The eventual demise of the last Epoch of Bipeds.
Current theory propounds that Humanoids reached a level of overpopulation in 2005 that became ecologically unsustainable. This unsustainability was further exacerbated by the actions of a minority of the Humanoids who formed a dominant Mono Culture. In what is still an inexplicable phenomenon these ruling Humanoids appear to be the least suitable of all to rule, as all studies to date have ascertained that they were the fattest, most degenerate and by in large, possessed of a Hive Minded type mental process. Despite these obvious setbacks they were able to exercise considerable power and influence.
HuMan behaviour at this time is at its most bizarre. We can only hazard a guess at the meaning behind their strange rituals, obsession with reproductive process and highly self indulgent, destructive and debauch lifestyles.
It is around this time that a previously domesticated creature that had once acted as servant to the HuMan (in some instances developing as far as a strange interbreed surrogate ‘child’) began to evolve rapidly, most likely as a result of an overly abundant High Protein diet. This canine creature, within remarkably few generations, developed into a far larger version than its domestic counterpart. From the footage that we have been able to repair it appears as though these creatures, after escaping the confines of their domestic incarceration developed appetites with voracity hitherto unforseen. Natural hunters and far more adept at surviving in the natural environment than their previous Masters, the Canines (quick reproducers with an efficient courtship system) soon became populous in epidemic proportions.
It was only a matter of time before the supplies of edible herbivores were eaten into extinction. As the Bipeds had previously killed off the major varieties of carnivorous animal in activities known as ‘Sport’ there were no natural predators of the Canine to regulate population growth. It was during a food shortage crisis that the Canines first collectively turned their attention on the as of yet untapped food source. In what our predecessors would have termed ‘Irony’ the very culture that had previously worshipped the Canine proved to be a ready and easily accessible food stock. As previously discussed these particular Humanoids were porcine, dim witted and generally herd like and thus had little chance of survival. It has been espoused that by this time they had become so Fat that they were actually unable to Run Away and too Large to hide with any degree of success under the Table.
In a matter of years Canines had eaten all but a moderate proportion of the Humanoids which they kept alive as servile creatures. These Bipeds were prized by their Canine Over Lords for their opposable thumbs and manual dexterity. Previous attempts to cross breed the two species had proved unsuccessful so the small colony was maintained with some bred for food, others for work purposes.
The working life of a Humanoid was short and generally devoid of meaning or fulfilment. The personal recordings and documents kept by these Bipeds are rare and were usually hidden as it appears that the Canines would habitually ‘Eat Their Home Work’.
Each day would begin by being ‘Rounded Up’ and ‘Herded’ to their respective Work Stations. Humanoids would be sent to do various low skilled manual labour tasks such as Sewage Collection and Disposal, Canine Hair Grooming and the repetitive Throwing of Sticks. Though the work was generally degrading and humiliating, Humanoids lived in fear of no longer being Useful, at which point they would either be ‘Put Down’ or just eaten.
Canines started breeding their own HuMans for leisure purposes, and would find much amusement in racing them, watching them fight to the death or forcing them to sit still for specified purposes of time. Though publicly rejected as indecent by the ruling elite it is also thought that some Canines may have also used Bipeds for sexual gratification and engaged in a frottage like activity.
Whilst living in such highly demoralising conditions, HuMans continued to exist as a species for another two centuries or so. Within two generations most of the complexities of their ancient language died out, as did any really recognisable culture. Despite being possessed of vocal chords capable of multifaceted sound the linguistic output of the species became limited to guttural grunting sounds and high pitched whining. Regardless of being biped in design younger generations progressively became more inclined to crawl about on the floor. Where they had once been highly ineffective at gathering even the most basic food, quite a number developed proficiency for catching small rodents. Thus the final age of the Humanoids had seen a de-evolution of sorts, from taller, almost hairless bipeds into small, hunched creatures who habitually crawled, howled, ate rats and expressed themselves with violence.
It is thought that at some time around 2300 the Canine regime had become somewhat more lax and corrupt than after the initial assertion of power and the cataclysmic frenzy of Feeding on the ancient Humanoids. While there is little conclusive evidence either way it is thought that serious infighting and pack wars amongst the ruling elite had led to a break down in Canine Society. Routine had been broken and some of the more opportune and sentient Humanoids now known in academic circles as the SharpTeeth (such had they developed from hunting and eating rats) escaped into the surrounding ancient Metropolis.
Following their food source the SharpTeeth found their way into the complex underground serious of interconnecting tunnels that it is thought had previously served as the ancient Humanoid waste disposal system. Having evolved into much larger creatures, the Canines were now far too bulky to fit into the little round gateways into these mazes and had thus far declined to mark the area as their territory.
Within a very short span of absence the Canines forgot all about the missing Humanoids, mostly assuming that at some point someone had eaten more than their share (which only further inflamed the Tensions). Unmolested in their underground sanctuary and with a ready supply of rats to eat the SharpTeeth showed signs of flourishing in ways unexperienced by HuMans for the better part of three hundred years.
While it cannot be said that they developed a discernable Culture comparable to the cultures of their distant predecessors (so rudimentary and uncouth were the SharpTeeth), little by little they established a Way of Life. As eating or being eaten became less of an issue than in the past, the SharpTeeth enjoyed a certain sense of security (although still precarious as the complex tunnel system was prone to flooding or collapsing) and a new found sense of freedom. In relative darkness for the majority of their time, the SharpTeeth became paler, more slender, and possessed of larger eyes than the remaining land dwelling Humanoids. The cramped conditions meant they were forced to crawl more often than walk and so soon enough a generation was born that had yet to stand upright and having no real reason to, never learnt to straighten their backs or walk on two legs.
All the while on the surface, Canines continued their habits of Breeding, Eating and Chasing Sticks, albeit in a more haphazard manner and with frequent interludes of fighting and increasingly more public displays of the frottage mentioned earlier. Their purpose bred Humanoids continued their sorry existence as slaves and food source, however on occasion a Canine might consider taking one as a companion for a time before eating it, though this practice was generally regarded as somehow immoral as Humanoids were widely believed to be Dirty and harbouring all kinds of diseases. The strict pack life ethos had however clearly and irrevocably diminished, reflected in a lack of discipline and the development of highly antisocial behaviour.
As their eyes became gradually accustomed to the low light levels, the SharpTeeth began to be able to more clearly discern the world which they now inhabited. Sections of the tunnel system led to large cavern like spaces and other networks of warrens that were much larger than the ones they inhabited and constructed out of entirely different materials. At first these tunnels were avoided out of fear of the Canines but in time the SharpTeeth realised that the Canines had become lazy and indolent and were unlikely to disturb these strange burrows.
Initially as a means of gathering material to create shelter from the cold, as SharpTeeth did not grow a sufficient pelt to keep warm in the cooler months, and then out of boredom and a burgeoning sense of curiosity, young SharpTeeth began foraging further and further into the various tunnel networks, often returning to their homes with peculiar and inexplicable items uncovered in their explorations. In the first instances of abstract thinking in some centuries, SharpTeeth would struggle in their proselytising over the nature and meaning of these foreign objects. So far none had proved edible though some did prove useful for hitting others with or for cracking open rat skulls to expose the soft little grey nut inside that was highly prized by SharpTeeth for its taste and texture.
On the surface, a peculiar trend was emerging amongst the more delinquent of the Canines. Previously Canines would kill and eat Humanoids as their appetites dictated, preferring their meat fresh and warm. Some of the less rigorous Canines with neither the inclination nor the motivation to obtain their own meat would later skulk back to the scene of a Kill and eat the scraps and left overs. In what seems to be a further development these aberrant Canines appeared to bury the left overs secretly to pick over later.
After one particularly hot summer there were a series of notably strange occurrences. Some of the Canines began exhibiting very anomalous behaviour which was first interpreted as a sign of sickness. The Sickness took on the form of a series of recognisable symptoms; including staggering, drooling (more so than normal), a tendency to emit high pitched yelping sounds and it was secretly rumoured, distorted vision and strange dreams. It was not long before it was realised that these cases were experienced after ingesting rotten, fermented flesh.
Though officially Canines denounced the practice of eating rotten flesh, secretly many of them sampled it. The day time hours became strangely quiet and abandoned as ever more Canines slept off long nights of illicit behaviour. In such haste to procure more of this strange meat for the rampant demand that developed, Humanoids were slaughtered and buried in huge quantities. The bleary eyed Canines, single minded in their craving, neglected to take notice of the dwindling supply of Bipeds.
Oblivious to the devastation going on back on the surface, SharpTeeth continued to forage for curious items and slowly began developing concepts that could deal with ideas outside the necessary realms of eating, breeding and brutality. It was readily apparent that the Objects were not edible or from something that was edible, nor were they rocks. It was also clear that they had not been made by Canines as those SharpTeeth that had survived long enough remembered that the Canines were generally quite Orally Fixated yet lacked fine motor skills, and thus were unlikely to have chewed things into the shapes that were laid out before them.
As to be expected these Objects became the subject of much argument and the cause of many brawls. Obsession with finding new Objects was matched only by the hours spent closely examining them, licking and biting the different surfaces, discovering new ways to kill rats with them and on rare occasions, pondering the very essence of what these Objects actually were.
The sun continued to shine and the seasons to turn though this barely registered with the now decrepit, ravenous and increasingly more insane Canines. Almost all the HuMans had been eaten or were buried and fermenting, those few that were still alive were subject to whatever abuses the Canines could be bothered to inflict in their dwindling moments of lucidity. In the grip of an interminable addiction Canines also faced the end of their food source. Though it has not been determined when this behaviour first started, it became evident that the more desperate began engaging in cannibalistic practices.
It had always been known that when a rat was killed the liquid inside would leave stains. SharpTeeth had this liquid in them as well and at times cuts would make it come out, though this usually ended badly and was generally avoided where possible. Rat killing on the other hand was an acceptable every day occurrence, which then became more than once a day and quite soon, especially with the help of all the hard and sharp Objects they were finding became somewhat of a recreational activity. It was noticed after a while that when the liquid was still wet on one’s hands, it could make marks and stains on things. In what seems to have been an explosion in mental progress, SharpTeeth splashed, smeared, stained and sprayed rat blood on to every available surface in increasingly more intricate and precise patterns and formations.
Shapes and patterns emerged, as did an increasing awareness to accompany this new expression. It is some time around this period that SharpTeeth realised something familiar in the shape making, some flicker of recognition. In collective epiphany the SharpTeeth realised that Objects had often been found in the past near walls that had borne their own mysterious blood marks. Legend has it that in that critical moment, without making sound, they put down the rat carcasses, wiped off some of the excess that was staining their faces and crawled with unnatural solemnity to a certain cavern, that all knew contained a certain wall, which held in its centre a certain special blood mark that was suddenly very clear.
