<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Electress_Sophia%2C_Princess_Palatine.jpg/205px-Electress_Sophia%2C_Princess_Palatine.jpg" class="right">
You receive an unexpected letter from Hanover, in Germany. The Electress Sophie, Princess of Palatinate sent it to you in Mexico City.
"I'm sure that you're aware of the work by Gottfried Leibniz to develop a Universal characteristic language. His work in notation, like for the calculus of infinitesimals, leads him to explore if our minds share certain universal ideas that he could capture."
[[next]]
{(set: $cards to (a:"A ♥","K ♥","Q ♥","J ♥","10 ♥","9 ♥","8 ♥","7 ♥","6 ♥","5 ♥","4 ♥","3 ♥","2 ♥","A ♦","K ♦","Q ♦","J ♦","10 ♦","9 ♦","8 ♦","7 ♦","6 ♦","5 ♦","4 ♦","3 ♦","2 ♦","A ♠","K ♠","Q ♠","J ♠","10 ♠","9 ♠","8 ♠","7 ♠","6 ♠","5 ♠","4 ♠","3 ♠","2 ♠","A ♣","K ♣","Q ♣","J ♣","10 ♣","9 ♣","8 ♣","7 ♣","6 ♣","5 ♣","4 ♣","3 ♣","2 ♣"))
(set: $deck to (shuffled: ...$cards))
(set: $place to 1, $ball to false, $clock to false, $plank to false, $log to (a:))
(set: $v1 to true, $v2 to true, $v3 to true, $v4 to true, $v5 to true, $v6 to true, $v7 to true, $v8 to true)}<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4f/Characteristica_universalis_diagram.jpg" class="right">
"For my part, I find the notion intriguing. I think that our minds are material, not immaterial like Leibniz maintains, so I wonder how our minds could make these connections across time and space."
"I'm writing to you because of your location, so near existing pyramids, if I'm not mistaken. I reread Athanasius Kircher's book on Egyptian hieroglyphs where he makes connections across several continents, including Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Is there any evidence for these arguments?"
[[next|one]]<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/MW-Teotihuacan9.jpg" class="right" width="400">
"Specifically, can you estimate the height of the largest pyramid in Teotihuacan? And can you give your opinion on any possible connection between the Egyptians who built their pyramids and the nations that built the pyramids in Mexico? Your response will be most appreciated."
[[next|two]]<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Sellos_de_la_Inquisicion_en_Mexico.JPG/376px-Sellos_de_la_Inquisicion_en_Mexico.JPG" class="right">
Before you can think much how to respond, you receive a summons for an interview with the Holy Office. You know not to delay responding and steel yourself for the interview.
[[next|three]]<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/A_portrait_of_Pedro_Malo_de_Villavicencio_%28by_Jos%C3%A9_de_Ibarra%29.jpg/323px-A_portrait_of_Pedro_Malo_de_Villavicencio_%28by_Jos%C3%A9_de_Ibarra%29.jpg" class="right">
A blank-faced priest escorts you to the inquisitor. You glance around the room, thankful to not see any instruments of persuasion.
"Thank you for your prompt response to our invitation." The inquisitor opens a folder and looks at the first document. A scribe sits nearby, ready to take notes.
"Just a few questions then. Let's start with your experiences with the Dutch hydraulic engineer, Adrian Boot. Did he ever share any of his Lutheran beliefs with you?"
<hr>
no, [[never]] -- he [[tried]] but I refused -- I [[don't remember]] The inquisitor pauses and seems to consider your response but moves to his next question.
[[next|four]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log{[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]}
"Is that so? Perhaps he thought you might be receptive to his heresy." You start to feel a chill as the scribe writes something.
[[next|four]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log{[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]}
The inquisitor frowns. "You can't remember discussions of heresy?" He turns to the scribe, who writes something down. You mentally kick yourself.
[[next|four]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Folding_Almanac_Wellcome_L0060676.jpg/309px-Folding_Almanac_Wellcome_L0060676.jpg" class="right">
"You contributed to the publication of a //lunario//. Do you see the main use of this almanac for casting horoscopes or predicting weather?"
<hr>
casting [[horoscopes]] -- predicting [[weather]]{[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]}
"I'm surprised you would dabble in occult practices, with your education." He nods to the scribe who writes more notes. You look at the floor, wondering if a hole might open and swallow you.
[[next|five]]
<hr>
Your cards: $logThe inquisitor looks at you intently, but moves on.
[[next|five]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Great_Comet_1861.jpg/320px-Great_Comet_1861.jpg" class="right">
"In regards to the recent Great Comet, can you tell me if you believe it passed between the Earth and the Moon, or was it something beyond the Moon?"
<hr>
in [[between]] the Earth and Moon -- [[beyond]] the MoonThe inquisitor squints his eyes briefly. "I'm not sure I believe you." The scribe holds his pen in anticipation but the inquisitor decides to move on.
[[next|six]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log{[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]}
"The great philosopher would certainly disagree with you." You know the inquisitor refers to Aristotle. "Comets are transitory but the heavens keep their perfection." He nods to the scribe who writes more notes. You know not to contradict him, even though you know he's wrong.
[[next|six]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Great_comet_1577.jpg/320px-Great_comet_1577.jpg" right="">
"Do you believe that comets foretell disaster or are they merely natural events?"
<hr>
foretell [[disaster]] -- [[natural]] events{[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]}
"That's a dangerous and foolish belief in superstitions." He nods to the scribe who writes more notes. You really hope the interview ends soon.
[[next|seven]]
<hr>
Your cards: $logFor the first time, the inquisitor nods in approval. "Yes, we should not believe in superstitions." Perhaps the interview will end soon, you hope.
[[next|seven]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Convento_de_San_Diego_%28Laboratorio_Arte_Alameda%29_-_Quemadero_de_la_Inquisici%C3%B3n%2C_Ciudad_de_M%C3%A9xico.jpg/320px-Convento_de_San_Diego_%28Laboratorio_Arte_Alameda%29_-_Quemadero_de_la_Inquisici%C3%B3n%2C_Ciudad_de_M%C3%A9xico.jpg" class="right">
The inquisitor looks through other documents in his folder and then closes it. "Please consider the peril to your mortal soul if any of your responses here were false." You keep yourself as still as possible. After a pause, you're dismissed.
[[next|main]]<span class="right" style="background:white;padding:5px">
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Teotihuacan_Pyramid_of_the_moon_1.jpg/320px-Teotihuacan_Pyramid_of_the_moon_1.jpg">
Estimate the height of the <br>largest pyramid in Teotihuacan <br> Comment on Egyptian connection to Mexico</span>
Choose who you wish to talk to. Try not to draw too much attention to yourselves.
[[architect]]
[[math professor]]
[[Nahuatl scholar]]
[[Philosopher nun]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log{(if: $v1 is true)[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]
(set: $v1 to false)}
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/An_Architect_in_His_Studio_MET_DP834285.jpg/395px-An_Architect_in_His_Studio_MET_DP834285.jpg" class="right">
<h4>Diego de Valverde</h4>
You vist Valverde, knowing that he had done some excavations at Teotihuacan. "The height of the largest pyramid in Teotihuacan? Well, the site is now a bit overgrown but it seems that there are some 250 steps leading from the bottom to the top. The steps aren't necessarily made uniformly but are perhaps a foot high. With some surveying tools, we could take some measurements and do some trigonometry."
[[next|main]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log{(if: $v2 is true)[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]
(set: $v2 to false)}
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Trigonometry.svg/227px-Trigonometry.svg.png" class="right" style="background:white">
<h4>Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora</h4>
"Yes, we can use trigonometry to estimate the height. Specifically the sine function." He draws a circle and a right triangle in it.
"If we know the distance to the base of the pyramid and we have an angle, we just look up the value for the tangent of the angle and multiply." You look at his drawing but then object that we can't get to the base of the pyramid deep inside it, the point directly under the apex.
<img src="https://haygot.s3.amazonaws.com/questions/1017559_1009806_ans_da416b372d944a10a64190ef0ab13e8a.png" class="left">
"Ah, well then we take 2 measurements and do some algebra. Here's how we could measure a mountain." He shows you a diagram. After some work, you think you have the answer.
[[next|main]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log{(if: $v3 is true)[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]
(set: $v3 to false)}
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/The_Sig%C3%BCenza_Map_WDL3247.png/640px-The_Sig%C3%BCenza_Map_WDL3247.png" class="right" width="500">
<h4>Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl</h4>
You find Ixtlilxochitl looking over a map. "This is a map that Don Sigüenza made after discussions with myself and others. It traces the migrations of the Aztec people into the Valley of Mexico. Teotihuacan was already abandoned then so it must be centuries old. Aztec kings built more pyramids and I know that the Mayans did as well. We have no record of anyone coming and showing us how to build them. Perhaps the volcanos here were the original inspiration."
[[next|main]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log{(if: $v4 is true)[(set: $log to $log + (a:$deck's ($place)), $place to $place + 1)]
(set: $v4 to false)}
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Sor_Juana_In%C3%A9s_de_la_Cruz_%281772%29.jpg/381px-Sor_Juana_In%C3%A9s_de_la_Cruz_%281772%29.jpg" class="right">
<h4>Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz</h4>
"Could there be a connection between ancient Egypt and the civilizations that existed here in Mexico before Cortés? I don't presume to answer that with historical or scientific certainty. I would point out how the world has changed so much since Columbus crossed the Atlantic and American treasure and agriculture crossed back. Had Egyptians visited here thousands of years ago, would there be no trace of Mexican foodstuffs like chocolate and peppers back in the Old World? I wonder."
[[next|main]]
<hr>
Your cards: $log