Starblade (32 page)

Vorjah Zoar Jangsiin, Tahru Caste

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“We will never forget them this morning as
they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the
surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.” – Ronald
Reagan.

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From: [email protected]

Subject: Re: Our Cybernetic Infrastructure
And Linear Resurrection. The Debate!

Zoar: Interesting paper. You cover the
issues pretty well.

What I’m not clear on – would this recycling
of persona cause our individual personalities to cease? I think
that is where the pro-linear resurrection camp is at. Shouldn’t the
point of any form of resurrection mean the survival of the
personality? Why bother otherwise? Would not there be an entirely
new person as the result of the method of rebirth you’ve laid out
for us? Which also strikes me to be very Hindu. I know from talking
with Sharr, it’s very close to the Teutonic Heathen notion of
reincarnation.

>>>We’ve put into place the Telchar
Artificial Intelligences to act as “bosses” (Nadia’s familiar with
the term where it relates to gaming)

LOL! I am very aware of this term in that
context. There’s something to be said for thinking of Char as if it
were an advanced video game if my experience “jacking in” using the
Chair proved any indication. These impartial observers I think make
a good safety valve, most especially Ishbol!

Just so you all are aware, I’m pro-child in
this debate. It would be a very sad day if we as a culture put “the
usual method” aside in favor of such a detached manner of
continuance. Not that Sharr’s ever indicated that’s part of his
grand plan, as you all well know he and I have talked about kids. I
did not go through all the trouble to update and enhance the
Falcanian sexual drive as well as the method of birth just so it
could later fall out of use.

I mean we could have spared ourselves many
headaches and simply remained a cloistered group of Nine beings who
perpetuated ourselves via cloning and passing on our personalities
without building a following or worked for any political goals.
From an academic standpoint, I can sort of see an appeal in that
route, yet it’s not where we’re really at or I think what Sharr’s
wanted for his Falcanians. That method also screams genetic
bottleneck to me.

Dr. Nadia Korelia/Maharani T’Kara

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“Do you know that our soul is composed of
harmony?” ~ Leonardo DaVinci ~

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Subject: Re: Re: Our Cybernetic
Infrastructure And Linear Resurrection. The Debate!

Hey Nadia!

What I outline is very much structured on a
Hindu time cycle and yes also on my understanding of the Norse
concept of familiar/clannish rebirth. In point of fact, Eric helped
me reach this compromise.

To answer your questions about persona, it’s
meant to be both a bit of old and hopefully with each incarnation
new bits literally added to a Falcanian’s personality matrix…or
“spark” as we’re now referring to it among the order. This raises
the question as to would one recall one’s former life? To an
extent, this should be permissible. Your point is well taken, that
if we are not to be a semblance of ourselves after being reborn why
then bother? I think though it’s an awareness that is best left to
be awoken to rather than be born with.

Of course, the key here is not all sparks
will be aggregate in nature to start out. Some will be fresh and
newly minted without any past lives to burden them. Though even
once the tabula rasa souls enter the system, they then will
eventually fall into the aggregate.

Vorjah Zoar Jangsiin, Tahru Caste

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“We will never forget them this morning as
they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the
surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.” – Ronald
Reagan.

To: [email protected]

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Subject: Resplendent Singularity! (Had To
Change The Headline)

Been in dialogue with Falcania (yeah, that
sounds weird, even to me). By the way, it's certainly enjoyable
jumping into Char, it’ll be something when we’ve gone through the
Rashalon and no longer need to use the chair as our only interface
and can just switch our awareness over to the cybernetic world at
will.

Anyway, I decided to take our dilemma and
find out what the AI’s had to say about the whole issue of linear
resurrection vs. a collective rebirth as outlined by Zoar. The
Telchar (again, it’s odd to speak of them as actual beings) offered
a suggestion, one I know that probably won’t be entirely popular
but it is a solution.

First, let me speak personally. I would find
it rather disconcerting to be “reborn” and yet not fully remember
who or what I had been before my death. I’d feel rather cheated to
be honest and I think most of us would.

Now Falcania’s solution: she has suggested
that every Falcanian should have a Guardian, a Vorchar to help lead
them back to their former awareness. I hesitate to put it in such
terms, though its accurate, this being would be a cybernetic
guardian angel, a kind of continuity switch that would help nurture
along the reintegration and reconciliation of a Falcanian’s life
cycle

Sharr Khan Mingh Drakonis, Shotar.

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“As you grok, brother.”

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Subject: Re: Resplendent Singularity! (Had
To Change The Headline)

Are we sure we want to give over so much
control of our lives to Artificial Intelligences? That’s a scary
concept. I get the function that the Telchar serve in Char, but to
give them this god like, spiritual function would appear to me a
step too far.

Atar Kran

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Subject: Re: Re: Resplendent Singularity!
(Had To Change The Headline)

>>>Are we sure we want to give over
so much control of our lives to Artificial Intelligences?

Atar, I like this idea that Falcania has
given to us. The Telchar are meant to be regulators, this lets us
allow them to fulfill the function for which they were programmed.
They are as it has been said “impartial observers” with but one
purpose – to ensure the continuation of the Falcanian species and
keep our history. This is a good idea and I must tell you, my
fellow Tahru love it for the mystical implications. It makes our
religious role within the Khanate a little less hypothetical; our
gods are observable and play a direct role in our lives. The
combined thought processes of Sharr’s Telchar have found our
metaphysical answer to the reconciliation of our impulses in the
matter.

Vorjah Zoar Jangsiin, Tahru Caste

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“We will never forget them this morning as
they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and slipped the
surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.” – Ronald
Reagan.

To: [email protected]

CC: [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected],
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Subject: Re: Re: Re: Resplendent
Singularity! (Had To Change The Headline)

One of the strangest, yet most gratifying
discussions I’ve ever had the privilege to have followed. I’m glad
for our part in the Phoenix Project, and happy that Nadia and Sharr
hit it off like they did. We’ve all come this far in our dream.

Like the rest of you, I’ve had experience
with Char and find the virtual world something to behold. I
particularly was impressed with the distinct characteristics of
each of the Telchar. Of course, Falcania is the most defined so
far. I can almost see the harmony of this system. Nothing is ever
lost, and we exist as an extension of it and it of ourselves. The
Rashalon Engine shall very soon be online. This just makes it that
much more intriguing for me.

Turhan Korelia

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Ukko is the first creator.
Ukko, maker of the heavens,
Cut apart the air and water,
Ere was born the metal, iron.
Ukko, maker of the heavens

--- The Kalevala: Rune IX

Historians Note: As outlined here, this is
the Second Reformation incarnation of the holy Falcanian Compact.
Please note, in the wake of the Third Reformation instigated by
Shinras Rukh, the holy Arblus, this Compact reverted to its
original state with Darr-Varth holding supremacy of power over the
Falcanian Caste Lords which effectively left the Nine Lords as mere
organizers and functionaries.

Loyalty binds us all, sworn to each other to
protect our race.

We are Falcanians, children of the
Phoenix.

--- Shotar Sharr Khan Mingh Drakonis.

1: This Compact is a binding agreement
between the Tharrins (Aeries) of each Falcanian Vrasi (Caste) which
are comprised of the Konar (Warriors), Tahru
(Scientists/Philosophers/ healers), and Guilthari
(Workers/Craftsmen). The three Vrasi and all those within them
shall be recognized as equal before Falcanian law

A Darr-Varth shall represent each Tharrin
during a legally called Jirga with his voice equal among all others
no matter rank or social status. A Shotar shall be appointed by
acclamation from among the Darr-Varth to rule the Khanate and
preside over a Jirga. A Chancellor shall oversee the Jirga and its
workings and shall act as warder of all laws which the Shotar and
his Darr-Varth’s decree.

2: No Jirga may be arranged without the
express consent of the Shotar.

3: All members of the Falcanian Khanate and
Phoenix Project, be they Darr-Varth or simple Aerie members, shall
annually (re)affirm the conventions of this Kulsharr Kahran by
signing this document down throughout generations and bloodlines.
To be welcome among us, one need only offer of their own freewill,
loyalty and to take on, as well as defend, the Falcanian tradition
which has been recognized or authorized by this Compact. We are all
brood, brothers, and sisters of Falcania.

4: Falcanian shall not kill Falcanian.

5: Tradition takes precedents over
legalism.

6: Tarik Fordonism shall be the guiding
philosophy of the Falcanian Khanate and Phoenix Project. We
Falcanians have been brought together from many diverse backgrounds
and shall stand united by the binding philosophies of Tarik
Fordonism.

7: This Compact shall not be altered without
the consent of the Shotar and may only be done so while in an open
Jirga for all Falcanians to witness and affirm. Laws or
restrictions shall be considered invalid if they are reached or
affirmed under the cover of darkness.

8: A Jirga shall be held at least once every
year to reaffirm this compact’s holy order. This does not preclude
or bar a Jirga from being called at any time.

9: Laws when called to be established should
be setup in simple, clear language and in a minimal way. Our
guiding philosophy is the more complex a machine of government, the
more likely it is to breakdown or become corrupted. Given the
choice, we choose small family focused governance over unwieldy
faceless bureaucracy. Every Falcanian should be able to comprehend
our law with only the most basic of Falcanian schooling as his or
her tool.

10: The Shotar and Jirga shall set the
monetary standard of the Khanate. Either the Shotar or his
representatives will regulate all financial transactions within a
reasonable standard. However, personal ventures and risks are
encouraged across all strata with a minimal amount of interference
from the established government.

This is a two-way street and as the Jirga’s
primary function is defense, it shall not meddle in personal
financial affairs beyond holding exclusive right to mint and
regulate currency. Let nature take its course. As Falcanians, we
recognize this is a trade off in favor of personal freedom and such
ventures inherently entail risk to personal investments. Yet it
must be reiterated, we are all of a brood and if in doubt, appeal
to the better angels of our natures and adhere to common sense,
tempered by mercy.