit of territory, Sultros has theirs... we haven't expanded again to the point where we have border conflicts..."

[Templar]

Hadrian: Auristics: 2 - Rhetorics: 3 - Observation: 2 - Anthrolopogy: 1 - Drinking: 1 Lore: Talking Anthopology with a farmer. Mason: Wilderness Survival: 2 - Rhetorics: 3 - Observation: 3 - Drinking: 1 - Anthropology: 1 Lore: A tree as roommate - The Habit of Civilization Additional notes: A shame the thread ended prematurely it was heading in a interesting direction.