Revision history for EraNationOnTheBrink
Additions:
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} [[EraPreHistory Pre-History]]
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} [[EraPreChanges Pre-Changes]]
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} ''Nation On The Brink'' (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
{{category header="" exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event,Template" col="4"}}
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} [[EraPreChanges Pre-Changes]]
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} ''Nation On The Brink'' (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
{{category header="" exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event,Template" col="4"}}
Deletions:
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} ''""Nation On The Brink""'' (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event"}}
Additions:
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} [[EraPreChanges Pre-Changes]]
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} ''""Nation On The Brink""'' (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} ''""Nation On The Brink""'' (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
Deletions:
~{{color bg="crimson" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="salmon" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="peachpuff" text=" 3 "}} ''Nation On The Brink'' (1/97)
~{{color bg="palegoldenrod" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="lime" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
Additions:
EventTheFlyby, for the first time, undeniably painted theris as the villains. A public that had been willing to let their inner fears be calmed by theris' good deeds suddenly found themselves confronting those fears. Today, 13 in Times Square ... how many tomorrow? Why //hadn't// there been other similar tragedies, and what was stopping more of them from occurring? Suddenly, doomsayers' warnings didn't seem quite so hysterical.
Historians still debate if the worst of it could have been avoided -- if shedding the blood of GroupTheFlybyThree might have appeased the public's newfound rage and grief. But many theris, who understandably felt the Three were facing execution over an innocent mistake, weren't about to let that happen. CharacterDennisRedwing was among them, and throwing his star power into their defense nearly crystallized those fears into open conflict.
Redwing started the showdown with his announcement that he would represent the Three to negotiate their surrender if prosecutors would rule out the death penalty. The [[EventRedwingVsTheFBI FBI's detention of Redwing]] and their threats to charge him as well upped the ante. Redwing's much-publicized escape gave both sides a personal stake. Further escalation then seemed inevitable, but not even pessimistic theris were prepared for EventTheExecutiveOrder. The gauntlet had been thrown.
The order's 72-hour deadline crawled closer, minute by minute. The whole country, and much of the world, watched and waited -- amid fierce debate, and growing speculation as high-profile theris issued a bizarrely mute response.
Ironically, it was partially that silence that turned the terms of the debate around. Mass media, unable to sustain its focus on theri reaction, shifted its gaze to the order itself. The visions of some of the order's most vocal proponents were brought to light -- new spy and police structures to weed out hidden theris from the humans they resembled; "purges"; and other civil-liberties nightmares. That kicked off a legal and political counterattack whose rhetoric became blistering even in high-profile theris' absence. Between that and the outing of one or two significant political figures (which were another huge factor in the debate -- turning the media spotlight back onto the politicians and partially deflating their theri-demonizing rhetoric), some began to wonder if this cure wouldn't be worse than the disease.
The theme of this era of TTU is of a steep and accelerating spiral toward destruction. The average human or theri is powerless in the face of their leaders' grand designs; those leaders are themselves powerless in the face of events. Caught in the grip of history, everyone is simply struggling to protect their life and lifestyle.
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media after EventTheMeeting was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate their threats in hopes of finding one whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
Historians still debate if the worst of it could have been avoided -- if shedding the blood of GroupTheFlybyThree might have appeased the public's newfound rage and grief. But many theris, who understandably felt the Three were facing execution over an innocent mistake, weren't about to let that happen. CharacterDennisRedwing was among them, and throwing his star power into their defense nearly crystallized those fears into open conflict.
Redwing started the showdown with his announcement that he would represent the Three to negotiate their surrender if prosecutors would rule out the death penalty. The [[EventRedwingVsTheFBI FBI's detention of Redwing]] and their threats to charge him as well upped the ante. Redwing's much-publicized escape gave both sides a personal stake. Further escalation then seemed inevitable, but not even pessimistic theris were prepared for EventTheExecutiveOrder. The gauntlet had been thrown.
The order's 72-hour deadline crawled closer, minute by minute. The whole country, and much of the world, watched and waited -- amid fierce debate, and growing speculation as high-profile theris issued a bizarrely mute response.
Ironically, it was partially that silence that turned the terms of the debate around. Mass media, unable to sustain its focus on theri reaction, shifted its gaze to the order itself. The visions of some of the order's most vocal proponents were brought to light -- new spy and police structures to weed out hidden theris from the humans they resembled; "purges"; and other civil-liberties nightmares. That kicked off a legal and political counterattack whose rhetoric became blistering even in high-profile theris' absence. Between that and the outing of one or two significant political figures (which were another huge factor in the debate -- turning the media spotlight back onto the politicians and partially deflating their theri-demonizing rhetoric), some began to wonder if this cure wouldn't be worse than the disease.
The theme of this era of TTU is of a steep and accelerating spiral toward destruction. The average human or theri is powerless in the face of their leaders' grand designs; those leaders are themselves powerless in the face of events. Caught in the grip of history, everyone is simply struggling to protect their life and lifestyle.
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media after EventTheMeeting was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate their threats in hopes of finding one whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
Deletions:
Historians still debate if the worst of it could have been avoided -- if shedding the blood of the Flyby Three might have appeased the public's newfound rage and grief. But many theris, who understandably felt the Three were facing execution over an innocent mistake, weren't about to let that happen. CharacterDennisRedwing was among them, and throwing his star power into their defense nearly crystallized those fears into open conflict.
Redwing started the showdown with his announcement that he would represent the Three to negotiate their surrender if prosecutors would rule out the death penalty. The FBI's detention of Redwing and their threats to charge him as well upped the ante. Redwing's much-publicized escape gave both sides a personal stake. Further escalation then seemed inevitable, but not even pessimistic theris were prepared for EventTheExecutiveOrder. The gauntlet had been thrown.
The order's 72-hour deadline crawled closer, minute by minute. The whole country, and much of the world, watched and waited -- amid fierce debate, and growing speculation as high-profile theris maintained a strict silence.
Ironically, it was largely that silence that turned the terms of the debate around. Mass media, unable to sustain its focus on theri reaction, shifted its gaze to the order itself. The visions of some of the order's most vocal proponents were brought to light -- new spy and police structures to weed out hidden theris from the humans they resembled; "purges"; and other civil-liberties nightmares. That kicked off a legal and political counterattack whose rhetoric became blistering even in theris' absence. Between that and the outing of one or two significant political figures -- emphasizing how deep any enforcement of the order would have to dig -- some began to wonder if this cure wouldn't be worse than the disease.
The theme of this era of TTU is of a steep and accelerating spiral toward destruction. The average human or theri is powerless in the face of their leaders' grand designs; those leaders are themselves
powerless in the face of events. Caught in the grip of history, everyone is simply struggling to protect their life and lifestyle.
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media after EventTheMeeting was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate the conflict in hopes of finding a threat whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
Revision [528]
Edited on 2007-08-08 03:35:28 by BaxilDragon [The glee from my improved category listings ...]Additions:
{{category header="" only="Story,Culturalia" col="4"}}
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event"}}
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event"}}
Deletions:
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Event"}}
Revision [522]
Edited on 2007-08-08 03:19:19 by BaxilDragon [The glee from my improved category listings ...]Additions:
==Major Events==
{{category header="" only="Event"}}
===Stories Set In This Era===
{{category header="" only="Story" col="4"}}
===Other Associated Pages===
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Event"}}
{{category header="" only="Event"}}
===Stories Set In This Era===
{{category header="" only="Story" col="4"}}
===Other Associated Pages===
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Event"}}
Deletions:
EventTheExecutiveOrder
===Associated Stories===
{{category}}
""//""//this needs to be filtered per WikiToDo -b//
Additions:
This is a time of extreme uncertainty and dark omens. If they're contacted by Redwing or one of his agents, theris cling to The Meeting like a log in a whirlpool; if they're not, theris must decide how to deal with a command that is as world-shattering to them as The Changes were to ordinary humans. Those humans, meanwhile, are getting flashbacks to a paranoia of helplessness not seen since the "Duck and Cover" days. Most of them react to theris with a great deal more caution (and even fear).
Deletions:
Additions:
~{{color bg="slategray" text=" pre "}} [[EraPreChanges Pre-Changes]]
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
And so the stage was set for the surprise unveiling of The Meeting and Redwing's declaration of defiance. The combined voice of over a thousand theris and mages gave one response to the relocation order: //"No. And if you make us, there will be war."//
//"[[http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.]]"// - W.B. Yeats
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media after EventTheMeeting was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate the conflict in hopes of finding a threat whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
While EraDragonInTheStreets may have caused more uncertainty and even panic, this era is the leader in terms of raw fear. If they're contacted by Redwing or one of his agents, theris cling to The Meeting like a log in a whirlpool; if they're not, theris must decide how to deal with a command that is as world-shattering to them as The Changes were to ordinary humans. Those humans, meanwhile, are getting flashbacks to a paranoia of helplessness not seen since the "Duck and Cover" days.
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
And so the stage was set for the surprise unveiling of The Meeting and Redwing's declaration of defiance. The combined voice of over a thousand theris and mages gave one response to the relocation order: //"No. And if you make us, there will be war."//
//"[[http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.]]"// - W.B. Yeats
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media after EventTheMeeting was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate the conflict in hopes of finding a threat whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
While EraDragonInTheStreets may have caused more uncertainty and even panic, this era is the leader in terms of raw fear. If they're contacted by Redwing or one of his agents, theris cling to The Meeting like a log in a whirlpool; if they're not, theris must decide how to deal with a command that is as world-shattering to them as The Changes were to ordinary humans. Those humans, meanwhile, are getting flashbacks to a paranoia of helplessness not seen since the "Duck and Cover" days.
Deletions:
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} xx
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon
And so the stage was set for the surprise unveiling of The Meeting and Redwing's declaration of defiance. The combined voice of over a thousand theris and mages gave one response to the relocation order: //No. And if you make us, there will be war.//
//"[[http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.]]"//
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate the conflict in hopes of finding a threat whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
While EraDragonInTheStreets may have caused more uncertainty and even panic, this era is the clear leader in terms of raw fear. If they're contacted by Redwing or one of his agents, theris cling to The Meeting like a log in a whirlpool; if they're not, theris must decide how to deal with a command that is as world-shattering to them as The Changes were to ordinary humans. Those humans, meanwhile, are getting flashbacks to a paranoia of helplessness not seen since the "Duck and Cover" days.
Additions:
=====Era: Nation On The Brink=====
@@""<<"" [[EraTheShockSettlesIn Previous Era]] * [[EraSchismAndStalemate Next Era]] "">>""@@
~{{color bg="salmon" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="peachpuff" text=" 3 "}} ''Nation On The Brink'' (1/97)
>> //Wednesday, January 1, 1997 - Thursday, January 9, 1997//
**Starts with:** EventTheFlyby
**Ends with:** EventTheMeeting
Most therianthropes headed into 1997 full of optimism, convinced that they had already weathered the worst of the public opinion roller-coaster ride. They were wrong.
The Flyby, for the first time, undeniably painted theris as the villains. A public that had been willing to let their inner fears be calmed by theris' good deeds suddenly found themselves confronting those fears. Today, 13 in Times Square ... how many tomorrow? Why //hadn't// there been other similar tragedies, and what was stopping more of them from occurring? Suddenly, doomsayers' warnings didn't seem quite so hysterical.
Historians still debate if the worst of it could have been avoided -- if shedding the blood of the Flyby Three might have appeased the public's newfound rage and grief. But many theris, who understandably felt the Three were facing execution over an innocent mistake, weren't about to let that happen. CharacterDennisRedwing was among them, and throwing his star power into their defense nearly crystallized those fears into open conflict.
Redwing started the showdown with his announcement that he would represent the Three to negotiate their surrender if prosecutors would rule out the death penalty. The FBI's detention of Redwing and their threats to charge him as well upped the ante. Redwing's much-publicized escape gave both sides a personal stake. Further escalation then seemed inevitable, but not even pessimistic theris were prepared for EventTheExecutiveOrder. The gauntlet had been thrown.
The order's 72-hour deadline crawled closer, minute by minute. The whole country, and much of the world, watched and waited -- amid fierce debate, and growing speculation as high-profile theris maintained a strict silence.
Ironically, it was largely that silence that turned the terms of the debate around. Mass media, unable to sustain its focus on theri reaction, shifted its gaze to the order itself. The visions of some of the order's most vocal proponents were brought to light -- new spy and police structures to weed out hidden theris from the humans they resembled; "purges"; and other civil-liberties nightmares. That kicked off a legal and political counterattack whose rhetoric became blistering even in theris' absence. Between that and the outing of one or two significant political figures -- emphasizing how deep any enforcement of the order would have to dig -- some began to wonder if this cure wouldn't be worse than the disease.
And so the stage was set for the surprise unveiling of The Meeting and Redwing's declaration of defiance. The combined voice of over a thousand theris and mages gave one response to the relocation order: //No. And if you make us, there will be war.//
EventTheExecutiveOrder
//"[[http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.]]"//
The theme of this era of TTU is of a steep and accelerating spiral toward destruction. The average human or theri is powerless in the face of their leaders' grand designs; those leaders are themselves
powerless in the face of events. Caught in the grip of history, everyone is simply struggling to protect their life and lifestyle.
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate the conflict in hopes of finding a threat whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
While EraDragonInTheStreets may have caused more uncertainty and even panic, this era is the clear leader in terms of raw fear. If they're contacted by Redwing or one of his agents, theris cling to The Meeting like a log in a whirlpool; if they're not, theris must decide how to deal with a command that is as world-shattering to them as The Changes were to ordinary humans. Those humans, meanwhile, are getting flashbacks to a paranoia of helplessness not seen since the "Duck and Cover" days.
Many people try to maintain a semblance of real life in this era -- after all, most adults have some Cold War experience and Mutually Assured Destruction isn't a new idea -- but everyone keeps one ear to the news, wondering just how bad it's going to get. After EventTheExecutiveOrder, troops are back out on the streets (although subtly, as peacekeepers); the U.S. has again ground to a near-halt; and things don't start to thaw until the country steps back from the edge.
@@""<<"" [[EraTheShockSettlesIn Previous Era]] * [[EraSchismAndStalemate Next Era]] "">>""@@
~{{color bg="salmon" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="peachpuff" text=" 3 "}} ''Nation On The Brink'' (1/97)
>> //Wednesday, January 1, 1997 - Thursday, January 9, 1997//
**Starts with:** EventTheFlyby
**Ends with:** EventTheMeeting
Most therianthropes headed into 1997 full of optimism, convinced that they had already weathered the worst of the public opinion roller-coaster ride. They were wrong.
The Flyby, for the first time, undeniably painted theris as the villains. A public that had been willing to let their inner fears be calmed by theris' good deeds suddenly found themselves confronting those fears. Today, 13 in Times Square ... how many tomorrow? Why //hadn't// there been other similar tragedies, and what was stopping more of them from occurring? Suddenly, doomsayers' warnings didn't seem quite so hysterical.
Historians still debate if the worst of it could have been avoided -- if shedding the blood of the Flyby Three might have appeased the public's newfound rage and grief. But many theris, who understandably felt the Three were facing execution over an innocent mistake, weren't about to let that happen. CharacterDennisRedwing was among them, and throwing his star power into their defense nearly crystallized those fears into open conflict.
Redwing started the showdown with his announcement that he would represent the Three to negotiate their surrender if prosecutors would rule out the death penalty. The FBI's detention of Redwing and their threats to charge him as well upped the ante. Redwing's much-publicized escape gave both sides a personal stake. Further escalation then seemed inevitable, but not even pessimistic theris were prepared for EventTheExecutiveOrder. The gauntlet had been thrown.
The order's 72-hour deadline crawled closer, minute by minute. The whole country, and much of the world, watched and waited -- amid fierce debate, and growing speculation as high-profile theris maintained a strict silence.
Ironically, it was largely that silence that turned the terms of the debate around. Mass media, unable to sustain its focus on theri reaction, shifted its gaze to the order itself. The visions of some of the order's most vocal proponents were brought to light -- new spy and police structures to weed out hidden theris from the humans they resembled; "purges"; and other civil-liberties nightmares. That kicked off a legal and political counterattack whose rhetoric became blistering even in theris' absence. Between that and the outing of one or two significant political figures -- emphasizing how deep any enforcement of the order would have to dig -- some began to wonder if this cure wouldn't be worse than the disease.
And so the stage was set for the surprise unveiling of The Meeting and Redwing's declaration of defiance. The combined voice of over a thousand theris and mages gave one response to the relocation order: //No. And if you make us, there will be war.//
EventTheExecutiveOrder
//"[[http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html Things fall apart; the center cannot hold.]]"//
The theme of this era of TTU is of a steep and accelerating spiral toward destruction. The average human or theri is powerless in the face of their leaders' grand designs; those leaders are themselves
powerless in the face of events. Caught in the grip of history, everyone is simply struggling to protect their life and lifestyle.
In true Cold War style -- a not inappropriate comparison, considering that one of the doomsday scenarios discussed in the media was a mage teleporting a nuclear bomb out of the U.S.' arsenal into a major city -- both sides could only escalate the conflict in hopes of finding a threat whose consequences would be too dire to risk. After EventTheMeeting, an equilibrium would finally be reached, but during this era it was far from clear that the titans' clash could be stopped short of deadly force.
While EraDragonInTheStreets may have caused more uncertainty and even panic, this era is the clear leader in terms of raw fear. If they're contacted by Redwing or one of his agents, theris cling to The Meeting like a log in a whirlpool; if they're not, theris must decide how to deal with a command that is as world-shattering to them as The Changes were to ordinary humans. Those humans, meanwhile, are getting flashbacks to a paranoia of helplessness not seen since the "Duck and Cover" days.
Many people try to maintain a semblance of real life in this era -- after all, most adults have some Cold War experience and Mutually Assured Destruction isn't a new idea -- but everyone keeps one ear to the news, wondering just how bad it's going to get. After EventTheExecutiveOrder, troops are back out on the streets (although subtly, as peacekeepers); the U.S. has again ground to a near-halt; and things don't start to thaw until the country steps back from the edge.
Deletions:
@@""<<"" [[EraDragonInTheStreets Previous Era]] * [[EraNationOnTheBrink Next Era]] "">>""@@
~{{color bg="salmon" text=" 2 "}} ''""The Shock Settles In""'' (12/96)
~{{color bg="peachpuff" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
>> //Sunday, December 22, 1996 - Tuesday, December 31, 1996//
**Starts with:** Aftermath of the EventLosAngelesRiots
**Ends with:** EventTheFlyby
If the days immediately after TheChanges were when the world held its collective breath and waited for apocalypse, the remainder of December 1996 was when it started looking around awkwardly, trying to figure out whether to start breathing again.
The initial panic of EventTheFirstSighting has come and gone. Riots in major cities are being quelled and order is starting to return. The world hasn't dissolved, exploded, or played hosts to armies of angels and demons; people are starting to realize that there might just be life after Christmas.
Mages have really started to grasp their new powers. The [[TherianthropeWaves First Wave]] of theris has largely made the change into their new forms. And the news media, expecting vast tragedy, is coming up empty. Despite the human world's fears, the new forces shaping the world have yet to do anything truly ominous -- and, in fact, seem to be doing their best to keep events from spinning out of control.
It's still an unsettled and frightening time, for theris and humans alike, but people are starting to look to the future again.
