Scrupilo (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
curiousasadog) wrote2013-04-03 07:09 pm
curiousasadog) wrote2013-04-03 07:09 pm
Scrupilo app
Character Information
Character Name: Scrupilo
Fandom: Zones of Thought book series
Source: A Fire Upon the Deep and The Children of the Sky, the two relevant books.
Character History: Scrupilo started life as mostly the offspring of the legendary Woodcarver, centuries-old ruler of one of the most progressive countries on the planet and reknowned innovator and revolutuionary thinker. As Woodcarver declined from infirmity brought on by the in-breeding necessary to keep his- and later her- soul pure, Scrupilo, along with other advisors, took over more of the running of the kingdom. Scrupilo in particular revolutionized life in Woodcarver's kingdom with his mechanical inventions.
So things progressed, until a ship containing strange singleton creatures in suspended animation from the stars landed in the enemy Flenserist country to the north, and two travelers brought an injured alien to Woodcarver's Domain, along with a toy that stored vast information. All of a sudden, the world turned upside-down for the local kingdoms as they sought to understand the aliens and their technology. Scrupilo, thanks to his high position in Woodcarver's court and mechanical prowess, was at the center of the turmoil, as he was tasked with studying the human's informational toy "dataset" and learning all he could from it. With the human child Johanna's initially reluctant and later whole-hearted help, he and his team developed gunpowder and cannons, in order to capture the alien starship from Flenser's territory and allow Johanna to attempt to contact others for rescue. He eagerly ran the initial tests, and when the army marched, he headed up the cannon division as Chief Cannonneer and drilled his troops and himself in their use at every opportunity. This dedication saved his life and the army's when it encountered an enemy that could scatter packs with sound attacks; though fragmented, one of Scrupilo's members attempted to fire his cannon, and with Johanna's help, destroyed the enemy's nest and stopped the devastating sonic attack. After that narrow escape and great cooperative victory, Scrupilo and Woodcarver began to realize the potential that humans working with Tines could have.
Unfortunately, when the army reached Flenser's Domain, they discovered that they had been betrayed, and that the Flenserists had their own human help, including contact with an armed human rescue party and cannons of their own. But with Johanna's help, they convinced the humans that the Flenserists meant to destroy the crashed starship and the children in suspended animation and got their help to turn the tide and defeat the Flenserists. But the human rescue team had worse news: They were pursued by a fleet controlled by a cosmic menace that would destroy the planet when it arrived. Though he might have only had a few days left, Scrupilo resolved to spend the remaining time studying Dataset's information for any way they might fight back or escape. Then the sun went dark, and when it returned to normal, he learned that one of the humans had delayed the fleet significantly- but in the process had stranded the humans on the Tines' planet and crippled their ship's automation.
Ravna, the one surviving human from the rescue party, resolved to make the most of their exile and prepare for the coming invasion by using the remaining technology and information at her disposal to help Woodcarver's people achieve space flight within a century. Once again, Scrupilo headed up the scientific aspect of the great project, assisted by the ship Out of Band II's remaining automation. Some of his experiments succeeded in recreating space-faring technology, while others failed, but Scrupilo remained undaunted, excited to try new approaches. Meanwhile, the human children in suspended animation were rescued, revived, and integrated into local Tinish society, changing it as much as Scrupilo's innovations.
Character Personality: Scrupilo is a scientist, through and through. From the time he was assembled by Woodcarver, he was intended to be a genius with machines, and so he was. He was almost too focused on his machines before the humans arrived, having little interest in biology or politics like his parent. He kept his focus on machines and technology even after the humans changed everything, for the most part, though with a new appreciation for what people could accomplish when they could work together in close quarters.
Being a scientist and innovator, Scrupilo is one of the most open-minded Tines. He was one of the first to suggest that humans were as smart as packs while still being singletons, despite that all Tinish theory before then held that only packs could be people. He recognized that Dataset, while housed in an animal-shaped toy, responded in predictable and repeatable ways like a machine, despite its lack of visible moving parts. But even with his progressive thoughts, he is still a medieval creature and sometimes reverts to a medieval mindset, especially when dealing with people. For example, he still considers putting suspected criminals to the question with pikes to be the preferable method of getting confessions, though cooler heads overrule him.
Most of Scrupilo's acquaintances consider him a prissy, prickly, pompous, long-winded grump, which is all accurate. He certainly has his character flaws, those as well as an impulsive, hard-headed, angry streak and almost uncheckecd curiousity. But despite that, he's a good person in his hearts. Despite his ego, he's quick to give credit to others when they help him make advances that he's getting credit for. He is unfailingly loyal to his Queen and to his allies, and even when offended and outraged, he can recognize good points others make and work with them. He doesn't let his ego get in the way when collaborating; when he has serious objections to someone else's contribution, it is usually due to objective flaws. He will admit when someone's knowledge or genius exceeds his own, admitting to his own shortcomings, even if only in confidence. While he can be, and often is, a prickly twit, he always comes through for his Queen.
Powers and Abilities: Like most of his species, Scrupilo has a group mind shared among several individual wolf-like creatures. His members communicate via very high-pitched sound, called "mindsounds" by the Tines, sharing thoughts almost unconsciously most of the time. The sound is emitted from structures called "tympana" on their shoulders and forehead; the tympana also allow his species to perfectly mimic voices. Tympana act as an extra set of vocal chords per member, and possibly also eardrums (canon is unclear as to the full extent of their function). The tympana are also incredibly delicate; a broken tympana can permanently cripple a member, making it unable to be part of a pack. Mindsounds are limited by the normal limitations of sound waves, like distance and noise dampening conditions, and coherent thought can be difficult when other Tines are too close. The ability is mostly or wholly physically-based, a quirk of his species and inherent to their biology and ability to function as people.
Individual Tines, when not part of a pack's mind, are generally about as smart as a trained dog; it takes at least four of them to be capable of thought. Too many members in a pack also limits its intelligence, turning it into a choir where coherent thought isn't possible; large enough choirs are loud enough to drown out the mindsounds of other packs, causing them to dissolve into individuals if they get too close to the choir. Individual Tines are about as dextrous as the wolves they resemble, though their lips are more nimble than normal lips. Packs, working together, can use tools, using two or more mouths in place of hands to wield crossbows and tie knots.
Because of the Tines' group mind, packs can incorporate individual Tines into themselves. Usually new members are puppies, who join the pack before they start emitting mindsounds, but some packs can incorporate adult members into themselves, even remnants of another pack. The pack adopting members can gain memories and personality traits from the new member, and if their old pack's personality was strong enough, the new member can even dominate the pack they joined. Adding members selectively can grant a person new skills, such as mathematical aptitude, from the parentage of the member they accept, though the process is complicated by adult members often not meshing with the pack. Conversely, packs can survive the deaths of one or more members, though most need at least four remaining to keep their mind together.
In general, there is no one Tine in a pack that holds the "true" personality; all members are parts of the person, like limbs with brains. All memories are shared between the members. However, not all members are identical in their skillset. Some Tines are better at speech than others; a "speech specialist" singleton can still speak, even if they lost the rest of their pack, though what they say is often just parroted nonsense. If a pack loses its speech specialist, it becomes incapable of communicating with people outside of itself.
Samples
Network: [On the screen, three wolf-like creatures wearing jackets are gathered close. Two are staring intently at the screen, while the third is looking behind the group. The two facing the screen give a wolfy grin, and an adult human male voice with a Scandinavian accent comes from somewhere between them.]
Hei, hei! I have been told that this place is called "Nautilus" and so far it is most agreeable indeed! [All visible heads nod.] My name is Scrupilo, Science Advisor to the Woodcarver- if the name means anything to any of you. I have not seen or heard any other packs here. The- introductory guide has been very informative- but not as good as a Dataset. I still have some questions I am hoping someone can answer.
[Two of the wolves pull a notebook out of a third's jacket pocket and open it with their lips, delicately turning the pages.] This "Nautilus" is a God of some sort, correct? In what way does he communicate with us and why does he still have interest in us? I am given to understand that Gods quickly lose interest in beings like us; do we have any assurance that Nautilus won't disappear on us.
Next, it says we are not trapped, we can return to our homes. How can we bring something back? Already I have learned much that would be useful to my projects and our whole planet. I need to share the benefits of here with my queens and people.
While I am here, I intend to continue my work. What are your laboratory set-ups like? How many cameras and bandwidth can you spare for observation? I'll need several workstations to properly continue. Materials would also be appreciated, but I could assemble my own if necessary. If there are any interested in research into radios and hydrogen, I would welcome assistants, especially a pair of hands.
That is all for now!
[Two of the wolves approach the screen and grab pieces of pink floppy cloth from either side of the screen, pulling it over the view, then stop and uncover it.]
Ah, I almost forgot. I also need a place to live. I am no scout and require an actual building. Only moderate quilting is necessary. And- humans usually like to see all of us, yes? [The wolf heads nod, then one walks off screen, the camera jiggles momentarily, and a new one reappears. This repeats again, so there are two new wolves staring into the camera.] This is the rest of me. Not that you're likely to get confused, with no other packs around, but now you have seen what all of me looks like.
Good-bye! [And once again, two wolves pull the pink cloth over the screen, and this time it goes black.]
Third Person: Scrupilo was having problems thinking. The room was quiet enough, and he wasn't too spread out, but even so, his thoughts felt fuzzy, like he wasn't hearing all of him. His heads exchanged glances and soon identified the problem: White Head. He was farther out from the others- still within normal hearing range. But Scrupilo's hearing range wasn't normal anymore. Not since the cannons, really; maybe the others had been right in saying the blasts addled the heads instead of clearing them. But lately White Head had been hearing even less than the others, and he'd been limping. Like he was now, rejoining the group.
Scrupilo left the tables of radio parts alone and gathered himself close, heads together for serious thinking. Not that he needed such concentration to know what the problem was. Old age. He'd experienced it before. Everyone did, if one of their members lived long enough. The past times, he hadn't agonized long over letting the old member fall behind after a new one had been integrated. The broodkenners were already pestering him to think about getting a new member and whether he wanted to bear the puppy himself, sire one with another pack, or find an unrelated, unmatched member. Better to plan ahead rather than risk losing a critical part of himself and possibly find his genius and usefulness to his Queens diminished, right? And with the Fragmentarium for old members, his old member wouldn't even need to wander off to die. He could be part of Scrupilo whenever Scrup had time to spare, until he truly died of old age.
Two of himself nuzzled White Head's neck, feeling the wooden token pinned to his jacket. The medal Woodcarver had awarded him for bravery and valor during the wolves' attack. Scrupilo always made sure White Head wore it and not any other member. He remembered that; being scattered, confused, trying to light the cannon while the rest of him was running. Johanna beside him, aiming the cannon for him, standing by him later when he willingly fragmented himself to accept the honor. Even after White Head was gone, he'd remember it for years, hopefully the rest of his life- But it wouldn't be the same as still having White Head.
The Children, the humans, they talked about "longevity treatments" and the lack of them here with some dismay. When he first heard them complain, he thought it petty. Growing old was something his kind had always dealt with. But now that it was happening to him, when he knew it didn't have to happen, he understood their alarm more.
White Head pulled the others' heads closer. Gaining a new member didn't have to mean it was replacing the old one. He had been the same five for years now. The world was full of change now. Even Woodcarver, the eternal Woodcarver, was embracing the changes with new blood. Scrupilo might do well to follow her example. A new member could enrich his soul. The human queen Ravna often told him that with his help, recreating their technology was progressing faster than she ever thought possible. A new member could make it even faster. Fast enough to extend lives before any of him died. Or if not, they could create coldsleep for Tinish members. This wasn't a death, it a start of a new life for Scrupilo.
Decision made, he broke up, members heading back to their tables and radios. Finish this experiment, then talk to the broodkenners. They would find a brilliant match for him. And once the new puppy was integrated, he would soar to even greater heights. Maybe literally. White Head glanced at his personal notebook, opened to the flying machine design. Some day soon. I'll make this possible. He grinned, spreading to all of his faces. The world awaited, and after that, the stars. He could hardly wait.
Character Name: Scrupilo
Fandom: Zones of Thought book series
Source: A Fire Upon the Deep and The Children of the Sky, the two relevant books.
Character History: Scrupilo started life as mostly the offspring of the legendary Woodcarver, centuries-old ruler of one of the most progressive countries on the planet and reknowned innovator and revolutuionary thinker. As Woodcarver declined from infirmity brought on by the in-breeding necessary to keep his- and later her- soul pure, Scrupilo, along with other advisors, took over more of the running of the kingdom. Scrupilo in particular revolutionized life in Woodcarver's kingdom with his mechanical inventions.
So things progressed, until a ship containing strange singleton creatures in suspended animation from the stars landed in the enemy Flenserist country to the north, and two travelers brought an injured alien to Woodcarver's Domain, along with a toy that stored vast information. All of a sudden, the world turned upside-down for the local kingdoms as they sought to understand the aliens and their technology. Scrupilo, thanks to his high position in Woodcarver's court and mechanical prowess, was at the center of the turmoil, as he was tasked with studying the human's informational toy "dataset" and learning all he could from it. With the human child Johanna's initially reluctant and later whole-hearted help, he and his team developed gunpowder and cannons, in order to capture the alien starship from Flenser's territory and allow Johanna to attempt to contact others for rescue. He eagerly ran the initial tests, and when the army marched, he headed up the cannon division as Chief Cannonneer and drilled his troops and himself in their use at every opportunity. This dedication saved his life and the army's when it encountered an enemy that could scatter packs with sound attacks; though fragmented, one of Scrupilo's members attempted to fire his cannon, and with Johanna's help, destroyed the enemy's nest and stopped the devastating sonic attack. After that narrow escape and great cooperative victory, Scrupilo and Woodcarver began to realize the potential that humans working with Tines could have.
Unfortunately, when the army reached Flenser's Domain, they discovered that they had been betrayed, and that the Flenserists had their own human help, including contact with an armed human rescue party and cannons of their own. But with Johanna's help, they convinced the humans that the Flenserists meant to destroy the crashed starship and the children in suspended animation and got their help to turn the tide and defeat the Flenserists. But the human rescue team had worse news: They were pursued by a fleet controlled by a cosmic menace that would destroy the planet when it arrived. Though he might have only had a few days left, Scrupilo resolved to spend the remaining time studying Dataset's information for any way they might fight back or escape. Then the sun went dark, and when it returned to normal, he learned that one of the humans had delayed the fleet significantly- but in the process had stranded the humans on the Tines' planet and crippled their ship's automation.
Ravna, the one surviving human from the rescue party, resolved to make the most of their exile and prepare for the coming invasion by using the remaining technology and information at her disposal to help Woodcarver's people achieve space flight within a century. Once again, Scrupilo headed up the scientific aspect of the great project, assisted by the ship Out of Band II's remaining automation. Some of his experiments succeeded in recreating space-faring technology, while others failed, but Scrupilo remained undaunted, excited to try new approaches. Meanwhile, the human children in suspended animation were rescued, revived, and integrated into local Tinish society, changing it as much as Scrupilo's innovations.
Character Personality: Scrupilo is a scientist, through and through. From the time he was assembled by Woodcarver, he was intended to be a genius with machines, and so he was. He was almost too focused on his machines before the humans arrived, having little interest in biology or politics like his parent. He kept his focus on machines and technology even after the humans changed everything, for the most part, though with a new appreciation for what people could accomplish when they could work together in close quarters.
Being a scientist and innovator, Scrupilo is one of the most open-minded Tines. He was one of the first to suggest that humans were as smart as packs while still being singletons, despite that all Tinish theory before then held that only packs could be people. He recognized that Dataset, while housed in an animal-shaped toy, responded in predictable and repeatable ways like a machine, despite its lack of visible moving parts. But even with his progressive thoughts, he is still a medieval creature and sometimes reverts to a medieval mindset, especially when dealing with people. For example, he still considers putting suspected criminals to the question with pikes to be the preferable method of getting confessions, though cooler heads overrule him.
Most of Scrupilo's acquaintances consider him a prissy, prickly, pompous, long-winded grump, which is all accurate. He certainly has his character flaws, those as well as an impulsive, hard-headed, angry streak and almost uncheckecd curiousity. But despite that, he's a good person in his hearts. Despite his ego, he's quick to give credit to others when they help him make advances that he's getting credit for. He is unfailingly loyal to his Queen and to his allies, and even when offended and outraged, he can recognize good points others make and work with them. He doesn't let his ego get in the way when collaborating; when he has serious objections to someone else's contribution, it is usually due to objective flaws. He will admit when someone's knowledge or genius exceeds his own, admitting to his own shortcomings, even if only in confidence. While he can be, and often is, a prickly twit, he always comes through for his Queen.
Powers and Abilities: Like most of his species, Scrupilo has a group mind shared among several individual wolf-like creatures. His members communicate via very high-pitched sound, called "mindsounds" by the Tines, sharing thoughts almost unconsciously most of the time. The sound is emitted from structures called "tympana" on their shoulders and forehead; the tympana also allow his species to perfectly mimic voices. Tympana act as an extra set of vocal chords per member, and possibly also eardrums (canon is unclear as to the full extent of their function). The tympana are also incredibly delicate; a broken tympana can permanently cripple a member, making it unable to be part of a pack. Mindsounds are limited by the normal limitations of sound waves, like distance and noise dampening conditions, and coherent thought can be difficult when other Tines are too close. The ability is mostly or wholly physically-based, a quirk of his species and inherent to their biology and ability to function as people.
Individual Tines, when not part of a pack's mind, are generally about as smart as a trained dog; it takes at least four of them to be capable of thought. Too many members in a pack also limits its intelligence, turning it into a choir where coherent thought isn't possible; large enough choirs are loud enough to drown out the mindsounds of other packs, causing them to dissolve into individuals if they get too close to the choir. Individual Tines are about as dextrous as the wolves they resemble, though their lips are more nimble than normal lips. Packs, working together, can use tools, using two or more mouths in place of hands to wield crossbows and tie knots.
Because of the Tines' group mind, packs can incorporate individual Tines into themselves. Usually new members are puppies, who join the pack before they start emitting mindsounds, but some packs can incorporate adult members into themselves, even remnants of another pack. The pack adopting members can gain memories and personality traits from the new member, and if their old pack's personality was strong enough, the new member can even dominate the pack they joined. Adding members selectively can grant a person new skills, such as mathematical aptitude, from the parentage of the member they accept, though the process is complicated by adult members often not meshing with the pack. Conversely, packs can survive the deaths of one or more members, though most need at least four remaining to keep their mind together.
In general, there is no one Tine in a pack that holds the "true" personality; all members are parts of the person, like limbs with brains. All memories are shared between the members. However, not all members are identical in their skillset. Some Tines are better at speech than others; a "speech specialist" singleton can still speak, even if they lost the rest of their pack, though what they say is often just parroted nonsense. If a pack loses its speech specialist, it becomes incapable of communicating with people outside of itself.
Samples
Network: [On the screen, three wolf-like creatures wearing jackets are gathered close. Two are staring intently at the screen, while the third is looking behind the group. The two facing the screen give a wolfy grin, and an adult human male voice with a Scandinavian accent comes from somewhere between them.]
Hei, hei! I have been told that this place is called "Nautilus" and so far it is most agreeable indeed! [All visible heads nod.] My name is Scrupilo, Science Advisor to the Woodcarver- if the name means anything to any of you. I have not seen or heard any other packs here. The- introductory guide has been very informative- but not as good as a Dataset. I still have some questions I am hoping someone can answer.
[Two of the wolves pull a notebook out of a third's jacket pocket and open it with their lips, delicately turning the pages.] This "Nautilus" is a God of some sort, correct? In what way does he communicate with us and why does he still have interest in us? I am given to understand that Gods quickly lose interest in beings like us; do we have any assurance that Nautilus won't disappear on us.
Next, it says we are not trapped, we can return to our homes. How can we bring something back? Already I have learned much that would be useful to my projects and our whole planet. I need to share the benefits of here with my queens and people.
While I am here, I intend to continue my work. What are your laboratory set-ups like? How many cameras and bandwidth can you spare for observation? I'll need several workstations to properly continue. Materials would also be appreciated, but I could assemble my own if necessary. If there are any interested in research into radios and hydrogen, I would welcome assistants, especially a pair of hands.
That is all for now!
[Two of the wolves approach the screen and grab pieces of pink floppy cloth from either side of the screen, pulling it over the view, then stop and uncover it.]
Ah, I almost forgot. I also need a place to live. I am no scout and require an actual building. Only moderate quilting is necessary. And- humans usually like to see all of us, yes? [The wolf heads nod, then one walks off screen, the camera jiggles momentarily, and a new one reappears. This repeats again, so there are two new wolves staring into the camera.] This is the rest of me. Not that you're likely to get confused, with no other packs around, but now you have seen what all of me looks like.
Good-bye! [And once again, two wolves pull the pink cloth over the screen, and this time it goes black.]
Third Person: Scrupilo was having problems thinking. The room was quiet enough, and he wasn't too spread out, but even so, his thoughts felt fuzzy, like he wasn't hearing all of him. His heads exchanged glances and soon identified the problem: White Head. He was farther out from the others- still within normal hearing range. But Scrupilo's hearing range wasn't normal anymore. Not since the cannons, really; maybe the others had been right in saying the blasts addled the heads instead of clearing them. But lately White Head had been hearing even less than the others, and he'd been limping. Like he was now, rejoining the group.
Scrupilo left the tables of radio parts alone and gathered himself close, heads together for serious thinking. Not that he needed such concentration to know what the problem was. Old age. He'd experienced it before. Everyone did, if one of their members lived long enough. The past times, he hadn't agonized long over letting the old member fall behind after a new one had been integrated. The broodkenners were already pestering him to think about getting a new member and whether he wanted to bear the puppy himself, sire one with another pack, or find an unrelated, unmatched member. Better to plan ahead rather than risk losing a critical part of himself and possibly find his genius and usefulness to his Queens diminished, right? And with the Fragmentarium for old members, his old member wouldn't even need to wander off to die. He could be part of Scrupilo whenever Scrup had time to spare, until he truly died of old age.
Two of himself nuzzled White Head's neck, feeling the wooden token pinned to his jacket. The medal Woodcarver had awarded him for bravery and valor during the wolves' attack. Scrupilo always made sure White Head wore it and not any other member. He remembered that; being scattered, confused, trying to light the cannon while the rest of him was running. Johanna beside him, aiming the cannon for him, standing by him later when he willingly fragmented himself to accept the honor. Even after White Head was gone, he'd remember it for years, hopefully the rest of his life- But it wouldn't be the same as still having White Head.
The Children, the humans, they talked about "longevity treatments" and the lack of them here with some dismay. When he first heard them complain, he thought it petty. Growing old was something his kind had always dealt with. But now that it was happening to him, when he knew it didn't have to happen, he understood their alarm more.
White Head pulled the others' heads closer. Gaining a new member didn't have to mean it was replacing the old one. He had been the same five for years now. The world was full of change now. Even Woodcarver, the eternal Woodcarver, was embracing the changes with new blood. Scrupilo might do well to follow her example. A new member could enrich his soul. The human queen Ravna often told him that with his help, recreating their technology was progressing faster than she ever thought possible. A new member could make it even faster. Fast enough to extend lives before any of him died. Or if not, they could create coldsleep for Tinish members. This wasn't a death, it a start of a new life for Scrupilo.
Decision made, he broke up, members heading back to their tables and radios. Finish this experiment, then talk to the broodkenners. They would find a brilliant match for him. And once the new puppy was integrated, he would soar to even greater heights. Maybe literally. White Head glanced at his personal notebook, opened to the flying machine design. Some day soon. I'll make this possible. He grinned, spreading to all of his faces. The world awaited, and after that, the stars. He could hardly wait.