The heads of each of the six Darshans. Um... there are only two of them who are active right now, though. I was in the process of filling the spots for the other four before all of this.
[she shakes her head.]
...they felt that the arts were not... rational or academic enough to be allowed in Sumeru. Which is foolish, really. There are plenty of things people can learn from the arts.
[ the sages blocked art. suddenly there's only two sages still active. definitely a tale there. ]
...
Oh right, like a STEM graduate. Sciences are superior because they decided it, and everything else is fluff work that doesn't matter. Something like that?
There is. They were a bit... [hmm. how does she say this in a way that isn't self-pitying, given, uh, everything the sages did to her.] They had an agenda that wasn't good for Sumeru.
So, they've been removed from power.
[ :) ]
Something like that, yes. I think it was also partially that... when people behave purely in a rational manner, their actions become easier to predict. Things like the arts, which involve more emotion than the sciences, encourage people to think and behave differently. The sages who were most opposed to the arts wanted to be able to predict the actions of anyone who might move against them, so that they could stay in power.
... I don't think you can predict anyone. It'd be stupid to think you could. You could believe you know a person inside out and they'd still find a way to surprise you. Indulgence in the arts or not.
I think you're right about that. But, for the most part... many of the people of Sumeru did behave the way the Sages predicted that they would. That's part of why I shut down the Akasha system, actually.
It's a system that would compile information and would make it available to people to access when they requested it. However... the Sages would restrict certain types of information from being made available for people, and it ultimately ended up stifling people's creativity.
Not to mention, if incorrect information was put into the Akasha and someone accessed it... it became very difficult for their minds to think of it as untrue. And since almost everyone in Sumeru wore an Akasha terminal, it meant that most everyone was at risk if the system was misused... which, unfortunately, the Sages did.
[she sighs.]
...it would be a very useful tool if not misused, but unfortunately it was taken to extremes. So, I shut it down.
I was able to modify it once for individual use. But widespread use... that will take more time than I have on my hands right now since I'm in the process of overseeing the replacement of the Sages.
Maybe in the future it can be used again, but it probably won't be used in the same way as it had been.
[or maybe not, since, y'know. she made a deal in exchange for her gnosis. it's fine.]
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[but, hmm. she looks thoughtful, and after a few moments, their surroundings shift to the grand bazaar. it's empty of people, though.]
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Is this a market?
[ between his two teammates he's getting a distinct sense for what "Sumeru" is like, aesthetic wise. ]
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[she gestures up toward the stage near the fountain.]
That's the Zubayr Theater.
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[ hmm. ] Like for dances and shows? I thought Kaveh said the arts had issues in Sumeru?
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...but things are improving. Personally, I love the shows. Nilou, the theater's star dancer, is very talented!
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[ what even is your school government, nahida. ]
Did they just seriously not like fun or something?
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[she shakes her head.]
...they felt that the arts were not... rational or academic enough to be allowed in Sumeru. Which is foolish, really. There are plenty of things people can learn from the arts.
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[ the sages blocked art. suddenly there's only two sages still active. definitely a tale there. ]
...
Oh right, like a STEM graduate. Sciences are superior because they decided it, and everything else is fluff work that doesn't matter. Something like that?
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So, they've been removed from power.
[ :) ]
Something like that, yes. I think it was also partially that... when people behave purely in a rational manner, their actions become easier to predict. Things like the arts, which involve more emotion than the sciences, encourage people to think and behave differently. The sages who were most opposed to the arts wanted to be able to predict the actions of anyone who might move against them, so that they could stay in power.
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Ah.
Those kinds of people.
... I don't think you can predict anyone. It'd be stupid to think you could. You could believe you know a person inside out and they'd still find a way to surprise you. Indulgence in the arts or not.
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[...]
I think you're right about that. But, for the most part... many of the people of Sumeru did behave the way the Sages predicted that they would. That's part of why I shut down the Akasha system, actually.
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… What’s the Akasha system?
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Not to mention, if incorrect information was put into the Akasha and someone accessed it... it became very difficult for their minds to think of it as untrue. And since almost everyone in Sumeru wore an Akasha terminal, it meant that most everyone was at risk if the system was misused... which, unfortunately, the Sages did.
[she sighs.]
...it would be a very useful tool if not misused, but unfortunately it was taken to extremes. So, I shut it down.
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No wonder they were easy to predict, if they were being drip-fed information the people in charge wanted them to know.
[ simple, but blunt. ] Can't question things if the people in charge aren't giving you the scope or resources to consider that.
[ ... ]
Mm. A tool's only as good as the person using it.
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Especially if the people using them are corrupt.
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Maybe in the future it can be used again, but it probably won't be used in the same way as it had been.
[or maybe not, since, y'know. she made a deal in exchange for her gnosis. it's fine.]