Anduriel asked Brian Staveley:

Greetings! I have often wondered this about the Vaniate: If given a dilemma, would several people (of around the same 'intellectual capacity') in the Vaniate reach the same conclusion to resolve it?If yes, then the Csestriim should have no conflict in their ranks (not the case). If not, then the Vaniate is indeed driven by emotion on some level. Exactly what does it mean?

Brian Staveley This is a great question--something I've also given a lot of thought! The crucial variables, at least as far as I see it, are (as you point out) intellectual capacity, factual knowledge, and the nature of the dilemma. For instance, a simple, soluble dilemma (say, a math problem) would find the same answer from anyone inside the vaniate. Most dilemmas aren't so simple, however--hence the fact that the Csestriim can play stones. The game hasn't been solved--if it had, there would be no game, just a memorized series of optimal moves--and so the Csestriim take different approaches. Even a Csestriim with superior intellectual ability won't always win because there's not a single optimal play at any given move. Of course, real-life dilemmas (warfare, for instance, or politics) are even more complex, and so Csestriim can disagree. No two Csestriim have lived the same life, so no two will be bringing the same set of facts and experience to bear on the dilemma itself. While their lack of emotion obviates one potential form of disagreement, there are other reasons to disagree. Does that make sense?

flag