You pack up and move back into the hall. There is no sign of anyone interfering with your passage.
Moving back to the active part of the mall ahead, you notice that there is less traffic here; it might be near the outer edge of the mall, which would explain why a main corridor even on an upper level would be dark.
You stop in a couple of jewelry stores as you go, but they both sell jewelry made somewhere else. The second recommends a place two levels down and a quarter mile toward the center that does its own work, and would be very interested in seeing some of what you have.
--M. J. Young
Go to the jewelery store. I would want to sell the 5 most expensive and the 5 cheapest stones that I have.
"May I help you?"
You explain that you were hoping to sell a few gems that you've collected, and he agrees to look at them. As you produce eighty-four gems, he suggests that it might be better to take this in a back room for review.
"The five most precious and the five least precious, you say? That's interesting. Of course, I will have to look at all of them, but will be able to eliminate most of them as somewhere in the middle fairly quickly. The pearls, for example, are wonderful specimens, particularly the black ones, but not worth more than a thousand each."
He settles in the back with some equipment that is apparently intended to examine gems microscopically, possibly atomically.
"I gather that these have come from many different sources, and probably that you cannot identify their origins. That's too bad, as some of these are of a quality I have not seen before."
He sorts through them fairly quickly, pausing on a few, dividing them into three piles, the largest apparently the stones of middle value as the pearls wind up there.
In the section ahead, the italicized parentheticals are descriptions of the gems indicated, not part of the dialogue.
"The cheap ones are simple," he says, turning his attention to a small group of less impressive stones and quickly culling it to five. "This piece of blue quartz (transparent pale blue) is the least of your quartz (and I must say that Star Rose Quartz is a very nice piece for what it is), worth about 18 credits. The malachite (opaque striated light and dark green) 14, this banded agate (translucent striped brown, blue, white, red) 12, and the Lapis Lazuli (translucent light and dark blue with yellow flecks) and Tiger Eye (translucent brown with golden center under-hue 10 apiece. That would be sixty four credits for those. I pay 80% of value on precut gems; I do have to make a profit when I sell them.
"Now the precious ones. This ruby (transparent red) is far and away the best stone you have, and I am surprised you are willing to part with it. I must guess that you have just arrived and in sore need of a substantial amount of money, but this is a ten thousand credit stone, and one you are not likely to see again in your life. The
sapphire (transparent blue) is also an excellent stone, four thousand credits, and this oriental emerald (transparent bright green) is good for twenty-four hundred. After that, this oriental topaz (transparent fiery yellow), topaz (transparent golden yellow), fire opal (transparent fiery red), the second sapphire (transparent blue), this spinel (transparent very deep blue), and the best of the garnets (translucent violet) here are all worth about the same, two thousand each. It is quite a collection. Normally I would be surprised to see a stone as nice as that beautiful peridot (transparent rich olive green), but it is worth only about fifteen hundred, dwarfed by these others, and the ruby in particular.
"So, which will you be selling--assuming that 80% is acceptable to you? Or would you like to talk to another lapidary first? I can recommend three here in TerraNova."
--M. J. Young
"I'm not quite certain I understand you. Are you saying that you will give me 10,000 credits for the ruby, or are you saying you will give me 8,000 for it? You didn't say that very well. Can you tell me what all 84 stones are?"
Pulling out the block of gold and the silver.
"I've been told that gold and silver isn't worth very much here. Where I came from, it was very valuable. How much would it cost me to have this block of gold and some of this silver made into some necklaces with these stones? If I can pay you in gems, it would be much easier on both of us. As far as where I got the gems, I literally went to Hell and back for them. But, that was another lifetime ago."
Also, ask him if he knows the price of a night's stay at a cheap hotel room here. (my definition of a cheap hotel room is a shower, a bed, and a television, or whatever passes for TV in this world.) Also, ask him if he could tell me the average worker's monthly wage. If he questions "I'm not from around here." That will influence what I do next significantly.
MJ, I just remembered something. My father had a congenital heart defect. It's something that runs in our family. My father died of a heart attack at the ripe old age of 32. I do not know, nor do I want to know if I have the heart defect. (The only cure is a heart transplant, and I figure if it's my time, it's my time.) What I do know is that there is a 50/50 chance that it was passed onto his children, and neither of my two sisters have the heart defect. (My brother has a different father than us, so he can't have it) I'm not sure how, or even if this impacts my character at all, but I felt it should be mentioned. What do you think?
NOTES
Maybe just sell the ruby.
The ruby is worth 10,000; he is offering you 8,000 for it.
He can certainly give you valuations of all eighty-four stones, but 1) it will take longer than a few minutes and 2) assuming you are not seriously considering selling them to him he would have to be compensated for his time.
Gold and silver are not worth appreciably more or less here than anywhere else in the galaxy, as far as he knows. Of course, food is more expensive here than on agricultural planets, so if you are valuing your gold in terms of purchasing power for food that would skew the results. TerraNova Habitat is a hub of commerce, though, so relative to the cost of electronics, manufactured goods, and many other commonly traded commodities, as well as financial services, labor, and other service industry goods, your gold and silver will be more valuable. Property is a bit on the pricey side here, given the space constraints, but the management is pretty good at setting the rents appropriately.
He would rather deal in credits directly. First, it is much simpler for everything to be valued in credits and everyone to pay each other in credits. Second, although on other worlds bartering might be acceptable, most of the merchants here must file tax reports, and non-credit transactions raise red flags with the tax assessors. If he were found to be making such under-the-table deals he could lose his bonding and be ousted from TerraNova, and it would leave a mark on his reputation that might prevent him from finding work on hundreds of other worlds. It's a simple matter for him to transfer credits to your account, and for you to transfer credits to his account.
As far as buying gold or silver, he might be interested in having your metal assessed, but he usually buys from (and he means no offense by this) bonded suppliers to assure quality. Also, at present he has a sufficient supply. If you would like to commission him to set some of your gems, he would be pleased to help, and to discuss costs for each item individually. What are you considering?
He doesn't know what a television is. When he has visiting clients, they tend to stay in upscale housing, so you'll have to talk with the TerraNova management about the price of a room that suits your needs. He has no idea what the "average" person earns; those who work for him earn between three hundred and twelve thousand a month, depending on their job descriptions, skill levels, and hours worked. The only one who makes twelve thousand is an expert gemcutter and jeweler who puts in fifty or sixty hours a week designing, creating, and repairing jewelry.
He does not question why you're asking about prices of these things, only why you would expect him to have the answers.
I don't think I'll add the congenital heart defect. Although it might be fun to be able to verse you out on heart attack in stressful situations, it's not happened to you to date, and I think you've gotten plenty of exercise over the past couple of verser years, so you're in better shape than you are.
--M. J. Young
"You mention an 'account'. Do they not deal in currency here? I don't have any kind of account, nor do I think I would be able to set one up. How exactly does that work? I would much rather deal in hard currency than some computerized credit transaction. I'm just more comfortable with that."
Describe to him what a television is, and ask if the hotel rooms have anything like that standard.
"As far as what I mean with the gold and silver, I was asking if you could take the gold and silver, melt it down, and set my stones into it, to make necklaces. Basically, I'm asking if you would be willing to take my raw materials and turn them into jewelery. I only pay you for the labor involved."
Also, I don't want to know the value of the stones, I just want to know what kinds of stones they are. Can he tell me the names of the stones for free, or would that cost? (I just want to have something to mark on my sheet)
MJ, I would also like to add to my skill sheet 3@10 ability at acting insane. Stop laughing, I'm serious. I'd say spending my entire life as a psychotic qualifies me for this. Also, I have used this skill to intimidate potential armed robbers on at least two occasions.
John, I don't think I would give Dustin Hoffman 3@10 skill at acting anything. I will consider whether you are more than an amateur at this.
"I don't understand this distinction you are making between currency and credits. What is currency, but that which can be used to facilitate commercial transactions? It exists in the computers, and is fully transferable to any civilized world. As far as not having an account, when you arrived your funds should have been transfered into the TerraNova records from the ship that brought you; even if you have no funds, the company that provided your passage needed to report your arrival and establish an account. I'm sure they did this; even if there is a problem, the TerraNova management is very helpful, and will set you up quickly."
On television: "Every general use access screen, any one not specifically dedicated to a specific function such as the transaction screens here or the directory screens in the halls, has that function. I would be surprised if there is a single room in all of TerraNova that does not have such a screen."
Concerning the gold and silver: "Oh, I'm sorry, I misunderstood. Yes, I could use your gold and silver to make jewelry for you. You realize that the value of jewelry is considerably greater than the value of the materials, due to the craftsmanship involved and the aesthetic beauty of the product. Having jewelry made is not cheap. And, of course, we would have to resolve your currency problem, since you say you have no currency in the computer and--I still don't understand this notion you have of currency that is not in the computer."
In regard to the names of the kinds of stones, I find this a bit awkward. Certainly he can rattle off the names of all the types of stones--but you cannot memorize them as he says them, and your ability to associate the specific name with the specific stone is going to be extremely limited. That is, he will undoubtedly tell you that you have more than one Peridot, but that doesn't mean that the next time you pull out the stones you will correctly pick out the Peridot instead of the similarly colored Spinel or Oriental Emerald, or even one of the Aquamarines or the Tourmaline--all transparent green stones, all very different in value and quality but similar in color. It also doesn't help that the other Spinels are not green at all but quite obviously deep blue, so color is not sufficient for identifying the kind of stone.
Thus I will tell you that he rattles off the names of all eighty-four stones. You may, if you wish, ask me whether any particular kinds of stones are named; I will tell you that "diamond" is not one of them, but that several of the more familiar names are present at least once--crystal, topaz, quartz, amber, opal, ruby, emerald, sapphire, amethyst, moonstone, tiger eye, agate, garnet, onyx, pearl, coral, jade, turquoise, jasper, azurite, hematite, bloodstone, and jet. If you have unfamiliar stones you would like to ask, please do, and if you have reason to believe that you are familiar enough with a specific type of stone that you would be able to recognize it (that you could indeed tell a pearl from an opal, quartz from crystal, topaz from amber), tell me why I should think so.
--M. J. Young
MJ, if I didn't know any better, I would think you were deliberately trying to make this difficult.
Pull out a few of the silver crowns. "On the last world that I was in, this was currency. I would give you some of these coins, and you would give me what I wanted to buy. There were no computerized transactions made. Is there anything like that here, or is EVERYTHING done electronically?"
This next, I'm not saying unless everything IS done electronically. If there is hard currency of any kind, I am not going to say this.
"If there is no actual currency, this could be very problematic. Well, I might as well tell you. I didn't come here as a passenger on a ship. Not in the way you're thinking. In fact, you could say I don't exist here. I don't have any kind of identification, there is no record of me being here at all. For all practical intents and purposes, I don't exist. I couldn't explain it to you unless you have several hours to kill and a very open mind. How can I get the identification needed to get these credits, and how do I go about doing that? I would really rather deal in cash if it is at all possible." (Showing the silver crowns "This is cash")
Closely watch him. If he makes any movements that might suggest he is activating a security measure (such as a silent alarm that would alert authorities) be prepared to stop him. How I would stop him I would determine at the moment he does it.
While I understand why you wouldn't give Dustin Hoffman 3@10 for being able to act autistic, the fact remains that Dustin Hoffman IS NOT autistic. I, however, am mentally ill. Or at least I was for the first 30 years of my verser existence. Does 30 years experience not count for ANYTHING in this regard?"
He looks at your coins. "How quaint. I think I have seen something like those in the collectibles and antiques shops, and I won't say that there aren't planets that use something like that locally, but here on TerraNova there is nothing like that at all. The credits in the system are the currency."
"That is a strange way to travel. I think, though, that you need to speak with the TerraNova management. They can handle the problem of you not being in the computer, and their experts would know more about the specifics of situations like yours.
Yes, the experience of having been/being psychotic serves as a kind of example--not really an example of how to act psychotic, but it could be used to bonus your effort to learn the skill of acting psychotic. If you were trying to learn that skill, I would bonus your chance of success and roll--and you might have as much as a 1@3 SAL from the roll, which you could then build by practicing the skill.
Note that Dustin Hoffman acted autistic, but that a genuinely autistic person would not have the skill to act autistic--he would simply be autistic. In a similar way, being psychotic and acting psychotic are not the same thing, and simply because you are psychotic does not mean you necessarily understand how to project the illusion that you are psychotic. Consider the epileptic: he is completely unaware of how he acts when he has his fits, and thus cannot fake a fit from having actually been through them, but only from having them described to him or observing them in others. In something of the same way, your psychosis inherently warps your ability to observe and copy your psychosis.
Further, "acting psychotic" in this context probably does not mean "acting the way a psychotic person acts" but actually means "acting in a way which an ordinary person would perceive as psychotic". One of my sons has done that as part of his middle school survival technique, persuading potential bullies that he is dangerous and would not hesitate to kill someone who threatened him. It is on one level unlikely that anything he did in that regard was quite like anything a genuine psychotic individual would have done; what mattered was that what he did conveyed to others the illusion that he was psychotic (or probably more accurately sociopathic, but that the observers would not have known to make that distinction).
On that basis, I grant you a 1@5 Act Psychotic M0@2 skill. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that the first time you attempted to do it your example of having been psychotic gave you a 1@3 SAL, and that you have since twice used it in ways distinct enough to count as new uses of the skill.
You might be able to persuade me that this rating is too high.
--M. J. Young
MJ, that's like saying that you don't know how to act like an asthmatic, from having asthma for 53 years. My doctor says that I am the first psychotic she has known in her 30 year career that remembered having the episodes. I don't think my perception of it is warped, I think yours is. You're giving me average amateur ability at something I've been doing for 30 years. Doing anything else for 30 years would make you an expert at it. Eh, forget it. You don't understand, I would have to actually show you to make you see it.
I worked as a blacksmith for over a year. That increased my strength and stamina. What about flexibility? I've got a 1@3 flexibility score listed, would the blacksmithing have helped that at all?
"Well then it appears that we are not going to do business today."
Take all of the gems minus the one really valuable ruby, and put them back in the backpack. The one really valuable ruby, put into my jeans pocket so I know which one it is.
"Now, if you could point me in the direction of the TerraNova management office, I'll be on my way."
Whilst I am walking, I would be praying. "God, it looks like I am in way over my head here. I need someone that can show me what to do. Someone experienced in these things. Can you bring me another verser that has dealt with these kinds of situations? Someone that will teach me how to get around, and how to do psionics? Someone like The Architect. A teacher that has been in these situations, and knows what to do."
I would be praying that silently from the time I leave the jeweler's shop until I reach my destination. Given the size of this place, that could take hours.
Generally, flexibility is increased by programs designed to improve flexibility; strength and stamina programs do not normally do this. For illustration, there is nothing in the games of football or baseball that would have a more significant impact on flexibility than there is in shopping at the mall--but it is possible that the warm-up and conditioning exercise programs used by such athletes in preparation for play might do so.
Blacksmithing involves a lot of lifting, working with hammers, operating the bellows, and generally hard labor, but it does not involve anything which is inherently related to flexibility--you do not frequently touch your toe to the ceiling or place your face on the floor between your legs.
"All the management offices are on levels 100 and 101; customer service and such are all on level 100. You're on 93, so you've got to go up seven levels. Probably you want to head toward the center, although anyone who works up there can give you directions to the best place to go. Tell them you've just arrived and there's a problem with your identity files."
How are you planning to get from here to there? You came down the escalator, but previously went up the elevator. An elevator might be quicker, but you know where the escalator is. There might also be stairs.
--M. J. Young
"Thanks, you've been most helpful. By the way, how big is this mall? How many levels and how long?"
Yes, I could probably take the stairs, but I've also got 260 pounds of gear to carry, and I don't feel like carrying it up the stairs. (Although my character probably could)
I'll find an elevator somewhere. Once I find the management office, do like he says.
Don't forget that prayer.
Thank you for the reminder. I was not forgetting it--I was working out the time factor involved. Had you taken the stairs you would have been praying for a considerably longer time than you will be as you take the elevator.
"The Mall itself, properly speaking, is forty levels; It fills the full five mile diameter of the TerraNova Habitat. Of course, there are non-retail businesses and light industry on levels above and below the mall, and there are a few retail outlets--coffee shops, restaurants, convenience stores, all highly regulated concerning what they can offer so as not to compete unfairly with the businesses relegated to the mall levels, but the residential levels and business levels do have a valid need for at least a few commodities close at hand. There are of course the engineering sectors, physical plant, that which keeps the air breathable, the water purified, the lights and living conditions controlled, most of them below but a few at the top. I believe the official literature says two hundred levels, although there are some areas at the top and bottom and between some of the numbered levels which are not counted for one reason or another--air purification systems, partial levels, stabilization systems. I've had some interesting talks with some of the engineers about how it all works, but it's completely beyond me."
It takes you ten minutes before you are on the administration level asking someone for help. In that time, you have been praying. Now, though, you are talking to a helpful middle-aged woman who is leading you down and around through a maze of corridors ("So much easier just to show you" proves to be completely correct) and finally into a block of offices where a dozen other people are seated in a waiting room.
"Hi, Sheila? This gentleman has just arrived, and there's some problem with his identity transfer to our computers."
"I can help him. Have a seat, Mr?" She waits for you to give a name, and her fingers sweep swiftly across a screen very like those you have seen for cash registers and ads in the mall.
As she is doing this, she continues, "And do you know the name of the ship on which you arrived? If not, we might be able to find it if you can tell us where you came from, or where and when it docked."
--M. J. Young
"My name is John Cross." I tell the lady. "The truth of the matter is, I don't know how I got here, or even where I am. I wouldn't be lying if I said that one minute I was on another planet, and then I woke up here. I don't know where I am or anything. This kind of thing seems to happen to me quite often. I just want to get into the system so that I can get acclimated. Does this kind of thing happen often?"
I rolled a 5 on red tape? I hope that keeps going through this.
NOTES:
I want the verser teacher to teach me how to get the heaviest bonuses out of all of the psionic skills, focusing mainly on the @1 and @0.
"Have you been seen by medical? It sounds like you're having blackouts. Have you been exposed to any substances that might impact memory or awareness, as far as you are aware?
"We'll certainly get you into the system, John." She sweeps over the screen. "John Cross. If you'll place your hand on the scanner," she indicates a black glossy pad on the desk, "we'll get a DNA reading to identify you. Based on your story, we're going to have trouble finding the ship that brought you, but I'll put out an inquiry with your picture and DNA scan, and hopefully someone will recognize you and bring your credits. What is the last planet or station you remember being on? That will help, too. I can get someone to come from medical and give you a quick examination--it wouldn't be good if you had another blackout and forgot how to get to medical just when someone might be able to help you."
--M. J. Young
My first impulse would be to say no, but that would just look suspicious. Eh, what the hell, I got nothing to lose.
"Actually, I didn't come here on a ship. Can I talk to you in private?"
Assuming she says yes.
"Are you familiar with the theory of the Multiverse? (In a technological place like this, I wouldn't be surprised.) I am a verser. The last world I was in was a medieval world. (Tell her the synopsis of everything that's happened, be ready to go for my 9 mm at a moment's notice) There would be no evidence of me anywhere."
What the hell? Tell them you're a verser. Who knows? Maybe versers are known here.....
"I--I'm not a scientist. I've heard the word multiverse, but have no idea what a verser is."
How far back are you going with this "synopsis of everything"--versing out from home? Godzilla in Columbus? Pearl Harbor? Just the Dancing Princess? How detailed is this going to be--are we talking several hours of tales, or a quick list of places you've been?
In any case, she still thinks you should be seen by medical, and that she should run the check anyway. If nothing else, it will support what you claim (assuming you are right) if medical finds nothing wrong with you and DNA finds no match for you.
Did you put your hand on the scanner? That's necessary to establish your account, because you will have to put your hand on the scanner whenever you engage in a transaction, to identify your account based on your DNA profile. If you did, we can proceed with whatever you are doing next with you having an account; if you won't, you don't get the account, but you can still decide what you want to do next.
--M. J. Young
The "synopsis of everything" would be a 15 minute overview of all that's happened, probably focusing on Dancing Princess.
No, I didn't put my hand on the scanner. I'll do that now.
"You can call medical for my exam if you like. If I see guys in white coats with a straight jacket though, I'm bailing."
"Why would medical bring you clothing? I'm sure if you need to change into something else for an examination, they'll do that in their facilities."
You now have an account. It has a zero balance, but you can use it for identification and for trade purposes, particularly if you can get a job or sell something.
"I guess you don't yet know where you are staying; you'll have to see someone in housing after you've been to medical."
In a few minutes someone arrives. "You called for medical?"
"Yes," Sheila says. "John Cross does not know how he got here. He believes that he was in another world and then suddenly he was here, and that this has happened to him before. I've suggested that he should be checked by medical to be certain he is not suffering from blackouts or memory loss or something."
"Very good. Right this way, Mr. Cross."
--M. J. Young
Go with medical to get checked out. Give them a repeat of the synopsis of everything.
"You guys aren't going to try to take me to the funny farm and put me in a rubber room are you?"
Assuming that all goes well, go back to see my friend at the jewelery store.
Oh Yeah, MJ, in case I forget. I'm moving on Friday, so after Friday, I probably won't be back until Monday.
The medical team puts you through a wealth of high-tech tests, taking about ninety minutes to examine you. There are brain scans, internal images, cultures, and things you cannot even understand when they explain them ("This is an atomic resonance test which scans the balance of your molecular substructure in search of mutations in the gene activation sequencing"). You also talk to some sort of psych doctor who wants to hear your story while monitoring some stress analysis and brain scan equipment.
I'm assuming you'll tell him as much as you told the girl in the office. He'll ask a few questions, but none of them challenge whether your statements are consistent with reality. Is there anything you specifically will not answer?
--M. J. Young
Is there anything you specifically will not answer?
I wouldn't know unless I was asked. Probably not though. I would tell them the story of being a verser. I hope for their sake that they don't try to lock me up as an insane person.
I just hope they hurry up before the jewelery store closes.
It takes about ninety minutes, altogether, and the mall is still open. Actually, it does not appear that the mall ever closes, or that the number of people in it changes all that much, although some stores (such as the newstand) do seem to be on regular hours--but these are not all the same hours, as if for some people the middle of the day is for others the middle of the night.
However, when you get to the jewelry store, someone else is running it.
"May I help you?" he begins.
I'm assuming you will ask where the other gentleman is; he has gone home for the day, and will be back in fifteen hours. The store will be open, and anyone else present will be happy to help you.
--M. J. Young
"He said the ruby was worth 10,000 credits to me" speaking to the gentleman. (The other jeweler did, but he only offered to pay me 8,000 credits for it. Deceptive, but not lying) "What do you think? Make me an offer."
That makes total sense. I don't have a set schedule either. I sleep when I get tired and wake up when my body says it's time. I would assume then that days are 30 hours long? (2 15 hour shifts)
NOTES:
Would the scrap dealer hire a blacksmith? What other kinds of metal working skills can we learn? Maybe use his tools and equipment to build manacles and the like for the pornography industry. (MJ, I know you don't like this, but you can't say that it wasn't heavily inspired by your choice of my last world)
He examines the ruby, using some of the same equipment as his predecessor. "Yes, indeed, that is a fine stone, and ten thousand credits is a good valuation. We can give you 80%, if you wish to sell it."
On the question about the length of day, who are you asking?
--M. J. Young
"I'll take the $8,000"
On the length of a day, I don't suppose it matters. I was just making an observation.
"Very good. If you will place your hand on the scanner, we can pull up your account and credit it." He places his hand on a scanner behind the counter, and enters 8000 on the screen.
"And of course, please place the ruby in this box." The box is a secure holding compartment on the top of the counter. As you place the ruby there, he examines it again briefly before closing the top.
--M. J. Young
Place my hand on the scanner, give him the ruby, get the loot, shake the guy's hand and leave.
Next, get back to the convenience store, get soap, scissors, razors, shaving cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, then seek out a cheap hotel room.
Once I have the hotel room, clean up, take a shower, shave my beard completely off, cut and shave my hair completely bald, take another shower, then sit down and watch TV and see if I can order anything to eat. Does the hotel have room service, or can I order a pizza or something? Also, what is on the TV? I need to know more about this world.
NOTES
we need to fix The Pipes in the Freezer.
Congratulations, you now have 8000 credits in your account.
You spend fourteen credits on the named supplies, which leaves you 7986 credits plus soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, scissors, mouthwash, and shaving cream.
How are you going about finding a cheap hotel room?
--M. J. Young
How are you going about finding a cheap hotel room?
Ya know what? Screw this cheap hotel room BS. I just spent the last 2 years living in squalor. I'm going all out!!!!!!!!!!!
Ask around for the nicest, most expensive hotel room this place has to offer. I'm willing to spend up to 800 credits a night for the room. That would give me about a week or so to find a job, if I didn't live too extravagantly.
MJ, from what I've seen, there's usually a "Reason Why I Put You Here" in the beginning of the game. Perhaps there will be a news broadcast about it when I finally secure the hotel room?
Brush my teeth and use mouthwash. Take a shower, shave my beard. Brush teeth again, use mouthwash again. Take another shower. Brush teeth, mouthwash, shave head completely bald. Brush teeth, use mouthwash, take another shower. Then order room service.
NOTES:
First priority is to support yourself through metal working. See if you can work 4 days out of every 8 (two on, two off, or 4 in a row on, 4 in a row off, etc.) See if martial arts lessons can pay for themselves. (IE I teach boxing 2 days a week in exchange for martial arts lessons) Worst thing they can do is say no, right?
SCRAP DEALER!!!!!!!!!! Gold and silver are scrap metals here. Objective, 25 pounds silver (achieved) 25 pounds gold (Have about 13 pounds) 10 pounds bronze and nickel. Also, 5 pounds (or more) stainless steel. Any gems uncovered as well. A piece of junk gem in this world could be the most valuable thing in the universe in the next world.
Oh yeah, and the leaves are souvenirs, avoid spending if at all possible.
Well, the word is that there are some very nice suites on levels 80 and 81, two hundred credits a night unless you want an outside view, in which case it's three hundred. Room service is of course extra. If you want better than that, you probably have to go back to the management and talk about a luxury condo on a short-term rental.
Obviously, they say, if you're looking for the luxury suits with the outside view, you've got to be on the rim, away from the core. Most of those levels are housing units, and properties with an outside view are valued for that kind of thing, so it doesn't much matter which way you go when you get there because there will be good hotels on the rim all the way around. Just find your way to the rim when you get there.
I can cut to the room if you tell me you're going to take one of the suites (and whether you want an outside view or not), or if you're going to talk to the management about a luxury condo we'll go there.
--M. J. Young
Ya know what? It just occurred to me that I have no idea what this place looks like on the outside. I remember hearing a story about a guy that wakes up in a cave, only to find out that it is the only place in Hell which is not on fire. (If you happen to know the name of this story, let me know)
I'll take the 300 credit outside view room. How do I get there, and what happens on the way? When I do get there, describe the room.
Repeating previous statements:
MJ, from what I've seen, there's usually a "Reason Why I Put You Here" in the beginning of the game. Perhaps there will be a news broadcast about it when I finally secure the hotel room?
Brush my teeth and use mouthwash. Take a shower, shave my beard. Brush teeth again, use mouthwash again. Take another shower. Brush teeth, mouthwash, shave head completely bald. Brush teeth, use mouthwash, take another shower. Then order room service.
I'm going to guess that you take the elevator to the appropriate level, and then walk a few miles to reach the outside sector. You stop periodically to ask directions to a place with a luxury suite with an outside view, and it takes a couple hours to get there.
The level has a number of restaurants, a lot of nice places to stay, and a few retail outlets that are of the nature of convenience stores. Things in these cost more than they do in the mall.
You reach your destination and make arrangements for the room. They offer to help with your luggage, and lead you down a corridor to a door. Your hand on the panel opens the door once you are registered.
The carpet is plush, the walls are a very subdued color, and the lighting is completely controllable from none at all to daylight levels. Your suite includes three bedrooms, a bathroom with multiple fixtures to be discussed when you examine them in detail, and the main room in which you enter, a large living area with a conference table and chairs, lights that float and can be positioned as desired, a pit group near the windows--and, dominating the room, a broad expanse of clear window looking out into a starry sky in which hang a quite a few spaceships and several larger building-like structures.
--M. J. Young
and, dominating the room, a broad expanse of clear window looking out into a starry sky in which hang a quite a few spaceships and several larger building-like structures.
What does the ground look like? Crater pocked, like a moon, or is there grass? Is there evidence that I could break the window and not be killed by the vacuum of space?
Do like I said, shave, shower and brush teeth. Repeatedly.
After that, order room service. What's on the menu? I would probably get something that sounded exotic. Of course, if pizza was on the menu.........
Is there a mini-bar in the room? If so, (and at this price, I hope so) I'm going to get hammered drunk.
Complementary bathrobes?
After I shave and shower, etc, turn the lights completely off, sit around naked (or in a complementary bathrobe) in complete darkness, get drunk and order room service.
I'm also watching TV. What's on?
IS THERE ANY SOURCE OF CIGARETTES ANYWHERE?????????????????????? He's going batshit crazy for one, I know it.
No, you don't see any ground--not even in the distance. At first you think you must be very high up, but getting closer to the window and looking down, there is nothing but space in any direction you can see.
Yes, there is a minibar, and several bathrobes along with towels.
The shower has both water and sonic functions.
There is a separate hot tub in an enclosed room with shutters.
You get clean.
The "television" of this world appears to be carried entirely over those same screens that serve as the directories in the mall, and is entirely what we call "on demand"--you tell it what you want to watch, and it plays it for you. The variety is structured such that there are over a thousand categories on the third tier of the directories. This device appears also to function as telephone, clock, and library. The one feature it lacks that you are seeking is "channel surfing"--nothing is actually "on" right now but what you request. You can request multiple programs simultaneously and set their screen size and position as well as their relative volumes.
What next?
--M. J. Young
So this isn't a planet at all. This is more like a ship.
Room service and watch the news. What can I get from room service, and what does the news say? What's the top story, etc.
Also, I would ask the hotel if they can wash my clothes for me. Everything. I would just wear one of their bathrobes until my clothes were ready. Can they clean and/or polish my boots too?
It also occurs to me that I've been up for quite a while, so I'm going to crash out after I eat.
When I wake up, put on some clean clothes (for the first time in quite a while) and go to see the scrap dealer. Clean Clothes would be jeans and t shirts. No weapons, until I have a better idea of what is allowed here. However, I do carry the Leatherman multitool in plain sight on my belt when going about in public.
Go to the scrap dealer, and when I get there, ask if they would be interested in hiring an old-school blacksmith. Scrap dealers, (by stereotype anyway) are always doing sculptures with the scrap. Maybe he might be interested in learning some new techniques.
NOTES
Dude, if we can't find a job soon, we're going to have to go into rationing mode. That's just the way it is.
Sorry--forgot to include the room service stuff.
The hotel menu, accessed by the screen, is very upscale but also international. You recognize Beef Wellington, Prime Rib, Lobster Newberg, Pheasant Under Glass, Filet Mignon, Peking Duck, Caviar, Clams Casino, and some others. There is also a note that the hotel management will happily find and deliver any food available in TerraNova Habitat for its customers, and a list of local restaurants including Italian, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, French, Russian, Egyptian, Jewish, and quite a few others. You find that you can access the menus of these restaurants through the screen, and return to the hotel information much as with a web browser. The screen responds both to touch and to voice command.
The news itself is fragmented into categories. You can access financial reports on an extensive array of commodities and businesses, information about incoming and outgoing transportation, celebrity gossip, current rules changes aboard TerraNova and each of several smaller surrounding habitats, real estate availabilities and transactions, sports and games. Information services seems to have more information than a person can hear in the time it is generated, and thus it is not delivered in a "newscast" but more like Internet news: you pick what you want to know, and it is delivered to your screen.
Yes, laundry services and shoe care is included. They find your boots fascinating, but know a shop in the mall than handles such antique materials. They also marvel at the amount of natural fiber in your clothing. It is all returned by morning.
When you awaken, you have this vague recollection of a dream, in which you were trying to find someone who was trying to find you, but neither of you knew the other. Still, you've got your plans, so you dress in the clean clothes.
By the way, two of the bedrooms have exterior windows and the third does not. Does it matter to you? Or are you sleeping on the sofa?
As I recall, the scrap dealer was in the mall. Did you actually get to his shop, or only hear mention of it?
--M. J. Young
As far as dinner, I would want a large pizza with everything on it. (Well, not EVERYTHING) but a lot.
The news, I would want to know the rules on TerraNova. What's allowed, what's not? If carrying weapons is allowed, I'm going to be carrying my 9 mm.
I would probably sleep in the room without exterior windows. I used to have my apartment set up so that I could make it completely pitch black at night. I like darkness.
No, I have not seen the scrap dealer yet. That's my destination. When I get there, tell him that I was working as a blacksmith for the past 2 years, would he be interested in hiring me?
I hope you're keeping track of my finances. I can't even tell how much I've spent so far.
As far as the dream, I, the player, know that something is up with that, but my character probably wouldn't think much of it. Hopefully, whoever it is will find me.
Ya know, I was just thinking about it. You said that with my prayers, I had radically changed the world. I prayed for a verser teacher. Did I bring in that crazy guy that kills people on sight? Bob Thomas, I believe? That might actually be pretty cool......
NOTES
Apparently, we have a reverse of our last world. My devices were valuable because they were high-tech. Now, it seems that my low-tech devices have some kind of value. Don't forget to try to trade the crossbow for something better.
And I think I could convince Bob Thomas not to freak out either. Show him that versers are the only people here that can do psionics and magic. Kill them slowly Bob..... (of course, it would be to try to buy the indigs time whilst he teaches me new skills.)
It's easy enough to call up the guidelines for guests. Concerning weapons:
- It is hoped that you will feel safe in all the public areas of TerraNova Habitat, and that you will not feel the need to carry a weapon. However, some residents and guests prefer to have a weapon on their person. Be aware that the possession of a weapon, while not a criminal act, will make you a suspect in any possibly criminal acts which do occur, and that TerraNova security does keep a particular watch on those known to be carrying weapons of any kind.
You have your pizza. There are four hundred ninety-seven toppings from which to choose, but the maximum number allowed on any pizza is fifteen.
Current financials:
- +8000c for the sale of the ruby.
-14c for soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, scissors, mouthwash, and shaving cream.
=7986c
-300c room with an outside view, one night.
=7686c
-20c for a pizza with a lot of toppings.
=7666c
The computer will display a record of all transactions to whatever point in time you wish to see them.
It takes about an hour to locate the scrap metal dealer in the mall. He's located toward the outside, but it seems to be roughly the same side of the habitat as your hotel. It's a cavernous interior, very like a warehouse spanning several levels of the mall and spreading out like a department store, and it appears to have its own exterior docking bay, although not a large one.
The owner is wearing heavy coveralls of some sort and asks how he can help you.
"Blacksmith? What exactly is that?"
--M. J. Young
Man, I'd love to see that list of pizza toppings......
OK, no 9mm. Doesn't sound like it would be worth it.
"Blacksmith? What exactly is that?"
"I am an old-school metal worker. You probably use lasers and diamond drills. I used hammers, pliers, and a lot of muscle power. I bet I could show you ways to work metal that you never thought of."
Is the scrap dealer an artist? The stereotype scrap dealer has a workshop filled to the brim with homemade sculptures. I bet I could show him ways he would never think of.
complete ratchet set, 2 ratchets, 12 screwdrivers, 2 pairs needle-nose pliers, a complete set of Allen wrenches, complete set of wrenches.
I would sell the above to the scrap dealer. It probably totals about 15 pounds in weight.