I would not call them life. There are machinations of course. Clones even if one were to implement Allagan technology. While they may appear full of life, they do not share the emotions, the desires, the wants of mankind.
Allag is a empire. One I fashioned myself. Of all the empires I created it is the one I am most proud of. And it did serve its purpose to usher in another Rejoining.
Ah, but did you believe these creations made by this child to have souls?
I don't know. Metaphysics isn't my area. But people would say things like that about Eureka - that she wasn't human because she doesn't feel things like a human. When everything is said and done, people might even say those things about me.
I do think Bridger brought one of my dolls to life. I don't remember much about it, only that it seemed to share all of my desires and plans. It helped me carry off a hit.
No one doubts you have a will of your own, thus a soul. And I suppose it isn't about feeling as one would expect, but feeling at all. Too often people view differences as an affront.
Did they? Well, then they would surpass Creation magic for we could never imbue items with a soul. Not that we would want to.
[laughs] Don't be so sure about that. The first thing everyone will say is that I was brainwashed into a killing machine by my ba'pas, trust me.
[But that's beside the point,]
My world has a similar principal. It's illegal to make artificial intelligence that are, well, too intelligent. But then you have people like Eureka being called computers, and Gordian working on mapping the human mind so a personality can be re-created using data. Eventually, the distinction will collapse.
Souls can get to close to complex constructs, but after reading tales here they are more like ghosts. Thrashing about blindly with the intent only to harm.
It wasn't pleasant. Though ever was it the job of the office of Emet-Selch to help in such affairs. Or perhaps that was simply one of my dearest friends looking for an excuse to spend time together.
It becomes synonymous with our names once we take office.
I would say the occasion was more rare than not. Usually the fault was a Creation or experiment simply being too close or a portion of soul being too restless.
A soul in such a manner will simply thrash about wildly. Returning to the lifestream will cleanse it, calm it, to be reborn again. Though as with any new life it is bereft of memories.
I was, but I don't remember much of my command yet. My sibling Ockham has been O. S since we killed our ba'pas, but the title passed to me after everything got out to the public. Someone had to go stand trial, and I'm the one with all the followers, so Ockham got arrested and I went to ground.
[Some melancholy creeps into their tone as they explain. But they glance at Emet-Selchm shaking off their melancholy with curiosity.]
What about criminals? Or is there really no crime at all, ever?
I'm sorry to hear that. By your tone you seemed close.
There were crimes, but not so severe that remediation could not be put into place. To truly kill one of us take no small amount of effort considering our aetheric presence. Honestly, injuries were more common with Creations gone awry than purposeful thought.
No. [Cardinal's focus grows distant for a moment.] We competed for O.S when we were younger. There's no one I'm closer to.
So you could do the worse thing anyone could think of and and still come back. I see why you were surprised. Isn't that strange for everyone else? Would everyone know?
It's complicated; I'm still missing pieces. When we were younger, I did hate Ockham. They were always twice my size and I had to work five times harder to beat them. But later... I wanted them to be O.S.
[Pokes him idly.] You didn't answer; does everyone know, when you come back? That you had to be reborn.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Are there a lot of beings like that in your world? Life without souls.
no subject
no subject
Is that something you know, or something you believe?
no subject
Ah, but did you believe these creations made by this child to have souls?
no subject
I don't know. Metaphysics isn't my area. But people would say things like that about Eureka - that she wasn't human because she doesn't feel things like a human. When everything is said and done, people might even say those things about me.
I do think Bridger brought one of my dolls to life. I don't remember much about it, only that it seemed to share all of my desires and plans. It helped me carry off a hit.
no subject
Did they? Well, then they would surpass Creation magic for we could never imbue items with a soul. Not that we would want to.
no subject
[But that's beside the point,]
My world has a similar principal. It's illegal to make artificial intelligence that are, well, too intelligent. But then you have people like Eureka being called computers, and Gordian working on mapping the human mind so a personality can be re-created using data. Eventually, the distinction will collapse.
no subject
Ah, I suppose they can't distinguish not being able to see the souls themselves. Though it does make for a fascinating debate.
no subject
Is there a way to 'get' a soul, without being born with one...? Like developing one.
no subject
Though it is possible I suppose.
no subject
no subject
no subject
So you dealt with them a lot? There wasn't any way to help them?
no subject
I would say the occasion was more rare than not. Usually the fault was a Creation or experiment simply being too close or a portion of soul being too restless.
no subject
And then what did you do?
no subject
Only one option remains. Put the soul back to rest into the lifestream.
no subject
I assume at that point it loses any sense of identity?
no subject
A soul in such a manner will simply thrash about wildly. Returning to the lifestream will cleanse it, calm it, to be reborn again. Though as with any new life it is bereft of memories.
no subject
[Some melancholy creeps into their tone as they explain. But they glance at Emet-Selchm shaking off their melancholy with curiosity.]
What about criminals? Or is there really no crime at all, ever?
no subject
There were crimes, but not so severe that remediation could not be put into place. To truly kill one of us take no small amount of effort considering our aetheric presence. Honestly, injuries were more common with Creations gone awry than purposeful thought.
no subject
And when you say 'kill', do you mean returning them to the lifestream, or destroying them?
no subject
Returning to the lifestream. Though I suppose one could utterly destroy a soul.
no subject
So you could do the worse thing anyone could think of and and still come back. I see why you were surprised. Isn't that strange for everyone else? Would everyone know?
no subject
You have learned here that the mental effects are vastly more concerning than the physical ones.
no subject
[Pokes him idly.] You didn't answer; does everyone know, when you come back? That you had to be reborn.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)