(IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

And for me: most of mine were very very "D&D" maps. Riask has grown in fits and spurts... this game has seen a few of them, especially Julian's stay, when I actually had to solidify the culture and politics somewhat. It's a long ways from "Sledding hill on a world where the slope goes forever" to "the walls are made of the universe" to "Mercantile City States with Marshwiggles in the backcountry" to "Does Tarbreath mean the same thing in your language as mine?"

It's nice to see how details emerge into a setting. Though it's hard to imagine that a language as divorced as Riask would have false friends (homonyms and homographs, compare with gymnasium in German/English) that are even remotely close. Maybe a future Julian who learns linguistics trivia might buy some lox and determine whether to place Riask in the Proto-Indo-European family.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Didn't Jordan end up on a world covered with clouds mining stuff with dwarves? There was an exile from Riask there.

Pretty sure that was Graham... Jordan went Egypt -> Wolf World -> Merlin-1 -> Medieval World with Reich-5 Nazis -> Brazil Busted Undersea City -> Dwarf Jungle World. Graham ended up with dwarves and working as a clerk at some point. No matter; this is all half a decade ago.

Originally Posted by ericthered

The rest of the night is fairly uneventful. People come and go from the apartment regularly, though it seems that either Slam or Royal is always here.

Well, they're just there in case something happens... Not keep me here, no.

Originally Posted by ericthered

That night, he dreams of men working on the fighter planes from his last dream. They discuss the war, the "AI instructions", and a number of technical terms. They all wear the same insignia on their shirts... a long thin diamond and the words "Kassimon Military Aviation". The dream focuses on one man in particular, with a distinctive full black beard. His name is "Paulis Tatum"

Couple questions for detail (feel free to answer, you don't know):
Did their discussion seem indicate they were winning or losing?
What was Paulis Tatum doing? Working as a mechanic? Supervising?

Originally Posted by ericthered

He also dreams of a gigantic ship suddenly appearing in the midst of space: one moment there was nothing, and then a structure the size of a skyscraper was there... and he dreamed of seven Starpus ravenously eating a meal of fish afterwards.

What did the fish look like? Or were they already being ripped to pieces before Julian saw what was happening? How much fish was there (i.e. relative volume to the starpus?) Were the fish alive or dead?

I wake up, and I start writing down what I remember. Kassimon Military Aviation: AI Instructions (To or From?). Missiles targeted their fighters: are they with the government or against? Paulis Tatum (Black Bearded Man) important? Starship arrived recently: seven Starpi on board; multiple Starpi needed to make a ship go? Starpus big eaters: perhaps starved, or FTL hungry work? Relation between the two? Kassimon to target starship?

Then I start looking things up as I get dressed.

I look up Kassimon, and see if that gets me anywhere (perhaps it's a more common name in the future?), and if not, then I search for Kassimon Military. Who are they with? If they're from out of system, surely they're pro-concordance. Are they like mercenaries, allies from a foreign government, or just the name of forces from a particular settlement? Are they known in the news, or a more behind the scenes actor (surely not to behind the scenes; dogfights aren't exactly subtle).

Then I look into starships. How big are they usually? Are starships used for different things different sizes? What's the likely purpose of this big starship here? Was it's arrival reported in the news, or are starships too mundane? I wonder...

Originally Posted by ericthered

In the morning, Slam offers to get him breakfast. "Royal thinks we can have everything set up by tomorrow, and we can break in that night. You feeling ready?"

"Really, even the fish?" I bite my lip, "I guess I'll be as ready as I'll ever be."