"Most of what would probably be categorized as my strange abilities I wrote off to good fortune. I also had a lot to distract myself with, as an overall understanding of the world and eventually a specific understanding of materials took most of my time. My friends and I have always known me to have exceptional luck and to be able to read people, but that's just my knowledge of body language and attention to detail, or so I've always though. As to the luck, well I just assumed I was lucky."
Thoughts:
Strange abilities? Well, I've always been very lucky, my friends used to joke the universe bends to my will. Also I'm exceptionally good at reading people's actions and body language, but these aren't really strange abilities. Well, maybe Brom thinks differently, not sure I can explain any better than that. I'm looking forward to my lessons today.
He shakes his head. "I ha' tho't most warlocks heard the thoughts of others while quite young. Then, at that age they don't realize that that's not normal for ordinary people."
He leaves you at the stairs which lead to what for lack of a better phrase would be the dormitories, and turns back toward the queen's quarters.
--M. J. Young
I'll go to my bed and relax until lunch. I won't go to sleep out of fear of not waking up in time, so I won't be lying down but sitting on my bed.
When it's lunch time I'll try and find Molly. I'll eat lunch with her and then follow her to wherever the training is going to happen.
Thoughts:
Alternating thoughts between thinking about the fact that I'm tired but reminding myself to stay awake and excitement for learning after lunch.
The hours seem to go by slowly, but in a while Toby is up and about, and he lets you know when it's time to head to lunch.
Lunch seems to be in a private dining room, attended by the same witches and warlocks you met last night. The servants bring food, and some seem a bit nervous, but the witches help by levitating platters and jugs from their hands to the table. (The warlocks do not seem involved in this.) Although the meat is cold, the soup is hot, and its served with heated mulled wine.
Molly is not too difficult to find; she refreshes your memory on the names of some of those seated close at hand, who are eager to learn more about you and so ask you about yourself and about that magic wand you used last night.
--M. J. Young
For the questions about myself I'll recant them in roughly the same way as I did to the Queen, except not starting it off with Greetings your Majesty but instead just diving into the story.
As to the wand specifically...
"As to my wand, I found it one day which was actually my foray into learning. I've only managed to get it to do what you all have seen however, and have never been blessed with being around other warlocks and witches. What do all of your wands do?"
"Oh, I don't know. You are the only person I've ever known to use, or even to have, a wand. They're mentioned in the old stories sometimes, but I've never seen one and no one has ever mentioned having seen one or used one that I know. But then, I don't know a lot of the older witches and warlocks, so maybe they use them. But I don't think Gwendylon uses one, and everyone says she's the best witch alive today."
"Well, I guess the first thing to do is to see if you can hear thoughts. Look at me. Now, try to tune your mind to my mind, so that whatever I'm thinking will ring in your mind, too. Can you do that? It's probably not much different from trying to use your wand, really, but you're trying to become attuned to my thoughts."
You try but don't get it.
--M. J. Young
"I don't hear your thoughts, I think I'm doing it wrong. Is there anything simpler or of similar complexity we could try to get me started?"
Thoughts:
This is embarrassing, I can't seem to get a handle on what everyone else thinks is the most basic thing ever... I hope I can soon.
With some seriousness, she says, "I don't know. Maybe you can try to teach me how to use the wand, and if I can see how you do that, I might be able to explain better what you need to do to hear thoughts. Don't be embarrassed, though--sure, you're the only warlock I've ever heard of who can't hear thoughts, and even the Queen can do that sometimes (although she's really not very good at it), you are the only warlock I've ever heard of who can use a magic wand that cuts holes in stone."
--M. J. Young
"Sure, it's easy enough to use the wand. Just hold it and point it where you want to burn a hole and reach out with your mind to connect with the wand. I've yet to encounter anything that it can't cut through, although it cuts through some things quite slowly so just be careful where you point it."
At this point I'll hand Molly the psionic drill.
"Go ahead and give it a try."
Thoughts:
Haven't taught anyone to use the wand since Eli, and it worked for him, I have no doubt Molly will manage to. Perhaps she'll even notice something about it I haven't.
Second Post
Sorry for the second post, promise not to make a habit of it.
It occurred to me that I'm going to be trying to teach Molly the skill to activate the psionic drill, so this would count as another attempt to learn the teaching skill right?
Only if you say it is.
Anyone can be an instructor and give the benefits of instruction to someone else. A teacher has the additional skill of being able to recognize the needs of the student and adjust the instructional methods accordingly. If you botch at teaching, you hamper the student's ability to learn. But your success will bonus such learning attempts.
So if you're trying to learn to teach in this process, we'll include that.
--M. J. Young
I'm going to attempt to learning the teaching skill then
You have begun to understand the process of teaching students, and Molly has benefited from this in learning to use the psionic drill.
She again attempts to instruct you, comparing the effort to read a mind to the techniques involved in contacting the "wand".
--M. J. Young
Sounds great, I'll try and follow her instructions again and try to learn to read minds.
Not really any thought updates other than noticing that Molly picked up on how to use the wand very fast, although I never doubted she was going to.
"'Tis your excellent teaching, my lord," she says. "But I'm sure you will learn to hear thoughts; it is not so different."
This time around, you manage to pick up what she's thinking. She's wondering if you think she's too young.
--M. J. Young
"You're an excellent teacher as well, although you worry far too much about your age. You're far more mature than most people my age, and that's what truly counts. Perhaps you could show me around after we see if I can pick up a few more abilities? It would be nice to go on a walk with you."
I haven't gotten a more specific description of Molly by the way. Is her physical appearance/apparent age set? Ever since the post where she asked if I liked to dance I've been picturing her based on what I tend to think is attractive, but there isn't really a basis for whether this is true.
Also it's been mentioned that a familiarity builds through psionic skills, will I start to become familiar with Molly's mind and more easily able to read her mind? I understand if you can't answer this but was curious.
I'm going to practice reading thoughts throughout the day now that I know how to. It's an important skill for me to improve.
Thoughts:
I hate to push for lessons, but I'm very excited to learn to fly and hate that when I dance with Molly she's restricted to the ground. I'm also eager to learn more, both about the natural abilities I seem to lack and about Molly.
You're far more mature than most people my age....
She giggles.
I actually don't have much on her at all, but I'm inclined to think she looks about 16, 5'3", average build, not visibly fat but not skinny either, auburn hair and green eyes, a few freckles on a pale face. Does that work for you?
Familiarity does build over time in relation to those whose minds you contact frequently. There is no indication that any of the witches or warlocks send thoughts, they only read them.
Molly explains that she'll have to get one of the boys--probably Toby--to help you fly. Boys fly; girls move objects, and can ride the objects they move, usually brooms.
"I can try to teach you to hear conversations. It's like mind reading, but you can hear what a person is saying and what he is hearing by picking up that part of his mind. I'm not very good at it--you'd probably do better to get Aldis to show you, she's really good at it--but that would be something you could try, anyway."
--M. J. Young
Thanks for the description MJ, and that works very well for me. It's actually very similar to what I was imagining to begin with.
"Would it be possible to find Toby? I'd very much like to learn to fly, would be nice to be less awkward while dancing at night, being one of the few on the ground. As to the hearing conversations I have a hard time believing you fall short in any category after all the ability you've shown to this point, even getting me to learn."
Thoughts:
Molly's cute when she giggles... I should monitor my thoughts more closely however, it's weird to know people are always listening in. It's very exciting to be learning these things, I'm very appreciative of it.
"I'm sure we can find Toby. He probably went back to bed."
"Well, it's not really as if everyone is flying--the girls are dancing on broomsticks, or being held by the guys. Girls can't fly, you know. We can only control objects."
She giggles again at your compliment. "Well, no one is good at everything, and I don't think I'm the best at anything. But Aldis really is the best at hearing conversations of other people when they're not here. She's listened to the queen's enemies many times. I don't promise I can do it, and there aren't that many people I've ever tried.
"But I'll show you how it's done. Who should I listen to?"
--M. J. Young
"Thanks for making me feel better, I'm sure I'll learn to fly soon enough anyway."
"As to who to listen in to, we need to make sure it's someone who's awake right? I'm also assuming there are ways to block others listening in on you so people like Brom probably would be blocking it. Let's try Bridget, she seems younger so hopefully she won't be blocking peoples attempts."
Thoughts:
Having my thoughts be open domain is sorta nice, I get to speak my mind way more than I normally would.
"Really? I've never thought that you could block someone from hearing your thoughts. Do you think you could do that?"
She suggests that while she does it you'll want to try to hear her thoughts, because it might help you figure out how she does it.
You attempt to read her mind, but as you hear Bridget's voice coming out of Molly's mouth you lose focus, something goes very wrong, and suddenly there's a burst of force coming out from you that tears through you painfully, and obviously hits Molly as well, interrupting what she's doing and knocking her down.
--M. J. Young
"Molly!"
I'll rush over to Molly and kneel down next to her and help her sit back up, support her head and back to be safe.
"Are you ok Molly? I could hear Bridgets voice momentarily and then something went really wrong. I don't know what happened, I'm really sorry."
Thoughts:
Please be ok Molly.
"Whoa, that hurt. I--I think I'm O.K. That was quite a shot, though. I--guess I should have thought of that. Yeah, when we reproduce what someone else says and hears, it's in the voices of the people talking. I don't know why that is.
"We should take a break. I'm going to be sore for a while, from that."
Incidentally, you are, too. That was genuine injury to your nervous system, leaving you jangled, sore, and in some sense injured. you might want a few days off.
--M. J. Young
"A break would probably be good. I got hit as well and am very sore, I was terrified you had been badly hurt though. Perhaps we should postpone my education for a day or two, so we can both recover sufficiently. Is there anything you would like to do for the rest of the day until the nights party? Perhaps go on a slow walk around, I still don't know where most things are here and a relaxing stroll would be pleasant. If you have something else you would like to do I'm open to suggestion, just nothing too physically exerting, I'm pretty sore too now that the adrenaline is wearing off."
I'll stand up and offer my hand to help Molly up.
Thoughts:
I'm relieved Molly is alright, but boy did that hurt. I wonder why that happens, it's unlike anything else that happened to me before, although that angry god was less pleasant than this.
It will take about three days for the injuries to heal completely; even though you can't see them, you can feel the soreness.
At the moment, the two of you have the roof to yourself; you're both a bit unsteady on your feet, and it hurts to move, although it doesn't stop hurting completely when you don't move.
She nods at your suggestion of postponing for a couple days. "Besides," she says, "you probably really should get Aldis to show you that trick with listening in to conversations. She's much better at it. And I can't teach you everything anyway--you're going to need Toby or one of the other boys to show you how to fly, and there are probably a lot of things others know that I've never learned. I know that Gwendylon can do all kinds of things I've never even heard of anyone else doing, although she lives with the elves, so maybe she learned from them."
--M. J. Young
"Ok, I'll get Aldis to show me how if you believe that the best path. That's not yet though. I don't think dancing tonight will be a good idea, not with moving hurting as it does. Is that ok with you?"
I'll take it easy over the 3 days needed to heal. Nothing notable I really want to do, I'll go to the party at night although I can't really dance while it hurts to move. I'll also try to sleep a bit more both to catch up on the sleep I lost last night and to expedite the healing process.
I don't really have anything significant I'd like to do while recovering, so not really sure what to do until the third day when I'd be better unless something significant comes up before then.
At that point I'd like to ask Aldis to teach me to listen in to conversations and explain Molly said she was the best at it and that I should ask her.
During the 3 days I'd like to eat lunch and dinner with Molly, if that's possible and hold casual conversation.
Thoughts:
I sure did hurt myself fast, sad that dancing really isn't an option until I feel better. I really did enjoy dancing with Molly the other night. I wonder what abilities exist out there, I really have no idea what could exist.
Word has spread; some of the witches seem to be awed by word of the amount of power you released, although the warlocks don't seem as impressed.
The party runs as usual that night; Molly retires early. Warm mulled wine is the beverage served; it's obvious that some of the partygoers overdo it fairly regularly. You sleep in the next day, but get lunch with the others some time in the afternoon.
That second night (your third night at the castle) the party is interrupted. A noise calls everyone's attention toward the battlements below the East Tower--a ululating soaring wail that grates like nails on glass, then shifting to a low moan that rises through a keeing cry to a stabbing shriek held for what seems several minutes; everyone around you covers their ears.
It seems to be coming from a huge perhaps ten foot tall dimly glowing body of a voluptuous woman dressed in a tattered shroud, the body supporting a rabbit's head with pointed teeth. It prances and gyrates on the walls as if performing some sort of war dance.
Abruptly it vanishes, and goes silent, the last echoes of the shriek fading off the castle walls.
"The banshee," someone says. "That's the second time."
Everyone goes quiet.
--M. J. Young
"Molly, what's that? Someone mentioned a banshee and that it's been here before? I've heard rumors of banshees before and heard they're dangerous. Do we have any information on this one?"
I'll whisper this quietly to Molly.
Thoughts:
What myths do I remember about banshees. Deathly wails, malevolent spirits, don't remember how to dismiss them unfortunately.
As the last echoes fade, a solemn Molly says, "Yes, that was the Banshee. It appears when someone is going to die, they say; and last time it appeared there was an attempt on the Queen's life. It bodes ill, this harbinger of death."
--M. J. Young
"There have been attempts on the Queens life?"
Thoughts:
I wonder if the banshee is good or evil. If it's warning us of a potential death the only way it can it may be good but only misunderstood. Hopefully whatever death the banshee is predicting can be averted, I hope the Queen is being watched over closely.
I don't really have any input on the banshee event past this then.
"Aye, once before," someone says. "Everyone fears the banshee; it is said that when it appears, someone dies, and last time she appeared someone tried to poison the queen. Thank the Lord Brom O'Berin tasted the poison in her food before she ate it. He tastes everything, and has a good sense for the tastes of poisons, and a hearty constitution that keeps him alive when he finds it."
--M. J. Young
I don't really have further input, nothing is jumping out at me, although I may be missing something very obvious or just assuming it's obvious to everyone.
"Oh, ok."
At that point I'll let the conversation drop, as I don't really have substantial input.
Thoughts:
It's a good thing Brom has a hearty constitution and is looking out for the Queen. I'm surprised the banshee isn't considered a more direct attack than what I've heard it is in myths. I always thought they were a bad omen because the wailing can cause people to go insane. OH! I should mention that to Molly!
"Um, Molly I'm not sure if you were hearing my thoughts again or what not but what rumors I've heard of banshees have two variations. Either the banshees wail is mortal to human ears or it drives people to do things they would not normally do. I'm not sure that's what the banshee is doing but I think it's a possibility."
She seems to think about that for a moment, then shrugs.
"It doesn't seem to have any effect on us, and it doesn't effect Brom, obviously; if it's had any effect on the guards, Sir Maris would probably have noticed. I mean, I can't say that whoever poisoned the Queen's food wasn't driven mad to do it, but it's not really the sort of thing you expect madness to cause--and she does have enemies.
"Anyway, I'm not an expert on Banshees, but what I've heard is that whenever one appears, someone dies; it could have been the Queen last time, but we were lucky, and Brom stopped it, so no one died. But I'm not sure we can be lucky twice."
--M. J. Young
"Ah, well I'm not expert on them either. I thought I should just mention anything I thought of. Brom seems very capable and I'm sure he's watching over the Queen as we speak though. This all is very overwhelming and how powerless I feel to help anyone is very exhausting though. I think I'm going to retire early. I'll see you at lunch tomorrow?"
Thoughts:
I hope the Queen will be ok, but I don't know anything I can do to help, and I'm new enough that trying to help would probably cause more problems than help the situation. I think the best course of action is to go to sleep and reduce the number of people the guards have to watch walking around by one.
Molly says goodnight, and the party seems to be returning to order as you head inside.
A guard watches you warily, and a few minutes after you get to bed you hear someone pass through the hall. You are somewhat restless and sleep eludes you for the moment.
--M. J. Young
Thinking to myself "I know better than to follow a mysterious stranger walking down a hallway, it's in all the movies. But how can I resist. Curse my curiosity and need to protect others."
I'll get out of bed, grab my psionic drill in case I need it for self defense and go out into the hall to try see who was passing by.
When I see who it is I'm going to try and use the mind reading skill I learned from Molly. I'll attempt to use it until it works. I'll try whether or not it looks like it's a guard, in case it's someone pretending to be a guard who is not. The only cases where I wouldn't try and read their mind is if it is one of the following:
Molly
Brom
The Queen
I'm going to try and read their thoughts before they see me. If they see me I'm still going to try and read their minds but while conversing with them.
Also I'd like to be sneaking in an attempt for the person not to see me. Would this be a skill development? I've never had cause to really avoid being detected before so I have no experience. I would like to develop a skill to allow me to follow while avoiding making much noise or being easily seen. Following from further away and trying to blend in with other people sort of thing.
Thoughts:
Tonights events have me all riled up, this is probably nothing but I'd kick myself if I didn't check who was passing by if it ended up being something bad. Please just be a guard making rounds.
I've got absolutely no bod skills listed for you at all. Obviously having met you I know you can walk, and presume you can run and jump. The question is whether you've got any skills in acrobatics or martial arts, whether you ran multiple hurdles at any time, or what other more difficult body skills you've done (hang gliding?). I need that base to determine how difficult it is for you to teach yourself stalking.
You step out into the hall and spot a hunched, slight, wiry little old man, almost emaciated, with a few wisps of hair brushed flat over a leathery skull, and pale skin.
You get a pretty solid connection to his thoughts, which you're going to be able to hold for a while. Initially, he's thinking something like this: "I don't know about this new telepath. His appearance is suspicious; no one knows where he's from. He might know our plot; they might have sent him to stop us. This is going to require care."
You'll be able to get more, but until I can roll for your stealth skill I won't be able to determine whether or not he notices you.
--M. J. Young
This may take me two posts or an edit to do, I'm going through old posts to get all the information about my character and compiling it, something I meant to do for a while.
The highest bod skill I have is Eli's fighting stance.
Here's the behind the scenes excerpt from when I learned it, along with the link to it.
Michael's skill learning roll for the martial arts is 15, which I'm certain is successful for a 1@1 Eli's Style B7@1 Fast Aggressive Weapon-utilizing style, kick- and punch-based, RF2, +10 Att SM +10 Att Dam Mod. This raises his bod bias to 7@1, which will make the next lessons easier.
http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/topic/ending-a-decade-behind-the-screens/page/11
I also rock climb sometimes in a climbing gym, only a mild amatuer, probably 1@3. I doubt that's higher than the 7@1 bias from Eli's style above though.
That was going to possibly become important soon enough anyway, as I may have to use it if this wiry little man becomes aggressive to me. It was mentioned that the psionic drill was originally used as a sword, I may end up having to use it for it's original purpose. That'll depend on what else I hear from his thoughts though.
My next actions are going to be heavily dependent on if he notices me, so for now that's all. Have I seen this man around before though?
You move into the shadows by the wall. Obviously, in a castle this large there are going to be people you've never seen. The problem, on the one hand, is that this individual does not fit the categories you've encountered. His clothes and demeanor do not mark him as a guard, nor as a servant. He's not one of the warlocks you've met--in fact, he's considerably older than anyone you have yet encountered since you arrived, at least in his seventies, maybe older. His dress is neither lord nor peasant, not gaudy but not rags, a simple robe. You might take him for a clergyman, but there are no marks of faith--no holy symbol, no decorations on the garb.
On the other hand, there are undoubtedly categories of people who might legitimately be in the castle which you've never encountered. Obviously the queen has a court, and courtiers; she's old enough, too, that she is probably courted by someone. He does not fit any of those categories, and even if he did, you can't think of a reason for him to have been in the warlock's dormitory--except to investigate your movements.
You continue following at a distance, continuing to read his thoughts.
"If there's one, there's probably more. After all, that fool The Mocker brought a couple with him. I'll have to alert the others. It's too bad we can't use radios; too much chance of being noticed. But I need to know more about this one. Obviously he's a telepath; but is he from here, or did he come here to thwart us?"
--M. J. Young
Thoughts: Radios? There is technology here? Does the queen have the technology and just not use it or does she just have no one in her court with enough knowledge. If they're using radios to communicate I might be able to fashion a means of listening in on their communications. I have some basic manuals on speakers on my laptop, I could probably reverse engineer some parts of the technology I know quickly that way, and the rest I'm pretty confident I could manage given enough time.
Who are the others? Who is the Mocker? How do they know about me and why would they classify me as a telepath, surely my fledgling attempts would only be noticed by someone paying very careful attention.
My mind would be absolutely racing. I was intrigued by everything up to that but the mention of a radio would have sent my mind into a frenzy. Unfortunately if he's a telepath I'm pretty certain he would hear my thoughts loud and clear if he's paying any attention at all, which is why I'm rushing to action. He can't be allowed to return to whoever these others are. And we need to know who they are.
End of Thoughts
I'm going to charge at him. I'd like to tackle him either to the ground. I'll put my psionic drill in my pocket as I don't want to kill him and I've never used it against a person before.
I want to tackle him to the ground and then pin him. I'll then call out to the guards
"Guards! Intruder"
If I fail to tackle him successfully I'll use Eli's Style while fighting against him. If he draws a weapon I'll use my psionic drill with Eli's Style otherwise I'll focus on punching.
I'm not trying any fancy type of punch, I just want it to hurt and do damage. I'm fine with knocking him out, just don't want him dead.
In anticipation of questions on previous ability in skills:
I played football for 2 years when I was 12-13 so I know how to tackle with the intent to bring to the ground. I'm obviously out of practice in it however.
I've been in a handful of friendly brawls for fun with friends. Just guys being guys, nothing that ended in lots of bleeding or anything. Some bruises but that'd be all.
Similar concept with pinning. I've wrestled with friends and my dad with the goal being to restrain the other person.
I'm not exceptional in any of the above, just average.