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Post by Kage2020 on Dec 28, 2003 21:44:28 GMT -5
The following piece of 'fluff' is related to the ASP and the colony world of the eldar insofar as it broaches upon some of the wider concepts of the 40k univere. Well, at least those bits of the 40k universe that invovle the craftworld eldar. The premise of the 'fluff' was originally revolving around an online project located on another board, but I'm no longer sure that I will include anything that I write with that project. I also add the following caveat (is that plural and singular, out of interest?) or 'Kage's get out clause'... Firstly, this piece is in no way finished. Secondly, in all my writings I tend to philosophical rambling and generally being verbose. You will have to forgive me in these regards since I am by training a science writer, not a fiction one. Oh yes, all formatting is no longer presence since that was typed on a palm top, transferred to my laptop and from there just copy and pasted... And to Farseer Kythil... don't let EO know about this one!  ******** ORIGINAL POSTING FOLLOWS ************ The time had come for Jereth just as it did for all eldar. Though he had long since been aware of the vast consciousness of the craftworld, the repository of the eldar souls against the depravation and hunger of the Great Enemy, his interaction had been thus far minimal. As with all newly born he had been assigned a teah-shih, a guardian, guide and confidant from those eldar who had recently been incorporated to the Infinity Circuit and who found it difficult to break the ties with the mortal realm. They remained as both teah-shih and the guiding consciousness of numerous parts of the craftworld which were considered to be too vital to be left to programmed processes. Slowing his breathing he turned to his tutor, one of the  or 'Guardians of the Young', who regarded him with a questioning look in his eyes. "I am ready, <eldar: seer tutor>." For a disconcerting second the Seer said nothing, his almond-shaped eyes or posture of his body revealing nothing about his thoughts. "Then it is time is it not, youngling? Or perhaps not. How much longer will you be in my care, I wonder?" Jereth remained quiet, knowing that the question was rhetorical and that to offer an answer would only confirm his impetuosity and, in its own way, answer the question. Instead he asked a question of his own: "Where are we to interface with the Infinity Circuit?" "As well you know, the Infinity Circuit can be accessed from almost anywhere in the craftworld, the point determined by circumstance and symbolism. In this case it is traditional for the first delving to occur within the White Library." "And the symbolism for this is...?" "Some might say that it is the center of knowledge for the craftworld, though this is obviously false. Others might suggest that our first steps into the future must be taken with full knowledge of our past, and therein would lie a glimmer of truth. The truth as I see it - and perception is always of greatest significance to the self - is that it is the place that I have taken all those who take their first walk in the steps of our ancestors. I find it distinctly comforting." Jereth could hear the smile in the Seer's voice, though it did not reach the ever-passive face. He had long become used to the ways of the Seer, variably distant and then close in the complex dance of the Path and eldar culture in general. The journey to the transport node within the <place of the young>'men and, from there through the transit tubes that were scattered throughout the honeycomb structure of the craftworld to the White Library, was thankfully brief. Although Jereth had been to the White Library a number of times in hs youth this time things seemed different. It was almost as if this simple event was equivalent to the rite of passage to determine both Clan and Path that he would soon go through. As with many that were dedicated to a single function, the Dome of the White Library consisted of numerous buildings scattered throughout forest and parkland. It was both wild and organised, with muddy woodland trails being found just as much the gravelled pathways around ornate gardens. The juxtaposition of the natural order and the imposition of the naturalised styles of the eldar was an irony that many found pleasing. The Seer took Jereth into a pyramidal building, one of the main archive centres that was reserved for those that had the interest, often the walkers upon the Paths of the Seeker or the Steward. Rarer still did those of the Warrior or the Seer enter the White Library. As they entered the building Jereth was struck by the silence. He had imagined that such a place would be a hive of activity, and the silence did much to reinforce the teachings of the Seers that theirs was a dying race. Fleetingly he felt that if it were in his destiny he would fight against such an injustice, yet th truth was that the only way to escape the predations of the Great Enemy and Slaanesh also reuced the fecundity of the people. |
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Post by Kage2020 on Dec 28, 2003 21:45:03 GMT -5
Various pieces of artwork were positioned as if by random throughout the library, seats seemingly extruded out of the substance of the floor before them. He knew without being told that there was a logic to the organisation of the both art and seats, so that the observer might glean some information from the mind of the artist upon the quest for knowledge. As he moved past the artwork it was also obvious that how one moved around the library would also alter the message that the provided and so in represente the ultimate truth of knowledge and the quest for it.
The Seer motioned for Jereth to sit in one of the chairs, taking up a position behind him. "There are many methods by which one can interact with the Infinity Circuit. Each of these chairs, as with control stations aboard Wraithships, have a psychic interface field which can detect your thoughts. You have already interacted with the outer reaches of the Infinity Circuit using crystal slates. A thought will activate the data slates that surround the chair."
Jereth requested the activtion of the data slates and, as he did so, individual black crystal slabs from the floor rose up on anti-grav fields, their surfaces coming alive with reactive displays. Although the eldar had the technology to represent any information holograhically or pscyho-holographically, Jereth knew that many people felt that tactile contact with the information, or at least a representation of that information, was prferable than the ephemeral projected images.
"This is the method that you have used previously. There are, however, other methods by which one can interfaces with the Infinity Circuit and we are here to learn those. Unlike an external interface, full immersion into the Infinity Circuit, even in the outer layers that you would have already accessed, is perilous. This is why I shall guide you though your first immersion and why you will also access all the layers hat is permitted for one such as you to access. You must see the danger in the sparkling beauty of our greatest sanctuary lest you be drawn to it prematurely."
"Now," the Seer continued, "you have but to properly form the request for full immersion. The runic form is similar to the ones that you have used before, although you must now properly relate the concepts of 'sea', 'energy', 'spirit' and 'depth', interlocking them in the appropriate information spaces. This is difficult, true, but it acts as the first level of security by which we protect our knowledge and our secrets from those that would take them for themselves. Similar principles also protect those that have not walked the Path of the Seer from the upper levels, although there is always the possibility of the unitiated stumbling upon the method or, indeed, the threat of malignant forces. Although both are unikely still we must guard ourselves against the eventuality."
In the interface between mind and what could only be described as living machine, Jereth manipulated the the appropriate runic forms into the correct lattice, associating with the information spaces that he would be using. With what seemed to be a click, Jereth found himself hanging in space, instantly causing a sensation of vertigo that he rapidly pushed to one side of his mind. Instead he concentrated on the sensations that his body, or rather his true avatar, was receiving. He felt a gradual pull down to his feet and, with that thought, a floorway began to construct itself around him. It was then, and only then, that the Seer appeared in front of him.
"Good," he said. "You rapidly orientated yourself to the environment and subconsciously realised that it would react to the sensations that you perceived and projected. The 'pull' that most feel and use to orient themselves is actually the tendency for the mind to return through the induction fields to to the body. This is another safety protocol to reduce the risk of being caught up in a dense information field and being unable to 'return'."
The Seer paused to sweep his arm behind him. "This darkness is representative of the interface area, the point at which you are connected to the Infinity Circuit but have not yet accessed any of the external information systems. This is achieved through simple request and how you achieve that will become your own idiosyncracy until such time that you walk the Path of the Seer, in which case standardised representations tend to be utilised."
With a gesture of his hand, runes shimmered into existence around the Seer taking up complex orbits around his body. Studying the runes he realised that they were not only representative of program avatars that the Seer was familiar with, but also the extent to which the Seer had developed their abilities. As they passed within his field of view he reached out and touched two runes. Between Jereth and the Seer a rotating image of one of the great heartwoods appeared. At first glance it appeared primeval, untouched by the psycomorphic abilities of the eldar as most heartwoods were in some way. As he looked closer a structure became apparent, with the branches arrayed in distinct heights from the single, mighty trunk. Between the roots, lights could be seen flickering around, as if the roots themselves moved in accordance to the whim of an invisible wind.
"This is how we choose to represent the Infinity Circuit," the Seer mentioned. "While there is an objective reality - a truth, if you will - behind the image and it is possible to represent it in such a fashion."
Once again the Seer reached out to a rune and the tree image shifted into a form of vector diagram swirling with different colours. What had been the roots became a dizzying array of image and text decribing the nature of the input/output devices an terminals that they represented. Pulses of light, again assoiciated with a textual information field, moved along the links to server nodes and Jereth knew that these were a combination of program avatars and the rarer true avatars. Rarer still he saw the shifting information field representing one of the ancestors shifting through the array for some unknown purpose. He followed one such field as it translated from the lower array to the dense lattice of light at the centre of the image. As it shifted from one field to another Jereth became disorientated. Suddenly the spirit fluttered even higher, though never approaching the information field at the top of the structure.
The image altered back to that of the tree, though this time Jereth could see vague shadows of the translation of energy and data lattices. "Thus you see that the image is easier to understand in some terms than the reality. As you know this preference for obfuscation perpetuates through all aspects of our culture. Thus we have the allegorical dances of the Harlequins, the legendary representation of our history, and so forth. In most cases the 'objective' information is usually available, and indeed many in this very building study such concepts. For the majority of the eldar, however, representation is sufficient for understanding the deeper significance. It is as innate and natural to us as breathing."
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Post by Kage2020 on Dec 28, 2003 21:45:53 GMT -5
Pausing while Jereth considered the information, the Seer once again manipulated the image so that it seemed to swoop in closer to the roots. "As you may have understood already - again, that is the strength of such representation - the roots represent the lowest part in the hierarchal relationships that determine the overall Infinity Circuit. Each root represents a significant input/ouput terminal or a sub-node for a given area, the extent of the roots themselves being analogous to the physical reaity of the craftworld itself. The lights that surround it are lesser devices used to exchange information: smaller computers, communicators and so forth. Those roots that extend beyond the main root volume are representative of sub-nodes at a distance from the craftworld, with communication maintained by the Webway itself. I've always felt that this is where the image becomes less powerful since it does not represent the true hierarchal relationsip, but that is for others more versed in the complexity of the Infinity Circuit to discuss."
"The importance of an individual sub-node can be determined through the relative position along the root structure. As you can see," the Seer said point to a specific node, "there are a number of nodes beneath our own position in the Infinity Circuit."
Jereth looked closely that information field associated with the icon representing their position, noting that three avatars were present: his, the Seers and one other.
"Who is the third avatar present within this node?" Jereth asked.
"You have a quick mind and quick eyes, Jereth. The other avatar is your teah-shih. It is customary for them to be present at the initiation of a young mind into the Infinity Circuit. They will remain hidden until such a time as we begin our journey into the Infinity Circuit proper. Then they will be our true guide, for it is unwise to trespass in the branches of the Infinity Circuit without a spirit guide. Even Spirit Seers and those that regularly commune with the Ancestors do so with their teah-shih as a guide."
Jereth smiled at the thought of his teah-shih, Taliana, whose humour and support had guided him through his early childhood and whom he considered to be a true friend despite the differences in their incarnation.
"Above the root-lands is the dense grid of the craftworld's data cores, represented by the trunk of the tree. As with a tree, these cores are divided into a distinct hierarchy, with the importance of the system increasing as one approaches the heart of the tree itself. The nature of the Infinity Circuit also imposes a further hierarchy between the mundane computational qualities and the more esoteric aspects which make it so important for the survival of the eldar."
"Beyond those are the realm of the Ancestors. On the lowest of branches is the access node for the higher realms, an undifferentiated space that is also the location at which the Ancestor Council meets. From that place it possible to 'see' some of the other virtual realms that the Ancestors inhabit since they share both a symbolic and actual link with the greater majority."
"You mentioned communication through the Webway in the root-lands, but what of interconnectivity of the great branches?" Jereth asked, his voice tentative. "Just as the roots of the heartwoods in the seorsa'men intertwine, so to do the branches."
"Again, you have a quick mind, young Jereth, and that is the failure of the image that I mentioned earlier. Perhaps your Naming ceremony will come quicker than I had expected. You are perhaps ready for adoption of Clan, Path and Line. If it is not overly presumptuous, have you given much thought to which of the Paths you will take?"
For the first time Jereth heard the polite interest of an equal in the voice of the Seer. He felt the stirrings of pride but, as he had been taught, moved that behind the barrier in his mind against such things.
"I had given thought to walking the Path of the Seeker."
The Seer seemed to ponder this. "A good choice, though I would imagine that many of the Ways on the Path of the Steward would also suit your apparent inclinations... Though it is rare for the young to go so swiftly into such a Path, for often they are subconsciously enamoured of the quick and brash sensations that dominate the Warrior. It pleases me that you did not mention the sanguine journey."
Again there was the sensation or pride Never before had so much praise come so quickly from his long-time mentor. In his he could see the logic of the <Guardians of the Young> maintaining their identity a closely guarded secret from their charges. It was difficult to have any form of close emomtional bond to such an individual, even more so when Jereth was only fairly certain that the Seer i front o
"Yes," the Seer continued, "I think the Naming will be soon. I shall forward you to the Ancestors so that they might decide upon your worth. I feel no small measure of pride in the distance you have travelled since those earlier turnings." Quickly glancing back to Jereth and looking him up and down, the Seer contined. "And, if I am not too old that my eyes fail me, I would not be surprised if you take the Clan ceremony with the Phoenix."
Jereth glanced down at his own form, for the first time realising that if he looked deeper than the outside representation of his avatar he could see that it was as if his limbs were feathered with flames.
"That is the other truth about this place. Your subconcious and conscious minds both provide the form that your avatar wears. Information that has not yet passed the barrier of the n'at amin can be represented here for those that have the eyes to see. Someone that presents themselves in front of the Ancestors does so with their soul bared, and that is not always the most pleasant of experiences."
"If it is the presentation of the both the subconscious and conscious minds, then there must be a way for the avatar to be consciously altered," Jereth commented, his voice thoughtful.
"Indeed there is, Jereth. Some eldar have stronger natural gifts in interacting with the realms of the Infinity Circuit just as those that tread the Path of the Seer may alter the flow of energies. There are also programmed costructs which allow the alteration of ones avatar, as indeed you have experienced with your creche siblings in the whimsical fantasies of your youth."
Jerenth realised that it was amongst the first times that he had heard the Seer mention him by given name and it was his time to feel the first glimmer of pride in his accomplishments. "It is time," said the Seer, interrupting Jereth's thoughts.
In front of Jereth the air-that-was-not-air shimmered and the image of Taliana resolved itself. Her avatar was swathed in the dark blue runes marked with limited two-dimensional runic representations of the Clans, the Path and the various races of the eldar. Jereth had know her for his entire conscious life, her humour so unlike the somber temperament of most of the eldar a constant balm even in the most difficult times. For once, though, her voice was calm and measured, modulated in the tone reserved for official address. "I have come," she said, "in the way that was laid down at the time of sundering, when our People fell from the arrogant pedestal that they had raised for themselves. I am to act as guide through these realms of spirit and stone, of the esoteric and the mundane, if that is your wish."
"It is our wish," replied the Seer.
"And mine also," replied Jereth. "I wish to see the heritage bequested to me by ur ancestors so that I might venture forth into the material universe with full knowledge of who I am and what our people have wrought, both the good and the bad."
The Seer looked sharply at Jereth but did not comment, though he could feel any icy emotion that was both approval and something that he had ot felt before.
"So be it," Taliana answered. "Mar a bha, mar a tha, mar a bhitheas a bragh go. As tradition dictates, the follower of the men'tel<guardian of the young> will continue with the initiation until we reach the lower branches of the Spirit Tree. From there only an Ancestor may guide and you must not deviate from the path that is set for you. To do so is to be lost in the maelstrom of the craftworld consciousness."
Time seemed to blend into itself as the Seer and Taliana guided him through the lower levels of the Infinity Circuit.
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Post by CELS on Dec 29, 2003 10:14:13 GMT -5
Hm. Cool... Heheh, actually, it was pretty amazing. You certainly have given this some thought, and I must say your description of such an alien concept went delightfully well. I fear my own fiction will seem rather bland after this  But enough compliments. If you want to perfect this piece of fiction, I suggest you take a few minutes proof-reading it, and finish the following piece Again there was the sensation or pride Never before had so much praise come so quickly from his long-time mentor. In his he could see the logic of the <Guardians of the Young> maintaining their identity a closely guarded secret from their charges. It was difficult to have any form of close emomtional bond to such an individual, even more so when Jereth was only fairly certain that the Seer i front o |
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Post by Kage2020 on Dec 29, 2003 10:31:13 GMT -5
But enough compliments. If you want to perfect this piece of fiction, I suggest you take a few minutes proof-reading it, and finish the following piece... [/i][/quote] It's written on a palm top with a very small LCD screen, so often a piece of dirt will look like a period. It was posted because the board was looking a bit empty and I mentioned some of the concepts elsewhere. I have a number of other half-formed pieces... Kage |
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Post by Farseer Kythil on Dec 29, 2003 12:29:46 GMT -5
And to Farseer Kythil... don't let EO know about this one! Not a problem as I am no longer an active member of that some what dead project. As the the fiction itself, again you have writen a very nice piece of work. My own contributions will be rather inferior to this. |
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Post by Kage2020 on Dec 30, 2003 9:41:11 GMT -5
Let's not go overboard on the compliments for a piece of work written at work and which is not yet complete. (And which increasingly seems like it will never be complete given I've lost the focus of the story in the first place!  ) Anyway... onto some other stories... ;D Kage |
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or 'Guardians of the Young', who regarded him with a questioning look in his eyes. "I am ready, <eldar: seer tutor>."
)