So what else is happening?
John 2 John
(497 posts) (4 voices)-
You are still growing and getting a bit better at everything. At this point you can finally grab an object--you lay your hand flat on it, and then curl your fingers around it, but you don't have the agile use of an opposable thumb and if the object lies flat on a surface it's difficult to get your fingertips under it. You can't hold two objects at once, but will always drop the one when you reach for the other.
You can hold your head upright when propped in a sitting position, and if you are put down on your stomach you can use your arms and legs to roll onto your back, but you can't go back to your stomach again. You can follow falling objects with your eyes, and can focus on objects within about twenty feet, making your world a bit larger than it was a month ago. You are learning to do vowels in slow transition, as in "aaahh---oooo", but not yet doing diphthongs, and your consonants are getting a bit better, but you have no teeth which impedes the sibilances, fricatives, and labiodentals significantly.
--M. J. Young
Sun May 2 2010 11:40 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
Have a had any chances at all to try that psionic shield again? Perhaps I should do it in front of her. Yeah, I think I'll do that. Try the psionic force shield when Sarah is in close proximity and can witness it first-hand. I want her to know that there's something different about her baby. Keep rolling until something happens. If it doesn't happen this time, it might work tomorrow. Thirty days in a month, thirty attempts if we're going month to month.
After I get that to work, demonstrate TK pulse. After I get her reaction to the shield, pulse something and knock it over. Try to make a show of it. Wave my hand around and point at the object I'm about to pulse. I want her to have no doubt that I did it. What does Sarah think?
In one of the tapes, Sarah mentioned making off-the-grid contacts. Have I seen any of them? Has Sarah done any training? What's happening with that?
And can I tell directions of scriff vectors yet?
(Doing Therapy)
Mon May 3 2010 7:25 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberThree
Can I get my hands on a dictionary? Try to look up the word "Cyborg". Try to show it to Sarah.
Words to look up and show, assuming this works (More just notes at this point)
Future Resistance Leader, Terminate Killer, Cyber Dine (probably as close as I could get) Not Son From Multiverse, Cross. (All of the ID she found would say "John Cross" Maybe Sarah would get the picture.) Have Weapons (and point in the direction of the errant scriff vector.)
It might take me an hour to look up and show her a single sentence, but that would be better than not communicating at all.
Tue May 4 2010 4:44 am # -
You can pick up a writing utensil, although your mother still tries to keep them out of your reach because the normal conduct of a child your age is to put all such objects in his mouth.
In any case, your control of your hands is sufficient to grab it and scribble in large back-and-forth lines, a zig-zag which crosses itself frequently.
Usually the only dictionary you see is a Spanish/English phrase book she consults occasionally when her Spanish is insufficient for what she wants to say. She doesn't use it often. But one day she's visiting someone else in the campground, and you see a book on the table. Of course, you can't crawl and you can't walk and you can't really do more than roll over, so all you can do is reach for the book and make noise, which results in Sarah handing you a bottle.
You manage to raise the force shield. Sarah sees it, panics, grabs you from the high chair, runs out of the camper without grabbing any of her possessions, and starts driving away in the jeep with you in her left arm, moving her right between the steering wheel and the shift. She nearly goes off the road at one point in her haste.
--M. J. Young
Wed May 5 2010 2:23 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberYou manage to raise the force shield. Sarah sees it, panics, grabs you from the high chair, runs out of the camper without grabbing any of her possessions, and starts driving away in the jeep with you in her left arm, moving her right between the steering wheel and the shift. She nearly goes off the road at one point in her haste.
I can say NO correct? Start screaming "NO NO NO NO NO NO NO" over and over. Try to say it so that it actually sounds like someone screaming "NO NO NO NO" and not just a baby babbling. I want her to stop and try to talk to me. Don't stop screaming NO until she does stop. When she stops, raise the shield again. Try to indicate to her that I am doing it.
Wed May 5 2010 2:33 am # -
She does not stop running. She does say, "Hush, John. We've got to get out of here before a Terminator comes through that portal."
--M. J. Young
Thu May 6 2010 3:10 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTry to say "No Terminator" I know I can't say it, but perhaps I'll get lucky. Failing that, "No Mommy." At any rate, keep screaming "NO" over and over. Sarah should realize that I shouldn't be capable of that.
Can I say "No Portal?"
"No Time" (That would probably sound like gibberish, even if I said it correctly)
"No Run"Try to say all of this.
John 2 seems to be laboring under the delusion that if a baby said no to its mother when she was trying to save its life from an attack from the future she would stop.
As I stated Behind the Screens, how many 5 month old babies would be capable of screaming "NO NO NO NO" at all? I am aware of the situation, and I am capable of speaking. Sarah should recognize that. At least I was hoping.
Is it too late to rewind time? I just realized that I would have have done is try to put the shield between me and her before she can pick me up in the first place. Now that I think about it, the shield would have been raised to stop her from getting to me at all. The roll was 8, so even if you were to retroactively penalize it, it would probably still work. I'll understand if I don't get a new use, but the shield is raised between Sarah and I, floor to ceiling, wall to wall. I think I would realize what she's going to think it is, or that it would have some connection to an attack. My character knows she's paranoid about my botch, he was a paranoid psychotic for 30 some years before versing. He wouldn't let Sarah pick him up. The shield would have been raised floor to ceiling, wall to wall, in between us. She wouldn't be able to touch me. I would raise it so that she couldn't touch me in the first place. The "NO NO NO NO NO" would be the second attempt to stop her if the shield failed. I want her to see that I am in control of the shield. She wouldn't have picked me up, unless I couldn't keep her at bay with the shield.
I rolled successfully, does that mean I can move the shield at will? If so, move the floor to ceiling shield back and forth. Move my hands in sync with it. If I can't do that, try the point and TK pulse. I want her to see that I am doing this on purpose. Unless the shield failed, she would never have picked me up.
I wasn't very clear about it when I posted originally. It never occurred to me (out of character, that is) that my character would probably anticipate this reaction from her. He's seen how paranoid she is. He knows how she would react WAY better that I do. Please don't re-roll it just because I didn't specify that. I got the shield up between Sarah and I. She can't touch me, and it's time for us to have a little chat.
(Doing Therapy)
Thu May 6 2010 3:21 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
I'm going to assume that you allow me to rewind time, and raise the shield the way I have now specified. (All this recent talk about assumptions, I feel kind of brazen doing that, but so be it) Sarah is freaking out. I'm sitting on the couch or whatever. Gesture to something. Gesture over and over, then TK pulse it. Do it over and over. Point at something, and TK pulse it. I want Sarah to see that I am in control of the shield, and that I am moving the objects around with the TK pulse. This is my doing. The whole point in raising the shield in front of her was to show her that her baby is far from "normal". How can I show her that if I know she's going to think it's a future attack? Anticipating her reaction, I would have raised the shield to prevent her from grabbing me and running.
Thu May 6 2010 4:20 pm # -
You did not anticipate your mother's reaction, and thus you did not set the shield where you intended.
Psionic shields of this sort are "fixed", immovable within their frame of reference, and thus either it stays in a constant position relative to your center of mass or it stays in a constant position relative to the surrounding world. (Note: if you had been in a moving vehicle, there would be the options that it was fixed relative to the vehicle or relative to the world, but in this case the vehicle was stationary so those are identical frames of reference.) "Moving" it involves shutting it down and restarting it in a new position, technically, and requires an additional skill check. You learned the force shield from Lauren Hastings, and her force shields are always fixed to the world (when she used it against you, she was able to move away from it while you collided with it). Thus you have no control over the shield unless you roll successfully again.
Besides, it would take you a minute to make the change, and it will take Sarah less than a minute to be out of the parking lot with you in the seat next to her.
What comes out of your mouth sounds like gibberish even to you.
--M. J. Young
Thu May 6 2010 9:56 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberLooks like I'm going along for the ride at the moment.
As soon as she stops and we are safe, raise the shield in a manner so that Sarah cannot touch me. She's going to go to a hotel room or something. THIS TIME raise the shield floor to ceiling, wall to wall and do the TK pulse trick.
This is another instance where what the character knows and what the player knows don't mesh. I honestly, truly believe that I would have anticipated that reaction had I actually been there. I see your point, and I'm not arguing it. I'm just kicking myself. My character certainly would have anticipated her reaction. Out of character, I'm not sitting there. He is. I don't see her. He does. He would have known she would react like that. It's just one of those things that you can know without knowing, ya know? Again, not arguing, just kicking myself.
Dumb question. Why didn't you ask me to clarify what kind of shield I was raising? Is there a standard shield which is the default shape if the player doesn't specify? If there is, you never told me what it was. You never asked me how I was raising it, where I was raising it, or anything of the sort. I just said "Raise shield" and you raised it. What is the default shield that I raised? For all I knew, the default shape WAS floor to ceiling, wall to wall. Why didn't you ask me to clarify, and what kind of shield did I raise? Since you never asked me to clarify it, could I maybe get a redo on that basis? Not arguing, just trying to understand.
Thu May 6 2010 10:12 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
To be clear, I am not arguing. If you still stand on your decision, that's cool, but seriously. I have no idea what kind of shield I raised. You just said "You raise the shield and she panics" or some such. How was I (out of character) to know that the shield wouldn't be raised floor to ceiling, wall to wall on its default shape? I mean seriously, why wouldn't that be the default shape? What good would the shield be if the person on the other side could just walk around it like she did? (In my mind, I was sitting in the high chair, and she was on the other side of the room. The shield was raised between us.) Inside, it would be floor to ceiling wall to wall, outside it would be as far as the eye could see in every direction. (Could become interesting for people miles away, but still a valid default shape) I don't know about this shield. Can we rewind time on this basis? My character would know a lot more about the shield than I do. If you still stand on it, that's cool, but I still think rewinding time might be valid on this basis. Your call of course. If you want to re-roll the attempt or whatever that's cool, but how was I to know that the shield I raised wouldn't keep her at bay on its default form? I don't even really know what kind of shield I raised.
(Doing Therapy)
Fri May 7 2010 12:01 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberThree
If you should decide to rewind time on this basis, I'm sitting in a highchair, so there's a plate or bowl or something. Raise my hands over my head, point at the bowl, and TK pulse it. I moved it without touching it. That is, if I've got the floor to ceiling, wall-to-wall shield in place and Sarah can't touch me.
(Doing Therapy)
Fri May 7 2010 2:36 am # -
You are not yet old enough that your mother leaves a bowl of food in front of you, although she does feed you strained baby food from jars and warm cereal mush.
The shield you were taught to raise is positioned a few feet in front of you, fixed to the world, and just large enough to block kinetic attacks from that direction aimed directly at you. What good is it if people can just walk around it? It's quite good, if they're shooting missiles at you or charging directly at you. It shimmers in the light, distorting images through it, is easy to overlook but quite obvious if you're looking at it.
You can specify adjustments to that shield, but they will be penalized if they afford significantly more protection than that.
Sarah stops in a gas station to refill the tank, does not get out of the car, and then continues. She drives the rest of the day, and you realize that she's heading into the wilderness.
--M. J. Young
Sat May 8 2010 1:22 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberSarah stops in a gas station to refill the tank, does not get out of the car, and then continues. She drives the rest of the day, and you realize that she's heading into the wilderness.
What does she have as far as gear? Did she leave my VSP in the car? Does she at least have that? How would I know? Well, there would be a scriff sense in the car if nothing else.
Where do we stop? What are we now calling "home"?
Notes:
When we get where we are going, try to demonstrate TK pulse. "Point and click." Show her the shield.
Sat May 8 2010 2:14 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
You said we were going into the wilderness. Does that mean that Sarah is going to attempt to live off the land? In that case, I might just give the psionics a rest. Only use them to help her do this.
What about contacts? Are we going to any? Are there any?
What about future soldiers coming back? Sarah thinks that a time portal just opened, so why not open one? A friendly resistance fighter (Derek Reese even) could find her. Doesn't mean there has to be a counterpart Terminator. How would he find her? Simple. Because I would have told him about this in the future. In the book, when Reese was waiting for Sarah to come out of her apartment, he knew the exact time, to the minute, when she was going to come out. John Connor had told him in the future, "And if John Connor said something, you believed it because it was true. No questions." Can we have a resistance fighter come back? I hope she at least has the VSP. If not, I'm going to have to do more psionics. I think it might be best to give that a rest until I can speak at least.
Or could I have told the resistance about this in the future. I wasn't here. This didn't happen in the last timeline. Well still, he could find her.
(Doing Therapy)
Sat May 8 2010 6:28 pm # -
Sarah brought only you and the jeep and the clothes on her back. He has a pistol, because she keeps it on her when she's awake and near her when she's asleep. She did not bring so much as the car seat, and she keeps nothing in the jeep because it would be stolen. She did grab her purse, because her car keys were in it, and your diaper bag, which was next to you.
She drives the jeep for several hours, until she pulls up the mountains into the jungles of Mexico. There she finds a clearing, turns on the radio, and pulls up the canvas and plastic covers of the jeep to enclose it.
The announcer is speaking Spanish and playing mariachis; when the voice changes, she turns her attention to it in earnest, but then when it changes back she shuts everything off.
"Well," she says, "whatever it is that came back hasn't made the news--yet. We'll have to give it a few days, though, as there are enough deaths in the campgrounds that a few more aren't going to make news until there's something serious.
"Meanwhile, I've got to find something we can eat here. I'm afraid I didn't have time to pack much, but hopefully we'll make due.
"Be good while I'm gone; I shouldn't be long, and I've got to see what I can find to eat and drink. There's some formula in your bag, but not enough, and nothing for me unless I want to eat your barley cereal--which I might have to do if I don't find something I recognize."
It appears that her plan is for you to live in the jeep, at least for a few days.
--M. J. Young
Sun May 9 2010 9:10 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
There's some formula in your bag, but not enough
Are we forgetting that Sarah is a lactating mother? I don't need anything.
He has a pistol, because she keeps it on her when she's awake and near her when she's asleep.
Good typo there MJ.... How many clips does she have? Don't forget that Sarah also has a 44 magnum revolver (shown at the end of T1.) You could kill a bear with one of those puppies. I mention that because she does have a ranged weapon with which to hunt, at least if this Sarah did the same as the movie Sarah and keep it hidden in the car. You could kill a deer with the 9mm, but I'd rather have the 44 for that.
"Meanwhile, I've got to find something we can eat here. I'm afraid I didn't have time to pack much, but hopefully we'll make due.
It's time for Sarah to develop the survivalist mindset. This event would inspire a line of thinking in her, which she (understandably) has not yet developed. I think we should discuss somewhat the survivalist mindset. That's what Sarah should be getting right about now.
I can't believe Sarah didn't think of the VSP for what it was. A pack to help you survive. Things like that are quite common among survivalist types. A "Get up and Go" pack, they call it. Equipment to live off the land at a moment's notice. You can just grab it and walk out the door. I would imagine a lot of the "Get up and Go" packs that people keep closely resemble my VSP. If not in the car, she (should) keep that close by the door so that she can grab it and go. After me, that would be the most important thing in her life. The pack as it was would be too heavy for her to carry, or probably lift without a strength check. She would cut it down, add to it, take out things which she feels she couldn't use, or that were too bulky. The clothes of course, but anything she doesn't want to cut the weight down. She would keep tools in the car. Locked up. Probably have camping gear in the car too. Keep it in the trunk, or otherwise locked up against theft. She would keep enough food and supplies in the car to sustain us for a minimum of 3 days. The gas tank on the car would never go below half-full if not get topped off every day she drives, and she would have a filled gas can or two as well. The VSP would be in the house by the side of the door, ready to "Get up and Go". She would have enough food and supplies in the house to sustain us as long as reasonably possible. Two weeks, minimum. She would also be armed to the teeth at all times (and in this instance, the single 9mm probably qualifies). She might even have her own version of the VSP which she carries. Her purse, my diaper bag, maybe the belt bag, would all have gear inside them, as well as her other things she would normally carry. Sarah has (understandably) not developed this line of thinking, but this event would almost certainly inspire it in her. (And if it doesn't, I'm going to be quite disappointed in her.) There's also a "Less is more" aspect to it. Originally, the VSP had in it a shotgun and that collapsible 22. That particular shotgun would be (practically) useless for hunting, and the 22 would be (practically) useless as an offensive weapon. I changed it to a 9mm carbine and a crossbow, either of which would be usable for both hunting and offensive weaponry. See what I mean? The least amount of gear capable of the greatest number of tasks. Vice grips instead of an adjustable wrench, Leatherman multitools and Swiss Army Knives are a staple of these kinds of packs. One piece jumpsuits as opposed to 2 separate articles of clothing, that kind of thing. She should probably be wearing one of those jumpsuits, actually. That, over her original clothes, means she always has an on-person change of clothes if the fit hits the shan.
If she has to run out into the woods and live in a cave (like she just had to do) she has her own clothes, and a jumpsuit to wash and wear separately. Or just keep the two jumpsuits in the car. The survivalist mindset should be kicking in about now.
Understandably, Sarah has not yet developed this mindset, but this would inspire it in her.
"Be good while I'm gone; I shouldn't be long
So would I be correct in assuming that Sarah is planning to leave me in the car alone?
Is there any indication that she might be intending to go back to the trailer? Maybe she just got out of town for a few days, but is fully intending to go back and see. Especially if she doesn't hear anything new about what happened. I mean, after a day or two of no news, she might dismiss it as stress making her eyes play tricks on her or something.
Where is she leaving me? Not on the seat, I could fall off. She would put me on the floor. Is her purse on the floor too? See if I can get to it. TK pulse the strap over to me. Pull the strap. See if I can get to it, or get it to me, or a combination of the two. I need a pen and a piece of paper. If I can crawl, or belly crawl, pull myself to the purse, or pull it to me. Hopefully it's light enough that I can pull it over to me. I wouldn't fight very hard to get it. If it would be an unreasonable struggle to get the purse, forget it completely. I don't want to get hurt, and she doesn't need any more stress. If I can't do this with relative simplicity, forget I mentioned it. Not more than one TK pulse, and hopefully not even that. If I can't get the strap with one, just sit and practice psionic hearing. When Sarah comes back, if I can't get the purse, I want her to think that the worst trouble I got into was pulling on the strap.
Is she leaving her purse in here with me? She's going foraging it sounds like. She might dump out the contents and use it to hold what she finds. I just need a pen and some paper. If I can get to that without going for the purse, do that. If not, try to get to the purse whilst she's gone. Maybe I will get lucky and she will leave it on the floor with me. Try to get into it. Find a writing utensil and something on which to write. Certainly every woman in the world carries that sort of thing with her.
Write down "I DID THAT NO SKYNET." in block letters. This is one of those things which I would be determined to do. (The writing, that is. Determined to write, but not determined to get the pen to do it with. Is that ironic or what?) if there's any kind of bonuses for being extremely careful, I should get them. I'm talking like it would take me several minutes to write each letter. That's how careful I'm being. The whole note would take a half-hour, easily. She might be gone for an hour or more. I'd have time to be careful. Write the word "SkyNet" first, at the bottom of the page. I might only have time for that.
If the purse is on a seat, I'm not going to try to pull it down on top of me. Crazy, not stupid. I might try to TK pulse a pen out of it if I can see one. That's a big MIGHT though, so ask before I do it.
And if I should happen to get extremely fortunate and actually pull this off, put the note on top of me so that she will see it first thing when she returns.
Can I practice my psionic hearing to listen for when she's coming back? If you're going to roll for it, forget it.
Speaking of which, I believe I have stated some time ago that I have been practicing that since before birth. Is 5 months enough for a skill mark?
Am I learning any Spanish? She doesn't speak it to me, but I would hear it a lot.
Has Sarah read that book on wilderness survival? How would I know? Unless I saw her reading it, I probably wouldn't. Just keep in mind though that she does have SOME training in this area, because I'm sure you're about to roll some dice sometime.
Sarah's got a 9mm and a 44 magnum. Either or which would kill a deer, certainly there's SOMETHING she could employ as a knife, and a car cigarette lighter to start a fire. We will be fine. (I'm just trying to reassure myself)
(Doing Therapy)
Sun May 9 2010 10:32 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberThree
I probably couldn't see out the windows when we were driving here, so I probably couldn't know this, but what kind of environment are we in, if I can tell? I always think of Mexico as a desert, even though I know that there are jungles down here. Can I tell what kind of environment we're in? A jungle would probably be much easier to find food. I've been told the other rule of thumb for identifying edible plants is watch the animals. If a rabbit can eat it, it's a safe bet you can too. Then you have a nice salad when you eat the rabbit. Don't take my word for it though, and don't sue me if you try it and kill yourself.
I think we should discuss this survivalist mindset. I have a great deal more information on it, let me know if you have any questions.
(Doing Therapy)
Mon May 10 2010 1:59 pm # -
You're five months old and eating cereal mush and pureed fruit along with formula and breast milk. At your age, breast milk is not sufficient, and is being phased out of the diet.
Jeeps are not designed with significant secure cargo space--they're open, so locking the doors doesn't help much. Think "Jeep"--canvas roof, the cargo area is an open shortbed like a miniature pickup, and the only space that locks is the glove box.
You're on the seat, which is pitched back slightly making it something between a chair and a bed. She took her purse; the diaper bag is in the rear.
To remind you of your current physical abilities:
- You can't crawl.
- If you were on your belly you could roll over onto your back, but you're on your back and you can't get onto your belly from that position.
- You can keep your head from lolling over to one side, and turn it enough to look around.
- You can flail your arms and kick your legs.
- With a lot of concentration, you can pick up a small object with either hand, but you can't pick up an object in each hand, as you'll always drop the first when you grab the second.
- You can put such objects in your mouth, if you want. This actually gives you a much better sense of the object, because your tactile sense is very well developed in your lips but not in your fingers.
Block letters are still completely beyond your abilities.
Let me see if I can explain this to you. Have you ever seen coloring books in which little kids picked up crayons and scribbled in broad lines over the pictures, with no regard for where the lines are, like huge overlapping zig-zags? Well, when you make a successful hand/eye check, you can do almost as well as that. And your hand/eye is not yet 1@1.
Are you trying to learn Spanish? My impression was that you were trying to discourage her from using it around you, and that will impede your efforts to learn it.
Before she pulled the canvas roof over the car, you could tell that you were under the cover of trees.
--M. J. Young
Tue May 11 2010 6:36 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberJeeps are not designed with significant secure cargo space--they're open, so locking the doors doesn't help much. Think "Jeep"--canvas roof, the cargo area is an open shortbed like a miniature pickup, and the only space that locks is the glove box.
Ever seen those toolboxes that sit in the bed of pickup trucks? They're locked to the bed of the truck, and they themselves lock shut? Sarah could put one of those in the jeep to hold the survivalist gear. If nothing else, after this, she should change her attitude more towards the survivalist attitude I described. My diaper bag, her purse, the belt bag, anything she routinely carries, would be filled with gear to survive.
Well, if I can't do anything, why do you keep asking me what I'm doing? Just sit here and be good and practice my psionic hearing. Do I have any skill increases in that?
Are you trying to learn Spanish? My impression was that you were trying to discourage her from using it around you, and that will impede your efforts to learn it.
Not really no. There's just some things you couldn't help but learn in the situation. I think I'll hold off on that until I can actually speak English.
My hand/eye is below 1@1? I thought you said below 1@1 was subhuman. I am a human, am I not?
Tue May 11 2010 12:23 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
So how old will I have to be before I will be able to reliably pick up a pen and write, and will I be able to do that before or after I'm able to speak reliably? How could I know? I couldn't, but I don't see what harm it would do to tell me.
(Doing Therapy)
Tue May 11 2010 11:30 pm # -
I think you'll begin to realize when you are able to do things. After all, I've been telling you what you can do.
As to why I'm asking what you're doing, you're not entirely helpless--you are quite capable of using several psionic skills, and of botching with them as well.
Sure, you're human. As far as I'm concerned, you were human at the moment of conception--when you were a zygote, without limbs, without muscles, without a nervous system or senses. Since then you have been building your physical attributes toward human normal. You're still an infant. It takes a long time to become strong enough to crawl, sit, stand, walk, and everything else.
You're getting there.
--M. J. Young
Wed May 12 2010 2:00 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
Can I practice the psionic shield and the psionic hearing such that I could hear Sarah coming and stop the shield without having a roll? I'm betting not, but no harm in asking, right?
At any rate, practice psionic shield and psionic hearing. Drop the shield immediately if I do hear Sarah coming. (Could have be a GE roll on if I hear her coming? Just curious)
How long does it take to get a skill mark on practice? The psionic hearing has been practiced since before I was born. How long has that been? Is my skill up at all?
Future actions are as follows. Any time I get the chance to, practice the psionic shield. If she is sleeping and I'm awake, if she's gone like this, any time I have a chance to practice it, do so. Just try not to get caught. What is it? A hundred days? Two hundred days? I can't seem to recall. I should be at least to 1@10 by the time the T-1000 shows up.
(Doing Therapy)
Wed May 12 2010 3:06 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberThree
Minimal survival gear for Sarah to carry:
Knife
Pocket Fisherman
Fire starting gear (My magnesium tool, if she knows what it is, or a lighter or two)
The survival book
Chlorine water tabs (if she knows what they are) use baby bottles for holding water.
Aluminum foil (for cooking the fish she catches)
Three days food (for herself, and for me)In the car (if she could lock it down)
Crossbow and arrows (Why the crossbow? It's silent, and still makes a formidable weapon.)
tent
sleeping bag
Basically, everything she would need to go camping for a weekend. (What am I telling you what she would need? You've got a thousand miles of that.)Most of this I had in the VSP, and all of the first list she could easily carry on-person at all times. She could figure out a way to carry much, much more in the jeep, and have that VSP backpack ready to grab. You might not understand that there are people who carry stuff like this at all times. Those "Get up and Go" packs are quite common among survivalist types. The world as we know it has just ended, they walk into their house, grab a backpack, and they're ready to go camping. Understandably, she hasn't yet developed this attitude, but this is one she should be adopting. It fits with the Sarah Connor character from the movies, don't you think? This event should inspire it in her. Maybe it's a good thing.
Here's a botch for you. Sarah hallucinates an endoskeleton....
(Doing Therapy)
Wed May 12 2010 7:02 am # -
You practice your psionic skills while she is gone. She returns with some fruit.
"Well, it's not the best meal we could get, but it's food, right?" She smiles. "Cheer up. You'll probably have worse days."
--M. J. Young
Thu May 13 2010 2:28 am # -
It is true that some cultures do this, although I gather that Mexicans remove the chewed food from their mouths with their own fingers and insert it into the child's mouth.
Your diaper bag will contain the bowl and spoon used to feed you cereal, so she will probably mash the fruit with that. I would look for banana, which you've probably already tasted as pureed baby food or in cereal. I am less familiar with tropical fruits (largely because I don't care for many of them) but I think mango is a likely choice, and possibly kiwi. She will also mix it with the powdered cereal, reconstituted with a bit of formula.
Periodically she turns on the radio, usually near the top of the hour to catch the news. She's obviously listening for something. Your understanding of Spanish is still non-existent at this point, so you don't know what she's hearing, but apparently she's not hearing what she expects.
Your stay in the clearing will stretch to several days. If you're simply going to live through it without doing anything unusual (i.e., apart from practicing those skills you can practice in this condition) we'll speed to the next event.
--M. J. Young
Thu May 13 2010 8:45 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
Are we going back to the trailer? If it were me in Sarah's place, I probably would dismiss it as my eyes playing tricks on me, at least if I hadn't heard anything new. I just hope it inspires in Sarah the survivalist attitude described a few posts ago. This event would be the first step towards what she will soon have to become.
Any contacts made?
(Doing Therapy)
Sat May 15 2010 9:00 am # -
You spend four or five days in the wild, Sarah listening to the radio every day.
Finally she decides to head back to civilization, and you return to the trailer. She approaches it cautiously, leaving you in the car until she's certain it's clear, and then moves you inside.
Nothing was touched.
She says, "Well, anyway, we're not going to stay here, whatever that was. But we'll stay tonight, and tomorrow we'll pack up and find somewhere else."
--M. J. Young
Sun May 16 2010 6:40 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberWhen I was inside Sarah, she said that she was making off the grid contacts. Well, why have I not seen any of them? When is Sarah going to go start training? When does Enrique come into the story?
Is Sarah yet adopting the survivalist attitude? If that doesn't instill it in her, then she's a MORON!!!!!
Ya know, if nothing fantabulous is going to be happening any time soon, I'd be OK with skipping ahead until I can speak reliably. How long will that be? I feel trapped inside my own body. I'm practicing my psionics whenever possible (any increases?) But I'd be OK with skipping ahead until I can speak reliably. Your call though.
Sun May 16 2010 6:52 am # -
Actually, I want you to feel trapped inside your own body. You're supposed to be experiencing what it's like to be a fully grown mind in an infant's body.
You are now able to hold yourself erect in the high chair, resting your hands on the tray as a balance counterpoint, for as long as you can keep awake. That's gotten to be longer--you're awake for long stretches, and asleep for long stretches. You can pick up your own spoon, but you can't control it well enough to use it; you are offered small stuffed animals, rattles, and balls too large to get in your mouth, for most of your toys. You still can't seem to manage two objects at once, but you can hold your own bottle to feed yourself, and you can raise your feet high enough that you can grab them with your hands and stuff your toes in your mouth--which apparently is something that feels good, stretching the muscles in your legs and back, in addition to giving you a better sense of your own kinesthetics (your ability to sense where your body parts are relative to each other).
You can now pronounce one syllable words as long as they do not contain diphthongs ("eye", "cow") or consonantal strings ("ski", "string", "try" "juice"). Thus "juice" sounds like "doose" and "ski" like "key".
You have to stop between words if you want the next one to be clear, although you can string random syllables together quite rapidly as long as you don't care which set of consonants and vowels you are using. You can say "Yabadabado", but not if that's what you're trying to say.
--M. J. Young
Mon May 17 2010 12:15 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberCan I say SKY-NET? Do I have access to blocks with letters on them?
Sarah said that we were moving. Where are we now? What's happening?
Do I have any psionics increases yet? Or perhaps it would just be easier to tell me when those are coming.
And what the hell is a diphthong?
Mon May 17 2010 1:10 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
MJ, I was thinking, everything that I had from Dancing princess came. I was either at weight, or not so grossly over that you bothered to check. Between the 10% increase that I had, and the 76 pounds that I had on-person, I'd think most everything from TerraNova would come. Thousands of rounds of ammo would probably put me overweight, but just drop some of that off. That would probably put me pretty close. I'm just curious how that's handled. I believe you rolled a GE roll on it, I think Kyler just picked things based on what he thought I'd need. Is that a referee's thing? I'm just trying to understand how that works. Between the 10% increase, and the 76 pounds I had on me, I would think just dropping some ammo would probably do it. I should be able to replace most of the ammo here. Just curious how that's handled. And I'm rambling.
(Doing Therapy)
Mon May 17 2010 4:50 am # -
You can now pronounce one syllable words as long as they do not contain diphthongs ("eye", "cow") or consonantal strings ("ski", "string", "try" "juice"). Thus "juice" sounds like "doose" and "ski" like "key".
Can I say SKY-NET?
Kah net, sah net, kee net, or see net: that's as close as you can get without the ability to pronounce consonant clusters or dipthongs. Also, with that requirement that you pause between words, it would sound like you were saying "kah" (for example) and then "net," not a connected word "kah-net."
Oh, and a dipthong is two vowel sounds happening in the same syllable. If you pay close attention, you'll notice that the word "I" is actually composed of two different vowel sounds: it starts out sounding like "ah," but it finishes sounding like "E". That's a dipthong.
"Sky" is particularly difficult because it has a consonant cluster at the beginning ("s" and "k" with no vowel in between) as well as an "ah-E" dipthong for the vowel.
In general, the easiest syllable to pronounce is a single consonant followed by a single vowel, like "ma" or "ba". Any variation from that pattern increases the difficulty.
Mon May 17 2010 6:18 am # -
JohnA1nut
MemberMore than one
MJ, what BRA are you using for my character? Charisma and An-Mag are kind of based on your looks, right? I'm an infant. If there exists a human with a 3@ Charisma and An-Mag, it's an infant. (I know there isn't, but you know what I mean). I'm using John Connor's stats now, not mine. What are the stats on this character as far as all of that is concerned?
(Doing Therapy)
Mon May 17 2010 9:27 am # -
If you had letter blocks, you could probably scatter them all over the room, but whether you could put them adjacently so as to spell words is a much less certain issue.
The answer to most of your questions is "How would you know?" The only one which might have a different answer is if when you wrote
Can I say SKY-NET?
you meant
I am going to try to say Sky-net.
If that's what you mean, you should say that--although in view of the fact that you argued that your character would have been able to anticipate Sarah's reaction to seeing the force shield appear near her, you might want to consider her reaction if her baby's incoherent babble started to sound like he was trying to say "Sky-net" repeatedly. Good chance she'll wind up in the mental hospital sooner rather than later, and you'll be dealing with state-appointed foster care.--M. J. Young
Mon May 17 2010 9:00 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberIf you had letter blocks, you could probably scatter them all over the room, but whether you could put them adjacently so as to spell words is a much less certain issue.
It's a much more certain issue than trying to speak.
Good chance she'll wind up in the mental hospital sooner rather than later, and you'll be dealing with state-appointed foster care.
Yeah, that's a good point. Thanks for pointing that out to me. Cease and desist all abnormal activity (including TK pulse and Shield practice) and just be a baby for a while. Still practice the psionic hearing. (How could she tell?) Until I can speak reliably.
although in view of the fact that you argued that your character would have been able to anticipate Sarah's reaction to seeing the force shield appear near her, you might want to consider her reaction if her baby's incoherent babble started to sound like he was trying to say "Sky-net" repeatedly.
I don't know that you're giving Sarah enough credit. I think you see her as somewhat mentally frail. I think she's stronger than that. I think she would think it was some kind of mental connection mother to baby. That I am so deeply connected to her, that I know her innermost thoughts. I already know of the war, because I was so deeply connected to my mommy. That's how I would expect her to react, but she's apparently not like that. (Or is she like that? Maybe MJ is the one who is wrong about how Sarah's mind works?) I'm not going to do it. Since you're in charge of the character, and that must mean she is rather mentally frail (Otherwise, why would you be warning me?) My character would be able to tell that. I can't, really. I think I'll stop that until I can explain to her what I'm saying.
I'm a messiah. A child destined to save the world. Even my name, John Connor, JC, Jesus Christ. The mother claimed I was fathered by a soldier from the future (Her Savior). How much closer can you get to being fathered directly by God? Don't think Sarah and Doctor Silberman didn't notice these things. If her baby started saying "SkyNet" repeatedly, she would likely see it as a miracle, or a sign from God.
(Dextroland)
Mon May 17 2010 11:11 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberTwo
(Just so you know, this is supposed to be funny)
I think I would rather be playing as fighting with John Connor, rather than as John Connor. I hate this being trapped in my own body. (Is this a normal thing for zygoted versers?) This is going to be a great scenario, but you're right. No more paranormal stuff. Just the psionic hearing. (How would she know?) Be a baby until I can adequately explain it to her. Still try to practice speaking, and try to say Sky-Net once in a while (it would be (at best) a difficult intuition check for Sarah to recognize it, I'd think) but not a lot. Baby babble, learn to speak, but don't try to say anything until I can actually explain in full. (A year and a half, at least.)
Her baby isn't going to have a first word, he's just suddenly going to start speaking in complete sentences.
(Dextroland)
Mon May 17 2010 11:40 pm # -
JohnA1nut
MemberThree
Now that I'm thinking about it, does the magic bias HAVE to be flatlined? What I mentioned about John Connor being a savior and such is true. That's cannon with The Terminator. (Pretty easy to see why) Obviously, some manner of religion must exist in this world. It could be a 0@something bias, so only I can pray, but I don't think the magic bias HAS to be flatlined. Your call of course.
(Dextroland)
Tue May 18 2010 12:47 am #
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