Quantitative Conversation

Quantitative conversation, a vastly more accurate subset of clairvoyant conversation, involves numbers and measurements. It is a subset of Perceptive and Clairvoyant conversation that conveys questions about the natural world and manifests answers directly within the caster's mind; many machines and devices have been invented to record the answers to Quantitative spells, which are always phrased as specific questions. Quantitative conversation is used mainly in the sciences, where it can shed light on complex questions involving scientific experiments, but is also useful in any situation where measurements must be taken.

Quantitative is favoured by Anaxas.

How It Works

Quantitative conversation works by harnessing the senses of the caster and sending them into overdrive for a very short period of time. This results in scientists occasionally learning things they did not specifically ask to know.

The answers to questions appear within the caster's mind, and the caster records the answer. In the past, this was the primary way that scientists gleaned answers to complex questions, but in modern times Quantitative conversation is often mixed with Static and Perceptive conversation to build devices to record the answers given. These devices are powered almost entirely by the caster. A very simple example of such a device would be a graphite needle that moves up and down to record electrical current; the caster directs the needle using Static conversation, simultaneously recording the current with a Quantitative spell and outputting the results into a Perceptive spell that functions as a variable in the Static spell.

Quantitative has a steep learning curve, as the variable language often involves elements of both Perceptive and Clairvoyant conversation. It is considered one of the more difficult disciplines for its complexity. As one becomes more adept at Quantitative conversation, the accuracy of the measurements taken improves drastically. Early Quantitative students begin by taking simple measurements; at its most advanced, Quantitative conversation can measure on the molecular level.

Limitations

The answer being sought is always centered around a physical body that is present at the time of casting, i.e. perceivable by the senses. For example, it would be possible to learn the distance of a star to another star while observing those stars; it would not be possible to learn specifics about stars that are not currently visible in that hemisphere.

However, it is not necessary to be able to see the measured object, as long as it is perceivable by other means. A buried object resonates depending on physical quantities, which can then be measured. However, increased visibility and proximity are very helpful, and will increase the accuracy of the spell.

For a Quantitative spell to work, the average caster must have a strong concentration and be relatively free from distractions. Oddly enough, Quantitative conversation is the one branch of conversation that does not have any side effects to speak of when cast, and there have been no recorded cases of backlash when a Quantitative spell is brailed. Science has been unable to explain this phenomenon, but it is theorized that this is because Quantitative conversation has no out-of-body manifestation to speak of.

Types of Spells

Distance equations measure the distance between two points in space.
Electrical equations measure electric charge, current, voltage and resistance.
Force equations measure speed, rate of acceleration, pressure, etc.
Kinetic equations measure temperature, momentum, magnetism, gravity, etc.
Leymancy measures the mona and ley lines - their resonance frequencies, movements, tendencies, etc.
Light equations measure light - the movement and behavior of photons.
Measurement equations measure weight, density, volume or height/length/width of a physical body.
Wave equations measure waves, such as sound waves or radio waves.