I prefer to oversee my own projects, if nothing else. My largest achievement so far, mechanically speaking, is a fully functioning mobile fortress; it deploys both traditional and magical weaponry, and is designed for neutralizing beings that would otherwise be capable of destroying legions of human units. It's roughly the size of a city, and capable of deployment on both water and land; it isn't fully autonomous, but it can be set to follow simple but explicit commands on its own, and it can be deployed remotely if needs be.
[ .... well. That certainly isn't straight-forward or simple in the slightest. McGillis looks genuinely surprised and there is a glimmer of awed interest in his eyes. ]
Right off the bat, magic doesn't exist in my world so any combination of machinery with it is bound to impress me.
But even further than that... it sounds like something I'd much like to see. Fighting units are traditionally much smaller in my world - even the mobile armors from the Calamity War span only around 40 meters. There's battle ships of course, and those are capable of operating in air or in outer orbit, but... this is still something else. Our worlds would have much to learn from one another.
I see... We don't have much need for much large-scale weaponry, short of the fortress I've created; humans don't often fight one another, and we try to avoid war as much as possible. The beings that I've mentioned went to war with us ten years ago, and much of our number was annihilated; we're obviously still rebuilding.
But if we do fight one another, it's with some combination of physical weaponry and magic; guns exist, but they aren't widespread. Swords, lances and archery are still in widespread use.
Interesting... I'd have expected any reality that developed firearms to default to them soon after. I wonder if the presence of magic is the key difference there...?
[ Said more to himself as he takes another sip of tea. ]
I have learned fencing as a child, but it's only performative. In battle, we rely on firearms or mobile suits - tall humanoid machines you can control from the inside.
I believe that guns are found only within black market dealings, and even then only within the guilds. The Empire has nothing to do with them; however, we control most of the magic usage. So that would be your difference, I believe.
[That said, though... He seems to consider the second part of that for a moment.]
We have humanoid machines that require an artifact to use, but they're not controlled from within...? That seems like a rather decent way to kill the operator.
I won't deny it is dangerous and requires a high level of skill, but there are many reasons we default to piloting instead of remote control.
The reaction times and maneuverability are a lot better when you're in direct contact with your machine, for one. And then, there is a particle that causes a strong type of radio interference that can easily disable all communications and remote control.
In order to beat back the mobile armors I mentioned, mobile suits were entirely necessary. And they still persist, 300 years later.
I see. The sort of technology that I'm accustomed to, with the artifacts and conduits required to make them function... They're fairly sophisticated, but they're incredibly intuitive and simple to use. Anyone can do it, including children, with enough practice and familiarity. However, modifying and altering them is incredibly difficult, requiring years of study, and isn't the sort of thing that one can do accidentally. It's likewise possible to disrupt them, but there are only two artifacts in the world capable of that, so the chance of them coming into play at any point is very low.
[He settles back a bit, though, once that's out there.]
I understand that it's highly flippant and dismissive of me to think of it in terms of "I would simply create something that can't be disrupted by those particles, then"; I'm not arrogant enough to believe that thought to be anything more than my own ignorance. But I admit that several of the concepts you've mentioned are a bit beyond me.
[ Oh hey, good to see his conversation partner getting a little more comfortable. ]
Understandable enough. I am not confident in my ability to explain them with the simplicity necessary for this situation to begin with. I imagine reaching even the common knowledge of an uneducated citizen in each other's world would take us quite a few lectures by one another.
[ Which he would not be opposed to if this situation drags on, because it is interesting. But also, there was something else that brought them here today... ]
Tell me about your Empire instead. Power structures seem to be universally understood.
[The Empire is... Well, it sure is, but at the very least it doesn't defy explanation.]
There are usually three existing governing bodies, created with the intention of no one individual - or block of individuals - holding absolute power. The Imperial Knights consist of my subordinates down the chain of command and myself as their leader and commander; our duties are largely what one would expect given such a title, as it seems to be a common organization between worlds. The Council consists of a number of nobles acting as a group of delegates, intended to represent the will of the people. Our Emperor is usually the third ruling body; while his word is usually absolute, the Emperor's decrees can be overruled if the Knights and the Council act in agreement to do so. Otherwise, the Emperor's position is to have final say on all proposals put forth by the Council and the Knights individually, and to settle any disputes when the proposals put forth clash.
Unfortunately, our Emperor is deceased. A replacement is decided through divine revelation, which we have yet to receive.
[HE KNOWS, FROM THE SOUND OF IT, THAT THAT LATTER PART SOUNDS STUPID. Just. Just work with him here.]
The Council was already difficult to keep in check due to its own nature; the higher classes will always ensure that they prosper, while the lower classes will be left in a state of oppression and squalor. They've also ordered assassination attempts against me personally, as well as several of my men. I'm keeping them from doing worse to those citizens under my care and jurisdiction; they dislike me greatly for doing so, and for blocking them from acting on whatever whim strikes them that day.
[ Divine revelation, why not? You guys have magic, why not a God? McGillis takes that one in stride. ]
Ah... Indeed, everything is the same, no matter where you go...
[ Now, is that reassuring or disappointing? How would it feel if his world was the only awful one out of so many that prosper? McGillis can't say. At least knowing that humans will be humans no matter where and how means that he is not out of his depth trying to understand everyone else in this strange land. ]
I can understand your frustrations quite intimately and I respect your work deeply. The political structure in my world is different, but we have our own equivalent of your council. Regretfully, I must say that I am on it. It's the only way I could ever hope to change its iron hold.
Truly, I'd rather you don't trust me. It shows a refreshing amount of sanity regarding our situation. Likewise, I don't trust you either, but putting the disclaimer every time does get exhausting.
[ No real trust until explicitly stated otherwise, how does it sound? ]
I want to believe your tale, though. There are always too few who wish to change the world for the better.
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I rather enjoyed creating that one.
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Right off the bat, magic doesn't exist in my world so any combination of machinery with it is bound to impress me.
But even further than that... it sounds like something I'd much like to see. Fighting units are traditionally much smaller in my world - even the mobile armors from the Calamity War span only around 40 meters. There's battle ships of course, and those are capable of operating in air or in outer orbit, but... this is still something else. Our worlds would have much to learn from one another.
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I see... We don't have much need for much large-scale weaponry, short of the fortress I've created; humans don't often fight one another, and we try to avoid war as much as possible. The beings that I've mentioned went to war with us ten years ago, and much of our number was annihilated; we're obviously still rebuilding.
But if we do fight one another, it's with some combination of physical weaponry and magic; guns exist, but they aren't widespread. Swords, lances and archery are still in widespread use.
no subject
[ Said more to himself as he takes another sip of tea. ]
I have learned fencing as a child, but it's only performative. In battle, we rely on firearms or mobile suits - tall humanoid machines you can control from the inside.
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[That said, though... He seems to consider the second part of that for a moment.]
We have humanoid machines that require an artifact to use, but they're not controlled from within...? That seems like a rather decent way to kill the operator.
no subject
The reaction times and maneuverability are a lot better when you're in direct contact with your machine, for one. And then, there is a particle that causes a strong type of radio interference that can easily disable all communications and remote control.
In order to beat back the mobile armors I mentioned, mobile suits were entirely necessary. And they still persist, 300 years later.
no subject
[He settles back a bit, though, once that's out there.]
I understand that it's highly flippant and dismissive of me to think of it in terms of "I would simply create something that can't be disrupted by those particles, then"; I'm not arrogant enough to believe that thought to be anything more than my own ignorance. But I admit that several of the concepts you've mentioned are a bit beyond me.
no subject
Understandable enough. I am not confident in my ability to explain them with the simplicity necessary for this situation to begin with. I imagine reaching even the common knowledge of an uneducated citizen in each other's world would take us quite a few lectures by one another.
[ Which he would not be opposed to if this situation drags on, because it is interesting. But also, there was something else that brought them here today... ]
Tell me about your Empire instead. Power structures seem to be universally understood.
no subject
[The Empire is... Well, it sure is, but at the very least it doesn't defy explanation.]
There are usually three existing governing bodies, created with the intention of no one individual - or block of individuals - holding absolute power. The Imperial Knights consist of my subordinates down the chain of command and myself as their leader and commander; our duties are largely what one would expect given such a title, as it seems to be a common organization between worlds. The Council consists of a number of nobles acting as a group of delegates, intended to represent the will of the people. Our Emperor is usually the third ruling body; while his word is usually absolute, the Emperor's decrees can be overruled if the Knights and the Council act in agreement to do so. Otherwise, the Emperor's position is to have final say on all proposals put forth by the Council and the Knights individually, and to settle any disputes when the proposals put forth clash.
Unfortunately, our Emperor is deceased. A replacement is decided through divine revelation, which we have yet to receive.
[HE KNOWS, FROM THE SOUND OF IT, THAT THAT LATTER PART SOUNDS STUPID. Just. Just work with him here.]
The Council was already difficult to keep in check due to its own nature; the higher classes will always ensure that they prosper, while the lower classes will be left in a state of oppression and squalor. They've also ordered assassination attempts against me personally, as well as several of my men. I'm keeping them from doing worse to those citizens under my care and jurisdiction; they dislike me greatly for doing so, and for blocking them from acting on whatever whim strikes them that day.
no subject
Ah... Indeed, everything is the same, no matter where you go...
[ Now, is that reassuring or disappointing? How would it feel if his world was the only awful one out of so many that prosper? McGillis can't say. At least knowing that humans will be humans no matter where and how means that he is not out of his depth trying to understand everyone else in this strange land. ]
I can understand your frustrations quite intimately and I respect your work deeply. The political structure in my world is different, but we have our own equivalent of your council. Regretfully, I must say that I am on it. It's the only way I could ever hope to change its iron hold.
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[So, yeah.]
I don't begrudge you your position, though as with so many things, I only have your word on the matter.
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[ No real trust until explicitly stated otherwise, how does it sound? ]
I want to believe your tale, though. There are always too few who wish to change the world for the better.
[ Hm, is wish a good word here...? ]
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My thoughts on it are similar, though I believe I've had more than enough of wishes to last me some time yet.
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[ He's just assuming that confidently, because it is hard to imagine he could be wrong. ]
I consider that to be more helpful than those who simple dream, anyway.