Days ago, a friend asked you as a personal favor to examine his new laptop that he got from work, where they develop cutting-edge computer technology. He wasn't sure what was wrong with it, so he took it to you before returning to work to tell them he'd broken their new laptop. You plug its power cord into the wall and get to work, a light rain dribbling against your window. You notice on the bottom that it has a label that reads: "scriff-enabled". While you're at home alone one night, you take out the computer and start to work on it. You are pretty sure you find the source of the problem when you pop the back off, and see a wire disconnected. Just as you're connecting it, you hear a loud CRACK of lightning, and a spark flies from the computer wire and lands on your chest. The world goes white, but not before you see a gold liquid leaking out of the laptop, which still crackles and pops with energy.

-=-

You're lying comfortably, as if on a soft bed, but beds don't normally have rocks in them, digging in your back. And they also don't tickle your ear the way the ground is here& You smell the grass now, and you slowly start to wake and can even feel the sunshine bathing your skin.

"oooohhhhhh&.what happened&?" I ask of no one in particular.

I roll over and slowly climb to my feet, opening my eyes as I do so. Then I stretch and yawn. I pan my gaze around lazily, getting my bearings. What do i see?

OOC: I am so sorry this took so long. I have been trying to access gamingoutpost without success for the last two days.

IC: No one replies to your question, but as you raise, you feel a refreshing wind blow against your body. Not quite strong enough to knock you down, it refreshes you immensely in a way only the wind can sometimes. As you stretch and open your eyes, you realize that you aren't tired, and you actually jolt awake at the sight.

You see what looks like a small agrarian town just past the hill that you're on, but really the first thing that draws your eye is the immense ivory tower that stands tall. Its base starts somewhere in the middle of the town, and the tower continues up for miles upon miles. Above, on this cloudless day, you see the glint of what must be enormous stones of every color that line the top of the tower.

Behind you is more grasslands that meet a forest. Beyond that forest is an enormous mountain range that you see circles around this immense valley in a natural ring of vast rock.

This is what I'm going for, basically:
A vast circle of mountains surrounds this valley. Middle of the valley is the huge ivory-colored tower, which is surrounded by a decently-sized farming town. But there is still plenty of space and even a small forest you see outside the town still in the ring of mountains.

If the wind is that special level of strength where it won't knock you down but presses all your clothes to you and presses up against you, then I'll stand and enjoy it for a bit while I think. Otherwise I'll sit back down. I love wind that strong! It always feels like it is special, at leas to me. :D

Hmm&Well, it appears that I am in some kind of isolated land. I haven't heard of anywhere like this, so I can only assume I am here in spirit. I suppose I can take a look around before I wake myself up.

Let's see&a place with a forest, a farming town, and a tower of ivory&tat sounds kind of familiar&.something biblical maybe? No, wait it is an art term used because of something biblical&yeah, that doesn't help right now.

Hmm&No help for it, I need to investigate.

With that, I set out, walking toward the tower. As I go, I will examine the farmlands and when I can see it more clearly, the tower itself. I am also on the lookout for any citizens of this land, and as I believe myself to be walking the world of dreams at this point, I am keeping an eye out for spirits or other threats. Since there is a forest, I am especially keeping an eye out for werewolves and and the like.

OOC: No worries about lateness, I am used to it with MV. MJ used to post once a week as I recall. Anyway, I only just came back to find you posting about lateness, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I wonder how long it will be before I realize that this is no dream&if at all, depending on how things go in your story. XD

The wind is indeed that special level of strength!

As you approach the Town ahead, you travel for about a mile over the small, pleasantly-grassy hills. You come upon a modest field of what looks like the beginning of corn growing in it. There are other small fields that you can see from here, wheat mostly.

A man walks among the growing corn and there's another examining the crop of wheat in the adjacent field. Neither seem to have taken note of you yet, and have their heads down to keep the sun out of their eyes while they work. The man in the corn field is wearing a blue, homespun shirt and some brown pants.

Between the corn field and the wheat field adjacent to it, you see a very simple dirt road that approaches the town directly. It starts here, at the edge of the fields before the grassy hills begin.

I'll cautiously approach the man in the corn field, or the wheat field if that is closer. I will quite deliberately step heavily, and if there is something I can knock over or lightly kick to make some noise as I approach I will. Provided said object won't break. I don't want to startle him.

When I get within 20 feet or when he notices me, I'll greet him.

"Hail, stranger! Would you be willing to provide some assistance to a poor lost man? I have no idea where we are. Can you help me?"

The man in the corn field notices your approach and waves at you. He takes a rag from his the back of his pants and wipes the sweat off of his face as he meets you halfway on your approach. Now that you're closer, you see he has a red tan on his skin from work in the sun and his eyes are a light blue. He shoves the rag back into his pants and offers you a hand. "Hail. Of course, friend! Come with me and take a spell in my home. The wife should be starting some stew soon for dinner, but you'll be able to find fresh water there for now."

Forgot one crucial thing earlier: Your stuff was strewn around you as if your house had disappeared and all of your possessions landed in the field gently so as not to break any of it. This is everything that was listed on your character sheet. Can I assume that you gathered those possessions, packed them up, and took them with you? Sorry, I understand this might change your IC response about being in a spirit world.

OOC: Oh, I assumed it must have landed elsewhere in your story.

Hmm&yeah, that will change that. Append to earlier:

And yet, all these things have come with me. I have never projected with my stuff before! I always just make anything I need. Just what is going on here?! Puzzled, I gather my things, shoulder my backpack and set my laptop bag over my head. I don't know what to think at this moment.

Now back to the rest.

Does the man seem friendly and trustworthy? Is he acting in a normal and genuine manner?

If he is, I will take him up on his offer, and take some of his water. I'll also offer to help him around his farm in exchange for his help.

If he seems at all suspicious to me, I'll do something else, based on exactly how he is acting.

You observe his manner. He smiles, gestures towards the house naturally and doesn't even bother looking behind you to see where you've come from. While he does seem a little suspicious, you sense that it comes more from a curiosity than outright suspicion. Either way, he seems to shrug it off. You're confident that he is genuine about helping you and getting you some food and water if you're hungry and thirsty.

Hmm. He doesn't seem like he'll be a problem, but just in case I better make sure to help him out in exchange for his help. I don't want to owe any obligations.

I will smile at him, happy that he seems genuine. "Well, I do appreciate the help. I'd be more than willing to help out around your farm in return, if you want." I'll take his hand that he offered, and give him a handshake. My handshakes are usually pretty casual, I don't grip very hard at all, but for this man I will increase that to a more average strength handshake. I don't want him thinking I'm a guy he can knock over, you know.

I'll proceed into the house if he offers, in front of him if he seems to want it that way, and I'll ask for somewhere to set my belongings.

You and he enter the house, which was only a short walk to reach. He explains that he was just about done inspecting the crop today anyways, but that there are plenty of other jobs to keep him busy. "For example, I haven't been able to stop a leak in that shed for over two weeks now." He gestures to a small building with a thatch roof, as opposed to the house's wooden roof. It rests between the house and the corn field. "But you're free to give it a shot if you want to. I've got a friend who's a thatcher, but he's been too busy to help anyone for a month now."

His wife greets both of you when she hears you talking inside.

"Penny, meet uh&Come to think of it, I forgot to introduce myself too. Sorry. I'm Mark, what's your name?" Mark the farmer asks you awkwardly.

Penny, his wife, just rolls her eyes, smiles, and curtsies "Penny." But they get you some cool water and offer to let you rest in an extra bed that they have if you'd like to.

"Hmm. If you've got a firing station, I could make you a better roof out of clay. It'll have plenty of cracks, yet will not leak. I don't know a lot about thatching, but I can do clay."

"Nice to meet you, Mark and Penny. I'm Brock."

I will accept the water and drink it. I'll pan my eyes around the house and examine the room briefly. I'm still a little suspicious, but he seems like a nice man.

OOC: There is a book, titled Wizard's First Rule, which is about the quest of a young man named Richard trying to save the world. Along the way, he comes to a people called the Mud People, who have roofs of thatch that leak badly. The Mud People have the magical ability to commune with their dead ancestors, and he needs that ability to help him find what he is after, so he seeks to better the Mud People's life so they will declare him one of them and then help him. It then goes into great detail about the way he shows them to make roofs out of clay tiles, and he sets the whole town to helping make them.

So, that wasn't an idle offer, I have an idea of how to do it.

The first thing you notice for this room is the several windows along the walls to include natural light to the home. The remainder of the walls are sparsely decorated mostly with plants and natural agents. No conventional paintings hang. From the furniture to the pitcher that Penny brings into the room to pour water from, you're fairly certain they're home-made, with all of the imperfections that go along with even skilled craftsmanship.

"That would be excellent, Brock." Mark takes a cup of water as well, and drinks heartily before refilling his cup from the pitcher. "I have a friend who owes me a favor from last harvest, and he just so happens to have a firing pit in his home. We could walk over there today, or maybe you'd prefer to take a rest first? I know how hard that sun can beat down." He wipes his brow with the back of his hand.

OOC: Understood. That book could give you a situation modifier for the skill check to learn how to fire clay for roofing. It sounds like you're offering to help him shingle his roof with clay tiles.

OOC: Yes, that is what I am saying. I have a good idea of how to make the mold for a clay tile, wave form, and then make the tiles to an even size and set them into the roof. I'd just need some wood and a lot of ready clay, and the firing station. I can use the wood to measure out the mold's shape before firing it.

How much time has passed that I was traveling? How tired am I? My backpack and laptop together weigh about 30 or 35 pounds (around 14-16 kilos), and I don't know just how far I walked with it.

If it is still fairly early, and I'm not tired:

IC: "Sure, Mark, I can do that any time. Now is fine. Are YOU wanting to rest, though? You looked to be working pretty hard in that sun when I got here. I don't mind waiting." I'll eye him, a bit concerned.

OOC: If it is getting late, or I am tired:

IC: "Hmm&resting first is probably a good idea. I wouldn't want to make any mistakes, and I have been walking awhile. You look like you have been working hard for awhile, yourself."

You estimate that you walked maybe three miles to get here, and that's a generous estimation; you don't feel tired from it, and it's sometime after noon, you're sure, but you aren't completely sure how much daylight you have left in the day. Anywhere from 2 to 5 hours.

OOC: In response to your IC 1.

Mark has another glass of water and sighs. "No, no. I appreciate your concern, Brock, but we can go out to do it today. I won't be helping you make a clay roof or anything , but I can easily walk you over to Joshua's and check out that firing station he's got."

He gets up, puts down his empty glass and leads you out of the house. After a long walk (approximately 1 mile), he takes you to a large farm with a wheat field directly in sight and you think that you see another crop further down that you can't recognize from this distance. Mark steps up to the porch of the wooden home and greets three young men (ages 16ish and two who are anywhere from 18-21). "Afternoon, boys. Joshua home?"

One of the two elder boys nods, and gestures behind the house. "Out back making a pot or something."

I will smile and wave at the boys if they look at me at all, and introduce myself if it seems appropriate. If a conversation starts, I'll explain that I am helping Mark with something, but we need Joshua's help with it too. And if they ask about me, I'll say I am a traveler that got lost, and Mark is helping me get my bearings again. I'll be friendly about it. Then I will follow Mark around back.

They give you no impression that they expect or even want you to talk to them as they continue with the conversation they were having before you arrived, as soon as you and Mark turn the corner of the house. You find Joshua in a back part of his home that has a wooden awning above it. In the open air, you spot a workbench, some buckets, and a small firing station built into the wall.

A man stands at the workbench pounding some clay into shape with his fists. You're not sure what he's making at his point, but he looks more like a baker playing with dough than a potter.

Mark greets him, "Joshua, you have a minute? My new friend here would like to talk to you about using your fire station." He nods you on to explain what you plan to use the fire station for.
January 19, 2014 at 4:03 am #98688 Reply

Gabrielle

Why users still make use of to read news papers when in this technological world all is existing on web?

"Hello, Joshua. My name is Brock. I'm a traveler who got more than a little turned around. Mark here is helping me out, and I'm doing him a favor in turn. I've agreed to make over his shed's roof, but I don't know thatching. I know clay a lot better. So, he brought me here, in the hopes that you would be willing to loan us the use of your firing station. Do you think you could helps us out, goodman? I'd be very appreciative."

"I don't have the clay to spare for some ridiculous project. Clay for a roof? Ha!" He's talking to Mark, who frowns and raises his eyebrows at him. He crosses his arms and stares at Joshua. The look alone does the trick. "Oh, fine!"

Joshua turns back to you, "Look, I can let you use the burner, but I really don't have the clay to spare. You," he puts a finger on Mark's chest, "will still have to pay me for the clay, but I am going to watch. I can't afford some amateur breaking my only burner." Mark holds his stare for another ten seconds then smiles, "Deal."

Mark looks at you, "Looks like we have a deal. And if you really can roof that shed so well, I know you won't have trouble finding help somewhere. Lo and behold, The Tower always provides. So, can you find your way back on your own? I'm going to head back to get some rest-I have to be up early in the morning."

"All righty, sounds like a deal. I think I can find my way back, Mark."

"Give me a minute to make the mold, and the clay and some straight strips of wood for measuring. It'll take a lot of tiles to make though, so if you have a wagon or something, it'd make it take less trips."

After Mark leaves, to Joshua "So, Joshua, you say you are having a clay shortage? Sounds like you could use a fresh deposit. If I see one in my travels that isn't too far, I could send word to you. If that is something you'd like?" In my head: That's right, keep it friendly. Don't want this to turn bad, so help people out. People don't want to hurt their friends.

"Well enough," Mark replies, "I have a cart we can use. Do you think you'll have them done tonight or do you want to use the cart in the morning?"

-=-

After Mark leaves, Joshua replies, "A fresh deposit would be great, but what would be better is if my sons weren't too lazy to go get the clay more than once a month from the river. Still, if you run across a larger deposit near here, I'd be happy if you'd let me know about it. Now, how do you plan on making a roof out of clay slats? I haven't seen anything but wood and thatch."

He invites you to use his supplies and his oven to cook the clay you mold.

I'll tell Mark that it doesn't take long with assistance, but if I work on my own it would probably be done tomorrow. I'll also mention to him that we are going to need to mortar the house with mud -- unless he has access to crushed powder of limestone and sand? If he doesn't know what I mean, I'll tell him that he will see tomorrow, and smile mysteriously.

To Joshua: "Well, sort of. I actually plan on using bricks and mortar. I just need to make a mold for the bricks, and then fire them. Most of the rest of the work can be done at Mark's. Do you work with clay for a living, or do you have more jobs? If you do this for a living, then you probably do this better than I can."

I'll gather up the materials and start working on the mold. I explain to Joshua the steps as I do them, if he seems interested. I am quite open to his help if he sees ways to do it better. I am forming it out of clay itself, then letting it dry. I'll be able to lay more prepared clay on the mold and push them together to force the wet clay into the shape of the bricks I need, and then take it off and fire it. I actually don't know how long this takes, so I'll have to guess once it is in the fire. I'm admittedly more likely to under fire than over fire, since I know that overheating it will make it crack and then be useless.

I'll also test the density after the first clay tile is made. I'll tap it with a hammer lightly. If it rings out or even makes a bell-like sound, then it is well made. If it doesn't, I need to work on it more and will keep testing them for quality. Plus, if the tapping cracks it, then I caught a bad one before it was used.

If Joshua says something to indicate he thinks I am not good at this, I'll agree with him, and tell him that I am a scholar, and I have admittedly never done this before myself. I just know how it is done.

Second post

I also have to guess how many tiles we need. I forgot to take a good look at the size of the shed before coming over here -- what do I remember of the shed's size?

Mark hasn't a clue what you're talking about, but takes you at your word and says, "Then I will see tomorrow."

Then, after Mark leaves and you begin talking to Joshua, he replies, "I only started working with clay this year, since my boys are old enough to work with some land I own further out. But I haven't been blessed with any true skill yet." Joshua watches you closely while you work on the mold and firing the clay properly. He lends you a small hammer to test them with.

You pick it up with your first clay tile easily, and reproduce the results several times. Joshua says nothing of the sort, and instead seems to finally brighten a little bit and get excited himself. He plays the eager assistant for you, first testing the tiles by using his hammer and then insisting that you let him fire some of the clay himself so that he can get the hang of it as well.

"And you say that these individual pieces of clay could be used to make a roof? A roof better than wood even?"

From what you saw earlier, Mark's shed without a roof would have an area that needed covering that's about 10ft by 10ft, and Joshua has more than enough clay to satisfy making that much, from your judgment.

OOC Query: Are you making the game's dice rolls for my character behind the scenes? I don't mind it, I am just curious. I sort of assumed I'd make them using Invisible Castle or some other similar website. Again, don't mind, just sort of want to know whats going on. ;)

IC: To Joshua: "Ah, so you don't know about this? That's exciting, I can bring new teachings to your people! Yeah, clay tiles are pretty sturdy. I'm not sure about better than wood, it would depend on the skill of the tiler and the clay versus the sturdiness of the wood. That's a bit more math than I really want to do right now.
I'll show you how to mortar if there is still light when this is all finished. Its not hard. You know how dried mud gets all sticky? Like, if you let a barrel or crate sit in a lot of mud and then let it dry over and over, it is very hard to remove it later? You can use that mud, or better yet limestone and sand ground up and mixed with&oh shoot, I don't remember if they mix it with water or something else! Oh, sorry. Yeah, use the mud to stick the tiles together that firmly. As long as you don't go climbing on the roof, the tiles stick together and won't be separated by anything short of a lightning bolt or a major windstorm, or tornado. Or some fool's weight on top of a single tile for too long. You can also do a double or triple layer for increased sturdiness, but you need better materials to maintain the mortar in that case. Assuming I remember correctly, of course.
Oh, and you can mix mud and water and some hay for binding to make bricks for building too. It just isn't as sturdy.
Oh, hey, you want to drop by tomorrow when we tile the roof? You can see how it is done."

If there is time after that coversation&.
"So, what is this Tower Mark mentioned? As I said before, I am from far away, and am actually lost here."

Lastly, the tiling. The tiles I imagine making are about a foot long, maybe 10 inches or 9 inches, somewhere around there. They would have a width of about 6 or 7 inches I'd say. The book did not go into exacting enough detail for me to know size, so I am guessing. Unless Verser-me guessed better than me. O_o

Anyway, I'll make enough tiles to cover all that, and then slap my head and exclaim "Oh, right the wooden buttress! I hope his shed has one, I don't know how thatching works. We may need wood. Darn it. Though a flat roof could be done, that would both limit space and make it prone to breaking."

OOC: Yes, and I forgot to tell you. For your records, you just gained the skill 1@1 Fire Clay T1@3. You had a very high percent chance of learning the skill, and your roll of a 45 was well within range. If you'd like, I could post OOC posts right here whenever I do rolls.

IC: Joshua listens the whole time while you explain using mud as mortar. "They might use sand and limestone inside town, or by the river, but we use what we have out around the farms, but I think you're right that mud would work fine. It would be easier to gather, too."

There's plenty of time while you're firing the clay shingles to talk fully. "The Tower." He says the words with awe, and also in a tone as if he's correcting you. "You've probably seen it already. It brings us what we need. Not always what we think we need, but what we really do. Crops, clean water, game to hunt, entire flocks of sheep, and even you. Perhaps it brought you for this roofing method, but I haven't really noticed a need. We get by well enough."

You make your batch of clay shingles with minimal failure. You feel like you pick it up pretty quickly considering how new it is to you. You mention needing wood, and Joshua just quietly speaks as he finishes checking more of the shingles. "Never fear. The Tower will surely provide."

OOC: I don't really need exact numbers per se, but I would like to know when something is being rolled. That way I can see how often rolls are being made for my character, and when to roll more difficult things. I GM a lot of games, and one of the hardest things to decide is when to make social rolls. Especially since it changes both by group and by system. Ya dig? It is especially important with MV, since most anything you can do can be a skill roll.

Also, isn't it an assumption in this game that my character has never heard of Multiverser? If so, has he heard of any other of the roleplay games where you walk between universes? There are a lot out there, and I play or have read many of them. There is also the movie "The One", with Jet Li. It is one of my favorites, and it features travel between multiverses so the antagonist can murder his alternate selves to gain their power, but the protagonist (the last alternate version of him) defeats and stops him.

Basically, how likely is it that I might come to the conclusion I am in another world, if it becomes obvious this is no dream? Because this place is clearly not Kansas, Toto.

IC: "Hmm. The Tower sounds somewhat like a deity. A supreme being that watches over its people and keeps them healthy and well. Has the Tower always been here, watching over the people of this land?"

For the record, I am creeped out about the tower. It may be something that shows, but I am trying to hide it. I think it sounds kind of like an eviler version of the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz. You know, someone who claims to be much more than they are and demands payment for not really doing much of anything? I think that the reality of this 'Tower' is someone lives inside, and is reaping benefit for the villager's beliefs. I'm thinking that tribute may be a thing here, so I'll inquire about that.

My character is thinking that maybe I was brought to this world to free these people and seek freedom for them. Maybe thats why my things were near me this time, it is stuff that establishes who I am and thus gives me credibility. I wouldn't have thought to create these things.

I am also starting to question how long I have been here. I don't normally walk through dreams this long.

"So, does the Tower need anything in return for what it does for your people? Do you have to like give a tribute or sacrifice? Maybe just worship on some special days? Or is it a benevolent entity that asks for nothing?"

Last thing -- how is the progress-with-the-job to light-left-in-the-day ratio? Does it look like we are going to finish with light left? I want to get back to Mark's while there is still light, I don't want to get lost.

OOC: I would like to run with the assumption you haven't heard of Multiverser, but that every other gaming system you've browsed, played in, or ran are all fine. Movies, too, for that matter. I remember seeing "The One" as well, and it was pretty interesting.

How likely you draw the conclusion that you're in another world, though, is entirely your own discretion. This place is indeed no Kansas, and I'm sure your character has already noted that; however, theorizing about the Multiverse is another step and I'm confidend in your play ability to keep it true to your character. There are several NPC theories about the Multiverse that are correct and incorrect and evne a little bit of both.

IC: "The Tower has always been, watching over us and protecting us from beyond the mountains." He gestures to the far-off mountains that are so great that you can see them even from here. Now that you're looking, they seem to encircle the entire, vast valley.

"The Tower does not ask for anything. People tell stories about how there used to be priests, agents of The Tower that walked among us and spread word about it to the town, collected our requests to help us prosper, but no one has seen a priest in over a lifetime. I don't know of anyone alive who actually has seen one. If you ask me, it's foolish. There's no one who could be important enough to actually enter The Tower. But to answer your question, no. It asks for nothing but our happiness and peace, which we all want anyways."

It looks like you have about an hour after you're done, based on the positioning of the sun in the sky, but you note that the days are probably shorter in this valley, because the sun eventually moves beyond that mountain chain.

"Very interesting. I have never come across any thing like the Tower in my travels. Well, thanks for all your help, Joshua. I'd best head back before all the light is gone, though. Probably see you tomorrow!"

Assuming there is nothing else he wanted to talk about, I'll head back to Mark's. If he is still up, I'll let him know that it is all ready and it did not take as long as I thought it would, especially with Joshua helping.

I also think by now I'm quite hungry and thirsty and tired, so I hope someone is waiting up for me. I don't want to walk in like I own the place and help myself. Would be rude. ><

"And I would say there's nothing left to see in your travels!" He's cheerful about this, and you can tell he's warmed to you while working with you on the clay tiles.

He brings up no other subjects to talk about, so I'm going to speed this up and get you back to Mark's. He sits on his porch looking out over the fields and up at the sky, which you also noticed on the way here. It's completely void of all clouds tonight, with just beautiful stars up above. You report your work to him, and he nods, "Excellent. I hope you don't mind, but it was getting dark, and we decided to eat earlier. There's food still inside, though, if you would like some. We made sure to keep some stew left over for you, and help yourself to the bread as well. It's all on the table."

Mark shows you inside, and also directs you to your bedroom before he heads into his own to join his wife. While showing you the bedroom you'll be sleeping in, though, you see the trace of a frown cross his face before he leaves you alone.

OOC: I assumed some things here about your actions. Feel free to interject anywhere.

OOC: Those actions are fine.

IC: When I see him frown, I'll raise an eyebrow and eye him for a second, as if to say "What?". If he just leaves, I'll eat and head to bed. Once in there I'm going to stay up awhile. I will sit down and think about my situation, and then meditate to relax my mind. I am keeping an ear out as well, just in case someone isn't as friendly as I thought. After about an hour to an hour and a half, I'll go to sleep, unless I hear creeping around.

He doesn't respond to your eyebrow, and you're not entirely sure that he even saw it. He just heads to bed.

After an hour and a half of staying awake, you finally get some sleep. When you wake, you wake up to the sounds of someone walking around in the main room and something being ground up. From here, it smells like some sort of mixture of flour, and pumpernickel (spelling?) bread. Natural light also shines brightly through a window in your room.

You stop for a second when you first wake up, and it feels like there's a buzzing in the back of your mind-you get a strong feeling that you've forgotten something very important, but can't remember it.

I'll take a minute, sit and think about what I might have forgotten, and then mentally run through everything I did yesterday. If it doesn't come to me, I'll forget about it and go out into the kitchen looking for Mark and/or breakfast.

OOC NOTE: I am a late riser almost always, even if I go to bed early. I don't know why. I have difficulty getting out of bed before 10:00 AM. I've been known to sleep from 9:00 PM to 10:30 AM.

You try to remember your thoughts from yesterday, but you're pretty sure everything's accounted for. You appeared with your possessions, walked to Mark's, went to Joshuas&fired the clay&returned to Mark's&and went to sleep. You accounted for everything already. As you go through the events, you become more sure that you didn't forget anything.

When you get to your feet, you feel extremely well-rested. The kind of rested that only a day of work and a good night's rest can get you. You head into the living area/kitchen and Mark's wife has prepared some sort of porridge, which honestly smells a bit bland. Both Mark and his wife greet you friendly, but it looks like Mark is almost finished with his food while his wife hasn't touched hers yet. There's a bowl there for you, too, and an empty place at their table.

OOC: Noted. Thank you for including that.

OOC 2: Also, I haven't run anyone online in a while. In real life, I like to go into this kind of detail, but if you ever feel like things are moving a bit too slowly, let me know. I understand that's a real possibility.

OOC: My character has forgotten all suspicion of the Tower, yes? O_o OK then, I'll do my best to RP that. This is going to be an interesting story! ^^ ANd no, I don't mind the pace. I prefer detailed games, which is the benefit of online play if you ask me. You get to cover everything more easily because you have time to sit and think before responding without holding up the whole game. That is a very nice thing for a GM, though it can lead to player metagaming. Which is why I don't mind you doing my rolls for me; It's hard to metagame or munchkin when I don't know what the rolls are.

IC: I will sit down and eat with them, and greet them with a friendly good morning. Since it looks like my suspicions have died overnight if I caught your drift correctly, then I would be quite friendly and greet them with a big smile.

I don't mind of the porridge is bland, I am used to unappetizing food having spent large portions of my life very poor. I am thankful to have anything ;). I will eat somewhat quickly after I greet them, because I want to get on with the work of the day. The sooner I have this roof done, the sooner I can gather information and then move on.

I am also quite concerned that I slept and woke at all. Where in the Sam Hill am I, and how do I get home? I've only stayed out of body this long once before, and that wasn't a good idea&.If I don't finish what I am here to do soon, I may need to will myself home!

OOC: Hehe, good luck with that Verser-me! XD

OOC: Oh, not at all about the Tower! You keep your suspicions, though I wish I had thought of that. You remember everything we role-played and felt briefly when you woke like you forgot something else important. It seems like you were going to mention the Tower during breakfast, so feel free to let me know about any changes in the above post. Sorry for the confusion. I'll post for you when you get back to me about any changes.

Interesting. In that case, append to the breakfast some conversation.

"So, you up for answering some questions before we get to work, Mark?"

If he is: "Cool! So, the biggest thing that concerns me right now is where exactly we are. As I said before, I am totally lost. Do you have a map, by any chance? I'd like a look at it if you do. And the other thing I wanted to know about is the Tower. I never heard of it where I'm from, and it sounds pretty important." After he answers "All right, good to know. Is there anything I shoul-, oh wait, actually is there a name for this land? That would help." After he answers "Ah. So, as I was saying, is there anything that I should know about <insert name of land>? Any unusual laws or other stuff you usually need to tell travelers?"

If he isn't: "Oh, that's too bad. I guess it will have to wait until after work then."

Second Post

Note for later: character is considering searching through possessions, thinking maybe that is what I am forgetting. I had just packed everything up and moved along, so maybe I missed something. I do not like the feeling of not remembering something. It is bothering me.

"Of course, Brock. What's on your mind?" He seems genuinely concerned.

Mark nods to your questions about where you are. "You're in the Vale now, Brock, under protection of The Tower. I'm sorry, I could draw you a rudimentary map if I had paper, but I'm afraid you'd have to go to Tower to get that. Oh, not to be confused with The Tower. Tower is what we call the town at the base of The Tower."

When you ask him about The Tower, he seems a little taken aback. "You've never heard about The Tower? Even outside? All of us who were brought here have. You must be from far away lands indeed to never have heard stories of The Tower. It protects us from the vandals and corrupt nations that would attempt to do it and its people harm. You must be chosen to come here, as well all have, as you have. It takes some adjustment, to be sure, but we all find our lives quickly enough here. And we all find our happiness too." He holds his wife close to him when he says that, and they both smile at one another.

Concerning laws and customs, "Well, one thing it took time getting used to for some newcomers has been the lack of coin-there's no currency in the Vale. We operate on loans and trade." You catch him glancing at the door to the room you slept in. "Also, try to stay True to The Tower. I know you don't know this land well yet, but you will learn everything it has to offer. Trust that The Tower will watch over you as it always has us, and you should be fine. No, you should be great."

OOC: I'll break this post up into conversational threads that we can follow. It's swifter than following one thread at a time, while still being coherent.

IC: On maps and travel: "I see, I see. Interesting name for a town. I actually have just gotten completely turned around. I want to figure out where I am and then head back home. I've been gone&.much longer than I intended to be. I don't really plan on staying. I have&someone who is waiting for me at home. Someone important."

When you ask him about The Tower, he seems a little taken aback. "You've never heard about The Tower? Even outside? All of us who were brought here have. You must be from far away lands indeed to never have heard stories of The Tower. It protects us from the vandals and corrupt nations that would attempt to do it and its people harm. You must be chosen to come here, as well all have, as you have. It takes some adjustment, to be sure, but we all find our lives quickly enough here. And we all find our happiness too." He holds his wife close to him when he says that, and they both smile at one another.

On the Tower's significance: "Oh, yes, I am from pretty far. How can the Tower protect you from vandals and even nations? Does it have some sort of mystical or divine power? Is&is it conscious? And what do you mean by staying True to the Tower?" I look surprised and a little overwhelmed at this point.

On money: "No currency at all? Inefficient, though it does reduce the possibility of theft. In secluded societies, a lack of currency promotes goodwill amongst neighbors. After all, if you are known for the best woodworking, and someone pops up with one of your carvings that you didn't sell&It works well then. The issue enters when you have neighboring lands that come to you, and want things. How do you discourage raids and war?"

On remaining here: "I don't think I am meant to stay here. I have been Called to many places, done many things, and helped many peoples, but always I move on and return home. Never have I stayed there. As far as I'm concerned, my purpose is to right wrongs where I see them, and live the best I can otherwise."

"Your past is gone, Brock. If this someone truly cares for you as well, they will be happy that you've found such a perfect new home."

You ask him about the Tower's significance, and he puts a reassuring hand on your shoulder. "Trust me, Brock, it is a good thing that The Tower watches over us, and it is unwise to question its nature. That will start you down a path that you might see as curiosity, but trying to unravel The Tower's secrets is a threat to it, and you may be&asked to leave&"

You mention that you don't believe you're meant to stay, and he drops his hand from your shoulder, shaking his head, "Please, leave it be, Brock. That's my only warning to you-leave it be and live happily! The Tower wouldn't have called you if you weren't meant to stay." His eyes are pleading with you now, intensely.

He seems to have completely forgotten your questions concerning currency and keeping raids and wars at bay, focused solely on you and The Tower.

On the tower: "I suppose it doesn't really matter that much. I don't need to know that badly. I am just&concerned. Sometimes the nicest things turn out to not be so nice after all, you know? Rest easy. I will set my curiosity aside."

On his insistence I stay: "My God&you're serious. I&I can't promise that. I have responsibilities. I have people that count on me, people that need me. Meeting my responsibilities, helping my family and all those I can, these things are too important to abandon. There are things much greater than my own life, much more important. I could not, will not rest easily if I do not know that those that matter most to me are safe and well. I might be willing to relocate here with my family, but forget them and focus on myself? And I already live happily. Times are hard, but I always find a way. And the kindness of men like yourself always helps. I know you mean well&but no. I can't promise to stay.

&Please understand, Mark. I don't begrudge you your happiness, your way of life. But I simply cannot say that I will stay here when I still have other business I must see to."

I will sigh, then look at him sadly for a moment. "&.I think it might be time for us to roof a shed."

"Very well," Mark calms down. "I apologize for being so adamant. I should have more faith-you'll come into the realization in your own time."

He sighs, and when you explain that you don't have any problems with his way of life, he lifts a hand up, "Don't mention it. I understand your thoughts and feelings. Almost everyone in the Vale does."

He becomes awkwardly quiet until you bring up working on the roof for the shed, and he just nods. "I have some work to do in the field, but I already got the wheelbarrow ready for you by the shed. I shouldn't be too hard for you to find if you need anything else."

I should also mention that during this conversation, Mark's wife has left the room and left you alone to talk together.

"The only thing I'll need is a bunch of mud. If you don't have any mud handy, we'll have to make it. You have plenty of dirt, I assume?" I'll say that with a twinkle in my eye and a cheesy smirk.

Before I leave: "The mortar won't be very strong with mud, so I wouldn't recommend standing on the roof of your shed once it is done, but since mud is what we have, mud is what we use. I'll need a lot of it, too -- it shrinks as it dries, so I have to use plenty to mortar with, more than seems necessary so the bond remains strong after the shrinkage. I'd also like you present when I do start, at least momentarily, so that you can see how it's done and redo it yourself if the roof is ever damaged."

When we are done talking: "All right then. I'll head over to Joshua's. I shall return in a while." And with that, I'll fetch a wheelbarrow and head out.

Second Post, OOC

While I am still wary, my first instinct sitting here at the computer typing this is not to worry about Mark's wife, and me and my character are still very similar, so I will go with instinct and not worry about it. Besides, I'm still worked up from both the disagreement and the excitement of doing something I've never done before that I have only read about, and so far doing it all right my first try. ^^

What? Don't look at me like that. I can be excited about my own intelligence without being rude about it! :P

Actually, Mark says he's got some very muddy ground on the far side of his field that still hasn't dried from heavy rain. You'll probably have to use the wheelbarrow for it when you get back, but that there's probably more than enough out there. He does not, however, usually keep mud handy.

You head out and find Joshua's house easy enough. It's a simple job-albeit harder than pushing the wheelbarrow there-getting the clay tiles back to Mark's. I want to note here that while it's not a full-fledged town, Joshua lives more in the local village instead of the short walk back where Mark lives. Some of the locals who don't recognize you smile at you, wave at you, but generally leave you alone when they see you're busy transporting those tiles.

Joshua asks if he can join you at Mark's to work on shingling the roof. When you're behind his house to pick up the ones you've made, you see that he's been practicing making consistently quality shingles as well. Some are better quality than yours, but there are only a few and they aren't much better quality than most that you made.

Somehow, I didn't think he keeps mud handy. :P

I will smile and wave back at the people, but move along.

I have no problem with Joshua coming along. I'll compliment him on the tiles, and tell him I think that he will be great at this and I am glad I was able to help him with my knowledge.

OOC: Sorry if my answer seems minimal, I'm sort of busy.

OOC: No problem about short posts.

IC: Joshua accepts your compliment and the two of you make it back to Mark's switching who is pushing the wheelbarrow as you go so that neither of you tire out. He takes most of the turns at it, actually. You get back to the shed where Mark, who seems to have cooled down significantly from working outside on his fields, decides to join you all. He helps unload the tiles so that you can take the wheelbarrow out to the mud to collect.

There's a wooden shovel right there near the shed, and it's only a matter of time before you return with the mud and can start getting to work on the roof.

It takes the majority of the day, and it's a relatively small roof and your first time trying this. After hours of work, where Joshua helps you constantly and Mark helps intermittently around his other chores, you make a basic tile roof. You're sure that it could handle simple rains and keep everything inside dry; however, you would strongly discourage anyone standing on it and you're not sure if it could handle heavy rainfall or intense storms.

Mark brings a few cups and a large jug of water outside to the shed, where the three of you are now taking shade, and says, "Thank you both for doing this for me. Brock, and Joshua." He seems a little surprised by Joshua's presence, but continues, "I would never have thought to do this myself."

OOC: You've got a 1@1 example, 12@2 bias, 2@1 BRA, which puts you more than high enough even considering the 3@3 of the skill you're trying to acquire with a roll of 5. You gain a new skill: 1@1 Roofing with Clay Tiles/Mud T3@3.

OOC: A roll of 5, huh? Isn't this a D% game with low numbers being better? It's been a long while. If it is, that is a really good roll.

IC: "Hey, no problem, man. I must say, I have never done anything like this before either. I just read a lot, and some of the things I have read are very educational. I am happy to share my knowledge. I must say that there must be something I am missing here, because that roof doesn't look as stable as the others I saw back home. It's like I thought, standing on it won't be a good idea. I am not sure whether I missed steps, or its the materials, or&.well, anyway, you guys know how to fix it since you helped make it, so if anything does happen it can be replaced. And hey, maybe you can figure out ways to improve upon the design! I sure don't know any." I am genuinely happy and satisfied about my work, and say this with a smile. It feels nice getting things done right on the first try, and also being helpful. I am also trying to not to sound like I am bragging, I don't like to brag even though I am quite satisfied.

"You know, if I wind up sticking around for awhile, and something else needs roofing, maybe you could show me how you guys put in those thatch roofs. I have no idea how it is done -- no one uses thatch back home, and I have never read about how it is made."

Moving on from here&.what time of day is it now? I want to know if there is time enough left in the day to set out for the town of Tower. I like these guys, but it is time to find out what has brought me here.

OOC: This is indeed a D% game, and a 5 is very commonly a success (required that there's any % chance of success for something in a certain world); however, the way the system works is that you're aiming for as high a success as possible. So between two individuals with 75% chance to learn to do something, the one who rolls a 75 will have a 1@3 skill ability level while the player that rolls a 1 will only have a 1@1 skill ability level. This applies for damage as well, where the higher you roll, the more damage you end up doing.

IC: You started working very early in the morning, so you had more time left in the day. Once the job is done, Joshua heads back home. "Definitely," he replies when you ask about thatching roofs. "Perhaps I could introduce you to someone who knows how, and he could teach you."

You judge that you have maybe 3 hours of sunlight left, 4 if you're lucky. Due to The Tower's size, it's hard to judge exactly how far away it is, but you believe that you could probably make it there by nightfall if you walked straight to it. Taking roads would give you a more indirect route, but it would be a safer one as well, especially travelling when travelling with diminishing visibility.

Actually, I wanted to head to the town of Tower, not to The Tower. Do I have time to do that?

"All right, thanks. Maybe on my way back, or sometime later, all right?"

If I have time by my judgement, then I will gather my things, bid my new friends goodbye, and head to Tower. Otherwise, let me know here.

If I do not know where Tower is (can't see it, road doesn't lead straight there, etc.), I'll ask Mark for directions.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Mark explains. "I thought I told you earlier. Tower is at the base of The Tower. A town built around it. It was where the inhabitants of the Valley first started. They found more comfort in being close to it, unlike today."

Mark says that he can show you the main roads to get to Tower, but that it might take you into the night. While there would surely be people to let you stay with them for the night in the town, you're welcome to stay at his place as long as you'd like to before heading out to investigate Tower for yourself.

"Ah, no, I don't think you had mentioned it. It does make sense, though. I assumed the Tower would be on the mountain, and the Town would be near the closest river or something."

"Hmm&I can probably head out now and just walk a little more briskly than usual. Do you think you could spare a little provisions? Just one or two meals worth of travel food should be sufficient."

Either way, I will set out now.

Mark tells you that you always have somewhere to stay here, if you like, and thanks you again for your help shingling the shed roof. He gives you enough bread so you can eat well for two days and eat poorly for roughly five. He lets you know that The Tower isn't in the mountains, but on the ground, in the middle of the valley.

So, you gather your possessions and strike out in the direction of town. Joshua accompanies you a short way, back to his house at the edge of a village, and points you along the main road that leads to Tower. It's a straight shot along this road. You can tell, because the land is flat here and you see the small town ahead and the white tower that comes straight from the ground and reaches all the way up beyond what you can see in the sky. The building is massive, and there's a small town in its shadow.

It's still getting late, but you strike out toward Tower. Any plans for the road?

Yeah. If I come across a rounded rock, a stump, a soft bed of grass, or something else it looks relatively comfy to sit on, I will stop and sort through my belongings. Two things of note leap out at me from my sheet.

"A photo of my girlfriend out at a restaurant smiling big, in backpack."
This one will make me smile, and also make me wonder. Why on Earth did this come with me? Just what is going on here??? I need to get home!

"Black Safelink Cell phone with 246 minutes remaining and unlimited texting as long as the service is in effect."
Now this could be useful. I am going to attempt to call home, and then call my girlfriend. I expect the service to be out, but on the off chance&.

After that, since the other stuff doesn't seem to help, I'll continue on. I am also on the lookout for a sturdy looking branch or staff that can be used as a walking stick or, in a pinch, as a weapon.

OOC: It occurs to me I ought to mention this. My girlfriend is very important to me, and one of my main motivations is going to be getting back home to her. However, she is a very private person, and she has asked I do not share her name or personal details with strangers on the internet. So, I will use a pseudonym for her on this site, if that's ok with you? We'll call her Carla. Anyway, since I am not going to share details about her, it'd probably be better for the story if I do not manage to contact her. Hard to roleplay her with no details, eh? Your choice, though, It's your game.

Looking at the picture brings back waves of nostalgia while you look at it.

Which are almost overwhelmed by your confusion when you attempt to turn on the Black Safelink Cell Phone. The phone doesn't activate or light up after holding down the power button for well over thirty seconds.

You don't encounter any likely walking sticks or staffs along the way, but on your trip toward Tower, the town becomes bigger in your view and The Tower becomes enormous. The road that you take seems to travel past The Tower, white in its brilliance even in the darkness of night. The Tower itself is surrounded by a well-kept circular yard that is encircled by about a foot-high stone fence the same white as The Tower. The town Tower is only a short block from here, but it requires walking past The Tower. The road runs just outside of the small fence and the yard within.

IC thoughts on the phone: What the? It was fully charged last I checked it, and even when it isn't it still boots then shuts back off. That is decidedly odd&.unless it isn't the real phone? Maybe it's here for me as a sort of comfort thing. But that can only mean I am going to be gone for a long time, right? This doesn't make sense&.

On the tower: I will walk up to the tower, look up to it for a moment, and then sigh and try to feel it. That is, I will try to view it's aura and sense if there are any buildups of energy around it. I am especially interested in knowing if these energies are negative or hostile in nature, or if they feel manipulative. I don't know whether this tower is benevolent or not, and I aim to find out.

OOC: I believe that there is energy in all things. I believe this energy is molded by the thought and emotions of sentients, of intelligent life. I believe that this is the reason that supernatural beings exist, that our belief shapes them into reality, in spirit worlds. I believe that this is the reason aura reading works -- the energy around people is tinted with their thoughts and emotions. It leaves impressions in the natural energy of the world. I am accustomed to feeling for these energies, which is why I put that skill on my sheet. Anyway, the Tower is the subject of what seems like worship here in this land, which means it is at the least being invested with power. There should be something to read, however faint. On the other hand, if the Tower has sentience and power of its own, or living things inside it, then I should feel the imprints of that. Either way, I expect to feel something here. Whether this works or not, my character believes it will, and may even delude himself into thinking he got something when he really did not. If that happens, I would probably go with what I was already suspecting, which would be that the Tower is not friendly but rather is dominating. Why else would I be here?

Let me ask you a question really quick.

Are you attempting the skill I have down for you right now, Aura Reading, or are you attempting a different skill here where you want to sense impressions and essentially good/evil alignment of The Tower and anyone/thing within it?

I think that Multiverser defines what I am doing as a new use? It is more than just aura reading, it is psychometry. I've tried it before, but it is a little more difficult. If the Tower is alive or has purpose, it should have a normal aura. If it is a place, or a convergence of energies, it should have a vague impression which will be more difficult to read without meditating on it.

I am attempting to read the aura of the entire Tower and/or anything residing in it. I want to know if it is a place of anger, happiness, sadness, hurt, love, whatever it is. And I want to sense if the energy of this place is ALIVE. That is the biggy; dos it have purpose within it, or is it like the ambient energies of the world? And then the strength of the aura, from overwhelming to barely detectable.

It is definitely not alignment; I don't believe that anything is simply good or evil. I see the world in shades of grey.

Second Post

Hey, man, it's been a week, so I am going to be checking this a little less frequently until you answer. If it takes me a couple days to get back to this, that's why. I figure you must be busy, so&be back every few days.

Sorry that this took so long. While my absence was out of my control, I apologize for not being able to post sooner. I've been trying to access the site for a week now.

IC: You reach out and try to sense the history and feelings that surround the tower, but you're met with nothing. No, the sensation isn't quite like that. Rather, you can't seem to feel anything, like you're doing it wrong and can't quite comprehend what exactly you're missing when you try to reach out and perform your psychometry.

The Tower continues to stand dizzyingly tall above you, but you fail to glean any information from it.

IC: Gah, I hate it when I get nothing. I wonder if that is significant at all&. With my attempt fruitless, I will walk into the town and look around. What do I see? I am hoping to see an inn of some kind, or a public house.

OOC: Ah, the site troubles? I haven't had any. Just lucky I guess. Eh, its ok. I can wait, but my SOP when I do have to wait is to check less frequently. So you know ;).

OOC: Yeah, no problems. I try to give warning if I ever go on vacation, so if I ever disappear without any notice, it's because of something urgent/important or technical issues.

IC: It's starting to get dark now, so you're glad to finally be stepping into town. The roads are empty of people, but there are several wooden buildings, many of which look like they could be homes, shops, or both. You also note that many have wooden roofs, while some smaller ones have thatched. All the light in the world is coming from the heavens now and one inn, which you see has a bed painted on it and a name: The Sleeping Giant.

Inside, you hear some conversations muffled by the wooden walls of the building. You also hear music coming from string instruments through the walls, but no tunes that you recognize.

I am going to head into the building and try to find the innkeeper. When i find him, I will hail him and tell him I am new in this region, and tell him I am willing to work in exchange for lodging for one night.

You enter the inn and see that it doubles as a small bar as well. There are a couple of people enjoying a meal in the corner, you see that there are two people playing string instruments in a corner for fun while five people are gathered around them spinning and clapping.

You smell some base alcohol in the air, but when you approach the innkeep, who stands at the bar, he's cleaning a glass. He greets you amiably when you tell him you're new to the region. "Ah, New to the Vale!" He announces to the room. Everyone stops what they're doing, and many come up to you to slap you on the back. You receive several welcomes and the innkeep additionally announces, "Drinks on the house in honor of our new friend!"

"Here, here!" Everyone hollers, and the music picks back up again. He pours a red liquid, which you recognize is probably wine, from a large ceramic jug into a smaller cup for you. The inkeep says, "Here, friend, drink up. There are surprisingly few The Tower brings to us in these times, so have your fill and a free room tonight, to help you find your feet here."

Heads up. I might not post for a little. My surface charger has gone missing. Could be hours to days before it is found/replaced. Maybe late as Monday.

IC: Huh. this place is lively. I have always wanted to go somewhere where I can dance :D.
After everyone fusses over me, I am thinking "I am getting a "One of us, one of us, one of US!" vibe from this place. Ugh. *Shivers*."

I will thank the innkeeper, sit down, and pretend to sip the wine. I will also look around and see what kind of people are around. Do they seem like ordinary villagers? Is anything off, or is anyone weird?

Whichever way, after that I will inquire of the innkeeper or of anyone sitting near me "Hey, there, friend! Care to tell me about the Vale? What is it like living here?"

OOC: Roger Roger.

You watch everyone, and you can't help but feel like they are acting normal-a little bit too close to what you'd expect from happy townsfolk. Occasionally, you notice that a few of them keep turning their heads to watch you, while they're dancing or drinking or singing or talking, but they turn their heads back to what they're doing when you look back.

When you're about to address the innkeeper again, who is also working as the barkeeper tonight, a woman comes up from the group of people dancing and grabs you by your arm. "You can't stay at the bar all night-come dance with us!" You've been watching them dance. It seems like they're doing a relatively simple step that you're pretty sure you could copy with a little bit of effort, if you were to try to dance with them.

OOC: Ah, that reminds me. I do dance. I have been taught the two step and the waltz, and I have practiced it at home many times with my family. I didn't really consider it worth mentioning for skills. So, yes, a new dance? I'd love to learn it.

IC: OK&this is about as expected. I am very much getting a "One of us, One of us!" vibe here. *Sigh* time to figure out what to do about it. I have a feeling this may take awhile.

When the woman grabs my arm, I will go willingly, leaving my things by the bar, and throw my all into the dance. I may even look a little silly, but I don't care. Dance is about fun! Also, of the music is at all familiar or seems like something that I can do the two step or the waltz to, then I will teach her my own dance after I learn hers. Might be nice to have a new dance I can do when I get home ;). Side note, I am being careful not to seem flirty with any of these ladies. I don't want to hurt feelings when I say no later, and I apparently flirt unconsciously when I let myself like a woman as something other than a sister (or so I am told).

There are men and women involved in the dance, and she brings you in to the beginning of a line dance that you've never seen before. You pick it up well after observing and getting a solid example from your new dance partner, who also picks up the Two-Step and Waltz quickly. You two dance for about half an hour to the music, and she expands the waltz a little bit with some improvised dance maneuvers.

You don't get the impression that she took any of your dancing as anything but friendly, but after about half and hour, she smiles widely and says, "Sincerely, welcome to Tower, and the Vale. I hope you do find your place here, but I must go home before my family finds me missing. Jack, walk me home!" A young man who's been dancing as well excitedly takes her by the arm, and walks out with her, nodding to you on his way out.

You hear them talk excitedly about you and your dancing on their way out.

The party, it seems, is dying down. It's starting to get late, and the music has stopped. While there are a few people left finishing their drinks, the innkeeper taps you on the shoulder, "Early down and early up, my friend? Can I show you to your room for tonight?"

OOC: Please tell me: What SAL did I gain? Or is there not a skill for that?

I am thinking that if I don't find a for sure reason for my being here within a week or so, and I don't find information about where I am, I will start looking for ways home.

IC: Wooo! I love improvisation in dancing! I'm sure that this was very fun. :D

Oh, she must be with Jack. That's good. Glad I didn't screw that up. Or so I think ;)

After it all dies down, I will indeed go to bed. I will thank the innkeeper very much, and then I will set my things down (under the bed if possible) and lie down. I will listen to the sounds outside my room for a few minutes before I let myself drift off. Just in case.

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?"

Hey, sorry to do this to you, but I've been having a lot of trouble getting on GO lately. Let's move over to RPOL now. It's easy to make an account, the site is well-maintained, and I can't guarantee regular posting here.

Also, I'd copy that post of yours and repost it in your RTJ, where you need to notify me who you are.

Thanks for understanding, and I hope to see you over on RPOL soon.

The general website is / and the game name you'll want to search for is Worldwalker, run by OakMaster.