- Location
- United States
... Statements like this are so much more delicious without the context.
To remain suitably obscure, I have a pair of not quite three month old kittens and they want to literally stick their noses into everything. Of course they are cute enough that they get away with it and then some.
The Froggy Ninja
The Blade Will Never Die
But the question is does copy-pasting mind uploads generate souls, and therefore infinite energy? Also, does worship do anything for us during a drought?
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- Location
- BaWü
You quoted the wrong person.
Actual artificial intelligence or uploaded minds are not a thing, also the members of the Benefaction Mission are the most augmented humans you have ever encountered. They are 'limited' to having a massive, perfect memory, perfect maths skills, improved multitasking, etc along with for the most enhanced individuals the ability to slow subjective passage of time down to 1:10 or 1:15. That tends to heat a human brain up rather a lot though and so they can only sustain it when plugged into support equipment. Also they have very sophisticated 'psychological manipulation'. They are quite capable of manually switching themselves into into being 'in the zone' and absolutely focused at will, or turning off any kind of feelings of regret or hesitation.
The only real relevance this has to soul harvesting is that harvesting the soul of a highly intelligent and educated individual who has lived subjective centuries of edifying life is definitely 'worth' dozens or hundreds of times as much as harvesting a 30 year old peasant who has never left their village. Most members of their society do not spend their time with sped up perception though outside of specific education or training. That tends to be limited to elite military, administrative or academic strata.
Admiral Vern Whyte for example is 'only' about 120 years old but he has spent 4-8 hours a day for somewhere around a century in various levels of sped up simulation war gaming dragon murder. Of course most of that was spent in ignorance of the full capabilities of adult dragons who have access to magic. Also the update is mostly done! Will either be finished tonight or tomorrow morning.
The Froggy Ninja
The Blade Will Never Die
Why? Simulating neurons shouldn't be that hard, especially with scanning spells for the raw data.
- Location
- PA
Well, assuming one can't simply 'code' an intelligent AI, which seems to be the case here, how does one replicate a conciousness through artifical means?
- Location
- Maybe?
So there's two separate things to being a worthy sacrifice: a life well and intensely lived, and some sort of supernatural soul that cannot be replicated outside the flesh?
So, obvious next question: how much flesh is actually needed? When you do gradual-upload experiments, where does it fail?
edit: it weirds me out that we have a thousand years of development on the sci-fi aliens and still didn't crack uploads. IRL I'll be surprised if we don't have it in 50.
So, obvious next question: how much flesh is actually needed? When you do gradual-upload experiments, where does it fail?
edit: it weirds me out that we have a thousand years of development on the sci-fi aliens and still didn't crack uploads. IRL I'll be surprised if we don't have it in 50.
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The Froggy Ninja
The Blade Will Never Die
Modern super computers already have the processing power to simulate every neuron in a human brain. The space bois probably have enough power to simulate the constituent proteins. Just simulate a human brain and turn it on. Preferably via high intensity scans of an existing human to make sure you get it right.
Update 10 - Political and Draconic Proposals
This is a universe where sapient beings objectively have souls, without them? No sapience. You can make pretty damn smart drones but those do not have souls to harvest magic from, though a pile of sufficiently expensive drone fighters might actually be a reasonable contribution to a dragon's hoard for magical storage.
[X] Jesus Dragon. With a side order of [X] Protective Dragon.
Also [X] Etorix is above human sexes. You really do not give a shit. You are a dragon.
You do not hesitate as you look down upon the reporter, instead you allow for a suitable dramatic pause as the thronging thousands look upon you and the soft white glow of your divinity illuminates the square. "Despite the work of my Benefactors the faith is fractured, my message diluted, in spreading far and wide and absent my guidance? You have not been brought the full measure of prosperity that I wish to bestow. I shall not limit myself to concerns such as human nations or borders or interfere with your governance."
You stretch then, carefully, mindful not to crush anyone though you do let your talons slice into the granite flagstones, burying themselves as your gleaming wings flare. "Buoyed by your faith I have awoken but other, less kind gods, will stir in the coming years as will others of my draconic kind. Before I was forced to slumber human kind had advanced science and great magics that allowed you to stand before such threats, I shall return you to these heights as rapidly as possible."
Your announcement made you turn your focus to your arriving priests and the question about your sex. Catering to one faction or another might have short term benefits but you are a dragon, you are above such things. You rumble in a distinctly displeased manner before lashing the air expansively with your tail, stopping it just before crushing an ornately stone fronted banking house behind you, then dragging your scales across the masonry with an audible rasp.
You dip your head toward the offending priestess, jaws part, the hint of dragonfire on your breath as you announce. "Etorix does not care for such petty rivalries or arguments. I am a dragon and a god, your god, you see your living diety then seek to drag them into doctrinal disputes or end you rivals? I do not care about such minor things, they are beneath me. If a person remains true to the faith and true to my aim of prosperity? They can believe whatever they wish about their god. You however are to leave my sight and depart the high council. You may earn again the right to guide others. Consider this in humility."
You press with your divine presence, looming in the minds of those around you even more than suggesested by your already significant physical presence. The woman finds herself weeping and pressing herself to the floor, begging forgiveness even as you turn your focus to the other members of the council. They are suitably respectful it seems.
You then pronounce. "I shall be holding court in this square. I will require a full written account of the teachings of the faith so that I might review it, additionally bring me the fifty most powerful mages who are my priests or priestesses and dedicate them to the task of learning from my guidance. You will also organise the most prominent doctors, physicists, chemists, engineers and similar of Hatwar to attend me so that I might edify them. I shall dedicate five hours of each day to reviewing the teachings of the faith, three to magical instruction and three to technological illumination. Additionally I wish to be supplied with two tons of fresh meat, of the highest quality, each noon. Arrange these mundanities and you shall be blessed. Do not seek political favour or fleeting advantage. If you work against my message? I shall know, I shall judge, I shall pass you over when it comes to bestowing the blessings of a living draconic god. Go!"
And so you begin a routine. You spend most of your time in the square but do indulge in regular flights above the metropolis, you feast upon prime cattle brought to you, you also begin working on reviewing the six thousand pages of official canon regarding your teachings and guidance and the proscriptions of the faith. There is an awful lot that you disagree with.
What is more immediately productive is spending a quarter of each day guiding various mages and technologists and combining their efforts, though these are still very much early days. You also ensure to maintain some contact with the 'Benefactors ' in orbit, updating them on your amendments to the canon of the faith so that they can pass this on directly to more out flung temples and other nations.
At almost all times you have at least a few thousand people watching you with awe, trepidation or just rubber necking amazement, crowds cycling through the edges along with an endless parade of charity cases or those gravely ill.
Do you spend magic?
[] Empower Priests. You infuse the most loyal and capable priests of Hatwar with your magic, greatly increasing their magical potency even as you train them. This can empower 2-300 priests for about five years. They will definitely feel and notice the difference as will those who encounter their improved magical abilities. (Spend 1 magic, 3 remaining).
[] Heal the Faithful. You spend some of your stored magic to carry out mass miracle healing. Restore sight to the blind, allow cripples to walk again, wash away mental impairment. Provided you limit your activities to the truly faithful and use regular, non stored, magic on the easier cases, you can likely 'fix' thousands of people as a demonstration of your divine magnificence. (Spend 1 magic, 3 remaining).
[] Do Not Spend Magic. You have already been profligate with your reserves and even if you can expect to recover them through invigorated worship, you have emptied have of your stores in less than a year. You limit yourself for now to educating your magically gifted priests and healing those who you can using the ambient levels of magic.
You are of course also approved by representatives of the Unified Republics asking you to ally with them, to declare them the truth and rightful protectors of your faith, etc. These efforts you rebuff whilst instread requesting that they cooperate with your faith and also help by sending the best experts of the continent to learn from you. You are however invited to a grand ball at the capitol building in two weeks time, hosted by the Republican Council.
Do you accept?
[] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[] Of Course Not. Gods do not attend balls and this is likely a political ploy to show that you favour one faction or another.
Perhaps most importantly, a few weeks into your residence in the square you are approached by a young man who on closer inspection is actually a dragon. You estimate him to be in his second cycle, a young adult who is likely half your mass and no real threat even if you were not a god, he certainly seems more than slightly nervous about approaching you. He is not important however, he brings you a message from Sulqueum. She wishes to meet you in three days time upon an island to the east of here, within the Unified Republics but a good portion of the way toward her Ildntia Dragonarchy.
[] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
[] Ambush Her. Notify the Hatwar government and the Benefactors, prepare a nautical fleet and orbital strikes whilst taking position ahead of her arrival in stealth. This does not necessarily mean you want to kill her but you can force into a position of disadvantage and thus show your draconic cunning and might.
[] Refuse. She has multiple young adult dragons 'working for' her, a meeting is quite shockingly dangerous if she can convince them to try to mob you. As in 3-4 of them could possibly defeat you or force you to expend stored magic to survive and she might have anything up to two dozen in her little club.
[] Other. Write in option.
[X] Jesus Dragon. With a side order of [X] Protective Dragon.
Also [X] Etorix is above human sexes. You really do not give a shit. You are a dragon.
You do not hesitate as you look down upon the reporter, instead you allow for a suitable dramatic pause as the thronging thousands look upon you and the soft white glow of your divinity illuminates the square. "Despite the work of my Benefactors the faith is fractured, my message diluted, in spreading far and wide and absent my guidance? You have not been brought the full measure of prosperity that I wish to bestow. I shall not limit myself to concerns such as human nations or borders or interfere with your governance."
You stretch then, carefully, mindful not to crush anyone though you do let your talons slice into the granite flagstones, burying themselves as your gleaming wings flare. "Buoyed by your faith I have awoken but other, less kind gods, will stir in the coming years as will others of my draconic kind. Before I was forced to slumber human kind had advanced science and great magics that allowed you to stand before such threats, I shall return you to these heights as rapidly as possible."
Your announcement made you turn your focus to your arriving priests and the question about your sex. Catering to one faction or another might have short term benefits but you are a dragon, you are above such things. You rumble in a distinctly displeased manner before lashing the air expansively with your tail, stopping it just before crushing an ornately stone fronted banking house behind you, then dragging your scales across the masonry with an audible rasp.
You dip your head toward the offending priestess, jaws part, the hint of dragonfire on your breath as you announce. "Etorix does not care for such petty rivalries or arguments. I am a dragon and a god, your god, you see your living diety then seek to drag them into doctrinal disputes or end you rivals? I do not care about such minor things, they are beneath me. If a person remains true to the faith and true to my aim of prosperity? They can believe whatever they wish about their god. You however are to leave my sight and depart the high council. You may earn again the right to guide others. Consider this in humility."
You press with your divine presence, looming in the minds of those around you even more than suggesested by your already significant physical presence. The woman finds herself weeping and pressing herself to the floor, begging forgiveness even as you turn your focus to the other members of the council. They are suitably respectful it seems.
You then pronounce. "I shall be holding court in this square. I will require a full written account of the teachings of the faith so that I might review it, additionally bring me the fifty most powerful mages who are my priests or priestesses and dedicate them to the task of learning from my guidance. You will also organise the most prominent doctors, physicists, chemists, engineers and similar of Hatwar to attend me so that I might edify them. I shall dedicate five hours of each day to reviewing the teachings of the faith, three to magical instruction and three to technological illumination. Additionally I wish to be supplied with two tons of fresh meat, of the highest quality, each noon. Arrange these mundanities and you shall be blessed. Do not seek political favour or fleeting advantage. If you work against my message? I shall know, I shall judge, I shall pass you over when it comes to bestowing the blessings of a living draconic god. Go!"
And so you begin a routine. You spend most of your time in the square but do indulge in regular flights above the metropolis, you feast upon prime cattle brought to you, you also begin working on reviewing the six thousand pages of official canon regarding your teachings and guidance and the proscriptions of the faith. There is an awful lot that you disagree with.
What is more immediately productive is spending a quarter of each day guiding various mages and technologists and combining their efforts, though these are still very much early days. You also ensure to maintain some contact with the 'Benefactors ' in orbit, updating them on your amendments to the canon of the faith so that they can pass this on directly to more out flung temples and other nations.
At almost all times you have at least a few thousand people watching you with awe, trepidation or just rubber necking amazement, crowds cycling through the edges along with an endless parade of charity cases or those gravely ill.
Do you spend magic?
[] Empower Priests. You infuse the most loyal and capable priests of Hatwar with your magic, greatly increasing their magical potency even as you train them. This can empower 2-300 priests for about five years. They will definitely feel and notice the difference as will those who encounter their improved magical abilities. (Spend 1 magic, 3 remaining).
[] Heal the Faithful. You spend some of your stored magic to carry out mass miracle healing. Restore sight to the blind, allow cripples to walk again, wash away mental impairment. Provided you limit your activities to the truly faithful and use regular, non stored, magic on the easier cases, you can likely 'fix' thousands of people as a demonstration of your divine magnificence. (Spend 1 magic, 3 remaining).
[] Do Not Spend Magic. You have already been profligate with your reserves and even if you can expect to recover them through invigorated worship, you have emptied have of your stores in less than a year. You limit yourself for now to educating your magically gifted priests and healing those who you can using the ambient levels of magic.
You are of course also approved by representatives of the Unified Republics asking you to ally with them, to declare them the truth and rightful protectors of your faith, etc. These efforts you rebuff whilst instread requesting that they cooperate with your faith and also help by sending the best experts of the continent to learn from you. You are however invited to a grand ball at the capitol building in two weeks time, hosted by the Republican Council.
Do you accept?
[] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[] Of Course Not. Gods do not attend balls and this is likely a political ploy to show that you favour one faction or another.
Perhaps most importantly, a few weeks into your residence in the square you are approached by a young man who on closer inspection is actually a dragon. You estimate him to be in his second cycle, a young adult who is likely half your mass and no real threat even if you were not a god, he certainly seems more than slightly nervous about approaching you. He is not important however, he brings you a message from Sulqueum. She wishes to meet you in three days time upon an island to the east of here, within the Unified Republics but a good portion of the way toward her Ildntia Dragonarchy.
[] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
[] Ambush Her. Notify the Hatwar government and the Benefactors, prepare a nautical fleet and orbital strikes whilst taking position ahead of her arrival in stealth. This does not necessarily mean you want to kill her but you can force into a position of disadvantage and thus show your draconic cunning and might.
[] Refuse. She has multiple young adult dragons 'working for' her, a meeting is quite shockingly dangerous if she can convince them to try to mob you. As in 3-4 of them could possibly defeat you or force you to expend stored magic to survive and she might have anything up to two dozen in her little club.
[] Other. Write in option.
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- Location
- United States
Welp. I didn't expect that.
I feel kind of sorry for the poor priestess, but eh.HA! Yes! Time to get our mate.
[X] Heal the Faithful. You spend some of your stored magic to carry out mass miracle healing. Restore sight to the blind, allow cripples to walk again, wash away mental impairment. Provided you limit your activities to the truly faithful and use regular, non stored, magic on the easier cases, you can likely 'fix' thousands of people as a demonstration of your divine magnificence.
[X] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
For the first part of the vote these miracles will increase the faith of our religion, and they'll subsequently empower us in turn. Also, I'm nervous about spending more magic. We're running dry. Regarding the party, yes, we do need to meet with the leaders. We are not "above" this, we need them falling in line and for that we need to interact with them and learn what makes them tick. And lastly, Sulqueum.
This already has caution written in, so I'm completely okay with it. We wanted to meet with her anyway. She has dragon minions already. I want dragon minions, too.
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RedV
Refuelling
- Location
- Right here
[X] Do Not Spend Magic.
[X] Of Course Not.
[X] Ambush Her.
Notify the Hatwar government and the Benefactors, prepare a nautical fleet and orbital strikes whilst taking position ahead of her arrival in stealth. This does not necessarily mean you want to kill her but you can force into a position of disadvantage and thus show your draconic cunning and might.
Talk once we have the advantage in negotiation by keeping her pressed down, or kill her and take her shit. Either way has a good result.
[X] Of Course Not.
[X] Ambush Her.
Notify the Hatwar government and the Benefactors, prepare a nautical fleet and orbital strikes whilst taking position ahead of her arrival in stealth. This does not necessarily mean you want to kill her but you can force into a position of disadvantage and thus show your draconic cunning and might.
Talk once we have the advantage in negotiation by keeping her pressed down, or kill her and take her shit. Either way has a good result.
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- Location
- Europe
[X] Do Not Spend Magic. You have already been profligate with your reserves and even if you can expect to recover them through invigorated worship, you have emptied have of your stores in less than a year. You limit yourself for now to educating your magically gifted priests and healing those who you can using the ambient levels of magic.
[X] Of Course Not. Gods do not attend balls and this is likely a political ploy to show that you favour one faction or another.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
[X] Of Course Not. Gods do not attend balls and this is likely a political ploy to show that you favour one faction or another.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
[X] Empower Priests. You infuse the most loyal and capable priests of Hatwar with your magic, greatly increasing their magical potency even as you train them. This can empower 2-300 priests for about five years. They will definitely feel and notice the difference as will those who encounter their improved magical abilities. (Spend 1 magic, 3 remaining).
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
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Akatsunami
The Bonetatoist
- Location
- Brazil
[X] Heal the Faithful. You spend some of your stored magic to carry out mass miracle healing. Restore sight to the blind, allow cripples to walk again, wash away mental impairment. Provided you limit your activities to the truly faithful and use regular, non stored, magic on the easier cases, you can likely 'fix' thousands of people as a demonstration of your divine magnificence.
[X] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
[X] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
- Location
- Anchorage, Alaska
[X] Heal the Faithful. You spend some of your stored magic to carry out mass miracle healing. Restore sight to the blind, allow cripples to walk again, wash away mental impairment. Provided you limit your activities to the truly faithful and use regular, non stored, magic on the easier cases, you can likely 'fix' thousands of people as a demonstration of your divine magnificence.
[X] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
let be careful here, the QM likely knows were after a waifu now that its starting the shipping wars.
[X] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
let be careful here, the QM likely knows were after a waifu now that its starting the shipping wars.
The Froggy Ninja
The Blade Will Never Die
So sapience is a result of souls rather than the other way around? That doesn't really make sense. Where do souls come from then?
Ultramandalore
Errant Quester
- Location
- just south of Parts Unknown
[X] Heal the Faithful
[X] Of Course.
[X] Accept!
[X] Of Course.
[X] Accept!
- Location
- United States
Honestly for me it's less about a waifu and more about forming strong ties with the other resident dragon. If we get close enough to reliably help keep each other alive then that's enough for me.
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Do Not Spend Magic.
[X] Of Course Not.
[X] Ambush Her.
The danger alluded to in the refuse option is too big a risk given our limited reserves and the typical relations between dragons. Likewise, we don't have enough reserves available to invest in production through faith.
[X] Of Course Not.
[X] Ambush Her.
The danger alluded to in the refuse option is too big a risk given our limited reserves and the typical relations between dragons. Likewise, we don't have enough reserves available to invest in production through faith.
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- Location
- Right Where I Am
[X] Heal the Faithful. You spend some of your stored magic to carry out mass miracle healing. Restore sight to the blind, allow cripples to walk again, wash away mental impairment. Provided you limit your activities to the truly faithful and use regular, non stored, magic on the easier cases, you can likely 'fix' thousands of people as a demonstration of your divine magnificence.
[X] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
[X] Of Course. Dragon or not you do enjoy parties and this could be a chance to get to meet the movers and shakers.
[X] Accept! Fly to meet her, carefully of course. Do notify the Benefaction Mission to have their aerospace fighters and orbital platforms on standby. Demonstrate that you are mighty enough not to fear her or indeed anything or anyone awake.
