OOC: This continues Oak's adventures in Radix after the gather of versers put down the prison break attempt by the Seven Vices.

You make your way to the house, and find that it has six months rent paid up, and its in your name. Its empty.

You pray and receive no specific guidance other than a sense of being cared for.

PT

I take this information in thoughtfully and thankfully.

Then, I stop and have a serious Quiet Time, for Bible Study, and for prayer and reflection.  For I have indeed been toiling non-stop for some time.  It is good to have an opportunity to spend some time quietly before him.

Afterwards, I check the terms of the lease to see who signed for it and paid it, and how it was paid.  For example, was there also a bank account set up for me that it was paid from?  Or did it come from the account of someone else, like Peter?  Or was it paid for in cash?

I check to see what kind of access I have to the orchard.  Do I get to stroll through it?  Do I get to eat the fruit from it myself?  Do I get to pick and sell the fruit?

Or will I need to come up with some other means, mundane or otherwise, to earn my daily bread?

I use my com unit "CU2" to analyze the communications it has been intercepting, both before and after the battle, and summarize the current state of affairs for me.

I start examining my shield to determine what capabilities and limitations it possesses, as well as the other devices I obtained at Second Chance (at least, the ones that function in this universe).

And I stretch forth my precognitive senses to see if I can glimpse any of the path that lies before me... and repeat the process using the precognitive device I obtained at Second Chance, and compare the results.

OOC:
Q1: Does Peter's car work any more?  Or did I have to walk back to Peter's house?
Q2: What day of the week is this?

Other things I do during the first month:

(*) Vespucia?  Interesting.  I use CU2 to find out more information about Vespucia and the world in general, and compare it to the Vespucia of the Heartwar universe.  Similarities?  Differences?  Anything significant here about sleep, and dreaming?

(*) I consider attempting to acquire food and/or money by miraculous means, but decide that I should try to do what I can first.  This isn't an "emergency" yet, after all.

(*) Seeking both worship and potential employment, I check out the nearest conservative Baptist churches to investigate which have traditional worship and sound doctrine, and see if they have need for an organist, choir director, section leader, or similar.

(*) If not, I start checking job opportunities for professors or teachers or tutors in Computer Science or Mathematics.

(*) When my arm is broken, I pray for it to be healed.

(*) Although I am reluctant to ask for the miraculous unless there is true need, I am less shy about practicing and expanding psionic abilities.  I begin trying to develop my abilities, working my way up toward healing, and then toward force fields, and eventually up to teleportation...  :)

Some of these may expand beyond the first month, of course... :)

And in month two...?

Does the Johnian church have any openings for organist, choir director, section leader, or etc.?

Either way, I start attending their services, and getting to know the congregation a bit.

Do they have any children's Bible training clubs?  How long does one need to have attended before one can volunteer to serve as a leader or assistant?  Do they need someone to help lead the children's worship (guitar, piano, lead singing, etc.)?

If I am unable to gain employment, then I pray that the LORD will provide for my needs.  If John the Baptist could live on locusts and wild honey, I suppose that I can survive on fruit alone... but having the means to procure a more balanced diet would be welcome if the LORD wishes to provide it.

EDIT: Oops, I just realized that I misread your post above.  So I have a job as a data entry worker?  (I guess they like my 70+ words per minute typing skills :)...  Where?  How is/are the environment/people/working conditions/etc.?  How many hours per week?  Is the salary enough to pay for food and gas (and hospital)?  If there are positions available at the church, what are the hours/week & salary there?  How do they compare?  Do I need to moonlight by taking both jobs to make ends meet?

All of the above would be among those things initiated during the first month, since I wouldn't just stick with a fruit diet for a month before attempting to broaden the types of my available sustenance.

I spend some time in libraries, learning about this world, learning about history and current events, about music and literature, and especially about science and technology here, etc.  Are there any interesting bits of technology that might be of interest?  For history and current events, I keep a particular eye open for how the thin veil between this world and the spiritual realm might affect things here.  I also suspect I would initiate this in the first month, since I am too thirsty for knowledge to wait a month before checking such leads.  I copy all information of interest into CU2.

In examining my shield, I measure how long the shield lasts with each setting, and how long a full recharge requires.  I also experiment on how to recharge the shield without being in "black body" mode.  For example, do I even need to wear the shield myself to recharge it?  Does the shield need to be activated to recharge?  Can I tap into other types of power sources besides sunlight?  If recharge is possible by non "black body" means, how long do other methods require for a full recharge?  Etc.

As far as examining shield strength, I try attaching the shield to a tall weed in a deserted flat area, and hitting it with something like a stout stick or baseball bat from the driver's side window as I drive past at various speeds.  I also measure how much such activity depletes the shield's power supply.

I try to more fully heal my arm, first by prayer, then by psi if necessary.  If it seems like I still require medical attention to ensure that it eventually heals properly, what is the hospital situation like?  Do I need money for treatment?  If so, I pray for the LORD to provide it.

Does it seem like this world supports precognition?  Postcognition?  Teleportation?  I experiment.

I spend time in exercise to keep in shape, remembering my training from the Marcus Caine and from Second Chance.

Most of all, I spend much time in rest and reflection and prayer and meditation.  For I know that the LORD has ordained this time of rest and recuperation not for its own sake, but to prepare me for serving Him in the future.  If the veil is thin in this world, I wish to take full advantage of it, in order to draw as near to Him as possible, and learn as much of Him and from Him as possible.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:48, Wed 17 Sept 2008.

==And now Month Two...

I go ahead and volunteer to help out on piano.  I also check to see if I am eligible for joining the choir as a member yet.  I copy the hymnals and whatever worthy music I encounter into CU2.


Well and good.  I am frugal but nourishing, and save what I am able to (aside from expenses and church offerings).  Whenever I save enough, I convert it into gems.


BTW, is their data digitized and online, or only in books, or a combination?  Do they have any type of internet or web?

I look in the libraries for interesting information that might be generally useful in other universes.  Do they have any interesting science or technology worth knowing about?  I am particularly interested in stuff that is easy to make use of when you know it ("mixing this stuff this way in these proportions produces gunpower!", "the leaves of this plant, prepared in this manner, cures such-and-such!", etc.).

I also compare this knowledge with similar knowledge I have already acquired in other universes, to see what opportunities there might be for me to introduce new discoveries or inventions into this world, and how both I and this world can profit from them.


I check whether or not I can configure the shield into a "porous" setting so that I can breathe with the shield on, and how this affects the shield strength, duration, etc.  I also check how long I can breathe comfortably for each setting without a "porous" setting.

I experiment on how well the shield is able to cushion impact, as it did when that zombie attacked me.  I try attaching the shield to something relatively cheap and fragile (like a glass or a light bulb), and dropping it.  If it survives, I'll try throwing it against a wall with varying force, then going out to the deserted road and tossing it out of the car at varying speeds.  I also measure how much these actions deplete the shield power.



Woo hoo!  :)

If opportunity presents, I practice both types of healing more.


Woo hoo!!!  :)

I practice this more, especially trying to see if I can get glimpses as to what happened with the Virtues and Vices earlier.  If I can get any information regarding specific locations or objects associated with unusual happenings in Radix, I see what postcognitive impressions I am able to get.



WOO HOO!!!  :D

I really put some effort into this one.  Gaining and mastering teleportation is a high priority item.  If at first I don't succeed...


More exercise, more rest/reflection/prayer/meditation.

I also check out places like city recreation center programs, community colleges, etc., to see what type of classes they have.  Things like woodworking (how to make bows and arrows, how to make musical instruments, how to build furniture and houses), plants/gardening/agriculture, farming, archery, martial arts, fencing or swordplay, various survivalist-type skills, etc.  I also load relevant survival info from the libraries into CU2.  :)

I go ahead and volunteer to help out on piano.  I also check to see if I am eligible for joining the choir as a member yet.  I copy the hymnals and whatever worthy music I encounter into CU2.

==You can join the choir right away.


</quote>
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Well and good.  I am frugal but nourishing, and save what I am able to (aside from expenses and church offerings).  Whenever I save enough, I convert it into gems.

==We'll make that one gem per month then.



  For history and current events, I keep a particular eye open for how the thin veil between this world and the spiritual realm might affect things here.

==Strangely, there doesn't seem to be much effect. There are rumors of areas where miracles occur (and yes, Radix is one of them), but generally not so much.

  I also suspect I would initiate this in the first month, since I am too thirsty for knowledge to wait a month before checking such leads.  I copy all information of interest into CU2.
</quote>
</quote>
BTW, is their data digitized and online, or only in books, or a combination?  Do they have any type of internet or web?

==Its largely in books. They have the World Wide Web, but the internet is still forming.

I look in the libraries for interesting information that might be generally useful in other universes.  Do they have any interesting science or technology worth knowing about?

==They have a lot of interesting stuff, just like your home dimension. Probably much of its similar to home, but that doesn't make it not useful. What type of science or tech do you want to study?

  I am particularly interested in stuff that is easy to make use of when you know it ("mixing this stuff this way in these proportions produces gunpower!", "the leaves of this plant, prepared in this manner, cures such-and-such!", etc.).

==Ah. You find books on survivalism which seem dated with their concerns about the coming apocalypse.  The librarian is considering tossing out a whole section of survivalist books.

I also compare this knowledge with similar knowledge I have already acquired in other universes, to see what opportunities there might be for me to introduce new discoveries or inventions into this world, and how both I and this world can profit from them.

==This is going to take you a while. You're talking major endeavors of mental energy and time.  Or in other words, you work on it.





As far as examining shield strength, I try attaching the shield to a tall weed in a deserted flat area, and hitting it with something like a stout stick or baseball bat from the driver's side window as I drive past at various speeds.  I also measure how much such activity depletes the shield's power supply.

==At the highest two levels you can't begin to damage it with this technique. You break your bat.
</quote>
</quote>
I check whether or not I can configure the shield into a "porous" setting so that I can breathe with the shield on,
==No.

 and how this affects the shield strength, duration, etc.  I also check how long I can breathe comfortably for each setting without a "porous" setting.

==Its a relatively simple math problem. Twenty foot circle, ten foot tall, one adult male....your character is able to figure it out with the help of a biology textbook.  Its not encouraging.

I experiment on how well the shield is able to cushion impact, as it did when that zombie attacked me.  I try attaching the shield to something relatively cheap and fragile (like a glass or a light bulb), and dropping it.

==After half the impact necessary to break the shield, damage starts to bleed through. A larger and larger percentage bleeds through as the amount rises toward the point where the shield breaks utterly.

  If it survives, I'll try throwing it against a wall with varying force, then going out to the deserted road and tossing it out of the car at varying speeds.  I also measure how much these actions deplete the shield power.

==One time you do this, you see the lightbulb is undamged. You pick it up and its totally inflexible. It stays rigid even when tapped with a hammer without a shield for over thirty minutes....which if it had been you would have been plenty of time to verse out from lack of breathing. On the plus side, the light bulb looked pretty tough for those thirty minutes.


If opportunity presents, I practice both types of healing more.

==At work? Your church? The hospital? Random people on the street?


Woo hoo!!!  :)

I practice this more, especially trying to see if I can get glimpses as to what happened with the Virtues and Vices earlier.  If I can get any information regarding specific locations or objects associated with unusual happenings in Radix, I see what postcognitive impressions I am able to get.

==You get to see most of what happened for all the versers and their associations with the Vices and Virtues.  You see that two of the demons are still on this Earth, although damaged greatly.  You see all the Virtues leave, and right before they vanish....Michael looks directly at you...

"See ya around, Oak."

And then they're gone.

1@4 now.



WOO HOO!!!  :D

I really put some effort into this one.  Gaining and mastering teleportation is a high priority item.  If at first I don't succeed...

You teleport from your bedroom to your living room. 1@2.






More exercise, more rest/reflection/prayer/meditation.

I also check out places like city recreation center programs, community colleges, etc., to see what type of classes they have.  Things like woodworking (how to make bows and arrows, how to make musical instruments, how to build furniture and houses), plants/gardening/agriculture, farming, archery, martial arts, fencing or swordplay, various survivalist-type skills, etc.  I also load relevant survival info from the libraries into CU2.  :)

==All these are offered although survivalist classes are talking about folding up next semester as their is a general drop in interest. Which classes are you interested in taking?  And keep in mind that I'd say your schedule is pretty full already.
</quote>

OK.  I do so.  :)


OK.  I do so.  :)


The shield can be configured "adjustable field from narrow to wide beam, or omnidirectional", right?  I experiment with the non-omnidirectional configuration options, so that I can breathe.  What shapes am I able to make?  Is the non-omnidirectional version like a flat disk, or like a curved portion of a sphere, or something else?


I research to find out how common or rare such healing is in this world, and what would be the likely reaction to my doing it.  I also research what opportunities there are to heal folks at work and at church.  Does the church have a hospital visitation ministry?


That is really cool!  :)


WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!  :D

I start trying variations to practice and develop my skill.  Teleport to a known place, teleport a certain distance and direction, teleport from something moving slowly to something stationary and visa versa, etc.

Eventually, when I think I've progressed enough, I research to find out exactly how far away Yosemite is, and in exactly which direction.  Then I pack up my suitcase, and attempt to teleport to Yosemite on a Saturday morning after breakfast, and spend some time there, and teleport back into my bedroom before dinner.  I make sure I have enough money with me in case I am unable to teleport and need to make my own mundane way back to Radix.


Ouch.  So much to do, so little time...

I guess martial arts wins the priority battle.  What varieties are available?  Kung Fu?  (I've been doing that in RL for the last year or so, so it would be fun to do that in the game also... :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:52, Fri 19 Sept 2008.

The shield can be configured "adjustable field from narrow to wide beam, or omnidirectional", right?

==It claims it has this option, but the menu slot is 'grayed out' and inactive.

  I experiment with the non-omnidirectional configuration options, so that I can breathe.  What shapes am I able to make?  Is the non-omnidirectional version like a flat disk, or like a curved portion of a sphere, or something else?


I research to find out how common or rare such healing is in this world, and what would be the likely reaction to my doing it.

==The overculture denies such things, but some elements of subcultures are more accepting.  Shock and awe...at the very least.

  I also research what opportunities there are to heal folks at work and at church.  Does the church have a hospital visitation ministry?

==You're able to pray for some people with the common cold and arthritis. As long as its discreet, there doesn't seem to be a problem.




WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!  :D

I start trying variations to practice and develop my skill.  Teleport to a known place, teleport a certain distance and direction, teleport from something moving slowly to something stationary and visa versa, etc.

==You pick up a lot of understanding of teleportation. Raise +@4, and you also have the problem of a peculiar botch.  When you tried to teleport from your kitchen to your front porch, you instead took about three square feet of your front porch and merged it semi-explosively with the floor of your kitchen.  The injuries to yourself were minor, consisting of about a dozen wood splinters and a couple small bits of shrapnel stuck in your legs, but the porch and the kitchen are not so happy.



Eventually, when I think I've progressed enough, I research to find out exactly how far away Yosemite is, and in exactly which direction.  Then I pack up my suitcase, and attempt to teleport to Yosemite on a Saturday morning after breakfast, and spend some time there, and teleport back into my bedroom before dinner.  I make sure I have enough money with me in case I am unable to teleport and need to make my own mundane way back to Radix.

==You arrive exhausted, and spend the first hour recuperating. You take it easy that day, and teleport safely back, again exhausted.


Ouch.  So much to do, so little time...

I guess martial arts wins the priority battle.  What varieties are available?  Kung Fu?  (I've been doing that in RL for the last year or so, so it would be fun to do that in the game also... :)

==There are eight different varieties of Kung Fu taught ranging from Drunken Monkey to Preying Mantis.
</quote>

: Oops.  Now, how am I going to fix this floor?:

After getting some psi healing practice on my legs after the teleport botch, I consider how to fix the floor, and how much it would cost to do so by more mundane means.

That leads me to consider how much of my time is getting eaten up by the necessity of employment.

And so it is that I start investigating:

(*) create sustenance (water and food -- sufficiently sustaining and nourishing liquid food is OK)
(*) transmute solids

Using the latter when I have achieved some level of skill, I also explore whether or not I can use the latter to help repair the damage to the floor and porch, or if I'll have to pay for mundane repairs.

Either way, if I am successful in creating valuables (such as turning rocks to gems, metal to gold, etc.), I quit my job and create the valuables necessary to pay expenses.

: Hmmm...  These high tech gadgets are great when they work, but... :

I come to the conclusion that it is better not to have all of my eggs in one buggy basket, so I start exploring mind-based (psi) and prayer-based (when appropriate) alternatives to:

(*) force fields

(*) inducements (I practice on sparrows in the orchard, stray dogs passing by on the other side of the fence, etc.):
(**) sleep inducement
(**) calm inducement
(**) fear inducement

I also work on beefing up and expanding:

(*) postcognition:
(**) places
(**) objects
(**) people

(*) teleportation:
(**) teleport expendable objects to and from me
(**) teleport expendable objects from one place to another
(**) portal creation

(*) telekinesis:
(**) marionette
(**) neutral buoyancy
(**) multiple objects
(**) flight


I also start work on trying to figure out:

(*) alterations:
(**) increasing the temperature range my body is comfortable in
(**) decreasing oxygen requirements and/or getting oxygen from other sources, such as underwater, etc.
(**) decreasing sustenance requirements and/or getting sustenance from other sources, such as sunlight, etc.
(**) morphing
(**) transparency/invisibility
(**) non-corporeality

For Kung Fu, I select Hung Gar if it is available (since that is the one I'm doing in RL, that would make things easier :).

I continue my various activities, employment (as long as necessary), research, prayer, etc.

And I continue looking for identifying potential opportunities for using my knowledge of possible discoveries or inventions to benefit this world and myself (unless I am able to create whatever valuables I may need... :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:26, Mon 22 Sept 2008.

I'll do the work myself.


Psi first (preparation via prayer and Focus), then miracles (Quiet Time, prayer, petition for provision with examples from Bible and from Peter in Radix).


I first attempt to teleport out of the bubble.  If unsuccessful, I attempt to use the TK field device in a narrow beam, in a harmless direction (toward an open window, etc) to break the force field.  If unsuccessful, I repeat while using my own psi TK in the same direction as the device TK at the same time.  If still unsuccessful, I pray for deliverance...


I progress on the above list of things-to-do ASAP... :)


Fast, Defensive, Weapons Variable.  The emphasis is upon waiting, then quickly counter-attacking.  The lower the stance and center of gravity, the better, so plenty of horse-stance wall-sitting type strengthening of the legs, in addition to the various forms.  In RL my training has been weaponless thus far; weapons are added later.


Difficult.  How will I alone make the changes needed to help?  I pray over this, and also continue my efforts to transmute.  If I had a means of generating sufficient valuables, I could build my own hospital with better hygiene and ventilation as a working example, and let the decreased mortality speak for itself...
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:45, Mon 22 Sept 2008.

Encouraged by my success, I start to consider my current employment, which is treating me as relatively unskilled labor and isn't teaching me any new skills.  For if I am going to be paid as a relatively unskilled laborer, why shouldn't I explore other potential vocations at an entry or apprentice level, and learn new skills in the process?

With this train of thought in mind, I start examining the Want-Ads for entry or apprentice level positions in other fields, such as:

(*) craftsman (some type of specialty shop that would teach me how to make useful items such as bows and arrows, musical instruments, or etc. would be ideal)
(*) homebuilders and/or renovation workers
(*) gardeners
(*) blacksmith (for the tourists?  for the Renaissance Faire fans?)

Hopefully the salary would be at least similar to what I am currently making...


Interesting, and useful.  OK, I'll start from there, and work my way from detection towards modification and then creation:

(*) detect harmful substances (chemical, biological, etc.; via separate skills if necessary)
(*) neutralize harmful substances (solid, liquid, or gas; animate or inanimate; via separate skills if necessary)
(*) purify air/water (if this is different from the above)
(*) create (and/or transmute) water
(*) create (and/or transmute) liquids (fruit juice, milk, chicken broth, etc)
(*) create (and/or transmute) solids (whatever => food, charcoal => diamonds, etc.)

If creation seems easier, I'll try that first.  Otherwise, I'll try transmutation.  My ultimate goals are to be able to provide myself (and anyone under my care) with food and water (out of thin air, if necessary), and to be able to generate valuables (gems, etc.) that will provide buying power as needed.


I give thanks to the LORD for deliverance, and continue my force field experiments after a good night's sleep.


I continue trying to develop my skills in inducements (including on people, such as in a crowd at some free sporting event), and keep trying to progress in teleportation and telekinesis.


: Where... am I?  Supposed to... stay near house, hose, and shade... just in case...  Why did I move here?...  Delirious...  Dearest LORD...  please heal me now... and deliver me...  now, I pray... :

If the LORD moves me or gives me strength to move, I get to a hose or water, and cool myself down if I'm not healed already.

If not, then I pray again.

If still unsuccessful, I try to heal myself.

If still unsuccessful, then in my delirium, I start to fantasize about the cool Merced River in Yosemite Valley, and remember my recent visit there, and how I teleported there, recollecting and visualizing with greater and greater intensity the act of teleporting there...


I progress on the above list of things-to-do ASAP... :)


"Dearest LORD, our God, please guide us how to love and serve you faithfully, and our neighbor as ourselves.  Show us how to help make this a better world for the generations to come.  Help us even in this very place, that the overflowing wastebaskets and lack of proper ventilation could be transformed into a clean, hygenic, well ventilated environment where patients may truly thrive.  Guide us how to serve you, near and far, in little and in much.  I pray in the Name and Power of Jesus Christ...  Amen."

After the prayer meeting is over, I see if anyone wishes to mingle, including the man next to me...

-=-

And I continue my usual activities (church, Kung Fu, etc.)...  :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:09, Tue 23 Sept 2008.

You're not able to focus sufficiently for prayer, the lizard keeps interrupting you to ask whats your favorite type of Chinese food.  Desperately, you throw yourself into a teleportation, and vanish.  You arrive in the middle of the cold lake instead of near the shore.

The shock hits you hard, and you struggle for a second, but all your strength is gone. Just before passing out, you think you see nereids in the water, but...

---------------

And onward....

PT