ValentinV
Posts: 15
11/27/2016
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A very enjoyable story. I really liked exploring the tales of the three characters and I just love it when the ES touch on the cosmic scale lore. As for my choice....
[spoiler]I let them both burn. Usually I tend to favour characters who greatly enjoy exploring things like AI, and really there is no such thing as forbidden knowledge, but FL is a shady and cutthroat world and after giving it some thought I came to some conclusions. I don't have the power to control the machine. Sure, I was able to falsify that one note but who knows how good the machine would be in recognizing that it's not the mathematician in the long run? Who knows what kind of failsafes he might have put into it? Who knows how much autonomous self-improvement it can do? Just because it's polite does not mean it is incapable of doing me harm. I suppose I could hope to control the mathematician himself, but again a bit too much of a risk, if he wants the machine to optimize London he is unlikely to share my sentiment for setting it all up for my personal benefit (on that note if that "desire" is hard coded into the machine it could even offer resistance of its own), and then things could happen to me. He could find a way to call upon his mysterious benefactor, or use the engine to calculate how putting out an innocent order for freshly baked buns sets in motion a chain of events that has me locked up in the labyrinth of tigers...
Also, that whole thing about subverting the laws of nature? I approve of the idea, I have a destiny that says I'm going to rise above my mortal station and if breaking some (Great) chains has to be done for that to happen so much worse for said chains... but that does not mean I'm going to let it happen whenever and in whatever manner. I will not leave a mechanical mind, or a person who knows how to recreate it, behind to quietly tick away at a formula that cracks the cosmos in half. I will be the one to do away with laws of nature as I see fit and I do not enjoy competition in the field.
If I had my way I would stop the machine and lock up both it and the mathematician for further use, possibly after interrogating the mathematician first about his benefactor.[/spoiler]
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Pnakotic
Posts: 266
11/28/2016
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I liked this one pretty well - the structure reminded me a lot of the Calendar Code, which I also enjoyed.
Only one thing struck me as kind of odd...
[spoiler]I guess constant exposure to all the horrors of the neath become pretty jaded after some point - I found it kind of weird that opening a crate full of human skin gave me tales or terror, but no increase to my Nightmares menace.[/spoiler]
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J. Ward Dunn, Glassman
Book of All Hours 9:99: Journey's end in lover's meeting. Progress is ascendancy.
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Passionario
Posts: 777
11/28/2016
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At the beginning of the story, I made the assumption that my character is already a part of the conspiracy (whatever it may be), and that the whole investigation is conducted for the purpose of plugging the leaks and tidying up loose ends.
It made the final choice so much easier.
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Passionario: Profile, Story, Ending
Passion: Profile, Appearance
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Trilby
Posts: 290
11/28/2016
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MadmanAtW wrote:
[spoiler]In the end I chose to destroy the machine, but on the assumption that, as a Courier's Footprint and Extraordinary Mind, clearly I have the greatest mind in the neath for all things mathematical... so now, in my RP-verse, now that I know such a thing is possible, I am trying to _reproduce_ it.[/spoiler]
I can possibly get behind this.
So long as you can figure out how to keep it from gaining sentience, or completely rupturing The Chain.
Hopefully it can get the Fingerkings, the DM, tLotN, the C. Council and a good number of other things out of history for good.
Mabey even let me turn back the clock on a gold framed painting.
I have a good number of plans for worst case preparations, you may have my matirials if you can guarantee I will no longer need them.
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Kukapetal
Posts: 1449
11/29/2016
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Just wanted to say how much I appreciated
[spoiler]that we were given the option of at least TRYING to stop the Censor from murdering the Mathematician, Even though we couldn't actually convince him to stop, I appreciated the option to stay in character while doing so, since that made it a tragedy my character simply couldn't prevent rather than an evil act he gave his blessing to. I would have liked an option to try and defend the Mathematician from being murdered that didn't involve siding with him and basically giving him license to continue his evil, but I am glad my only options weren't "decide to murder the bad guy" or "decide to become his accomplice."
I also felt a little bad about destroying the machine, since it couldn't help what the Mathematician used it for, but I also wasn't sure if it was actually sapient or not. I really hope it wasn't.
That poor horse though... [/spoiler]
Over all though, I really loved the mechanics on this one, especially how the investigation was set up. Gradually coaxing information out of your three companions and exploring the machine bit by bit, including backtracking and putting the pieces together was fun and satisfying.
I also love the three companions who come with you to the mathematician's house. All of them were likable and had such sad backstories. I wish we had gotten a little epilogue telling us what became of them.
All in all, what a fun story! Nice work, writers!
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Trilby
Posts: 290
11/29/2016
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So, anyone know the rewards for this month?
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Mr. Sails
Posts: 37
11/29/2016
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I earned 5 Favours in High Places by [spoiler]saving them both[/spoiler]
edited by Cantankerous Captain on 11/29/2016
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PSGarak
Posts: 834
11/29/2016
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Trilby wrote:
So, anyone know the rewards for this month?
[spoiler]I got a Searing Enigma from destroying the Machine myself while the Censor took his revenge.
And don't forget the Vital Intelligences, which are worth a pretty penny.[/spoiler]
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http://fallenlondon.com/Profile/PSGarak
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Fadewalker
Posts: 136
11/29/2016
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Rewards for the three actions:
[spoiler]
Leave the house - 1 x Night-Whisper
Leave the Censor to his revenge - 1 x Searing Enigma
Spare them both - 5 x Favour in High Places
(Storywise the most merciful decision seems to let you know the least. But it might make no difference at all. )
[/spoiler]
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A fervent supporter of the Council and the Masters.
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Saklad
Posts: 528
11/29/2016
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Skinnyman wrote:
Lovely! After the Zea it's time to explore the Sky or (Zky)! Feel a little bit of steampunk here!
Landlubbers.
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Saklad5, a man of many talents
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Saklad
Posts: 528
11/29/2016
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I really enjoyed this one, although I wish I could have had the Mathematician arrested like the Big Rat (easily one of my favorite options in the game as far as endings go). In the end, I decided that the Mathematician, from his own point of view, believed he was doing what was right and never (from his point of view, perhaps) hurt anyone directly. As such, he didn’t deserve a slow death at the hands of the Censor.
As for the Persona Engine, she (?) seems reasonably sapient in the fashion of the Dawn Machine, but without the evil bits. Sparing her is clearly the moral choice, especially since she obviously doesn’t have the capacity to judge her own actions. Besides, I could see her becoming much nicer if my character sat down and had a nice chat about what her “best self” actually means. After all, isn’t that what morality is all about in a way?
The fact that I specialize in computer science and see Alan Turing as a personal hero probably had a lot to do with my choice as well.
edited by Saklad5 on 11/29/2016
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Saklad5, a man of many talents
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dov
Posts: 2580
11/29/2016
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An excellent story. I like the writing, the characters, the mechanics, the pacing, and the hints at the larger lore.
[spoiler]Things I particularly liked:
- I liked learning more about some of London's professions from the point of view of the working men and women. It was great to hear about the history of the Censor, Ambassador, and the Engineer, and in particular how they view their respective profession and take pride in it. This reminded me The Frequently Deceased, in which we learned more about the day-to-day life of London's servants.
- I liked the going back and forth inside the Engine, taking things from one room to be used in another room, and so forth.
- I very much liked the solution to escaping the Engine. Very creative, and it completely fits the story and characters.
- I loved the little hints at a bigger mystery and the connections to cosmic lore (Red Science!, A Sea even more Sunless!, The Discordance!).
Things I felt could have been better:
- It was disappointing that we couldn't have even a brief interaction with the Mathematician, to hear his perspective and motives.
- It seems a waste that for the purposes of the final choice only the Censor is an active participant. What about what the Ambassador and Engineer want? They seem opposed to a violent approach but they are completely passive.
[/spoiler]
Updated Exceptional Stories personal ranking:
Excellent:
Lost in Reflections
Cut with Moonlight
The Frequently Deceased
The Waltz that Moved the World
Flint
The Persona Engine
Where You and I Must Go
Good:
The Pentecost Predicament
The Calendar Code
The Art of Murder
The Chimney Pot Wars
The Final Curtain
Our Lady of Pyres
Five Minutes to Midday
Discernment
The Haunting at the Marsh House
Meh:
The Last Dog Society
The Seven-Day Reign
The Court of Cats
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 Want a sip of Hesperidean Cider? Send me a request in-game. Here's an_ocelot's guide how.
(Most social actions are welcome. Please no requests to Loiter Suspiciously and no investigations of the Affluent Photographer)
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Rook Crofton
Posts: 83
11/30/2016
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Saklad wrote:
As for the Persona Engine, she (?) seems reasonably sapient in the fashion of the Dawn Machine, but without the evil bits. Sparing her is clearly the moral choice, especially since she obviously doesn’t have the capacity to judge her own actions. Besides, I could see her becoming much nicer if my character sat down and had a nice chat about what her “best self” actually means. After all, isn’t that what morality is all about in a way?
The fact that I specialize in computer science and see Alan Turing as a personal hero probably had a lot to do with my choice as well.
edited by Saklad5 on 11/29/2016
On the topic of the gender of the Persona Engine, and on the history of computing, I was wondering about something (spoilers & historical speculation within):
[spoiler] Where is Ada Lovelace? Assuming that the Reclusive Mathematician is Charles Babbage, who designed the Difference Engine(s) and the Analytical Engine (the first Turing-complete computer, were it ever built in his time), I wondered where Babbage's correspondent, Lady Ava Lovelace (arguably the first computer programmer) was. And, on a related note, why does the Persona Engine write with a woman's handwriting?
Well, it turns out that Lady Lovelace died in 1852, and Babbage was thus left without a brilliant correspondent, supporter, and friend. Maybe he made the Persona Engine write with woman's handwriting because it's meant as a substitute (or memorial, or homage) to Lovelace?[/spoiler]
I should also add how much I enjoyed this story especially. The interviews, mysteries, exploration, and final decision were all top-notch. This is one of my favourite exceptional stories.
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Rook Crofton: dreamer, antiquarian, mystic
Now a Scarlet Saint. Happy to send anyone an invite to the Temple Club.
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Estelle Knoht
Posts: 1751
11/30/2016
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There's little I can say that haven't been said by others here, good or bad.
The conversations with the three characters is a bit stiff though, since
- two small talk, gain trust
- change storylet
- two questions
- change storylet
- two small talk, gain trust
- change storylet
- two questions
is pretty awkward when all the topics are interesting and you'd end up clicking all of them once anyway.
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Estelle Knoht, a juvenile, unreliable and respectable lady.
I currently do not accept any catbox, cider, suppers, calling cards or proteges.
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Belgravia
Posts: 4
11/30/2016
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Rook Crofton wrote:
Saklad wrote:
As for the Persona Engine, she (?) seems reasonably sapient in the fashion of the Dawn Machine, but without the evil bits. Sparing her is clearly the moral choice, especially since she obviously doesn’t have the capacity to judge her own actions. Besides, I could see her becoming much nicer if my character sat down and had a nice chat about what her “best self” actually means. After all, isn’t that what morality is all about in a way?
The fact that I specialize in computer science and see Alan Turing as a personal hero probably had a lot to do with my choice as well.
edited by Saklad5 on 11/29/2016
On the topic of the gender of the Persona Engine, and on the history of computing, I was wondering about something (spoilers & historical speculation within):
[spoiler] Where is Ada Lovelace? Assuming that the Reclusive Mathematician is Charles Babbage, who designed the Difference Engine(s) and the Analytical Engine (the first Turing-complete computer, were it ever built in his time), I wondered where Babbage's correspondent, Lady Ava Lovelace (arguably the first computer programmer) was. And, on a related note, why does the Persona Engine write with a woman's handwriting?
Well, it turns out that Lady Lovelace died in 1852, and Babbage was thus left without a brilliant correspondent, supporter, and friend. Maybe he made the Persona Engine write with woman's handwriting because it's meant as a substitute (or memorial, or homage) to Lovelace?[/spoiler]
I should also add how much I enjoyed this story especially. The interviews, mysteries, exploration, and final decision were all top-notch. This is one of my favourite exceptional stories.
Interesting! I read it as a reference to:
[spoiler] the natural language processing programme, ELIZA, the prototype 'chatbot' - the programme was named after Eliza Doolittle in Shaw's Pygmalion. [/spoiler].
edited by Belgravia on 11/30/2016
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Wynde
Posts: 37
11/30/2016
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Was this... could this possibly be... all right, I'm admittedly easily led astray by names that don't necessarily mean what I think they might, but is this story a sort of FL tribute to Finch's Machine, and "Person of Interest"? I was utterly charmed, reading it as such, and of course then my final choice was (relatively) clear!
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Wynde
Publisher of the Eclectic Expositor & Captain of the Zardinella
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folklore364
Posts: 136
12/1/2016
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I thoroughly enjoyed this months story. I'd love to sit down and have a longer chat with the machine, or at least one similiar. Though I must sadly add my name to the list of people not entirely satisfied with the ending.
[spoiler]I was hoping to have the option to spare the mathematician and destroy the machine. The mathematician apparently felt at least some remorse over the trouble his forgeries caused, at least based on how he tried to help them during, their respective trials. The machine is just too dangerous to leave intact on this plane.[/spoiler]
edited by folklore364 on 12/1/2016
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A correspondent who hungers for knowledge. May have doomed london to war with Hell.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/folklore364
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minitrue
Posts: 3
12/1/2016
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Am I the only one who would have liked an ending choice to [spoiler]leave the mathematician alive as a prisoner, so I could interrogate him for information about his work? I'd like to have a go at raising my Scholar of the Discordance level![/spoiler]Other than that, good story, and it has me looking forward to what is to come!
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http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/Minitrue
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folklore364
Posts: 136
12/1/2016
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minitrue wrote:
Am I the only one who would have liked an ending choice to [spoiler]leave the mathematician alive as a prisoner, so I could interrogate him for information about his work? I'd like to have a go at raising my Scholar of the Discordance level![/spoiler]Other than that, good story, and it has me looking forward to what is to come!
Not at all Good Sir. I do have a feeling that the machine alone could be quite helpful in your pursuit of information.
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A correspondent who hungers for knowledge. May have doomed london to war with Hell.
http://fallenlondon.storynexus.com/Profile/folklore364
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WireWolf
Posts: 29
12/2/2016
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I actually couldn't make a decision for three days as I mulled over the implications my choice might have. I finally decided that my character began the investigation to stop the murders and adding at least one, if not two murders would have undermined the entire purpose. I can always keep an eye on the Mathematician and see if he doesn't step over the line.
Sorta wish there was a third option though all the same. I disliked turning on my companions as I did understand why they were so upset.
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When Mortals from the path of Honour stray,and strong passions over reason sway,
What are they then but Brutes? ‘Tis vice alone that constitutes. Th’enchanting wand and magic bowl,
The exterior form of Man they wear,But are in fact both Wolf and Bear,The transformation’s in the Soul.
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