[4]Some math/physics for you – I know… groan right!I feel this is a good way to get a feel for the scale and size of the Halls of Weleholla. And well, this is my book. Who am I, you wonder? I am sure you wouldn’t be able to guess in a thousand years… Anyway, there is no compulsion for you to read this, so please move on if math puts you off Ok, so if the distance one can see a tall object of height h meters was d kilometers, then d = 3.57(h)0.5. So, rule of thumb is that for an object to be visible at 100 kilometers, it would have to be about 800 meters high. And every time the distance needed doubles, the height had to quadruple. So for example, if the object had to be seen from 200 kilometers, then the height would have to be ~3200 meters. Or if it had to be seen from 50 kilometers, it had to be just 200 meters high.
[5]Prisoner’s dilemma—you all know the drill by now—Prisoner’s dilemma is a situation where two people who were partners in the same crime are caught and kept in separate prison cells. Each is given two options—if he cooperates and tells on the other person, he would be set free, while the other gets five years in prison. But if he doesn’t speak, and the other person does, he would be imprisoned for life. If both of them don’t speak against each other, they both would get a year in prison. Each prisoner can’t communicate with the other, and has no way of knowing that this would be the offer. There are no other long term consequences.
So, each prisoner is incentivized to betray the other. This is because he has only two options, without knowing what the other person would do. In case he chooses to be silent, he would either be imprisoned for a year, or if the other person speaks up, he would end up in prison for life. In case he chooses to speak, he either be free, or he could spend five years in prison. To minimize his chances of jail time, the rational choice, independent of the other person, is to speak. This results in both of them speaking, and staying in jail for five years. As they made the rational, independent choice.
[6] One can achieve invisibility using convex lenses. Each lens has a focal length, which is the distance at which the lens will focus the sun light that falls on it. Now, you can take two sets of lenses of different focal lengths f1 and f2, position them such that the lenses in each set are positioned at a distance of f1 + f2 from each other and the sets are positioned at (f1+f2)/ (f1-f2). The objects now placed between lenses 1 and 2 of the first set will not be visible, as the lens system will project the background from behind the 4thlens. The reason this was a difficult task was because this system afforded invisibility up to only a certain angle (15 degrees) from the center of the lens system. Interesting isn’t it? It isn’t? Oh well… forget about it and let’s move on with the storythis little side note will just make Kazena’s abilities easier to understandWhy do you need to understand – maybe because knowledge is power… Maybe I just want you to read a bunch of math Knowing who I am would make it easier to understand why I write these notes…
[7] 4095 = 2^ (4x3)—1.
Math time you guys!
There are 4 components of the society, with three conditions needed, so 12 conditions (4x3) all together. Each condition can either be present or absent. Which means that for each condition, there are 2 options present. So if we have to calculate the total number of combinations of present and absent possible across all components, we need to multiply all possibilities for all the conditions—that is 2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2x2 = 2^(4x3) = 4096. Now, if even one condition is absent, then the society will become unsustainable. So unless everything is working well (all are right) the system will become unsustainable. Hence the total number of ways something can go wrong is -> 4096—1 = 4095
[8] Go figure – I am not going to repeat my logic here. Even I get bored beyond a point!Well, not really. Actually, I am hoping you get interested in the math. Wishful thinking, I know – But I am an eternal optimist
[9] Another interesting titbit, that too without any math the communication towers were spaced closer than usual around this road to allow more redundancy. That was because this road was critical part of Morgenian economy. Also this road also could serve as a perfect way to transfer military from one city to another, fast, if there was ever an emergency. The way a communication tower worked was that it used a combination of lenses and differently colored flamesto transfer specific messages to other towers along its line of sight. Back to the story
[10] The maintenance of all that white was difficult, but the people found a way to do it. They soon invented many of the modern day techniques used in building maintenance. How is this side note on building maintenance in Argos going to be useful? I could tell you...
[11] Were you hoping for some time travel? Wouldn’t that be fascinating! Sorry to disappoint… If you weren’t, well, you are good to go!
[12] If I had to delve in a little deeper, Dev’s need to avenge a near stranger’s death was probably due to what happened with his parents. But hey, he didn’t know that. He wasn’t a mind healer. Neither am I… well… let’s not get into that right now…
[13] Why all this secrecy about a name? In this world, people thought birth name was indicative of a person’s future and destiny. Some names were more… special than others… Dev’s birthname seems to be one such name… Why though? Well, that is an interesting story… for a later time
[14] The same drill – read if interested. Simply put, her ability to jump from place to place was based on her sword’s ability to manipulate the wind. The twin blades, Dwirasvin. could create a tunnel of vacuum from where she stood to her destination. Then an air blast would push her along the vacuum tunnel, helping her move at great speeds. She could (unknowingly) achieve speeds of over 4000 km per hour. The vacuum ensured that her body did not encounter any resistance while traveling. You might be wondering, why is the power of one of the swords of legend being explained in a footnote? Go figure. It’s actually very simple. The is a long story. The swords of legend are to play a major part in it. Each of these swords will be described in great detail in the story at the appropriate time anyway. Those who read this will know a bit more, a bit earlier… But soon, all will be revealed in the main story itself…
[15] As I said just now, the true powers and working of the swords of legend (including Duurdran) will be revealed soon enough.
Age of Azmoq: The Valantian Imperium Page 53