Are any of the components held in by screws? I'll be happy enough removing the components so that the device won't work for now.
If any are held in by screws I'll unscrew them and remove the components one by one. I particularly want to save the speaker, the projector and the power pack. The unknown item I'm ok with breaking, for all I know it's an electromagnet holding that's the cause of me not being able to move this.
After that, whether I manage to remove them or not I'm going to attempt to detach the box from the castle by using the psionic drill to cut around the edges. At that point I'll attempt to most it with multiple object TK again.
As you are probing around with your screwdriver, you apparently close a circuit. The device starts spraying a mist above itself, creating a white fog of water, and the low sound of the Banshee wail begins as a light shines from the lens creating the moving image of the creature on the shifting fog. The light seems to be three lasers in different colors closely set and working together to project a full-color image.
As you move your screwdriver it all shuts down immediately.
You find it quite possible to disassemble it almost entirely, leaving the box, the power supply, and the relay connected to (or now disconnected from) the antenna.
I just thought I'd give you the chance to confirm that you're doing all this (not doing something else first) before taking the steps to attempt to cut the box free from the wall.
--M. J. Young
So the unknown device was what sprayed out the mist for the fog?
I'm fine leaving the box with power supply and relay where it is for now. It's not going to do any harm without the components I took out. I'll store the components I took out in my backpack, may manage to use them in the future.
To Molly:
"Well that's taken care of, Durer can't use the banshee to spread fear anymore. Randall agreed to teach me how to dig this afternoon so at some point I should find him, but you may have some questions of me first. This all probably seemed pretty weird. I was originally from a place where magic was pretty unheard of but where devices like this were commonplace, and then everything started getting weird, and eventually I ended up here. Everything you know about me is true though, I couldn't bring myself to lie to someone as pretty as you, even if you couldn't read my thoughts."
I'll give Molly the opportunity to ask any questions she wants to and then I want to find Randall so I can learn to dig.
Thoughts:
Brom and Maris will be happy to hear the banshee won't be appearing tonight, now just to figure out how Durer is planning to poison the Queen. At least I'm getting better at reading Durer's mind, I may pick it up at dinner.
Yes, the device generated fog to serve as a projection screen of sorts.
Molly asks what kind of magic the box used.
You find Randall easily enough. He'd forgotten he'd promised to teach you, but it's not a problem, and he suggests that the two of you fly to some point outside town to do it, so you'll have lots of dirt and no people.
You get yourself airborne and move slowly through the sky. You could walk faster than this, but with the warrens and mazes of streets and the gates at the castle and the town's edge and the crowds in the daytime you probably couldn't make much better time afoot. Randall is moving faster, but he wanders about so as to stay close to you.
Assuming you don't want to do or try anything else, you land in a wooded glade a mile or two beyond the walls.
--M. J. Young
Molly asks what kind of magic the box used.
"I've never really thought of it as magic, but I don't see how it's any different. The box operated on a magic that manipulated energy into different applications. It's very different from the magic here though, everything in the box has to be there for the magic to work or it's worthless. That's why I took these pieces out."
Everything you said looks fine and nothing I'd add in there. I'm ready to follow Randall's instructions for digging.
Thoughts:
I still fly so terribly slowly, oh well it'll come to me with time. Durer won't be able to activate the banshee now, so I can relax and focus on the lesson at hand. Time to learn to dig.
You watch his mind as he takes a basic telekinetic skill and focuses it into a concentrated space, until he has a solid blade like a shovel, with which he easily cuts a hole in the ground and shifts the dirt.
You then duplicate the skill adequately, moving a shovelful or two of dirt yourself.
--M. J. Young
I'll thank Randall and then mention that I should start heading back, as since I fly slower I have to allot extra time to make sure I'm ready for when the Queen has dinner.
On the flight back I'll also ask what magic he thinks I should learn next.
When I get back I'll get ready for dinner.
You get yourself aloft, but as you approach the walls of the city you realize that your flight is slowly ebbing and you're not going to make it much beyond those walls.
You can attempt to extend the flight, or land either inside or outside the city walls and go the rest of the way afoot.
--M. J. Young
Haven't gotten a chance to take in the sights yet except while flying over head, so might as well walk.
I'll land inside the city walls and walk the rest of the way, trying to make good time so I don't cut it close on time for making it to dinner.
You walk a few blocks, and then hear a voice ahead, a well-projected voice as of a trained actor or public speaker. As you approach you see a crowd gathered to hear the speaker, who is standing on a makeshift platform in one of the more open areas of the roads.
--M. J. Young
If stopping and listening to the speaker for a bit won't make me late for dinner I'll stay and listen for a bit.
I want to learn all I can, but having time to be ready for dinner is of the utmost importance.
Thoughts:
Wonder what's going on up ahead. Looks interesting.
The speaker is a young dashing man, well dressed and incredibly articulate. He has the crowd in the palm of his hand, and is telling them that the nobles are their enemies and need to be brought down, but the queen is their friend who has done so much on their behalf.
--M. J. Young
Thoughts:
Hmm, this must be the other Loguire. He certainly is a talented speaker, and as long as he's advocating for the Queen he's ok in my book. Time to move on to make sure the Queen is safe though.
I'll move on to get ready for dinner then. It's good to know the face of another player in the mix.
You return to the castle and get to dinner.
You are in position as everyone comes to await the queen, and reach out with your mind to find Durer's.
Suddenly you are Durer; that is, you and Durer have fused together in some way such that you know everything about him--and he seems to know everything about you. At least he is looking around, trying to figure out who it is who is in his head.
Durer is a time traveler from the future. All of the "counselors" are, and so is The Mocker who is behind Tuan Loguire at the House of Clovis, but he is part of a different faction. Both factions, though, have similar objectives.
Historically, the limitation on democracy is communication. That is, if planets can only communicate with each other at light speed and stars are hundreds of light years apart, communications can be made by drop-shipping messages on faster-than-light spaceships but ultimately people are cut off from each other. Galactic-wide democracy fails.
Telepathy solves that, because it can reach across the galaxy instantly.
This planet is the only place where an isolated group of humans developed telepathy, as a genetic variant. In a thousand years, the descendants of the witches and warlocks here will fill the galaxy and connect it so that universal democracy becomes a reality.
Durer's group does not want that. He wants to bring down the monarchy so that the twelve houses will go to war with each other and in the process destroy the witches.
The time machine is in an unused section of the Duke Loguire's castle; the Mocker must have another one somewhere, because he is not part of Durer's group.
Durer's actions have all been carefully hidden; there is nothing that can attach guilt to him at this point.
What else do you want to know about him?
--M. J. Young
First some clarifications on what's going on.
Is this an instantaneous thing where I just know all about him and he knows all about me or is there an active link? Just figuring out if there's a link I'm going to need to break.
Questions:
Which counselors are on his side?
Does he know what the other factions exact goal is? If so what is it.
I'd like to examine Durer's understanding of technology. Specifically I'm going to be looking to this as an example bonus to teach myself higher tech skills in the future hopefully, so right now going through them to figure out which types he knows.
How is the banshee projector held to the castle and how would one remove it?
Does Durer's group opperate outside Duke Loguires castle and if so where?
What type of poisons does he have access to, what are the antidotes if any, and how does he intend to deliver it tomorrow morning? Is a guard being bribed or is he sneaking around?
How much does he know about telepaths? What all does he think we can do?
He specifies us as telepaths so does he know of a different kind of magic user?
Why do the time travelers all seem to be ancient looking and hunched over?
On that topic, he was surprisingly agile, is there some technological advance attributing to that or what?
What happens if he were to die here? It doesn't cause a temporal anomaly does it?
Are there any secret passageways in the castle? Both this one and Loguires.
Are there any time travelling groups that are trying to stop them?
I think that about covers my questions.
Mechanics question though, does this raise my psionic familiarity with him?
Is this an instantaneous thing where I just know all about him and he knows all about me or is there an active link? Just figuring out if there's a link I'm going to need to break.
The two of you seem to be fused. You know these things because at the moment you are he and he is you, and that state is maintained. On the other hand, you each have separate consciousness even though you have full access to each others' memories and knowledge base. Thus you get mostly that about which one or the other of you is thinking.
Which counselors are on his side?
There is pretty much a caste of counselors. Every nobleman in the country but the queen has a counselor. All of them are time travelers and part of Durer's group, of which he is the leader.
Does he know what the other factions exact goal is? If so what is it.
The Mocker wants to bring down all authority in a peasant uprising that will sweep away all the nobles and the queen. He is headed this direction through the promotion of a socialist agenda, knowing that the downfall of the monarchy will leave no structure and result in that anarchy. Most of those working with him are unaware of this objective, having been told only the immediate plans.
I'd like to examine Durer's understanding of technology. Specifically I'm going to be looking to this as an example bonus to teach myself higher tech skills in the future hopefully, so right now going through them to figure out which types he knows.
Durer can probably repair a time machine, but he cannot design or build one. His time machine uses transmit stations at both ends, and apparently transfers people between them. He is not primarily a technician, and has only amateur understandings of his tech skills, but these probably do include faster than light space travel of some sort. I think, though, that you would have to target specific technologies to find out what he knows about them.
How is the banshee projector held to the castle and how would one remove it?
It was installed with an epoxy, and Durer has no plans to remove it--it's trash once the mission is over.
Does Durer's group operate outside Duke Loguires castle and if so where?
As already stated, Durer is head of the councilors, who have positioned themselves in every great or minor noble house in the world except the queen's. There are at least seventy such councilors, but I don't think Durer would know the number exactly even though he would know all of them individually.
What type of poisons does he have access to, what are the antidotes if any, and how does he intend to deliver it tomorrow morning? Is a guard being bribed or is he sneaking around?
His plan was to intercept something between the server and the queen--probably a glass of wine--and poison it surreptitiously when it was in his hand. He has and can get many kinds of poisons not all of which he knows antidotes for.
How much does he know about telepaths? What all does he think we can do?
His only interest in telepaths is the telepathy, but since they are ubiquitous in the galaxy in his time (and he is not one of them) he is undoubtedly aware of many abilities they can do, some of which have not yet developed here on Grammarye.
He specifies us as telepaths so does he know of a different kind of magic user?
He does not believe in magic. He recognizes telepathy as a natural mental ability beyond those he has (as a deaf man would understand what hearing is without ever having experienced it). He wants to prevent the genes that carry these abilities from spreading through the galaxy.
Why do the time travelers all seem to be ancient looking and hunched over?
First, they're all relatively old, senior members of their party who trained for this.
Second, they come from a high-tech world and so tend to avoid sunlight (which causes skin cancer), to develop liver spots, and otherwise to show the signs of aging in such a world. Those are very different from the people who age in Grammarye, where they are always in the sun and involved in physical labor much of the time, and only a few (and mostly the nobles) become elderly.
Their aging and lack of physical activity also means scoliosis.
On that topic, he was surprisingly agile, is there some technological advance attributing to that or what?
He and the others trained for this mission for a number of years. They recognized that they would be leaving their homes behind and probably not returning. They are thus devoted to their ideals, fanatics with nothing to lose and nothing to which to return.
What happens if he were to die here? It doesn't cause a temporal anomaly does it?
What, having lived in the future he can't die in the past? This is not something he would know nor have considered.
Are there any secret passageways in the castle? Both this one and Loguires.
He knows nothing of secret passages. He does know that the time machine is in the haunted area of Loguire's castle.
Are there any time travelling groups that are trying to stop them?
He suspected you of being one, but now knows that you are something else which he does not fully comprehend but is attempting to grasp. Also, that question has caused him to connect the information he has with you--he knows you are a verser, someone who has traveled between universes, although he is still trying to understand what that means.
Apart from you he is not aware of any time traveling groups other than his and the Mocker's (which is considerably smaller), but he is watching for evidence of such a group.
Mechanics question though, does this raise my psionic familiarity with him?
Hmmm--incidental benefit of a botch? I'll have to wait to see whether you manage to resolve it without killing one of you.
--M. J. Young
I want to try and learn faster than light travel theory and then how to repair the time machine.
I think I may be missing some of the tech skills I should have by the way, I hadn't brought it up as I didn't think this was a tech world so thought it could just wait. When I started play we had 3 skills for me, 2 from my major as a material science engineer (hard metalurgy package and polymers&plastics) and one for my sound tech job (Sound tech&Development/repair). At this point I was somewhat surprised my major ranked so low on the tech scale, because a lot of it is pretty cutting edge and I've since realized why I've been having this though (past the obviously egotism). I forgot to mention my technical minor was in nanotechnology, and that computer programming was part of my introduction classes freshmen year, so I should probably have basic nanotech theory (was trying to find where it would fit in, and found that on one of Adam's sheets 12@9, if you think what I described fits better elsewhere that's fine just trying to offer what I can) and computer software/hardware programming 11@5. I'd say I would be a low professional at the point I versed out, maybe high amateur in th nanotech theory and high amateur in programming. Once again sorry for not mentioning this earlier, but it didn't occur to me until it was what seemed like a moot point.
I'm not overly worried about him figuring out what a verser is. I don't really understand it myself. I know if I die I come back to life somewhere else and that I don't age. That's really about the extent of the whole verser life that I've come to understand.
I want to try and learn faster than light travel theory and then how to repair the time machine.
I'm going to set this aside, in essence holding game time at this point.
I think I may be missing some of the tech skills I should have by the way, I hadn't brought it up as I didn't think this was a tech world so thought it could just wait.
Yeah, I seem to recall that we've had some glitches with your sheet because I didn't oversee it. Getting tech bias is one of my priorities, and it seems we didn't do that yet.
I forgot to mention my technical minor was in nanotechnology....
You're going to have to explain to me exactly what nanotechnology is and what it does in the modern world. What I understand by the nanites of T12@o is that they are extremely sophisticated independent/interacting robots of the generation beyond the generation beyond the generation we hope to achieve in your lifetime. Therefore either my understanding of the available technology here on earth is woefully uninformed, or we're not talking about the same thing. I don't think that nanites are even within the curve of earth as I see it.
...and that computer programming was part of my introduction classes freshmen year, so I should probably have computer software/hardware programming 11@5.
Trying to figure out where you get the T11@5 (assuming that's what you meant). Programming/coding/computer languages are all 11@1 skills. 11@5 is the level at which you can build a computer. Creating and Bypassing Security and Repairing a Computer are in there as well (Design is up a notch).
Oh, and although I'll give "build a computer" for something less than being able to make the processor chips in your basement, I do expect something more than ordering the components online and plugging them together.
--M. J. Young
Trying to figure out where you get the T11@5 (assuming that's what you meant). Programming/coding/computer languages are all 11@1 skills. 11@5 is the level at which you can build a computer. Creating and Bypassing Security and Repairing a Computer are in there as well (Design is up a notch).
My error in bias level arose from the fact that when trying to find examples I've just been going through people's character sheets to get an idea. Therefore it's not always the best labelled. I was simply talking about the fact that I have programming skills, so 11@1. I've fixed software on a computer, but that's still just programming.
You're going to have to explain to me exactly what nanotechnology is and what it does in the modern world. What I understand by the nanites of T12@o is that they are extremely sophisticated independent/interacting robots of the generation beyond the generation beyond the generation we hope to achieve in your lifetime. Therefore either my understanding of the available technology here on earth is woefully uninformed, or we're not talking about the same thing. I don't think that nanites are even within the curve of earth as I see it.
The base concept of nanotechnology is controlling the variables in a material or machine down to a scale nanometer scale. At this basic point the branches of nanotech branch off slightly.
Pure material aspect of nanotech then focuses on making materials that have unique properties due to the manipulation of it's formation at a molecular level. The Buckyball (C60) and nanotubes (don't remember the carbon count off the top of my head, think it's 93) are the two most famous examples. The reasons that these are able to exist is because of short term potential energy wells. Graphite is carbons lowest energy point, which is why it's the most plentiful carbon. If you increase pressure enough, carbon can make the trip up to diamond, which is a relative potential energy well. So long as the pressure doesn't drop to such extremes that the carbon molecules are inclined to climb back out, it stays as diamond (this brings up the interesting point that diamond placed in a strong enough vacuum would turn to graphite.) This is the same basic principle that is used to form buckyballs and nanotubes. (nanotubes being a buckyball cut in half and allowed to grow outward.) There is another factor which helps these particles stay in their form however, as buckyballs and nanotubes by definition have a high curvature due to their small size. This curvature creates an inward pressure, simulating high gravity or pressure system than the surrounding area. This also happens with microdiamonds, carbon small enough will form microdiamonds as the radius is small enough that it's the optimal form.
The machine aspect of nanotech is what you seem to have touched upon, and is still not exactly ready for use, although the theory is already there, in it's most basic form. The current limitation is that of computing power per unit area. A machine ceases to be considered nanotech if it is above 100nm in any dimension. Computer chips don't manage that yet, although one theory is that we will need to create the machine with every inch of material being laced with microcircuitry as opposed to having a dedicated area to run the machine on. Could I describe to you how a working prototype will be developed? No, I'd be filthy rich if I could. When someone does so however I'll be able to follow most of what they say in their symposium. I would note however that this last section I have just described technically a subset of nanotechnology, and is deemed nanorobotics.
The two aspects collide in two ways. The circuitry is going to use one of two methods, using nanotubes as the conductive aspect of the circuitry, or using carbon monolayers, the process of laying down thin strips of carbon molecules (1 or 2 strips high by the same amount across). These both tie in to the first paragraph I wrote on this.
So I just realized you also asked what nanotechnology does in the modern world, and I have a two part answer. First is that some of what I've been learning currently does nothing as it is theory. Second nanotechnology is used to improve concrete, forming a complex grid of nanotubes to act as a reinforcing rebar agent. It also is used to reduce friction in a number of places, most high end jets currently use a carbon weave, which I believe takes it's basis from nanotubes which is why it allows for such a smooth surface despite being a weave or the lubricating factors in gasolines (it's not a carbon varient of nanotech, I forget exactly what the polymer is) in which a polymer was designed to be two things. Small enough to act as a lubricant and round enough to not stick to anything in the process, including other molecules of itself. It is being experimented with using the monolayering technique to create better computer circuitry, with the possibility of creating in affect a 3-D circuit that is less than 10 atoms tall. This is done by using a highly conductive element paired with a very non conductive element. The conductive element is used to form the monolayer at the bottom, so the first floor of atoms. The next three go to the nonconductive, the fourth to the conductive again, up to the seventh non conductive, and the eight is conductive. You then have 3 layers of circuitry (once you develop the layers to the way you want) in a very small space. Another method of doing this (there are a couple I know of as this is so paramount to the expected breakthrough in the nanorobotic aspect of nanotech) is to bead the conductive element into position while in a vacuum, which melts the conductive element and then drops it into place so that each atom solidifies where it should in the matrix. This is all done in a vacuum to insure purity and control of rate of cooling. After the fragile framework is designed this way the remaining area is filled with the non conductive material. This is a little bit larger but has seen more use and is easier than the monolayer approach.
I've added 2@2 Computer Programming T11@1 to your sheet.
It seems from your description that you could actually do something in the field of molecular chemistry, but what you're describing seems to fall above 9@3 polymers and plastics and above 9@5 epoxies, but below 9@10 synthetic alloys (things like duralloy and maybe white dwarf alloy). I'm going to list it as 1@5 Nanochemistry T9@8. The average amateur skill ability level is based on my assumption that you haven't actually made a lot of stuff in this category, and anyone from a chemical company research department on Saturn Colony would be way ahead of you on this.
Yeah, it's a bit quirky on that, but what you describe is high intensity synthetics, which is the top end of 9@ technology.
I'm also listing 1@10 Nanomachine Theory T12@0, which means that you understand that as a top level amateur but you don't actually have any ability to do anything in the field as yet; it also does not impact your bias, which is 11@1 for the computer programming skill.
Meanwhile, back at the Palace Royal Dining Room....
By now, Durer's eyes are focused on you.
"Warlock!" he shouts, pointing at you and rising from his seat. "Cease your demon play, and get out of my mind!"
--M. J. Young
Everything looks good to me skill wise.
I'm in full plate armor right? My face isn't seen? I'll keep my cool and not respond yet.
I will take this time to try to separate my mind from his. Not sure what skill it would be, but I'm going to try and learn one to dissolve a union of two minds. I don't want to hurt him or I in the process if it's at all avoidable.
I'm not sure why you think it's full plate; that's not the image I have. But if there's a post previously in the thread that suggests you're wearing a helmet, I'll accept that. I thought you were wearing plate armor over mail, possibly with a conquistador-like helm, but I don't remember with certainty, so please double-check that.
--M. J. Young
Maris will provide you with livery. "Livery" means that you wear the queen's colors, like her palace guard, over your clothing or armor. Armor is also available--the guards where a rather cumbersome looking full plate on duty. The armor is not mandatory.
http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/topic/michael-warlock/page/4
I always interpreted full plate to mean with helmet, but that could have been a misunderstanding on my part. Also since Durer would have a distinct chance of recognizing me if he saw my face, after the earlier debacle with him.
I agree; you are wearing a helmet with the visor down.
That, though, also means he's not pointing at you, as there are several soldiers so clad, and he's not sure which one is you.
Let's change
By now, Durer's eyes are focused on you."Warlock!" he shouts, pointing at you and rising from his seat. "Cease your demon play, and get out of my mind!"
to read
- Durer's eyes searching the room.
"Warlock!" he shouts, holding his head with both hands and rising from his seat. "Cease your demon play, and get out of my mind!"
Incidentally, he is not thinking that your abilities have anything to do with demons; he said that for effect.
--M. J. Young
I'm going to try to resume my initial coarse of action then.
I will take this time to try to separate my mind from his. Not sure what skill it would be, but I'm going to try and learn one to dissolve a union of two minds. I don't want to hurt him or I in the process if it's at all avoidable.
You focus on a point that seems to be the connection between your mind and his, and with a solid push force him out of your mind.
He is gone. You remember the contact, and most of what you were getting directly from him, but you no longer have that access to his mind.
He stops ranting and falls on the floor, but he is breathing, staring at the ceiling, and looks more angry than hurt.
"Who did that?" he demands.
"Did what?" the Duke Loguire asks. The other diners are of mixed reaction, some staring at him, some pretending to ignore him. The queen continues eating.
--M. J. Young
I'll just remain silent then. Looks like the others aren't buying into his act, and doing anything would just open me up to being noticed by Durer.
After dinner I'll talk to Maris and Brom to explain what happened.
"I pressed too far in reading his mind, and the connection got strong enough I could see everything about him, and I think he saw everything about me. If he could have seen my face or had I not severed the connection when I did I don't doubt it would have been more of a problem. I did find out he poisons the queen's food in transit, and that he uses a variety of poisons. If I could be excused it was really mentally exhausting and I'd like to relax at the party for a little before going to bed."
If I'm allowed, I'll head out to the party then. I'll find Molly and spend the night talking to her and dancing. The fact that Durer knows more about me makes me uncomfortable, so relaxing would be important right now.
Thoughts:
That was bizarre, but at least people didn't seem to fully believe Durer. He may have pulled stunts like this before to sow distrust of warlocks and witches. Can't believe time travel is possible, but he seems firmly convinced he's a time traveler. Oh well, it'll be nice to relax and dance with Molly. I wish I knew why the connection was that strong this time, I never expected him to be able to see my mind, or to see that deeply into his.
What are you telling Brom and Maris about Durer's identity?
What are you saying to Molly at the party?
--M. J. Young
"I pressed too far in reading his mind, and the connection got strong enough I could see everything about him, and I think he saw everything about me. If he could have seen my face or had I not severed the connection when I did I don't doubt it would have been more of a problem. I did find out he poisons the queen's food in transit, and that he uses a variety of poisons. If I could be excused it was really mentally exhausting and I'd like to relax at the party for a little before going to bed."
That's exactly what I'm saying to Brom and Maris. If they ask questions about where Durer came from I'll explain that it sounds crazy but he seems to be a time traveler. Unless they ask though I'm not going to bring it up. I'm afraid it's going to make me look like a loon.
I'm relying on the fact that Molly reads my thoughts a lot as opposed to explaining everything to her verbally. My thoughts will definitely entail:
Shock that Durer is a time traveller
Concern that he knows I'm a verser
Confusion over how exactly what just happened happened.
Happiness to be spending time talking and dancing with Molly, and just in general being around her
Satisfaction that the Banshee won't be coming tonight
Curious as to whether Durer will still try to poison the Queen after the Banshee fails and the events at dinner. I'm confident Brom will be able to intercept it with the information I gave him however.
Intellectual curiosity about the technology Durer knew that I didn't, which I intend to spend a good part of tomorrow going over.
But as for what I actually say to Molly just conveying it's been a long day, she looks wonderful, and would she like to dance. That and small talk.
Molly will ask how it is possible for someone to be a "time traveler" and what a "verser" is.
--M. J. Young
"If you let me I can try and let you see my past, it may be easier than trying to explain what a verser is. As to the time traveler, Durer and a group from the future have technology to allow them to physically travel to a previous time. I'm not exactly sure how it works, just that Durer firmly believes he has done so."
If Molly lets me I'm going to try and develop a variant of the botch that just happened to allow Molly complete access to my thoughts.
I want the skill to allow Molly access to my mind and memories like the mind meld did, although only allowing her access to my memories not me accessing hers. I'd also like it to only last for as long as I keep constant concentration on keeping the passageway open, so full concentration to allow target to delve into my mind and memories.
"You use that word 'technology' a lot. What does that mean?"
Interesting skill. You get a solid connection.
She blushes a bit here and there, and she looks confused a lot. A number of aspects of your past are very confusing--movies and television, which leave audio-visual memories of events that don't fit the rest of your life. She seems to be making some sense, though, of the fact that you appear to have moved from universe to universe.
She looks perhaps overawed.
Her thoughts come to you.
"I--I've never known a warlock who traveled to other worlds before."
--M. J. Young
"Technology is an umbrella term for the tools available to a group. As you saw from my memories I've seen some things that don't appear to be commonplace here, they are mostly pieces of technology. Durer has access to an even larger pool of technology than I do, although I very well may understand some of it better than he does. Between my definition and what you saw of my memories does that make sense?"
"Also, I'm very new to being a verser, and not all that impressive at it. You're control of magic is much more impressive. I know its a lot to take in, but I thought it only fair to share who I am with you, and this was the best way I could imagine. Now then, would you care to dance?"
This is all telepathically, since she already openned the channel.
Thoughts:
The idea of being considered special around people of such extraordinary talent seems silly. Molly is much more impressive than myself.
"So, the screwdriver that they use to secure armor in place, that's technology?"
Ah, but Molly is not much more impressive around here--there are a score of girls who can do everything she can do, better at some things, worse at others, and she's not known to be best at any of them. You do things nobody else here ever does. One might say that the most impressive things Molly can do are the ones you taught her, because only you and she can do them.
--M. J. Young
"Exactly! Wagons are a sort of technology as well, as they use wheels to make moving large or heavy products easier. Rolling pins as well, as they redistribute the pressure you apply. Hinges like those on doors are an important piece of technology as well. It's really all around us, making our lives a little bit easier."
I'm going to try and multiple object TK two glasses of wine over to Molly and I at this point, I'm pretty proud I picked that one up, and a glass of wine after how stressful today was sounds amazing.
Molly may not objectively be the most impressive witch around, but she's the one paying a lot of attention to me and I tend to like attention. Plus the mind isn't exactly logical about cute girls, she may not objectively be the best but my mind finds her pretty impressive. I wouldn't actually be thinking this is why I find Molly impressive, just a comment on where I was coming from
Thoughts:
I should have thought to use examples that are present before to explain myself. Oh well, she's very bright and caught on anyway.
You bring the wine over quite smoothly--enough that she actually says (rather than using the telepathic link), "Very nice. You're getting better. I told you you'd get it."
Your examples are apparently clear enough. She understands the concept.
Back to thought. "So, Councilor Durer has a tool, like a door or something, that lets him travel in time, and he came here from the future? Why?"
--M. J. Young
I'll smile at the compliment and thank her.
Thinking back:
"It's a political agenda. The existence of warlocks and witches don't allow the group he's from to gain more power. It's a truly horrible way to try to gain power, attempting to exterminate people because of their talents. He won't succeed though. Everything is looking good so far tonight, no banshee appearance, I was paranoid he might have had a backup."
Thoughts:
Molly is quick at picking up on this. I'm glad I met her.
"Still, if he was planning to poison her at breakfast, the banshee might have been intended to divert suspicion, or to make it seem as if it was fate instead of murder. That doesn't mean he won't make the attempt."
--M. J. Young
"He probably will try, but we're going to be ready for him. Hopefully we can catch him in the act of poisoning the food. I'm planning to go to sleep a little earlier than normal tonight so I'm more awake in the morning. We should get a few dances in before that though."
I'll dance with her for a couple of dances and then head to sleep. A good nights sleep will be good with how important tomorrow morning will be.
Thoughts:
Pretty much exactly what I'm saying.
You get to bed, but have some trouble falling asleep. Much has happened, and it's got your nerves on edge.
You arrive at breakfast properly clad, but less sharp than you might have hoped. Durer comes in with the Duke Loguire shortly after you do.
--M. J. Young