Spike
Junior Member
Posts: 67
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Post by Spike on May 9, 2011 19:10:54 GMT
The Court being grown makes a lot of sense. Explains why there are so many buildings for so few people. Ogee....what if the court never STOPPED growing? It's not unlikely, really. Taking up more space with each passing year, requiring more energy, et cetera. But it's also implied that the court didn't design itself up. Most recently Lindsey said she helped design the new dorms.
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Post by jayne on May 9, 2011 19:29:53 GMT
Ogee....what if the court never STOPPED growing? It's not unlikely, really. Taking up more space with each passing year, requiring more energy, et cetera. But it's also implied that the court didn't design itself up. Most recently Lindsey said she helped design the new dorms. Well, anyone can modify the court or build something new. Jack made a bridge out of scraps. There's no reason why someone couldn't build something more substantial.
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Post by coreshadow on May 9, 2011 19:54:01 GMT
so no one else is obsessing over what this "seed of bismuth" exactly is?
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Post by paxjax123 on May 9, 2011 20:05:58 GMT
so no one else is obsessing over what this "seed of bismuth" exactly is? It could actually be, simply, a chunk of magic bismuth. It planted itself in the ground (or someone planted it) where the Court now is. I bet, at the heart of the Court, that's where it is, and all this cool weird freaky stuff is going on around it. Am I WMGing? Sorry.
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Post by jayne on May 9, 2011 20:22:52 GMT
Did you ever make rock candy? You dissolve a lot of sugar in water until its super saturated. The first crystal to form is a seed crystal and other crystals grow on that. How to make rock candyNormal Bismuth crystal Maybe when Bismuth is exposed to an environment that is super saturated with ether, it grows into specific shapes.
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Post by coreshadow on May 9, 2011 20:28:43 GMT
Did you ever make rock candy? You dissolve a lot of sugar in water until its super saturated. The first crystal to form is a seed crystal and other crystals grow on that. How to make rock candyNormal Bismuth crystal Maybe when Bismuth is exposed to an environment that is super saturated with ether, it grows into specific shapes. This along the same lines as my thinking. seeing as the seed is a combination of etheric and court proccesses, and that the court founders moved to the forest, I'd guess the seed is a piece of court "tech"(used lghtly seeing how old the court is) fused with etheric energies. perhaps this was the forests way of "blessing" the settlement.
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Post by jayne on May 9, 2011 20:34:25 GMT
Which brings me back to my question about Ysengrin's seeds...I wonder if they were an 'antidote' for a bismuth seed....
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Post by imaginaryfriend on May 9, 2011 21:58:31 GMT
so no one else is obsessing over what this "seed of bismuth" exactly is? Seed Bismuth: It's a little blue pill... for THE EARTH. Sorry, couldn't resist what with this thread's title and all.
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Post by todd on May 9, 2011 22:18:36 GMT
I've mentioned this before, but I suspect that this is precisely why the Court is where it is - despite the obvious drawback towards running complicated scientific experiments next door to a forest full of creatures who distrust technology and could endanger the Court. The Court depends on the Bismuth Seed, thus it has to be wherever the Seed is. No other location, though it might be safer, would work.
(Indeed, I wonder whether this is the real reason why the Founders came to the Wood long before, and all that talk about fleeing persecution was a lie to trick the forest-folk into giving them sanctuary so that they could use the Bismuth Seed to begin their experiments and investigations. They might have put the bit about seeking refuge in the forest in their official history books to ensure that nobody in future generations would accidentally - or deliberately, in the same manner as Annie revealing how the Court tricked Reynardine - spill the truth to the forest-folk. If the Founders rewrote the history books to omit Jeanne, they might have falsified the record in other ways....)
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percival
Full Member
there's a storm a-brewin'
Posts: 119
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Post by percival on May 9, 2011 22:29:25 GMT
I wonder, what does Kat look like in robot's eyes? Maybe his eyes can "see" something more to Kat, just like Annie sees more than meets the eye with her etheric vision. And maybe, as Kat's abilities increase, her invisible self becomes more beautiful to him, in reference to his comment in the last chapter.
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Post by scaramousche on May 9, 2011 22:50:41 GMT
... trick the forest-folk [...] so that they could use the Bismuth Seed to begin their experiments and investigations It doesn't seem likely that the Forest folk would value the Bismuth seed high enough that a need for trickery would arise. It also appears to me that there's as much truth in "growing" the Court as in "building". The people who run the Court now have wandered rather far from etheric principles, so "building" is how they understand its genesis; while for the Forest dwellers, "growing" is how they could see it. While what had actually happened — with the Court being a fusion of technological and etheric design — could have been a combination of both these processes. The founders of the Court could have manipulated the Bismuth seed growth in ways that suited them. As for the point that the Court must remain where the seed is, it quite possibly makes sense!
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Post by Mezzaphor on May 10, 2011 0:04:07 GMT
I bet Shadow is with him... Robot doesn't have any robot-y responsibilities... he's free to do whatever he chooses. I think most robots have a job of some kind. Speaking of free will in robots, we have seen the other GC robots exhibit some free will (whether it's complete free will or not, isn't clear), but do we really know for sure if Robot has more free will than the others if they don't have truly complete free will? At the end of the very first chapter, when Annie told Robot that he did not have to return to the Court from the other side of the bridge if he didn't want to, that was the first real choice he'd ever been given. (Robot said as much at the end of Ch 12.)
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Post by aidami on May 10, 2011 0:23:25 GMT
Bismuth is a crystalline material, which means that it grows from a seed crystal. As jayne said, rock candy is also a crystal, and grows from a seed crystal. This can happen in a supersaturated solution, or in other environments, as long as you have a seed crystal to start with. Crystals need to form on a surface that's already there- otherwise the energy barrier is too high. If there was a seed Bismuth crystal, and the ether contained Bismuth, Bismuth would separate out of the ether and attach to the seed crystal, causing the seed to grow. I wonder if this could be what's going on at those power stations in the lake... Also, Bismuth is the element directly below Antimony in the periodic table, which means that they have most of the same properties. Just thought I'd throw that in there Also also.... hi, I'm a new member, and yes, I did finally get an account just to post nerdy statements about crystals. Materials science for the win?
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Post by Starrylight on May 10, 2011 1:24:09 GMT
Also also.... hi, I'm a new member, and yes, I did finally get an account just to post nerdy statements about crystals. Materials science for the win? Welcome! Nerdy statements about crystals are the best kind of introduction, in my opinion. ;D
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Post by jayne on May 10, 2011 1:58:38 GMT
Bismuth is a crystalline material, which means that it grows from a seed crystal. As jayne said, rock candy is also a crystal, and grows from a seed crystal. This can happen in a supersaturated solution, or in other environments, as long as you have a seed crystal to start with. Crystals need to form on a surface that's already there- otherwise the energy barrier is too high. If there was a seed Bismuth crystal, and the ether contained Bismuth, Bismuth would separate out of the ether and attach to the seed crystal, causing the seed to grow. I wonder if this could be what's going on at those power stations in the lake... Also, Bismuth is the element directly below Antimony in the periodic table, which means that they have most of the same properties. Just thought I'd throw that in there Also also.... hi, I'm a new member, and yes, I did finally get an account just to post nerdy statements about crystals. Materials science for the win? Nerdy statements about crystals AND a Dresden Codak avatar?? Welcome TWICE~!
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Post by aidami on May 10, 2011 2:41:23 GMT
Thanks, jayne and starrylight!
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Post by fronzel on May 10, 2011 2:55:54 GMT
I gotta wonder if she isn't re-discovering something that Diego used since he was basically the super-robot maker.
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Post by smjjames on May 10, 2011 4:19:56 GMT
Speaking of free will in robots, we have seen the other GC robots exhibit some free will (whether it's complete free will or not, isn't clear), but do we really know for sure if Robot has more free will than the others if they don't have truly complete free will? At the end of the very first chapter, when Annie told Robot that he did not have to return to the Court from the other side of the bridge if he didn't want to, that was the first real choice he'd ever been given. (Robot said as much at the end of Ch 12.) Then he was possessed by Ysengrins arm with an invading shadowperson along for the ride and forced him across, with Robot being completely aware of everything going on. I wonder, what does Kat look like in robot's eyes? Maybe his eyes can "see" something more to Kat, just like Annie sees more than meets the eye with her etheric vision. And maybe, as Kat's abilities increase, her invisible self becomes more beautiful to him, in reference to his comment in the last chapter. Like what, infrared?
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Post by infinitysquared on May 10, 2011 11:03:07 GMT
Hmm. Perhaps the Court is built with ethertech nanomachines? And in regards to the statement in which Annie and the Court are similar, is it that while Annie's power grows, so does the Court's as it (re?)discovers knowledge and methods?
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Post by coreshadow on May 10, 2011 12:37:56 GMT
Bismuth is a crystalline material, which means that it grows from a seed crystal. As jayne said, rock candy is also a crystal, and grows from a seed crystal. This can happen in a supersaturated solution, or in other environments, as long as you have a seed crystal to start with. Crystals need to form on a surface that's already there- otherwise the energy barrier is too high. If there was a seed Bismuth crystal, and the ether contained Bismuth, Bismuth would separate out of the ether and attach to the seed crystal, causing the seed to grow. I wonder if this could be what's going on at those power stations in the lake... Also, Bismuth is the element directly below Antimony in the periodic table, which means that they have most of the same properties. Just thought I'd throw that in there Also also.... hi, I'm a new member, and yes, I did finally get an account just to post nerdy statements about crystals. Materials science for the win? Ok, so assuming that the power stations are dwaring energy or material from the ether to expand the court. what is the ultimate purpose of this? and how is the involved in ""mans endeavour to become god" as coyote put? (also, is this getting off topic? if it is please just tell me to shush.)
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Post by aidami on May 10, 2011 15:22:23 GMT
Bismuth is a crystalline material, which means that it grows from a seed crystal. As jayne said, rock candy is also a crystal, and grows from a seed crystal. This can happen in a supersaturated solution, or in other environments, as long as you have a seed crystal to start with. Crystals need to form on a surface that's already there- otherwise the energy barrier is too high. If there was a seed Bismuth crystal, and the ether contained Bismuth, Bismuth would separate out of the ether and attach to the seed crystal, causing the seed to grow. I wonder if this could be what's going on at those power stations in the lake... Also, Bismuth is the element directly below Antimony in the periodic table, which means that they have most of the same properties. Just thought I'd throw that in there Also also.... hi, I'm a new member, and yes, I did finally get an account just to post nerdy statements about crystals. Materials science for the win? Ok, so assuming that the power stations are dwaring energy or material from the ether to expand the court. what is the ultimate purpose of this? and how is the involved in ""mans endeavour to become god" as coyote put? (also, is this getting off topic? if it is please just tell me to shush.) If they are actually converting the ether into material to grow the court, then they'd be attempting to replace what is naturally there (the forest) with their own creations. That's sort of like attempting to become a god, although since that quote is originally from coyote, he could have been referring to something a lot more literal than this interpretation. I don't know if they need a motive, or an ultimate goal, to want to expand the court. It seems like expanding and dominating is something that groups of people often want to do. I wonder if my power station theory might actually belong in wild speculation, though
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Post by jayne on May 10, 2011 18:39:14 GMT
Coyote: "<Gunnerkrigg Court is> man's endeavour to become god" Hmmm.... create something from nothing? Control creation? Maybe create life? Would the robots count as some kind of life form? Other than people, there isn't any organic life... except lab animals... and one (maybe two) gigantic crabs... I suppose a minotaur counts as people. MAN, I could not live there!! Poor Paz!
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Post by smjjames on May 10, 2011 19:37:16 GMT
Coyote: "<Gunnerkrigg Court is> man's endeavour to become god" Hmmm.... create something from nothing? Control creation? Maybe create life? Would the robots count as some kind of life form? Other than people, there isn't any organic life... except lab animals... and one (maybe two) gigantic crabs... I suppose a minotaur counts as people. MAN, I could not live there!! Poor Paz! Theres also pigeons, at least one worm, various insects, spiders. Still alot less organic life in a typical city other than humans. We haven't seen much of plants within the court outside of what amounts to biodomes. There may have been some inside or around the veterinarians and near or on the way to the barbershop. Theres also the residential area (Kats house), but we don't know if thats an extension of the Court or a nearby town/city. Edit: Oh yea, theres that recess yard with a tree, grass, and possibly some bushes. Edit2: Just checked and theres some bushes outside and a dead potted plant inside the vet. Edit3: Did we ever see a street view of Kats house with others? I can't find that one if it exists.
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Post by todd on May 10, 2011 22:26:42 GMT
Coyote: "<Gunnerkrigg Court is> man's endeavour to become god" Hmmm.... create something from nothing? Control creation? Maybe create life? Would the robots count as some kind of life form? Other than people, there isn't any organic life... except lab animals... and one (maybe two) gigantic crabs... I suppose a minotaur counts as people. MAN, I could not live there!! Poor Paz! Paranoia over organic life being possibly on the side of the forest (unless it's humans)? Though, ever since the first flashback to Jeanne and Diego, I also remembered C. S. Lewis's "That Hideous Strength", where the inhabitants of the moon have already rejected nearly all organic life in favor of artificial life (such as mechanical trees and birds), and the villains on Earth (a so-called scientific organization called the National Institute for Co-ordinated Experiments - actually, they're not really interested in science, only in ruling everyone, with scientific research being their cover story to dupe the public and the press) want to achieve the same thing here. Mind you, I don't think that the Court is *that* bad.
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Post by Polly Plummer on May 11, 2011 1:24:23 GMT
C.S. Lewis and Gunnerkrigg together at last? I may die of happiness. Also, I think the minotaur (Basil, if I recall correctly) counts as both person and animal.
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ding
Full Member
Posts: 129
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Post by ding on May 11, 2011 3:33:24 GMT
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Post by paxjax123 on May 11, 2011 4:12:20 GMT
You have absolutely no idea how happy this makes me.
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Post by smjjames on May 11, 2011 4:51:47 GMT
Not getting what that blue thing is suppoused to be in the last two panels in that fanart.
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Post by Yin on May 11, 2011 5:25:29 GMT
Not getting what that blue thing is suppoused to be in the last two panels in that fanart. That's Pintsize from this webcomic.
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Post by TBeholder on May 11, 2011 17:04:18 GMT
I think Tic Tocs prefer to eat snow-globes. That's why you don't see a single wild trolley in the Court, let alone a mall. Speaking of Kat and Diego... does anyone else feel like there may be a connection between the two? My theory: yes. I believe Kat will be the one to figure out how Diego's robots move but I don't think she can do it without Annie's help. I still bet on Jack's participation. Diego managed to combine technology with the etheric... maybe he had someone like Annie back in his day. Diego also made that arrow. Someone made(?) TicTocs... And there was "Seed Bismuth". My impression is that back then, ether-tech was these guys' favourite pastime - they got snooty only after the Court/Wood division. Crystals need to form on a surface that's already there- otherwise the energy barrier is too high. If there was a seed Bismuth crystal, and the ether contained Bismuth, Bismuth would separate out of the ether and attach to the seed crystal, causing the seed to grow. [...] and yes, I did finally get an account just to post nerdy statements about crystals. Materials science for the win? Not nerdy enough: you didn't even mention possibilities of the ethereal epitaxy. Theres also pigeons, at least one worm, various insects, spiders. Plenty of spiders! ;D And they have to eat someone, so... That's Pintsize from this webcomic. And it's horrible. Much worse than even Boxbot itself.
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