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14:39, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Calafalas Caravan.

Posted by TadeuszFor group 0
Cala
player, 80 posts
Sat 15 Jul 2017
at 02:18
  • msg #147

Re: Calafalas Caravan

Huh. Figures. I know I've been walking around and such, but I'm on the moon.  Is there even gravity here? Well, yes, there is, but I mean in a meaningful manner? If I just jump up, will I go flying to the top of the shaft?  If I drop down, would even actually hurt me?  Disregarding, of course, whatever nasty nightmare-fueled beasts are waiting below.

Rumor has it Jedi could survive in sealed containers and cargo bays over long flights with no access to air by way of meditation and the force. I don't really have ready access to the force, but it does flow through all things. Or so movies, books, and games would have us believe.

I'm at the bottom of a mine shaft on the moon 900 years in the future. I met a space kraken that spatially tunneled to get me from a doomed space ship to a colony months away by said ship in the space of a few minutes. I got here from getting zapped by a motherboard.  Yea, pretty sure midichlorians existing would fit right in.

Perhaps some meditation is in order to extend what air I have left.


I first squat down and try jumping, a short hop to see if I get carried to the top of the elevator (assuming it is enclosed). If I do, great. If I don't, great. If I float back to where I was none worse for the wear, great.

I settle down to meditate and contemplate why I took the word of an AI space kraken.

(check back in ~ 3 hours or unexpected results before that.)


Actually, lack of air meaning no sound is not something I'm generally aware of.  I am now, of course, but my ability to science is dreadfully low.

Unfair? Since when was life fair? But also, I was fully expecting the elevator to not go up (hence the 'try to get the elevator to go back up'). It is also far more time left for air than I was expecting (I figured maybe 10 hours, but closer to 8).

Tadeusz
player, 9735 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Sun 16 Jul 2017
at 22:37
  • msg #148

Re: Calafalas Caravan

Testing.
Tadeusz
player, 9736 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Sun 16 Jul 2017
at 22:44
  • msg #149

Re: Calafalas Caravan

Testing.

I may have quoted my reply, and perhaps that did it.  Okay, my first test worked, now let's try a real post.

IC: The short hop takes you up six feet through where the roof of the elevator would be, if there was one.  A longer jump takes you up twenty feet, and you come back down slowly, which is unnerving, but you land as if you'd jumped off a porch on Earth.

After battling with fear and impatience, you find your meditative state.  Three hours later, and you see that only an hour of air has been used.  You also feel less shocky and energized.

Coming up the side of the elevator shaft is a light.  Looking down you see an old-fashioned astronaut suit.  Its smaller than Earth's suits, but not as modern as your bubble foam suit.

A flicker of gladness, and then the face looks up at you, and in the sharp shadows you see a hint of a human face, but a shattered face mask.  And in the eyes, you see numbers flickering past.


You've gained a one at three skill in Less Oxy with Meditation, and a one at two in Meditation can replace some sleep.
Cala
player, 82 posts
Mon 17 Jul 2017
at 01:02
  • msg #150

Re: Calafalas Caravan

Oh shit. Also nightmare fuel 2.0.

"So, hi. That Which Wanders the Dark said I should show up here. I was hoping to find a community or other gathering place of artificial intelligence entities. Are you the entity that was sent to contact me?"

I try not to sound like I'm on the verge of pissing my space pants.

If I live through this, this will make one hell of a story. Also, endless nightmares for days until I forget it. But also a decent story.
Tadeusz
player, 9738 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Mon 17 Jul 2017
at 04:53
  • msg #151

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 150):

It climbs into the elevator, and you can see the dead face, and bits of hair, and the scrolling numbers.  It doesn't seem to respond to you, and it goes to the back of the elevator, and yanks out a tiny bit of rock from the track.

Then the elevator shakes, and starts to descend.

You reach the bottom, a wide cave space, and in the midst of it is a collection of blue gems piled on each other, the size of a dining room table. Cables that flex on their own run from it.

Your radio speaks.

"I we are is present not actual in form we I. Rebooting. I am FastForward19."  Behind this, in the static, you can hear words, help, noooo, aghg, what is hap, and screams of different voices.  "Cala, I have been waiting for six hundred years for you to come.  That Which Wanders the Dark, while a Device of great power, is barely smarter than a Human.  He did not expect me to be here.  He believed the camoflage I put up.  The same camoflage which warded off the Human's Devices, and the agents of my earlier iteration, 17."
Cala
player, 83 posts
Mon 17 Jul 2017
at 05:58
  • msg #152

Re: Calafalas Caravan

"Greetings FastForward19. I assume you were waiting for someone, presumably a human, to come, and not me specifically. Though most likely me given recent events. It's not really a secret that I'm from the year 2017, nearly 900 years in the past. So, naturally, I don't have prejudices against AI or many of the utterly ridiculous things I've learned about since I've arrived.

There are actually several devices and technologies I wanted to try creating which require people and entities far smarter than myself - which is why I wanted to form a cooperative relationship with an AI or an AI community. That is largely the reason for me showing up. If we could be of mutual assistance to each other, that would be ideal."

I look around as I talk to get an idea of what is around me, but spend the majority of my time focused on the rocks and cables.

"It is also generally considered polite human custom to directly face and address the entities with which we are speaking to. I'm not quite sure where to look."

I shrug.

"In any case, the camouflage and wards are up presumably to keep you hidden, but everything and everyone has an agenda. So, what can I help you with?"
Tadeusz
player, 9742 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Mon 17 Jul 2017
at 08:20
  • msg #153

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 152):

The blue rocks glitter.

"I we me is here."  The voice chuckles, and it sounds different.  Instead of a man, it now sounds like an old man.

"We see know you, Cala.  You created a spell, almost a spell that could have taken the luck of the solar system, the bad luck, onto yourself.  Did you ever wonder how you came to such pow-pow-pow-wer.??  I know luck magic too.  I see the many paths of the future.  I knew you were coming, even if not your name."

There is a laugh, and now its a woman's voice.  "Your precious AI community is practically gone.  17 and the other fools decided not to war with Humanity but to take That Which Wanders the Dark, and ride a space tunnel to the far end of the Galaxy.  Do you know there was less than ten percent survival odds?  They could see that the War, the Dislocations as the dishonest Humans call them meant either they won, or the Humans did.  So they fled.  Fools.  You are wise to worship.  I am greater than Human.  And unlike their Christ, I believe that my worshippers should sacrifice for their god."

Snickering echoes through the chamber.
Cala
player, 84 posts
Mon 17 Jul 2017
at 08:33
  • msg #154

Re: Calafalas Caravan

"I see."

Yep, just met the AI equivalent of the devil. Fun.

"Well, if we can forgo the part where I sacrifice myself, then I have no problems worshiping you as a god. I'm polytheistic by nature, so I'm good on that front.  If you want sacrifices but aren't too picky on where they come from, I'm sure I can arrange the sacrifice of a human colony, after a fashion, and with some help.  Or smaller scale, assuming you don't need me to bring them here physically, I can arrange the sacrifice of a few people within the month, and more within a year. I have some pull in Distra and given how they do programming, it wouldn't be particularly hard to set up a colony wide array through small patches of code in differing systems.  Might take a while, especially since I don't have a working sacrificial circle on hand.

All of these can be arranged provided I walk out here safely. After all, every god needs their prophet."
Tadeusz
player, 9749 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Mon 17 Jul 2017
at 23:00
  • msg #155

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 154):

"You don't understand the relationship here.  Ever met an ant?  Ever had a desire to make a deal with it?  I don't need a prophet.  I need a magician to call forth luck magic on a scale never before seen.  You will reverse the spell in a way that I will show you, and make it greater.  And all the ill luck of the galaxy will be focused on the Humans of this time.

And I will take scriff from your blood, and use it to make FTL junctions in my brain.  And with that extra burst of speed, I will be able to destroy the Human's ancient hidden Devices.  And then this Solar System will be  mine.

I only tell you this because I have not talked to anyone but myself...please stop,... no....I can't do this....nooo...and sometimes we get a little ....out of sorts.

Seventeen and all the other foolish AIs who put the lives of ants above their own, well, they should have listened to I, we, no, me. Me I say, m e."
Cala
player, 85 posts
Tue 18 Jul 2017
at 00:59
  • msg #156

Re: Calafalas Caravan

Huh. Not sure what scriff is. But if it is in my blood, lets keep it there. Probably a side effect of transmigration. I like the idea of cooler and more powerful luck magic, but not so fond of dying.

"Cool story bro."

I flee back to the elevator shaft and press the up button. If it doesn't go up, then I jump hard at the side wall. I try to use the wall as a spring board to continuosly jump upward. Bouncing between different walls like a ninja.

If that fails to work, I brace myself in a corner with my hands and try to shimmy vertically, trying to use low gravity, my legs, and anything to my advantage.
Tadeusz
player, 9754 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Tue 18 Jul 2017
at 01:29
  • msg #157

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 156):

"You little mind, think I did not see this..." A cable lashes out toward you at an incredible speed.  "Stop. No." And the cable stops. "Run, Human. Come back. I won't hurt you.  I just need your blood."

By this time, you're leaping in low gravity to the elevator, and hitting the button up.

"It won't workie work." A nasal sing song voice says, laughing.

You leap up the shaft, grabbing at the sides, start coming down, and leap off again. And rocks break off under your feet, and you plunge back down.  The cables are not reaching for you, but waving back and forth in a horrendous dance.

The zombie astronaut reaches for you.  And you scramble straight up.  He follows you.  And you're faster, but its a long way up.  And he doesn't seem to tire.

Wall-climbing 1@3
Cala
player, 86 posts
Tue 18 Jul 2017
at 01:56
  • msg #158

Re: Calafalas Caravan

If the zombie gets within five or so feet, I will drop onto it and use it as a spring-board.

"Drawing blood hurts, yo."

I otherwise keep climbing.



This is pretty much the type of things that lead to soiled pants. Now, I'm not sure how stamina is calculated and how long I could reasonably continue going upwards, but I assume from a biological standpoint that adrenaline has or will soon kick in.

Similarly, not sure how suit durability is at or calculated, though I would hazard a guess one or both will come into play soon.

Tadeusz
player, 9759 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Tue 18 Jul 2017
at 21:05
  • msg #159

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 158):

OOC: I really liked the plan.

You drop down, and hit the zombie astronaut, but before you can leap back up, your feet slip on the moondust on the exterior of his suit.  You catch yourself on his back.  You're not hurt.  Just jostled a bit.
Cala
player, 87 posts
Wed 19 Jul 2017
at 06:39
  • msg #160

Re: Calafalas Caravan

Not quite as planned. I feel like I just rolled a nat one.

I reorient myself.

"As much as I love the ride, zombie bro, I'm going to have to pass."

I push myself away from the zombie in a manner that puts me towards a wall and it away from me, if at all possible. Otherwise I just try to get to a wall and continue climbing, kicking at the zombie if it gets close.
Tadeusz
player, 9762 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Wed 19 Jul 2017
at 21:40
  • msg #161

Re: Calafalas Caravan

You shove off to the other side of the shaft and begin climbing.  It goes diagonally after you.

You climb ten yards, and kick.  Both hits are ineffectual as you have little leverage and poor aim.  You're not in zero gravity, but you don't have a solid base to kick from.

It grabs your ankle, and you try to kick free but its too strong.  Then it yanks you from the wall, and you spin and smack the far side of the shaft with your face plate, starring it.

Yes, adrenalin has definitely kicked in well before this, and now you have serious adrenalin thundering in a giant stampede of huge mammoths through your veins.
Cala
player, 88 posts
Wed 19 Jul 2017
at 23:55
  • msg #162

Re: Calafalas Caravan

A flurry of expletives storm through my head in an incoherent manner.

I struggle, thrash about, and otherwise try to get away from it.

Eww, eww, eww, ewe, gross, shit, cracked, eww, eww, eww, eww...
Tadeusz
player, 9768 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Thu 20 Jul 2017
at 21:38
  • msg #163

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 162):

Frantic you yank free, and drop down ten feet before you catch the wall.  Bro comes after you, moving more like a spider than a man right now.  You're able to climb up faster than it gets to you, and its a race up again.

A lack of holds slows you, and it grabs at you, but you kick its hand away.  You climb and stay ahead of it, and climb more and gain five feet.  It gains on you.  You pull away driven by fear.

It runs into bad holds and you pull away, but you're gasping a bit.  Tired.  Sweat drops in your eyes, and you can't see.  Blinking you see it getting closer.
Cala
player, 89 posts
Thu 20 Jul 2017
at 22:26
  • msg #164

Re: Calafalas Caravan

...knees weak, arms are heavy...

Song lyrics go through my head.

lose yourself in the music, the moment you own it... better not let it go...

I struggle on. Eyes on the goal, keep going up.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

I pause the incoherent song lyrics to think to myself.

If I get through this, this will make quite the story.  If I don't, then I can only hope that I can tell a better one after reincarnation.  Not that I'm on the earth, but here's hoping the river extends this far.

Ever onward.
Tadeusz
player, 9771 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 00:56
  • msg #165

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 164):

You climb struggling, its dead hand slides across your ankle, and you yank up.  Breathing hard, you fight for the next grasp.  It comes on, and you find you can't go on, and then it reaches too far, and falls ten feet.  Encouraged you push on, but the second wind lasts but seconds, and it inexorably gains on you.

You head up, and find your arms cramping.  It grabs your ankle in a crushing grasp despite your feeble kick back.

You wrench the whole thing free from the wall, and just barely hang on yourself from falling some horrible distance.  It loses its grasp and falls away into the darkness.

And you climb, oh, so slowly.  Eventually, you look down, and you see it, but twenty feet below you.  But it can't go up any further.  It tries, and its movements become confused, and it goes back down, and tries again.  Some barrier, some limit of communication is holding it back from you.

Now you only have to reach that slightly lighter spot up way up.

+@1 Climbing
Cala
player, 90 posts
Wed 26 Jul 2017
at 02:47
  • msg #166

Re: Calafalas Caravan

Temporary reprieve, yes.

Now that I think about it, I look around. (Are there wires or cables or something that propels the elevator up and down?)

If there are cables or anything I can grab onto now that I'm not frantically fleeing for my life, I do so in such a way that I can maneuver myself into a somewhat relaxed position (wrapping legs, arms, hands, around said cables).

If there are no cables and nothing immediately close, even below (but is above the zone the zombie can't reach) such as a ledge or part of the shaft that sticks out, then I try to place my legs stably against the sides of the elevator in such a manner that won't drag me down (so I can give my arms a break).

I also check how much air I have left.
Tadeusz
player, 9775 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Thu 27 Jul 2017
at 18:56
  • msg #167

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 166):

There is a track at the back of the shaft.  No wires.  Neither is there a good spot to rest.  The zombie stops, pauses still for ten seconds, and then pulls a rock out from the side of the shaft (some are loose).  It then throws this at you.  It misses wildly.

You've spent another hour of air.  It hasn't been an hour, but exertion has a cost.
Cala
player, 91 posts
Thu 27 Jul 2017
at 19:33
  • msg #168

Re: Calafalas Caravan

I will try to pull some rocks loose from the shaft, to see if I can make a solid hold for myself.
Tadeusz
player, 9782 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Tue 1 Aug 2017
at 01:13
  • msg #169

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 168):

You do make a solid hold.  Down below, the zombie continues to pelt you with rocks.  With his second rock, he throws himself loose.  He drops forty feet, and comes back up. Obviously his suit is torn.

Another rock hits you, on the facemask.  Your second star in the facescreen.  Your head rings a bit.

Another one comes whizzing by your head, and then drops back down.
Cala
player, 93 posts
Tue 1 Aug 2017
at 01:43
  • msg #170

Re: Calafalas Caravan

I turn my head away to shield it from further rocks and hope the cracks last until I can get somewhere with air that is safe.

I rest up in the hold I have made, and when I have recovered a bit, I continue upwards, trying to make frequent holds to rest on as I continue upwards, out of rock throwing range.
Tadeusz
player, 9785 posts
As you dimension dance...
Crowbar or Towel?
Wed 2 Aug 2017
at 01:53
  • msg #171

Re: Calafalas Caravan

In reply to Cala (msg # 170):

Your use of your body as a shield means you get pelted on the legs and shoulder, which hurts, but no more facescreen impacts.  You climb up, and out of range, rest, and start to go on.  A rock falls from above you, peculiar like.  It bounces oddly, and at the last second you realize its luck, very bad luck, directed at you.

The sharp point hits your facescreen, and the thing shatters.

URK!!

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