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Here's a short guide on writing inside the Canmephian/Throng story "realm". (We can't really say "universe" because this is sci-fi and it can span physical universes)

Basic writing style

Most of the time, you are writing normally, but with added emphasis on context.

Many characters are multi-headed and not conjoined -- one personality controlling those heads. If they show different aspects of the personality is dependent on the character itself: the rule is they don't unless the character is described as having that quirk. The only formatting quirk is the use of italics when the character is speaking from two or more heads at the same time (as a choir).

On top of that, if you write stories that involve Mari and/or the GOLDnet (using Colored Tinted Eyewear, or CTE visors), you will need to use italics along with indicating that it's through GOLDnet. Anyone who is datasighted (see below) will also use some Unicode glyphs when talking over GOLDnet. Color is optional and should use "styles" to help with publishing. Long conversations are indented:

Terminology

sophont

an intelligent person with full rights and legal obligations of any species.

artificial intelligence

a term for a machine/computer intelligence. In the 21st century it was abused to mean any simulation of intelligence, not actual intelligence.

AIEEE

Artificial Intelligence Emulation/Emulation/Extrapolation. Using a predictive language system instead of a mind emulation system.

synthetic intelligence

an AI that is not self-aware nor at the level of sentience on-par with everyone in society.

steel born intelligence

an AI who is self aware and who's level of sentience is on-par with everyone in society. Legally they are a sophont.

converted intelligence

the AI came from a person who wasn't a synth.

synth

short for "synthetic sophont". Inorganic body construction. Strangely enough, friend shaped.

herm

short for "hermaphrodite", what the US National Institute of Health says is "ovitesticular". This term was abused in the 21st century and has been re-appropriated back to it's original term.

Overall themes used

1. This is a furry and sci-fi realm as a whole.
2. It's the 26th century. Unfortunately, not much has changed.
3. There are anthros and humans. If they're sentient, they're called "sophonts" or "people".
4. Non-anthro versions of anthros are not sentient. So yes, you can have an actual pet in the normal sense.
   1. No, animal abuse laws still apply.
5. There is a lot of body autonomy going around. This includes having a "multiplied" body. This has slowly been accepted by society, but there are still "pockets of resistance."
6. There are five main genetic sexes: male, female, hermaphrodite (herm, aka ovitesticular), neuter, and intersex ("catch-all genetic sex").
   1. Yes, genetic sex is a range. Even the US National Institute of Health says so. It's science. Get over it.
   2. Yes, neuter (no sex) is a genetic sex.
7. Genetic sex is changeable. Finally.
8. Gender (and it's expression) is separate from genetic sex. This includes males with breasts.
9. Certain species do not exist in anthro form, namely for functional and quality of life reasons.
10. Other species do exist but are limited to one genetic sex due to evolution.
11. Magic "exists" as very high technology.
12. The world was barely hanging on before Canmephians came to Earth, with long periods of stagnation caused by political and religious upheaval.
13. There were alien abductions before the Canmephian-Terran contact point.
    1. Canmephians name Earthlings "Terrans" and the solar system "Sol". Earth is "Sol 3". They still get confused with "Earth", "Sun", and "Earthling".
14. Canmephians were able to peacefully establish a presence and an embassy near Washington, DC (turning College Park Airport in College Park, MD into a spaceport)
15. Canmephians were able to negotiate a rather expansive treaty, the Canmephian-Terranian Treaty, which imposes basic rights and responsibilities on all subject to the treaty.
16. ...in other words, the Canmephians, by shocking the system, broke Earth out from an endless cycle.

Species quirks

Species that are not anthro and not sentient

• Feed stock, such as cows, pigs, sheep, etc. Basically, if it's grown for food or clothing, it's kept non-anthro/non-sentient. (Imagine a female cow being stuck as a milk producer)
  • On the flip side, anthro versions are rare and are dying out naturally.
  • Anthro female cows are four breasted, no utter (because those are breasts)
• Insects, for similar reasons
• Huge aquadic mammals (ie whales, dolphins, and similar).
  • Exception: Sharks evolved for both land and sea. The popular belief is because of bar-be-que and how tasty it is.

Species with genetic limitations or other quirks

• Herm only
  • Hyenas. They evolved that way. Regular male/female hyenas have died out.
• Leans hermaphrodite heavy
  • Sharks of all species.

Places in the realm

Atlantis

In this realm, Atlantis didn't sink, but was so high tech that it flung itself into a different dimension. This is explored in the Throng books.

Metroberg, California, USA

Metroberg, CA is located at Grass Lake near Deer Mountain, along US 97 and the Amtrak Coastal Starlight line. It has an elevated ring road, good bus and light rail transit systems, and good walkable infrastructure.

Transylvanian Polygnostic University (TPU)

Doubly fictional. It is used as a cover for some characters in the Throng books. TPU comes from Phil & Kaja Folio's Girl Genius web comic.

GOLDnet communications and other languages

Japanese translations should be surrounded by Unicode brackets ❬ like this text ❭.

If a character is a synth or otherwise "data sighted", they also use bracketed text with Unicode glyphs for GOLDnet communications. This helps identify them in blocks of indented text. Characters who are not "data sighted" use plain italic text for GOLDnet communications. Remember to set context first!

Reserved glyphs

For consistency, various characters have certain glyphs reserved. Glyphs should exist in the Noto Sans Symbols 2 and Noto Sans Math fonts:

⌜ Mari ⌟		231C	231F
« Saff  »		00AB	00BB
⧚ Braker ⧛		29DA	29DB	
◁ Vox ▷			25C1	25B7	
◸ Drake ◿		25F8	25FF
∴ RedWolf ∵		2234	2235
‡ Jess ‡		2021
⹋ Layla ⹋		2E4B			
⸍ Jamie ⸝		2E0D	2E1D	
◊ Sidney ◊		25CA