Gaming Outpost Discussions

1. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   Geniece glances at you, but keeps step with you as you enter the mist.

   The grove vanishes, but you can see each other and Merlin clearly, as if you were surrounded by misty white walls. He is walking forward slowly, and looking around. As he does, faint images form in the mist--a tree here, another there, and a stump, and a large rock, and then these become clearer as he, and you, walk between them. He pronounces the same, or very similar, words again, and the mist dissipates leaving the images as solid objects.

   "This way," he says, and in about thirty feet of walking you are on the road outside the gate of Camelot at the edge of the forest.

   "You can, I think, find the inn. Do you need anything else from me before morning? I will meet you at breakfast."

   Unless you detain him, he will walk into the forest on the other side of the road and disappear into the trees.

   --M. J. Young

   Fri Mar 7 2008 2:37 am #
2. 

   Jhiaxus
   Member

   We'll let him go and head to the castle to introduce ourselves to Uther, before heading to the inn for the night.

   Adam

   Fri Mar 7 2008 3:22 pm #
3. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   You find the gates of the castle open but guarded. The guard asks your names and business, and you respond as you did before.

   A large blustery man in a suit of fine armor without helmet, a full head of long red hair and beard, calls in a booming voice from the courtyard beyond, "Well, who are they, and what do they want?"

   "Nobles from a distant land, sire. He says his name is Ashe Valerin, and the lady is Jade."

   "Jade, ey? Well, bring them in. I'll meet them over dinner."

   He heads the other direction.

   --M. J. Young

   Fri Mar 7 2008 9:08 pm #
4. 

   Jhiaxus
   Member

   *we'll wait and be brought to where we need to be for dinner, and get a read of him myself*

   Adam

   Sat Mar 8 2008 3:31 pm #
5. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   You are escorted first to the well, too wash and refresh yourself, and from there to the dining hall.

   "His majesty should be along at any moment. First, can I get you a libation? There are some fine French wines in the cellar, and some excellent English ales and meads on tap."

   The wait is rather longer than you expect.

   --M. J. Young

   Mon Mar 10 2008 12:59 am #
6. 

   Jhiaxus
   Member

   *smiles*

   "Some mead sounds good, thanks."

   *we wait*

   Mon Mar 10 2008 10:42 am #
7. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   Finally the king roars in. "Where's dinner? I'm starved!" he shouts, and servants start scrambling to get the food from kitchen to table.

   He looks at the two of you. "Sit. Please. I am King Uther, the First, of Angland, if I am be so presumptious, although to date there is no second. Girls, my wife gives me. Good for forging alliances, worthless for ruling a country. But that's not your problem, and she has promised to keep trying. I'm told that you are nobles visiting from some foreign realm, but my men don't seem to know who or where. Idiots, of course. I apologize for having to ask you to introduce yourselves again."

   --M. J. Young

   Tue Mar 11 2008 4:46 am #
8. 

   Jhiaxus
   Member

   "I am Ashe Valerin, and the is Jade Bladesong, of the Stonefist. We are fro Center, in the Castle of Six Cities. We are not attatched nor have we ever been to a Lord. We have completed our combat training and looking to expand our knowledge of magic. Merlin found us as we stayed in the inn last night, and will be studying under him. We tried to introduce ourselves last night, but it was late."

   Adam

   Tue Mar 11 2008 4:20 pm #
9. 

   M. J. Young
   Moderator

   The king is already stuffing food in his mouth, pulled from the platter while he's filling his plate. He waves a utensil at you, which is probably a signal that you should dig in.

   "Magic?" he says around a smashed potato in his mouth. "What in blazes would cause you to pursue such a career? You ask me, it's a waste of time, something that women and wastrels pursue. Now, Merlin, there are things he can do, but he'll never have a castle or rule a country, now, will he? Might as well take up thieving, for all it will advance you in life. Have some mutton, it's very good today."

   --M. J. Young

   Tue Mar 11 2008 10:53 pm #
10. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    *smiles and takes some food and starts to eat*

    "We already know how to fight, we just want to be well rounded, as magic has certain advantages that strength alone cannot accomplish"

    *we'll let him continue on with his rant*

    Adam

    Wed Mar 12 2008 10:10 am #
11. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "Yes, well--it's fine when you're back in the castle, or even in camp, but I've never seen a wizard pull something out of his cloak fast enough to save him in combat. Merlin, perhaps, excepted, of course. That man has been doing magic longer than anyone alive, I expect. He thinks more of it than it's really worth, I would say, since he is so much better at it than anyone else.

    "So, you fight then. I've got some trouble with a lord not far from here who thinks he doesn't have to obey me. We'll be setting up our assault against him soon. Should I roster you as one of my knights? Begging the lady's pardon, but here in Angland our ladies don't fight. Doesn't seem proper. No offense if the lady's traditions are different, I trust."

    --M. J. Young

    Thu Mar 13 2008 4:22 am #
12. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    *smiles*

    "Unfortunatly Jade doesn't let me fight without her, something about having all the fun for myself. Since we will be close to the castle, if trouble finds it's way here, I'm sure we could lend a hand. I'm sure Jade can better sum up her feelings on the matter better than I can."

    Adam

    Thu Mar 13 2008 10:07 am #
13. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "Indeed," Geneice says. "Meaning no offense to your majesty, but my husband and I have only just arrived in your country, and it would be awkward for us to assume that we knew which side of your battle should have our allegiance. If someone attacks you, we will certainly come to your assistance; but if we had come first to your noble's keep, would we not be hearing him tell of the wrongs, real or imagined, he has suffered at your hand? Probably we would find ourselves helping him defend himself against you. At least until we know all of you better, we should probably keep our efforts to the immediate defense of such lands and fortresses as have befriended us, and not join the aggressors in any battle."

    "What, do you think it is not defending myself, to put my nobles in line?"

    "If indeed they are your nobles. My father would have agreed with you completely, that those who work for you must be loyal or must pay the penalty of disloyalty. His rivals did not see it that way, and thought they had every right to displace him and discount his claims. You say that this man is your vassal; what does he say? On what do each of you base those claims?"

    "I," Uther says with great self-importance, "am King of all Angland. Anyone who opposes that must face my wrath."

    "And we will not oppose that," Geneice responds. "However, until we have learned of your right to this title from someone other than yourself, forgive us for taking it with some skepticism. It has happened to us before that we have accepted someone's claim about himself only to discover later that he was not at all what he pretended."

    --M. J. Young

    Fri Mar 14 2008 2:45 am #
14. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    *smiles* My wife is a strong woman who doesn't mince words, but she is right. Having two knights stay back and protecting your lands. I can say without hesitation that I have called Thunder and Lightning against unjust foes and have driven off a seige army of thousands doing so. It only works in defense and after trying to talk, but I am certain this would be an advatage no other kingdom would have, and dare say make your kingdom unattackable. We make this gesture, requiring nothing on your part, just the ability to stay and learn with Arther.

    *takes a bite of mutton and a drink of whatever beverage is in front of me*

    Fri Mar 14 2008 3:57 pm #
15. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    There has been no mention of Arthur to this point. Did you mean to say Arthur, or did your character mean to say Arthur--that is, is this your mistake or his, or is this entirely intentional?

    If you meant that your character said "Arthur", Uther will respond, "Who in blazes is Arthur? I thought you were studying with that meddler Merlin!" If you meant that he said "Merlin", or someone else, I'll give it more thought.

    --M. J. Young

    Sat Mar 15 2008 4:33 am #
16. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    I meant Merlin.

    adam

    Sat Mar 15 2008 8:49 pm #
17. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "You can call thunder and lighting against enemies? That blasted wizard has been holding out on me--he never let on that there were magics of such power. Why, with that sort of force, it will be simple to subdue those rebels who think they shouldn't have to yield to my authority. Pack your things, man; we've a battle to win!"

    --M. J. Young

    Mon Mar 17 2008 4:12 am #
18. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    *pauses* I clearly said it can only be used in defense, and specifically if they attack your home base, city or castle. If you were to try to use it offensively, it would decimate your own armies. That is why we should stay here to defend Camelot, instead of attacking others. You wouldn't send an archer to the front lines to fight hand to hand against heavy infantry, they would be decimated, their place is stand behind your forces and rain arrows upon your opponent. We have just discharged our duties for a Lord, were released, and now are looking for some knowledge. We will help defend Camelot, but we cannot be part of a standing army to leave.

    Adam

    Mon Mar 17 2008 10:05 am #
19. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "But, this is a defense. All of Angland is my home base, and anyone who opposes that is attacking me. Bah, foreigners. You don't understand that?"

    --M. J. Young

    Wed Mar 19 2008 12:07 am #
20. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    We understand that, you must understand that magic doesn't act the same way as you think. If I were to do as your ask, your army would be in ruins, and you'd have a problem. This way is best, besides we are here to learn, not fight.

    Adam

    Wed Mar 19 2008 9:56 am #
21. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "Bah. All right, I see there's no persuading you. Tell my Castellan where he can find you if there's trouble, so he can send a messenger. Did you get some of the mutton? How about more drink? What are you drinking? Wench, we need more to drink!

    "So, tell me about this homeland of yours--the Castle of the Six Cities, or whatever it was called. How far is it from Angland, and what is it like there?"

    --M. J. Young

    Thu Mar 20 2008 1:56 am #
22. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    *grins*

    The Castle of Six Cities is a world away, it's on the civil part of the continent that it is on. The Castle is a misnomer, there are a group of six cities inclosed with a 30 foot wall, that is imbued with magic to stand the test of time. I'm from Center, the hub of the Castle, it's a merchant town, nearly everyone there is involved with commerce of some sort. The other 5 are close to the wall, Avon is a town of wizards, and anything magical can be learned or gotten at a real high price, it was much too expensive for me to go there for anything for most of my life. Goldfarb is a farming community, it is also the biggest source of Goldrod known, which is a powerful natural healing agent. Kingsteeple is the ruling town of the city, and also the home of priests of many faiths. Darklake is a boating town, full of theives and low brow pirates and assassins, most people leave that town alone, it has it's uses for information. Deathknell is a tomb, not a town perse, but nearby games of all sorts are held all times of the year, it's a good place to test your skills. If your asking me if I miss my country, I don't, my parents were murdered there, my brother, his wife and kids have made a life for themselves somewhere else. My friends were also taken from me there, and my destiny lied elsewhere. I prefer being on the road, exploring, learning, and that's why I'm here. Yes I've had the mutton, it is good.

    Adam

    Thu Mar 20 2008 4:10 am #
23. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    He asks several things during your description.

    ...there are a group of six cities inclosed with a 30 foot wall....

    "Six cities inside the one wall? That's incredible! I've never heard of such a wall. Not even the Romans have built such a thing, and Rome stands, they say, on seven hills. And one of them a farm? Your wall must be a thousand miles! How on earth did they build such a thing?"

    ...the home of priests of many faiths.

    "Priests of many faiths? And they don't kill each other? You live in a strange land, my friend. How can these priests get along with each other?"

    full of theives and low brow pirates and assassins....

    "And your knights have not cleaned it out? What's the point of having a walled community if the brigands are within the walls?"

    --M. J. Young

    Thu Mar 20 2008 10:02 pm #
24. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    "Necessity is the mother of invention, there was much magic involved, as well as hundreds of thousands of people and demihumans involved. They were giving themselves shelter from the Crimson Pentical Knights, who rule the lands with an iron fist. Imagine your own knights with the power of Merlin, who believe that anyone who doesn't meet their vision of perfection are locked away or killed. They have since been broken and defeated since I left, though I'm certain they remain in other lands.

    "They get along, because they have to, violence between priests of faiths means their entire Church is thrown out of the Castle, and no faith can afford to not have their representatives in the Castle."

    "Darklake has it's own soldiers and Overlord, and unfortunatly they control the trade in and out of the Castle. They are a necessary evil, better than the Crimson Pentical Knights, or the Tinneans, Follows of Set. I don't like Darklake, and I have had my problems there, it's better than the alternatives."

    Adam

    Thu Mar 20 2008 11:01 pm #
25. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "What in blazes is a demihuman? Do you mean Africans?"

    "The thieves control your trade routes? I understand your desire to leave--dishonest merchants are undoubtedly a worse curse than dishonest nobles."

    --M. J. Young

    Sat Mar 22 2008 1:32 am #
26. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    "Um sure, that's probably the closest thing in your reference. Well, I'm sure your tired, and want to spend time alone, we should be getting back to the inn. It was very interesting meeting you Uther, and may you live in interesting times."

    *I'm going to assume he lets us leave*

    *when out of earshot*

    "That has to be the dumbest, rudest, ignorant man I have ever met, and of course he's in authority. Let's give him a wide birth, I don't know if I won't punch him to death the next time I see him. Anyway, we made our introduction, tomorrow we start making the cabin. With our strength, we should be able to topple and move trees easier than most, move them in place, it's a good thing we left with our army supplies, looks like we're going to use those camp axes and machettes some more use."

    Adam

    Sat Mar 22 2008 2:05 am #
27. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    Yes, as dinner ends you depart. There is a fair amount of coming and going in the daytime, so you easily leave the area.

    This was dinner, so it is now approaching nightfall--maybe sunset, maybe dusk. What are your plans for the evening and the night?

    --M. J. Young

    Mon Mar 24 2008 2:40 am #
28. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    Going back to the inn, having a drink, then to bed.

    Adam

    Mon Mar 24 2008 9:57 am #
29. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    The innkeeper offers you supper, and Geneice thanks him but explains that you've already eaten and would like something to drink before you retire.

    You have a good night and are up the next morning bright and early and well rested. Breakfast will be available shortly.

    --M. J. Young

    Tue Mar 25 2008 6:23 am #
30. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    *We will wait for breakfast, then head out to Merlin's, looking for a good spot to start the cabin*

    Adam

    Tue Mar 25 2008 9:55 am #
31. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    It starts raining shortly after breakfast, and comes down hard as you are walking. It's difficult to figure out what exactly would be a good spot to build a cabin.

    I should ask what exactly you are hoping to find in connection with this search--what needs to be there for it to be a good spot. You won't find it today, but at least we need to know what you are seeking.

    When you step into Merlin's grove, you realize that it is not raining within--or more specifically, it is raining on the trees and plants, but not in the open spaces between them. He has a bonfire going in the center of the area.

    "Ah, good, you've arrived. Come over here and get warmed and dried, and we'll talk about how we are going to proceed today."

    --M. J. Young

    Wed Mar 26 2008 12:54 am #
32. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    For the cabin, close to the grove, but also close enough to the road to fine. That's pretty much it, trees to use for building would work.

    *we'll talk with Merlin with what he wants us to do today*

    Adam

    Wed Mar 26 2008 1:02 am #
33. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    "Well, let's see. I think the best place to start is for us to bring Jade up to speed. The way for us to do that--you know quite a few powers already. What do you think would be the easiest one for her to learn, that is, for you to teach her? What after that? Let's get a list of what you want to teach Jade, and then start on it, and I'll oversee the process, helping you figure out what it is you are doing and how to get her to do the same thing. That way you'll have a better grasp of the magic you already know, and she will know what you know, and I will be able to see exactly what you are doing and how you are doing it--your preferred techniques, as it were.

    "So, Jade is your pupil; where do you begin?"

    --M. J. Young

    Thu Mar 27 2008 12:13 am #
34. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    I know you want me to spell it out, but I don't have the patience to do so in game. I will start teaching her my easiest Psionic Skills, starting with Read Minds, and working my way up, making sure she isn't making giant steps. I think my highest Psi skill she doesn't have is one way force field. Once she knows the basics of Psi, we will do the same with Magic skills, starting with receive assurance to jump. I understand his teaching style, I am interested in learning what he knows when we are up to speed.

    Adam

    Fri Mar 28 2008 10:35 pm #
35. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    You teach her to read surface thoughts fairly easily; she's a quick student, generally, and you've got experience teaching her particularly.

    She picks up the invisibility even easier, although it took quite a long day to teach her both skills.

    You show her how to do the Jedi Mind Trick the next day, although she only really has you and Merlin on whom to try it, and neither of you are particularly good subjects for it.

    The next skill on the list is possession; how will you teach her this?

    --M. J. Young

    Mon Mar 31 2008 1:41 am #
36. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    Well I will tell her that when I do a possession, I think of my Body and Soul as two different aspects of myself, and I'm leaping out of my body with my Soul and leaping into some else's and taking control. I will volunteer myself for this, and tell her not to do anything I wouldn't do with my body. :P

    Adam

    Mon Mar 31 2008 9:52 pm #
37. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    Geneice seems to do it right, but when she attempts to seize control of you, your will fights back and keeps her from doing so.

    Still, she learned the skill; she just didn't succeed in grabbing control of you.

    When you indicate that you are moving to the clairsentient skills, Merlin questions why you are going to those next instead of to defenses. "It is evident that you know how to possess, and that you have a powerful will to fight against possession; but have you not learned any skills for blocking the efforts of others to possess you--or for that matter, to read your mind or make a suggestion to you? Or were you saving those for later?"

    --M. J. Young

    Tue Apr 1 2008 7:26 am #
38. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    "Well I made skills on an as needed basis. I didn't come across anyone with the same abilities, so I didn't focus my attentions to learn them. If I had the need for such skills, I would gladly teach Jade what I know, which right now is nothing. But I figure that's why your asking to figure out what I know and what I don't so I know what I can be taught in when the time comes."

    *will wait for him to interject, before going to the next skills, since I don't know if he is offering to teach them now, or wait till later*

    Adam

    Tue Apr 1 2008 10:58 am #
39. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    He nods at your response, and says that there are other wizards against whom you will want to have such defenses, but that you will get to them in due time.

    You note that as you explain these skills to Geneice, you are getting good at them.

    Over the next few days you work your way carefully through the detect and clairsentient skills, teaching her to detect life, hear and see remotely, and in what is the most difficult for her, extend all her senses into a remote sensory presence.

    She asks why, if you could do all these things, you used the spy gear when you worked for British Intelligence. Merlin asks what the spy gear is, and all about how it works and what it does.

    Merlin also keeps you at a pace, so that you don't overdo the teaching on any one day.

    --M. J. Young

    Wed Apr 2 2008 9:33 pm #
40. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    "Jade, in that world, magic and psionics were hard to do, and I've blown myself out of two worlds by using magic or psionics before. I used it only a handful of times, since I wanted to receive training in martial arts, and technology. I show Merlin some of the things we have, that how the world will eventually favor technology and forget about magic and psionics"

    *continuing with the training and whatever pace*

    Adam

    Thu Apr 3 2008 8:50 am #
41. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    Merlin asks some very insightful questions concerning how everything works, what provides the energy, what controls it. You and Geneice of course have a fairly solid background in electricity and electronics because of your computer and security skills, and his ability to absorb and understand answers based on a technology centuries in the future is impressive.

    You begin the telekinetics. She picks up the TK pulse remarkably quickly, having skill nearly equal to yours by mid morning. By lunchtime she is doing the out-of-sight telekinesis also impressively well for a beginner, and by mid-afternoon she is working with moving flexible objects and controling multiple points independently.

    Your next listed skills include resisting injury from burns and from blows, plus your microscopic vision. The first two suggest the possibility of injury in the teaching process. How do you propose to proceed with these?

    --M. J. Young

    Thu Apr 3 2008 8:09 pm #
42. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    Well for the burns, I'll light a torch and try to burn her arm, as for the blows, I will throw punches, no style, no special punch, and have her try to absorb them, I am assuming she is ok with this, she's not a wimp, but I wouldn't think to do that without asking. The microscopic vision is easy, she's used a microscope, I will liken that skill by turning your eyes into one.

    Adam

    Fri Apr 4 2008 12:25 pm #
43. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    She impresses herself with blocking the burn from the torch.

    Your punch, even unmodified, is damaging (thanks to your second level martial strike value), and although she psionically reduces the injury, it's still injurious.

    She masters the microscopic vision.

    You take advantage of her injury to show her how to diagnose medical problems, and then how to heal her own damage.

    It is late in the day by this time, and Merlin suggests that your energy control skills wait for daybreak.

    Also, you've been putting so much time into this, you haven't built your log cabin, but are camping in the woods at the present. You've got the gear for it, so that's not a problem.

    --M. J. Young

    Sat Apr 5 2008 2:36 am #
44. 

    Jhiaxus
    Member

    Well I figure if we can camp while learning, no big deal, I have a feeling Merlin's grove is temperate and protected so if he has no problem with us camping, I have no problem camping. Onto the next day's training.

    Adam

    Sat Apr 5 2008 1:46 pm #
45. 

    M. J. Young
    Moderator

    You are correct about the weather in Merlin's grove. Even though it sometimes rains outside, the water seems to be diverted down the tree trunks and into the ground.

    You spend the morning with Geneice learning how to start a fire entirely by thought; it requires very fine dry tinder to do it as a beginner, but she gets the sense of it and is able to get fires going reasonably well under good conditions. You also find this getting easier.

    Then you use the fire as the source of energy to show her how to redirect this, and with some difficulty she masters that by the end of the day.

    The next day you prepare to teach her your molecular manipulation skills, and Merlin again interrupts. This time he observes that you've not taught her any skills in direct mind-to-mind attacks.

    --M. J. Young

    Sun Apr 6 2008 9:28 pm #

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