HQ Snippet #21 3-27-15

n7axw wrote:Larry, the choice to go into cryo will be Sandaria's. She has been promised that and Merlin won't go back on his word.

Don

For that matter, they wouldn't be speculating about her ability to adjust if she were put in cryo: it'd be a simple non-issue. So she's conscious and interacting and with an opportunity to adjust, now - just in confinement.

It doesn't speak poorly of her. Just about everyone else introduced to the falsehood of the Writ - either through Merlin or St. Zherneau - has been prepped for it and not told til there was reason to think they could handle it. Even Nynian was self-prepped in a way, figuring out how much outside Safehold's capabilities, even for seijin, Merlin had.

Sandaria wasn't picked for special ability to handle it - SSK background may help there, but as others have said, it may just make someone more sure they can't be further surprised. And even other "emergency" subjects of revelation - Cayleb, Sharleyan, Edwyrd Seahamper, Hector, Irys - had a whole lot more familiarity with seijin Merlin's repertoire and credit as one of the good guys, and in several of those cases (Sharleyan particularly) were due to be told soon anyway.

So she's experiencing something a lot like what the Brotherhood has been doing for generations: after you tell someone, you spend a good long while keeping an eye on them and making sure they can't spread the word or do anything drastic.

n7axw wrote:

Tanstaafl wrote:
There really is no reason to go into cryo. Not for her and not for the Inner Circle. There will be more initiates who can't take the hole revelation. Give them a home in a series of extensions of the cave. Make those extensions big enough live a really comfortable life. I am thinking more in square kilometers than acres in total.

And give them orphans to raise. Orphans young enough to get implants. It will transform the doubters that life in the cave. And in twenty years it will give the inner circle a cadre of teachers, soldiers and administrators or sejins. Whatever call in life those orphans want to answer.

This is certainly an interesting idea. I like it. That would make a nice story line. I wonder if Merlin and company have the capability to pull off the implants bit.

Don

Didn't we beat that one fully to death the last time around?

It's not a nice story line, it's

A) Child abuse. Think about the conditions you are going to raise them under, and the impossibility of getting informed consent from their guardians.

B) Plain silly. Why would you allow your super-soldiers, with access to all the tech, to be raised by people who think you are liars at best and demons at worst?

For both those reasons, especially A) it's not going to happen, Tanstaafl.

Thank You.

tootall wrote:O.K....
That's a WOW.

and,

I think she likes our hero.

As a BFF, I can see. Romance though? Hum.

As a somewhat connected thought. Once they have beaten the CoGA, Langhorne and the patriarchy, and are going after the Gbaba, will our hero stay as Merlin or revert to being Nimue Alban?

Tanstaafl wrote:And give them orphans to raise. Orphans young enough to get implants. It will transform the doubters that life in the cave. And in twenty years it will give the inner circle a cadre of teachers, soldiers and administrators or sejins. Whatever call in life those orphans want to answer.

n7axw wrote:This is certainly an interesting idea. I like it. That would make a nice story line. I wonder if Merlin and company have the capability to pull off the implants bit.

Don

Randomiser wrote:Didn't we beat that one fully to death the last time around?

It's not a nice story line, it's

A) Child abuse. Think about the conditions you are going to raise them under, and the impossibility of getting informed consent from their guardians.

B) Plain silly. Why would you allow your super-soldiers, with access to all the tech, to be raised by people who think you are liars at best and demons at worst?

For both those reasons, especially A) it's not going to happen, Tanstaafl.

You are really reading things not said.

No one is advocating stealing children. This is about rescuing war orphans who would otherwise die or go to another orphanage. So called "Wards of the state". There are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands children who have nobody who can take care of them.

The conditions under which they are raised are the best 24the century earth science can offer. The duty of every parent or guardian is to raise children in the best possible way. And this is the best possible way on Safehold. For reasons of security it can not be offered to children who are raised in normal communities, yet.

Your point A) is a lack of understanding of what is proposed.

These children are not raised as the future super soldiers, but as the vanguard of the new, well-educated Safehold civilization. But the only candidates for 24the century earth technology soldiers are people with implants. Some of these children will volunteer to join the military when they come of age, just like other adults do.

Among the adults raising these children are those who understand that Langhorn and the church are not 100% correct, but cannot grasp the whole truth. Or cannot live outside and keep their knowledge a secret. But I envision the bulk of the men and women working in the orphanage to be brothers and sisters who accept and understand the truth and think this is a good way to work for the future of Safehold. As a wonderful occasion to retreat from the war, raise orphans and study the wonders of Owl's cave for a few months or years.

Your point B) is equally unfounded.

But it is not going to happen because RFC did not plan this to happen. Instead he is going to give us lots of other unexpected plot twists. What makes reading and speculating such fun.

Thanks, RFC. Interesting and enjoyable snippet.

Thanks for the Snippet RFC

The maid is currently with two holographic persnoalites, on a developing machine and the other a devious prince, why will I not be shocked if she comes around to the 'Truth?"

Poker

Now that that Reversion has been diverted to Another,
I suppose that Merlin could still Change to a different
woman?!?

HTM

Randomiser wrote:
[snip - htm] Once they have beaten the CoGA,[snip] will our hero stay as Merlin or revert to being Nimue Alban?

We abstainers can make an adequate guess, though!

HTM

[quote="Tanstaafl"]
[snip to sig - htm

"abstanents are correct; only drinkers know why"
[quote]

Howard T. Map-addict wrote:Now that that Reversion has been diverted to Another,
I suppose that Merlin could still Change to a different
woman?!?

HTM

Randomiser wrote:
[snip - htm] Once they have beaten the CoGA,[snip] will our hero stay as Merlin or revert to being Nimue Alban?

I don't think this identity could be abandoned prior to the Reveal, and being able to make that switch would have to wait that long too. Given how long that may be - I doubt it's going to follow right on the heels of this war - Merlin will by then have probably had more adult lifespan and heck, maybe sexual relationships, as Merlin than as Nimue. The poor fellow may want to relax into this gender identity and stay.