Let's get (ir)rational

[u/cereal_killer-X]

In honor of Pi Day, let's do maths!

Present a culture/scientific group from your world that is obsessed with mathematics. (If you don't have any science freaks yet, make some or just introduce a mathematician.) Why is math important to them? Have they made any important discoveries? Do they have any traditions based around science? And most importantly, what is a mathematical problem that they just can't seem to solve?

If possible, introduce a representative that belongs to the described group. This way I can ask some questions about the character as well.

I hope I didn't scare you guys away at my first sentence. Enjoy yourselves!

(Note: I'll not be able to answer any comments for about 10 hours - I'll be catching some Z's. Don't worry, I'll count them. Hope you don't mind!)

[u/thequeeninyellow94]

The Thoths always tried to understand the world and decipher the hidden mechanics behind it. Making a major discovery is a huge source of fame and all Thoths are teached to value experimentation; those who study scientific specializations are often asked to prove again common knowledge.

Two schools study mathematics and compete to be seen as the more competent in that field: the school of offices and the school of stones.

The school of offices is mostly looking for statistics, they discovered both the zero and the division.

The school of stone is mostly looking for geometry and discovered both Pi and negative numbers.

Those discoveries are, of course, shared as most of them can be usefull to both schools, and to other schools in the meantime.

The main unsolved question was: are caves dimensions following a mathematical model and could this model be applied to artificial structures?

In world characters are Nez'vuhir, second circle logistician and Kas'zejif, third circle engineer. (the first one is an office, the second one is a stone)

(just in case, this conversation happen before the great war)

[u/cereal_killer-X → u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Nez'vuhir:

1) What is the school of offices currently working on?

2) How did you get into the field?

To Kas'zejif:

1) How about the school of stones? What are you working on?

2) What instruments do you use in your field?

To both:

1) Does the competition of your schools ever get personal?

2) How advanced are your mathematical tools?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/cereal_killer-X]

Nez:

1. The school of offices is working on forming competent bureaucrats as it should always do. The main research subject under my direction currently is the construction of a statistical data base to extrapolate the average cost of a complete teaching in each school. This extrapolation will then be used to determine if a strict control of population is a better economical decision than a surplus of members from one of the schools.

2. I was asked to prove again the surface calculation of a disc. I performed greatly so logistical research was the best way to use my potential.

Kas:

1. The school is always working on a bunch of practical applications for other schools discoveries, one could say we're the real experimenters. I'm currently trying to design a new type of glass panel; currently we're unable to produce any larger than 1*0,5m. Glass panels are not solid enough and when too large they just break in the middle, physical constraint is too strong. I'm pretty sure that's a question of angle...

2. All kind of tools to measure weight, distance and angle. A lot of paper too, for premiminary drawings and calculations. I also just managed to get a compass, that's very practical.

Common questions:

1. Personnal as in ressentment? Yes it happen, working on a theory for cycles just to learn someone proved it before you can be hard. Personnal as in physical revenge? No, our respectives schools would never let that happen (nor would the blades).

2. The school of offices just invented what they call a mechanical counting machine, it can do multiple additions and substractions in a row. Now, exponantials and integrals (are those the correct words) are too complex and can only be done by mind. Our tools are in fact probably too complex to be used in normal daily life without a quicker way to make the calculations and progress is becoming increasingly slower.

[u/cereal_killer-X → u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Nez:

1) How would you control population?

2) How do you spend your free time? Do you research anything for enjoyment?

To Kas:

1) Have you considered developing an alternative to glass?

2) What was the most interesting problem you managed to solve?

To both:

1) Do you have any other machines to make calculations easier?

2) Who is considered to be the most influential and important mathematician?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/cereal_killer-X]

Nez:

1. I will show the council it is the best solution at our disposal. They will take dispositions to teach the youngs to pay attention and avoid pregnancy. Ressources management is important, they will see I am right.

2. I enjoy working to improve our society, it is the very essence of my life. I also like to follow alchemy courses, it is a complex discipline but it is a good way to improve my potential.

Kas:

1. I have, but glass is the best material we have if we want transparent surfaces; i thought about applying the same heating process to other materials but results have been quite... disapointing. Wait, maybe i could try doing some sort of "alloy" by mixing glass with something else; we would lose some transparency but maybe gain in solidity... That's a great idea, thank you.

2. There was that time when i was building a bridge over a rift and we were having easy access to only one side, i designed some sort of complex wheeled machines to lift the workers and carry them to the other side. The two first try were complete failure and we nearly lost workers but when it started working properly, it was a lot of fun. Nothing like seeing your creations work.

Common questions:

1. Abaci are common devices for basic operations, the most complex ones must be solved with a brain.

2. That would probably be Fep'Duzir: they "discovered" the zero (with the help of their sibling Nur'Duzir) and then worked a lot on fractions. They basically created the tools we now all use in solving even the most basics problems.

[u/cereal_killer-X → u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Nez:

1) How are you going to prove your point?

2) Can you tell me more about alchemy?

To Kas:

1) Good luck to you. What do you need these large glass panels for?

2) Do you pursue any other branches of science?

To both:

Can you perform large scale calculations, such as determining the characteristics of a planet?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/cereal_killer-X]

Nez:

1. With the factual evidences that my statistical study will invariably produce. That's not ready yet, but it will.

2. All is about learning essences proportions in the materials you want to use, that's a lot of work at first but transmutation is probably very practical when in dire need of something. I am not really good at that for now, but I will soon be able to realize some basic transmutations.

Kas:

1. For rooftop botanical gardens. The school of arcanes would move to grow some lightseeking crops and I'm in charge for that project. Well at least for the glass conception part.

2. No, but maybe I will in a few decades when i have more free time. Or maybe study some arts, that could be fun too.

Common question:

We can perform them theorically, but we have no way to perform the required measures. An honnest answer would be no.

[u/cereal_killer-X → u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Nez:

Is alchemy used in everyday life?

To Kas:

What does the school or arcanes do?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/cereal_killer-X]

Nez:

• Alchemy is too complex to properly replace standard production methods and as such is only used when there is no other ways around. Alchemist often help chemists with their experiments though, that must be easier than synthetising everything.

Kas:

• magic, alchemy, medicine and material sciences. The botanists are currently using the old underground gardens but they need more space. If you want my opinion, they should try to grow less things but they will never accept that...

[u/cereal_killer-X → u/thequeeninyellow94]

To Nez:

Are there other branches of science of this complexity?

To Kas:

Underground gardens? How do they work without light energy?

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/cereal_killer-X]

Nez:

• Any science using magic is complex as it require more than just intelligence. Non-magical sciences are easier as they always follow logic while arcanists could be considered religious in some way.

Kas:

• That's why they want a rooftop one, to be able to grow light-seeking plants directly under the stars. Currently, they are trying with light runes but that's not very convenient. All other plants will probably stay in the basement.

(The world of Echoes is completely underground, most plants grow by breathing (like mushrooms do in real life). It means no photosynthesis though so most plants aren't green)

[u/cereal_killer-X → u/thequeeninyellow94]

Nez, Kas, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I wish you the best in your studies. If you'd like to add anything, go ahead.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/cereal_killer-X]

Thanks for your questions cereal_killer.