First a goblin sits on your chest, and keeps asking you about your next move in chess, but you have a handful of poker cards, and then it gets up and in a snit melts away on the snow-covered carpet of your college apartment, and with a shiver, you realize you're cold....

You are cold.  Not desperately so, but goose bumps run up and down your triceps.  The mad dream seems to be gone, but rocks grind into your back, and a paper fills your left hand, and something metal the right.

The air is still, and dry, and smells of nothing more than rock.

PT

With the phantom pain still affecting me somewhat, I wince, even though there is nothing to feel hurt from, at the moment. I take a look at the paper in my left hand, and at the metal thing on my right, and after that I gaze around myself, to get an idea of where I am at the time being, trying to stand up as I do so.

What the heck happened? Caroline screwed up with the spell? No, wait... she said something about a knife on my back! With great fear and a sense of dread, I feel behind my back to see if the knife is still there

The paper says...

"Dear one, I wish we had more time together to see if we were meant for each other. I shall always remember you.

I'm sorry, but the damage was too much for us, and Rose magi don't know very many quick healing spells, and by the time we could fetch one, it will be too late.  The blade went in too close to your lungs, I think. Twas a mercy you passed out.

I don't know if this will be of use to you, but in my magic, it is.  Fare thee well.

Lady Caroline, Rose Magi of the Rose and Thorn Colleges of the World of the Egg"

There's a lock of her hair cut, and pasted to the letter.

In your right hand is an S-shaped throwing knife.

You feel fine, and there is no hole in your back, nor bruises on your legs.

Standing up, you are on a pebbled plain, and the night sky is dim, except for what looks like a galactic disk in the distance.  Below it, you can see a glimmer of light on the ground, some distance off.  Its better than full moonlight with the galaxy light, but not day either.

PT

How... nice of her I sigh, reading the letter once again, thinking that she actually took the time and dedication of helping me out, and eventually write this for me, since she foresaw my doom "Thank you, Caroline" is what I say into the night, staring at the galactic disk for a brief moment before placing her letter in my pocket, along with the lock of hair. Glancing at the throwing knife, I place it in my belt so that I can have it at the ready, although I never had any training or even interest in using one.

 I need to get going. I wonder what I will find, here? The disk reminds me of Isaac Asimov, somehow... With a voluntary shudder to steady myself, I look around and decide to walk in a random direction, since there's nothing around that I can use as a sign of civilization. My hopes were to find a place where to stay.

You wander around a bit, and eventually note that the light has to come from some source, and getting closer you see...

Three low domes, with dozens of glass triangles for walls, and some sort of metal framing.  You get closer, and realize there is a spaceplane, or spaceship parked next to the domes.  Closer still, and you note that there are three people outside the domes, even as the sun, a brilliant white comes up over the horizon.

And then you almost trip over a large, flat mylar bag which is partially filled.

Isaac Asimov indeed! This should be interesting Scratching my head as I look at the bag which I almost tripped with, I bend my knees to look closely into it, and see what I can find inside. Either way, I will go and try to socialize with the fellows I've just seen from the distance, waving at them as I approach, hoping that doesn't represent a sign of violence in this world.


OOC: what's mylar?

You see a dead woman.

Her face is tinted blue, and the smell drives you away gagging, but before you left you noted that she wore a utilitarian jumpsuit, and had a pair of crossed pickaxes embroidered above her name.

"Emily Lindgren."

Shaken, you wave at the men outside, and one of them comes closer.  As it comes closer, you realize its gold-tinted, and its a metallic, humanoid robot.

PT

Worried about meeting with a robot, however intelligent, right next to a dead woman, I did my best to hide my uneasiness "Er, hello. My name is Tomas, and I'm a Verser" I present myself, not really sure if the robot would know what a Verser is anyways, but it wouldn't make a difference to me "I was travelling in this direction, when I saw this dead person..." I comment, pointing at the body inside the bag "While I'm curious to how she died, I'd like to ask more important questions right now: where am I, and who are you?"

The robot bows a quarter-bow at the waist.

"Master Tomas, I am Auria so named for my golden exterior, and my companions are Silvre, and Merurium. They are the silver and red ones who continue their mining labors."

He/it pauses to let you take that in.

"You are on Planetoid 25789yU349 in the Ross's World's System.  Its in the Lesser Magellanic Cloud with the Milky Way standing proud in front of us."

He gestures to the distant galactic disk.

"Mistress Emily unfortunately loss track of time, and two nights previous stayed out past galaxy set, and froze..." He sobs a little.  "To death. To my eternal discredit.  The shame, the horror of it. If you don't mind, sir, I'd prefer talking about something else."

PT

"I see..." is my simeple reply, nodding slowly, and trying to think of more crucial things to think about to ask the robot "You don't have to call me Master Tomas, Auria; it's alright without the title." Unless, of course, he's programmed to say it like that. If he disobeys programming, he'll probably explode. Let's hope it doesn't get to that "I have some more questions:  What do you mean by 'galactic set'? Where can I find more humans? What are you doing here, and for whom? Lastly, do you know what a 'verser' is?"

"Very good, Tomas." Its reply is still deferential.  "The planetoid is far from its primary, and in fact receives most of its limited illumination from the Milky Way Galaxy.  When the rotation of the planetoid causes the other side to be so illuminated, then ...galactic set. Its like sunset, sir."

He points at the three domes.

"Mistress Tabitha Hathaway is in the second dome, I believe. Otherwise this planet is without life."

"I am assisting in taking core samples in order to find valuable minerals.  And providing services to Mistress Tabitha."

It thinks.

"Verser? Is that like 'versifier', someone who makes songs?"

PT

Thinking about the information I just received, I scratch my chin, glancing at the second dome "Thank you for the information, Auria. And nevermind about the 'verser' thing. Is it possible that I go and talk to this lady you mentioned?" I ask, not sure if to assume that going to the dome and knocking the door would provide a peaceful response.

"Mistress Tabitha left no instruction otherwise, so yes."  He walks with you over to the dome, and punches in a simple electronic code.  He calls out, and Mistress Tabitha comes around the corner with puzzlement on her face and a rock and a rock hammer in her hands.

All change.  The rock and hammer fall from nerveless hands, and a look of inhuman fury chases away the puzzlement.  Then she visibly chokes it down.

"Who are you? This is my planetoid."

PT

I unconsciously go back a step, at seeing her so angry "My apologies, I did not mean to invade your... planetoid. My name is Tomas" I explain to her in a calm tone, open palms facing her with my arms stretched forward, showing that I mean no harm "I don't know if you are aware of this, but there are people called 'versers', who have the ability to travel through worlds. I'm one of those people, and that's how I appeared here. I can't control where I'm going to appear, sadly"

"Oh, so you're not...ah, well, then welcome in.  My name is Tabitha."

She ushers you into her dome which is filled with rock samples on tables, and before you can get a good glimpse at them, she starts covering them with sheets.

"Auria, coffee for my guest and me please."

She chooses a large chair, and you see a short couch clear of items.  Other than mining gear on the walls, you see many pictures of a beautiful home in what looks like the Swiss Alps.

There is not only pictures, but blueprints, and aerial views, and frontal views...

She stares at you.

PT

I remain ackwardly silent, looking around as I thought of something to say "Well, I was wondering... is there a way for me to get to a more populated planet? I don't know if there's something called Earth, here, but any place with cities and those kind of things would be good for me. Is that possible?" I ask in a tranquil tone.

She jerks a bit as you startle her.

"Of course, there's Earth, why wouldn't there be?  Thats where my future home, I going to..."  She purses her lips, and grants you an unfriendly look.

"There's only my hyperdrive spaceship to get you back to civilized planets.  And I'm afraid I can't leave yet.  Maybe in a couple of weeks."

She looks almost triumphant about being able to say 'no' to you.  Her tone is sharp, and she seems to have forgotten the social niceties out here on the frontier.  Resentment lines her face.

PT

A sigh escapes from my mouth "I'm sorry, it's just I want to get somewhere shortly. Is there anything I can here, meanwhile, to be of use, and not die of boredom?" I ask her, kinda depressed, hearing that it will take some time for me to get to a more populated region. If it weren't painful, I'd suicide to go into another world! I suppose that means that I don't care to live here for much long...

She makes a face at her coffee.

"The robots can't make good coffee. I'll make you some later."

She puts hers down.

She seems calmer now.  And her social grace has come back.  She's not very attractive, but at least now she's not positively grating.

"Oh, you can help the robots dig.  Just core sampling."

"But be sure to be in before galactic set. It gets extremely cold out there."  Auria says as he comes in with some pastries.

PT

"Sounds like a plan to me. How can I tell when it's time for me to come, before the Galactic set? I don't want to end like, like... the other lady" I say, remembering the sad way that woman had to die, frozen to death. Still, how come she died? Shouldn't she know better? Maybe she was too absorbed in her work...

"Oh, it gets low in the sky. When the Perseus Arm touches the horizon, come on in. Its easy."  The lady says, all too casually.

Then she escorts you out, and the robots very patiently begin to explain how to use the laser spectromigraph core sampler.  And all the other tools of mining in the year 4000 A.D..

They drop phrases occasionally, like Galactic Empire, and the Laws of Robotics,and you're sure you've somehow landed in Asimov's Universe.

The work is not hard, but it does require some effort, and a good bit of judgement in properly interpreting things.  Gradually, you become aware that you and the robots are outlining what could be called the mother lode.  A huge find of magnesium, platinum, and several minerals you've never heard of including one super-heavy radioactive mineral.

The lady comes out with hot coffee which she made for you to drink.

"Here, you go, Tomas.  Its chilly out here even during the day.  This will warm you up."

PT

"No thank you; I don't drink coffee. What do you do with these minerals, anyways?" I refuse politely her offer first, and then ask a simple question, which I considered inoccent enough List of things to do for fun: One - Exploit loopholes in the Laws of Robotics so that the robots explode in paradoxical confusion. Asimov could have been a comedian, if he chose to do that instead of novels.

"Oh, well, I can get you juice. Apple juice, glorain juice, even grape juice which is dreadful expensive since grapes only grow on Earth.  Or tea, yes, I have several types of tea.  Lap Sang Soo Chong, Orange Pekoe, and Southerland teas are all very good. Or..."  She pauses, and you can see her realize that that is it.

"The minerals.  Uh, its a hobby of mine. Yes, a hobby." She pauses, and you can see she realizes how weak that it. "What I meant to say is that I'm a graduate student doing mineral studies for a new thesis dissertation.  Um, shall I go get you that drink now?"

Problem is, you're sure she's not telling the truth with either explanation.

PT

Uh-oh. Better not drink that. She doesn't seem very distressed about her companion, who died in an "accident", either "Uh, no thanks, I'm alright" is my casual reply, chuckling a bit, trying to make the mood lighter "In any case, what's the thesis about?"

She looks irritated, but then she nods to herself, and is calmer.

"Oh, the dissertation. Its very complicated."  She turns to walk back to the domes.  And for a long second you stare at her retreating back, wondering about what you just felt, and then finally you decipher it.  She meant...you're not smart enough, and this bit of condescension was her first bit of honest and unguarded emotion you've gotten from her.

She's taken the coffee back with her.

Later, after more work, and feeling like you're getting the hang of the devices you're using, she comes out, and ushers the robots in.  Then she comes back, and tells you that its for a periodic maintenance, and could you work in this hole here...its not a very deep hole.

PT
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:48, Fri 10 Feb 2006.

Accepting the task with no more than a nod, I carefully analyze any potential threat in what she's asking me to do (Including checking for the galactic set). Since I'm very suspicious of her, I look around, and keep an eye on the domes, looking for any activity that may get my attention Maybe she wants the robots shut down for maintenance... shut-down robots can't protect humans, it seems

She's standing next to a shovel with which she could bash your head in, after you climb down in the hole, but you keep a steady eye on her, and she waits a bit, and then leaves.

You relax a trifle, but then tense up again.

A couple shovel fulls of dirt, a look around, another check with the mineral sampler, and another couple shovels full...

Its slow, and paranoiad, and it would be very hard for anyone to sneak up on you.

Galactic set is about to come you decide, and head back.  You get to the first dome, and tap out the door code to open the door.

*Invalid code*  The machine replies in text to you.  The galaxy is about to set, and already you can feel winds whipping up, bearing chill death in them.

PT

No... no... NO! Damn that woman! I bang one fist angrily against the door, feeling betrayed and defeated, realizing that I would die a slow death if I stayed out there, verser or not. I go after the other domes, as quickly as possible, trying to get into them.

You try the next one, and *Invalid code*, and a gust of cold dust interrupts your cursing.  Stamping your feet against the cold, you break out into a run, and skid around the circumference of the dome in the pebbles that frame it.  You come up to the last dome, and already knowing whats going to happen are..surprised.

*Invalid code, thief*

You see through the thick window the face of your adversary.

And then an intercom clicks on.

"Thief. Life-stealer. Claim-jumper.  You thought I didn't know.  I knew. I knew, as soon as I saw you.  Evil. Evil."

Her cracked voice, and fervid eyes make you slightly glad for the metal door between you two, at least for the moment.

PT

I gape, stunned, not understanding what she just said "WHAT?! Me, evil?! I thought you were trying to kill me in the first place! I didn't do anything to you, I just wanted to help!" I shout desperate at her "Please, I'm going to die out here if you don't let me in!"

"You should have considered that before you went to try to claim-jump me, and steal my mine, my mother lode!  Its going to get me back to Earth, and a beautiful home, and ..not you, not Emily, not nobody is going to stop me from getting whats mine."

Her teeth are pulled back in a rictus, and her spittle is staining the see-through window in the door.

"Should have taken my coffee. Then you would have drifted off nice and sweet, no pain.  Your fault."

She shrugs.  Blaming you for making your own murder difficult.

PT

Taking a deep breath, shaking all the while, I try to rationalize with her, instead of begging for my life "Listen, I never intended to steal from you, you've got it all wrong. I'm just one guy who randomly appeared in this world, and I just want to get to Earth, or somewhere else rather than this place. Why can't you believe me?"

"How stupid do I look?  Barely weeks after I find a mother lode of Telimivarium and other stuff, and you show up.  If I believed your story, I'd have to think the Universe was offended at my dealing Emily, the little grifter, out of the deck, and we know thats not true.  Nobody and nothing cares what happens out past the Frontier, except for the gullible robots who are getting their oil baths right now."

She pauses, breathing hard, and catches her breath.

"No, the logical answer is the correct answer. You came out here to steal from me. You've got a ship parked on the other side of the 'toid, and you were planning on playing me like a violin.  Thing is, I didn't expect as stupid a story as 'come from another universe'.  Hah!"

PT

I rub my hand against my face, restraining myself from just plain cursing at her with my remaining strength "Your logical answer is a paranoid one, lady; I don't neccesarily have to be a thief, you know" I say, trying to reason with her "Either way, if you kill me, I won't die, I'll just go into another universe. Your decision, lady, not mine. I'm just laying out your options to you. Become a murderer, or... help out a verser" was all I had to say, sounding indeed like I didn't care anymore about my life.

Suddenly her face changes, and grief collapses her skin, and tears course down her face like little waterfalls, spurting and guttering, as if to wash her away.

"What have I done? I've killed Emily, now I've ...well, I'm..."  She seems unable to say that she was planning to murder you.  She sobs.

"What am I going to do?  Why me?  WHY is everything so hard for me? Why can't I have an easy life, like my sister, why do I have to ..."

Her self-pity trails off into indistinguishable moans, and she begins sliding down the thin, flexible interior metal wall of the dome.

PT

I await, cold and tired, thinking of a way to talk to her, now that her behaviour changed "Tabitha?" I call, to get her attention "There's no turning back on what you did, but you can still stop this murder from happening. You can still let me in. I won't hold it against you. I promise" I say in a soft tone of voice, feeling bad for her, even though she just tried to kill me

She gets to her feet, shaking her head, an admixture of fearful paranoia and guilt on her face with the percentages shifting by the second around some balance point that holds her immobile.

"No, no." She mumbles unable to deal with your challenge right now, and stumbles away, out of sight, into the interior spaces of the dome.

The Milky Way Galaxy has fully set.

PT

I sigh, resigned to die this way I might as well pass away meditating , so I move as I can some feet away from the domes, and I sit cross-legged in the floor. I close my eyes, straighten my back, and even my breathing. I try to concentrate, so that I don't get distracted Namo Amida Butsu I chant in my mind over and over, praying for a painless versing.


OOC: I get now why I was going to spend little time here. No worries though, I prefer magic worlds ^_^

You find yourself drifting, and wondering if the Buddha sent you here to give this woman a chance to find a better place on the wheel next time than the destiny she has created for herself.

And then sleep seems to slip up on you, and you gratefully accept its gift...

Playtester

OOC: And that was a stall world as MJ calls it, or a placeholder world as I call it.  The game continues in "Tomas in Timwrath".

OOC: Placeholder world seems a nifty name, I like it. I can't wait to see why the world will be called Timwrath :)