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| Terra Metropolis; The Future of Urban Sprawl | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 1 2016, 10:22 PM (12,952 Views) | |
| Sheather | Jan 1 2016, 10:22 PM Post #1 |
 
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 ~~~ The year is 2600. At present, after several centuries' of rise and then gradual fall, there are almost 8 billion people on our Earth, as society has spread to cover the Earth from pole to pole on every continent over the last few tens of thousands of years out from their ancestral Africa through Europe and Asia, to the Americas, and across the sea to Australia and countless islands. Antarctica came last, its true settlement only made possible in the last two centuries, when the formerly ice-bound southernmost continent was finally left habitable by a warming climate thanks to the enormous carbon emissions of the industrial age. This world, once temperate, is today predominately as warm and tropical as it's yet been since the Eocene, yet there are are no virgin rainforests left to show for it - at least of of any significance. Over the last six centuries, we have gone through the sixth major mass extinction in our planet's long history. We saw the seas emptied of life to fill our dinner plates and the jungle cleared for lumber, the casual destruction of thousands of species indirectly and hundreds more extinguished with calculated slaughter. We'd bring some back, at least in some variation, and realizing our grave errors too late, engineer superficial copies of the rest - even, once we had the technology, organisms that vanished before we set foot upon this Earth - but for most life would never be as it was before the dawn of man. It would still be centuries again before the world as a whole was ready to make the efforts needed to try and rebuild some semblance of the wilderness of the planet we'd scraped dry for our selfish needs, to give the majority anything more than an artificial captivity to call home, and change would only come after the darkest of days. War, famine, and societal collapse took many lives, but from the ashes we rebuilt again. In the end, we could never restore it to its former identity; too much was lost, unable to survive in the new world we built around theirs - or the opposite may have been true, ecosystems so altered by introduced organisms for so long that they adapted and become dependent upon the lifeforms that once threatened their existence. Our world is now a new one, far from perfect, but no longer one set upon a seemingly unstoppable path towards its utter obliteration. We are a species that, for all our faults, is here to stay - but that no longer means we can't share our world in a sustainable way. Through a combination of nature's timeless resilience to adversity and our newfound power to modify the very foundations of life as we know it to help it along, Terra Metropolis is the future of us all. The experimental colonies aside, we as a species are all bound to this little blue marble - Earth, our home - but one which we've only recently learned as a species requires as much attention going in as resources being pulled out to ever hope to be sustainable in the long run. As man and nature both learn to live side by side and with mutual give and take, not with a parasitic relationship neatly divided and single-sided, a new and promising chapter in the book of life begins today. Table of Contents
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 The Gaiaverse | Eden | Terra Metropolis | Life of the Sylvan Islands | Other Spec Evo | Sheatheria | Serina | The Last Dinosaur A Wholesome and Good Thing | Sam | | |
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| Apostle_of_Darkness | May 8 2016, 05:47 PM Post #106 |
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Fetus
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... I thought Smilodons were native to the Americas? Edited by Apostle_of_Darkness, May 8 2016, 05:47 PM.
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| Corecin | May 8 2016, 06:30 PM Post #107 |
Prime Specimen
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Smilodons are not the only saber toothed cats that have existed. |
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| Sheather | May 8 2016, 10:53 PM Post #108 |
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I did mean native in recent history. |
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The Gaiaverse | Eden | Terra Metropolis | Life of the Sylvan Islands | Other Spec Evo | Sheatheria | Serina | The Last Dinosaur A Wholesome and Good Thing | Sam | | |
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| Ànraich | May 15 2016, 05:56 PM Post #109 |
L'évolution Spéculative est moi
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Loving this project, but a note about your introduction: tropical forests aren't typically cleared for lumber. Tropical trees generally have very soft wood that is difficult to process and has very few practical uses beyond making paper, and there are vast swaths of tropical forests that are made up of palms, which from experience I can tell you have no wood inside of their pseudostems and are in fact just a bundle of leaf stems held together with a very thin coating of cork. In most cases tropical forests are cleared for farmland, driven by the misconception that the presence of a jungle must indicate fertile soil, though often times the soil is only barely arable and the jungle was mostly sustained by the constant influx of decaying matter created by heavy concentrations of flora and fauna. The reason I bring this up is because I think it might make for some interesting scenarios for your project: large areas that were once tropical rain forests are now abandoned farmland. It's an environment that I think is often overlooked in things like post-apocalyptic scenarios in favor of the emotional impact seeing an abandoned city reclaimed by nature has on human viewers. In many cases farmland is sustained solely through human activity and those same humans would go to great lengths to prevent nature from being able to encroach on the farmland and thus preventing the possibility of it being restored to its original biome. Large areas of the Amazon Rain Forest could someday be some kind of "rain prairie." |
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We should all aspire to die surrounded by our dearest friends. Just like Julius Caesar. "The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming Tree That Owns Itself
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| bloom_boi | May 19 2016, 03:41 PM Post #110 |
What The?
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I think though, with human interference and our damn cattle gone, plus the warmer temperatures (after the initial climatic chaos) would mean that forests would grow back pretty quickly, in under a century. |
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"You shall perish, whatever you do! If you are taken with arms in your hands, death! If you beg for mercy, death! Whichever way you turn, right, left, back, forward, up, down, death! You are not merely outside the law, you are outside humanity. Neither age nor sex shall save you and yours. You shall die, but first you shall taste the agony of your wife, your sister, your sons and daughters, even those in the cradle! Before your eyes the wounded man shall be taken out of the ambulance and hacked with bayonets or knocked down with the butt end of a rifle. He shall be dragged living by his broken leg or bleeding arm and flung like a suffering, groaning bundle of refuse into the gutter. Death! Death! Death!" | |
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| Sheather | Dec 12 2016, 01:38 PM Post #111 |
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Terra Petropolis: Companions for a Future World Chapter 2 ~~~ The House Hippo  ~~~ The North American house hippo, Hippopotamus gaianadvanticus domesticus, is a miniaturized, genetically-engineered form of domesticated hippopotamus that is commonly kept as an indoor companion animal in the Terra Metropolitan world. They are one of many unique and unusual organisms produced in the middle 2100's as novelty pets and remain popular to this day throughout the world due to their peaceful temperament, non-destructive nature and relative ease of care. First originating from suppliers in Canada and the Eastern United States, they are today found worldwide. House hippos are far-removed from their ancestor, the common hippopotamus, in more than just the most obvious way - in size - but this is perhaps the most extreme change. While the common hippopotamus can weigh as much as 3,300 pounds - much too big for the average urban apartment - the house hippo averages roughly one-thousandth this; just about three pounds for a plump male, and two-thirds this for a typical female - about the weight of a large guinea pig and plenty small enough to hold in one's lap. This comes as a result of the removal of several hormonal triggers in the genome of the house hippo that would normally encourage the developing fetus to grow at a much more rapid rate and for a longer length of time. House hippos exhibit some neotenic, infant-like features throughout adulthood as a result of these genetic changes, including short and rounded snouts, vestigial tusks, and proportionately large ears and eyes, and most notably have none of the hormonal aggression that comes to the wild hippopotamus at sexual maturity, remaining gentle and docile throughout their lives. House hippos are highly domesticated and are not only less aggressive, but lack the majority of the instincts of their ancestors. Their small size, lack of significant insulating body hair, intense and fearless curiosity and subsequent lack of fight-or flight behavior - all traits resulting from their domestication to live with human beings - combine to leave them extremely vulnerable in nature and they are not considered an ecological threat if freed or escaped, being unable to survive for long in a wild environment without human protection. As companion animals, however, house hippos excel and can be considered among the most personable of the caged pets, if not the most clever. Though often regarded as dim-witted and unsuitable for trick training, they are generally very trusting and affectionate creatures that bond readily to many people and rarely lash out at their owners. They are fairly long lived, at about 10 years with good care, and relatively tolerant of sub-standard care. As a result, they are often touted as an ideal beginner pet. Since they do not climb or leap high, long and low cages are most ideal for them, to permit them some room to run. A loose bedding of paper or wood shavings is recommended upon the cage floor for the animals to burrow into and root around in. A small enclosed hiding box, which can be elaborate or as simple as a shoe box with a hole cut in one side, is also beneficial to give the house hippo a warm and private place to rest - they exhibit nesting instincts absent in their larger relatives and seek out enclosed places to sleep on land, rather than sleeping underwater. Some hippos may also utilize and appreciate a large running wheel of the type designed for large rodents, though it is recommended to only offer one which provides a solid surface without spokes that may catch a tiny toe. Contrary to some popular belief access to swimming water within the main cage is not necessary for the house hippo's well-being, and as long as they are kept from extremes of temperature and provided shade, the house hippo can survive very well without access to open water at all. A pool within a closed cage can in fact be detrimental, for though it will be enjoyed, a dish will invariably be spilled, wetting the bedding and encouraging the growth of harmful mold in the animal's environment that can trigger deadly lung infections. Constant exposure to wet bedding can even encourage the growth of a wet fungal growth on the underbelly, causing redness, itching, and a breakdown of the epidermis, known as "wet tummy syndrome", that can be fatal if left unchecked. A plain glass sipper bottle that cannot be spilled or chewed, like one would use for hamsters or rabbits, is subsequently much safer and more convenient and the animals quickly figure out how to use them - but house hippos do have a natural fondness for water and will greatly appreciate supervised access several times per week to a bathtub or sink filled partway with warm water in which to swim and dive for short periods, after which they should be allowed to dry off fully before being returned to their cage. Since house hippos don't naturally clean themselves they can become oily if not given regular swimming opportunities and these individuals may benefit from an occasional wiping down - generally a quick and simple process due to the smooth, hairless skin of the hippo's body which is easily cleaned up with a soft cloth, no shampoo necessary. The diet of the house hippo is fairly simple to provide and ideally consists entirely of plant matter in the form of commercially-available alfalfa cubes of the type commonly offered for rabbits, fresh produce, and a healthy pelleted diet available at any exotic pet store. Though modern pelleted formulations are complete and total nutrition, they are boring and best supplemented with healthy servings of chopped fruits, vegetables, grass clippings that have not been sprayed with fertilizers, or green branches from edible trees, such as willow and hibiscus. House hippos have large mouths for their size and strong molars for chopping up their food, but produce should still be cut to manageable sizes before being offered to the hippo to prevent potential choking hazards. Favored foods include broccoli tops, green peppers, celery, blueberries and mandarin oranges, but individuals' dietary preferences vary greatly. Richer treats, including chips, raisins, or the crumbs from peanut butter on toast are typically very favored by the house hippo, often to the exclusion of other more nutritious food choices, and best offered very sparingly to avoid an overweight and lethargic pet. Some house hippos will enjoy a tidbit of meat or cheese on occasion, but it's best to keep animal foods to a minimum in the diet to avoid upsetting the hippo's sensitive tummy. House hippos as pets require at least an hour outside of their cages each day to burn off extra energy and explore, but they are very adaptable to the human work or school schedule and will happily work their own sleep cycle around when you are around to play with them. Since house hippos don't have well-developed front teeth, they are not destructive and will not chew household furnishings or electrical wires like other small pets of the rodent family, and they can generally be house-trained to utilize a litter box in their cage or placed in the corner of the room, being instinctively fastidious to avoid soiling their nests by nature and unlikely to mark their territory with body wastes like their wild relative. House hippos are not typically destructive to furnishing and lack sharp claws, meaning they cannot scratch upholstery or claw the drapes. Combined with the fact that they are very quiet animals, this makes them a good choice of pet for apartment dwellers. Typically when out of their cages they first run about quickly, sniffing and exploring the floor with great curiosity, before eventually retiring to a safe, warm place to rest. It is vitally important to ensure any space accessible by the house hippo then is safe and free of small, enclosed openings that the hippo may be drawn to and become stuck in. Since house hippos are drawn to soft resting places and warmth, they can easily bury themselves in laundry and disappear from sight; it is vitally important to always check the washing machine or dryer before turning either machine on to ensure your hippo has not sneaked inside for a nap! When free-roaming in the home, a house hippo can often get into mischief. Little thieves, they will readily take most any soft scrap of material and run it home to add to their nests, including lost mittens, dryer lint, and little bits of string. Very frequently the owners of house hippos will find accumulated piles of these materials, and other soft items, in any warm, dark place throughout the house, particularly in bedroom closets. Since they generally needn't worry about finding food in captive environments, a significant portion of the house hippo's daily life turns to building and maintaining their nests, which must be very warm and soft, for a house hippo can sleep as much as sixteen hours a day. A well-socialized hippo will often view its owner as its preferred safe place and choose to rest in their lap over any other location, rolling onto their backs to solicit tummy tickles and nuzzling their owners with their soft bristly snouts. House hippos are very social pets and will communicate with their owners with high-pitched squeaks and whistles and will chirp to get their persons' attention if they feel they are being ignored. They will often follow their people from room to room, rubbing against their legs, and may grow quite distressed if kept alone for long periods of time. While this can be alleviated somewhat by providing enrichment, such as little toys to push around the cage, paper to shred for a nest, or a stuffed animal to snuggle with, for the busy hippo owner keeping at least two house hippos is recommended, for then they may keep each other company throughout the day. House hippos are normally equable with one other and very companionable, spending much time licking and cuddling with one another throughout the day, but certain males may become intolerant of others at maturity, though this can usually be resolved with neutering. Same-sexed pairs are always recommended for the novice owner otherwise, for house hippos breed readily and without set season, producing as many as three litters of offspring - typically numbering just two, in a year. Babies are able to walk and run at birth, and are independent by three months of age, able to breed on their own by the age of ten months. Though house hippos as a species have already been around for several centuries, they have a relatively limited variety of breeds and morphs. Piebald individuals are common and there are several breeds which exhibit increased hair upon the body in varying lengths, but none with a full coat that could really be considered attractive. House hippos are usually very good-natured with other friendly companion animals and can often be kept in the same cages with guinea pigs, which share a very similar diet and equally docile temperament. They are small animals, however, and can easily become prey to less friendly animals in the home including cats, dogs, and foxes, all of which should never be permitted unsupervised contact with a house hippo at any time. Other common threats to the hippo in its natural household habitat are mainly limited to environmental hazards; careless footsteps, rocking recliner chairs, and open toilet bowls, in which a curious hippo can easily fall, find itself unable to climb out, and escape into the sewer system by swimming down the piping, to what is unfortunately most often a very short life in the wild. House hippos will also readily chew up any houseplants they can reach, as well as chewing on and sometimes swallowing such harmful things as potpourri, cigarette butts, and small coins and jewelry, making it of utmost importance to ensure anything toxic or potentially dangerous if consumed is raised well above the house hippo's maximum reach - a height of about 14 inches, if he stands upon his hind legs. Provided they are well cared for a house hippo can be a part of the family for more than ten years, so as cute as they may be, it is of vital importance to fully research their care requirements and be aware of their needs before ever bringing one home on impulse. ~~~ The house hippo was first unveiled during the holiday season of 2135, bringing the 1900's tongue-in-cheek holiday tune "I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas" back to the charts for several weeks after many years, as every little child begged Santa Claus for their very own little hippo hero. |
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The Gaiaverse | Eden | Terra Metropolis | Life of the Sylvan Islands | Other Spec Evo | Sheatheria | Serina | The Last Dinosaur A Wholesome and Good Thing | Sam | | |
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| Corecin | Dec 12 2016, 01:41 PM Post #112 |
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Prime Specimen
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This is too good to be true. |
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| Beetleboy | Dec 12 2016, 01:42 PM Post #113 |
neither lizard nor boy nor beetle . . . but a little of all three
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I haven't even read the post yet, but I can tell this is gonna be brillitastic. |
| ~ The Age of Forests ~ | |
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| Vorsa | Dec 12 2016, 01:42 PM Post #114 |
Mysterious tundra-dwelling humanoid
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I love it so much!! |
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My Deviantart: http://desorages.deviantart.com/ Birbs "you are about to try that on a species that clawed its way to the top of a 4 billion year deep corpse pile of evolution. one that has committed the genocide you are contemplating several times already. they are the pinnacle of intelligence-based survival techniques and outnumber you 7 billion to 1" - humans vs machine | |
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| TerrificTyler | Dec 12 2016, 01:45 PM Post #115 |
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Snazz God
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That's flipping adorable! Great job! |
 The Time Bubble- A universe-sized terrarium My Deviantart Wkhuh duh rqob wzr jhqghuv | |
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| Beetleboy | Dec 12 2016, 01:55 PM Post #116 |
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neither lizard nor boy nor beetle . . . but a little of all three
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Aw man, my dad and I love that song. Thank you, my Christmas is now complete. |
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| Dr Nitwhite | Dec 12 2016, 03:14 PM Post #117 |
Luddite
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Spoiler: click to toggle Spoiler: click to toggle I love it. Edited by Dr Nitwhite, Dec 12 2016, 03:25 PM.
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Speculative Evolution Projects- Other Relevant Work- Final SE Lifelist standings BREAKING NEWS We interrupt your regular programming to bring you this cutting edge report. ATTENDANCE DROPS DRASTICALLY ON SE SERVER This past Monday on Discord, famous server Speculative Evolution took a hit in the attendance office when it's offline member list suddenly reappeared. Mods scrambled to rectify the situation, but unfortunately there was little anyone could do. Server member Ivan was asked what he thought of the situation. "So long as Flisch, lord of machines and scion of Urborg lives, all will be well". SE, (in)famous for it's eccentric userbase, has recently been spiraling downward, and now we have hard conformation of the decline. Moderator "High Lord" Icthyander states "There is nothing to be concerned about, Discord is merely changing its UI again", but members are beginning to suspect the honesty of their staff. Stay tuned, we'll be back with more at 11. | |
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| HangingThief | Dec 12 2016, 03:23 PM Post #118 |
ghoulish
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I got it. |
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Hey. | |
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| Corecin | Dec 12 2016, 03:31 PM Post #119 |
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Prime Specimen
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Of course we did. You just don't have to openly say "I get it". |
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| Yiqi15 | Dec 12 2016, 03:31 PM Post #120 |
Prime Specimen
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When I listen to I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, I honestly think "Sheesh, I know she's just a kid, but hippos will kill you if your parents get one as a pet, presumably from the black market!" And yes, I did get the joke. |
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Current/Completed Projects - After the Holocene: Your run-of-the-mill future evolution project. - A History of the Odessa Rhinoceros: What happens when you ship 28 southern white rhinoceri to Texas and try and farm them? Quite a lot, actually. Future Projects - XenoSphere: The greatest zoo in the galaxy. - The Curious Case of the Woolly Giraffe: A case study of an eocene relic. - Untittled Asylum Studios-Based Project: The truth behind all the CGI schlock - Riggslandia V.II: A World 150 million years in the making Potential Projects - Klowns: The biology and culture of a creepy-yet-fascinating being My Zoochat and Fadom Accounts - Zoochat - Fandom | |
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