OOC: This is a placeholder for the newest thread of Tadeusz, GMed by JohnA1nut.  :)
This message was last updated by the GM at 04:12, Tue 13 June 2017.

OOC) Not yet. I just had Oak start the thread.

(Doing Therapy)
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:17, Tue 13 June 2017.

As you're versing out of the last world, you hear Linda Hamilton's voice inside your head. Her narration sounds like the opening bit of Terminator 2.

"Two thousand, four hundred and three human lives ended on December 7th 1941. The survivors of the unprovoked attack called the battle 'The date which will live in infamy.' They lived only to face a new nightmare. The war against the Nazis."

And you're waking up. Your back is against a chain link fence. All of your gear is on you.

The sun is just peaking over the horizon. It's early morning. And you hear a male voice coming over a PA loudspeaker. "Good Morning. This is Corporeal Cross with the Pearl Harbor daily news report. The date is December 5th, 1941. The weather is a balmy 72 degrees.........."

And it goes on about the conflict between Japan and China, and the conflict between Germany and England. It seems you are in Pearl Harbor, two days before the attack.

To your right you see a military base a mile away. It's sitting on the ocean. You're on an island. There's a row of battleships docked in a harbor.

To your left, also a mile away is a sign that says "EXIT."

OOC) Let me show you how I think Adam should have run this world. Immediate confrontation with an MP is not necessary. I get to see your unbiased, uninfluenced reaction to the situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Tue 13 June 2017.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 3):

"Whoa, what, ah, you scumsucker....!" I stumble through my shock, and end with a snarl at the murderer in that other world.  Rising to my feet, I glare balefully all about me.  Getting shot is not fun.

Time to assess. My colder part says.  My emotions howl back, but calm a bit, still sputtering in outrage.

Unless there is anybody around me, I bend over like I'm trying to catch my breath, and pray.  Have a plan...prayer is good.  Don't have a clue....prayer is good.

Consider. I could be messing with time.  Probably not.  I'm skeptical that a man can do much to mess with time.  Maybe I shouldn't be.  After all, Man caused the Fall.

I know my limits.  Hard edged logic is not easy for me.  So I'll feel my way forward, and try to do something.

Of course, if I get a clear intuition say 'take the exit' or 'don't interfere' that's different.

I'll keep my eyes open for flying motorcylces used by the Time Patrol, angels, Kirk and Spock, and any other anachronism.

So, I gather my stuff, and start walking toward the base.  As I do, it occurs to me that proving what I'm about to say might be hard.  And while I certainly don't look Japanese, they could think I'm a German spy.

Hmmm.  Gears in brain turning.

I check my items for any tech item that is obviously supertech.  A Driver's License ain't going to cut it.

You've got some supertech from the Verser World. You had that mapmaker.

So you're going to the base? Do you want to walk or do you want someone to pick you up and give you a ride?

God doesn't seem to be answering any prayers. No intuition or gut feelings about what you should do.

No obvious anachronisms. You see a couple of guys driving olive drab army jeeps. They don't seem to see you. You could flag them down easily enough though.

OOC) You can ALWAYS confront the player with an MP. But you only get one opportunity to see their uninfluenced reaction to the situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Thu 15 June 2017.

I walk up to the front gate, and ask the gate guards if I could speak with an Intelligence officer as I have some news that might be valuable to him.  If they think I'm hoping for money, that's okay.  I'm not trying to come across as 'oh, my stars, you have to listen to me.'  I'll save that for later when I'm talking to someone with influence.

GE 13

You approach the base. The MP guarding it immediately pulls his gun on you.

"Just how in the Hail Mary did you get on this restricted military base?"

Two more MPs approach in jeeps. They both also pulls guns on you.

It looks like you are going inside. Perhaps in handcuffs, but you are going inside.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 7):

"It was a mistake." I shrug, and smile apologetically. "Do you think I could talk to an Intelligence officer.  I do have some information for him."

Other than that, I just stand there.

If you're just standing there, I'm going to assume you won't resist being handcuffed and led inside the base. They take you to the base commander.

The base commander is a full bird colonel. Colonel Kira. The MPs stand at attention whilst you are in the colonel's office. You are still in handcuffs and seated in a chair. The colonel asks:

"They said you've got some information for me. Let's hear it son."

In reply to Tadeusz (msg # 8):

I don't resist.

Along the way, I consider my situation.  And plan what to say.

"Colonel, you can call me Tadeusz.  I do have some information, but I'd like to offer some bonafides first.  If the MP could retrieve an item from my backpack..."

I describe the mapmaker.

"And turn it on thus..."

The MP looks at the colonel puzzled, the colonel nods at him. The MP retrieves the mapmaker and turns it on. It projects a 3D hologram of Verser World. The MP and the colonel are both amazed. The MP moves his hand through the hologram and the hologram moves. Changes position, zooms in, zooms out.

Colonel Kira says "Alright son. You've got my attention. What is it you need to tell me?"

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 11):

"There is a high chance of an attack on this base by Japanese forces two days hence.  It will be launched from Japanese aircraft carriers carrying fighters and torpedo bombers.  It will be on Sunday morning, I think."

I pause, wishing I could rub my face.

"This attack will be devastating, sinking many ships.  What saves much of the US fleet is that much of it was at sea.  The fleet here will be wrecked. Thousands will die."

I shake my head sadly.

"The Japanese will get away, largely unscathed."

I lean back, crack my neck, and look sadly into the Col's eyes.

"Questions, sir?"

The colonel pauses to reflect. "Sunday. That's December 7th. How did you acquire this information? What else can you tell me about it?"

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 13):

I'd considered this.

"The simplest way to describe it is I'm from the Future, or a Future.  Perhaps you've read H.G. Wells 'The Time Machine'?  What I'm describing is history I was taught as a child from before I was born.

And that limits my knowledge as well because I did not pay that close attention to this segment of history."  True enough. I'd read some about it.  Read a novel about that time, and some other stuff, but Pearl Harbor was not usually something I was interested in.

"They come from the north.  I think a weather station on the north end of the island detects them but thinks its something else.  Ah, the USS Arizona is definitely destroyed.  The gas tankers on the land are blown up.  Big, huge black smoke billows into the air. I think there is some mini-sub, two man submarines, attacks which do have some success from the Japanese point of view.  I'm not sure, but I think Admiral Yamahito?? runs the attack, even tho' he personally thinks its unwise."

"Um, the Japanese torpedo bombers drop their torps, and they do very well.  Its a very effective attack.  Dive, drop torp, pull out, and the torp runs a bit, and into a ship. Boom."

"Its a complete surprise.  I think the Japanese Ambassador tried to deliver a war warning, but I'm not sure.  Anyways, he may have failed.  So we were caught massively off guard."

"I'm sorry I don't have more, Colonel." Sigh. "Could I have a glass of water?"

OOC) Yeah, you don't know the attack. All the better!!!!!! I didn't know it either when MJ had Adam run me though this. I've studied it pretty extensively since then though.

GE 13

The colonel considers. "Perhaps we have grown too complacent here, on this island paradise. I will take this under advisement. For the time being, however, you are going to be held in our brig."

And the two MPs take you from here and lead you to a holding cell. There, they take off your handcuffs and leave you in the cell. You've got a bed, sink, toilet, someone comes around and brings you food.

Later on, you hear the colonel make an announcement over the PA system.

"Red alert. We are going into Alert Status. This is not a drill. Prepare for air attack."

Then you hear the base going ape outside.

OOC) And unless you object, I'd like to skip ahead to the attack. You will just sit in the holding cell for the next two days.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 15):

"Understandable, Colonel. Best of luck, sir."

I get up and go with the MPs without resistance.

"Say, do you have a newspaper, or a Bible, or some other book for me to read?  Its pretty boring here." I ask the food bringer.  Otherwise, I sleep, nap, dream, and pray, and do some exercises.  Lots of napping.

OOC: No problem.  I'm not trying to go anywhere.  Such would potentially defeat my goal.

OOC) Actually I think you already defeated your goal. You see, the information you gave them about the attack was completely inaccurate. First off, the ships were sitting docked in the harbor, not out to sea. Secondly, the fuel supply was not hit. The attack was focused on the docked battleships. Twenty ships docked in the harbor. The battleships were also the most expendable target for the Americans. Eighteen of them were eventually repaired and put back into service. Of the two that were sunk, one was scheduled for demolition anyway. It is unanimously agreed by historians that the way the attack went resulted in the lowest possible loss of life and equipment for the Americans. If you put the base on alert, now the fuel supply for the entire Pacific navy, that is, millions and millions of gallons of diesel fuel just became the primary target for the Japanese. Also, the battleships are no longer docked in a harbor where they can be towed to repair stations. Instead, they are sunk on open ocean where they are unrecoverable.

Congratulations Mister Ashley. You just did immeasurable ecological damage to the Hawaiian islands and set back the American Pacific fleet response by a year. Also, the death toll is about 10X as great as it would have been. And now ten and not two ships are lost. Seriously, I'm not making this up. Warning the base would only make things much, much worse for the Americans. If I had known this when I played, I probably would have been willing to verse out in traction.

IC) The food bringer brings you a bible and a radio. And old tube type. You listen to Jack Benny and a Joe Lewis boxing match.

One thing though is that you do not get tired that night. You are still wide awake. All night, the next day, the next night. You won't even think about sleeping until sometime around December 9th.

OOC) I've read about studies done where people were kept in locked, windowless rooms with no concept of time. Eventually, they were staying awake for 80-100 hours and had no idea of it. That's where you are in your sleep schedule.

IC) The morning of December 7th rolls around. From you cell, you hear deafening gunfire and explosions. It lasts for about 2 hours. But you're safe.

After the attack the base commander comes in with six burly MPs. He's really upset. He tells you:

"We lost ten battleships. More than 25,000 men dead. The fuel supply for the entire Pacific navy was destroyed. This island is contaminated. We're going to have to evacuate while cleanup crews decontaminate it. We're probably going to lose this island to the Japanese. Without the fuel, we won't be able to defend the western coast of the United States."

Then a pause, and he continues.

"We captured several of the Japanese pilots. They told us that they expected the battleships to be docked in the harbor. Their attack was originally focused on them. They weren't even planning to attack the fuel. You convinced me to move the ships. You are responsible for this. Do you have anything to say?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:24, Tue 20 June 2017.

"That shouldn't have happened.  You should have been able to fight them off now that you knew they were coming." I stare perplexed at him, as I feel a bit of worry insert itself.

OOC) What were your goals anyway? Before you found out what happened?

IC) The colonel grows icy. "Well, we weren't able to. But since we can't charge you with any crimes, you're just going to be put in ice for a while."

And he snaps his fingers and the six MPs come running into your cell. Fight, bite, kick, scratch, whatever you want to do. You are dragged down the hallway and thrown into a cryogenic chamber. It's got a window overlooking the ocean. You've at least got a nice view.

But you are frozen and placed into suspended animation. You are kind of awake, kind of not. You see the ocean. After a time, you see a green-skinned man walk past the cryogenic chamber. He just shambles past it.

You're going to have a lot of time to think on what you did.

OOC) Fear not. It's about to become a lot more fun.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:07, Tue 20 June 2017.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 19):

I don't fight.

I walk with them down to the cryochamber.  Seeing it explains a good bit, I suspect to myself.  I'm in some sort of alternate timeline where my good advice became bad.  Or something else.

OOC: Rescue the base from much of the damage, of course.

OOC) As I stated, I've studied the attack pretty extensively since I played in the world. Every source I've read or heard from said pretty much the same thing. That putting the base on alert would only increase the casualties and loss of equipment for the Americans. Sorry maan. As MJ would say "I've got plenty of worlds where the obvious thing to do is the wrong thing to do."

IC) You've no idea how long you're in that cryochamber. You see an occasional green skinned human walk past it. Just shambling.

But I imagine you are relived when finally, a young man in a dress shirt and tie is standing in front of it. He looks into it at you, and you see him push some buttons on a console outside. The cryochamber door opens. You are immediately back to full alert consciousness.

The young man extends his hand to shake and says "Hi. I'm Elder Campbell." With him are Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan.

Campbell says "This is where it all began. What can you tell me about the incident? I mean, you were there, right?"

He says this like he expects you to know exactly what he's talking about.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:38, Tue 20 June 2017.

I drift and dream for a long time.  Occasionally pray.  Drift into a dream about Hulk being a surfer on Hawaii.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about." I step forward, trying to get out of the little chamber, still shivering from the ice melting.

Campbell says "The attack. The attack on Pearl Harbor. The diesel fuel contaminated the island. Some kind of bioweapon that was stored here was also released. It mixed with the diesel fuel. Within a month, everyone on the island was a zombie. The Japanese tried to invade, but they were turned into zombies. From here, it spread out onto the entire world. That put an end to the war. Now it's a different war. Humans versus zombies. By now the zombie virus has decayed. The island is safe. But about one quarter of the world's population have been turned into zombies."

Bill says "You're lucky you were in that freezer thingy. Or you'd be a zombie too."

They tell you that they're the first people to come here in about fifty years. That's how long you've been in containment. They came here to try to get a pure form of the zombie virus. To make a cure for it.

So, you inadvertently triggered a zombie apocalypse. But at least you ended WW2.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 23):

Definitely an alternate timeline.  Ok.

I study them to see if I think they look insane, or otherwise seriously untrustworthy.  If they pass, I shrug and speak.

"Thank you for rescuing me.  I assume you have sampling containers you need to fill, unless thats already done?"

No indication that they're lying. This is on the up and up.

Campbell says "We're going to need you to talk to Doctor Jepsen. She's in charge of this mission. After that, you're welcome to accompany us back to the mainland."

And then Carly Rae walks in. She's wearing a white lab coat. She looks you over and says "Yeah, we're going to need samples from you. Blood, stool, urine, etc."

They also want any information you can give them about the attack. Anything you might know about the virus.

But after that, they've hijacked the U.S.S. Arizona, the one battleship destroyed in our timeline. They're going to pilot that back to California. After that, you're free to do whatever you want.

Bill and Ted ask if you would like to join them.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:00, Fri 23 June 2017.

Two Posts

Or you're welcome to stay on the ship. It's going out to sea to do battle with somebody somewhere. "That's classified, you understand" says Campbell. And Captain C.J. can always use a good man with a strong back and two strong arms.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 10:06, Sat 24 June 2017.

Three Posts

For some reason, it just bothers me that you've got the whole case of paper money which is now worthless. So, if you would like to say that on your last sleep in the world, you went on a shopping spree and bought all kinds of gear, that's cool with me.

As far as guns though, you're kind of limited to shotguns and revolvers. Those were carried for hunting and self-defense. Not a lot of people were really "Into Guns" like on our world, so to get anything other than that would take a special order.

(Doing Therapy)

I stare at Carly Rae for a long bit.  Shrug. Go give the samples.  Ask if there are zombies on the island. Ask if the zombies are contagious.  Stay on the island.

GE19

Carly Rae stares back, uncomfortably.

When it's time to give the samples, she rushes through it, skipping a few redundant safety procedures. In the end, you're fine.



GE 10

Campbell says "We don't know how many zombies are on the island. If there are any, they would be old and not very healthy, for a zombie, that is."

Bill says "Yeah, but this was a friggin' navy base!!! Might be a Creaker or two lurking, from those muscleheads."



Biting, or otherwise coming into blood contact with their fluids is contagious. Takes several days to change. They're plant-based. Photosensitive.

There are also zombie plants that can change you. These are trees that look like skin. They have long vines that can snap at you and drag you in.



GE 3 (Congratulations!!!)

Campbell looks at you perplexed for a moment, and then says "You don't know the salvage laws? This island belongs to you. You are the last surviving inhabitant after an apocalypse. This is your island."

And Ted says "Yeah, it goes back to some medieval code or something. Last survivor of a plague owns the city where it happened. Didn't you pass history class dude?"

And he and Bill do an air-guitar together.

OOC) Anything you'd like to add to your 3?

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:36, Mon 26 June 2017.

"Well, okay then."  Island in Paradise.  Yeah, I can deal with that.

I send them on their merry way, and go look for a secure sleeping location.  After that, I'll need an axe.  No, axes are going to be rusted after that length of time.  I look for a solid metal pole I can carry.

And I look for vines and dead leaves.  I want to make a Tiki Torch Spear of sorts, something I can set a plant based creature on fire, from a ten foot distance.

I stay in the open, prodding anything I approach first, and making sure to have a line of retreat before I get into anything.

Campbell holds up a hand and firmly says "Just a minute. Just a minute. You've got certain rights and responsibilities as an island owner. Don't you want to know what those are?"

Then a pause, he continues. "There's also some paperwork that needs to be filled out. You are a protectorate of the US government. We'll be happy to ferry the paperwork back and forth to the mainland. You'll just have to see us a few days a month for a few months while all of that gets sorted out."

Then Bill and Ted say in unison "And dontcha wanna know about the zombies dude?"

Meanwhile Carly Rae, that is, Doctor Jepsen, is holding a vial of your blood and staring at it perplexed, like she's never seen a vial of blood before.

However, after all of this is dealt with:



Such as? You've got soldier's barracks, you've got offices that have been cleaned out of all paperwork, but not furniture. You've got the kitchen with about 50 year's worth of canned food. The canned food is 50 years old, but there's enough to last one person for 50 years.



How about a room full of WW2 firearms? All of the heavy explosive ordinance was taken away. But there's a huge room with M1 Garands, Thomson sub machine guns, M1 carbines, Colt 1911 45 automatic pistols, and about a million rounds of ammo. There's also grenades and landmines.



No shortage of things with which to do that, but I think your plans might be derailed by what's happened.

There's no electricity or running water. There's a freshwater lake for drinking water. One of the diesel storage tanks was not hit nor emptied. So you've got about 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel and plenty of generators.



You don't find any zombies in the main base. However, that's just one building. The island is roughly a rectangle in shape, 4 miles by 6 miles. You've explored maybe 1 square mile of it with the base.

You're also not going to even think about sleeping for the next four days.

OOC) And check your Facebook. I sent you something there I want a reply to.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:35, Wed 28 June 2017.

Two Posts

The canned food is mostly industrial cans. Assuming you ate it with some sense and weren't gorging yourself every day, one can of beef stew would do you three meals a day for a week. And it all looks good and preserved.

The diesel fuel spill is cleaned up. It's burned and still smells terrible. But the one tank is still usable.

Inside it's pretty clean. Not a lot of broken windows. Apparently this building wasn't hit in the attack and suffered minimal damage.

The harbor is shredded. You'd be lucky to find a rowboat in condition to sail.

You've got no telephone, no electricity, no running water. No way to contact anyone in the outside world. There are generators and you've got the fuel. But at the moment, nothing.

OOC) And tell me how many posts you saw.

Three Posts

Sorry for the multiple posts, but I just did The Math. Yes, The Almighty Math.

Fifty years for one person, at three meals a day would be 365.25X50X3=54,787.5 meals. Sounds like a lot right? For a naval base of 5,000 men, that would only be food for just under 11 days.

So, did I say fifty years of canned food? My bad. I meant two-hundred-fifty years of canned food. That's about 54 days for 5,000 men. That sounds more like it.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Wed 28 June 2017.

Four Posts

More about Campbell. His first name is not "Elder". He is an Elder in the Mormon church. After what remains of the US government, the Mormon church is the largest governmental body in the United States. They've got their own police, their own military, etc. The outcome of a ground war between the US government and the Mormon church would be in question. Fortunately, they manage to get along in face of The Greater Good.

He is a higher up in the Mormon church. Like a senator, if it were the government.

Carly Rae is a doctor. A virologist. The zombie virus has decayed. There is virtually zero threat of you being contaminated by food, water or land.

Bill and Ted are their bodyguards. They're both carrying M1 Garands and Colt 45 pistols. They were here first. Salvage laws were with them, until they found you. Anything they took is legally theirs. What they took would amount to 2 weeks worth of food of your two-hundred-fifty years, and maybe 10 of each gun with a 1,000 rounds each. What was described is what you've got left.

They are the first four people to set foot on the island. The ship has hundreds of men who were waiting for orders whether or not to come aboard. But none of them have set foot here yet.

And while I'm thinking about it:

Campbell says "We've explored this base pretty extensively before we found you. We know about the food and weapons you've got. I am legally authorized by the Mormon church to open trade negotiations for that stockpile you've got. That could be most useful in the war."

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Wed 28 June 2017.

In reply to Tadeusz (msg # 35):

One, I don't want to be a jerk, nor ungrateful.  Plus, while they are behaving themselves, it has to be tempting to take Tadeusz on a short walk from which he doesn't come back and then say 'yeah, no, the island was deserted. we own it all.'  And also, I do want to help with the zombie war.

"Elder Campbell, what's Japan and the Far East like?"

"Yes, I'd definitely like to enter negotiations. I need radio equipment, workers, rolls of barbed wire, sailboats.  I would like to restart a human colony on this island, and then the other islands, but I need to make it safe.  I'm not sure what I can offer.  Either safe land and a pleasant environment, or a trade stop on the way to Japan, or a medical recuperation center for your injured soldiers.  I think I'm really too far away from the mainland to help you in the fight directly.  If you have any suggestions, I'd be glad to here them."

They could have taken Tadeusz on the walk already. Don't forget, they opened your pod with the knowledge that you would be the official owner of the island. (Even if the referee didn't know it!!!!) So I wouldn't worry about it.



He says "If you're asking about The War, there is none. I mean, people are still people and people still hurt one another. But for the most part we're one against the wolf."

And Bill says "One against the zombie?"

So no major war, but petty crime still exists.



Campbell says "One thing we noticed is that you've got over 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel. We could really use that. The Arizona doesn't run on prayer alone, unfortunately. For that, we would be willing to set you up with solar power. Full solar power. For water, cooking, everything."

He does go on to say that the diesel fuel and the solar system are nowhere close to the same in value and that you could trade that to someone else for something better. "But as The Prophet Joey Smith teaches 'A good deal now can often be sweeter than a great deal later'."

So he's hoping you'll accept his less monetary valued offer for the entire stock of diesel fuel. But what he's saying is that you will have full power. Everything. Running water, heat, sewage, all of it. They will also repair your buildings. They're in decent shape, but they will repair leaks and plumbing and whatnot. For all of your diesel fuel.

And the best part is, they've got all of the gear they need to do it onboard the battleship. (You did roll a 3, after all.)

For the food and for the guns, Campbell asks you what you would like to have. But he does mention that providing food and basic shelter is a responsibility if they're there with your consent. So you might want to hang on to the food until they're done.



Campbell ponders and says "We could do any or all of that, actually. We could have a MASH unit here and a fancy hotel over there and a military base over there."

Gesturing to random parts of the land whilst he says that.

"You wouldn't have to do anything. Just sign over rental permission for the land. And we would of course compensate you for using your land."

The Mormon church is always looking for spots like this to do things like that.

Let me clarify your situation here. You are recognized as a king of your own country. You've got a representative from the second largest governmental body in the world; and he's basically in your pocket.



OOC) Aren't you glad he did that?

IC) "One of the responsibilities is if you've got a functional dock (Which you do) you have to allow any and all ships to port there during bad weather. Whether or not you allow them on the island is up to you. What amenities you offer them is also up to you."

And, telling you about other island owners, he describes amenities, everything from a highway rest stop to casino hotels and brothels.

You are protectorate of the US. As a representative of the Mormon church, Campbell is making you a protectorate of the Mormon church as well. What that means is that if you find your country is being invaded, plagues, natural disasters, famines, etc. you can call on the US and Mormon military relief services for help. In their eyes, you are a sovereign country under their protection.

Campbell tells you that it's best to have a monetary system in place. Even if you're the only one there. You never know. And to that end, he opens the briefcase with your cash from the last world. It's full of all denominations, from 1-500.

He says "Sorry, I didn't realize this was yours when I opened it. But did want to ask you about something. Where did you get this?"

And Campbell shows you a Masonic-type symbol on the back of one of the bills and says:

"This is a Mormon symbol. The Prophet Joey Smith said that a traveler sent by God in a time of global crisis would bear this symbol, and he would bring change to the world."

Whether that change is good or bad is up to debate.

OOC) There's more but I can't think of it right now.



Bill says "Zombies. Slow and weak during the day. Strong and fast at night. Unfortunately, you can't kill them during the day. You can only kill them at night."

Ted says "Something in their plant based makeup. Sun charges them. At night or in the dark, they're stronger, faster, but they can die."

OOC) I think the rest of your post is kind of irrelevant, in the face of everything else. So we'll hold of on that. Unless you object, that is.

(Doing Therapy)

"Elder Smith, I'll take your offer for the over 100,000 gallons of oil.  You've been more than fair to me, and as another wise man said 'time is money'.  Getting started now is worth a premium."

I'm willing to trade him for 3/4ths of the food, and guns and ammo.

I need a sailboat, plenty of basic tools (saws, shovels, hammers, and nails, and rope), a skilled carpenter, some strong backs not afraid of hard work and guns, barbed wire, seeds, hoes, tractor, tiller, and a doctor.  Some things he might not have right now, but I expect they can be delivered on the next trade vessel.

I also need a regular trade route.  Maybe every three months someone comes as part of a trade route.

I tell him this.

"You slightly misunderstand, Elder Campbell.  I don't want a casino.  In my experience, they suck the life out of a community.  Besides, I need more basic things.  What I meant by a 'pleasant land' was farmers.  I need farmers to make this place self-sufficient, and to offer fruits to help make your soldiers healthy as they fight zombies.

The MASH unit, a place for long-term recuperation, is well.

I'd be happy to have a military base, although I'm not sure what good it would do to you.  We're so far from anywhere.  Now, we have an excellent port, and I intend to start building a dock as soon as I can."

Campbell says "We'll leave you fifty workers to help you fix up the island and eradicate the zombies."

Then he puts his fingers to his temples and closes his eyes. He looks like he's in deep contemplation. A few minutes later, you hear an air horn sound on the boat.

Campbell opens his eyes and says "They're on their way."

OOC) If not magic, would you want to learn psionics?



Campbell says "We have some of that on the boat. We'll get the rest of it next month. Does that work for you?"



Campbell says "This climate is temperate all year for growing crops. Three months would be a perfect growing cycle to pick up the harvests. We would of course compensate you for that."



Campbell says "And we will be here to help you through all of this. Make your needs known. Your wish is our command."

"Then we have a deal, Elder Campbell."  I'll avoid learning psi from Mormons, although it is interesting.

I start by helping to tote, supervise, make decisions to try to keep things moving smoothly and swiftly.  If I see anyone getting red-faced and overhot, I tell them to take a water break, and I make sure to do the same.  These guys may not be used to a tropical sun, and I know I'm not.

I make sure to get the kitchen up and going because food helps working men a lot.

OOC) "From Mormons"? So would you learn it from someone who was not a Mormon?



No one really does any work. They carry the supplies to where they need them, then just stand back and psionically lift them into position and then psionically drive in the nails and whatnot.

The boat leaves with Campbell and the rest, leaving the workers. After several days, you're wired with solar panels and hooked up with electricity. Then they start working on the plumbing. Your sleep rotation amounts to staying awake for four days, then sleeping for about twelve or sixteen hours at a stretch. Just like with the solar panels, they physically move the pipes, then just stare at them and hook them up with their psionics. It might be slower than doing it with their hands, but it's much easier.



In addition to the military canned food, you also lead an exploratory mission of the island. You find lots of wild fruits and animals. After a few weeks, you celebrate the work's completion with a pig roast with fresh pineapple and banana.

The island seems to be free of zombies. Or at least you don't find any.

After a month, all of the work is done. The buildings are repaired. The place is all set up with electricity.

The Arizona returns. Carly Rae, that is, Doctor Jepsen, asks to talk to you. She says:

"It's about the blood sample you gave. I noticed right away it had a golden tinge unlike any I'd ever seen. After further analysis, I found that it is infused with scriff. It is completely resistant to the zombie virus. I believe a vaccine could be made from scriff to combat the zombie virus."

And you know that scriff creates versers.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:22, Thu 06 July 2017.

I could learn psi from others.

I check with the workers to see if there are any interested in becoming farmers, or fishermen.  Explain that I'm looking to sell land at very reasonable rates.

The idea is enough to pay for a clerk, and a small budget for minor things.  I'm thinking Homestead Act.  Get a decent plot of land, fix it up for five years, and pay a one time fee of 25 other universe dollars, which are pegged to the Mormon currency at a one to one value.  Then the land is yours, free and clear.

I start surveying if anyone knows how to do this.  We make square lots of fifty acres.  I put up a map in the admin's (moi) outer office where folk can see it.

I do enjoy the pig roast, a lot, and I point out that if we catch some small squealers, we can grow them up, and have a steady supply of pork bbq and bacon.

I will set up the Island Monetary System with my other universe dollars.

When Carly comes by, I show her the cleared land for the Recuperation Center.  A nice bit of land with ocean breezes, space for park and garden, and a beach along with the  hospital, and the long term convalescence huts.

Out there, I speak to her about being a verser.

"I can't stop you.  I'm not sure I should stop you.  But if you can, try another way."

OOC) I never understood why MJ made me do this until I started running games. Tell me exactly what you're telling her about being a verser. Don't just say "I tell her about it" tell me exactly what you're saying to Carly Rae about being a verser.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 43):

"Doctor, what you're asking has its own problems.  That scriff can make a man vanish from the world, perhaps never to return, wandering the Multiverse.  If you do this, you will be sending many to such a fate.  I'm one such person, and while its not horrible, many would not like it."

Like who? And why not from Mormons? Does it matter from whom you learn the skill?

Also, where would you want to go next? I'm thinking of two worlds to send you to. Just say Future or Past.



GE 21

None of the people currently here are interested in that. But they'll pass the information along.



So you do that. No takers at the moment, but you get it surveyed.



That works. There's also other animals you could pen up.

Campbell promises to bring Angus on the next voyage. He's a farmer and he'll know what to do to get this all set up.



Campbell asks you again about the symbol. He wants to know where you got those bills.



She nods with approval. She really appreciates what you're doing.



Doctor Jepsen considers for a moment, then finally says "That actually explains quite a bit. For years after scriff technology was developed, there have been unconfirmed reports of people who recently used it disappearing inexplicably. So are you saying that's what happened to them? They stepped into this 'Multiverse'? Well, take comfort in the knowledge that you at least are immune to the zombie virus."

But then after a pause she says with regret "I thought we finally had a cure for this plague. What you're saying is that it would be Thalidomide all over again."

'A man needs his secrets, Elder Campbell." I say with a laugh, trying to duck the question.

I agree with the Doc with a sober expression.

What other animals?

I do another search of the island just to make sure there are no new saplings of zombie trees that sprang up or anything.

OOC: I've heard things about Mormons and fate that I don't really like so learning odd things from them is not my thing.  When you're playing around with your mind, it seems a bit of caution is in order.

Past.

He agrees with this statement. "A man is nothing without his secrets."



"It's a place to begin. Perhaps we can isolate the scriff structures that give viral immunity from the scriff structures that cause Multiversing. I'll get on it immediately."

And she asks for another blood sample from you.



What other animals would you want? Anything you want is just a dice roll away.



GE 16

You find no evidence of any new zombies. Nothing has changed.



OOC) Well, who would you learn psi from? You don't like to retcon. I love to retcon. We can retcon that so Campbell is whoever you're willing to learn psi from. I don't see what the big deal is. But you actually helped me write this world. You wrote something on GO about who would be likely to survive an apocalypse. Mormons and Amish were two that you specified. At about that same time, I went on a psychotic bender about zombies. When I sobered up, I combined the two threads and this world was born.



OOC) NUTS!!!! I was hoping you'd say future. The two past worlds I have kind of require the player to have magic. What kind of magic would you want to learn? Remember what I said? My biases are either 15@10 or flatlined? This is 15@10 across the board. You can learn psi and mag here if you want.

She takes the sample and promises to be extra careful with it.



Along one of the beaches, you find several smashed crates marked "Property of the San Diego Zoo." and roaming the island are all the animals you could ask for.



OOC) Originally this world was flatlined, but I said "Screw it!!!"



OOC) It's all 15@10. You should know that.

As a matter of fact, you find an old book in someone's quarters. It's a tome the size of a telephone book. On the first page is written:

"Oh great book of spells
in these pages dwells
secrets no one tells
awake!! For Gargamel!!!"

It's got everything from making black iron, controlling energy flows, and some cauldron recipes that are either magic, or the grossest casseroles imaginable.

What kind of magic do you want to learn? It's in this book.

I'll get some of the workers to put up corrals next to each other on the outer edge of town.  And then I take the Book of Spells, and look for some magic to attract and calm horses.  Also, I try to practice using a lariat.

We get started on putting up the Recuperation Hospital, and garden and stuff.  I deal with the doctor as to what he needs.

OOC: So I can maybe do miracles?

You chant some foreign words and try to approach horses. They run from you. If you do manage to get close, they bite and kick and won't let you near them.

(BOTCH!!!!!)

But the lariat practice goes well. You rope a wild hog for dinner.



You mean "She". The Arizona comes back with supplies to build a hospital. It all goes well for you. Two of the zombies are brought to the hospital for experimentation. Doctor Jepsen injects them with different scriff compounds. One verses out right in front of her. The other has no effect. The zombies are green-skinned. They require sunlight to stay charged. If denied sunlight for extended periods, they die.



OOC) Define "Miracle". There are those that would say Magehammer creating a block of ice out of thin air is a miracle. If you're looking to magically cure the zombie plague though........

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 51):

"Doc!!" I'm freaked.  "You have to stop.  We might have just spread this disease to another world."

=======

I look at the horses, blow out my breath, and try to approach them.  When they show anger, I back off and try again.  When next time fails, I give it up.

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

Still, I'm pleased to have another luau.

======

Miracles. Holy magic. "Dear God, heal this man, and bring fire down from heaven on that evil vampire."

Doctor Jepsen considers for a moment, then finally says:

"With what you've told me about this versing, and the fact that your body is immune to the virus, my guess is that he will be cured upon landing in the next world."

But she does agree to stop testing scriff on them.



And so is everyone else.

So you've got a MASH unit set up here. What else are you trying to do?



Of course you can do that!!!

The book does speak of a magical item. The Hammer of Heracles. It was a weapon wielded by an ancient king. Supposedly had the power to throw lightning and fire and to heal anyone of any diseases.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 53):

"OK, Doc, you're probably right. But thanks for ceasing the testing."

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

I begin to pray more for safety for the islanders under my rule, and for their souls, and I also pray for putting things together well.  Some people are able to design cities and such with experience, or with logic, but not me, so much.  But I'm aware that certain relatively small differences can make a huge difference in how pleasant and useful a space is.

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

I talk to the soldiers who are becoming workers about whether they would like to move out of their barracks into small homes.  I expect they would.  If so, create neighbourhood, call it 'Beachside' with simple square block layouts for a hundred homes eventually.

Ten houses on First Street with three crossing roads, Pineapple, Banana, and Mango.  P and M are the endcap streets, and B runs down the center dividing the five on the left of First from the five on the right side of First.

So, 100 (starts at a 100) First Street would be at the corner of First Street and Pineapple Road.

Create a basic layout for each house.  Kitchen, bathroom with sewer connections, one bedroom, and one living room, and one closet.  I expect everyone to get the same, and then over time, one guy adds a new bedroom when he gets married and has a kid, and another guys adds a porch, and so on.  People are going to want to individualize.

Can I hook this into an existing septic field for the stuff?  Do I need a new one?  Is there enough water pressure, or do I need to make a new water tower?
[top]

Doctor Jepsen says "Maybe you'll run into him in The Verse."

OOC) Hint hint!!!!

As far as the rest of it, Campbell tells you that everything you want is doable. You don't have to pay a dime for any of it. In fact, they're offering you rent for the space they're using. This is a fortified location against the zombie threat. You're just going to have to put up with a lot of Mormons.

"So, what can I offer you as compensation for the use of your land, King Ashley?"

Mormons are generally nice people.

"Maybe." I say to Doc.

I explain that at least for the houses, I don't want rent.  I want homeowners, not renters.  Homeowners take more pride in their property, and also a society of homeowners is better in my opinion than a society of renters.  A man should be able to say "I'm going to my home, and no one, not even King Ashley is invited."

I tell them to put it on credit.  When I think of something, or when I see we need something, I'll talk to them.

OOC:  Perhaps we can move this along to the point where the hospital and its gardens and bungalows are completed, and the Beachside development is completed.

Campbell accepts this. He appreciates your sincerity. He explains though that he's not talking about the people renting from you. He's talking about the church renting from you. Governmental body to governmental body. He's not anticipating that there will be many individual homeowners here. This is a recovery center, military base, farm, etc. Most folks will rotate in and out. Very few permanent residents.

OOC) When Magehammer takes leadership of a city, he writes the laws to have lots of exceptions for people of wealth, influence, power, clauses to escape punishment for making restitution to the victims, things like that. Who but the king or a mage could make sufficient restitution for some crimes? In the end, the laws are worded such that he and he alone cannot be prosecuted for any crime. But he tends to be a benevolent ruler with an iron fist.



He appreciates that. Whenever you're ready.



So (Six months? A year?) later, there are about 100 houses, 50 on each beach side. The middle tract of land is being used for farming. The dock is repaired. You've got ships coming and going. Dropping off, picking up, the Arizona is a frequent visitor. The MASH unit is upgraded to a proper stone and glass hospital. Campbell shows you a set of blueprints for your own personal house. It's 2 stories, 12 bedroom, 3 bathrooms, four car garage, two living rooms. Or you can design your own house. Wild pigs, cows and other animals found roaming the island are domesticated and penned up. The island is made up of rich, volcanic soil and you've got a year round growing season. You've become a minor exporter of fresh meat and produce, which are rare and valuable commodities. You can set your own price for those. The farm crews are made up of the missionaries that would go door to door in a normal neighborhood. It's like scout merit badges to them. They live here for a few months, earn some kind of work credit, and rotate out. They're not here for more than one or two growing cycles, typically.

And you can of course veto and/or add to anything stated. Think of this like a cooperative game of Sim City, and you've an infinite money cheat code.

OOC) And to think, initially you wanted them to leave you here by yourself.

(Doing Therapy)

Two Posts

The head of the farming community and one of the few semi-permanent residents is an Amish farmer named Angus. He stands about 6 foot 8 in his workboots. Mid fifties, very muscular. He's the kind of guy you can just look at and know you want to stay on his good side. The Amish communities, if they were organized into one group, would probably represent the third largest governmental body in the world. They work closely with the Mormons. A lot of people "Went Amish" and joined them when they realized how well the Amish were living and eating in the face of the mass shortages of food. Angus moved his whole family here.

He wears a bag over his shoulder that contains a 20 pound sledgehammer and a double bladed wood chopping axe. And he's spent the last 30 or so years defending his home with them. According to rumor, he's been known to walk into a field full of zombies with the axe and sledgehammer and 20 minutes later, is the only thing that walks back out.

He brings you out into the fields to show you the progress they're making. The Mormon boys tend to be good hard workers. There's not a lot of dissent among them. They hold prayer meetings and church meetings on a regular basis. You are of course welcome to join. They have to try to convert you. It's just their way.

(Doing Therapy)

I'll make an effort to make it easy to get long-term housing.  Over time, I hope some will fall in love with the Island, and want to stay.

I'll take their offered house, with a few minor mods, since me and interior design just don't work well together.  I try to learn a bit of that from the architect so that I won't be so clueless.

I'll give them a good price.  One thing is the Henry Ford thing....cheap, good product makes people want more....and you could end up making more money that way.

I'll talk with Angus.  I ask him to come walking with me for a couple hours.  We go to a nearby, undeveloped area.  I hope there is some sort of nearby area with flatland, and water from a river.

"You're a great help here, sir.  I wondered if there were some of your fellows and sisters, families even, that would like to come to the Island.  I could see an Amish farming area, with a small market village here.  Put the village over there, by the creek, or on the shore.  We could run a road up here from the Main Town, suited for wagons, no mechanized traffic allowed.  And then you could have farm lots dealt out spreading out from the village.  I'd have a few rules, but mainly you and yours would handle things on your own."

As to the Mormons trying to convert me, well I try to convert them right back.

You're not really going to have that among the Mormons. This what you signed up for with them. You might have it with some Amish though.



You are also given a Mormon army jeep to drive. It's four wheel drive and runs on distilled alcohol. They don't drink alcohol, but they do use it as a fuel and other purposes. But it is drinkable grade.



You come to a good price for the exports. You're going to be rather wealthy in Mormon currency soon.



Angus drops down onto one knee before you and bows his head, to give thanks for your very generous offer. He's praying, thanking God, and thanking you at the same time. Then he rises to his feet.

The island is a rectangle, roughly 24 square miles. Your section of the land, where you live, and the docks is about 2 square miles. The area taken up by the Mormon colony is about 12 square miles. The area where you've taken Angus is trees and forest. They're going to have to clear cut that. But that's nothing they haven't done before. And they'll have logs for their cabins. But there's about 10 square miles of forest land for them. And Angus knows that he and his Amish brethren will relish in the challenge of taming the wilderness.

In a deep Slavic, Germanic, Russian type of accent, he says "I owe you a great debt. You have given my family and friends a safe haven. Away from the zombies."

So he's going to talk to Campbell about relocating his former community here. He thinks this will work perfectly for them. They're just going to have to do the Amish equivalent of "Roughing It" for a few months whilst they tame this beast.

On a side note, Angus' axe/sledgehammer fighting style is very similar to the katana/blacksmithing hammer style you learned in Arcade. He could and will train you in that if you ask him.



You have some lively discussions with them. Unfortunately, since they rotate out every three months, you can't really get to know them.

(Doing Therapy)

Two Posts

OOC) I'm going to assume you won't mind me skipping ahead a bit to when the Amish move in. I've just got an idea and I want to run with it.

A week later, several wooden sailboats arrive at the dock. The boats are reminiscent of the Mayflower. About a hundred Amish men, which is to say any married male over the age of 15 land there. It seems in their culture, you are a man at 15, but you're not a Real Man until you're at least married. Only Real Men get picked for assignments like this. So, all of them have wives back home, some have children. They're the first wave. The women and children will be along when the land is tamed enough for them.

Remember when I said you found crates from the San Diego zoo? Yeah, there's about a half-dozen tigers roaming the island. A small pack of lions, half-dozen elephants, monkeys, and a lot of deer and rabbits.

The Amish want to leave enough forest to allow the desirable animals a place to live. But they have no problem hunting the tigers and lions to extinction. Every time one of them is bagged, they make a feast of the tiger. A popular Amish expression among them is "All meat is meat." One of the men, a leather crafter by trade, offers you a tiger skin coat.

The elephants are domesticated, tamed, and used as beasts of burden, in addition to the animals brought by the Amish. Taming wild animals is what they do.

For the moment, the Amish sleep outside under the stars. They live completely off the land. "What can we need that the forest cannot provide?" is another popular expression among them. They're cutting down trees and building cabins with the logs. But it would be seen as a dishonor for one person to use a cabin before there are enough for everyone. So the built cabins stand unused for now. They're sleeping outside under the stars until there's enough cabins for them all.

Several of the Amish, as well as some Mormons take monkeys and chimps as pets. The smarter chimps are trained to do basic housework by the Amish.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:38, Wed 26 July 2017.

Three Posts (Sorry buddy!!!)

The Amish idea, their ultimate goal, is to give each man a family cabin and up to six acres of land to do with as he pleases. (Just Googled, 640 acres in a square mile.) Most of the farmers won't take the whole six acres, so they'll be plenty of room for expansion. They're not all farmers though. Some are blacksmiths, leather workers, woodworkers, etc. But they all do a little bit of everything. The blacksmith is 2@5 blacksmithing and 1@5 farming, whilst the farmer is 1@5 blacksmithing and 2@5 farming. This is going to take up about 1 or 2 square miles of their allotted 10. The farm proper is going to be 3 or 4 square miles and worked by all of the farmers. Which is to say, everyone in turn. That's barns, grazing land, fields, all of it. Leave the remaining 4 to 6 square miles of the densest forest for the animals, and as a hunting ground.

Ultimately, there's going to be between 500 and 1,000 Amish people. Two hundred families of varying sizes. There's more previously unmarried men who will be coming with their new wives, and the wives and children still on the way. Every once in a while, a boat shows up with a newly married man to help work. He got his honeymoon, hopefully impregnated his wife, and now it's time to earn his place in the world and make a home for them to come to.

There's a few lakes and streams for water and fish.

It's a volcanic island, and is rich in iron. The blacksmiths are making most of the tools they're using on the spot.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 10:36, Thu 27 July 2017.

"Angus, I'm sure in years to come I'll be happy to have such solid men in my land.  And being able to buy honey and mango jelly from you will be nice as well.  I look forward to seeing horses and buggies on the streets of this Island."  I clap him on the shoulder, my eyes tearing up a bit.

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

Not interested in the drink of alcohol.

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

I will take the tiger skin coat.  It looks awesome, and ferocious.  Unfortunately on a tropical island, its not much use, but I tell him that I have a feeling that eventually I will be going to places where it may keep me from freezing.

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

I'm happy to see the elephants being domesticated.  Its the individual initiative I want in my society.  A king simply does not have enough time to make all the wise decisions in a society.  Neither would such a society be free.

The tigers being killed off makes me a bit sad, but the Island is too small for them to be free roaming, and losing a child would be a tragedy.  I support the extinction efforts without quibble.

I try to keep an eye on ecological invaders.  I don't want what happened in Australia with rabbits to happen here.  If need be, I post good bounties on anything that seems like an invasive species that is getting out of hand.

========

I host a grand feast/party when the Amish finally get up their houses.

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

Angus says jovially "Friends clap shoulders. Brothers hug!!!!"

And wraps you up in a chest-crushing embrace and actually lifts you a few inches off the ground. When he sets you back down, he too has tears in his eyes. He's very grateful for this safe haven. And for the work. "I've not tamed a wilderness since I was barely married." He's loving the challenge of it all.

He didn't do you any permanent damage with the hug, but you're fairly certain you never want him to do that again.



The Mormons don't either. Some of the Amish men do though. But they all see the logic of having drinkable alcohol.



Angus asks if you can have more elephants shipped here. They're apparently very easy to tame and one elephant does the work of a team of plow horses.

Angus says "I don't know how we ever got along without them."



They assure you that there's a lot more lions and tigers in the world. They're not even close to being extinct like on our world.



So far nothing the island can't handle.



You mean when they bring their wives and families here? They would bring their families here when they deem the land to be tame enough for them. That's when the houses are completed. Naturally they're going to celebrate that. The farm will still need to be built and the rest of the land will still need to be tamed; but a house to protect the women and children when the men can't. That's when the land is tame enough. Some of the cabins they're building are rather elaborate. Multiple rooms, some have two stories.

So you end up hosting a party that would rival the Ewoks of Endor. All of the women and children are here. Most of the just married women are pregnant with their first child. Several of the less than scrupulous Amish men make a point of introducing you to their daughters. Trying to marry them to a king. All in all, you have a good time.

(Doing Therapy)

Two Posts

When the barns eventually get built, they won't be log cabins. The Amish do have tools which can quite easily split the trees into crude boards. They just prefer log cabins to live in. More sturdy. So they're going to build the rest of it with boards.

The Amish and the Mormons don't grow all of the same crops. For example, the Amish grow cotton and hemp. The Mormons grow neither. Cotton and hemp is what the Amish clothes are made from. They do everything The Hard Way. Wives now sit at looms and spinning wheels making cloth from thread.

They do grow a few crops the same, and it is universally agreed that that Amish crops are better. So everyone on the island eats Amish grown crops and exports the Mormon crops. Where they're the same, that is.

They trade with the Mormons a lot. You are liked and respected for your easy going nature. You are welcome to sit at just about any dining table, anywhere on the island.

You are of course invited on numerous occasions to help them work in the fields or wherever you think your talents would be useful. That's Amish and Mormon.

The elephants are strong enough to pull out most tree stumps with ease. The Amish raise many more animals than the Mormons. The Mormons use alcohol fueled vehicles mostly, and the Amish of course use all beasts of burden. Horses, oxen, all burden animals are eaten when they die. The hides are tanned into leather. The bones are used. The Amish waste nothing.

The Mormons raise cows and chickens mostly. Fresh milk and eggs are incredibly valuable. And of course the meat.

The Amish raise pigs, cows, chickens, sheep, horses, hopefully about 10 more elephants, and others. Some find the chimp meat to be most tasty, and there are individuals raising chimps for meat on their 6 acres. But it's not really a group activity.

Again, the Amish meat is universally agreed to be superior, so everyone on the island eats that and exports the Mormon grown.

Your personal share that you eat is viewed as something of a tax worth paying. Or something.

OOC) You like this world so far?

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 01:11, Fri 28 July 2017.

Three Posts (It's your fault!!! Shouldn't have left me alone for three days!!!)

In addition to the house that the Mormons are building, the one with all of the creature comforts you could ask for, the Amish have constructed for you a log cabin. It's one room, four walls, 16x16 feet. Hard-packed dirt floor. It's got a non-leaking roof, a potbellied iron stove, stone fireplace and an outdoor outhouse. Fenced in six acre yard with several native fruit trees. And just for you, it's the closest house to the nearest watering supply; a creek a half mile away. This, and whatever handcrafted furniture you request is their view of all of the creature comforts you could ask for.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Mon 31 July 2017.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 66):

Ouch. Angus is strong, real strong.

======

Elephants come from India and Africa.  What's our type?  I talk with one of the captains about buying some elephants.  I know this is probably going to require financing a trip, and possibly sending along a security force to protect the sailors and elephant wranglers from zombies, unless there is a safe port.  But, creating more trade routes is a good thing.  And I do have lots of cash, so time to spend.

I'll be Prince Henry the Navigator.  Heh.

======

Love the party.

I make a note that we need to do this say on a quarterly basis....well, that might be too much, but a fall festival and Christmas would be good.

=====

I'll make an effort to visit three houses a week for dinner.  Chat with them, get to know them, see if they have any problems, ask for good ideas.

=====

Fun world.

When you comment this to him, he laughs a little and says with pride "I am a direct descendant of The Mighty King Heracles."

======



Are you planning to leave the island and personally oversee this? Because if you're just going to tell Campbell about it, he will respond with:

"There are a few Mormon zoos left that have elephants. I'd have to check how many, but the price of running a zoo with zombies running around is most high. Most animals aren't affected by the zombie plague, however. We've got ample grazing land. Men who are experienced at animal husbandry. I should also check with the Mormon missionaries here and see if they'd like any."

And Campbell will ultimately locate eight of the requested ten elephants. The Mormons keep two. None of their vehicles can match the raw towing power of one of these beasts. So the Amish get six.

Angus thanks you. "We requested ten. We would have been happy with one more. Six will do nicely."

So they've now get seven females and five males. There will be elephant breeding on the Amish farms.

Speaking of breeding, no two parents on this world can produce more than three children. It's just the way things are. For this reason, the Amish are beginning with a colony of 200 families. That is, about 500 men, women and children. And with the birth limit and the natural death rate, it is not expected to exceed 1,500-2,000 people. About half of the families are just married, bun in the oven. The man came here for his Manhood Training. For lack of a better word. Make a home for his new family with the sweat of his brow.

======



Actually Quarterly will fit the Amish traditions. Their interpretation of "Honor the Sabbath and Keep it Holy" is that they work on a seven day rotation schedule. On any given day, 25-30 of the 200 men sit at home with their families. And the way it works out is that they all have four days a year when things rotate just right that everyone has a day off on the same day. And these dates just happen to coincide perfectly with the four seasons. Plowing, Planting, Harvesting, and Fertilizing for next season. So, they throw parties four times a year on the last day of the season. The best of the four is regarded as Harvesting. That's when the new year begins.

Who says God doesn't have a hand in their lives?

=====

=====

I think I said the Mormons built 100 houses on each side? It's more like 100 dorm rooms, apartment buildings, and free hotels for the visiting bigwigs. It's kind of a private school. Boys on one side of the island, girls on the other.

So one night you dine at a Mormon dormitory. You are seated at the head of a cafeteria table with about 100 high school age kids at it. Your choice if they're boys or girls. You've got the rapt attention of 100 high school age kids, hoping you will honor them with your wisdom.

Another night with an Amish family. Father, mother and three young children. The food is tender and juicy. Delicious. You later find out it was chimpanzee. The children are well-behaved. The eldest is a boy of 7. He's looking forward to his eighth birthday when he "Stops Being a Child" and begins to learn to "Work Like a Man."

So Mom takes care of them for the first eight years. They have something of a carefree childhood. But turning eight is a big day in a boy's life.

The third night, you and Angus are invited to Campbell's private dining room. Angus and Campbell update each other on their progress, Angus asks for supplies, Campbell asks for produce, together they work it out. Angus is something of a leader and spokesperson for the Amish.

They want to know what you think of everything.

OOC) I took the time to write that. I hope you take the time to respond to each.



OOC) That three. I've never run this world like this before. Usually you'd be riding around with Bill and Ted in their garbage truck, with a few zombie kills under your belt by now. You've only seen the two zombies they brought into the medical bay. BTW, the one they accidentally versed out? It was a Creaker. Former body builder. Daytime strength 2@5. Nighttime 3@1. Covered in a half-inch thick wooden plate armor. But they creak when they move, hence being called a Creaker. And they let one into The Multiverse. Just to set your mind at ease though, the one good thing about them being former bodybuilders is that the 'roids destroyed their ability to reproduce. So their bites don't infect people. They're not contagious. They can only kill you. Not infect you.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 08:52, Tue 01 Aug 2017.

I'll try to get a detailed response tommorrow.

When you comment this to him, he laughs a little and says with pride "I am a direct descendant of The Mighty King Heracles."

====I nod and smile, not getting it.

======



Are you planning to leave the island and personally oversee this? Because if you're just going to tell Campbell about it, he will respond with:

"There are a few Mormon zoos left that have elephants. I'd have to check how many, but the price of running a zoo with zombies running around is most high. Most animals aren't affected by the zombie plague, however. We've got ample grazing land. Men who are experienced at animal husbandry. I should also check with the Mormon missionaries here and see if they'd like any."

And Campbell will ultimately locate eight of the requested ten elephants. The Mormons keep two. None of their vehicles can match the raw towing power of one of these beasts. So the Amish get six.

Angus thanks you. "We requested ten. We would have been happy with one more. Six will do nicely."

So they've now get seven females and five males. There will be elephant breeding on the Amish farms.

====This will indeed work.

Speaking of breeding, no two parents on this world can produce more than three children. It's just the way things are. For this reason, the Amish are beginning with a colony of 200 families. That is, about 500 men, women and children. And with the birth limit and the natural death rate, it is not expected to exceed 1,500-2,000 people. About half of the families are just married, bun in the oven. The man came here for his Manhood Training. For lack of a better word. Make a home for his new family with the sweat of his brow.

=====Hmm. That is odd, but my level of genetics knowledge is probably about first year college level.  There's no way I'm going to be able to do genetics research.

I'm not worried about overpopulation.  Hawaii has a lot of islands, and there are going to be many areas depopulated, I would think.

That does cause some more thinking.  A tradenet where a league of cities, fortified of course, or naturally isolated like the Island, could be a good way to help us get what we need,  and provide wealth and beachheads for taking on the zombie menace.

I ask Campbell how Japan is, if he knows.  And I ask what hand to hand weapons are used.  I'm not sure katanas would be the best blade to use against zombies.  Some sort of halberd might be better.

======



Actually Quarterly will fit the Amish traditions. Their interpretation of "Honor the Sabbath and Keep it Holy" is that they work on a seven day rotation schedule. On any given day, 25-30 of the 200 men sit at home with their families. And the way it works out is that they all have four days a year when things rotate just right that everyone has a day off on the same day. And these dates just happen to coincide perfectly with the four seasons. Plowing, Planting, Harvesting, and Fertilizing for next season. So, they throw parties four times a year on the last day of the season. The best of the four is regarded as Harvesting. That's when the new year begins.

Who says God doesn't have a hand in their lives?

====Interesting. Well, then we go for the quarters.  I make a point to put up prizes for longbow archery and axe-fighting at the four parties.  While its peaceful, keeping my Amish young men able to slay zombies is a useful thing.

=====

=====

I think I said the Mormons built 100 houses on each side? It's more like 100 dorm rooms, apartment buildings, and free hotels for the visiting bigwigs. It's kind of a private school. Boys on one side of the island, girls on the other.

So one night you dine at a Mormon dormitory. You are seated at the head of a cafeteria table with about 100 high school age kids at it. Your choice if they're boys or girls. You've got the rapt attention of 100 high school age kids, hoping you will honor them with your wisdom.

====I'm more than capable of being goofy.  I ask different teens what its like back on the mainland between acting silly and eating.

Another night with an Amish family. Father, mother and three young children. The food is tender and juicy. Delicious. You later find out it was chimpanzee. The children are well-behaved. The eldest is a boy of 7. He's looking forward to his eighth birthday when he "Stops Being a Child" and begins to learn to "Work Like a Man."

====My stomach turns over when I find its chimp, but I rebuke it.  Not going to be McD's on every world I remind it so get used to it.  At least its not bugs.

I try to treat the youngest with the grave respect he desires, although my lip  twitches a time or two as I try to hold in a smile.

So Mom takes care of them for the first eight years. They have something of a carefree childhood. But turning eight is a big day in a boy's life.

The third night, you and Angus are invited to Campbell's private dining room. Angus and Campbell update each other on their progress, Angus asks for supplies, Campbell asks for produce, together they work it out. Angus is something of a leader and spokesperson for the Amish.

====Good. I was hoping Angus would fit that role.  I check with Angus if some of these supplies are things we can make here.  If he thinks so, I'll ask Campbell if we can get machines and operators, or at least instructions on how to do it.

"Campbell, would dried fruit help your troops?  Weapons such as machetes or halberds or animal restraint type ropes on a stick?  What about salted fish?  We might have to import the salt, and build up the fishing fleet, but I could see that working."

They want to know what you think of everything.

OOC) I took the time to write that. I hope you take the time to respond to each.

OOC) Surprised I am that you don't get that reference. It's a clue.



Japan was one of the first countries infected with the zombie plague. Following their attack on Pearl Harbor, they attempted to invade. Their military forces became infected and were transported back to the Japanese mainland. Likewise with some of the American forces. Needless to say, that put a decisive end to Japan's involvement. It is rumored that the Americans deliberately sent zombies to Germany and from there it spread out all over Europe.

As far as what weapons are effective, during the daytime, they can recover from just about anything. At night, they mostly die as easily as humans. Except for the Creakers, of course.



You're preaching to the choir there. That's nothing they don't already know. But you are of course invited to participate in the archery tournaments. That's part of their celebration. The four yearly parties are when young men begin the courtship rituals. They prove their worth as men, and the girls prove their worth to be wives.



They're a bit disappointed with your goofiness. Yes, they're teenagers, but a lot of them are more or less brainwashed by the Mormon ideology. They were expecting serious life lessons from you.



The family seems to enjoy your company.



Part of the supplies the Amish requested were canning jars. Canning, drying and salting the Amish know very well. As far as salt, you're surrounded by an ocean full of it. Run ocean water through a still. You've got salt on one side and pure water on the other. Stills aren't just for alcohol.

They take the rest of your suggestions under advisement.



OOC) Yeah, I couldn't let that Creaker zombie infect other worlds or have you worried about that. So he's just going to be to you what that T-800 was to Magehammer.

Yeah, that's life for humans. People, or at least governments, have put their differences aside in the face of the zombie invasion.



GE 20

The islands are claimed. Islands are easy to rid of zombies and are prime real estate. They're all owned by some government or other. Mostly VIPs live there. Salt Lake City is of course the Mormon capitol. Utah is one of the most defended landlocked areas in the country.



So you do that. The Amish help you with the manual labor.

So two years you've been in this world. After about six months your sleep schedule returned to normal. You were awake for 16 hours and asleep for 8. The island community is running smoothly.

But then one day Angus runs up to you. He's excited. He's holding a book that Campbell gave him. It's an old, leather bound tome.

He's so excited he can barely talk straight. He yells "The Hammer of Heracles!!! The Hammer of Heracles can fix this!!! If only I had The Great Book of Spells!!!"

And you've got The Great Book of Spells.

(Doing Therapy)

Having perhaps learned a bit of caution, I ask him why he wants this Mighty Hammer.  I get him to sit down at my dining room table, and get him a drink.

I suppose its become part of our culture, but any time you visit someone out comes the drink.  Its because its so hot that you need to make a continual effort to stay hydrated.

"So, Angus...?"  I look at him with keen, curious eyes.

Angus opens his book and shows you a picture. An old woodcut drawing. It shows a handsome, seven foot tall, well-muscled man with long, perfect hair. He's holding a gigantic war hammer in his left hand. The hammer has lightning and fire emitting from it.

Angus points at the hammer and says "The Hammer of Heracles. I've been searching for it my entire life. According to legend, Heracles could throw lightning and fire from it. But most importantly, it could heal. Any disease, any wound. If it could be found, it could heal the zombie plague."

Then says "I would like you to accompany me on my journey to find it."

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 75):

This sounds like a good idea.

I ask him for more detail on how to find it, and I bring out the Great Book of Spells to show him.  Meanwhile, I'm considering in spurts of thought who to run the Island while I'm gone.  And I remind myself I'm going to need to pray about this, for guidance.

OOC) In your last world, you had a magical hammer which would have fixed this and you gave it away. Just saying is all.



Angus's eyes bulge out of their sockets when you show him The Great Book of Spells. He keeps asking "Where did you get this?"

But he sits down at your dining table with his book, your book and a world map. Several hours later, he takes the map and draws a diagonal line from one corner to the other. Then he draws a second diagonal line from the other corner to the other.

The lines intersect in the middle of Iraq.

"Yes!!! Of Course!!!" Angus says. "That's where it is."



To be fair, you don't really "run" anything. The Mormons and the Amish take care of themselves and each other. You're more of a figurehead ruler, really. Yes, you could order them all to leave, yes, you could demand that they do this or do that, but you just leave them to do their thing. The place will be fine in your absence.

(Doing Therapy)

I choose a guy to fulfill a similar role so that the Mormons and the Amish won't get into a power struggle about who's on top.

I gather supplies for a trip, and a troup of ten men eager for adventure, if I can find such.  Wait for the arrival of the Arizona....

But is that guy Mormon or Amish? With whom is he going to side in a dispute?



Actually Angus already put together a group to accompany you. It's himself, Campbell, Bill, Ted, a handful of mercenary soldiers and Doctor Jepsen.

What gear are you taking? What gear do you have, for that matter?

But the Arizona arrives and you all board. You're going to be on the boat for a week or more.

OOC) What's the point of a zombie world if you're safe on an island? I had to get you out of there.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 79):

Amish.

Axe. Hatchet. Thompson submachine gun with 1000 rounds in boxes, and three circular magazines.  Backpack. Lots of water bottles. Shovel. Rope. Telescope or binocs.  Spare set of clothes. Blankets.

Angus puts his eldest son, Hezekiah in charge of the Amish camp. The Amish are more or less the dominant of the two groups anyway. The Mormons deffer to them about farming and animal raising. There's very little that the Amish deffer to the Mormons to out here. Except for supplies.



So you're on the Arizona. You're given crew quarters. You're not expected to help pilot the boat or do any work. But you're certainly welcome to.

For dinner, you will recognize the meal as being from the cans of food you gave them.

Then one night you are awakened from your slumber by a sort-of loud explosion from the engine room. The old diesel engine has thrown a rod. (Same thing that happened to my van.) Angus says that he can fix it. But he's going to have to blacksmith a new part and asks if there's anyone else on board that knows how to blacksmith. He's the only Amish.

(Doing Therapy)

I'll take the opportunity to learn about navigation and helming the ship, with the Captain's permission.  I expect there will be no problem as I'm in charge of the mission, and as long as I stay respectful, and don't get in the way when serious stuff needs to be done.  But I make sure to ask, and not command.

"I'll help Angus." I stand up.  I'm curious to see what the problem is, and how we can fix it.

What was my blacksmithing skill level?

And so you do.



Ah, but you're not in charge of the mission. You're the king of Ashleyland. But we're not in Ashleyland at the moment. If anyone, Angus is in charge of the mission.



That's pretty much the way they run things anyway.



It threw a piston rod. Normally this is a fatal accident for an engine, but you got really lucky this time. It's actually fixable. Angus just needs to blacksmith a replacement for it. You helping him is going to amount to working the bellows and holding things whilst he hammers. He could do it by himself, but this will make it much faster.

In the end it's fixed and you're underway.



How long do you think you blacksmithed in the last world? How long do you think Tommy was teaching you in the last world? How long do you think you were alone? I will tell you that Carly Rae was only there for three of her sleeps. But how long was that? Being the star means the rest of the crew works when it's convenient for her. So how long do you think that was?

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Thu 31 Aug 2017.

IDK, which is I don't know.  Four months?

OOC) IK what IDK stands for!! Four months? Is that all? I woulda let you say four years. But anyway. 1@5 blacksmithing.

So you gonna reply now or what?

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 85):

The rest of the questions IDK.  Pick what suits you with my blessing.

The next few weeks onboard the ship are rather uneventful. You're told that the zombies are basically unkillable during the daytime. You can blow off limbs. The zombies will reattach them if they're within range. Setting them on fire will slow them down. Sometimes it will kill them. Your best bet though is to trap them in a darkened place. A dark room or whatever. Then they are stronger, faster and more dangerous, but they die as easily as any human would. During the day they're slow and weak.

Finally after a few weeks, you touch land. You're somewhere in eastern India. There's a convoy of trucks standing by. Bill and Ted drive a garbage truck. Uncle Bob, the leader of the mercenary soldiers drives a Hummer. His name is Bob, he's just one of those guys that everyone called Uncle. Even Angus. There are a few other vehicles you can choose from to ride in.

With whom are you riding?

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 87):

I'll ride in the Humvee.

I should have reminded Hezekiah not to step all over the Mormons.  I check with Angus about my worry that Hezekiah might get too energetic in ruling, or in favoring the Amish.

I practise my lariat work more.  I'm hoping to lasso a zombie a few times, and tie it down with some help in at least three different directions.  Then wait for nightfall and have Angus axe it a question.

Uncle Bob is driving the Humvee. He's the leader of the mercenaries. He's just one of those guys that everybody calls "Uncle". Even Angus calls him "Uncle Bob" and Angus is at least 10 years older than he is.

You're with his two nephews, John and Richard.



Angus assures you everything will be fine there. Hezekiah is a level-headed and fair man. He'll work for the good of everyone. Both the Mormons and the Amish have been known to take up arms if they believe they're being mistreated. The Mormons outnumber the Amish at least 10 to 1. And while the outcome of that fight would still be in question, it's an outcome that everyone wants to avoid. So they tend to work together.



Angus helps you with the lariat work. For the moment, you are in a controlled territory. You're not likely to see any zombies. Not until tomorrow at the earliest. Then you cross into the wilder territory. There are various forts and resupply strongholds along the way. But you're on the front lines of the fighting.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 12:17, Tue 19 Sept 2017.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 89):

Practise by driving a branch into the ground.  I'll rope it, and then run to the nearest tree, and tie it off while Angus ropes it from the other side and ties it off.  Meanwhile, I'll be moving, and getting my second rope ready, and hoping I won't need the weapons I carry when it comes time to do this for real.

What is the local area like?  Wasteland?  Temperate? Trees?

I'll have one of the others serve as lookout while we practise.  No need to get ambushed by a creaker while we practise.  That would be embarrassing.

You're going to be driving most of the time. But you'll have a half hour here or there whilst refueling the vehicles to practice that.




Very good question!!! Trees would make the zombies much harder to spot.

And with a GE of 22, there's lots of forest you're driving through. Sometimes meadows, but mostly untamed forest. You can tell Angus is just itching to get in there and becomes its master.




Actually you'll have a chance to practice on one in a minute.

At night, you stop at one of the fortified refueling centers. Time to stop driving. You're in the zombie zone. You left the zombie free zone an hour ago.

The refueling center is an abandoned military base. But one feature about it is quite interesting. They've got solar panels and huge spotlights aimed at a nearby meadow. At night, they can sit up in a multistory tower, turn on the lights to attract zombies, and have target practice.

So you and Angus and Uncle Bob go into the tower. You're on the third floor. They turn on the floodlights. Within minutes, a meadow about the size of two football fields side by side is roaming with zombies. Dozens, perhaps 100 zombies. Then they dim the lights to where the zombies can barely be seen.

Several of the paramilitary guys get out their rifles for target practice. If you want to go down into the field, there's an area where they promise not to shoot in your direction. Angus volunteers to accompany you. He's got a 20 pound sledgehammer and a double bladed wood chopping axe. And an evil grin on his face.

(Doing Therapy)

Let's do it.  I breathe in and out, rapidly.  Then I pray.  Then not waiting to think more about this, I start marching toward the exit.

This is a bad idea, I hear myself think.
Shut up, I tell myself.
We're going to ....I tell myself in a rising scream.
Shut it....I snap to myself.  And my brain stops talking to itself, and I just move forward, brain on idle.

OOC) How about this for use of a supercharacter? Not revealing his super-ness for a while? That would be Angus. 2@10 strength and 3@5 skill axe and sledgehammer martial art.

So, Angus has the axe in one hand and the sledgehammer in the other. As you watch, his face changes and contorts from the friendly gentle giant you've known into something evil. Devilish. The kind of look you'd expect on a stone gargoyle on a Gothic church.

He kind of laughs and marches straight into a patch of about two dozen zombies. They all attack him at once. He starts swinging the axe and hammer wildly but with extreme precision. Moving like a lawnmower through them. Within minutes, you're looking at two dozen corpses and a green-blood stained Angus who is just laughing hysterically.

But then he turns to you and says friendly enough "But you wanted to lasso one."

So he marches deeper into the field and you watch him pick one up off the ground at the end of his axe. And he throws the zombie in your direction. And he's running right behind it. The zombie lands on its face 10 feet in front of you and seems dazed and confused. Angus is right behind it.

As the zombie struggles to its feet, Angus says to you "It's all yours!!!!"

He's having the time of his life.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 93):

I shake out a loop, and toss it lightly over the zombie.  Then I run, and quick tie it off.  After that, its circle about, and then get up a good spin, and go for another toss....

Angus watches this with a puzzled look on his face. Finally he asks "What are you trying to do?"

But you've got zombie hogtied.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 95):

"Most people are not as strong as you. Leave it." Next morning, if its still there, I call out the crew, and show them what I did.  And then I get out my axe.

What are you planning to do with your axe? It's daytime. The zombie will heal almost any injury.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 97):

Right. I leave the zombie tied up, after making sure its not going anywhere.  Then I wait until nightfall.  As soon as it gets active, I start whacking.

You tied him up at night. They're not going to wait for you till tomorrow. They'll wait till morning, but that's when they're heading out. So it would be the same night. I'm assuming right after you hogtied the zombie.

Clarify yourself here buddy.

 I want to attack it, with the onlookers to show my proposed method.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:08, Fri 13 Oct 2017.

You're still not being too clear here. When are you doing this? Daytime? Nighttime? What are you doing to it? Attacking it with what? Clarify yourself here buddy!!!

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 101):

I attack the same night, with an axe.  :)

PS: I had a little forgetfulness about when they were vulnerable.

OOC) Just because I want to show you what these things are capable of doing, I'm going to say that you do not kill it. You just hack its limbs off and leave it there and come back. Unless you object, that is.

So you bring the axe down and chop the zombie's arms and legs off. You get splashed with green blood that smells like a plant. It's not a big deal as long as you wash it off and don't have any open wounds. But you're immune anyway so no worries.

After you hack the zombie up, you're about the go for a kill shot. Angus stops you.

"Wait till morning. Let me show you something."

So you come back at sunrise. The zombie is still laying there with its limbs cut off. But as the sun rises, green vines grow from the stumps at the shoulders and at the hips and reconnect to the limbs. After about 20 minutes, all of the limbs are reattached and fully functional.

Angus tells you "If you move the limbs away, they won't grow back. They can only reattach."

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 103):

I watch appalled at how recoverable the enemy is.

Then I try to hack it up again.

"How does burning do?" I ask my friend.

Hacks and slashes recover within 20 minutes. You cut off the head. It reattaches. You cut it off again and Angus picks it up and throws it 100 yards into the field.

"They'll both still be alive all day, but unless they reattach by nightfall, both are dead."



He tells you "Burning is one of the few ways to kill them in the daytime. But you gotta practically cremate the zombie to nothing."

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 105):

"OK, so my strategy works.  The question is, just how bad is the zombie problem?  I've been isolated on Hawaii, so I'm having a hard time getting a feel for how much of a problem they are."

OOC) Sorry it's been a couple days.

"During the day, or in light, they're slow, weak. Non-aggressive. But they're nearly impossible to kill. At night is when they become dangerous. Stronger, faster, but they die just like a human being."

Not sure what else you want to know about them.

(Doing Therapy)

I will continue down the road with the group.  When I get a chance I practice roping and destroying zombies.

So you do. You continue along. After another day or two, you stop. You hear some of the members of your party talking about the Hammer of Heracles. Supposedly there's an old man living in a nursing home who has information on it.

So you go there. Campbell has to do some finagling with the home staff. He has to promise them this and this but eventually you gain access. You're led down the hallway to the room of an old man. I mean, this is the oldest guy you've ever seen in your life.

When he sees you, he takes a long, hard look at you. Studying you. And finally says weakly "Tadeusz. Tadeusz. My old friend."

You he will allow in his room. None of the others.

I walk up to him, not sure what's going on, but willing to show kindness, especially as we need to interact with him.

"Hey." I say softly.

The old man looks at you and says "Do you not remember me? I am Heracles."

Apparently he's met future you.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 111):

"No, Heracles, I do not.  Perhaps it is because in the future, my future that is, I will meet your past." I speak softly and directly, and then wait.

Breathing heavily, he says "Get in the closet. In the closet. There's a box at the top. Get it. Get it."

And assuming you do, the box is heavy. It must weigh 50-60 pounds. Inside is a warhammer. The head is a perfect cube. The handle is made from vines or stalks that are twisted and fused together. It's not black iron, it's some iron alloy. It has a bluest tinge to the metal. Inscribed on the five sides of the cube is one different word in a strange language. But somehow you just know that they mean "Lightning" "Fire" "Tornado" "Heal" "Remove."

There is also a gauntlet made from the strange bluish iron alloy. It would go fingertip to elbow. Heracles tells you to put it on. And although it's clearly made for someone with much shorter arms and smaller hands than yours, it fits you perfectly. Like a glove.

And your right arm feels strong. Bionic strong. You feel like you could punch through a brick wall. (OOC) It's tech, not magic.)

"The Hammer of Heracles. The gauntlet. Take them. Only my descendant can wield the hammer."

And his body vaporizes into a cloud of dust.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 113):

I blink, and then pray for Heracles, not that I'm Catholic, but still I do.  Then I wonder...is that what it looks like when I leave a world?  Or is it just that he was so old?

I slowly walk out, and tell the others what has happened in a solemn tone.

At first they're shocked. But then Angus sees what you're holding. His mouth drops open as he takes the hammer from you. In his hands, it begins to glow with a strange white aura.

"The Hammer of Heracles. Never did I dream I would lay eyes upon it."

Campbell is more interested in the gauntlet. He says "According to legend, that gauntlet and the hammer were made by giants sent to earth by God. They had technology which wouldn't be seen again for centuries. And some that cannot even be duplicated today. Nanotechnology. Scary stuff. Tell me, does the gauntlet make you feel any different?"

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Sat 18 Nov 2017.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 115):

"Stronger. Much stronger."  I look over at Angus.  "Are you related to Heracles?  Oh yeah, you did say you were.  Well, my friend, I think you're meant to have this Hammer.  It was his last words, so I think we should respect that."
I quietly try to take off the gauntlet.  I'm watching with fascination as Angus comes into his heritage.

Campbell looks at it fascinated. He says "I'm not surprised. According to legend, that gauntlet allowed Heracles to punch through stone. He could also throw light and fire from it, as well as the hammer. I don't know how much of that is true, but I wouldn't take that off if I were you. Especially if Heracles told you to wear it."




Angus begins tearing up. He throws his arms around you and embraces you in a bear hug that almost crushes your rib cage. When he pulls away, he's legitimately crying and he says "Thank you. Just thank you."



You can take off the gauntlet. But you can also tell that it doesn't want you to. It wants to stay with you. If you do take it off, you will see that it has grown in size. It was made to fit Heracles, and his arms and hands were considerably smaller than your own. But the gauntlet has expanded in size to fit you perfectly. It feels like it is calling to you to put it back on.

OOC) It's not magical at all. Think Iron Man. And it's got some cool features you've not yet discovered. Come on man, keep it.

(Doing Therapy)

I keep it.

So you keep the gauntlet. The Hammer of Heracles gets passed around for the others to examine. When it's passed to Bill and Ted, the strange white aura fades instantly.

But then it's passed to Campbell. In his hands, it once again begins to glow with that strange white aura.

Campbell is perplexed. "Why is this glowing for me? Am I a descendant of Heracles as well?"

Angus looks at him perplexed also. "Cousin???" he asks.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 119):

I stare with everyone else.

After you finish staring, you go outside. When the gauntlet is exposed to direct sunlight, it starts to warm up. Looking at the back armor plate of it that covers the back of your forearm, you see a row of LCD type symbols appear. It's a four digit counter. The digit on the far right lights up. Then it changes. Then it changes again. After it's changed 10 times, the second symbol lights up, and it's the first symbol that was seen in the first row. It's apparently a counter and it's counting up.

After a few more seconds, the back plate of the gauntlet begins to glow. It resembles a smartphone touchscreen. There are several icons that appear on the back plate, each one is a different colored dot, with a word in a strange language written underneath it.

And the counter is continuing to count up.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Sun 26 Nov 2017.

I tell the others I'm going to get some space, and I get a half a mile away, just in case this thing is about to do that Predator thing.  I keep an eye out as I do, not wanting to be ambushed by a Creaker.  And I wait...

So you leave them there. They agree to wait for you.

The longer it's exposed to direct sunlight, the more the counter keeps going up. After about a half hour, the third indicator comes on.

Whilst you're just absently staring at the gauntlet, a zombie manages to get the drop on you and sneak up on you. You instinctively grab it around the throat with the gauntlet hand.

And as you watch, the zombie's skin begins to change color. The green tinge fades and gradually returns to normal human flesh tone. The zombie's incoherent gurgling noises slowly changing into comprehensible speech.

"Let me..... let me go man. I can't can't breath."

It's a young man, early 20s. And he appears to be normalized.

You look at the energy counter, and it appears to have dropped somewhat as a result of this.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 123):

I let him go, and start dancing around and whooping loudly in pure joy.

OOC) You didn't seem to like magic, so how about technology which is indistinguishable from it? The gauntlet is purely technological, the hammer is magic.

The guy, the former zombie, looks himself over. He's in awe. He says "What.... what happened. It was like I was in a haze. Then all of a sudden you lifted the veil."

He's completely grateful for whatever you just did.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 125):

OOC: It's fine.

"Come on friend. Let's go talk to the others. You can tell them your story. And maybe get some food as well."  I lead him back to the others with a smile on my face.

The guy is gaunt, thin, his clothes are tattered and he's only wearing one shoe.

When you get back to the nursing home, Angus and the others are standing around examining the Hammer of Heracles. Angus throws a fireball harmlessly into the air.

Campbell says "The legends are true then. I wonder if this can heal the zombies...."

Then you announce yourself, they all turn around and look.

Bill and Ted point at him and say in unison "Is that guy a former zombie?"

My face cracks with a wide grin.  I can't hold it in.

"Meet, uh, I didn't ask your name, but a former Creaker.  Gang, we have a way to rescue many.  But first this poor fellow needs a drink, a blanket, some food, and information, and then a bed, I assume in that order."  With that, I get them to taking care of this guy.  Once, he's set up, I go looking for another zombie...

The former zombie grins back. He's not sure why. But you're happy and that makes him happy.



Bill says "He ain't no Creaker. Creakers are bodybuilders. But you healed a zombie. That is totally station my man."

Campbell asks if he can examine the gauntlet. "I can understand a little bit of that language."

He looks at the back. There's an icon that's lit up. Campbell says "This says 'Heal' I think." Then he touches another icon. It lights up. "This one says 'Beam of light'. Try pointing it upwards towards the sky and making a fist."

So you do. A pitiful green laser beam fires into the sky momentarily. You can just tell it's supposed to be much, much more powerful than that. The energy counter drops to nothing and the gauntlet powers down. It begins recharging again after a few minutes exposure to direct sunlight.

Campbell says "Did you see that? A laser weapon. But it used too much power. You're gonna have to let this recharge. That might takes days. A week. But I'd love to see that at full power."

You would guess that the energy maximum would amount to 9999. It was at maybe 150 when you healed the zombie. Who knows how much energy the laser would require? But it is nice to know healing doesn't require much power.

But Campbell makes arrangements for the former zombie to stay at the nursing home for a while, until they can figure out what to do with him. He'll be cared for.

In fact, they're kind of planning on staying here for the night.



You're going to have to let the gauntlet recharge for a while. The others recommend waiting.

And Angus asks you if you've any thoughts on how to use the Hammer of Heracles to heal. Your guess is as good as anybody's.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:05, Wed 20 Dec 2017.

I go along with their plans.

"No, not really.  Um, we should pray about it."  So we do, as a group in a circle, asking for advice or insight.

Then I go out, and sit in the sun.  Need to bring that number back up to say 175, just to be on the safe side.

You feel God says back

"When the time comes, you will know what to do."

And He's speaking to you, specifically. That applies to using the gauntlet as well.



The sun is going down. It'll get maybe an hour of weak sunlight. Campbell suggests being up at sunrise.

"No reason to think the rising sun would charge it faster. But it couldn't hurt."

But he does tell you that you are going to be driving for the next 2-3 days so there will be plenty of time to hang your arm out the car window and let it charge.

And if there's nothing else, it's bedtime. When you wake up, you'll be driving immediately after breakfast. You find pointing the plate at the sun seems to charge it faster. When they stop again in three days, it'll be fully charged.

OOC) Any suggestions for where that stop will be?

(Doing Therapy)

"Probably noontime sun would be best.  Shortest passage through the atmosphere, so strongest light."

I enjoy hanging it out of the window, and watching the numbers go up.  I try to get them to stop to h eal any zombies we see.

As to stopping, a well-defended spot of high ground is always nice.

As the gauntlet charges, more and more features become noticeable to you. You try again firing the laser weapon. At full power, it's like a phaser stun setting. You can heat up rocks, cut holes in soft object, one of the peons volunteers to be shot with it. It knocks him out for several minutes. Takes about 500 or so units of power.

You accidentally magnetize yourself to one of the vehicles. Your hand is stuck to the hood of the car. It takes a few minutes of fiddling with the controls to get it to let you go.

You take special note when you heal a zombie. The back plate gives off a black and white real time picture of the zombie's innards. Like an X-ray. You spot two bullets that are inside his chest cavity. Someone suggests using the magnet to try to pull the bullets out. It works, but probably does more damage coming out than they did going in. But you heal the zombie of that and the zombie virus.

You're absolutely certain this gauntlet can do much much more than what you've seen.

Meanwhile, Campbell and Angus go to work with the hammer. They finally figure out how to use it to heal zombies. It works well.

OOC) Where do you want the story to go now?

(Doing Therapy)

"We need to heal more zombies." I say.  "Build a defensible base, go out, rope and lasso zombies, heal them.....do it every day until we clear this area."

Campbell says "I'm thinking more long-term. There's only two of us who can do this. There are legends of other weapons which are out there. I think, perhaps we should look for them. But at the very least, we should split up the healing devices. Any one of Angus's children or Cambell's brothers could wield the hammer. They're descendants of Heracles, after all. You don't have to split up the original team. Since you've got one of the healing devices, you've got first pick of your team. The hammer can be sent off to Angus's eldest son, or to Campbell's brother. They can decide who gets it by a predetermined competition of decidedly fair match."

That's not his exact words, but that's the gist of what he's saying.

So, as the only one who can wield your healing device. (Untested, but it's according to legend.) You are Team Leader. Who do you want with you?

And you can even pick people who haven't even been introduced yet.

You can choose among the military forces of a 1980s or so military of the second largest country in the world. Or Anything. Do you hear me? Anything!!!!! Any person, any vehicles, mode of transit. You are boss.

(Doing Therapy)

Jeeps. One APC. A palisade or stone wall  too slick for zombies to climb.  A watchtower inside the wall. Gasoline tank, large. Electric generator. AC.  A tall walled corral to hold the zombies.  A loudspeaker or a large bell to draw in the zombies.  A set of mirrors to focus the sun on the gauntlet to speed up the regeneration.  An accurate map if they have one, if not, surveyors and a means to make a map.

We need to clear this countryside.

I try to look for defensible barriers to make a cleared zone, like a county wide area.  Wide enough rivers, or an impassable canyon or something.

Campbell thinks for a minute, then says "So you want a fortress where zombies can be brought and imprisoned until you can heal them? I'll get started on that right away."

And he walks off to go talk to some people.

So you're outside. You stun a zombie with the laser weapon and then grab it and heal it. Doesn't seem to matter what the target is. The laser puts anything down for five minutes. It seems the healing works if your palm is in contact with an injured or diseased person.

But after a few hours, Campbell calls you over. He's found the place. It's fifty miles west of here. Sounds like just what you're asking for.

Angus wants to go back to the island and see his family. Campbell's brother has been selected to wield the Hammer of Heracles. It's just as effective for him as it is for Campbell. They're both descendants of Heracles. It heals them much faster than your gauntlet, but still. Your gauntlet can do things their best scientists haven't been able to.

So you're holed up in your bunker. It's coming to resemble Auschwitz. Except the prisoners are zombies. You heal them faster than the gauntlet can recharge. You often need to take a day or two to rest and recoup. But the healed zombies are sent on their way by train or truck back to their homes.

Two Posts



Somebody devises a set of lenses and mirrors to focus the sun onto you. They manage to do it without cooking you..... too badly.

Fortunately, the gauntlet healing function seems to passively work on you at all times. So your sunburns heal and don't get...... too bad.

This charges the gauntlet significantly faster.

Campbell was right about the rising sun though. The first few seconds of the rising sun, when the sun is just beginning to peak over the horizon, causes the power indicator to jump about 100 points in a few seconds. The rest of the sunrise charges it faster than the lenses.

It's still got lots of functions that you've not yet discovered.

(Doing Therapy)

I try to get this going efficiently.  There are a lot of people who can be saved, and some assembly line like efficiency is going to make it work better.  One group to fetch zombies, one guy to stake down the zombie with a rope on the left, one on the right, one floor foreman to yell at everyone to remember their jobs, and me to run up, heal the zombie, and get out of the way while, the next group frees him, and takes him away to get a bath, food, explanations, and sleep.

Once that is done, I ask the mirror maker to make a bigger mirror.  Then I try and pray.

"LORD God, the three Hebrew children walked in the fiery furnace, and were not harmed.  I need to heal as many as I can.  Spare me from the mirror's burning, please."

You get your assembly line up and running. Angus, Campbell, Bill and Ted all left. You're pretty much the only member of the party left behind here.

You use the scanner and magnet to remove bullets, arrowheads, even the occasional broken off knife blade. Removal invariably does more damage than it did going in, but you can heal that wound as well.

You get asked occasionally to heal normal people of injuries. The gauntlet does it just fine.



And it's like you're wearing Sunblock 5,000. You feel nothing of the sun's rays. The mirror maker assures you that you should be cooked to death, but you're cool as a cucumber. It's still a losing battle with the power pack in the gauntlet though. You're still healing faster than it can recharge. But it's faster than before.

Word starts to get around about you. Pretty soon you've got people and zombies of all nationalities and races. They're locked in trucks or on train cars. You're completely surrounded by them. If the zombies broke out, you'd be screwed. But you can only heal them one at a time.

You don't do any healing at night. The gauntlet still has power of course, but the zombies become completely uncontrollable. Stronger, faster, more violent. Deemed too difficult to control safely.

The Mormon government is building here. You've got hundreds, maybe thousands of soldiers, contractors, construction workers, anyone you could think of at your beck and call.

OOC) Where do you want to go from here?

This is the third time I've tried to post this.  Hopefully, third times the charm, and the computer does not eat this one.  This time, I will try to be short.

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

Build an outer wall, and droppable ramps for the humans to flee up, and once on top of the wall drop the ramps to keep the zombies inside the outer wall.

And it is done.

After a few weeks, or months, or who knows how long, Campbell returns. He tells you that he's done some research on another artifact that could potentially heal zombies. He wants to know if you want to go with him to look for it.

"That gauntlet could definitely come in handy on this quest." He tells you.

Meanwhile, you've healed thousands of zombies. Even at full focus of the sun's power, you still need to take a day off every four to let the gauntlet recharge. And you need the break as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:21, Sun 04 Feb 2018.

I dither a bit.  On the one hand, I'm helping people right now.  On the other hand, I know we need faster methods.

"How long is this likely to take?"

Excitedly, Campbell says "Who knows? Might be a few days. Might be a few months. But you don't understand. This could end the zombie war forever. Heracles was a great king. He employed all kinds of people. One of them was an alchemist named Cherneth. Cherneth supposedly developed a vaccine that would cure any disease or illness. Doctor Jepsen has examined what little we know about the vaccine and she says it looks promising as a cure. But we don't have the complete list of ingredients or their mixing instructions. That's where you come in. Let me have a look at that gauntlet."

He looks at the back of it, then he hits a few of the icons with his finger. Then he tells you to open your hand wide and sweep the area in front of you.

It's a more advanced version of the X-Ray scanner you've been using to remove bullets. It shines a red light around the area. The back of the gauntlet shows what's being scanned. It lists off different materials and whatnot. It's all in that strange other language.

Campbell says "I wish I could read more of this language. But this will definitely help us find that. It's supposedly hidden in a place called The Vault of Isis. The door is made from the same iron alloy as this gauntlet. This could scan for it."

He looks at you begging.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 144):

"OK, let's do it."

So Campbell shakes your hand. Then grimaces at the pain you're inflicting with the enhanced strength grip.

Speaking of the enhanced strength. You would have noted by now that's the one function which works whether or not the gauntlet is charged by sunlight. It's powered by your body energy. Your right arm feels bionic strong. Like you could put your fist through a brick wall. And the gauntlet would protect your hand.

There's still thousands of zombies which are caged up and waiting for you to heal them. Doctor Jepsen is here. She's leading a team of doctors and virologists to try to find a cure. Now that they have no shortage of test subjects.

Extensive notes have been made about how your gauntlet heals people. It's believed to be something like nanotech.

But he leads you to a helicopter. "The Vault of Isis is supposedly located near the foot of Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark crashed."

So you're riding in a helicopter.

OOC) What do you think of the gauntlet? Especially as a substitute for a player such as yourself who doesn't like magic?

(Doing Therapy)

I tell Dr. Jepsen we're leaving, and where to, just in case we need a rescue party.  It would be stupid to freeze to death on some icy mountainside with help available.

I climb in the copter with a bit of worry, and a smile.  Its a bit scary taking off, especially since the maintenance isn't top notch, but at the same time its utterly cool.  I lean forward to get a good view.

OOC: Thanks for the gauntlet.

OOC) You've not even scratched the surface of everything it can do. Would you like more armor like that? You could have a whole Iron Man suit if you asked nicely.

You tell Doctor Jepsen where you're going. It's not really necessary as your helicopter is leading a half-dozen military choppers and half of the Mormon military knows where you're going. But she still appreciates it.

Campbell tells you "You're probably wondering why we would need a scanner to look for an iron vault door in the middle of the desert, right? Really simple. The door could possibly have corroded to the color of the surrounded desert. It would be very difficult to spot visually. So just activate the scanner when we get there and let me know if it registers anything unusual."

OOC) And we'll leave it there in case you have any questions or anything you'd like to know on the helicopter ride.

I'll activate the scanner when we get close.  Meanwhile, I'll ask what is known about the history of the area, and the Vault.

You figure you have to be within about ten feet of something to scan it. Campbell suggests that when you land, you should try scanning the helicopter and the surrounding dirt to get an idea of what the scanner will read. You can't read the language, but you figure this symbol might mean metal, this symbol might mean dirt, etc. Couldn't hurt.



Campbell says "The Vault of Isis was supposedly built at about the same time as Noah's Flood. It contained all of the plants from the Garden of Isis. So that God would be able to restore the world after the flood. It was built by giants. The offspring of men and angels. The giants had technology which would not be seen again for thousands of years. Your gauntlet is a good example of that technology. No one knows if it's been opened or even found since before the flood."

And unless you've got more to ask, the helicopter lands at the base of a mountain. The surrounding area is lush and green forest. In the middle of the desert.

Campbell asks you to take your scanner and begin scanning the side of the mountain.

I do the scan of the copter and dirt and oh, a rifle, and a few other things to make sure I got a feel for what's going on.  Then I start a grid pattern search. If there are twigs, I use those to mark out the grid, if not, small piles of pebbles.  Put one of these 'marking posts' every ten feet in a grid, and just start searching.

Its tedious, of course, but its the thorough way to make sure everything gets covered.

A few hours, or maybe a day or two later, you are scanning the side out the mountain and the gauntlet lets out an earsplitting "BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP" You manage to turn the volume down, but it does this for a section of the cliff face which is exactly eight feet wide. Floor to ceiling, it also measure exactly eight feet high.

Cleaning the debris and dirt from it with your fingertips, you find a metal door underneath. It's so covered you'd have never found it if not for the scanner.

There's an impression which looks like a right hand print in the dead center of the door. There is no obvious way to open it, no hinges, no locking mechanisms that you see. Just the hand print.

Campbell is in awe. He asks how you propose opening it.

(Doing Therapy)

I reach out with my gauntleted hand....

And the gauntlet finds the hand print. And the door starts shaking. Vibrating. Shakes all of the dust and dirt off of it. Then, with just a slightest push from you, it moves inward. Once it's pushed back a few feet, it slides to the left on its own.

The only light coming in is through the doorway. You see two trees growing in the dim light. At the base of each tree is a small wooden barrel. Campbell goes in to investigate, opening one of the barrels. It's full of seeds for that tree.

You also find a humanoid skeleton. It's about 9 feet tall. The right hand is wearing a gauntlet like the one you've got, and the feet are wearing some kind of metal boots, made from the same iron alloy as your gauntlet.

After a few seconds exposure to the direct sunlight, the gauntlet and the boots start to glow. Not long after, they show the same power indication counter that yours shows. And it's counting up from zero.

(Doing Therapy)

"One of the giants." I say to myself feeling awed as I walk into the ancient room.  Then I stare amazed at the two trees.  Finally, I study the boots and gauntlet.

"Sorry, sir." I say to the skeleton, and start taking off the bits of armor, gently, gingerly.  I don't really  want to touch a skeleton, but I probably have to, to do this.  In the back of my mind, part of me is waiting for his eyes to flame red...

When he sees you reaching for the skeleton, Campbell yells "Don't touch that..... yet. Hang on a second."

And he calls out to one of the peons that are accompanying you and tells them to bring a spotlight. The spotlight is said to have a range of a mile and a half. Shining it into the room, you see rows and rows and rows of trees and other plants. All different. All with a barrel of seeds at their base. And the spotlight does not illuminate the back wall. You cannot see any back or side walls. You see support columns here and there, but no back or side walls. Reminder, the spotlight has a range of a mile and half.

And there are dozens, perhaps a hundred skeletons of giants, all wearing some manner of the armor. Some are wearing gauntlets, some helmets, some boots. Some chest pieces. You could probably cobble together an entire Iron Man suit out of what's in here.

But the one that's in the sunlight. Campbell forbids you from touching that one. He says he has "Reasons". The rest of them are apparently up for grabs.

But he says "Look at those trees. Some of them are extinct. Only found as imprints in coal. These must be the trees from the gardens of Isis."

I pause, trusting Campbell.

Hmm, I say to myself.  Thats a lot of trees.  A lot.  And then worries about reintroducing ecological invaders into a system occur to me.  Like the folk who brought rabbits to Australia.

Not sure what to do, I wait.s  After a bit, I pray to be clear-headed so that I can reason well what to do.

OOC) Yeah, I read about that. Rabbits had no natural predators there and they overpopulated the country. And I'm just like "What meat eater is /not/ a natural predator to a rabbit?"



When you pray, you feel like God is speaking back to you:

"My child. I have sent you here to open this vault. The center most plant in the vault contains the cure for the zombie plague. Put on the Full Armor of God. You will need it where you are headed."

Faith. The shield of...
Shoes. The preparation of the good news of peace.
Helmet. Of Salvation.
Sword. Of the Spirit.

I imagine myself as so clothed, and trust that it will be so as much as I can understand it.

Help me, I pray, and start walking determinedly to the door.

 Ephesians 6:10-18 New International Version (NIV)
The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

---

OOC) I had to look it up on Google. But here's the verses.

So you need:
A belt
A Breastplate
Boots
A shield
A helmet
And a sword

You don't find any left-handed gauntlets. All of the armor that you do find is much, much too large for you. You carry it out into the sunlight and try to put it on. It immediately shrinks down to a perfect size for you to wear. The metal boots are the most comfortable shoes you've ever put on your feet. The broadsword that you find is about 10 feet long, but it shrinks down to the perfect length and size for you to wield with your right hand. The handle conforms to the gauntlet. Like they were made for each other. The belt has a sword scabbard on it. It too shrinks to fit the sword. The shield is huge, but again it shrinks down to where you can wield it with one arm. Once charged by sunlight, the helmet has a heads up display system inside it. You reason you could probably see in many different spectrums of light. Even in total darkness, for as long as the charge lasted. The breastplate has a round glowy thing in the center of it, reminiscent of Tony Stark's arc reactor. It lights up once the charge is sufficient. It's all made from the strange bluish iron alloy. And you feel strong. Your whole body.

All of the weapons and armor pieces have the sunlight charge counters on them. They immediately activate once exposed to sunlight. The counters start going up. You know enough of the language by now to determine that they're all counting up. The boots, gauntlet, helmet, belt and breastplate have cables that connect one to the other. Once connected, the head's up display inside the helmet gives you, among other things, a readout of their individual power levels. You find you can control the head's up display by blinking your eyes in different patterns. It completely eliminates your need for glasses and in fact can give you zoomable telescopic vision, X-Ray vision, thermal vision, and a few others.

When Campbell sees you outfitted, he looks you up and down and whistles. He says "Try slamming your heels together. I've read somewhere about that's how they activated something in the boots." He doesn't know what, just that something is supposed to happen if you slam your heels together.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:42, Thu 08 Mar 2018.

I laugh. Sometimes the answer is right in front of your face.  Putting on the armor is pretty sweet.  I feel more protected, and thus more powerful.  And as the charge starts going up, I nod.

Hunh. I wonder what that makes the first guy?  He could be the boss,  or general, or he could be the sentry.  In any case, I remind myself to trust Campbell.


"Here's hoping I don't go to Oz." I mutter to myself, and slam my boots together.

OOC) Not going to Oz, but you are going somewhere......

So you slam your heels together. You hear a loud whirring sound from the boots and rockets ignite in your heels. You take off into the sky at well over 100 miles per hour, straight up. It's exhilarating. But unfortunately you didn't let the boots charge long enough. After about 10 seconds and a half-mile of flight, the power gives out and you're free falling back to the ground. Nothing you try to do will save you. Maybe the armor isn't charged enough. Or maybe you don't know how to use it.

But the last thing you see before you hit the ground is the look of horror on Campbell's face as he realizes his mistake. And the 12 foot skeleton that was laying in the sun rising to its feet and taking a step towards Campbell from behind him.

Thou Art Dead.

Hey Tadeusz, just wondering what you thought of this verse out.

(Doing Therapy)

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 163):

Surprising but good.  Better to give the player a chance to escape, not that I want one now.

I figured it would be a fun way to show you one of the features of your new toys.