Ghyll:Chesix System Of Measures

Overview

The existence of the Chesix Society is widely debated among scholars. The system of measurement attributed to the society is believed to originate during the period of the Nitenmangrey. It is clear that someone developed this system of measure and that they have been in common use for many centuries - possibly for millenia.

The conversion units are complicated. In distance measures, there are in fact two standards, niether of which is a mathematical factor of the other. That this system of measures has survived intact with all the complexities involved is testament to the determination of the people of Ghyll to retain their heritage. This author personally believes that the survival of this system of measures has more to do with a complete absence of foresight or imagination on the part of people in general.

The Rules of Distance

Distance is fixed - the standard is the Rod of Quiends which is stored in a vault in the head quarters of the Aminfarances Institute of Science and Technomancy. The Rod of Quiends is used to set the standard of 2.67672 nanits. A sugro-nanit is equal to 1000 lengths of the [Rod of Quiends]].

• 1 lele = 9 lunanit
• 1 lunanit = 13 kunanit (5.2015 Lunanits = 1 Sugro-nanit)
• 1 kunanit = 7 unanit
• 1 unanit = 17 nanit
• 1 nanit = 11 inanit
• 1 inanit = 9 kinanit
• 1 kinanit = 13 linanit
• 1 lele = 9 lunanit = 117 kunanit = 819 unanit = 13,923 nanit = 153, 153 inanit = 1,378,377 kinanit = 17,918,901 linanit.

Much fuss is made of the complexity of our system of linear measurement. It is clear to this author that the complexity is derived from two truths.

The first is that the Rod of Quiends is clearly the standard for the definition of the Sugro-nanit. This unit of measure has gained almost universal support which is why the only place we are likely to see the other variations of the nanit (the unanit, lunanit and kunanit) are in texts. In everyday life, people tend to use nanits, sugro-nanits and leles.

The second is that a nanit is clearly the standard size for a Bindlet Ball. Although these objects are notoriously unstable with respect to diameter, it is still a generally accepted principle.

Which of these two standards came first is not clear, and is probably apocryphal. What is important, is that in every-day use these two standards do exist.

The Rules of Mass

• A single Fefferberry will have a mass of 1 gyup and is the standard against which a gyup is measured.
• A cube of water 1 nanit x 1 nanit x 1 nanit will have a mass of 1,331 gyup
• 1331 gyup = 0.86037 lugyup
• Many have noted that 1331 Fefferberries almost never have the same mass as a cubic nanit of water. This is unfortunate, because the variance is unpredictable. Most consider this a sign that the gods are testing us.

The Rules of Volume

• A cube measuring 1 nanit x 1 nanit x 1 nanit will have a volume of 1 wurp
• A cube measuring 1 unanit x 1 unanit x 1 unanit will have a volume of 4,913 wurp. 1 wurp of water will have a mass of 1,331 gyup or 0.86037 lugyup

The Rules of Temperature

• Water will freeze at 0 Yip.
• Water will boil at 100 Yip.

This rule is subject to change depending on location. Scholars have noted that this is not constant but varies. It is true when at the coast, but will change in the mountains. The reason behind this inconsistency is unclear.

Summary

It is certain that as study in this field progresses, more standards will likely be developed. To date, Chesix standards have fullfilled their function, allowing commerce to flourish (or at the very least, hobble along on crutches) and allowing people to build, make and draw objects.

Some, notably the philosopher and mathematician Pricludious, claim that the Chesix system has nothing to do with standards and is biased toward merchants. This scholar believes that if Pricludious had been a little less pedantic he might have enjoyed life a little more than he did.

'"Citations:'" Bindlet Ball, Pricludious, Rod of Quiends

--Dok 01:39, 23 Sep 2004 (EDT)