are you inventing a new skill which permits multiple connections to be opened simultaneously (and if so, do you also intend that Morani and Leach will share a connection with each other if you succeed)?
Yes, as above. It could also be a new use for Telepathy to Humans skill (SAL 1@8) but that depends on what you consider it to be. Last time I try this to insects it is a new use for Telepathy to Animals.
Morani asks no questions, but insists to Lelach that you (the three of you) leave immediately
That is a good idea. When I heard this I change my mind to make a force field and will go for spirit travel instead.
"Time? Time for what?"
"Time for me to concentrate. I will tell you the details later but please let me concentrate while you run. My body will not respond but I will probably communicate with you like this."
When I am being carried away I will initiate spirit travel instantly (same description as spirit travel but initiated instantly) which I will call "Spirit Ejection". If I succeed the spirit ejection I will continue with the force field plan and if I fail I will concentrate for a minute then try another variant of spirit travel.
If I succeed in spirit travel (any variant of it), I will (go near the rift then) concentrate for a minute then try to seal the portal with the force field.
After I succeed in that, I will ask her to guide me to the metal needle.
*****
if Maxx's idea of what he said means the scene would make no sense how I wrote it, he'll tell me so and we'll redo it.
Do not worry. You imagine it just right.
he has not spoken telepathically to Morani before this; his familiarity with his father's mind stems solely from mind-reading variants.
Actually I have contacted Morani after the cutting the swath through the forest incident. So the familiarity for telepathy is there but is much lower than Lelach.
I see a note on your sheet that your telepathy to animals "includes chain telepathy," which is probably what you're referring to, but that wording implies that you build the telepathic network one connection at a time; could you provide links to the relevant posts so I can review them? I'm strong inclined to rule what you're doing a new skill, but I want to keep your telepathy consistent with past rulings.
"Time for me to concentrate. I will tell you the details later but please let me concentrate while you run. My body will not respond but I will probably communicate with you like this."
Is this directed only at Lelach, or to both of your parents?
You slip out of your body, suddenly motionless a meter off the ground. It seemed easier than you expected. As you move back toward the rift, your premonition of danger returns - but then again, I imagine you were expecting that.
What are your intentions if your attempt to block the rift fails?
___
Spirit ejection, 30, success; learned at 1@1. Force field: 67, that's failure (math to confirm: 55 from the earlier post +10 concentration !> 65 - sitmods). We're not there yet, though, because if his message is directed at Morani also the dialog here will be different, which we've recently demonstrated has the potential to change Maxx's plans.
I also admit to stalling to give myself more time to figure out a few things.
I'm strong inclined to rule what you're doing a new skill, but I want to keep your telepathy consistent with past rulings.
I did not mind either way but I also inclined to rule for new skill because the mechanics for contacting different person with different familiarity seems like a new skill although it could be a new use by including a few tweak here and there. If you want to review the rulings for chain telepathy then it will be a bit tricky to find because the first attempt fail so it was not listed then. The discussion also span in two different pages of this thread (page 5 and 6) and two different pages of behind the screens 2009 thread (page 15 and 16). I will try to quote the rulings below:
He wants to contact telepathically a tree and an insect on the tree in a single roll. I'm struggling with whether to make it a new use of animal telepathy or a new skill; I'll go with new use. 59 is rolled, and with his 1@1 SAL and 3@ bias that's not going to work.
I previously ruled that his chain telepathy was a new use, and so I'll go by that. He rolls 39, with a 1@10 BRA+2x5@ bias+1@1 SAL=41, a success, new use means 1@2 SAL.
There are more to the discussion but if I quote all of it this post would probably be too long. If you want to review more of it, you could try to read the specified pages.
Is this directed only at Lelach, or to both of your parents?
Considering that Lelach ask the question, I will respond to her but I do not mind if Morani overheard it via telepathy. Whether she will tell Morani this or not is up to her.
What are your intentions if your attempt to block the rift fails?
Investigate the rift by circling it to see potential exit and peek into the rift to see what danger may come from the other side.
After circling the rift I will probably change the shape of my force field to make it easier. If an easier shape could be done to seal the exit then I will try the adequate shape force field with instant activation. If I fail that then try to concentrate for 2 minutes then try it again.
I will react to any potential danger that may come from the rift when I am not concentrating.
To interject, it appears to me that the comments about contacting multiple animals on a single roll come to this:
- Maxx proposed doing that.
- I considered how to handle it, whether to treat it as a new skill or a new use.
- I decided to treat it as a new use.
- I rolled for it and he failed to make it work. It thus was never actually done.
--M. J. Young
Thus it comes to whether Scott wants to treat it as new use or new skill now, my decision to treat a similar but significantly different situation as new use for a similar but significantly different skill not setting any precedent because it failed.
But you rule it as a new use when I succeed to do it the second time which make my Telepathy to Animals SAL raise from 1@1 to 1@2 and you also add that to the skill description.
Actually, he eventually did succeed and was awarded a new use, but this is what he succeeded at:
He also wants to attempt a chain telepathy, in which all the creatures in physical contact with each other are contacted at once. He has thought of the fact that there would be insects on the tree, and he can contact the tree and all the insects in one shot. That's interesting, and requires some discussion.
Since his parents are not in contact with one another (and additionally, arguably, because they are not animal or plant minds), this is a distinct situation, and I do not perceive myself as being inconsistent when I record the following new skill on Maxx's sheet:
1@1 Mass Telepathy to Humans P1@3 Allows multiple connections to be established simultaneously, connections are also formed between all subjects, additional -5 sit-mod for each subject beyond the second, -10 SM W1
In particular, the ability to connect two minds which are not his own strikes me as a departure from the expected capabilities of standard Telepathy to Humans, deserving of a separate skill listing.
Failing to bring up the spherical shield, you approach and circle the rift, knowing you could be struck down by an unseen menace at any moment.
The rift itself appears to be perfectly two-dimensional, though the green light at its ragged boundaries means it is not invisible even when viewed from a precise right angle. The back of the rift looks very much like the front, in that it also opens onto the other place - a different viewpoint on the same locale, or else a second, very similar, jungle.
The odor of ozone and decay is mixed with the smell of rich, fertile earth, as well as traces of a hot, metallic scent that is difficult to identify. As you circumnavigate the rift, you get a better view of the jungle on the other side(s). The vegetation there is much thicker than in your local forest, with multitudinous vines filling in the canopy overhead. Movement frequently catches your eye, but whatever moved is always gone or hidden by the time you focus on where it was. The plant life is all off, somehow, recognizable yet unfamiliar; the aesthetic seems warped in a way you can't quite place.
When you look through the back of the rift, there is a tree trunk less than a meter from the opening in one place, directly opposite your home tree and perhaps two meters from it along the shortest path; this is the only organism to which you are close enough to see detail. From the pattern of the bark alone, it is not a species you recognize. It is black, and textured such that a trick of the light makes the bark seem to quiver.
When you say you "peek inside," how close are you intending to get, and what more do you want to know? Specific questions help; general questions help only sometimes. Hopes/fears are always useful, but not mandatory.
After circling the rift I will probably change the shape of my force field to make it easier. If an easier shape could be done to seal the exit then I will try the adequate shape force field with instant activation. If I fail that then try to concentrate for 2 minutes then try it again.
I cannot think of any shape simpler than a sphere that would block both sides of the portal with a single shield. Of course, the simplest shape would be a plane, but blocking all exits that way would require at least two concurrent force fields. How do you proceed?
There doesn't seem to be any urgent threat here at the moment, although whether that means that the true danger is back at your body or merely that you haven't identified the danger, you couldn't say.
While you circle the rift, Lelach asks if you're still all right.
While you circle the rift, Lelach asks if you're still all right.
I will respond to say that I am alright and will tell the details of what I see to her.
knowing you could be struck down by an unseen menace at any moment.
Well, if the visitor can struck a spirit I would like to communicate with it.
The back of the rift looks very much like the front, in that it also opens onto the other place
That means that a spherical shield would be best to cover the exit of the portal.
as well as traces of a hot, metallic scent that is difficult to identify
Molten lava or iron? It could also be mistaken as ozone smell.
Movement frequently catches your eye, but whatever moved is always gone or hidden by the time you focus on where it was.
I will use a variant of Enhanced Vision that can take distant or blurry images and processes them into focused images but this time it is initiated instantly without concentration.
the aesthetic seems warped in a way you can't quite place.
I wonder why I think that. What effect that makes me think it is warped?
The color or shape of the vines?
It is black, and textured such that a trick of the light makes the bark seem to quiver.
Interesting, I wonder where I have seen that before.
Does it resemble a black crystal or something?
When you say you "peek inside," how close are you intending to get, and what more do you want to know?
Close enough to circle the rift smoothly without accidentally going into it. The creature that moves fast enough to avoid my focus.
How do you proceed?
It look like it would not be easy to seal this portal without a sphere shield. After the attempt of enhanced vision (whether it succeed or fails), concentrate for 4 minutes and try to seal the exits with the sphere shield.
I will respond to say that I am alright and will tell the details of what I see to her.
Lelach doesn't know how you can see anything, with your eyes closed, and is concerned you might not be alright after all.
I assume you refer to this skill:
1@2 Enhanced Vision P5@1 takes distant or blurry images and processes them into focused images, one per minute for RS minutes, image is still and forms 0:30 after initial view, 2:00 preparatory concentration +20SM
You catch one image during your circuit of the rift, and it forms just before you're ready to begin concentrating on the shield. A small lizard scurried along a vine, causing it and neighboring vines to shake; in the still image, the lizard is deep purple with red markings along its neck and feet, and the sun gleams in its eye. It has at least eight toes per foot.
I wonder why I think that. What effect that makes me think it is warped?
The color or shape of the vines?
The color palette is shifted a few shades from what you'd expect, but that's only an example. Every thing looks wrong in its own way, similar to how a horse drawn by a talented child will not quite look like a horse. Things which ought to be symmetrical are not, things which ought to be glossy are matte, things which ought to be straight bend, things which ought to droop are taut - not as consistent trends (not everything normally droopy is taut, for example), but on an individual basis; for every element of the scene, there is something wrong with it which you could identify after several seconds' thought.
Interesting, I wonder where I have seen that before.
Does it resemble a black crystal or something?
It most closely resembles a swarm of locusts hand-carved from photovoltaic cells. It's not an exact resemblance.
It look like it would not be easy to seal this portal without a sphere shield. After the attempt of enhanced vision (whether it succeed or fails), concentrate for 4 minutes and try to seal the exits with the sphere shield.
Which side of the rift are you on while you concentrate on the shield? (Obviously you're on "this side" as opposed to "the other side," but I mean in relation to the 'front' and the 'back' of the rift as seen from "this side." I suppose you could also be positioned such that you viewed it end-on, with no sightlines into the rift but with the advantage of being able to watch "this side" of both exits at once.)
___
The roll for the Enhanced Senses variant is 25, which easily picks up whatever skill it turns out to be at 1@1. I'm pretty sure it's the skill I quoted with the only difference being the prep time and sit-mod, but I'll let Maxx confirm before I add it. Any suggestions on the name of the skill, Maxx, so we can distinguish the versions from each other?
I rolled for the shield, too, but I also rolled another GE. It occurred to me that the earlier 21 was mostly for "where," and the situation has progressed enough that I felt justified rolling another for what comes out and when. The roll was 25*, "remarkably bad but not totally surprising," so I need to know where Maxx is before we resolve this shield attempt. He may decide to abort it, after all.
*I promise I'm not using loaded dice . . .
Lelach doesn't know how you can see anything, with your eyes closed, and is concerned you might not be alright after all.
I will tell her if it is possible to communicate from a far (through the telepathy) then it would not be impossible to see from a far too. I could not say that I am totally alright but I can say that I feel that I am alright. I will also ask Lelach the location of the metal needle. It will also be better if she could send an image of its location via telepathy by thinking about the location.
Shutter vision (read about the naming below) sure comes handy in emergency situation. Interesting feature for a lizard. The environments on the other side of the rift are also interesting.
Which side of the rift are you on while you concentrate on the shield?
Considering that I wanted to circle the rift at least once (and start from above right to below left) and I wanted to check what will get out of the rift at the most advantageous location (and get close to the metal needle), I will position myself directly above the rift (if the metal needle is in the tree or I did not know its exact position) or directly below the rift (if the metal needle is on the ground).
*****
Any suggestions on the name of the skill, Maxx, so we can distinguish the versions from each other?
"Clear vision" would probably be a good name as long as you do not confuse it with clairvoyant which is a 17th century French word that means clear vision.
"Shutter vision" would probably be a better name for the skill since it works like a camera and needs processing time to clear the image.
I think a GE is in order: (dewey tailor wind).
I think the above stands for what is on the other side of the rift. It could also stand for what comes out and when. Is it 25?
The earlier 21 is for the reaction to telepathic connection.
Lelach is bewildered that you would need to know where she keeps her knitting needles, but she says that they're probably still in the tree; she only knits in winter. She also asks you to please wake up, because you're not making any sense and she's frightened for you.
Nothing yet from Morani.
You take up position above the portal (how high?) and begin concentrating on producing a spherical shield around it. After a little while - more than a minute, but well before you're ready - a sprite-sized blur zooms out of the back of the rift and past your home tree. It is closely followed by a small primate, crossing through the portal mid-leap in apparent pursuit of the flying blur. The blur narrowly evades its snatching hand, and for an instant it looks as though the monkey-thing will fall to the forest floor, empty-handed; but, a few beats of its bat-like wings keep it aloft long enough for it to catch itself on the trunk of your home tree.
The blur whizzes off into the forest and out of sight. The monkey-thing scampers up the tree, gazing after it, but after it's climbed a few meters it stops abruptly and whips its head around to look in the direction your family fled.
Now that it's closer and still, you can see it more closely resembles a lemur than a monkey. Its fur is dark grey, blacker on the wings and the long, fluffy tail. The long, claw-like nails which tip each finger dig into the treebark as it stares past you with abnormally large, golden-irised eyes; its muzzle reminds you of a fox's.
It licks its lips, once.
Your shutter-vision finally clears the image of the blur as it emerged from the portal: a russet-brown hummingbird, beating three pairs of delicate wings.
_____
Heightened Awareness roll is 46, a strong success, so Maxx has a moment's warning of the creature's emergence from the portal - probably he hears the "hummingbird's" wings. Of course, he could 'interrupt' the above post at any point if he thinks he would take action then; the H.A. roll just means he won't have to roll initiative if he chooses to do so. However, if he chooses to continue concentrating (or takes any action which will not influence the events described), everything will play out as above.
I think the above stands for what is on the other side of the rift. It could also stand for what comes out and when. Is it 25?
The earlier 21 is for the reaction to telepathic connection.
Oops. I forgot that I hadn't revealed that yet. The roll for what was on the other side was also a 21, rolled as a 2d10+10 botch-GE. The rolls for your parents and what-comes-out-when were both 3d10 GE rolls (the standard), and came up 21 and 25 respectively.
she only knits in winter
Interesting, I guess Lelach knows how to knit too. Have I seen any of Lelach's knitted product?
She also asks you to please wake up, because you're not making any sense and she's frightened for you.
I tell my parents to run as far away as they can or hide somewhere safe because I do not know what will come out the opening they saw. I will ask them to wait for me to wake up because I was about to take a quick nap (a reason I give to avoid more questions so that I can concentrate on the force field).
You take up position above the portal (how high?)
About the same level as the needle position or just a bit higher (distance of at least 3 adult sprites height) if the rift is near that position.
closely resembles a lemur than a monkey. Its fur is dark grey, blacker on the wings and the long, fluffy tail.
Flying lemur variant it is.
begin concentrating on producing a spherical shield around it. After a little while - more than a minute, but well before you're ready
Continue on the force field because I have told myself not to react to anything until I finish concentrating for 4 minutes. I just hope that my family have gone far enough from the rift or hide somewhere safe. If I do not finish on sealing the rift then there would probably be more things coming out from it.
Whether I fail or succeed the force field attempt, track down the flying lemur thing. If it is gone from vision then I will warn my parents about it and then probably try a new skill. If it is still in vision even after the force field attempt, I will try to communicate with it via telepathy.
*****
So (dewey tailor wind) means a 21, rolled as a 2d10+10 botch-GE. That was an interesting code. I wonder how the code works. Are you still curious how I got 15?
I also wonder if "wind" have anything to do with how you got 21 or just to show it is a 2d10+10 botch-GE. The best GE roll would be 12 which would mean good enough so I guess any answer for the best destination would not be fulfilled. Getting 21 for the roll was probably why you ask the "consolation prize" question.
The rift is about three meters off the ground and is two meters tall in the middle; we'll put the hollow maybe six meters up the tree (unless its height was previously established, or you have reason to think otherwise?), so you're floating perhaps a meter above the rift, which is, coincidentally, about the height of three adult sprites.
Several flying insects also escape the rift in both directions. Most have already scattered by the time you raise the shield. A translucent pink sphere now encloses the eye-shaped tear in space, looking like a bubble of bubblegum stretched very large and thin. It will hold for a while, but of course you have no idea how long the rift will stay open.
The lemur-thing is indeed still in view; it hasn't left your home tree. While you were concentrating, it would scurry upward, freeze, look past you, scurry back downward, freeze, look past you again; it seems captivated by something in your direction. It notices when the shield goes up, cooing to itself for a moment before turning its attention back to the empty air over the rift.
I will try to communicate with it via telepathy.
Human or animal telepathy? (Silly question, perhaps, but you do know both.)
___
So (dewey tailor wind) means a 21, rolled as a 2d10+10 botch-GE. That was an interesting code. I wonder how the code works. Are you still curious how I got 15?
I am still curious. I don't exactly remember how my code works, but I have a good guess. I'm also not sure anymore that it was a 2d10+10 and not a 3d10, although I think it's likely. Also, I would have asked all those questions regardless of what roll came up; I need an idea of the entire spectrum to be able to adjudicate any given roll.
Speaking of rolls, the force shield attempt comes up 37, which I'm confident will work even with a -16 for the shape; I'll add that to the sheet later. Telepathy will be rolled once I know what skill it is (sorry), and everything else is still running off of previous GEs.
Oh, and you knew she knitted because you saw her doing it when you scried for the needle.
coincidentally, about the height of three adult sprites.
What a coincidence.
Several flying insects also escape the rift in both directions.
I guess there will be an additional quests to find all of them.
A translucent pink sphere now encloses the eye-shaped tear in space, looking like a bubble of bubblegum stretched very large and thin.
I guess thinking about bubblegum does effect the color somewhat.
Human or animal telepathy?
It is not a sprite so probably not human telepathy (I think "Same race telepathy" would fit better than calling it human telepathy). It is shape like a lemur so I guess animal telepathy would fit but it could also be alien telepathy if the mind of the lemur are different from normal lemur and closer to an alien mind.
I will try animal telepathy first and if that fails then I will try alien life form telepathy.
*****
I don't exactly remember how my code works, but I have a good guess. I'm also not sure anymore that it was a 2d10+10 and not a 3d10, although I think it's likely.
Well, considering you forgot how you get 21 from that then it could not be helped. Does the code you make somehow related to language or similar sound?
Are you trying to make a word jumble that spells twenty one or something?
I am still curious.
As I said before, I will tell you how I got 15 if you are still curious about it if you tell me the GE roll which is 21. When I see (dewey tailor wind), I thought it is a 3d10 GE roll which means (5+6+4) which equates to 15. If "wind" somehow means 2d10+10 then I guess it would be (5+6+10) which equates to 21.
you knew she knitted because you saw her doing it
What is her finished product? A baby glove or something?
(I think "Same race telepathy" would fit better than calling it human telepathy)
Well, yes and no--because it is not really limited to "same race". There are four categories of "mind type": human, humanoid, animal, and alien. (There is also "self", which is closer than "human", but covers certain other versions of yourself, such as temporal duplicates, possibly divergents, possibly clones, but it rarely arises.) The referee gets to decide whether, for example, Vulcans are to humans human, humanoid, or alien, and the same with any other races; he also gets to make that decision on a universe-by-universe basis, so it might be that humans and sprites in this world are human to each other but in another world would be alien to each other.
You do not yet know whether the humans of this world are "human" or something else in terms of your own telepathic skills.
--M. J. Young
Quick question for MJ:
If he's trying to use a particular mode of telepathy on a target that turns out to be invalid, is there a skill roll involved or is failure automatic (no chance to botch)?
The mind is humanoid, and I'll treat the attempt at "alien telepathy" as a skill learning roll for Humanoid Telepathy if we get that far, but I'm wondering if a skill roll needs to be made for Animal Telepathy first - if maybe, at the table, he'd only discover it wasn't an animal mind if an obviously successful roll failed anyway.
Edit: Bah, cross-posted. Oh, well.
Scott--so as not to hold you up, let me see what I can answer.
I would say that if he does not have either humanoid or alien telepathy but he's trying to contact "that mind" by developing a new skill, I would roll for whether he learns whichever is the appropriate one, and then tell him whether the mind is "similar but different" or "very alien".
But that's not the important question.
I would say that if he attempts to use animal telepathy, I would roll for it and allow the possibility of a botch--the obvious botch here being that he contacts the tree or some other creature in that direction, and so loses time he could be using to contact the target. If the roll should be successful I might (particularly on a strong roll) tell him that the mind he is trying to contact is not animal; if it would have failed I would tell him only that it failed.
But I don't know that I would do that in every case. I tend to do that when animal telepathy is at issue, but for example if a character has human, humanoid, and alien telepathy and is trying to contact a subject in sight of unknown mind type, I often assume that he "defaults" to the right type--sort of as if the contact is made by touching the mind with a sort of mind-read variant and then completing the connection. That, though, might be my own generosity--there's no reason you couldn't require a character to develop a mind reading variant which identified mind type for him before using telepathy of the appropriate type.
--M. J. Young
Ah. That clarifies much; thank you. In that case, the 100 rolled is for animal telepathy, not skill learning.
They're fair dice, honest.
(more to come - I'm about to eat dinner)
Well, considering you forgot how you get 21 from that then it could not be helped. Does the code you make somehow related to language or similar sound?
Are you trying to make a word jumble that spells twenty one or something?
Nothing so easy to crack. Personal mental association of words with digits in context: dewey was 10 (a weak point in the code - who hasn't heard of the Dewey Decimal System?), tailor was 7 (this comes from one of my favorite children's stories; it would be a lengthy explanation), and wind was 4 (related to the reason tailor means 7, but also because of the Four Winds).
I suppose now I'll have to use a different code next time, hmm?
What is her finished product? A baby glove or something?
A hat, for Morani. It might have started out being something else, but it was a hat when she got done.
I guess there will be an additional quests to find all of them.
You have amused me.
Adding the following to Max's sheet:
1@1 Prepared Force Wall P10@1 requires four minutes high concentration to initiate; creates visible force shield which does not obstruct vision, cover value when fully interposed = -(15 + SAL); up to a 10'x10' plane, penalties assessed for larger sizes, difficult shapes, and/or additional directions of protection, +30 SM
With all that taken care of, I'll get to work on a botch list and we'll pick up the action in my next post (coming "soon").
That clarifies much; thank you. In that case, the 100 rolled is for animal telepathy
I wonder what that botch is. I just hope it is an interesting one. Let me see how much botches can Morach handle in a single day. Do you know the highest record of personal botches in which the verser still survives and which all the botches were done within 24 hours (because some verse have longer days) of game time?
Personal mental association of words with digits in context
A clever code. I have thought that "dewey" could be a possible 10 and "wind" is a possible 4 but I could not associate tailor to 7 until you mention about the children stories which reminds me about "Seven at one blow".
I suppose now I'll have to use a different code next time, hmm?
Well, playing code breaking (as a side game) could be fun.
A hat, for Morani.
Imagining a knitted hat on Morani. Somehow a vision of pixie hat appears.
I seem to feel that answering in a certain way will induce probability of something happening which is related to what I envision. I wonder if that is also true for this telepathy botch.
That's exactly the one! Seven at one blow - with "blow," of course, feeding the association with "wind" - it brings to mind the puffing faces at the corners of old maps.
You reach out to touch the creature's mind, only to find yourself unexpectedly enveloped in it. Foreign images, thoughts, and experiences flood your consciousness, and you can feel your own psyche being intimately explored in return. The resulting cacophony of impressions and memory would be too demanding and chaotic to describe in full, and you will forget much of the detail soon; however, once you finally manage to separate your consciousness and identity from the creature's, you have learned several things:
**
[Note: I have used asterisks to enclose terms I am using to describe concepts which are somewhat foreign to you, like *this*; the words in asterisks are your best attempt at translation, and are not guaranteed to be accurate.]
1) Life for him consists of hunting, evading predators, avoiding danger, and sleeping as little (and as lightly) as possible.
2) He is strong and cunning. He knows this because he is still alive, unlike his brother and sister.
3) He prefers to hunt *easy-prey*. In large part, this is because he has a sixth sense which tells him the location of any *easy-prey* nearby, making them very easy to find, but there are two other reasons. *Easy-prey* are often tricky, but he is too *fierce* for their tricks; this makes them easy to catch, because most *easy-prey* does not expect him to be so *fierce*. That is the first other reason. The second is that their brains are usually tastier (when they have brains; some *easy-prey* turn out to be plants, which he does not usually hunt).
4) He does not fly like birds or insects fly, but his wings allow him to change direction mid-jump or leap farther than he could otherwise. He mostly sticks to the trees and canopy, because the largest creatures don't often climb, and the trees' defenses help keep him safe from ground-hunters.
5) When cornered by something too large or too strong to kill, he will use his *kill-breath*, a red mist he sprays from the insides of his cheeks and the roof of his mouth. So far, it has always deterred (and sometimes killed) whatever was threatening him for at least long enough for him to escape. He doesn't like using it, because it is a long time before he can breathe it again, and anything he kills with it becomes gross - too nasty-smelling to eat.
6) Through careful observation and study, he has determined the boundaries of several *bad places* bordering his territory. *Bad places* are especially dangerous because you can be in one without even knowing, at least not right away. Some things can live just fine in the *bad places*, but other things get very sick, or die. Anything that leaves a *bad place* is also *bad*, and should not be eaten. He is careful to avoid these places.
7) His most secret desire is to become strong enough to go into a *bad place* for a long time (and come out again) without dying. His brother once fell asleep in a *bad place*, and the third eye his brother grew when he came out (before he died a few days later, screaming, skin sloughing off like an old snake's) could shoot *deathlight*. Nothing lived after the *deathlight* touched it. He hopes that if he could become strong enough, he could do as his brother did and grow the third eye, but without dying, and without losing his skin. He would be unstoppable, and the world would be his to do with as he pleased. Only his fear that he is not yet strong enough prevents him from trying this.
**
Reeling from the experience, you take a moment to recover. Clinging to the tree two meters away, Oo-hii (that's what his siblings called him, you remember) appears to be doing the same.
If you have questions, if there is anything you're curious about, or if there's anything you think you would or might have learned from the mind-meld which I did not mention, ask now. I'm not saying I'll answer - you have no control over what you've learned, after all - but I'll consider it. However, I am much less likely to answer questions about the mind-meld later ("say, during that mind-meld last week, did I happen to notice any pink hippopotami?" "Well, gee, Maxx, you might have, but who's to say? The memories fade so fast . . ."). Of course, questions that don't have to do with the content of the mind-meld can be asked any time.
_____
Botch list, botch list . . . it's telepathy, so nothing too earth-shattering, but mind-muckery is a serious possibility. A few standbys to start us off:
1. Wrong target (tree)
2. Brain burn
3. Psionic shockwave (minor)
4. Reverse mind-reading
5. Mind meld (Vulcan)
6. Possess target
7. Possess wrong target (tree)
8. Mind meld (chimerical)
9. Summon target's kind
10. Spirit form made visible to target
11. Emotional havok in target
12. Telepathy apparently successful
That'll do, pig. And the d12 comes up: 5, Vulcan mind meld. Well, it could have been worse.
And hey, since I'm having trouble coming up with what, out of the Flying Monkey's entire psyche, to share, let's have a GE roll: 12, "good enough," so Maxx will learn useful things and maybe not spill every last one of his secrets to the creature.
That's exactly the one!
The excitement shows up in that sentence.
Having exclamation mark does produce different effect!
I wonder if I can copy Oo-hii memory from birth to now for future reference. I have this thought since I have forgotten a lot of detail of the mind meld after I separate my mind with Lelach.
Does my mind still melded with Oo-hii mind after a while or does the link to Oo-hii mind seem to disappear?
Does Oo-hii recognize the insects that have past through the rift and what they usually eat?
What kind of predators and danger that exist in Oo-hii world excluding the things that come from *bad place* and ground-hunters?
this is because he has a sixth sense which tells him the location of any *easy-prey* nearby
Can he sense predators and danger with his sixth sense too?
How far does this sixth sense work?
their brains are usually tastier (when they have brains; some *easy-prey* turn out to be plants, which he does not usually hunt).
I want to know the taste of the most delicious thing that Oo-hii have taste before.
I also want to know if Oo-hii could survive by eating only plants.
He does not fly like birds or insects fly, but his wings allow him to change direction mid-jump or leap farther than he could otherwise.
Sounds like a flying lemur which ironically could not fly but only glide and not even a true lemur.
because it is a long time before he can breathe it again
An interesting *kill-breath*. I wonder if I can take a sample of it.
How far is the range of this *kill-breath* and how long does it take to recharge it?
he has determined the boundaries of several *bad places* bordering his territory.
How far is the closest *bad place* to the rift?
become strong enough to go into a *bad place* for a long time (and come out again) without dying.
Seems like a world that have an environment that induces mutation which could lead to evolution. That would make the things that come from *bad place* be "different" from the original. I also wanted to know what else Oo-hii have seen seen coming out from the *bad place*.
I wonder if there is microorganism in Oo-hii world. I have to remember to check it with Microscopic Vision later but before that I need to learn how to create or manipulate a light source first. I will keep this in mind or let it flow to Oo-hii mind for him to contemplate.
Speaking of light, I wonder if Oo-hii would want to cooperate with me to find the insects that come from his world so I will ask him this through the mind meld. In return, I will find a way for him to produce light although I am not sure if it will be a *deathlight* but with some tweaking a light could be focused enough to create a *deathlight*. I have to warn him though that even if he succeeded in doing this, there are others who are stronger and the *deathlight* should be used in emergency cases only and should not be misused.
*****
The second mind meld in this verse. What is the difference between Vulcan or chimerical mind meld?
Does the mind meld with Lelach considered to be chimerical considering it can control each other actions but with Vulcan mind meld only thoughts and the like can be exchanged?
That'll do, pig.
A famous quote from "Babe" which make me remember "Baa Ram Ewe". That in turn reminds me about a sheep in Warcraft 2.
maybe not spill every last one of his secrets to the creature.
If I mind melded with a another being, I rather the other being know all about me completely rather than just a little bit of info that might make that being misunderstands me. If that other being know all about me then probably that being personality will be affected by me.
I seem to have created confusion by using the term "mind-meld," which was also used to refer to your mishap with Lelach (which I had forgotten about but now remember). This effect was loosely modeled after the Vulcan mind meld of Star Trek fame. It was a temporary event and is now over. The information I listed is the result of your character drawing conclusions based on the thoughts, emotions, and memories he was exposed to during the meld. There is no longer any connection between the two of you - you involuntarily severed it out of obedience to your instinct for self-preservation.
I think that takes care of several of your questions up front. Let me know if I miss any.
Can he sense predators and danger with his sixth sense too?
The sense only informs him of the locations of *easy-prey*. Of course, some *easy-prey* are too large or too dangerous to hunt, but these are the minority (you think; not many of Oo-hii's thoughts dealt with this). Even so, predators who are *easy-prey* are sometimes easier to escape or avoid for the same reasons that huntable *easy-prey* are easier to catch: they often try to use tricks for which Oo-hii is too *fierce*.
How far does this sixth sense work?
"Nearby." Far enough to be relevant.
I want to know the taste of the most delicious thing that Oo-hii have taste before.
You don't know if it's the most delicious thing he's tasted, but the tastiest thing you experienced in his mind was the brain of one of the eight-toed lizards. It was difficult to catch, and the brain was very small, but it tasted of blood and salt and lightning, and Oo-hii savored it. You are not sure how it would taste to you.
I also want to know if Oo-hii could survive by eating only plants.
You don't know if he's ever tried, but you're almost certain he wouldn't like the idea.
How far is the range of this *kill-breath*
Very close. The one image you have of him using it, he was face-to-face with his bear-sized enemy.
and how long does it take to recharge it?
You don't know. Too long for comfort.
How far is the closest *bad place* to the rift?
You have scraps of knowledge about the layout of his territory, but since you don't know where the rift is, you have no way of knowing this.
What kind of predators and danger that exist in Oo-hii world excluding the things that come from *bad place* and ground-hunters?
Many. Varied. Anything one has not seen before might have the power to kill, disfigure, paralyze, poison, or induce insanity. Caution is a virtue but risk is unavoidable. (Or were you looking for specific examples?)
Does Oo-hii recognize the insects that have past through the rift and what they usually eat?
Of the specific insects you saw leave the rift, you can only remember seeing the dragonfly in Oo-hii's memory, and the context did not include the dragonfly's diet. (The dragonfly is *easy-prey*, and thus could not hide from Oo-hii.) Oo-hii may know, but you do not.
I also wanted to know what else Oo-hii have seen seen coming out from the *bad place*.
Your experience of this aspect of Oo-hii's life was vague. A three-headed viper emerged from a *bad place* once, and the things which ate it died (or most of them, anyway). Also, he associates metal things with the *bad places*; just to be safe, Oo-hii avoids touching metal when he has a choice.
Regarding the *deathlight*, I should point out that it does not seem to be a laser, or at the very least, not only a laser. Its lethality went far beyond what could be accounted for by the minor visible burn wounds it left.
**
Given that you are not presently able to communicate with Oo-hii mind-to-mind (as you mention more than once that you would like to), what are attempting to do instead, if anything?
____
No new mechanics to report. Everything is still riding on earlier rolls. Except -
If I mind melded with a another being, I rather the other being know all about me completely rather than just a little bit of info that might make that being misunderstands me. If that other being know all about me then probably that being personality will be affected by me.
Is this still your opinion, given the clarification I (hope I) have provided as to the nature of the "mind-meld"?
So the difference between Vulcan and chimerical mind meld is the Vulcan mind meld works temporarily but the chimerical mind meld works semi-permanently. I wonder if this event somehow boost Morach familiarity with Oo-hii like when I mind melded with Lelach.
what are attempting to do instead, if anything?
Try telepathy to alien next. If I manage to contact him then I will introduce myself as the one who have melded with his mind before. I would also ask him if he wants to cooperate with me to restore things to what they were.
tasted of blood and salt and lightning
Bloody lightning. That reminds me of a cocktail.
Oo-hii probably do not like the idea of only eating plants because it is not tasty.
I wonder what would happen if the plant is as tasty and have the same nutrient as a eight-toed lizard's brain. I will ask him this if I manage to communicate with him.
You have scraps of knowledge about the layout of his territory, but since you don't know where the rift is, you have no way of knowing this.
Ask Oo-hii his last known position was according to his knowledge about the layout of his territory. I will also ask if Oo-hii wanted to return to his world or wanted to stay here.
were you looking for specific examples?
Dangerous creatures that could fly and could fit through the rift. The creature that can induce insanity also seems interesting. I want to know what these creatures look like. If I do not know then ask Oo-hii.
Oo-hii avoids touching metal when he has a choice.
There is a metal needle in the winter tree. I wonder if Oo-hii clings to that tree and if he is I will tell him that he might want to avoid that tree if he does not want to touch metal.
or at the very least, not only a laser. Its lethality went far beyond what could be accounted for by the minor visible burn wounds it left.
Electrolaser perhaps? I thought of that because in that world, metal or lightning seems abundant. Even Oo-hii *kill-breath* seems to hint something about metallic things. I will also discuss with Oo-hii about this if he wants to cooperate with me. If he wants to cooperate then I will probably try to manipulate/create light next.
Speaking of metal needle, I just remembered the plan to use it to seal the rift but first I have to determine whether Oo-hii wanted to stay in this world or if he wanted to return back to his world.
*****
Is this still your opinion, given the clarification I (hope I) have provided as to the nature of the "mind-meld"?
Given the nature of "mind-meld" that only a little bit of information can be exchanged, I rather have Oo-hii know more about my personality or nothing of importance. If all information can be exchanged then I will probably let Oo-hii know all about me completely but Oo-hii must be willing to do the same in return.
If all information can be exchanged then I will probably let Oo-hii know all about me completely but Oo-hii must be willing to do the same in return.
Just as you had no control over what you experienced while melding with Oo-hii, neither you nor he had any control over what he experienced. In fact, you don't even know what he experienced. I asked because it might influence how I interpret the GE roll.
Oo-hii probably do not like the idea of only eating plants because it is not tasty.
That too. More importantly, he is violent creature, and a proud one. Hunting is an exercise of his cunning and strength; a life spent subsisting on forage would be a half life.
The creature that can induce insanity also seems interesting.
I did not mean to imply that Kingdom Animalia had a monopoly on danger. Berries, sources of water, strange patches of ground, and odd smells should, if unidentified, also be classed as potentially lethal / disfiguring / paralytic / poisonous / maddening hazards.
Also, some of your information with regard to this comes in the form of Oo-hii's fears rather than examples of hazard in action. You don't recall any specific instance of an entity being driven insane (other than Oo-hii's brother, near the end of his life - but he had more pressing concerns than his mental health at the time). You merely have knowledge that Oo-hii knew it was a possible concern.
**
Now knowing that Oo-hii is not quite an unintelligent animal, you quickly realize how you need to alter your technique in order to open a thought channel to his somewhat peculiar mind. When you reach out to him, you encounter resistance along the way - almost as if there were some sort of barrier between your mind and his - but with some effort, you are able to push through it.
Oo-hii looks like he's fully recovered from your accidental mind meld. His limbs are tensed in readiness and he's looking directly at you. You have a two-way link to his mind; what do you say?
(When conversing with a somewhat alien intelligence, your phrasing can sometimes be as or more important than your intent. It will be easier for me to run Oo-hii faithfully if we carry out your conversation in dialog form.)
______
I'll allow that Maxx's attempt to learn "alien telepathy" is actually, in this case, an attempt to learn P1@5 Telepathy to Humanoids, not to learn P1@7 Telepathy to Aliens. I'll also give him +3 for familiarity, but it doesn't matter this time because the bias bonus is so huge success is assured.
However, Oo-hii may have other ideas, so first, initiative: Maxx 87, Oo-hii 90. Since that's a failure for the skill Oo-hii intended to use, Maxx wins; his skill learning check is 57, successfully learning the skill at 1@2.
Whether he's successfully contacted Oo-hii is another matter; the creature now knows he's there and is expected psychic contact. Read Minds can be resisted if the target is unwilling and knows it's coming, so even though Telepathy is harmless, I'll rule the same way. Oo-hii's skill check is 44 (never mind what skill), which is successful but below Maxx's check. Maxx wins. However, using a skill to resist does not waive Oo-hii's right to a Willpower check, which will be difficult (d30+10) because Maxx succeeded with more than 50: the roll is 24. After some thought, I've decided that fails, as well. (It would only succeed for a Willpower of at least 2@5.) Maxx has made contact. He'll have a chance to send his opening message before Oo-hii takes action for this round of "combat".
he is violent creature, and a proud one. Hunting is an exercise of his cunning and strength; a life spent subsisting on forage would be a half life.
Interesting take on life.
I also wonder if Oo-hii thinks he is insane when the mind meld occur. I also wonder what would Oo-hii reaction be when he heard someone communicate with him via telepathy.
*****
When you reach out to him, you encounter resistance along the way - almost as if there were some sort of barrier between your mind and his
Mental barrier. That is interesting. I have to come up with something like this soon.
I wonder where Oo-hii learn that from and why I do not feel any mental barrier during the mind meld.
"Greetings, Oo-hii. Please cease your hostility. I am the creature that share your memories by accident just now. Do you know where you are right now?"
I wonder how Oo-hii plans to attack me without knowing my current position. I also wonder if he could even hurt spirit like beings.
If he does not know where he is right now I will ask, "Do you want to return to your territory?"
Whatever the answer is, I will ask, "Do you want to cooperate with me? In return, I will help you to return or probably awaken your third eye."
If Oo-hii still seems hostile and does not want to cooperate I will probably try to induce his thinking with suggestion next.
*****
Maxx's attempt to learn "alien telepathy" is actually, in this case, an attempt to learn P1@5 Telepathy to Humanoids, not to learn P1@7 Telepathy to Aliens.
If I encounter another humanoid or alien, how do you differentiate when I say I want to try to communicate with them with telepathy?
Would you ask if I want to use humanoid or alien telepathy or do you decide automatically which kind of telepathy that is?
So a telepathy could be resisted using Willpower. If the mind meld did not happen, would Oo-hii be given a skill check to resist the telepathy because he did not know it is coming?
"Greetings, Oo-hii. Please cease your hostility. I am the creature that share your memories by accident just now. Do you know where you are right now?"
He pulls his lips back, showing all his sharp teeth. Perhaps it is a grin. He thinks to you,
::Ask me if I know where you are.::
And then he leaps.
He jumps directly at you, beating his wings once to slow his approach just as he arrives at your location in mid-air. His hands claw through you, and his jaws close on your insubstantial torso. His nails and teeth are sharp, but you feel no pain or pressure. His body, which passes through you next, is hairy and warm.
His wingbeat slowed his progress enough that he lands on top of the pink force sphere (which seems to have been his intention). He scrabbles for balance and, achieving it, glares up at you. You're almost close enough to feel his breath.
::Come out where I can grip you, little cub. Do that, and maybe I'll stop hunting you.::
_____
The attack roll is 17, which is "successful"; it incorporates his wing-assisted leap, so I'll let him land where he wants, too. Ball in Maxx's court; might be a new round of combat, might not be.
Other questions answered later, if I missed any; dinner's on the table.
I sighed at the Oo-hii futile effort.
"Oh well, cannot blame you for trying."
I also sighed at my futile effort at negotiating.
Do that, and maybe I'll stop hunting you
"I guess a proud warrior does act like this more often than not."
Looks like trying to reason with Oo-hii would not work if he does not calm down.
I will try to make Oo-hii cooperate with me using hypnotic suggestion via telepathy using shock induction method.
"CALM DOWN AND LISTEN TO MY THOUGHTS!!", I said to Oo-hii in a commanding manner via telepathy.
If Oo-hii calmed down and listen to me then I will ask the previous unanswered questions (regarding if he wants to stay in this world and whether he wants to cooperate with me).
[I made minor edits to the previous post, for clarity. I made them before you posted, but I don't know if you saw them.]
Your telepathic connection has apparently worn a "weak spot" in the barrier, and your commanding suggestion gets through to his mind - but once you're there, he pushes you away; it does not take hold.
::Try that again, little caterpillar. It might work.::
He does seem calmer, actually; he's pawing the air where you are, apparently exploring the fact that you don't physically exist there.
::What do you have to say, grubling? You will tire soon enough, and I will find you then; we may chat as well as not. Your memories of the Ancients - were they false lies? Or true facts?::
____
I rolled initiative, but thinking back that might not have been necessary (Maxx won with a successful 59 against a failed 75). We can work out the details of the suggestion later, as whatever it is, it's likely no-fail the first time: yes, 11 succeeds easily and the skill is learned. The defensive skill fails (79), which we'll chalk up to the telepathic connection, but the willpower check, simple this time (Maxx's roll is below 50), succeeds with a 14 on the dice. Maxx lucks out, though, in that Oo-hii appears to have decided that a parley wouldn't be so bad after all.
We'll abandon combat time for now. I'd have gone ahead to address Oo-hii's answers to Maxx's earlier questions, but since he's posed a question of his own, I'm not sure Maxx still wants to go that route. We'll continue with the dialog approach for now.
I'm idly wondering if Maxx's "warrior" characterization was a subtle try at flattery.
glares up at you
Somehow Oo-hii can see or sense me. I will try to change my position (but not too far) to see if Oo-hii eyes still follow me or does he still glares at the same place.
he's pawing the air where you are, apparently exploring the fact that you don't physically exist there.
Does he still paw the same place after I move a little or does he know where I am?
Try that again, little caterpillar.
"Caterpillar, huh... I guess you could say that in a way."
You will tire soon enough, and I will find you then
"I thought that you could see me seeing as you know where to paw. If you could not then tell me so I can make my presence known."
Your memories of the Ancients - were they false lies? Or true facts?
"Could you tell me about the Ancients that you mention about?
I am searching for the truth too. Would you like to cooperate with me to search for the truth?
Do you want to stay here or do you want to go back to your territory?
Why do you think you exist in this world and why do you think we meet?
Would you like to change your life and view the world from different perspective?
Do you have friends, families or anything that you wish to protect?"
I will ask the above questions continuously without waiting for the answer unless I was interrupted in the process. After I finish with the last question, I will wait for Oo-hii to answer.
*****
I'm idly wondering if Maxx's "warrior" characterization was a subtle try at flattery.
"Warrior" just pops out off my head. That is how I mentally associate the personality of Oo-hii.
Two quick asides.
- As much as I would love to know what "Chimerical Mind Meld" is, I must point out to you that neither you nor your character can draw any conclusions about it from the fact that it was on a telepathy botch list with "Vulcan Mind Meld" other than that it is in some way different but is connected to telepathy. I can think of several possible meanings that fit, but it may be that Scott would prefer no one know what he means by that until someone experiences it, so I wouldn't push the issue.
- If you encounter another humanoid mind, you have learned how to contact minds that are "humanoid", that is, more different from your own than those of "like" creatures, and you will use the techniques you learned in this attempt to connect with that mind. The referee might give you a new use credit for making contact with a different humanoid mind, but that's his call. If you encounter an alien mind, probably the referee will let you attempt to contact it as humanoid, and based on whether the roll would have been successful might tell you that this mind is more alien than that, providing the opportunity for you to try a different skill approach.
Sorry for the interruption.
--M. J. Young
Edit: Thank you, MJ. A mechanical question I don't have to answer justifies any interjection - and you're welcome here in any case.
Maxx - just to add to that, your character may not even be aware, at this point, that there exists a fourth category of mind, and he certainly doesn't know that there aren't five. I imagine I'll be using the procedure MJ loosely describes. /edit
____
He does follow you as you move, but he quits pawing after a moment or two, apparently satisfied that you really can't be touched.
"I thought that you could see me seeing as you know where to paw. If you could not then tell me so I can make my presence known."
::I meant your other part, the part with blood and flesh. If you would reveal that, you'd save me a little time.::
After I finish with the last question, I will wait for Oo-hii to answer.
::Are you . . . bargaining with me? Trying to trade me something for your life?::
His eyes narrow,
::Or was that a threat? Saying you'll trap me away from my territory, implying you'll attack what I might want to protect?
::If you've something to offer in trade - Ancient artifacts, perhaps? or, the hiding places of your sleeping brethren? - then state it plainly. Enough with confusing questions. And if you're making threats, state them plainly, too, so I'll know what to laugh about as I feast on your coward's flesh.::
A mechanical question I don't have to answer justifies any interjection
I have to thank you for satisfying my curiosity considering it have been answered already even if you do not have to answer it.
your character may not even be aware, at this point, that there exists a fourth category of mind, and he certainly doesn't know that there aren't five.
I think my character right now characterizes the mind as:
1) Similar to own kind
2) Animal and plants
3) Alien
That makes me wonder what will happen if I meet an alien and try alien telepathy.
*****
He does follow you as you move
"Could you see all spirits or could you only see me?
If you would reveal that, you'd save me a little time
"Even I do not know where my body currently is. You seem really hungry, do you want to eat something then?"
Are you . . . bargaining with me? Trying to trade me something for your life?
"I am bargaining with you and my questions are not a threats at all. I would trade my life for my brethren but I think you would not be satisfied with just a little snack like that."
Saying you'll trap me away from my territory, implying you'll attack what I might want to protect?
"I want to return you to your territory if you wish for it. You do not have to tell me what you wanted to protect but I need to know if you have anything you want to protect so I could help you to protect them."
Ancient artifacts, perhaps? or, the hiding places of your sleeping brethren?
Metal needle is probably what I am looking for but saying it is an ancient artifact might be too much. The winter tree was where we sleep during the winter but currently my family is away. Could I be considered an artifact or something? I wonder if those counts as what Oo-hii meant.
"Did you see any of my skills when we share our memories?
If not, you can see that I can be in this form and have made a barrier that you step on.
Don't you think having me as your artifact to help you do incredible things an advantage to you?
If I am useless to you and cannot find you any food to eat then you are welcome to eat me. Do we have a deal then?"
"Could you see all spirits or could you only see me?" . . . "Even I do not know where my body currently is. You seem really hungry, do you want to eat something then?"
These questions are ignored.
(Also, as I interpret the flow of the conversation, this portion of the exchange occurs before your attempt at hypnotic suggestion, and thus before your litany of questions which resulted in his asking if you were bargaining or threatening. Yes?)
"I am bargaining with you (...) I want to return you to your territory if you wish for it (...) Did you see any of my skills when we share our memories? (...) Do we have a deal, then?"
He mulls this over for a moment.
::You don't make much sense, morsel. You ask silly questions, and some things you say are backward . . . but are you offering to come back with me, and be mine? And you'll do everything I say? And if you don't, I eat you. Is that the deal?::
thus before your litany of questions which resulted in his asking if you were bargaining or threatening. Yes?
Probably. If that is the case I will probably ask it again after reaching the deal.
are you offering to come back with me, and be mine?
"If that is what it takes to make you not kill my brethren. If you want to stay here because I will seal the rift then you could live here and if you want to go back then I will probably follow you unless you do not want to be followed. I could make a specific tunnel through the rift though if you want to go both worlds but I probably need more time for that."
And you'll do everything I say?
"I will do my best to protect you and find you food. I will also try my best to do what you say unless it contradicts my value or the deal."
And if you don't, I eat you.
"If I cannot find you any food then as an alternative you can eat me. If I can find you food to eat, eating me would be like throwing away potential food."
Is that the deal?
"What I have stated before is pretty much it. Do you agree to it then?"
After he answers or ignores that, I will ask, "Could you see all spirits such as your sibling spirit or could you only see me?"
After he answers or ignores that, I will tell him, "I will take something in that tree and I will come back. Please guard this area and do not let any creature from your territory pass. Before I came back, please decide if you want to stay, go back or be able to travel to both worlds."
Then I will go to search for the metal needle in the winter tree. If I still cannot find the metal needle even with Lelach's guidance then I try to find it with my detect materials skill. If that does not work then I will try my perceive density skill.
::Yes, good deal.::
"Could you see all spirits such as your sibling spirit or could you only see me?"
::No. And I don't need to see you, pet-creature. I can find you anyway. Don't think you can hide or get away.::
"I will take something in that tree and I will come back. Please guard this area and do not let any creature from your territory pass. Before I came back, please decide if you want to stay, go back or be able to travel to both worlds."
::Getting something? I'll come with you.
::And I want both places. We'll go back to my nest first, but I'll want to come back here later, maybe.::
Then I will go to search for the metal needle in the winter tree. If I still cannot find the metal needle even with Lelach's guidance then I try to find it with my detect materials skill. If that does not work then I will try my perceive density skill.
I'm not sure what you intend to do with the needle while in spirit form. It sounds like you want to bring the needle back to the portal, but if so, I'm unclear on what strategy you'll be using to accomplish that. Are you returning to your body first? And, does it matter that Oo-hii wants to come with you?
Second post
Also, this is the description I have for your Detect Materials skill:
1@4 Detect Materials P3@4 (known patterns: seed mush, fabric, air, water, food in various condition, hair, saliva)
It doesn't spell out how the skill works, but it implies that you can only search for "known" materials - that is, materials you have successfully examined using one of your four psionic Analyze Chemistry skills. How do you recall this skill working, and does any of this change your plans?
Yes, good deal.
"I glad you liked it."
I can find you anyway. Don't think you can hide or get away.
"You must have very good intuition I guess. Glad to be of service."
Getting something? I'll come with you.
"You are welcome to but please alert me if something comes out from your territory using your intuition or something."
And I want both places. We'll go back to my nest first, but I'll want to come back here later, maybe.
"I also think that way is better. It looks like I have to build a tunnel or some kind of door between both world so it probably will take some time."
It sounds like you want to bring the needle back to the portal, but if so, I'm unclear on what strategy you'll be using to accomplish that.
There are a lot of ways to bring the metal needle in spirit form such as telekinesis or turning it in spirit form or something but first Morach have to locate the needle first. What I will do will depend on the condition of the metal needle.
it implies that you can only search for "known" materials - that is, materials you have successfully examined
That is true but not necessarily using Analyze Chemistry skills because I have this skill before I have Analyze Chemistry skill. I just have to be able to examine the material after I learned the Detect Materials skill to do it. Retrocognitive Scrying skill lets me examine the needle in the past so I think I could detect it again with the Detect Materials skill. If you think that would not work then I will use my Perceive Density skill to look for the metal needle. Oops, getting too in character during out of character section but I hope you understand what I meant.
"You must have very good intuition I guess."
::Maybe. But for you, I don't need that, either. You're *easy-prey*; I don't even have to try.::
"You are welcome to but please alert me if something comes out from your territory using your intuition or something."
Actually, Oo-hii will be able to keep watch on the portal with his ordinary senses if he likes; the hollow is just on the other side of the tree at your present altitude, and the tree is less than a meter from the edge of the force sphere. (You'll have more difficulty from inside the hollow, of course.) He does not respond to your request, but he does follow to the tree and cling to the side while you enter.
Once inside the hollow, you have difficulty finding the needle. You can't detect any metal here, and you fail to perceive density. Perhaps you're tired from all the psionics you have been doing (and are still maintaining).
::Well? What's taking so long?::
_____
It seems to me that examining a material is something you would have to do on purpose - that is, you tell me you're doing it and I make a note, and from then on it's a known pattern. I'll allow it this one time, though, because you didn't know that was the rule and you probably had time to examine the needle while you were scrying.
90 fails to detect material and 93 fails to perceive density. At least they weren't botches.
It's probably about time for me to go back and figure out how much time has passed . . .
1@1 Perceive Density P9@1 analyze chemistry variant 4:00 preparatory concentration determines density within line of vision based on density (maximum depth in inches=RS divided by one tenth density) +40SM
BRA+SAL+2xBias Level+SM = 20+11+(2x12)+40 = 95. I think 93 would be good to go unless maintaining psionic skills have adverse effects even though all the psionic skills are considered as low concentration skill if I am not mistaken.
But for you, I don't need that, either. You're *easy-prey*; I don't even have to try.
"I wonder what you meant by *easy-prey* considering in this form hardly anything could notice me. I also did not know you can use your intuition freely that you can choose to try it manually or leave it on auto-mode. I wonder how far you can detect if you really try."
Well? What's taking so long?
"I am still searching for the thing to seal the rift."
If I manage to activate my perceive density skill then locate the needle. If I cannot locate the needle then I will concentrate for a minute and try a magnetism skill which can affect the area inside the tree and pull any metal towards me.
*****
examining a material is something you would have to do on purpose - that is, you tell me you're doing it and I make a note, and from then on it's a known pattern. I'll allow it this one time, though, because you didn't know that was the rule and you probably had time to examine the needle while you were scrying.
Did you add "metal needle" on the list of known materials?
This list will probably be long if I get to know more materials so that is why I will leave it to the referee discretion.
Can I say that I will examine anything that interests me in that event so I do not have to mention it later such as if the thing that interests me in that event is metal needle and I have the chance to examine it then it will be automatically noted as known material? This is because I might forget to mention it if I think it is obvious that I am examining that material.
how much time has passed
How much time have passed since spirit ejection?