With a stack of computer sci textbooks under one arm, and a plate full of ham sandwhiches in the other you descend the stairs to the common room where a few of your friends are about to watch Lord of the Rings again.

They are all laying about the room, napping on beaten up couches in the manner of male college students, and you join them by collapsing into "your" couch.

Someone mumbles something about starting the movie.  However the remote is sitting on the coffe table along with a scale model of the Enterprise showing battle damage, and five half-filled and several day old coffe mugs.  And with your heavy school load, plus work, so you don't want to get up.

Luckily, you are prepared.  You reach under your couch for the hunting arrow you keep stashed there in case some of the local frat boys come visiting.  Nothing like waving an arrow suited for knocking down a buck in someone's face to make them decide to toilet paper another dorm.   And at least in your area, its not considered a weapon like doing the same with a knife so you don't get suspended for such.  Granted you do have more serious weapons up in your room, but what the college doesn't know, won't hurt them right?

So you scoop out the arrow, and gently reach it out, and try to use it to depress the Start button.  With much straining, and elbow work (in fact it would be easier to just get up), you try and fail. Another try, and you punch the razor-sharp arrow into the controller...

A shock, a white light, an arc that reaches the tv that is on showing snow, and suddenly you're...

===============================================================================

...you're laying on your back, arrow in hand, your eyes closed, and feeling a tingling sensation going away.

Playtester

I open my eyes as I feel the tingling slowly dissipate.  I feel the arrow in my hand and let go of it.  The other guys must've gotten bored and decided to pull a little prank on me... okay, let's see what they did.

I prop myself up with my elbows and look around, viewing the surroundings.

You hear a loud omnipotent voice with a female tone say, "welcome to the Shards of a Broken Earth." then there is just silence, broken only by birdcall.
You look about you and find that you are at a crossroads.  There is a signpost which reads:
North PandaLewis Fields
South Tanglewoods Forest
East  Dire Mountains
West  village of Stranafel
You can see to your north, about a mile away, a village.  At first glance it appears to be similiar to a typical medieval English hamlet, with a high wall about it.  But if you look closely, the material isn't wooden, but metallic.  You notice that the air shimmers with a kaleidoscope of colors, which is slightly nauseating.  You glance up and see the sky is a spectrum of swirling gases.  Revolving around the shard are many other shards of various sizes, giving one the feeling that he is standing in the mist of a vast asteroid field, which in actuality, he is.
You get the sense that at one time this land you stand on was once a vast planet, but that something, some cataclysm, broke it into the shards you see above you. How the inhabitants survived this devastation, one can only imagine.
The gate to the village is open and the local peasants are walking inside, some pushing carts, some leading horse drawn carts, some riding on wagons laden with their wares.
Beyond the village is a rolling plain, dotted with farmhouses of various sizes and types, from humble soddies to nice two story homes reminiscent of American farm houses.
Turning to your south, this rolling plain ends at the edge of a vast forest, which looks dark and dismal.  Strange animal-like sounds  seems to come to your ear, though the forest is at least twenty miles away.  Must be your imagination.
Turning the east, the rolling plain leads up to a vast mountain range, the tops of which are misty with clouds.  It must be at least 100 miles to the mountains, although the distance may be more, since the plain seems to stretch forever.
And to the west the road seems to go forever, you can't even see the village of Stranafel at the end of it.
Again that booming voice returns, but with a sweet female ring, "bold traveler, where will you go now?"

"Uhhh..." I look around the sky, searching for the voice.  "Okay, how are you guys doing this?  Very funny, ha-ha-ha!  Fine, I'll play along... I hope you're amused."  I look around for a couple seconds before making my choice.  "I'll go to the village to the North, I think..."  Standing up and checking what I had, I glance at several of the items I'm carrying in amazement.  My pistol... why do I have my pistol?  None of those guys knew where I kept it... or... bah, they must've found it somehwere.

Deciding standing around would probably do no good, I start off down the path to the village.  The first person I see, I plan on asking where I am.

the sweet female voice speaks, "you will need currency." a small bag drops from the sky, with the sound of coins rattling inside.  You inspect the currency to find it is chips of clear plastic-like material.  At first the images inscribed on the chips are foreign, a mix of heiroglyphs and cuniform, but then they morph into numerals.  You count the numerals on the chips.  the total units is 1000, with 7 100's, 2 50's, 4 25's, and 100 ones.
You get in line behind the other peasants, noticing that their garb is similiar to renaissance peasant garb. However, the corset-type garments on the ladies appear to be made of metal, and the material on all costumes are made of a shimmery, satiny material.  All the children are wearing sackcloth tunics that reach to their knees.  They are barefoot.  On closer inspection you notice everybody, even the children, are wearing belts on which are attached knives of various shapes and sizes.
You make it to the gates.  On each side of the gates is a guard.  You are shocked to see that the guard on your left appears to be a panda, but standing upright like a human.  He has the distinctive black and white fur with short round ears.  But his hands are human, whereas his feet, which are unshod, are paws.  In his right hand he is holding a long spear, whose tip glimmers in the shimmery light.  The guard on your right is human, but on closer inspection his eyes are shaped like a wolf, he has long hairs on the back of his hands, and when he speaks, his teeth are fangs.  He's also carrying a spear.
Both guards are wearing garments similiar to the peasant men, short tunics over leggings, but the guards legs are shielded by a metallic armor and the human guard has a helmet.
The human guard speaks.  You are worried when at first the tongue is foreign.  You are beginning to wonder how you'll make yourself understood to the these people, when the words change into the English you are familiar to.
"Welcome to the village of Morroctol, stranger," the human guard speaks. "this is a peaceful village, so if you are looking for trouble, go to the mountains in the east, or to the forest in the south, or further north from the village to the crevasse."  He must have noticed your pistol, you muse.
The panda guard twists his ears towards you, as if emphasizing the point that violence will not be tolerated within the village.
The human guard continues, "you are welcome to stay as long as you like, but please note, the gates will close at dusk and won't open until dawn."
The panda man growls, as if concerned about the terrors of the night.
"You will have to find lodging if you stay," the guard continues. "Our inn can accommodate you.  enjoy your stay."
At that he beckons you inside the village.
You step in, finding that the road you are traveling on continues on through the village, continuing on to the horizon.
There are a couple of crossroads in the village, but they are more like alleys than roads.
The peasants are setting up their wares along the main street, setting out fruits and vegetables that, on  first glance, are familiar, but seem to be of different colors and shapes.
On your right you see a blacksmith shop.  The smithy is repairing a sword.  Several warrior men and maidens are standing about.  The maidens are wearing the same metal corsets as the peasant ladies, but instead of long skirts, their lean, muscular legs are bare, save for the same metal shielding as the guards at the gate.  The men are wearing what appears to be a full suit of armor, but of a lighter weight metal that appears very flexible, rather than stiff and clanky.  Some of the warriors are wearing black body armor that is molded to their form.  You notice about the blacksmith shop an array of weapons, from swords to machine guns.  It's an unusual assortment.  for some reason you feel the guards statement that this is a peaceful place is not altogether true.  Everybody appears to be ready to fight should the need arise.
Beside the blacksmith's shop is a tailor's shop.
On the left hand side of the street, before the first alley bisects the road, is the inn the guard spoke of.  Beside the inn is a pub, where even the families with children seem to be allowed to enter.  there is the babble of voices coming from the pub, with the occasional burst of laughter.
Beyond the first alley, on the right is a butcher's shop.  You can hear the sound of the animals behind the shop, those waiting to be slaughtered.
Beside the butcher's shop is a barber shop.
On the left side is an apothecary and a shop whose sign reads, "healer".
there is another alley, then on the right is an imposing gothic style cathedral, complete with gargoyles and stained glass windows.
The materials that these buildings are made of is the typical wood and glass, but the supports appear to be metal.
You notice that some of the peasants are using chips to pay for their purchases, while others are trading.

I walk about the town warrily.  I suppose my pistol and bow aren't too out of place here, I muse.  I wonder if that's a good thing or a bad one... I guess that that's to be seen.  Still slightly dazed about what's happening, I half-stumble into the pub.  I order an ale (or an equivalent) and take a seat.

"Okay," I say to myself.  "I was poking at the remote, something happened, now I'm here... maybe someone in the room shot me up with LSD.  Yeah, that's probably what happened.  I'm probably just in my kitchen right now... this is beyond reality."  I rub my temples, my mind full of disbelief at what's happening.

You are approached by a peasant woman, who is wearing a gold, metal, corset-type garment over a shimmery red dress.  Before you can even object she joins you and orders a root beer,  giving the waitress, who is wearing a knee-length skirt, a 1 unit.  The waitress returns with a bottle of rootbeer, so you assume the root beers are 1 unit apiece.
The lady in red sips her root beer, then speaks.  You are startled to find that her voice is the same as the omnipotent voice you heard upon arrival.
"I am the Summer Queen," she says sweetly. "I was only going to guide you from my Summer Palace, but since you seem so befused, I decided to visit you in person.  But," she says, wagging her finger at you, "this will be the only time you see me, so make sure you ask all the questions that seem to be buzzing around that handsome little head."
She takes another sip of her root beer.  "I will clarify one thing. I have brought you to the Shards of Broken Earth to test you, to see what you really are made of.  I hope you don't disappoint me, I don't like being disappointed.  So now, what would you like to know, before you begin your quest for treasures and glory."  She takes another sip of her root beer, belching femininely.
This message was last updated by the GM at 14:12, Wed 16 Nov 2005.

"Errr..." I look at the woman strangely; perhaps this isn't a prank.  "Well, first of all, where am I?  Yeah, you've already said that, but where's THAT!?  What's going on here?  Why am I here... no, you already answered that.  Uhh... why am I being tested?  Uhhh..."

I scratch my head, trying to think of more questions.  "Who are you?  What's the Summer Palace?  What's this town?  What's going on here?  Where am I?"

The lovely Summer Queen sighs and shakes her head.
"You have left your known time and place and have traveled to another dimension, another reality.  It is unclear now if the place you have just left was actually reality or just an illusion.  Perhaps this place you are in now is reality.  One never knows," she pauses to sip her root beer.
"The Summer Palace is the place in which I dwell.  It is also in another time and place, another reality.  You won't be going there, for any who goes there goes to challenge me or to ask for assistance.  It is I who chose you, not you who chose me.  I saw you in your time and place and thought that you were a man who would enjoy a grand adventure, a chance to test your skills and prowess."
She takes another sip of her root beer.  "For now, just relax, take in your surroundings, pretend that this is reality and act upon the situation as it arises.  I have given you the currency of this place.  You are free to spend it as you like to outfit yourself on your journey. There are many dangers to face, many challenges to overcome, great treasures to amass.  Whether these things you can take back to your reality or not, one never knows.  There are many mysteries in the universe, and even I, the great Summer Queen, have no clue as to the meaning of them.  So cast aside your doubts and fears, embrace this new reality.  Your own reality will still be there when you have left this one, it will be as if you never left.  Your next decision should be to either stay in this village and outfit yourself for battles with the threats you will encounter outside this village, or to just venture out with the items you now carry, to face whatever may be out there head-on.  I see you have a pistol, a bow, and a hunting knife.  Those weapons will be useful to defend yourself.  Your adversaries will be small and great.  There are 5 major  foes:the Panda people, who for the most part are gentle, you will see many in this village, like the guard you met at the gate.  The Cat people, who are as cunning and wily as a cat.  The Tiger people who are as fierce as a jungle cat.  The Great Hawks who swoop from the skies with razor sharp talons. And the Wolf pack, swift agile runners of the plains.  You would be wise to avoid these people until you gain a little experience.  These creatures were once human, but have morphed into animals, but yet stand erect as humans and speak as humans do, but retain their animal strengths.  In the forest and in the caves are many smaller creatures-rats, scorpions, bats, etc.  Seek those out, challenge them at first, get accustomed to battle, then try to take on the other enemies.  I'd avoid the road to the west for now if I were you, there be bandits on that road and they travel in groups.  And avoid the plains, for now, for in them the animal-like humans roam.  You will encouter these creatures in the forest and caves also, but not as many as are in the plains.  If you continue north from the village you will come to a crevasse, the edge of this shard.  In the crevasse are caves in which creatures called Glemmings live.  They hoard treasures, which you can steal from them, if you are cunning enough to take them by stealth, or brave enough by battle."
She pauses again to sip her rootbeer, collecting her thoughts.  "I believe I've given you a little bit of background, do you think now you can face this challenge I've placed before you?  Or do you still have doubts and misgivings?  Do you still have questions that need to be answered?"

Challenge the little creatures first?  Man, this sounds like some messed up MMORPG.  On that note, I wonder what will happen to my World of Warcraft account now that I'm here...  I rub my temples and down half of my ale, trying to take in what this strange woman has just told me.  "Doubts?  Oh, I've still got looooooots of those.  But I suppose most of my questions are answered.  Now... is there a side I'm supposed to pick, or, what, am I just some rogue agent now?  And I suppose, if I have to... I'd probably start by going to one of those caves and getting some XP.  What level should I be at before I stop fighting in the caves?"

The Summer Queen smiles. "You are just an adventurer, on a quest for honor, glory and great riches.  You are a loner, choosing sides only when the need arises, and only as you see fit.  You will gain experience and wisdom as you fight each battle, learning from your experiences what works and what doesn't.  I was merely informing you on what you might encounter along your journey, so that you will be prepared and on guard.  You are free to choose whichever direction you wish to go, whatever path you wish to follow.  You are in charge here, it is your quest.  I am merely giving aid as aid is needed.  You seemed confused and befuddled, which is understandable.  I must go now, I have other things that must be attended to.  I will look in on you from time to time, to see how you are getting along."
At that she arises from the table and exits.

"Oh, okay, then."  I watch the strange woman leave and finish off my ale.  I drop a 1 unit on the table and stand up.  Rearranging my gear, I walk outside the pub back into the street.  Looking around, I decide to pay a visit to the blacksmith and see what his prices are like.

This is just getting stranger and stranger.  Ah, well, I guess I'll just treat it like a good ol' MMORPG.  Eeyup, time to blend in like you've never blended in before, Jordan.

The blacksmith is a burly fellow, with muscles the size of a bodybuilder.  He appears human, but like the guard at the gate, does have animal-like characteristics.  His massive hands are hairy and he has a snout like a wolf.  He has finished the sword he was working on when you arrived at the village and is sitting on a stool, drinking a mug of frothy beer.  The other warriors have also left.
"Welcome stranger," he speaks with a deep bass voice.  "I'm Victor Bolgor.  I have the best weapons and armor of this village."  he laughs a deep belly laugh.  "in fact, I'm the only blacksmith in this village.  You look like a fine hearty lad that is just itching for some action.  Perhaps you'd like a good sharp sword, only 100 units.  Or how about the latest fad, body armor.  I could measure you up and have it made in a week.  Only 10,000 units!"
He takes a deep swig from his mug.  "I do have a wide assortment of weapons, such as a double sided ax for 100 units, a simitar for 200 units, a cat-o-nine tails for 200 units, a mace for 300 units, a halberd for 500 units and a variety of knives for 100 units.  If you want more high tech weapons such as a gun, rifle, or machine gun, the machine guns run 10,000 units, a rifle 5000 units and a pistol for 1000 units.  The high tech weapons are rare, left over from before the Breaking and found only in the Caverns of the Crevasse or the  Caverns of the Dire Mountains.  I also have crossbows for 300 units and  bows for 100 units.  A quiver of 100 arrows will put you back only 200 units.  As for armor, a full suit of flexible armor costs 5000 units, I'll have to measure you for that and will take a week to make.  Leg braces are 500 units.  The tailor sells the jerkins. He's got some nice ones that deflect sword thrusts and arrows, and some heavier ones that repel bullets."
He takes a hearty swig from the mug as you decide.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:52, Fri 18 Nov 2005.

I look around at the store quickly before answering.  "If I could, I'd buy the body armour, but I'm afraid I don't have that much.  As for the sword... could I take a look at it?"  I take out my pistol and put it in the counter.  "I was wondering if you had .40 cal rounds that would fire out of that, too.  Right now I'm just popping 9mm rounds, and I don't know if that can handle everything around here.  Oh, and if possible, would you be able to put a laser sight on the pistol?"

I wait patiently for the blacksmith to respond.

"hmmmm," the blacksmith muses.  "That is a fine pistol.  Haven't seen one of those in ages.  Did you find it in the caverns?  I can make some bullets for it, will only take me a day, have to mold the casings you know, but I have plenty of gunpowder.  Seems like gunpowder grows on trees around here,"  he laughs at his own joke.
He turns and pulls out a leather case containing about 20 swords, from small sabers, long sabers, short simitars, long simitars, a couple of cutlass and a couple rapiers.  They appear to be made of a light durable material, kinda like steel.
"As for the laser sight," he interjects as you sample the swords,"I haven't any in stock right now.  Those warriors bought me out of the high tech stuff.  But I"m sure if you go to the caverns you'll be able to find one."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:00, Fri 18 Nov 2005.

"Okay, cool, thanks."  I take a look at the swords, before choosing a decently-sized short sword.  I've never really used a sword before, but I suppose I ought to get used to one.  Plus, this'll work better than my hunting knife.  I hand over the 100 units for the sword.  "Oh, does it come with a sheath, or is that seperate?  And, sure, I might as well put in an order for those bullets.  How much would, say, 50 of em cost?"
This message was last updated by the player at 19:30, Sun 20 Nov 2005.

The smithy hands you the sword, which glistens in the sun.  He hands you a nice leather sheath that you cinch about your waist.  The blacksmith notices your hesitation and suggests, "my brother Carl, who works behind my shop shoeing horses, might be able to show you a few tricks with that sword.  He's been known in his time to take out 20 bandits.  He's agile and fast with a sword.  As to your bullets, I can make you 50 for 25 units.  I have a mold for that size bullet.  If I didn't have the mold it would be more.  As I said, it'll take the rest of the day to make them, if I don't get anymore interruptions.  But your job  will take priority, unless an emergency arises."
He gathers up one of your bullets to use as a guide.

"Oh," I say, noticing he took my bullet.  "I only actually have my gun loaded with 9mm rounds, which is why I'm asking for .40 cal."  I green sheepishly.  "Hopefully you have a .40 cal lying around here somewhere."  I hand over the money for the bullets in advance, figuring why bother paying for it later?  After finishing with the blacksmith, I decide to go and visit Carl and see if he could show me some stuff with the sword.

Before you leave, the blacksmith comments, "I usually do have ammo laying around, but that crowd of warriors wiped me out.  Won't take me but a couple of hours to make you a fresh batch."
You go around the side of the blacksmith shop and as you approach the back of the shop you can hear a variety of noises: horses neighing, the clang of metal on metal (the sound of a hammer pounding a horseshoe on an anvil), and the clash of steel on steel (the sound of sword fighting).
As you come around the corner of the building you can see, across a dirt yard, a low stable where horses are housed.  At the back of the blacksmith shop is a forge, similiar to the one at the front, but at this forge an assistant is heating a horseshoe.  As you watch, he takes it out of the fire, blazing hot, and places it on the anvil, where he begins to work it into shape.
To the right of the stable is a paddock, but instead of horses, there are several groups of men of various ages, all engaged in sword fights.  Some are practicing with short swords, some with long swords, some with simitars.  You are amazed to see  a muscular man weilding a great sword.  He is combating a Tiger Man.  As you watch the man picks the heavy sword up, swirls and hacks off the Tiger Man's head, only to have the head reappear!  You realize that this must be a holographic projection.  You wonder where the holographic projector is, then notice a small machine at the man's left. You pay closer attention to the other combatants and realize that they too are battling with holographic projections, for as their foes are hit, they fall, only to rise again.
You see a burly man standing at the gate of the paddock, calling out to the men, giving them advice on honing their techniques.  You assume this man must be Carl.

Such a strange place, I wonder as I walk about.  They have guns, yet they're still using swords!  Hologram projectors... such a strange place, such a strange place...  Seeing no point in standing there doing nothing, I walk over to the man who appears to be Carl and ask if he is.  If he is, I ask him if he could show me some stuff with my shortsword.

"oh ho!" replies Carl (for sure enough, that is who he is), "another adventurer thirsting for adventure, glory and riches!  There is plenty of all that in this wild land, ever since the human population has morphed into animals.  Nasty creatures they are.  I can show you the basic moves with that fine sword this afternoon.  But if you want practical experience I give week long sessions for 500 units.  Or," he pauses, eyeing you, "if you rather work a week with me, cleaning out the stables or helping my assistant, I'll waive the training fee."
As he waits for you to decide, he begins to reminiscence.  "I remember the days before the Breaking.  It seemed everybody had a gun.  It was a violent time, terrorism, gangs, wars." he sighs.  "but after the breaking, it was total chaos.  The Glemmings arose from the caverns and stole all they could steal. They didn't want the stuff themselves, they just like to hoard.  Now, that things have settled down and we have gotten used to this new land, the brave have gone into the caverns to retrieve what was rightly ours.  But the ones not brave enough resort to the weapons of the Ancients, the mighty sword.  That's where I come in.  I became an expert in the art of sword fighting.  Now I teach the young and not so brave at heart in the classic art."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:53, Sun 20 Nov 2005.

I think over the different options for a few seconds before responding.  "Uhh... I think I'll help you out around here for the week."  I listen to what he has to say about the Breaking.  "So... could you possibly explain what happened during the Breaking a bit more?"

"Oh, and could we get started relatively soon?"

Carl thinks for a bit. "all I've heard about the Breaking is that there was a great cataclysm that broke the world into the Shard you stand upon and the Shards that float in the sky today.  The vast multi-colored cloud is the result of that disaster.  It caused some type of poisoning that caused the human population to morph into animals.  The few humans left are still slowly reverting to animal forms.  You'll see lots of people who have furry paws instead of hands, tufted ears, canine teeth,"  he shudders.  "How the population escaped without being sucked off the face of the land, I don't know.  Seems like I"ve heard there were plenty that were sucked away, but there were a few that survived.  It was bad before the Breaking, what with the violence and all, but after the Breaking," he shudders again.  "all Hell broke loose.  The Glemmings arose from the caverns and pillaged and stole all they could get their hands on.  They didn't want the stuff themselves..." he breaks off.  "I'm sorry, I could stand all day, talking about the Old Times.  But those days are long ago, and the past is the past, it can't be changed.  We must deal with the here and now, and right now I have a new student and a new assistant," he chuckles, as he takes you by the hand and leads you into the paddock.
"no time like the present to get you started, at least teach you how to hold your sword properly.  Once I give you the basics, you can test your skills out on the different holographic images I have here.  Must warn you, though, these images are just a glimmer of what's really out there.  When you face a Tiger Man up close and personal there won't be no pussy-footing around.  He'll mean business.  These images are just images and I've programmed them to be rather docile.  They just stand there and wait to have their heads lopped off.  The real thing will swipe your head off in a second if you ain't careful."
He takes you to a quiet corner of the paddock.
"now, I see you don't have a shield, that ain't no problem. Won't be needing one much anyway, most of the beasties out there won't have swords and such, just fangs and claws.  The main thing you have to do is focus your power in both your strikes and your blocks,"  he takes a stance, with the sword over his right shoulder, pointing down his back.  "you move so that the extended fingertips of your shield hand, if you was to have one, would touch your collarbone at the farthest back point.  Insure that your front knee bends and that your weight moves slightly forward to accentuate the power of the blow.  Do not swing full force, your movements should be crisp and quick, but if you swing too hard you'll injure your arm and your opponent will bust himself laughing at you," he pauses in his demonstration to giggle at his own illustration.  "the sword should remain extended," he continues," take a step with your sword foot,don't allow your feet to cross, you'll just trip over yourself and impale yourself with the sword and defeat yourself and your enemy will laugh again at ya.  When moving your foot forward, first shift your balance to the shield foot, then continue forward and out with your sword foot.  Perform a punch accompanied by an overhead return," he's doing all this in slow motion, so that you can see his movements.  "your shield foot will then pull back, shield arm extended, and pull the sword back to overhead potion, for another volley if necessary."
He pauses in his demonstration, "that is basic thrust, during the course of the week I'll show you how to swing in a semi-circle, so that you can attack somebody coming from you from behind, and how to swipe left and right to defend yourself from side-ways attacks.  but for right now, this afternoon, we'll stick to the frontal assault.  In the morning I'll expect you bright-eyed and busy tailed for a morning of cleaning stables, then in the afternoon another exercise in frontal assault. If you do well with the frontal assault exercises, we'll move on to creeping-up-behind you attacks, then the gang attack."
He fiddles with a holographic projector and a vicious looking Wolf Man appears.  It looks real enough, even down to a menacing snarl.  But you notice it shimmers around the edges, and when you take a precautionary jab at it, it seems to dissolve, then reappear again.
"o.k. try your manuevers, slow like first, then after you get the hang of it, a wee bit faster," Carl admonishes.

"Okay, sure thing."  I take my sword and begin copying what he had shown me.  I begin slowly, until I get the basic mechanics down.

Over time, I speed up, until I can do it almost at a (what I judge to be) combat speed.  By now I'm sweating and panting, so I sit down and lean my head back.

After a minute of rest, I decide to begin trying the maneuver on the hologram.  It takes a couple tries to get back into the swing of thing, but then I begin slashing at the hologram a bit better.

    Carl comes up to you and gives you a hearty pat on the back.  "well done, young man.  But I think you had best call it a day now.  The Shimmers are dimming, indicating night is approaching," he sighs, "as if we ever have night here.  The Shimmers continue all through the night, only a wee bit duller."
    He continues,"you can get a nice room at the inn and the pub next door is always open.  My brother Victor will be closing up his shop soon as well, so if you have any other business with him you best hurry along.  I'll be looking for you at 7 in the morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, so don't stay up too long at the pub, flirting with the ladies," he says with a wink and a guffaw.

I smile at his comments.  "Yeah, don't worry, I'll be here tomorrow."  I sheath my sword and proceed to walk off to the inn.  When I get there, I plan on getting my room, asking for a wake-up call at 6 or so (if they do that), and then going to sleep immediately.

I pull my tired body down the road, knowing my arms are going to be burning tomorrow.

   You awake the next morning, sore but refreshed.  You are greeted as you exit by the same handsome lady that checked you in the night before.  "I'll have somebody clean your room around 10.  Your stuff will be untouched, we'll just change the sheets and pick up the dirty towels."
   You think back to the room you barely noticed last night.  A simple wooden bed with a surprisingly soft mattress, a table on which you stowed your gear, and a stand by the bed.  On the stand was a device that looked like a cell phone with video capabilties. With it you could call down to the desk and ask for room service, such as fresh towels or more pillows.  The room itself was set up like a hotel room, with an attached bath.  In it was a shower stall, a sink, and a basic toilet.  No t.v., they must not have such a thing on this Shard.
   After a refreshing breakfast at the pub, bacon, eggs, and toast, you are ready to go to work at the stables.
   Carl greets you upon arrival.  "Hello there young man.  I hope you rested well last night.  I'll put you to work this morning cleaning out the old straw and piling in fresh.  Put the old straw in that wheelbarrow and take it behind the stable.  There is a pile there.  The local farmers love my manure, makes their vegetables grow.  Around noon you can take a break, have lunch.  Then at 1 I'll come and supervise your next session with the sword.  I think another day of frontal assaults will be enough.  You seemed to pick up the basics well yesterday.  Tomorrow I'll show you how to defend yourself from sneak attacks."
   He then hands you a pitchfork and points you in the direction of the stables.  It's gonna be a long morning, but at least you have the afternoon sessions to look forward to.
   At 1, Carl comes to relieve you.  "you are a hearty young man.  You are as good with the pitchfork as you are with the sword.  Come, it's time for more practice."
   He leads you to the same spot that you practiced in the day before.  He fiddles with the holographic machine.  "today I'll program a Cat Woman.  She'll fight back, whereas yesterday the beastie just stood there.  It'll give you an opportunity to hone your defensive stance and help you speed up your attack more."

I bring my sword up towards the cat woman.  Okay, just remember it isn't real.  But still... you've gotta learn.  I raise my sword and perform the same basic maneuver I was taught yesterday.  I miss, and the hologram hits me.

Crap... I guess I'll have to be quicker getting back into my stance.  I continue working at it, slowly speeding up my recovery time as I go.

   After a few more bad blows, you do get a hang of it, giving the Cat Woman a run for her money.  Before long she has more nicks than you do.
   Carl comes up to you and gives you another hearty pat on the back.  "Young man, you are a wiz with that sword!  I think you'll be as good as I am in time.  Let's call it a night, get some shut-eye.  I'll be expecting you in the morning to muck out my stables, then tomorrow afternoon I'll show you a couple of techniques for sneak attacks."
   You return to your room where you find the bed remade and the bathroom cleaned.  You plop onto the bed, only to awaken in what seems like just a couple of minutes to find it really is morning after all.
   After a morning cleaning the stables you are eager for the afternoon session. You'll be learning something new, and that is always a good thing.
    Carl greets you heartily.  "Now, the first thing to do to battle a sneak attack is to whip out your sword swiftly.  You have to have cat-like reflexes to get your sword out of its sheath and into position for combat."  He demonstrates a swift maneuver, so swift the sword is just a blur.  "once your sword is out you pivot all the way around, facing your opponent.  Now, here comes the decision.  Do you attack as you whirl around with the sword parallel to your chest in a swiping motion, bringing the sword completely around and up into position for a frontal attack," he tries to explain, demonstrating in slow motion.
     "or do you twist your wrist so that the sword is vertical to your chest in a defensive position.  If you use the defensive position you can pivot your hand so that the sword is in the frontal assault position you've been practicing," he demonstrates as he again swings in a circle, this time bringing the sword up so that it seems to shield the face, then bringing it back so that it's over the shoulder, ready to swing down in the frontal attack position.
   "but," he interjects, "before you decide which attack stance to take, let's just practice getting that sword out its sheath, like a gunfighter pulling his gun out in a quick gunfight.  Let me see how swiftly you can withdraw that sword, then show me which stance you'll take once it's out."

"Okay, sure thing."

I put myself into position and breathe a couple times before trying to pull my sword out.  I'm a bit hasty about it, and end up cutting my thumb.

"Crap..." I stick my thumb into my mouth, sucking on the blood.  Glancing over at Carl, I give him a slightly harsh look.  "I'll get it this time, you'll see..."

I pull my sword out again, keeping my left hand a bit further away to avoid cutting myself.  My speed is nowhere near Carl's, but I haven't been practicing as long as him.  "Okay, then... stance..." I proceed to move into the horizontal slicing attack.

"There."

  Carl beams at you proudly.  "way to go young man, didn't expect you to be perfect the first time around.  Here is a healing balm, put it on that thumb and it'll be healed up in no time.  Hang onto it, you may need it again.  Practice for awhile just pulling the sword out of its sheath, then practice  a sweeping slashing motion.  You may not be able to slash your opponent, but you'll surely make him think twice about sneaking up on you again."
   You practice more, cutting yourself a few more times.  But Carl's healing balm does take the sting out of the cut.  Towards evening Carl comes back.
   "I think we'll cut the training short one day.  You seem to be getting the hang of things.  Tomorrow we test your combined skills.  I'll program 4 opponents, one before you, one behind, and one on each side.  We'll see how you fare."
    You return to your room where once again you plop on the bed, exhausted, but feeling very good about yourself.
    After another morning in the stables, Carl programs the attack.  You find yourself facing a Tiger Man.   You can hear another opponent sneaking up behind.  On each side is a Wolf Man.
   Carl speaks, "it's best when attacked from all sides to focus all your movements by pivoting the hip and shield leg.  Keep your torso straight.  You will be making a frontal assault movement, combined with a sneak attack manuever, then a shift to left to face that opponent, then back to right to attack the next enemy.  It's difficult to perform.  You have to have cat-like reflexes.  Let's see how you do."
    You do poorly the first few rounds, but after you get a sense of rhythm and fluency you don't do too badly.
   Carl advances, "not bad, young man, not bad.  All you need is some practical experience and I think you'll be as good as me.  I'd love to keep you here longer, show you some of my trickier moves, but I know you are anxious to test your meddle out in the wilds of the Shard.  If you'd like some training with the pistol or rifle,  Carlos Gump, who lives across from the cathedral, has a shooting range.  And if you want practice with the bow, Sheila Course is the one to see.  She lives behind the cathedral.  Good luck."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:04, Sun 27 Nov 2005.

I smile at Carl.  "Nah, I'm already a pretty good shot with the pistol and bow.  If I ever get a rifle, I suppose I could check him out, though."  I remember the order I had put in at the blacksmith's.  "Oh, thanks for mentioning that... reminds me of something I have to do."  I shake his hand and thank him again for training me before moving off to go and pick up my bullets at the blacksmith.

After picking up my bullets, I decide I might as well go out and scout out the area towards the Glemming caves.

   You set out north of town.  The farms begin to be further apart as you get further from town.  Suddenly the land falls down at your feet. You find yourself at the northern edge of the shard.  It makes you dizzy looking down into empty space.  Another shard drifts lazily below the one you are standing on.  You notice there seems to be lots of handholds, like a rock climbing wall.  You can see that there are indeed caves along the edge of the shard, but you can't tell if the Glemmings are active or not, they apparently are deep within the caverns.  There is a cave about 50 feet below you, another off to the left about 100 feet and another off to the right about 150 feet.  You wonder what it would feel like to lose your grip and tumble through space.  You wonder if you'll die falling or upon impact on the shard below you.  You face a difficult decision, which one of the three caves are you gonna try to climb down to?

Oh man... heights... notgoodnotgoodnotgoodnotgood.  Never liked heights... nevernevernevernevernever.  I quickly skitter back from the ledge, falling down as I do.  "Okay..." I say to myself, trying to stop myself from hyperventilating.  "No more heights.  I'm just going to turn around and pretend that I didn't see that.  Nope... not at all.  Maybe I'll come back here with someone who's a pro at rock climbing... till then... nope, no way."

I sit on the ground for a couple minutes before I manage to calm myself.  Standing back up, I set my gear back in order and begin the trek back towards town.  That idea out with, I decide to see if I can find some rats or something to fight.  Nice... level ground... no height... yeah... not high... that's good.

You go through the village and find yourself at the crossroads again.  To the south are the Tanglewood Forest.  You wonder if you'll see those man-like beasts there that you battled in training.  To the east are the Dire Mountains the guards spoke of.  You wonder if there might be Glemmings there.  To the west the road seems to go on forever.  You wonder if there might be another village down that road, and what perils you may face along that path.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:07, Fri 02 Dec 2005.

I rub my temples, trying to remember what the Summer Queen had told me about the different locations.  "Okay," I say to myself after thinking for a bit.  "Let's head for that forest."

I take off walking towards the forest, alert for dangers I may face.

   As you leave the last farm behind the road you travel upon becomes a dirt road with grass beginning to grow in the middle.  Eventually  this  dirt road begins to be taken over completely by the grass, until all signs of it are gone.  You have reached the edge of the forest.
    As you enter the forest you are struck by an ominous silence, as if the forest was holding its breath, waiting to see what you'll do next.  Then the birds begin twittering again and you can hear rustles in the underbrush as small creatures  scurry to their holes.  The trees are massive.   Mighty oaks, poplars, walnuts, hickories, and sweet gum trees,  whose trunks are a good five foot across.  Many young trees huddle under the giants, trying to gain a foothold, reaching for the canopy.  The forest floor is littered with a thick layer of fallen leaves which mask the sound of your footfalls.  Under the walnut trees are walnuts of various stages of decay, from recent falls, to those of years past. Squirrels chitter as they scurry up the trunks, seeking refuge.  Under the oaks are recent acorns, but the squirrels have taken care of most of the older ones. Many young oaks circle the older ones, forgotten acorns buried by the squirrels over the years.  You have to step carefully over fallen tree trunks that are spongy with moss and decay.  Ferns huddle around these fallen limbs.
   As you venture deeper you realize that there is the remnants of the old trail under all the leaves.   The cart wheel tracks make shallow grooves in the forest floor.  The main track that you are following  seems to branch off, one path continuing straight, towards the south.  Another path veers  off to the right, towards the west and yet another veers  off to the left, towards the east.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:58, Fri 02 Dec 2005.

I take my time walking through the forest.  As I walk, I rub my hand along some of the trees.  It's been a long time since I've been out of the city... this is ncie.  As I reach the intersection, I weigh my options.

"Okay, let's see what we have here," I say to myself.  "This way is that, that way's this, and this way's purple-spotted goat monkey... hmmm..."  Seeing no other option, I take my pistol out and put it on the ground.  I spin it, see where it points, pick it up, and then begin walking down the Westerly path.  "Purple-spotted goat monkey it is..."

 You travel along the old cart trail, what was once a road in better times.  It is relatively quiet and peaceful in the forest, just the chittering of squirrels, the rustle of rabbits in the undergrowth.  You are beginning to think that this forest is empty of life when you hear something that, strangely enough, sounds like the laughter of hyenas.  As you approach the sound you notice a pack of  6 hyenas fighting over a carcass.  Even more strange, the carcass seems to be that of a bear, the size of a brown bear.  But the hyenas aren't the typical height of hyenas, that of a dog.  These guys are the size of a male lion, with manes like a lion.  They haven't noticed you yet, they are too busy feasting.  Vultures are waiting in the wings, so to speak, perched on the limbs of the trees.  You notice that to your right is a thicket of briars that make a kinda semi-circle around the feast.  To your left is a thick stand of young saplings.  The old road is visible beyond the feast.

I breathe deeply a couple of times before figuring out what to do.  "Okay," I say to myself quietly.  "There's too many of them there... I'm gonna have to sneak around."  Seeing no other option, I pull out my and ready out.  Staying low, I begin walking on the outside of the thicket as quietly as I can, attempting to get around the feeding frenzy.

  You are halfway around the thicket when you step on a stick.  The snap seems to echo throughout the whole forest.  You freeze.  You hear the feeding frenzy grow quiet.  You dare a peek over the thicket, standing on tiptoe.  Two hyenas are looking in your direction, the mouths covered with blood.  They sniff the air.  Then they turn back to the feast.  They apparantly didn't smell you, or didn't think you were  a threat.  You let out a sigh of relief, then slowly tiptoe around the thicket, being more careful where you step.  You make it back to the road, staying in the trees, until the sound of the feast is far behind.  Suddenly you realize that, gross as the feast was, you are hungry also. It's been at least a day since you've eaten.  You hear the gurgling of water off to your right.  You investigate to find an artesian well, with a spicot rising out of it.  The water is spilling out of the spicot into a well made of moss covered bricks.  The water looks clear and cold.  Now that you've found water, you must decide what to eat.  And night seems to be falling, the woods are getting dark.

"This isn't good," I say to myself as I realize my predicament.  "Getting dark, I'm somewhere in the forest, and I'm starving... this is gonna be fun."  After grabbing a drink, I look around to guage my situation.  Seeing no other option, I decide to climb up one of the nearer trees and set up some sort of bed.  Once I get up there and get somewhat settled, I pull out my bow and notch an arrow.  If a creature comes by to the water, I plan on killing it and then trying to cook it somehow.

  You wait for an hour, a long, tiresome hour, due to the uncomfortable nature of the position you are in (no matter how a person tries, sitting in a tree gets old after awhile).  But your patience is rewarded by the arrival of a doe.  She approaches the source of the water warily, then begins to drink.