Age of Hedonism

> *"You've a hundred years to enjoy yourself."*
>
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The Age of Hedonism was a millennia-long period that marked the general devolution of Human life, as well as the eruption of many, devastating conflicts. Earth's population was predominantly neutered into a state of near-constant quest for pleasure through the scheming of a small, ruling elite. Said elite employed, over the span of its existence, the use of recreational drugs, the manipulation of politics as well as the undoing of many social laws in order to nestle within mankind an addiction to sloth, lust and depravity. Social norms were thus broken and cast aside for the sake of diverse originality, and entire constitutions were founded upon the basis of mankind's indefinite quest for pleasure. Self worth was measured through one's fit into the masses, and all religions were shoved aside for the sake of atheism and the worship of oneself. Individualism was shunned unless brought upon by the elite, in the form of a consumerist addition upon the pile of degeneracy already assembled. The Age of Hedonism ended through the efforts of Markus Leonhardt, and after the birth of Solaria. The Age of Hedonism is also commonly regarded as a lesson to Solaria's children, as well as a warning; such an Age shall return must one stray from Leonhardt's teachings, as well as the worship of the Perfect Man.

## Culture

During the Age of Hedonism, Humanity was understandably focused on the prolongation of its lifespan as well as the furthering of pleasure to great extents. Newborns were immediately fitted with cybernetic enhancements as per the desire of their parents and laced with hormones to hasten the arrival of puberty. Sexualisation was total and merciless; even the young were subjected to it, as the age of consent was considerably lowered. The use of cybernetical enhancements lowered drastically the likelihood of overdose, and thus was the use of drugs and alcohol prominent and near constant. Technology was entirely at the mercy of mankind's quest for pleasure, and served only to enhance it. As such, the making of fleshly androids was paramount to the maintaining of society's craving for flesh. The internet, on the other hand, further intensified one's cravings through intrusive and constant advertisement. Slavery was common, for the enterprises that manufactured the means to human pleasure were reliant on the trading of human beings for the sustaining of their industries without the need to overly spend. Greed was promoted, and considered normal. Those too abstract or "pure" were ostracised and left aside. The elites, on the other hand, enjoyed relatively normal lives; they were keenly aware of the dangers of humanity's lifestyle though understood its importance for the control of the masses. Nature was overlooked and replaced with Virtual Reality, and Earth's landscape was one of smog, dust, neon and noise.

## Fall

The proselytising of Leonhardt proved both shocking and revolutionary to humanity, which nevertheless was slow to accept it. However, as the truth of humankind's situation became apparent, and when the contrast between the common life and that of the elites was finally revealed, the Age of Hedonism found a quick, yet hardly quiet end. The struggle for freedom was rough, bloody, perilous and long; it took a millennia of toiling to undo the damages of Hedonism. However, the worship of the Perfect Man as well as the concept of Solaria quickly filled up the void left behind the extinguished age. The Age of Hedonism's use of technology, and its overindulgence in cybernetic enhancements left an understandable, lingering disgust in the newfound Solarian society, which shunned such practices after their passing. As a result, it is considered taboo to don oneself overly with cybernetic enhancements. The use of fleshly, humanlike androids is also frowned upon.