VIDEO -> TEXT. UN: DAGNY.

[dagnyology]

[ Dagny's face appears on the network. Behind her are snowy plains, where small gnomes are jumping and playing. Her face is flushed from the cold, but she smiles. ]

Hello! I hope you're all doing well! The Timeline has finally computed your mission objective — sorry it took so long! Sometimes he gets a little slow. Now, I know he may seem— different, but he's always been correct! Just... ah, be careful when talking to him? He's a learning machine, and all he really knows is about missions, so sometimes he says some strange things when he goes off topic. But don't worry! He tries his best. I'll connect you to him now.

TIMELINE.EXE IS PROGRAMMED TO RELEASE MISSION PARAMETERS. MISSION OBSERVATION IS COMPLETE AND RESULTS FOR MISSION: Nalawi ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Hello World ( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ Take the hassle and confusion out of the
Mission,
Try this One Weird Trick!

To help NALAWI, you will need to DEFEAT the GODDESS NALANNI so the energy can return to the world.* In doing so, the people of NALAWI will LOSE THEIR POWERS but the world will continue on. If this objective is not reached, NALAWI will BURN OUT PREMATURELY.

*NOTE FROM TIMELINE.EXE: Giant squid of the Sea, too
2 or 0 Not 1! Thank you

[OOC NOTE: This will serve as an IC discussion post. The OOC discussion post is here!]

Comments

[evantuality]

[Evan grins, pleased by the young man's astuteness, although the expression is a bit lopsided for the general tension of the day.]

That's one of the niches computers fill, yes. In fact the network is very analogous to one of the major roles certain kinds of personal computers have on my world. [He sighs, considering how exactly to describe the utter ubiquity of computers.] Understand, the basic definition of 'computer' is simply a machine that accepts instructions from a user and executes them. There's a basic set of ways in which this is done, but beyond that, there's a near infinite number of uses that such a basic concept can be put to.

It's a bit hard to describe. On your world, there's magic? How does it get used? [There might be a parallel he can draw, if the example holds.]

[agrizzlysin]

[King sighs when that question comes up, dropping his hand from view. It's an expected question, and he's ready for it, but the answer leaves a bad taste in his mouth.]

Magic is primarily a tool of battle, though the druids do have healing magic. Even the rare magic ability that allows for long-range communication is used to give orders or survey enemy territory.

Your computers sound... similar but different.

[Super helpful, King.]

[evantuality]

Well, certainly, I'm not shocked they'd hold some parallel niches. And I'll cop to the fact that the biggest technological advances tend to be during times of war.

[He bobs his head, equivocating a little nonetheless.]

But computers do a lot more than just wage war, by a long shot. They're very ubiquitous back home.

Moreover, [and here he drawls with some half-serious tartness,] computers are entirely a human invention, the mechanics of which are well understood by any who care to sit down and learn them. I've never met a brand of magic half so egalitarian or transparent.

[agrizzlysin]

Well, magic is largely individual. Two people rarely share the same ability.

If humans are behind computers, they're probably more like the kingdom's Incantation Orbs. Because the magic has already been cast into the orb, anyone can activate it. The other clans aren't as interested in that kind of power.

[It must be another human thing, he doesn't say - a concept expounded upon and made reality through heavy passions and a short life span.]

Do all computers... talk like this one?

[evantuality]

Oh, very rarely, at least in my time and place. Some talk but it's all programmatic -- I mean, programmed in, the voice isn't really an intelligence beyond being able to answer questions and run searches. But it seems like Timeline might be a moderately odd AI? Ah -- artificial intelligence, that is. I mean, it sounds like people have been able to interact with it in a complex manner.

But it's hard to tell. Thus one of the major dilemmas of computing. [He points a finger at the screen, rhetorical rather than accusatory.] What's the line between true intelligence and simply the seeming thereof?

[agrizzlysin]

[When King replies this time, he does so with all the speed of a snail. He tastes every word, making sure he is absolutely, positively understanding this mess. Because, seriously, he cannot understand this mess.]

So... this Timeline is an artificial intelligence... which is a computer... that can make more complex mistakes... than other computers?

[evantuality]

[The grimace Evan gives, after a pause to consider his answer, is expressive and thick with layers of internal irony.]

That's, uh, not an inaccurate summary. Of one part of the equation.

Usually people who rely on computers rely on the fact that humans and computers tend to make very different mistakes. Uh, that is to say, their errors tend to be easier to catch.

Of course tendencies are not guarantees and I've no idea if whoever programmed Timeline knew what they were doing.

[agrizzlysin]

Even if they did know what they were doing, I'm not sure...

[He trails off with a sigh and finally shakes his head. Going down that road doesn't help them figure out what they can do about anything happening now.]

Either way, I'm pretty sure neither of these goddesses have any knowledge of computers. Would that... give us any kind of advantage?

you cool with wrapping this one up soon?

[evantuality]

Not unless Timeline's going to end up giving more information than it has, which it does not sound like is the case. I mean, I'm shocked if they only have the one on hand, if they've got that kind of computing power at their disposal, but I'm sure if they had others they'd've offered them up as a proper resource to us by now, right?

I'm fairly convinced this is mostly on us, honestly. I'm unimpressed with the level of support we're getting from ALASTAIR, but it is what it is, I suppose.

absolutely! no problem.

[agrizzlysin]

That it is what it is is the problem. [Sigh and bother.] Then we'll have to work it out after all.

[evantuality]

Ahhh, I am so putting in an official complaint when we get back to Oska.

[Let's be realistic: he's probably not. It's a bit of stress-relief goofiness.]

I think it's time I went and did some of said investigation, though. Did I catch your name? I'm Evan; good to meet a voice of reason here.

[agrizzlysin]

I'm King. [He offers a quick, acknowledging nod.] You'll have to tell me if that complaint comes to anything.