(IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

I think at this point we have a routine for Julian, yes? What will he be focusing on acomplishing and learning over the next few days?

Well let's see...
-> Eat three meals a day
-> Buy a shirt and shoes
-> Practice Riask, both passively by hanging out, and by deliberately repeating words and phrases like a mantra.
-> If I get shoes, go wandering around. Push conversations in the direction of, "What's around Bumundo". Generally improve knowledge of the area.
-> Practice drawing Vasic patterns
-> Keep at daily journal entries, if only to keep track of the date. Though they will be glossed over.
-> Look at spots I could put a pendulum. Ideally shouldn't be directly over a platform, high above another platform, and have footholds to help climbing up to it.
-> Try to work up the nerve to ask a Vasic guide about the ozone smell I get when I'm around Vasic lights and similar effects. It'd be hard enough with a language gap. Adding in the fact Julian thinks the question's a waste of time...
-> Try to put to rest the conflicted feelings I get about being in this strange place on some mornings.

Think that should cover at least a few days, probably more.

[ericthered]

Julian settles into a routine, working in the mines, playing with the boys, and shopping at the market. He works hard on the language, attempting to become basically conversant.



He is becoming more confident in his language abilities. He's finally sure that the "big people" are the kid's parents, not their owners or something else. The boys ask Julian about his parents: where are they? how did he get here?



What does Julian practice drawing the Vasic patterns on?



Well, if he doesn't want to hang a pendulum in one of the OBVIOUS spots... The biggest indoor drop is in the mine: its floor is down below the main tunnel, but then several of the tunnels are accessed by ladders and indoor platforms higher on the cliff face. Inside the vegetated tunnels aren't bad either: they're only hall height, but have lots of handholds on the side and places to tie a string to. If you can get some light in there.



Julian's wardrobe proceeds slowly but surely. He spends 2L 13s on food each day, leaving 2L 3s behind*. The shirt costs 4L, the shoes 6L. We'll count his currency at the time he goes to sleep: he has 8L 14s three days after he buys his pants: is he getting the shirt or the shoes first?


Asking around about Bumundo, he finds out that the only people who really travel beyond it physically are the Hawkin: folks with wings. Other communities on the roof of riask exist as well, but generally they're traveled to via the teleportation stone.



*this is if he eats the blandest food. If he doesn't, that's another 15s gone.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Julian settles into a routine, working in the mines, playing with the boys, and shopping at the market. He works hard on the language, attempting to become basically conversant.

Towards broken I suppose.

Originally Posted by ericthered

He is becoming more confident in his language abilities. He's finally sure that the "big people" are the kid's parents, not their owners or something else.

Well, that's a relief. Though I think I've only met Brog and Ump's mothers. Where are their fathers? Tch; I'll need to think of a more delicate way of saying that.

Originally Posted by ericthered

The boys ask Julian about his parents: where are they?

I get a bit tense at the question. "I don't know who they are, much less where they are. I think they died when I was very young, but they might have just abandoned me. I had a,"

I get lost and trip over the words. "I had a, carer. He runs an orphanage; that's a place where they keep unwanted children. He works very hard keeping thing running smoothly. He's probably at his wits end with the way I disappeared..."

Originally Posted by ericthered

how did he get here?

"I went to sleep in my bed at the orphanage, and I woke up here with nothing but my journal. I don't know how this happened; it just did."

[12] 22-06-02 01:28:01 CEST
Acting
3d6 <= 13
5 + 6 + 6 = 17 ... failure

I feel a bit nauseous lying to their faces like that. My hands shake a little, and I have difficulty calming myself down. They'd hate me if they knew the truth; all the things that were my fault; me trying to escape punishment...

Originally Posted by ericthered

What does Julian practice drawing the Vasic patterns on?

Back pages/in the margins of the journal, dirt on the ground...

Originally Posted by ericthered

Well, if he doesn't want to hang a pendulum in one of the OBVIOUS spots... The biggest indoor drop is in the mine: its floor is down below the main tunnel, but then several of the tunnels are accessed by ladders and indoor platforms higher on the cliff face.

Well I'm mean obvious is fine if:
1) It wouldn't be an obstacle
2) I could keep an eye on it from any direction it would swing
3) I could would be able to swing it easily without a stick or anything
4) Ideally it would be out of the wind

Maybe a pendulum in the mine would work. Guess I'd have to ask a Kapatas about this.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Julian's wardrobe proceeds slowly but surely. He spends 2L 13s on food each day, leaving 2L 3s behind*. The shirt costs 4L, the shoes 6L. We'll count his currency at the time he goes to sleep: he has 8L 14s three days after he buys his pants: is he getting the shirt or the shoes first?

*this is if he eats the blandest food. If he doesn't, that's another 15s gone.

I'll aim to buy the shoes on day 2, and eat less bland food on alternate days starting on day 3 (2023-02-02), leaving me with 1L 15s. I'll aim to buy a shirt on day 4 (which would then leave me at 2s).

Actually, there's one thing I should ask, well the boys I guess, before all this buying; are there no regular days off? Like the weekend?

Originally Posted by ericthered

Asking around about Bumundo, he finds out that the only people who really travel beyond it physically are the Hawkin: folks with wings. Other communities on the roof of riask exist as well, but generally they're traveled to via the teleportation stone.

Oh, so there are other communities like Bumundo around The Top. The cylinder's certainly big enough for there to be several communities around here.

...

If this is the roof of Riask, and way down below is the floor of Riask, then... Where's not Riask? Beyond the Vasic?

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

Towards broken I suppose.

getting closer, yeah.

Well, that's a relief. Though I think I've only met Brog and Ump's mothers. Where are their fathers? Tch; I'll need to think of a more delicate way of saying that.

Broken language robs one of both subtly and of the unintentional insult. The fathers work in other parts of the mines, mostly. Brog's father is dead, and Rail's father is ... his step father, you think. They point them out at various times. Yip's father is a porter for a merchant, and isn't currently in town.

I get a bit tense at the question. "I don't know who they are, much less where they are. I think they died when I was very young, but they might have just abandoned me. I had a,"

I get lost and trip over the words. "I had a, carer. He runs an orphanage; that's a place where they keep unwanted children. He works very hard keeping thing running smoothly. He's probably at his wits end with the way I disappeared..."

"I went to sleep in my bed at the orphanage, and I woke up here with nothing but my journal. I don't know how this happened; it just did."

I feel a bit nauseous lying to their faces like that. My hands shake a little, and I have difficulty calming myself down. They'd hate me if they knew the truth; all the things that were my fault; me trying to escape punishment...

Ump: "Is that true, or are you just scared to tell us?"

Back pages/in the margins of the journal, dirt on the ground...

ok, just checking.

Well I'm mean obvious is fine if:
1) It wouldn't be an obstacle
2) I could keep an eye on it from any direction it would swing
3) I could would be able to swing it easily without a stick or anything
4) Ideally it would be out of the wind

ahh, I see. That kind of pendulum.

Maybe a pendulum in the mine would work. Guess I'd have to ask a Kapatas about this.

Go right ahead...

Actually, there's one thing I should ask, well the boys I guess, before all this buying; are there no regular days off? Like the weekend?

They say Holidays happen on the 10th, 15th, 20th, 30th, and 35th days of the "month" (which is always 40 days). Some other holidays happen as well. It is currently (on buying the pants) the 4th day of the "month".

I'll aim to buy the shoes on day 2, and eat less bland food on alternate days starting on day 3 (2023-02-02), leaving me with 1L 15s. I'll aim to buy a shirt on day 4 (which would then leave me at 2s).

a shirt on day 4: 2s


With shoes (sandals, really), Julian makes trips around the town. There are several smaller communities much like the one he's currently sleeping in. He also discovers (on the other side of the spring) a section where he thinks the wealthier people in the city live... at least that's where they come out of. Everyone seems eager to shoo him away when he tries to go in.



If he wishes, he can venture further into the vegetation...


On the fifth day after buying his pants (9th of the month), a number of guards with spears block the entrance to the wooden passage just as its time to leave. others start yelling something at everyone. "organize" maybe? There is a bunch of that word.

If this is the roof of Riask, and way down below is the floor of Riask, then... Where's not Riask? Beyond the Vasic?

Beyond the Vasic.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Ump: "Is that true, or are you just scared to tell us?"

I look down at my hands. "It's... It's not all a lie. I ran away a month ago. I slept in a, hole, storm sewer. I woke up here."

I tremble a little, "My carer, he's not a nice man. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Originally Posted by ericthered

ahh, I see. That kind of pendulum.

Yeah, a demonstrate the Earth rotates pendulum

Originally Posted by ericthered

Go right ahead...

I'll try to persuade the Kapatas that I could setup a pendulum in here and it wouldn't harm anything. If he wants a reason, it's simple curiosity

[13] 22-06-03 01:30:08 CEST
Gesture
3d6 <= 13
6 + 5 + 4 = 15 ... failure
[14] 22-06-03 01:30:28 CEST
Linguistics
3d6 <= 12
6 + 1 + 1 = 8 ... success
[15] 22-06-03 01:31:01 CEST
Diplomacy
3d6 <= 8
2 + 4 + 3 = 9 ... failure

I must have really thrown him off with the way I swung my arms around to explain, "pendulum".

Originally Posted by ericthered

They say Holidays happen on the 10th, 15th, 20th, 30th, and 35th days of the "month" (which is always 40 days). Some other holidays happen as well. It is currently (on buying the pants) the 4th day of the "month".

With that in mind I'll put off eating better until after the holiday on the 10th. And so:

Originally Posted by ericthered

a shirt on day 4: 2s

Would become 1L 1s.

Originally Posted by ericthered

With shoes (sandals, really), Julian makes trips around the town. There are several smaller communities much like the one he's currently sleeping in. He also discovers (on the other side of the spring) a section where he thinks the wealthier people in the city live... at least that's where they come out of. Everyone seems eager to shoo him away when he tries to go in.

How far in can I see to that area? Is it gated or guarded? Do the residents approximate the general population of Bumundo or is it more lopsided? Don't see how I could get in; even in a crowd they'd just shoo me out.

Originally Posted by ericthered

If he wishes, he can venture further into the vegetation...

Well it's not as if the Lawin are going to stab me if they see me in the vegetated areas, so why not? I'll just have to be careful about

Originally Posted by ericthered

On the fifth day after buying his pants (9th of the month), a number of guards with spears block the entrance to the wooden passage just as its time to leave. others start yelling something at everyone. "organize" maybe? There is a bunch of that word.

[16] 22-06-03 02:11:56 CEST
Panic Attack Check
3d6 > 6
4 + 3 + 1 = 8 ... success

I steady myself amongst the mass of people, and try to get to an edge in case there's a stampede of people. Then I try to ask someone what's going on.

[17] 22-06-03 02:20:32 CEST
Linguistics
3d6 <= 12
5 + 1 + 6 = 12 ... success

"Organize"... Could that be like labour organize?

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

I look down at my hands. "It's... It's not all a lie. I ran away a month ago. I slept in a, hole, storm sewer. I woke up here."

I tremble a little, "My carer, he's not a nice man. I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Well then say that!"

Yeah, a demonstrate the Earth rotates pendulum

I'll try to persuade the Kapatas that I could setup a pendulum in here and it wouldn't harm anything. If he wants a reason, it's simple curiosity

I must have really thrown him off with the way I swung my arms around to explain, "pendulum".

The Kapatas is really not sure what Julian is trying to ask him, but something about the swinging arms makes him glance nervously at the other boys and say "No."

How far in can I see to that area? Is it gated or guarded? Do the residents approximate the general population of Bumundo or is it more lopsided? Don't see how I could get in; even in a crowd they'd just shoo me out.

The big wood double doors function as a gate.

Well it's not as if the Lawin are going to stab me if they see me in the vegetated areas, so why not? I'll just have to be careful about

he quickly discovers that its difficult to do so without light. Trails abound, but most of them are pretty dark. Any particular direction or destination?

I steady myself amongst the mass of people, and try to get to an edge in case there's a stampede of people. Then I try to ask someone what's going on.

"Organize"... Could that be like labor organize?

Yip looks Julian up and down, and looks somewhat confused. Then he points at the back of the group and says "Stand there!"

The people sort themselves out into families and the armed men start going through the group, asking questions. They seem to focus particularly on older teenager boys and young men.

When they get to Julian, they ask a question rapidly. Something about his family.

With that in mind I'll put off eating better until after the holiday on the 10th. And so:

Would become 1L 1s.

ok.

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

They say Holidays happen on the 10th, 15th, 20th, 30th, and 35th days of the "month" (which is always 40 days). Some other holidays happen as well. It is currently (on buying the pants) the 4th day of the "month".

Do they know what "month" and "year" it is?

Originally Posted by ericthered

"Well then say that!"

I nod my head carefully, and quietly trying to settle myself.

Originally Posted by ericthered

The Kapatas is really not sure what Julian is trying to ask him, but something about the swinging arms makes him glance nervously at the other boys and say "No."

That's disappointing. Maybe I could try again in a couple weeks. I need to find a good length of wire or a strong and thin rope first anyway.

Originally Posted by ericthered

The big wood double doors function as a gate.

Maybe I could hang around near by and maybe sneak a peek when somebody enters or leaves.

Originally Posted by ericthered

he quickly discovers that its difficult to do so without light. Trails abound, but most of them are pretty dark. Any particular direction or destination?

Not vertically; don't want to have to climb in the dark. Though otherwise not in any particular direction in mind.

Originally Posted by ericthered

Yip looks Julian up and down, and looks somewhat confused. Then he points at the back of the group and says "Stand there!"

The people sort themselves out into families and the armed men start going through the group, asking questions. They seem to focus particularly on older teenager boys and young men.

I-is this a draft? That'd explain why they're focusing on younger men... I-I don't want to go off to war. I don't understand anything; I'll be killed! I'm too young to die!

Originally Posted by ericthered

When they get to Julian, they ask a question rapidly. Something about his family.

My mind's racing a mile-a-minute as they come to question me. They want to know about my family; they're not around. That's not good for me is it? They're going to figure no one's going to care if I'm taken away. And they're probably right. My parents were too dead or something else to want me; if not them, then who?

[18] 22-06-03 21:41:14 CEST
Will?
3d6 <= 12
6 + 3 + 1 = 10 ... success

I hold myself together long enough to say, "I don't understand, could you speak slower?".

Given that the question's probably, "Where's your family?", my answer is, "They're dead."

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

Do they know what "month" and "year" it is?

Its the 3rd month and the 159th year.

That's disappointing. Maybe I could try again in a couple weeks. I need to find a good length of wire or a strong and thin rope first anyway.

yeah. And figure out the right attachment method...

Maybe I could hang around near by and maybe sneak a peek when somebody enters or leaves.

It looks much like the hall you were in, but with closely spaced doors and a set of stairs after a short stretch of hall

I-is this a draft? That'd explain why they're focusing on younger men... I-I don't want to go off to war. I don't understand anything; I'll be killed! I'm too young to die!
My mind's racing a mile-a-minute as they come to question me. They want to know about my family; they're not around. That's not good for me is it? They're going to figure no one's going to care if I'm taken away. And they're probably right. My parents were too dead or something else to want me; if not them, then who?

I hold myself together long enough to say, "I don't understand, could you speak slower?".

"Your family. Where are they?"

Given that the question's probably, "Where's your family?", my answer is, "They're dead."

rolling a reaction roll...12+3 (appearance) + 3 (pitiable)

The man shouts something to the others. Then he says to Julian
"Take Care. Be Safe."

After standing there for 10 minutes or so, the soldiers all move on out of the section, and the boys can go to work.
Ump: "what were they looking for?"
Yip: "someone. They were looking at people. I think they searched all of our homes as well. hope they didn't steal anything."

Not vertically; don't want to have to climb in the dark. Though otherwise not in any particular direction in mind.

Holding off this for now...

[TGLS]

Originally Posted by ericthered

Its the 3rd month and the 159th year.

How many months to a year?

Originally Posted by ericthered

yeah. And figure out the right attachment method...

I don't suppose anybody's making ball and socket joints. I don't think I've seen any machinery around here at all, so it would fit.

Maybe I should just build a simpler pendulum with only one degree of freedom and see if the bob ends up listing towards the sun.

Originally Posted by ericthered

It looks much like the hall you were in, but with closely spaced doors and a set of stairs after a short stretch of hall

Apartments I guess. Probably fancier than the vegetation space Ump, Brog, etc. live in.

Originally Posted by ericthered

After standing there for 10 minutes or so, the soldiers all move on out of the section, and the boys can go to work.
Ump: "what were they looking for?"
Yip: "someone. They were looking at people. I think they searched all of our homes as well. hope they didn't steal anything."

Misread where this situation was the first time around.
"Well, if they were looking for someone, they probably have someone in mind, right? Or at least a general idea. Why are they looking for someone and why here?"

After work, I think I'll ask around if anyone knows about who the guards (?) are (were?) looking for, and why they're looking for them. Maybe do that the next day too.

[ericthered]

Originally Posted by TGLS

How many months to a year?

10 months to a year.

I don't suppose anybody's making ball and socket joints. I don't think I've seen any machinery around here at all, so it would fit.

They've seemingly got high TL4 tools in the mine. So its not out of the question...

Misread where this situation was the first time around.
"Well, if they were looking for someone, they probably have someone in mind, right? Or at least a general idea. Why are they looking for someone and why here?"


After work, I think I'll ask around if anyone knows about who the guards (?) are (were?) looking for, and why they're looking for them. Maybe do that the next day too.

The suggestions from the boys are a thief who stole something really valuable, a runaway rich kid, violent bandits, or enemy soldiers.


The next morning, Ump invites "Jules" to breakfast with his family. Which mostly consists of sisters. There are three of them: two older and one younger. Ump's father is also present. The food is much wetter and looser than Julian has been eating: a bowl of rice with a broth poured over it.

Ump's father favors the thought that they are looking for enemy soldiers. He also doesn't think that they exist: "Just paranoia by thugs with too little to do and an excuse for them to steal a few coins".


Its a holiday, and it seems all of Bamundo is taking it off. Something about a bunch of people down on riask's floor meeting.