Lonely Parallel Guides - Edelseus Prime

Overview

Edelseus Prime hosts a world where there are no longer any flesh and blood humans, except for visitors. For over a thousand years no atomic humans have been born in the biological sense and the world population has remained stable at about 100 million.

Edelseuns are able to live without any kind of sustenance for long periods, but have designed their bodies to be able to use food and water for power, and to replace damaged parts. Most Edelseuns are also designed to take pleasure from food, drink and sex. Indeed, most Edelseuns are designed to feel discomfort similar to that of their flesh and blood antecedents if they do not eat and drink regularly. They consider the preparation and eating of food to be high art and those who know Edelseuns praise their hospitality. Edelseuns sleep for 4 hours out of 24 to allow their bodies to repair and maintain themselves. They can go for up to a week without sleep but behave increasingly erratically if forced to stay awake longer.

Edelseuns are peaceful (except when threatened) and enjoy long life, high culture and an innate curiosity about the greater Universe which lends itself to science and exploration.

Culturally Edelseuns particularly enjoy live theatre, comedy and dramatic fiction. The pursuit of science and new entertainment is the main reason for their travels to other parallels.

Even though Edelseuns are no longer flesh and blood they still consider themselves spiritual and their belief system has many parallels with Buddhism and the K’afamjadali “keyis aan do’chra".

They have no colonies on other levels of the metaverse, but they do maintain embassies or diplomatic missions within each parallel of the CoA, on K’afamjadali Lal’a, Éire Nua, Nya Sverige, the NKN, . Many Edelseuns live in the CoA, the twin worlds of the K’afamjadali and many other parallels where their bodies are usually designed to fit in with the local population. Conversely, many humanoids from different parallels have had their consciousnesses downloaded into Edelseun bodies.

Edelseuns in the CoA often join the Royal Albion Scouts where their ability to blend in fully allows them to immerse themselves in new cultures. Locally adapted K’afamjadali Edelseuns are often employed as teachers in Linklentyvar’ag.

Edelseuns travel widely in their own universe and have perfected FTL travel which allows them to explore their version of the local galaxy. Edelseun colonies do exist on other planets in their own universe and individuals are often adapted to local conditions. They have made contact with many alien races, some advanced and some primitive. Again some Edelseuns have adapted themselves to fit in with the alien cultures where it is considered acceptable to do so.

Individual Edelseuns do “die”, either due to accidents or by choosing self termination and then new individuals are made. These “newborns” are born into adult bodies with certain “instincts” programmed in. They then live with and are taught and raised by adult Edelseuns for about 10 years before they are considered to be adults.

There are about 1.2 million young Edelseuns. Many of them choose to spend time away from their homeworld and travel the metaverse or through their own galaxy in their FTL ships. Some have their bodies redesigned to be able to fit into the cultures and races in the parallels that they visit.

A new type of Edelseun is currently appearing – one which can reshape its body at will. They are very few as they were only developed in the last 100 years. Some of the older Edelseuns are now having themselves downloaded into these new “Shifter” bodies.

As Edelseuns are basically machines with human consciousnesses they can be reprogrammed, but this is only done to Edelseuns who have committed serious crimes. Edelseuns feel very uncomfortable with the idea of reprogramming as they feel it would be a loss of self.

Edelseuns also consider themselves to be individuals and do not communicate with each other in ways not done by their human ancestors, except in very close relationships or in emergencies when they can communicate by radio. Calling another Edelseun by radio (except in an emergency) is considered extremely rude. 

Edelseus Prime is not a member of the CoA but does enjoy friendly relations with it. Edelseuns are allowed free movement through the Commonwealth. In return CoA citizens are allowed to freely travel in Edelseus Prime, and if they wish, they can travel to the off-world colonies.

Edelseus Prime is considered the holiday destination of choice by many of the Albian parallels. Travellers enjoy the Edelseun food, hospitality and the Edelseun free spirit.


Not to be Missed
Edelseus Prime is as beautiful and as varied as any of the other known parallels. The low Edelseun population has left most of their planet unspoiled and full of wildlife. What is different on Edelseus Prime is their version of Australia known as Mateldaar where the Australian megafauna still exist. There are only 11 cities on Mateldaar which serve primarily as tourist bases or as scientific research outposts. The regional capital is Walalandar on the south-east coast and is where most tourists and visitors arrive.
The Mateldaar Tourist Board 0111 375 50001 (web and phone) has offices in all towns and representatives in most of the major camps where tours and accommodation can be organised.
Macquarie Megafauna 0111 050 43210 (web and phone) are specialists in organising Big 5 Bush Trips to see the Giant Wombat, Bush Tiger, Thunder Goose, Giant Goanna and the Quinkana.

Lonely Parallel Guides - Henry Tudor

Henry Tudor 

HT1 - Henry Tudor
Parallel Name Henry Tudor
Demonym: Henries
Capital City: London (of the United Kingdom)
Knowledge of the Metaverse: No
 

Overview
 No-one can doubt that Albians have a fascination for the sister parallel that we know as Henry Tudor. A schoolchild on any of the 7 colony parallels can tell you that Arthur Tudor was the most significant monarch in Albian history. St Arthur's foresight led to the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, the founding of the Commonwealth of Albion and the 7 worlds we see around us today. Henry Tudor, Arthur's younger brother was the turning point for this parallel which, even after 500 years of separate history, has so many similarities and echoes of our Albion. Unlike Old Albion, Henry Tudor became Henry VIII instead of pope and saint after his death. He married 6 times, had 4 acknowledged children and created the Church of England which has many similarities to our own Church of Albion - both being born out of a schism between British royalty and catholic Rome.

Without St Arthur's guiding hand the parallel of Henry Tudor was much slower to develop and the Henries of today are about 200 years behind the CoA technologically. They have only relatively recently visited the moon and are yet to organise a manned mission to Mars. They do, however, have a strong theoretical physics field which may soon lead them to their own discovery of Alternity.

The United Kingdom is much more heavily populated than in any version in the CoA. Initially the British did have space to expand thanks to the Empire. but there is little left today of the Empire apart from the islands and small pieces of land that form the British Overseas Territories. There is a remnant too of the British in the Commonwealth of Nations which was once the British Commonwealth. In truth there is little that is British in this commonwealth other than history, a shared culture and trading links. Although the British monarch is also the head of state of 16 "Commonwealth Realms" they are actually entirely separate nations. This may seem to echo our own CoA but there is no free movement of people amongst the realms and the monarch rarely visits - unlike our own dear Queen Savitri who at the time of writing has almost completed two Royal Rounds. 
However, the British Empire does have a lasting effect on the United Kingdom which can still be seen today in the diversity of its people which gives London most of all its cosmopolitan air and colourful vitality.

Travel
All public travel to Henry Tudor can only arranged under the tightly controlled guidance and leadership of the Royal Parallel Scouts. Tour groups are rare and it is only generally educational and scientific establishments that are allowed to visit.

Voyages D'Albion - The Royal Parallel Scouts maintain a travel company in Cherbourg-Octeville in Henry France called Voyages D'Albion. This is where all Albian travel on Henry starts and ends, unless you are a member of the Paras. The undercover Para personnel of Voyages D'Albion arrange all travel documents, accommodation and transport to the United Kingdom, Europe.and worldwide.

Travel Warnings
The climate of Henry Tudor is similar to that of New Albion although you may find that the air can sometimes be smoggy in the larger cities. Henries are still heavy users of fossil-fuelled internal combustion engines although they are taking steps towards electric engines. Be aware that if you have a history of asthma or allergies you should have been immunised with the standard universal treatments, otherwise you may find yourself suffering in the polluted Henry air.

Pubs and restaurants are much more pleasant now that tobacco smoking has been banned in many countries, but you may still find groups of determined smokers by the doors of these establishments as they have been forced outside.

Not to be MIssed
It would be an exercise in futility to list all the things that must be seen on Henry Tudor, but most Albions would be completely fascinated with the Henry version of London. The Mother City here is every bit as interesting and historic as the versions on New Albion and other parallels. The Tower of London is as good as the version on New Albion and, given the alternate history, it is fascinating. Buckingham Palace as the home of the current Henry monarch is not to be missed and can be visited in the summer months.

Winchester is a smaller city on Henry Tudor but this in some ways better suits the magnificent cathedral. However, it can seem odd being in a Winchester without the dreaming spires and the many students and lecturers on foot and bicycle from the Royal Tudor College.

Edinburgh is as stunning a city here as it is on any other parallel. Edinburgh Castle is beautifully maintained but lacks the outer defence walls and gardens built on Old Albion.

Columbia on this parallel is a trip all by itself. The United States of America is huge country that exists on few other parallels and here on Henry Tudor it has a huge impact culturally, economically and militarily. It isn't difficult for Albian tourists to pass unnoticed here as few Americans have any real idea of the world beyond their own borders, and none have have any idea of Alternity (except in theoretical physics).

Henry Europe is a wonderful place to explore if you are given the opportunity. On this parallel many European nations had empires in their own right and this has created a continent that is a cultural and racial melting pot.