Almost forgot. Don't forget to ask "What Dragon?" before I leave, or if I am asked to stay.
The blacksmith shop is simply full of objects that could be knocked over by a TK pulse; I'll assume you pick one at random.
The first roll, on the hammer, fails; but with the second roll you knock over the anvil.
"Impressive," the blacksmith says. "Help me stand it back up."
As to what dragon, "What, do you think I'm an expert on dragons? All I know is people say there's a dragon in the mountains. Might be a hundred dragons out there, might be all nonsense. A farmer loses a cow and says a dragon ate it; did he see a dragon, or did he just want to hide the fact that he don't know how to take care of his own cows? Might be a dragon, but I know nothing about dragons but what people say."
--M. J. Young
"Well, what do people say? Where I'm from, there were dragons a long time ago. They were called "Dinosaurs." Some people say that some of them survived and became the dragons of lore. In a place called China, dragons were said to flourish. The drawings done of these dragons matched exactly with the scientific descriptions of dinosaurs from the fossil record. That's probably way over your head, but it's OK. Not many people from my land believed it either. So, do I believe in dragons? I believe they are possible. Tell me everything you know about the supposed dragon."
Go over to the fallen anvil, and try to TK pick it up, while I use my hands at the same time. I need to see if the TK works in this world or not.
Do I get a new use for knocking over the anvil?
Clarification: if you were at my table and wanted to use telekinesis in a world in which it would not work, I would let you roll for it and then tell you it did not work; it would be up to you to determine whether it didn't work because the roll was too high or it didn't work because it won't work in this world.
I don't do that in forum games because of the Behind the Screens thread.
See, I don't post the rolls "out here" where you can see them, but back there; and that's also where I post the explanations of the results. Thus in the live game there are three levels--the events of the character in the game world, your view of the dice, and my analysis of the results which is unknown to you--but in the forum game that is compressed to two. There is no point to me to rolling the dice, posting "he rolled a 17, which fails because the bias is flatlined." Those who have been around will remember me writing "I'm not going to roll because the bias is flatlined, although I would roll in a live game because the player wouldn't know that."
I am certain that Kyler "rolled the dice" for your TK attempt earlier because he had no intention of telling you that the bias was flatlined; he was not giving you the same kinds of details I give, but only telling you the rolls you would know in play. I can't do that in this game, because the point of having me run games is to demonstrate how those decisions are reached, which means explaining them.
I find it difficult to believe that you never used the TK pulse to knock something over. I could be wrong, though, so correct me if you really believe that's the case.
"Haven't you been listening? I already told you more than I know. Farmers sometimes claim that dragons ate their livestock, but only them as are on the edges of the kingdom in the mountains. Who knows if there are dragons there or not? King's got bigger problems, with his daughters and all. He's not chasing dragons as long as they're only eating an occasional cow."
--M. J. Young
Well, I did not realize that about the dice rolls. I just assumed that he wouldn't roll for it if it was flatlined. Mea Culpa, as you would say.
Yes, I have used TK pulse to knock an object over, but not an object that big and heavy, which is why I asked if I was getting a new use.
"Well, I would like to see that dragon up close, but perhaps another day. If it comes for me, I'm going to feed it a load of molten lead, but if it leaves me in peace, I'll leave it in peace. What about the king's daughters? I've taken a vow of celibacy a long time ago, so I'm not interested in them for that, but what's wrong with them?"
After he explains that, ask him if I can keep my guns and ammo around, now that I explained that there is nothing magical to them. Also, ask if he can teach me blacksmithing now.
OK MJ, I'll compromise with you. How about someone that can teach me the @0 and @1 psionic skills while I'm here? I know you like playing as The Architect, bring him back into the game.
The story about the princesses goes something like this. According to sources within the palace, each night the princesses retire to their room (the three of them share a room). The room is checked, the windows secured, and the doors locked. They are never seen leaving the room, and no significant sound comes from it. However, in the morning they are exhausted, as if they have been up all night--and they each wear out a pair of slippers every night.
The king is concerned for their health and well-being, but moreso that some witchcraft seems to be involved here, preventing his daughters from resting. The girls report nothing, and even claim to have slept all night and have no understanding of why they are so tired.
The king has offered a reward to anyone who can put an end to the trouble, such that the girls get a good night's rest, and particularly if that man can tell the cause of the trouble. The reward includes that he can marry his choice of the three princesses.
- The eldest of the three, Margaret, is approaching her twenty-first birthday, when she will become heir to the throne. All three are beautiful, but hers is a stately and proud beauty, a woman born to be queen. Her husband will be king of the nation upon the death or retirement of the current king, who is already elderly.
The middle, nineteen-year-old Nerene, is quiet, demure, shy. She has been the center of attention at many of the royal balls, but no one has won her affection.
Olivia, the youngest, is seventeen, outgoing, and a bit of a tomboy. She rides, she hunts, she is the favorite of the royal guard and has learned a bit of weapon skill from them. Her adventurous spirit has broken many hearts already.
There is also wealth and power included in the promise--a great deal of gold.
However, the king does not want pretenders. Anyone who believes he can save the princesses will be admitted to the castle and given one night to do so. If in the morning the problem has not been solved, he will be executed.
I'm sure that John will teach you some of the work as soon as you return from that trip you were taking to the inn; the apprentice is waiting for some of that cake, or whatever goodies they might have, which you offered.
--M. J. Young
Speaking to the blacksmith
"The daughters are sleepwalking. I used to do that as a child. I would go to bed in my room, and wake up in the living room with the television turned on. (no joke) Nothing to worry about. They don't need a magician, they need a doctor. I don't know how to fix it, and if the penalty for failure is execution, I'm not even going to try. I'll go back to the inn now, and see what's what, and I'll be back shortly."
Going back to the inn, I ask if they have long-term rates for the rooms, and if so, how much is it? I explain that I might be staying for quite a while, how long can I stay for, and how much will it cost?
Then to the restaurant, get a mug of mead for the blacksmith, and whatever passes for candy and cake in this world. Then go back, and ask Mr. Smith if I can learn blacksmithing. Keep the 9 mm in the belt bag that I am wearing.
When I get back, as Mr. Smith if he can teach me how to make locking handcuffs. All you have to do with a sleepwalker is keep them from getting out of bed. A pair of locked handcuffs on each wrist and chained to the bed would take care of that problem. Geeze, it's my oldest fantasy come to life.
Incidentally, they do not have cake at the inn. They have bread and butter and honey and jam, and that's about as close as you get there. Still, for the apprentice, that's a special treat.
He asks what you mean by "handcuffs", but when you describe them he responds, "Oh, manacles. Sure, I can make them. The bolts are a bit of work, but it can be done. It's a bit late in the day to start, though; can we do a pair tomorrow?"
I'm assuming that you'll head to the inn to spend the night, and be back early in the morning. John says he starts work before sunrise, to take advantage of the cool of the morning with the hot fire.
--M. J. Young
What about the long-term rates at the inn? How much and how long?
"Yeah, we are going to need between 3 and 6 sets of manacles. All we have to do is chain the princesses into bed with those, and the sleepwalking problem should be solved. I don't know what time I'll be here tomorrow, but I'll get here as soon as I can. Something else Mr. Smith, if I'm correct in my assumption that the ladies are sleepwalking, and this solves it, I remember my friends. I'll cut you in on the deal. If I'm wrong, well, it won't be your head that falls into the chopping basket."
(I did find the fairy tale you were referring to here, but I'm going to pretend like I don't know what the solution is, since I didn't know yesterday)
With all due respect, it cannot be "late in the day" I came here first thing when I woke up, and I've been here ever since. It couldn't be much past noon, unless we've been talking for 15 solid hours.
I just realized, I'm not on earth. Are days radically shorter here? If the day is only 4 hours long, then yes, it could be "late in the day" in which case, I'm going to bed, and won't see the blacksmith again for 2 or 3 days hahaha.
Well, if it IS late in the day, I'm going back to the inn to get some dinner, and I'll crash out after that.
If he starts work before sunrise, noon may very well be "late in the day" in this context. Of course, I'm neither a blacksmith, your ref, or the player . . .
I will admit that I made the day a bit short, perhaps. On the other hand, there's no reason to think that you were up before sunrise, nor even out of the inn much before noon. Then you had to follow the sound of the hammer to find him. You interrupted him to have him look at your bicycle, which probably took a lot longer than you think (after all, you were showing him a marvel of advanced technology--if someone were to bring you a flechette gun and ask you if you knew anything about it, I'd bet you'd be looking at it for an hour or more. Then you had several conversations about the guns, and the thing about the cake, and you knocked over the anvil and stood it up, and you took the apprentice to the inn for cake--and as Scott observes, the blacksmith is up before dawn, so he probably quits in the mid to late afternoon so he can get his dinner before dark.
Besides, if the thing you want to make takes ten to twelve concentrated hours, it's not something he's going to start later than sunrise.
It is not yet sunset, but then, probably there isn't a lot happening after dark. The blacksmith is still working on a few projects, including shoeing a horse and working on a bit. It's not that he's quitting for the day, but that he thinks it too late to start something as involved as a set of manacles.
--M. J. Young
Actually, I own a flechette gun. They're not as advanced as you may believe. They were invented in the Vietnam conflict, if I'm not mistaken. Kind of hard to find ammo for it, but the guns themselves can be gotten at any gun store.
"Well Mr. Smith, it's been a pleasure. I'm going to retire back to my room and I'll be back in the morning. Don't know what time though. As far as paying you for the job here, I'll make you a deal. If this works, and stops the problems the princesses are having, I'll cut you in on the deal. We can talk about the percentages later. You're doing all the work, but it won't be your head in the chopping basket if I'm wrong. We will work something out. I think that would make both of us rich beyond our wildest dreams. If it fails, it fails. Just for your trouble, I'm going to leave you this (Gesturing to the 30-06 and the 4 remaining bullets) Keep it. See if you can figure out how to copy it. Perhaps someday you will."
I then explain the way the mechanisms work, and how and why it fires, the capabilities of it, etc.
"C ya tomorrow"
Oh and in case you think I'm lying about having a flechette gun. The thing you don't understand is that a standard 12 gauge shotgun can be modified to fire flechettes. I own a 12 gauge, so I own a flechette gun hahaha.
Mea culpa. I should have said a rail gun, which is what I meant, really--a gun that fires metal projectiles by means of electromagnetism.
There is some talk at the inn about the King's search for someone who can save his daughters, and about the execution of the latest supposed hero to attempt unsuccessfully to do so. There is also talk of the weather, the crops and herds, and similar agrarian news. No one mentions dragons. Someone mentions a new priest in a village some miles away.
You get a good night's sleep, and in the morning arrive at the blacksmith's shop in the pale light of dawn to hear him already hammering.
"Ah, there you are, John. Here, we've got to make three sets of these for them to be any use to you, and it's going to be a job. So let me show you how I make them, and then while I'm making the second you can follow my lead and make the third yourself."
The first part seems to be to hammer out flat bands, about two inches wide, and cut them to about four to five inches long; you need two of these. Then a loop is fused to the backs of each. This involves bringing the bands to a temperature so high in that one spot that you can melt another piece into it and then cool it. These bands then have to be hammered into most of a circle, by heating them and placing them over the end of the anvil, the pointed curved bit that sticks out, and shaping them by hammering. The ends of the bar are bent out, and a spike driven through them to create four holes.
Making chains takes several hours, as each link must be hammered individually and joined to the next, and then sealed closed. They are not perfect, because it is almost impossible to fuse the ends without damaging other links.
The toughest part is the threaded bolts which pass through the holes and secure into a block on the other side.
The hand is slipped through the manacle, then the bolts are inserted and tightened, bending the bands closer to the wrists so that the hand cannot be pulled back (assuming that the subject's hand is larger in diameter than both the wrist and the minimum diameter of the bands). Removing them requires loosening the bolts and then prying them open with a prybar.
That, anyway, is the design used by this blacksmith.
You work at it all day, and learn quite a few basic techniques, your understanding of the science behind metals working to your advantage. In the end you've produced a fine set of manacles, prompting the blacksmith to say, "You've done this before, have you?"
--M. J. Young
"I've USED them before, but I've never MADE them. Now, we need to sew some padding inside there. I have needles and thread in my kit here (the 14 inch survival knife.) If we can get some rabbit pelts and tan them, I could sew them inside the wrists. That would probably work a lot better. I have a feeling that the king is not going to like the idea of chaining his daughters into bed like criminals. Well, do you know where to get rabbit pelts? Perhaps we could go hunting for some? Or trapping? I've read a few books on making traps, and I did go rabbit hunting a few times. (Only killed one rabbit though.) (1@2 hunting, 1@1 trapping, if you need it) What do you think?"
If he says yes, try to invite myself in for dinner, and then see what he knows about hunting and trapping. Ask the blacksmith if he knows how to "live off of the land." Survive by hunting, trapping, fishing, etc. Maybe he knows how to build shelters for the night.
If he says no, ask what time tomorrow he wants me back, and if we can get pelts that are already tanned.
Also, I disowned my 30-06. I've giving it to the blacksmith. If I don't survive my encounter with the king, he can keep it.
1@3 blacksmithing? Awesome!!!! Oh and yes, I know what a rail gun is. I would tell them what I know, if asked, and yes, I would want to check that puppy out!!!! So you were right. Just wrong word choice.
How much silver do I have? Kyler said that I spent 4 1 once silvers on dinner and a room my first night here. Should be 15 silver when you came in. How much have I spent? Four silvers!!! That means I spent almost $120 on dinner and a room!!! Well, $120 B monster world dollars. I would be thinking about that, so I thought I'd mention it.
Note to self. Don't forget to ask Mr. Smith if he would like to move into the castle with me. If this idea works, I might become king (doubtful) and Mr. Smith could come and work there. Be my adviser.
Note to self: Don't forget to use TK pulse to propel hammer down harder when blacksmithing. Roll until I get a new use, and then it's practice.
Note to self: I know the chemical composition of solder. That could only be useful to the blacksmith, and he can almost certainly make it too.
Note to self: I also know a lot of mechanical devices that Mr. Smith COULD make. Things like ratchets, ball bearings, gears, and I'm sure a host of others that you cannot think of at the moment. And my bike has examples for all of them.
Skills are detailed behind the screens.
He refers you to a leatherworker in another village for the fur. It is a couple miles away.
The innkeeper says you don't owe him for the next couple nights. He had to have your foreign silver checked, to make sure it was pure, but now that he knows it's good you're paid up through the week.
Plans for the night or the next day?
--M. J. Young
For tonight, get some dinner, and try to amuse myself with the local nightlife. Find out as much as I can about the dragon and the daughters.
Tomorrow, show Mr. Smith my roll of solder, and demonstrate how you could solder two pieces of metal together. Using a red-hot piece of metal as a soldering iron, demonstrate how you would solder wire together.
When he comments on it, tell him how to make solder. 60% lead mixed with 40% tin. It lowers the melting point to lower than either of the two metals. It's not very sturdy, so don't try it for high-load bearing applications, or for things that get hot quickly, but show him how to make it and use it. That could only be useful in his trade.
After that, go to see the leather worker. Walk, don't take the bike. I'm taking my 9 mm, and that 14 inch survival knife as equipment with me. Gold, silver and rings in the belt bag. The Leatherman tool in the black nylon case. Oh and the manacles hahaha.
Concerning the princesses, the King has been seeking a hero for most of a year, and several would-be heroes have been executed for their failures. Most of the story you already know--the princesses go to bed each night, locking the door to their room; the heroes apparently position themselves in the hall, but were the princesses to leave through their window it would be noticed by the guard in the courtyard. Usually the supposed heroes are found asleep outside the door in the morning, never having heard or seen anything, and the three princesses come to breakfast apparently unharmed by exhausted, with slippers completely worn through. No one ever hears anything from the room, and the princesses claim that they simply did not rest well.
I believe that Margaret, Nerene, and Olivia have been described already; the local men will argue about which princess they would marry were they to rescue them. Margaret is the frontrunner on this point, but one of the lead reasons is that whoever marries her will succeed the king on the throne; there are those who admire her confidence and stately bearing, and she is certainly said to be beautiful. As between Nerene and Olivia, there are those who think that the former would make a sweet and obedient wife while the latter would be a handful, while others think that the latter would be a lot of fun and a great companion while the former would just be dull--although everyone admits that they, too, are extremely beautiful.
The person who wishes to save them is supposed to appear at the castle (which is not this castle, but one about fifty miles from here in the capital city), announcing his intention in the morning. During the day he will be shown whatever he wishes to see of the situation, permitted to explore and examine the matter. He will have dinner before nightfall at the King's table with the King and his daughters. At night, he can station himself wherever he wishes outside the room of the princesses; if in the morning he has saved the girls and solved the mystery he will be rewarded, but if they are in the same condition and he has no explanation he will be executed.
Tales of dragons are numerous and sometimes fanciful, always second-hand, about farmers losing livestock to some flying fire-breathing serpent. Some of the farmers claim to have seen the beasts, or to have found tracks where the creature apparently landed and launched (no footprints leading in or out of the area). None of these people have ever seen one, but then, you're pretty far inside the civilized part of the country, and the dragons are supposed to live in the wildlands.
Showing John the Smith solder solidifies his view that you have worked in metal before. He says that the lead-tin alloy you suggest is interesting but, as you admit, not very strong. A harness or chain would snap, and it would be useless for manacles. Even if you carved bolts from it, a strong man could strip them by brute force. Just about anything you could secure with solder you could secure better with a forge and anvil. But he admits he's never seen an alloy quite like it before.
It's about a three hour walk to the "nearby" village where the leatherworker is located. There is another small fort here, and the town around it. You arrive shortly before noon, by all appearances.
--M. J. Young
Still speaking to the blacksmith, before I leave. "Well Mr. Smith, solder may not be very strong, but I'm sure you could think of something you could do with it. It's more for fine, detailed work, as opposed to your brute force work. Still, now you know how to make it, and I'm sure you could think of something you could do with it."
Describe my trip to the next village. Did I encounter anyone? Did I see anything worthy of note?
Once I reach the village, ask around for the leather worker. When I find him, tell him that I need rabbit pelts to line the inside of these manacles. "They're for my future bride" I tell him with a salacious wink.
Also, ask the leather worker where he gets his pelts. Does he hunt? Trap? If it is trapping, ask him if I can stay and learn how he builds animal traps. I have read books on making animal traps, but I have never seen one demonstrated. I want to learn the art of trapping. I'll probably be in the village for a day or two, and I've got silver. Teach me how to make animal traps, and I'll pay you handsomely for the pelts.
Also, teach me how to tan the hides. A basic, beginner course in tanning I guess.
Your trip is uneventful at first. You pass a wagonload of produce headed into town, and the wagoneer waves at you in a friendly enough way.
As you've made about half the trip, though, it starts to rain, and rain hard. Do you have any way to keep dry, or will you simply get drenched?
Whatever you do, it is clear by the time you reach town, and you find the tanner. He does not snare his own pelts and hides, but buys them from trappers and hunters and, of course, from butchers. He learned "as much as anyone else, and not much more" about trapping when he was a boy, and discounts the possibility that he would have learned anything in that vein you don't already know from your own childhood.
There is an inn in this village also, and it seems that the produce you saw on the road had made a delivery here first, so there are fresh eggs and vegetables.
--M. J. Young
Since I'm on foot, I would have tried to hitch a ride with the wagon.
No rain gear. If I don't get the ride with the wagon, I'll just get drenched. It doesn't bother me much. Only consequence is that my cigarettes would have gotten soaked, but I've had that happen before too.
Assuming that I get to the tanner in good shape, show him the manacles. "Can you put fur lining in these?" I ask. "I have silver and I'll pay you."
Next, ask where the trapper is. I do need to learn to make traps whilst I am here. Trappers usually lived in the forest whilst they did their business, but it is possible to catch one out and about. Learn how to make small-game traps.
After that, go to the inn. I'm going to stay here for a day or two before making my return trip. What kinds of things are there? Describe the settlement.
It just occurred to me that hitching a ride in the wagon is probably another roll. If it is another roll, I'll walk. I don't want another situation like TK pulsing the cop where I get hurt over something incredibly asinine and stupid.
In this case, hitching a ride would not require another roll. The wagon I mentioned was going the opposite direction, back where you started, and passed you before it started raining. I would assume that if it was not raining you would not hitch a ride in the opposite direction, and thus that you are going to get wet. The possibility of a wagon to get you out of the rain would be covered by the previous GE roll that brought the rain (a better GE roll might have allowed such an option), although the possibility of finding shelter off the road would be a separate roll. Yes, it could go bad, but probably not that bad, all things considered.
While you are talking with the tanner, a trapper arrives with some pelts. The tanner is willing to create the linings for the manacles as you request, and the trapper is willing to take you with him into the woods tomorrow to show you how he builds his traps, given that you're not from around here and not going to compete with him.
There's a butcher, a baker, a dry goods, a tavern which serves food in addition to the inn which also serves food, but the tavern boasts of its home-brewed meade. There's also a green grocer, freshly stocked from the passing wagon.
There are a few soldiers about, apparently stationed at the small fort to keep order. They eye you suspiciously, as they do not recognize you, but you've seen their type before in the other village. They're little better than ruffians, probably sheriff's men.
Are you seeking anything in particular here?
--M. J. Young
Thank the tanner and the trapper. "I'll be back here tomorrow morning. Will that work for you?"
After that, go to the dry goods and buy as many sets of clothing as one silver piece will get me. I would be wearing the Pearl Harbor jumpsuits, but as they say "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."
After that, go to the tavern, and get some lunch and a large helping of their mead. I'm pretty easy going about my lunches. Meat, salad, potatoes. Should be easy enough. How much silver have I spent here?
My confusion. You wrote,
"I'll be back here tomorrow morning. Will that work for you?"Was that addressed to the tanner, asking whether he would have the shackles done by then, or to the trapper, asking if he'll be ready to take you on his trapping excursion?
I think you can get three sets of peasant-quality clothing for a silver coin, or one fine suit.
You will get some coppers back from lunch--meat, potatoes, fresh vegetables, mead, and five coppers back from your silver.
--M. J. Young
"Meet me back here tomorrow" was addressing both of them. Will the shackles be done by then, and will the trapper be ready to show me how to trap by then? It was addressed to both of them.
Three sets of peasant clothes for a silver coin. Perfect.
During lunch, ask how much silver is a gold coin worth, and how much copper a silver coin is worth. Perhaps change out one of my gold coins for silver, and one of the silver coins for copper. Figure out the exchange rates on those. I might change it, not sure yet.
After lunch, go to the inn, and get a room for the night. How much copper is it for a room for the night? Get some rest and then go meet the tanner and trapper.
How much gold and silver do I have left, before I pay the tanner?
Um--how much have you spent?
There are "banknotes" in use; these appear to be issued by banks in various cities in the kingdom, and each represents one pound of silver. The biggest coin is a four-ounce silver disk with the imprint of the crown on it, called, appropriately, a crown. There is also a half-crown, half that size. The smaller coins turn out not to be copper but bronze, called pennies or pence, and there is also a coin made of nickel called a shilling. There are also half pennies, or ha'pennies, and a yet smaller coin called a farthing that is half of that--four hundred makes the equivalent value of a pound of silver.
They do not use gold coins, but by weight most merchants (and probably all banks) would give you twice the weight in silver, that is, two ounces of silver for an ounce of gold. That makes your gold coins worth about half a crown each, assuming they are accepted as real gold. Also, it does not seem that the nickel or bronze is actually worth anything itself, but that the King is willing to trade his silver for the coins he has issued.
There are eight half-crowns to the pound (weight and value), twenty shillings to the pound (value, not weight).
Your silver coins have been treated as being "about a shilling", although in truth they're worth about a penny (plus a farthing) more than that; they weigh half as much as half a crown. This is based on the fact that the weight in hand feels like about half a half a crown.
The leatherworker says no, he won't start on the work for the shackles until tomorrow afternoon, as he has some skins tanning that will require his attention this afternoon and tomorrow morning. The trapper says he just got into town and wants to spend a few nights home with his family before he goes out again--give him to the end of the week.
You can sleep in the common room and have a bowl of broth, a bread sop, and water for a ha'penny. You can have your own room, stew, and meade, wine, or ale for four pence.
--M. J. Young
I've spent 4 silvers when Kyler was here. 1 silver for lunch, 5 pence change back. 1 silver for the clothes. 6 silvers spent total.
So, I have 13 silvers left. 8 gold, 6 rings, and 5 pence, if I'm not mistaken. If it makes any difference, I am not disowning the silver, beyond spending it. If it verses with me, it verses with me. That's their problem, not mine.
To the trapper "I hadn't planned on staying here that long. I've kind of got to get back to where I came from. Oh well. Perhaps another day then."
To the tanner "Tomorrow afternoon will work. How much will this cost me? I'll be at the inn."
At the inn. "I'll take a bed in the common room, some broth and a bread sop for tonight. I'll give you a full pence instead of a ha'penny if you give me an extra helping of bread and broth though." (I've always had a weakness for bread and broth. Simple, yet surprisingly tasty and filling.)
After dinner, enjoy the nightlife until bedtime and then sack out. Do I hear talk of anything else of interest?
In the morning, check back with the tanner to see if there is any progress. (Maybe I'll get lucky)
Once I have the fur lining on the shackles, ask around if there is anyone going back the way I came and if I can hitch a ride. If not, take the heel-toe express back.
Also, I know I didn't mention it, but I would have my backpack to put the shackles and everything else in.
Take four gold coins and trade two for equivalent pence, and two for equivalent shillings and pence. I trust MJ to figure it out properly, because I can't make heads or tails of that monetary system.
I would be using up the cigarettes at a rate of a pack a day. I've got 40 packs. In 40 days, they're gone.
I know I'm probably going way too fast here, but I need to try something. On the walk home, use TK pulse to unscrew the bolts on the manacles that I have. One pulse should turn the bolt maybe an 1/8th or a 1/4 turn. Roll until I get a new use, and then it's practice. I can easily see a king putting me in manacles for suggesting it done to his daughters, so this is something I may very well need.
I should make you aware that no one said anything about a "bed" in the common room. Sleeping in the common room means a straw mat on the floor, bring your own blankets. I don't know if that changes your decision.
Yes, you can get a double portion on dinner, and he'll only charge a farthing for it--he's not going to gouge you. (A farthing is a quarter penny, for the sake of your records.)
The price of the fur lining will depend on what kind of fur you want. Rabbit is relatively cheap, bear a bit more; leather from deer is between the two. For something more exotic--otter, mink, beaver--he would have to charge extra. You're looking at thruppence per set for rabbit, a shilling for bear, half a crown for the exotics.
The "nightlife" is a bunch of men talking about their days; most of them are farmers or husbandmen, and no, their conversation is not interesting. They sometimes mention people who are apparently prominent, such as the sherriff or the vicar or the mayor, but there's not much said.
The next day the rain comes in, and anyone who was headed your way isn't going anywhere in this weather. Sorry.
On the bright side, your first attempt to move the bolts by TK pulse is successful: you advance the bolt ever so slightly. (Think of it as trying to turn a bolt by hitting the corners with a hammer.)
You said you want to turn the gold into shillings and pence, but not silver coins; any reason for this, or is it simple oversight? There would be two hundred pence to a gold coin, or forty shillings. You could get a half crown for each gold coin.
--M. J. Young
Sleep in the common room on a mat. See if I can scurry up a blanket or two from someone, if not, it won't be the first time I've slept on the floor with no blanket. When I wake up, have a bowl of stew and some mead for breakfast. How much is that?
Rabbit fur is fine. Mink wouldn't be any softer. It's for comfort, not style.
Two gold coins into half crowns. One into forty shillings and one into two hundred pence. Total of 4 gold coins converted. See if I can get the tanner to throw in a small bag to put it all in. How much of this world's money do I have? I just misunderstood the monetary system. I wanted the smaller denominations because they would be easier to spend. (You can't usually break a $100 in a Mom and Pop gas station, but you can spend $1s all day long, see what I mean?)
On a more personal note, you keep describing TK pulse as like flicking things with your finger, hitting it with a hammer, etc. That makes it sound like a force generative, when it is actually a moment's worth of simple TK. (If I now understand properly) I would suggest using different means to describe it, because you had me confused about the nature of a TK pulse for a long, long time.
Speaking of a force generative, you mentioned once that a psionic shield that would slow bullets and keep enemies at bay was an @1 skill. Is it a 5@1 skill or lower by chance? My bias is 5@10, and if that is lower than my bias, I might try it. Having a protective shield could only be helpful when I go to see the king.
When I get back to where I came from (I'll walk in the rain) go to see John the blacksmith, and see how things are going for him. Also ask if he can tell me how to get to the castle where the princesses are.
My blacksmithing is 1@3. With a teacher as skilled as Mr. Smith, how long would it take to get it to 1@5 in game time? Just curious. I'd like to know that. I would like to have my blacksmithing a bit higher if I'm about to risk my life and verse out, ya know?
See if Mr. Smith can show me how to make a snap-trap (the Acme jawed bear trap, for clarification.) I'd like to have one on my equipment sheet. That would also be a new use for blacksmithing, and would raise my level a bit faster. Do I owe Mr. Smith any money? I gave him my 30-06, and offered to split the reward with him. Is he happy with that, or should I throw a shilling or two his way? When we go to build the Acme bear trap, use TK pulse just before the moment of impact with the hammer, to propel it faster and harder. New use?
I'm not going to see the princesses until I have a talk with Mr. Smith about it, but that's something for tomorrow's posts.
I know it's a lot of info, but I trust you to be able to sort through it all.
There is no stew in the morning; it would have spoiled overnight, so what was left was fed to the hogs. There is porridge in the morning, which is kind of like oatmeal made from vegetables, and of course meade is available around the clock, if someone's awake to serve it. You could get eggs, but they're pricey--a pence apiece, scrambled. Porridge is free for overnight guests, and no one else wants it.
You're spending nine pence on the fur linings for the shackles; the tanner would normally charge tuppence for a leather bag with drawstring, but since you're getting the work done already he'll give it to you for a pence, so that's two shilling total.
The pence are about thrice the size of our pennies, so two hundred pence has roughly the same weight and volume as six rolls of pennies--without the wrapping papers. Shillings are a bit larger than our nickels, but not much. I believe if you convert four of your gold coins it has the total value of two crowns, which is half a pound sterling.
I can't actually tell you the bias of a skill you haven't learned; trial and error is part of the learning system. If this were not a teaching game, there would be no "behind the screens" thread, and all you would know is that you rolled a certain number, and it was or was not successful. Because it is a teaching game, you have the power to find out the bias of a skill by attempting to learn it and checking the numbers behind the screens.
I will tell you this: skills of each level are related to each other. All "telekinetic" skills are level 4 (and force generatives are not, in this instance, "telekinetic"). If you have skills of levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, you should be able to work out whether force generatives are at one of those levels or not. If you have gaps, you should consider whether you think force generatives might be at one of those levels.
You get thoroughly drenched walking home, but it's not yet cold weather, and you arrive in plenty of time to dry out by the forge. The Smith says you're about a hundred miles from the capital, which is where the royal palace is. He's doing fine, and immediately presses you into service to hold something for him while he bends it.
I can't tell you whether John the Smith has skill as a teacher or trainer. I can tell you that if he does not, but you establish a reasonable program that has you working at least three hours every five days, it should take about a hundred days to advance one intensity; if the blacksmith is skilled in teaching or training, that will accelerate the rate.
Oh, and getting the blacksmith to show you how to make something different does not count as a new use--it counts as continuing to be instructed by the blacksmith. A new use would require that you devise a way to use the skill entirely independently of someone's training, and figure out on your own how to do it.
The blacksmith can show you how to make those traps, if you wish for him to do so; he has a few hanging up in the shop. You don't own him any money for his training; he doesn't owe you any money for your labor. That's the deal. If you don't work, he doesn't teach or let you use his equipment.
--M. J. Young
Porridge is fine.
"Well Mr. Smith, let's get to work. I want to learn blacksmithing. I do want to test my theory about the princesses sleepwalking, but if it's 100 miles from here, I'll need transportation. I'm going to work with you until I can raise some money for a horse or something to get me there. If that's OK with you, that is. When I go, I'd like for you and little man there to go with me. I'm not at all interested in ruling this place, but to get enough gold to last for a few lifetimes would be nice. Just buy a plot of land and a house. That would be a dream come true."
Mr. Young, I hate to argue with you, but every time I build something new with blacksmithing, it should be a new use. A trap is a very different thing from manacles. A trap has springs and is entirely different. If nothing else, I would be learning how to make a spring, where I didn't know that before. If that isn't a new use, then I don't know what would be.
Or are you saying that in order for it to be a new use, I have to figure it out on my own? If so, what's the difference? That doesn't make any sense to me. Whether I figure it out on my own, or someone shows me, I'm still learning something entirely different from what I knew before. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time I've misunderstood the rules, so maybe you can explain it a little better.
The new use question is addressed in your other thread, New Uses.
John is fine with you working with him, and with paying you your fair due. At the moment, your fair due isn't a lot, because although you can do things the boy can't, the boy can do things you can't, and all the boy gets is room, board, and training. So right now you're going to get two shillings for each day you work (a full day), and he doesn't run the shop on Sunday except for emergencies (a thrown shoe, for example, but only if the horse can't wait until Monday). He's paying you because you're not eating his food or sleeping in the loft like the boy.
It's hard work.
I'm assuming you're comfortable with establishing a routine and accelerating the progress. Tomorrow will be Sunday.
--M. J. Young