The Mordant's Need Trivia Game (Spoilers!!!)

[samrw3]

Another hint.

You could question Geraden. We first find out about the possibility from him telling Terisa. *

*Although Eremis and or Gilbur most likely thought of it first.

[IrrationalSanity]

Another hint.

You could question Geraden. We first find out about the possibility from him telling Terisa. *

*Although Eremis and or Gilbur most likely thought of it first.

I'm not so sure of that, as Gereden mentions that it was one of his early ideas as an apt.

[samrw3]

Another hint.

You could question Geraden. We first find out about the possibility from him telling Terisa. *

*Although Eremis and or Gilbur most likely thought of it first.

I'm not so sure of that, as Gereden mentions that it was one of his early ideas as an apt.

You are correct I forgot he thought of it at a young age. I just thought it may have been possible that Eremis or Gilbur thought of it first because they figured out how to make it happen. From there I guessed that may have taken years of thought and practice . But now based on your suggestion I revise that to say Geraden most likely did think of it first. [Although the book does not give a definite answer]

[Hunchback Jack]

Trying to determine how to translate a glass through another glass without breaking both? That is what is needed to translate within the same world without a flat glass (ie. two curves glasses via another world).

HBJ

[Cord Hurn]

Trying to determine how to translate a glass through another glass without breaking both? That is what is needed to translate within the same world without a flat glass (ie. two curves glasses via another world).

HBJ

Think about WHY an Imager would like to translate one glass into another glass, though, and then you'll have the subject of research that Barsonage is referring to in his talk with Eremis.

[Skyweir]

Barsonage has been working on a hall of mirrors ... through which they can transport all the armies supplies, personnel etc

[Cord Hurn]

Barsonage has been working on a hall of mirrors ... through which they can transport all the armies supplies, personnel etc

It is true that Master Barsonage was having the Congery work on that, Sky, and he concealed this work from Master Eremis.

But my question is, what problem (or challenge) does Master Barsonage tell Eremis that the Congery is working on, to the exclusion of all else?

[Cord Hurn]

Well, that would be rather convoluted, given that most Imagers can't really control what location mirrors show.

(Aside: I love the rules that Donaldson created for Imagery, by the way.)

The rules of Imagery make the MN books fun, I strongly agree!

[Cord Hurn]

The trivia question, repeated for readers' convenience: "When Eremis has completed the task of refilling Orison's reservoir, he visits Barsonage and inquires what research the Congery is doing to defend the castle.
What does Barsonage tell Eremis the Congery is doing to defend Orison?"

[Skyweir]

Barsonage United the Congery

... and started prep for equipping the army.

He also said filling the reservoir almost killed him or would have killed him lol something like that.

But Barsonage turned the Congery around. Got them battle-ready

[IrrationalSanity]

Trying to determine how to translate a glass through another glass without breaking both? That is what is needed to translate within the same world without a flat glass (ie. two curves glasses via another world).

HBJ

Think about WHY an Imager would like to translate one glass into another glass, though, and then you'll have the subject of research that Barsonage is referring to in his talk with Eremis.

He was really so close. I would almost give it to him. All of the pieces are there, but it is a little bit too much information (with one piece frustratingly wrong) to precisely answer the question. (Sort of like a Jeopardy question, where a last name only is considered correct, but adding the wrong first name invalidates it...)

[samrw3]

Trying to determine how to translate a glass through another glass without breaking both? That is what is needed to translate within the same world without a flat glass (ie. two curves glasses via another world).

HBJ

Think about WHY an Imager would like to translate one glass into another glass, though, and then you'll have the subject of research that Barsonage is referring to in his talk with Eremis.

He was really so close. I would almost give it to him. All of the pieces are there, but it is a little bit too much information (with one piece frustratingly wrong) to precisely answer the question. (Sort of like a Jeopardy question, where a last name only is considered correct, but adding the wrong first name invalidates it...)

I thought so to...very very close. In fact I had to re-read it for a second to realize where it was wrong.

[Cord Hurn]

Yes, Hunchback Jack is very close to the answer, but not yet at it.

What I am looking for is what mystery (or challenge) the Congery is trying to solve, according to what Master Barsonage told Master Eremis.

Translating one glass into another is Master Eremis' offered solution to Barsonage for solving the mystery/challenge. Here's a quote from MN with the part I'm looking for replaced by an underscoring line:

Eremis grinned around the rim of his goblet. This was better than he had anticipated, more fun. He liked opponents who were capable of surprises. He had grown almost fond of King Joyse. Even Lebbick had his good side. Geraden was virtually likeable. And as for Terisa--

That made their destruction especially exciting.

Unite the Masters, was that it? Then they would have to be un-united.

He twirled his goblet in his long fingers. "Thank you, Master Barsonage," he said happily. "I understand you now.

"What work is the Congery doing with its rediscovered purpose?"

Again the mediator shrugged. A trickle of water ran out of his chest hair across his belly. It will not surprise you. We labor to learn how it is that men such as the High King's Monomach, who is no Imager, and Master Gilbur, whose talents are known to us, can be____________________________.

[samrw3]

Oops I think I know the answer you are looking for now. I had forgotten about that part of Barsonage quote.

[Skyweir]

How to translate through flat glass without losing ones sanity?

Specifically in and out of Orison

But we already posited this answer.

[IrrationalSanity]

Ooohh - another "missed it by >< that much" moment - by being too specific! (right in the general case, but incorrect in the details.)

Example:

"What did I say I was doing in the kitchen?"

Your answer:

You were "using the toaster oven to bake a strawberry layer cake."

Correct answer could have been either that I was "baking a cake". or , I was "using the toaster oven", or the cake could have been "German chocolate", or "strawberry cream". But by saying I was using the toaster oven to bake a strawberry layer cake, you made the whole answer wrong, because I didn't *say* I was "using the toaster oven to bake a strawberry layer cake".

I may have been, but I might not, but in either case, I didn't say HOW I was baking the cake, or WHAT I was using the toaster oven for, or what flavor the cake was.

(I'm using several examples so I don't give away just which part of the answer was correct.)

[IrrationalSanity]

P.S. It wasn't my question, so I am not really the judge or jury here.

[Cord Hurn]

Maybe, two tenets?

1) That you need a flat glass to translate to somewhere else in the same world, and ...
2) Such a translation should drive the translator mad?

Edited to add: dammit, I answered the hint and not the question!

HBJ

HJ's answer was very, VERY close! The concern about "how they use flat glass without going mad" is a key part of the answer, for sure!

How to translate through flat glass without losing ones sanity?

Specifically in and out of Orison

But we already posited this answer.

YOU HAVE IT, SKYWEIR! Hunchback Jack's answer only lacked Master Barsonage's concern about these appearances out of thin air occuring "in and out of Orison", which is how he framed it as a matter of defense to Eremis.




It's your trivia question, Skyweir!

[Hunchback Jack]

Well done, Skyweir!

(By the way, was the detail that I got wrong the mention of using two curved glasses? On reflection (pun intended) I think you would have to translate a flat glass through a curved glass in order to travel within the same world without going mad. A curved glass made in Mordant will never show an image of Mordant).

HBJ

[IrrationalSanity]

Well done, Skyweir!

(By the way, was the detail that I got wrong the mention of using two curved glasses? On reflection (pun intended) I think you would have to translate a flat glass through a curved glass in order to travel within the same world without going mad. A curved glass made in Mordant will never show an image of Mordant).

HBJ

Correct. Of course, the answer I would have been looking for was simply that Barsonage said the congery had dedicated themselves to discovering how Gart (and friends) were able to translate themselves in and out of Orison without going mad. You became "wrong" by adding the bit about the mirrors. (It wasn't how they "used flat mirrors" without going mad, or anything about dual translation. Just how they managed to translate in and out without going mad.)

Only then did Eremis put forth the mirror within a mirror suggestion, but leaving out the little detail of the special oxidate treatment.