New thread for Tadeusz, GMed by JohnA1nut.   :)

As your body slams into the ground, you see visions of skeletal giants teaching Campbell how to use the giant armor and pointing out to him the plant which will cure the zombie plague.

Then you wake up. You're laying on hard-packed earth outside. You see two people, a man and a woman, both kneeling and laying prostrate before you. Behind them is a vegetable garden and a stone house.

The man gingerly raises his head and says "You are a giant and you wear the armor of the gods. Please do not harm us, as your giant nature no doubt compels you to do."

Then he returns to laying face down, prostrate.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 2):

I sit up, hoping that Campbell actually succeeded.  Now, I'm somewhere else.

What type of clothing is the man wearing?

"Please, man, do not bow to me.  I have no desire to harm you.  Nor you, woman.  Please, let us be at peace."

They both wearing mustard yellow tunics that look like they were woven as a single piece of material. The waists are tied with a leather belt. They're wearing sandals.



They both rise to their feet, as do you. They're both a shade over 4 feet tall. The man is slightly taller. They're keeping their heads bowed and their eyes raised, in fear and respect.

The woman nudges her husband and whisper-speaks "Yrem, he can help me."

And the man whisper-says back "Tracy, he is a giant blood and our better. He is not to be bothered by our trivialities."

But then she bursts out crying to you. "Good sir. Cherneth desired me on my wedding night. When I refused to submit myself to him, he cursed me so that I could not bear children. I wish to have many fine sons, and also daughters, but I have none. My husband is a good man. He did not forsake me. But he's all I have. Can you help us? Please?"

As a few tears roll down her cheeks. Her husband looks like he's either expecting you to slap somebody or like he's going to slap her.

And through the head's up display in your helmet, you see a metal rod about the size of a small nail embedded in her stomach. It's radiating some form of energy. It looks like it could easily be removed by a guy with a magnetic gauntlet.

OOC) You should recognize this world. It was Magehammer's favorite.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 4):

I kneel to one knee, and look up.

"Lord God of Heaven, aid me to help this good woman, and good man that your Name be raised high."  And then I gently reach out, and try to pull out the nail.  As I do so, I try to put out of my mind this Cherneth fellow, but yeah, I'm thinking a conversation with him is in my near future.  The type of convo where my fists do the talking.

OOC: Heh.  :)

You pray, then you place and activate the magnet. She screams in terror and in pain, but begs you not to stop what you're doing. (Remember, your magnet hand just rips it out from underneath their skin.) You rip it through her belly and through her tunic. Leaving a nice bloody mess. However, a second placement of the gauntlet heals that wound completely. She's left with a bloody hole in her tunic and no injuries. There's not even a scar.

And somehow she can tell that it's been removed. She asks to see it. It's a piece of the same bluish iron alloy that your armor is made from.

But they both drop to their knees before you giving thanks. You are welcome to stay with them, or they can tell you which way is town, if you prefer.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 6):

I say as politely as I can.

"Which way to Cherneth?"

I take off running at a good run, then lower it to an energy saving, distance eating lope.  It must be my 'giant blood' but I'm feeling the need for smash.

They point you in the direction of the city in which he lives. He rules it, actually.

The man ponders for a moment and says "I believe this is the week of pacification. He should be there."

But they won't tell you more than that.

So you take off running. Glancing back, you see them gleefully running into the house. Your boots have charged sufficiently that "A good run" as you put it maxes out at what you would estimate to be about 50-60 MPH. This continues for about 30 minutes. But then the energy cells are drained and your "energy saving, distance eating lope" is just you jogging at 5-6 MPH. But you're in good shape. The boot-assisted run didn't drain your power cells at all.

The town is just ahead. It's a walled city. The walls are maybe 6 feet tall. At the gate stand two guards, both about 5 feet tall. They're wearing leather and copper armor and carrying copper swords and spears. When you approach, first they both drop down on one knee and bow their heads before you. Then they rise to standing and stand aside whilst you enter.

Most of the people you pass are about 4 and a half feet tall at the median. A few five footers. The people are milling about doing this and that. There's a pottery maker, coppersmith, leatherworker. And people milling about. When you walk past, everyone drops down on their right knee and bows their head until you pass. After you pass, they stand up and resume what they were doing.

You see a young boy of about 10 years old. He's 3 feet tall. He must be the town crier. He's calling out "Pacification week. Pacification week. All men are required to line up at the temple to be pacified."

When he sees you, he again kneels but says with fear and respect "Cherneth says that includes you Giant Blood."

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Thu 15 Mar 2018.

"Thank you, young man." I nod, smile faintly, and head to the temple.  I'm not good at it, but in between spatters of prayer, I try whistling 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly'.  Roll my shoulders, pop my neck, flex my knees.

I walk into the temple, quiet, and reserved, my emotional mask up, ready for trouble.

OOC) But NOT letting your armor charge......



As you walk, people continue to kneel before you, rising and resuming once you pass. When you get to the temple, it's an outdoor kind of place. There's a line of men at least 100 yards long. Even a few giant bloods. No one other than Cherneth with the armor though. Cherneth is about 5 foot 6 and hairy. He's probably got hair on his palms and the soles of his feet. He's taking the men one by one in a headlock, and tapping them on the head with a hammer. Briefly a white aura flows from their heads into the hammer. Cherneth is wearing a gauntlet and boots just like yours.

Before the men get to Cherneth, they're being men. Talkative, complaining about the wait. Loud and what not. When he finishes with the men, they're quiet and serene. You could hit them with a baseball bat and they'd just smile and wave at you. About half of them run delightedly to a woman who is waiting for them. His wife, you'd assume. The man drops to his knees and begs forgiveness for some wrong or other that he's done. Sounds like mostly just guy stuff. Things your wife has complained about a thousand times that you'll never fix. The rest just smile proudly. Their faces say "Duh, my name is Dun-Can." (OOC) If you heard me say that, it would make more sense.) They're completely wiped of all aggression and hostility.

So are you getting in line or what?

(Doing Therapy)

Walk to the front of the line.

"Stop!" I shout out, not wanting another guy broken.  I walk up to him.

"Hey, Cherneth." Punch his lights out.  Haymaker time.  If he is still standing, I go full tilt at him, kick, punch while charging into him.  Its not pretty or elegant.

Seeing this armored, Giant Blood approaching, most of the people present, including several of Cherneth's own bodyguards kneel before you. Cherneth draws back his hammer in his left hand and goes into a fighting stance.



But it doesn't really matter. He tries to hit you with the hammer, but it's a lost cause. Your breastplate easily absorbs the impact. His face absorbs the impact of your gauntlet too. His brains go flying out through the back of his skull and his head is stuck, wrapped around your fist. It takes a good bit of shaking and prying to get his lifeless body to hit the ground.

Turning to face the crowd, they all stand, wide-eyed, mouths open staring at you. Then one by one, they start to kneel before you, laying prostrate on the ground. Hundreds of people. Laying prostrate on the ground before you, like they're expecting you to do something.

(Doing Therapy)

I clean my hand off a bit, gathering myself.  Then I turn and stare at them, coldly.  After a long minute....

"You are men, are you not?"

Long pause.

"Made by the Creator to enjoy freedom, and to stand brave beneath the blue skies?"

Shake head.

"Why did you allow this man to break you to slavery then?  What is the meaning of this? Tell me, please, I want to know." Toward the end I soften.

They all remain laying prostrate. They're used to that posture.



GE 17

Some of the men raise their heads and glance around at the others. Like they're expecting someone else to say something. A lot of murmuring and glancing, but nobody moves.



This illicits a few weak cheers of "Yes Sir." from some of the braver men. But mostly they just continue to lay prostrate.



A man who was standing on the stage rises to his feet and steps forward. He's wearing a garishly bright colored robe. He looks like a priest or something.

He clasps his hands together and bows politely. Then he says "Good sir. I am associate Bob. Cherneth ruled with an iron fist. All who did not voluntarily be pacified had their lands stripped away. Their goods were confiscated. They were imprisoned. Fined. Their families were tortured. Do not judge us too harshly."

Then a pause and he says "I am an excellent associate sir. I would be happy to help you organize things under your administration. The first order of business is to contact king Heracles. I am certain he will be indebted to you as Cherneth was his fiercest rival."

He's a Yes Man. A gopher. He will blindly follow and assist whoever is in charge. And that would be you at the moment. But he does seem to command some level of respect with the people, so perhaps not a bad guy to have around.

But it seems to be unanimously agreed that you are The Boss.

(Doing Therapy)

"Rise.  There will be no more of this foul 'pacification'.  The mere word disgusts me.  Rise, and go about your business."  I make sure to take the hammer thing with me.

I turn to Associate Bob.

"Walk with me, Associate Bob." I walk with him off to one side out of the area of where people can overhear us.  "Bob, I'm Tadeusz. Uh, your suggestion to contact King Heracles seems wise.  Who do you suggest might be interested and able to go?  Also, Bob, you mentioned men imprisoned.  Can you take me to this prison to free those brave souls?"  I'm speaking far softer, and my face is sad.

They look around at one another. Nobody seems to want to be the first one to move. But finally, at a prodding of "Up, up!!" from Associate Bob and they're rising.

The "hammer thing" is of course a Chaos hammer. It will be told to you that Cherneth would remove a white aura from their heads when he put them into a headlock.

You are apparently right in front of Cherneth's Castle. Associate Bob tells you that it is your castle now. You see a blacksmith shoppe with an unfinished gauntlet sitting on the anvil. You're not close enough to see if it's high tech or just iron.

At any rate, you've just killed the only indig who knew how to blacksmith. It's your shoppe now and you know how, but he never taught them.

Searching Cherneth's body (Are you doing that?) You find a small cloth bag containing what appears to be gunpowder. Rather well refined too. Associate Bob tells you there's a chemistry shoppe in the castle. Cherneth was an accomplished alchemist. That substance you hold, it's his Magic Dust. He'd throw pinches of it into fires to make his point when publicly speaking. Nice big flare up, get people's attention.



He ponders:

"Go contact King Heracles? There's an entire staff of trained individuals at the castle sir."

Cooks, butlers, guards, Marathon runners and two Pony express for the long ones.

"Heracles should be at home this time of year. Velociraptor season isn't for several months."

The prison is inside the castle. Associate Bob leads you. You're just going past doors. Lots of bedrooms. Lots of closed doors. You go through the kitchen. Every person drops to a knee before you as you walk past.

The dungeon is in the back. There's a remarkably clean medical chamber. Crude instruments. Bones stripped of flesh. And a notebook which would make Doctor Phlox say something like:

"Did you say this is a pre-industrial society? His methods may be unrefined but this man is using forensics techniques far more sophisticated than I would have expected."

So he was well studied in human anatomy as well. Human test subjects.

But there's maybe 30 people in there, of all ages and genders. Nothing special about them, except that Cherneth had not gotten to them yet.

They all bow and ask how they can serve you.

OOC) I kind of find it quite brazen of you to interrupt the pacification ceremony with no idea what the people are like. For all you know, everyone is a brute savage who just as soon Kill Maim Destroy Murder Death Kill as live peacefully. You might have just unleashed thousands of savage beasts.

Just saying.

(Doing Therapy)

I may be able to fill in, or these folk may suffer a bit of a tech relapse, but still better than mind  control.  I don't check Cherneth's body.  Instead, I order it stored in salt in a barrel, if they have such things.

I nod to Bob.

"Write this message, Associate Bob, and send it with either the marathon runners or the Pony riders as you think best.

'Great King Heracles, my name is Tadeusz.  I have slain Cherneth for his evil deeds, and the town now answers to me.  I would appreciate your advice and counsel if you could spare the time to come.  Also, I have placed Cherneth's body in salt as a gift to you."

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

"Are you the ones who refused to bow the knee to Cherneth?"

You could teach somebody to blacksmith.

But as far as the barrel of salt, yes, they have that. Salt is a well-known preservative. The men tasked with putting his body in the barrel and filling it with salt are all laughing riotously the entire time. One of them is singing something which reminds you of "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead."

Someone points out to you that you destroyed Cherneth's face. That might make it more difficult to convince Heracles that this is indeed Cherneth. But you've got hundreds of witnesses.

Cherneth had a gauntlet and boots. Did you put those in the salt barrel too? The partially finished gauntlet that was on the anvil was just iron. Looking around some more, you find a half-dozen or so gauntlets discarded as garbage. Apparently he was trying to unlock the secret of it but couldn't.



Associate Bob writes this out four times, each time with a personal addendum from himself, verifying that Cherneth is indeed dead. He presents these to four Marathon runners. One is tasked with going to Castle Heracles and the other three are tasked with heading to his three favorite hangout spots, just in case he's not at the castle.

Associate Bob tells you "He should be here within a week at the outside. You'll know when he's coming. A stegosaurus pulling a sleigh is rather difficult to miss."

When Bob says "Sleigh" you realize you've not seen any vehicles that are on wheels. They're all sleighs that ride on runners.



Most of the men are here for that. Most of the women are here because they refused to submit to him. There are a few children. From what you gather, they were just being children. One threw an apple at him. Things like that.

When they see the medical room and realize the fate that you spared them, they all pledge undying loyalty to you.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 11:37, Fri 30 Mar 2018.

Hmmm, an excellent idea.

And yes, the gauntlet and boots go in the barrel.  It helps to ID him.

I join in with smiling with them.  It helps to confirm a plan of mine.

"Well done, Associate Bob." I smile at him.

Hmm, wheels.  I shall have to think on that.  Right now, the people don't need further disruption to their lives.

I find out why the other men are there, and unless they are there because they are chronic thieves, or acts of violence (not counting fair fights and bar brawls), I pardon those men who are there with a warning to 'stop being a lawbreaker, and work hard.'  My example for this motivational speech is the Bible which had somewhat similar comments.

Talking quietly to Bob. "Bob, do we have something to award these women....say lengths of pretty cloth?  And do we have gifts of honeycomb for the children here?"

If any of the men are such evil doers, I tell them that I will give them food, and water, and a weapon, but they are exiled from the city.  Then I have them sent out with guards.  Hopefully there are no such cases.

If Bob says yes. "Thank  you, I accept your promises. Let us put this horror behind us. If you need help in the next days, come to me.  You men (I point to the pardoned) are free to go about your business." I wait until they leave. "You children, wait outside, Assocate Bob will have honeycomb brought to  you, and you may go then to see  your parents.  If you need help, please, please ask. But wait for the women.  You women, lengths of beautiful cloth will be brought to you, and I ask that you see that these children be brought back to their families. Now you may go."  Once they leave, I turn to men who are left, who did not bow.  I bow to them, and get Bob to do likewise.
"Brave men.  It is an honor to speak to you." My eyes gets a little wet.  "I have need of a council of men to rule this city for me as I know little of this place.  I will retain the right to overrule you, but you shall have the rule of this place mostly, if it works.  So choose one amongst you to be your Chief Speaker, but let each man have a vote.  In somewhat similar times I have heard that such a council would meet in the city gates.  Thus might all hear their thoughts who wished it, and all might bring their concerns to them.  If this seems wise to you, then let it be done.  What say you?"

If they agree, and if Associate Bob says we can I ask them to proclaim a feast of celebration of the Creator's Freedom for that night.  We will sing, there will be speeches, poetry, dancing, short foot races with small prizes, a bonfire, and food or so I hope.  I leave the making of it up to them.  Have to get them used to being in charge.  Start with easy things, and eventually you can move on to harder things ....like taxes.

There's about 30 people here. 10 men, 15 women, five children. Of the men who are here, eight of them refused to bow to Cherneth. One is here with his wife and child because they were poor and he got caught trying to steal food for them. The whole family was imprisoned for it.

The other non-kneel actually tried to assassinate Cherneth. Cherneth tried to pacify him and had a botch effect making the guy momentarily 20x more aggressive. Cherneth kept telling him "You're last. After I finish perfecting my.... Technique."

Seeing the medical room, He's the most grateful for sparing him. Who knows what this "Technique" was.



Bob spreads out the cloth of his own ornately colored robe. It's every color of the rainbow and then some. And it's soft. He bows and says "Good sir, at your desire I will supply them with cloth from my personal stash."

The cooks have honeycomb and maple syrup for the children.



Do you count those guys as evil doers? The beggar family are still going to be beggars unless you do something there.



So the women and children leave. What happens to the two guys who did kneel?

You bow, they bow, everybody was bowing, bowing.



So we've got eight guys left? Two of them wish to leave. They fell in love with two of the women who were here. Ya know, in the constant fear of death they had to have something to hold onto. Promises were made, etc.

A third guy was a successful businessman. He wants to leave the city entirely. He has to start over from scratch so he'd rather do it somewhere else.

But that leaves five guys for your council.



Associate Bob thinks it's a marvelous idea..... in about 5 days. Heracles should be here right about then. One thing he loves is a good party. Also, some of the more elaborate food dishes can take 3 days to prepare.

What do you think?

(Doing Therapy)

To the beggar...

"Would you be willing to learn to be a blacksmith?  It is hard and hot work."

To the Aggressive Once man..."Associate Bob, I think I have found my Captain of the Guard."  I smile at him.

After Bob's offer..."Most generous Bob. Thank you."

No, I do not count them as 'such evildoers'.  I was looking more for aggravated assault combined with theft, or a constant thief.

To the two men who wish to leave..."You have my blessing if you wish to leave, but perhaps your lady and you would like to stay here.  If so, the offer stands for a place on my council."

To the businessman..."I understand the desire to leave behind bad memories.  But I really could use a man of your talents.  It is your choice of course."

I think a little bit about Bob's suggestion...."Let us at least have a dance and a bonfire tonight.  The people need to get over their shock.  But yes, the big celebration will be when King Heracles arrives."

OOC: I recently read something which suggested that celebrations help people deal with traumatic events....like fighting a battle.  You win, but even so, some of your friends died.

He just looks at you puzzled and says "Blacksmith? What's a blacksmith?"



He snaps to attention and says "Sir yes sir."

He agrees



"I am here to please, sir."



So constantly stealing food to keep your family alive doesn't count? Good to know.



They want to leave. Not leave the city, just leave the castle. They made promises and ya know.



He bows politely and says "Sir, I greatly appreciate your most generous offer, but I'm afraid I must decline. New challenges and new frontiers await."

And he bows and leaves.



Bob ponders and says "Accelerate the celebration. A five day party, slowly building." Then he looks you right in the eyes and says "Yes sir. Begin the celebration today. Slowly escalate it until Heracles arrives. Five days of revelry coming to crescendo when Heracles arrives. Extra points for anyone who can remain awake for the entirety of it. Yes sir. This is a most splendiferous idea!!!"

Then he steps away from you, pauses and turns saying "With your permission, I must go raid the treasury room. To pay for this celebration."

And unless you stop him, he walks away.



OOC) Makes sense.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 22):

"Heating metal and hitting it with a hammer."  If he does not take the offer then I give him a chance to come up with a suggestion, and if not then  a good quantity of food and I exile him.

"Oh," I say to the men.  "Well, I expect everyone to leave the castle.  If you have a place to stay or can build one." Hopefully that means I have seven in the Council.

I do point out again that I want a Chief voted for the Council.

I leave, and wander about, soaking in sunrays for my armor.  As I do, I look for ways to improve the village (bridges over creeks, mudholes in the road,  etc.), and I try to absorb what information I can about this town.  If anyone wants to talk to me, I'm amiable.  If they have complaints, I look into it, not making snap judgements.  But I also tell them to take it up to the new city council.

On my way back, I hope to see some tough looking guys who I hire to tear out all the torture equipment, and take it down to the river, outside the village, and downriver of the village,  and burn it, and then smash whatever does not burn to bits as well as they can.

After that, I study the hammer a bit.  Messing with people's minds seems like way dangerous magic.  I'm tempted to toss the thing into the deepest hole I can find, or to try to shatter it.  But it might be needed.  And then I wonder, perhaps I could 'heal' someone like I healed the zombies?  I put it off until King Heracles arrives.  I could use some advice.

I go back and enjoy the party, not dancing as I'm horrible at that.

At first he doesn't understand, but when you mention exile, he shuts up and agrees to whatever you say.



Seven it is.



They vote. Everyone votes for himself. Looks like you've got to break the deadlock.



Nobody has wheels. Nobody has iron. It's all sleds and sleighs and copper and stone.

A couple of people approach, asking you to bless their children.

Several people approach asking if you can remove their curses. Cherneth was apparently fond of inserting those metal rods into people. Your heads up display shows you the locations and your magnetic gauntlet can remove them.

There's a rather large river that runs along the south end of town. The kind of thing that would be perfect to power a waterwheel or some such thing.



You find a gang of giant bloods. Their leader stands over seven feet tall. They say they'll be happy to do it.

"You ain't gonna pacify us are ya?"

As long as you're not, they're fine.

However, one of them does ask what you did to be endowed with a full suit of armor from the giants.

"Not even Heracles himself has a full suit of giant armor."

And you will recall, no one giant skeleton had a full suit. You had to cobble that together from four different skeletons.



It seems to be a standard issue Chaos hammer. Black iron. Magehammer told you that there are three classifications of Order/Chaos magic users. Tool users, can do magic, cannot create black iron, cannot commune with the gods of Order and Chaos. Mages, can do magic, can create black iron, cannot commune with the gods of Order and Chaos. And priests. They worship the gods of Order and Chaos. Can do magic, cannot create black iron, can commune with the gods of Order and Chaos.

It's the only black iron you've seen, so Cherneth was apparently a tool user or a priest. But who made the hammer for him?



The party is just beginning. Nobody is dancing yet. No music yet. They're still preparing for it. Buffet tables are being set up. Musicians are tuning their instruments. It's not much of a party just yet.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:56, Thu 05 Apr 2018.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 24):

I laugh, and then tell them to talk it out, and vote again.  It may take a few hours or a couple days, but I'm confident they'll get a Chief.  Besides, its only for a year, and then a different Chief and so on.

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

I pray for God's blessing on their children, and tell the boys to be good and brave, and the girls to be good and kind.

Hmmm, waterwheel. Well, I will consider it.  Not sure how much I want to change things yet.  Does it have a bridge or a ford?

OOC: Or maybe a Chevy?

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

"Sir, that pacification is disgusting.  The Creator wants us to be free and good.  No, I'm not planning on pacifying anyone.  If I knew how, I'd free the ones enslaved, but I fear I'd do them worse damage.  And thank you for taking out that madman's trash."

To the question. "Its a long story."

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

I'll put that question of how Cherneth got that on the back burner for now.

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

I'll help by toting stuff for the party.  I'm not taking charge, just lifting and carrying and such.

They say they're going to settle it in The Old Manner and politely ask you to leave. It's apparently a very personal thing. Just between the participants.



They bow and thank you. Some of them offer you little trinkets, family heirlooms as a way of saying thanks.

Are you removing the cursed metals? You rip it out through their skin and then heal their skin. It's painful, but they're invariably relieved and grateful for it.



I think you mean a fjord. There's a bridge.



They're happy to destroy the dungeon. Wrecking is what they do best. Their leader is named Ralph. His catchphrase is "I'm Gonna Wreck It!!!!" They had some friends who were taken in there. Cherneth was so feared that not even this formidable gang of giant bloods wanted to oppose him.

The pacification generally only lasted for six months, tops. He would have these ceremonies every four months or so.



"You must have done something truly great indeed to be endowed with a full suit of armor from the giants. Heracles was awarded a gauntlet and The Hammer of Heracles for his noble deeds."

That's nothing to sneeze at. He never got a full suit of armor, but to be given a custom built magical warhammer is as close as anyone else has gotten. That's the highest award anyone has heard of until now. That's why only him and his descendants can use it.



And so you do.



Your presence there impedes things. Everyone kneels and bows and scrapes. Several people drop what they're carrying. The best way you could help would be to sit in a chair and supervise.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:59, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

Two Posts



The giants go on to say that the armor pieces are given out as awards for acts of nobility, heroism, discovery, things of that nature. It's kind of like the Nobel Peace Prize or something. Curing a zombie plague would actually qualify as an armor-worthy act.

So you did earn that suit of armor.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:27, Sun 08 Apr 2018.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 27):

I leave my Council. Probably drawing lots, or punching each other in the nose.

Definitely removing the cursed metals.  I don't want their family heirlooms.  If they insist on a gift, I tell them to pay it forward.  Help the next guy who needs help.  That sounds like decently Biblical way to do it.

fjord. Heh. Good one.

OK, so I can just wait six months for most of them.  Good to know.  That's my new plan on that.

I smile at the Giant Blood and walk on.  My secrets are mine.

I take the first opportunity to leave the setting up.  Ah well, that did not work.

Go tell Bob I'm taking a nap, and to wake me when the part starts.

Indeed, when you see them again, they've selected a chairman. The other six have bandages on their faces and hands. The chairman just has bandages on his hands.



The cursed metals are slivers of the bluish iron alloy from which your armor is made. Your heads up display shows it radiating some kind of energy. So it's probably a technological curse, rather than a magical one.



In about 2 months the ones who were not pacified will start to show it. In four months after that, the rest.



"Heracles is gonna insist that you regal him with your tales of glory."

So you might want to start making something up.



You are invited to try different pastries and whatnot, to see if they meet with your approval. But you leave and head to bed.



Cherneth's bed is much too small for you. It's made for someone who is about 5 feet tall. You have to lay in it diagonally. But you sleep.

When you awaken, it's the next morning. You were apparently more tired than you realized. Associate Bob is standing silently at the foot of your bed waiting for you to wake up. When you do he says:

"Good sir. I have most splendiferous news!!! The Marathon runner tasked with retrieving Heracles returned late last night. He said Heracles is on his way and should be here within hours."

(Doing Therapy)

"SMSGHghga." I mumble, not up to English yet.  I sit up.  Blink, rub my eyes, and then focus on Bob.  Part of me wants to ask how long he's been standing there, but another part counsels me that its probably better I didn't know.

"Associate Bob."  Pause. Blink. "Good news indeed.  Would you happen to know where a bath, or shower, or failing that the men's bathing pool in the river is?"

Once, I get cleaned up, its food.  Hopefully some fruit and meat. After that, I feel pretty human. I ask Bob about how the party is going as I'm aware we were not planning on Heracles showing up so soon.

He's just standing silently in one spot, not moving. You'd almost think he was a statue except that he's blinking his eyes.



Associate Bob says "Good sir, Cherneth believed that cleanliness was the key to good health and long life. He had a one hundred gallon water tank installed on the roof. It leads to a pipe and a sprayer nozzle. Most inventive, Cherneth was."

The last said with obvious pride.

So there's a shower and strong lye soap. The water is cold, but you manage.

OOC) My father built something like that out of a water tank, a hose and a bleach bottle. So he could shower in the garage after working on cars.



Associate Bob tells you that he can order you something from the kitchen, but it might be better to wait and save your appetite for the party. Up to you. There is going to be a feast around suppertime.

(Doing Therapy)

"Well, he was right about that." I take my shower.

"No, Bob, its better for me to have food now.  Makes me ....better."  I don't feel like explaining low blood sugar to Bob.  But some food really will make me more 'human' so to speak.

I eat the food, and stay out of the people setting things up, way.  I send Bob back to work.  As I wander about the village, getting to know it a bit more, I do a short prayer for blessing for this meeting.  A really good meet could be most beneficial to me and the village.

So you do. Later you will see palace peons in a bucket brigade refilling the water tank. Carrying the water in buckets up from the river.



"As you wish sir. I'll have some food brought to you."

He brings duck eggs, pancakes and zandozan meat. It tastes like if bacon was made out of chicken. A zandozan is a large, bulky animal reminiscent of a hippo with six legs.

One thing worthy of note. Bob has never been pacified. This is really who he is.



You see copper workers and stone cutters. Some beggars in the street. You get offered all different manner of treats. Everything from spiced meats to pastries so sweet you can almost feel your teeth rotting.

About half of the people express gratitude for your destruction of Cherneth. Everyone still kneels when you walk past.

After several hours, Associate Bob comes running up to you just as fast as his little legs will carry him. He fairly screams "Heracles is almost here!!! Come!!! Come with me!!!!"

(Doing Therapy)

Might want to build a water pipe.

Beggars. Hmm. Might need work for them.  Something to think about later.

That zandrozan sure is tasty.

When Bob comes, I follow him.  If I see anyone, I urge them to go to the party.  I come to the center of the town near the campfire.  If King Heracles is already there, I walk up to him, and loudly...

"Welcome, King Heracles.  Thank you for coming!"  Big smile.

If he is not there yet, I go to the town gate, and do the same thing.

He's not here just yet. Off in the distance you see a green Stegosaurus plodding along, pulling behind it three large sleds. It's ten minutes away maybe.

So you wait at the gate.

Ten minutes later, Heracles pulls up in the sled. He's controlling the animal himself with the reigns. He jumps off the sled and approaches you, followed by about a dozen sloped-forehead guys wearing leather fur armor and carrying spears. They just kind of have a stupid "DUH" expression on their faces.

Heracles is five feet tall and muscles on top of muscles. He looks like a five foot tall Arnold with a beard. He's wearing one gauntlet and carrying the Hammer of Heracles in his left hand. When he sees you in your full giant armor, even king Heracles briefly drops to one knee before you and bows his head for a moment. When he stands erect, he says jovially "You must tell me what noble deeds you performed to be awarded an entire suit of giant armor."

Then he claps his hands twice. Immediately musicians, dancing girls, jugglers, the whole shebang jump off of his sleds and begin performing. He brought a party with him. You're surrounded by scantily clad, four foot tall belly dancers, guys playing stringed and blown instruments. His cooks are conversing with the locals on where they can set up. And then two skyrockets are lit and fire straight up into the air, with an earsplitting explosion and bright lights.

Heracles says "The rockets were gifts from Cherneth. I promised him I would fire them to celebrate his demise."

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Sat 14 Apr 2018.

"Its a long story." I say.  When he tells me of the reason for the fireworks, I urge him to come with me.  If he does, without too much difficulty, I privately present him with the barrel with the salted body of Cherneth.

"A gift, Great King."

Do I recognize the Hammer of Heracles?

"All the better." he says. "You will tell me over a bottle of my personal wine."



Heracles starts laughing and dancing around in a circle. He grabs your head and pulls you down so that he can kiss you on each cheek.

"You have done for me a great service. Cherneth was the one opponent I could not defeat. Too evenly matched, we were."

You've made his day.



Yup. The head is that bluish iron alloy, a perfect cube. The handle looks like many stalks and vines twisted together.

What's really freaky though is that looking closely at his gauntlet, you will see exactly the same scuffs and scratches on your own. It's a temporal duplicate.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:40, Tue 17 Apr 2018.

I blink at the gauntlet of Heracles.  OK, that's freaky.  I quickly understand what it is, but I'm still a bit smacked in the face over it.  This means I've travelled back in time.

I agree with telling him.  The guy's charming, and I do want him on my side.

We go back to the party with the campfire.  And I enjoy listening to the music, and seeing the smiles on my people's faces.

"Great King." I say to the man seated next to me.  "I do not know much of this land, of the rulers and cities in it...." I look questioningly at him.  After all, I asked for advice and counsel in my letter.

Old Man Heracles knew your name, you were the only one he would let into his room. And he called you "My old friend." Yeah, he knew you. You're both wearing exactly the same gauntlet. Yours is just a few hundred years older.



He says "After the festivities we will retire back to Castle Cherneth. You will tell me of your deeds over a bottle of the finest wine."

Curing a zombie plague would qualify as an act of nobility and heroism. So you did earn that suit of armor.



Heracles likes to cut in on couples dancing and take the lady for a spin whilst her former partner watches. He's quite the ladies man. Flirtatious and bold. You can see why he supposedly had so many descendants.

When he's not dancing, he's sampling food and wine. He seems to favor spicy meat over everything else. He drinks like a fish. You're surprised he can remain standing. But he never loses any coordination. Only slightly slurred speech.



"Rule your people with a velvet wrapped iron fist. Be kind and benevolent. But never be afraid to lay down the law."

Whilst you're watching, some guy gets a bit too drunk and, attempting to show off for the ladies, takes a swan dive off of a two story building. His head is cracked open. Heracles approaches holding his hammer outstretched. A white aura flows from the injured man and into the hammer. His injuries heal. The man opens his eyes to see Heracles standing over him. Heracles helps him to his feet and tells him to enjoy the party. All of the bystanders "Ohh" and "Ahh" and cheer for him.

When he returns to you, he says "When the giants offered to make for me a magical warhammer, I insisted that it have the ability to heal. So that I could beat my enemies to near death, then heal them and do it all over again."

And he lets out a loud belly laugh.

(Doing Therapy)

I laugh too.

I ask him about the road between his home and here.  I find out if he rules just one city or more.

I enjoy the party, talking to everyone I can just a bit.  Sitting back, and enjoying seeing the happy faces on the villagers.

He tells you that technically he is the ruler of the entire country.

"Five thousand square miles." He says with pride.

This one particular city was problematic because Cherneth was so evenly matched with him. Cherneth was kind of illegally running it. But Heracles, with all of his power couldn't oppose him sufficiently. So he just kind of turned a blind eye to Cherneth's doings here. Heracles certainly has more important things to worry about than one city. So he kind of ignored the mosquito to focus on the wasp.



A few village women ask you to dance, several other village women ask you to sample their cooking. Several people ask you and Heracles both to heal injuries, diseases or curses. Sometimes he uses the hammer, sometimes he uses his gauntlet.

"What features have you discovered in your gauntlet Tadeusz? Not even I can read the language of the giants."

So that back display panel is as much a mystery to him as it is to you.

"I'm sure there are features to it I've not yet discovered. And likewise features I've discovered that you have not. Let us instruct one another in its usage."

And he also asks about the rest of your armor. What else it can do. What have you discovered about it? Especially the sword. He asks if you would permit him to try out using your sword.

"I've heard stories that they could cleave solid granite with a single blow."

Heracles might be a party animal and a womanizing drunkard, but above all else he is a warrior. It would be an extreme privilege just to hold such a fine weapon.

(Doing Therapy)

"I would like, I think to be part of your country, King Heracles.  If I do, what laws would you lay on me, and these people?"

I do the math in my head, and when I realize its more than 200 miles by 200 miles, I am impressed.

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

I pass on the dancing with a smile, claiming truthfully that I am a terrible dancer.  I gladly sample the food.

"Sure..." And I tell him what I know of the armor.

I shrug, and call a couple of the Giant Born over.

"King Heracles would like to test my blade.  Do we have some blocks of wood, or stone that he can do this on?"

If they find such, I stand and call the assembly to quiet attention.

"Great King Heracles wishes to test out my sword with these stumps and logs and rocks my good fellows have brought for him."  I speak loudly.

"I am officially declaring you ruler of this fine city, Tadeusz. The laws are yours to make."



OOC) I just did the math on a calculator. It's actually more like 71 miles by 71 miles. 200X200 would be 40,000 square miles.

IC) Heracles, realizing his error, corrects himself.

"Did I say Five Thousand square miles? I meant fifty thousand square miles."

OOC) That's 223 miles by 223 miles.



At this Heracles laughs. "Have a drink my friend. Alcohol helps everyone dance."



OOC) I never understood why MJ made me do this until I started running games. Tell me exactly what you're telling him. Tell me what you've discovered about it.



Ralph, the leader of the Giant Bloods says "Why not take a swing at Castle Cherneth??"

And the rest of the giants laugh at that.

But two of them carry over a large tree trunk that they were planning to turn into firewood. It's about 20 inches in diameter. Heracles is going to help them chop firewood.



Everyone quiets down. When Heracles takes the broadsword in his right hand, it shrinks down to a smaller size to accommodate his shorter frame.

On his first swing, the sword slices so cleanly through the tree trunk that Heracles isn't aware that it hit. He has a bit of a jarring jolt when it hits the ground. The tree is split cleanly. The people "Ohh" and "Ahh" Then Heracles starts dicing the tree like a chef dicing vegetables. It cleanly splits into one inch thick boards.

Heracles hands the sword back to you, it returns to size for you. He then retrieves the Hammer of Heracles.

"Impressive, that is. But no match for this."

And he swings the hammer down at the tree. An entire section of it the width of the hammerhead is reduced to sawdust.

People begin cheering for him.

(Doing Therapy)

"Thank you, Great King."

I shake my head and smile at the idea of drinking alcohol.  And then I try to move on to another topic.

"So, yeah, I can heal from damage, or even a lingering disease such as a zombie, and I've removed curses with these metal bits that Cherneth liked, what a scum, and I can zap people with light, and the sun gives my gauntlet strength.  And well, that's enough for now." I decide not to tell him about flying.  He'd try it and get himself killed.

"Ralph, I need another name for that castle.  Think on it for a few days, why don't cha?"  I expect that me relying on him for more than muscle is going to shock him, but it might be good for him.

I scoop up a big two handfulls of sawdust after the cheers die down a bit, and toss it into the bonfire.  It should make it blaze up nicely in a big gust of flame.  Making sure no one is too close.  I turn back and grin at Heracles.

"Small price to pay, to be rid of Cherneth."



He's going to insist that you have at least one glass of wine with him whilst you tell him of your heroic deeds. Just a heads up.



He'd need boots which he does not have for flying anyway.

When you mention "zap people with light" he says "Like this?" And taps a few buttons on the back, points his fist at the tree stump and makes a fist. A yellow bolt of energy fires from the gauntlet and hits the tree with the force of a shotgun slug.

You've found a stun laser. His is apparently lethal.

Heracles asks if you've found Cherneth's warhammer. After a bit of description, you're pretty sure he means the Chaos blacksmithing hammer.

"Cherneth stole it from one known as the Hammer of Mages. He was a giant blood who called himself a Werser, if I recall correctly. It was the source of Cherneth's power. I'd like to have it, if you've retrieved it. Fifty years past, that was."

Heracles doesn't look a day over 35 or 40.



Without really thinking too much, Ralph just blurts out "The Tower of Tadeusz?"



In awe, Heracles asks if you know how to make Cherneth's magical powder. The gunpowder, you think he means.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:24, Tue 24 Apr 2018.

Two Posts



About this, Heracles goes on to say that:

"In those days, Cherneth was a young squire in my court. A giant blood appeared from nowhere, calling himself The Hammer of Mages, or some such thing. My memory of these events is rather sketchy. He took Cherneth under his wing. Taught him to tame the iron element, a secret Cherneth never shared. The Hammer of Mages called himself a Werser or some such thing. Cherneth stole from him a magical warhammer and proceeded to kill The Hammer of Mages, who, according to all witnesses simply disappeared into nothing. Not long after that, Cherneth attempted to overthrow my kingdom. If not for the Hammer of Heracles, he likely would have succeeded. So he settled for ruling this city."

(Doing Therapy)

And while I'm amiable, I'm also really hardheaded.

"Not as strong." And I demo my zap.

I nod when he describes the hammer.  "Yeah, its up in my bedroom.  Associate Bob...." I call out.  He comes quickly,and bows.  "Would you mind taking one of the King's men up to the castle, and showing him where he can pick up that hammer of Cherneth's.  Also, King Heracles, this is my first assistant, a good right hand and a generous man, Associcate Bob.  Bob, of course, you know King Heracles."

I figure Bob will love to meet the famed and mighty.  And it will serve as a reward for his good service.

"That's not bad, Ralph. Keep  thinking on it. We might use that."

I walk over to Heracles.  "This is just easy to burn wood. Very easy.  Like the magic powder, but not. " I give him a couple handfuls of the sawdust.  I figure Heracles is going to want to play with this toy.

I consider.  'Werser', ....'verser'?

What was Jesus' first miracle?

Just saying.



Heracles says "How many times a stun setting would have been useful for interrogation....."

He shows you his and you show him yours.



Heracles claps Bob on the back and says "Yes, Associate Bob. Good to see you again."

Bob says "Likewise, great king."

When Bob runs off to fetch the hammer, Heracles confides in you:

"Associate Bob wanted so much to work for me. I told him to stay here and gather intelligence on Cherneth. He's been a spy for me for years. But his services will no longer be required."

Upon returning with the Chaos hammer, Heracles looks at that and at your breastplate. He matches the hammer up to a darkened spot.

"Cherneth hit you with this, did he not? Fortunate you are to have been wearing the breastplate. It looks like a small scorch mark."

Who knows what would have happened if not for the breastplate?



Ralph just smiles and says "Sure Boss." and he walks away.



He enjoys the plumes of fire generated. It never occurred to him to sprinkle sawdust into a fire.



Hammer of Mages, blacksmith with a Chaos hammer....... Could be......

Two Posts



Just to clarify, that's a small scorch mark on Isis iron. Giants made that, okay? That's at least as surprising as seeing Rachel melt two black iron Order bracelets.

Who knows what Cherneth was going to hit you with?

The Hammer of Heracles is a six sides cube. The head is that bluish iron alloy. You have heard it called "Isis Iron" by the locals. On this world, Admin and Emily and were thrown out of the Garden of Isis. Supposedly, only giants know how to make the iron alloy. You've seen evidence that it is in part nanotechnology.

The hammer handle is about 2 1/2 or three feet long. It's pure black. It looks like vines and stalks twisted together. Altogether weighs about 35 pounds. In addition to Bonus Strike on his blows, it can magically throw fire, tornadoes and lightning. It can also heal and purify. About a match for a Chaos hammer.

Although Heracles is right handed, he taught himself to wield the hammer left-handed so he'd have full use of the gauntlet's abilities.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:13, Wed 25 Apr 2018.

I continue to enjoy the party until it gets late, and I start seeing some of my folk passing out.  I walk around, wake them up, tell them to go home.  The rest who want to talk late into the night, well, good on them.  I go to bed myself after telling Associate Bob where I will be.

Heracles is never more than 20 feet away from you. He might go off to talk to a lady or to get something to eat. But not long after, he's once again at your side.

You tell people to go to sleep. He tells them to keep partying. Some listen to you, some listen to him.

When you say you are about to go to bed, Heracles says happily "Ah, wonderful. Now you will tell me of your noble deeds. Come. Let us retire to Castle Cherneth...... Tadeusz Tower to refresh ourselves with a bottle of the finest wine. Twas made by the giants. I do not share this vintage with just anyone."

Yes, you're not a drinker, but this is a very special occasion. You would seriously offend Heracles if you refused. He's offering to share what might as well be a million dollar bottle of wine with you. You should be honored.

OOC) Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine. Just saying.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 51):

I sigh, and tell the sleepers to go party as well.  I go back up to the Tower, and refuse the bottle of wine.  If he stays, I tell  him my story.  If not, I go to bed.  Either is fine.  I don't want to offend Heracles, but I really want my bed.

When you refuse the bottle, and he sees how tired you are, Heracles says "I see. Just one tiny sip then."

And he pours precisely  that into a glass. Not wanting the wine, but not wanting to offend, you take the sip.

OOC) If you really must insist that you wouldn't even drink this much, then the following is null and void. But I can't imagine you being Quite That hard-headed.

The wine is like a flavor explosion in your mouth. It's sweet and spicy and aromatic. You taste flowers and trees and sugar and spice and everything nice. You are also invigorated back to full health and stamina. You don't feel intoxicated, you feel energetic.

Then he sits down at a table. The chair is too small for you, but he takes a sip of wine and says "Now, tell me of your noble deeds."

OOC) Now that you have actually tasted it and seen its effects, are you still sure you're not sharing the bottle?

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 53):

I take a tiny drink, and regret it.  That has to be addictive.  I put it down, and talk.

Heracles is puzzled by your reaction. "The delicious Umma Gumma wine. Non-alcoholic, non-addictive. Made by the giants. The closest man can get to tasting the fruits of Heaven. And you refuse it. A strange one, you are."

Nevertheless he pours you another glass. If you don't drink it, he will.

"So, tell me of your noble deeds."

OOC) And that means tell ME of your noble deeds. Put down what you're telling him.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 55):

He drinks it.  I don't believe its non-addictive.

"Well in another world, I sought to alleviate a problem I had part of causing.  There were what seemed to be undead monsters, humans turned to zombies, and I was able after getting a gauntlet from....someone....to heal them.  And this led me to another place where I was able to open a door and my good friend, he was able to find many seeds, and I think a cure for all of mankind while I was given this armor by these skeletons of giants.  Weird that."  I'm uncomfortable telling this tale, and I just want it to be over.  Bed, oh, sweet bed...

OOC) I'm just curious about your logic here. If he had called it "Juice" instead of "Wine" would you drink it? Also, why are you worried about addiction? Literally anything you eat or drink on any world could potentially be addictive. It's not addictive to the indigs, but your physiology is different. What I'm saying is you'll starve to death if you try to avoid addiction in the Multiverse.



You're not tired. The wine sip energized you. You could go for another hour, easily.

GE 19

At first, Heracles just grins as you tell your tale. Finally he breaks into open laughter. "You spin a fine yarn Tadeusz. A fine yarn indeed. I almost believed you there. If you are not comfortable telling me the truth, so be it."

But he's laughing and happy. He points you towards your bedroom.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 57):

Anything that awesome is likely addictive.  And perhaps I would have.

I gladly go to bed.  My mind may be spinning with energy, but my spirit needs to withdraw.  I want to be alone.

So Heracles points you to a bedroom. You sleep. When you wake up, Associate Bob is standing silently at the foot of your bed, watching you sleep.

"Good morning sir. The first day of the celebration has been a splendiferous success. How long do you wish to continue?"

And Heracles walks in, shirtless, wearing a towel. He's dripping wet. Apparently he just took a shower. He is muscles on top of muscles. He says with finality:

"The celebration will continue!!!!!"

And that's the end of that.

They're expecting you to get up and tend to the duties of a mayor.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 59):

I nobly resist the urge to pull the blanket over my head.

Get up, and do whatever MCing I need to do.

"King Heracles is leading a hunt, all hunters are welcome."

Heracles already has breakfast made. Sweet rolls and yak milk. Some kind of spicy sausages.



Heracles looks surprised at your audacity. They he smiles broadly.

"Yes, Tadeusz!!! A raptor hunt would be most exhilarating!!! We must do that!!! You and I, and the Neanderthal warriors."

He's certain you suggested it because you want to accompany him.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 61):

I would have hoped for better, but this is not bad.  Some hunting time would be good, and if raptors are what I think they are, then we need to wipe them out in the neighbourhood.  I've no desire to see some guy get ambushed out in the fields by a hunting pack.

I go to Ralph.

"Want to go raptor hunt with me, and King Heracles, and the rest of your crew?"  By now, I'm kinda enthused.  Food for the village, safety for the farmers, and getting away from the crowds for some hours all sound good.  I make sure to take a lot of water, and eat a hearty breakfast.

"OK, Heracles, you know what you're doing, so lead the way.  I've never been on a raptor hunt before."

Heracles asks what weapons you're planning to use. He himself produces a six foot long iron spear that he says Cherneth made.

"If only someone knew how to work the iron element." He says with disdain.

You know how to work it......



You try to go to Ralph. King Heracles stops you.

"Raptor hunts are not for the common man. Only for the elite of the elite."



When you express this to Heracles, he chuckles "And Noah should be most happy to see us. He resides still around Mount Ararat. There is the best Raptor hunting to be had."

He goes on to say that Noah guards the Vaults of Isis. It was constructed by the giants about the same time as Noah was building the Ark. It was sealed on the day Noah's historic voyage began. Nobody knows what's inside it, only that God promised its secrets would be revealed at the proper time.

You know what's inside it because you unsealed it at God's prophesied "Proper Time".



Heracles unhitches two of the sleds from the stegosaurus and leaves the majority of the people he brought here in the city. Only you, him, and the dozen sloped-forehead guys he brought come.

"Neanderthal warriors. Second only to giants for their fighting prowess."

And he looks at one of them and just points. The warrior drops his copper-tipped spear and climbs the side of a two story building like Spiderman. From the top, he somersaults off the roof, doing three flips in the air before landing on his feet and rolling back to his original position and retrieving his spear in one motion before standing upright back in his original spot.

Heracles looks envious "Oh how I wish I could be that acrobatic....."

(Doing Therapy)

"Practise, practice." I say, and head off with him.  I'll carry a spear.  Not sure I want to bring Iron working to this world.  It might be good to hunt down the raptors, but it would likely also lead to war and empire a la the Hittites who oppressed the Israelites because of iron and chariots.

"So, what's Noah like?  And yeah, I'd love to meet him."

Hearing the tonal inflection, he says "Which is it? Practise or Practice?"

Then he kind of laughs and elbows you in the ribs to let you know it was a joke.



Heracles has numerous copper weapons. Swords, spears, clubs, etc. You have your pick of them.

"The Raptor is a formidable beast. Six feet tall, capable of running and jumping to rival the greatest Neanderthal warrior. Equipped with claws and teeth. But the meat is succulent when cooked properly. And the hide makes fine leather."

And he shows you a suit of leather armor which he claims is Raptor skin. Soft, breathable, but a copper blade bends when he stabs it. Although he does say it's not quite as sturdy before it becomes leather. Copper blades will penetrate it when the Raptor is wearing it.

OOC) Do you have any guns? I'll allow that you picked some up somewhere if you want to say you do. Since we're not really keeping track of such things.



You know what the world will eventually end up like. That's regardless of what you do here. I'd also like to point out that they don't have wheels either. Just saying.



"Noah is a cranky old curmudgeon. But he's earned the right to be."

And he whips the stegosaurus and it begins pulling the sled. It's just you and him riding onboard. The Neanderthal warriors walk alongside.

(Doing Therapy)

Two Posts

OOC) Are you so not keeping track of your gear that you don't even remember all of your armor? For example, that sword you've got would cut a Raptor in half with a single blow. Not to mention the laser blaster on your gauntlet. So why are you using a copper spear?

I'm also surprised that you've not experimented more with your armor. What do you want to do with that? Do you want to learn its capabilities?

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 65):

I'll take two spears.  Are they balanced for throwing?

When he describes the Raptor, I gulp, and then nod to myself.  I'm a verser.  I've got super armor.  God is with me.  This is cool.

"Nice." I say when he shows me the raptor armor.  I try to get a feel for it.

"Can you knock them down, or is that a waste of time?  Do they leap to attack, or come in straight at you?"

I laugh when he describes Noah.

"Yeah, I hear ya'.  The father of the Human Race is owed some respect."

I keep an eye out as we slide along the road.

Of course. Be even better thrown by an atlatl.

OOC) You remember how much tech Magehammer introduced here, yes? Surprised I am you're not doing likewise. They don't have the wheel, the bow, they don't have iron. You could change the world.



To be clear, Heracles is wearing the Raptor skin armor, not giving it to you.

"They have a six inch retractable claw on each foot. Mainly they use it to climb trees....... then jump down out of the tree at you, brandishing that claw. As far as how to fight them, whatever works. Knock them down, spear them. Whatever works for you."

Then, in typical Heracles fashion, he does a full torso flex to show off his muscles and says "I enjoy wrestling them to the ground, personally......"



"Yes, he lives there with his family and a clan of giants. Together they guard the vaults of Isis. They speak of a prophesy of one who will eventually open the vaults, at God's appointed time. The prophesied one will bear the symbol of the giants."

And you may recall Elder Campbell showing you a symbol that was on the money you brought. Saying a prophesied one will bear that symbol. That is the symbol of the giants. It's on their battle flag.



The Neanderthal warriors spread out and march alongside the sled. They'd know if something was about to go down.

You started out in a bit of a scrub desert. It's gradually becoming more and more lush and green. Almost forest. You occasionally have the opportunity to pick fruit from trees that you pass.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 68):

I need to learn how to use them first before I try the more complex atatl.

My personality has changed some as I wonder whether rampant change is such a great thing always.

"Climb trees..." Hmm, not what I expected, but Jurrassic Park was just a movie. This is real.

I laugh with Heracles.  I think I'll just stick with stabbing them through the chest.  Although I did have one character who wrestled a dragon.

Hmm, that bit about Noah is interesting.  I think I shall just wait and see what goes on.

If I see Heracles pick one of the fruit, I'll get some similar.

OOC) I'm reminded of one of the new Star Trek movies. "Right after a culture that's BARELY INVENTED THE WHEEL just happened to see a starship fly out of one their oceans!!!!"

Yeah, I can see your logic. No matter what you do here though, the world will become the zombie world. There's nothing you can do to alter that course.



Heracles says "If you see one do that, just hold your spear up. It will jump down onto it. Easy kill. Try not to damage the skulls though. Those are valuable trophies."



"The giants will most definitely ask you where you acquired your armor. There is only one giant who possess a full suit. He is their leader."



He does and you do. Some that look like apples but taste like oranges, some that look like oranges but taste like apples.

It's a two day journey. Night is about to fall. You've got ample jerky and fruit for dinner, but Heracles prefers fresh meat. He asks if you would like to go hunting for dinner with him.

The Neanderthal warriors set up their own camp. It's the first time you've heard them speak. They've got their own language. They're laughing and joking. They're never off duty but this is their time to kick back and relax.

Yeah, I am going to go with Heracles to hunt.  I do have my o ther weapons, but I'll try to just use the spears.  For one, it will give me a feeling for how much of a threat they are to the locals.

To be clear, Heracles isn't going Raptor hunting. They don't live in this area. They live nearer to where Noah lives. He's just going to go hunt some wild game for dinner. An antelope or something. But if you want to join him on that, you're more than welcome to. I just wanted to be clear on what you were going to be hunting.

(Doing Therapy)

Oh, ok.  Yeah, that actually sounds like a good idea.  Start with something less lethal than a raptor to hunt.  I'll go with him.

Whilst you're walking together, Heracles confides in you:

"How I wish there was an easier way to hunt for game. Spears are fine, but so limited. To have some alternative, any alternative to them when it comes to hunting would be finer than Jurrassinite in Parkland."

But in the dim light, the HUD on your helmet lets you see fine. You switch it over to night vision.

Heracles sees the first target of that evening. A fine dog-like four legged beast. Similar to a wolf. Heracles says they're decent eating. "You can live on it, but it tastes like dung."

You both throw at the same time. Both of your spears hit at exactly the same time and penetrate the animal through and through, the tips of the spears stick into the ground with the shafts sticking out of the other side. Unfortunately you missed any vital organs and it's still alive when you get to it.

Heracles asks if you want to do the honors, and offers you a copper knife. If not, he will slit its throat himself.

That done, you make your way back to the camp. The Neanderthal warriors are sitting around a campfire. One of them is speaking to the rest. Although you cannot understand the language, it sounds like he's telling a ghost story from the reactions the others have.

"And to arm them with something other than spears...... How joyous that would be."

He asks if you know of any other weapons, whilst he guts and skewers the wolf thing.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 74):

Jurra?  What??  I shake it off.

I'm pleased that my throw went well.  And when Heracles offers the knife, I grimace, but do it as quick as I can while still making sure it gets done.  No need to extend its pain.  I clean the blade on the grass, and give it back to Heracles.  Not my favorite thing to do, but it needs to be done, and I need to pull my share of unpleasant duties.

I toss the carcass on the sled after taking out our spears.

"Maybe we can give it to some unfortunates we meet.  Let's hunt for something more edible."

Heracles looks at you like you've got nine heads.

"Some unfortunate? We give it to the Neanderthals. You will be amazed how tasty they can make this beast."

And you present it to them. Grateful they are.

The next morning, one of them will be wearing a brand new wolf skin coat, and they will offer you smoked and seasoned wolf meat. It's far tastier than what Heracles described.

OOC) I heard that it was the American slaves who figured out how to smoke and season pork ribs. They would obviously be given the worst cuts of meat, so they had to figure out how to make it palatable. And that's why you pay 25-30 bucks a plate for the worst cut on a pig.

Going out again, you find a small dinosaur. Heracles says it's a Dilophosaurus.

"Be wary. They spit venom which will render you unconscious."

But you spear it. Heracles this time does the honor of slitting its throat. You take it back and Heracles cooks it. After you've both eaten your fill, the rest is offered to the Neanderthals. The meat is sweet and tender. Heracles covers it with some manner of seasoning.

He removes the venom sack and uses it to cover your spear points.

"The animal will be rendered unconscious if our throws do not kill it immediately."

So what are you doing for the rest of the night?

(Doing Therapy)

I start taking off my armor, and put on my new wolfhide jacket.

"Say, Heracles, interested in a wrestling match?"  I grin at him.  "No eye gouges, or bonebreaks or below the belt...?"

I figure I'm going to lose, but I need the practice.

It's not "your" wolfhide jacket. The captain of the guard made it for himself. I mean, unless you're taking it from him. And in that case it'll be the Neanderthal warrior you have to fight. To the death. Besides, the Neanderthals are about the size of your youngest son. It wouldn't fit anyway.



Heracles takes a spear and draws a circle in the dirt about 10 feet diameter.

"Out of the circle loses. I should warn you my wrestling experience is rather limited. I've only ever wrestled Raptors. And once a giant princess, but that's a story for another time."

Then he takes off his gauntlet and the rest of his leather armor and stands in the center of the circle, waiting for you.



In Mortal Kombat voice "ROUND ONE, FIGHT!!!!!"

For a good minute, you're just two guys pushing against brick walls. Nobody is moving. Heracles tries to get under you to sweep your legs out but he loses his purchase and you take the opportunity to sling him out of the circle.

"Ah, good match Tadeusz. But I warn you. I've never lost a fight in my life. Best two out of three, yes?"

ROUND TWO FIGHT!!!!!!

You grapple and fight. He does much better this time. But in the end, your superior size gives you the advantage. You toss him from the circle a second time.

He rises to his feet and roars "BEST THREE OUT OF FIVE!!!!!!!!!"

It's clear he's not going to let this go until he wins.

Determined and on the edge of anger, he takes his place again.

This time he goes straight for your legs, knocking you off balance so that you basically fall into his hands. He just carries you to the edge of the circle and drops you onto the ground. It hurts. You've got the wind knocked out of you.

He's not going to accept the wind knocked out of you as an excuse to not continue. "In battle, there are no rest breaks. Get back in here!!!!"

So you do. He doesn't waste time. He just grabs you and suplexes you out of the ring. You land on your back.

The match is two to two. You can stop now, with honor satisfied, IF you agree to forfeit and declare him the winner. But just understand that if you beat him again, he's not going to let it go until he either defeats you for real or he is physically no longer able to continue.

(Doing Therapy)

"You win." I grunt from the ground, in pain. Ow, my back. Still, I need to learn...Sigh. "Maybe we can do this again tomorrow night."

And yes, I'll pass on the jacket for a couple very good reasons you explained.

Yeah, he can be a little bit of a sore loser. But he helps you to your feet, gives you a congratulatory nod and then grabs his iron spear and walks triumphantly to the center of the ring, and slams the butt of the spear into the center of the ring. It's an "In your face, I won" gesture.

Then he looks around at the circle, and at the spear. A puzzled look crosses his face as he studies it. A circle with a point in the center. Then he has a clear EUREKA!!!!! moment.

He grabs two copper battle axes and says quite excitedly "Come with me. We've got work to do."

And whether or not you follow him, he walks over to a rather thick tree and begins chopping it down. He expects you to help him.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:37, Fri 25 May 2018.

I'll help him.  I expect he wants to make a wheel.  The milk is spilled, no use crying about it.

OOC) Why are you so reluctant to spread technology? To be fair though, something somewhere would have inspired it.

But you chop the tree down. Then you cut a disk out of it that's about three or four inches thick. Heracles starts pummeling the center of the disk with the butt of his axe until he's got a hole drilled in it. Then he sets it on the edge and starts rolling it around with the axe handle through the hole. The tree is far from a perfect circle and the hole is not centered or perfect. But the concept is there. It's a wheel alright.

Heracles is in awe. He says "Have you ever seen such a marvel? So simple yet so elegant. Why did this never occur to me before?"

You can see he's already thinking of how to improve it. He asks if you've any suggestions, then he takes the makeshift wheel over to the sled and examines them. Trying to figure out how to use it. Once satisfied, he gathers up all of your belongings and says "We must make haste. Noah has the tools to do this properly."

It's the next morning. Heracles says you've another day of travel ahead of you. You should get to Noah's camp about midnight tonight.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:11, Wed 30 May 2018.

"Cool, man." Is all I say as I help him.  It is interesting to be in a world when the Wheel is invented.  Its a notable turning point for Mankind.

Heracles says "So what should we call this wondrous new invention?"

He's going to suggest something like the Heracli or the Tadei.

Anyway, you're riding in the sleigh. The forest is slowly but surely becoming more lush and full. Heracles tells you that Noah spread out the Ark animal feces when he landed. That's why this area is so fertile. It's growing in excrement from thousands of different animals species.

And unless you've something you'd like to do, you will arrive at Noah's camp sometime after dark. By now, the forest is so lush and full that you've only got a foot on each side to navigate through. Someone obviously cleared a path.

OOC) And I'm going to leave it there for the moment.

"the Heraclii sounds good." And we go up to visit Noah.  As I go, I gawk at the splendid trees and bushes, the bright flowers, and the vines some of which make me wonder if I could try Tarzan on them.

Heracles ponders and finally says "I think the Wheel would be a better name. After my good friend Joseph Wheeldon."

When you arrive at Noah's camp, as he said, it's dark. You see a hugely lush forest, and to the left of that is a clearing that goes into the side of a mountain. In the side of the mountain is the Vaults of Isis. It's got the hand print scanner in the middle. It's the door you opened in your last world. It's framed on each side by torches.

The people live in tents for the most part. There's torches and other fires lit for light.

In the middle of it all is a flagpole, which bears the symbol you've got on your money. It's the Flag of the Giants.

Noah and most of the others are sleeping. You'll have to wait till morning to meet them. But there is one giant. About 9 feet tall. He's watching over everything. He's also wearing a full suit of armor.

He calls you over. Tells Heracles to stay where he is.

(Doing Therapy)

I shrug to Hercules.  "I'll be back. Its okay."   I hope.  Then I walk over to the giant who I am pretty sure could take me out.  I do make sure to check for a path to retreat if needed.

The giant looks you up and down, then says "You are the prophesied one."

And he briefly kneels before you. Not that it matters. Even kneeling he's still over 6 feet tall.

When he stands erect he says "Do you know how to tame the iron element?"

And he offers you a blacksmithing hammer which is made from the bluish Isis iron.

You get the feeling lying to him about your blacksmithing skill would be hazardous to your health.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 88):

"Yes, I do, but I am not sure it is wise to give this skill to the Men of this Earth at this time."  I hand him the hammer back.

"I agree. Why do you think we have not shared this knowledge with them? I am going to give you the key to unlocking the secrets of Isis iron. What you choose to do with that knowledge is up to you."

And he stares hard out into the forest and places a gauntlet hand on your shoulder. You are instantly transported out into the forest. You can see a straight line through the trees back to Noah's camp. Back to the exact spot you were standing, actually. The HUD counter for your chest piece has dropped in power about a thousand points.

And you're standing in front of a blacksmithing forge. It's far too large for you to use, so you have to stand on stone blocks. But he hands the hammer back to you and just says:

"Blacksmith."

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 90):

"I see." I had not considered that point.

I take the hammer, and put it on the anvil.  Then I get out coals or charcoal, and start up the fire.  It takes a while and I have to scramble around like a kid at his father's desk.  Up and down, again, and again.  Fumble trying to get the fire started, but eventually, I hope....

Then I look for a bit of scrap iron to begin work with.

After that I check if this forge uses blowers to heat up the forge.

So you get the forge going. When you start hammering though, that's when things start to get interesting. Every time the hammer strikes, you see the counters on your HUD drop a little. Since it's dark and there's no sunlight, it's not recharging.

The piece of iron that you're striking gradually begins to turn blue.

After a time, you've made a crude iron blade. It's bluish in color. When you pick it up though, it changes in shape from a blade to a spike. You feel like you can will it to change shape. That also lowers your energy counters.

The giant tells you that an entire suit of armor is required to make the Isis iron, so Heracles couldn't do it even if you showed him. You're infusing the iron with nanotechnology. When you become proficient at it, you'll be able to make iron with whatever powers you want it to have, within certain limitations.

The giant asks you what you'd like to make now.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:29, Sat 09 June 2018.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 92):

That is a good question.  I could try to make something that Hercules is missing.  Or, well, it would probably better to focus on the simple things.  I'll make a sphere.  It was said to be a test for blacksmith's to make a perfectly smooth sphere.  I may not be able to get it at first, but I'll also work on wire.

The giant suggests making a perfectly flat, perfect circle, about 4 inches in diameter. He says he'll show you something when you get there.

So you work for the rest of the night on this. Your HUD counters drop. But you don't get tired. Sleeping seems to be optional when wearing the armor.

When you've completed the perfectly flat, perfect circle, the giant tells you to manipulate the hammer over it. When you do so, it expands into a perfect, hollow sphere. Like blowing up a metal balloon.

"Very good. You have promise as an Isis Smith."

The sun is just beginning to peak over the horizon.

Your HUD counters have dropped by about one third.

OOC) You do know HUD stands for Head's Up Display, right? Just checking, ya know.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 94):

I toss the ball up and down lightly in my hand.  Fantastic.  Its a crazy world full of bizarre things I have stumbled into.


"Thank you, sir."


I go and take a nap before Hercules is up.  I figure even if my body doesn't need sleep, my mind might.

You didn't like magic. You forced me to get creative. Thanks!!!!!!



Heracles woke up Noah's woodworker shortly after you disappeared into the woods. They've been working on making wheels together. There's a bunch of less than perfect wheels laying scattered about that were made before they got the hang of it. They're almost finished putting wheels on Heracles' sled.

When you emerge from the woods, Heracles greets you jovially. He's been up all night but has no plans to sleep yet. The rest of Noah's crew is waking up and they invite you to have breakfast with them. Heracles is showing off one of the wheels they made. It's getting a lot of "Ohhs" and "Ahhs" from the people.

The giants of course are less than impressed. It's nothing new to them.

But you have a hearty, meaty stew for breakfast and then someone offers to let you sleep in their tent.

Two hours later you wake up refreshed. Heracles has been working on making a wheeled cart for Noah to ride around in.

Noah is an old man. Thin, long, snowy white beard. High-pitched, gravely voice.

I watch Hercules do his thing with the wheel, and listen to Noah.  I disagree with the giants but inside my head.  Sure, its old hat to them, but this is the first time for these folk...it is actually an important Moment in History I'm witnessing.

Heracles says "HERACLES!!!! HERACLES!!!! My name is HERACLES!!!!! I do no know this HERCULES person you refer to!!!!!!"

He's not upset, he's laughing. He's just trying to make his point clearly.

Noah of course is the undisputed boss of the people. Everybody who interacts with him are like "Yes sir. No sir. Is five minute ago soon enough sir? Jump? How high sir?"



And just think. You inspired it.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 98):

"Sure thing, Hercules. I mean Heracles. Sorry." I smirk.

If I think of a question to ask Noah, I do so, but very respectfully.

Heracles jovially punches you on the arm and says "Ah, Tadeusz, if I didn't like you so much, I'd have to hurt you." and smiles.

He says he's going to go Raptor hunting tomorrow. He asks if you're going to join him. For the moment, he's going to be working with Noah's woodworker on perfecting the wheels.

The giant leader asks if you'd like to make Isis iron or learn to use your armor. He can teach you either one.

In reply to Tadeusz (msg # 99):

"I'll go with you Heracles."  and to the giants 'Let's learn more about iron.'

So he puts his hand on your shoulder and stares intently into the forest. The world tastes purple, you cease to exist, and you're standing in the forest. The energy counter on your chest piece has dropped about a thousand points.

And you're not too far from his blacksmithing forge.

The giant says "The boots'll let ya run real fast, and let ya fly. Gotta be careful though, cuz running outta power flying can be dangerous. The chest piece will protect against most any weapon. It'll let'ya teleport to any place you can see. Line of sight. Can't go somewhere ya can't see though. Shield will deflect just about any blow. If ya throw it at somebody, it'll bounce right back to ya. Gauntlet makes ya stronger, gotta bunch a weapons on it too. The sword'll cut through just about anything. By now you know the helmet, I'm sure."

Once he's got the forge lit though, he tells you make a blacksmithing hammer.

Nod. I heat up a likely piece of metal.  Then using the tongs, I put it on the anvil.  Judge it as being in a good place.  Breathe in, bring up the hammer, take a soft blow.  Breathe out, harder blow.  Breathe in, hit hard, breathe out, hit hard....now that I'm settling in to a rhythm, its good.

Pause to heat the iron back up. Grumble to myself about that, but its just the job.  Get back to hammering.  I should learn to do t his left handed as well, the thought crosses my mind, and then I focus back on hammering.

Every time the hammer strikes, your energy counters drop maybe 10 points. After a while, the iron starts to turn blue.

Maybe the helmets let you read each other's minds, but the giant tells you that in order to do it left handed, you'd need a left handed gauntlet. You could certainly make one. And if you made it yourself, you could decide what powers to imbue it with. None of the giants are left handed though, so that's something they don't have.

In fact, you could make for yourself an entirely new set of armor and imbue it with whatever powers you wanted to give it, within certain limitations.

You get the feeling the giant wants to tell you something rather important, but he can't bring himself to do it just yet. Something about The Prophesied One.

Several hours pass. Your energy counters have dropped significantly. You're going to need to recharge them in the sun. Out here in the woods, you're not getting enough sunlight to balance it out. But you complete the hammer.

Holding it in your right hand, the giant tells you "Think of a sword."

So you do. The hammerhead changes shape into a short sword.

The giant tells you solemnly "Now you see why we cannot give this technology to the humans, and why you must seal us in the Vaults of Isis at the prophesied time."

That's the thing he wanted to tell you.

So you were the one who sealed the giants in the vault. That's why you found their skeletons.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 104):

Pause. I stare into the distance, and try to absorb the information.  Its still there, just sitting there.

"When?"

"At the prophesied time."

And that is all he will say on the matter. You get the feeling he might not know exactly.

You find you can manipulate your Isis iron hammer into anything of equal weight/mass. Swords, clubs, ball and chain, etc. Just thinking about it.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 106):

I nod. Ok, that makes sense.  God does not always tell us His exact time for His plans.  So, I set out to make the things that will be needed to be made, that is, if the giants are lacking anything in the way of armor.  If not, I'll practise making basic geometric shapes to hone my skills.

So you make a triangle and inflate it to a four-sided dice type of shape. You make a square a inflate it into a cube.

At lunchtime the giant returns holding an Isis iron kettle full of water. He hands it to you and tells you to put the lid on it. When you take the lid off, it's full of one of those Taco Bell salads with extra jalapenos you had last time I was there.

After lunch, the giant tells you to take a break. Your energy counters must be pretty low by now. Recharge in the sunlight.

He tells you that they don't need any more armor made. He tells you that the Vaults of Isis are full of all of the trees from the gardens of Isis. So the giants will live inside there eating very well until they live out their natural lifespans, to await a time when humanity is ready for what they have to offer.

You get the distinct impression that he is the giant who was laying in the doorway, the one Campbell told you not to touch, who you saw standing up right before you hit the ground.

OOC) What do you think of the Isis iron? You didn't like magic, so I had to get creative!!!!
This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Wed 04 July 2018.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 108):

I look at the food with almost whimpering joy.  Gently, I taste it, hoping that its not something like a soy burger.  That is, it sorta looks ok, and smells okay, but its not the real thing.  When I find its real, I have to force myself not to grab it, and hold it tight.  Instead, with some effort, I politely offer to share it.

I'll try and see if I can make a hollow ball.

OOC: Isis iron is fine.

The giants insist that you eat it all yourself. "It is what you were craving most at that moment."

The taste might be slightly off, but it's pretty close. Not like soy burger off.

But you're going to have to make your own Isis iron kettle to have more. Fill it with water, put the lid on, and think of what you want the most.



You've done that already. Inflated a flat disk. That's the only way you can make a hollow ball. Or did you mean something else?



OOC) No, I mean what do you think of it as a story mechanic? Nanotechnology.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 110):

Hmmm. Hollow ball. Vaccuum.  Why not. This could be cool.

I make a ten inch wide circle and then being careful try to expand it to a hollow ball without letting in any air.  If it works right, it should have a vacuum inside.

Now, does the ball survive, because we do have air pressure on the outside.  Fourteen pounds per square inch.

Also, is the difference in volume enough to make the ball float, like a hot air balloon...

With the first problem, I'd think of struts on the inside.  With the second, I'd go for a thinner wall.  Of course thinner wall means more likely to collapse from pressure....

When you go to inflate it, you just happen to look at it though your HUD microscope vision. Tiny air holes open up in the walls to let air in. Then they close when it's inflated all the way. So no, you cannot create a vacuum inside it.

What you can do though is manipulate the ball's outer surface. Turn it into an animal or whatever.

But your energy counters are too low to do any thing more. Best to spend the next day or two in the sun recharging.

Especially since Heracles still wants to go raptor hunting.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 112):

Time to raptor hunt...and consider a way to solve my vacuum ball problem.  Hmmmm.

Why are you trying to fill it with a vacuum? It won't make it float, if that's what you're thinking.

You could always asking the giants......

As far as the raptor hunt, Heracles thinks you should wait another day for your armor to recharge. Tonight they're throwing a party.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 114):

I was thinking it would make it float.

I do ask the giants.

OK, let's party.  Why are we partying I want to know.

OOC) No, it wouldn't make it float. It would just be like making the flat disk an ounce lighter. To make it float, you'd need to fill it with something lighter than air.



Which the giants say you can do.

"The food kettle transmutes the water molecules into whatever you desire. Water is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons. It simply reorganizes those into something else. To make it float, you simply need to think of reordering the air going in into helium."



Heracles proclaims "WHY ARE WE PARTYING?" Then he turns to the giants and laughs. "My friend, we are partying because it's fun!!! It is NEVER a bad time to party!!!! Even when things are at their darkest, it is a brave man who can kick back and party!!!!!"

He laughing at that. "Why are we partying indeed!!!!" and claps you on the back.

But Noah's men bring out food and wine. The daughters sing and dance. It's a fun time to be had.

(Doing Therapy)

Actually a vacuum is even lighter than helium.  But its up to you.

Transmutation of elements.  Wow.  I look at the cauldron with new respect. And more than transmutation.

I shake my head, and smile.  Ok Heracles, you're the man. Let's party.  I try some horrible dance moves.  And see if I can remember what I've seen on TV of The Robot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlW5cGdOr60

OOC) Watch that video. You might be right. However, since we're not sure, how about we just say that you can transmute it into helium, which we know will float? I mean, if all you want is floating metal balls........

Sound good?



OOC) That's kind of how I wanted my Order/Chaos kettles to work. Reorder the water molecules into something else.



Heracles watches you do the Robot with fascination. After a minute or two, he's doing it alongside you. Soon, he's inventing his own moves. Then he does a backwards handspring, landing on his back, and breaks into a backspin.

Two other giants are dancing like Russians. Kicking their feet out. You know what I'm talking about.

It's a good time. Your armor is recharging.

With dinner, you are offered some of the giant wine. You are reassured that it is no more addictive than that it is so delicious, you might crave it occasionally, as you would any super delicious food.

Before the festivities are over, the giants offer you and Heracles each a handcrafted, wooden crossbow and about 30 wooden bolts for them. To use on your hunt. The bolts have razor sharp copper alloy heads.

Heracles is in awe of the weapons once he gets the hang of using it.

"To kill a raptor with such accuracy......."

He's proud.

OOC) And just because I think you might raise objections with the giants about giving Heracles crossbow technology, and I don't want to lose this thought if you don't.

"Cherneth was able to make gunpowder. He left coded books which would have eventually been decoded. Giving them crossbows will delay man's manufacture of the more dangerous gunpowder by centuries."

It's a lesser of the two evils kind of decision. They will either have gunpowder in 50 years, or crossbows for 300 years. It will temporarily satisfy their desire to kill at range with accuracy. So they won't want to look into gunpowder for a while.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 118):

Sounds good.

As to Order/Chaos kettle, I know.  Its just certain things are very hard with Order magic.  Other types of magic, thats not that big of a deal.

I nod to the giant.

"I understand.  And crossbows are a type of weapon that tends to flatten social hiearchies.  I'm not sure how gunpowder would do." I shrug.  "I don't know and nowadays I find myself drifting with the current.  Its an interesting river anyways to drift in.  Its been good to meet you."

OOC) Well, with all due respect, who decides that it's difficult? Could that person decide that it's easy? Just saying is all.



He nods in understanding. He tells you that when your armor recharges, you should try to make an Isis iron crossbow.

For the moment though, you're out in the sun. Your armor is recharging. Heracles wants to go raptor hunting tomorrow.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 120):

I'm trying sorta to follow L.E. Modestit Jrs. ideas, and so thats my guideline.

If my armor recharges in time, I'll try to make an iron crossbow.  And yes, go hunting tommorrow.

OOC) At least then you get consistency in your work. I'm still developing the Isis iron armor out of my own head, so forgive me if it isn't always consistent, and feel free to point out any time it's not.



The armor should take a few days to recharge completely. As with anything, it takes more time to recharge than you get use out of it. Probably a 3 or 4 to 1 ratio on recharging vs use. You'll be fine for the raptor hunt, since you're probably not going to use it very much. But blacksmithing is definitely going to drain it.

But today you're partying. So party hearty.

OOC: A problem I, as a GM, struggle with.

I may not be a huge party type guy, but I can flex over time, and I'm learning to party.  So, I try to put myself out there.

OOC) So yeah, that makes more sense. So Order/Chaos magic will and should remain difficult to do that which I want with it. Magehammer doesn't know that so that's fine too. You didn't like magic or psionics and for some reason, I didn't like the fact that you were so relatively powerless. So I gave you an upgradable tech suit. Keep working on it. You'll be Isis Iron Man. Now we're both happy!!!!!



A lot of the men are cooking delicious delicacies and playing music. A lot of the women are dancing around. It's a party to rival the Ewok victory celebration.

Heracles of course is the king of the dance floor. He's break dancing and using moves that won't be seen again for centuries. He's having fun. Life of the party, as always.

But you're offered food, and wine, and Giant wine. They once again assure you that it is not any more addictive than something you would want to eat very often because it was your favorite food.

But that continues until night fall.

OOC) A bit surprised I am that you're not conversing more with Noah.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 124):

Chaos magic is good at raising volcanoes.  Order magic is good at making a blackstaff that you might be able to defeat a Jedi with.  Its poor at controlling minds, being used on water, doing supercomplicated delicate things like making food.  Its good war magic.

However, there are plenty of other types of magic that could make food quite easily.  And a Water Wizard would actually be stronger on the sea than on the land.

And I head to bed having had a good time.  I'm not totally averse to partying, and sometimes I really enjoy it.  But I'm ready to go be introverted again...

OOC) And Magehammer knows none of this, so he'll just keep plugging along with the Order/Chaos magic until he can beat it into submission and make it do what he wants.

To be clear, I really like the Order/Chaos magic. It's something I would have never considered on my own.



So you go to sleep. When you wake up, you find Heracles outside practicing with his crossbow. He's already nailed a few small lizards with it. When he sees you:

"Ahh, good morning!!! Are you ready to teach the raptors who is in charge??"

(Doing Therapy)

Two Posts

I'm just wondering what's your aversion to wanting to learn psionics and magic? Why don't you want to learn those? Just curious.

Also, your broadsword can of course morph just like the blacksmithing hammer. You could have a sword, a mace, a warhammer, whatever your heart desired.

The giants know you're not an indig. You're mentioned in prophesy.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 127):

"Let's go Heracles." I grin, and head off with him into the rough lands, alert for raptor, with weapon in hand.

What weapon/s?

So you head into the forest. Heracles tells you "Be mindful of the trees above you. The raptor is a skilled climber and it will oftentimes hide in the tops of trees and pounce down at its prey."

You're accompanied by a half-dozen or so Neanderthal warriors all armed with copper spears and other assorted copper weapons.

Your armor is charging in the sunlight. You'd guess it's maybe 3/4 charged.

Then you see what you're looking for. Two raptors standing side by side, heads turned facing each other. They almost look like they're engaged in conversation.

Heracles grins evilly. He tells you "You've got first shot. I'm going to get the other."

So first shot is yours.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 129):

Throwing javelin.

"Just stay right there." I mutter to my target on the left.  And I take one, two steps and bring my arm up and throw, trying to pierce it through the neck and into the body.

After a second or two of staring intently at the raptor you intend to attack, holding the spear at the ready in the gauntlet hand, the head's up display on your helmet lights up with a targeting system. It seems to be calculating the optimum angle and velocity to throw the spear. When you let fly, it's almost as if the gauntlet is throwing the spear for you. It hits the raptor with impossible force, knocking it backwards and flipping it end over end.

The other raptor looks at you puzzled, but does not attack.

Heracles is impressed with your throw. He looks up at you and says "My turn!!!"

And he runs up to the second raptor. When he charges, it begins charging him. He jumps up and wraps his arm around the raptor's neck and wrestles it to the ground. Drawing a knife, he slashes the raptor's throat with one quick motion.

"Ah, nothing finer than fresh raptor meat."

And he uses the laser on his gauntlet to start a fire and slices a large section of meat from the belly of the raptor he killed and begins cooking it.

Unless you object, four of the Neanderthal warriors drag the carcass of your raptor back to Noah's camp. Noah's men will have it for dinner and jerky the rest.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 131):

I'll tell them to wait a second, and then I will try to pop out one of the larger teeth.  Might make me a necklace of my kills...Its a thought anyways.  I put the tooth into a pocket after cleaning it.

And then I help Heracles make dinner.

Heracles tells you that Noah's men will clean the skull for you so you can keep it as a trophy. It's worth more if all of the teeth are intact. He's got dozens of raptor skulls.

But after you and Heracles and the neanderthal warriors eat your fill of Raptor meat, you set out again looking for more raptors. The meat is succulent and sweet and delicious.

Heading through the forest, you hear a distinctive roar. Heracles gets excited. "It's a Tyrant Rex!!!!" So you all turn around to face it. It's huge. 40-50 feet long. Stands a good 30 feet tall. One of the neanderthals gets a bit too excited and runs up to it to engage it with a spear. Heracles takes aim with his gauntlet laser and fires a blast at the Rex's head. The brain matter being expelled out the other side propels the body forward, towards the overeager neanderthal. The body falls on top of him, crushing him.

Heracles panics. He runs over to the fallen T-Rex and tries to lift it off of his fallen friend. "Tadeusz, help me!!!" he pleads. Some things even Heracles isn't strong enough to do alone.

OOC) You've seen the footage of the Kennedy assassination right? People were saying how does his head move backwards towards the gunshot if he was shot in the back of the head? It turns out that it isn't the impact of the bullet that moves the skull, it's the explosion of brain matter coming out of the exit wound. That's why his head moves backwards towards the gunshot.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Sat 11 Aug 2018.

"Lord God, help me." I pray thinking of Samson, and of just needing to do this right, if I can.  And I run, with my arms outstretched, seeking to grab the head from a place where I can get a good grip, and lift and shove.  Moving the head hopefully will help me move the body.

Getting hurt is a minor concern, whether from ripping my  hands on teeth, or ripping muscles.  I need to not hold back at all.

You run very fast to the T-Rex. Beyond human speed. When you reach it and try to lift, you're not exactly sure what happens next. Maybe the armor generates a wedge that lets you slide underneath it? Maybe you're just so strong you lift it without realizing it. It happens too fast for you to really grasp what's going on. But there you are, standing with arms in the air, underneath the T-Rex's shoulder blade, holding the top half of the body 7 feet off the ground. Your left arm is pretty much useless here. But there you are. You are standing underneath the T-Rex, holding the top half of its body off of the ground with one arm.

Heracles looks at you dazed and confused. "How in the......." but then he snaps back to focus and grabs the neanderthal and pulls him to safety. The neanderthal is fine. Just a little bruised and shaken.

Then Heracles turns back to you. He says "Okay, now how do we get you out of there?"

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 135):

"You get out, and carry the Neanderthal.  I'll jump." I pause.  "NOW!!" I snap looking him directly in the eyes.

And then I try to jump clear when he's clear.  No point to both of us getting pancaked, and sides I'm the immortal.

So you drop the T-Rex and try to dive clear. You go sailing like Superman a good 30 or 40 feet and slam headfirst into a tree. Seems mega jumping is also a function of your boots. If not for your helmet, you'd surely have multiple skull fractures, but as it stands, the head's up display simply goes haywire for a moment, then blinks out and reboots after a matter of seconds. It seems to be fine. Your power counters have dropped a bit thanks to this misadventure.

When you finally regain composure and stand up, Heracles kneels before you and says "You have saved the life of my friend. I am in your debt."

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 137):

I lift him up.

"It is only because you dance so well.  I would not deprive the maidens of their excitement."

Then I bang my head with my hand a little bit, shaking it, trying to get my head to feel normal again.

When you lift him up, and say your piece, Heracles looks at the neanderthal that you saved, and begins speaking to him in his native language. Perhaps interpreting your words. They both break up laughing.

Heracles then turns to you and says "You must have hit your head harder than I thought."

Pause.

"In honor of your heroism in saving my friend, you may ask of me one favor which I cannot refuse."

That's how he repays a life debt like that.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 139):

"I do not know what to ask Heracles.  Let me think on it a bit."

At any rate, they've decided they don't want to Raptor hunt any longer. The T-Rex will provide more than enough meat and skins for the entire village. Two of the Neanderthals are dispatched back to Noah's camp to tell them about it. A short time later, some of Noah's men arrive in a large wheeled cart to take the body back to their camp.

One of Noah's men thanks Heracles for the invention of the wheel. "Do you not remember how difficult these were to transport before?"

Heracles nods. "Indeed. I remember. Tadeusz inspired me. I inspired you. Amazing how that works, is it not?"

So they cut the Rex up and take it back to camp.

Whachadoin now?

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 141):

I'm going to ask the Neanderthal's if I can help them cook the meat.  I need to learn how to smoke or salt or just cook huge chunks of meat.  Be educational it would.

It's not the Neanderthals that are doing the meat. It's Noah and his men. They're planning to have smoked T-Rex ribs for dinner tomorrow so you're right on time for that. They're more than happy to educate you. So you smoke some, and you salt some, and you otherwise preserve others. You're free to take as much with you as you can carry.

After that, when you're just standing around watching two small dinosaur lizards fight over a scrap of the T-Rex meat, a high-pitched male voice says "Hey thar Giant Blood." It's accompanied by a gentle but firm rapping on the back of your head with a wooden cane.

Turning around, Noah is standing behind you leaning on a cane.

"I's ah meaning ta talk ta ya, young feller. What-n-da-world you do ta gets ya a set ah giant armor?"

Just a reminder. Your actions curing the zombie plague would qualify as an armor worthy act.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Tue 28 Aug 2018.

Two Posts

OOC) Gotta run with the inspiration!!!!!

Noah turns around and takes off his shirt. On his back is a flexible Isis iron frame that runs up his spine and into his shoulder blades. It seems to be permanently drilled into and grafted to his skeleton.

"I done busted muh back up something awful when that stupid boat done crashed. Giants was gonna award me with a gauntlet, but they done fixed muh back up instead."

In addition to repairing his spine, it also gives him augmented upper body strength. Although given his condition otherwise, that probably puts him on par with an average 20 year old.

"I's always curious 'bout what folks done ta earn they armor."

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 144):

"Sir," I bow my head.  I mean, if this was the timeline I originally came from, this is my great to the many grandfather.  Its not, but still....I have to take a moment to get my mouth back in working order and calm my nerves.  "I can tell you about that, but its a secret from the Future, and I'm not sure everyone should know it.  But if you think it wise, I will tell you...."


OOC: Cyborg Noah!!

Noah says "I knows you ain't from 'round here son. You's ah.... what did they call you? Inter-DIE-menshunal trav-ler? Giants done told me 'bout you. Thang is, I knows me a secret what that not even tha giants know. I know when The Appointed Time is."

The time when you seal the giants in the Vaults of Isis.

"Wha-cha-say we trade secrets thar son?"

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 146):

"Call me a verser, its less of a tongue twister."   And I share my secrets.

OOC) I never understood why MJ made me do this until I started running games. Tell me exactly what you're saying to him. What secrets are you sharing? What exactly are you saying to Noah?

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 148):

"I opened the Cave of Giants to help cure the Zombie Plague which I had started by accident."

Noah is blown away. "When-d'ya do that son? Ain't been no zombie plagues since I's-a been here."

He tells you that the Appointed Time is in two weeks, on the equinox. All of the pure blood giants from all over the world are coming here to be sealed in the Vaults of Isis. Indeed, you've been partially aware of a few new giant arrivals.

This is being ordained by God to prevent the spread of their advanced technology. So if you need anything from the giants, now's the time to ask.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 150):

"To God, I think, yesterday and tomorrow are the same as today.  I'm from the Future.  After the Cave is opened.  Even in the far distant time, we know of you, Father Noah."  And I bow.

Noah smacks you upside the head with his cane and says "Don't you be bowing to me boy. I ain't no king. I ain't no god. I's just a man like you."

Pause

"So you's from the future huh boy? An you think God done put-cha here for this? That ain't so strange, I guess. The Lord works in MY-Stereo-ous ways, they say."

Ow. The old man packs a wallop with that cane.

"Yes, sir, and yes they do say that.  Perhaps I should write of these events so that those who came after me, may know of the wondrous design of the Creator?"  If I do t his, it will have to be quick because I need to put it in the Cave before it is sealed.

As this thought occurs to you, a still-small voice inside you says "This is not necessary, my child. I will see that they know all which is needed to be known."

And you see a vision. It's like you're looking through someone else's eyes. You're standing behind a pulpit in a modern day church. Before you is a large crowd of people. A bible is sitting on top of the pulpit and opened up to the Second Book of Noah. The passage says "The prophet Tadeusz said unto Noah "Behold. I shall record my deeds on the imperial scrolls of honor so that they shall not be forgotten." And The Lord said back "I say unto you. This is not necessary. I will say unto them all which is needed to be said"."

And the vision ends. Noah is staring up at you saying impatiently "Son? You alright Son? You done phased out thar for a second son."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:59, Wed 19 Sept 2018.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 154):

I do a little dance, and then tell Noah what I had seen.

"Worship His Majesty" is a challenging song, similar in that regard to America's national anthem, difficult to sing well, but even though I don't sing well, I start belting it out....probably scare a few raptors.  Heh.

Noah looks puzzled for a moment, then a light flashes in his eyes.

"The Imperial Scrolls ah Honor? Ya, ya, that's wut the giants write they stories on."

He believes you.



Noah listens to this for about 3 seconds, then wanders away. He mutters something that sounds like "Sounds like ah triceratops givin' birth......" He's not impressed by your singing.

I smile as I continue to belt it out.  I like the song.  Even if the Neanderthals are putting their hands over their ears.

Then I see about writing in the Imperial Scrolls...

When you finish, Heracles approaches and says disdainfully "I should have killed you for subjecting me to that horrendous cacophony. A life for a life. My debt is repaid."

It seems he feels he no longer owes you the life debt for that.



That still small voice inside you says "What part of 'This is not necessary, my child. I will see that they know all which is needed to be known.' did you not understand?"

And it physically shocks you. Like literal shocking pain. Like this is your warning. Don't try for another.

Sometimes I'm not good at paying attention, sorry.  I'll try to do better. Is my prayer.

"Don't let it happen again."

Says the still small voice.

OOC) I can't really think of anything interesting to do for the next two weeks, so what do you say we skip ahead to where you open the vault and seal the giants inside?

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 160):

Gulp.


OOC: Sure, skip on.

Sometime during the next two weeks, one of the giants pulls you aside and insists that he show you how to properly use your armor.

In the boots, you've got:
Mega Jumping
High-speed running
Rocket Flight.

Indeed, you and he go flying together. He teaches you how to use the gauntlet to steer.

The belt is referred to as a "Belt of truth" in the Bible, so what say we give that a Wonder Woman's lasso effect. Anyone (other than you) who is wrapped up in it is forced to tell the truth?

The breast plate will let you teleport to any location you can see. It's also equipped with an Iron-Man style chest blaster. It can fend off attacks from most weapons.

The Shield can deflect just about any blow, the sword can change into any melee weapon and can cut through almost anything.

Helmet has the Head's Up Display with different visual modes.

And the gauntlet has the magnetic setting, two blaster settings, (Stun and kill) enhances the strength of your right arm, heals injuries. (Am I forgetting anything?)

These are not their only powers. We can discuss that as you experiment.

But anyway, the day arrives when you have to open the vault. You've noticed a steady build up of giants in the area. As the time gets shorter, more and more of them show up. Some say they were halfway around the world.

But they're all standing in lines behind you as you prepare to open the vaults and seal them inside.

(Doing Therapy)

I practice the Stun and Kill on the local vegetation to get skilled at it, then I add a Stun blast, and teleport forward, and spin around and Stun blast behind myself like I was fighting someone in a street.  I try to make it a combo.

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

Before I got to the doors, I make sure I'm dressed up as nicely as I can to honor these fellows.

I turn to the giants.

"Are you sure?"  I look them in the eyes.  If, and I expect when they say 'yes' I open the doors, and then stand aside.

This works. It works well.

I forgot, the gauntlet also has a number of different scanners on it. Medical scanners, things like that.



So you put on your nice suit that you got. They're most impressed by the fine weave of the cloth and the buttons.



The keyhole is a hand print scanner that you activate wearing your gauntlet. Something you will notice about the keyhole is that it would be the right height for you to reach, but too high for Heracles to reach. It would be low for an average giant. It's perfectly sized for your hand. Too large for Heracles, too small for a giant. One would have to surmise that despite there being an identical gauntlet, you are indeed the person this lock was made for.

So, after hearing a unanimous "YES" from all of the giants, you put your hand in the lock. The door creaks and moans and then rolls in and to the side. In the dim light that you can see, you see a few trees, each with a barrel full of seeds at the base.

Some of the giants murmur "The trees from the Gardens of Isis."

They're looking forward to spending their remaining time eating from these trees.

But they all file into the vault. There's thousands of them and most of them are wearing armor. When they're all inside, their leader turns to you and says "You have done us a great service. This will prevent our technology from spreading until the humans are ready to receive it."

Apparently, when you opened the vault with Campbell, the humans were then ready to receive it.

This giants would mostly give out gauntlets when they wanted to award noble deeds from humans. So there are gauntlets and a few other armor pieces floating around. However, an entire suit is required to make the Isis iron, so even if a human had every piece of armor that was left, it would still be impossible to replicate.

But you close the vault. Heracles is tearing up a bit as you do so.

"Goodbye my friends." he says as he breaks down.

OOC) Check your Facebook. You're gonna want to watch every Star Trek episode involving the Borg. From Next Generation, Voyager, and especially episode Regeneration from Enterprise.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Sun 14 Oct 2018.

I tear up as well. I'm moved by the giants nobility, and the evidence this was designed for me makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.  I'm mostly just touched by awe.

"Come on pal." I try to take him hunting, and have a wake of sorts that night where folk speak of the stories of the giants.  I also, at the feast, ask Noah if the giants were his children.  I think they were not, but I don't quite remember.

Heracles goes hunting with you. You manage to bag a couple of herbivore dinosaurs. Small, perhaps baby sauropod class dinosaurs.

Heracles is rather melancholy about the hunt. "The meat of the herbivore is so much more succulent, but the hunt not nearly as challenging."

And indeed, the meat is some of the sweetest and juiciest you can recall eating.



Nobody argues with this. You've once again brought a feast for them. Heracles tells you that the only time he was ever frightened with a woman was when he had to consummate his union with the First Blood Giant Princess. She was nearly eight feet tall. You actually sealed her in the vault.

Something tells you that the First Blood Giant Princess was probably Angus' many over great grandmother.

Others of Noah's tribe tell stories of how the giants helped them to get reestablished after the flood. All in all it's a festive mood.



"Eh, dependen on how ya look at it, ya'll is muh children. The giants though, they's offspring ah muh girls and God's own angels. I guess that still makes em muh children......"

He never really thought about it until now.

But, as the party is going down, as the sun is just beginning to come over the horizon, all at once you feel a scriff sense. A new verser just arrived. Then you hear a roar, a strange, high pitched roar unlike anything you've yet heard. Heracles is confused and astounded. "Only once have I heard such a cry. It is the distress call of a T-Rex. Come. We should investigate." Yeah, something out there, probably the verser, is making a T-Rex cry for help. And Heracles wants to investigate.

And he starts heading off that direction.

(Doing Therapy)

Load up any weapons, and run after him...

So you grab your sword and spear and whatnot. After a few hundred yards, you see your old friend, the green Creaker zombie that Carly Rae IE Doctor Jepsen accidentally versed out. Its right arm has grown long green tendril vines from the five fingers. Each of these is wrapped around the T-Rex body, choking it. The T-Rex is bucking and rawling, but with little effect.

Upon seeing Heracles approach, the Creaker zombie attempts to throw a set of tendril vines at him. He ducks, dodges and weaves out of the way, slicing come of them off with a copper sword.

Heracles rises to his feet and giggles. You almost hear him thinking "Finally, a worthy adversary!!!!"

The zombie releases the T-Rex which falls dead to the ground, so it can focus on the two of you.

It lashes at you with its vine fingers.

OOC) Fear not. The scriff infection rendered the zombie non-contagious. So it's not gonna spread a zombie plague across The Verse. It's just gonna be a witch to kill.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 168):

Fire my blaster, teleport behind it, and fire my blaster again.  Its that routine I was working on.  If that works, at least kind of, charge screaming to get its attention, fire my blaster, teleport, and fire again.

I can use the T-Rex body as a shield to keep it from running at me too quickly, but only its head or tail as I am not tall enough to shoot over its chest as it lays on its side.

Then check energy and see how I'm doing, and evaluate how much damage I did to my enemy.

Your first shot blasts off its right arm. You teleport behind it and blast off its left arm. It roars and screams at you.



But then the sun rises over the horizon. The zombie's arms grow back. (Plant based zombies. They react to the sun.) You fire some more, but now the shots are much less effective. In the sunlight, these zombies are very difficult to destroy.

Heracles is standing in the open holding the Hammer of Heracles. He's trying to blast fireballs at the zombie. The fireballs are having about as much effect as your blaster. Next to none.



Your energy counters are okay. But Heracles is not so much. He's infuriated by his lack of ability to harm this new opponent. His face turns red, then crimson with rage. He begins screaming what can only be curses in his native language. He slams the Hammer of Heracles butt-first into the ground. A fireball the size of an atomic mushroom cloud erupts from his position. It seems to have an eye of the storm effect, as he is completely unharmed at the epicenter of the blast.

You and the zombie though, not so much. You watch the zombie become reduced to ash. Moments later, the wall of fire is inches from your face. You catch a glimpse of Heracles as he realizes what he's done. He seems to be saying "Sorry my friend."

But then you verse out.

Thou Art Dead.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:29, Wed 24 Oct 2018.