Show Posts
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Pages1
1
Canterlot Archives / ADOA-EAI-2.2.5(Can't figure out how to delete, anyone who can feel free to)
2014 Oct 06, 21:57:17
Saturday, January First, 1003 - 22:14:37 - Inside of the Friendly Fire corporation primary facility.
"So, why, again, should I pay half a million bits for this... thing."
"Quite frankly, half a million bits is an absolute steal. We've put this model up at one third price for you. You seemed interested at all stages in the process before. Getting cold hooves now?"
"No, it's not that. I was just expecting... something else. Not this."
"Perfectly understandable, sir. She's a bit of a secret project, as it were. The most advanced weapon system we have, by at least three centuries."
"Saying something like that won't impress me, you know. Things 'centuries' ahead have a habit of being a few years ahead at most. I'm looking for field numbers, not estimates."
"Oh, I can assure you, sir, this is not hyperbole. We found an early unit nine years back, right outside of the badlands. Crashed and in a strange crater, half destroyed. The manufacturing date on the plate clearly read 1336. I assure you, this is the real deal when it comes to advanced technology."
"You must be jokeing! You can't seriously expect me to believe that this... thing is from the future?"
"No, no, of course not! That was nine years ago. We reversed engineered the technology and built this model from what we learned. The only part that's actually from the future in her still is, well, the fusion core. We haven't even come close to figuring out how that works, yet."
"... ... Sweet Celestia, you're actually serious."
"Sir, I am always serious when it comes to business."
"Alright then. Let me ask you a business question, then. Why is this model one third price, if it's the unique advanced superweapon that you say it is."
"She's a prototype model. We've been playing around with the coding for the A.I. for the past few iterations. We're not sure the build she has is entirely stable. It should be more powerful, actually, but we haven't had the time to test it yet. A few of her experimental features are also prototypes. Basically, it's the carrot to get you to take the risk."
"The unit might not work, so you put out a disclaimer and a discount. Good thinking. Well, assuming that she works, say, just as well as..."
"Our last fully stable unit build was 2.1.13. I do believe we still have two up for purchase, if you wish. They cost 1,250,000 bits each, in case you were interested."
"Okay, so, assuming that this one works at least as well as the 2.1.13 unit, will it be able to do what I require?"
"From what you have told me, it should. They ain't meant to siege cities, but anything short should be well within her capabilities."
"Excellent. Doctor, when your team contacted me four weeks ago, I must admit, I was sceptical. But, now, after having seen your facility, and this unit in particular, I find myself very trusting of your capabilities."
"Understandable, given what we're offering. Some of it does seem too good to be true at first glance. I take it you will be making a purchase, then."
"Yes, I will. This unit costs 400,000 bits, right? Here. I'll buy the 2.2.5 unit. In addition, I'll put 100,000 bits down on one of the 2.1.13 units, just in case something does go wrong. You'll hold on to one for me, won't you?"
"For a 100,000 bit deposit? It'll be reserved for your purchase for at least the next fifty years."
"Excellent. Alright. I'll also take fifty of the personal strike kits; those were one thousand each, right?"
"Yes. That would bring you to 550,000 bits."
"Good, good! I think that should be everything. Is their anything I need to do before walking out here with my new toys?"
"Yes, there is one thing. The A.I. on the 2.2.5 unit... we have identified a definite bug. It comes from the core system, which we haven't really touched for fear of breaking it. Normally our breaks suppress it... but we took out all, or at least most, of the breaks on her. That was the point."
"I commend you for saying this before you had the money in your hooves, but I would appreciate it if you would actually tell me what the problem is."
"... yes, quite. Sorry. She seems to be hard-wired with specific reactions to the alicorn princesses, jumping instantly to defend any action done by or relating to Celestia, and responding severely negativity to anything related to Luna. From what we've seen, no order seems to have higher importance that this directive. But, unless you plan on trying to assassinate Celestia..."
"I might be brash, but I'm not stupid."
"Then it shouldn't be much of an issue."
"Well, if that's all, then I think we're done here. Unless there she's also allergic to cheese or something."
"No, that should be everything."
"Then consider the purchase complete. When can I expect the goods?"
"If you can carry them, the strike kits are already good to go. We can have the 2.2.5 unit up and ready for you in twenty minutes, right after some final checks."
"Wonderful, wonderful! I can feel my goals drawing closer already!"
______________
Saturday, January First, 1003 - 22:19:04 - Under the Friendly Fire corporation primary facility.
"Ah! Buck!" Star banged his head on the inside of the tunnel.
"Shhh!" Lyra spat. "Are you trying to get us caught!"
"Sorry. That clearance wasn't as high as I thought it was." Star paused, looking at Lyra. "You don't have to be here, you know. You've already helped a great deal just by locating the facility for me."
"Like I'd drop out after coming this far."
Star sighed. It was true, of course; and, give the situation, he really could use all the help he could get. He had been hired by an interested, anonymous party to investigate this off the books, off the grid research facility. These were the things that got food on the table, after all. His mission was to investigate the scope and scale of the facility. No confrontation, no sabatage, just reconosense. Easy, right?
Star sighed again. Things were never easy. At least he had two of the three ponies he trusted most at his back. Speaking of which...
"Stormy, anything on the sensors?"
((This story occurs three and a half months after the conclusion of the events of Stormy_Skies A16-EQ-UNI-ECO. Stormy has probably been living with Star for most of this time. The eleventh glyph has been found. Star and Twilight have settled into a strong, stable friendship, though Twilight obviously still loves Star(It's beginning to fade, though.) Lyra kind of pops in and out on occasion. The company you are investigating, you would know, is a underground military production facility, specializing in providing powerful magical and scientific weapons to those who are unscrupulous and very rich- but that's about all you'd know. Stormy would be picking up energy signatures of advanced technology, though not too much of it. The facility is physically located about ten kilometers outside of Manehatten, about sixty kilometers from Ponyville. Yes, there is snow outside. It's actually lightly snowing right now. You three are in an access/maintenance tunnel going under the main production floor. If you've read the timestamps correctly, you would find that, given that the dialog would take about three minutes to complete, these two event are taking place at roughly the same time. You can not hear the two misterious voices, they're just there for mood building and story purposes. A little meta to set the scene. Good luck, and remember to have fun!))
"So, why, again, should I pay half a million bits for this... thing."
"Quite frankly, half a million bits is an absolute steal. We've put this model up at one third price for you. You seemed interested at all stages in the process before. Getting cold hooves now?"
"No, it's not that. I was just expecting... something else. Not this."
"Perfectly understandable, sir. She's a bit of a secret project, as it were. The most advanced weapon system we have, by at least three centuries."
"Saying something like that won't impress me, you know. Things 'centuries' ahead have a habit of being a few years ahead at most. I'm looking for field numbers, not estimates."
"Oh, I can assure you, sir, this is not hyperbole. We found an early unit nine years back, right outside of the badlands. Crashed and in a strange crater, half destroyed. The manufacturing date on the plate clearly read 1336. I assure you, this is the real deal when it comes to advanced technology."
"You must be jokeing! You can't seriously expect me to believe that this... thing is from the future?"
"No, no, of course not! That was nine years ago. We reversed engineered the technology and built this model from what we learned. The only part that's actually from the future in her still is, well, the fusion core. We haven't even come close to figuring out how that works, yet."
"... ... Sweet Celestia, you're actually serious."
"Sir, I am always serious when it comes to business."
"Alright then. Let me ask you a business question, then. Why is this model one third price, if it's the unique advanced superweapon that you say it is."
"She's a prototype model. We've been playing around with the coding for the A.I. for the past few iterations. We're not sure the build she has is entirely stable. It should be more powerful, actually, but we haven't had the time to test it yet. A few of her experimental features are also prototypes. Basically, it's the carrot to get you to take the risk."
"The unit might not work, so you put out a disclaimer and a discount. Good thinking. Well, assuming that she works, say, just as well as..."
"Our last fully stable unit build was 2.1.13. I do believe we still have two up for purchase, if you wish. They cost 1,250,000 bits each, in case you were interested."
"Okay, so, assuming that this one works at least as well as the 2.1.13 unit, will it be able to do what I require?"
"From what you have told me, it should. They ain't meant to siege cities, but anything short should be well within her capabilities."
"Excellent. Doctor, when your team contacted me four weeks ago, I must admit, I was sceptical. But, now, after having seen your facility, and this unit in particular, I find myself very trusting of your capabilities."
"Understandable, given what we're offering. Some of it does seem too good to be true at first glance. I take it you will be making a purchase, then."
"Yes, I will. This unit costs 400,000 bits, right? Here. I'll buy the 2.2.5 unit. In addition, I'll put 100,000 bits down on one of the 2.1.13 units, just in case something does go wrong. You'll hold on to one for me, won't you?"
"For a 100,000 bit deposit? It'll be reserved for your purchase for at least the next fifty years."
"Excellent. Alright. I'll also take fifty of the personal strike kits; those were one thousand each, right?"
"Yes. That would bring you to 550,000 bits."
"Good, good! I think that should be everything. Is their anything I need to do before walking out here with my new toys?"
"Yes, there is one thing. The A.I. on the 2.2.5 unit... we have identified a definite bug. It comes from the core system, which we haven't really touched for fear of breaking it. Normally our breaks suppress it... but we took out all, or at least most, of the breaks on her. That was the point."
"I commend you for saying this before you had the money in your hooves, but I would appreciate it if you would actually tell me what the problem is."
"... yes, quite. Sorry. She seems to be hard-wired with specific reactions to the alicorn princesses, jumping instantly to defend any action done by or relating to Celestia, and responding severely negativity to anything related to Luna. From what we've seen, no order seems to have higher importance that this directive. But, unless you plan on trying to assassinate Celestia..."
"I might be brash, but I'm not stupid."
"Then it shouldn't be much of an issue."
"Well, if that's all, then I think we're done here. Unless there she's also allergic to cheese or something."
"No, that should be everything."
"Then consider the purchase complete. When can I expect the goods?"
"If you can carry them, the strike kits are already good to go. We can have the 2.2.5 unit up and ready for you in twenty minutes, right after some final checks."
"Wonderful, wonderful! I can feel my goals drawing closer already!"
______________
Saturday, January First, 1003 - 22:19:04 - Under the Friendly Fire corporation primary facility.
"Ah! Buck!" Star banged his head on the inside of the tunnel.
"Shhh!" Lyra spat. "Are you trying to get us caught!"
"Sorry. That clearance wasn't as high as I thought it was." Star paused, looking at Lyra. "You don't have to be here, you know. You've already helped a great deal just by locating the facility for me."
"Like I'd drop out after coming this far."
Star sighed. It was true, of course; and, give the situation, he really could use all the help he could get. He had been hired by an interested, anonymous party to investigate this off the books, off the grid research facility. These were the things that got food on the table, after all. His mission was to investigate the scope and scale of the facility. No confrontation, no sabatage, just reconosense. Easy, right?
Star sighed again. Things were never easy. At least he had two of the three ponies he trusted most at his back. Speaking of which...
"Stormy, anything on the sensors?"
((This story occurs three and a half months after the conclusion of the events of Stormy_Skies A16-EQ-UNI-ECO. Stormy has probably been living with Star for most of this time. The eleventh glyph has been found. Star and Twilight have settled into a strong, stable friendship, though Twilight obviously still loves Star(It's beginning to fade, though.) Lyra kind of pops in and out on occasion. The company you are investigating, you would know, is a underground military production facility, specializing in providing powerful magical and scientific weapons to those who are unscrupulous and very rich- but that's about all you'd know. Stormy would be picking up energy signatures of advanced technology, though not too much of it. The facility is physically located about ten kilometers outside of Manehatten, about sixty kilometers from Ponyville. Yes, there is snow outside. It's actually lightly snowing right now. You three are in an access/maintenance tunnel going under the main production floor. If you've read the timestamps correctly, you would find that, given that the dialog would take about three minutes to complete, these two event are taking place at roughly the same time. You can not hear the two misterious voices, they're just there for mood building and story purposes. A little meta to set the scene. Good luck, and remember to have fun!))
2
Original Characters / New OC/Ponysona Star Gazer
2014 Aug 11, 05:33:37
So, well, I decided I wanted to make a OC for RPing purposes. This is my first OC, so hopefully I'll do okay. Fingers crossed!
Image courtesy of Ramisha, who just sort of made it out of the goodness of his/her heart. He/she is awesome. And did not indicate gender on his/her account. Sorry, Ramisha.
Name: Star Gazer
Race: Unicorn
Gender: Male
Color: Light blue with a dark blue mane. Cutie mark of a single star.
Myers Briggs Personality Type: INTP
OCEAN scores: O - 9(Strongly open); C - 31(Organized); E - 39(Introverted); A - 89(Strongly Analytically); N - 81(Confident)
Weight: 197 Kg
Lift/Carry: 25 Kg/45 Kg
Net worth: 1925 Bits. (Total worth of all items owned.)
Items of Greatest Personal Value: 50 ml vial, with 50 ml of class 2 painkiller inside; Picture of family(well worn, taken May sixth, nine hundred ninety-six.)
Magic Aptitude Quotient(MAQ): 0.82 (Below Average magic)
General Intelligence Quotient(GIQ): 146 (Genius intellect)
Greatest fear: Absolute darkness.
Date of birth: 6 September 982 C.R. (Seventeen years of age when Nightmare Moon returned)
Sanity: 147/250 (Current/Max);
Current Location: General Ponyville Area.
Background: Born to a normal unicorn family in Trottingham, Star Gazer was very quickly recognized as different from his peers. By age three, he was preforming basic arithmetic on three digit numbers, by five he was learning simple chemical formula, by six he was designing his own experiments. Though never quite capable of reaching the levels of 'child prodigy', he was very obviously in an intellectual league of his own - or, at the very least, one he shared with only those other 1 in 400's. Unfortunately, the most incredible intellect in the world gets you nowhere when your interests don't align with that of society, and so, by the time he was thirteen, Star Gazer was considered no different than any other teenage unicorn, for the simple fact that he found Classical Physics more interesting than Magic. He was a slightly-above average magic student, and that was all.
Star Gazer's interests switched. He did what the other's wanted him to, and began to study magic harder. Very quickly, his reputation was turned around. By fusing his knowledge of physics with his growing understanding of magic, he was able to effectively preform feats of magical engineering, more advanced than almost any spell. His relatively weak magic prevented him from doing all that he hoped, but very quickly he found his niche. He published his first paper, Applications of Magical Channeling in Engine Design, on his fourteenth birthday. He graduated from Trottingham High at the age of fifteen. It was right about then that things got interesting...
Star Gazer received a small grant to fund research into the nature and use of combined magical glyphs on March first, nine ninety-eight. Though it was not his ideal project, it was the only job the young Star Gazer could get, so he took it. Three months into his six month contract, on the seventh of June, Star Gazer managed to get a success, out of nowhere, which far exceeded any progress he had so far achieved. This new glyph, on top of holding the properties of the five combined glyphs, had something that no previous glyph had - what no glyph, as far as Star Gazer knew, should ever have - its own magical aura. Flush with success, Star Gazer sent off a report as soon as he could manage, and by the ninth of June, the discovery was available to all of academia. Despite his own personal interest, Star Gazer did not follow up on his discovery, opting instead to concentrate on the work to which he had been assigned.
Of course, it couldn't last. He was simply too curious to keep away. So, just before his contract ran out, he preformed a set of experiments using the knowledge he had gathered, and in three days, on the twenty-ninth of August, he created a second such glyphs - this one with a much stronger magical aura. Again, he published. This time, he waited for the response.
None came. His contract expired on the first of September. With the success of his research, Star Gazer was sure he could get onto some project which he was excited for. But all his applications came back negative, even in fields directly related to his previous research. None of his proposals would get funding, and no team would accept him.
Without the option of getting grants or funding, Star Gazer turned to the private sector for work. He traveled from town to town, working, researching, and making new discoveries - and new friends. It took him a while, but by January of one thousand, he had landed himself a research contract; his own reputation was beginning to build. Today, he lives outside of Ponyville, doing the jobs that unicorns are needed for, the research that needs somepony not afraid to get his hooves dirty.
*** A Word On Glyphs, from the Equestrian Scientist, Issue 198 (Pub. 12 October, 998) ***
Many of our readers have been writing in to ask us what Glyphs are in response to Issue 196's special on them. We here at the Scientist were initially surprised at response, but have come to the realization that we are at fault for the confusion. Glyphs are, of course, symbols. Any symbol that is part of a standardized set is a glyph. Our alphabet contains 26 glyphs. So why, exactly, are they important to the Science of Magic?
In the context of magic theory, Glyph is basically just a fancy way of saying Rune, or Magic Symbol. There are 128 magical Glyphs, used in advanced spell-casting. Or, you know, normal spell-casting too. They're a really good example of 'Easy to learn, difficult to master'. Using glyphs allows one to cast spells on timers, or in specific locations, or to be triggered by specific stimuli. Using multiple glyphs can lead to very complex, precise, and efficient spells. However, not every combination works, and even fewer are effective. The rules are very complex. It works a little like chemistry, actually. Different glyphs will only combine with a few others, adding just a single glyph can radically change the effect of the spell, there are set, exact rules that the combinations follow, and there are tons of explosions.
During the last eighty years or so, a new type of glyph combination technique was invented, involving literally drawing the glyphs on top of each other. The rules are even more complex for these, as the order you inscribe the glyphs, the angle you inscribe them at, and the time between each inscription all seem to have some effect on the outcome. Work into the use of five-glyph combination did not begin until 996, with the publishing of Application of Computer Aided Calculation in the Field of Higher Level Glyph Combination by Number Crunch, which proved that, through extensive work, five, six, and even seven glyph combinations were possible, if very difficult and rare. The latest breakthrough work in this field came in 998, when Star Gazer published Evidence of Internal Unique Energy Fields in Fifth Order Glyph Combinations, at the young age of 15. His work was the subject of Issue 196's special.(See Page 41, Why You Should be Excited for Magic Symbols Again.)
On that topic, some of our readers will be disappointed to know that young Star Gazer declined to have a interview for our 'greatest minds of 998' special we will be running in Issue 200, on the grounds that "The discovery was a fluke, and not based upon my past research. There are hundreds of more talented ponies who work for years on a project and just get unlucky. I can name at least ten off the top of my head more deserving than myself whom I am sure you won't include." ...
(Passage continues for another paragraph on Star Gazer, then switches to another topic.)
Image courtesy of Ramisha, who just sort of made it out of the goodness of his/her heart. He/she is awesome. And did not indicate gender on his/her account. Sorry, Ramisha.
Name: Star Gazer
Race: Unicorn
Gender: Male
Color: Light blue with a dark blue mane. Cutie mark of a single star.
Myers Briggs Personality Type: INTP
OCEAN scores: O - 9(Strongly open); C - 31(Organized); E - 39(Introverted); A - 89(Strongly Analytically); N - 81(Confident)
Weight: 197 Kg
Lift/Carry: 25 Kg/45 Kg
Net worth: 1925 Bits. (Total worth of all items owned.)
Items of Greatest Personal Value: 50 ml vial, with 50 ml of class 2 painkiller inside; Picture of family(well worn, taken May sixth, nine hundred ninety-six.)
Spoiler: show
Magic Aptitude Quotient(MAQ): 0.82 (Below Average magic)
General Intelligence Quotient(GIQ): 146 (Genius intellect)
Greatest fear: Absolute darkness.
Date of birth: 6 September 982 C.R. (Seventeen years of age when Nightmare Moon returned)
Sanity: 147/250 (Current/Max);
Spoiler: show
Current Location: General Ponyville Area.
Background: Born to a normal unicorn family in Trottingham, Star Gazer was very quickly recognized as different from his peers. By age three, he was preforming basic arithmetic on three digit numbers, by five he was learning simple chemical formula, by six he was designing his own experiments. Though never quite capable of reaching the levels of 'child prodigy', he was very obviously in an intellectual league of his own - or, at the very least, one he shared with only those other 1 in 400's. Unfortunately, the most incredible intellect in the world gets you nowhere when your interests don't align with that of society, and so, by the time he was thirteen, Star Gazer was considered no different than any other teenage unicorn, for the simple fact that he found Classical Physics more interesting than Magic. He was a slightly-above average magic student, and that was all.
Star Gazer's interests switched. He did what the other's wanted him to, and began to study magic harder. Very quickly, his reputation was turned around. By fusing his knowledge of physics with his growing understanding of magic, he was able to effectively preform feats of magical engineering, more advanced than almost any spell. His relatively weak magic prevented him from doing all that he hoped, but very quickly he found his niche. He published his first paper, Applications of Magical Channeling in Engine Design, on his fourteenth birthday. He graduated from Trottingham High at the age of fifteen. It was right about then that things got interesting...
Star Gazer received a small grant to fund research into the nature and use of combined magical glyphs on March first, nine ninety-eight. Though it was not his ideal project, it was the only job the young Star Gazer could get, so he took it. Three months into his six month contract, on the seventh of June, Star Gazer managed to get a success, out of nowhere, which far exceeded any progress he had so far achieved. This new glyph, on top of holding the properties of the five combined glyphs, had something that no previous glyph had - what no glyph, as far as Star Gazer knew, should ever have - its own magical aura. Flush with success, Star Gazer sent off a report as soon as he could manage, and by the ninth of June, the discovery was available to all of academia.
Spoiler: show
Of course, it couldn't last. He was simply too curious to keep away. So, just before his contract ran out, he preformed a set of experiments using the knowledge he had gathered, and in three days, on the twenty-ninth of August, he created a second such glyphs - this one with a much stronger magical aura. Again, he published. This time, he waited for the response.
None came. His contract expired on the first of September. With the success of his research, Star Gazer was sure he could get onto some project which he was excited for. But all his applications came back negative, even in fields directly related to his previous research. None of his proposals would get funding, and no team would accept him.
Spoiler: show
Without the option of getting grants or funding, Star Gazer turned to the private sector for work. He traveled from town to town, working, researching, and making new discoveries - and new friends. It took him a while, but by January of one thousand, he had landed himself a research contract;
Spoiler: show
Spoiler: show
*** A Word On Glyphs, from the Equestrian Scientist, Issue 198 (Pub. 12 October, 998) ***
Many of our readers have been writing in to ask us what Glyphs are in response to Issue 196's special on them. We here at the Scientist were initially surprised at response, but have come to the realization that we are at fault for the confusion. Glyphs are, of course, symbols. Any symbol that is part of a standardized set is a glyph. Our alphabet contains 26 glyphs. So why, exactly, are they important to the Science of Magic?
In the context of magic theory, Glyph is basically just a fancy way of saying Rune, or Magic Symbol. There are 128 magical Glyphs, used in advanced spell-casting. Or, you know, normal spell-casting too. They're a really good example of 'Easy to learn, difficult to master'. Using glyphs allows one to cast spells on timers, or in specific locations, or to be triggered by specific stimuli. Using multiple glyphs can lead to very complex, precise, and efficient spells. However, not every combination works, and even fewer are effective. The rules are very complex. It works a little like chemistry, actually. Different glyphs will only combine with a few others, adding just a single glyph can radically change the effect of the spell, there are set, exact rules that the combinations follow, and there are tons of explosions.
During the last eighty years or so, a new type of glyph combination technique was invented, involving literally drawing the glyphs on top of each other. The rules are even more complex for these, as the order you inscribe the glyphs, the angle you inscribe them at, and the time between each inscription all seem to have some effect on the outcome. Work into the use of five-glyph combination did not begin until 996, with the publishing of Application of Computer Aided Calculation in the Field of Higher Level Glyph Combination by Number Crunch, which proved that, through extensive work, five, six, and even seven glyph combinations were possible, if very difficult and rare. The latest breakthrough work in this field came in 998, when Star Gazer published Evidence of Internal Unique Energy Fields in Fifth Order Glyph Combinations, at the young age of 15. His work was the subject of Issue 196's special.(See Page 41, Why You Should be Excited for Magic Symbols Again.)
On that topic, some of our readers will be disappointed to know that young Star Gazer declined to have a interview for our 'greatest minds of 998' special we will be running in Issue 200, on the grounds that "The discovery was a fluke, and not based upon my past research. There are hundreds of more talented ponies who work for years on a project and just get unlucky. I can name at least ten off the top of my head more deserving than myself whom I am sure you won't include." ...
(Passage continues for another paragraph on Star Gazer, then switches to another topic.)
3
Introductions Archive / Greetings!
2014 Aug 09, 11:05:11
Existence is futile, our time pointless and insignificant. Only by friendship can we convince ourselves, even if only for a fleeting moment, that we matter.
In other news, hello! I'm so glad to be here!
In other news, hello! I'm so glad to be here!
Pages1