Paging Arthur C. Clarke... [Video]

[trustycrowbar]

[Gordon fidgets when he first sits down in front of the camera, fiddling with his glasses.]

So... for those of you who don't know me, my name is Doctor Gordon Freeman. I'm a scientist and a Transport just like all of you, and there's something that I've observed for the longest time that intrigues me.

Magic. Some of us use it here, or at least have powers that are worthy of the term... Now, I'm not looking to start any sort of science-versus-magic debate here. On the contrary; I'd like to ask those of you who use such powers a few questions about them so that we can gain a better idea of what kinds of powers we've got around here.

Where do you draw your power from? How is it focused? Do you use spells, words, gestures, symbols? Or something else? Are there any dangers to you when you use it? Things like this. I realize some of this might be personal, but anything you can volunteer would be useful; hell, it's still better than nothing.

Comments

[video]

[shelkethetransparent]

[Oh hey, nerd talk. And someone willing to discuss magic and science in the same context and maybe not give her funny looks when she mentions 'lifestreams.' Maybe.]

[It probably doesn't help that she looks nine when she appears on the screen, her glowing eyes a bit narrowed as she considers the camera.]

Magic is a part of science. Although people generally tried to avoid the term when they discussed science.

[trustycrowbar]

...?!

[His eyebrows raise, and not really because of her unusual appearance.] I don't like the word myself, but only because it implies unknowability and cheapened mystique that others would rally behind to keep the big bad skeptics at bay. It's... your opinion that the two share some fundamental aspects, then?

[Oh my god. And here he was afraid to voice the theory himself. He knows Tony'd never let him live it down, at least... And here he has it echoed within three minutes of his broadcast.]

Video

[yamaxanadu]

I would be glad to answer any of your questions.

I draw my power from my surroundings as well as from within. But I also hold a great amount of energy about myself which most can't tap into.

I can focus it a few different ways, I can use spells if I wish, and gestures are handy. Though in general will and desire is all I need to use my power.

There are no dangers to me while using it, though I do have an item that requires a lot of energy to use, so I will become tired if I use it too much.

Do you have any other questions?

[trustycrowbar]

[Okay, he can accept ambient power draw. Hawking radiation, infrared slavery, and zero-point energy are all things that can pull a hell of a lot of energy technically out of nowhere, but to harness it normally takes more energy than it gives.]

A few more. This power you use... what kind of things can you actually do with it?

[Video]

[foolish_seal]

[Sure, why not?]

I got time. I'll answer a few of those.

My ability is using a Persona, a physical manifestation of the psyche. In order to use it fully, though, I have to be in the right state of mind, which I can get to with an Evoker.

[He holds up an object to the camera. It looks remarkably like a handgun, the only differences being the square bore and the lack of magazine.]

The only real danger of my using is that if it gets hurt, I feel it, as well. There's also certain elemental affinities that can mess with the user if not accounted for.

[trustycrowbar]

So, a persona is like an avatar you summon to fight for you, essentially? That's jungian as hell, but it makes sense. I guess.

How do these personae materialize? As in, where does the matter that make them up come from? And what do you mean "elemental affinities?"

[video]

[standup_for_justice]

I'd be happy to help!

Okay, basically magic comes from different things depending on what kind of magic you know. Shamanism comes from the energy of one of the five elements -- earth, air, fire, water or astral. White magic... it's sort of the life force of the area, I guess? Black magic comes from the power of the mazoku, and holy magic comes from the gods. I don't know any holy magic spells, and I don't think they or black magic would work here anyway, since we don't have any mazoku or gods.

Humans don't have enough energy to do things like light fires by themselves, which is why they call on something else. It's... a spell is a set of chaos words that you use to focus and invoke the power, then a few power words that you use to release it. You don't have to say them out loud, but it's usually easier to cast the spell that way. It takes longer, though. Miss Lina -- she's a friend of mine from back home -- is good enough that she can say the chaos words for one spell and think another spell, but that's really, really hard. For simple spells, I can cast them silently, but usually I'll say the power words out loud, at least. Plus I think it sounds cooler that way.

I guess you might use a gesture to direct a combat spell -- like once you have a fireball, you need to aim it. And that doesn't get into things like making talismans and stuff; I don't know all that much about that, to be honest.

As for dangers, well... casting spells over and over is tiring, since, even if it isn't your energy, you have to control it. Like anything -- if you run for too long, you get all sore and have to stop, or you could strain a muscle. If you push yourself too hard using magic, you can get hurt.

[Amelia looks serious here]

And bad things can happen if you can't control the energy you call up. Especially if it's something big.

That and some people forget how strong some spells are.

[And is that a bit of embarrassment?]

[trustycrowbar]

[Wow. All that, huh?]

Sounds like it'd take a lot of mental discipline. What are "chaos words," exactly?

voice

[imperfect]

You say it like science doesn't need any of those things.

[Guess who is looking to start a debate. Argument. Same difference.]

voice

[trustycrowbar]

[There's a short pause before he replies.]

I never said that. In fact that's the point. Spellcasting in some worlds seems to have everything in common with the scientific method. Repeatable procedures, expected results... That's the reason for this survey. I think they may be two sides of the same coin, and I want to see just how far the analogy goes.

audio

[kingside]

I unfortunately can't contribute to this discussion, but I would like to thank you for starting it. It's a fascinating subject.

Audio

[trustycrowbar]

I thought so. From what I've come to understand, certain forms of wizardry are as meticulous as any scientific experiment. And I've seen things in a laboratory that are just as inexpiable, although no one wants to admit to it.

I know I'm risking being laughed off the air, so to speak... but I can't help but wonder if the division is really all that solid.

[Action]

[strategic_guile]

[Blaine is coming out of his room and Gordon is in the kitchen/living room. Having seen the video, he gets a drink and settles across from the older man.]

Have you found out anything yet? [Takes a sip] Are you gonna make a pokedex of powers?

[trustycrowbar]

A what? [HE DOES NOT KNOW OF YOUR POKEMANS, BLAINE.] Ah... Not exactly. It'd be useful to have a catalogue of what everyone's capable of, but what I'm really looking for is a sense of what they all have in common. I find that, I find the fundamental points of how they all work.

[He flops the tablet onto the coffee table and leans back on the couch.] And I get the feeling that the fundamental points of science aren't far removed from them.

video;

[crymoore]

[ She remembers you, buddy. ]

Where do I even begin? [ A blissful sigh. ] From the first question? From the history of my world? There are just so many opportunities to discuss this at great length that I do find myself a bit overwhelmed.

[trustycrowbar]

[Hello Jaina.]

I'll listen no matter where you'd like to begin. The history of your world would be enlightening, but... maybe the abridged version. I get the feeling otherwise we'd be here all night.

[video]

[toldyouso]

You do not want to get into it.

[Pete only knows that magic is trouble.]

[trustycrowbar]

Why not? We're shoulder-to-shoulder with wizards, elves, and sorcerers, Pete. We can't just ignore the fact.

[caligulas_aquarium]

Just cause they don't got a clue as to how their stupid fuckin' so called "magic" works don't mean it is magic.

I mean I shoot fire outta this science wand a' mine but it still ain't magic. It's science.

So for the record I'm pretty sure they just ain't sure how their own powers work yet, which is just blatant stupidity in the first place.

[trustycrowbar]

Thanks for the editorial. You figure that much out all by yourself, or did you need some help?

video;

[lovesgod]

God made me. He gave me my power. And all, some, or none of the above, depending on what I'm trying to do.

No.

[trustycrowbar]

[Oh. It's you.]

Sounds pretty straightforward. Have fun across the pond, over on the mainland?

video;

[deathwarder]

[ Thought you'd be rid of this one, did you? Not even close. ]

Magic.

Lots and lots of magic.

[trustycrowbar]

[Greeeeeat.]

I was hoping for something a little more specific than that.

[ VIdeo ]

[celestial_wizard]

[ Lucy is silent for a few minutes, thinking about the questions. ]

I don't know how it works for other people, but as for me, my power comes from within me. I use holder type magic, so I can't summon my spirits without their keys - but at the same time, no one else can use those keys either, unless they're a celestial wizard as well. Even then, they can't summon those spirits unless my contract with them is broken.

As far as dangers...there's always a danger with magic, involved. Our magic is like our life force - if we use too much of it, then ...

[trustycrowbar]

Then there's not much of you left to recover.

[He quietly makes a note: Power from within-->ATP usage-->Possible re-tooling of mitochondria-->Maternal inheritance?]

So let me see if I understand this. You're a summoner, and you hold contracts with your summons in order to use them?

video;

[awarlock]

Cosmic energy, I absorb it and harness it.

The focus depends on what I'm trying to do.

I never needed to use spells, words, gestures or symbols. But after my rebirth, I've had to use symbols to navigate through what I can do and see what I previously had no trouble seeing.

I get weak when I use too much of it. There are certain energies I'm more vulnerable to, but I never had the chance to investigation what they were.

[And one question in return]

You know Peter?

[trustycrowbar]

Ambient energy seems to be a common source. But what do you mean by "your rebirth...?"

[He'll ask more, but for the moment--]

...Hold on. You're the magician Pete was talking about? Huh. Small multiverse.

[tipsygnostalgia]

Can't we just all agree that both science and magic are really real, and really awesome?

[trustycrowbar]

[He scratches at his temple. He figures some would automatically take this as a line drawn in the sand no matter how explicit he was.]

Whether it's real or not isn't really what this is about. I know it's real; I've seen the spells at work and I can't deny what I've seen with my own two eyes. What I'd like to know is how it works.

[audio]

[asskickersunite]

[Hey, you don't seem so bad. Eddie feels like helping out.]

I just use my guitar, but ol' Clementine was changed by going to the Age of Metal. Now she can do all sorts of awesome shit.

[trustycrowbar]

The Age... of Metal.

[Judging by his garb, he obviously doesn't mean the lower end of the periodic table, either.]

So... you use music, then! Fascinating. A simple form of encryption but one of the easiest to remember thanks to the tonal wiring we're all born with!

[Oh boy. I know what you're thinking, Eddie. How can someone survive to adulthood with that much nerd on him?]

video;

[bratworth]

Compiling a list, Dr. Freeman? It's a good idea, I must say.

[trustycrowbar]

[Hello there, Edgeworth.]

For a number of reasons, yes, not least of which is aforementioned knowledge of who's capable of what.

Problem is, I'm not really sure what to do with the data once I have it. Making it widely available on the server would be useful for team building... but I don't know. Seems like it might be crossing a line somehow.

[a_million_blossoms]

[He doesn't exactly want to share, and scientists don't have the best of reputation in his world, but...]

What do you intend to do with the information?

[trustycrowbar]

The only gain I want from it, is the gain of common knowledge. I want to find the common threads within these powers, analyze it as technology within its own paradigm, take it down to its most basic components and then see how it coincides with science.

If I'm right, the two have more in common than anyone can guess.