OOC: Any insight into technique and/or meaning after praying?

I pray once again.

Then I rise, stretch, walk a few paces, and then regard the drawing from some distance away, seeking a more macroscopic impression of the overall work.

Then I slowly approach, examining the changes in perspective from macroscopic to microscopic.

Then I renew my efforts with the new paper...

In reply to Oak (msg # 183):
you
OOC: No.

Nothing stirs in your brain despite your efforts, and as you lean over the paper to examine it up close, you put your hand too near a spider, and it bites you.  No major damage, just an itch and a sting.

Doing your work, despite your itchy welt, you turn in a decent effort.  But insight is eluding you.

OOC: Yeah, the dice were not that happy mostly.

I pray for healing for my spider bite, and continue my efforts...

OOC: Ooo!  Spider bite!  Here come my superpowers!!!  :D

In reply to Oak (msg # 185):

Considering the setting, I think having a Spider Demon bite you is not out of the question, but no, the GE roll would have to be very good indeed, and it wasn't.  It was normal, so no spider powers.

No special healing occurs.

Your next effort is quicker, more graceful, in parts.  Your teacher nods, gives you more paper, and a rolled up bit of rice and fish to eat.

I thank her, take the offered food, and then bow my head.

"Sovereign Lord, thank you for this food.  Help me to learn well the lessons you would have me learn.  I pray in Jesus' Name... Amen."

I regard the fish and rice, the papers I am to write upon and to copy from, our surroundings, my teacher, and myself, seeking to sharpen my perceptive capabilities...

"Sensei...  I am attempting to practice perceiving, but I do not know what I do not know.  As you regard this fish and rice, and these papers I am to write upon and to copy from, our surroundings, me, and yourself... what do you perceive?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:46, Mon 22 Aug 2022.

In reply to Oak (msg # 187):

She reaches out and touches one part of the calligraphy, and suddenly you can see so MUCH more...and you black out.  A minute later, you're awakened.

"Seeing as a goddess sees is not something that a mortal can stand well.  Hopefully this slight exposure taught you what you need to know."

I consider thoughtfully.

"In a way, perhaps.  I perceive that my current perception is very limited.  Is it possible for me to increase not only my perceptive sensing abilities but also my perceptive stamina?"

I regard everything once again, comparing my impressions before and after my slight exposure...

In reply to Oak (msg # 189):

"An interesting question.  I have seen a dice in your mind." She hands you a plastic d20.  Roll this a hundred times, and then tell me all the numbers you rolled in forward order, and backward order, and how many are odd, and how many even, and how many are tens, twenties, thirties"...She pauses.

"That will do for now. We will do this exercise daily in addition to your calligraphy.  Also, we will go back to physical exercises.  Perhaps once I convince your body that it has to obey or I will inflict more suffering on it, your body will learn obedience."

I take the dice, examining it with interest.  The only d20 she could have realistically seen in my mind is a semi-transparent emerald green... and here it is in my hand, in a different universe, hundreds of years ago, perhaps even before plastic has been invented here...

"Hai, Sensei...  Are perceiving memories and creating objects skills that one such as I can learn?"

In reply to Oak (msg # 191):

She smiles.

"Yes to the first. Yes and No to the second.  For the second, you could, if you reconsidered becoming a god, but I do not see that happening.  So no."

"When you say 'a god', what exactly are you referring to?"

"Is it merely acquiring abilities beyond human level, or does it necessitate becoming an object of worship, or giving my own worship to any other?"

"If a path does not transgress the commands of the Sovereign Creator I serve, then it is possible for me to walk it.  If a path does transgress, then it is not possible for me to walk it."

In reply to Oak (msg # 193):

She's initially confused because to her mind, being that powerful means that others should worship you.  Its the right and proper way of the universe.

"Why would the Sovereign One desire all worship for himself?"

"It is written, 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.' "

"That was the answer given by the Son and Savior, Jesus Christ, when Satan sought to be worshiped.  Satan was an exceedingly powerful angel who rebelled against the Sovereign One, and sought worship for himself.  As punishment, he was cast out of heaven, and condemned to eternal fire."

"Adam and Eve, the first humans, followed Satan, rebelling against the Sovereign One's command, and they and their seed were therefore justly condemned to death for their treason."

"But the Son and Savior came to take that punishment in our place.  And the Sovereign One proclaimed an Amnesty, such that all those who would lay aside their rebellion and accept the terms of the Amnesty would receive not only pardon, but eternal life."

"We cannot worship anyone or anything other than the Sovereign One without destroying ourselves."

In reply to Oak (msg # 195):

She looks troubled, and dissapears.

I pray that He would open her heart to turn to Him, and then resume my practicing...

In reply to Oak (msg # 197):

Two days later, and you see something ineffable, unable to be defined precisely, but you catch some of it on paper.  It is one of the harder things you've ever done.  But you can feel yourself noticing more about you, as if you've carved new pathways into your brain.

"Good. You begin to see."

+@1 to Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:58, Mon 05 Sept 2022.

I bow respectfully.

"Thank you, Sensei."

I see if I am able to perceive anything more about Sensei.

Then I give thanks to God, and press on with the training...

In reply to Oak (msg # 199):

She pauses, and then after catching your attention speaks again.

"I was gone for several days as I went to speak to one of the older beings I know, a Handmaiden of Ashtaroth in the land of Persia.  She said you lie.  I told her I did not see a lie in you, and she allowed that you may have been tricked by some minor spirit proclaiming itself as the Sovereign Lord for such things have happened before."

I consider, and pray silently for God to open her heart.

"You possess potent perceptive powers."

"Here am I."

"What does your perception tell you?"

"Would you say my path is one that has followed a minor spirit, or is my path one that has followed the Sovereign Lord, Savior and Creator of all?"

In reply to Oak (msg # 201):

She looks closely at you and you can feel yourself at the very verge of being torn apart by her perception as she weighs, balances, calculates, defines each and every part of you.  It occurs to you that the Bible verse 'the heart is desperately wicked, who can know it' does not apply to such as her for she is not human.

And you pass out again.

When you wake, she is gone.

+@1 Perception as you now know yourself better, and therefore see the world better.

You're very hungry as if you've been laying there in the bed where she put you for more than a day.

I thank God for the new day here, and pray for wisdom and strength to use it well as a faithful steward and a faithful witness.  I also pray for blessed interactions, and that He will open hearts to him.

Then I look for something to eat.

Then I resume my training, focusing my heightened perception upon the character I am attempting to reproduce...
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:17, Wed 01 Nov 2023.

In reply to Oak (msg # 203):

You find more, about how to hold the paper as you apply the ink.  The tension of one's forefinger and thumb on the opposing hand affects how the paper accepts the ink.

The goddess returns, glances at your work, and hands you a paintbrush, ink and scroll that look magnificent.

"It is important for me to learn whether what  you say is true or not.  The best method I have now is to weigh  your soul destructively.  This will hurt, but as you are a lesser, it is your duty to the greater."

Say what?

This time the gaze is pitiless as she picks your mind, soul, heart, and body apart with devastating precision.  You realize you're dying, and she shows no sign of relenting.  In her view, you realize which is far from a Western view, she is vastly more important than you, and so you  sacrificing yourself is to be expected. The fact that she gave you a gift before doing it shows that she is a good and kindly ruler.

I regret leaving this fascinating world so soon, if leave it I must, but I am at peace that the same Sovereign One who brought me here for a season will use me here as long as He wishes, and will take me elsewhere when He wishes.

"The Holy Spirit... of the Sovereign Lord... lives within me... and can live... in you as well..."

"It is a privilege... to serve Him...  He alone... is worthy... of worship..."

"Please...  Forsake rebellion...  Bow before Him... as Lord and Savior...  And you shall... truly perceive..."

"Know His love...  Share His love...  While there is... still time... Dear Sensei..."

She looks startled, and you verse out.

In reply to Tadeusz (msg # 206):

Need new post 'Oak in the Mountains'.