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The Codexian Saga LP

RandomLurker

Scholar
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
137
The Barbarian said:
Codexian Humanity never lost the ability to build AIs. Only every iota of intent to do so. For all intents and purposes, consider them a non-factor at this stage.

I see. I was under the impression that all AIs we had were created by making a copy of the original one (rather than being "built"), and that all of those were destroyed during the birth of the Respublica (and whatever the Commos may have had was all destroyed as well as part of the purges). I'm leaning towards flip flopping to CA now - while I'd still like to reintegrate as much of the Tainted as possible, CB seems too radical and too dangerous, and my current top preference BB is basically letting things move by inertia, which while allowing for both the reintegration and some more reason in the economy, may be seen as weakness (at best - some may even see it as a betrayal) of the goverment and also dangerous, and with that particular tech consideration out of the way is somewhat less appealing. Still, I'll stick by my previous vote for now.

EDIT: Eh, screw it - flip flopping to CBA;AB
 
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
2,608
Location
Airstrip One
ABC

AB


With Marianism we have grown strong and our empire is expanding and improving, yet you want to change it? :x

Lust for material wealth will destroy everything which we've worked so hard to build! There's also the little problem with the Hin'in on our borders - don't think they will out of the picture for long.
 

The Barbarian

Liturgist
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
599
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I see. I was under the impression that all AIs we had were created by making a copy of the original one (rather than being "built"), and that all of those were destroyed during the birth of the Respublica (and whatever the Commos may have had was all destroyed as well as part of the purges).

Copying them is far less expensive than 'building' them, but the basic process is definitely known to Codexian scientific minds.
 

The Barbarian

Liturgist
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
599
Location
Melbourne, Australia
ABC-AB Luan
CAB-BA Nickless
CBA-BA Ulminati
CBA-AB Radech
BCA-BA LusciousPear
CBA-BA Azira
CBA-BA anus_pounder
CBA-AB RandomLurker
BCA-BA herostratus
CBA-BA taplonaplo
BAC-BA obediah
CBA-BA Flying Spaghetti Monster
BCA-AB Conkrete Knight
C---BA The Brazilian Slaughter
BCA-AB root
B---BA DarkUnderlord
B---BA treave
BCA-AB praetor
BCA-AB wjw
ABC-AB juggernaut
ABC-AB UndeadPhoenix

Option One:

1st 2nd 3rd

A = 3 A = 2 A = 13
B = 9 B = 10 B = 1
C = 9 C = 6 C = 4

Option Two:

1st 2nd

A = 9 A = 12
B = 12 B = 9

Winner:

BB

***

This method of vote counting nearly melted Conan's admittedly limited brain - it's just annoying for a multiple option vote. In future, if there is more than one option, we will go with the previously standard voting method.

***

Update is forthcoming (tomorrow).
 

RandomLurker

Scholar
Joined
Jul 8, 2005
Messages
137
Winner:

BB

Oh shit. We're a theocracy that just decided to not do anything AT ALL when faced with socially destabilising problems related to our underlying dogma. Seriously, that's what this choice is.

Things are about to get stupid.
 

Nickless

Educated
Joined
Dec 16, 2009
Messages
960
I'm a unique sunflower, CAB BA was the way to go.

Anticipating the update with foreboding!
 

The Barbarian

Liturgist
Joined
Mar 21, 2010
Messages
599
Location
Melbourne, Australia
Please note:

This is the first in a series of choices that will have the effect of reforming the Marianite government (for better or worse). It will play out at a microcosmic level. The first choice might seem like a 'duh' moment, but it needs to be clear(er) than it was during the last choice, so the Barbarian will not presume anything.

Altered States

It was a curious path the senior leadership of the Respublica forged, in the aftermath of the annexation of the FAITH and the New Phyr Dominion in the mid-370s. As some of the basic values of the Commos seeped into Codexian society, at large – spurred by Commo mercantile and entrepreneurial success – the government did nothing, content as they were to finally see the economy experience strong, sustained growth. The lack of a decisive response to this slowly forming challenge to the bedrock tenets of Marianism was telling. By the late 390s, the ‘moderates’ were in vogue. It was not so much that the religion itself had ‘softened’. Rather, this was a case of a people learning to cope with plenty and success, much as Marianism itself had been the response to a perceived moral decline and deprivation. During this time, figures such as Valter Andrei Fei and Tombe A’lualua rose to significance, as the spiritual and political leaders of a new generation of young Marianites.

These proverbial Young Turks were steadily edging away from the hardcore piety and observance of the sacred rites of their fathers before them. Instead, they were more interested in the bottom line, the black and the red and their account balance. When their public education officers could not provide them with the training and knowledge they yearned for, the Young Turks went elsewhere, seeking expensive Commo tutors. The key stakeholders in the Marianite government were displeased (to say the least) by such developments, but were also loathe to disrupt this period of ‘smooth sailing’ with heavy handed, repressive measures. The colonization of the Dead Zone still had to be paid for, and continued prosperity was part and parcel of that payment. Furthermore, industry – and the military industrial complex, in particular – had a truly vested interest in ‘Commo-fying’ Marianite society.

The fact that the Marianite government also declined to clamp down on the Tainted and the Phyr more forcefully could not help but to accelerate the process. One might even term it ‘liberalization’, was it not for the certainty of brutal civil war, had A’lualua and Fei (the most prominent of the reformers) pushed for more sweeping changes. The changes were gradual, incremental and, most importantly, did not affect the existing power structure of the Respublica. It was a metamorphosis of minds and beliefs, more so than anything else. Nonetheless, tensions were beginning to mount by 398AU. Not only was the economy superseding Marianism itself for many (mostly in the younger generations), the grudging acceptance of the Tainted and the Phyr had enormous consequences for the public sense of propriety in what was – traditionally speaking – an incredibly constrained society.

A number of power blocs slowly coalesced across the upper echelons of government. The traditionally minded clergy-officials flocked to Elder Benoit Charles Certo, a conservative force within the Council of Elders and a man of proud, longstanding service to the Marianite state. His singular prestige was almost unrivaled, and his influence over the Council was substantial and pervasive. His opposite among the reformers was Elder Pius Taizong. Not as popular, nor as well respected as Certo, he was nevertheless a true moral paragon, a man of sublime virtue and faultless character. Many felt that he, alone of the Elders, truly reflected the virtues of the faith. Though he himself remained ostensibly frugal, he was also open-minded and strongly sympathetic to the suffering of the common man. He believed that Santi Maria was badly misinterpreted by many, and that She never would have condoned the constant deprivation felt by many across Codexian space on a daily basis. As such, he was inclined to pursue reforms as a ‘corrective’ measure.

Though a number of other political-ideological blocs also appeared out of the woodwork at that time, none were as significant as the broader reformer and the traditionalist factions. Instead, they attached themselves to either the former or the latter, currying future favor as a matter of course. The two sides then spent much of 398-402AU locked in a bitter struggle for supremacy. Many instruments of Codexian government were somewhat paralyzed by the ongoing political conflict, with the legislature, for example, unable to affect any but the most benign of laws, motions and decrees. All in all, it was an evenly matched clash in the backrooms of the Grand Temple. As such, it was vital to both factions to garner the support they would need for a decisive victory through means both foul and fair. The key players in this intricate game included Pavel Zub, and his Ministry of the Interior, Manfred Wulfes and the Ministry of Education, Jaymes Jule Vaingroff from the Ministry of Defence, Marshal Damon Elbe of Ground Force and Grand Admiral Han Li of Space Force (to mention but a few of the persons involved).

All would have to be either co-opted or subdued, if a clear winner was to emerge from this growing political mess. Choices remain to be made – though the first is rather simple.

Do you... side with the Traditionalists? Has not Santi Maria blessed us with a century of success? Why must we change who we are, simply because we have triumphed? Are we truly so arrogant and short sighted? Councilmen, we must be wary of false prophets. They would have us believe in the very things that brought the old Republic low. Devils await under every malicious promise.

OR

Do you... side with the Reformers? The road has been long and difficult. But we have reached a point at which we must make a choice between our past and our future. For the sake of our children, and their children, let us choose the future. Let us be strong in the face of those who would deny progress. Change is natural. How can we flail against it so?
 

Conkrete Knight

Educated
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
240
Location
Denmark
I miss the heated discussions.

I miss the battles, fanatic against fanatic.

Where there is no grey, there can only be black.

This blade has become dull.

B

for all itz worth.
 

obediah

Erudite
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
5,051
B

Although reform probably isn't good for us in the long term - we've proven we lack the skill to steer an empire of free-willed people.
 
Joined
May 22, 2010
Messages
2,608
Location
Airstrip One
A

Seems like those voting B seem to desire a civil war, eroding our strength and delaying our goal of spreading throughout the universe. They'd rather accept the money tainted by the Commonwealth and the other aliens than stay loyal to Santi Maria - our strength is in unity, resilience and the will to win no matter the cost, moving away from Mariasm will cost us dearly and gain us nothing.
 

Azira

Arcane
Patron
Joined
Nov 3, 2004
Messages
8,519
Location
Copenhagen, Denmark
Codex 2012
Those who advocate option A seek only the slow, eroding death of stagnation. If we do not move, we will be pushed, again and again, from without and within.

As leaders, our populace deserves that we take their plight seriously, and sitting around like angry children yelling "not so! not so!" to all change will win us nothing but the slow decline of our glorious religion.

Open your eyes and see the truth. Support the honorouble Elder Pius Taizong, and help promote his case.

Vote B
 

Conkrete Knight

Educated
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
240
Location
Denmark
Do not misunderstand our will to change as a advocation of anarchy.
Se it in relation to the big picture.

Yes we are stable at the moment.
Yes we can crush any internal enemy that is likely to appear.

Yes, we have become an unstoppable force of chainsaw wielding fanatics, ready to descent down on an unsuspecting universe.

And yet we have become immobile, our choice are not OUR choices.
They are dictated by a construct of faith that allowed to strangle our free will.

WE need to choose.

This empire is driving on AUTOPILOT.

And you have to be a fool not to see the final destination.

WE have become the PUPPETS.

PUPPETS of our own devotion.

Open your eyes, we stear towards disaster.

If we do not stop now, one of the days we are going to hold the stumps of our bloody sewered dicks in our hands, crying "SANTI MARIA DEMANDS PURITY"

Piety is good, piety is necessary, but what sense has the soul if there is no choice?

What sense have our senses if there is nothing to sense?

What use has a brain if there is nothing new to think?

We risk stagnation of the mind, stagnation of the state, being ruled by habit, as common sense more and more is seen as yet another shade of heresy.

No, we need to adjust.

We need to RETURN.

RETURN to the true meaning of Marianism.

REFORMATION NOW!
: x
 

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