“[This option will become the True Ending only if someone suggests it in the comments before the previous ending is posted tomorrow. Otherwise, the first ending is the True one.]”
I’m not sure I understand what you mean. If no one chooses (2) does that mean that the (True) story ends with the Confessor stunning the Lord Pilot? …or does it continue after he’s stunned? …or have I gotten it all wrong?
Are the storylines like these:
(END)
(END)
or
(END)
(END)
“Carl—I’m pretty sure either way we get three more chapters.”
Yes, but I was more worried that we’d only get three more chapters...;-)
Anyway, another reason that the confessor should interfere in this process is because they are awful at bargaining. If they follow through with the deal they will be (initially) seriously depressed about having to kill their own children, there’s the risk of war or oppression of those who do not want to be augmented, and what to they get in return from the happies?
“We are willing to change to desire pleasure obtained in more complex ways, so long as the total amount of our pleasure does not significantly decrease. We will learn to create art you find pleasing. We will acquire a sense of humor, though we will not lie. From the perspective of humankind and the Babyeaters, our civilization will obtain much utility in your sight, which it did not previously possess. This is the compensation we offer you.”
I don’t see the value in this; if one wants more entertaining art and jokes, why not simply accept the augmentation and come up with them yourselves?