[Wright Memorial Library] Homework, Schmomework! (Solo)

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

57th Day of Spring, 512 AV Wright Memorial Library Homework. Stupid homework. Stupid, annoying, unproductive, can't even build anything homework. Minerva hated homework. She didn't sign up at school to STUDY! She signed up to build things, learn hands-on magic, and create! Yet her professors insisted that somehow, reading books and writing essays was going to help her learn. Bah! She stalked into the library, and stopped and stared. Damn there were a lot of books. She wandered in, staring up at the taaaaaaaaall stacks, having no idea where to begin. Thank the Gods for helpful librarians. She practically needed a map to follow the directions the librarian gave her, but eventually she found the section she needed. Books, books, everywhere, and she had no idea which ones she needed. She started grabbing a bunch at random: Principles of Animation, Crafting the Soul, Directives 101, Magecraft: A History, The Wizards of Alahea, Reagents and Catalysts, Principles of Mathematics, An Expert's Guide to Clockwork Engineering, Principles of Hydraulic Pressure, Philosophical Study of the Human Spirit, and The Adventures of Jillian Smythe, Lady Adventurer! ...okay, so the last one had probably been mis-filed into this section, but it looked interesting. She sat the stacks of books down on a table and picked one at random to start with. She was going to be here all night...

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Principles of Animation Minerva pulled the first book off the stack. She skimmed through the beginning, which was a boring and drawn out introduction, followed by some historical facts and tidbits that sue didn't feel she needed to know. When she got to the parts that talked about the actual magic, THEN she started reading in detail. She got a stack of paper and a fresh quill, and set to work. A lot of this information would be things she would need to refer back to frequently, and she couldn't be running back and forth to the library all the time. So she started carefully and precisely copying the important parts of the text, word for word, line by line. She'd probably end up with a wrist cramp before the end of the night, but that was how it was. One of the most fundamental principles of Animation is the creation of the Soulcore. This cannot be created.from nothing. Just as to build a table, one needs lumber, tools, and nails, to build a Soulcore, one needs a living soul, a strong Djed, and an Animation circle. These components are used to create the Soulcore, the most basic 'heart' of any Automaton. It is important to note that the Soulcore will, by its very nature, mimic the soul of the Source it is created from. This leads to an interesting debate among Scholars of Animation. If the Animator, or the Source they choose to draw from, is corrupt and evil, will the resulting Automaton necessarily be evil? In part, this requires a lengthy debate into the question, What is evil? But that discussion is beyond the scope of this text (see 'Gadrid Harrison's Text of Morality, Religion, and Politics' for a more detailed debate on the nature of good vs. evil). However, for the purposes of this text, let us take the following as a given: that a soul might contain certain qualities, and that those qualities could, in theory, be transferred from the Source to the Soulcore. The debate then rests in this main principle: can the Directives, Knowledge, and Persona imbued into an Automaton override whatever innate quality was initially transferred into the Soulcore? For instance, if a Soulcore was made from a Source who was a psychopathic killer, could Directives of nonviolence, and a pacifist persona overwhelm the nature of the Source? Which is stronger, the qualities imbued in the Soulcore from the moment of its birth, or the traits chosen and added during the longer and more refined programming stage? Unit One if this text shall delve into these issues in detail. Minerva continued copying, page by page, through Unit One of the book, until she finally had to take a break.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Crafting the Soul Minerva eventually copied down everything she felt she needed from the first book. The most important parts had been copied down, word for word, in a stack of paper sitting off to the side. The unimportant parts, or the parts she felt she could commit to memory on her own, she had just skimmed. Eventually, yawning, she set the book aside and pulled the next one off the stack. But then her stomach grumbled. She decided to take a break and go find some food. The food shortage in this damn city was starting to get on her nerves. But it wasn't as if she were starving, even if she kept leaving the table not quite satisfied after a meal. Once she had gone out and found some food, she brought it back to the library, keeping it tucked out of sight so she wouldn't be caught with it. The library probably had strict rules against eating here. Getting food stains on the books was probably a grievous offense. She made extra sure to be careful to avoid that. Then she dove into the next book, carefully copying the pages once again. She skipped past most of the opening, and skimmed the first chapter, since it only covered things she had already learned during her apprenticeship. Once she reached chapter three, however, she found a section she needed to copy in its entirety. Chapter 3 Conflicting Directives While it is generally known that Directives are given an order or priority, which theoretically prevents conflict between them, what is not always known is that subtle loopholes can create potential conflicts. These conflicts can, when they become severe enough, either cause a psychotic break within the persona of the Automaton, or in sever cases, result in complete shutdown. In order to understand how this occurs, one must consider how the loophole happens. Let us first take an example of a basic Order of Priority of common Directives. Directive 1: Inflict no harm Directive 2: Protect oneself at any cost These common Directives are a classic case. Without Directive 1, this Automaton will do anything needed to protect itself, even if that means harming another in order to do so. However, since the first Directive overrules the second, this results in a logical algorithm wherein the Automaton will Protect itself if and only if it can do so without inflicting harm. In this case, there should be no conflict, since the first Directive clearly and completely overrules the second. However, sometimes more complex or subtle Directives may have criteria which makes it possible for both to be logically "true" at the same time. Consider the following example: Directive 1: Perform no act of violence Directive 2: Protect oneself at any cost At first glance, these Directives seem nearly identical to the previous set. However, there is a key flaw. That is because harm can come without being caused by an act of violence. Given the Directives above, the Automaton could, in theory, find itself in a situation where it must protect itself by allowing indirect harm to come to another, such as by shutting a door to a burning room. A living creature could become trapped inside that room as a result of the Automaton's actions, even though the Automaton actually committed no act of violence. The loophole caused by the poorly worded Directive could have allowed the Automaton to bring about a person's death, without it ever violating its Directives. Furthermore, in cases where such situations have occurred, the Automata in question often do not even understand that they did anything wrong, since "wrong" can only be defined by a violation of their list of Directives. An Animator can attempt to imbue human morals into an Automaton, but doing so merely means a longer, more elaborate set of Directives dictating what is "right" or "wrong", and thus these loopholes are still possible. The points raised in the book gave her a lot to consider. She had a great deal to learn. After she finished copying these pages, she realized she was out of ink. She set the copied pages aside, and went to find some more vials somewhere.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Directives 101 Minerva was rather concerned about what she had learned in the book on soul crafting. Yet while it explained some of the potential conflicts that could come from Directives, the book was more focused on the effect those conflicts could have on the soul. The rest of the book had delved into the effects the conflicts could have on the Automaton's psyche, the types of breakdowns that could occur, and accounts of known Automatons that had suffered such breakdowns. While it proved interesting reading, Minerva did need to learn more about how to avoid those kinds of problems. She picked up the book on Directives, and began to read. Once she found the section that dealt with choosing appropriate Directives, she began scribing the information down in careful detail. How To Choose Directives An experienced Animator knows that when it comes to Directives, simplicity and directness are key. The more complex a Directive, the more chance there is of conflicts, loopholes, or confusion. Directives must, however, be carefully worded. A lineup of Directives must also be ordered in such a way as to not create logical fallacies. Consider the following Do's and Don'ts for choosing Directives: Poorly Worded Directive Correct Wording Key Difference Do No Violence Inflict No Harm Prevents indirect harm that could occur from a non-violent act Obey My Words Obey My Commands Ensures the Automaton will also obey non-verbal commands Respect People's Property Cause No Damage To Objects 'Respecting' someone's property is an abstract concept that is only implied to include causing no damage. Automatons lack the common sense to make the connection Sweep The Floors Sweep Dirt Off The Floors When Commanded Until Commanded To Stop An example of a basic 'Housekeeper' Directive. The first option would result in a never-ending infinite loop of sweeping, as there is no 'end-clause'. Additionally, Automata have been known to remove furniture, rugs, and other objects if the Directive is too open-ended Protect Me From Danger Prevent Dangerous Effects From Directly Harming Me Automata imbued with the first Directive have been known to lock their masters away forever, in order to prevent any and all danger from reaching them. Minerva rubbed at her eyes as she finished reading and copying the section. There was a lot more to this than she had realized. It was getting late... she needed a break. She stacked her books off to the side for now, intending to return later tonight after her mind had had a chance to recover from all the information she was absorbing. She added the newest copies she'd written to her stack of notes, which was already getting quite large. Then she headed off to go clear her mind.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Animation Essay Minerva returned to her studies, and groaned in frustration as she sat down into her chair. She leaned forward and banged her head repeatedly on the table, until someone nearby glared at her and went, "Shhhhh!" She turned and scrunched her face up at them. "Oy, can it!" she said. This prompted several more nearby people to go, "Shhhh!" She slid her hands into her hair and bit back an angry scream. Stupid reading... stupid 'omework! she thought. But she had to get through this in order to move on to the fun parts. With a sigh, she pulled out some paper. Her Animation professor had assigned her an essay on Animation Principles. With the studying complete, it was time to start writing. Of course, Minerva had never been any good at writing. Sure, she could write. She could spell and put sentences together and all that. But she had never really written essays before. She groaned, and then flipped off the person across the way who shushed her again. Then she grabbed her quill, and tried to figure out what kind of essay to write. Like I need a damn essay what fer ta make golems... she thought. Stupid homework. Principles of Animation Animation is about making a good soul. Making a good soul means making it smart, and giving good directives. You should also start with a good person's soul so the Automaton doesn't wind up evil. Directives need to be good, cause bad Directives make an Automaton go crazy. Crazy Automata kill people, and that's bad. Directives need to be clear, cause if they ain't, then the Automaton can do stuff you don't want it to. So you've got to make good Directives that it can't get around with holes and stuff. And you need to make sure they don't go against each other, cause then the Directives break and you get a bad Automaton. She grumbled and threw her quill down. It would have to do. She was a builder, not a writer! OOCMy pride insists I point out... Minerva's essay is INTENTIONALLY bad, because she has no Exp in the writing skill. I don't really write like that!

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Magecraft: A History Minerva was tired. She was grumpy. And she was tired of books and essays and stupid STUPID homework! But she had to get it done. Before she grabbed the next book, she thought about making a golem to do her homework for her. That was a great idea! She could imbue it with all the knowledge of reading and writing and Animation principles and all the other stuff she needed to learn... which first required her to learn how to make one that smart. Stupid... Sighing, she opened the book. It was on Magecraft. She'd studied that under a wizard before she came to Zeltiva. She had a fair little bit of practice with it. She didn't know why she needed to know the history of it in order to do it. But... that was how it was. She pulled out her stack of paper and started copying down what she read in the book. Magecraft and Protohuman Civilization When the Gods passed the knowledge of Magecraft to the hands of mortals, the potential was limitless. Mankind could have used this new found power to forge great inventions that would advance their civilization. They could have used it to create better tools that would enable them to build stronger and better homes, ships, and great wonders. Instead, they forged weapons. Even in the early bronze age, there was a great deal that Magecraft could do to improve upon existing weapons technology. An escalation of power occurred, wherein crafters were constantly attempting to surpass the capabilities of their foes. Rulers called constantly for greater weapons and stronger armor, which simply meant the rulers of other nations had to push their people to achieve even greater heights. It should be noted that while the crafts of Protohumans in the art of Magecraft were primitive compared to those that later came during the height of the Alahean Empire, even these Protohuman creations are far deadlier than even the most advanced non-magical weapons. While rare, examples of these ancient weapons still exist in Mizahar today. Weapons. Bah! Minerva didn't care about weapons. That wasn't what she wanted to study Magecraft for. She wanted to use the art to create stronger golems, by forging magical components that would then be used in the creation of Automatons. She would, one day, make some of the most powerful golems ever seen. At least, that was the dream. She set her copied pages aside, and reached for the next book.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

The Wizards of Alahea Wizards. A book about wizards had to be good, right? Minerva flipped through the beginning and found that no, it wasn't. The early parts of the book were mostly biographies of specific wizards, details of their lives, and lists of their great feats. While it was nice to know how great some old wizards in the past were, Minerva didn't really care about the accomplishments of others. At least, not beyond the extent that learning them would make her magic better. Though as she flipped through the pages, she eventually came across something interesting. She started copying down the pages, carefully recording the listed events. The Wizards of the Suvan Wars When the cities of the Klipzian Pact fell, it was clear that the approaching Suvan armies could not be defeated by mere human soldiers. The Alheans were facing not only enemy soldiers, but the very elements themselves. It was as if the Gods had turned against them, by casting down deep snowfalls that hampered their troops, while the Suvan armies seemed unhindered. Thus it was that the battle was not won by soldiers. Alahean wizards sent forth their creations to battle against the Suvan. Their golems needed not fear the cold, nor were they slowed by the thick, heavy snow. They did not grow tired or need of protection against frostbite, fatigue, or low morale. Their stone and metal skin was tough, much stronger than the flesh of men. Thus they were able to stand strong against the Suvan armies, and hold them off, preventing them from crossing the border. While it was merely the beginning of what would be the longest war in Mizaharan history, most historians agree that it was the Wizards of Alahea, and their creations, that prevented the Alahean Empire from falling on the first day. However, considering the millenia of war that followed, there are disputes about whether the use of the wizards and their creations was a good thing... Minerva put down her book, and set aside the pages she had been carefully copying. She had never thought of it like this before. She certainly didn't want to make golems for war. She wanted to make golems that would build things, and protect people from the dangers of the wild. She'd have to make good and sure that her golems didn't have the capacity to be used in warfare. OOC : Information about the Suvan wars copied as accurately as I could from this article: http://www.mizahar.com/lore/Alahea Some creative interpretation was used, but I did my best to make sure the details remained consistent.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Reagents and Catalysts Now this was more like it. Screw history and biographies. Minerva wanted to learn how to make stuff with Magecraft. This book looked like it would be more up her alley. She flipped through it, skipping past the boring sections at the beginning, until she found some stuff that dealt with the catalysts themselves. She grabbed her papers and started copying everything down. Most Well Known Reagents Metagold - A rare and expensive material, which was beyond the manufacturing capabilities of most primitive civilizations. Requires pure and untainted gold, which is then subjected to a compression process that alters its physical and chemical structure. This material is then applied as a coating to the Magecrafted item, allowing a more focused flow of magical energies within it. Infinitite - While not requiring the same alteration processes as Metagold, Infinitite is an extremely rare gemstone that is both highly valuable and highly coveted. When a shard of Infinitite is attached to a Magecrafted item, it serves as a focal point to enhance the flow of energies. Relics and Fragments - One of the more dangerous catalysts is the use of the preserved remains of Mizahar's most ancient and powerful monsters. These beasts have unusually strong Djed, which can then be transferred into the Magecrafted item. Unfortunately, due to the dangers involved in procuring such specimens, they are often beyond the grasp of many craftsmen (at least, those who value their own lives). Minerva frowned slightly when she finished copying the section. None of this sounded like the sort of thing she would be able to get her hands on easily. She'd either need to be rich, or powerful enough to take down dangerous beasts in the wildlands. Neither of those seemed like a realistic option. She sighed, tucking away the notes. Then she groaned out loud when she remembered she now had another essay to write.

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Magecraft Essay Why? Why was writing about this stuff so important? She sat and stared at the blank page before her for a long, long time. She understood it all. She knew she did. So why did she need to WRITE about it? It wasn't as if writing ever did anyone any good. Well, except authors. They needed to write. She wanted to build things. It wasn't very fair to think that she might not pass her class just because she wasn't good with words. What difference did it make if she could write about the things she knew, as long as she knew them? Grumbling, she dipped her quill in the ink, and tried to figure out what to write. Magecrafting People have been Magecrafting since before they knew how to write. Because the Gods taught them how to Magecraft first, because they knew building things was more important than writing about them. Magecraft stuff lasts longer than writing stuff too, cause ink fades real easy like, and pages can get torn or ruined by water. But Magecraft stuff has still been around since Protohumans, and that's like ten thousand years or something I think. Magecrafting is hard and expensive. But it's worth it because it lasts so long. She set her quill down and shrugged. That was a good essay. Right?

[Minerva Agatha Zipporah]

Principles of Mathematics Math was rather important when it came to Gadgeteering. You had to learn things like precise gear measurements, torque, radial lengths, tension, and all kinds of other stuff that involved numbers. Minerva was used to doing plenty of measurements and such, but she had never really gotten into any advanced math, like geometry, trigonometry, or any of the fancy stuff that came with calculus and physics. Of course, if she wanted to make a fully functional life like Automaton one day, she needed to brush up on her numbers. This had to be more interesting than the history stuff. She pulled out some fresh paper and started flipping through the book, seeing what sort of calculations she'd need to work out. Gear Placement Problems Space is often an issue when working in fine-tuned instruments, such as clocks. Gears and components need to be arranged properly, to utilize the maximum amount of available space. Trying to force too many gears into a small area creates jamming, while spreading them out over a wider area increases strain on the system. Consider the following problems: -A clock with a body nine inches wide by eighteen inches tall has how many square inches of available space? -If the schematics call for six one inch gears, two two inch gears, and nine half inch gears, calculate the number of square inches of space they will take up. Will they fit in the clock? -If a gear with a one inch radius rotates at a rate of ten rotations per minute, but it is 25% larger than the available space, then a) what radius gear would need to be used in place of it? and b) how many rotations per minute would that gear need in order to provide the same amount of energy to the surrounding parts? She scratched her head as she looked at the problems. These were... huh? She turned to the next page, but there were just more questions there. This all seemed a little over her head. She was used to just eyeballing things if she needed to make an adjustment on the fly... but then, that sort of thing probably wouldn't work in a more complex invention. One adjustment changed the parameters for the entire rest of the gearage. A small device with only a few gears was easy to adjust. Something as big as a clock probably wouldn't be. Sighing, she squinted at the pages and tried to work through the calculations. It gave her a headache. Eventually she had to start drawing the hypothetical gears and parts out, in order to visualize it. She sketched all the gears as described on a separate sheet of paper, and now that she could look at the design, the numbers made a lot more sense. It was still better than history.