NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been thinking of ideas for something new across the galactic sprawl and while the source is by no means original, the idea struck me as I meandered again through Iain M Banks' novel "Matter."

It began, I suppose, as a musing over whether or not any existing NS civilisation could in fact tame a Shellworld as is detailed in Chapter 4, could disarm its many traps and transform it as the conducer species of the novel did, into habitable forms. Many of you may not understand what a Shellworld is.

In Matter a Shellworld, in the novels case Sursamen, is an ancient construct originally through to have been part of a vast mechanism for erecting a shield around the galaxy proper. They vary in types, though they are all hollow worlds, worlds within worlds, of varying layers. Artificial suns light many of these levels, though the original purpose was (as a machine) to perhaps be filled with some form of superfluid.

Various habitat types can be imported and sustained by a Shellworld, allowing a variety of racial types, sub-types, sub-species, etc, etc, to survive on any given level. It also allows for a variety of variant technological levels to inhabit, albeit with lower techs at the whim of those who would control the Shellworld proper and its operation.

In this scenario, I imagine that I myself would assume a role deviant from my normal Chronosian archetype, and serve as one of the Conducer or overseer species who had disarmed and opened the Shellworld to the attention of the galaxy, perhaps with a gathering of other, similarly minded nations to aid me in the task.

Again, this stands as a rough and perhaps unfeasible vision, but one I believe would make an interesting addition to NS as a whole, a microcosm in the vein of the old "Cluster" idea, or other such ponderings on gated alternatives to broader NSness, while taking place within a singular canon of an "NSverse" as it were.

Thoughts, ideas and contributions most welcome.

Bump!!

This sounds like an interesting idea and certainly one suitable for a nation of explorers.

Although the Neo Kirisubans would be more inclined to think of it as a giant starbase / shipyard initially and perhaps as a farming area later on. We don't have off world colonies given theres only 20 million people in the nation. Thats RP'ed numbers of course.

Well, obviously it would depend on how much you were allowed/how much surface influence you accrued. It couldn't obviously serve as one giant shipyard/starbase serving you alone, given it's layered nature and the abundance which could be contained within ^^

This does sound most interesting, my FT race would send exploration craft by the hundreds to see this thing and figure out how it works. I'd imagine that numerous conflicts would arise as dozens of different species are brought together. Also, if the best technology is at the center and there are only a few access points to the lower levels then there would be a scramble to get through and secure the access points... oh the possibilities.

There are, indeed, limited access points. These "Towers", once used to transport the superfluid from one level to the next can be modified to provide transport to the lower or upper levels. As a result, control of these (usually on the part of the conducer) is an essential aspect.

I've also decided that this will be a Godded Shellworld, meaning that locked away in the Machine Core is a Xinthian Tensile Aeronathaur, a member of an irrevocably eccentric and declining air-worlder race.

Well, obviously it would depend on how much you were allowed/how much surface influence you accrued. It couldn't obviously serve as one giant shipyard/starbase serving you alone, given it's layered nature and the abundance which could be contained within ^^

Lol. Obviously we would have to share it but it could end up like Babylon Five was. A neutral place for diplomacy, trade etc as well as being a free port for visiting starships to get supplies and repairs done.

Bit more than that really. I mean, consider the scale. If it's arithmetic then there'll be about 15 layers to the thing, most of them habitable. Logarithmic ones can vary, of course. But it's the equivalent of 15 worlds, within the Shell of the thing itself. That's the potential. Some surface thing could take the role of a diplomatic centre, a trade hub, things of that sort. But below, below there is immense possibility and potential.

Dear: Chronosia

I represent [Concerned Citizens For The Awesomnity Of Things] and was recently made away of your plan to [RP a super awesome shellworld]. As a member of this fine community I feel it is my duty to [support/condemn] your idea a strongly as possible.

I hope you will rectify the situation as soon as possible.

Yours

Hatchity Cornpaddle.

*cough*

That aside, this is a great idea. Get some people onboard and i would be happy to assume the position of, for instance, a race of sentient clouds. Getting some MT, or even further back, guys involved in the world would add a really interesting dynamic too it as well.

Your attention is welcomed and appreciated Fenix. I shall get to more intimate, more dynamic, aye and more complicated plannings :D

Bump..

I'd prolly be interested. Though I'd have to know more before the Godulans go 'OO! New gizmowidget! Must study!"

Fenix lives? Glee!

Disregarding our friend's mysterious reappearance, I'd be quite interested. I could certainly use a new territory to stick a billion or so Citizens on, and I don't really feel like building an Orbital. Yet.

This definately sounds interesting. Would be willing to be an MT nation, very religious. Would also be interesting if no one knew we where there, and we didn't know anyone else was there, meetings would be interesting. The best part about FT-MT cross-over, is that FT thinks they are so superior, I'm not to up on current FT weapons, but I'm going to assume they are energy based, not projectile based, right? So their equipment would be inadequately protected from our weapons, just as much as our people would be unprotected from their energy weapons. Could definately be interesting, maybe some fighting, a little diplomacy, some trade, all could be very interesting.

I'm very interested in this...as well as completely willing to play any sort of tech.

This definately sounds interesting. Would be willing to be an MT nation, very religious. Would also be interesting if no one knew we where there, and we didn't know anyone else was there, meetings would be interesting. The best part about FT-MT cross-over, is that FT thinks they are so superior, I'm not to up on current FT weapons, but I'm going to assume they are energy based, not projectile based, right? So their equipment would be inadequately protected from our weapons, just as much as our people would be unprotected from their energy weapons. Could definately be interesting, maybe some fighting, a little diplomacy, some trade, all could be very interesting.

It would, I think, be rather difficult for you to hide on a shellworld only recently opened up and which would likely earlier have not had anything in it excepting vacuum

Okay, but then how would an MT nation get there? Could we work out something, like an FT nation brought them there, with them, but then the FT nation died out, leaving the MT nation, there, with no one else's knowledge of them?

Alien abductions on a grand scale.

Chron, if you wish, you can write my Ta'Nar into the background as the ones that did it as part of an experiment. It would give an IC reason for various MT and other pre-FTL nations to be present.

I suppose that could work, yes :)

Cool.

If you decide to use my suggestion, I will have to make a bunch of Grey Alien (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/beldragos/grey_alien.jpg)masks and use them to put the blame on others.

Or not. -_-. If that were the case then perhaps my more sociable high tech species could do it out of an eccentric idea of experimentation ^^

It is your Thread and your choice. Just let me know if you decide to use my people. I think you know enough about the Ta'Nar to be able to write them into the story and if you wish to you have my expressed permission to do so.

I like this idea alot....perhaps the interior being, is the same type of thing as the ship who fought, and the series? In those, they have ships who can think...because they are controlled by a single person....who is a part of the ship. Basically, they take people who are mentally, or physically damaged, and so would not have any sort of life. It is meant to give them a life, to allow them to live. Perhaps the creature has the same prinicple, where it techniaclly controls the station? It would cause alot of interesting ideas, depending on the creatures mood. Perhaps this 'ShellWorld' was designed to be a world, and so has a climate that this creature can control?

In those, they have ships who can think...because they are controlled by a single person....who is a part of the ship. Basically, they take people who are mentally, or physically damaged, and so would not have any sort of life. It is meant to give them a life, to allow them to live.
...No. Culture Minds were never organic, and only have organic Avatars if they're eccentric enough to feel like making one. Your interpretation makes very little sense, especially given the Culture's habit of switching bodies like cheap suits (see the SC operative in Matter, a former human who now is wearing a bush, and the guy in Excession who gets an Affronter body to wear on special occasions). A badly damaged body would be repaired, or discarded for a new one if the damage was horrendous enough.

Well, if you want, there's another Godulan background bunch that might be applied as the 'architects' of this particular shellworld... if you don't mind the notion of a somewhat long extinct reptilian-humanoid conqueror species building this 'shellworld' as a big honkin' military facility and whatnot. Maybe incorporate automated 'sentinels' as a natural defense mechanism of sorts...

Nyeh...I was sort of hoping to stick closely to the Matter idea of a Shellworld. I would have to seriously consider the notion of simply re-packaging the concept and giving it over to Godulan metafiction.

That's not what I meant! Have you ever read: the ship who sang, the ship who fought, the ship who searched, or the ship who won? What happens, is people with mental, and physical dissabilities, are essentialy a part of the system. Instead of having AI, they have a person controling it, who otherwise would not survive, or have much chance within society. The ship who fought is a good book, actualy. I have no idea of what you are referring to.

He's referring to the Culture series of novels, of which Matter is a part. In these novels, ships are controlled by a highly advanced super-sentient AI known as a Mind. He thought you were referring to the same series, and so chastened you at your apparent confusion as to what a mind was, and to how the Culture treats AI's and the bodies of it's citizens.

In a sense, anything is possible, in terms of appearance. Such as the bush-form person he mentioned above. :)

OK. Thanks for pleasing my curiosity. It does seem very similar, so I can understand why we both thought of different things :D

Not to worry. We can all become confused when original fiction is blent with our dear NSverse ^^

Regardless, the Shellworld isn't built for the Xinthian, who are considered or believed to have manifold reasons for taking up residence.

hehe the great mystery that is NS....I like you signature by the way

hehe the great mystery that is NS....I like you signature by the way

Why thank you :)

:D It's even better than: You have just won this entire forum. Have a cookie.

So, how is this all going to work out exactly, in the NSverse?

Honestly? No idea. Conducer species equivalent opens it up, puts certain effects in place and then does some work itself, or asks others to come do work. :) What it becomes from there is up to those involved.

I'm fine with whatever.

Brilliantly Utilized Minds People.

Hmm, this sounds like a wonderful Idea to rp, I support it. and since it says sign up ill sign up.

Ok, the way I figure it is, I am perfectly willing to give away control of my baby, or I start out as some NPC uber-tech type species which sets the groundwork for making it habitable, imports a few species, species type, environs, etc, and then buggers off for whatever reason.

Species able to actually handle something like this swam in and start putting a stamp on it, cooperating or competing with others to eventually use it. I want this to be a sort of a focal point for politicking, diplomacy, trade, interaction, maybe even the occasional war (but with armed conflict way down the list).

I see the need to revitalise our community, to put more interesting shit out there. Anyone with me?

I'm in.

Details...Details...I reckon the bastard'll be Arithmetic, since that's easier. Forty Five Thousand kilometres in external diameter, a metal core fourteen hundred kilometres in diameter, layers spaced at fourteen-hundred kilometre intervals, each held up by towers no less than fourteen hundred metres in diameter.

It'll be mottled, having ridges and craters and whatnot, just for the hell of it, and it's been decided by myself and others that it has to be Godded. I'm almost tempted to just start the bloody thread and let people run amok, but I reckon that I need to find sufficiently advanced "caretakers", the only adequate people having thus far expressed interest being; Fenix, Godular, Otagia and Balrogga

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=564565

Let the games begin, after recieving valid ideas/applications/requests, etc, of course

I have read the intro thread, previously expressed my interest and i must say that i would love to be part of this!!!

My intro plan is for one of my races exploration vessels to stumble upon it, they then send a message back to one of my research vessels, it enters the system, it hails the device and approaches to seek and explore the mysterious shell world....

So, can i join? :D

If you did then you would have to wait till someone else found it. Godular is the prime candidate, and I have him, Fenix and Otagia in mind for overall control. Ergo, if you do join, you'll have to wait a bit.

If you wished me to do anything either behind the scenes or directly please TG or email me.

Yo. I have followed this thread since the early stages, and have had a big interest. It's just my type of fantasy/Sci-Fi.
I would like to have my group the last of its kind. They came from a gas giant, which eventualy imploded from overheating. It would be a group of about 3,000. The group would be a sort of gaseous entities, who have no definative form. A few of them are also a flaming ball of mercury like metal. They eat nothing, and they have no mouths. They can become whatever shape they wish, but the larger they get, the thinner they become. They speak Tele-pathicaly, so it sounds as if they are your thoughts, and can hear your thoughts. However, they must see the creature they are communicating with.

Is this good enough for now?

Oh ok... didn't want to control the whole thing, just wanted to send in an expidition. I shall await permission.

Given the usual Neo Kirisuban approach it'll probally only be one ship investigating and chancing upon the shellworld.

Then we'll see how things develop further.

I'd like to participate in this as well.

As for my backstory: since splitting from the Republic, Neo-Roma has been reconsolidating itself and has launched an exploration and colonization program to carve out a little more space for itself. A recon craft would take notice of the Shellworld and the other races congregating around it, and the Neo-Roman government would jump on the opportunity both to claim a piece of its territory and to place itself in such a hub of interstellar diplomacy and commerce.

Again, I hope for the input of my chosen HLI (High Level Involved)

I will be joining this. I have been planning something quite high tech so it would fit into the Culture theme rather well.

Well you're guaranteed Naggy :P

Could someone please let me in? *bangs on door*

Ah, so you use the OOC thread for that and not the commenting on the comedy? -_-

Godular? Deal with this one as you please

Could someone please let me in? *bangs on door*

Remove the OOC-Only post from the IC thread and we'll talk, skipper. I might've oopsed on my little OOC thing in my first post, but I'd like to avoid the IC thread getting cluttered up with OOC stuff when there's a perfectly good dedicated thread for that.

could half a level be turn into a ship yard?

I suppose, in theory.

I suppose, in theory.

thank you Chronosia, i'll do some TGing first about a joint project idea

Now now, that wasn't me suggesting you move in. I agreed with your hypothesis certainly, but I don't think this is really your scene.

cool i get you

I have been given the Honor of being the one that kidnapped the people from your nations to populate the various levels of the Shellworld. I need to get in contact with each player participating to find out about your people, where I stole them from, and particularilly important, the enviroment they need to survive in.

Here is the info Chron posted in the initial post of the IC Thread.

Anomoly, <Nameless>
Espherius System.
Arithmetic.
Mottled.
Godded.
Primarily uninhabited.
Thousand-year safe.

Surface- Vacuum
Level1- Land, N02.
Level2- Sea, 02mix
Level3- Vacuum, stars.
Level4- Gas giant atmo.
Level5-Vacuum
Level6-Vacuum, stars
Level7- Land. 02mix
Level8- Land, 02mix
Level9- Sea, sporadic land, 02mix
Level10- Vacuum
Level11- Vacuum
Level12- Vacuum
Level13- Vacuum
Level14- Vacuum
Level15- Machinery, Xinthian.
Level16- Core, Xinthian.

Not everyone was kidnapped. Some are just finding it. You're working off of an earlier idea that need not be enacted. If anyone lower tech than FT wants to be brought then you can happily volunteer, but you did not bring -everyone- to the Shellworld.

Hope I cleared that up.

I apologize.

Those who want to be brought in under the origional idea please contact me so we can compose an apporpriate background.

*raises hand*

I'm still waiting for the go ahead lol :P

Remove the OOC-Only post from the IC thread and we'll talk, skipper. I might've oopsed on my little OOC thing in my first post, but I'd like to avoid the IC thread getting cluttered up with OOC stuff when there's a perfectly good dedicated thread for that.

I was waiting for someone to let me in, before I got rid of it. I'll delete it.

Just so you're aware, Daiwiz, you won't get any notable 'thought signal' from the Godulans. They might show up as 'existent' but all you'd get is a strange kind of static.

They might be readers, but the Godulans are psions of some accomplishment, and can control themselves sufficiently that passive reception isn't possible. Its a good thing too, because if they got a whiff of the Godulan legion they'd either die of fright or information overload, whichever comes first.

You'd also get nothing from the Otagian ship. No crew = no minds to read.

Anyone wishing to be transplanted can write themselves as being abducted Roanoake style. We would have only collected you without your awareness of what happened and transplanted you into your habitats.

Durnit Daiwiz. Cut it out with the OOC only posts in the IC thread.

I will possibly be too busy to participate, don't know right now, need to check. I've delted my post, but if I can get the time I shall be back within a few days

Aw, but that was so awesomesauce.

Dai, it's not made of metal

Daiwiz. Stop with the bloody OOC posts in the IC thread. That's what THIS thread is for. I would hate to have to draw up some kind of three strikes rule.

If you want somebody to post something in response to you, post something for us to respond to. Apart from the few groups that are 'invisible' to your people (who aren't really in the mindset of caring what you're doing unless you endanger the shellworld), your actions have been almost entirely passive.

I should have a post up later today. Been a bit busy lately with some writing projects, done with them now.

Dalwiz

Please refrain from any further OOC comments in the IC Thread. It disrupts the story the same way stupid commercials disrupt a good movie.

This whole thread was deliberately made to house those comments in order to prevent this from happening. I know Godular has instructed you twice already and yet you are still posting comments that obviously belong here.

Please remove them all from the other thread before you piss off other players more than you have already been.