[Mkguild] New Story Arc to Bounce Around

[Raven Blackmane]

Joshua Coene wrote:
> Just a question here...how did the relatively 
> technologically-unequipped Metamorans /find/ some of these outer 
> planets?  Uranus wasn't discovered until 1690, and it was thought to 
> be a star until 1781.  Neptune was discovered in 1846.
>
> So...just wonderin'.  Without some serious powerful telescopes, which 
> wouldn't have been possible until later times in history, how were 
> these planets discovered in Metamor Keep-land?
Metamorians in 707 CR might or might not have the power to see the outer 
planets -- we know that they have at least one telescope, in Channing's 
tower -- but they would know about them because the gods passed down a 
lot of information about the solar system to the mortal races. 
(Remember, the gods aren't from around here; they were once travelers 
from far across the stars, who found the earth when it was still young 
and -- so they say -- helped to finish ordering its creation.) In 
addition, the Lost Kingdom of Men was highly technologically advanced by 
medieval standards -- so much so that they attempted to build a gateway 
to pass between dimensions (with catastrophic results). Though their 
civilization was destroyed, some of their learning was passed down to 
the survivors, especially simple facts that anyone can memorize (like 
the fact that the Earth revolves around the sun).

Humans in MK know about the heliocentric model of the solar system, and 
they know how many other planets are out there, even if they can no 
longer see them. They know that the earth is tipped on its axis, and 
this causes the changing seasons. They know what solar and lunar 
eclipses are, and the relative proximity of the planets. Details about 
the nature of the different planets are probably still unknown -- though 
Channing's telescope would be able to see the rings of Nathales, at least.

Anyone else have any thoughts about this?

-- 

"I love science, and it pains me to think that so many are terrified of 
the subject or feel that choosing science means that you cannot also 
choose compassion, or the arts, or be awed by nature. Science is not 
meant to cure us of mystery, but to reinvent and reinvigorate it." 
--Robert Sapolsky