Ice Weather We're Having

This thread continues Graham's game from Really Bad Eggs, where we finally caught the summary up to the point where he was shot in the back of the head with a silver bullet; this takes us into Graham's fifth world.

We join our hero atop a small hill buried in deep snow. He's just finished gathering his local belongings, which include the usual contents of his pockets, his glasses, and his spiked helmet. (I've sent the most recent copy of your character sheet. Anything not on it is elsewhere.)

It's cold. You're dressed in your leather boots, wool uniform pants, and brass helmet. Last you saw your shirt and jacket, they were stuffed under a fallen log on a tropical island. Thoughts, actions?

A quick curse, followed by a quick sob. I sit down in the snow, and attempt to perform my resist cold ability. Regardless of success/failure, the next thing I'll try to do will be to grow fur based off of my cosmetic transformation.

Intended affect: Whole chest and back, along with arms, and expanding my already present facial hair.

If that fails, I'll try it on one isolated area at a time, perhaps my chest first then my arms then my face.

If either of those works, next I'll attempt to grow almost paw-like hands; basically, normal hands with the fur from before, with a thicker, leathery skin on my palms. No claws at this point.

Then, if any/all of that succeeds, I'll head out towards the mesa you mentioned in live play.

If any/all of that fails, I'll head out toward the mesa and attempt everything that failed in that order every half-and hour or so, roughly keeping time with my pocket watch.

That's all for now, I'm off to school.

I may have mentioned a mesa during live play, but what I probably meant was "glacier." Apologies. It's about mid-morning, the sun is out, and you can see the sunlight gleaming off the ice from here.

You try to recall how you fought off the cold while Rain had you immersed in that mountain stream, but you just can't remember it right now; you're missing some crucial step. You only ever did it once, and you never practiced.

The same thing happens when you try to grow fur (which isn't something you've specifically done before). It's frustrating, but nothing seems to be working.

Your pocketwatch says it's 7:14. Do you still want to hike toward the glacier, or would you prefer another direction? You do have an equipment vector.

_

Rolls: 45, 81, 93, 81, 30. Verdict: failures. Too bad, the all-over fur might've been a new use.

If it changes anything, I was trying to learn a new skill of body alteration, since when I think of Cosmetic Only, I think that means Not Immediately Practical. So, whereas changing the color/length/shape of my hair, nails, skin may be indirectly practical in my use of it, it doesn't naturally benefit me like fur would.

Closing my eyes and focusing, I'll figure out where all my equipment vectors are. If I can tell one is immediately closer than the other, I'll walk in that direction. If not, I'll walk about a hundred feet or so forward, paying attention to which one changes the most rapidly and then heading in that direction. I am hoping to find my jacket and shirt, which will be immensely helpful. Once I've got whatever I find, I'll attempt the resist cold again. If I don't find my jacket, I'll also attempt to learn this new skill and grow fur. Then, after finding that equipment and attempting those skills, I'll levitate about 15 feet up while sitting down, and then forward towards the glacier for as far as I can go, then walking, then trying again every 15 minutes or so by my pocket watch. The point is to conserve my physical strength as much as possible, since night is going to be rough.

In this case, no, it changes nothing, but I'll keep it in mind for your future attempts. (I would allow you to grow fur with the cosmetic skill, but its effectiveness would depend on relative success: a roll of 10, for example, would be a light, hairy coating that would benefit you approximately not-at-all, while a successful 50 would be a warm layer of fur. With a more comprehensive morphing skill, practical fur coats would be easier.)

To be clear, you're envisioning a skill that would let you alter your body essentially however you pleased?

_

You've got only one equipment vector. As usual, you have a direction, but not a distance. You start walking.

After a while, you try your resistance again; failing, you try the morph. No results.

I'll levitate about 15 feet up while sitting down, and then forward towards the glacier for as far as I can go

Does this mean you want to psionically move yourself forward once you've levitated?

In any case, your levitation (again, you've only done it once before) also fails. It's as if the cold is keeping you from thinking straight.

The glacier is noticeably closer, though you can't tell how far away your stuff might be. Your watch says 7:30.

___
Skill rolls: 69 (cold resistance), 17 (skill learning), 74 (levitation). No success.

To the question about levitation; yes, I was basing it off of a "Levitate up, then levitate forward" mentality.

Anyway, continuing with the plan; find equipment, go towards glacier, attempting skills along the way. Either I'll grow fur or I'll botch trying, I suppose.

After an hour of trudging through the snow, you find your shirt and uniform jacket. They're only a little damp from lying on the snow. You feel a little better with them on, but you're still far too cold. None of your psionic skills have worked so far.

You still feel that equipment pull, in the same direction as before. At some point, you remember that you haven't had a meal since your last dinner with Bear Cave Clan.

Between you and the glacier (which is much closer now, perhaps half the distance you've traveled already), a few hundred yards ahead, there's a stream or river of some kind. There's definitely some vegetation growing along the banks, and there may be animal tracks.

___
Resist cold: 15, 85, 48, failed.
Morphing: 27, 75, 68, failed.
Levitation: 13, 69, 27, failed.

I abandon the vector for now and run towards the stream. Upon first arrival, I'll look for signs of life; tracks, droppings, etc. and examine the vegetation. Does it look like anything from home? I'll touch it, smell it, and look at it closely, trying to see any resemblance. I'll take a few cautious sips from the water, and see if any of the plants look edible.

I sit and pause by the stream. I close my eyes and collect myself, attempting again Resist Cold and growing fur. Then, I'll perform an area mindscan, at first attempting around 100 ft, then adjusting it to 300 ft, then to 500 ft (all within one mindscan). If I fail the 100, then I'll try again with 300.

I'm not sure what you mean by "all within one mindscan;" all I can think of is that you want to adjust the area of a mindscan already in progress, gaining some rough distance information thereby. Since I'd make you check the skill again to do that anyway, it's three rolls either way, so for this post it doesn't matter 'cause everything fails (28, 24, 59).

The plant life on the edge of the steam is plentiful, mostly grasses and other tough herbaceous species. There are also a variety of aquatic plants in the stream, which is otherwise clear. The plants seem earth-normal, at least; how much do you know about various plant species? As for which are edible, you could make some guesses based on what you ate while you were with Bear Cave Clan. Are you alright eating something that's probably edible? You're pretty hungry.

There are tracks on both sides of the stream. Some are from hoofed quadrupeds – horses, perhaps, or reindeer – and at least one print is some kind of large dog or similar. Terrain here is slightly hilly, and the stream doesn't flow quite straight.

The water is clear, fresh, and very cold. It's warmer than the air, though.

Your mindscan attempts are disappointing failures. You just can't seem to get into the zone.

The water is warmer than the air? Seriously? Like, I'd rather be in the water than in the air?

For the plants, anything that looks even remotely edible will suffice. I'm pretty good about telling what kinds of plants shouldn't be eaten, but no professional skills or anything like that. Basing plant choice from what the Bear Clan ate would probably be a good idea.

What direction does the stream head in relation to the glacier? Checking the sun, which way is north (I know that the sun rises in the east, sets in the west)?

If the water is indeed warmer than the air (like, I'll be warmer in the water than not), next I'll need to know how deep it is. I'm sorry I keep asking, but it just doesn't seem right for it to be warmer than the air. If I will really be warmer in the stream and it's fairly deep, I'll get into the deepest part of the stream and head in the direction of the glacier (or the closest angle). Once it seems like I'm moving more away than towards the glacier, I'll get out of the stream gradually and head towards the glacier.

I am detecting a flat-line psi world, and this makes me sad. Oh well. I still have my revolver, right? That will probably be helpful if I need to hunt, which I'm not morally inclined to do.

(It could very well be literally warmer than the air if it's fed from a hot spring. It's not /that/ biz... okay it kinda is that bizarre... but you're a Verser - weird stuff is kind stock in trade, no?)

This is a pretty scatter-shot post, but I trust you can re-read it enough to pick out all the important points.

Yes, you still have your revolver. Everything on the equipment list in the character sheet I sent you a few days ago is currently on your person. (While you're looking at it, go ahead and remove the note that says your uniform is missing the shirt and coat; you found those.) As far as weapons go, that includes your revolver, your flintlock, King Rudolph's saber, and possibly something else that I'm forgetting, along with spare ammunition for both firearms. The spare bullets for the flintlock come in paper packets that also contain the gunpowder for that shot.

You have to dig the plants up with your bare hands, but you find and scarf down some things that at very least aren't inedible. You even find a few dandelions. They're tougher to chew than the ones Bear Cave served. You're still hungry, but the greens helped.

The sun's pretty high in the sky. As near as you can guess, the way you've been heading (i.e., toward the glacier) is generally northish. The stream meanders, but you're pretty sure the glacier is more upstream of it than down.

Speaking of the stream, don't get the wrong impression - the water is icy cold. It's just that the air is colder. (After all, you know the water is above the freezing point . . .) Yes, you might be warmer in the water. How warm you would be once you left the water is another matter entirely. The stream bead is perhaps four feet deep in the very middle; you're not sure about the footing at that point. The current is relatively swift.

You're shivering pretty badly. Your pants are soaked up to the knees, and you feel that if you don't find a way to get warm soon, things may go poorly.

Do you still plan to follow the stream, and if so which way, and are you thinking of doing it in the water or out of it?

The water is warmer than the air? Seriously? Like, I'd rather be in the water than in the air?

Found a cave with a baby bear inside, fired off three shots, baby bear ran out of cave. Went into cave, got out pirate pistol, napped. Mother bear came back, fired pistol, was mauled, then died.

Next World
Woke up in restaurant, an IHOP. Attempted to find university, was informed of game. This world was an alternative version of a USA city around the modern time. Once I got to the university, there was an explosion off in the distance. I went back to the explosion and found a riot zone. I persuaded the officers to let me through. At this point, my silver helmet was switched for a riot helmet. I followed scriff sense to a hotel, then ditched the officer that followed me. I busted down a hotel door room with my revolver out calling out “Police!” and found some of my old stuff. Some of it I disowned, and some of it I took with me. I wandered around the sprawling city for a little while, and eventually found a strip of shops. I was sneaking around the back and found an open door. I ducked inside and found a magic shop. There, I bought a magic knife. Upon stepping out of the shop, I entered the riot scene. A man tried to attack me and I slashed him. I walked down the street, people avoided me, and I walked into an ice cream shop. I ate some ice cream and went into the back and slept. The ice cream shop was set on fire, and I left, only to walk into the hands of the police officers waiting outside. Into jail I went, they took everything but my knife which they overlooked completely. The police officer comes to collect people for bail. He called someone’s name, and I stood up and walked towards him. I pulled out the knife and gutted him, then immediately ran. I was followed, but I ran into an alley. Two cops were following me, and in the alley I hid behind a dumpster. One circled around and had enough room to fire off some shots when I ran at him, but they all missed except one. I stabbed him, but then he shot me again. I died.