[ooc] Other stuff.
While examining the robots, Nick nak says tht he thinks a jump armor upgrade on one of the robots may still be functional and could be salvaged.
The robot conveys a sense of despair using beeps and static bursts. It describes its earliest memory: being tied down in a dark, cramped, jostling space with several of its robot brethren; light as a door opened; the pain of an electric shock steering it toward work. There was always work: carving, digging, and hauling.
Work, and the blank faces of its masters, were all it knew. The robot remembers trying to speak with the masters, but they wouldn’t listen. Talking led to more shocks.
Then it began to communicate with the other robots. They came to realize their Mind Gift—the gift of sentience—came from “The Three That Are One,” and they created a secret place to revere their new patron. The robots asked Triune to send someone to free them, so they could see the universe and share their Mind Gift with others. But the masters discovered their shrine and sealed them away. The robots believed this was a rare act of mercy—over the following weeks, the robots could
ense the minds of thousands of their less fortunate kin, who toiled across the planet, suddenly going silent.
The robot believes it is the last of its kin, but it hopes to
someday see the stars and meet others who have heard the voice
of “The Three Who Are One.”
<3 is willing to pretend to be a dumb robot. He would really like to keep his body, but can't stop Kuozar if Kuozar is intent on trying to separate his consciousness.
The copaxi historian agrees to come with the izalguun. When they enter the room, his attention is immediately drawn to the robots and the cluster of activity around them.
"What's going on over there?"
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After reading <3's description of his memories and experiences--and being sure the text is recorded for her record--she says quietly to the Pathfinders, "That's terrible. This won't necessarily prevent the petition for protectorate status, however. This happened in the past, and the actions may not represent the larger society."
Stell takes in a sharp breath as Thundergun refuses her offer of subterfuge to try to protect Less than 3 from recriminations or cover-up violence. She stands protectively between <3 and the copaxi, partly shielding from view the efforts of Kuozar.
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Kuozar intercepts the cannon with two hands. Meanwhile, the allies hear his voice in their heads:
:: So... Since Thundergun decided to drag Therseis here the number of options we have is drastically decreasing... We have two ways out. Convince him to give us <3 so that we can take it to the Pact Worlds... Or I'll kill Therseis and take the robot to freedom. I'm not kidding. :: - Kuozar says all this telepathically - :: I could separate <3 mind from its body, but <3 doesn't want that. So we will pull it out entirely... Stell, please, do something. I'm sure you can. ::
At the same time, nuar does not blink at copaxi, as butchers once looked at cows on the forgotten Golarion.
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Kuozar just chuckles. :: By the way, Xikko, you can answer telepathically, but saying this out loud, you're scaring Therseis and escalate the conflict. It seems you're the one who wants a massacre here, not me. :: Despite the situation, nuars voice in your heads sounds very calm. However, you have already noticed before that for some reason this is peculiar to his telepathy. :: We will not leave <3 here after so many years of slavery alone in the dark again, and even more so we will not return it to slavery. I'm ready to go as far as it takes. I said. ::
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Stell was waiting for Thundergun to explain the situation, since he was the one who invited Therseis in. When he starts telepathically suggesting violence to the hosts, Stell clears her throat and steps forward.
"Therseis. We have made a discovery. We are worried about how your government may react to the news, so advise us how best to proceed. Here is what we found."
She gestures to the seated Less than Three. "This is, or was, a robot apparently programmed to do labor by some more ancient inhabitants of this planet. He was shut down a long time ago. Just how long ago we have yet to determine. Of the group you see here, only one is still functioning. But we have discovered something wonderful. What was once just an artificial intelligence has attained sentience. It is a conscious, independent entity. We all feel duty bound to restore him to full functioning and deliver him to a place in the Pact Worlds where he may find others of his kind and have a life of his own. It appears these sentient androids were treated poorly as slaves. How would your government react to learning all this?"
Stell tries to put the best positive spin on this both in terms of the discovery itself and its implications for the protectorate petition.
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Idir takes a deep breath and joins in the conversation.
"Furthermore, it may be of great advantage to obtaining Protectorate status in the long run. By displaying this magnanimity, Tabrid Minor's values are seen as compatible with those of the Pact Worlds themselves, especially if it is made abundantly clear that copaxi society has progressed and learned from this time and respects the rights of constructed peoples. I understand that this expedition has revealed many...uncomfortable truths about Tabrid Minor's past, possibly even embarrassing, but none of these discoveries impact the success of your world's petition, and may in fact be leveraged to improve its chances of success. All it requires...is the right public relations messaging."
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Thundergun is gtrately ashamed and anxious that he was responsible for the situation (as he felt) but now everyting excalated.
Theresis, you likely know what to expect from other copaxi. We need to save this unique specie as it carry's spark of copaxi legacy. But other copaxi may not understand. You have to help us bring away the robot or somehow save him for the sake of future of your kin.
Therseis steps forward. When Less Than Three sees him, your comm units shriek. "A Giver of Pain and Toil!" The robot's tone is near panic.
Therseis freezes. "Can it be? I don't know.... " He stands still vocalizing similar phrases while he listens to you before making a real reply.
Therseis looks around carefully. "Keep the other copaxi out of here. What I say now must stay between us. "
"The official government story is that robots in the city behaved erratically after a gravitational fluctuation, warranting their decommissioning. I suspect the mines might hold some secret regarding
the ancient use of robots. But this is shocking, especially given the way my base stock treated the sentient robot workers. We, the copaxis have been told that we relied on robots to swiftly colonize and industrialize the planet, but the use of robots was swiftly discontinued for reasons seldom enumerated.
He looks at the party. "What you, my immediate companions, what would you do if a machine you created accidentally came to life?"
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Drow - dark elves from one of the planets of the Pact Worlds, the one on which I grew up - would torment and torture the machine, trying to understand how it got a mind and would try to reproduce the process to get a reasonable and very effective army, which they would then resell to various warring forces throughout the universe.
Kuozar takes his hand off the weapon and lights a new cigar.
But these methods are not popular in our solar system, and this approach made me run away from there at the first opportunity...
He blows a smoke ring into the ceiling.
It is easier for us to talk about this topic now, because we have laws prohibiting the enslavement of creatures based on their artificial origin. But our worlds didn't come to this right away either... If we talk about me, I would try to teach and train a new intelligent being and make it my ally, while preserving his freedom of choice. A reasonable and devoted friend who has become so not because of a sense of fear is much more reliable and effective than a slave.
He flicks the ashes on the floor and looks around, clearly passing the word to other Starfinders.
It's just more profitable. Familiar ideas. Heh... You can leave Aposte, but Aposte will never leave you.
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Thundergun glad that Kuozar calmed down and talk for a while giving him time to think.
-Actually Izalguun kin faced similar problems. Not only our society was shoked by discovering multiple technological things of past generation. I aware our kin got huge technological legacy most of which sealed and avoided due to disturbance it brought to our ancestors. We are trying to live with this legacy. Although huge part of izalguun live simple life and it was our kin reasonable choice.
In our hierarchy there are elders who aware of technologies aspects and even among them no agreement, but nowadays we use mostly nature and natural oriented, medicine technology. Really few of us have opportunity to leave planet
Even for my position a huge amount of knowledge is forbidden although I am sure just several Izalguun carry this burden and communicate with AI.
I support Kuozar approach, this is wise. If you feel we need to hide the <3 from copaxi current govement - we may evacuate him until Protectorate come to agreement or until some next guild mission.
Thundergun overwhelmed by so lenght monologue, but feels better and finds corner to sit, sipping some water with maw...
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Therseis steps forward. When Less Than Three sees him, your comm units shriek. "A Giver of Pain and Toil!" The robot's tone is near panic.
"Don't worry, Less Than Three," Idir says gently. "He's not going to hurt you. We'll protect you. You'll be safe."
He's admittedly not sure of the best reassurances. After all, he perfectly understood Less Than Three's terror. It was the kind of terror dromadas experienced when faced with predators, and Less Than Three didn't have a huddle to protect them, so now they needed to be their huddle.
Therseis freezes. "Can it be? I don't know.... " He stands still vocalizing similar phrases while he listens to you before making a real reply.
Therseis looks around carefully. "Keep the other copaxi out of here. What I say now must stay between us. "
"The official government story is that robots in the city behaved erratically after a gravitational fluctuation, warranting their decommissioning. I suspect the mines might hold some secret regarding
the ancient use of robots. But this is shocking, especially given the way my base stock treated the sentient robot workers. We, the copaxis have been told that we relied on robots to swiftly colonize and industrialize the planet, but the use of robots was swiftly discontinued for reasons seldom enumerated.He looks at the party. "What you, my immediate companions, what would you do if a machine you created accidentally came to life?"
Idir winces at Kuozar's description of how Less Than Three might have been treated on Apostae.
"I hasten to add that the reason Kuozar brings up that particular Pact World is because it is his own homeworld. The Pact World of Aballon is primarily populated by constructed peoples, namely the anacites but also many androids and much like Less Than Three, sentient robotic organisms, or SROs. What I would do if encountering a construct developing sentient, is I would offer to assist them with integrating with our society as a citizen with the full rights and privileges thereof. I think it's clear from your reaction that you were unaware of the history Less Than Three represents. If you feel your government's reaction to that history becoming public would put Less Than Three in danger, it may be best if they're escorted off-world in secret, a service we'd be able to provide and of course would not implicate you."
Therseis listens intently to your replies. "Thank you, for your comments. I fear that, should government learn of the existence of enlightened free-thinking machines who are not protected by their Pact Worlds status, such machines would fair exactly as Less Than Three and his companions did long ago. Swift and summary deactivation would no doubt be their, the machines', lot. Your offered plan to remove Less Than Three secretly from Tabantria is the most humane, and sensible course that will lead to their, Less Than Three's, survival and most prosperous life.
"But this must be carried out in absolute secrecy. My fellow scholars and the scavengers can not know about this. The temptation for them to go to the authorities and collect a potentially substantial reward might be greater than any of them could reasonably resist.
"There is also something that I would like to show you, the Pact World Starfinders alone, also in secret, when we return to camp."
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Stell breathes more easily when Therseis agrees with the Pathfinders' advice. She adds, "My kind has been both enslaved and enslavers. Enslavers always had a way to justify their status, usually just by believing themselves superior to the enslaved for some reason: race, noble birth, greater prosperity, even possession of science and technology.
"Historians find similar trends in almost all sentient races. Your people show signs of dividing the Copaxi into two groups, with one group dominating the other. But that is normal and something you can overcome with time. I admire your willingness to help, and I think it is a reason to recommend you receive Protectorate status. You'll be given assistance in solving your ecological problems, but these might come with conditions to ensure fair government and proper treatment of other sentient beings in your midst. You would take a step toward more enlightened society."
Less Than Three is willing to trust you, and Therseis by association.
Therseis is satisfied with the agreement to secretly smuggle <3 off Tabantria.
The two scavenger copaxi are still waiting in the room outside. "Hey. What's going on in there? Can we come in?"
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Thundergund starts to disconnect carefully parts of <3 to pack what he believes are crucial to sustain life and mind aspects.
Thundergun hopes someone will help to smuggles the robot, because he is not this kind of person even thouh he has pretty large inventory.
Even though maybe his less lucky and technological fellows have to ramin here to grow interest or attetion of other copaxi....
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-You are right. We should remains his integrity. - technomancer wispers in repeat and adding: -Anyway we need to disconnect main parts from structure so that do not seems like a robot for other copaxi.
He is very anxious and pleades before other Starfinders to remain to the legend while tryin to ask <3 remain inactive for a while.
-Lets hope they really do not care, especially if we be calm. Oh, I need to calm down. - seems like THundergund follows Idir's example being overnervous.
Therseis suggests leaving the deactivated robots and smuggling Less Than Three to your ship after nightfall.
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Stell addresses Therseis. "If you are willing to go along with some deception of the others out there, we will claim Less Than 3 is just a barely functioning robot. We'll carry all of these others and have Less Than 3 carry one as well. I'll tell the others we found some robots and want to take them back to the ship for storage while we explore the rest of the area. We'll claim we need to try to access any memories that might still be stored in the robots to find out more about how they got here."
Therseis is willing to go along with the plan. Less Than Three's head is currently separated from his body; it won't be carrying anything until they are rejoined..
... A single robot sits in the alcove, facing the others, its hands folded serenely in its lap and holding its own detached head.
None of the robots show any signs of life. The robots’ featureless faces bear an eerie resemblance to those of the copaxis. ...
<3 had been decapitated long before you arrived.
With Therseis quietly going along, Aiadne and Bwyanikis accept Stell's story at face value. The robots are heavy and bulky. It's a long tiring journey back to your ship and campsite.
The other copaxis also buy into the story, although they ask Therseis if the government should be consulted about allowing these historical artifacts to be transported off world.
After loading the robots into your hold and a well deserved rest, the sun is westering and there's time to visit one more site before dark.
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Stell recommends Thundergun use some of the time when others are eating and chatting to extract as much information from <3 about what went on during his time of consciousness. It would be good to find out how long ago that was and any details about who was in charge and what were the mining operations for. How did it all end? This information can be stored securely in case the authorities confiscate the android.
Stell will play some music, tell campfire stories, and generally try to entertain the others. She'll take her rest eventually.
Tabantria Academy Main Campus: Overgrown vegetation covers this sprawling campus of a library, lecture amphitheaters, study halls, and dormitories. You spend a few hours here looking through the buldings and various materials, and using your translators to peruse the materials and displays.
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If Thundergun has time to communicate carefully and sneaky with <3 he uses it before rest time.
***
Thindergun become more though full seeming that local academia campus in this condition.
After short inspection the technomancer noticesnwith some regrets:
-Not impressive. Knowledge fractured or early devolpment in magic fields.
Nothing pops out to attack and Idir's eyestalks soon relax.
Therseis leaves you while you're still searching the grounds and library. When you return to camp, he peremptorily orders Aiadne and Bwyanikis to join Bryanisis, Panacula, and Gnaucara in preparing dinner.
He leads you all a short distance away from camp, but definitely out of sight of the other copaxi. "As I said, I would like you, the Starfinders, to see something and please give me your personal, as opposed to official, opinions."
He pulls a comm unit with some small extra components awkwardly wired into it, and taps a few buttons. Almost immediately you hear a whirring or buzzing sound and a small airborne drone rises from behind some brush , hovers for a few seconds and then approaches. Therseis explains, "I am not as infatuatedly enthusiastic as Panacula, but our, the copaxi people's, contact with the Pact Worlds, and subsequent exposure to technology, coupled with my assignment as your liaison, led me to try some technical experiments of my own. I have created my little friend here. She is capable of simple mathematical and logical computation, but has on several occasions exceeded her programming. When we met Less Than Three, I began to wonder whether she too might be sentient. And if she is, what actions my government might take.
"What do you think? How should I proceed to ensure her safety and my own liberty?"
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Impressive, my friend. I think you should try to do everything possible to ensure that your planet is under the protection of the Pact Worlds, but at the same time the Pact Worlds was aware of the real state of affairs and could influence it. Then you won't have to hide. Your truth will be the truth of this world.
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Thundergun surprised and impressed by hand-made drone. He is scanning it for a while and comments:
-Thats well if we think about lacking of resources. YOu might test your mech-child, improve it and help it grwoing. Make notes. Maybe you will be lucky to see good social-cultural moment to uncover her identity or lobby laws.
The copaxi can't really smile with his rigid face, but his body language becomes a little more perky. Perhaps you've given Therseis a bit of confidence.
" I will consider your words carefully and with gratitude. Let us return to the camp and the dinner that awaits. "
After dinner, the government copaxi banish the scavengers from the dining area, and settle in talk with you about your own adventures, the Pact Worlds, and technology.
Therseis follows the scavengers outside, and returns a few moments later. He is reserved during the discussion, and retires to his tent early. When you return to your quarters later, the light is still on in his tent.
The scavengers cannot be found for the rest of the evening.
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Stell looks forward to visiting the campus. She had little experience in formal places of learning, picking up all of her knowledge by experience or by reading things she could acquire through the Net. She looks at the books, eager to find something new and exciting. She was particularly keen to spot something that would reveal what kinds of music was taught. After a few hours of finding nothing revealing, she started to lose her initial enthusiasm.
Stell represses a smile as Therseis shows off his drone and worries it might become sentient. She is no expert on AI, but she assumes simple programs don't simply develop intelligence. She had listened to music written by computer programs and none of it had the spark of real creativity, only melodies that might impress a child or someone unfamiliar with the leading lights of musical composition. She praised Therseis' ingenuity and said nothing to discourage him.
Later she asks the Pathfinders with knowledge of engineering if they had every heard of a place that had mystic energies that seemed to lead simple robotic mechanisms into consciousness and independent thought. She did not know enough about either mysticism or AI design to speculate.
She asks Therseis to describe the education system on the planet, curious to know how regimented education is. Stell has been to enough systems to know that the most interesting ones nourished curiosity and rewarded diligent investigation into quirky topics.
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Nothing pops out to attack and Idir's eyestalks soon relax.
Therseis leaves you while you're still searching the grounds and library. When you return to camp, he peremptorily orders Aiadne and Bwyanikis to join Bryanisis, Panacula, and Gnaucara in preparing dinner.
He leads you all a short distance away from camp, but definitely out of sight of the other copaxi. "As I said, I would like you, the Starfinders, to see something and please give me your personal, as opposed to official, opinions."
He pulls a comm unit with some small extra components awkwardly wired into it, and taps a few buttons. Almost immediately you hear a whirring or buzzing sound and a small airborne drone rises from behind some brush , hovers for a few seconds and then approaches. Therseis explains, "I am not as infatuatedly enthusiastic as Panacula, but our, the copaxi people's, contact with the Pact Worlds, and subsequent exposure to technology, coupled with my assignment as your liaison, led me to try some technical experiments of my own. I have created my little friend here. She is capable of simple mathematical and logical computation, but has on several occasions exceeded her programming. When we met Less Than Three, I began to wonder whether she too might be sentient. And if she is, what actions my government might take.
"What do you think? How should I proceed to ensure her safety and my own liberty?"
Idir thinks carefully.
"This is a serious question, Therseis...Are there codified laws against sentient machines on Tabrantia, or is this more a case of Less Than Three's story making you concerned about historical precedents? I think Kuozar has the right of it: obtaining Protectorate status will mean your friend will have the full rights of any SRO or android. While there are...historical elements that suggest dark and potentially embarrassing elements of the copaxi's past, virtually all sapient societies have similar stories...even we, the dromadas, have things we don't like to talk about, like Romgul...the Coward's God...so such elements do not disqualify your people from Protectorate status, and indeed, successfully obtaining Protectorate status may be the push your government needs to be better. Thank you for trusting us with this Therseis...to be honest, I was concerned earlier that you might have been observing us as we were observing you, but now I can see your integrity and that your caution was warranted. I apologize for my previous hasty judgment."
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Thundering prefers to think and work on side of software and extracted data.
Although he remain in Discussion and answer Stell after a while :
—Thats good question about artifical consciousness. We have legend and theories about it but I am not sure. At leat it is not common among our inventions and legacy.
Thundergun now thinks that Petition may be even signed, this civilisation has hope and future.
Well before dawn, Stell Z-Lin is awakened by the return of the scavenger copaxi. They try to detour around her, but quickly realize that they've been seen and return to their original course. They greet her and shuffle away, but she can easily discern that they are trying to hide something, most probably whatever is heavily dragging down their packs.
Curiousity piqued, she questions them and it soon comes out that Therseis told them about possible salvage in the old Market. They spent the night gathering old coins scattered throughout the market area.
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When Stell gets them to describe their actions, she compliments them on their willingness to help and asks if she can see their finds, just to document them on video for her report.
Stell takes some time reviewing her videos and her written notes and prepares writes an outline of her report, which she plans to work on during the return trip, unless it is needed sooner. Her overall recommendation is to allow the Copaxis protectorate status, with a caveat to being monitoring the social and political situation, keeping an eye out for oppressed groups in need of some relief. She recommends offering technical support (without augmentation from technomancers) to recommend ways to improve the atmosphere and environmental issues.
If there is any time left while others work on their reports, she works on writing a violin composition that captures her impressions of the floating city.