Experiment: The Salvan and the Musin

[HeyitsNano 1582]

 

Experiment: The Salvan and the Musin

I have spent many years in libraries across Aevos, and have determined that some of the world’s greatest practices have been lost into time. Except for arcane manifestations, we have seen an increasing loss in scientific practice. Those with interest in understanding why certain phenomena occur are left to resort to mages and ferries, and the beauty of humanity’s greatest gift has slowly waned.

 

In my few years of study, I have taken a particular liking to the political world. Not simply the rise and fall of nations, but why certain nations, when gifted by the Lord with similar positions and resources, meet entirely different fates and proficiencies in ruling, governing, and establishing society.

 

Thus began one of my first physical works, which I title the Salvan and the Musin experiment.

 

I gathered two musins, both of fairly miniature stature and similar proportions. I then built a maze, mainly of birch wood, along a large trunk. At the end of the maze, which I placed north, was a block of cheese. I then provided one of the musins a north labeled compass, while the other was given nothing. Both were left in the experiment for five days, and thus began their journey. 

 

The results were confounding. The musin with the compass, rather than finding the exit with ease, proceeded to ram continuously into the walls and corners of the maze. As he grew more and more hungry for the cheese, the support of the compass did not avail him. The other musin, unguided as he was left, free roamed the maze, and found the exit by the end of day one. Through trial and error, the second musin accomplished what the first musin could not, even with direction, and was even able to return back inside to bring some extra cheese for his lost friend.

 

From this experiment, I made two determinations. One, that by focusing simply on the end, the first musin failed to use his intellect. Second, that this failure to use the intellect, coupled with increasing hunger, created a reinforcing primal condition. Much can be elaborated further, and different conclusions can be drawn depending on what one might query. 

 

The Republic of Salvo ran as a nation similar to the first Musin. Through focusing solely on establishing a republic, the people of Salvo blinded themselves from the greater intricacies of upholding a nation. Those who responded like the second mouse (such as the Baron Oakenwald) found the exit, while the others, when facing with bandits and fools seeking more power than was due, succumbed and lost what could have been.

 

Ravenmire has practiced dumacracy with much success in its years, thriving under the Lord’s bounty and endless provision. Our great King Bo, those before him, and those after him, have shown the meaning of a parliamentary system better than most, and this is why Ravenmire continues to expand upon the earthly terrace of Aevos.

 

More will be uncovered as further theories develop, yet I am certain that Ravenmire reigns supreme and will always stand to crush those that aim to defile the nature of Dumacracy and God.

HIS HIGHNESS, Owyn Demitrey Rostova, Prince of Ravenmire

[NotEvilAtAll 10906]

“Big folks need tae STOP their unethical experimen’ation on wee folks!” Says Isabelle Applebrook

 

”Musin are nae to be put into mazes!”

[ArgentEra 459]

"I truleh hope tha' this is merely written as a theoretical," said the Musin Prince of Babblebrook. "An exaggeration... Otherwise this feels like somethin' tha' needs t' be addressed."

[Travisty 1020]

An aging Oyashiman squints, reading the work twice over, "Seems scientific practice remains "lost" if this is the new standard." Hanzo scoffed, "I fail to see how leaving starving musins stumbling about in a maze remotely speaks to the subject of statecraft at all. If anything, it seems one of the subjects fell victim to very poor experimental design rather than some thought provoking allegory for political philosophy...to which this is anything but." 

[Epicethan4 948]

Georgie Mareno shakes his head.

"Only two? Can hardly make such a definite assertion based off of such a small sample size. Definitely not a viable study... did you even test to see if the results were repeatable?"

Edited March 3, 2025 by Epicethan4

[latte 2238]

Somewhere in the west, a Wick scratched at her head. "Could he not use actual mice?"

[Based1Salmon 758]

The Baron in question (Peter di Salvo) sends the young Prince a gift, a cage containing a dozen rats caught from the ruins of Castle Oakenwald so that he may have subjects for further experimentation. "An interesting concept, I can only hope that he proves correct however." Following this, Peter trims his gray hairs and snacks on some cheese.

[Kabo0m 118]

"This is complete bullSQUEAK"  Said Buttons Montague. "First of all, no musin eats cheese, it hurts our stomachs, and there is no way it took a musin five days to get through a maze around a tree trunk. This is absolute BLASPHEMY!"

Edited March 3, 2025 by Kabo0m

[Turbo_Dog 3567]

“Are these musin stupid? No way he finds this moronic musin who get lost in such a maze. Musin number two you fail us as a race. I could beat his maze in minutes with Quill I am sure of it. I should challenge that and put my mina where my mouth is. Make him get me lunch when I come out victorious.” Spud ranted and raged as he then took his anger out on a miniature homunculus of a dark elf with a green eye with hyper violence 

[Chimeraof1999 1187]

Amou, a Homunculus, was brought this missive by a passerby wishing for some mina. . He traded well for it. .

He sat back in his box, reading the experiment with a hint of intrigue. .

"Leave it to the Canonists to play God, as per usual. ."

Amou rolled his eyes, those poor Musin. .

[ArgentEra 459]

Someplace in the countryside a halfling reads and re-reads over the text, struggling to make sense of all the science talk.
"How tiny were the wee thin's? Even lil' Tinker is t' big t' fit inside most logs." 

Edited March 6, 2025 by ArgentEra

[Scatmanpro 275]

Deep under a mountain a golem awakes... It writes down a name in it's mind.

"Search..."

A sound like stones falling, then silence.