Suddenly, one of the White Court vampires rushes you, and before you can blink, your head is in one hand, and your body in the other.
You verse out, startled at the awesome speed and brutality of the attack.
Dreams of Vampire Meter Maids trying to ticket your clown car move from a suburb of gingerbread houses to a large city with a windy day.
And then you do feel a steady wind.
You open your eyes, and look down over the plasticrete edge down a mile and a half through dozens of aircars and walkways to the surface so very far away.
"Gaaaah", and you look around. You're on a walkway between two towers. A thundering space freighter passes a few hundred yards overhead.
No railings are in evidence on any of the walkways.
For those following these adventures, this is the version of Oak from the Worldwalker game on rpol.net. He is similar to GO's version, but around sixty years of age, and with a different (and longer) history of worlds visited, and with more developed abilities.
All of Oak-Worldwalker's threads are linked to from msg #4 of this RPoL thread.
The Oak-Worldwalker thread immediately preceding this one can be found here.
-=-
Awareness comes slowly, as I come to terms with recent events.
:: Dearest LORD, please guide and guard me now, I pray... ::
That sudden attack was... unexpected, but in retrospect, not surprising. I suppose that I was monitored, and managed through my latest conversing to give away that my mind wasn't fried after all.
I'm not certain where I am, so better safe than sorry.
Eyes still closed, I open up my senses to the feel of the wind, and the sounds of unknown vehicles(?) moving above and below me(?).
Trying not to move, I stretch out other senses, reaching out to sense where my belongings might be, and if there are any other versers in this universe.
Then I attempt to send out my telepathic senses, in order to get an idea of my situation without letting on to any observers that I am awake.
Then I attempt to stretch out my clairvoyant senses to examine my surroundings from a slightly more dispassionate third-person perspective, from my immediate surroundings to a more macroscopic view of the area, and eventually zooming out to the world itself.
And finally, I open my eyes, take in the scene described... and close them again.
Tightly.
I become aware of a thundering drumbeat in my ears, moments before becoming aware that it is my own heartbeat.
: Why be afraid of heights now? I could jump off now, and it would just be a doorway to a new world. Why should heights strike a level of terror that decapitating vampires can't touch? :
: And is not the LORD Sovereign, and in complete control of every facet of every situation I experience? He has brought me here, for His good purpose and pleasure, and for my good and growth. :
:: Dearest LORD, please guard and guide me now, I pray, and give me the wisdom and courage that I lack... ::
I take a shaky breath, and speak, eyes still closed.
"CU2. Status. Are there electronic communications within detectable range? If so, begin recording now. Monitor, and summarize when ready. Analyze current surroundings, and summarize."
"Ring. Status. Are there electronic..."
OOC: Is there anyone near me, or approaching me, on the walkway? How wide is this walkway? And how far is it to each tower? :o
The wind has the faint taste of hydocarbons and plastic and mold.
You sense a vector to your belongings, but no other verser in the universe. But you do sense someting Other. Not a verser, not your belongings, but something that twangs on the same guitar in your stomach, but on a different, discordant chord.
*Yes, I'm introducing a somewhat new idea that may not be MJ approved.
You touch thoughts of many different people...where's my limo, if that driver....my hair looks good for the Senatorial Gala.....rich scum not even watching, but his bodyguard is....two hours and forty minutes till shift end. I'm bored.....this place is supposed to be the center of the galaxy, but nothing's gone right. Incompetent morons....
Clairvoyantly...you're on Coruscant. A huge section of the major continent is covered by spacescrapers going up four hundred and five hundred stories, and the more dense areas, even up to a mile high. In just a quick glance in local orbit you spot dozens of ships, including one Star Destroyer.
Shaking, you move slightly away from the edge. The walkway is a hundred yards long, eight yards wide, about four inches thick, and you're forty yards from one side. You feel courage touch you, but fear has a really strong grip on you as well.
Ring and CU2 both reply...
"Overload. Overload. Analysis of continuing data impossible."
OOC Q1: Am I able to converse telepathically with Ring?
OOC Q2: Which way are my belongings? Are they on the walkway with me, or (probably somewhere far) below me, or elsewhere?
OOC Q3: Is there anyone else on the walkway? If so, location, direction, and heading?
OOC: BTW, I like your new idea(s)... :)
"Narrow search parameters to news-related broadcasts only. Prioritize based upon items most reported on. Analyze and summarize."
Clinging to the courage that I feel the LORD supplying, I inch my way carefully to the center of the walkway, and retrieve any of my belongings that are nearby.
Then I stretch out my telepathic and clairvoyant senses into each of the two nearby towers, seeking insight as to their respective purposes.
And I pray, seeking insight as to which way the LORD would have me go...
Yes.
Somewhere in the distance, at about your level, which probably means in another tower.
No.
Cool.
There is considerable reports on General Grievous and Chancellor Palpatine, and problems with balances of trade.
In the closer tower you hear a man thinking, one shell, two shell, three shell....there is a flat, calmness to him as if he is not quite human. In the other tower...ship...hehehehehe....slow.....heahhe...fast....money....heheheheoh yeah...the mind is definetely not human. Its hard to even figure out what the being is thinking about.
You inch to the center of the walkway.
No insight from your prayer.
OOC EDIT: Light bulb! My RL brain and memory aren't what they used to be. "Darkly humorous"... Perhaps as in versing out with only the stuff I was physically carrying when I versed out? While the rest of my possessions are elsewhere on Coruscant, as far away as Oak-Wizard's apartment was from my verse-out location? :o
OOC Q0: Am I correct in my assumption that I currently have exactly the possessions I was carrying when I versed out, and that I currently lack exactly the possessions I had left in Oak-Wizard's apartment?
OOC Q1: Which direction is the vector to my stuff? Is it in the direction of any obvious tower in visual range?
OOC Q2: Is there a vector (or vectors) associated with the discordant Other? If so, what direction(s)?
"Continue recording and analysis of news broadcasts. Update via telepathic interface when more information is available."
"Can you detect any publicly available computer information networks that we can access with limited risk?"
I continue examining the nearer tower via Clairvoyance and Telepathy to gain whatever further insights are available...
OOC: Yah.
OOC: Yah.
OOC: Its probably in a tower, but you're not sure if its too any tower on the far horizonn.
OOC: There is a huge tower toward the center mass of towers. If Vector One is 12 O'Clock, then this is 9 O'Clock to the Discordant Other Vector.
"Telepathic interferecene rising."
And you feel as if a great, smothering blanket has been draped over your mind. Its full of life, and energy, and you can't hear anything through the noisy blanket. Actually, its more like being in a room with a dozen parakeets, now that you think about it.
"Coruscant Public Info Net, Coruscant Edu Net, and Imperial Public Interaction Net are all easily accessible."
OOC Q1: What did I get from Clairvoyance on the nearer tower?
"Access Public Info Net and Edu Net."
"Obtain planetary map data. Identify current location. Identify both towers adjoining this walkway."
"Superimpose vector, designated 'Other', in this direction, and identify approximately intersecting towers, prioritized by planetary importance."
"Estimate distance in previous universe between location of last social function attended in previous universe and place of residence in previous universe."
"Superimpose vector, designated 'Items', in this direction, and identify approximately intersecting towers, prioritizing by those that are of similar distance from current location along 'Items' vector."
"Identify locations pertaining to the Chancellor, the Senate, and the Jedi, prioritizing by current proximity and significance."
"Identify methods of publicly available planetary transportation near this location, prioritizing by least cost."
"Initiate background process. Obtain information about sentient lifeforms in this galaxy, sufficient for you to identify them when observed, and to provide a summary of tendencies, motivations, goals, personalities, aptitudes, capabilities, and other relevant and useful data about them. Also obtain information about their languages sufficient for you to act as a translator."
"Initiate background process. Obtain galactic map data. Obtain overviews of historical, political, cultural, and scientific data. Obtain educational data relating to learning objectives in major galactic education system(s), with textbook data sufficient to educate myself in such areas. Obtain copies of significant publicly available works of music, literature, and art. Obtain detailed descriptions and specifications of bestselling technological items."
OOC: Interference.
"May only access one at a time."
You get planetary map data, although much of it is blocked out in specific detail for security or privacy detail.
"D and R Residential Towers. Closer is D."
"Other is most likely Senatorial Tower One."
"Items likely to be in Residential Tower AA, Industrial Effluent Tower Q, or Market Tower RR."
You're able to get public information on the Senatorial Towers (the office tower and the Grand Meeting Tower). The Chancellor's Tower and the Jedi Tower are also listed. No further information about them is available except for historical data.
"Air Taxi, robotic is available. 5 creds."
You get the equivalent of 500 words on 500 races with a few races like human meritting 2000, along with some pictures.
Translation information not on the Net.
Your last paragraphs covers thirty thousand words, and is fairly general, vague at times, and not the least bit detailed.
OOC Q1: Are the possible 'Items' locations within walking distance? About how far is it?
OOC Q2: Is the Jedi Tower within walking distance? About how far is it?
"Access Interaction Net. Determine if it may be used to contact a Jedi Master named 'Yoda'. Does communication via the Interaction Net take place synchronously or asynchronously?"
"Ring. Is nanite cloud capability currently online? If so, estimate risk factor in assuming nanite cloud form for transportation purposes under current environmental conditions, notably current wind conditions."
Five miles.
Three miles.
It may, but it looks to you as if he receives many questions. And its uncertain that he answers his own questions. Asynchronously.
Yes. High energy levels in the radio frequency range, and other energies of higher levels that are intermittent that would cause unknown effect. Wind may make it hard to move near towers in self-willed direction.
I ponder my position, both short and long term. My first choice will be to seek Yoda, but I will need to know what fallback options are available...
"Access 'help wanted' listings. Analyze, and summarize general categories of employment positions available. Prioritize based upon proximity to the Jedi Tower, and upon those not requiring specific local identification papers or credentials."
"Access information on the Jedi. How may one join them, and in what capacities? What are the requirements? What positions include room and board? Analyze and summarize."
"Dockloaders, bartenders, doormen, private guard, escort, sparring partner, bouncer are all widely available. Question, do you wish to apply for illegal jobs?"
"One may join the Jedi as a youth with Force abilities. Other means are classified except for Senatorial Oversight Aides which are appointed by the Chairman of the Jedi-Senatorial Liason Committee."
"No illegal jobs."
"Are any of the positions within the Jedi Tower itself?"
"Are there any applicable available categories working with children, such as day care, nursery, live-in nanny, tutor, etc.?"
"Noted."
"No."
"Yes. There are two that do not require accreditation. One is 'Caretaker for Ambassadorial Children. Kzinti cubs.', and the other is 'Feedmonger for Talazoonsk.'
A quick search of your enclyopedia reveals that the K, when full-grown, is seven feet tall, clawed, furred carnvore with excellent night vision, and a tail. The T are 'Non-treaty signatories due to language issues.' They live in five mile deep waters, and have nine arms with claws at the end, and a sharkish head.
"Analyze and summarize available information regarding the 'Caretaker for Ambassadorial Children. Kzinti cubs.' position. What are the employment terms of service? Where is the work venue? Is it a live-in position with room and board included? What duties are involved? What is the work schedule? How does one apply?"
"100 creds per day. Six hour work day. A live-in position is possible, but only room. Caretaking of Kzinti cubs is your sole duty. I can apply by sending an application now. Or you can apply be making your way to the ambassadorial manor."
"Please send an application now."
"What is the location of the Ambassadorial Manor? How far is it from here, and from the probable location of my Items, and from the Jedi Tower, and from Senatorial Tower One?"
"Unless I risk attempting to use nanite cloud form or teleportation, I need to either walk, or to raise funds for a Robotic Air Taxi."
"Query. Does available information indicate that one can walk from this location to the probable Items location, and then to the Ambassadorial Manor? Analyze and summarize."
"Query. I currently possess data unique to this universe, including locally unknown works of literature and music. Is there any market for such data here? Could local funds be raised by selling such a work of literature or music? Analyze and summarize."
"Two miles direct flight. Five miles by walking. Some of the 'walking' will be elevator and sliderail."
It gives you a listing for the Art Guild, and for Non-Affiliated Art Presentations. These lead to a number of other listings in each group that you might approach.
"Please inform me as soon as a response to the application is received."
"It is a five mile walk from here to the probable Items location? Please show me the route I should take to walk there. Is there any charge to use the elevators or siderails, or am I able to traverse the route without any payment required?"
"How far is the walk from the probable Items location to the Ambassadorial Manor?"
"How far is the Ambassadorial Manor from the Jedi Tower, and from Senatorial Tower One?"
Upon receiving confirmation that I can walk from here to the probable Items location without paying anything, I take a deep breath, and pray for wisdom and strength and courage. I can feel the beginnings of the terror of my current altitude, kept for a time at arm's length by my focus upon gathering information online, trying to take hold of me again. But it helps to have put several feet and several minutes between myself and the sight of what lies over the edge of the walkway.
And then, with Ring and CU2 to guide me along the needed route, I take another deep breath, and start walking...
"The Ambassador will receive you within the hour. Or tommorrow at this hour. The purpose is a private inteview for the job."
"All elevators and sliderails are free on the planet Coruscant."
"Roughly five miles."
"Three and four miles."
You set out wobbling a bit, fighting for breath, flinching from an overhead freighter than thunders by with the air spinning in strange corkscrews behind its passage, and enter into a more enclosed area. Inside the elevator you relax until it drops, and the exterior wall turns transparent to give you a better view of the three hundred stories you plunge through with your ears popping and your tippy toes just touching the floor.
At the base of the tower still forty stories above street level you take a sliderail that cuts through a meat market and snakes around another tower. The railings on the sliderail help an awful lot.
Until the sliderail ends and a railless walkway starts. Gulping you step out onto it. And then a taxi car zooms past you, and you stumble back, to balance half on and half off the walkway with forty stories of clear air below you. Your back is arched, and you're wobbling between land and air.
"The Ambassador will receive me within the hour, or tomorrow at this hour?"
"Estimate travel time required to walk from current location to the Ambassadorial Manor, both directly, and via the probable Items location. If I can safely get there in time, confirm appointment for today."
-=-
OOC: If there is only sufficient time to go directly to the Ambassadorial Manor, then I will do so, and seek my items later at the earliest opportunity. I definitely want my stuff back ASAP, but since I already have my best stuff with me now anyway, getting this Ambassadorial childcare giving job providing room and income and interesting interactions is probably the top priority.
If there is sufficient time to check out the probable Items location before heading to the Ambassadorial Manor, then I do so.
If I can't get there in time for an appointment today by foot at all, then we'll need to stop and rewind a bit while I consider options (such as nanite cloud or teleport instead of walking).
However, if I'm walking at all, I presume that whether I am currently headed for the Items or for the Ambassadorial Manor directly, I will still manage to find myself wobbling between land and air... :o
-=-
As I wobble, I pray earnestly for the LORD's deliverance, even as I speak an urgent query to Ring and CU2.
"Can Kinetic Field Repulsion be used to safely keep me from falling? If so, initiate now!"
If my position is such that I can use my oak staff to thrust myself away from the edge, I do so. If not, I move the staff directly away from the edge, extending it as far away from myself as possible while firmly gripping one end, in order to tilt my balance away from the edge...
"No." Ring replies, but your staff trick works. And sweating you stagger back to the middle of the walkway where you drop to your knees to give thanks to Almighty God. Something green with more legs than a dozen, but less than a hundred crawls over you, and keeps on going.
You pray ernestly, and rise, and make your way down the walkway to another elevator, and for two blocks of blessed relief you're actually on the surface of Coruscant. Several Jawa try to sell you 'Commemorative Headgear', and something about nine feet tall with a lot of scales and teeth asks you if you'd like to have your 'nonfunctional talons buffed and manicured to functionality'.
A unit of Clone Troopers has you pause as they take precedence in the elevator. But you only have to wait ten seconds for another elevator which you share with something purple and hairy (very) that is about two feet tall. It smells of peppermint.
Seventy stories up, you announce yourself at a door, and it slides open.
"Do come in, come in. Excellent a tall bipedal, ah, human, excellent." Says the seven foot tall furred man in the leather harness adorned with eight knives. His tails flicks back and forth as do his pointed ears.
"I am an ambassador, and my duties keep my from home too much, so I would like a caretaker for my cubs. I am unfortunately in a rush. More of those duties. Palpatine is generating more executive orders, and the Jedi Council wants to try to ban 'excessive weapons', what foolishness."
When the leggy green being crawls over me, I gently move the back of my closed hand so that the creature brushes against it as it marches over me.
:: Ring... Record this form into next available morph memory slot. ::
-=-
And after it has passed...
:: Ring... Was form acquisition successful? ::
:: As I walk, please seek any available further information regarding Kzinti culture, particularly about appropriate and inappropriate ways to interact with them. For example, data such as 'always (or never) make eye contact', 'always (or never) smile', 'never speak unless spoken to first', 'always (or never) call them by their name (or whatever other designation)', 'always (or never) express gratitude or deference explicitly', etc. Summarize telepathically before I arrive. ::
-=-
I keep my telepathic senses open as I walk among all these interesting creatures.
When the nine foot tall scaly toothy creature queries me, I regard it politely.
"I cannot stay now. But if I came back later, how much would it cost?"
I offer the nails of my Ring hand for inspection.
:: Ring... Record this form into next available morph memory slot. ::
And after departing...
:: Ring... Was form acquisition successful? ::
-=-
I do not initiate physical contact with the purple hairy peppermint alien. However, I subtly keep my Ring hand nearest it if it gets close enough to brush against me, and attempt to acquire that form as well.
-=-
As the elevator ascends, and as I approach the door to announce myself, I listen to Ring's summary of whatever information was obtainable, and pray for wisdom and strength.
And assuming that I don't receive any information advising me not to act as following...
-=-
I nod respectfully.
"I would be honored to act as their caretaker."
"I confess that I am but newly arrived here. I am unfamiliar with your culture, as well as with your own preferences regarding how to care for your cubs. Should you find me to be a suitable candidate, would you be able to give me access to data that would let me familiarize myself with Kzinti culture, and with the caretaking needs of Kzinti cubs?"
-=-
OOC Q1: So I assume that I needed to head to the Ambassador's directly, since there wasn't time to go after my missing stuff yet?
OOC Q2: Was I able to acquire any forms along the way?
OOC Q3: Was I able to get any useful information regarding Kzinti culture before I arrived for the interview?
OOC Q4: Any interesting telepathic impressions?
"Successful. Amphibian twenty-legged crawler. Designated from Encylopedia 'Voriak'. No further information."
"20 creds. Hey, if you want to copy my DNA, you gotta pay." The lizard thing says. "That'd be a good oh, 200 creds."
"Yarmask. Low-rent traders and merchants. They warred upon the Empire at first meeting, but were 'persuaded' to peace. Most of their military caste has been annihilated. Said to be capable of mrak fight state, and yarl memory state."
The mop doesn't touch you.
"Primarily, they need meat once a day. About one pound for every ten pounds of cub. If you feel up to it, you can take them to one of the Imperial Parks."
He promises to get you that data later when he comes back.
Evidently you're hired.
He's heading toward the door.
Second...
Yes.
No.
Kzinti culture is run by the sentient males who keep a harem of non-sentient females. The Kzinti are a peace-loving culture who upon meeting the Empire immediately saw the benefits of contact, and made bold moves to initiate it. See Djanalaso; Vortrepi's Mission. After the Jedi Council intervened, a Mutual Trade Treaty was signed.
Blanket, blanket, blanket. What telepathy?
I fall in step with him as he moves toward the door, walking with him if necessary. He is obviously in a rush, so I make brief essential queries one by one, listening to each of his answers before asking the next:
"I must quickly retrieve my belongings before assuming my duties here, but should be back shortly."
"When I return, how do I reenter this residence?"
"Have the cubs been fed today? Where is the meat? How do you wish it prepared before serving?"
"Do you have a datapad I can use for reference while you are away?"
"Do the cubs communicate in this language? If they use a native Kzinti language, do you have translation data available?"
"If expenditure is required for the cubs, how do I gain access to any needed credits?"
"In case of urgent need, how may I contact you?"
"No time. I'm sorry." He says to the first. "You can take the cubs with you if you like."
"House, admit this human at will."
"House show him where food is stored. Chop it into five pound chunks."
"They speak Common, Kzinti, Personal, and Vaskin."
"House give him access to personal credit, less than five hundred, and a line to me. Now I really must be going."
He's halfway out the door, and all his fur is standing up.
It doesn't seem as if I can get any further information or resources from him at this point, so I'll just have to make the best of it, and pray for the best.
I give him a soothing, calm, respectful nod as he heads out of the door.
"Yes, Ambassador. Farewell."
I quietly blow air out of my cheeks after the door closes, considering the new circumstances suddenly thrust upon me. I am very thankful for such a position, though I'll be starting out with very limited information and resources to work with, and I'll be hampered from immediately retrieving my missing belongings.
I silently give thanks to the LORD for providing me this position, and pray for wisdom and strength to carry out my duties. And I pray that He will bless my interactions with the cubs, and with the House computer for that matter. And I pray for His help to hold back the darkness that is blanketing my psionic abilities, that I might be able to use those gifts here.
And then I attempt to stretch out my telepathic and clairvoyant senses through the rest of the residence.
And afterward...
"House. As you have witnessed, the Ambassador has hired me to be a caretaker for his cubs. How many cubs are there, and what are their names? Where are the cubs currently located? How long has it been since the cubs were last fed? What quantity of meat should be prepared for each of them? Where is the food stored?"
Zilch on the telepathic and clairvoyant. Its more of a living blanket, a field of so much energy that you can't get your message through than darkness although its easier to feel it as darkness.
"You are indeed the Caretaker of the Cubs. Their names are Rawl, Mace, Scrape, Junior, and Cutter. There are five of them born the same day as Kzinti biology makes customary. They do not have their adult names yet. The cubs were fed in their denroom last night before sleep. The amount to be fed to each is unknown to me."
You remember the ambassador gave you that info.
"Follow the tone." You follow a 'hiss-hss' noise and it leads you to a Dynamic Stasis Food Storage Device. Inside, you find the equivalent of four cows, and ten pigs of hanging meat. Then there is also some prime cuts of meat, about a hundred pounds worth.
You also see about ten pounds worth of herbs.
OOC: Yeah, I remember. I was indirectly trying to find out how big the cubs are... :p
"How old are the cubs? What are their sizes and weights? What stage of mental development are cubs of this age, expressed in terms of the age of a human child of similar mental development?"
"What is a typical day like for these cubs? Do they have a customary schedule? What activities do they frequently engage in? Do they have duties or responsibilities, such as chores, schoolwork, or training of any type? What activities do they like and dislike?"
"Do you have any information regarding Kzinti culture and cub caretaking for someone who is not currently familiar with such topics? Are you able to compare and contrast Kzinti culture and caretaking with typical human culture and caretaking?"
"Please show me the layout of this residence, labeled by room, with my current location and with the current location of the cubs shown. Also indicate which room I am to abide in."
"Are the cubs currently awake? Are they aware of my presence here? What are they currently doing?"
"Please show me images of the cubs, labeled by name."
"The cubs are three years, four months old."
"Kzinti are built on the felinoid bipedal pattern. An adult Kzinti male is typically 400 pounds and seven feet tall."
The Ambassador is smaller.
"Each Kzinti male tends to have a harem of at least two and up to ten females."
It gives you a map, and lot of 'unknowns'. However it can precisely regulate the heat temperature in the house to a very fine degree.
OOC: Any responses to the other queries? :)
Q1: Cub height and weight?
Q2: 3 year 4 month old Kzinti cub is equivalent mentally to a human child of what age?
Q3: Typical schedule, activities, duties and responsibilities, likes and dislikes?
Q4: Cub status (awake? aware of me? current activity?)
Q5: Am I able to see any images of the cubs? I'm not really asking you to download cub images to this page, but I'd like my character to be able to know in advance what they look and act like, if possible... :)
Most of that is outside the purview of a House com, and the picture taking is forbidden by Kzinti custom. The House com seems much more limited, and dumber than your Ring and CU2.
"Pictures are of use to one's enemies who may then gauge your strength, and the power of your spirit, and the keeness of your cunning in battle."
OOC: Hmmm. Limited info, no psi, caretaking five carnivorous cubs with unknown capabilities and customs, and many of my items elsewhere, after almost falling off a forty story ledge. Still, even I can appreciate the dark humor of my circumstances... :p
Well, information may be limited, and psi may be blanketed, but the LORD is still with me, and directing my path.
So I again pray for wisdom and strength, and that he will bless my interactions with the cubs.
And then I proceed through the residence to seek them out, and get acquainted... :)
OOC: Oh, this is just the build-up to what I was really talking about.
You open the cubs door, and smell a faint aroma of cat, and a stronger scent of cat poop. Looking in, its a haven for outsized cats with walkways up and sideways, and holes to jump down into the floor below. You're not sure how many total floors there are.
And then as you walk in, you hear a cheep by your right leg. A small electronic device is talking.
And you see a shadow in front of you.
A beachball made of strips of metal on a rope of what looks to be underwear is heading right at you. It has what might be steak knives sticking out all over the ball so you're about to be spiked maced by a giant...
You can hear raucous laughter from above and below you....
"Get the pale, furless monster!" One yells encouragement to his boobytrap.
OOC: From my initial glance of the layout in front of me, and of the trajectory and size of the incoming object, what options am I able to immediately process as viable?
For example, jump left or right into room (anywhere I can land safely?), press myself left or right against door frame (sufficient clearance?), press myself against the floor (sufficient clearance?), jump backward (sufficient time and clearance?), jump over (sufficient clearance?), etc... :o
You can dive through a hole to the floor below by going right and down. This is the safest from the ball. You can dive backwards, and crumple up in the hallway behind you, but this is slightly slower. If you're real ambitious, you can jump on the ball,a nd grab the 'cable'. It does look sturdy enough.
OOC: And this seen comes from the short story 'The Children's Hour' by Niven and/or Pournelle. See also the Man-Kzinti Wars series.
OOC: Additional clarifications needed...
Q1: The ball is beachball sized, and the knives are steak knife sized, correct?
Q2: Are there knives on top of the ball, where I would need to land if jumping onto it?
Q3: How heavy does the ball look? If I held out my oak staff firmly at each end at arm's length, and took the impact in the middle of the staff, do I have reasonable confidence that I could successfully ward off the blow, or am I concerned that the staff could be snapped?
Q4: What trajectory does the ball have? Does it seem to be swinging like a pendulum?
Q5: Does the top of the cable appear to be attached to the ceiling directly above me, or to the ceiling in the middle of the room, or elsewhere?
Q6: How high would I have to jump to land atop the ball?
Q7: How high would I have to jump to pole vault over the ball entirely?
Q8: If I pole vaulted, would there be a safe place to land?
Q9: If I go down the hole, would there be a safe place to land?
Q10: Does my martial arts training give me a reasonably confident feeling about attempting jumping and/or pole vaulting and/or hole diving, or not so much?
And this is just the build-up? :o
Yes.
No.
Fifty to seventy pounds. You're not sure you could ward off the blow.
It swings in a big circle as if just released, and the endpoint of this curve is you.
Its attached to a slim walkway running from one side of the room to the other.
Absolute minimum four feet, if done perfectly. Five feet more realistically. Six feet would be best.
Seven feet minimum for pole vault, I guess.
Somewhat rough, multi-level maybe on the far side, but you have enough space if you land well.
Don't know. Can't see.
Your MA training tells you that certain things are possible, and ....you're out of time. Make your decision, or the ball hits you in the chest as you gape at it. Grin.
"Whuuuuh? Ah...Aaaargghh!" :)