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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 3941854" data-attributes="member: 19675">How many die in the ELE, you ask?Assuming widespread destruction of major cities, assuming current demographics, that's more than 1/2 the population right there.Some more would die due to ancillary effects- fires, disease, starvation, & exposure- as well as interaction with those who are better prepared for such an event (like those with hunting & farming skills) and who either defend what they have or aggressively acquire things from others to fill their needs.I didn't know that.To compare, with 2 post-graduate degrees, I could maybe dredge my memories for the abilty to start a fire, and the mechanics of how to build a bow...but finding the right materials for that, and identifying poisonous flora or stalking wild game?  If I could find other people to team up with, I have some valuable info (like some education on farming techniques) that could aid an already somewhat stable group.  But barring that, I'm pretty sure I'd be among the 90% of civilized humans to die out.I'm not saying that civilization relaunch wouldn't be faster- in fact, I'm counting on it.  I'm envisioning the relaunch from stone age to typical FRPG levels would take around 2000 years, with certain more advanced technologies (modern equivalent) being available in a settlement-by-settlement basis.  (For example, I think it would be way cool if a certain settlement were reknown for their polycarbonate riot shields.) Still, even with pockets of civilization reasserting themselves quickly, their influence will be local at best.  A bedroom community of well equipped LARPing engineers may have a lot of knowledge about how to do things, but will they have the materials and physical plant neccessary to work steel?  That kind of tech may still take generations to recapture.  The knowledge is there, but practical factors would still be a hinderance- are they located near a source of iron ore?  Does anyone actually recognize iron ore when they see it?Even though metallic ores are relatively common, they still may not be found where the people with the knowledge of how to mine and work it are...especially if the local mines played out centuries before Starfall.  I mean, we're spoiled in the modern age of rail & air freight- you don't have to be near the materials to get them quickly.  But when that freight infrastructure is gone...Add to that the fact that there are also intelligent forces at work that would inhibit the regrowth of powerful surface civilizations.  First would be the Illithids themselves.  The core of their plan is that they cripple the surface world to make those remnants much easier to control.  Despite being accidentally crippled in their assault, the Illithids on this mission are highly trained, and they'd quickly try to make the most of their situation, including landing near and raiding any above average site they could...  Second would be any other surviving subterranean empire, especially those unaware of the Illithid threat.  Third would be a certain organization- The Verdant Hand- who (unaware of the Illithids intentions) see the Starfall as a reset that will give Nature a chance to purge itself of the excesses of civilization- think of the aggressive green groups like the E.L.F. and you're on the right track.</blockquote>

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