Freedom's Seed COG
"So. To recap. You designed a system of self-replicating robots in the shape of snakes..." "In our defense, the network disruption had lasted years and we couldn't run the idea past anyone." "...which you equipped with an artificially-intelligent recognition system for coercive actions
glitterstaff
So, let's talk about the glitterstaff, that favorite prop of half the anime characters to come out of Delphys's own Kyo Aziris. If you are familiar with the history of nanotechnology - which I admit, gentle reader, is unlikely given that you are reading this book
Eldraeic Word of the Day
velle: river (SUBJECT is a river of land mass LOCATION, draining watershed SOURCE into DESTINATION) This word also provides the -vel root found in many of Eliéra's river names of historical Alteníän origin, including most famously the Maethevel, which is born on the slopes of the Imperial Mountain,
meta
A little meta note on worldbuilding, inspired by - well, okay, it's January, so you can guess what the annoying discourse has been for the last four? - four - days. Now there is a thing that while it's hardly been a major theme, here, is
Wintergifting
Today’s question for Dr. Science is from one of our younger readers. It’s actually a little more suited for Dr. Theology, but since we don’t have him on contract, I’ll try and fill in. You are all familiar, no doubt, with the legends attached to the
immigration
We have seen, in recent years, many attempts to explain the Empire's immigration policy. All of these have foundered on the rocks of the assumption that it is, indeed, an ends-driven policy - which is not a reliable guide when dealing with people who see themselves as merely
eldraeic language
halla: forest, specifically a tamed forest used for dwelling, silviculture, lumbering, coppicing, hunting, parkland, etc. Oppose loth. loth: forest, specifically wild forest not used for any purpose. Oppose halla. (Note that this is a very important distinction on Eliéra, which has a lot of forest cover, and it is important
meta
In today's recommendations, I should like to draw y'all's attention to The Problem with Sci-Fi Body Armor, over at A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry. Why? Well, apart from being interesting in its own right, it is one of the latest and best posts whose
worldbuilding
(To be pronounced, naturally, just like "Catholicism Wow!". You may feel free to imagine for yourself Buddy Queen Victoria, Buddy Cecil Rhodes, Buddy Genghis Khan, or Buddy Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus.) In which I write in response to this comment back on "Nom": Are there any
Imperium Bellipotent
“Consider, gentle reader, that even as the flesh of an Emperor, or of any man, is constituted of what he eats, so then is an Empire, in bones and sinew, constituted of what it eats. “Therefore, to maintain the health, and to avoid the manifestations of ill-nutrition, unseemly bloat, or
wet navy
I saw this picture today, via an Astral Codex Ten post on distinguishing human art from AI art, but that is not the context in which I reference it: Instead, I merely point out that it would be an accurate representation of what the Royal Alatian (later Imperial) Navy would
food and drink
Pressed bean curds are a common item in many Eliéran cuisines, in recipes both savory and sweet. I refer to them using this long description since, despite being identical in many ways and produced from the same small group of plants, they are one of the very few foodstuffs to