(OOC: I'm dead because they are at odds about what is important. "Who cares about Rhea? Fundamental truths about the multiverse!" "Who cares about the multiverse? RHEA.")
One moment.
[It is more than one moment. Linhardt carefully considers all the implications of what Hilda has told him. The first layer of realizations alone is like being plunged into a vat of cold water: If time could be accessed from outside and multiple timelines existed, then outside forces could tamper with a place without that place knowing about it. Would you know if you were in a split off timeline? Apparently not. Is that what is happening? Is that why Fodlan is such a mess?
Then he has to consider what makes a timeline. Is it any choice? Considering the math behind that (there are how many people? They make how many decisions per day? For how long?) makes him feel nauseated. He can barely conceive of it. If it isn't any choice, then what do the choices that create new timelines have in common? Or who? Is it people? Are they identifiable? Is that why everybody (including Linhardt) is obsessed with Professor Byleth?
What about historical events? The differences would compound on each other: Timelines would look completely different after 1000 years. Maybe some of the Summoned that aren't from Fodlan are from Fodlan. How many times did their land become Fodlan? Could the different events be calculated using probabilities? For example, could a female versus male Byleth in a Fodlan 'predict' anything?]
What?
[Linhardt blinks at her.]
Oh. Yes. He's Saint Cichol. Flayn is Cethleann.
I understand what I do not understand about the situation. I need a way to contact you: Should I sent couriers? I am beginning to believe that politics would prevent that. I am going to need information about everyone's Fodlans.
And a lot of maps...
[Focus on what is truly important, Hilda: Scientific and magical knowledge.]
he jelly
One moment.
[It is more than one moment. Linhardt carefully considers all the implications of what Hilda has told him. The first layer of realizations alone is like being plunged into a vat of cold water: If time could be accessed from outside and multiple timelines existed, then outside forces could tamper with a place without that place knowing about it. Would you know if you were in a split off timeline? Apparently not. Is that what is happening? Is that why Fodlan is such a mess?
Then he has to consider what makes a timeline. Is it any choice? Considering the math behind that (there are how many people? They make how many decisions per day? For how long?) makes him feel nauseated. He can barely conceive of it. If it isn't any choice, then what do the choices that create new timelines have in common? Or who? Is it people? Are they identifiable? Is that why everybody (including Linhardt) is obsessed with Professor Byleth?
What about historical events? The differences would compound on each other: Timelines would look completely different after 1000 years. Maybe some of the Summoned that aren't from Fodlan are from Fodlan. How many times did their land become Fodlan? Could the different events be calculated using probabilities? For example, could a female versus male Byleth in a Fodlan 'predict' anything?]
What?
[Linhardt blinks at her.]
Oh. Yes. He's Saint Cichol. Flayn is Cethleann.
I understand what I do not understand about the situation. I need a way to contact you: Should I sent couriers? I am beginning to believe that politics would prevent that. I am going to need information about everyone's Fodlans.
And a lot of maps...
[Focus on what is truly important, Hilda: Scientific and magical knowledge.]