transportation
There is, technically, a less expensive way to reach orbit than an elevator ride, and it has the additional advantage of being the fastest way to reach orbit. However, I cannot recommend it to you for one simple reason: I’ve “ridden freight“, and it’s an experience best saved
trope-a-day
Legendary Weapon: In the Empire, the thing about most legendary weapons is that they tend to stay legendary… due to not staying the same weapon, or rather, the same embodiment of the weapon. Aorillia, the Sword of Illimitable Light, for example, the legendary weapon of the champions of the Solar
worldbuilding
It occurred to me that I hadn’t posted on this specifically before, and it might be interesting to those of you who might be interested in the construction equipment behind the curtain. Are you familiar with the Myers-Briggs personality types? Well, if not, you might want to become familiar
Imperial University of Calmiríë
“While the Imperial University of Calmiríë does have an academically excellent and thorough program in political science (or, as its introductory course is listed in the 7930 catalog, EX0487: Introduction to the Exosophontology of Mass Coercion), prospective students should be aware that it is taught very much from the perspective
worldbuilding
So I just scribbled down some notes on the physical representation of the exval, the Accord on Trade’s exchange currency: Exval notes are denominated in powers of two, from 20 through 27. Of these, the 1 exval and 2 exval notes bear a line-work drawing of the seal of
linguistics
“There was a pond below the window! We’re not monsters, after all.” – First Quill Seïn Ejava, Scrupulous Company of Learned Scriveners, at the Defenestration of the Descriptivists “If we’re being scrupulous, it was a settling pond. For night soil.” – Sorel Haranye, former Learned Scrivener, two hours later, at
Belríä Naratyr
Belríä Naratyr: A minor fashion designer of the Seléne school (fl. 2300), best known for the creation of algorithms for the swarm-intelligence kinetic microbots used for clothing management in microgravity to adapt them, instead, to ensure that one’s cloak would swirl in an appropriately dramatic, personalized, and environmentally-tailored manner
eldraeic language
daríë: (a respectful title for) one whose accomplishments are known and admired, but do not extend to those of an Excellence or Exquisite; could reasonably be glossed “lord” or “lady” in the nominative (rare usage), and “ser” or “sera” in the vocative (common usage). In the modern era, with the
trope-a-day
Language Drift: Sort-of averted for Eldraeic, due in equal parts to its origins as a designed language intended to communicate precisionist-grade thought and to its ongoing tending by the logotects, et. al., of the Conclave of Linguistics and Ontology, who are prescriptivists nonpareil. Only sort of, however, since their department
death penalty
This is a note providing some background on one of the traditional Imperial methods of execution, namely, the flames of purification (as described here) for an ongoing comment thread here (relevant part quoted below): Let’s also not forget that the eldrae themselves have had a historical penchant for burning
culture
“Judge ye! And know that ye are judged in turn.” – Tectar Asamis, Second Exemplar of Saravoné
meta
Among the things I am kicking around today are future possibilities for the Word-of-the-Day feature. I’ve got some interesting ones in the form of words which have distinct values implied – say, “greed” – which necessarily require multiple translations – “ambition”, for example, or “compromise” – or whose closest equivalent have very different