Randel
2010-10-09, 04:57 PM
Just recently re-read the origional Time Machine book by H.G. Wells (you can read if for free on Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35)) and was interested in the Morloks.
Basically, imagine an industrialized civilization where all the actual industry, infrastructure, and factories are located underground. The surface is pretty pristine and almost gardenlike with the occasional building that is ornate and far between.
The subterranean infrastructure has access tunnels, smoke stacks, and ventilation shafts that reach the surface but these are generally hidden from view or are designed to be ornate and not disrupt the scenery.
The factories below the surface are manned by naturally subterranean races who manufacture things and operate the machinery that keeps the civilization running. The people on the surface are basically the elite who get to live lives of ease and pleasure. All the violent animals that might cause trouble have all been exterminated, disease has been wiped out, and some method of climate control has been put in place so that people don't have to worry about natural disasters.
All of the plants on the surface bear fruit or are otherwise pleasant and weeds have been wiped out, so gardening or farming isn't really a necessity. War is a distant memory and with it the need for intelligence or innovation is needless since there aren't that many problems to be had.
However, due to some problem, the food supply of the subterranian workers (the morlocks) has run out and they must occasionally come to the surface to capture some of the surface dwellers (the Eloi) in order to eat them. The surface dwellers haven't had war in eons so they don't know how to deal with this in any way other than to just forget it happens (play and eat all day, during the night some people might dissapear, but as long as you survive then you can get back to playing some more).
The morlocks in turn are totally willing to keep on working and supplying the Eloi with food, clothing, and occasionally medicine but feel they are justified in eating some of them (maybe the morlocks can eat plants and vegetables as well but they really want/need some meat in their diet due to their hard work and the Eloi are the only other source of meat around. Plus, why the heck are they giving the Eloi stuff if they don't get anything in return?).
The adventurers might be Eloi or Morlocks who are trying to solve the problems of their world (mostly the fact that they are stuck in a rut or possibly they don't like having to eath the Eloi) or they might be outsiders who have just come across this strange land and figure they can take it over or loot the morlock tunnels for treasure.
So, how would you go about making a civilization with an industrialized subterranean half and a less industrialized but more artistic upper half?
Basically, imagine an industrialized civilization where all the actual industry, infrastructure, and factories are located underground. The surface is pretty pristine and almost gardenlike with the occasional building that is ornate and far between.
The subterranean infrastructure has access tunnels, smoke stacks, and ventilation shafts that reach the surface but these are generally hidden from view or are designed to be ornate and not disrupt the scenery.
The factories below the surface are manned by naturally subterranean races who manufacture things and operate the machinery that keeps the civilization running. The people on the surface are basically the elite who get to live lives of ease and pleasure. All the violent animals that might cause trouble have all been exterminated, disease has been wiped out, and some method of climate control has been put in place so that people don't have to worry about natural disasters.
All of the plants on the surface bear fruit or are otherwise pleasant and weeds have been wiped out, so gardening or farming isn't really a necessity. War is a distant memory and with it the need for intelligence or innovation is needless since there aren't that many problems to be had.
However, due to some problem, the food supply of the subterranian workers (the morlocks) has run out and they must occasionally come to the surface to capture some of the surface dwellers (the Eloi) in order to eat them. The surface dwellers haven't had war in eons so they don't know how to deal with this in any way other than to just forget it happens (play and eat all day, during the night some people might dissapear, but as long as you survive then you can get back to playing some more).
The morlocks in turn are totally willing to keep on working and supplying the Eloi with food, clothing, and occasionally medicine but feel they are justified in eating some of them (maybe the morlocks can eat plants and vegetables as well but they really want/need some meat in their diet due to their hard work and the Eloi are the only other source of meat around. Plus, why the heck are they giving the Eloi stuff if they don't get anything in return?).
The adventurers might be Eloi or Morlocks who are trying to solve the problems of their world (mostly the fact that they are stuck in a rut or possibly they don't like having to eath the Eloi) or they might be outsiders who have just come across this strange land and figure they can take it over or loot the morlock tunnels for treasure.
So, how would you go about making a civilization with an industrialized subterranean half and a less industrialized but more artistic upper half?