Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
The Practice War [Complete]
- Thread starter Snowfire
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
Look on the upside, the people reading your quest are happier when the Dice turn out in their favor!Shut. Up.
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Given that my dice have broken suspension of disbelief for some of you, I'm not quite sure that's true.
- Location
- Germany
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Can't win them all - if your average'd been ~35, you'd seen some rage-quits ...
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
That's the problem with d% die rolls - The varience is very high. If you wished to avoid that, as QMs like Imrix have, you'd want to switch to a die system that involves, essentially, more die rolls per action. 2d50, for example, is much less likely to result in either Nat 100 or Nat 2. 3d6 is much less likely to result in either Nat 3/18 (1/216 for either) as compared to d20 and Nat1/Nat20 (1/20 for either).
This might involve exotic dice systems, like |d100-d100|, one which tends towards 0, but occasionally outputing 99s.
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
Of course, perhaps a different method is to prioritize flat bonuses over dice rolls...
But in any case, complaints about dice rolls are an indication of overly significant focus on mechanics, as opposed to the storyline. It's just that high-average dice rolls emphasize a more positive outlook on the storyline (when the players aren't making objectively suboptimal choices, anyway), and not all people like that.
But to quote Rater202 from Spacebattles: Fuck. Tragedy.
But in any case, complaints about dice rolls are an indication of overly significant focus on mechanics, as opposed to the storyline. It's just that high-average dice rolls emphasize a more positive outlook on the storyline (when the players aren't making objectively suboptimal choices, anyway), and not all people like that.
But to quote Rater202 from Spacebattles: Fuck. Tragedy.
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
I've a thought about the Shiplord Tribute Fleets: Namely... how much damage does a species need to inflict in order to not be eliminated? Do they need to destroy a ship? Or does significantly damaging one or a few qualify?
And would further Tribute Fleets destroy a species if they did not sufficiently resist? Could a Species avoid the Shiplords by simply not discovering the First Secret? Are the Shiplord's counters against Secrets, such that a Species with sufficiently advanced nonsecret tech might fend them off without military Secrets?
And would further Tribute Fleets destroy a species if they did not sufficiently resist? Could a Species avoid the Shiplords by simply not discovering the First Secret? Are the Shiplord's counters against Secrets, such that a Species with sufficiently advanced nonsecret tech might fend them off without military Secrets?
Couple points occur to me:
1) Other races have FTL drive ships, or at least their Directives
2) Some Secrets have partial overlap/ share a secondary focus with each other; see the Second and the Sixth.
It's not as flexible as the original; Second Secret biolife is unlikely to be as good at mining as Sixth Secret programmed matter.
Nevertheless, it's something to note. That may well continue in the same pattern; First and Fifth for example.
3) The Fifth Secret involves gravity manipulation, which is one of the theoretical methods for breaking c.
Breaking c is the main focus of First Secret, at least as far as we know.
4) The fluff text of the First Secret states, and I quote: [Only known method of breaking the light barrier]
5) The fungal Old Ones do not seem to use the same forms of travel that the Shiplords and everyone else do:
It sounds more like an Einstein-Rosen bridge. A wormhole.
Gravity manipulation.
Not as flexible as Shiplord War Fleet FTL, but the fact that it seems to be possible at all is instructive.
Make of that what you will.
EDIT
@Snowfire
I assume you are a David Brin fan?
Because it explains certain things that have been tickling my hindbrain, above and beyond the central element of Practice.
1) Other races have FTL drive ships, or at least their Directives
2) Some Secrets have partial overlap/ share a secondary focus with each other; see the Second and the Sixth.
It's not as flexible as the original; Second Secret biolife is unlikely to be as good at mining as Sixth Secret programmed matter.
Nevertheless, it's something to note. That may well continue in the same pattern; First and Fifth for example.
3) The Fifth Secret involves gravity manipulation, which is one of the theoretical methods for breaking c.
Breaking c is the main focus of First Secret, at least as far as we know.
4) The fluff text of the First Secret states, and I quote: [Only known method of breaking the light barrier]
5) The fungal Old Ones do not seem to use the same forms of travel that the Shiplords and everyone else do:
That does not sound like First Secret FTL, which is basically teleportation.
It sounds more like an Einstein-Rosen bridge. A wormhole.
Gravity manipulation.
Not as flexible as Shiplord War Fleet FTL, but the fact that it seems to be possible at all is instructive.
Make of that what you will.
EDIT
@Snowfire
I assume you are a David Brin fan?
Because it explains certain things that have been tickling my hindbrain, above and beyond the central element of Practice.
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Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Let me answer your question...with another question. Do you remember that QM note from the OP?
Why yes, yes I am a Brin fan
The other primary influence of note would have been my getting involved in questing for the very first time ('Til My Last Breath) whilst I was on holiday. This was the result. Certain references made in that thread before it sadly was brought to a close may now make a great deal more sense
Yeah.
I remember the plot of the novel pretty well, and the setting elements.
Including the dragons.
That explains many, many things about the background that seem weirdly familiar.Why yes, yes I am a Brin fan
The other primary influence of note would have been my getting involved in questing for the very first time ('Til My Last Breath) whilst I was on holiday. This was the result. Certain references made in that thread before it sadly was brought to a close may now make a great deal more sense
I won't speculate, for fear of spoiling things for people not so familiar with his work.
Just one thing: Nileans are a Tymbrimi reference, aren't they?
Feel free not to answer
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Just one thing: Nileans are a Tymbrimi reference, aren't they?
Feel free not to answer
Ooh, sorry but no. The only real Brin influence on this is from the Practice Effect
Answer 2 - Circle Life
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
What's it like to be part of a Circle? In truth, I can barely remember what it was like not being part of one. Yes, I stepped away from them in my time as President, but that didn't mean I stopped being part of them. They've grown so much from my first fragile dreams, and are probably the most enduring legacy I'll ever have. To best explain them, however, I'll need to rewind the clock a little. To when I was just a child, trying to reach out and help those around me.
It's a matter of public record that all my siblings survived the Week of Sorrows. It's equally well known at this point that the Hawk family as a unit emerged from the trauma of the Week of Sorrows far less wounded than many others. We sought support from each other, and were truly lucky in our ability to find it. My oldest brother and sister had been given every tool our parents could give them to keep us together, but also self-sustaining. Without that, I never would have had the drive to try and build the first Circle, so in a very real way it's thanks to them. A last gift to us, and eventually the world.
When I first started looking out at the world around me, over a year after the Week of Sorrows, I saw so much pain. But I also saw no true attempts to salve it – the arrogance of childhood in some ways. Yet I did know a way to help, my imperfect understanding of that process aside. I didn't meet with success right away, however. There was arguing, cliquism was used against me more than once, but I'd discovered a stubbornness during my time healing from the Week of Sorrows. That, more than any clever words, saw me through the founding of the First Circle.
You're wondering why the history lesson. Well, the Circles still operate under the same basic structure that I created with my friends and family almost six decades ago. Although they've grown a little larger since then. The Circles are, first and foremost, networks dedicated to helping others. Not psychological support, there were precious few left after the Week of Sorrows anyway, but emotional. So few were as fortunate as my siblings and I, but our shared support brought every one of us through that pain. I tried to apply the same logic. So many people searching for a lost family, that they could never get back. I tried to make a new one, for everyone. And that's what they've remained, to this day.
How does one be part of a family of billions, one might ask. The answer is simple; the same way you'd be part of any other. Although in the early days it wasn't so easy, as the Circles grew it became possible to be part of them without having to know every member. This was good practice for the future, as no one even could now. From that, however, grew the group known as the Heart, of which there are now multiple. They came to act as leaders, arbiters for minor disputes and more as the Circle grew, and the pattern of organisation was extended when we founded more around the other Institutes. During the growth stage, the First Heart had to shoulder considerably more responsibility in support of the newly forming Circles, but that was handed back without incident once they were stable.
The Circles only really began to change daily life after the second wave of Circles were founded, which is when the number of members exploded. Even then, the differences aren't as large as you might think. Members of the Circles are only denoted as such because they form part of the support network open to all. The Circles offer an emotional foundation, an extension of family. We guide, empower and support our members as they confront the challenges of life. The Sorrows taught my generation that the bonds of blood could be ripped away. So we made new ones.
I led the Circles, in as much as that means anything, across forty years before I took the Presidency. I saw them grow and become infinitely more than the small dream of my younger self. And when I sought the Presidency…well. That's a much larger question than we have time for, I think. I can give a much stripped down answer, however.
The Circle and those that followed were designed to be social networks, and they remain those above all. However, that's not all they are. I said guide and empower, and I meant it. The Circles have grown into the very fabric of human existence, most of you here today are probably part of them. That lets us guide our members towards their dreams, or as close to them as they can reach. That was always just another piece of the Circle's social existence, however. And then I ran for President.
Now there are Circle candidates in the elections, even though they don't always win. There's recognition of our existence at the highest levels of power, in a different way to what there was before. It hasn't been codified, it isn't official, but the world changed when I was elected. And the Circles did too, for their part in making it happen. I hope that those changes will be for the good of humanity, that bringing the latent power of the Circles to shape humanity's future fully into the light will enrich us in that transparency. But in the end, that'll be up to all of you.
Make the future what you want it to be. And seek your dreams inside of it. If the Circles are still what I made them, and I think they are, they'll help you make it reality.
- Transcript of Amanda Hawk speaking at a 'townhall' in late 2119, after the election.
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Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Turn 16 is mostly done on the narrative side, and the new options are locked in. But it's also 2 am, so you're not going to be getting it tonight. I'll finish it out tomorrow, and probably post it in the afternoon. This is going to be a much more exciting year!
@justinkal, thank you for the corrections. They are much appreciated.
@justinkal, thank you for the corrections. They are much appreciated.
Turn 16
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Year 17, 2121
It was a different wakeup to last year, but also so very similar. No sister to hammer on your door, or a greater family to pull you from the memories of a life left behind. Yet the same slow waking, watching the sun rise. Despite a year free of the Presidency, you were still an early riser. But then, you'd picked up that habit long before. The biggest difference was that you weren't alone in the room, as had been the case for most of the last six months.
Sitting up to watch the dawn hadn't woken Mary, but that wasn't unusual. She'd always been a far sounder sleeper than yourself. It had made pranks back when you were teenagers so much easier, even if she always got you back. For now, though, you enjoyed the silence. You hadn't been able to do that a year ago, it had been too strange. You liked to think that growth was a good thing. This year was going to be busier than the last, the Restoration of Mytikas was unlikely to allow anything else. And that wasn't the only thing that was going take up time. Although most of them wouldn't interrupt you in the middle of watching the sunrise.
The knocking on your door was far more subdued than Amelie's had been, but no less insistent. Reluctant to move and disturb your friend, you hooked the handle with a wisp of energy bled through from your Aegis, and pulled it open. "Good morning, Iris." A subtle movement forestalled any attempt at diving on top of you, that would undoubtedly wake Mary.
"Moom, Sidra won't let me make breakfast." There was definitely a whine in her quiet tone, but she didn't try to overuse it. "I wanted to make you something for the morning, but they said no!" The last words came out as if it was an affront to the natural order of things. Conveniently ignoring that Iris was…still a work in progress where it came to cookery.
:What was she wanting to make?: You asked soundlessly, and an image of half-cooked pancakes disintegrating in flight appeared suddenly in your mind. :Oh.:
:I thought it better to save the kitchen the trauma.: Sidra remarked dryly, and Iris glared.
"You know I can tell when you're doing that." She muttered, and you laughed gently, reaching out to muss her hair. She muttered something formless and insulting, but didn't pull away. Just like her obsession with blankets, she loved it when you played with her hair. Even if she tried to pretend otherwise. "S'not fair. Other kids don't have to deal with a telepath for a mother."
"Most kids think that their mother can see everything anyway, Iris. You're just in the unfortunate position of having one that comes much closer to that reality." You wriggled towards the edge of the bed, but stopped when Mary's hold tightened. "And I'd be happy to help, but unfortunately, well," you gestured at where her arms had her pinned to your torso.
"Why is mum so sleepy?" Iris asked, eyes sparkling with sudden curiosity. "She wasn't until halfway through last year." Her face crumpled a little. "Is she sick?"
"No Iris," you told her quickly. Your daughter was incredibly intelligent, but sometimes her conclusions seemed to jump several steps in the formative stage. She was also smart enough to create ways to attack threats to her family in a way that very few could match. So you needed to nip this in the bud, and fast. "She isn't sick, I promise. Mary's just…" you trailed off, struggling to find the right words. It was easy to forget that for all her intelligence, Iris still lacked a full grasp of context. She just didn't process information the same way. But she was also far more mature then her body looked.
"She's been having trouble sleeping sometimes, since the Restoration. It's why she was staying here so much before we completed your avatar, and why her room hasn't been getting much use at night." It came out in something of a rush, but the day Iris had data intake problems wasn't one you saw coming soon. She stood there for a moment, thinking, then nodded slowly.
"Is that why she's been looking at flights to Mars in the spring?" Your face paled slightly at the innocent question, but you forced yourself to nod silently. It was the truth, after all.
"Yes. I'll probably be going too." You hadn't realised she'd been looking at making the trip so early, but you'd talk about it. It was…important wasn't a strong enough word.
"Does that mean I'll get to stay with Aunt Amelie?" Iris asked, and you resisted the urge to facepalm. The rest of your family had left the Residence after Christmas, but those still living on Earth had arranged to relocate to the local district. They'd become used to Iris's presence over the year, and aware of how important the childlike AI truly was to you. When you'd finally succeeded in giving her a body, they'd welcomed her into physical existence like family. When they'd left, Ames had told you that if you ever needed it, she'd be more than happy to take care of her. You weren't sure she was fully prepared for the whirlwind that Iris could be, but she'd offered. And after seven kids, she probably had the better grasp on parenting.
"Most likely, yes." You admitted, and Iris nodded. Working on context she might, but this was well within her ability to understand. "It's something that I think the two of us will need to do."
"I understand," she said quietly. "I hope momma will be able to help mum get better." She turned away, and you felt a sudden surge of network use through Sidra's link to the Residence systems. "I'm going to go read, let me know when you get up so you can help me make breakfast, ok?"
"I will." You told her warmly, and she smiled back over her shoulder before padding quietly out of the bedroom. You looked out through the windows as dawn started to give way to day, shards of tiny rainbows blooming through the trees from the dew on their branches. It was beautiful, but you had other responsibilities. Looking down with a sigh, you shook your friend gently. She blinked sleepily, and you gave her another little shake. "Wake up, love." Mary murmured something indistinct, but her eyes opened this time.
"Mandy, why are you waking me up at dawn?" She asked blearily, and you chuckled.
"Iris wants to make pancakes. I thought it best not to let her get impatient." Mary's eyes blinked again, then she gave a small laugh of her own.
"No, I guess that probably wouldn't be the best idea." She yawned, releasing her hold on you to stretch. "Alright, I'll get up." Her eyes met with yours, clearing quickly. "We've got a lot to do today."
The words turned in the air between you, somehow becoming endlessly more serious, and she stilled for a moment as she realised. You only smiled, and nodded once. "Yes, I think we do." Throwing back the covers drew a yelp of surprise from Mary. "But making plans on an empty stomach is probably not the best idea." Ignoring her wrathful glare for removing her from the warm, you skipped away to the shower like a child. "See you downstairs in ten minutes!"
Iris would have heard that, her room was close enough. But after breakfast was done, and she was settled with whatever she wanted to do for the morning, you'd have something else to do.
What would it be?
1 Major Action
[] What Lies Beneath: Your Practiced working with Vega in 2119 unlocked the Elder's Vault completely. There's so much hidden there, more than you could process in a lifetime – and how strange that that wasn't a limitation anymore? Then there are the Unison Platforms, the most powerful examples of Practice ever created. Currently beyond your ability to replicate. That needs to change.
[] Brave New Worlds: Something that Harry mentions, and your own relationship with Iris brings clearly to the fore, are the worlds that humanity has begun to explore, in one case again. The 3rd Revolution is one such world, one of brilliant possibility, but it's undercut by your inability to replicate the creation of the beings that stand at its heart. Vision and Iris are unique, unlike anything humanity has created. To leave them without fellows would be wrong. And then there is the final world; a physical one. Mars. Once the centre of humanity's quest to understand reality itself. Could it be that again?
[] Cities and Circles: The Circles are your greatest and most enduring creation, according to many. Now that you're free of the demands of government, you can finally give them the attention that they deserve again. Amelie is deeply excited by this possibility, and she tells you that every member of the Hearts shares that feeling. You're not quite sure it's so universal, but you aren't going to argue. There's so much that the vast family you started building as a child can do; for themselves, humanity, and you. If Practice can be brought together by focus, they're the perfect place to start.
4 Minor Actions
[] Mother of Circles: Beyond returning to the Circles to learn and teach, there's also the opportunity to simply be part of them again. You never lost your place among them, you simply set it aside for a time. Now you can return to it if you wish, to grow and build.
[] The Spoken Word: Your success in teaching Vega to Speak, for all that you still lack an advanced understanding of the subject, led her to suggest that you begin teaching others. Not everyone is her, but the vast scale that Words act on make this a possibility you can't ignore. Even if only a fraction of the Potentials prove capable of it.
[X] Valkyries: The Two Twenty Three were the only force to emerge from the Second Battle of Sol intact, after facing the most lethal of the FSN's enemies in that fight. They brought down the Medicament, and faced Shiplords in direct combat aboard Calypso. Yet there is much that can still be done to temper the blade of the Unisonbound, and you are part of that weapon. It must not be marred by imperfections.
[] Tinker: Being free of your old role changed many things, but one that didn't was your interest in creating and understanding your own Practiced creations. Two of those remain unknown to you in full, and you finally have the time to study them. You also now have the time to dedicate to creation again. With all your new understanding of Practice. That's going to be interesting. (May be taken multiple times)
*New* [] Avatar: It took a lot of work, but Iris has a body now, forged of Sixth Secret technology so advanced as to be almost beyond you. Yet there's still so much more that could be done to enhance the form created for her. As an infomorph, Iris may be uniquely capable of integrating Sixth Secret technology into her shell. Mary's wanted to upgrade the basic system she designed since it was finished. And if you can't give your daughter an Aegis, you'll give her the next best thing.
*New* [] An Uncertain Grasp: The Lady in Fire Enfolded is a group within the Circles that seems dedicated to confounding you. On the one hand, they believe in you to a degree that is far more than you're comfortable with. On the other, they've refused to jump to conclusions as to your presence on Mars when the Restoration occurred. How to deal with them, and if you even should, is a question that you're not sure there's an answer to. But if there is, you know who to ask.
*New* [] Halls of Olympus: The Mytikas Restoration has changed all the rules of the game, but it's also given you some new options for Arcadia. You know that Adriana has been pushing an expansion of general education facilities, and it would be so easy to suggest that the current Institute constructed for Arcadia be folded into that initiative. The Olympus Colleges were where humanity unlocked the Second Secret, and so much else besides. You're not quite sure how Mary would feel about it, however.
[] Write-in
5 Personal Actions
Child of Sight is locked until such time as it is not. Unison Training is strongly recommended.
[] Powerful Words: Your words have a Practiced strength to them, but that's a cheap thing to say when you have no real understanding of what's involved. In some ways it's exhilarating, being able to draw so easily on the strength of your Focus. But you worry about what could happen if you put Practice behind a wrong word. You need to hone this gift, learn its limits and strengths. [317/???]
[] The Web Between: In 2119 your understanding of the conceptual links that Harmonials can access took a massive leap forward. Yet you're still not able to explain it in ways that others can understand. This will be theoretical work above all else; trying to translate feeling and instinct into something much more concrete. But it needs to be done. [107/???]
[] Unison Training: Training with the entire Two Twenty Three is one thing, but you can get just as much personally out of dedicating time to work with your own small part of it. Vega, Kalilah and you represent three of the organisations most powerful members, and a high level of synchronicity between you will reflect on the rest even without full group training. Of course, combining the two will make that effect much stronger.
[] Harmonic Voice: Vega's Harmonic Circle will be attempting their first group workings this year, but that pressure is far less than she was under as a Minister. After her monumental success in Speaking at the Elder's Vault, continuing to work with her can only benefit you both.
[X] Child of Sight: Some have called Iris your daughter. In this case, the some would not be wrong; you're definitely one of the most important people in the young AI's life. You might not be the expert that Amelie, but the last time you checked, stability was important for children.
[] Blood Ties: Having your family with you for a year was a blessing in many ways, even if it took time for you to properly realise that. They'd moved out of the Residence now, but they were still close enough for you to spend time with if you wanted to. And it being your choice this time might be nice.
[] Restoration: You're adamant that you know how to relax, even if you've only had a year to start practicing again. Your siblings and friends, traitors one and all, aren't entirely willing to believe you. Given how much that disbelief did help you last year, it might be an idea to trust it again. They clearly got something right.
*New* [] Graves Down Memory Lane: Your part in the Mytikas Restoration has remained a secret, but Mary knows the part you played in it. She was born and grew up in that vast city, and with its complete Restoration…her childhood home has also been recovered. She is going to go see it. The only questions are when, and if you'll be travelling with her.
[] Write-in
Please vote by plan. Planmakers, label your plans with the [Plan] tag so that it separates properly.
Answers With Amanda
Each turn, you (the questers) will get the opportunity to vote on a single question to ask Amanda about the world that she lives in, her past, etc. A warning: attempts to ask 'waifu' questions will result in you wasting a question if it wins. I should not need to tell you what classifies as one of those. The response will come in the manner of a reply to a friend, a diary entry, or something along those lines. Do not expect more than a paragraph or two per response (this may be lies). I'm doing this so that you can start learning more about the world if you like, and hear about it from the PoV of Amanda, who will be the primary point of view of the quest from this point onwards.
Rollover write-ins are as follows, more are always welcome.
[] [Answer] How has philosophy progressed since the Week of Sorrows? Nihilism, Existensialism; How have they all changed?
[] [Answer] In the past, humans were mortal - A Greek word that meant 'Doomed to Die'. Much of our culture was influenced and shaped by that one fact…which is no longer true. How has biological immortality changed humanity?
[] [Answer] How has the advent of biological immortality, and then the Week of Sorrows, affected relationships, marriage, and those aspects of society?
[] [Answer] Write-in
It was a different wakeup to last year, but also so very similar. No sister to hammer on your door, or a greater family to pull you from the memories of a life left behind. Yet the same slow waking, watching the sun rise. Despite a year free of the Presidency, you were still an early riser. But then, you'd picked up that habit long before. The biggest difference was that you weren't alone in the room, as had been the case for most of the last six months.
Sitting up to watch the dawn hadn't woken Mary, but that wasn't unusual. She'd always been a far sounder sleeper than yourself. It had made pranks back when you were teenagers so much easier, even if she always got you back. For now, though, you enjoyed the silence. You hadn't been able to do that a year ago, it had been too strange. You liked to think that growth was a good thing. This year was going to be busier than the last, the Restoration of Mytikas was unlikely to allow anything else. And that wasn't the only thing that was going take up time. Although most of them wouldn't interrupt you in the middle of watching the sunrise.
The knocking on your door was far more subdued than Amelie's had been, but no less insistent. Reluctant to move and disturb your friend, you hooked the handle with a wisp of energy bled through from your Aegis, and pulled it open. "Good morning, Iris." A subtle movement forestalled any attempt at diving on top of you, that would undoubtedly wake Mary.
"Moom, Sidra won't let me make breakfast." There was definitely a whine in her quiet tone, but she didn't try to overuse it. "I wanted to make you something for the morning, but they said no!" The last words came out as if it was an affront to the natural order of things. Conveniently ignoring that Iris was…still a work in progress where it came to cookery.
:What was she wanting to make?: You asked soundlessly, and an image of half-cooked pancakes disintegrating in flight appeared suddenly in your mind. :Oh.:
:I thought it better to save the kitchen the trauma.: Sidra remarked dryly, and Iris glared.
"You know I can tell when you're doing that." She muttered, and you laughed gently, reaching out to muss her hair. She muttered something formless and insulting, but didn't pull away. Just like her obsession with blankets, she loved it when you played with her hair. Even if she tried to pretend otherwise. "S'not fair. Other kids don't have to deal with a telepath for a mother."
"Most kids think that their mother can see everything anyway, Iris. You're just in the unfortunate position of having one that comes much closer to that reality." You wriggled towards the edge of the bed, but stopped when Mary's hold tightened. "And I'd be happy to help, but unfortunately, well," you gestured at where her arms had her pinned to your torso.
"Why is mum so sleepy?" Iris asked, eyes sparkling with sudden curiosity. "She wasn't until halfway through last year." Her face crumpled a little. "Is she sick?"
"No Iris," you told her quickly. Your daughter was incredibly intelligent, but sometimes her conclusions seemed to jump several steps in the formative stage. She was also smart enough to create ways to attack threats to her family in a way that very few could match. So you needed to nip this in the bud, and fast. "She isn't sick, I promise. Mary's just…" you trailed off, struggling to find the right words. It was easy to forget that for all her intelligence, Iris still lacked a full grasp of context. She just didn't process information the same way. But she was also far more mature then her body looked.
"She's been having trouble sleeping sometimes, since the Restoration. It's why she was staying here so much before we completed your avatar, and why her room hasn't been getting much use at night." It came out in something of a rush, but the day Iris had data intake problems wasn't one you saw coming soon. She stood there for a moment, thinking, then nodded slowly.
"Is that why she's been looking at flights to Mars in the spring?" Your face paled slightly at the innocent question, but you forced yourself to nod silently. It was the truth, after all.
"Yes. I'll probably be going too." You hadn't realised she'd been looking at making the trip so early, but you'd talk about it. It was…important wasn't a strong enough word.
"Does that mean I'll get to stay with Aunt Amelie?" Iris asked, and you resisted the urge to facepalm. The rest of your family had left the Residence after Christmas, but those still living on Earth had arranged to relocate to the local district. They'd become used to Iris's presence over the year, and aware of how important the childlike AI truly was to you. When you'd finally succeeded in giving her a body, they'd welcomed her into physical existence like family. When they'd left, Ames had told you that if you ever needed it, she'd be more than happy to take care of her. You weren't sure she was fully prepared for the whirlwind that Iris could be, but she'd offered. And after seven kids, she probably had the better grasp on parenting.
"Most likely, yes." You admitted, and Iris nodded. Working on context she might, but this was well within her ability to understand. "It's something that I think the two of us will need to do."
"I understand," she said quietly. "I hope momma will be able to help mum get better." She turned away, and you felt a sudden surge of network use through Sidra's link to the Residence systems. "I'm going to go read, let me know when you get up so you can help me make breakfast, ok?"
"I will." You told her warmly, and she smiled back over her shoulder before padding quietly out of the bedroom. You looked out through the windows as dawn started to give way to day, shards of tiny rainbows blooming through the trees from the dew on their branches. It was beautiful, but you had other responsibilities. Looking down with a sigh, you shook your friend gently. She blinked sleepily, and you gave her another little shake. "Wake up, love." Mary murmured something indistinct, but her eyes opened this time.
"Mandy, why are you waking me up at dawn?" She asked blearily, and you chuckled.
"Iris wants to make pancakes. I thought it best not to let her get impatient." Mary's eyes blinked again, then she gave a small laugh of her own.
"No, I guess that probably wouldn't be the best idea." She yawned, releasing her hold on you to stretch. "Alright, I'll get up." Her eyes met with yours, clearing quickly. "We've got a lot to do today."
The words turned in the air between you, somehow becoming endlessly more serious, and she stilled for a moment as she realised. You only smiled, and nodded once. "Yes, I think we do." Throwing back the covers drew a yelp of surprise from Mary. "But making plans on an empty stomach is probably not the best idea." Ignoring her wrathful glare for removing her from the warm, you skipped away to the shower like a child. "See you downstairs in ten minutes!"
Iris would have heard that, her room was close enough. But after breakfast was done, and she was settled with whatever she wanted to do for the morning, you'd have something else to do.
What would it be?
1 Major Action
[] What Lies Beneath: Your Practiced working with Vega in 2119 unlocked the Elder's Vault completely. There's so much hidden there, more than you could process in a lifetime – and how strange that that wasn't a limitation anymore? Then there are the Unison Platforms, the most powerful examples of Practice ever created. Currently beyond your ability to replicate. That needs to change.
[] Brave New Worlds: Something that Harry mentions, and your own relationship with Iris brings clearly to the fore, are the worlds that humanity has begun to explore, in one case again. The 3rd Revolution is one such world, one of brilliant possibility, but it's undercut by your inability to replicate the creation of the beings that stand at its heart. Vision and Iris are unique, unlike anything humanity has created. To leave them without fellows would be wrong. And then there is the final world; a physical one. Mars. Once the centre of humanity's quest to understand reality itself. Could it be that again?
[] Cities and Circles: The Circles are your greatest and most enduring creation, according to many. Now that you're free of the demands of government, you can finally give them the attention that they deserve again. Amelie is deeply excited by this possibility, and she tells you that every member of the Hearts shares that feeling. You're not quite sure it's so universal, but you aren't going to argue. There's so much that the vast family you started building as a child can do; for themselves, humanity, and you. If Practice can be brought together by focus, they're the perfect place to start.
4 Minor Actions
[] Mother of Circles: Beyond returning to the Circles to learn and teach, there's also the opportunity to simply be part of them again. You never lost your place among them, you simply set it aside for a time. Now you can return to it if you wish, to grow and build.
[] The Spoken Word: Your success in teaching Vega to Speak, for all that you still lack an advanced understanding of the subject, led her to suggest that you begin teaching others. Not everyone is her, but the vast scale that Words act on make this a possibility you can't ignore. Even if only a fraction of the Potentials prove capable of it.
[X] Valkyries: The Two Twenty Three were the only force to emerge from the Second Battle of Sol intact, after facing the most lethal of the FSN's enemies in that fight. They brought down the Medicament, and faced Shiplords in direct combat aboard Calypso. Yet there is much that can still be done to temper the blade of the Unisonbound, and you are part of that weapon. It must not be marred by imperfections.
[] Tinker: Being free of your old role changed many things, but one that didn't was your interest in creating and understanding your own Practiced creations. Two of those remain unknown to you in full, and you finally have the time to study them. You also now have the time to dedicate to creation again. With all your new understanding of Practice. That's going to be interesting. (May be taken multiple times)
*New* [] Avatar: It took a lot of work, but Iris has a body now, forged of Sixth Secret technology so advanced as to be almost beyond you. Yet there's still so much more that could be done to enhance the form created for her. As an infomorph, Iris may be uniquely capable of integrating Sixth Secret technology into her shell. Mary's wanted to upgrade the basic system she designed since it was finished. And if you can't give your daughter an Aegis, you'll give her the next best thing.
*New* [] An Uncertain Grasp: The Lady in Fire Enfolded is a group within the Circles that seems dedicated to confounding you. On the one hand, they believe in you to a degree that is far more than you're comfortable with. On the other, they've refused to jump to conclusions as to your presence on Mars when the Restoration occurred. How to deal with them, and if you even should, is a question that you're not sure there's an answer to. But if there is, you know who to ask.
*New* [] Halls of Olympus: The Mytikas Restoration has changed all the rules of the game, but it's also given you some new options for Arcadia. You know that Adriana has been pushing an expansion of general education facilities, and it would be so easy to suggest that the current Institute constructed for Arcadia be folded into that initiative. The Olympus Colleges were where humanity unlocked the Second Secret, and so much else besides. You're not quite sure how Mary would feel about it, however.
[] Write-in
5 Personal Actions
Child of Sight is locked until such time as it is not. Unison Training is strongly recommended.
[] Powerful Words: Your words have a Practiced strength to them, but that's a cheap thing to say when you have no real understanding of what's involved. In some ways it's exhilarating, being able to draw so easily on the strength of your Focus. But you worry about what could happen if you put Practice behind a wrong word. You need to hone this gift, learn its limits and strengths. [317/???]
[] The Web Between: In 2119 your understanding of the conceptual links that Harmonials can access took a massive leap forward. Yet you're still not able to explain it in ways that others can understand. This will be theoretical work above all else; trying to translate feeling and instinct into something much more concrete. But it needs to be done. [107/???]
[] Unison Training: Training with the entire Two Twenty Three is one thing, but you can get just as much personally out of dedicating time to work with your own small part of it. Vega, Kalilah and you represent three of the organisations most powerful members, and a high level of synchronicity between you will reflect on the rest even without full group training. Of course, combining the two will make that effect much stronger.
[X] Child of Sight: Some have called Iris your daughter. In this case, the some would not be wrong; you're definitely one of the most important people in the young AI's life. You might not be the expert that Amelie, but the last time you checked, stability was important for children.
[] Blood Ties: Having your family with you for a year was a blessing in many ways, even if it took time for you to properly realise that. They'd moved out of the Residence now, but they were still close enough for you to spend time with if you wanted to. And it being your choice this time might be nice.
[] Restoration: You're adamant that you know how to relax, even if you've only had a year to start practicing again. Your siblings and friends, traitors one and all, aren't entirely willing to believe you. Given how much that disbelief did help you last year, it might be an idea to trust it again. They clearly got something right.
*New* [] Graves Down Memory Lane: Your part in the Mytikas Restoration has remained a secret, but Mary knows the part you played in it. She was born and grew up in that vast city, and with its complete Restoration…her childhood home has also been recovered. She is going to go see it. The only questions are when, and if you'll be travelling with her.
[] Write-in
Please vote by plan. Planmakers, label your plans with the [Plan] tag so that it separates properly.
Answers With Amanda
Each turn, you (the questers) will get the opportunity to vote on a single question to ask Amanda about the world that she lives in, her past, etc. A warning: attempts to ask 'waifu' questions will result in you wasting a question if it wins. I should not need to tell you what classifies as one of those. The response will come in the manner of a reply to a friend, a diary entry, or something along those lines. Do not expect more than a paragraph or two per response (this may be lies). I'm doing this so that you can start learning more about the world if you like, and hear about it from the PoV of Amanda, who will be the primary point of view of the quest from this point onwards.
Rollover write-ins are as follows, more are always welcome.
[] [Answer] How has philosophy progressed since the Week of Sorrows? Nihilism, Existensialism; How have they all changed?
[] [Answer] In the past, humans were mortal - A Greek word that meant 'Doomed to Die'. Much of our culture was influenced and shaped by that one fact…which is no longer true. How has biological immortality changed humanity?
[] [Answer] How has the advent of biological immortality, and then the Week of Sorrows, affected relationships, marriage, and those aspects of society?
[] [Answer] Write-in
There Will Be An Eight Hour Moratorium On These Votes
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Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
You've gained one option net this year compared to the last, but I think that's expected given the events on Mars. You'll probably notice that your Major Action choices haven't changed, but I'll tell you now that some of the options inside them have. Any suggestions for options that I might have missed are more than welcome. Now excuse me whilst I go turn some cartwheels for having gotten through the last turn. This one will go faster, I pledge you. Yes, even with Christmas looming. Perhaps especially because of that
Happy plans!
Happy plans!
- Location
- In a Fantasy
Plan: Let's do it
Major Actions:
Cities and Circles or What Lies Beneath
Minor Actions:
The Spoken Word
Valkyries
Tinker
Avatar
Personal:
Powerful Words
The Web Between
Unison Training
Child of Sight
Graves Down Memory Lane
Answers With Amanda:
How has the advent of biological immortality, and then the Week of Sorrows, affected relationships, marriage, and those aspects of society?
I feel like these are the best/most important , what do you think ppl?
P.S. @Snowfire Nice start of the turn <3
Major Actions:
Cities and Circles or What Lies Beneath
Minor Actions:
The Spoken Word
Valkyries
Tinker
Avatar
Personal:
Powerful Words
The Web Between
Unison Training
Child of Sight
Graves Down Memory Lane
Answers With Amanda:
How has the advent of biological immortality, and then the Week of Sorrows, affected relationships, marriage, and those aspects of society?
I feel like these are the best/most important , what do you think ppl?
P.S. @Snowfire Nice start of the turn <3
Last edited:
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
I'd go with:
Major
-Cities and Circles
Minor
-Mother of Circles: Beyond returning to the Circles to learn and teach, there's also the opportunity to simply be part of them again. You never lost your place among them, you simply set it aside for a time. Now you can return to it if you wish, to grow and build.
-The Spoken Word: Your success in teaching Vega to Speak, for all that you still lack an advanced understanding of the subject, led her to suggest that you begin teaching others. Not everyone is her, but the vast scale that Words act on make this a possibility you can't ignore. Even if only a fraction of the Potentials prove capable of it.
-Valkyries: The Two Twenty Three were the only force to emerge from the Second Battle of Sol intact, after facing the most lethal of the FSN's enemies in that fight. They brought down the Medicament, and faced Shiplords in direct combat aboard Calypso. Yet there is much that can still be done to temper the blade of the Unisonbound, and you are part of that weapon. It must not be marred by imperfections.
-Tinker: Being free of your old role changed many things, but one that didn't was your interest in creating and understanding your own Practiced creations. Two of those remain unknown to you in full, and you finally have the time to study them. You also now have the time to dedicate to creation again. With all your new understanding of Practice. That's going to be interesting. (May be taken multiple times)
-Avatar: It took a lot of work, but Iris has a body now, forged of Sixth Secret technology so advanced as to be almost beyond you. Yet there's still so much more that could be done to enhance the form created for her. As an infomorph, Iris may be uniquely capable of integrating Sixth Secret technology into her shell. Mary's wanted to upgrade the basic system she designed since it was finished. And if you can't give your daughter an Aegis, you'll give her the next best thing.
Personal
-Unison Training: Training with the entire Two Twenty Three is one thing, but you can get just as much personally out of dedicating time to work with your own small part of it. Vega, Kalilah and you represent three of the organisations most powerful members, and a high level of synchronicity between you will reflect on the rest even without full group training. Of course, combining the two will make that effect much stronger.
-Child of Sight: Some have called Iris your daughter. In this case, the some would not be wrong; you're definitely one of the most important people in the young AI's life. You might not be the expert that Amelie, but the last time you checked, stability was important for children.
-Blood Ties: Having your family with you for a year was a blessing in many ways, even if it took time for you to properly realise that. They'd moved out of the Residence now, but they were still close enough for you to spend time with if you wanted to. And it being your choice this time might be nice.
-Restoration: You're adamant that you know how to relax, even if you've only had a year to start practicing again. Your siblings and friends, traitors one and all, aren't entirely willing to believe you. Given how much that disbelief did help you last year, it might be an idea to trust it again. They clearly got something right.
-Graves Down Memory Lane: Your part in the Mytikas Restoration has remained a secret, but Mary knows the part you played in it. She was born and grew up in that vast city, and with its complete Restoration…her childhood home has also been recovered. She is going to go see it. The only questions are when, and if you'll be travelling with her.
Major
-Cities and Circles
Minor
-Mother of Circles: Beyond returning to the Circles to learn and teach, there's also the opportunity to simply be part of them again. You never lost your place among them, you simply set it aside for a time. Now you can return to it if you wish, to grow and build.
-The Spoken Word: Your success in teaching Vega to Speak, for all that you still lack an advanced understanding of the subject, led her to suggest that you begin teaching others. Not everyone is her, but the vast scale that Words act on make this a possibility you can't ignore. Even if only a fraction of the Potentials prove capable of it.
-Valkyries: The Two Twenty Three were the only force to emerge from the Second Battle of Sol intact, after facing the most lethal of the FSN's enemies in that fight. They brought down the Medicament, and faced Shiplords in direct combat aboard Calypso. Yet there is much that can still be done to temper the blade of the Unisonbound, and you are part of that weapon. It must not be marred by imperfections.
-Tinker: Being free of your old role changed many things, but one that didn't was your interest in creating and understanding your own Practiced creations. Two of those remain unknown to you in full, and you finally have the time to study them. You also now have the time to dedicate to creation again. With all your new understanding of Practice. That's going to be interesting. (May be taken multiple times)
-Avatar: It took a lot of work, but Iris has a body now, forged of Sixth Secret technology so advanced as to be almost beyond you. Yet there's still so much more that could be done to enhance the form created for her. As an infomorph, Iris may be uniquely capable of integrating Sixth Secret technology into her shell. Mary's wanted to upgrade the basic system she designed since it was finished. And if you can't give your daughter an Aegis, you'll give her the next best thing.
Personal
-Unison Training: Training with the entire Two Twenty Three is one thing, but you can get just as much personally out of dedicating time to work with your own small part of it. Vega, Kalilah and you represent three of the organisations most powerful members, and a high level of synchronicity between you will reflect on the rest even without full group training. Of course, combining the two will make that effect much stronger.
-Child of Sight: Some have called Iris your daughter. In this case, the some would not be wrong; you're definitely one of the most important people in the young AI's life. You might not be the expert that Amelie, but the last time you checked, stability was important for children.
-Blood Ties: Having your family with you for a year was a blessing in many ways, even if it took time for you to properly realise that. They'd moved out of the Residence now, but they were still close enough for you to spend time with if you wanted to. And it being your choice this time might be nice.
-Restoration: You're adamant that you know how to relax, even if you've only had a year to start practicing again. Your siblings and friends, traitors one and all, aren't entirely willing to believe you. Given how much that disbelief did help you last year, it might be an idea to trust it again. They clearly got something right.
-Graves Down Memory Lane: Your part in the Mytikas Restoration has remained a secret, but Mary knows the part you played in it. She was born and grew up in that vast city, and with its complete Restoration…her childhood home has also been recovered. She is going to go see it. The only questions are when, and if you'll be travelling with her.
- Location
- Ekaterinburg, Russia
[] Plan Bonds of Heart
-[][Major] Brave New Worlds
-[][Minor] Valkyries (Locked)
-[][Minor] The Spoken Word
-[][Minor] An Uncertain Grasp
-[][Minor] Avatar
-[][Personal] Child of Sight (Locked)
-[][Personal] Graves Down Memory Lane
-[][Personal] Unison Training
-[][Personal] Blood Ties
-[][Personal] The Web Between
I would like to see into having our bonds with Mary and Vega strengthened.
As such, I have taken Brave New Worlds, Avatar, and Graves Down Memory Lane to join in with Child of Sight - all related to Iris, Mary, or both. Blood Ties might also tie in here, though we're missing a bit on Restoration.
Similarly, The Spoken Word, The Web Between, and Unison Training reinforced with Valkyries represent our focus on Harmonials and Practice.
An Uncertain Grasp is a bit of an odd choice out, but I'd like to keep abreast of any developments in the LiFE movement.
-[][Major] Brave New Worlds
-[][Minor] Valkyries (Locked)
-[][Minor] The Spoken Word
-[][Minor] An Uncertain Grasp
-[][Minor] Avatar
-[][Personal] Child of Sight (Locked)
-[][Personal] Graves Down Memory Lane
-[][Personal] Unison Training
-[][Personal] Blood Ties
-[][Personal] The Web Between
I would like to see into having our bonds with Mary and Vega strengthened.
As such, I have taken Brave New Worlds, Avatar, and Graves Down Memory Lane to join in with Child of Sight - all related to Iris, Mary, or both. Blood Ties might also tie in here, though we're missing a bit on Restoration.
Similarly, The Spoken Word, The Web Between, and Unison Training reinforced with Valkyries represent our focus on Harmonials and Practice.
An Uncertain Grasp is a bit of an odd choice out, but I'd like to keep abreast of any developments in the LiFE movement.
Key:
L = Locked
O = Obvious
F = Family
[F] Cities and Circles
[F] Mother of Circles
[L] Valkyries
[O] Avatar
[O?] Halls of Olympus
[L] Unison Training
[L] Child of Sight
[F] Blood Ties
[F] Restoration
[O] Graves Down Memory Lane
~~~
The main question that I think needs to be asked in making our choices is what we can do now that won't be available after our sabbatical ends this year. In light of this, I've focused on choices that focus on family. The other slots are filled by actions that are either locked in already, or are completely obviously.
The only question I have about this plan is whether we actually want Halls of Olympus. The action has a lot of questionmarks in the discription, which makes me hesitant in choosing it. I wouldn't mind swapping it out for something else there.
L = Locked
O = Obvious
F = Family
[F] Cities and Circles
[F] Mother of Circles
[L] Valkyries
[O] Avatar
[O?] Halls of Olympus
[L] Unison Training
[L] Child of Sight
[F] Blood Ties
[F] Restoration
[O] Graves Down Memory Lane
~~~
The main question that I think needs to be asked in making our choices is what we can do now that won't be available after our sabbatical ends this year. In light of this, I've focused on choices that focus on family. The other slots are filled by actions that are either locked in already, or are completely obviously.
The only question I have about this plan is whether we actually want Halls of Olympus. The action has a lot of questionmarks in the discription, which makes me hesitant in choosing it. I wouldn't mind swapping it out for something else there.
Garm352
Bearer of the Stars of Creation
- Location
- The Void Between Stars
- Pronouns
- He/Him
No matter what, this is locked in as far as I'm concerned.
I agree more or less. No matter what, I just want the family unit of Iris, Mary, and Amanda to stay together though. I am a bit on the fence about whether or not we should move Arcadia to Mars or not.
- Location
- In a Fantasy
I'll try to present the plan , but i'm not sure if will be awake when the time comes. Which will suck
I don't think we should take Arcadia