Science in Mizahar

by **Dren Zhao** on November 3rd, 2013, 12:23 am

EDIT: When I say science, I mean things like evolution, quantum physics and gravitation. Not say, this:

http://www.mizahar.com/lore/Animation

However, robotics is a lot like it, but that is very high science which may take a very long time to develop. Basically, I'm not interested in anything magical of nature.

END OF EDIT.

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I'm sorry if I'm spamming, but I'm not sure if I have to start new threads for different questions or not . . .

How advanced is scientific knowledge in Mizahar? How much science do they know compared to us?

I want to make a Scientist character who is trying to understand the world around her through scientific eyes. She is not satisfied with creationist explanations for everything. She would need to know skills like Logic, Mathematics and Philtering. Is there an Engineering skill? If not, could she make one?

I'm planning on making an atheist humanitarian character, who is half-Human and half-Zith. She will live in Ravok, and her agenda will be the searching and understanding of science and scientific truth.

How workable is this character? How possible is this? This sounds good in my mind, but is it realistic?

How would she improve her skills needed for such an endeavor?

by **Dren Zhao** on November 3rd, 2013, 12:31 am

She would also need to know the Astronomy skill. Oh boy, a lot of work! How could she improve so much skills to chase this endeavor?

by **Dren Zhao** on November 3rd, 2013, 1:18 am

And in a related question, how advanced is their technology?

by **Alea Davenport** on November 3rd, 2013, 6:45 am

Technology is not very advanced as this is a fantasy setting. Probably the most they have is clockwork. Gadgeteering the skill has a good OOC note at the beginning that'll give you an idea of what's (not) possible in terms of technological advancement.

As for the atheist bit... I'm not sure how you mean that, but the gods definitely exist and make themselves known, both showing up in person and giving people special powers, so it would be willfully ignorant of anyone to try to claim they don't exist, which is how I understand atheism. Feel free to play your character however you like, just be aware of the evidence

If you wanted a character to pursue knowledge etc. but wanted to fit into Mizahar better, you might consider looking at the goddess Gnora. See if that or a related god aligns with your beliefs

by **Dren Zhao** on November 3rd, 2013, 1:12 pm

A lot of the gods who rarely appear can easily be attributed to myth. My character believes that the other beings who claim to be "gods" are not really gods at all, just beings who have a higher degree of control over Djed.

by **Mirage** on November 3rd, 2013, 1:49 pm

God power comes from their connection to an Idea, not djed control. Do a wiki search for Idea (capital I) for more info.

by **Dren Zhao** on November 3rd, 2013, 2:07 pm

So my understanding of it as of now is that whenever a god has an Idea, that Idea just becomes reality, and that all Ideas, ever, are from the gods? Does this mean there is no original thought? What does this mean for free will, if none of our thoughts are original, but rather implanted by higher beings? Can a character choose not to believe it?

by **Kaie** on November 3rd, 2013, 2:12 pm

The Idea is prexisting. The gods and goddesses are just the only ones who may directly interact with them. They're the mediator between the idea and mortals. Ideas may be forgotten, but never destroyed. Since gods and goddesses have different perspectives on an idea, I don't see why a PC can't choose their own perspective as well. Just remember PCs cannot see or touch an idea. The closest to that is interaction with a deity and being marked.

by **Dren Zhao** on November 3rd, 2013, 2:22 pm

Theoretically; what would happen if there were no gods, and there was no mediator between Ideas and people?

Theoretically; what if tomorrow, all of the gods "died?" Would the people of Mizahar cease to be self-aware?

Does free-will exist, if all Ideas are implanted into people by higher beings? Can people have any original thoughts?

Sorry if these questions are hard to answer. I'm genuinely curious.

by **Kaie** on November 3rd, 2013, 2:34 pm

Someone may have far better answers to your first two theoretical questions, but I'll try my hand at it.

1) Considering the gods and goddesses are the mediator between ideas and people, and essentially the ones who can see ideas, the ideas would simply be forgotten.

2) I'm not really sure what you meant here. People aren't mindless because there are gods and goddesses running around. They're self-aware and conscious in the present. I don't see why they wouldn't continue to be even after they cease to exist. Gods and Goddesses perish all the time, especially at the hands of another. The mind of a deceased deity's worshiper remains in tact.

3) All PCs have free will. There is no control over their minds to turn them into mindless minions. If they do as a deity commands, it's because they made a choice to do so. On the same token, they may also outright deny a god or goddess. They may deny them worship and hate them if they so wish. Their thoughts are their own. I think you may have the wrong conception of what the Ideas are.

If anyone has greater knowledge on these concepts than I do, please correct me. From what I've read in lore articles, this is my understanding, Dren.