Solus zos Galvus (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
emet_sulk) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
shellphones2024-06-08 01:19 am
emet_sulk) wrote in shellphones2024-06-08 01:19 am
Entry tags:
Seeking magitech engineers
Type: Video
Sender ID: emet-sulk
To: Public
Subject: Seeking magitech engineers
Warnings: None
[ In a rare display, Emet-Selch opts to appear in person. This is important enough to warrant an appearance, he thinks.
The backdrop appears to be a cabin on a ship somewhere. He fills most of the screen so there's not much of significance to be gleaned from it. His posture is relaxed, fingers interlaced loosely before him on the table that his shellphone sits upon. ]
Greetings, one and all.
I and Rem Tokimiya of the Raiders of the Lost Arts are seeking engineers to assist with the development of an engine. 'Tis past time we made a concerted effort to develop one. Inevitable, I would say, as this world has progressed to magical trinkets. We have examined schematics of an old pirate ship and seek to eventually put it to practical use to improve the fleets of both paladins and corsairs.
[ He pauses. It looks as though he wants to add something but he seems to think better of it. ]
Send word to either myself or Rem if you are interested in contributing to the work. While an engine capable of powering a ship is our eventual goal, 'twill be enough to make something on a smaller scale for now - such as heaters for winter or automatic fans for summer.
Sender ID: emet-sulk
To: Public
Subject: Seeking magitech engineers
Warnings: None
[ In a rare display, Emet-Selch opts to appear in person. This is important enough to warrant an appearance, he thinks.
The backdrop appears to be a cabin on a ship somewhere. He fills most of the screen so there's not much of significance to be gleaned from it. His posture is relaxed, fingers interlaced loosely before him on the table that his shellphone sits upon. ]
Greetings, one and all.
I and Rem Tokimiya of the Raiders of the Lost Arts are seeking engineers to assist with the development of an engine. 'Tis past time we made a concerted effort to develop one. Inevitable, I would say, as this world has progressed to magical trinkets. We have examined schematics of an old pirate ship and seek to eventually put it to practical use to improve the fleets of both paladins and corsairs.
[ He pauses. It looks as though he wants to add something but he seems to think better of it. ]
Send word to either myself or Rem if you are interested in contributing to the work. While an engine capable of powering a ship is our eventual goal, 'twill be enough to make something on a smaller scale for now - such as heaters for winter or automatic fans for summer.
no subject
[He sighs a little, and leans on his hand.] These shellphones, for example--the network reminds me much of the Akasha terminals, though with far more limited access to information. But the Akasha could not send live video; movies and film are being developed in Fontaine, but they're not common among the other nations yet.
[He thinks to himself a bit.] I suppose it's most accurate to say our advances are prioritized differently--I would put much of Teyvat as ahead of this place, and the civilizations that fell far beyond it, but outside Fontaine, machinery isn't a high priority for scientific advancement. Largely to do with the fact Khaen'rian war machines still roam the land killing people some five hundred years after their masters are dead and buried--it seems a bit like folly to pursue the same technology, with the way that ended.
no subject
With the march of progress comes the march of war. In my lifetime, men have never been able to shy away from taking new technology and applying it towards greater, more efficient ways to murder one another. There was a civilisation called Allag which perfected this ruthless efficiency...by subjugating almost every landmass on the star over the course of a few thousand years.
But putting that aside - naturally I don't wish for that to happen here. Even though I think it extremely likely. It's almost inevitable at this point.
no subject
[He's quiet for a moment. Kaveh's expression visibly darkened, and he's angry at the concept--that much is obvious. But he's a scholar first, and the questions here, well. It does more good to approach this more levelly.]
I can't say I'm thrilled at the idea what we're doing here will be turned towards killing people. I try to leave places in a better state than how I found them, not worse.
no subject
Then you may as well find some desolate little island to hide on and eschew contact with the world. With the advent of any new tool or technology follows its application in maximising harm. The same black powder used for fireworks is turned into firearms; a plant used to heal commonly has its roots in poison; anaesthesia deadens pain but can also ensure you never wake again; the knife used to carve your meat can be an assassin's dagger; even art, culture, and rhetoric can serve as propaganda in the right hands.
[ He delivers all this with barely any emotion, with all the weight of someone who has seen it happen repeatedly and is dead to the shock. ]
I could go on. I said just then that I don't wish for the engine to be used for anything outside its intended purpose. If you would like to establish yourself as a tyrant and dictator and monitor all those who build an engine for their ship then be my guest.
this went...a little off the rails...I'm sorry....
[He's not having your condescension, sir!]
I'm very well aware of the facts of the matter. I don't have to like them. And I think saying that it's inevitable is just absolving ourselves any responsibility for what becomes of what we make. I'm well aware I can't predict the future or dictate the actions of others, but bland nihilism is the height of arrogance.
Are your ambitions so low as to believe all attempts to do better are simply doomed efforts of a control freak?
Emet usually inspires that kind of response :') (I love it tho)
Arrogant, is he? No, not arrogant. Just tired. Tired of repeating himself. Tired of looking at the results a hundred years later and saying, 'I told you so,' to the graves of brilliant, better minds past. ]
If I truly believed this venture doomed, [ he spits out past gritted teeth, ] or in "bland nihilism", as you say, then I wouldn't even be bothering to ask for help in making it a reality. I could shut away these schematics so they never see the light of day and let you all fumble about on your own. Instead, I choose to share them and hope that I won't be disappointed for the umpteenth time - and no, I am not telling you this out of desire for praise. I couldn't care less what you think of me.
If the engine leads to a new age of exploration, then good. If it also leads to a new age of warfare, well, I will be there in the aftermath to ask, "Was it worth it?"
I'm sorry emet alphinaud is blond this time
Maybe it's something about that last sentence. Maybe it's because someone asked him "how has following your ideals gone for you?" not so long ago. Maybe...]
...I'll take that bet, then. [He pauses, awkwardly, suddenly uncertain if he was clear...] I--I'll do it, I mean. Even if I fail, I'd rather try than turn away.
smh at least Kaveh isn't trying to kill him
Very well. I plan to have everyone work on developing the industrial tools needed to eventually craft a prototype on a smaller scale. Should we successfully be able to integrate magic and machina together, we can make an attempt at the real thing.
[ He remembers the issues the Pokemon professor experienced when trying to develop heat shielding. They might run into the same problems here... ]
I am SO sorry I got sick ;;
It may help to find a standardized way of processing magic along the way. It's obvious in hindsight, but even in worlds with elemental energy or any sort of magic, they seem to react differently...and the tattoos seem to largely mimic whatever someone is already used to.
It's not going to make working any easier if everyone means something different by 'magic'. Using elemental energy in technology is already possible where I'm from, but from experience, using aether-based magic the same way just makes things explode.
[Sorry, Cid.]
it's alright! hope you're feeling better
Aether as I know it is universal across my star. I had assumed that this world's native magic would manifest uniformly regardless of the user, but I suppose I must take care in case that fails to hold true.
[ Which means...not relying upon the users but on environmental energies. ]
...Mayhap we ought to look into non-finite sources of power such as the wind or sun, [ he mutters. ] The volcano cannot supply us with fire crystals forever. There will come a time when its flames extinguish.
[ --Not within in a mortal lifetime, that said. But Emet-Selch naturally thinks far further ahead. ]
well I'll live lol
[Kaveh makes a thoughtful noise while he starts rummaging around for paper.]
I don't have enough data yet to have an understanding for how the elemental energy in this world behaves or replenishes but--we're on an ocean. That water's always in motion...it's not as though the concept is new, simply the scale.
living is good lmao
[ Thinking about it, there's no point erecting wind catchers instead of sails. One may as well keep the sails in the first place. ]
we're doing our best ft. kaveh is smarter than I am oh god.
[He makes a thoughtful noise.] Can solar energy be gathered into fabric?
[Because if it can...they can attach it to the sails of ships...]
and Emet is far more worldly than I am ;;;
[ Truth be told, Emet-Selch is a little wary of pushing too much too quickly. The more tumultuous the change, the more easily law and order spiral out of control. Unless, of course, one is in a position to take charge immediately... Like an emperor, or some other autocrat. ]
the curse of smart characters
[Ah well, it was worth pondering. Though it's an idea Kaveh will store to play with the theory of it later...]
no subject
...Well, let's keep it in mind for now. If you come across any electro- or aethero-conductive material which could be a candidate for these sails then we shall see what we can do.