(no subject)

[asklepian]

Posted: June 8th
From: Asclepius

Something I've found myself quite interested in over the last few weeks has been a question of...well, I suppose our existence.

Pardon me if this question has been asked before, I haven't seen it. I'd appreciate a summary of that particular conversation, if it has happened before.

Now, as a bit of background--I am from...a fairly significant amount of time in the future. I state that vaguely because there are rules against discussing it, we accidentally time travel often enough that there's protocol in place. But I feel fairly confident after my research that I am also in what I would consider a parallel universe. Those are also fairly well-documented in my time. (I must say this is far more pleasant than the last one I was in.)

Anyway. If all that is the case, I have to wonder: why do the divisions of god and shinki fall as they do? Whatever power brought us here evidently can reach through time and both physical and metaphorical space. Infinite realities mean infinite possibilities that in one or the other reality, we are either alive or dead.

Please keep all specific instances and examples private if you wish to give them. I don't want this discussion to be the cause of harm to anyone.

Comments

[eternalshield]

[Keywords getting his attention: "amount of time," "parallel universe," "divisions of god and shinki." Quietly bookmarking this...]

Ask why water is wet, Zeno can actually think of a reason or two for that.

[asklepian]

Alright then, why is water wet?

[Amuse him.]

[eternalshield]

So you can wash with it. Also for thirst.

[shadowsthedawn]

I think it might be at random. Or by chance.

For some of us, we don't just show up here once. I've been told that I was here as a shinki for awhile before I disappeared. I don't remember anything about that time. And now I'm a god.

Try explaining that.

[asklepian]

Unfortunately, that seems like the best explanation.

Well, there are a few potential reasons for that. Nothing that can be said with much certainty of course.

First, obviously there's the possibility of your being drawn from earlier in your timeline, therefore whatever brought you here as a shinki hasn't happened yet.

Then, there's the possibility of you not being from the same reality. An alternate one just a step to the left, for instance. So you don't recall because it wasn't truly you the last time you were here, but a counterpart from one of the infinite number of parallel realities.

Third, and I don't like this one very much at all, whatever power brings us here has the ability to manipulate the memories of gods as well.

[shadowsthedawn]

Well, I don't really like the idea that if I return home I'll die soon. So I think I prefer the second option.

[Especially since the things he's heard about the other Riku don't exactly make him like the guy.]

So you're saying that even us gods could be dead but had our memories altered like the shinki?

[shiitan]

I'll answer that question after you give proof that time travel exists

[Of course, his answer would have been different if he remembered his previous life had been drastically changed by one time travel mishap.]

[asklepian]

I have no proof aside from personal experience: I once traveled 347 years into the past accidentally. And 105 years into the past deliberately.

Of course both times put me well ahead of the current year, but quite a few of the important historical events I know of don't seem to have happened in this reality anyway.

[shiitan]

uh huh

if you can't prove it, then show me the research about parallel universes that you mentioned before.

text;

[toremainbehind]

A parallel universe? That's a new theory I haven't heard of.

Though, I take it you wouldn't simply be satisfied if I told you that the Heavens has the power to do all of these things you speak of.

Re: text;

[asklepian]

It could very well be both, neither, or one or the other. That's the problem with a thought experiment.

Though I have to admit, I've never been a man of faith.

Either way, I at least find it an interesting topic of discussion.

Re: text;

[toremainbehind]

With no definite answer.

It certainly is. Though, if this place is simply a parallel world, wouldn't you have been able to find a way to leave in that case?

[fixed_destiny]

Since you're no longer in your original world surely those gag orders on discussing events no longer applies? Discussing events in the past of your reality will hardly affect our future after all, barring possibly dealing with someone whom shares an origin with you.

[asklepian]

I wouldn't put it past the Department of Temporal Investigations, though none of them have showed up to take me to task as of yet. If they would I could possibly convince them to let me catch a ride back home, lest I do more damage.

[fixed_destiny]

Possibly because they handle time travel by the sound of it, not so much world-hopping. Another bureau may have to get involved if it exists.

When you say 'future' you mean relative to this particular world, yes?

from: Dana Scully

[skepticstarbuck]

Parallel universes, as in many worlds theory? You've traveled between them before?

In any case, if we're accepting time travel as a possibility, you don't need alternate realities to find one in which we're dead. You just have to pick an appropriate point on our individual timeline.

[asklepian]

Yes. Entirely on accident, along with an associate of mine, and it was extremely unpleasant. There have been 3 incidents since, the last very briefly before I found myself here, that I was not directly involved with. All were crossing over with the same reality.

Also fair, but there's the fact that the history I was taught in school from 1950 to now simply is not recorded in any book I have been able to find, and the world is not divided at all in the same ways.

[skepticstarbuck]

Is this the same as that other parallel universe you've interacted with?

I don't remember anything from before arriving here, so I'm not going to be able to offer you any hints about why they picked me or how close this is to where I'm from. I'm not familiar with some of the technology.

<Ixtlilton>

[giftedistheterm]

The older gods may have a better answer as to why some of us are gods and others are shinki. Though if it's not merely a matter of whether or not they bring a version of us that's alive or dead, something that really is trivial if you take into account supposed time travel and alternate realities, then they must look for something else. Some other marker.

[Simon certainly sat up and paid attention at the mention of Asclepius being 'from the future'...but the rest makes it clear that it isn't his future.

He isn't sure if he's relieved about that or just lonely.]

[asklepian]

It's possible. None of them have chimed in as of yet.

It certainly complicates things. And all of this is mostly wild speculation anyway. All I can draw upon is the history I learned in school. I happen to hold a particular interest in the hundred years between 1950 and 2050, which we happen to be right in the middle of.

[giftedistheterm]

I haven't notice them using these message boards at all. Maybe they're all Luddites?

History which may no longer fully apply. I can understand why you wouldn't want to share the specifics of what your history books contain, I wouldn't either rules or no. Though I confess I'm curious how much of what you were taught differs from my own lessons.

Anon; text

[volksdaemon]

So what are you saying, the natives must be the ones responsible?

Re: Anon; text

[asklepian]

I'm giving hypothetical situations that can't be proven one way or the other at the present time and inviting discussion.

from: carl adler

[smilingbullet]

Maybe people more suited to be tools become shinki? Or it's just that gods haven't died yet and that they would have become shinki if they had.

[asklepian]

I don't particularly like that thought. Who are we to say that any of us are more suited to be a tool than someone else?

Someone else that responded said that they'd been here before, but as a shinki instead of a god, and did not remember it.

So, that complicates things.