Lyra

lyra

FROM LYRA TO ERIDANUS

Kelp DAO, a liquid restaking platform, has announced the launch of its 'Kelp Gain Vaults' program. This initiative aims to enhance the earning potential for restakers and users by providing streamlined access to multiple Layer 2 (L2) airdrops through a single, diversified strategy. The Kelp Gain Vaults program introduces a novel approach to managing crypto assets and maximizing rewards. At its core, the program utilizes smart contracts to automate asset deployment across various opportunities. Users deposit their assets into a vault and receive a synthetic token in return, which represents their share of the pooled assets. Key features of the Kelp Gain Vaults include: • Simplified participation in multiple L2 airdrop opportunities • Automated management of asset allocations • Integration with mainnet DeFi yields • Periodic strategy adjustments by vault managers The initial offering in the Kelp Gain Vaults program is the Airdrop Gain Vault. This specialized vault focuses on simplifying participation in airdrop opportunities across various L2 protocols. Users can deposit assets like ETH or rsETH, which are then bridged to partner L2s to enhance airdrop potential. Benefits of the Airdrop Gain Vault: • Access to multiple L2 airdrops through a single deposit • Integration with mainnet DeFi yields for additional earning opportunities • Issuance of agETH, a synthetic token that can be used in other DeFi protocols • Potential for enhanced yields through deployment on platforms like Pendle The launch of the Kelp Gain Vaults program involves collaboration with several key partners: • August: Providing institutional-grade smart contract infrastructure • Tulipa Capital: Acting as the lead strategy partner for the Airdrop Gain Vault • L2 and DeFi partners: Including Linea, Karak, Scroll, Pendle, Across, LZ, Spectra, Lyra, and various decentralized exchanges (DEXs) These partnerships aim to ensure a robust and diverse ecosystem for the Kelp Gain Vaults, offering users access to a wide range of opportunities across the DeFi landscape. The introduction of the Kelp Gain Vaults program represents a significant step towards automated reward management and investment strategies in the DeFi space. By simplifying access to complex strategies and leveraging the composability of DeFi, this initiative has the potential to: • Increase accessibility to advanced DeFi strategies for a broader user base • Optimize reward potential across multiple protocols and layers • Encourage further innovation in automated asset management within the DeFi sector Final Thoughts The launch of Kelp DAO's Gain Vaults program, particularly the Airdrop Gain Vault, marks an important development in the evolution of DeFi strategies. By offering simplified access to diverse L2 airdrops and integrating with mainnet DeFi yields, this initiative aims to enhance user experience and maximize reward potential. As the DeFi landscape continues to evolve, such innovations may play a crucial role in shaping the future of decentralized finance and asset management. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Kelp DAO , a liquid restaking platform, has announced the launch of its ' Kelp Gain Vaults ' program. This initiative aims to enhance the earning potential for restakers and users by providing streamlined access to multiple Layer 2 (L2) airdrops through a single, diversified strategy. The Kelp Gain Vaults program introduces a novel approach to managing crypto assets and maximizing rewards. At its core, the program utilizes smart contracts to automate asset deployment across various opportunities. Users deposit their assets into a vault and receive a synthetic token in return, which represents their share of the pooled assets. Kelp DAO Kelp Gain Vaults Key features of the Kelp Gain Vaults include: • Simplified participation in multiple L2 airdrop opportunities • Automated management of asset allocations • Integration with mainnet DeFi yields • Periodic strategy adjustments by vault managers The initial offering in the Kelp Gain Vaults program is the Airdrop Gain Vault. This specialized vault focuses on simplifying participation in airdrop opportunities across various L2 protocols. Users can deposit assets like ETH or rsETH, which are then bridged to partner L2s to enhance airdrop potential. Benefits of the Airdrop Gain Vault: Benefits of the Airdrop Gain Vault: • Access to multiple L2 airdrops through a single deposit • Integration with mainnet DeFi yields for additional earning opportunities • Issuance of agETH, a synthetic token that can be used in other DeFi protocols • Potential for enhanced yields through deployment on platforms like Pendle The launch of the Kelp Gain Vaults program involves collaboration with several key partners: • August: Providing institutional-grade smart contract infrastructure • Tulipa Capital: Acting as the lead strategy partner for the Airdrop Gain Vault • L2 and DeFi partners: Including Linea, Karak, Scroll, Pendle, Across, LZ, Spectra, Lyra, and various decentralized exchanges (DEXs) These partnerships aim to ensure a robust and diverse ecosystem for the Kelp Gain Vaults, offering users access to a wide range of opportunities across the DeFi landscape. The introduction of the Kelp Gain Vaults program represents a significant step towards automated reward management and investment strategies in the DeFi space. By simplifying access to complex strategies and leveraging the composability of DeFi, this initiative has the potential to: • Increase accessibility to advanced DeFi strategies for a broader user base • Optimize reward potential across multiple protocols and layers • Encourage further innovation in automated asset management within the DeFi sector Final Thoughts The launch of Kelp DAO's Gain Vaults program, particularly the Airdrop Gain Vault, marks an important development in the evolution of DeFi strategies. By offering simplified access to diverse L2 airdrops and integrating with mainnet DeFi yields, this initiative aims to enhance user experience and maximize reward potential. As the DeFi landscape continues to evolve, such innovations may play a crucial role in shaping the future of decentralized finance and asset management. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program . HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR. Vested Interest Disclosure: business blogging program business blogging program

Kelp DAO Introduces 'Gain Vault' Program with Integrated L2 Access

Kelp DAO ইন্টিগ্রেটেড L2 অ্যাক্সেস সহ 'গেইন ভল্ট' প্রোগ্রাম চালু করেছে

Kelp DAO führt „Gain Vault“-Programm mit integriertem L2-Zugriff ein

Kelp DAO presenta el programa 'Gain Vault' con acceso L2 integrado

Kelp DAO présente le programme « Gain Vault » avec accès L2 intégré

केल्प डीएओ ने एकीकृत एल2 एक्सेस के साथ 'गेन वॉल्ट' कार्यक्रम पेश किया

Kelp DAO、統合L2アクセスを備えた「Gain Vault」プログラムを導入

Kelp DAO, 통합 L2 액세스 기능을 갖춘 'Gain Vault' 프로그램 출시

Kelp DAO apresenta o programa 'Gain Vault' com acesso L2 integrado

Kelp DAO представляет программу «Gain Vault» с интегрированным доступом L2

Kelp DAO, Entegre L2 Erişimi ile 'Gain Vault' Programını Tanıttı

Kelp DAO giới thiệu chương trình 'Gain Vault' với quyền truy cập L2 tích hợp

Kelp DAO 推出集成 L2 访问权限的“Gain Vault”计划

Transcendence Book 10: The Ultimate "Why?"

Transcendence Book 9: Far-skies

Act 2: Life '“As the shackles of progress began to take shape, art began to guide itself to a deeper truth. Being responsible for the laws and flaws that governed the system. The shapes took distinct interpretations based on their approach to form the depth. A requirement for the power required to truly live and share the art of doing so.” Part 1: Biology ‘As the girls delved into their assignments, the world around them continued to evolve, shaped by the collective actions of individuals striving to understand and improve their surroundings. Through the exploration of science, these young students and others like them would contribute to the progress and stability of humankind.’- Rewinder Lyra, do you believe that fish transform water into breathable oxygen, and it is this process that doesn’t allow for higher degrees of thinking to develop? Uhh… I believe fishes embraced their medium. I mean… the water’s embrace seems nice. Yeah… I believe that’s why this approach is for those who like to dive into it. I can’t imagine myself doing such a thing to a fish. That’s why I like mathematics. You don’t cut anything here. Well… maybe if you want to take a closer look. But hey, at least you don’t have to deal with fish. Yeah, I guess you’re right. But what is the true magic in mathematics if we make it? The magic is… weird but you’ll get used to it. I suppose. Breaking News! Science has been able to discover a new range of particles. A new understanding of colors was able to shed light on the physical interactions of perception. Mom! You forgot the TV open! A sight gasp hidden in Elara’s voice Again… Elara got up to find the remote to continue their lessons further. Huh, what’s with the rush Elara? I hate when I try to understand something but I get distracted. I feel like I have to take it from the beginning each time. Well… that’s kind of the magic. You never know why your formula drove you this way and not the other. Yes, but the fish can still dive for a long time in the water. Imagine how interesting their lives must be. There is no right or wrong there, it just… is. If I understand correctly… you’re talking about your mom here? I’m talking about everything. My mom doesn’t understand that I don’t need her protection anymore, my teachers consider that I must achieve their dreams… What if I am just… me? “A moment of shock for Lyra. She felt that Elara was more than this. She knew it in her inner core. But how could she express it? In all her attempts, she failed. Looking back, she realized that what she was missing, was just herself. “ Elara, look. I know you see nothing more than just you. For you, the world is this way. It is your norms and normal. Keep tight to them. I can’t show you the results as you would lose all their beauty. Maybe one day, we could cut a holographic fish. Elara’s gaze was ablaze. Her hands holding her own face That would be… AMAZING! Imagine the possibilities. From medical systems to biological understanding to To geometrical exploration. Lyra Interrupted. It is in our balanced perspectives that we explore this land. You have your insights, while I have mine. Maybe this is what makes us unique across an entire whole. Your thinking is… twisting. But in the right way. I like it. Part 2: Randomness Meanwhile at the Quanta Research Academy “The question between the randomness of the system and its order is based on the relative positions of the points within the system.”-Thomas “No, we shouldn’t pick our first assumption. The world of quantum is always unpredictable.”-Alfred “That’s why it denotes a collective understanding of all points”-Genova “But when seeing all points you can hardly see the patterns”-Lituanin Each of them argued on their terms. Each of them failed to keep hold of their own beauty. Circular reasons are indeed weird. They do seem to bend our reality. But then, why is reality so… straightforward? Because it is a moment of “agreement”? Like… “Yes, this is the rarest path.” Maybe one in which they stopped arguing x.x Lyra excitedly said. Elara! I believe I found a way to differentiate the universal space factor from the self-perspective factor of any individual group. Umm… meaning…? Meaning that I found a new way of scanning the world! Intriguing. What do you mean by scanning? Like… how to better see the world? In a sense yes… but more like… wait. Let’s rewind. Imagine you have to lower a bit your expectations in your answer x.x Uh… then you mean a new way of interpretation? . This is a story without ending in the end. Too much discussion will exclude the narrator from the view. Now, what should a good story need? Remember, we unleashed all this potential into the story. What can we do now? Uhh… It’s weird when you ask me about it… It can only come out when thought about before all else I know! You can envision this scanner as a part of your eye. Differentiating the other world from your being. _ But AGI could require complexities only you know about Elara. Those are also a kind of depth I assume.** This way, our curse as living might be to be restricted by technology. In this sense, biology loses in the face of AI. Could be. But hey, first, I want to pass my exam this week. You said we are in this together. So you too have to help me. I knew this would come. But you know what comes after you? The digital frog. Haha. I’d love to see it coming. Especially running. I too have legs. We’ll see who’s faster. :) Act 3: Breaking the Norms “The night sky was alight with stars, and at the center of it all hung the moon, glowing with a soft, luminous light. But this was no ordinary moon—it was alive with a sentience all its own, watching over the world below with a keen and knowing gaze. As the characters embarked on their journey, they found themselves guided by this celestial being, who seemed to understand their thoughts and desires in a way that no human ever could. And as they delved deeper into the mysteries of the universe, they began to realize that this moon was more than just a passive observer—it was an active participant in the unfolding story, shaping their destinies in ways they could never have imagined.” Elara exclaimed. Hello Moon! Without realizing it, she was dreaming. But not dreaming in the sense of being just herself. The Moon is also an important character in this story. However, their interactions seemed to be significant because they were so distant. She never felt something similar to it before. This moment was the moment in which Elara experienced for the first time what it meant to dream. To mix reality with fiction. The Moon asked intrigued Hello Elara. How are you, my dear? Elara responded with the same blaze on her face as before Well… I’m honestly amazed. The Moon slowly turned Her gaze toward Elara Why so Elara? Elara curiously admitted I remember how drawn I was to taking photos of you a while ago. I was drawn to your beauty. I am wondering now why I stopped doing it. The Moon revealed with a small laugh So you are sorry that you can’t describe the beauty you saw in me back then? Haha. I knew you would be special. Elara responded with a sense of curiosity Special? What do you mean? , the Moon explained. Special, in the sense that you have a unique ability to see beauty and meaning in the world around you, Elara And now, in this dream, you have the chance to explore that beauty in a way that would be impossible in the waking world. You can commune with me, a celestial being, and learn from my ancient wisdom. You can transcend the limitations of your physical form and experience a reality that is beyond the reach of your senses. Elara was silent for a moment, letting this line of thoughts slowly fade into forgetfulness. she said at last. I never thought of myself as special I always felt like I was just a regular person, trying to make sense of a confusing world. But now, with you here, I feel like anything is possible. Like I can explore the depths of the universe and unlock secrets that have been hidden for millennia. The Moon smiled, its glow seeming to brighten the entire dreamscape. That's the spirit, Elara. Together, we can break free from the norms and expectations that have held you back, and forge a new path into the unknown. Elara. Elara? Oh, yes Lyra. Sorry. What? Wasn’t I dreaming? Wasn’t I supposed to be in bed? Uh… no… we were discussing how this hologram is special because it takes into account all the biological-like data from the external medium… well, except wind. And I wanted to ask you if you would like to take a look at the specifications. Sure, I would, but let’s leave this for another day. Right now, I feel a bit weird. Is tomorrow a good day? Yes, should be. Alright, see you tomorrow then. Good night Elara! Good Night Lyra! Act 4: Still Me, (Not the Narrator) “I feel like… exploring the world beyond our own seems in a sense both warm and cold. Quanta Research Team helps me in a sense make sense of where I should not look for warmth, whereas Elara and Lyra are the only lucid neurons I have left. Is it an empathetic view of craziness? I do not know. Maybe craziness becomes craziness only when material life is drawn too much towards its end. Uncertainty could arise because the conclusions are either rushed or drawn without truly tapping the general map across the play. Each story requires a stage before playing it. Maybe I sit in the space that differentiates the play of the story and the play on the stage? The last one indeed shapes the story. But if the story itself is not purely good, it cannot envelop true creativity. Imagine a world where war is not restricting our forms of expression. Where negativity is not a pre-requirement for emotional building. That could be the domain of pure adrenaline. I could give an example. Let’s jump to… Book 5, Act 2: “The Reality of Duality.” A chapter in which the duality is found in the mere fact that what is not alive, is its opposite and vice-versa. That’s why ethics is not able to be formed there. Balance is a requirement rather than a choice. The Book of Transcendence is in a sense a question about the importance of the view in mathematics and why is quantum considered more powerful. “ As Elara drifted into her world of dreams, she began to imagine strange creatures that formed along the drift. The trust in her own actions, offered by her understanding of the world allows her to truly rest. Especially after a day filled with progress and steps climbed toward achieving both her goals. Lyra, although being her close friend, couldn’t see their friendship flourishing forever, no matter how much she tried. This was a thought that kept Lyra awake night by night. Her interactions with Elara were able to somehow erase this irrational fear. Or at least, put a break to this thought. After all, Lyra loved strict and always-right abstract formulas, whereas Elara saw the beauty that pushed every existing being further. A drive to love the unattainable and a pursuit to bring the unattainable to light.

Transcendence Book 2: The Origins of Continuity 

Transcendence Volume I, Book 1: Introduction

So, this is absolutely just another example of me playing around too much, but I had to share. As I mentioned in my yesterday, Google's AI Studio now supports uploading files and working with them in your prompt. post Today, I decided to give the Chat interface a try as I hadn't yet played with it. On a whim, I googled "dungeons and dragons rules PDF" and... well, you won't believe what happened next. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.) First off, the most important thing to note if you want to test with PDFs, ensure that they are OCRed. Right now, AI Studio does not handle that well, but it should be corrected in the future. My Google search turned up the PDF here: , and I confirmed it was properly OCRed with a very scientific test by trying to select a few words. https://media.wizards.com/2018/dnd/downloads/DnD_BasicRules_2018.pdf Note that it's from 2018 and probably a bit out of date, but I figured it was good enough. I uploaded the PDF to Gemini and ensured I was using Gemini 1.5. This is important as the size of the PDF (180 pages) means a rather large token size. The UI reports this nicely: For my first test, I simply asked, "What are the attributes of a player character?" Here's what I got: In Dungeons & Dragons, player characters (PCs) are defined by several key attributes: Race: This determines your character's physical characteristics, ancestry, and innate abilities. Examples include humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, dragonborns, tieflings, etc. Each race has unique traits that affect gameplay. Class: This represents your character's chosen profession and determines their skills, abilities, and progression path. Examples include fighter, wizard, rogue, cleric, bard, etc. Each class has unique features and abilities that define their role in the party. Ability Scores: These six scores represent your character's core physical and mental capabilities: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. They influence almost every action your character takes, from attacking and defending to interacting with the world and casting spells. Skills: These represent specific areas of expertise your character has developed through training or experience. Examples include Athletics, Acrobatics, Stealth, Perception, Persuasion, Arcana, etc. Skills are tied to ability scores and determine your character's success in various tasks. Background: This details your character's history and past experiences before becoming an adventurer. Examples include soldier, criminal, noble, sage, etc. Backgrounds provide additional skills, proficiencies, and roleplaying hooks. Equipment: This includes weapons, armor, tools, and other items your character carries. Equipment affects your character's capabilities in combat and exploration. Personality and Alignment: These define your character's moral compass, beliefs, and behavior. Alignment is a combination of two factors: morality (good, evil, or neutral) and attitude towards society and order (lawful, chaotic, or neutral). Backstory: This is the narrative of your character's life before the game begins, including their motivations, goals, and relationships. A well-developed backstory adds depth and helps you roleplay your character. These attributes work together to create a unique and well-rounded character that you can roleplay and guide through adventures in the D&D world. I'm pretty rusty in D&D, but that surely seems right! (When I shared this in a chat related to Gemini, William Ito skimmed it and said it looks correct for that era - so, I'm taking that as another sign it worked well.) I then asked, "What races are available to player characters?" The most common player character races in Dungeons & Dragons are: Humans: Adaptable and versatile, with no major strengths or weaknesses. Elves: Graceful and long-lived, with a natural affinity for magic and a resistance to charm effects. Subraces include High Elves, Wood Elves, and Dark Elves (Drow). Dwarves: Stout and hardy, with a resistance to magic and poison, and proficiency in combat and craftsmanship. Subraces include Hill Dwarves and Mountain Dwarves. Halflings: Nimble and small, with a natural ability to hide and a resistance to fear. Subraces include Lightfoot Halflings and Stout Halflings. The Player's Handbook also introduces several less common races, including: Dragonborn: Proud and draconic humanoids with scales and the ability to breathe fire. Tieflings: Demonic descendants with a natural affinity for magic and resistance to fire. Gnomes: Inventive and curious small creatures with a natural ability to tinker and a resistance to magic. Half-elves: Combining human and elven traits, they are versatile and have a resistance to charm effects. Half-orcs: Combining human and orc traits, they are strong and fierce with a resistance to being knocked unconscious. Additionally, some campaign settings and sourcebooks introduce even more exotic races, such as Aasimar, Firbolg, Goliath, Aarakocra, Genasi, and many others. The availability of these races depends on your Dungeon Master and the specific campaign setting you are playing in. Remember, the most important factor in choosing a race is to pick one that excites you and fits the character concept you have in mind. I have absolutely no clue if those exotic races exist, but I did a quick search on Aasimar, and it looks like it certainly does: Aasimar Alright, now, at this point, I was impressed. But I thought - why not push my luck? "Given the rules to create a character, create one with all the required characters and give it a name" And holy crap - Gemini delivered! Character Name: Lyra Swiftfoot Race: Lightfoot Halfling Class: Rogue (Thief) Background: Entertainer (Dancer) Alignment: Chaotic Good Ability Scores: (Using the standard set) Strength: 8 (-1) Dexterity: 17 (+3) Constitution: 14 (+2) Intelligence: 13 (+1) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 15 (+2) Hit Points: 10 (8 + 2 from Constitution modifier) Proficiencies: Armor: Light armor Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords Tools: Thieves' tools, Disguise kit (from background) Saving Throws: Dexterity, Intelligence Skills: Acrobatics (+5), Perception (+4), Performance (+6), Stealth (+7) (Expertise in Stealth and Performance) Equipment: Rapier Shortbow and quiver of 20 arrows Leather armor Two daggers Thieves' tools Disguise kit Backpack Bedroll Mess kit Tinderbox 10 torches 10 days of rations Waterskin 50 feet of hempen rope Pouch with 15 gp Personality Traits: I have a quick wit and a fondness for pranks. I am fiercely loyal to my friends and always look out for their safety. Ideal: Freedom: Everyone should be free to live their life as they see fit. (Chaotic) Bond: I will do anything to protect my younger sister, who is the only family I have left. Flaw: I have a weakness for shiny objects and can't resist the urge to steal them, even if it means putting myself at risk. Backstory: Lyra grew up on the streets, using her nimbleness and charm to survive. She learned to dance for coins and honed her skills in stealth and deception to pilfer from unsuspecting onlookers. After her sister was kidnapped by slavers, Lyra vowed to do whatever it takes to find and rescue her, even if it means venturing into the darkest corners of the world. This is just a basic example, and you can further customize Lyra by adding details to her appearance, personality, and backstory. You can also choose different skills, proficiencies, or equipment based on your preferences and the campaign setting. By the way, the formatting above is a bit off, but that came from me copying and pasting from Gemini and being a bit lazy about sprucing it up. I figured I'd push my luck and try again: "do that again please" Character Name: Falion Sunstrider Race: High Elf Class: Wizard (Evocation) Background: Sage (Researcher) Alignment: Neutral Good Ability Scores: (Using the standard set) Strength: 8 (-1) Dexterity: 14 (+2) Constitution: 13 (+1) Intelligence: 17 (+3) Wisdom: 12 (+1) Charisma: 10 (+0) Hit Points: 8 (6 + 1 from Constitution modifier) Proficiencies: Weapons: Daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, light crossbows Tools: None Saving Throws: Intelligence, Wisdom Skills: Arcana (+6), History (+6), Investigation (+4) (Expertise in Arcana and History) Equipment: Quarterstaff Arcane focus (crystal) Scholar's pack Spellbook with six 1st-level wizard spells (Burning Hands, Charm Person, Detect Magic, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield) Backpack Bedroll Mess kit Tinderbox 10 torches 10 days of rations Waterskin 50 feet of hempen rope Pouch with 10 gp Personality Traits: I am deeply curious about the world and always eager to learn new things. I am absent-minded and often lost in my own thoughts. Ideal: Knowledge: The path to power and self-improvement is through knowledge. (Neutral) Bond: I am searching for the lost library of a legendary archmage, rumored to contain powerful spells and forgotten lore. Flaw: I am overconfident in my abilities and sometimes underestimate the dangers I face. Backstory: Falion spent his youth studying in a prestigious academy of magic, quickly surpassing his peers with his thirst for knowledge and natural talent for evocation magic. After hearing rumors of a lost library containing powerful spells and forgotten lore, Falion set out on a journey to find it, hoping to unlock its secrets and further his magical abilities. This is just a basic example, and you can further customize Falion by adding details to his appearance, personality, and backstory. You can also choose different skills, proficiencies, or equipment based on your preferences and the campaign setting. So, at this point, I was blown away. Like, I don't even care if it broke any particular D&D rules; that was just fun. But... yeah, I pushed my luck ... ... ... one last time "Of the two characters you just made, who do you think would be a better party leader?" Between Lyra Swiftfoot and Falion Sunstrider, Lyra would likely be the better party leader for several reasons: : Lyra has a higher Charisma score, which is important for inspiring and motivating others. Her background as an entertainer also suggests she is comfortable in front of crowds and skilled at interacting with people. Charisma : Lyra's skillset is more suited to leadership. Her expertise in Persuasion and Deception allows her to negotiate effectively and navigate social situations, while her proficiency in Perception and Stealth makes her a good scout and strategist. Skills : Lyra's personality traits suggest she is quick-witted and loyal, both valuable qualities in a leader. Her flaw, while potentially problematic, can be mitigated by her other strengths and the support of her party. Personality : While wizards can be powerful, their focus on spellcasting and relative lack of social skills often makes them less effective leaders. Class Falion, on the other hand, excels in knowledge and magical power, making him a valuable asset to the party in terms of strategy and information gathering. However, his lower Charisma and lack of social skills might hinder his ability to effectively lead and inspire others. Additionally, his absent-mindedness and overconfidence could lead to poor decisions in critical situations. Of course, the effectiveness of a party leader also depends on the specific campaign setting, the party composition, and the players' roleplaying preferences. In some situations, Falion's knowledge and magical prowess might be more valuable than Lyra's social skills. Ultimately, the best party leader is the one that the players and the Dungeon Master agree upon and who can effectively guide the party through their adventures. My god. That's just... perfect. And honestly, it feels like the right choice for the right reasons. Anyway, this isn't necessarily a deep look at this particular feature, but it was so fun I had to share!

Google Gemini: Your New Dungeon Master?

গুগল মিথুন: আপনার নতুন অন্ধকূপ মাস্টার?

Google Gemini: Ihr neuer Dungeon-Meister?

Google Gemini: ¿tu nuevo maestro de mazmorras?

Google Gemini : votre nouveau maître de donjon ?

गूगल जेमिनी: आपका नया कालकोठरी मास्टर?

Google Gemini: あなたの新しいダンジョンマスター?

Google Gemini: 새로운 던전 마스터?

Google Gemini: seu novo mestre de masmorras?

Google Gemini: ваш новый мастер подземелий?

Google Gemini: Yeni Zindan Ustanız mı?

Google Gemini: Chủ nhân ngục tối mới của bạn?

谷歌双子座：你的新地下城主？

402 Stories To Learn About History

Off on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary Space by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . FAR INTO SPACE here CHAPTER X. FAR INTO SPACE A month passed away. Gallia continued its course, bearing its little population onwards, so far removed from the ordinary influence of human passions that it might almost be said that its sole ostensible vice was represented by the greed and avarice of the miserable Jew. After all, they were but making a voyage—a strange, yet a transient, excursion through solar regions hitherto untraversed; but if the professor’s calculations were correct—and why should they be doubted?—their little vessel was destined, after a two years’ absence, once more to return “to port.” The landing, indeed, might be a matter of difficulty; but with the good prospect before them of once again standing on terrestrial shores, they had nothing to do at present except to make themselves as comfortable as they could in their present quarters. Thus confident in their anticipations, neither the captain, the count, nor the lieutenant felt under any serious obligation to make any extensive provisions for the future; they saw no necessity for expending the strength of the people, during the short summer that would intervene upon the long severity of winter, in the cultivation or the preservation of their agricultural resources. Nevertheless, they often found themselves talking over the measures they would have been driven to adopt, if they had found themselves permanently attached to their present home. Even after the turning-point in their career, they knew that at least nine months would have to elapse before the sea would be open to navigation; but at the very first arrival of summer they would be bound to arrange for the and the to retransport themselves and all their animals to the shores of Gourbi Island, where they would have to commence their agricultural labors to secure the crops that must form their winter store. During four months or thereabouts, they would lead the lives of farmers and of sportsmen; but no sooner would their haymaking and their corn harvest have been accomplished, than they would be compelled again, like a swarm of bees, to retire to their semi-troglodyte existence in the cells of Nina’s Hive. Dobryna Hansa Now and then the captain and his friends found themselves speculating whether, in the event of their having to spend another winter upon Gallia, some means could not be devised by which the dreariness of a second residence in the recesses of the volcano might be escaped. Would not another exploring expedition possibly result in the discovery of a vein of coal or other combustible matter, which could be turned to account in warming some erection which they might hope to put up? A prolonged existence in their underground quarters was felt to be monotonous and depressing, and although it might be all very well for a man like Professor Rosette, absorbed in astronomical studies, it was ill suited to the temperaments of any of themselves for any longer period than was absolutely indispensable. One contingency there was, almost too terrible to be taken into account. Was it not to be expected that the time might come when the internal fires of Gallia would lose their activity, and the stream of lava would consequently cease to flow? Why should Gallia be exempt from the destiny that seemed to await every other heavenly body? Why should it not roll onwards, like the moon, a dark cold mass in space? In the event of such a cessation of the volcanic eruption, whilst the comet was still at so great a distance from the sun, they would indeed be at a loss to find a substitute for what alone had served to render life endurable at a temperature of 60 degrees below zero. Happily, however, there was at present no symptom of the subsidence of the lava’s stream; the volcano continued its regular and unchanging discharge, and Servadac, ever sanguine, declared that it was useless to give themselves any anxiety upon the matter. On the 15th of December, Gallia was 276,000,000 leagues from the sun, and, as it was approximately to the extremity of its axis major, would travel only some 11,000,000 or 12,000,000 leagues during the month. Another world was now becoming a conspicuous object in the heavens, and Palmyrin Rosette, after rejoicing in an approach nearer to Jupiter than any other mortal man had ever attained, was now to be privileged to enjoy a similar opportunity of contemplating the planet Saturn. Not that the circumstances were altogether so favorable. Scarcely 31,000,000 miles had separated Gallia from Jupiter; the minimum distance of Saturn would not be less than 415,000,000 miles; but even this distance, although too great to affect the comet’s progress more than had been duly reckoned on, was considerably shorter than what had ever separated Saturn from the earth. To get any information about the planet from Rosette appeared quite impossible. Although equally by night and by day he never seemed to quit his telescope, he did not evince the slightest inclination to impart the result of his observations. It was only from the few astronomical works that happened to be included in the library that any details could be gathered, but these were sufficient to give a large amount of interesting information. Dobryna’s Ben Zoof, when he was made aware that the earth would be invisible to the naked eye from the surface of Saturn, declared that he then, for his part, did not care to learn any more about such a planet; to him it was indispensable that the earth should remain in sight, and it was his great consolation that hitherto his native sphere had never vanished from his gaze. At this date Saturn was revolving at a distance of 420,000,000 miles from Gallia, and consequently 874,440,000 miles from the sun, receiving only a hundredth part of the light and heat which that luminary bestows upon the earth. On consulting their books of reference, the colonists found that Saturn completes his revolution round the sun in a period of 29 years and 167 days, traveling at the rate of more than 21,000 miles an hour along an orbit measuring 5,490 millions of miles in length. His circumference is about 220,000 miles; his superficies, 144,000 millions of square miles; his volume, 143,846 millions of cubic miles. Saturn is 735 times larger than the earth, consequently he is smaller than Jupiter; in mass he is only 90 times greater than the earth, which gives him a density less than that of water. He revolves on his axis in 10 hours 29 minutes, causing his own year to consist of 86,630 days; and his seasons, on account of the great inclination of his axis to the plane of his orbit, are each of the length of seven terrestrial years. Although the light received from the sun is comparatively feeble, the nights upon Saturn must be splendid. Eight satellites—Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, and Japetus—accompany the planet; Mimas, the nearest to its primary, rotating on its axis in 22 1/2 hours, and revolving at a distance of only 120,800 miles, whilst Japetus, the most remote, occupies 79 days in its rotation, and revolves at a distance of 2,314,000 miles. Another most important contribution to the magnificence of the nights upon Saturn is the triple ring with which, as a brilliant setting, the planet is encompassed. To an observer at the equator, this ring, which has been estimated by Sir William Herschel as scarcely 100 miles in thickness, must have the appearance of a narrow band of light passing through the zenith 12,000 miles above his head. As the observer, however, increases his latitude either north or south, the band will gradually widen out into three detached and concentric rings, of which the innermost, dark though transparent, is 9,625 miles in breadth; the intermediate one, which is brighter than the planet itself, being 17,605 miles broad; and the outer, of a dusky hue, being 8,660 miles broad. Such, they read, is the general outline of this strange appendage, which revolves in its own plane in 10 hours 32 minutes. Of what matter it is composed, and how it resists disintegration, is still an unsettled question; but it might almost seem that the Designer of the universe, in permitting its existence, had been willing to impart to His intelligent creatures the manner in which celestial bodies are evolved, and that this remarkable ring-system is a remnant of the nebula from which Saturn was himself developed, and which, from some unknown cause, has become solidified. If at any time it should disperse, it would either fall into fragments upon the surface of Saturn, or the fragments, mutually coalescing, would form additional satellites to circle round the planet in its path. To any observer stationed on the planet, between the extremes of lat. 45 degrees on either side of the equator, these wonderful rings would present various strange phenomena. Sometimes they would appear as an illuminated arch, with the shadow of Saturn passing over it like the hour-hand over a dial; at other times they would be like a semi-aureole of light. Very often, too, for periods of several years, daily eclipses of the sun must occur through the interposition of this triple ring. Truly, with the constant rising and setting of the satellites, some with bright discs at their full, others like silver crescents, in quadrature, as well as by the encircling rings, the aspect of the heavens from the surface of Saturn must be as impressive as it is gorgeous. Unable, indeed, the Gallians were to realize all the marvels of this strange world. After all, they were practically a thousand times further off than the great astronomers have been able to approach by means of their giant telescopes. But they did not complain; their little comet, they knew, was far safer where it was; far better out of the reach of an attraction which, by affecting their path, might have annihilated their best hopes. The distances of several of the brightest of the fixed stars have been estimated. Amongst others, Vega in the constellation Lyra is 100 millions of millions of miles away; Sirius in Canis Major, 123 millions of millions; the Pole-star, 282 millions of millions; and Capella, 340 millions of millions of miles, a figure represented by no less than fifteen digits. The hard numerical statement of these enormous figures, however, fails altogether in any adequate way to convey a due impression of the magnitude of these distances. Astronomers, in their ingenuity, have endeavored to use some other basis, and have found “the velocity of light” to be convenient for their purpose. They have made their representations something in this way: “Suppose,” they say, “an observer endowed with an infinite length of vision: suppose him stationed on the surface of Capella; looking thence towards the earth, he would be a spectator of events that had happened seventy years previously; transport him to a star ten times distant, and he will be reviewing the terrestrial sphere of 720 years back; carry him away further still, to a star so remote that it requires something less than nineteen centuries for light to reach it, and he would be a witness of the birth and death of Christ; convey him further again, and he shall be looking upon the dread desolation of the Deluge; take him away further yet (for space is infinite), and he shall be a spectator of the Creation of the spheres. History is thus stereotyped in space; nothing once accomplished can ever be effaced.” Who can altogether be astonished that Palmyrin Rosette, with his burning thirst for astronomical research, should have been conscious of a longing for yet wider travel through the sidereal universe? With his comet now under the influence of one star, now of another, what various systems might he not have explored! what undreamed-of marvels might not have revealed themselves before his gaze! The stars, fixed and immovable in name, are all of them in motion, and Gallia might have followed them in their un-tracked way. But Gallia had a narrow destiny. She was not to be allowed to wander away into the range of attraction of another center; nor to mingle with the star clusters, some of which have been entirely, others partially resolved; nor was she to lose herself amongst the 5,000 nebulae which have resisted hitherto the grasp of the most powerful reflectors. No; Gallia was neither to pass beyond the limits of the solar system, nor to travel out of sight of the terrestrial sphere. Her orbit was circumscribed to little over 1,500 millions of miles; and, in comparison with the infinite space beyond, this was a mere nothing. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (1998). Off on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary Space. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1353/pg1353-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

FAR INTO SPACE

Off on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary Space by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . BEN ZOOF WATCHES IN VAIN here CHAPTER VII. BEN ZOOF WATCHES IN VAIN In a few minutes the governor general and his population were asleep. The gourbi being in ruins, they were obliged to put up with the best accommodation they could find in the adjacent erection. It must be owned that the captain’s slumbers were by no means sound; he was agitated by the consciousness that he had hitherto been unable to account for his strange experiences by any reasonable theory. Though far from being advanced in the knowledge of natural philosophy, he had been instructed, to a certain degree, in its elementary principles; and, by an effort of memory, he managed to recall some general laws which he had almost forgotten. He could understand that an altered inclination of the earth’s axis with regard to the ecliptic would introduce a change of position in the cardinal points, and bring about a displacement of the sea; but the hypothesis entirely failed to account, either for the shortening of the days, or for the diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere. He felt that his judgment was utterly baffled; his only remaining hope was that the chain of marvels was not yet complete, and that something farther might throw some light upon the mystery. Ben Zoof’s first care on the following morning was to provide a good breakfast. To use his own phrase, he was as hungry as the whole population of three million Algerians, of whom he was the representative, and he must have enough to eat. The catastrophe which had overwhelmed the country had left a dozen eggs uninjured, and upon these, with a good dish of his famous couscous, he hoped that he and his master might have a sufficiently substantial meal. The stove was ready for use, the copper skillet was as bright as hands could make it, and the beads of condensed steam upon the surface of a large stone al-caraza gave evidence that it was supplied with water. Ben Zoof at once lighted a fire, singing all the time, according to his wont, a snatch of an old military refrain. Ever on the lookout for fresh phenomena, Captain Servadac watched the preparations with a curious eye. It struck him that perhaps the air, in its strangely modified condition, would fail to supply sufficient oxygen, and that the stove, in consequence, might not fulfill its function. But no; the fire was lighted just as usual, and fanned into vigor by Ben Zoof applying his mouth in lieu of bellows, and a bright flame started up from the midst of the twigs and coal. The skillet was duly set upon the stove, and Ben Zoof was prepared to wait awhile for the water to boil. Taking up the eggs, he was surprised to notice that they hardly weighed more than they would if they had been mere shells; but he was still more surprised when he saw that before the water had been two minutes over the fire it was at full boil. “By jingo!” he exclaimed, “a precious hot fire!” Servadac reflected. “It cannot be that the fire is hotter,” he said, “the peculiarity must be in the water.” And taking down a centigrade thermometer, which hung upon the wall, he plunged it into the skillet. Instead of 100 degrees, the instrument registered only 66 degrees. “Take my advice, Ben Zoof,” he said; “leave your eggs in the saucepan a good quarter of an hour.” “Boil them hard! That will never do,” objected the orderly. “You will not find them hard, my good fellow. Trust me, we shall be able to dip our sippets into the yolks easily enough.” The captain was quite right in his conjecture, that this new phenomenon was caused by a diminution in the pressure of the atmosphere. Water boiling at a temperature of 66 degrees was itself an evidence that the column of air above the earth’s surface had become reduced by one-third of its altitude. The identical phenomenon would have occurred at the summit of a mountain 35,000 feet high; and had Servadac been in possession of a barometer, he would have immediately discovered the fact that only now for the first time, as the result of experiment, revealed itself to him—a fact, moreover, which accounted for the compression of the blood-vessels which both he and Ben Zoof had experienced, as well as for the attenuation of their voices and their accelerated breathing. “And yet,” he argued with himself, “if our encampment has been projected to so great an elevation, how is it that the sea remains at its proper level?” Once again Hector Servadac, though capable of tracing consequences, felt himself totally at a loss to comprehend their cause; hence his agitation and bewilderment! After their prolonged immersion in the boiling water, the eggs were found to be only just sufficiently cooked; the couscous was very much in the same condition; and Ben Zoof came to the conclusion that in future he must be careful to commence his culinary operations an hour earlier. He was rejoiced at last to help his master, who, in spite of his perplexed preoccupation, seemed to have a very fair appetite for breakfast. “Well, captain?” said Ben Zoof presently, such being his ordinary way of opening conversation. “Well, Ben Zoof?” was the captain’s invariable response to his servant’s formula. “What are we to do now, sir?” “We can only for the present wait patiently where we are. We are encamped upon an island, and therefore we can only be rescued by sea.” “But do you suppose that any of our friends are still alive?” asked Ben Zoof. “Oh, I think we must indulge the hope that this catastrophe has not extended far. We must trust that it has limited its mischief to some small portion of the Algerian coast, and that our friends are all alive and well. No doubt the governor general will be anxious to investigate the full extent of the damage, and will send a vessel from Algiers to explore. It is not likely that we shall be forgotten. What, then, you have to do, Ben Zoof, is to keep a sharp lookout, and to be ready, in case a vessel should appear, to make signals at once.” “But if no vessel should appear!” sighed the orderly. “Then we must build a boat, and go in search of those who do not come in search of us.” “Very good. But what sort of a sailor are you?” “Everyone can be a sailor when he must,” said Servadac calmly. Ben Zoof said no more. For several succeeding days he scanned the horizon unintermittently with his telescope. His watching was in vain. No ship appeared upon the desert sea. “By the name of a Kabyle!” he broke out impatiently, “his Excellency is grossly negligent!” Although the days and nights had become reduced from twenty-four hours to twelve, Captain Servadac would not accept the new condition of things, but resolved to adhere to the computations of the old calendar. Notwithstanding, therefore, that the sun had risen and set twelve times since the commencement of the new year, he persisted in calling the following day the 6th of January. His watch enabled him to keep an accurate account of the passing hours. In the course of his life, Ben Zoof had read a few books. After pondering one day, he said: “It seems to me, captain, that you have turned into Robinson Crusoe, and that I am your man Friday. I hope I have not become a negro.” “No,” replied the captain. “Your complexion isn’t the fairest in the world, but you are not black yet.” “Well, I had much sooner be a white Friday than a black one,” rejoined Ben Zoof. Still no ship appeared; and Captain Servadac, after the example of all previous Crusoes, began to consider it advisable to investigate the resources of his domain. The new territory of which he had become the monarch he named Gourbi Island. It had a superficial area of about nine hundred square miles. Bullocks, cows, goats, and sheep existed in considerable numbers; and as there seemed already to be an abundance of game, it was hardly likely that a future supply would fail them. The condition of the cereals was such as to promise a fine ingathering of wheat, maize, and rice; so that for the governor and his population, with their two horses, not only was there ample provision, but even if other human inhabitants besides themselves should yet be discovered, there was not the remotest prospect of any of them perishing by starvation. From the 6th to the 13th of January the rain came down in torrents; and, what was quite an unusual occurrence at this season of the year, several heavy storms broke over the island. In spite, however, of the continual downfall, the heavens still remained veiled in cloud. Servadac, moreover, did not fail to observe that for the season the temperature was unusually high; and, as a matter still more surprising, that it kept steadily increasing, as though the earth were gradually and continuously approximating to the sun. In proportion to the rise of temperature, the light also assumed greater intensity; and if it had not been for the screen of vapor interposed between the sky and the island, the irradiation which would have illumined all terrestrial objects would have been vivid beyond all precedent. But neither sun, moon, nor star ever appeared; and Servadac’s irritation and annoyance at being unable to identify any one point of the firmament may be more readily imagined than described. On one occasion Ben Zoof endeavored to mitigate his master’s impatience by exhorting him to assume the resignation, even if he did not feel the indifference, which he himself experienced; but his advice was received with so angry a rebuff that he retired in all haste, abashed, to résumé his watchman’s duty, which he performed with exemplary perseverance. Day and night, with the shortest possible intervals of rest, despite wind, rain, and storm, he mounted guard upon the cliff—but all in vain. Not a speck appeared upon the desolate horizon. To say the truth, no vessel could have stood against the weather. The hurricane raged with tremendous fury, and the waves rose to a height that seemed to defy calculation. Never, even in the second era of creation, when, under the influence of internal heat, the waters rose in vapor to descend in deluge back upon the world, could meteorological phenomena have been developed with more impressive intensity. But by the night of the 13th the tempest appeared to have spent its fury; the wind dropped; the rain ceased as if by a spell; and Servadac, who for the last six days had confined himself to the shelter of his roof, hastened to join Ben Zoof at his post upon the cliff. Now, he thought, there might be a chance of solving his perplexity; perhaps now the huge disc, of which he had had an imperfect glimpse on the night of the 31st of December, might again reveal itself; at any rate, he hoped for an opportunity of observing the constellations in a clear firmament above. The night was magnificent. Not a cloud dimmed the luster of the stars, which spangled the heavens in surpassing brilliancy, and several nebulae which hitherto no astronomer had been able to discern without the aid of a telescope were clearly visible to the naked eye. By a natural impulse, Servadac’s first thought was to observe the position of the pole-star. It was in sight, but so near to the horizon as to suggest the utter impossibility of its being any longer the central pivot of the sidereal system; it occupied a position through which it was out of the question that the axis of the earth indefinitely prolonged could ever pass. In his impression he was more thoroughly confirmed when, an hour later, he noticed that the star had approached still nearer the horizon, as though it had belonged to one of the zodiacal constellations. The pole-star being manifestly thus displaced, it remained to be discovered whether any other of the celestial bodies had become a fixed center around which the constellations made their apparent daily revolutions. To the solution of this problem Servadac applied himself with the most thoughtful diligence. After patient observation, he satisfied himself that the required conditions were answered by a certain star that was stationary not far from the horizon. This was Vega, in the constellation Lyra, a star which, according to the precession of the equinoxes, will take the place of our pole-star 12,000 years hence. The most daring imagination could not suppose that a period of 12,000 years had been crowded into the space of a fortnight; and therefore the captain came, as to an easier conclusion, to the opinion that the earth’s axis had been suddenly and immensely shifted; and from the fact that the axis, if produced, would pass through a point so little removed above the horizon, he deduced the inference that the Mediterranean must have been transported to the equator. Lost in bewildering maze of thought, he gazed long and intently upon the heavens. His eyes wandered from where the tail of the Great Bear, now a zodiacal constellation, was scarcely visible above the waters, to where the stars of the southern hemisphere were just breaking on his view. A cry from Ben Zoof recalled him to himself. “The moon!” shouted the orderly, as though overjoyed at once again beholding what the poet has called: “The kind companion of terrestrial night;” and he pointed to a disc that was rising at a spot precisely opposite the place where they would have expected to see the sun. “The moon!” again he cried. But Captain Servadac could not altogether enter into his servant’s enthusiasm. If this were actually the moon, her distance from the earth must have been increased by some millions of miles. He was rather disposed to suspect that it was not the earth’s satellite at all, but some planet with its apparent magnitude greatly enlarged by its approximation to the earth. Taking up the powerful field-glass which he was accustomed to use in his surveying operations, he proceeded to investigate more carefully the luminous orb. But he failed to trace any of the lineaments, supposed to resemble a human face, that mark the lunar surface; he failed to decipher any indications of hill and plain; nor could he make out the aureole of light which emanates from what astronomers have designated Mount Tycho. “It is not the moon,” he said slowly. “Not the moon?” cried Ben Zoof. “Why not?” “It is not the moon,” again affirmed the captain. “Why not?” repeated Ben Zoof, unwilling to renounce his first impression. “Because there is a small satellite in attendance.” And the captain drew his servant’s attention to a bright speck, apparently about the size of one of Jupiter’s satellites seen through a moderate telescope, that was clearly visible just within the focus of his glass. Here, then, was a fresh mystery. The orbit of this planet was assuredly interior to the orbit of the earth, because it accompanied the sun in its apparent motion; yet it was neither Mercury nor Venus, because neither one nor the other of these has any satellite at all. The captain stamped and stamped again with mingled vexation, agitation, and bewilderment. “Confound it!” he cried, “if this is neither Venus nor Mercury, it must be the moon; but if it is the moon, whence, in the name of all the gods, has she picked up another moon for herself?” The captain was in dire perplexity. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (1998). Off on a Comet! a Journey through Planetary Space. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1353/pg1353-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

BEN ZOOF WATCHES IN VAIN

Stories, News & Mentions about LYRA

Lyra’s Stories on HackerNoon