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illusoryair · 6 years

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I discovered an interesting, (kinda) idle, text based browser game: Epitaph (which I might have been playing at work while pretending to be doing research)

You are an observer of the development civilizations on alien planets. Once every x to y number of seconds, you are allowed to choose to introduce new knowledge to them, in attempt to help them flourish. But making unwise choices could also lead to utter destruction. The civilization will also make advancements by themselves.

It’s quite a fun and fast game. I found myself getting attached to civilizations only for them to fall suddenly. The main problem would probably be that it gets hard to keep track of multiple civilizations at once because of the way the game is set out.

Alright, I'll admit I'm only making this post because I finally got a successful playthrough. Say hello to Agblap'bap'slap which sounds like it was named by someone choking on a fruit. Note that not all events are the direct result of choices. (Warning: Spoilers obv. And loooooooooooong.)

We first became aware of the Agblap'bap'slap in 2980. They reside on the torrid planet Axblap'kax'slax in the Sbasbag system. They are passive, devout, and daring.

These guys have...interesting naming conventions. Lots of AHs and EEs and discreet syllables that end on hard consanents. Unfortunately they tend to give some things very similar names so I find it hard to tell what the game is really referring to sometimes.

The Agblap'bap'slap have learned how to catch water-dwelling creatures such as the sbeesceeg, which is now a staple part of the Agblap'bap'slap diet.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to cultivate crops. One especially popular crop is a kind of hardy vine known as eepklap'baeeg'slax.

More than one food source is important at the start. Or else they risk over hunting.

The Agblap'bap'slap have developed a simple system of writing, which they use primarily for storytelling.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to watch the skies and recognize patterns in the movements of stars, which they use to navigate over great distances and keep track of time.

The Agblap'bap'slap have developed a sophisticated understanding of basic mathematics, such as arithmetic, algebra, and geometry.

The Agblap'bap'slap make extensive use of stone tools in a variety of contexts, including when hunting the wild apklax'keep'slag.

The Agblap'bap'slap have mastered the control of fire. They use it to cook their food, and to light their villages at night.

The Agblap'bap'slap have domesticated a species of small flying creatures. The pets assist their Agblap'bap'slap owners with navigation in exchange for food and shelter.

The Agblap'bap'slap have discovered how to forge molten metal into jewelry, tools, weapons, and armor.

Some things can only be developed after something else. For example, metalworking follows fire.

Some of the Agblap'bap'slap have begun to experiment with alchemy, systematically searching for new ways of combining and manipulating ingredients to yield useful chemicals, compounds, and medicines.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to use lenses and mirrors made from polished crystal, glass, and water to redirect and focus light.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to construct permanent dwellings and other structures, making especially extensive use of limestone as a building material.

I don’t know why. I always try to keep them from developing construction for as long as possible.

In 3289, many of the disparate Agblap'bap'slap kingdoms were united under a single banner by an individual known as Skascap Axblax'ceeap'slag. The resulting empire has its capital at Sbascax and rules over approximately 22% of the entire Agblap'bap'slap population. Like many other Agblap'bap'slap states, it is governed by a council of oligarchs.

The Agblap'bap'slap have built elaborate pipe and sewer systems to supply their larger settlements, such as Sbascax, with fresh water and a hygenic means of waste disposal.

In 3319, a rapidly growing religion known as Axblax'bap'slag became the official religion of the largest Agblap'bap'slap state. Adherents of Axblax'bap'slag wear brightly colored clothes to mark themselves as believers.

Pro-tip for creating new religion to sweep the world: take the name of your race and just change a few letters.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to make use of more sophisticated construction techniques, relying on sturdy structural elements such as arches and buttresses to support larger and larger buildings.

The Agblap'bap'slap have developed a simple printing press, and mass-produced versions of important texts have begun to circulate widely throughout the world. Romance novels are especially popular.

Through systematic observation and categorization of the various living things on Axblap'kax'slax, the Agblap'bap'slap have begun to develop a more sophisticated understanding of biology. Some theorists have even put forth the idea that dramatically different-looking organisms, such as the apklax'keep'slag and the sbeesceeg, may in fact share a single common ancestor.

In their efforts to understand the motion of planets in the sky, free-falling bodies, and projectiles, the Agblap'bap'slap have developed a new branch of mathematics which is immediately recognizable as calculus.

The Agblap'bap'slap have learned how to build ships and sail them across the oceans of Axblap'kax'slax to explore and trade over increasingly greater distances.

My other civs kept dying from developing sailing too early and catching some unknown disease, especially if they’re living closely.

The initially controversial theory that diseases are caused by microorganisms has begun to catch on among the Agblap'bap'slap, leading to the widespread adoption of public health policies which have greatly reduced the spread of disease.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to construct wind and water mills, which redirect the forces of the natural world to perform repetitive mechanical tasks such as grinding grain and pumping water.

The Agblap'bap'slap have developed a practical and cost-effective steam engine, which can be fueled with wood or coal.

The Agblap'bap'slap have successfully tamed electricity, and are now beginning to deploy it throughout society. Electric lights are widespread, electric motors are used to drive factories, and the growing need for electric power has led to the construction of power plants near every major center of Agblap'bap'slap population.

We’re getting modern aye!

The Agblap'bap'slap have discovered a way to manufacture gunpowder, which they primarily use in warfare.

The Agblap'bap'slap have developed flying machines which can carry them into the skies above Axblap'kax'slax.

With the development of the transistor, the Agblap'bap'slap have begun to construct more sophisticated electronic circuits.

In 3504, the Agblap'bap'slap population reached 25 million individuals. Many of these dwell within permanent cities, the largest of which is known as Sbascax and has a population of 80,000.

Due to its role as the birthplace of several major Agblap'bap'slap religions, including the especially prominent Axblax'bap'slag faith, the city of Sbascax is regarded by many of the Agblap'bap'slap as a holy site. The archbishop of Sbascax is considered the de facto leader of the Axblax'bap'slag church as a whole, and pilgrimages to the city are commonplace.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to develop rockets.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun harnessing the power of electricity to send messages across very great distances with unprecedented speed. Due to the overhead of encoding and decoding messages, long-distance communication remains far from instantaneous, but it is now possible for individuals on opposite sides of Axblap'kax'slax to exchange several messages over the course of a single day.

The Agblap'bap'slap have discovered that electromagnetic waves may be used to transmit information, enabling the development and widespread deployment of media for audiovisual broadcasting.

The Agblap'bap'slap have developed an accurate model of the internal structure of the atom, which has also enabled them to understand the phenomenon of radioactivity.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to understand quantum physics.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to build general-purpose programmable computers.

The Agblap'bap'slap have arrived at a sophisticated understanding of genetics, which has enabled them to craft new forms of life by deliberately modifying the genes of existing organisms.

The Agblap'bap'slap have taken their first tentative steps into space, launching craft capable of supporting several individuals into orbit around Axblap'kax'slax before retrieving them safely.

In 3617, the Agblap'bap'slap successfully detonated their first prototype nuclear weapon. It remains unclear whether the Agblap'bap'slap scientists who worked on the bomb understand the sheer destructive potential of the weapon they have created.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to connect their computers into a single vast network, enabling communication and collaboration on a truly global scale.

The Agblap'bap'slap have constructed their first cost-effective quantum computers, dramatically improving their collective ability to perform certain types of calculation.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to experiment with the use of "intelligent materials", in the form of swarms of programmable nanobots.

The Agblap'bap'slap have developed a form of artificial general intelligence which rivals many of their own intellectual capabilities.

I was kind of worried when they developed AI by themselves because other civs kept ending due to an AI rebellion.

The Agblap'bap'slap have begun to establish permanent colonies on worlds other than Axblap'kax'slax. Although still largely unable to travel outside of the Sbasbag system, the distribution of Agblap'bap'slap civilization across multiple worlds greatly reduces the risk that they will collapse due to any crisis of merely planetary scale.

Through their investigations of quantum phenomena, the Agblap'bap'slap have discovered a means of sending and receiving messages which travel at speeds exceeding that of light itself.

In 3671, a single nuclear weapon was deployed in an attack on a medium-sized Agblap'bap'slap city. The incident did not escalate into a full-scale nuclear war, but the city was almost completely obliterated, resulting in the deaths of some 163,000 Agblap'bap'slap.

I was worried things would go downhill but they didn’t. But still. Disappointing.

The Agblap'bap'slap have successfully tested their first faster-than-light starship. No longer are they trapped within the gravity well of the Sbasbag system: they are now free to take their place alongside us as fellow wanderers among the stars.

Now they have finally progressed to where “we” are at as well, we can invite them in.

In 3687, the Agblap'bap'slap joined us.

#epitaph #epitaph game #text based game #browser game #itch.io

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pamphletstoinspire · 7 years

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EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE 2 THESSALONIANS - From The Latin Vulgate Bible

Chapter 2

PREFACE.

In this epistle St. Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to be constant in the faith of Christ, and not to be terrified by the insinuations of false teachers, telling them that the day of judgment was near at hand, as there must come many signs and wonders before it. He bids them to hold firm the traditions received from him, whether by word or by epistle; and shews them how they may be certain of his letters by the manner he writes. This epistle was written soon after the former, and also from Corinth, about A.D. 52.

Chapter 2

The day of the Lord is not to come, till the man of sin be revealed. The apostles' traditions are to be observed.

1 And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of our gathering together unto him:

Notes & Commentary:

Ver. 1. And we, &c. Some impostors had taken occasion from St. Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonians, to teach that the day of judgment was at hand. The apostle here maintains that it certainly will come, but that it will come like a thief in the night. He says nothing of the time when it is to arrive; he merely refutes those who spoke of its taking place immediately. --- By the coming, &c. Grotius and some others explain this coming, of the vengeance he took on the Jews by the arms of the Romans. It is true he speaks in many places of the destruction of Jerusalem, and of his coming at the last day, in terms exactly the same. But the context of the whole epistle demonstrates that he is here speaking of the last day. (Calmet) --- And of our gathering together[1] unto him. Literally, of our congregation unto him. That is, that you be not moved by any pretended revelation, nor by any words or letter, as spoken or written by me. (Witham)

Note 1:

Ver. 1. Et nostræ congregationis in ipsum, kai emon episunagoges ep auton.

2 That you be not easily moved from your sense, nor be terrified, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by epistle, as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.

Ver. 2. St. Augustine, writing to Hesychium, declareth that no one from the Scripture can be assured of the day, year, or age[century] when the second coming shall be. (ep. lxxx.) Let us attend to what St. Augustine declares he had learnt from the first Church authorities. At the last judgment, or about that time, will arrive Elias, the Thesbite, the conversion of the Jews, the persecution of antichrist, the coming of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the separation of the good from the bad, the conflagration of the world, and the renovation of the same: that these things will arrive, we are to believe, but in what manner and in what order experience will teach better than reason. It is my opinion that they will come in the order I have related them. (De Civ. Dei. lib. xx. cap. ultra) That the man of sin will be born of the Jewish tribe of Dan, that he will cruelly persecute the faithful for three years and a half, that he will put to death Henoch[Enoch] and Elias, and that great, very great, will be the apostacy, is the general belief. Oh! God, preserve us with thy grace, and do not permit us to lose sight of the dreadful danger that threatens even the elect.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,

4 Who opposeth, and is lifted up above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God.

Ver. 3-4. First, &c.[2] What is meant by this falling away, (in the Greek this apostacy) is uncertain, and differently expounded. St. Jerome and others understand it of a falling off of other kingdoms, which before were subject to the Roman empire; as if St. Paul said to them: you need not fear that the day of judgment is at hand, for it will not come till other kingdoms, by a general revolt, shall have fallen off, so that the Roman empire be destroyed. The same interpreters expound the sixth and seventh verses in like manner, as if when it is said, now you know[3] what withholdeth, &c. That is, you see the Roman empire subsisteth yet, which must be first destroyed. And when it is added, only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way; the sense, say these authors, is, let Nero and his successors hold that empire till it be destroyed, for not till then will the day of judgment come. Cornelius a Lapide makes this exposition so certain, that he calls it a tradition of the fathers, which to him seems apostolical. But we must not take the opinion of some fathers, in the exposition of obscure prophecies, where they advance conjectures (which others at the same time reject, or doubt of) to be apostolical traditions, and articles of faith, as the learned bishop of Meaux, Bossuet, takes notice on this very subject, in his preface and treatise on the Apocalypse, against Jurieux. St. Jerome indeed, and others, thought that the Roman empire was to subsist till the antichrist's coming, which by the event most interpreters conclude to be a mistake, and that it cannot be said the Roman empire continues to this time. See Lyranus on this place, St. Thomas Aquinas, Salmeron, Estius, and many others; though Cornelius a Lapide, with some few, pretend the Roman empire still subsists in the emperors of Germany. We also find that divers of the ancient fathers thought that the day of judgment was just at hand in their time. See Tertullian, St. Cyprian, St. Gregory the Great, &c. And as to this place, it cannot be said the fathers unanimously agree in their exposition. St. Chrysostom[4], Theodoret, St. Augustine in one of his expositions, by this falling off, and apostacy, understand antichrist himself, apostatizing from the Catholic faith. And they who expound it of Nero, did not reflect that this letter of St. Paul was written under Claudius, before Nero's reign. According to a third and common exposition, by this revolt or apostacy, others understand a great falling off of great numbers from the Catholic Church and faith, in those nations where it was professed before; not but that, as St. Augustine expressly takes notice, the Church will remain always visible, and Catholic in its belief, till the end of the world. This interpretation we find in St. Cyril[5] of Jerusalem. (Catech. 15.) See also St. Anselm on this place, St. Thomas Aquinas, Salmeron, Estius, &c. In fine, that there is no apostolical tradition, as to any of the interpretations of these words, we may be fully convinced from the words of St. Augustine[6], lib. xx. de Civ. Dei. chap. 19. t. 7. p. 597. Nov. edit., where he says: For my part, I own myself altogether ignorant what the apostle means by these words; but I shall mention the suspicions of others, which I have read, or heard. Then he sets down the exposition concerning the Roman empire. He there calls that a suspicion and conjecture, which others say is an apostolical tradition. In like manner the ancient fathers are divided, as to the exposition of the words of the sixth and seventh verse, when it is said you know what hindereth; some understand that antichrist must come first. Others, that the beforementioned apostacy, or falling off from the Church, must happen before. And when St. Paul says, (ver. 7.) that he who now holdeth, do hold; some expound it, let him take care at the time of such trials, to hold, and preserve the true faith to the end. When the expositions are so different, as in this place, whosoever pretends to give a literal translation ought never to add words to the text, which determine the sense to such a particular exposition, and especially in the same print, as Mr. N. hath done on the seventh verse, where he translates, only let him that now holdeth the faith, keep it until he be taken out of the way. --- And the man of sin[7] revealed, the son of perdition, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God. He is called again, (ver. 8.) that wicked one....whom the Lord Jesus Christ shall kill with the spirit of his mouth. By all these words is described to us the great antichrist, about the end of the world, according to the unexceptionable authority and consent of the ancient fathers. It is as ridiculous as malicious to pretend, with divers later reformers, that the pope, and all the popes since the destruction of the Roman empire, are the great antichrist, the man of sin, &c. Grotius, Dr. Hammond, and divers learned Protestants, have confuted and ridiculed this groundless fable, of which more on the Apocalypse. It may suffice to observe here that antichrist, the man of sin, the son of perdition, the wicked one, according to all the ancients, is to be one particular man, not so many different men. That he is to come a little while before the day of judgment. That he will make himself be adored, and pretend to be God. What pope did so? That he will pretend to be Christ, &c. (Witham) --- St. Augustine (de Civ. Dei. book xx. chap. 19.) says, that an attack would be made at one and the same time against the Roman empire and the Church. The Roman empire subsists as yet, in Germany, though much weakened and reduced. The Roman Catholic Church, notwithstanding all its losses, and the apostacy of many of its children, has always remained the same. (Calmet) — The two special signs of the last day will be a general revolt, and the manifestation of antichrist, both of which are so dependent on each other, that St. Augustine makes but one of both. What presumptive folly in Calvin and other modern reformers, to oppose the universal sentiments of the fathers both of the Latin and Greek Church! What inconsistency, to give such forced interpretations, not only widely different from the expositions of sound antiquity, but also widely different from each other! The Church of God, with her head, strong in the promises of Jesus Christ, will persevere to the end, frustra circumlatrantibus hæreticis. (St. Augustine, de util. cred. chap. xvii.) --- In the temple. Either that of Jerusalem, which some think he will rebuild; or in some Christian Church, which he will pervert to his own worship; as Mahomet has done with the churches of the east. (Challoner)

Note 2:

Ver. 3-4. Nisi venerit discessio primum, e apostasia. St. Jerome (Ep. ad Algasiam. q. 11. t. 4. p. 209) Apostasia, inquit [] ut omnes Gentes, quæ Rom. Imperio subjacent, recedant ab eis.

Note 3:

Ver. 3-4. St. Chrysostom (log. d. p. 235) says that by these words, you know what hindereth, is probably understood the Roman empire, &c. and Tertullian (lib. de Resur. Carnis. chap. xxiv. p. 340) on those words, till taken out of the way, donec de medio fiat, Quis nisi Romanorum status?

Note 4:

Ver. 3-4. St. Chrysostom (log. g. p. 232) ti estin e apostasia autoi kalei ton Antichriston. See Theodoret on this place.

Note 5:

Ver. 3-4. St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Cat. xv) says, this apostacy is from the true faith and good works: aute estin e apostasia. St. Anselm and others mention both expositions, i.e. from the Roman empire, or from the faith.

Note 6:

Ver. 3-4. St. Augustine: Ego prorsus quid dixerit, me fateor ignorare....suspiciones tamen hominum, quas vel audire, vel legere potui, non tacebo, &c. Quidam putant hoc de Imperio dictum esse Romano, &c.

Note 7:

Ver. 3-4. O anthropos tes amartias, o uios tes apoleias, o antikeimenos, &c. ille homo peccati, ille filius perditionis: the Greek articles sufficiently denote a particular man.

5 Remember you not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Ver. 5. No explanation given.

6 And now you know what withholdeth, that he may be revealed in his time.

Ver. 6. No explanation given.

7 For the mystery of iniquity already worketh: only that he who now holdeth, do hold, until he be taken out of the way.

Ver. 7. The mystery of iniquity already worketh,[8] or is now wrought, by the precursors of antichrist; i.e. by infidels and heretics. For, as St. John says, there are many antichrists, precursors to the great antichrist, and enemies of Christ. (1 John chap. ii.) (Witham) --- That he who now holdeth, do hold. That is, let each one remain in the faith which he has received of us, and let him not permit himself to be deceived by any discourse, as coming from us. Or rather, let those who shall then be in the world keep their faith, remaining firm in their belief and attachment to the Church of Christ, until antichrist, that man of iniquity, shall be taken away. (Calmet) --- According to others, it is an admonition to the faithful not to be beguiled during this day of trial by such, as under the garb of religion, and with an ostentatious parade of zeal for the holy Scriptures, seek to deceive them. When the mystery of sin shall be revealed, then shall we plainly discover that apostacy from the Catholic Church is the obvious and certain road to a dereliction of all religious principle; yes, to antichristianism and to atheism. (Haydock)

Note 8:

Ver. 7. Mysterium jam operatur iniquitatis, to musterion ede energeitai.

8 And then that wicked one shall be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: him,

Ver. 8. Spirit of his mouth, &c. St. Paul makes use of this expression, to shew the ease with which God can put down the most powerful from his seat. He does it likewise to give the Thessalonians a right notion of the man of sin. For as he before told them, he would cause himself to be adored, they might have imagined him more upon an equality with the Almighty. These words, however, quite take away that meaning. He shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. (Isaias xi. 4. &c.) (Calmet)

9 Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power, and signs, and lying wonders,

Ver. 9. No explanation given.

10 And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish: because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe a lie.

Ver. 10. God shall send them the operation of error.[9] That is, says St. Chrysostom and St. Cyril, he will permit them to be led away with illusions, by signs, and lying prodigies, which the devil shall work by antichrist, &c. (Witham) --- God shall suffer them to be deceived by lying wonders, and false miracles, in punishment of their not entertaining the love of truth. (Challoner) --- The end God proposes is the judgment and condemnation of such as reject the proffered light. This is the march of sin, according to St. Thomas Aquinas on this place. In the first place a man, in consequence of his first sin, is deprived of grace, he then falls into further sins, and ends with being eternally punished. Hence it happens that his new sins are a punishment of his former transgressions; because God will permit the devil to do these things. Deus mittet, quia Deus Diabolum facere ista permittet. (St. Augustine, lib. xx. de Civ. Dei. chap. 19.)

Note 9:

Ver. 10. Mittet illis Deus operationem erroris, pempsei, &c. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Cat. 5. sunchorei ginesthai. See also St. Chrysostom, log. d. p. 236.

11 That all may be judged, who have not believed the truth, but have consented to iniquity.

Ver. 11. No explanation given.

12 But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of God, for that God hath chosen you first-fruits unto salvation, in sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth:

Ver. 12. That God hath chosen you first-fruits. Called you the first, or before many others, by his eternal decree, to the faith, whilst he hath left others in darkness and infidelity. (Witham)

13 Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ver. 13. No explanation given.

14 Therefore, brethren, stand firm; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle.

Ver. 14. Traditions,...whether by word,[10] or by our epistle. Therefore, says St. Chrysostom, the apostle did not deliver all things that were to be believed, by writing; (Witham) but many things by word of mouth only, which have been perpetuated by tradition, and these traditions, no less than the writings of the apostles, are deserving of faith. Omoios de kakeina, kai tauta estin axiopista. (St. Chrysostom, on this place)

Note 10:

Ver. 14. St. Chrysostom, 237. enteuthen deilon, &c.

15 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope in grace,

Ver. 15. No explanation given.

16 Exhort your hearts, and confirm you in every good work and word.

Ver. 16. No explanation given.

#second epistle of st. paul to the thessalonians

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