Gaming Outpost Discussions

1. 

   Kurt W.
   Member

   "I believe in the possibility of all things."

   "In the worlds, I'm sure that many gods exist. Not all of them are the Christian God; however, they act more often in those worlds, so they're more believed in. I'm not sure if I believe even the Christian God is in every universe. Related to magic...I suppose that I do believe it's possible, and when someone shows it to me, I'll be ready to believe in it whole-heartedly."

   I look over to the volcano, and back at Michael. "I am going to feel the same way as the Architect. I'm yet to learn what I want to here, but I have determined something that I can learn, other than everything you've told me (which I am very thankful for, by the way). You can teach me to get rid of my fear of death. I'd much rather you run me through than to have all my things swallowed by a volcano before I die."

   "So, that said, do you have a sword that I can borrow? Or shall I defend myself with my bare hands?"

   Fri Aug 8 2008 5:40 pm #
2. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   "Gods aren't in the universes; they're outside the universes in the supernatural realm. Places we've heard about or read about in books--Gladsheim, Elysium, Hades, Pandemonium, Limbo, the Abyss, the Seven Heavens, the Nine Hells--these are all supernatural realms along the edge of the deep supernatural. The Architect says that you can't enter the deep supernatural and return, but several versers have been on the border supernatural at one time or another. Adams says that they were just in different worlds, where creatures with the power to travel interdimensionally at will pose as gods, but he's never been to one. Anyway, the point is, all the gods have the same ability to act in any universe. Some have a sort of ascendancy in some--like you might be in a world where Zeus and his cronies are in charge, but that doesn't mean that Odin and Thor can't answer prayers there, it just means that Zeus makes the ground rules. Gods have to abide by their own ground rules; what Zeus allows himself and his cronies to do, the other gods can do, too. How it got this way--well, if you meet the Architect, you can ask him his theory; I don't have one."

   When you suggest that him killing you would be a good thing, he grins in a very disconcerting way. "You're afraid of that volcano, but not of me? I assure you, I am much more dangerous than that volcano.

   "If you're worried about losing your things, don't. If I'm right, when this happens it will happen so fast that your things will all go with you. Anyway, there aren't very many things in the multiverse that are irreplaceable. You'd have a hard time finding more than a dozen copies of the Necronomicon--and indeed, I saw Aslan destroy one, so that's one less, durnedest thing, I'd tried ground zero at a nuclear blast and didn't singe the cover, and he tapped it with his front paw and it disintegrated to dust. I knew I was dealing with someone powerful at that moment. But I doubt you've got anything so unique as that. Maybe if you've got pictures of family or friends, or some object that is special not for what it is but because someone gave it to you, those would be things to protect. But you'll lose some things sometimes--you just won't lose them by dying. Contrary to the popular saying, you can take it with you.

   "Have you ever used a sword? Have you ever used any weapon at all? You'll do best to work with what you know rather than start from scratch, but if you don't know anything, then I guess we start from scratch."

   --M. J. Young

   Sat Aug 9 2008 2:13 am #
3. 

   Kurt W.
   Member

   "Well, I'm not as afraid of people as I am natural disasters. At least, not for the time being. I'd rather you get the fear of death out of me than the volcano."

   I smile down at my short fingernails, "Well, my claws aren't that good, but I suppose we can start from there. Other than a few fights I've been in and an archery course, I suppose that I don't really have any experience fighting with anything." I put my fists up to protect my face, after tossing his closed pocketknife back to him. "I'm willing to start from scratch, whenever you're ready."

   Sat Aug 9 2008 3:58 am #
4. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   Kurt--I'm going to need some numbers to proceed with this. Give me your thoughts on:

   • Strength: average is 1@5, and a lot of people in this age are average.
   • Resistance: most people from our age run at least 1@8 because of innoculations; some are higher. This can be because of special innoculations received in connection with travel overseas or work in medical or bioresearch facilities, or it can be natural, usually expressed in the form of allergies (the immune system fighting off things that are not actually dangerous). On the other hand, some people are particularly susceptible to every disease that "comes down the pike", and can be lower than 1@5.
   • Will Power: Again, 1@5 is the norm.

   I gather from your statements that you have no training or practiced skill in any unarmed combat technique, but that you have fought before, unskilled.

   --M. J. Young

   Sun Aug 10 2008 10:06 pm #
5. 

   Kurt W.
   Member

   Strength...Yeah, let's say average 1@5 on that.

   I just got some innoculations for school, so I'm up-to-date with the 1@8.

   Will Power...hrm...I, being an egotistical human (it is a flaw...I know) think my will power is above average. My evidence...hrm... In 5th grade, we did stupid competitions involving putting our hands on hot or cold poles (that have been either freezing or cooking outside). Durinc recess, I always won with ease. Does Will Power include controlling your emotions? I'm not talking about faking certain emotions, but actually being able to enhance or change current emotions (getting angrier or shutting anger off altogeather...not that I get angry, mind you).

   I have fought before, unskilled. I've been unharmed in every fight, either because I won quickly or I got my head on right quickly. Actually...there was this one time where I kept a wound, but that's because the start of the fight was him hitting me in the crotch (I found it uncalled for and retaliated).

   Mon Aug 11 2008 12:30 am #
6. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   Yes indeed, I would say that it is valid to argue that the ability to control emotions lies in the will, and that combined with your ease of winning the hot/cold contests suggests a 1@10 will power. (Although it could be that your pain threshold is higher, I'm going with the will power, because it's easier to adjudicate.)

   However, that you have been in numerous fights and never gotten injured, particularly given that you have neither a significant strength nor a significant stamina, leads me to suggest that you are not an unskilled fighter. You apparently have developed an unarmed fighting style that you use in these situations, and gotten to a respectable amateur level of ability with it.

   Would you like to discuss your fighting techniques so we can give you a leg up on this?

   --M. J. Young

   Mon Aug 11 2008 10:24 pm #
7. 

   Kurt W.
   Member

   I haven't been in numerous fights. The most recent that I remember only add up to about 6 times. Oh, and I think my strength might be higher than I originally thought...I'll go into detail in a moment.

   Most of the fights were me using sharp eyes and moving out of the way until I got an opening and hit as hard as I returned a punch as hard as I could. That's generally why they ended quickly. On some occasions, the environment was a factor. The guy that hit me in the nuts was next to lockers, so I (reflex) shoved the back of his head into said locker. Another time when environment came into play was when we were in a classroom setting when the teacher was gone. He attacked me, and I used a chair to my advantage, grabbing it with my ankle and tripping him with it.

   Another occasion, which involves strength... One time, a friend of mine and I were sparring with sticks. He grabbed a small, sword-length one. I tried doing that, and was doing okay with it, but it was too light, so I grabbed about a 9-foot long, 6-inch thick branch. I kept up with him the whole time.

   Does that help at all?

   Tue Aug 12 2008 1:44 am #
8. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   Yes. I'm bumping your strength up to 1@7 and your intuition to 1@9--the latter because you obviously show an awareness of place when it counts.

   "Fisticuffs," he says, apparently putting a name to what you're doing. "Not the most effective of weaponless combat techniques, but we can work with it.

   "Your stance isn't too bad, really. The important thing about feet in that kind of fighting is that the can put you where you want to be--up close and personal when you deliver your blows, and out of reach or off line when your opponent retaliates. That's why you see professional boxers dancing when they fight--they want to keep moving, so you don't know where they are.

   "Look at your wrists. The way you're holding them, they're going to absorb the shock of your blows. You don't want that--it puts stress on your wrists,and anyway, you want the shock to be absorbed by the guy you hit. Hold your wrist so that there's a straight line along your arm from your knuckles to your elbow--so that the bones of your hand extend straight from the bones of your arm. That way when you hit someone, the full force of the blow drives through your knuckles.

   "Now, the next question is, where are you planning to hit?"

   --M. J. Young

   Thu Aug 14 2008 2:04 am #
9. 

   Kurt W.
   Member

   I begin to move towards, away, and side to side of DiVars, with my hands up and in the straight way that he suggested.

   Then, I'll say, "Well, normally against a guy like you, who I assume is a lot stronger than I am, I'd go for the groin; however, for practice's sake...the head!" At the last word, I take a swing, as he instructed, at his face.

   (We are sparring at the moment, right?)

   Thu Aug 14 2008 4:13 am #
10. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    He makes no effort to block or dodge, and you land a solid punch to the side of his head.

    He does not flinch.

    He nods.

    "Pretty good. As for going for the groin, there are two schools of thought there. One is that it's a very sensitive spot, and if you're using vital area techniques it's certainly one of the best. The other is that it's terribly hard to hit if you don't get surprise--Scotsmen keep their money in a pouch right there, because they figure they'll know if someone is reaching for their groin. Which is the other problem: anyone who is expecting to fight is going to have some sort of protection against such a shot.

    "Now, how do you suppose you would defend yourself from a punch?"

    --M. J. Young

    Thu Aug 14 2008 7:42 pm #
11. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    "It depends on the opponent-both his speed and his strength.

    If they're slower and stronger, I'd either duck to the side to retaliate, or I'd attempt to punch their fist before it makes it to me. Generally, if I punch the fist close enough to the opponent, they haven't built up enough force to hurt me; however, my punch will still be at full power.

    If they're faster and weaker, then I'd attempt to grapple their fist during the punch.

    If they're faster and stronger, I'd pray. That's probably the only time I'd put my arms up to take damage for me."

    Fri Aug 15 2008 2:05 pm #
12. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "Good choices, generally. But you'll do better if instead of punching their fist, you use your forearm against their arm, knocking their blows out and away from you. First, it's a heck of a lot easier to hit the arm than the fist; second, it takes a lot less force to redirect the punch from behind it than from in front of it."

    This teaching continues for quite a while, and you learn some basics of how to fight so as to do more damage and take less. Then he says that really what you need is practice now--not all at once, but practice over time, reinforcing techniques and building habits by repetition. Let it sink in, and in a day or two see how much of it you remember, and correct your habits--for example, keeping your wrists straight, you need to practice that so that it comes automatically instead of being something you have to remember.

    Then he goes back to the fire, and resumes watching the volcano.

    --M. J. Young

    Fri Aug 15 2008 11:43 pm #
13. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    I'll take notes of habbits to ingrain in myself and the other knowledge I need to be more effective. I'll put all of that in one of the notebooks and stick with Michael for the time being, while trying to keep my forearms straight, like they need to be for punches.

    Sun Aug 17 2008 1:54 pm #
14. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    The next morning, Michael is standing up, still staring toward the mountain.

    --M. J. Young

    Sun Aug 17 2008 7:42 pm #
15. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    I'll try to meditate for once, now that I have the spare time. During that, I'll stick with Michael and try to look internally to see if I can find anything that I didn't already know.

    I'm focusing on if I feel any energies flowing through me or if I get visions of any kind. If not, I'll use this meditative time to relax and let my mind roam freely.

    I'll continue doing this until something cool happens (or hot, considering it's a volcano and all).

    Sun Aug 17 2008 9:30 pm #
16. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    I don't see "meditate" on your skill sheet, so I need to ask you what it is (as you define it), how you do it, what benefit you expect from it, whether you have done it before, and if so how good you are at it.

    --M. J. Young

    Mon Aug 18 2008 10:33 pm #
17. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    I picked this up when I was dabbling into discussions with a wicca friend.

    The thing is just focusing on breathing. One breathes in and out, and focuses on the oxygen entering and leaving their lungs. Then, you try to relax all of your muscles, and just not focus on anything. I've only done this once, and stopped because I was bored. This time, however, I'll try to keep it up for a while.

    Tue Aug 19 2008 4:57 am #
18. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    That answers all the questions except what benefit you expect to gain from it. Why are you doing this?

    --M. J. Young

    Wed Aug 20 2008 4:41 am #
19. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    I'm attempting to look inside for something dormant, perhaps.

    A more specific sought benefit would be to feel energies flowing through, around, or within me. It's an attempt to get 'in touch' with myself in that way.

    Wed Aug 20 2008 12:42 pm #
20. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    You meditate for about five minutes and find within yourself a power that might be tapped to reach beyond your own mind in some way. You do not as yet know what you might do with it.

    A skill, listed behind the screens, has been added to your sheet.

    --M. J. Young

    Wed Aug 20 2008 10:08 pm #
21. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    This feeling that I get makes me somewhat ecstatic with possibilities.

    At that, I find new strength to continue. I'll meditate like this for as long as I can hold this focus for. If I get tired or hungry, I'll stop and satiate those needs. Then, unless I'm in danger, I'll continue my meditation.

    Wed Aug 20 2008 10:42 pm #
22. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    You maintain the concentration for another minute or so but then it drifts from you.

    Michael is still standing staring at the mountain.

    --M. J. Young

    Thu Aug 21 2008 10:17 pm #
23. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    I'll pick my meditation up again from where I left off. I'll focus all of my attention on my breathing, like before, and continue.

    I won't worry about my focus drifting or anything like that; however, if I do catch it drifting, I simply realign it to my breathing again. I'll keep this up for as long as I possibly can. Even if I drift out of focus, I'll go back into it as if nothing happened.

    Fri Aug 22 2008 2:10 am #
24. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    The ground shakes for about ten seconds. It rather disrupts your ability to concentrate, and you fail to recover the meditative state.

    Michael has not moved.

    --M. J. Young

    Sat Aug 23 2008 12:25 am #
25. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    Due to the ground shaking, I decide to stand up slowly to make sure that I don't fall. Then, I'll look to Michael.

    "Well, looks like we're nearing the end of our short friendship. Perhaps in another verse, Michael DiVars." I'll offer him my hand to shake, then ask him, "So, if you believe you're sent here to face the volcano, am I to assume that you've already got a plan against it? Would you mind sharing that with me."

    Sat Aug 23 2008 4:37 pm #
26. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    Without looking at you right away, he shakes your hand, and then his returns to the hilt of his sword.

    When you ask the question, he turns from his vigilant gaze to look at you, and ponders for a moment.

    "I have no expections of defeating the volcano," he says. "I expect this to be a test of my courage, that I will stand my ground against a foe of unimagined power in the midst of all the pain it can inflict. I plan, once more, to die fighting."

    His eyes hold yours for another moment, and then return to the summit of the volcano.

    --M. J. Young

    Sun Aug 24 2008 11:11 pm #
27. 

    Kurt W.
    Member

    "Now that I think of it-we could've been beating this volcano the entire time. We should've dug a trench accross the whole island and perhaps made a river. It'd block off the volcano, perhaps."

    Then I shrug, and say, "But I suppose that's just hindsight speculation. I suppose that it's an ultimate test of will to stand your ground to an unbeatable force like this... However, I think it'd be better to even charge into it. C'mon, Michael, let's go at it head-on! Let's meet it at its peak, where its power is explosive!"

    I'll start my hike toward the volcano; however, this time I'll be jogging towards it. I'll do this whether or not Michael joins me.

    Mon Aug 25 2008 4:05 pm #
28. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    You rush forward, and begin the ascent.

    Periodically the ground shakes, but you keep pressing upward.

    It takes most of an hour to reach the summit. As you do, another shake destablizes the debris around the crater, and you find yourself caught in a landslide. You suddenly see an explosive burst of rock flying upward from the top of the mountain, but it vanishes as you are buried in the loose rock sliding with you. A deafening crack follows close behind the visual explosion, and the angle of your slide gets steeper, steeper--you are falling nearly straight down, as if the ground beneath you has opened.

    Then it closes, and you feel a brief crushing pain and black out.

    I need a flexibility for you. It's not urgent, but I should add it to my sheet. Can you touch your toes? Put your foot in your mouth (literally)? Put your foot behind your head? Both of them? At once? And walk on your knees?

    Probably not, but give me some idea of how flexible you are.

    Kurt's game continues in Kurtesy Kall: Kurt's Game Continues.

    Court, if you return, pick up from where you left.

    --M. J. Young

    Tue Aug 26 2008 1:52 am #

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