Build Your Own Baby(Tock)

[Ignotus Everto]

'Is is a 'ole lot like what I said yesterday wit' the codewords," she explained. "Except 'is ain't a Directive, so it won't be core, aye? Ya needs ta teach 'im a wee bit o' language. Already done gots a Directive ta 'obey,' but what 'at ain't does ya much good, if'n 'e ain't understands ya, aye? But since 'e ain't smart 'nough ta really grasp language, ya teaches 'im individual words, an' associate 'em wit' a command. Like 'ow I done showed ya wit' Naily, 'e knows forward o' back o' sommat, but 'at's all 'e knows. E won't ever learn more words an' ya teach 'im today. Not at 'is level. An' even more advanced Golems what only learns as fast as a person most times. So could take years fer 'im ta learn anythin' ya ain't what teaches 'im now. So program every word 'e needs ta know. Speak it out loud... over and over ta imprint it. An' while yer doin' 'at, focus on what the word is associated with. 'At way, 'e 'ears the word an' what gits the feel o' it at once."

"So every command he needs to know?" the golem Ignotus envisioned worked best on its own, but there were a few useful orders he could think of. "Are there any you reccomend, other than 'stop'? Can he understand 'follow' or is that too much for him at his level?"

After listening to her advice on sentence structure, and her warning to use another language, Ignotus got to work. Nader-Canoch came in quite useful here, and slowly, gradually, a basic grasp of commands began to form. He taught it "stop" and, if possible, to "follow" or to stay close, and to "explore" or wander (relatively) aimlessly. "Recha" became the code-word to explore, while "Cha" became the phrase that triggered flight.

Along with any phrases Tock suggested, those became the golem's main vocabulary. Three bells later, he looked over at his teacher and smiled, a ripple of pride drifting out from him. He had been too focused on his automaton to notice Tock's discomfort before, but it was noticeable, if nothing else. Best to keep her motivated. Really, she deserved it. He was doing something good! "I think I'm finished with language! When do we continue?"

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

"It can prolly 'andle 'follow'," she told him, "if'n ya lay a lil foundation, aye? S'all a matter o' 'ow complex the action is. Followin's jus' like, stayin' close. So as ya imprint the idea o' yous bein' in front, an' 'im stayin' right wit'cha. 'E knows 'movement' already, cause ya put 'at in earlier, aye? An' ya imprinted 'im wit' who YOU is, aye? So, ya build off o' 'at. Combine the concepts of movement, an' yous, an' 'en s'jus' one more step fer ta make 'im follow after ya when you moves, aye?" She gave a firm nod. "'At's 'ow it all works. Buildin' off o' what's already 'ere..." Part of the issue with creating a more complex golem was a mixture of how many total concepts needed to be taught, and planning them out well enough in advance. It took careful structuring, to ensure one didn't try to teach things out of order, or forget a key concept. A person had to crawl before they could walk, and walk before they could run. So likewise, teaching a Golem how to run needed a strong foundation in advance. "Make sure 'e gets forward, left, right, back," Tock said, having to pause once more to tell her babies to, "Stop!" She really needed to fix that... "An' dun ferget words fer ta switch 'is face around," she reminded him. "If'n ya ain't gives 'im no command fer it, 'e won't ever spin 'is face fer ta show 'is other sides." Once it was complete, Tock told Iggy to return again later that evening, after she finished with both work and school. When they settled in for what should be the final stage, she told him, "Now, last thing's makin' the body move. See the soul energy now?" she gestured to the Automaton where it sat in the circle. "S'all... lumpy. Loose. Needs ta fit tight 'round 'is body. Like clothes. 'At's what done makes a Astral Body. An' 'en ya gots ta run 'im through every motion 'e needs. 'At's what why we did wheels, aye? Wheels is easy ta learn. Start off small, jus' spinnin' 'em... an' 'elps if'n ya makes the movement, like 'is," she spun her hand in a circle in the air in front of her. "Imprints the movement onta 'im, aye? When it's workin' right, ye'll see 'im start movin', right 'ere in the circle... but DON'T let 'im roll out!" she pointed a finger at Iggy to re-accentuate this point. "'Ere ain't nothin' on the circles what stops 'im from rollin' past the chalk line, so ya gots ta control 'im. Otherwise, if'n 'e rolls out," she slapped her hands together and made a squishing sound, "brokeded soul." She nodded to the Automaton again and said, "Once ya git the wheels movin', roll 'im around awhile. Git practice. Practice turns, an' stops, an' all 'at. Ain't much ta does, since 'e's so simple. 'At one," she nodded to Handy, "the body part took forever, what cause I 'ad ta teach 'im lots o' complex moves," she wiggled her fingers in the air, demonstrating the complexity of movement for a hand. "But 'is lil tyke, should be easy." "An' once 'at's all done," she finished, "cut the flow with a last push. An' name 'im. Name's last thing ya should do. 'At what's been 'is true name, aye? True name's, 'ey mean somethin'..." She knew the weight of one's real name. It was why she hid from hers."

[Ignotus Everto]

"An' dun ferget words fer ta switch 'is face around," she reminded him. "If'n ya ain't gives 'im no command fer it, 'e won't ever spin 'is face fer ta show 'is other sides."
"Ah! Of course... I'd almost forgotten about that. Thank you!"
Adding the commands Tock suggested, and fleshing out the roots that he had laid out for the scout, he finally started lazily turning his wrists. For the first few ticks, nothing happened. Then the golem gave a small start, and began rolling towards the edge of a circle. With a barked swear, Ignotus started rotating his hands the other way, and the automaton reversed back to the circle's center with just an inch to spare from the chalk.

Following Tock's instruction, he continued maneuvering the scout around the small space of the circle for ten more chimes, before she finally said,

"An' once 'at's all done," she finished, "cut the flow with a last push. An' name 'im. Name's last thing ya should do. 'At what's been 'is true name, aye? True name's, 'ey mean somethin'..."

Ignotus nodded, and closed his eyes. With a sharp exhale, the stream of Djed snapped like a frayed rope, the half attached to the golem being sucked into it like a slurped noodle. When the wizard opened his eyes again, they were their normal color. The scout turned to look at him with its happy face. The Hypnotist smiled, and with a trace of irony, said, "I'll call you... Vino."

Rising up, the Nuit thanked Tock and her tools for all their help, and with a cheerful bow, excused himself from her house, Vino following close behind.

[Arcane]

Rewards and Treasure! Experience Points +3 Animation +2 Glyphing Lores Learning Animation from Tock Animation: Forming the Soulcore Animation: Directives Miscellaneous +Inventory: Vino the Animated Golem Comments Due to the general lack of exquisite attention to the golem combined with Iggy's super low level Animation, the Golem suffers from a -50% Functionality. In other words, it malfunctions half the time, requires orders to be repeated, sometimes shuts down, etc. It can be fixed when Iggy becomes more familiar with Animation and 're-programs' it. Take note to include a full explanation of Vino in your CS. Refer to Tock's method of listing created golems for an idea.