Round 3: Museum Opening!

[Lumaeus]

🐝A.P.I.S. Presents🐝

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The Second Hexenniel Conference for the Liberation of Knowledge and Fostering of Growth in Sansar

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The Grand Opening of the Console Prisca Museum of Interplanetary Ability

Though long years have passed since the glories of the Utopian Festival of Ability, it grows increasingly clear amid rising tensions that those shining days may be a late glory of a faltering golden age of peace and cooperation. Even now, conflicting interests threaten the peace of the Elect. Wars and rumors of wars sully the diplomatic victories and industrious drudgeries of the world.

But the Hexenniel is a time for memory. Queen Constance of Comment has for long years been preparing for this next test of friendship and of diplomacy. She is not queen of all the worlds, and nor would she want to be. Does not Coedd Herself look out on all the worlds left to conquer and sigh in contentment, for though Coedd be all, all be not Coedd? It is our own domain we must govern, and our own selves we must rule. Constance knows this and has seen through a great project:

In the crater of Khylokian arrival and departure, the land's scar now glows with a soft golden glow. A waxy paint casts a warm light under the stars as Constance [AND PRISCA OR A UTOPIAN REPRESENTATIVE IF THEY SO CHOOSE BUT SHE CAN ALSO GO ALONE DON'T WORRY] lead(s) a procession of dignitaries, visitors, friends, and followers down a winding path to that which lies within: a great hexagon built on the uneven ground, married to the naturally scarred terrain with as little disturbance as possible. Even inside, piles of boulders, sudden depressions or rises, even a few deep cracks remain unmoved but merely coated in the golden material. The only concession made for ease of movement is a level path through exhibits and a few smoothed-over conference rooms. Even the greenery is carefully kept so that no rock nor soil is revealed.

Though summer, the night is cold here, and Constance makes her speech at the entrance brief. In an unsansarly illumination from below, the Queen smiles warmly at those gathered. She has not aged a day since the first Hexenniel, but there is in her gaze the appreciation of years: in little more than half a decade, her work has already brought together the most remarkable peoples of the age.

"My friends," she says, her voice subtly amplified by hidden mechanisms, "The Arkhive Æternal extends its sincerest gratitude that you accepted our invitation. We come together to remember the magnificence of the Elect and to work towards further cooperation and glory. Many of you were present three years ago for the Festival of Ability. Those who were not are in for an especial treat. It is my honor to formally inaugurate and open the Console Prisca Museum of Interplanetary Ability, a permanent exhibition of the First Festival of Ability and a monument to memory. Come, explore the floor, meet, discuss, mingle. The feast will be held in an hour's time in the first conference room, and the Arkhive itself stands, as always, open to you. Local members, we will be voting on Charter matters after the haze of food has left us. Visiting members are welcome to observe and comment if they desire."

With that, the Utopian representative cuts a very small ribbon or Constance does again depending on whether we've got such a rep. On the way in, a sign reads Bee kind! No bombs in the museum! Thank you!

Exhibits

 

• A model weapon credited to the engineer Raoic Tàirn, recreated with carefully sourced chitin.
• An abbreviated sprawl of castle-interior-tunnel-into-mountain hallways showcasing highlights of Moonsoul history at a touch.
• A 3.5D theatre combining a recording of a performance of Kanmarran history with a select honey tasting to instill memories of those who were in attendance but have since passed on.
• A surprisingly arachnid chair credited to Baladisilab Tesela, which pampers and preps an animatronic figure's hair and uncanny-valley-skin.
• An interactive painting credited to Pol Mediki, alongside a small stand with a brochure of the collected dance forms of Sansar's Elect.
• A cybernetics surgery animatronic, a game room, and a very soundproofed but very loud chamber showcasing a recording of a show.
• A few simple paintings that, upon discussion, turn out to be very subjective!

(If your exhibit is wrong, lemme know! If you didn't reply to me in time, no big--lemme know and I'll slip it right in!)

Opportunities:

• Mingle, chat, do diplomacy stuff. The Arkhive specifically welcomes use of itself as a forum. Constance is glad to participate or be excluded, no fear.
• There are a buncha exhibits. Nothing new, really, but it's a set piece you can mess with I guess.
• The Arkhive Charter is going to have two proposed amendments. I'll wait for SerakHawk's amendment before I present mine. Every Sansarite member gets a vote (plus SerakHawk)
• Tech trade! The Arkhive is giving away the following to anyone (unless you actively aggress us this turn, I guess)

Techs for Sale! For Free!

• Aclaustrophobic Psychiatry
• Algorithmic Imagination
• Arcane Amplification
• In Vivo Modification
• Nuclear Fusion
• Xenolinguistic Cataloguing
• Badalian Megadirigibles
• Wet Navy Ships

Charter of the Arkhive Æternal

Immutables
-Every odd round, the Arkhive will hold a Hexenniel Conference to select a Patron, determined by the Points System (see below).
-There are two tiers of Membership: Local Members (for residents of Sansar) and Visiting Members (for everyone else).
-Should a Visiting Member be awarded Patronage OR complete and maintain a Hive (5-action GP), they will permanently be considered Local, so long as they retain Membership.
-Members' holdings shall be held as inviolable to the Library, subject to no interference.
-The Arkhive's holdings shall be held as inviolable to Members, subject to no interference.
-The Arkhive shall devote half of its capacity in service of its Patron (2 actions on odd round, 3 on evens).
-The Arkhive cannot use Military actions nor maintain a standing army (but we're ignoring the unit we start with because it'd be a hassle to deal with--we rebuke the fiction and substitute our own!).
-The Arkhive is a place of refuge; anyone swearing themselves to scholarship is welcome in its walls, regardless of their past.
-The Arkhive is subject always to public oversight; it will never take a secret action
-The Arkhive reserves all E5s and D5s that it may better distribute Trade Routes and Embassies, as well as its first F5 and F10. Additionally, should the Arkhive ever do that thing to get a new civ type and another action what's that called again I forgot, it reserves that one action as well--feel free to ask in advance about it if worried.

Mutables
-Research produced or acquired by the Arkhive (including techs) is to be freely disseminated to all Members without discrimination.
-Physical holdings (including artifacts) are to be loaned out for three years at a time to Local Members.
-Members of the Arkhive hold joint responsibility for recovering overdue and stolen items and holdings (including TPs and Supports*)
-Failure to return a borrowed item by its due date incurs a fine of two (2) Treasure. A further borrowing period overdue will result in revocation of Membership and extraction of reparations as determined appropriate by all remaining Members and the Librarians.
-At their sole discretion, the Queen can forgive fines and pardon misstep.
-The Arkhive accepts all donations.
-Trade Routes will be distributed freely among Members, preferencing Local Members and those offering more generous donations (points system).
-Cultural Exchanges will be distributed freely among Members, preferencing Local Members and those offering more generous donations (points system).
-At each Hexenniel Conference, the current Patron and the Queen may each submit a proposal to add, remove, or alter a single mutable point of this charter.
-Proposals to change the Charter are only confirmed by a 2/3rds majority of voting Local Members.

*I don't expect to have any interest in supports unless a [i]hostile[/i] power takes the Arkhive's capital supports

Points System: (Note, this is crunch, but IC it's just the Will of the Bees. Not mutable or immutable, just an enumeration of how the Hive chooses to crown you.)
Provide our Desired Import: 2pts/round (available to every civ that does it, even if the need is already met)
Submit a piece of your culture's literature for Arkhival: 1pt (max 1/rd)
Submit a history for Arkhival: 1pt (max 1/rd)
Submit a theo/mythological or philosophical work for Arkhival: 1pt (max 1/rd)
Recover a lost item from the Arkhive's holdings (returning late items absolutely doesn't count, loophole nerdz): 10pts
Submit the results of an Investigation for Arkhival: 2pts
Submit a technology not yet held by the Arkhive: 2pts for starting tech, 5pts for all others (simultaneous submissions are both rewarded)
Donate an Artifact to the Arkhive: 10pts
Donate Treasure to the Arkhive: 1pt/ea
Build a Hive (5-action GP, you may use the Arkhive's actions for this as Patron): 2pts/turn ongoing, Donor Status
Mechanical figure (or retired Ruler) joins the Arkhive: 3pts
Fluff piece describing influx of your people joining the Arkhive OR an individual described to be noteworthy (such as a great scholar) joining the Arkhive OR a scholar of the Arkhive joining your people: 1 pt (max 1/rd)

Points accrue until the end of a Conference. At the end of the round, the civ with the highest total is awarded the status of Patron. They return to 0 points. Second place is awarded five points to start the next round. Third receives four, fourth receives three, and so on. Ties for Patron are decided between the tied parties, and if they fail to come to an agreement, they roll off. All other ties will both receive the higher point total.

 

 

[SerakHawk]

Console Prisca arrived in the early hours of the morning of the event by aero-ship from her myriad of conversations with the former government officials remaining in the neighboring region of the Arkhive. She was sure her fur had greyed significantly from the stresses of sorting out the various claims of missing family members and disappearing foreign officials in the wake of the successful invasion, a reminder that not everything that comes from a victory is not a good thing.

Shaking her woes off she puts an un-faked smile on her face as she greets Queen Constance and joins in her part of the opening ceremony of the Museum. The Queen was one source of strength for Prisca, a firm friendship built on collaboration - Prisca only hoped that her nation's recent actions and mediation would maintain that trust.

Cutting the ribbon to the fanfare of opening the museum the Console waves at the crowds from her perch on the podium.

"First I'd like to thank Queen Constance of Comment for hosting this Hexenniel and creating this lovely museum to showcase the various exhibits found during the first Festival of Ability, perhaps Emperor willing we will host more of those events as the years go on."

Clearing her throat she continues, shuffling what appear to be papers and notes in front of her.

"My advisors prepared a speech for me to present the Utopian's presented amendment; however, I must address the elephant in the room - at least briefly so it does not overshadow this magnificent event hosted by the Arkhive. In the Illumined Utopian's attempt to make closer ties with the Arkhive we took control over the neighboring region, mediation is currently underway with wronged Sansarite parties that my trusted advisors are in change of negotiation. I will admit that our aim was not to increase hostilities between orbits - and my office is taking all complaints and recriminations into advisement during this transition."

Shaking her head she pushes a few pieces of paper aside before activating a display which scrolls the planned amendment to the Arkhive Charter.

"Onto business! I, Console Prisca Calpurnius, propose to the members of the Arkhive for their consideration in voting an amendment to the Arkhive Charter. This amendment has two parts that work together and are open to adjustment and variation based on the desires of the Charter Members. First - I propose a term limit to acting patrons, the Patronhood must change each Hexenniel. Second - I propose the acting Patron have some limited say in the next Patron, not a full decision, but a finger on the scale so that current members have cause to interact with the current Paton and offer proposals and plans so they could give someone a 'leg-up' as it was. I look forward to discussing these two points with you in attendance, or hearing out your grievances with my Nation in a peaceful manner. Thank you!"

Proposed First Amendment of the Arkhive 

First Charter Amendment:

It is under the auspices of time and fate that all things must fade and all power should be relinquished. The Illumined Utopian is well aware that all things must pass so that the future may be paved brighter. It is under this guiding principle that the Illumined Utopian, First Patron of the Arkhive Æternal, led by Console Prisca Calpurnius propose the following amendment to the Charter of the Arkhive Æternal for its own benefit and for the fostering of future relations between all members of the Arkhive library and for the ability for differing points of view to hold sway over the course of the Arkhive.

1. A Consecutive Term Limit is Mandated for Patrons of the Arkhive Æternal to be limited to a gap of a minimum of one varying Patron Realm between Patronage. Contribution position may be carried forward unto the following Patronage Cycle.

2. The Current Patron may provide a recommendation to the Arkhive Æternal providing an incumbent Patron with a higher ranking in the terms of contributions to the Arkhive Æternal.

It is the Illumined Utopian's intention to have a limit enforced such that a single Patron cannot 'strong-arm' policy changes and cultural shifts on the Arkhive Æternal without end requiring Realms to share the patronage of the Arkhive. The ability of a current Patron to 'elect' an incumbent Patron allows for additional collaboration between the current Patron and potential future Patrons hopefully resulting in the fostering of relationships between members of the Library.

{Grit - Patron can't win two Hexenniels in a row. Current Patron can give an incumbent a flat +2 to their Arkhive Contribution Score, they must specify who it is in an IC non-action post and cannot change it once set.}

 

[Kythia]

Early in the morning on the opening day of the conference, a short arkhive member - one of the few Computer Scientists to embrace Coedd - takes up position hanging nervously around the entrance to the Illuminated Utopians’ quarters.  Any of the Jy’mar who emerge, regardless of their rank, he nervously addresses (actually he addresses his own feet, but he probably intends to address them).

“Coedd wishes to speak with representatives of the Illuminated Utopians”  All one word, really.  “In the grove.  I can show you the way.”  The Jy’mar are a regular enough visitor to the Arkhive now that they know of the grove and likely don’t need his guidance.  Further they are learning enough of the ways of Sansar to realise that Coedd has no objection to patiently waiting and does not consider being forced to do so rude.  There’s time to do other things first, if that’s what they choose to do.

 

The ArkHive Grove

Coedd is everywhere but it must be admitted that some places she is less than others, and the frozen wastelands where the library is located is one of them.  In fact Coedd doesn't, the bee people have discovered, actually consider the frozen north (or south for that matter) to be part of the planet.  Rather...bolt ons?  Other places attached to the planet but not actually part of it.  

But she maintains a fraction of herself there.  Simultaneously a tiny fraction and the entirety of her.  Within the central twelfth district a park, of sorts, has been made.  Scribes and researchers often take their lunch there or detour to travel through its artificial sunlight on the way from one region to another.  In the centre, four large trees grow, their crowns brushing the roof and their roots reaching down through three lower levels.  The four trees are natives of Sansar’s four major land masses and would never normally grow within thousands of miles of each other, let alone in a small enough ring that it’s difficult to see out from the centre.  Three of them don’t move - or at least never have in the time the grove has been there, but the one native to Coedd itself does.  Albeit slowly - despite the best efforts of the hive the place is too cold and dark for Coedd’s true comfort and for whatever reason she does stuff she tends not to move much here.  She does speak, though.  Or “speak”.  

The linguists of the arkhive are second only to Coedd itself in understanding the chemical language she uses within herself and the botanists there eagerly learnt the language once it was translated.  Philosophers, too, as they seek to understand more of what it is to be alive and to have a mind from a life and mind so alien. Theologians seeking to understand something that is for all intents and purposes a god, geographers tapping in to her vast knowledge of Coedd, historians struggling to decode some of what she claims she has experienced.  The translation of the language was a boon most of the societies can benefit from, though the Computer Scientists tend to scoff slightly (and away from the grove).

At most times, artificial day or artificial night, several of them can be found there with custom made chemical analysers eagerly asking questions and then consulting their gadgets to decode the answers - while Coedd can speak verbally, in this grove she doesn’t for reasons known only to her.  And, of course, translating the words she says are only part of the problem in understanding her answers - away from the grove specialists regularly argue with one another about what one cryptic offering or another could have meant - and argue even more ferociously about whether she is deliberately being confusing or there is an actual barrier to communication (and, if so, how can it be resolved).

The lowly technicians who, in between their studies, maintain the physical infrastructure of the hive report that recently some of the deepest roots have reached the fibre optic cables that carry electronic information around the hive and started twining round it.  Some argue in favour of cutting them back but they rightfully feel a decision like that is above their heads and nothing has been done yet.

 

[Rocket Relm]

Serenity didn't especially want to be here.

Not because being at the Hexenniel wasn't a delight, she had been looking forwards to it all year. They were bringing the exhibit down here and she hadn't personally gotten to see it while it was up in another orbit, so getting to see what her own people cooked up in person would be wonderful. The good Admiral told her it was a delight, and that she'd even gotten to duel with a High Lord. The good Admiral never went into detail onto that duel, but Serenity considered that a blessing as Cascade could spend hours talking about her pet projects if given the chance and she really was not in the mood.

Indeed, it was this bad mood that caused her to be in low spirits and to want to rip and tear and claw and gnash like the years of old. Several Moonmen were gone, several. As Serenity saw it, some of these disappearances were due to an invasion of their lands and a slaughtering of their Zelfs. Which wasn't the same as killing the elders but the principle was the same. Titania and Holly were right, she wouldn't be in a mental spot to conduct proper diplomacy and needed a breather. Her opal claws and huge tail were showing even now, trailing through the halls.


"Hello, it is a pleasure to arrive. I've been looking forwards to seeing the exhibits. I need the healthy distraction right about now."

Edited February 26 by Rocket Relm (see edit history)

[SerakHawk]

3 hours ago, Kythia said:

Early in the morning on the opening day of the conference, a short arkhive member - one of the few Computer Scientists to embrace Coedd - takes up position hanging nervously around the entrance to the Illuminated Utopians’ quarters.  Any of the Jy’mar who emerge, regardless of their rank, he nervously addresses (actually he addresses his own feet, but he probably intends to address them).

“Coedd wishes to speak with representatives of the Illuminated Utopians”  All one word, really.  “In the grove.  I can show you the way.”  The Jy’mar are a regular enough visitor to the Arkhive now that they know of the grove and likely don’t need his guidance.  Further they are learning enough of the ways of Sansar to realise that Coedd has no objection to patiently waiting and does not consider being forced to do so rude.  There’s time to do other things first, if that’s what they choose to do.

 

The ArkHive Grove

Coedd is everywhere but it must be admitted that some places she is less than others, and the frozen wastelands where the library is located is one of them.  In fact Coedd doesn't, the bee people have discovered, actually consider the frozen north (or south for that matter) to be part of the planet.  Rather...bolt ons?  Other places attached to the planet but not actually part of it.  

But she maintains a fraction of herself there.  Simultaneously a tiny fraction and the entirety of her.  Within the central twelfth district a park, of sorts, has been made.  Scribes and researchers often take their lunch there or detour to travel through its artificial sunlight on the way from one region to another.  In the centre, four large trees grow, their crowns brushing the roof and their roots reaching down through three lower levels.  The four trees are natives of Sansar’s four major land masses and would never normally grow within thousands of miles of each other, let alone in a small enough ring that it’s difficult to see out from the centre.  Three of them don’t move - or at least never have in the time the grove has been there, but the one native to Coedd itself does.  Albeit slowly - despite the best efforts of the hive the place is too cold and dark for Coedd’s true comfort and for whatever reason she does stuff she tends not to move much here.  She does speak, though.  Or “speak”.  

The linguists of the arkhive are second only to Coedd itself in understanding the chemical language she uses within herself and the botanists there eagerly learnt the language once it was translated.  Philosophers, too, as they seek to understand more of what it is to be alive and to have a mind from a life and mind so alien. Theologians seeking to understand something that is for all intents and purposes a god, geographers tapping in to her vast knowledge of Coedd, historians struggling to decode some of what she claims she has experienced.  The translation of the language was a boon most of the societies can benefit from, though the Computer Scientists tend to scoff slightly (and away from the grove).

At most times, artificial day or artificial night, several of them can be found there with custom made chemical analysers eagerly asking questions and then consulting their gadgets to decode the answers - while Coedd can speak verbally, in this grove she doesn’t for reasons known only to her.  And, of course, translating the words she says are only part of the problem in understanding her answers - away from the grove specialists regularly argue with one another about what one cryptic offering or another could have meant - and argue even more ferociously about whether she is deliberately being confusing or there is an actual barrier to communication (and, if so, how can it be resolved).

The lowly technicians who, in between their studies, maintain the physical infrastructure of the hive report that recently some of the deepest roots have reached the fibre optic cables that carry electronic information around the hive and started twining round it.  Some argue in favour of cutting them back but they rightfully feel a decision like that is above their heads and nothing has been done yet.

 

Finding a lull in the conversations and discussions, some of which include complaints that Prisca shoulders with grace, she is approached by a representative of Coedd to meet in the grove. Seeing no reason to not meet with the plant diety she complies.

A sense of stillness falls on Prisca when she enters the grove, fully aware this is a sacred place of some variety. Unable to normally keep up with the 'giants' she had to return to her hovering platform to have the conversation intended. Being invited to discuss something without topic, Prisca awaits Coedd to start.

[Kythia]

3 hours ago, SerakHawk said:

Finding a lull in the conversations and discussions, some of which include complaints that Prisca shoulders with grace, she is approached by a representative of Coedd to meet in the grove. Seeing no reason to not meet with the plant diety she complies.

A sense of stillness falls on Prisca when she enters the grove, fully aware this is a sacred place of some variety. Unable to normally keep up with the 'giants' she had to return to her hovering platform to have the conversation intended. Being invited to discuss something without topic, Prisca awaits Coedd to start.

 

The Jy’mar are greeted at the entrance to the grove by Coedd.  It’s sometimes hard to differentiate between her various incarnations but as far as anyone can tell this is, for want of a better word, the Coedd.  The entity into which it had poured most of itself and the closest thing Coedd has to a singular entity one can point at and say “That.  That is Coedd.”  Maybe it’s meant as a sign of respect?  Or intimidation?  Coedd’s motivations are difficult to grasp.  What’s certain is that senior members of Coedd’s cult in Coedd’s most important ally stand around - many have cybernetic noses allowing them to sense Coedd’s communications without the portable chemical analysers but that’s not needed in this case - this incarnation has grown a voicebox more advanced than it usually bothers with and its voice lacks the raspiness normally associated with its ad hoc avatars.

Coedd acknowledges meat.  Meat uses meat-eyes.  With that cryptic remark it turns and enters the grove proper.  If there’s any hesitation from the Jy’mar the cultists nod encouragingly and gesture to follow.  

The floor of the grove, normally bare earth, is a riot of colourful flowers.  No, wait, it’s…it’s a map?  The sight is breathtaking, if one likes such things and the time taken in producing it is clearly great.

Starting at the north of Zabava a myriad of white flowers, densely packed, recreated the snows and ices of the far north gradually giving way to larger dull green flowers as one moved “south” into the plains.  A single red rose marked the position of the imperial embassy and as one moved further south periodic large white flowers marked the territory of the White Pawns.  The greens become more intense moving further south into the lands of the Reserve with carnivorous plants - flowers formed to look like various insects mark the lands of the Elif Dhaoine.

Down into Erebus and the dull green plants representing plains were intermixed with more vibrant greens for forestry.  The lands of Erskor, Caipe Ushere and and Erisdor were picked out in various shades of blue representing the heraldry of these lands as best as possible given the low resolution of the map.  The mountains along the coast of Erisdor are represented by small hard shelled pods of a dull grey, the space elevator to the north of Eskor perhaps notable by its absence

The mass of Chonkia runs the gamut of all species seen so far, white flowers in the “north”, dull green plains, thick forest and mountain ranges.  A beautiful rose with honey bees busily buzzing around it doubtless represents the ArkHive but the eye is more immediately drawn to the large area of flowers below it, corresponding to the area recently conquered by the Jy’mar.  Here, flowers seem to be struggling, but struggling rapidly.  Growing into full bloom then dying off again on a cycle lasting minutes or even seconds, as if unsure if they should be growing or not.  Verdelfheim, Burtzland, each of the other major nations of Chonkia is picked out in a colour scheme at least nominally appropriate to their inhabitants.

South of Chonkia, Coedd itself is a small woody shrub, standing a good foot higher than anything else on the map.  

First rock is not-Coedd.  All is meat.  Not all is meat.  None is Coedd.  All is not-Coedd it announces with a dismissive wave skywards, away from Sansar.
Coedd, an expansive sweep of the arm takes in the map is Coedd. 

The shrub representing Coedd suddenly explodes into colour as thousands of tiny blooms blossom all over it. All is Coedd.  Coedd is all.  The colours stop. Coedd. Is. All.  All. Is. Coedd.  It reiterates, emphasising each word in a strange inhuman way.  The trees forming the grove rustle slightly in a way that could be intimidating if one were so inclined, though none of the cultists appear concerned.

Then the rest of the map explodes similarly in colour, all except - though it’s hard to pick it out at first in the riot of growth - the strangely growing region representing the Jy’mar’s Sansar holdings.  Coedd is all.  Not all is Coedd.

Finally, the region the Imperial Cartographers designated Region 45 slowly pulses as restrained pastel shades grow over it.  First-Rock Meat.  Coedd pauses.  Is all Coedd.  Is Coedd all.  Is all First-Rock Meat. First-Rock Meat clarifies, Coedd judges.  Coedd is able.  First-Rock-Meat is able.

Third rock it finishes, another wave of disinterest skywards is not-Coedd.

First-Rock Meat clarifies.
 

Edited February 26 by Kythia (see edit history)

[Kythia]

Sensing the Jy'mar confusion one of the acolytes steps forwards. "Coedd is all" he announces in the manner of a greeting. "Welcome to the grove, Console Prisca. Might I be of some assistance? Coedd is all, but not all is Coedd and as one joins with Coedd one finds it easier to discern meaning often." He's certainly more comprehensible but long exposure to Coedd's...idiosyncratic speech has clearly affected him as well. It likely occurs that the cult of Coedd could be much stronger if they didn't use "All is Coedd" to mean Every. Damn. Thing

"Coedd wishes to know of your plans for the region you recently conquered specificly with respect to your views on Coedd" there's a brief sotto voce conversation between him and the acolyte stood next to him then "That is to say with respect to the worship of Coedd. Coedd wishes to hear your proprosal for whether and to what extent Co.. errr...the faith can grow there." He glances round the circled acolytes who nod briefly. "Coedd is all, but not all is necessarily Coedd, you see."

[SerakHawk]

46 minutes ago, Kythia said:

First rock is not-Coedd.  All is meat.  Not all is meat.  None is Coedd.  All is not-Coedd it announces with a dismissive wave skywards, away from Sansar.
Second rock, an expansive sweep of the arm takes in the map is Coedd. 

The shrub representing Coedd suddenly explodes into colour as thousands of tiny blooms blossom all over it. All is Coedd.  Coedd is all.  The colours stop. Coedd. Is. All.  All. Is. Coedd.  It reiterates, emphasising each word in a strange inhuman way.  The trees forming the grove rustle slightly in a way that could be intimidating if one were so inclined, though none of the cultists appear concerned.

Then the rest of the map explodes similarly in colour, all except - though it’s hard to pick it out at first in the riot of growth - the strangely growing region representing the Jy’mar’s Sansar holdings.  Coedd is all.  Not all is Coedd.

Finally, the region the Imperial Cartographers designated Region 45 slowly pulses as restrained pastel shades grow over it.  First-Rock Meat.  Coedd pauses.  Is all Coedd.  Is Coedd all.  Is all First-Rock Meat. First-Rock Meat clarifies, Coedd judges.  Coedd is able.  First-Rock-Meat is able.

Third rock it finishes, another wave of disinterest skywards is not-Coedd.

First-Rock Meat clarifies.

Console Prisca uses all of her will to not 'cower' by the displays from the plant that seems to encompass most of Sansar - its wild movements could easily injure the Console if they go astray so Prisca stays vigilant while discussing with the plant creature. Taking her time to understand the symbology presented and the vibrations of wood and fiber emanating from Coedd. Pondering her response and briefly anxious that her triumvirate will be unable to advise her on this communication Prisca blazes forward.

The acolyte steping forward and 'explains' some of the intention as they see it, but Prisca thinks she understood the gist.

"I'll be fine, I think I'll attempt a response first..."

Replying with a similar out of body amplification of her voice that would not be possible for a creature of her size.

"First Rock is not-Coedd. Coedd is not First Rock. First Rock Meat is not-Coedd, Coedd is not First Rock Meat. Coedd is Second Rock, Not all Second Rock Meat is Coedd."

Nodding as if this was obvious, she hoped she understood how it spoke and that her response would indicate a common understanding of facts.

"First Rock Meat is not-all-Coedd. First Rock Meat is Second Rock Meat. Second Rock Meat is Coedd and not-Coedd, Coedd is all, All is not-and-is-Coedd."

Hoping that worked she waits on bated breath, ready to have the acolytes translate a common into Coedd if needed.

[Kythia]

There are exchanged glances, raised eyebrows and general expressions of "they girl dun good" from the acolytes and the one who had stepped forwards steps back.

Second-Rock is Coedd. Coedd is Second-Rock. First-Rock, Coedd, Third-Rock it announces and an acolyte steps forward but is stopped by a gentle hand on his shoulder from one of his comrades.

First-Rock-Meat was Coedd-Meat. All was Coedd. First-Rock-Meat returns to Coedd-Meat. Coedd approves. Not-First-Rock-Coedd-Meat disapproves: Coedd resolves. Coedd was All, Coedd is All. First-Rock-Meat, Third-Rock-Meat becomes Coedd-Meat. Coedd approves, Coedd resolves. Coedd is able. It's not great at tone of voice but perhaps there's satisfaction there?

Once again the region to south of the ArkHive does its slow display of muted pastels.

Coedd is All. Not all is Coedd. First-Rock-Coedd-Meat approves

 

[SerakHawk]

Loosing a long exhale Prisca didn't fully realize she was holding she smiles at Coedd.

"Coedd-Meat returns to Coedd" giving Coedd a deep flurished curtsy before returning to her standing position.

"Coedd is All, Not all is Coedd. First-Rock-Coedd-Meat approves Coedd"

Unsure of what else Coedd wants to discuss and 'negotiations' seemingly complete with Coedd, Prisca starts making missives to her Triumvirate members headed to the mediation. While with the acolytes the Console offers an exchange of historical knowledge and what little the Jy'mar have regarding their origin on Sansar and their relationship with the Ducat.

[Kythia]

Returning the "Package" that was "Borrowed":  A non-canonical play in one act

COEDD'S GROVE

Exit: JY'MAR DELEGATION.

Four CULTISTS watch them leave. COEDD remains motionless

CULTIST 1: We should return the "package" before anyone misses them.

CULTIST 2: We've been through this before Steve. I don't know what that little air two fingers things means. What's the difference between a package and a "package". Besides, which package?

CULTIST 3 (holding up a package): This one I assume. Right Steve? I'm not really sure I'd call it a package though. It's just books and technical documents, wrapped in paper.

CULTIST 4: Interesting. I don't think there's anything intrinisic to a package that makes its contents unknown? The Chonkian Imperial Dictionary defines it as "an object or group of objects wrapped in paper or packed in a box" and I don't think there's anything there indicating that the nature of the objects is unknown.

CULTIST 1 (Steve) exasperated:  Yes. Fine. The books and technical materials we "borrowed". We should return them before they're missed.

CULTIST 2: Look, Steve, I have to speak my truth and this feels disrespectful. I've said I don't understand the air wiggly fingers thing and instead of explaining or referring me to an authoritative source you've just outright done it again.

CULTIST 3: Soldfast's A Summary of Sansarian Signs is where I'd start, Keith. I don't think we borrowed it, though, not really. Like, we snuck in to the library after dark, didn't fill out a borrower's request form. I'd say stole, rather than borrowed.

CULTIST 4: Interesting. The Chonkian Imperial Dictionary defines to borrow as "to take and use (something belonging to someone else) with the intention of returning it" which we very much did have. Whereas to steal is "to take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it". I think borrow is very much the word here.

STEVE exasperated: Just return the bloody stuff before anyone notices. Coedd is All.

ALL(In UNISON): All is Coedd

EXIT: All

 

[Featherscale]

Elsewhen

One of the pilgrims the Hammer brought to Sansar approaches an acolyte of Coedd. "The Hammer tells us Sansar is where we came from, that a thousand thousand generations of Queens lived and died here before we were led astray by Slingid and jumped headlong into the void. We return to find there are no Queens, no gods, only Coedd. Can you tell us, then, what is Coedd to us?"

 

Edited February 28 by Featherscale (see edit history)

[Kythia]

I... The acolyte stares for a moment but recovers admirably quickly. He puts the files he was taking back to storage down, perhaps a little slower than necessary to give him time to think, and then nods slowly.

Of course. OK, let's see. Coedd is All. I'm sure you've heard the phrase. Coedd is All, All is Coedd it's usually phrased as but if we're focusing on "What is Coedd to us" then the first half is the half that matters: Coedd is All. The Empire calls this planet he waves a hand encompassing the entire world Sansar but Coedd refers to it as Coedd and that's not an unreasonable thing for it to do. Because it is. The air we breathe is Coedd - or, I mean, it's a mixture of gases, obviously, but it comes to us through Coedd. All life on this planet is either Coedd itself or relies on it - how long do you think animals would live without plantlife? Yes, you could say it comes from the Sun but the Sun bears down on a number of lifeless rocks - you're from Mekhala, there's probably nothing I can tell you about lifeless rocks! The sun is necessary but not sufficient. The food we eat comes from Coedd, as I mentioned. Even the very shape of the land has been formed, over millenia, by Coedd. At least in part. There's no aspect of our life that isn't Coedd. Life in Tekhum is either Coedd or depends directly on Coedd.

And I say Tekhum deliberately. As opposed to Sansar. Sansar is where life originated. I'm sure you've heard the theory but here at the ArkHive we have people devoted to studying this matter. I'm not an expert and I can't lay out the evidence but I can say that people who know far more than me about it are convinced by the evidence and it would be presumptuous of me to question them. You may think you're from Mekhala but your great great great he flaps a hand etc grandparents were from Sansar. There are Queens, and gods too. There is a Queen in this very Hive, I'm sure you'll meet her. But they are...hmmm, let me think how to phrase that. I'm not claiming the Queens and Chieftains and Presidents of this world aren't worthy of my respect. But the most powerful Queen in Tekhum, what fraction of life do you think she represents. A millionth of a per cent? For the absolute most powerful. Even the Emperor, do you think he is the Emperor of cows and of birds and of, I don't know, dolphins? They live on a world he claims, certainly but they're not...they don't contribute to him nor do they depend on him. Coedd, though, Coedd is All. Everything. Sometimes it's terrifying to think about but mostly I find it, I find it liberating. This one consciousness, this one being, is everything. My entire life depends on it and it has done this not because it likes me or because I pay it, it's done this because that's what it is. The most noble person, the most ignorant savage. The poet and the scientist. All our differences collapse...I'm, I'm getting more in to the second half of the catechism here, the All is Coedd bit but they are linked. What is Coedd to you? Think of a thing, Coedd is that. For any given thing. Coedd is All.

[SerakHawk]

On 2/25/2024 at 11:27 PM, SerakHawk said:

Update 1:

Proposed First Amendment of the Arkhive 

First Charter Amendment:

It is under the auspices of time and fate that all things must fade and all power should be relinquished. The Illumined Utopian is well aware that all things must pass so that the future may be paved brighter. It is under this guiding principle that the Illumined Utopian, First Patron of the Arkhive Æternal, led by Console Prisca Calpurnius propose the following amendment to the Charter of the Arkhive Æternal for its own benefit and for the fostering of future relations between all members of the Arkhive library and for the ability for differing points of view to hold sway over the course of the Arkhive.

1. A Consecutive Term Limit is Mandated for Patrons of the Arkhive Æternal to be limited to a gap of a minimum of one varying Patron Realm between Patronage. Contribution position {(Second, Third, ect)} may be carried forward unto the following Patronage Cycle. {In the event a current patron is first they switch positions with the next highest contributor}

2. The Current Patron may provide a recommendation to the Arkhive Æternal providing an incumbent Patron with a higher ranking in the terms of contributions to the Arkhive Æternal.

It is the Illumined Utopian's intention to have a limit enforced such that a single Patron cannot 'strong-arm' policy changes and cultural shifts on the Arkhive Æternal without end requiring Realms to share the patronage of the Arkhive. The ability of a current Patron to 'elect' an incumbent Patron allows for additional collaboration between the current Patron and potential future Patrons hopefully resulting in the fostering of relationships between members of the Library.

{Grit - Patron can't win two Hexenniels in a row, but get to have a position of contribution for next IE could get second while patron - first trades with second. Current Patron can give an incumbent a flat +2 to their Arkhive Contribution Score, they must specify who it is in an IC non-action post and cannot change it once set.}

 

 

[FriendlyHeadcrab]

In the years of late, the Durats have been quite busy in the establishment of the STC, and even now as their long wetships arrive the the far up, the Exulted Pod's chamber is a flurry of calls and activity. It seems the recent news of the Firmament has the Durats in full motion. But even all the noise can't prevent the Exalted Vuk Cssskk Tyculhajodejana from relaxing as he makes his way into the Hive, it just has that vibe ya know?

 

"Greetings dear Queen, and greetings all. A pleasure to be in your company once again".

 

After initial welcomes, the Exulted makes his way to the envoy of the Hammer, looking for conversation. "It is pleasant you again. It's a joy you're able to travel so from far. I was hoping to inquire with you on trade opportunities."