OOC: This is a placeholder from Oak for the beginning of Brock's first thread, run by Krillis, continued from GO.  :)

In time to come, we may well want to copy the GO thread's posts into this slot, but for now, interested parties can see what has happened at this link:

http://gamingoutpost.com/talk/topic/brock-begins/

Go ahead and post below, Brock, and welcome to RPoL!  :)

EDIT: GO thread posts have been copied below.  Enjoy!  -- Oak :)
















































This message was last edited by the GM at 22:42, Sun 09 Mar 2014.

The Story Until Now:

Brock lands in the Tower of the Vale scenario, where he starts interacting with indigenous residents of Tower very early on. After befriending a farmer, Mark, he chooses to help him fix his shed’s roof. More than just fixing it, he plans to introduce clay tile roofs to the community by using them on Mark’s shed. This leads Brock to seek out aid from a neighbor, Joshua, who has a fire station that Brock can use to fire the clay, which is a new idea for Joshua.

While firing clay, Joshua warms to Brock and answers questions involving The Tower, which Brock starts to understand is some sort of deity to the people of the valley. He doesn’t trust The Tower, however.

Brock makes Mark’s shed roof no problem, and moves on to investigate the town of Tower, where he enters a tavern and interacts with locals. He distrusts them, but dances and merrymakes nonetheless for a while before finally heading in to bed. This is where Brock's story begins here, at RPOL:



Now:

OOC: Sorry, I included it in your sheet, but forgot to here. You got a new skill: 1@1 Tower Line Dance M0@2. I also added the Two-Step and Waltz skills to your list, both at SAL 1@5, same as your Harmonica skill.

IC: You drift off to sleep, and have a pleasant, lucid dream. You're in a house on a hill with a large oak tree in the yard, swaying with the wind. It's a dream about an old friend from your past, visiting you at this house. Suddenly, you're outside with him, and the two of you are talking about a great, white Tower far off in the distance. Far away, but so large that you can even see it beyond enormous mountains. It shines brightly, even from so far.

But then, you look at your old friend and realize he's changed so much over the years. He's hardly the same person. No, he's not the same person. It dawns on you that you don't know this man next to you at all, and your dream suddenly becomes lucid. The dream becomes both crisper and the world shakes briefly. Looking closer, he's a man in robes that are soft blue, and he has white beard and soft, blue eyes. "Oh, good, Brock. Focus. I thought I'd lost you again like last night. Tell me, did you find any of the totems?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:43, Sun 09 Mar 2014.

IC: Thinking: What the? Is this guy Merlin? O_o

I will look around a bit, surprised. When I regaon my equilibrium, I will answer him.

"Totems? I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about, or who you are exactly. Wait, do you know something about the Vale? Or the Tower? Or just how I got here?!" I am visibly excited at the prospect of learning what is going on here. I then force myself to slow down. "Sorry, sorry. So, you know my name, but who are you, sir?" I'll offer a handshake if he introduces himself.

OOC: I have dreamed of meeting many mythological or legendary figures before. I don't especially think I really did meet them most of the time, but the dreams can be pretty lucid. Anyway, This guy is superficially similar to my dream of Merlin before, and the location is almost the same two. If we are on a hill in a forest too, then it is eerily similar. I remember mountains in the distance, and a tower, and a lake between the mountains and the cottage. Meh. Not that it matters that much.

The man looks disappointed when it seems that you don't know what he's talking about. "Of course, I thought that this might have happened after I first touched your dreams. Brock, I know your name because we met last night, but it feels like your dream now is much more stable than it was then, so let us start anew." He bows his head lightly to you, and shakes our hand. "My name is Pax Anteroch. And the fate of thousands could rest on your shoulders, Brock."

You notice that the blue robes that he has on aren't just similar to your memory of Merlin's, but identical now that you're thinking about it.

OOC: Wow, identical? Creepy. OK, I am going to cover this like the last time we did a conversation, multiple threads at once. Gets it going faster.

IC: "You do seem familiar, Pax Anteroch, but I am sad to say I do not remember you. Are you using some form of magic to touch my dreams? Maybe astrally projecting to me?"

"The fate of thousands rests on ME? You have got to be joking. I mean, I always try to do what's right, but no one has ever had their lives depending on me! What exactly are we talking about here?"

"Besides last night, have we ever met before?"

"Can you tell me anything about the Tower, or the town? Or how I got here, and how I can get home? Journeys are fun, but I do need to go back home."

Pax frowns at you when you say you don't remember him. "That's regrettable, Brock, but we must move forward nonetheless. You must try to hold on to this memory this time as you leave your dream. Yes, I'm a guest in your dreams, and represented here by your subconscious in this image. I could shape your dream slightly to take my own, but I fear that it may disrupt it before we finish talking."

"Indeed, Brock. Every innocent in the Valley depend on you now, though they have no clue of it yet. We are talking about that." He points to the Tower that stands far in the distance. "It is the same Tower that you somehow resist even now, or else I would be unable to touch your dreams the way that I do."

"We only first met last night, but you said that you recognized this visage then as well."

"The valley you're in is full of innocent lives that the tower preys on. Some can resist its thrall, but all have fallen quickly to its pull, most seeing it as a god in time." He sighs at that point. "And it will continue so long as its master has the totems to keep his magic strong over the people."

OOC: I'm a bit busy IRL. Sorry for the delay.

IC: "I will do my best to remember what you tell me now. I am committing it to memory as best I can." I pause a moment. "And this is my dream. If I allow it, then you should be able to shape it if helps." With that, I relax and tell myself that this man belongs here, and he has power, and he is free to use it unless he brings harm to me. If he tries to change something, he should be able to.

"Why would I resist the Tower when all these others do not? Hmm...maybe that is why I have been called here. It is my destiny!" I say this with an easy grin, and smile cheekily.

"So there IS a single master pulling the strings within that tower! I KNEW it!" I pound my fist into my palm, excited. "What are these totems? What does the master do to keep them in thrall? Why does he do it?? What is he gaining?"

OOC: No problem.

IC:

You try to manipulate your dream surroundings to be more accepting of Pax's presence here, and you feel more comfortable now. He still looks like your dream of Merlin, but everything seems a little more crisp and calm around you now, but you're not completely sure if you did anything.

"Why you would resist the Tower, Brock, entices my wonderings as well. None have before, at least not for long before its master brought them in under its thrall. Perhaps it is something special about you, but we cannot be sure and must work quickly, lest you buckle under his power in time."

When you start getting excited again, you feel the dream becoming unstable briefly, and Pax gently raises his hand, "Careful, Brock. Careful. The situation is unstable as it is, but there is plenty of time for me to answer a few more questions." It takes a second, but you bring things under control again, you feel like. Then, Pax continues, "Yes, one wizard more powerful than any heroes have yet faced takes people from the world, placing them into his own twisted domain. He steals their lives and freedom to fuel his own power and magic while keeping them submissive and unsuspecting. The totems I speak of are powerful foci spread out to powerful places in the valley-natural places, most likely that represent the elements for his profane rituals. My best inference, due to the great power of his magical influence there, is that there must be at least four separated across the Vale, but I have no way to magically scry from them from within... But whatever his magic is, it must be delicate. The totems probably must maintain line of sight with the tower, and unmolested for great periods of time."

Then, he stops and looks closer to you, "Tell me, what are your thoughts on these totems?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:21, Tue 18 Mar 2014.

"Sounds like a plan to me. I do not intend to let someone have sway over my heart and mind. Nor do I intend to allow such vulgar control over another, let alone over all of a Vale. He must be stopped!"

"He gains power from dominance and from their submission....Is he stealing their life forces?!"

"The totems are delicate and elemental, and there is four...Are they associated with the Classical Elements do you think? Fire, Air, Earth, Water? They are delicate...probably within sight of the Tower...and must be unmolested...Perhaps they are seemingly innocuous items like weathervanes or very large boulders or other such things, infused with the power to aid him. Any long standing structures or anything, anything at all, that the villagers tell me is off limits are likely suspects."

"Tell me, Pax, if he has control over the residents of the valley, can I expect them to oppose my actions when I work against the tower? Can he seize control of them from afar and work through them? Or perhaps implant in their minds that tey must do certain things to aid him when it is needed, such as stopping someone from tampering with certain areas?"

"Does the wizard have a use name or nickname we can use? I doubt you have his True Name, else you could simply stop him yourself."

Pax smiles at your enthusiasm, but seems sad, "Many have said those same words, Brock, but for some reason you inspire more faith than those of the past."

"Life force, spiritual energy, the mana that exists in every man, woman, and child on the planet. He and his tower eat it all, until even their emotions remain to be seen on the surface. Some may leak through, but most are stolen and in their place confusion remains."

"I believe that's very likely. Wizards have used the elements in the past to practice diverse magic like what he does now, especially when such wide-spread magic is necessary. I must agree that the villagers would caution people away-but you mustn't blame them. They are victims in this, souls without the will to fight against the tower any longer. Likely, they will discourage areas from fear rather than with minds to protect the tower. But, based on what we discussed last night...their devotion to the tower goes beyond what I had ever thought. Its sway over them very well might encourage some to stop you, if they learned of your plans."

"But while the people may or may not stand in your path, be assured that the wizard probably established other protections to stop intruders. Be on your guard."

"A nickname, my son? We call him the Tower Lord or the Lord of the Vale. But none know his name outside of the valley. As to using a 'True Name' to stop him. Is that something you know, a form of name magic? I've...never heard of any sort of power like that before. Are you a wizard in your homeland?"

A ripple travels through the dream, and some of the distant places start to melt into blackness. Pax looks at this happening, and turns to you with determined eyes. "I'm afraid our time is almost over. Focus, Brock. You mustn't forget the things I've told you this time. The tower has ways of warping minds and hearts, and these things can help you fight it."

"So as the number of people under his sway increases, so too does his power. Is it possible for me to take away his power by freeing the minds of those who live here? As his totems are destroyed, and his power weakens, I may find ways to free people. Perhaps I can lend them my own energy to fight back against the dark will of the Tower Lord, and regain their minds and independence. Allies in this struggle could prove most helpful."

"Knowing the True Name, the name given to a person at his birth or the name attached to his soul, gives you power over that person. It is not just the words, but the way they are said, tone and inflection and emotion all attached to this name. Knowing that gives you the power to identify them exactly, thus allowing the targeting of a spell without any chance for confusion or missing with it."

I look at the darkness sadly. "If it is time, then so be it. Thank you for confirming my suspicions, Pax. I knew something was going on with this Tower. I WILL stop him. Wish me luck!" I close my eyes, and focus on all that was said here, committing it to my memory.

I reopen my eyes grimly and face the dark places. "This is my dream. My world. You shall not hold sway over me. Begone!" I send forth all my will in a solid burst of passion, followed by the strongest sustained force I can imagine, pushing away the darkness that falls and restoring light and stability to my dream world. I envision that the darkness is the Tower Lord's influence. If it pushes away and stays away, I turn back to Pax. If it does not, I do what is said in the next paragraph, and then I turn all my will into forcing myself awake before the darkness takes me.

Then I envision the mysterious Lord of the Tower within his Tower, sending forth these dark magicks. I send forth a small amount of my own energy, and give him the spiritual equivalent of a slap on the cheek. I also project these words: "Nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah, nyah."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:30, Thu 20 Mar 2014.

"That is my hope. Free the people, but be sure to understand that you are your only true ally in the Vale until the totems are destroyed and everyone is freed from the tower."

"Interesting. I would be very interested in learning this from you in time, Brock. I was not aware that you were a wizard when last we spoke. Perhaps I could teach you a scrying spell to try and track the totems, unless you already know one?"

OOC: We can get to the rest later, but I wanted to cover this brief part of the conversation before I addressed the rest.

OOC: We can get to the rest later, but I wanted to cover this brief part of the conversation before I addressed the rest.

"In my homeland, magic is a derided, often ridiculed force. Many do not believe in its existence; it is preferred to believe in Science. It is a weak force there, with little or no visible manifestation. I believe that the disbelief of my people in the power puts a dampening effect upon it, rendering those who practice powerless or the next best thing to it. I, myself, am accomplished in the art of traveling between the realms of spirit. I am also well versed in mythology and the theory of magic both imagined and otherworldly. I simply cannot practice some forms of the craft, nor do I know of anyone who can. Maybe this means that magic of that kind does not exist at all, but I don't believe that. I think that it is belief and willpower that powers magic. I am confident in this. When so many people disbelieve in the power, my own belief is squashed by the weight of thousands." I hesitate for a moment after this. "This isn't important as such right now, but it would ease my mind to know where home is, exactly. Might you know where on Earth the nation of America is relative to here? Or perhaps Britain?" I say Earth deliberately, on the suspicion that he may single it out if this is indeed another world. I am almost sure that I am, but it can't hurt to try.

"I am not a wizard as such, but instead a practitioner of energy control and astral projection. I do not know a spell which can scry, though I have read of many that I suspect would work without the repressive aura around disbelievers. I would be delighted to learn your scrying spell. Maybe I can learn a thing or two more from you when we have the time, too."

He looks taken aback when you mention that magic is a ridiculed force where you're from, but seems to hold back his words and lets you continue.

He looks sympathetic and thoughtful when you talk of home. "I'm afraid that you aren't on Earth any longer. Perhaps it's across the Great Sea somewhere, and these kingdoms America and Britain...I would love to hear more about where you're from when these dark times are past, but I have been far and these places are unfamiliar to me."

"I'm sure that we will learn much from one another in time, my friend."

---

When the ripple occurs and things start to fade to black around you, Pax vanishes from your dream as subtly and abruptly as you realized he was there. It's as if you realized he never was for a moment, but then you steel your determination to make sure you remember the things you discussed.

When you push back against the darkness closing in on your dream, you don't feel any effect, and soon you have other dreams. Ones more peaceful of places you've been and people you used to know, until finally you wake a little bit stiff on yet another unfamiliar bed. Then, you recall that you're in the inn again, and you remember quickly everything that transpired in your dream.

Oh, fantastic. I remembered it all! Hmm...planning time now.

Let's see...there are four elemental totems. They likely have to do with the Classical Elements, but not necessarily. They are also likely to be in places where citizens are not supposed to go. If that is the case, then I need to learn where these places might be. The best way to do this is to take up a profession which involves traveling for the good of the town. That could be...lumberjack, hunter/gatherer, quarrier, anything else that involved gathering supplies and bringing it into the Town...maybe other things but that's what I have right now. Then, once I have made myself part of this profession or found any other excuse, I can get a map of the Vale and go over it with someone. At that point I am sure to either notice odd places on the map, or be told not to go to certain areas.

In the meantime I can explore the town, find out what is going on around here, and interject myself into the society. I need to build trust. Maybe there are issues around the village that need addressed. Either way, I need to know what people in the town already do so I can discover what task I can make pretense to do. Maybe bring claymaking and roofing here, if it isn't already. I would need to haul a lot of clay, so leaving town would be a must. I nod. That is a good plan.

I will change clothes and wash up best I can, then head downstairs and look for the innkeeper. I leave my things - I can move them if it turns out I won't be staying in that room, but they are good for now. When I find the innkeeper, I will greet him in a friendly manner and ask "What is going on in town lately? Anything interesting? And who should I talk to about finding work? I don't expect any free ride here."

The barkeep is awake and washing down the bar, while a woman approximately his age sweeps the floor after the party that went down last night that you joined in on.

He's still happy to talk to you, and greets you warmly, "I hope you slept well, my friend!" He answers your question about interesting things happening, "Well, recently one of the Tower Pilgrims has taken a high seat on the Town Council. That's always news-one of them finding a niche like that, especially one entering a field with such a scope of influence."

When your conversation turns to what is happening in town and finding work, he reassures you, "You're exactly the type for Tower, then, because you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone here to give you a free ride through life. There's work everywhere, and the Tower will provide, so never fear. But if you've got skills, you have a place to start. In this town, you'll find all manners of trade jobs especially in the market, while there're several other opportunities. Stablework, blacksmithing, sweeping floors, cooking... There's always a need, my friend. But there's even more diverse work throughout the rest of the Vale."

"Tower 'Pilgrim', you say? What is that? Someone who came to the Vale seeking the Tower?"

"Diverse work throughout the Vale...what kind of work is that? Are we talking about work for people who choose not to live in the Town? Or gathering supplies?"

"Hmm, I could work in town. I don't have many skills, but I am always willing to learn. I do have one skill. I can work clay a bit. I know how to make clay roofing tiles."

PM
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:57, Mon 24 Mar 2014.

PM

"Oh, no. No one comes to the Vale but those called on by he Tower. The pilgrims muse over the Tower and travel throughout the Vale trying to live their lives for the Tower and discover its mysteries as much as the Tower allows them. Sometimes they stand in public and preach to the rest on living fulfilling lives under the constant protection of the Tower."

"Well, the work changes depending on where you go. You have the farmers to the southern part of the vale, miners to the northwest across the river, lumberjacking in the woods, fishing in the lake to the west. There's something for any walk of life. Here, in Tower, they all collide to meet and trade with one another in the market. Of course, there're other things to do here as well. You'll meet many tradesmen in goods."

"There aren't any clay roofers that I know of. All of the town's are made of wood, and poorer folks use thatch, which all seem to work pretty well for at least the purposes of this tavern. A bit of advice, friend. Sometimes the Tower can surprise you about why you were brought here. While you may think that roofing is all you can do, I suggest you try to find your niche in work already open, fulfilling a need and maybe discovering something about yourself you'd never have known."

After that last sentence, he pauses and laughs aloud. "Sorry, that was a bit heavy-winded for me. Point is do what you want and help where you're needed. You're a man grown, and don't need hoity-toity advice like that from the likes of me."

OOC: Answering the bit about pilgrims
IC: "Hmm, that sounds like an interesting life. Its a bit too...involved for me though. Maybe after I have had time to get used to the Vale and learn more about the Tower. I think I'd like to talk to one, though. "

OOC: answering speech sections two, three, and four with the following one.
IC: "No, no, that's good advice. I can always see about apprenticing with someone. I love the woods, and I'm no stranger to heavy labor, despite my physique. Perhaps I could find some work in lumber. I'd rather not go to any mines. I don't much care for underground places. I really like working outdoors, so anything that involves traveling would work quite well for me. Oh, maybe supply delivery? All those people living all across the Vale have to have someone bringing them supplies, unless they always trek back to town every time they need something they don't have. That would be really inefficient."

"Well, you'll meet a pilgrim yourself soon enough, especially if you stay in Tower for any period of time."

"But if you're interested in lumberjacking, I suggest that you head out on the eastern road out of Tower and find your way to a small community at the edge of the forest southeast of here. As for supply delivery, there really isn't an established trade route in place, but traders travel through the crossroad villages all the time. Tower is just central to trading here in the Vale."

"Is there anyone I would speak to about supply delivery? Is there someone that organizes that for the outlying areas?"

"Well, no one specifically. Traders do what they can already," he speaks a little lower, "Many for their own gain, like others, but there's no organized supply delivery. If you're interested in establishing something like that, I'd suggest you talk to either the Tower Council or just taking your own initiative and speaking with traders at the market square."

"Interesting. I think I'll do that. An organized system would do some good. And then all the supply records would be in one place, so anyone who is taking advantage of people will be revealed as well. I may end up doing more good than I set out to do."

After we wrap up this conversation, I will ask him if there is any chance I can get some breakfast? I'm willing to do some work for him to pay for it.

He nods and offers you some left over porridge, which it turns out is very filling.

He slaps you on the shoulder on your way out and says, "Best of luck, friend. Not many find their way in the Vale so quickly. I hope that you've found yours in this trading system."

He gives you direction to the market square and the Town Council building, which lies on a hill very close to the market.

I thank him for the food.

"Ah, well, you know. Hit the ground running. I'll let you know how it goes, OK? See you around!"

He gives you direction to the market square and the Town Council building, which lies on a hill very close to the market.

I will head to the market square. I take my things along. Shouldering those bags will enhance the impression of me as a traveler, hopefully an impression of an experienced one. Then I stride confidently to the market square and scan the area, looking for a trader or a market stall. I also search for the Council building, as it is on my hit list for the day as well.

You leave the tavern and reach Market Square, which has a wide road leading to it from the direction you came and three similar roads leaving out: the one you entered, one straight ahead, and another to the left. There's also a smaller road which leads up a hill you see, where a large wooden structure stands.

The market itself is made up of a circle of trader stalls in the middle, all with carts and canvas coverings to prevent overexposure for the vendors. These are mostly food goods and some miscellaneous items.

You also see three larger, more permanent structures surrounding the square. One is called the Lock and Barrel, another the Tailor's Trade, and finally one that simply reads: "Herbs and Eats", which looks like it doubles as a general food store and a smaller restaurant.

It's still early, but you see two men that you believe are probably traders making their way around to the various vendors and a few locals out buying supplies.

I will approach these two traders briskly, hailing them from a good thirty feet away. I will walk up and introduce myself, and ask them if they are local traders. If they answer yes, I will tell them I am working on a project for the betterment of trading in the Vale, and ask if they are interested in helping me out.

OOC NOTE FOR LATER: I really need to get/make a map of the Vale for this plan to work. Also noting the large wooden structure and the three shops for later visits.

One of the traders makes his way inside, but you corral them together eventually with friendly greetings, and they stop to assess you. They see your gear, and your smile, and they both smile back. One is an older man with a well-groomed gray beard, but still looks fit, probably from a lot of walking. The other is a younger man in his 20s with brown hair and a mustache.

The older addresses you, "Ah! A young man," he obviously looks you up and down and continues, "And clearly new to the Vale as well, already wanting to change our ways." He chuckles, "I'd tell you son that there is no need to change the Vale, but I'll hear what your thoughts are, at least."

The younger trader just keeps his eyes, on you, and nods as well. "I will too."

I smile easily. "Not a change so much as it is a consolidation. Better organization. I want to gather together a complete list of all traders in the vale, the communities you are supplying, and what you supply. Then we can organize more efficient supply deliveries, reducing the amount of work needed to get the same amount of work done. We can also form a Guild. Then all the traders can work together to keep prices fair and profits at a high level. It will also help us figure out exactly where we are short on supplies, which will let us put someone to work at gathering or creating the supplies we need.

The older smiles at you, but shakes his head. "I don't know, friend. Making a Guild for Trade and organizing like that...it wreaks of the greed that fills the outside world beyond the Vale. Next thing, you'll have us mining for useless metals and minting gold."

The younger one adds after, "Yeah, and likely that will go well before the Council or the Tower. You'd be asked to leave before the month lets out."

The older then responds, glaring at the younger mustached trader. "Watch your tongue, Reynald. He's new to the Vale and the Tower's ways, obviously. Don't ruin good intend with such useless threats."

The younger then looks to the ground, and back at you, but says nothing more.

"Hah...gold. Not at all necessary. Bartering works fine in closed communities. And yes, with poor management or corrupt leaders a Guild can do more harm than good. What if the Guild is under the supervision OF the Council? Do you think that would be acceptable?"

I turn to Reynald and gently say, "I understand your concern, Reynald. I do not intend to change your ways, just organize what already exists. What if we simply list each customer and what they need, and then make sure those needs are being met by the traders currently active? And that way, if a trader disappears or is out of commission for any reason, the rest of the traders can pick up the slack." I pause a moment. "Does that happen here? Anyone ever get sick? I hear the Tower protects the Vale really well, and anyone who remains loyal is remarkably healthy."

I will look askance at him for a moment. "And that way, anyone who is in it for more profit than they should be making for their role can be discovered. That wouldn't be a problem here, would it? I've heard...rumors."

OOC: The first speech is trust building. The second speech is information fishing, which I hope will work, as I am trying to appear trustworthy and reasonable. The last one is a skill check. I am intentionally stating something I think will upset him in order to observe his reaction, so that I can better gauge the state of the Vale, its trade, and his personal repute. In other words, I want to see if he is trustworthy, and if this is a sensitive subject. I do not know what roll this is, but that is what I am doing. I do that one LAST, when I think the conversation is wrapping up.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:56, Tue 08 Apr 2014.

The older trader visibly relaxes when you laugh at the thought of money, and nods along. "That would be the safest route, talking to the Council directly first about change, but they aren't the bosses of everyone. Perhaps you should travel, trade here, and learn more about the land before presenting anything to the Council. They'll be more receptive of one who has both lived in the Vale longer and knows the profession here better."

When you ask them about whether people get sick at all in the Vale, Reynald and the older look at one another in thought briefly, and the older responds. "No, not really. I mean, The Tower watches over us all and blesses us with good health, yes, but that doesn't mean that people can't still get sick. Still, The Tower never presents people with anything greater than they can handle, and not without good reason. The Tower provides."

Reynald nods. "Yes, that could speed things up drastically, and make it easier to organize larger shipments for trade. A few traders already do that seasonally with the farmers, but it could be applied to other professions as well, if you could anticipate their needs."

OOC: I'm holding off that last one for now, until I'm sure you're done talking with them. But I probably wouldn't even make that any sort of skill or attribute check. You're just testing the waters by bringing up a subject that you suspect might be sensitive.

"That seems like sound advice. I got so worried about making sure that it would be OK that I jumped the gun a little. Uhh, that's an expression from my homeland, I just mean that I was being hasty. If I wanted to trade, how would I get into that business myself? I have no trade goods nor much to trade except labor. That is why I started at this from the intellectual angle of organizing - it is a skill of mine, and it does not require me to possess trade worthy goods at first."

"Interesting. Never more than they can handle....this is a blessed land indeed."

"Hah, yeah I suppose it could. Next thing you know I will have to predict the weather so I can figure out what the year will be like, and get goods ready in advance! Hahah, just kidding." I wink and smile, making it clear it was a joke. Little do they know, such things aren't much of a joke where I come from. "But seriously, if I did want to organize things like that, I would need to address every trader in the Vale with it. How many traders would I need to contact, when that time comes?"

OOC: Makes sense. Really, no roll? I thought it would be a roll of a social attribute to see if I can say it smoothly or something. All right, I got no problem with straight RP. God knows I get that pretty rarely.

IC:

"That's always trouble when you're getting started. Are you sure you don't have anything of value? If you can't seem to get started out well enough, you could gather almost the same information as a designated courier or something. No one is really filling that role right now, at least not Vale-wide. Otherwise, I'd suggest picking up a trade for non-perishables. Stay away from growing food or catching fish, because you want to save up enough to trade for a large amount of goods."

"Well, almost everyone in the Vale trades with someone, but travelling traders like us...you'd be talking to upwards of twenty people of varying success, who are all pretty hard to pin down, because we're all travelling pretty constantly." They both laugh with you about knowing the weather patterns, but it's an uneasy laughter from Reynald.

He nods to you both and says, "Sorry, but you must excuse me. It's getting to be about the time that I need to start meeting some local storeowners to trade with." He leaves, but the older traders stays behind in case you have any questions.

Would you like to have addressed your question before Reynald left?


OOC:

The roll I might make would be a general effects roll (unless it's already a decision that I've made to make them both honest/dishonest traders), but you aren't trying to deceive them at all, just probing for their reactions.

If one of them is cheating or stealing in some way, it would be your intuition vs their persuasion if he tries to lie his way out of it. I would roll 2d20 for each of you and compare results (under your scores would be successes, and if you are both successful, the higher roll wins). But those rolls would be behind-the-scenes 100% to avoid exposure to the OOC results in a social interaction.

OOC: Edited out, see second post.

IC: "Well, let's see about that." I plop down on the ground, open up my bags, and start unconcernedly laying everything I have out. I am not trying to hide anything. "Hmm...I have some dice, which I suppose COULD be used to gamble, but I get the feeling that gambling isn't common in the Vale. And other than that, I have clothes, papers, some spare change from my homeland, and my identification. Not much help here." I stand, put everything back in the bag, and zip it all up. If they wanted to question me on anything in my inventory, I revealed everything except my wallet and cell phone, which I am keeping in my pocket. Everything else they got to see.

OOC: Do you have a copy of my sheet for your game still? I assume you saved one to your own computer rather than GO, but I don't know that for sure. Let me know if you need it again.

"A designated courier...now THAT is an EXcellent idea! That would really work! The other things would work well, too, and they are fine ideas, but by being a designated courier, I can meet everyone myself and get to know the needs of the people on an individual basis!" And it will let me get that much closer to freeing your minds, for your own good. "And then I would get a good idea of all the trades that there are in the Vale, and which ones there AREN'T, and find any other roles that could be filled. AND I would get the experience in how the Vale works and what the people are like that the Council would approve of, and make this plan work. That all ties together, and without needing a startup fund."

"About twenty people, huh? That is a lot of traders. The Vale must be bigger than I thought. I'll figure something out when it comes time to talk to you all about this. Maybe at a festival? Do you have one coming up within the next...oh, I dunno, month or two?" Reynald's uneasy about the idea of predicting weather, huh? Noted.

OOC: When he starts exhibiting a desire to leave, I will address that question, yes. Re-posted here for ease of reference, and edited to fit into the current conversational situation.

IC: I will look askance at them for a moment. "I really think that this plan will work. And it should reveal anyone who is in it for more profit than they should be making. That wouldn't be a problem here, would it? I've heard...rumors."

OOC: so social rolls are all straight Attribute rolls? There are no social 'skills'? And I don't need to see roll results for your NPCs, I just like to know mine. In the case of a roll that needs to be secret, I am fine with not knowing. As a GM myself, I understand it is occasionally necessary. I just thought that I would be rolling a psychology skill or social skill of some kind, and thus possibly learning it, and adding it to my sheet.

If social rolls are straight Attribute tests, then what I actually want for my character is to improve his social attributes. One of the things I have been deliberately improving within myself for the past two years is my socializing abilities, especially leadership. I went from the quiet loner to the man that stands one step behind the nominal leader, and steps forward to seize control when that other person can't or won't. And that is the role I see myself taking now, too, in a dangerous situation like this one. I step forward, gather information, formulate a plan, and execute it. I am taking charge :D (After it is safe again, I would probably step back and focus on myself and my own goals once again, holding a maintaining action on the things I set in motion until they need me again.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Wed 09 Apr 2014.

Two posts.

Addendum: I started reading a gather thread, the Temple of the dying sun. I noticed the players there color coded their words to avoid confusion. i was not aware that is an option, but I like it. So, with that in mind:

OOC
Speech
Thoughts
no style: Actions

Any problem with that? The purple may clash with the blue a bit...Any suggestions? :)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Wed 09 Apr 2014.

OOC: Yep, I have a saved copy of your sheet.

And certain social skills are considered skill checks instead, but those are for speaking and understanding certain languages, essentially making sure there aren't miscommunications. Generally, social checks are all attribute or no check at all sometimes. Still, every Ref is different, and other people may do these checks differently than I do.

Those colors are fine. I have no trouble differentiating between the blue and purple on this site. And the dark brown and the greens can be hard for me to read sometimes.

IC:

The traders look intently at your possessions as you take them out. While they don't have much interest in many of your possessions, including your laptop, they do take an interest in your books, to which the older trader says, "If you can read and write, son, that'll go far with some folk, but most messages are word-of-mouth. But at least you'll be able to read any name on the letter. But such large volumes...did you write these? I haven't seen a book since I was on the outside."

When you speak excitedly about being a courier, the older trader smiles wide. "Well, I'm sold, son." He reaches into his thick jacket and pulls out a single envelope. "It'll take some of the slack off of other travelers, like me. This is from a man named Micah from the lakeside. He has a brother who's a lumberjack east of Tower. Would you mind taking it for me?"

At the end, as Reynald is just walking away, you bring up the rumors you've heard concerning traders. He stops briefly, and looks back at you before shrugging and continuing on to meet his contacts in town. The older trader doesn't seem as bothered. "Well, people will talk, but you just have to trust that the Tower provides, and if someone's still here, they must be doing mostly good, at least. So, about this letter..."

"I did indeed write some of these. They are primarily notes on some of the projects I worked on before I began my journey." I will flip open the notes on my games. OOC NOTE: some of these I wrote, the rest are typecast. "I wrote these ones," I say, as I point out the ones I actually wrote. Maybe he will be interested in the typecast ones, though I can't bring the printing press here since I have no clue how the dang things work.

"Sure, I can do that. I wanted to meet the lumberjacks anyway, I need to know what supplies they need out there. And thanks for the trust so soon." Now if only I weren't using you...OK, don't let any of that guilt show, now, Brock. I look down at the envelope. What does it look like? How full is it? Is it parchment, or what?

Hah! I thought so! Oh, Reynald, its a dangerous game I am playing here, but pushing your buttons is revealing more than I could have hoped. Now let's just hope this doesn't get back to the Master.

"Ah, yes, the letter. You say it is from Micah, and this Micah lives by the lake? And I need to deliver it to...." Reads the name of the recipient aloud if written on it. "over in the lumberjack camp to the East?"
This message was last edited by the player at 07:02, Thu 10 Apr 2014.

You inspect the letter, and it's addressed to one Gregory. It's a small, tri-folded folded piece of paper, and turns out-not an envelope, which it first appeared to be. You see crude handwriting on the unsealed letter.

The older man smiles, and shakes your hand when you accept the envelope. "Thank you, young man. Trust the Tower, for it will provide, friend. But I'm afraid that I must meet some contacts in town now. Safe travels." He nods to you, and starts walking away to one of the square's establishments.

I will tuck the letter away. I bid him goodbye, and move on. Now I have a plan, so I don't need to see the shops after all right now. I will head back to the inn and tell my friend the innkeep what I learned, and ask him if there is a map of the Vale around. I don't want to get lost when I set out, even if it isn't very far.

When you get back to the inn you had stayed at, he points you in the direction of another traveler eating a bowl of some form of porridge.

The traveler produces some parchment from his gear, with some chalk. He offers to make you a map of the Vale if you'd like, and asks what you have to offer in trade for it.

OOC Clarification: I asked if he HAS a map or knows of one within the village that I could see. I don't really have anything to trade to own one. I wouldn't go talk to that guy about that knowing I don't have anything useful to trade.

Whatever happens here, after that I will head out and try to find these lumberjacks. If nothing else I can learn about the people here, and then start taking pay for the courier work and use that pay to get a map. And then the fun of tracking down certain things that need to be disrupted can begin.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:57, Tue 15 Apr 2014.

Second post

I edited the above post at the time of this post. So...yeah. my full response is above now.

OOC: My mistake, and apologies for jumping the gun on that.

The barkeep informs you that he does not possess a map of the Vale, and apologizes; however, he does say that almost everywhere you'd want to go is connected by road out of Tower.

"Well, that is convenient then, isn't it?" I smile. "So, after some digging around I know what I am going to do already, if only for a little while. I'm a designated courier. Speaking of, do you have any messages you need delivered? I can read and write very well, so I will do a good job at this task." I am hoping he does have a message to deliver so I can get paid in food or other supplies. I need to start gathering, and I don't want to waste time hunting if I can help it.

The innkeep says, "Actually, I could use your help."

He barters briefly with the traveler, who produces some parchment and a piece of black chalk for him, which the innkeep gives to you. "I can't write myself, but I'd appreciate it if you could deliver a message to my sister, Selina, in one of the southern Lakeside villages."

He offers to tell you the message for you to either transcribe or memorize for his sister. If you choose to memorize, he'll still let you keep the paper and chalk as part of the payment, and give you a few days' rations in bread.

"I'd rather not try to memorize. I am more organized when I write things down."

I will write the words 'To Selina, in South Lakeside Village', and then copy down his message.

I will also as if this is time sensitive, since I have another message to deliver in a different direction as well.

He relates the message to you. In essence, he's just asking how she's been, her children too, and stresses that the lot of them need to move to Tower instead of staying out in that podunk Lakeside village.

He shakes his head, "No, it isn't time sensitive, and you got your other letter first. Just don't take too long before you head to see my sister."

OOC: I will post tomorrow, day after tomorrow at the latest. I am busy.

No worries.

I take down the message word for word.

Next, I ask him if there are any interesting landmarks or naturally beautiful parts of the Vale I might want to see on my way to my two destinations.

After that, I will shake his hand, promise that I will deliver his letter as soon as I can, and then take my leave. I will take the supplies he offers as payment if he offers them now. If he does not, I will leave anyway.

OOC: I am hoping that such a landmark could be what Pax told me to look for. Or maybe a tall cliff or tree to climb so I can see enough of the Vale at once to look effectively.

Note for myself for later: This place is clearly magical, so maybe I will have better luck with magic here than back home. Maybe I can use telepathy to manipulate someone who usually does the right thing into thinking the Tower commands him to help me. Then he or she can help me free everyone's minds.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:04, Mon 21 Apr 2014.

"Well, there are many beautiful places throughout the Vale, but you have to see the Lake with the light bouncing off of its surface at sunset. It's beautiful, especially from the east. Then, there are some cliffs to the northeast, past the woods that the lumberjacks harvest with a walking path up to it. Some people go there regularly, but you can see the Vale for miles. Some even say you can even see the far end of the Lake from that cliff. I haven't been myself, though."

He does still give you the supplies that he offered you, shaking your head. He thanks you again for helping him, one more time before you leave.

So, where are you headed first?

I thank him for the information. I acknowledge his thanks and then head out. I think I'll head to the lumberjacks, deliver the first letter, then the cliffs, and then the lake, and then deliver the second letter.

OOC: He shakes my head, huh? :P

OOC: Yeah, lol, what else would he shake? Editing after this post.

IC:

You travel out of Tower east in the direction of the lumberjack village with your letter, and you see the flat plains extend into a great forest just before the edge of the valley where the mountain begins.

While you're walking, you make good time and identify several stumps, where trees must have been cleared to build Tower and other settlements in the Vale long ago, all of varying sizes but most very wide at the base.

In the Stump Fields, it begins getting dark, and you see the lights of a village far ahead, you think just before when the trees begin, but you aren't completely sure. Based on how flat these lands are, you think it could still be hours before you reach it at your gait, and it could easily be dark by then.

IC: As I walk, I am on the lookout for a grey or dark stone that would have very jagged edges. From what I remember, it is often around water. I have never seen one, but I have read about it a lot. If I see any like that, I will pick it up and strike it against other stones and observe how it breaks. Flint breaks in a specific way.

Hmm...I think it is time to strike camp for the night. Did I pass any streams, or see any around earlier, that I can make use of? And is there any obvious shelter nearby? If not, I'll look around for a bit to find a good spot.

Regretfully, you don't come across any rocks you believe could be flint and you don't see any sources of water.

However, when you're about ready to make camp and you're starting to really feel thirsty, you notice a hut just off the road that looks promising enough to provide shelter. While it doesn't look rundown, it does seem to be unoccupied. Additionally, it begins to rain very lightly.

OOC: That sucks. I need to be able to make fire.

I will make my way to the hut, and then knock politely and say:

"Hello the house! Is anyone at home in there?"

I will wait, and attempt to gain the attention of residents three times. If no one answers still, I will enter and hope I am not going to get in trouble for this.

You knock three times, and none answer, so you step into the likely looking hut.

Inside you see that there are four rolled bedrolls leaning against a wall, a small hearth with firemaking supplies and a modest pile of dry wood, and a couple of wooden pails inside, which you can easily catch rainwater in.

While the hut appears to be used occasionally, it doesn't look like anyone has lived here steadily in some time.

Hmm...looks like a waystation. This is probably meant for, or is just always used these days, as a traveler rest area. Even so, I'd feel bad using it without asking. But it is raining, too. *Sweatdrop* Think I will risk it.

I will set out the pails to collect rain, start a fire in the hearth with the misc. firemaking supplies you mentioned and the logs, and move a bedroll close enough to the hearth to be warm and cozy. Then I will settle in for the evening. I take awhile getting comfortable enough to sleep, and the guilt for using this place like this eases only slowly and never entirely fades.

OOC: Willing to time skip to the logging camp if you wish, and if nothing of import happens here. I will get a good long drink from the pails, eat from the rations I was paid with, and set out in the morning. I take nothing from the house and put everything back where it was when I found it. I will continue looking for flint as I travel.

You gather water and dine with only your thoughts tonight, then. And as you snuggle up with the fire under its protective heat, you drift off into sleep again, with thoughts of visiting the lumberjack camp and seeing the Vale from the highest cliff. Your imagination runs away with that image for a minute, and you picture yourself on the grand canyon as you drift off to sleep.

On a desert canyon of light, dusty sand, you look out to the other end. There, Pax Anteroch stands in the same outfit as the previous night. He seems to be talking, and gesturing for you to join him, as he sits down on his side of the canyon.

I will myself over to Pax, picturing myself popping out of where I stand now and instead appearing next to him. I picture this so hard that it goes from something I want to something that I simply *know* will happen. It can't not happen. I know that this is possible, for this is my Dreamscape and *I* control it.

If that doesn't work for some reason, I will try to walk or climb to him. I will also be shaken by my inability to perform the simplest of dream manipulations.

You easily will yourself over there, and the dream world tremors slightly as Pax Anteroch grabs his chest. "Goodness...you are certainly talented in the dreamworld. Very impressive."

Then, he puts a gentle hand on your shoulder and looks at you seriously. He looks old, and tired this time. Much more tired than when he visited you in your dream last night. "Tell me, please. Have you found any of the totems?"

"Oh, thank you, Pax. I do this often. Umm...are you all right, Pax?"

"I have not found any yet. I established a cover identity as a courier within the Vale and got two letters to deliver. Now I travel the Vale in search of the Totems, delivering letters and meeting the people as I do. There is a cliff that supposedly oversees most of the Vale on the way which is my first objective. I will go there and try to see them. There is also a large lake on the way which I suspect may contain a Totem, as it is a major landmark and UNDER the water would be a great place for a totem aligned to water. I intend to use my pay as a courier to acquire a map as wellm which can help me find other likely places."

"Pax...what kind of magic works in this world? What kind of training is needed to use it? I have experience with the magic of my homeland, but I don't want to try it in a foreign land without knowing if there could be repercussions, like creatures that feed on magic."

He gives you a faint smile. "Yes, son, thank you for your concern. Sometimes it can just be taxing to touch one so far away, even with the help of my students."

When you mention your theory that a totem may be beneath the surface of the water, he shines a little. "That's brilliant. Yes, this lake would be a very likely place for a totem. A strong connection to water, and a smart place to hide while maintaining the line of sight necessary for the spell..."

But your question of magic snaps him out of his thoughts on the totem, "Magic?" His eyes sparkle at you. "Most people fear the way we touch the world, but I felt something different about you from the start. And your fearless mastery of your dreams is even more assuring. Do you wish to learn the ways that we channel the natural world, or was your question just that--a question?"

"Oh, I definitely want to learn to 'channel the ways of the natural world'. I already have a good grasp of the fundamentals of the Arts as taught in the occult libraries of my home...but we had nothing like wizards controlling the minds of small countries with elemental totems, or wizards contacting someone they had never met before in the Dreamworld with no frame of reference other than the aforementioned spell not affecting him. These things fascinate me. If we have the time tonight, I can tell you of the magic of my homeland." I offer this knowledge freely. I trust Pax.

"I thought the Lake would be a good spot. For that matter, the cliff may be a good spot as well. I don't know. Do you have any idea what the totems will look like physically? And for the one in the lake...how can I get to it if it is too deep to swim down to?" :L

"I will offer you some knowledge first, then. We perform amazing feats, but they all require energy from around us, brought to us to use by the life of the world and of the creatures living within. Changes in nature. Wizards draw magic from rainstorms, active volcanos, lightning striking down, and some even touch magic when the wind blows around them. Each element offers us magic but one, earth, which confines it and can hold it in." He cups his hands, and closes them around one another to explains, "But in this dreamworld, I can sadly only teach with words. In the world, many wizards use rituals to craft a connection to these magical changes, but with practice many develop such a connection with the natural world that it comes as easy as thought."

Concerning the appearance of the totems, he shrugs and looks down. "I'm afraid I don't. Many people craft them into statues, but honestly they may be any shape or size, and possibly hidden by illusion. I've tried scrying for their locations from outside, but none of my spells have penetrated the Vale's protections."

When you address the problem with the lake, he suggests, "Magic can grant many miracles. I can teach you a spell to fill your lung with water as if it were air, if you can master channeling the elements first in the waking world."

"Hmm...interesting. Your ways of magic sound much like my own in some ways, but the things you can do with them far outstrip the Arts of my homeland. I think I shall attempt to learn this when I awake."

"Could you teach me that scrying spell as well if I manage to learn to channel the elements? It may work when used inside the Vale. I have a feeling that the protections around the Vale are meant to keep things out, not dull all magic in general."

After we wrap up this conversational thread, if he has nothing else to say:

"Wish me luck, Pax. I have a feeling the time grows nigh when this Dreamworld will fail. And if it doesn't, I think it is time for me to awaken. I can't afford to rest too long." If he doesn't tell me to wait, I shake his hand firmly and confidently, and then...I will myself awake.

Pax considers, and then nods. "That has been a theory I've had for some time about the Tower's protections. I think that I could teach you one which could serve. It's a spell in the Deep Tongue, the one we use to communicate with the nature and command its magical forces. Repeat after me these five words: Groutek ysagram yolandrandum ghoughassha rageleighen"

Then, he has you repeat them slower then faster and in succession a few times. "Say them with force once you've touched magic. The spell invokes the powers of knowledge, secrets, illusion, and distance. But it needs more direction. You must focus hard on that which you seek to find, and the forces will lead you where you seek to go."

He agrees that time is of the essence while the Tower stands, and shakes you hand with a stronger grip than you expected. "Go, then, child. I'll not keep you. Find the totems, and remember the words. Magic can be dangerous for more than its user if taken lightly."

I memorize those magic words and their purpose and the pitch/etc. as best I can.

Here is a good place to say that I have pretty bad memory, so I have learned to compensate via repetition and writing things down to help remember. I will repeat those words over and over to myself until I wake up, and when I wake I continue repeating them until I think I won't forget them.

I bid Pax good night and will myself awake.

And so you bid Pax good day, and awaken, still mumbling the words as you become aware of the waystation shed around you.

You believe that you still have a grip on the words, but you do find that they're much harder to pronounce with your actual throat, and you start understanding why he called it the Deep Tongue, as most of the noises you produce must generate from the bottom of your throat for you to reproduce them accurately to your memory.

Any other plans, or do you proceed to the Lumberjack Village for now?

I will put the waystation in order, then sit and draw a circle. Pax's Deep Tongue magic is all well and good, but if magic works I doubt there is only one way of doing it. I think something more my speed might work...

I will Ground and Center to put myself in a calm and focused state of mind. Then I will focus and draw up all the magical energy I can sense around me, and draw up the energy within myself, and focus them into my hands. As I do, I will begin to mutter, increasing in volume to a throaty roar by the end of the incantation. "As above, so below. The energies of creation and life heed my call. I bid thee, reveal to me your secrets! So MOTE IT BE!" Then I release the energy into the world as I focus on all I have learned and all I believe about these Totems. I direct the energy to go to the Totems, to resonate with them, and then to return to me and reveal their location.

OOC: The intent here is for the energy to fly out to the totems and locate them, then bounce back to me and show me where they are. Sort of a mystical echolocation. It should give me an "image", much like echolocation would. This ritual requires Grounding and Centering, and requires a vocalization of about that length. The specific words do not matter. Drawing the circle is required for this ritual. So is about 15 minutes of meditation prior to the incantation. I think I covered everything.

You Ground yourself and Center yourself, but the grounding feels slightly different from the times you've done it before. The connection is still there, but it is as if it's with a sibling or cousin of Earth, not Earth itself.

But you complete your ritual, with the words and circle as well. You aren't sure what happened during the ritual, but you feel no results from your attempt.

Hmm...that's interesting. Perhaps those words are necessary after all...but we shall see.

I am going to spend some time, maybe ten minutes, "acquainting" myself with the planet. I just focus on my Grounding and get used to the differences between Earth and this planet. I say hello and think briefly about who I am and what I am doing so the energies of this world can see and understand who I am and what I want.

...I guess it is sort of a prayer or something, but I prefer to use the word communion.

Anyway, what I want is to get a sense of what the world is like, energy-wise. What people use the world's magic for on an average basis. And whether the planet itself or the energy of it has a guiding consciousness. Earth's doesn't really, but the energy itself is divided between positive and negative, and using the wrong "type" is difficult, but it isn't very hard to change the energy yourself by imprinting emotions on it. So, along those lines, what is the energy of this world like?

After I get used to the world and hopefully can feel it a little better, I am going to try something new. I will break the circle, get some water and take a small break first.

After that, I will reform the circle, cleanse any unwanted energies from the circle (a standard part of any ritual, by which I mean I just gather up "clean" energy and put other "unclean" energy that won't be "used" by the spell outside the circle), and focus. I spend about five minutes gathering energy and putting together the words I need to say in my head. Once ready, I say the following in a low chant, again words are a required part of the ritual - must specifically be calling upon each element - but the specific words can change. "Awaken the slumbering stone, within their echoing halls; calm the raging winds, carriers of change; stir the slumbering waters, still and silent; And ignite the raging fires, carrier of knowledge and power. The elements of the world are mine to command. I bid you, aid me in my endeavour! Seek out my misguided energy, and return it to me! Go forth! GO FORTH!" And with that, I break the circle and let fly the magic.

The intent is for the energy of this world, which seems especially focused on the elements, to aid me instead of hinder me as I suspect may have happened the first time. I want the energy to fly out, find the magic traces of the *first* spell I cast, and bring that magic back to me and leave it here with me. I don't want to leave my own magical signature lying around in the Vale for a certain evil wizard to sense.

If the ritual works, I will take my own energy back and bring it back into harmony with my own being, and then set out. No traces, no harm, no foul.

If this ritual too fails, I will conclude that my own style of magic simply does not work here. This is a simple location spell and energy moving, and its my *own* energy, the easiest thing to find there is. I should be able to do this in my sleep.

If the ritual fails, and my own energy is left scattered...wherever it wound up...I will try one last time (Third times the charm?) with Pax's words, repeating them in the specific cadence he showed me as I focus on the Totems. If I am going to leave magical traces around I might as well get results.

You ground yourself more firmly, and focus on the planet more intently. But when you attempt to commune with the planet, it doesn't reply to you, positively or negatively concerning your attempt at magic or the type of magic which it is most aligned with.

You attempt to clean up your energies from the world, but you find that after this ritual, you feel no effects from it. Then again, based on the results of your first attempt, you aren't completely sure that your energies went out to effect change when you tried to find the totems.


Do you still wish to attempt Pax's Deep Tongue spell?

OOC:

Also, were there specific concerns you had? I sensed that there might be from your comment that it's a "simple" spell and that you should be able to perform it "in your sleep".

OOC: Sensing my own energy is somewhat akin to smelling you armpit after 6 hours of heavy labor. You know its there, and if you need to you can verify it. Not much chance of missing that smell unless something is masking it (like deodorant). If no energy actually went out into the world, however, there would be nothing to sense. Its...unusual...for energy to not depart and do what you want it to do. Its more common for it to depart but for your focus to not have been enough so it does nothing out there, or something goes wrong. Kind of like a blood mage cutting his arm and dripping blood down into a receptacle for a spell and missing. He still bleeds. However, a complete failure of focus on my part is possible, which would be the equivalent of (using the same example) missing cutting my arm and not even realizing I did it wrong.

If there is nothing to sense out there, I would get nothing. If there is something blocking it, like other energy gathering up mine and imprisoning it, I might not get anything. If there is some force in this world that makes energy 'disappear' after use, I would get nothing. If I drastically failed in some way and also didn't realize it, I would get nothing. Otherwise, as far as I know it should work. I don't know what other extenuating circumstances there might be. That said, different world, different rules.

To be clear, I am not upset in any way. It is a story. My CHARACTER, however, is concerned. Maybe even a little scared. I should have put that in my sleep stuff in thought-quotes, as that is what it was. As far as he is concerned, that *should* have worked. He *should* be able to do that in his sleep. He is worried there is an energy predator on the loose or his enemy sensed and trapped his energy, and even now is tracking him. He also feels that maybe his own method of magic simply does not work here. Hence, the test with Pax's spell before he moves on.

On one last out of game note...I really hope I don't blow myself up doing all this... *sweatdrop*

IC: I am worried and a bit unnerved, but I focus myself and let those emotions go, keeping my Centering. Then I begin to utter Pax's spell while focusing on the Totems and on the four elements.

OOC: Understood. I think that your conclusions are justified. I asked because I've had players before who jump into custom magic from the beginning become frustrated because they're unable to perform certain spells that in other systems are low-level and easy; however, in this game the spells are organized so that some types are harder than others, and I follow those Bias levels when I roll dice to see if there's a success.

It's another mechanic, which I realize I didn't include my calculations for in my previous posts. Sorry, I had forgotten, but I will continue to now. Remember, though, that they are spoilers for you. If you ever want me to stop, let me know.


IC:

As you contemplate what happened and center, you calm down and realize that you feel no disturbance in your own access to the magical energies in the world and yourself from your grounding.

Your Centering helps you discard your worries, and you feel more attuned with magic from your Grounding, so you give Pax's spell a try, focusing on the four elements and the totems you're seeking. You gather your magic and concentrate, reciting the words slowly after you believe you've focused on your prize appropriately. "Groutek ysagram yolandrandum ghoughassha rageleighen." Your eyes are closed, but you somehow know that you did this right, and then you open your eyes to see a light before you, coming from your center and going out toward the direction you've been travelling. It's a straight, unbroken line.


OOC 2:

Brock's Deep Tongue Locate (Any) Spell Attempt
(yours, because you did it a little differently than Pax advised)

+1@10 Your Bias
+2@1 Your BRA
+?@? Example's SAL
+?@? Example's BRA/2
+? World Bias Level
-?@? New Skill Bias
+(-11) New Skill's SM
+? Grounded

=21% Chance of Success
Roll: 20 Success! You learned a new skill. Which was actually rather surprising...

1@1 Brock's Deep Tongue Locate (Any) Spell M7@5
Requires heavy concentration on the objects the user wishes to sense, and then the user says: "Groutek ysagram yolandrandum ghoughassha rageleighen" in a language called the Deep Tongue. Sound necessary. Ritual's baseline time is 60 seconds.
Effects: Guides the user to the location of the objects focused upon in a line of light. It lasts ten minutes. -11 SM

Also, your Bias for Magic raises from 1@10 to 7@5, huge increase!

OOC: I don't know what the given Bias levels are, but I am fine knowing the numbers. I plan on gming this game when i can get a copy of the book (which proved harder than I thought it would).

I don't mind the spoilers.

The light from my chest is an actual, physical light? Not a sense of where I should go or a line of energy I can "see" by viewing its aura? Instead, it makes actual light, like lights up the darkness light?

This spell awes me. When I get over that, I will gather my things together, put the cabin in order, and head out. I will follow the glowing line.

At first glance, it appears to be actual light coming from your chest to show you the way, but something feels off in your gut about that. Then, you look at it closer. It is a solid beam approximately four inches in diameter, colored yellow-white. But, in this early morning light where it is still a little dark, you notice that it shines nothing on your shirt, where it's coming out nor on the ground along its path.

The glowing line leads you slightly off the road, but in the same general direction.

Then, when you turn to get the waystation in order still, you learn more. There are more lines from your torso going in three distinct directions. If you're going East, one leads directly West, one leads Northwest at a slightly upward angle, and the final one leads South-Southwest.

After approximately ten minutes, when you've finished cleaning up the waystation to prepare it for more travelers, the beams fade and vanish.


OOC:

Basic Intuition Check
(2d20)
Target: 21 or lower

Roll: 11+6=17, Success!

"Wow! This is cool stuff!" I blurt out excitedly, then blush. Sure, I talk to myself, but I don't normally shout! I admonish myself furiously.

I take very careful note of the directions the line go, and plan on dealing with them later. For now, I follow the line in roughly the direction I was already going. I also make a note to myself to tell Pax what I learned, and what I achieved. I grin, and wonder if the old man will be impressed.

Humming jauntily, I set off down the road. I still keep an eye out for any rocky outcroppings or streams that might have flint, but I am happy enough to not put too much effort into it.

You continue down the road, keeping your eyes out for any likely places to find flint. Soon enough, you find a collection of rocks jutting up from the ground, and investigate to find some flint that breaks off easily.

After a couple more minutes (ten total), you see the beams around you dim and finally diminish into nothing.

Just then, as well, you see a cart approaching down the road coming from the east, where you've been walking toward so far.

Oh good, some flint. I happen to know this stuff can be made into a variety of tools and be used for firemaking too. I will try to find and take five good sized nodules.

When I see the cart, I will approach it and hail the cart cheerily.

He stops the donkey pulling his cart when you hail him, and he waves back to you. He tosses the ropes to guide the donkey over one of the rails connected to its hitch, then walks over to you, "Hail, stranger. News from Tower?"

His cart has a few tied sacks, and a barrel, but you see that it mostly holds chopped lumber.

"Ah, nothing much is going on in Tower except for the new seat being occupied. A Tower Pilgrim claimed the empty seat! As for me, well, I just arrived here. I have decided that I shall be a professional courier! I'm enroute now already. Say, you wouldn't happen to need a message delivered, would you?" I pause. "Hah, look at me, blathering on without even introducing myself. I'm Brock!" I offer him my hand.

He gives you his hand, and shakes yours. "Jerold, Brock. Afraid I've got no messages in the direction you're going, and my family's in Tower, so I can tell them news myself. Glad the Tower showed you your path, though. Often enough, it takes a few tries to get it just right, but when you know, you know." He smiles a grin full of healthy, white teeth. "Do you have any needs for trade? My wares are loaded with lumber for now, but I have some food and dreamthorn from the woods, if you're interested."

OOC: Really busy, but can move this along a bit. Sorry.

"I don't have much to trade with, really. I need to run a few messages, get more supplies. But uhm...what is dreamthorn?"

OOC: No problems at all. RLTP, good luck on all of your endeavors. You and Glantri know better than most that I don't post exactly consistently on here.

IC:

"Ah, dreamthorn. Not surprised you haven't heard about it yet. Only grows near Lumber. The locals there have started mixing a thorn they've found in the woods with water and some other ingredients to make a draught to help calm the nerves and give rest to those who need it. This is only my second pass through Lumber that they've traded some with me, to share with the rest of the Vale."

He shakes his head, "But I don't want to rip you off, son. Their prices won't be as steep as mine, and it seems you're headed that way."

"Ah, I see. Well, unfortunately, all I have to trade are skills. I am unwilling to part with my other possessions. Papers, some parts I want to keep, change from my homeland that won't be worth anything here, my bag that I want to keep. Nothing of any interest. That said, if I run into you again later when I have things to trade, I'd be glad to try out this dreamthorn." I smile.

OOC: If he has nothing else to talk about, we can wrap this up and resume traveling with polite farewells.

OOC: I was thinking the same thing.

IC:

You and he say your farewells, and he moves on toward Tower while you go toward Lumber. The woods ahead grow bigger, especially a single great tree that you see in the distance, deep into the forest ahead. Then, you begin to see the town as well. While you see some men around, you notice that the population when you enter the city mostly comprises of women and children.

You see that the buildings here, like in Tower, are made of wood and a large forest lies within sight, only 300 yards away. While your spell isn't currently active, you believe that the totem that your spell found before is most likely in the forest somewhere, due to the forest's sheer size on this side of the Vale.

I note that, and then look around for the recipient of my letter. I will hail someone and ask them where I can find Gregory.

You explore the small lumberjack community. The first person you ask, a woman in a hurry transporting a basket of berries, directs you to a hut on the far side of the village. "He lives in the cabin with the root garden by it. He should be back soon, maybe now. The men get back at weird times, but he'll be there at least before nightfall." Then, she rushes on into a nearby house.

You make the quick walk across the simple community, past a modest well and the Woodchuck Tavern. But eventually you arrive at a collection of wooden cabins, with a few gardens but only one has a small garden that looks like carrots.

You see a group of ten men heading back into the village. Two are dragging a small cart with short, thick logs while the rest walk with axes slung over their shoulders. Every man is large, with broad shoulders and sweat still beading off of their faces, but you see one say something, while the rest laugh.

I yell my thanks at the woman as she rushes away. When I see the group of men, I figure that my lumberjack I need to find would be one of them. I approach the group and say "Hail, friends! I am looking for Gregory? I have a letter from Tower!"

OOC: Roughly what time of day is it in game at this moment?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:06, Wed 02 July 2014.

The one who told a joke raises his hand when you hail them. "Ye, I'm Gregory! From Tower?" He seems confused for half a second, but then grins wide. "It's about time we've gotten a courier in the Vale." He greedily takes it and opens it to read its contents, with the rest asking him what it says, "More lumber, it says, but it's not from Tower."

"From across the Vale, the abandoned mines need more wood to support new tunnels. So, they're mining again..." He seems concerned, but claps you on the arm. "Thank you, son. Stay with me tonight, and I'll give you food for the road and maybe some good boots to replace those shoddy shoes for the walk you've put them through." He smiles wide, and invites you to join him inside a nearby cabin.

"Not from Tower? I must have misunderstood the man that sent me. Ah well, at least it means more work for you. Though...may I ask why you look concerned by that?"

"That would be lovely, thank you for the invitation." I smile widely at his generous offer.

Brock,

"No, it's from the mines... Don't worry," he offers you a reassuring
smile. "I'm sure that the Council knows what they're doing, allowing
the mines to be re-opened. And more lumber to Pyck can only mean
that." He gives you a generous helping of food as a meal and extra for
anywhere else you need to travel and presents some leather-made boots
that fit a little big on you.

You guess from your time here that you have about six more hours of
daylight until the sun is all the way down past the mountains. He and
the other lumberjacks start the gruelling task of breaking down the
wood into manageable lengths and leave you to your own devices.

I thank him heartily for his generosity. I will spend a few minutes chatting with him over the meal, if he stays.

Assuming I can get a minute to chat with him: "Hmm, what led to the mines being closed in the first place? I'm new to the Vale, and I don't really know anything yet about the forest or the mines or the lands around here in general yet. That's part of why I decided to run messages - I get to see all the best places in the Vale!"

Hmmm...how best to press him for information about where the Totem might be in the forest...

He does stick around to talk with you. He laughs, "Then i wouldnt suggest learning too much about it until you have to. Even the Vale has politics. Some believe that the mines were just going to encourage our people to stray to the Outside ways, with iron and gold and the rest, while others believe the metal is all a gift from the Tower, meant to make life easier. It boils donw to old and young shouting THE TOWER SHALL PROVIDE at each other in a far too crowded hall..."

He seems jovial through the conversation, but something about his face and shoulders tell you hes concerned as well.

"Oy...sounds really tense. I hate being around arguments, I always feel pressured to resolve it somehow." I look a bit sad at that. "Ah well, si sourah sourah. What will be, will be."

"Are matters here in the lumberjack community running smoothly? This Vale is so peaceful, it is amazing!"

"Yes, things are simpler here, more like the Vale was meant to be. Mostly, we keep from the complicated nature of Tower, but sometimes," he holds up the message you delivered, "we're still touched by it all."

He sighs, but smiles. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid my break is finished. There's wood to still be chopped. Tomorrow, we'll get everyone together and see if anyone has messages to deliver."

"I see. I suppose politics exists everywhere. Hey, do you need any help with the wood? I'm no trained lumberjack, but I am always willing to learn."

"Help is always welcome, but you don't need to join us. It's a long walk from Tower, long enough to earn yourself some rest. Feel free to stay here and sleep or explore the country here. There's a beautiful creek just inside the forest, and you don't have to be afraid of wolves so close to Lumber during daylight hours."

OOC: Nice, very nice lead in to the next thing I planned on doing once I leave :D

"Alright, if you are sure. I think i will check that creek out. May I leave some of my things here?"

"Of course!" He bellows before leaving. Outside, he directs you to a path that they regularly take to find decent trees. The creek is close and you'll start to hear it along that path.

You follow the trail, and you hear the full sounds of nature around you. The wind whistles between trees. Leaves sway in the branches, and you're filled with a simple peace that solitude and the nature around you supply. You also hear critters in the woods, but every squirrel or rabbit you see hops or scurries into the brush when you get too close to them along the trail.

And after less than half an hour of walking, you start to hear a creek as well.

OOC: Thank you. Sometimes, I worry that I mess up pacing. This time, it felt like you were waiting to move things forward.

I will keep an eye on the wildlife as I go. There are squirrels and rabbits. Are there any unusual animals, non-earthlike animals or anything? This just occurred to me.

When I reach the creek, I will look around and examine the area. Is there anything unusual or out of the ordinary at the creek? Anything noteworthy?

If I find nothing of note, then upon reaching the creek, I will repeat Pax's ritual to locate the Totems once more.

OOC: I was indeed, but no worries.

You see squirrels and rabbits frequently, as well as a mouse once in a while; however, they become less common the further into the woods you get. They all seem like typical animals you would find on Earth, just dirtier than your pet store brand.

The creek is very small, but running. A quick hop across or a careful walk on a few stones will get you across without getting wet. Nothing about it seems special, but it is peaceful. You even see a collection of leaves that looks awful perfect for a nap.

Then, you cast your spell again using the Deep Tongue words that Pax taught you. Instantly, as you look around, you see the familiar glow of four lines. Three point towards different directions generally back toward Lumber and the rest of the Vale. One, however, points further into the forest, at a slight angle up from you.

Interesting...all the things I see in this world except for magic are like Earth. The spirit realms are usually noticeably different...

I like this creek, and I may come back here later. But for now, I will follow the line deeper into the forest.

Do I have any sense of distance to the target with this spell? If not, I will triangulate. I assume you know what that is, but I also don't want to wait extra time for a response, so I explain specifically below.

I go to the right of the magical line a few dozen paces and watch how far it moves, and then do the same going to the left, and use the angles to determine approximate distance. If it doesn't appear to move at all, then I know it is some distance away.

OOC: Yes, I followed your thought process on triangulating with the line.

You can't feel a proximity. It seems like it only works as a vector; however, you stay still and then steadily move laterally to observe the light moving slightly to accommodate your new position as you go. The light does move, but only a little bit as you walk your twelve paces back and forth. While it probably isn't miles away, you still figure that it could be up to an hour's walk ahead of you.

An hour's walk, just about? All right then. I will head there now unless I think night will fall before I get back to Lumberville if I do that.

You'll be pushing it, but you believe you'll have light left on your return.

When you push on further into the woods the path eventually vanishes and you see where the lumberjacks have been harvesting the trees in the forest. Still, even with all the stumps you see, the forest thrives.

As you go, you keep having to repeat your spell and activate the guiding beam, which soon you see starts pointing at a slightly higher angle. Soon, as you emerge from a tree line, you see why. You emerge to a clearing with a large hill on it. Near the top, you see a great tree, black as coal with large, orange and red and green leaves all gracing its branches. Near the bottom, you see that a ring of loose bushes surrounds the tree up top. Your spell points directly at the base of the tree.

This message was deleted by the player at 04:04, Mon 21 July 2014.

I see. This tree is my suspect. Remembering Pax's words of caution about protections around the totems, I will approach cautiously, halting roughly 6 feet away. Then, i ground, Center, and reach my perceptions out. I am attempting to see the aura of the tree, verify if it is a totem. I also am trying to feel the...the feel or 'taste' or 'smell' of the energy around me. I am sensing the energy and trying to feel what kind of energy it is, and when I do that I tend to get feelings of color or taste or smell that correspond. As in, this is like x and y and z. Its all very subjective. Like blue is very serene, green is wild and growing. Charred meat smell is violent and unnatural, rainy day smell is poignant and feels like home. That kind of thing. It could manifest as any or all of my other senses, because that is how our minds process things.

You walk up the hill, but the closer you get to the tree, the larger the bushes around it seem to grow, until they block your path entirely. Up close, you can tell that they are thick with twisting black thorns.

You ground yourself and concentrate on sensing the tree's aura still, and find that you can feel something from the tree. While you see the general surrounding, which shows you a healthy tree, underneath you feel something special. It's green and blue and swirling with other colors too, from the ground up and into the tree. From there, you think it vanishes somewhere near the base, behind the bushes.

The bushes themselves have a strong, green aura.

Also, you feel like for some reason it's hard to sense the aura, and you lose focus of it very quickly. It's hard to hold onto, like it's hard to keep your thoughts flowing the way you normally do to do it.

I want to examine the thorns more closely. Do they glisten? Are they very sharp compared to normal thorns?

Interesting...so the source comes from below... After I strain to hold onto the sense of the aura... Warded. Strong, too. This could require some finesse, and more time than I have right now. Especially as I am expected back in the village.

After I finish observing, I will head back to town, pass the night, and find a place to sleep. When I go to sleep, I will mentally try to call to Pax in the hopes he will reach my dreams once again. If I become conscious in my dreams and he is not there, I will attempt to reach HIS dreams. Not sure how to describe that, so I'll think on it and see if it is even needed.

The thorns seem like normal bush thorns. While some might be sharp enough to prick the skin, they aren't long enough to cause any real damage. They do glisten.

After you return to the village, it's late and your host is already asleep. You fall asleep too, and try to hold onto your dream to make it lucid, which you succeed in doing as you fall asleep.

This time, Pax is not present.

The thorns glisten...Has it rained recently? If not... Oh great. Is that poison?

No Pax...darn. All right, time to find him.

I will Ground and then Center. Then I picture him as I remember him, and repeat his name within my mind. I meditate and focus myself on him. When I have built up a great deal of focus and energy, I will say his name aloud three times, and will the energy to show me where he is. I want it to work similarly to the location spell Pax taught me, showing me where Pax is as he slumbers.

I envision the dream world as being a world of its own, and the dreams of the people within the world are their own little sections. I want to find Pax's section, and then travel there and contact HIM.

OOC: I really hope this works. It would be so epic if I contacted him; I bet he'd be impressed.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Tue 29 July 2014.

You fail to ground or center while in your dream this time; however, you complete your ritual to find Pax and soon, while you aren't entirely certain if you're dreaming or not, you find yourself in another dream.

There, you hear a scream of anger down a long tunnel that you now find yourself in. As you follow the noise, you see that it leads to an enormous, earthen wall with runes etched deep into its surface.

There, you see a man with black, windblown hair beating his fists against it. His hands are bleeding from the effort, and the wall doesn't move.

I do read Norse runes. Are these runes Norse? And should that be a skill on my sheet?

Ow. Looks painful. Is that what Pax really looks like? I decide to read his aura, and compare what I find to my memory of Pax before I say anything. What is the color(s)? What kind of person do I sense that he is? Is it a strong aura? That is, spiritually strong, like a practitioner's would be?

They aren't Norse runes that you can read. They seem to shift between different incomprehensible languages.

Everything feels distorted in the dream, but you see a purple aura around him that arcs like lightning from him, and sizzles with power. Then, he stops beating on the wall suddenly and the aura changes to red. He turns abruptly, and sees you. This man seems completely different from the Pax that you know, but still very powerful. His eyes are brown and red, and he approaches you with slow steps that seem to bring him closer to you than he rightly should be able to travel at a walking pace.

With only a few steps, he's almost on you, and his face starts contorting as he comes.


OOC: Amateur, Professional, or Expert at Norse Runes?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Fri 08 Aug 2014.

Contorting in what manner? Contorting like a rictus of pain and madness? Contorting in fury? Grief? If he appears to be insane to me, I will try to will myself to disappear from this dream and back to my own dreamscape. If he seems angry or it is some other contortion, or if I find myself trapped, I ready myself for trouble and then say: "Hail! I appear to have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque or something! Where are we, friend?"

OOC: I would say 1@3 or 1@4. Fairly low skill since there is almost no call for it and it was years ago that I last needed it. I have to stare at them and slowly puzzle out their meaning. Reminds me of when I was learning French in high school.

Sorry, contorting was a poor choice for words. More like shifting its appearance as he approached. Like it was melting and reshaping with impossible movements of parts of his face. You hear bones crunching in it as well.

Would you still like to do either of the things you were considering?

I will speak to him, and append to my statement: "Unless, of course, *you* are Pax."

Slowly, the young man's face grows older and a beard forms around his jaw and slowly down his chin. His hair grows fair, and robes cover him.

He holds a hand to his head, and then closes his eyes. The cave shifts then to become an ornate hall bordering on ostentatious. His face has fully transformed to Pax, and he says, "I apologize, son. I'm afraid I must have called you during a rather unpleasant dream." He takes a seat at a table that could seat fifty, and pulls out the chair next to his. "Come, sit."

I will accept the seat, and turn to face him directly.

"Actually, sir, I came in search of you. I walk the Dreamworlds often." I smile politely and with a little warmth.

I wonder if Pax is something other than what he pretends to be....Perhaps a rival wizard seeking to abuse my good nature to secure power over the Master of the Vale? Am I involved all unwitting in a dominance struggle of wizards? Or is he what he seems to be? Why does he mask his features so? Does he fear that I will be the traitor, or be captured and reveal his complicity? Or is it somewhat else? Hmm...

My face grows grave. "I believe I have located the first totem. It is a tree surrounded by thorns that glisten. I believe they are poisoned. I could feel the rushing of energy through the tree. I must admit I am at a loss for how to proceed. Should I destroy the whole tree? I doubt fire would work, and I can't get close with an axe. The power is too strong to try to disrupt the flow of magic, it would likely explode. Plus, that would be foolish - surely it has additional defenses I do not see."

I will form the image of the tree and bushes and thorns in my mind and attempt to project that image onto the table in front of me, showing Pax what I remember. I focus on the blackness of the tree, the fiery colors of the leaves, and the glistening of the thornbushes especially, sure to include those details.

"It's just...strange that my wards didn't even warn me of your approach. They protect me from harmful magic while I sleep." Pax seems seriously concerned, and even suspicious. He strokes his beard slowly as you tell him about the totem you believe you found. "You could feel the energy, you say? I fear that perhaps the tree surely has hidden defenses that must have already been working on you, for you to feel strangely on approach."

You shape the image in your mind and project it for him. It feels more difficult to do it here for some reason, but you manage to make it appear. Pax widens his eyes. "I'm impressed that a novice would have such mastery of his mind's powers, Brock. Tell me more about where you learned these gifts. To touch dreams and sense the energy of others. I have mastered spells to perform these same things, sure, but you do them with such ease..."

His eyes narrow slightly, and his jaw sets.

I eye him as he says that he wards himself. "I don't especially think that walking the world of dreams is an art of magic. I've been able to walk right through any ward I've ever come across in dreams. My mother, who taught me the things I know, tells me that I am gifted at it. It is a power of the mind more than of energy and spellcraft."

I look concerned about the defenses of the tree. "How might I circumvent these wards and destroy it? Can it be done in a way that he will not realize it has been destroyed for a while? This practice of unweaving world altering spells is new and strange to me."

I let out a breath after the effort to make the image. "Wooh! That was much harder than usual. Maybe your wards are effective after all." I grin apologetically.

When I see his jaw tighten... Well THAT'S a switch. Now HE is suspicious of ME. Ironic. I wonder...can I trust him fully? I want him to trust me, and if he can enter minds I suppose I could let him see my true intentions...but what if he uses the opportunity to alter my mind and seize power over me? I just don't know...

OOC: As for the last thing he says, I answered that at the top.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:32, Sat 16 Aug 2014.

"I've just never seen magic like yours before. It's as if my own doesn't recognize it. Perhaps it's because it is related more to the self than to the arcane realms."

Concerning the tree, he replies, "There are spells I could teach you to guard yourself against unfriendly magic generally, but they would be stronger if we knew more about the attacks. And there are others to silence your magic, but it would depend on the wards attached to the tree. I would suggest protecting yourself and attacking the tree with a natural attack opposing it. If it is a tree, it will be vulnerable to flames."

"I could teach you these spells and more about how we perform them. I could teach you a deeper understanding of touching the arcane realms through the changes in the elements. It would help you defeat this tree, but I must ask something of you as well. The magic you do is extremely curious to me. Walking in dreams so easily and undetected. When I've visited you, I have brought myself to you after preparation and ritual. Teach me how you do it, and I will teach you a ward to protect yourself from magic or to hide your magic from tracing spells."

I nod at his advice regarding the tree, thinking it through but saying nothing.

"That sounds a bargain to me. I know not how easy learning the dreamwalking arts will be for you, but I will teach you whatever I can."

"The first lesson in striding outside your body is in KNOWING yourself. You must know how to ground and center. This will teach you where you are and where the world is in relation to you and your destination, enabling you to more easily return. As a wizard, I trust you already know how to meditate?"

His eyes lock on yours and he's focusing on every word you say with a small level of scrutiny.

"Of course. Many of my spells require deep concentration to truly connect to the elements and the energies beyond. It will help you learn the spells I have to teach you. It sounds similar to touching the arcane realm, but with more familiarity with the world around you. Go on."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Tue 19 Aug 2014.

"You are correct. This has nothing to do with energies beyond yourself. As will become apparent momentarily."

"Good. Yes, the first step is to meditate. While you meditate, envision your self, your being, as a construct of energy contained within a body. Essentially, envision your soul. View yourself and all your strengths, your weaknesses, faults and virtues. When you see yourself for who you are, then you are ready. Picture yourself simply stepping out of your body. Your perceptions go with your soul. If you do this while awake, you should feel yourself floating outside of your body, and be able to see your body sitting there meditating. If you are already dreaming, it is different. When you are successful, it is time to draw the connection. To find your way home, you need to always know where your body is. But remembering that is difficult, so most people leave a small part of themselves behind, as a beacon. Picture a silver or gold cord of energy connecting your soul to your body. As you do this, push some of your personal energy into this picture, creating the actual bond and leaving part of you behind." I pause. "That's really all there is to the art itself, but all these things become easier to aspire to with proper preliminary training in centering, grounding, cleansing of the chakras, and more. Don't feel bad if it comes hard to you. I didn't manage it for about a month.

He listens intently, and nods when you finish. "I have never heard of magic like this before, but I must try it. As I promised, I will teach you two spells. First, let me reiterate how you draw power to fuel your magic."

"You must connect to the magic realms beyond our own. Your magic comes from within you, but this magic comes from beyond. To connect to the magical realm, you must follow three steps. First, recognize natural change around you. Second, you much tap into that change by focusing on it with at least one of your senses. Third, you must maintain your concentration on it to power your magic. Any change can work, from the wind blowing to a river running to something as powerful as a volcano exploding. The greater and longer-lasting the change, the more powerful spells you will be able to cast."

"Once you've tapped into the powers beyond our world, you must recite the spell before losing touch with the change. If you're touching the blowing wind and it ceases before the end of your spell, the spell will dissipate and be ineffective."

"I will teach you two spells in the tongue you know. The first is a ward to protect yourself against harmful magic. Recite a prayer to invoke the powers beyond while focusing on the change you've identified."

Powers beyond the Earthly Circle,
Surround me and become my shield.
Protect me from the powers beyond,
seeking to harm my mortal flesh.
Guard me!

"You will see a manifestation of the element's spirit engross you and fade away, only to reveal itself again when a magical attack tries to penetrate it. To hide your magic from others who might try to trace it, recite this instead."

Powers beyond the Earthly Circle,
Shroud me and become my veil.
Protect me from unseen eyes,
prying for my hidden truth.
Hide me!

Both spells increase in volume, climaxing in the last two words, which Pax booms at you.

"These are beginning spells that many new wizards learn. Concerning changes in nature, focus only on those that don't involve the earth. While an avalanche could be touched, rocks and dirt are hard to penetrate with magic. I can teach you a spell another time that is used to store magic to be used later into stones, but it must wait. I am being woken now, and regretfully must go. Good luck, Brock."

He begins to shimmer and disappear in front of you, and you feel the dreamworld around you shake. The walls and floors begin to shift and start melting away.

I listen intently and commit his spells to memory. I am starting to trust Pax - I think he is being straight with me.

"My thanks, Pax. Until we meet again!"

As the dreamscape begins to shudder and cease to exist, I focus my mind and shift myself away from here and into my own dreams. After that I let myself relax and sleep restfully.

You don't remember any of your dreams that night after shifting back to your own, but you wake up decently-rested to your host letting out a loud snore from his bed. It's early and the first, dull rays of light are starting to shine through the cracks around the door.

I will rise and go for a walk. It would seem odd if I left before my host woke up, and I need to maintain the appearance of being a normal denizen of the area.

After time passes and he awakes, I will inquire after breakfast and whether he requires any repayment for what he has done for me. I will also thank him with a smile. Additionally, I will see if he has a fire making kit (flint, steel, tinderbox) he would be willing to trade, and offer labor in exchange. "After all, being a courier means I have to travel a lot, and I am still short on traveling kit."

After accounts are settled (And hopefully I have something in my belly and a way to light fires) I will set out from the village along the road, appearing to continue my journey. Once completely out of sight, I will head into the woods and go to the totem.

Your host supplies you with breakfast for the road, and he gives you some replacement rations for your trip out to see him. "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything like that. Ask some of the travelling merchants in town; maybe they'll have something. And you should check in with others in town to see if people have mail to deliver; they're good folk, and will pay you for your services."

"Hmm...that sounds a good plan. You have been very helpful - Thank you" I tell him truthfully. Then I take my leave of him, with his much welcome gift of supplies. I will spend some time asking around town for anyone that needs messages delivered, approaching the various villagers.

In the village, you find four people who have messages for relatives in Tower, but no one else has anything for you. Among them is a merchant with odds and ends, where you notice he does own flint and a piece of steel with a tinderbox. "Delivering the letter alone is enough for the fire kit, but do you have anything else you're willing to trade aside from delivering the letter? I have some fire oil as well, but I'm running low and couldn't give it up without a decent trade."

OOC: I am missing my pin drive with my sheet. Will reply when I find it.

That's no problem. Let me know if I need to send you anything.

OOC: I have completely lost my character sheet. Do you have a copy?

Check your Private Messages. I sent you your character sheet.

"Hmm...I have a couple of books from my homeland. Not for scholars, though; these are for noblemen and well-lettered men to sit and read by the fire. They are stories. Interested in seeing them?"

"The market is slim for books, but not completely absent here in the Vale. Why don't you show me this book you speak of?"

Regardless of the book you show him, he says, "I suppose that could be sufficient to sweeten the deal. What do you say, then? Deliver a letter for me, the book, and I'll give you my tinderbox, flint, a bit of steel, and two jars of fire oil."

He smiles at you with his proposition.

"Hmm. That seems a fair trade, I think, but you didn't tell me where the letter is going. Where to?" I say with a smile.

If it seems like a place I will be heading to on my travels, then I will accept. I will give him my copy of Wizard At Large - it is heavier, and I won't be turning it back into the library anyway.

If the trade goes through, I will take my new supplies gratefully, stow the letter with the others and take out some paper and jot down the destinations of each letter in my possession and the person that it is from. After that, I will head out.

The letter is to a larger settlement on the southern part of the lake at the western end of the vale. It's called Wendelton.

Where are you headed out to? Back to the woods, or are you leaving town?

The lake? I was headed there anyway. That works then. I complete the trade and jot down my destinations.

I will leave town and walk down the road until I am out of sight, heading the direction I was headed when I first entered town. After I am out of sight I slip into the woods, and creep through to where I saw the tree-Totem. Once there, it is time to disable this Totem for good.

If I spot anyone, I will hide if it seems very likely that I can, and if hiding would be difficult I instead act natural like I am on a hike to the creek I visited before. I will say I realized I dropped something important there, and detoured to get to it.

You see one older man walking alone in the woods, admiring nature, and a couple of young teens giggling as they scurry through, but when you cross the creek, which once more seems completely pleasant. You feel like, after crossing it, if you turned your head back toward it you could get lose in the pleasantness here all day, probably.

But you keep moving on with your mission, pushing through the woods and see the hill with the massive tree at its summit. A ring of bushes surrounds it still, hiding its base from your eyes.

Hmm...I think that the best way to do this is to burn the tree down, but I don't want to light up the whole forest. I will need to make a firebreak. How big did you say this tree is? And is there anywhere around here that has a large number of small stones I could use for that purpose?

The tree is on a grassy hill in the center of a clearing, but you do grab several small, wet stones to protect the rest of the woods in the process.

The tree still stands, surrounded by bushes with glistening thorns.

All righty, I set about making a firebreak with wet stones and then I am going to burn this sucker down.

OOC: I am back in college now; its the second week of the quarter. My time may be spotty.

OOC: That's perfectly fine. RLTP.

IC:

You make your circle of wet stones as a firebreak. It's easy work, but takes a large portion of your afternoon to carry the rocks and make it thick enough to stop what could become a sizeable fire.

But that done, you use your firestarting kit to light some decent kindling and approach. You pass the circle you made with the water break and aim to approach the loosest section of bushes that surround and guard the tree. But as you get closer, you find that the bushes shift and move, filling in that space closest to you thickly. One vine covered in thorns peeks out of the bushes, pointing in your direction.

Clarification please: As in it (the thorn vine) moves in a clearly unnatural way to point at me?

The thorn vine does seem to be doing something you wouldn't expect a normal thorn vine to do. It is moving by some means that you can't see, and is peeking out pointing at you at the moment, seeming to stop there.

I wave cheerily at the vine, smile real wide, tense the muscles in my body to dodge rapidly to the side if necessary, and then (Keeping ready for trouble) I set the fire.

After the fire has started even a little bit, I will back up, watching for thorns being shot at me or vines whipping at me.

If I am attacked before the fire is set, I back up all the way out of range and take cover, and think it through.

You focus hard on the vine. Just as you're about to set the fire, it lunges and you dive to the side. Your dive is sloppy, but you sustain your fire and manage to push the fire you have toward the bush.

The bush doesn't catch initially, but soon it starts catching, and you have a small fire on your hands with black smoke at the base of the tree.

You hear a screech in the bushes, and then the vines start lashing out at you again. You hear movement toward the ground behind you, while you face the vines to dodge the assault.

"Meep Meep!" I scream drunkenly, and duck to the side and away from both the bush and the mystery noise, and sprint into the forest, keeping an eye on the vines as I do. I will check over my shoulder behind me once I get to where I think I am out of range of the vines.

When you dive to the side and turn to flee to the forest, you spot that some vines are sprouting rapidly from the ground behind you as well as the bushes in front. They twist up, and you prance around them as you head for the thick of the forest. You're almost through, you feel, until one catches on your bare ankle.

You feel its barbs bite into your skin, and your foot starts to tingle.

I run until I am out of range of all of the vines. Then I dive to the ground and roll to behind a tree or other obstruction between me and the Totem tree. Once there I yank my pant leg up and my sock down, and bring the wounded area close to my face and examine it. If it is starting to swell or change color already, I know I am in trouble. How does it look?

The vines leap in and our of the ground like a school of dolphins pursuing you down the hill, and your captured leg scrapes on the thick thorns from the vines, now glistening with blood as well.

You feel light-headed but fear is your friend and keeps you focused on your goal-escape. You feel them still coming for you, and the earth shift, but your legs feel like rubber soon, and then your head does as well. It gets harder to coordinate the actions of lifting your feet off the ground and catching yourself with the other foot, and you collapse as you approach the tree line. Then, dizziness sets in and you feel like you're going to vomit before a tickling sensation follows you up your legs, around your waist, and up your back. Then, it slips around your throat and you feel a subtle pressure.

Soon, you feel nothing at all.

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

And thus ends Brock Begins.

Let me figure out a next world for you, as I hadn't anticipated the dice to fall quite like that.

Ah, it was the dice not liking me, eh? Drat. Although I had not realized that my leg was still held by the vines, that would have changed my action. I thought it nicked me while I was running. Granted, verser me may not have known that either XD

Since I am unlikely to return to this world, can I just ask...was Pax really on the level? I want him to be but that doesn't mean he was.

Oh, and take your time. I check here once daily, sometimes every other day, at least for now.

As for worlds, I can give you some ideas. I rather enjoy urban fantasy, military fantasy, and classic fantasy. I also like epic fantasy if it doesn't drag on forever getting nowhere. I like a good sci-fi sometimes too, like Starship Troopers. My favorite authors are Jim Butcher (Dresden! Codex Alera! OMG!), Mercedes Lackey (Valdemar, not the rest of her works as I haven't read them), and Piers Anthony (Most of the time). Lately, I also quite enjoy Rachel Caine and Myke Cole's new Shadow Ops series. I wouldn't mind versing into the setting Glantri is in right now; I took a peek in there and it is the Codex Alera! OMG! Roman legion meets Pokemon! Did you know Jim wrote that series on a dare?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Thu 23 Oct 2014.

Noted on all of the interests. Yes, I know the story of how Jim Butcher began Codex Alera. I read about it in an intro to Furies of Calderon, I think.

But easy on dishing out the world that Glantri's in. Often, players read one another's threads on the site, and this could contain spoilers. Still, I hope you do keep reading his thread, because I can see him being in the world for a bit longer and there should be more characters you might recognize.

By the way, we have your new thread up now. Brock Buoyed!

Alrighty then. Oh, if Brock Buoyed is that pirate world, the Mary something, that comes in two types sci-fi and historical, I do already know about that world. I thought I'd let you know, in case you are like MJ and prefer putting me in worlds I can't ID.

I am really good at roleplaying what I would do based on my character's mindset though, and since my character hasn't heard of Multiverser he hasn't heard of that world either, so it should not be an issue.