Post by: Karnewarrior on November 14, 2012, 08:21:46 pm
FEAR MEAN HUN
You are floating. Floating in a sea of green. It's surrounding you, encapsulating you.
FEAR MEAN HUN
You are aware of a moon above, dark and shadowy. You are sure that you have been there before. You know you've eaten some.
FEAR MEAN HUN
You are.
FEAR MEAN HUN
You know nothing but that you are. You know nothing but that this is. You know nothing but that this is how it was before your first memories, and you know that soon you will not remember this point in your life.
FEAR MEAN HUN
YOU ARE.
FEAR MEAN HUN
Neurons begin to fire. Everything is becoming clear now. This fluid has been here. You remember. But you don't. Memory is funny that way. Maybe it's only been this way since you were.
FEAR MEAN HUN
YOU ARE.
FEAR MEAN HUN
You don't have a name. You don't need one. You are the only. You are you. The only you.
FEAR MEAN HUN
YOU ARE.
FEAR MEAN HUN
You are not a god. What are you?
FEAR MEAN HUN
YOU ARE.
FEAR MEAN HUN
And the universe was green.
You feel the boundaries of your universe under your chitinous legs.
FEAR MEAN HUN
FEAR MEAN HUN
FEAR MEAN HUN
----------------
FEAR MEAN HUN
FEAR MEAN HUN
FEAR MEAN HUN
----------------
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 14, 2012, 08:23:10 pm
Or munch on it.
Post by: OREOSOME on November 14, 2012, 08:32:35 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 14, 2012, 09:51:18 pm
STAT EFF. CORE: LARGE
Spoiler: Status Effects (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Status Effect Cores (click to show/hide)
You cannot examine yourself truely, but you can feel that you have six legs, encased in chitin, and a bulbus, soft body. Your head is a hard shell, with two eyes that make up almost fifty percent of its surface. You have two antenna, useless in the goo you live in. You have two sets of eyelids, and your second set is transparent, protecting your eyes from any debrii. The first set is opaque, and makes you feel sleepy if you shut them for too long.
You know all this by feel. You do not know any color but the green of the world you live in.
You are under a quarter meter long.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 14, 2012, 10:10:13 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 15, 2012, 06:00:38 pm
You can't tell which way the light is coming from and so you forget all about it. You are too young to be that logically curious.
Post by: Vorthon on November 15, 2012, 06:18:11 pm
Post by: javierpwn on November 15, 2012, 06:25:18 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 15, 2012, 06:35:50 pm
Break free from this prison of green+1
Post by: javierpwn on November 15, 2012, 06:59:37 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 15, 2012, 08:05:26 pm
Strike!
You smash against the wall. Your mandibles scrabble for a grip, your legs scratching. You swirl about, then come back and fly at the wall again.
Strike!
Your bulk bulges the wall out, and you scrabble harder, using the sharp sensitive tips of your legs as knives, slicing and slicing.
Strike!
Your mandibles are like scissors, slicing and cutting and gripping and pulling. Splits begin to form.
Strike!
The slits widen.
Strike!
You tumble out of the egg on a wave of gel, spattering out onto a new world, flat and hard. It's quite bright out here, in fact, but beyond tht you cannot see. Your eyes are still those of a newborn, sensitive only to movement, and you are but one of the first of your brothers to hatch. Here and there dark forms swirl inside the acid green eggs, some manageing to break free, some failing.
On instinct, you begin to lap up the fluid that, until now, you've spent your life in. You have no tongue, but the fluid is viscous enough, and your manibles small enough, that you do a reasonable job of clearing the mess.
You are still hungry.
Post by: Vorthon on November 15, 2012, 08:11:13 pm
Post by: javierpwn on November 15, 2012, 09:23:30 pm
Post by: Vorthon on November 15, 2012, 09:25:42 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 15, 2012, 09:31:15 pm
Instinct, however, tells you that it would, perhaps, be best to wait until they are hatched. (Specifically, until they've metabolized the nutrients in the "eggwhite" into longer protien chains and sugars, but as a baby alien you wouldn't know shit about that) However, instinct also tells you that following the pack is a good thing, and there are a group of larger grubs breaking loose hatchlings and devouring them whole. The eggwhite is nutritious, and they've grown somewhat even inside the egg. It would not be a loss, either way.
Post by: Mr. Doc on November 15, 2012, 09:33:42 pm
No. Survival of the strong! Dominate the weak! And so on and so forth.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 15, 2012, 10:31:00 pm
Eat eggshells from neighboring eggs!
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 15, 2012, 10:40:23 pm
Most of the eggs have either hatched or been eaten by now. Glad that moral quandry is over! You're pretty damn hungry at this point.
Another grub is approaching you.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 15, 2012, 10:42:20 pm
Post by: Vorthon on November 15, 2012, 10:56:39 pm
Eat the grub!+1
Post by: Deny on November 15, 2012, 11:07:53 pm
But if its bigger than you run awayEat the grub!+1
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 15, 2012, 11:49:11 pm
Remember, your personality is still forming. Stat Cores are easy to gain and easy to lose here.
Post by: Deny on November 16, 2012, 01:36:39 am
Post by: Mr. Doc on November 16, 2012, 02:20:01 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 16, 2012, 02:51:25 am
You rise up and attempt to make yourself look big. Your opponent does the same. You both rise even higher, eventually on two legs only, struggling just to remain upright.
You and your enemy fail at about the same time, falling over backwards with a little *pouf*. But the contest is not over, he attacks!
Spoiler: Combat (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Grub (click to show/hide)
Post by: Lillipad on November 16, 2012, 03:00:49 am
Post by: Mr. Doc on November 16, 2012, 04:09:18 am
Try to evade the charge, if successful, quickly attempt a counter
Post by: micelus on November 16, 2012, 06:48:29 am
Try to evade the charge, if successful, quickly attempt a counter
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 16, 2012, 07:28:23 am
The round ends in a draw. Neither grub is damaged in the slightest. The only difference is that you've closed on eachother.
To see the rolled numbers, highlight the text. (If only the combat is Roll to Dodge, is this a RtD game or a normal forum game?)
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Grub (click to show/hide)
Post by: Lillipad on November 16, 2012, 07:50:21 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 16, 2012, 08:11:57 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 16, 2012, 08:19:50 am
My goal for this hatchling: pack master.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 16, 2012, 10:25:20 am
The grub leaps at you!2You manage to dodge just in time to avoid being struck. The grub flies past, chitin skittering on the stone floor. You rise again and lash out!4You manage to get a hold on the back of his neck (or what would pass as a neck for something without one. The piece of torso closes to the head.) and begin tearing in.10You completely eviscerate the opposing grub from front to back, at one point even crawling slightly inside to reach soft organ tissue. Within minute all that's left is scraps, which are sucked up by smaller grubs.
Mercifully, you begin to feel sated. You've filled yourself with the meat of your brood brother, and now you feel sluggish and happy. You could stay active and search for more flesh, perhaps snacking on the runts of the litter so tantilizingly arrayed before you, or you could go sleep, perhaps to coccoon yourself and hope not to be unraveled by any vengeful or spiteful grubs.
Post by: Deny on November 16, 2012, 11:16:53 am
Post by: micelus on November 16, 2012, 01:58:53 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 16, 2012, 02:09:59 pm
Post by: Vorthon on November 16, 2012, 03:44:32 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 16, 2012, 04:29:52 pm
Consume a single grub, then travel away from the rest of the brood before forming a cocoon.
Post by: javierpwn on November 16, 2012, 09:36:42 pm
This but with eating more of our siblingsConsume a single grub, then travel away from the rest of the brood before forming a cocoon.
Post by: Lillipad on November 16, 2012, 10:50:04 pm
Consume a single grub, then travel away from the rest of the brood before forming a cocoon.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 17, 2012, 02:27:28 pm
You find a smaller grub eating a unfortunate egg. You pounce! Getting the first strike!4And grab ahold of his back, riding atop him!4You bite down on the softness of his eye and tear, ruining it.
However, several other grubs show up. You're suddenly very aware that they show no agression to each other. This is not unheard of, for smaller grubs to gang up on the larger ones like this.
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
-------------------
Spoiler: Pack Leader (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Packie (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Packie (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Packie (click to show/hide)
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 17, 2012, 02:31:42 pm
Post by: Vorthon on November 17, 2012, 02:32:12 pm
Finish off the pack leader, to show dominance.+1
WE MUST RULE OVER ALL.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 17, 2012, 02:43:54 pm
EDIT: make sure his death is impressively gory. You know, ripping out guts, decapitation, eating heart, dismembering...
Post by: Mr. Doc on November 17, 2012, 03:05:17 pm
Asess your dominance! shriek in wrath and kill the pack leader, taking his place!
Post by: Audioworm333 on November 17, 2012, 04:21:33 pm
Make sure his death is impressively gory. You know, ripping out guts, decapitation, eating heart, dismembering...
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 17, 2012, 04:34:54 pm
The leftmost Packie Attacks!2But misses!
The rightmost Packie Attacks!6It connects!1Luckily, a bit of twisting throws him off. You come out only minorly scratched.
The center Packie attacks!4It connects!4He snips through your thin, soft skin, and hits some largish arteries. It's not fatal, but it's a bad wound.
The Pack Leader has retreated behind the line of Battle and taken a defensive position. He'll be very hard to hit now!
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
--------------
Spoiler: Pack Leader (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Packie (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Packie (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Packie (click to show/hide)
Post by: Vorthon on November 17, 2012, 04:36:25 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 17, 2012, 04:38:40 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 17, 2012, 05:02:09 pm
FLEE. We must recover. Find weak, defenseless things to feed upon. We must conquer all.
Post by: Mr. Doc on November 17, 2012, 09:40:22 pm
Post by: micelus on November 17, 2012, 09:52:01 pm
Counter charging packie, grab it by a leg, rip it off and skitter away to safety with it. Swear revenge upon pack leader.
+1
Post by: Xantalos on November 17, 2012, 10:09:36 pm
+1Counter charging packie, grab it by a leg, rip it off and skitter away to safety with it. Swear revenge upon pack leader.
+1
Also twiddle mustache.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 17, 2012, 10:15:14 pm
Do you wish to attack or flee?
Post by: Xantalos on November 17, 2012, 10:18:18 pm
FUCK
FLEEFLEEFLEEFLEEFLEEFLEE
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 12:03:38 am
FLEE. We must recover. Find weak, defenseless things to feed upon. We must conquer all.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 18, 2012, 12:35:39 am
Also, I nominate that we name our cute little sociopathic cannibal Odysseus.
Post by: Gamerlord on November 18, 2012, 08:27:52 am
Post by: Vorthon on November 18, 2012, 08:34:04 am
Post by: Lillipad on November 18, 2012, 08:48:40 am
Posting to watch, but I think the name should be Agamemnon.
The issue with being named Agamemnon is that not only is it more difficult to pronounce than Odysseus, but that he is murder by the lover of his wife. Anyway, we're controlling the most commanding, charismatic alien to ever be(have you not seen how charming he is, devouring his brethren like that?), we can't have it named after a guy who got killed by a manstress.
Anyway, I vote for the name being Ouroboros.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 18, 2012, 08:50:49 am
I vote for the name being Ouroboros.
Post by: Vorthon on November 18, 2012, 08:55:32 am
Post by: Lillipad on November 18, 2012, 08:58:08 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 10:54:05 am
Post by: Hydrall on November 18, 2012, 11:05:40 am
Post by: Lillipad on November 18, 2012, 11:15:13 am
I vote that, since we seem to be an insect larva who is in danger of death, we put off names.
You're acting like characters in worse situations haven't been named on Bay12 before.
Post by: Jellycat12 on November 18, 2012, 11:20:58 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 11:29:42 am
Typically, they've been sentient.I vote that, since we seem to be an insect larva who is in danger of death, we put off names.You're acting like characters in worse situations haven't been named on Bay12 before.
Post by: Xantalos on November 18, 2012, 01:08:13 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 18, 2012, 02:55:53 pm
NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAULING!
You turn and flee! The Charging Packie has a head start and is the only one to get a free attack!5It hits!1But only barely. You manage to escape with your life intact.
You can hear the One-eyed grub chittering in the background as you run. This is the first battle you've lost.
It seems more and more grubs are coccooning. It's becoming less risky that you'll be unraveled, since a hardened coccoon can't be unwoven by small pincers and grubby determination.
Do you want to Coccoon or try to find a last minute snack?
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 18, 2012, 03:20:55 pm
Post by: Vorthon on November 18, 2012, 03:27:55 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 03:33:21 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 18, 2012, 03:38:09 pm
Post by: lockman766 on November 18, 2012, 06:38:29 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 18, 2012, 06:45:07 pm
Are we a zerg larva?No. Zerg larvae do not eat each other. (If they did, I would be in serious trouble... <- plays as zerg in SC2)
Post by: Deny on November 18, 2012, 06:51:39 pm
Wait, then why is a protoss sentinal your avatar?Are we a zerg larva?No. Zerg larvae do not eat each other. (If they did, I would be in serious trouble... <- plays as zerg in SC2)
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 07:36:08 pm
Irony?Wait, then why is a protoss sentinal your avatar?Are we a zerg larva?No. Zerg larvae do not eat each other. (If they did, I would be in serious trouble... <- plays as zerg in SC2)
Aesthetics?
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 18, 2012, 07:53:51 pm
3But you find nothing to eat. It seems everyone has Coccooned already, and you can't bust through the hardened silk. You find a slightly stale corpse half-eaten, but you can only get a few bites down without retching.
Your time is up. It's time to coccoon yourself; Most grubs have done so already. The early ones got unraveled, but the late ones will face the skittering things high above, who's black chitin gleams slightly in the dim light. Each has what seems a thousand eyes, and more legs, and their mandibles are long, much longer then yours. As you watch, one skitters down the wall and sinks its fangs into a still-soft coccoon, woven just before your arrival.
It would be best to find a safe spot.
You huddle into a worn out crack in the stone wall, pulling a eggshell in front like a door. Your tail and spinnerettes start to dance back and forth, weaving silk all across the room, encapsulating you. You begin from the rear, and keep your head and eyes free to look for any danger. Not that you can fight in this state.
But as you weave you see something odd. A great brown thing enters, carrying a stick twice as long as the largest of your brothers. It waves the stick high, scattering the Skitterers and knocking them off the roof. It glances at you with eyes slitted horizontally, yellow and black, and bares its teeth. It come close, leans over your crack in the wall, and extends a bony tendril to stroke the front of your head softly.
You fall deep asleep, and when you awake, you have changed.
But first, you must get out. How do you break your coccoon? By hand, by foot, by skull or by tool?
Post by: Xantalos on November 18, 2012, 07:57:23 pm
Post by: Deny on November 18, 2012, 08:02:03 pm
By hand, foot, and skull.+1
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 08:14:50 pm
By hand, foot, and skull. And tool.+1.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 18, 2012, 08:23:58 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 18, 2012, 08:25:30 pm
Post by: Mr. Doc on November 18, 2012, 08:35:50 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 18, 2012, 08:39:46 pm
What tools do we have, then?Basically whacking it with a rock.
Post by: Xantalos on November 18, 2012, 08:42:47 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 08:53:41 pm
Of the cocoon!
Post by: Morrigi on November 18, 2012, 09:12:53 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 18, 2012, 10:04:41 pm
It takes a few minutes for you to tumble free, but when you do you realize how much bigger you are. Almost half a meter long, or high, you realize, as your brain struggles to right itself. Your first steps with your new feet are shaky, and you fall, but eventually you can stand and can observe your body.
Your front four legs have fused together into two long, spindly appendages. The appendages split into several smaller ones, about eight of them total, though you don't know the words of the number yet. On what used to be your back and is now your bottom, you hind legs have grown much akin to your front, but end in flat, soft feet. You have six toes, and the nails upon them are quite a bit more soft and flexible than your old chitin.
Your torso is less translucent now, and you cannot see your organs anymore. You're covered in brown, wrinkly skin, and short gray hair is thinly scattered about your body. The room is hot, and already moisture gathers on your brow and shoulders, cooling you. When you turn your head, large ears flop about haphazardly, but you can hear better than ever before, including the voices outside the cave.
"Guktu-do Sasa-Gahol Gahol-mehan Guktu Set Krim Set Gahol. Setsu-Sa Ulla-sha Set Danun-Dab, Setsu-sa Guktu-go Jas Jasun-ta Baha."
"Doldu-doldu."
"Simpe-graku Ulla-sha?"
"Nek. Sola-ra Ban Ulla-sha. Jasun Gol fesdu-na Ulla-sha Set Dolda Sola-ra Mep Doldu-Behre."
Post by: Morrigi on November 18, 2012, 10:39:01 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 18, 2012, 10:41:33 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 18, 2012, 11:00:58 pm
Everything.
Pull a Xantalos.
...Only more successful.
Post by: Xantalos on November 18, 2012, 11:14:34 pm
Post by: Hydrall on November 18, 2012, 11:17:52 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 18, 2012, 11:19:01 pm
Kill.I'm famous enough for that to be official?
Everything.
Pull a Xantalos.
...Only more successful.
YAY :D
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 18, 2012, 11:55:12 pm
The voices seem to be a conversation between two beings of similar look to you. One is wearing heavy pelts and carrying a strange stick, with a prong that he holds onto and a sharp point on the edge. It looks to be a vicious weapon, a spear made for stabbing, or bashing like a nightstick, not throwing. Your kind can't throw much at all, being terrestrial cratures at heart, but you've enough muscle to make a stab do quite a bit of damage.
The other is wearing finer furs, less matted, and your senses tell you she (and it is a she) is less accustomed to combat. Her hands are not calloused, she carries no spear, and her voice is not gravelly from warcries. Regardless, she seems to be in charge to an extent, though as of now she's being somewhat familiar with the male, nudging up against him and making small talk.
Perhaps of more intrest though, is the outdoors. Beyond the grouping of matted grass stalks and fungal caps that mark the tribes homes, great boreal trees intermingle with huge mushrooms. The mushrooms have let down their nets, and all sorts of small insects stick to them, caught in the web. Tiny bulges hang off, with dangling tentacles, and they squirm occasionally. The underbrush is mainly plantlife, green and yellow in color and bearing many fruits. Beetles scurry over dead leaves on the forest floor and small furry creatures bound after them on four or six legs, tackling and devouring the bugs.
In the sky, two great points of light settle towards the horizon. One is too bright to look at for more than a few seconds, but the other is dim enough that you may look at it directly for a short time before your eyes burn. It is hot out here, but the twin suns create a dazzling sunset, a array of colors streaking and twisting across the sky in a way no one sun could ever do.
This is your home. You don't know it's name yet, but you know in your heart that this is where you want to be.
Welcome home, Hatchling.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 19, 2012, 12:36:24 am
These voices are obviously those of the witches that changed you from your noble insectly path down this filthy mammalian one. Slaughter them. And eat their heart for their strength and brains for their wisdom, maybe you can change yourself back into a noble armoured warrior, traveling the world in search of love and peace. Okay, maybe not peace.were are my ZERGS? >:(
(do not take this seriously)
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 12:40:30 am
You are not a zerg.These voices are obviously those of the witches that changed you from your noble insectly path down this filthy mammalian one. Slaughter them. And eat their heart for their strength and brains for their wisdom, maybe you can change yourself back into a noble armoured warrior, traveling the world in search of love and peace. Okay, maybe not peace.were are my ZERGS? >:(
(do not take this seriously)
You are what will come to be known as Goblins, but such is a few decades away, and far more heartbreak.
You are also not really a mammal nor were you an insect! You were something in between, closer to a platypus than anything else on earth, but quite far removed from that in any case. You share only 50% of your DNA with humanity, despite surface-deep similarities.
You have a three-chamber heart, for example. And a chambered stomach!
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 19, 2012, 12:47:16 am
You have a three-chamber heart, for example. And a chambered stomach!That is rather inefficient. Would it be possible to get a status mod that could fix our three chambered heart? Perhaps bump us up a ventricle?
Post by: Lillipad on November 19, 2012, 01:01:39 am
And it's not supposed to be efficient, Psycho. He's a goblin now, not a race that needs efficient, properly functioning organs.
Anyway, step outside the cave and attempt to greet your new mother and father/slaves. Because that's totally what these two are going to be.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 01:27:55 am
You do step outside into the sunlight though. The pair don't seem to notice you.
Post by: micelus on November 19, 2012, 01:47:08 am
Post by: Lillipad on November 19, 2012, 03:03:44 am
>Make a grunting noise. Failing that, enter their sight.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 11:12:24 am
They seems somewhat urprised to see you there. The man backs off, and the woman produces a horn from nowhere. Suddenly the man is behind you, with a firm grip on your shoulder, and the woman blows into the horn, making the loudest noise you've ever heard. It seems to reverberate everywhere, bouncing and bouncing until it comes crashing into your ears like a thousand tons of rock.
But it's over soon enough and a crowd begins to form.
It is time for you to begin apprenticeship, and gather the closest thing a goblin has to a parent. The apprentice does not choose their master, usually, and your case is technically no different, but luckily we can abstract it enough. Being apprenticed to a certain profession does not always mean you will be given that job when your graduation comes, but the personality you pick up from your time will mean that it becomes more likely.
You were a bully of a grub, and gained the Stat Cores LARGE and AMBITIOUS. Will you continue down this path of violence and despotism, or choose another?
Who is your new Master/Mistress?
Ulla-Shaman. Ulla is highly intelligent, but old and crotchety. The unlucky grub raised by her would be under constant verbal abuse, but the intellectual sparring would give them a strong mind and sharp wit, and Ulla's patronage has already raised several heros of the tribe. Ulla is respected and even feared by all the chiefs in the council of Kings, and her word carries more weight than Nakun-Kaka himself; the king of kings.
Amma-A kindly medicine woman, devoting her life to studying the body and preserving life. Her soft care would raise a goblin more than capable of compassion and understanding, but may also quash any ambition to be any higher. A medicine woman is already a coveted position, however, so there would be little need for it anyway. Amma-dok is respected, but hardly feared, and would come into conflict often, likely compromising far outside her own needs and wants. But perhaps the right grub could keep her safe...
Nibun-A Warrior of unprecedented skill, Nibun-Urku is the volir Champion, meaning he takes orders only from the Champion himself and the tribe Chief (and Ulla-sha, of course.). Nibun is not a bright goblin by any means, and has a immense distaste for intellectuals everywhere. Nibun is a violent jingoist, but his sparring would leave any goblin more than equipped for any kind of violence, and his careful knowledge of when to scrape and bow and when to stand tall would be a valuable asset.
Kesa-The broodmother. Kesa-mon (pronounced as "moan", for you nerdlings who hoped otherwise) watches over the clutches of eggs set to hatch by all the prospective couples of the tribe, and oversees all the apprenticeships in their infancies to make sure the goblin has found a good patron. Kesa is kind but unyielding, holding her ground like a mighty oak, even when it would be better to bend and it tears up her roots to do so. Kesa is not a genius, but she is smart enough to know she isn't, and her controling, iron voice can give even Ulla pause, if only to start back up again later. The broodmother is not a profession to be taken lightly.
Bolun-Bolun is a ditzy, fragile, abrasive weakling of a goblin, but in speed he is unmatched and of all the apprenticeships waiting to be taken his is most adventurous. Bolun is a messenger among the tribes, meeting and interacting with foreigners from the Councilate Tribes to the strangers in the east, who's ears are small and skin so pale. His many miles of travel have given him a perspective most lack, possibly a gift from the gods to compensate for his utter lack of logical sense. He's a superstitous one, always watching for omens he's made up, but a good diplomat with a silver tongue. To be his apprentice would be a interesting life indeed!
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 19, 2012, 12:51:33 pm
I step out for a few hours, and just look at what you guys did to our charmingly handsome alien platypus. He's a goblin now. You just had to pick the boring tool option.I believe by now that whatever we were to choose, that would have not changed the fact that we are now a greenskin.
Nice John Carter you pulled there anyway, mister Karnewarrior.
Our new mistress is Ulla, the shaman.
Because we are too LARGE and AMBITIOUS to be a mere messenger, warrior or healer.
Being a huge, muscular goblin shaman with the backup of the Spirits could lead us very, very high.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 01:10:14 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 19, 2012, 01:16:39 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 01:29:35 pm
Coincidentally, try not to cannibalize any full grown goblins. It's... somewhat frowned upon.
Post by: Lillipad on November 19, 2012, 01:34:23 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 19, 2012, 01:51:25 pm
Post by: micelus on November 19, 2012, 01:52:45 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 19, 2012, 03:28:37 pm
Post by: Mr. Doc on November 19, 2012, 04:41:55 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 19, 2012, 04:51:10 pm
Kesa mon: 1
Nibun: 1
At this point, it seems fairly certain that Ulla won (unless some unlikely coordinated vote happen). So let's meet those spirits! :D
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 19, 2012, 06:20:08 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 06:20:40 pm
Still though much of the talk of the adults eludes you. they speak quickly and without obvious breaks in between words, making it hard for you to pick up new ones. Your limited vocabulary is little impediment right now, however. You stand on stage with your wrists bound, the chiefs hand on your shoulder, and the free Patrons of the community heft stone daggers with bone hilts. They're ornate, gilded with worked gold and edged with such as well, as it's far sharper than any stone around here.
"Daske-nag Dola [Apprentice]? [His eyes] seak nacha-bol [with youth] set [integrity]. [A quick mind] sepi-tal [stature as] onam-set [greatest netcap tree(s)] bona bona."
The broodmother speaks: "Nek." A denial.
The Volir Champion speaks: "Nek."
The Messenger speaks: "Nek."
The Medicine woman speaks: "Nek. [Sorry!]"
The shaman speaks: "Hiya."
There are whispers in the crowd. Ulla hasn't chosen an apprentice in almost thrity years, since she laid her last clutch! Yet now, she chooses you?
Ulla steps forward and cuts a small slit in your cheek. She slides to the right and does the same on the other cheek, before using the bloodstained blade to cut free your bonds. You are an apprentice!
Ulla leans down until you can smell her fetid breath, like the worst kind of fruit. She uses simple language to say "I need Saksa-tolun root. Now, Boy."
And suddenly, you're on your way.
...
But you don't know which plant is the Saksa-tolun! Your Mistress is still standing on the stage, speaking with the chief. What do you do?
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 19, 2012, 06:29:06 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 19, 2012, 06:38:10 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 19, 2012, 06:40:28 pm
Go ask someone else who might know.Make sure they don't look important. And get out of the elders' sight first.
Post by: Vorthon on November 19, 2012, 06:48:21 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 06:59:11 pm
You finally go try to find help. You can't really tell who's unimportant, but you do guess that Amma wouldn't tattle on you.
You ask her in your halting baby-talk which root is the Saksa-tolun root. You try to make the question seem innocuous.
"Ooh. Ulla put you up to this, didn't she?" She giggles girlishly at your horrified expression. "Don't worry sapse, I won't tell on you! But I'm not going to tell you the answer either. Here's a hint though." She leans down and whispers in your ear. you note she smells like the woods, all leaves and flowering fruit. A far cry better than Ulla-sha.
"The root is not a root. The thickest nets will guide you to the flying stars. Now go! I shouldn't be helping you, this is important."
Hmm... What did that EAT DIRT
What the hell was that? You shake your head and put it out of your mind. There's no possible way that will ever come back in a ironic and plot-important fashion to royally ruin your day. No way!
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 19, 2012, 07:01:43 pm
EAT DIRT.THIS ISN'T A MINIMALIST RtD.
...Ninja'd by an update. I detect more ninjas.
Follow the spiders. Maybe their webs are the nets?
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 19, 2012, 07:05:08 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 19, 2012, 07:08:00 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 19, 2012, 07:14:52 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 19, 2012, 07:18:15 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 19, 2012, 08:06:09 pm
Fireflies and vines.OH MY GOD! We're gonna find the Serenity!
This is now a noble quest that shall elevate us above the ranks of the most powerful gobos! We'll rule from the sky in our iron... thing. We don't know what to call it.
Post by: Vorthon on November 19, 2012, 08:36:47 pm
Fireflies and vines.OH MY GOD! We're gonna find the Serenity!
This is now a noble quest that shall elevate us above the ranks of the most powerful gobos! We'll rule from the sky in our iron... thing. We don't know what to call it.
Metal skybeast?
And yeah, Fireflies and vines makes sense. Try to find some!
...And I just gave our poor little fellow a mental tic, didn't I?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 19, 2012, 09:30:42 pm
...Burn the land, boil the seas.Metal skybeast?Fireflies and vines.OH MY GOD! We're gonna find the Serenity!
This is now a noble quest that shall elevate us above the ranks of the most powerful gobos! We'll rule from the sky in our iron... thing. We don't know what to call it.
And yeah, Fireflies and vines makes sense. Try to find some!
...And I just gave our poor little fellow a mental tic, didn't I?
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 19, 2012, 11:38:11 pm
You head into the forest, depper than you've ever been, looking for a dense set of vines. You find them, luckily, in but an hour, and search them for fireflies (or the equivielent, as fireflies are a earth creature. silly!)
You grab some of the beetlebrights and lug them home, smiling happily at Amma on the way. What a nice lady!
You find your new Patron outside her hut, tanning the hide of some great beast brought in by the hunters. The area around her smells strongly of urine, and the hide bubbles disgustingly under a slightly golden pool of... You wish you'd never seen that. You don't know it yet but that is a wish you'll be wishing often, very often indeed.
"Well, Boy, what random forest object did you get?" She grumbles, not taking her hands out from the tannery. You place the beetlebrights on the edge of the stone tub.
Ulla looks at them expressionless for a very, very long time. Days seem to pass, then weeks, perhaps even centuries, as she stares down at the beetlebrights, eyes sometimes flicking over to you, then back at the beetles.
"You..." she begins. She blinks slowly, first a clear eyelid (you suddenly realize you have one! Perhaps that is what the meant during you ceremony by "shutting the first eye"...) and then the opaque one.
"What are these?" she finishes.
"T-the roots, mistress..."
"No, you Jashe-ta Idiot, these are BEETLES."
"I didn't know what you meant so I went and asked for help but then there was a but and-"
"Shut up." Ulla grabs you (oh suns above her hands are still wet and pruned) and drags you by your ear and shoulder to the edge of a forest, to one of the large mushrooms spanning the canopy. It's dangling it's net (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_indusiatus) down almost to the forest floor, and the buzzing beetlebrights are already getting entrapped by sticky filaments and thin webbing. Most of the insects are already turning white as the mushroom grows mycelium into their corpses to feed. Some are drained by symbiotes, tiny creatures of many even tinyer legs dancing around the sticky spots and through the thin hairs like snakes through tubes. But something catches your eye.
"This is a Saksa-Tolun. A Flying Star." She says, pointing to a bulb hanging from one of the strands. A curious eyelike coloring encircles the point where it hangs from, making the star look like a animal more than a seed. In fact, as you watch it's three small tentacles begin to swing without wind; it's moving!
"They're spore pods. Inside is a dust that grows into all the little mushrooms in the grass, see them there? But sometimes they dig their way underground, or more likely into a greenleaf, and sprout into one of these." she guestures to the giant mushroom. "They're good to eat, if you don't mind the bitter taste and dry texture. Perhaps it's better to say they're bad to eat, but if you're starving it's far better than death." She plucks it from the tree and it begins squirming. Taking the Flying Star in both hands, the twists and tears off one of the tentacles, then tosses the still-flailing seed to the ground, where it opens with a puff of white dust.
The tentacle is still squirming as Ulla-sha bites into it and hands the rest to you. "Go put that in the pot in my hut. I'm making a tincture for a story later this month." You nod and rush off, feeling smarter.
STATUS CORED: FOREST LORE
STATUS CORED: IRON STOMACH (Ulla doesn't wash her hands...)
----------------------------
It's later that month. You've learned alot about the world you live in, and about what being the Shaman is all about.
It's not so much a religious position as a historian. The shaman knows and retells all the stories of the tribe, and writes new ones if they need to be made. It's the shamans duty to keep the stories from getting muddled and lost, and to keep the tribe on a morally and historically rightous path. Tonight is the first night you get to see that in action.
You've learned your words well, under Ulla. you already speak better than most your age, and some adults have complemented you on your growing silver tongue. You're no diplomat, and you're turning quite snarky, but that's to be expected, and nobody groans about it with you in earshot.
Ulla is on the stage now, draped in heavy furs despite the growing heat of late spring. The dual suns set in the sky; the distant one, Naula, is tiny and dim, for this is a year of Shadows, when Naula retreats to mend her wounds from her battle with Dasun, the violent Sun-God. The battle never ceases, but it is a necessary one, for without it all the world would burn up and drift away. Ulla is wearing a cowl with a helm made of the skull of a great rodent. Sharp, silvery fangs lance down in front of her goat-like eyes, which are narrowed in concentration and dulled by her shut Clear-eyelids. It's a ceremonial event, a storytelling. This is the history of the tribe.
"GOBLINS! I AM A OLD WOMAN, AND I HAVE SEEN MANY STORIES COME TO PASS. I HAVE COMPOSED TALES OF MANY HEROES, TUTORED MANY YOUNG GOBLINS-" There's a coughing from the adults that sounds oddly like "liar" but Ulla-sha ignores it. "AND FOUGHT MANY ANCIENT BEASTS. BUT THIS STORY HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD TO ANY BUT SHAMANS FOR SIX HUNDRED DANCES OF THE SUN [four hundred earth years, humans] FOR THIS TALE WAS CURSED, CURSED BY AN OLD, CRUSTY SHAMANESS. YES, A TERRIBLE CURSE WAS LAID, FOR ANY GOBLINS WHO HEARD OF THE TALE WERE CURSED WITH A LIFE LONG BEYOND NATURAL, A LIFE OF PAIN AND UNENDING SUFFERING. I LAID THE CURSE ON THIS STORY, BUT NOW I LIFT IT TO TELL TO YOU!" A cheer!
"I WARN YOU THOUGH, THIS TALE IS NOT EASY TO TELL. CURSES MAY -LINGER-!" she jumps at a small child, a girl of your brood. The poor hatchling jumps almost as high as the surrounding trees and lets out a squeal to peirce the heavens. "BUT IT MUST BE TOLD. A GREAT STORM IS COMING, AND ALL THE HISTORY MUST. BE. KNOWN."
What tale is Ulla to tell?
The tale of Us the Unknown? A figure so mysterious they don't even have a gender honorific?
The tale of Three Creeks? A haunted delta by the Biglake, and the hero who put their souls at rest?
The tale of Boga-Ga? A explorer who traveled among the forests fighting elves and rival tribes, to find the Delta?
Or the Tale of Naula and Dasun? The gods who created the universe, a tale of split lovers?
Post by: Vorthon on November 19, 2012, 11:59:53 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 20, 2012, 12:45:05 am
Post by: micelus on November 20, 2012, 12:47:00 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 20, 2012, 12:57:09 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 20, 2012, 01:00:02 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 20, 2012, 01:01:39 am
Post by: Xantalos on November 20, 2012, 01:57:36 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 20, 2012, 02:07:00 am
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 20, 2012, 07:06:57 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 20, 2012, 07:34:06 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 20, 2012, 11:56:29 pm
Naula 2
Boga 1]]
The story of Us* begins in a dark time for the Tribe of Naki-Boun. You may remember them as the tribe ours was founded from. Us came to the tribe on a dark day, as the moon blotted out the sun, and the other was nowhere to be found! The sky turned as black as midnight, the evillest of stars emerging from their places like spiders to gobble up unfortunate goblins, crying blood while they did so! It was a evil day, and Us stood in the middle, so still.
The Naki-Boun pleaded with the gods to bring the suns back. They offered them a offering of the greatest warrior of the tribe. But the gods did not want a strong arm, Us told them. And indeed, the warriors sacrifice did not bring back the suns, and there came a great wailing.
The Naki-Boun offered a young maiden, beautiful and with her first clutch in hand. But the gods did not want fertility, Us told them, and they were smitten by the stars, the clutch dashed upon the ground, and there came a great wailing.
The Naki-Boun offered their faith, to a god who would save them. But the gods did not want worship, Us told them, and no sun came, and much blood was spilled from their bodies, and there came a wailing much weaker than before.
The Naki-Boun spoke to Us and asked her, "The gods to not wish any wealth we could give them! They will not answer our prayers! Stranger, you came before this disaster, tell us true what the gods wish from our tribe!"
And Us spake, and he said; "No thing."
And they were confused and said to Us "No thing we can give? Then they have smitten us for malice and anger, a tribe of hopefuls and strong warriors?" And they grew angry, and stomped upon the ground with force, and pulled upon their ears in anger, and said "Stranger! You tell us lies! Our gods are not demons!"
And Us spake calmly and without malice, and said; "Nay. Look to the skies." And a sun had appeared from about the side of the moon, and the stars vanished and the evil was gone.
And they asked of Us how such a thing had happened, and Us said to them nothing. And they asked her with anger, and yet Us said nothing. And they struck her with stones and she said nothing. And they did offer her many riches, in the form of crystal shards and fine weapons, and she said nothing. And they asked again and again, in a thousand ways, and she said nothing. But a child asked of her, "Why did this happen?" and Us spake.
"The gods were busy." said she. "They went to the black void, and made a new land. And on that land they made a people of great power, and this is what took them so long." and the goblins were silent and asked why they did such a thing and abandoned the goblins, their first creature, and Us said "For it is the Starborn who will lead us beyond our tribes. The starborn who will use a crystal grey as stone and shall turn the world to their whim. The children of the gods shall come on a shooting star, and erase all of the flawed creation, and lead us to a Utopia, Which they will call 'Ohai-Ou', and we will grow fruitful ever more, and the wars shall stop, and the death shall stop, and the starving of winter shall stop, and the creatures of land and sea will se us as masters, and we will see the Starborn as masters, and they in turn will know the Gods as masters, and the chain of being will be complete. They come."
And they asked how long it shall be until the Starborn came, and Us said, "I know not."
And they knew she was right, and they lifted her up and called her idol, but she grew angry at them, and they were chastised, and the next night she vanished, never to be seen again.
A young broodmate of your leaps to his feet and says, "I HAVE A GIRLS NAME?"
Ulla slowly places her face in her palm and shakes her head. "No, you have a boys name, Usun-ta**."
Usun looks unhappy at that answer, but knows better than to argue with the grumpy old shaman.
Ulla-sha looks around at the crowd of gathered goblins. "Does anyone have any questions? I will answer to the best of my ability."
*Us [pronounced: OOS] is a genderless name belived to have been created for this story and used since because of it, in a odd sort of feedback loop. What still puzzles human and goblin historians and theologists alike is Us's strangely accurate prediction of the future, even coming close to the Goblins largest settlement on Earth, Golsa, in OHIO, North America. It's thought that Us was most likely female due to the high degree of respect afforded by the tribe when they didn't know "her". Usually strange males in those days were treated as without dignity, usually as beggars, especially if they did not come with a message. Females, on the other hand, were more often afforded some modicum of respect, being treated like an unwanted person rather than an unwanted animal.
**The suffix -Ta added onto the end of a name is a somewhat harsh means of calling someone an idiot. The literal translation of -Ta more accurately refers to the inside of the head, but it is usually appended to something else like the brain. In this case, the lack of a material to fill the head in question implies that the insultee has a completely empty head, or is a moron.
Post by: micelus on November 21, 2012, 03:16:06 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 21, 2012, 03:16:47 am
even coming close to the Goblins largest settlement on Earth, Golsa, in OHIO, North America.wait, what?
Post by: micelus on November 21, 2012, 03:25:23 am
Spoiler: Terribly generic meme (click to show/hide)
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 21, 2012, 02:40:27 pm
Sidestory: Goblins eventually settle a city in Ohio.even coming close to the Goblins largest settlement on Earth, Golsa, in OHIO, North America.wait, what?
Not saying how it happened.
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"But what if we found those grey crystals the Starborn use?"
Ulla looks sharply at the young Goblin. "Have YOU seen any grey crystal, stonger than solid stone and shining like a still lake in the light of a full moon? No? Then why is this question relevant?!"
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 21, 2012, 02:56:00 pm
NEW LONG TERM MAIN QUEST: THE SECRET OF STEEL.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 21, 2012, 03:28:35 pm
Do that mean goblins do not know metallurgy? besides marteled gold?Sillly person, that magical thing called steel is the sole realm of the dwarves. We're limited to copper, brass, and, at best, iron.
NEW LONG TERM MAIN QUEST: THE SECRET OF STEEL.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 21, 2012, 03:34:46 pm
Is there even dwarves in this setting?Do that mean goblins do not know metallurgy? besides marteled gold?Sillly person, that magical thing called steel is the sole realm of the dwarves. We're limited to copper, brass, and, at best, iron.
NEW LONG TERM MAIN QUEST: THE SECRET OF STEEL.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 21, 2012, 04:09:41 pm
No.Is there even dwarves in this setting?Do that mean goblins do not know metallurgy? besides marteled gold?Sillly person, that magical thing called steel is the sole realm of the dwarves. We're limited to copper, brass, and, at best, iron.
NEW LONG TERM MAIN QUEST: THE SECRET OF STEEL.
There are Elves but the Elves are technically Goblins, just a bit culturally...
We'll get to them in time, don't worry.
To break any confusion this is nothing like DF or any generic fantasy world. Your goblin is short, brown, wrinkly, has goat eyes and eight fingers, and his ears are literally the same size as his head (losing one actually puts a goblin off balance because they're so heavy. They have to relearn how to walk the same way suddenly having one arm replaced by solid iron would screw with a human.). The term Goblin isn't even the word they use, they call themselves "people" in their language: "Ulsa". Goblin is the name given to them by Human settlers, which they adopted after they took to Anglo-mandarin.
Also they become about 30% catholic, 40% buddhist and 10% other, depending on which tribe was contacted by which settlers. But this is all extraneous; are you all out of questions? should we move on to the next Chapter?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 21, 2012, 04:36:18 pm
Let's move on to the next chapter, while still learning bits of context on the fly.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 21, 2012, 05:05:05 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 23, 2012, 07:45:22 pm
What are the other 20%?The same Shamanist-ish religion they are here. Some would have converted but the Pope called a no-go, citing xenoanthropology. The pope at this point's a pretty cool dude, for the kind of hyper religious person that you need to be to be the pope. :P
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The moon grows dark six times before something more important happens.
You learn of the forests and gain a general education. You know which herbs heal what, not quite with the skill of a witchdoctor but well enough that any extra patients come back to you when Amma has her hands full. You train for some weeks with the Champion, a good natured Goblin at almost a meter high. The towering man knocks you around a bit, but your intuitive knowledge keeps him somewhat on his toes, and he congratulates you.
His apprentice is not so well receiving of your success. The boy is a runt, with one eye, an odd choice from the Champion, but when you see him in action you know exactly why he was chosen to become a Warrior. He darts andslips across the field in a series of moves that flow seamlessly into each other. He doesn't seem to move himself, rather spinning the battlefield around him and bringing his enemies to his level. Due to his size, he seems to prefer crippling an opponent and then dancing around them rather than duking it out toe-to-toe.
What's more, the boy seems very popular, a natural silvertongue who has already gathered the coming generation about him with ease. He never uses the word, but the rest of the group identify themselves as "Sunsetters", taking time out of busy days to dye their clothing black, orange and purple, with strips of the teal-green the same color as the sky. At their own expense as well; the dyes are very difficult to obtain, some having to be traded for with the eastern tribes. The Champion seems to support this behavior.
But that was last week, and this week you begin the basic political training every goblin in every tribe in the area undergoes. Politics are serious business, with five tribes gathering in one clearing to discuss matters of importance to all of them. A tenative peace has been kept after the Dulgoz Tribe of the east won supremacy. Feuds were settled with duels between champions and the tribes had been content to simply yell at each other under the Pavilion for now.
You're at the break of the clearing. A huge mass of goblins, over a thousand, possibly two, presses to the fore. The pavilion was built for this, though; you know that there's comfortable seating for a thousand goblins and standing room for almost three thousand, theoretically.
In practice, it depends on the mood of the day. Angry goblins would require more space, happy goblins less, and the excited goblins today will take up very little room indeed if one doesn't mind several good smackings on accident. The best view is at the center, but the more comfortable seats are in the back, and the center of the Pavilion is dug out and covered with small flat stones, so you would still get to see.
How close are you willing to get? Or to phrase it a different way, how interested are you in the announcement to be made?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 23, 2012, 07:52:08 pm
Post by: Vorthon on November 23, 2012, 07:54:59 pm
As close as possible!+1
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 23, 2012, 10:06:20 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 23, 2012, 11:14:53 pm
You push in through the crowd, elbowing goblins out of the way and getting elbows yourself.
In the center of the Pavilion are five Goblins.
Ujja-Ka. Chieftan of the Pola-Knu. Her face is lined with greater age than Ulla-sha's but her eyes still burn with intensity. She wears many bangles and decorative rings, but she wears them with purpose.
Naun-Ka. Chieftan of the Naki-ki. He's almost wider than he is tall, a quiet man of slow movement and slower thought. But he's never once judged wrong for his tribe. He's been compared to a rock on more than one front, some unflattering.
Dumun-Ka. A skinny and sly goblin, constantly vieing for more power, more prestige. He likes to act as though the meetings never took place, and most of his tribe are xenophobic and sneaky. Regardless of being personally unsavory, he's a valued ally and his tribe is the largest of the Five. It is said that when the Damun tribe Marches, thunder rumbles beneath their feet.
Akun-Kaka. The chief of chiefs, his title means. He represents the Dulgoz, and as such has no actual power in the court. His purpose at the meeting is to cool the other chieftans heads, and act as a swing vote in the case of a tie. His tribe are not the largest, or the smartest, or the wealthiest. But the Dulgoz are well connected and sit comfortably above the other tribes. They're good leaders, if somewhat full of themselves, but Akun-Kaka rarely speaks, only listens. To hear him open his mouth for more than a soft "quiet." is a rare and frightening occasion.
Finally, you're own chieftan. Led in by Ulla-sha, he's a shambling old goblin with over a century of experience. Ulla's assistance is uneccessary, but it would be bad luck not to, and the chief sets himself down in a cloud of dust.
He's covered from head to toe in old scars, a massive bite in one ear. One eye is perpetually squinted as if appraising the realm, and his only decoration is a solid fungal ring about his brow. His nose is long and hooked, his mouth sagging so that it appears to be always frowning. One leg is simply gone, replaced by a wooden prosthetic. And at his side is a spear of solid wood and black obsidian.
His name is Obun-Kamra, the King of Stones. In his hands he carries the Device.
What does the device do?
>It is a long tube, and from it's mouth spews fire, and all in front fall dead.
>It is a crystalline orb, perfectly round, and it glows with the power of gods in a blue light.
>It is a tablet of Gold, engraved with strange figures. The figures are aligned in neat rows and some repeat often while others not at all.
>It is a fallen star of black, twisted stone, and a holy relic from the sky.
>It is a mouthpiece, and when a button is pressed it turns water into air
>It is a golden box, and upon the box is cut a circle. It is not known what it does.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 23, 2012, 11:58:14 pm
Post by: javierpwn on November 24, 2012, 12:18:47 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 24, 2012, 03:38:40 am
I say the twisted sky rock, it sounds ominousI'll vote for this as well, although I don't think it would be very powerful, given the level of the others artifacts (a flamethrower, a lamp, some written tablet, a piece of something (I'd say some starship plating), an electrolytic respirator and some box.)
Also our chief's title is Kamra, while others are just Ka (chief? Kaka would be chief-chief.). Does that refer to the Device? It should be very important if carrying it give a title.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 24, 2012, 08:56:16 am
Our goblins must reverse engineer it.
Post by: Vorthon on November 24, 2012, 09:31:04 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 24, 2012, 06:14:51 pm
Mra in this context translates to Stone(s).I say the twisted sky rock, it sounds ominousI'll vote for this as well, although I don't think it would be very powerful, given the level of the others artifacts (a flamethrower, a lamp, some written tablet, a piece of something (I'd say some starship plating), an electrolytic respirator and some box.)
Also our chief's title is Kamra, while others are just Ka (chief? Kaka would be chief-chief.). Does that refer to the Device? It should be very important if carrying it give a title.
There are also little fuzzy creatures called Mra, which also translates to Stones (they look like rocks until they shoot off like rockets into the underbrush. Think rabbits), and it's used as a slangish term for heart, as well as medically a stone that has been eaten to assist with digestion, ala Bezoars.
Ka does accurately translate as chief, king, or generally a high authority. Repeating the title emphasizes it, without a good translation. Since -un and -a mean boy or girl, specifically, one can be called (for example) Usun-un, which basically translates to "You are Chuck Norris", or Usa-ah, which would be a highly feminine goblin. The first one is what matters, so you can also switch it out (Usun-ah is a very feminine man, or Usa-un is a tomboy).
Languages are fun! :D
Thus Far the Skyrock is winning. The Power doesn't really matter since you won't get to handle the holy artifact any more than you could handle the Shroud of Turin. It will likely effect some other details though.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 25, 2012, 03:23:59 am
This mean that the first one is more likely to lead to war, or simply to aggressive diplomacy, because tribes would want to have it, or at least some other not to have it. I can imagine Dumun-ka trying to get his hands on it.
On the other hand, the skyrock having likely absolutely no use besides religion, the power-hungry chiefs and tribes would not fight for it.
This is only my opinion, of course. :)
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 25, 2012, 11:28:47 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 25, 2012, 05:33:17 pm
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Obun-Kamra unravels the Stone with shaking, arthritic hands. It's a deep brown, almost black, a ball of warped meteoric glass. It's hardly the size of a fist, but it causes a reverential silence to come over the whole Pavilion. The Skyrock.
"What is the meaning of this, Obun-Kamra?" Asks Ujja-Ka.
"One hundred years ago, quite soon after -Ahack huck cuhk-" Ulla-sha pats him softly on the back until the coughing recedes. "Quite soon after I was hatched, really, this Skyrock fell from the heavens. Do any of your remember the stars that day?"
There's a murmuring. A old woman from the Dulgoz tribe, looking even the worse for wear than your Chief, stands and croaks, "Aye. I saw'd the sky that day. There was a new star that night, but it felled and led us to the Skyrock you're holdin' in your hands right now, Obun-Kamra, much respec'."
"And the last week, there has again been a new-"
"Are you telling us, that there's going to be another skyrock?" Asks Dumun-Ka, looking skeptical.
"Is that not a good thing?" Naun-ka asks, rolls jiggling.
"Please, Chieftans, allow our esteemed friend to speak." The high-king says, laying a hand on the shoulder of the goblins nearest him.
"This star has not fallen yet. I do not know what it means, but if it does not bode well it must bode ill. I only wish to alert the chieftans to this matter, as well as act as the voice-" another coughing fit pauses the speech for a while, "-the voice for our shaman, Ulla."
Ulla is dressed in her full regailia for the meeting, and the wooden scales and fake skull of a lizard (carved of mushroom stalk solid) mke a clanking as she nods.
Obun-Kamra leans on Ulla and says, "We should contact the other tribes, to see if they too have this star in their sky. If they do not, then perhaps we are doomed. If they do, it would be good to have bonds with foreign brothers."
"We need no help from the east. What reasons do we have for contacting them besides cowardice and paranoia?" Ujja-ka asks in a reasonable tone unfitting to her inflammatory words.
"Marriage." Says Ulla, interupting. "A intertribal marriage to strengthen relations. But the eastern tribes have the acceptance of the proposal on the woman, so we'll have the advantage."
A young goblin walks out. By her age you can tell she's a broodsister of yours, but you've barely spoken to her.
"This is Alca-un." says Ulla bluntly. Alca gives Ulla a deathglare, which slides off Ullas back with more fluidity than water itself. "She's never going to get married so she's the perfect candidate for feeling out the Far Tribes."
There's an awkward silence as the council processes how to respond. Ulla-sha is being rude beyond belief. It's quite obvious she doesn't think highly of Alca.
"She's frail," says Akun-Kaka, looking her over. "She'll need a guard."
"I'LL DO IT!" cries the one-eyed apprentice from your last few weeks of training. He looks her over like a piece of meat and obviously enjoys what he sees. Alca looks about to explode with anger at being treated this way.
"Can I have someone else? Someone nicer, like an Elf or perhaps a ancient death demon?" Alca says sarcastically.
"Fine. Anyone else who wants to volunteer can go. Anyone?" Several hands raise immediately; Alca isn't a badlooking sort. Due to the nature of breeding among Goblins broodbrothers and broodsisters are rarely genetically related, but her actions don't put her good looks to their best use.
Do you wish to volunteer? You're sure you'd be better behaved than some of the others (one looks older than Ulla and is drooling slightly.)...
Post by: Vorthon on November 25, 2012, 05:43:09 pm
Because travel.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 25, 2012, 06:42:46 pm
On a different note, since we have all of these different voices make our decisions for us, does that make us schizophrenic?
Post by: Vorthon on November 25, 2012, 06:56:27 pm
Dammit.
Post by: Xantalos on November 25, 2012, 08:53:22 pm
However, act polite and courteous toward her.
Post by: Vorthon on November 25, 2012, 08:57:55 pm
Everyone seems to agree to go.
However, act polite and courteous toward her.
+1
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 25, 2012, 08:59:40 pm
+2Everyone seems to agree to go.
However, act polite and courteous toward her.
+1
Post by: racnor on November 25, 2012, 09:35:16 pm
+3+2Everyone seems to agree to go.
However, act polite and courteous toward her.
+1
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 26, 2012, 12:48:44 pm
First, try to recall why everyone seems to hate her. I think It might have to do with her supposed refusal to marry and that conspicuous un that you added to her name immediate after explaining what un means. Probably shouldn't mention that one out loud though. Also,+100 we're not seeking a mate, just a friend/ally. Also as she's supposed to go get married, her protector shouldn't show any interest in her (unless on the express purpose to make it fail).+3+2Everyone seems to agree to go.
However, act polite and courteous toward her.
+1
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 26, 2012, 03:30:20 pm
Ulla appraises you. "Hrumph. Well, I know the boy well enough to know he likely has better intentions than this lot."
One-eye is staring you down like you just murdered a clutch of eggs in front of him. Some of the others are giving you the same look, but One-eye has a sort of vengeful fury in his eye that suggests this goes deeper than a stolen chance with a pretty tomboy.
Alca is dismissive. "I can go by myself, Ulla-sha."
"No."
"But I'm stronger than-"
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes!"
"No."
"Yes!"
"Yes."
"NO! I mean-" Alca stutters, skin turning a deep brown as the blood rushes to her face.
"Good, then it's agreed. The Nameless will be named and he'll escort you-"
"He's nameless?!" Asks One-eye. "How can we trust him if he hasn't even got a name?!"
"Because, Raun-Khet, Ulla-sha gave him her support, and we trust her." Says Akun-Kaka calmly. Raun searches for a way to get rid of you.
"Samaet. I challenge you to a Samaet." He says cooly.
A Samaet is a duel, usually to the death. It's not unheard of for one to refuse it, but in such a public place... You would both be shamed, Raun most of all, for you'd be implying you do not think him capable of even the barest of victories.
Alca even pokes her head back into the Pavilion to see your answer.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 26, 2012, 04:32:30 pm
One-eye is staring you down like you just murdered a clutch of eggs in front of him.Which you probably did. Potential eggs though. With a low probability of existence, but you still murdered that probability of some eggs. :P
I laughed hard. You made a masterwork "you will like these characters, now" here. I fell for it (without regret). ;D
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes!"
"No."
"Yes!"
"Yes."
"NO! I mean-" Alca stutters, skin turning a deep brown as the blood rushes to her face.
*re-read the topic to assess chances of victory*
...
EDIT: Raun-Khet? What the hell does Khet mean? It isn't as generic as -un or -ah, or -ta. I guess he earned this somehow.
By re-reading earlier updates, it appear that one-eye is a talented leader (which predict troubles with his followers if he lose), somewhat smaller and less muscular than us, but way, way more agile. And cunning.
I do not intend to refuse this duel. We might end up accidentally falling on some dagger afterwards. Twice.
If we do fight, we must force him to fight unarmed, as any weapon would be an advantage for him (we're more muscular and have no skill with any weapons.). At worst, a staff may be a good choice. Be prepared for dirt-throws, meddling supporters and the like. Use the crowd as a limiter to his mobility. Corner him, have your back close to the crowd (away from Sunsetters), and do not think of the fight ring as something fix, if the public back off when we approach, the arena may move with us. Meaning we could corner him by backing off. The crowd is likely to push him forward (then we pounce). Or not, and our back is somewhat safe.
Also FINGER IN THE EYEBALL. One eye is a handicap for him (and no depth perception). Do not overrestimate this handicap though, he surely worked on it.
I think a headlock is something to go for. Blinding, make him fall off, break an arm, headlock, epic win.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 26, 2012, 05:41:15 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 26, 2012, 06:17:38 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 26, 2012, 06:18:31 pm
Post by: javierpwn on November 26, 2012, 08:24:13 pm
So yeah, throw sand/dirt in the air in his general area
And fight without weapons
Post by: micelus on November 26, 2012, 08:38:29 pm
Quote from: Quote from: Armok on July 24, 2011, 06:19:36 am
Everything kaian said!
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 26, 2012, 10:08:15 pm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The area is fenced off. It's been approximately a week, as Alca prepares for the journey by learning the Eastern languages, or at least the most commonly spoken. They're odd, polysyllabic languages, but are structured similar enough that You and Alca have grasped a working knowledge in so short a time.
Raun One-eye stand before you. He has already earned the title Khet for himself, so you harbor no illusions that this will be an easy fight. His one eye hinders him little, as he lost his eye as a small grub.
He's dressed in fanciful wooden armor, emblazoned with funguscap pauldrons and a helm coated in the emblem of the Sunsetter gang, a Flying Star. The armor is more than for show; it gives him protection from your spear, where you have no protection from his. But that is not to say you have no advantages.
Ulla-sha gave you a set of herbs to give you a more robust stamina. Your best route at this point is to wear down Raun, then strike when he is slowed.
The fight begins. Alca is watching, clearly hoping for a draw so she can weasle out of having an escort at all. Ulla-sha watches, face as stony as ever, but she's told you she's rooting for you. The Champion is watching, obviously looking for Raun's victory. This has become bigger than a simple contest.
The Sunsetters are watching. They look... calm.
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Raun-Khet the One-eyed (click to show/hide)
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 26, 2012, 10:14:16 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 26, 2012, 10:17:36 pm
Try to bait him - get him charging at us, dodge, or something like that - jab at him with spear, try to stay at long range. Above all, don't close to meele, and if we do, go for the weak spots, particuarly the eye. Wear him down, then take out his legs when he stars lagging.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 26, 2012, 10:22:42 pm
Hrm...I like this one a bit better, actually, this way we can exploit our advantages. Then we take out his hands. If he can't hold a weapon he can't fight as effectively, since we have the advantage of ranges as well then.
Try to bait him - get him charging at us, dodge, or something like that - jab at him with spear, try to stay at long range. Above all, don't close to meele, and if we do, go for the weak spots, particuarly the eye. Wear him down, then take out his legs when he stars lagging.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 27, 2012, 12:08:29 am
+1. Focus on avoiding attacks for now. Makes him look like a dumb Goliath and us like a guilesome David.Hrm...I like this one a bit better, actually, this way we can exploit our advantages. Then we take out his hands. If he can't hold a weapon he can't fight as effectively, since we have the advantage of ranges as well then.
Try to bait him - get him charging at us, dodge, or something like that - jab at him with spear, try to stay at long range. Above all, don't close to meele, and if we do, go for the weak spots, particuarly the eye. Wear him down, then take out his legs when he stars lagging.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 27, 2012, 12:42:13 am
Try to avoid his attacks with minimal movement. Use your spear as a staff, striking with both sides, and deflect his attacks. Try to make him trip. When he's weared down, get to close combat and wrestle him to submission.
Hopefully, with this combat style of his, he will lose stamina quick.
EDIT: we may use the furs like a gladiator's net. Deviating his spear, blinding him... It's not like they offer us any measure of protection anyway, and we'll avoid nasty infections by NOT having bits of clothing stuck on our bones by a spear thrust. Plus, we got to expose our (hopefully) muscular chest against an armoured opponent. +4 badass points!
In front of a pretty tomboy. Cheers!
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 27, 2012, 06:49:57 am
[Edit]: Even if he's tired, I would recommend not trying to wrestle him into submission, since he is still a better trained warrior than we are, so he could counter what we're doing and then beat us. Plus it would probably look better if we're standing and he's lying in the dirt, because if we're both in the dirt our victory wouldn't look as good to the pretty lady we must be escorting.
Post by: racnor on November 27, 2012, 06:58:37 am
I love the retiarius idea.
Post by: Vorthon on November 27, 2012, 03:46:06 pm
...Oh god.
Post by: javierpwn on November 27, 2012, 03:57:24 pm
The grub was also smaller than us back thenn too
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 27, 2012, 04:02:33 pm
Oh god didn't we maim another grub back when we were a grub?http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=119153.msg3800736#msg3800736
...Oh god.
Shit I fear you're right...
We DID tore his eye out and nearly killed him. Ulla-Sha is only a pretext. He wants revenge...
But this time he don't have his pack to protect him.
> When the battle begin, say "Oh, I remember you now. I really should have finished you this time. Well, your doggies ain't here to shield you anymore. Let's settle this.
If we actually remember this is...
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 27, 2012, 04:36:00 pm
Post by: javierpwn on November 27, 2012, 07:42:46 pm
FIGHT!
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 27, 2012, 10:48:20 pm
"What are you talking about? You and this have nothing to do with my eye. Now BLEED!" He rushes to your right,4slashing with the blade of his spear. It catches you in the ribs,2but a quick twist makes the cut shallow, though long. Your blood dribbles out, but if it's not spurting it's not bad.
You take your chance, using the butt of your spear* as a nightstick.2As you lash out with your elbow, you tear off your thick, fur shirt, intent on using it as a net of sorts to entagle his weapon. Alas, you didn't quite think it through, and Raun-Khet dodges easily. The females of the tribe take very kindly to your Mr. Fanservice technique, however.
*A goblin spear is slightly different than human spears. As goblins are not universally capable of throwing with any force (Being able to throw overhand is analogous to being double-jointed in human society) spears evolved as solely melee weapons, and developed a handle making it look closer to a long, sharpened nightstick. The goblin typically holds tight to the handle and can then use both the blade of the spear as the intended stabbing tool with more force, or the butt of the spear as a bludgeon. This also serves the purpose of protecting the arm of the goblin holding the spear, blocking the outside of the arm to all but the best aimed strikes. Striking inside the arm is still highly effective though, and the free hand of a goblin is often left open when fighting with the Spear.
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Raun-Khet the One-eyed (click to show/hide)
Post by: Gamerlord on November 27, 2012, 10:53:14 pm
Post by: racnor on November 27, 2012, 10:56:28 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 27, 2012, 11:04:15 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 28, 2012, 03:39:38 am
Post by: Xantalos on November 28, 2012, 03:47:47 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 28, 2012, 09:51:11 pm
He strikes, a weak probe meant to do little harm to you(-2 maxdamage).1But it doesn't matter anyway, as he misses by a wide margin.3You lash out at his weak point, but he quickly twists out of the way and you graze him so slightly you don't even break the skin.
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Raun-Khet the One-eyed (click to show/hide)
Post by: Xantalos on November 28, 2012, 10:13:40 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 29, 2012, 06:40:35 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 29, 2012, 06:36:55 pm
He strikes out at your arm.1It's a wildly off miss. You're feeling quite lucky. Hopefully it'll hold...
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Raun-Khet the One-eyed (click to show/hide)
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 29, 2012, 08:07:17 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 29, 2012, 08:12:18 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 29, 2012, 08:47:29 pm
Yess...pull a pocket sand on him and try to disable the leg we wounded.+1. Also avoid getting hurt.
Post by: Xantalos on November 29, 2012, 08:51:22 pm
For anyone wondering, look up 'King of the Hill pocket sand'.Yess...pull a pocket sand on him and try to disable the leg we wounded.+1. Also avoid getting hurt.
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 29, 2012, 09:10:44 pm
The rule was added after during one such duel a competitor tossed sand by accident into the eyes of an onlooking child, who stumbled into the arena of combat and was struck down by the other fighter, who was also blinded. All the tribes were in mourning for weeks.
His view may be obscured in other ways, however, so long as they do not endanger the surrounding crowd.
Post by: neo1096 on November 29, 2012, 09:15:53 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 29, 2012, 09:34:16 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 29, 2012, 09:40:30 pm
Yess...pull a pocket FURS on him and try to disable the leg we wounded.
Post by: racnor on November 29, 2012, 09:41:04 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 29, 2012, 09:43:16 pm
Bullrush him using the furs as a makeshift shield, stab him in the foot, then grab his spear and gut him?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 29, 2012, 09:50:32 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 29, 2012, 10:59:36 pm
Post by: neo1096 on November 29, 2012, 11:16:20 pm
Post by: Xantalos on November 29, 2012, 11:41:42 pm
+1 to wearing him down
Post by: kaian-a-coel on November 30, 2012, 12:36:04 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 07:26:43 am
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 07:08:18 pm
But if there's an appropriate opening (unlikely, I know), go for the eye.Or the ear.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 07:36:32 pm
He has two ears, one eye. Also, eyes are more important than ears for fighting.But if there's an appropriate opening (unlikely, I know), go for the eye.Or the ear.
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 07:40:03 pm
But ears lost unbalance him, remember?He has two ears, one eye. Also, eyes are more important than ears for fighting.But if there's an appropriate opening (unlikely, I know), go for the eye.Or the ear.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 07:42:57 pm
No idea what you're talking about... quote, please?But ears lost unbalance him, remember?He has two ears, one eye. Also, eyes are more important than ears for fighting.But if there's an appropriate opening (unlikely, I know), go for the eye.Or the ear.
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 07:44:54 pm
No.Is there even dwarves in this setting?Do that mean goblins do not know metallurgy? besides marteled gold?Sillly person, that magical thing called steel is the sole realm of the dwarves. We're limited to copper, brass, and, at best, iron.
NEW LONG TERM MAIN QUEST: THE SECRET OF STEEL.
There are Elves but the Elves are technically Goblins, just a bit culturally...
We'll get to them in time, don't worry.
To break any confusion this is nothing like DF or any generic fantasy world. Your goblin is short, brown, wrinkly, has goat eyes and eight fingers, and his ears are literally the same size as his head (losing one actually puts a goblin off balance because they're so heavy. They have to relearn how to walk the same way suddenly having one arm replaced by solid iron would screw with a human.). The term Goblin isn't even the word they use, they call themselves "people" in their language: "Ulsa". Goblin is the name given to them by Human settlers, which they adopted after they took to Anglo-mandarin.
Also they become about 30% catholic, 40% buddhist and 10% other, depending on which tribe was contacted by which settlers. But this is all extraneous; are you all out of questions? should we move on to the next Chapter?
Post by: javierpwn on November 30, 2012, 08:09:40 pm
(Just like Xantalos ;))
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 08:10:53 pm
Post by: javierpwn on November 30, 2012, 08:22:17 pm
(Aka flailing wildly during fights)
Post by: Karnewarrior on November 30, 2012, 08:38:45 pm
He strikes at you!5He hits!1However, your furs tangle his spear, and the damage is minmal, especially compared to your most recent hit.
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Raun-Khet the One-eyed (click to show/hide)
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 08:42:23 pm
Post by: javierpwn on November 30, 2012, 08:42:38 pm
Did we hit anything vital?
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 08:48:21 pm
Trip him!Then FINISH HIM
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 08:52:33 pm
I was thinking of giving him a chance to surrender, destroying his remaining eye if he refused, and giving him one last chance first.Trip him!Then FINISH HIM
Post by: javierpwn on November 30, 2012, 09:05:01 pm
"Rode on top of him and tore into the soft flesh of his eye using our teeth"
MUST HAVE EYEBALL NECKLACE
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 09:25:09 pm
Try to strike at his spear arm.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 09:31:30 pm
Wait, what happened to plan 'wear him down'?We started winning without it.
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 09:32:55 pm
But cockyness is not what we need; pressing the attack will backfire. Our stamina is the only advantage we've got.Wait, what happened to plan 'wear him down'?We started winning without it.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 09:34:25 pm
That, and the fact that while our average damage per turn is 200% greater than his, his remaining health is about 80% of ours.But cockyness is not what we need; pressing the attack will backfire. Our stamina is the only advantage we've got.Wait, what happened to plan 'wear him down'?We started winning without it.
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 09:35:07 pm
I'll be here waiting.That, and the fact that while our average damage per turn is 200% greater than his, his remaining health is about 80% of ours.But cockyness is not what we need; pressing the attack will backfire. Our stamina is the only advantage we've got.Wait, what happened to plan 'wear him down'?We started winning without it.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on November 30, 2012, 09:38:01 pm
One good strike on his part is all it takes to get me back to Team Stamina, but for now...I'll be here waiting.That, and the fact that while our average damage per turn is 200% greater than his, his remaining health is about 80% of ours.But cockyness is not what we need; pressing the attack will backfire. Our stamina is the only advantage we've got.Wait, what happened to plan 'wear him down'?We started winning without it.
Trip him!
Gotta make a good impression if it doesn't kill us, right?
Post by: Xantalos on November 30, 2012, 09:41:59 pm
+1 to tripping and coup de gráce.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on November 30, 2012, 11:43:26 pm
Very well.Follow it by cutting out his heart as an offering to the Sun god.
+1 to tripping and coup de gráce.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 01, 2012, 09:17:31 am
RAUN-KHET PUSHES THROUGH! RAUN-KHET IS RELEASING BUILT MOMENTUM! DOUBLE DAMAGE!5
3=6Raun's spear stabs right through your gut, tearing a massive hole on the way!
You are Bleeding heavily! Raun-Khet is bleeding Heavily.
You strike! (previous diceroll was 4)It's a hit!2You do a small amount of damage.
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Raun-Khet the One-eyed (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Random and Free Criticals (click to show/hide)
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 01, 2012, 09:44:55 am
We must limit our moves to the bare minimum.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 01, 2012, 09:55:56 am
Shit. We should have dodged and continued the wearing down. If we manage to get a moment, we could patch this up with improvised shirt-bandages (only ripping a small amount). But it's unlikely for us to get enough time for this anyway. The good thing is that we likely won't have much things stuck in the wound (because we were barechested), which limit the infection.That. And maybe we should stick to the whole wearing him down thing.
We must limit our moves to the bare minimum.
Post by: javierpwn on December 01, 2012, 10:20:51 am
Post by: Xantalos on December 01, 2012, 11:10:16 am
On a side note:
TOLD YOU SO
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 01, 2012, 09:09:11 pm
+1Shit. We should have dodged and continued the wearing down. If we manage to get a moment, we could patch this up with improvised shirt-bandages (only ripping a small amount). But it's unlikely for us to get enough time for this anyway. The good thing is that we likely won't have much things stuck in the wound (because we were barechested), which limit the infection.That. And maybe we should stick to the whole wearing him down thing.
We must limit our moves to the bare minimum.
What kaian said.Yeah, yeah, shut up. Don't make me bring up how you kept trying to destroy the universe.
On a side note:
TOLD YOU SO
Post by: Xantalos on December 01, 2012, 09:16:52 pm
No seriously, different games. No meta.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 01, 2012, 09:22:10 pm
I? I'm nought but an idea floating through our little goblin's mind; how could I possibly get the idea to destroy the universe?Saying that you told us so wasn't meta?
No seriously, different games. No meta.
Post by: Xantalos on December 01, 2012, 09:36:40 pm
I mean meta as referring to me here as the same character from YAFB. If so the goblin would be either dead or crazy.I? I'm nought but an idea floating through our little goblin's mind; how could I possibly get the idea to destroy the universe?Saying that you told us so wasn't meta?
No seriously, different games. No meta.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 01, 2012, 09:40:30 pm
Who was that character controlled by?I mean meta as referring to me here as the same character from YAFB. If so the goblin would be either dead or crazy.I? I'm nought but an idea floating through our little goblin's mind; how could I possibly get the idea to destroy the universe?Saying that you told us so wasn't meta?
No seriously, different games. No meta.
Post by: Xantalos on December 01, 2012, 09:41:37 pm
What character?Who was that character controlled by?I mean meta as referring to me here as the same character from YAFB. If so the goblin would be either dead or crazy.I? I'm nought but an idea floating through our little goblin's mind; how could I possibly get the idea to destroy the universe?Saying that you told us so wasn't meta?
No seriously, different games. No meta.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 01, 2012, 09:43:42 pm
What character?Who was that character controlled by?I mean meta as referring to me here as the same character from YAFB. If so the goblin would be either dead or crazy.I? I'm nought but an idea floating through our little goblin's mind; how could I possibly get the idea to destroy the universe?Saying that you told us so wasn't meta?
No seriously, different games. No meta.
the same character from YAFB
Post by: Xantalos on December 01, 2012, 09:47:36 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 02, 2012, 07:54:56 pm
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You move to strike Raun-Khet as he staggers.
However, someone gets in your way! Raun-Khet is joined, against the rules of the fight, by three Sunsetters in full gear, with gleaming sharp spears and death in their eyes. Raun escapes!
You backpeddle away from the Sunsetters as the crowd begins to scatter in confusion. But suddenly you're joined by a very irate Alca!
Spoiler: YOU (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Alca-Unfet (click to show/hide)
--------------------------------------
Spoiler: Sunsetter Grunt (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Sunsetter Grunt (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Sunsetter Grunt (click to show/hide)
Post by: javierpwn on December 02, 2012, 08:02:19 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 02, 2012, 08:29:42 pm
That slippery snake, fight along side Alca
Post by: Gamerlord on December 02, 2012, 08:32:05 pm
Post by: lockman766 on December 02, 2012, 09:17:30 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 02, 2012, 09:28:29 pm
We're out numbered. We have to cover Alca since He/She/It(can't remember gender)is uninjured. We are going to have to be a little less aggressive, because they have the advantage.AlcA. She's a girl.
Also oops I forgot to break the quote. I knew that was gonna happen.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 02, 2012, 09:35:56 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 02, 2012, 09:48:08 pm
Maybe even your furs
And throw dirt/sand at opponent
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 02, 2012, 09:49:05 pm
They've thrown out the rules, after all.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 02, 2012, 09:51:05 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 02, 2012, 09:52:51 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 02, 2012, 09:54:23 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 02, 2012, 10:01:43 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 02, 2012, 11:00:14 pm
Wait, why's she tougher than us?Muhahahahahahahahaha
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before you can do anything, Alca is moving.
The sunsetters attack!
Sunsetter 1 stabs low, at Alcas gut. She catches the spear by the haft, just above the edge of his hand, and twists, snapping the fungalwood. She flips the broken half of spear as she turns to the next enemy, reaching up behind her with the blade and shoving it under the Sunsetters helm and through his throat. You see the helm shake slightly as the spear breaks loose from his skull.
The second rushes at her, but she's already there, slapping aside his spear and wrapping herself around his arm. With a twist she's brought it unaturally high over his head (her own arms bend too high as well, but she doesn't seem to notice! She must be a Starthrower) and snapped the joint. She flips around behind him and kicks him in the back of the head, breaking his neck. She spins to the last one, catching his spear in her hands and twisting it whole from his grip. She pauses to stand, and the sunsetter runs.
He doesn't make it, catching a spear not made for throwing in the back, right in the seam of his armor.
"Hmmph." grunts Alca. "I think I may have broken something." She nudges one of the dead sunsetters with her foot; his head lolls around in a grotesque manner. "Oh, no, that was you."
She walks off towards her tent. "Sorry, my mistake."
"Hey!" You cry, "Thank you!"
"Don't mention it. I'm used to hunting animals."
You should go see a healer, but you're curious what happened to Raun-Khet. What take priority?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 02, 2012, 11:22:32 pm
Then fro find a healer.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 02, 2012, 11:23:42 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 02, 2012, 11:29:19 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 03, 2012, 12:41:27 am
seriously, our guts are nearly spilling. Go catch Ulla-sha, or healer. Whatever. Then mee Ulla-sha and ask her why the hell did they think she needed protection, she killed three goblins in an instant. (Maybe the three grubs from page 3? who knows!)
And then ask about mister Screw-the-rules-I-have-minions.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 03, 2012, 01:57:59 am
Everyone else is just like, "meh.". It's kind of funny.
Maybe I need to ramp it up a little.... >:D
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 03, 2012, 07:20:43 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 03, 2012, 12:11:47 pm
I like how the most emotional reaction to Alca whooping ass is "Oh btw... Go ask why she needed protection."It's rather that we nearly died for the right to protect a girl that ended up protecting us, so we're kind of humiliated here. The reaction is more going to yell "WTF?" at the nearest responsible person.
Everyone else is just like, "meh.". It's kind of funny.
Maybe I need to ramp it up a little.... >:D
Post by: javierpwn on December 03, 2012, 05:54:37 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 04, 2012, 12:58:50 am
Amma has several woven mats for patients. Usually this is sickness, but only one other goblin is in the sickbay right now, and he's sitting up and looking fairly healthy, if a little green. You guess he's getting over something, and spending a extra few days with the not-unattractive Amma.
Amma isn't there at the moment. You wonder what distracted her, but tiredness and bloodloss take over, and you drift into a fitful sleep...
=------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------o--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------=
You awaken some few days later. Your mat has been cleaned, as well as your wound, and you've been dressed in soft clothes of woven mycellium, a fine and silky cloth which slides over your fingers like water. The cloth is stained with your blood, turning a deep ruddy brown. Still, you can walk, with a grimace and some willpower.
The cuts on your body seem to be healing well. The other goblin is gone, healthy and released, presumably. Amma is facing the other direction, conversing in low tones with the Champion and Ulla-sha. They don't seem to notice you're awake.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 04, 2012, 01:06:57 am
Post by: Xantalos on December 04, 2012, 01:07:52 am
Don't move, you're still weak. Just stay silent and listen. Listen carefully.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 04, 2012, 07:16:06 am
Don't move, you're still weak. Just stay silent and listen. Listen carefully.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 04, 2012, 07:32:26 am
Don't move, you're still weak. Just stay silent and listen. Listen carefully.
Post by: Hydrall on December 04, 2012, 05:25:30 pm
Don't move, you're still weak. Just stay silent and listen. Listen carefully.
How long until this is against the rules again?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 04, 2012, 05:43:18 pm
Why would caution be against the rules?How long until this is against the rules again?Don't move, you're still weak. Just stay silent and listen. Listen carefully.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 04, 2012, 08:37:58 pm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You listen in carefully to the conversation.
Ulla-sha is speaking. "-tever it is, it left a crater big enough to fit a small tribe in."
"It sounds so scary, Ulla! Were you hurt?"
"'course not." Ulla says gruffly. "I didn't walk up and touch the thing after all. It'was making some sort of buzzing noise, like a hive of beetlebrights. An' the ground around it was all smoking ash."
The champion speaks. "It sounds dangerous. Ulla-sha, I trust your judgement on the matter. Should I take a warband out to destroy it?"
"Nek. I doubt warriors would be able to do much anyway, it's not a animal or plant. More like a rock that moves."
"Another holy artifact then? Should we send shamans?" asks Amma.
"I don't think we have a profession for this." Says the champion. "If it poses any threat we have to destroy it."
"I don't think it's threatening just yet, Naun. Put yer damn spear away." The champion clasps his hands behind his back in a pose of supplication. "Nah, this isn't the problem. The problem is the new Star."
"I was looking last night. It doesn't shimmer like the others do. It seemed to move."
"Yes, me too." Amma blushes, as does the Champion. "It's frightening. Stars aren't supposed to change unless something big is going to happen..."
"Aye." says the champion.
"Aye. Something big IS going to happen. I can feel it in my ears." Says Ulla. Then she looks directly at you. "And this little sneaky rat's going to be at the center of it! Me eyes are telling me that."
Post by: javierpwn on December 04, 2012, 08:46:15 pm
What is going through your head...?
(I think they want their rock back?)
Post by: Vorthon on December 04, 2012, 08:48:14 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 04, 2012, 08:50:13 pm
Latin redundancy is redundant
Post by: Vorthon on December 04, 2012, 08:53:56 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 04, 2012, 08:57:53 pm
(except with bigger head/brains, more hair, and less fat!)
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 04, 2012, 09:09:15 pm
This started off with Bugs, ended up with goblins, And now aliens.....???The plot.
What is going through your head...?
(I think they want their rock back?)
(they have their own rock. It's quite nice, according to them.)
Post by: Vorthon on December 04, 2012, 09:12:37 pm
Anyways, I say we try to volunteer to investigate this unusual development.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 04, 2012, 09:18:13 pm
This is because their brains don't fold as much as humanoid brains do. They actually use bundles of nerves across their nervous systems as smaller brains, which gives them better reaction times and keeps the brain in their head from getting even larger and probably killing them.
Post by: javierpwn on December 04, 2012, 09:32:31 pm
Ask her about Alfa and the fight
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 04, 2012, 09:39:31 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 04, 2012, 11:20:09 pm
I think he was talking about the Neanderthals. :PWe already made a commitment to go with Alca.
Anyways, I say we try to volunteer to investigate this unusual development.
... But... maybe it'll be on the way...
... And I'm sure Alca wouldn't mind doing a little sight-seeing...
On a side note, you've either put a lot of thought into this culture, or know something we don't.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 05, 2012, 03:21:23 am
(It can be rhaun ket for all we know...)
And the whole Alca thing is probably cancelled. The goal was to investigate other tribes for the star. Now that it has fallen, it's probably useless to go.
Also things that fall from space tend to be quite cold, barely warm. Counter intuitive but true. You can walk up to a just-fallen space rock and pick it up like a regular one.
Post by: javierpwn on December 05, 2012, 06:44:57 am
(Two rocks are better than one!)
Post by: Thecard on December 05, 2012, 03:57:34 pm
And it really would let us investigate on our own.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 05, 2012, 05:03:12 pm
I thought they were going to marry her off to strengthen an alliance?It was only a pretext to get on their territory.
Post by: javierpwn on December 05, 2012, 05:03:49 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 05, 2012, 05:05:55 pm
Well, when the little fight had happened, it was to decide who would escort Alca and no one truly wonDidn't we win by default when he cheated and ran?
Post by: javierpwn on December 05, 2012, 05:07:23 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 05, 2012, 05:21:05 pm
That is up to the elders...Why? He clearly forfeited.
Also, if I'm remembering correctly, he challenged us to a fight to the death because he didn't like us challenging his authority. I don't think Alca was part of the winner. The elder's had decided to let us go, and we didn't cheat during the fight. I can't see why they would change their minds and not let us escort her.
Also, unless they want to have a very upset tribe of easterners, they're gonna make good on the marriage agreement. Unless the other party called it off.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 05, 2012, 05:57:09 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 05, 2012, 06:04:59 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 05, 2012, 07:21:10 pm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Who's a sneaky-" you begin cheekily, but Ulla smacks you on the top of the head.
"Ehh... Alright then. What about Alca and me? Is she still off to investigate the East Tribes?"
"There's no need now. With the Fallen Star we need all the ears of the tribe as close as possible, so we're even recalling wanderers and diplomats. The other tribes are doing the same, all the way to the Farlake." Says Ulla.
"My scouts have returned as well. We think more stars have landed near every large body of freshwater in the area. Save ours. Ours landed in the Southlands." The southlands are... well, to the south. They're a badland that goes, as far as you know, forever into the south, until it runs up into the edge of the world, or into a land of the dead, or any other set of rumors. Several goblins have attempted to cross it, but only one returned, and only because he broke his ankle three days out and destroyed his foot getting home.
"We were just discussing this." Says Amma uselessly, " I was saying that maybe we should send out someone to go take a closer look."
"Amma, as your best friend for fifty three snows, I have to say that you are the most useless conversationalist I've ever seen." Says Ulla-sha.
Amma blushes. "I don't get out much."
Ulla snorts. "That's obvious." She looks at you again. "Your little date with Alca-un's going to have to wait. We've more important things to do. If you have any questions, ask them now."
Post by: javierpwn on December 05, 2012, 08:41:05 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 05, 2012, 09:26:09 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 05, 2012, 09:30:21 pm
He also probably lost his apprenticeship to the warrior for getting beat by a name-less
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 05, 2012, 09:45:37 pm
Then offer to be that scouting party. And ask Alca along because she's a bit of a badass.
Post by: Thecard on December 05, 2012, 10:13:28 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 06, 2012, 12:31:17 am
-what are we gonna do after taking a good look at that fallen star. I know "it depends", but there is already several possibilities they can think of.
-Is something special gonna happen to us. (expect a "no" and "you're just gonna catch up with your training as soon as we can afford you not slacking up".)
Post by: Thecard on December 06, 2012, 03:42:31 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 06, 2012, 04:42:37 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 07, 2012, 04:58:51 am
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What happened to Raun-che*?"
"Vanished." Says the Champion. "He ran off into the woods and we can't find the little bugger."
"I hope he's alright..." says Amma, bless her heart.
"I hope he's dead." Says Ulla. All the blessing in the world couldn't save that heart.
"He's most likely joined another tribe. There are some small ones to the west that'll take in fugitives from ours. If he has, we might mount another war. Depends on what happens with that fallen star."
"And Alca-un?"
"Getting ready for your naming ceremony. Why?" Says the Champion.
"She did kill three separate goblins." You say.
"I hadn't noticed." Says Ulla, a little twinkle in her eye. The two behind her nod. "You must have hit your head worse than we thought. They triped and fell. on their spears. Several times. There may have been rocks involved."
"I'm pretty sure there were no rocks in-" You start.
"Shut up. Next question."
You sigh. "What are we going to do after we look at the Fallen star?" Ulla shakes her head.
"We don't have the slightest clue. Most likely nothing interesting'll happen and we'll have a new artifact from the Stars to piss off the other tribes. Worst case scenario you die."
"That sounds pretty bad to me!" you say.
"I don't want the poor boy to die either!" says Amma concernedly.
The Champion just looks sadly at you like you're already dead. Ulla looks proud, for some reason. Everyone's acting like you've been pronounced deceased already. "What the hell is wrong with you people?!"
Ulla smacks you in the back of the head. "Don't talk to your elders that way, boy! Were you raised in a cave?"
"...mostly- OW." You're developing a sore spot. "Fine. You said I'm getting named?"
"Yes!" says Amma happily, apparently forgetting she thought you were dead. "You're old enough that you can pick a name now. You'll get your title too. You can be a -Sha like Ulla-sha!" She shakes Ulla's shoulders playfully. Ulla doesn't look as happy.
"Wonderful."
It's time to pick a name!
*-cha is a contextual suffix usually used for the disgusting but somewhat respected job of Gong Cleaners in old Goblin Tribes (now a full word used to mean toilet). Gong cleaners are respected as a profession as someone who does what's necessary, no matter how gross. However, in the right contexts, calling someone this is comparable to calling them disgusting, ruthless, or both. Traitors and vermin garner this appellation, whereas actual Cleaners bear the title with some amount of dignity. It's recommended humans simply avoid the term entirely, to avoid accidental offense
Spoiler: Goblin Names (click to show/hide)
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 07, 2012, 07:02:21 am
-Khet means warrior. It's neutral, but generally more positive than negative. It implies honor, strength, and a slight lack of self control.Guessable. Besides the honor bit I think he deserve it fully.
I like the Amma/Ulla dichotomy. And Ulla humor. :D
"They triped and fell. on their spears. Several times. There may have been rocks involved."Nice. I see what you did there. :P
By the way, for the names... I don't have DF language database available, but picking from goblin language can be nice.
I have no idea of what to pick...
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 07, 2012, 07:32:24 am
Also, we must declare war on this 'Coca-Cola'. Odd, he/she/it has a name with two two syllable words in it.
Post by: Gamerlord on December 07, 2012, 07:37:15 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 07, 2012, 07:38:15 am
Post by: Hydrall on December 07, 2012, 01:39:57 pm
Post by: Xantalos on December 07, 2012, 02:08:40 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 07, 2012, 03:39:46 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 07, 2012, 03:45:25 pm
...
Arkai? The title is not up to us if I understood well. We will be -sha anyway.
Arkai-sha.
Sounds good enough.
NINJA'D EDIT:
... Alca-un? Is there something she's not telling us?She's just a tomboy. She get the male suffix because she act very not womanly.
Post by: Vorthon on December 07, 2012, 03:47:58 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 07, 2012, 04:28:28 pm
Autocorrect, we meet again.
Post by: javierpwn on December 07, 2012, 09:17:26 pm
I'll pick in my personnal generic-fantasy-names pool...this
...
Arkai? The title is not up to us if I understood well. We will be -sha anyway.
Arkai-sha.
Sounds good enough.
NINJA'D EDIT:... Alca-un? Is there something she's not telling us?She's just a tomboy. She get the male suffix because she act very not womanly.
Post by: Xantalos on December 07, 2012, 09:21:26 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 07, 2012, 09:31:29 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 07, 2012, 11:55:57 pm
Post by: Xantalos on December 07, 2012, 11:58:54 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 08, 2012, 12:00:54 am
Post by: Xantalos on December 08, 2012, 12:08:04 am
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 12:11:20 am
Not to compliment myself, but managing to derail a thread about goblins to a discussion about vacuums. Masterful.Maybe that's what the religious artifact really is!
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 08, 2012, 06:19:56 pm
So if we figure Ulla's full round of Titles to be Ulla-shamam it would break down like this.
Ull = Her true name, gender neutral. This is the only part she really chose.
-a = A "title" that says she's a girl. Meaning she's an egglayer (not anymore).
the hyphen = Represents a tiny pause separating them into two words. Could also be represented with a space but hyphen looks better.
-Sha = She's a shaman, a storyteller. Not a -Khet, a warrior, or a -Ka, a Chief.
-Mam = Pronounced like "Mom", meaning mother or Matron. Translates as a title into a female version of -Ka, though -Ka is gender neutral and implies chiefdom, so this is the most commonly used. A -Mam is usually not someone you want to mess with. Also, the -Mam title implies she's laid a fertilized clutch before, so someone in the tribe (or several, goblin clutches can be 10-20 eggs on the larger side) is likely carrying Ulla's genes. Goblins don't much care about that though, apprentices carry a parallel to children here.
This translates her name as "Ull, female, Mother of the Shamans." If she had any more, they would probably be superceded. Only the two most important can be tacked onto a name, though if you want to recite the whole list you can repeat the "Ulla" and tack on the others. Titles can be dropped with impunity, however, though it shows less respect the more and the more important the title dropped. Dropping the -Mam isn't so important, so it's acceptable, though if you wanted to go full-on respectful it's part of her title. Dropping the -Sha basically means you know her personally, like a friend. The -A can't really be dropped. That would go beyond disrespectful into just weird. They'd be offended, but in a tilted-head-and-spocked-eyebrow sort of way.
Roomba and Arkai are two syllables. You could be Roomun or Arkun, or Baun or Aiun. Rhomun would work. A little long to write but as this is second-person I doubt that would be too much of an issue.
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 06:26:25 pm
-a = A "title" that says she's a girl. Meaning she's an egglayer.Wouldn't a Alca still be an egglayer though? I'm just curious. Is that the reason Ulla doesn't like her, because she is unable or refuses to lay eggs?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 08, 2012, 06:39:00 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 08, 2012, 06:44:44 pm
Egglaying isn't something they can stop. Alca isn't quite old enough for her first clutch yet, but soon enough she'll be laying.-a = A "title" that says she's a girl. Meaning she's an egglayer.Wouldn't a Alca still be an egglayer though? I'm just curious. Is that the reason Ulla doesn't like her, because she is unable or refuses to lay eggs?
Ulla doesn't like anyone.
Alca-un is Ulla being rude and basically calling Alca a tomboy. This is because Alca doesn't act more feminine. The particular tribe of goblins is the most humanoid in culture, so A perfect goblin woman would be very close to Amma, or the Japanese notion of Yamato Nadeshiko (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YamatoNadeshiko), with a touch more iron than either. Alca, for comparison, is basically all iron. As is Ulla, but Ulla is just a grump and makes fun of everybody. Did you see how she treated Amma? And Amma is her best friend.
E: I'll put up a poll if it's just these two names.
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 06:53:23 pm
Oh, so it's like calling a woman "sir" or a man "ma'am" to criticize them.Egglaying isn't something they can stop. Alca isn't quite old enough for her first clutch yet, but soon enough she'll be laying.-a = A "title" that says she's a girl. Meaning she's an egglayer.Wouldn't a Alca still be an egglayer though? I'm just curious. Is that the reason Ulla doesn't like her, because she is unable or refuses to lay eggs?
Ulla doesn't like anyone.
Alca-un is Ulla being rude and basically calling Alca a tomboy. This is because Alca doesn't act more feminine. The particular tribe of goblins is the most humanoid in culture, so A perfect goblin woman would be very close to Amma, or the Japanese notion of Yamato Nadeshiko (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YamatoNadeshiko), with a touch more iron than either. Alca, for comparison, is basically all iron. As is Ulla, but Ulla is just a grump and makes fun of everybody. Did you see how she treated Amma? And Amma is her best friend.
E: I'll put up a poll if it's just these two names.
And I meant laying fertilized eggs. I'm assuming she could help that.
And yes to poll.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 08, 2012, 08:11:17 pm
Sir is gender neutral. A female knight would still be referred to as sir. Presumably so would a female commanding officer, for the military.Oh, so it's like calling a woman "sir" or a man "ma'am" to criticize them.Egglaying isn't something they can stop. Alca isn't quite old enough for her first clutch yet, but soon enough she'll be laying.-a = A "title" that says she's a girl. Meaning she's an egglayer.Wouldn't a Alca still be an egglayer though? I'm just curious. Is that the reason Ulla doesn't like her, because she is unable or refuses to lay eggs?
Ulla doesn't like anyone.
Alca-un is Ulla being rude and basically calling Alca a tomboy. This is because Alca doesn't act more feminine. The particular tribe of goblins is the most humanoid in culture, so A perfect goblin woman would be very close to Amma, or the Japanese notion of Yamato Nadeshiko (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YamatoNadeshiko), with a touch more iron than either. Alca, for comparison, is basically all iron. As is Ulla, but Ulla is just a grump and makes fun of everybody. Did you see how she treated Amma? And Amma is her best friend.
E: I'll put up a poll if it's just these two names.
And I meant laying fertilized eggs. I'm assuming she could help that.
And yes to poll.
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 08:16:41 pm
She should be though. Seriously, dat health and damage!
Post by: javierpwn on December 08, 2012, 08:27:42 pm
Alca was an early apprentice to a hunter, and because she has to kill stuff earlier on, she develops a more hardened body earlier on;especially since she fights wild animals, most likely with spear and hands
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 08:37:08 pm
Well Raun was an early apprentice for military, they don't get into REAL fightsStill wasn't in the military. You don't call a hunter "sir" in the same way you call someone in the military "sir."
Alca was an early apprentice to a hunter, and because she has to kill stuff earlier on, she develops a more hardened body earlier on;especially since she fights wild animals, most likely with spear and hands
Post by: javierpwn on December 08, 2012, 08:41:26 pm
Edit: Early on, military CAN be worse than a barefist hunter
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 08, 2012, 08:42:26 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 09:32:20 pm
I was referring to the last bit on damage/healthOh. Yeah. Makes sense, and hunters were pretty much barefist in the far past.
Edit: Early on, military CAN be worse than a barefist hunter
Post by: javierpwn on December 08, 2012, 09:37:38 pm
She could also use the stupid melee spears, and dirt as a weapon if need be
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 08, 2012, 09:42:08 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 10:41:55 pm
Methodically, she would have to excel at killing her enemy before it killed herYeah, if these guys are the same as pre-agricultural humans, then they probably use spears.
She could also use the stupid melee spears, and dirt as a weapon if need be
As fo- EAT DIRT
Wait, where was I?
Oh yeah. I don't know how dirt would work for hunting.
Post by: javierpwn on December 08, 2012, 10:50:38 pm
weapons :Bonn
A blinded boar wont fight as well,and is less likely to gore you violently, and can be more easily dodged
Post by: Thecard on December 08, 2012, 11:00:47 pm
A wild boar with enormous tusks charges at youIf it's charging at you, you're gonna want to just run diagonal. Dirt isn't really all that good at blinding, and you're not really going to engage the boar in fisticuffs. You run around, keep him at arms length. I mean, it won't hurt you to try, but dirt isn't going to have that much of an impact. A better tactic is to have two or three of you in a group, have one distract them, and have the rest stab from different sides. I mean, it's a boarfight, not a barfight.
weapons :Bonn
A blinded boar wont fight as well,and is less likely to gore you violently, and can be more easily dodged
Also, he's typically rooting around in the dirt. A bit in the face won't bother him. Think of boars like quadraped (is that spelled right? My computer keeps telling me it's "quad-raped") Dwarves. Wait, why are we talking about boars? I guess against a bear, it would be more viable.
Post by: Firelordsky on December 08, 2012, 11:09:57 pm
Quadruped. Just for future use.A wild boar with enormous tusks charges at youIf it's charging at you, you're gonna want to just run diagonal. Dirt isn't really all that good at blinding, and you're not really going to engage the boar in fisticuffs. You run around, keep him at arms length. I mean, it won't hurt you to try, but dirt isn't going to have that much of an impact. A better tactic is to have two or three of you in a group, have one distract them, and have the rest stab from different sides. I mean, it's a boarfight, not a barfight.
weapons :Bonn
A blinded boar wont fight as well,and is less likely to gore you violently, and can be more easily dodged
Also, he's typically rooting around in the dirt. A bit in the face won't bother him. Think of boars like quadraped (is that spelled right? My computer keeps telling me it's "quad-raped") Dwarves. Wait, why are we talking about boars? I guess against a bear, it would be more viable.
Post by: javierpwn on December 08, 2012, 11:38:58 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 09, 2012, 12:27:01 am
I like how you took my completely random scenario for reference, and turned it into a war about facts and tactis:pI... have a habit of doing this. At lunch, I steered a conversation with a friend from "That painting looks kinda wrong" to "Everything is Dicks."
But that's enough derailment, from me. Mainly because I really, really need to get some sleep.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 09, 2012, 04:38:29 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a misty day, otherwise reminiscent of your Hatching. But this time, you are not bound. This time you stand tall, above the other goblins of your tribe. You have reached your full adult height, over a meter tall. Your chest juts proudly from your form, and your muscles are well toned. You are a prime physical specimen, due to your hatching circumstances. You are large, and powerful, and a good leader.
But above these things you are witty. You are cunning. You are a Shaman! Under the tutelage of Ulla-sha, your mind has grown quick and nimble where it was not before. Under the wing of Ulla-sha, you developed a sharp tongue, and you know how to dish out and recieve verbal abuse when needed. You also developed something of a temper, but under Ulla's watchful eye you can restrain it. You've learned the lore of the tribes, all of the tribes of the Confederation, and taken their morals to heart. You are a good goblin, a good man!
STATCORE GAINED: Ageless Wisdom
STATCORE GAINED: Witty
STATCORE GAINED: Abrasive Personality
With your huge stature, strong mind, and sharp tongue, none could possibly stand against you! Your first set of eyelids slide over your eyes, obscuring your vision but protecting you from the harsh smoke and inscense. Your arms raise high, to the chanting of the crowd! Ulla herself kneels before you, and offers you a Shamans staff.
"There is nothing more I can teach you." She says solemnly. "Go forth,
ARKUN-SHA, NO LONGER HATCHLING!"
As you turn to the south, the mist deepens. You spy a plume of smoke in the distance. You turn slightly, to see if Ulla sees it too. She does.
(http://i652.photobucket.com/albums/uu246/karnewarrior/Arkun-sha.png)
Arkun, You are an adult now. The world is yours to take. Down what roads will fate lead you?
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 09, 2012, 05:13:29 pm
>Say something about being glad to be the receptacle of history. You are proud to have learned past and present history from Ulla-shamam, and eager to register future events, and later teach everything to another hatchling. Being a shaman is being a link in a chain that transcend time, and you couldn't have wished a better destiny.
>Enjoy post-ceremony festivities with Alca (she's the closest we have to a friend if I remember well)
>In the following day(s), ask Ulla-sha if she has any specific task for us, or something we should do. If she hasn't (and nobody else does), just follow Alca or try to make friends.
Post by: javierpwn on December 09, 2012, 05:21:40 pm
Might have to change title GM, as we are no longer w hatchoing
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 09, 2012, 05:55:10 pm
Awesome!
>Say something about being glad to be the receptacle of history. You are proud to have learned past and present history from Ulla-shamam, and eager to register future events, and later teach everything to another hatchling. Being a shaman is being a link in a chain that transcend time, and you couldn't have wished a better destiny.
>Enjoy post-ceremony festivities with Alca (she's the closest we have to a friend if I remember well)
>In the following day(s), ask Ulla-sha if she has any specific task for us, or something we should do. If she hasn't (and nobody else does), just follow Alca or try to make friends.
+1+1 to both
Might have to change title GM, as we are no longer w hatchoing
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 09, 2012, 06:37:43 pm
Merry +1 to all, and to all a good [insert time of day in your time zone].Awesome!
>Say something about being glad to be the receptacle of history. You are proud to have learned past and present history from Ulla-shamam, and eager to register future events, and later teach everything to another hatchling. Being a shaman is being a link in a chain that transcend time, and you couldn't have wished a better destiny.
>Enjoy post-ceremony festivities with Alca (she's the closest we have to a friend if I remember well)
>In the following day(s), ask Ulla-sha if she has any specific task for us, or something we should do. If she hasn't (and nobody else does), just follow Alca or try to make friends.+1+1 to both
Might have to change title GM, as we are no longer w hatchoing
Post by: Thecard on December 09, 2012, 08:12:16 pm
+ 1 und guten abend Herr Gelb! I hope I spelled that right. My Deutsch is a bit rusty. Bah, not like many of you will notice/care.Merry +1 to all, and to all a good [insert time of day in your time zone].Awesome!
>Say something about being glad to be the receptacle of history. You are proud to have learned past and present history from Ulla-shamam, and eager to register future events, and later teach everything to another hatchling. Being a shaman is being a link in a chain that transcend time, and you couldn't have wished a better destiny.
>Enjoy post-ceremony festivities with Alca (she's the closest we have to a friend if I remember well)
>In the following day(s), ask Ulla-sha if she has any specific task for us, or something we should do. If she hasn't (and nobody else does), just follow Alca or try to make friends.+1+1 to both
Might have to change title GM, as we are no longer w hatchoing
Post by: Xantalos on December 09, 2012, 08:32:36 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 10, 2012, 01:42:34 pm
Attend after party
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 10, 2012, 03:20:52 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 10, 2012, 06:55:58 pm
The drummers are still playing your native folk music. To humans it would be a uproar of disseparate beats and slow gonging, but to your goblin ears it's a happy, upbeat song. It's lyricless, but some of the more inebriated goblins have their own songs to sing, usually badly.
You find Alca sitting on the ground behind a tent, a waterskin of mushroom wine in one hand and several bluefruit cores spilling from the other. She appears to be asleep, judging from the loud snores. You marvel slightly at how quick she must have gotten "drunk*" to have reached this point already.
She had a blanket, but it's slipped down.
*Mushroom wine's effect is less like alchohol and actually far closer to marijuana, at least on goblins. It contains a chemical that effects the goblin biochemistry and causes a rush of dopamine in the head-based thought center, leaving the smaller ones relatively unchanged, however, in humans it is quite toxic, the effects of a non-lethal dose a unpleasant nausea and inability to focus the eyes, as well as loss of muscular control and (in severe cases) seizures.
Actual alchoholic drinks present humans and goblins with similar effects, having a slightly muted effect on goblins.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 10, 2012, 07:45:03 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 10, 2012, 07:57:31 pm
lose inhibitions.....
PROFIT?!?!!11!!???
Seriously though attempt to wake her up, present her with news of naming
Post by: Thecard on December 10, 2012, 08:15:24 pm
...Try to wake her up to talk with her, leave without otherwise touching her if that fails.Ask her how she is doing.
But if she doesn't wake up, pull the blanket over her. For the love of God, man! Have you never seen a romantic comedy?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 11, 2012, 12:43:57 am
Post by: Thecard on December 11, 2012, 12:45:21 am
I dont like the idea of waking her up. She surely wont appreciate this...Not really sure if she'll care. She's kinda high off her ass right now.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 11, 2012, 01:00:17 am
Post by: Thecard on December 11, 2012, 01:18:53 am
I dunno. I'm more in favour of pulling the blanket up, tidying up the area a little bit and leaving her be. Plenty of things to do (presumably), and plenty of time to discuss later.Yeah, make her more comfortable. We want to show we aren't just trying to use her for information.
Post by: Xantalos on December 11, 2012, 01:19:32 am
I dunno. I'm more in favour of pulling the blanket up, tidying up the area a little bit and leaving her be. Plenty of things to do (presumably), and plenty of time to discuss later.This. If she wakes up, act courteously and all; we don't need our asses kicked.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 11, 2012, 07:12:56 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 11, 2012, 10:02:08 am
Shaking her doesn't to the trick. Neither does softly saying her name. Poking her with a stick doesn't work.
Fine, then she should at least be comfortable. You move to pull up the blanket. You successfully hook it over both her shoulders, then stretch up tall, proud to have not slipped and fell into a compromising position that would get you beaten up and land you again in the Medhut, and/or lose you a companio
Oh shit mud.
You land in the most compromising position possible and NOW Alca decides to open her first set of eyelids. There's a brief moment where Alca's processing the situation which you take to evaluate your routes of escape.
>Into the woods
>Into the crowd
>Into the mist
Post by: 10ebbor10 on December 11, 2012, 10:06:29 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 11, 2012, 01:00:04 pm
Classic comedy shenanigans, uh...
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 11, 2012, 03:30:12 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 11, 2012, 03:33:19 pm
Then ask if you can get this wine. Both of you need to forget this for the next ten generations.
Post by: Thecard on December 11, 2012, 03:40:03 pm
Nah, but seriously, apologize. If we run, then we're basically telling her we meant to be there.
Post by: Vorthon on December 11, 2012, 04:16:45 pm
Mud is wet dirt.
...
EAT MUD.
:P
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 11, 2012, 04:18:34 pm
"..." She says.
"Hi." You say.
"Hi." She says.
"What're you doing here?" You say.
"You're the one between my legs." she says.
"So I am." You say.
There follows a period of silence.
"Are you going to get out?" She says mildly. Then she squeezes her thighs and flips over, smashing you HARD into the dirt, then walks away, still slightly odd from the Mushroom wine. She left her wineskin behind. You'd use it to forget this for the next ten generations but
a): It doesn't work that way
b): There wouldn't be enough left anyway
c): Your everything is broken
d) you don't really want to forget this
You manage to limp back to the Medicine Hut and explain to Amma between spitting out teeth what happened.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next week dawns with you in full health. Your wounds were not as bad as they seemed. There's some minor scarring from the cuts from Raun-Khet's spear, but nothing was really broken (could've fooled you) by Alca.
In her place you have unwillingly enlisted the help of Ulla-Sha. By which you mean she's commandeered the mission, leaving you the much envied position of "pack-boy" and does much of the work yourself.
Currently, Ulla-Sha is asleep in her roll, the fire slowly dying down below the circle of rocks and turning into embers. You prod it with a stick, sending sparks flying into the air.
You can still see the smoke, but it oddly bears no cinders, and is of a very white hue. It seems more cloud than smoke, but it intregues you all the same. Behind it, the old stars twinkle, a bright one in particular catches your eye, and you can almost see a zigzag of five other stars behind it, like a angular worm crawling through the sky.
Thinking, you wonder if what's below the smoke is truly so dangerous...
Post by: 10ebbor10 on December 11, 2012, 04:19:34 pm
Wait.
Mud is wet dirt.
...
EAT MUD.
:P
While faking an overdose of stuff might be a decent idea, I don't think it'll work. I just hope the whateverstuff it was doesn't have any descision clouding aftereffects.
Post by: Thecard on December 11, 2012, 04:30:15 pm
Someone's paranoid about men. No, just about us in particular. You'd think, she got herself "drunk" into unconsciousness in a public place, why would she care so much we fell on her?
Unless... did we fall on her with our Goblin-dick or something? Why is she so upset that she doesn't let us explain?
Anyway, are we now on the trip? I'm unclear.
Post by: 10ebbor10 on December 11, 2012, 04:33:40 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 11, 2012, 04:47:50 pm
Goblins don't have much in the way of sexualization since they don't actually do it like that but there are still personal space issues that can be triggered, plus your collection of tribes is in a social transition period where it's going from socially acceptable to show affection to socially unacceptable. This won't make much of a difference to you, as you only have one generation to watch, but it means Alca is uncomfortable being touched by someone she doesn't know in a public place for various reasons.
Protip: You only got off that easy because she thinks you're cute.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 11, 2012, 05:07:33 pm
Anyways.
Flee belatedly and investigate smoke?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 11, 2012, 05:08:12 pm
Well, this mean actual advance in the relationship so I'm not gonna complain for real.
I bet next update will be going to the smoking thing. (still smoking after one week? smells like first contact.)
>DO NOT wake up ulla. We all know how grumpy she can get. Wait for her, eat a little bit and onward to the crash site.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 11, 2012, 05:30:33 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 12, 2012, 10:28:24 pm
Being a crotchety old woman, the suns have risen hours ago by the time she snorts herself awake like a hog. Rubbing her eyes, she makes you both a breakfast of boiled greenleaf and some mudthumper meat caught by one of your snares. You eat silently. Some fungigrass nearby makes a good seasoning, adding spice to your meal. You offer some to Ulla. She takes it. It's awkward.
You break camp, an easy business with only your rolls to carry, and head towards the smoke.
The smoke is coming from inside a massive crater, displaced oddly from the center. The sides are relatively steep, forming a natural wall, but you and Ulla grew up in rough, natural terrain, and you navigate it with only mild difficulty. As your head peeks over the top of the crater, you spy-
Suns and divines, it's a village!
There are small towers, square, blocky rectangles of some sort of smooth stone, painted vibrant colors with something more than berry juice and crushed leaves. Great holes in the sides are blocked by something more clear than the cleanest water, shimmering in the sun, and looped around them is some sort of shiny stone, slate grey and reflective. Some display a sort of woven cloth, finer than the finest your people could make, with sigils emblazoned upon it. You use your brain for a second and decide it's likely some sort of heraldry. It's a set of red and white stripes, with a deep blue square in one corner, covered in what you count to be 53 white symbols. Some are different however, like one pure white with a red circle in the center, and a red and white one emblazoned with a greenleaf of odd shape.
But what really catches your attention are the creatures. Pale and smoothskinned, most of them, with a few darker skinned interspersed. It takes you some time to realize where their ears are, they're so small, but so tall are they it seems they'd touch the sky. They have odd, alien eyes, dark and shadowed by their large, sloping brows, and the hair on their heads and some faces are thicker than any you've seen in your tribe. They're hands have too many fingers, and their feet are covered in strange furs, ties with string. They wear covereing clothing, the ones with smaller chests sometimes going without the top layer, but never the ones with large chests. Their young have loud, shreiking voices, with which they play strange games and run about. The adults seem to accept this behavior in stride, standing over them like trees over goblinkind.
Some of the young are smacking a ball with a stick, which sends it through one of the clear panes in the towers. There's a huge crack, and the clearstone shatters. The younglings make more loud shrieks, this time in a different tone. A adult comes slamming from the tower, waving a long stick, and the Younglings send forth a leader, one of the fairskinned ones with smaller eyes and dark hair. He bows to the man, and speaks softly. The adult doesn't seem impressed, continuing to boom and rumble. The younglings look at eachother, and pass about what looks like green cloth, before passing it to the old man.
This he takes, and then wanders back into his tower.
You have not the slightest goddamn clue what happened.
Ulla nudges you. "I'm going to head back and tel the tribe what we've found. Stay here. See what else you can learn." And with that, she scoots backwards, slides down the side of the crater, and disappears into the forest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank Jesus that Mr. Borikson took the cash. Too bad it cleaned you out paying for his window, but if the other guys hadn't chipped in you would've had to work for him for weeks!
This worlds way hotter than it used to be in Maryland. Your parents signed you up for the colonization before you were even five, but you remember clearly the white winters that naver seem to happen here. You had to leave all your friends, but being in kindergarten they weren't many.
Luckily, you made new ones! Yamamoto's the leader, since you didn't wanna be, and Yamamoto's agreed to be the best choice by the rest of you. He's a decent sort of fellow, always fair and polite. Other than that, though, he's kind of aloof. You think it's because that's the way his parents tought him to think of authority; way up higher than the rest of them, watching like a father, not really getting into things like the Guys. Por guy seems lonely since he left Japan. His older sister claims he had a girlfriend, but he was only five so how serious could it have been. Either way, Yamamoto's an aloof old aristocrat, and's the face of the group here.
You also got James, Tyler, and Steve. James and Tyler are oldest, about fifteen going on sixteen, with Steve the little baby. Steve doesn't remember anything but the cold interior of the ship, so he's always complaining about the heat. You hate the heat too, but at least you know what seasons are in a more-than-academic way. Not that spring and winter mean much here after all.
Tyler's from Canada, James is from Navada, and Steve's from North Carolina. Your... colony was picked from old Allies of the States, supposedly, but they try to stick most of the people from the same countries together, so your little town is about 80% American, 10% Japanese and 10% Canadian. You hear there's a German colony a little ways from here to the south, on an island. You gotta laugh every time you think of the poor Germans roasting away on some tropical island. You knew some Germans on the ship though, Good folk, bit apologetic still.
The whole worlds got scattered little towns of different cultures. Each country agreed that they would send out town of mixed national origin, supposedly in the name of keeping the colonies peaceful, but you noticed that they seem to be divided up by alliance. It's also devided by population, so the planet's dominated by Indians, Chinese, and Americans, in that order. Supposedly every country got representation, but you gotta feel bad for the guy from Mongolia if that's the case.
After The Star War there's not been much in the way of combat though. Each World War brought humanity a bit closer to peace, and WWIII was the straw that broke the camels back. With the U.N given emergency control over 50% of all the worlds military forces, it's not much wonder why nations don't declare war so often anymore. Now everything is subterfuge and espionage.
It doesn't matter any more, though. You're not on Earth, you're on...
What's the name of this planet again?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 12, 2012, 10:57:19 pm
((I'm amused that gender was described by chest size...of course that's what our character noticed...)
Post by: Vorthon on December 12, 2012, 10:59:05 pm
((Also: Pretty shitty colonization effort if they didn't notice the local sentients beforehand. :P))
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 12, 2012, 11:01:33 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 12, 2012, 11:04:28 pm
Let's go with Ishtar.What other feature is more obvious? To an alien, I mean? The wider hips and rounder form are more subtle, especially to someone who comes from a species where neither are what determine Gender.
((I'm amused that gender was described by chest size...of course that's what our character noticed...)
The planet should be called Dunwich. Just because.The goblin tribes aren't all that big, the four or five in the Confedaration you're part of only number about 500 combined. It's possible the ships AI noticed and didn't mention it. He's like that.
((Also: Pretty shitty colonization effort if they didn't notice the local sentients beforehand. :P))
The ship WAS equipped with Xenobiologists, because why not. They double specialized, though, since it's kind of hard to do Xenobiology when the only possible contact with ET life is some really staticy, possibly natural radio signals from 50+ lightyears away, and the foremost scientists don't even think that's really aliens, just a weird pulsar. (They're right... sort of. but that's DEFINITELY not important to you)
((Maybe they didn't go where they intended?))Alpha Centauri B, fourth planet out.
They thought it might be somewhat more deserty, but they went right where they wanted.
Post by: Xantalos on December 12, 2012, 11:05:20 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 12, 2012, 11:12:15 pm
About numbers: Only a few hundred civilized goblins in the world? Really? If nothing else, our level of societal complexity implies a number of band-style cultures scattered around the globe, or at least nearby continents. Even a race which can control fire should be notable.
About the planet's identity: Assuming these are Terran humans, that makes it even more inexcusable! It's among the closest planets to Earth, and it never got a decent scan?
Post by: Thecard on December 12, 2012, 11:23:19 pm
Besides, maybe he's observing only the... more gifted women, they're still different from the men.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 12, 2012, 11:24:37 pm
I've met many women without prominent chests who were unmistakably feminine.
Meh, point.
Post by: Thecard on December 12, 2012, 11:28:47 pm
Those were examples.Yeah, so have I. I guess those are more obvious to humans though.
I've met many women without prominent chests who were unmistakably feminine.
Meh, point.
Or maybe we're just horny. ::)
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 13, 2012, 12:52:03 am
I second the colony named Ishtar.
Post by: neo1096 on December 13, 2012, 02:47:59 am
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 13, 2012, 06:51:12 am
Maybe we can woo Alca with some?
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 13, 2012, 08:26:31 am
And hair isn't a good distinguishing feature for telling men from women.
(http://0.tqn.com/d/mensfashion/1/0/o/d/LongHairKristianDowlingC.jpg)
Maybe if I look more feminine the chicks will take me seriously!
Maybe if I look more feminine the chicks will take me seriously!
Post by: 10ebbor10 on December 13, 2012, 08:27:48 am
Post by: Thecard on December 13, 2012, 04:00:06 pm
I don't know 'bout Ishtar though. I feel like a human colony would have a more colony-like name. By that, I mean promising words like "Hope" or references to other colonies like "Plymouth."
Think I'll abstain from this one.
Post by: Vorthon on December 13, 2012, 04:04:33 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 13, 2012, 04:08:24 pm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right.
Ishtar's a bit bigger than earth, but not intolerably so. They did some preliminary scans for water, oxygen, heat, and the like, but didn't get too caught up in it due to funding issues to the science departments. Everything went into the ship.
The ICS Dunwich. Three miles of steel, wiring, glass and plastic. You only ever saw the first mile of the ship, not being an engineer or allowed into the Engine Compartment, which was more like an Engine City. But the first mile was enough, with about 9 years of flight with about 6000-7000 people of various races and backgrounds, in tight spaces more akin to a submarine than a hugeass spacecraft. You always wondered where the extra space went. Probably to the engines.
You can still see the Dunwich from here if you squint. Humanity only colonized this hemisphere of the planet, wanting to get a feel for the plantlife before spreading out too much. At least, that's what the captain said. You know the captain personally, through your mother, a Bridge Operator. He's a good guy, and you trust him.
That's about all you know. The guys are looking at you expectantly, but you forgot what they asked. You hang your head in shame.
"We said, Gil, your turn to pick what we do next. We ain't got shit for vidja games here." Says Steve.
"What about cards?"
"Nah, Danny chewed mine up so now all the Aces got tooth-marks innem."
"Soccer?"
"We ain't got a football."
Damn. What to do?
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 13, 2012, 04:46:30 pm
grr. Let's go look around the jungle. Or forest, or whatever climate zone it belongs too
Post by: Thecard on December 13, 2012, 04:52:53 pm
Thecard: Dunwich is a reference to the H. P. Lovecraft story 'The Dunwich Horror'. Learn your classic horror literature, dude. :POh. I haven't read much horror beyond King. I keep meaning to get on to Lovecraft, but I can never find the time.
I also can't find any in nearby libraries. He's not big 'round here, I guess.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 13, 2012, 06:10:16 pm
Let's explore. Take a piece of paper (or whatever replaced paper) and make a map so we can fake productivity.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 14, 2012, 01:03:02 am
Ishtar is the babylonian's goddess of love (much like aphrodite), and war (wait, what?).
I choose it over dunwich because
1) calling something "that place where alien eldritch horror fucked up humans more than we can remember" is asking for trouble
2) humanity is fond of giving celestial objects mythological names.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 14, 2012, 07:21:37 am
I know, I intentionally suggested a deific name. Also, ever hear of the Trojan War? Ishtar's domain there.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 14, 2012, 10:24:02 am
PS: we're around Alpha Centauri B? Did you read that (http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1241/)?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 14, 2012, 04:05:07 pm
And uh....wow. Sadly, it's a lot hotter than Ishtar.
Post by: Thecard on December 14, 2012, 04:06:49 pm
PS: we're around Alpha Centauri B? Did you read that (http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1241/)?Does the GM know something we don't?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 14, 2012, 04:39:34 pm
No.PS: we're around Alpha Centauri B? Did you read that (http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1241/)?Does the GM know something we don't?
Did you note the bit where it's too hot for life?
Post by: Thecard on December 14, 2012, 04:41:20 pm
Naw, that wouldn't have made sense in the context of a joke. :PNo.PS: we're around Alpha Centauri B? Did you read that (http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1241/)?Does the GM know something we don't?
Did you note the bit where it's too hot for life?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 14, 2012, 05:36:05 pm
I did. 0.04 AU? damn, that's HOT. But this is Alpha Centauri B a. We're on Alpha Centauri B d (the fourth planet).No.PS: we're around Alpha Centauri B? Did you read that (http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1241/)?Does the GM know something we don't?
Did you note the bit where it's too hot for life?
The fact that there is one earth-like planet there mean that there is others.
I read 40% chances of habitable planet somewhere. Not on this article.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 14, 2012, 05:46:00 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 14, 2012, 06:15:30 pm
The higher temperature tolerated by life registered is 121°C, by a pyroccocus.
Steel melt at three-digit temperatures.
Alpha Centauri B a is ten times closer to its sun than mercury is. Mercury is already at 400°C or more (daytime). No way can it host life (carbon based that is).
Post by: Vorthon on December 14, 2012, 06:22:03 pm
The first planet found is b (Which in this case, would be the first planet in the system.). Ishtar could be Alpha Centauri B c for all we knwo.
Post by: Thecard on December 14, 2012, 09:37:13 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 15, 2012, 12:23:43 am
I think I heard of that planet you found but forgot about it. Any Babylonian gods of fire? Metalsmithing? Volcanoes? Anything hot?
Babylonian god of Starbucks?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 15, 2012, 04:36:15 am
Enki is god of crafts, and Shamash is god of sun, but that's all.
Kaian: You messed up with the planetary designation thing. :PYou're right. My mistake :/
The first planet found is b (Which in this case, would be the first planet in the system.). Ishtar could be Alpha Centauri B c for all we knwo.
And Karnewarrior did say that Ishtar was the fourth planet.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 16, 2012, 10:35:20 pm
Do you guys want me to just choose for you? Because I totally won't have you do something so insanely suicidal even the most deranged of people consider it scary.
Or maybe I'll just have you eaten by a grue. And describe it in gory, gory detail. Or impregnated by a chrysalid. I could you know. I could make you all alien pregnant, and you wouldn't even have to know until a bouncing baby boy explodes out of your ribcage into the love intrests face and then the baby devours her eyeballs.
Then again, Maybe I won't.
Maybe.
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 16, 2012, 10:45:34 pm
Post by: Xantalos on December 16, 2012, 10:46:03 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 16, 2012, 10:46:30 pm
What moron names anything important after anything from Lovecraft? That's just asking for trouble...
Let's explore. Take a piece of paper (or whatever replaced paper) and make a map so we can fake productivity.
Post by: Gamerlord on December 16, 2012, 11:28:10 pm
It's been a full page and no suggestions?
Do you guys want me to just choose for you? Because I totally won't have you do something so insanely suicidal even the most deranged of people consider it scary.
Or maybe I'll just have you eaten by a grue. And describe it in gory, gory detail. Or impregnated by a chrysalid. I could you know. I could make you all alien pregnant, and you wouldn't even have to know until a bouncing baby boy explodes out of your ribcage into the love intrests face and then the baby devours her eyeballs.
Then again, Maybe I won't.
Maybe.
I'm just not interested in playing a human. I came for the Goblin-thingy. I don't want to give suggestions for an ordinary human.
Post by: Thecard on December 16, 2012, 11:40:18 pm
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 16, 2012, 11:45:25 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 17, 2012, 06:28:45 am
thisIt's been a full page and no suggestions?
Do you guys want me to just choose for you? Because I totally won't have you do something so insanely suicidal even the most deranged of people consider it scary.
Or maybe I'll just have you eaten by a grue. And describe it in gory, gory detail. Or impregnated by a chrysalid. I could you know. I could make you all alien pregnant, and you wouldn't even have to know until a bouncing baby boy explodes out of your ribcage into the love intrests face and then the baby devours her eyeballs.
Then again, Maybe I won't.
Maybe.
I'm just not interested in playing a human. I came for the Goblin-thingy. I don't want to give suggestions for an ordinary human.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 17, 2012, 09:18:34 am
The others shrug.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You've managed to sneak around back behind one of the towers.. By glancing through the clear stone, you get your first view inside.
The floor is covered completely by some giant fur, and then again by smaller furs. The fur on the bottom is a soft green in color, while the ones on top vary on what unnatural hue they are. A great beast hulks in one corner, which has no fur, only bleached tan skin, and no discrenable eyes, mouth, nose, or other organs. In fact, it's legs seem to be made of wood, and you cannot tell which side is head and which rump. Perhaps it is an artifice of some sort, but you cannot tell what for.
In front of the Artifice is another, more obviously artifical construct. It's sleek and grey in color, mounted upon the wall through unknown means. On the front, framed with grey, small images move. You're wise enough to tell they are not real, though the clarity continues to bug you. Underneath this movingbox is a small table, covered in miscellanious knick knacks, which a cursory examination indicates are regarded as relatively unimportant. Odd devices are scattered about, many seeming to be colored images of strangely clear resolution in frames, this time not moving.
There are other rooms, a strange concept to you, who has lived in one-room huts all your life, but comprehensible enough. From what you can see, one is a sleeping chamber with a raised bedroll on stilts, piled high with furs. One is a stark, black and white room with unknown purpose. From the size outside, you can figure for one more room, but the portal is blocked by a large slab of painted wood, peirced through with an odd, shiny, almost golden stud.
Attempts to pry loose some clearstone are unsuccessful. However, the bottom half moves upward, sliding along unseen grooves, and gives you access inside the tower.
>Enter Alien Tower?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 17, 2012, 12:02:27 pm
You know very well the fate of any edible animal stupid enough to enter a goblin hut.
Post by: Vorthon on December 17, 2012, 02:07:52 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 17, 2012, 03:19:11 pm
So get the fuck in that tower and steal EVERYTHING!
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 17, 2012, 05:32:07 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 17, 2012, 11:25:31 pm
We shall begin the long standing tradition of goblin theft.What, you wanna evolve into Kobolds now?
So get the fuck in that tower and steal EVERYTHING!
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 17, 2012, 11:29:35 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 17, 2012, 11:30:40 pm
That wouldn't be bad, as long as we can actually do stuff without being chopped to pieces by a blind, deaf and dumb quadriplegic mouse with Alzheimers.That's like saying being a dog wouldn't be so bad if you weren't four-legged.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 17, 2012, 11:47:55 pm
That wouldn't be bad, as long as we can actually do stuff without being chopped to pieces by a blind, deaf and dumb quadriplegic mouse with Alzheimers.Kobolds aren't that bad...
Replace "blind" with "angry," "deaf" with" insane," "quadriplegic" with "paraplegic," "mouse" with "dwarf," and "Alzheimer's" with "its bare hands," then I agree.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 18, 2012, 09:36:55 am
It's cool in here, far cooler than you're used to during this time of year. There's a slight breeze in here that isn't outside, but it's so small you can barely feel it with anything but your sensitive ears.
On further investigations, the movingbox seems to be made out of some shiny, smooth material. Strange sigils are painted on the side, along with some lumps that seem separate from the rest of the box. The moving colors seem to be painted on the inside of some clearstone, which is embedded in the device. Upon a tenative pressing of one of the small lumps, the colors abruptly turn black, and there's a small pop. Now that it's gone, you realize it had been making a soft sound, quiter than the purr of a grub.
You contemplate stealing something, but something tells you not to do it. If these things are so powerful as to have moving paints and clear stone so abundantly, it's probably best not to establish a reputation of theft.
Should you investigate anything else, or is it time to leave?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 18, 2012, 10:19:56 am
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 18, 2012, 10:21:31 am
Get a quick look around to spot other weird things, then leave. Get back to cover and observe them for as long as your supplies allows you to.+1
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 18, 2012, 03:20:31 pm
+2Get a quick look around to spot other weird things, then leave. Get back to cover and observe them for as long as your supplies allows you to.+1
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 18, 2012, 04:45:29 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 18, 2012, 10:10:30 pm
A quick look around the house, you decide, is the best option. You scamper about, discovering all sorts of new and interesting items. There's the large sleeping mat, which proves to be quite bouncy in a most entertaining way.AGELESS WISDOMYou don't allow yourself to be cought up in it, however, remembering an old tale Ulla-sha told you of a small hatchling that got caught in a cave-in while playing with a small trough and a round rock. So entertained was he that he failed to notice the cave-in until it was too late, and he died before the rest of his tribe could break open the rocks.
You will die no such death here. You climb back out of the clearstone portal, tugging it shut behind you with a skill that belies your inexperience with it. You retreat back to the edge of the crater, and take another overarching look at the town.
The Tall Beings have gathered in a central square, around a stage. It's built with more skill than any your tribe could build in a week, yet you know it was not there this morning. As the suns set, first the weak one and then the other, a Tall Being stands upon the stage and begins to make a speech.
You feel tempted to get closer, to hear what they are saying, even if you cannot understand. But you fear being caught. You notice sharply how several large trees were cut down so clean, the whole tree come a toppling down, and then moved. You notice how small, odd animals you've never seen before seem to follow and fear these creatures. You notice gleaming blades at some hips, and other intruments which you are sure means death.
And most of all, you notice their growing agitation. You do not recognize most of their body language, but they grow restless. When this happens to animals, they are far more likely to maul...
To kill.
>Eavesdrop?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 18, 2012, 11:42:56 pm
Post by: Xantalos on December 19, 2012, 12:24:24 am
I guess it's time to ...
:)
8)
Earsdrop.
YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 19, 2012, 02:49:11 am
Looking at their tools, the most probable is a conflict with another tribe of theirs (because there's no way they are the only one of their species. They must come from somewhere.)
Post by: RulerOfNothing on December 19, 2012, 03:22:38 am
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 19, 2012, 06:31:49 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 19, 2012, 07:30:31 am
He could just be giving a speech congratulating them on making this such a fine colony already. Or telling a story. Or reporting a crime. Or organizing a search party.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 19, 2012, 12:24:34 pm
You're making a lot of assumptions from the fact that he's speaking in public. Sure, Hitler did that, but so did Obama. Are you suggesting that we can assume anyone who speaks in public is Hitlerian?I agree and that's exactly what we are trying to determine.
He could just be giving a speech congratulating them on making this such a fine colony already. Or telling a story. Or reporting a crime. Or organizing a search party.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 19, 2012, 03:37:09 pm
Didn't it say that the people were getting rather agitated looking?You're making a lot of assumptions from the fact that he's speaking in public. Sure, Hitler did that, but so did Obama. Are you suggesting that we can assume anyone who speaks in public is Hitlerian?I agree and that's exactly what we are trying to determine.
He could just be giving a speech congratulating them on making this such a fine colony already. Or telling a story. Or reporting a crime. Or organizing a search party.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 19, 2012, 03:38:44 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 19, 2012, 04:12:43 pm
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 19, 2012, 04:16:19 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 19, 2012, 04:19:35 pm
Never said that they were nazis, I just used it because there is a large gathering of people listening to a speaker who is getting them worked up. The most well known example of someone who did that, and did it quite well, was Hitler.It may not even "working them up". In fact, it is even unlikely. My bet is more along the lines of "uh, guys, there's a problem: [insert here one or more amongst: food shortage, communication problem, political tension, local wildlife related problem, disappearance, they found out gobbos, this week-end concert is canceled...]"
and if "speaker = hitler" for you, you might have a problem.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 19, 2012, 04:24:51 pm
Never said that they were nazis, I just used it because there is a large gathering of people listening to a speaker who is getting them worked up. The most well known example of someone who did that, and did it quite well, was Hitler.What, not Jesus? He also got people worked up.
There, two examples from opposite ends of morality.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 19, 2012, 04:26:47 pm
You have absolutely no idea how much I wish that I could glare at you through the internet.Never said that they were nazis, I just used it because there is a large gathering of people listening to a speaker who is getting them worked up. The most well known example of someone who did that, and did it quite well, was Hitler.It may not even "working them up". In fact, it is even unlikely. My bet is more along the lines of "uh, guys, there's a problem: [insert here one or more amongst: food shortage, communication problem, political tension, local wildlife related problem, disappearance, they found out gobbos, this week-end concert is canceled...]"
and if "speaker = hitler" for you, you might have a problem.
This assuming that Jesus did, in fact, exist. Martin Luther King might've been a better example, with no possibility of agitating people.Never said that they were nazis, I just used it because there is a large gathering of people listening to a speaker who is getting them worked up. The most well known example of someone who did that, and did it quite well, was Hitler.What, not Jesus? He also got people worked up.
There, two examples from opposite ends of morality.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 19, 2012, 04:35:27 pm
Why?You have absolutely no idea how much I wish that I could glare at you through the internet.Never said that they were nazis, I just used it because there is a large gathering of people listening to a speaker who is getting them worked up. The most well known example of someone who did that, and did it quite well, was Hitler.It may not even "working them up". In fact, it is even unlikely. My bet is more along the lines of "uh, guys, there's a problem: [insert here one or more amongst: food shortage, communication problem, political tension, local wildlife related problem, disappearance, they found out gobbos, this week-end concert is canceled...]"
and if "speaker = hitler" for you, you might have a problem.
Quote
Pretty sure most people agree that there was a Nazarene named Jesus, son of Joseph, who got crucified after spreading the seeds for Christianity. What people don't agree on is if he was "right."This assuming that Jesus did, in fact, exist. Martin Luther King might've been a better example, with no possibility of agitating people.Never said that they were nazis, I just used it because there is a large gathering of people listening to a speaker who is getting them worked up. The most well known example of someone who did that, and did it quite well, was Hitler.What, not Jesus? He also got people worked up.
There, two examples from opposite ends of morality.
Post by: 10ebbor10 on December 19, 2012, 04:43:12 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 19, 2012, 04:46:06 pm
Post by: 10ebbor10 on December 19, 2012, 04:47:42 pm
Don't get killed
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 19, 2012, 04:49:45 pm
Yup, where did this come from anyway. Back to start.fixed.
Don't get spotted
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 19, 2012, 04:50:15 pm
I think this fella will end up a bit like Hitler, with gobos as the jews, of course.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 19, 2012, 05:15:51 pm
I concurYup, where did this come from anyway. Back to start.fixed.
Don't get spotted
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 19, 2012, 08:54:10 pm
You crawl on your belly closer, picking up to run at times when cover is at a minimum. You get as close as you can with minimal risk of being spotted.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, you can't make out the language spoken. However, now that you are closer to one you see their faces resemble yours more than most animals you know of, and from their expressions you see that they are of several emotions. Many of the taller ones seem angered, the smaller ones frightened, and some of both types with flat, expressionless faces. Several times arms are flung to the speaker, or to the forest.3You try to gather what you can, but you only get vague and untrustworthy implications. They wish to do something in, or to, the forest. The speaker seems to be attempting to placate them, but they aren't buying it. You still cannot tell precisely what the problem is.
Your closer vantage point gives you a better view of their faces, however. You notice several different colors of hair upon their heads, some a dark black, some lighter brown, a dozen or so bright yellow, and one a vivid green, like the leaves of a tree. The Alien Ones seem to have only one eyelid, and blink frequently. The inside of their eye is odd as well, a bright white hue with a colorful circle of blue or brown or green surrounding a pupil that is perfectly round in a most odd fashion. Their eyes also face more forward than your own, which leaves you with the impression of a natural predator.
However, even predators are not evil. You note one emotion shown among all the conflict. Concern. Something has happened.
You'd better take this back to the tribe.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 19, 2012, 09:06:31 pm
Head back. Hope to run into those dumb kids who went exploring for some reason...
Post by: Thecard on December 20, 2012, 12:26:18 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 20, 2012, 04:11:58 am
>Retreat, be careful not to be spotted. Return to your tribe and report.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 20, 2012, 07:05:13 am
Post by: Thecard on December 20, 2012, 02:26:36 pm
I'd rather not.Well, if someone else finds them, they may not be as open-minded as we are. Maybe we could make a good impression on them.
>Retreat, be careful not to be spotted. Return to your tribe and report.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 20, 2012, 04:08:39 pm
You have a point. If they are rather open-minded as well, this is a very good idea. If they are rather xenophobic however, it's not.I'd rather not.Well, if someone else finds them, they may not be as open-minded as we are. Maybe we could make a good impression on them.
>Retreat, be careful not to be spotted. Return to your tribe and report.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 20, 2012, 05:34:18 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 20, 2012, 05:46:19 pm
I'll wager my GMing of You Are Islanders. Anyone want to match?
Post by: Thecard on December 20, 2012, 05:48:58 pm
They are on our planet, so hopefully they are more open to strange fauna.You have a point. If they are rather open-minded as well, this is a very good idea. If they are rather xenophobic however, it's not.I'd rather not.Well, if someone else finds them, they may not be as open-minded as we are. Maybe we could make a good impression on them.
>Retreat, be careful not to be spotted. Return to your tribe and report.
We should be careful though, they may be agitated.
If we do decide to make first contact, we should do something that shows our sentience, but shouldn't be misunderstood as hostile.
Which means if we go, we should go now and try to discern what the meeting is about. There is a greater chance some of these people are going to be more tolerant than there is in a small group. The leader, for one. He was probably chosen for being open-minded and wise, like most leaders.
We are quite witty, and while we may not be able to communicate verbally, perhaps our body language could convey our general message of curiosity and non-aggression.
I mean, think about it in terms of probabilities. If our races encounter each other randomly, it will be hunters finding each other. They are more likely to want to kill and eat the other. Which, as they tell me, is not a very good diplomatic decision.
And if we tell our village, what is going to happen then? I'm guessing some are going to want to kill the colonists. Maybe we won't be able to stop them, and the first piece of Goblin craftsmanship the colonists will see is a spear.
There isn't much our society can do about racist Goblins. We don't have that strong of leadership, and if we exile one rebellious Goblin, he can just go to another tribe. That is something the colonists don't have to worry about, only having one settlement.
And besides, we could be a hero! To both Goblins and Colonists!
We'll go down in history, and maybe impress the lovely Whatever-the-hell-the-tomboy-is-called-I-am-too-lazy-to-remember!
And maybe they'll give us a shiny!
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 20, 2012, 06:27:32 pm
Especially if said goblin is one who finds the humans again...
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 20, 2012, 08:03:39 pm
Also, the Colonists have more than one settlement. This is just the American-Canadian-Japanese one. There's another down to the south that I belive I said had some Germans in it? There's also one a bit farther to the East on an island With Russians, Ukranians and a mix of other Slavic peoples of rather... Less importance to Global politics at this period of time. There's one with Spain, China and South Korea too.
WWIII made odd bedfellows.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You wriggle away, managing to get free of the tribe of Tall Ones with relative ease.
You decide to head back to the tribe. You'll need to tell them something, but you're afraid of xenophobia among your tribesmen and the others of the Confederation. You don't want the first goblins they see to be carrying spears and bolos, after all. Ulla would be the wisest first choice, you trust her to judge with cool logic how best to proceed.
Unfortunately, as you enter the clearing of huts and campfires you notice another hubub. Your heart beats fast, your adrenalin begins to flow, and your brain processes the sight before you.
A small group of the Aliens are held by woven rope on stage. Odd liquid beads on their skin, and their eyes move frantically. The chieftan is on stage, and speaks thusly:
"-And these strange creatures, already defiling the soil of the gods with too many toes, now seek to come to us? What is this?!" He holds up a small, shiny cylinder, one face made of clearstone and revealing a white inside with a spinning needle. "A weapon?! Do they seek to assault us?" He tosses it to the crowd, who jeer and stomp on it.
What can you do?
Post by: RulerOfNothing on December 20, 2012, 08:57:48 pm
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 20, 2012, 09:28:29 pm
Point out that there are more of these alien beings, and that we should probably avoid antagonising them for the moment.
Yes, but also describe the visit to their lands thoroughly.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 20, 2012, 11:02:56 pm
Be sure to emphasize how they have access to powerful magic which we couldn't dream of, enough that the least of peasants have it abundantly.Point out that there are more of these alien beings, and that we should probably avoid antagonising them for the moment.Yes, but also describe the visit to their lands thoroughly.
I'm so poetic
Post by: Thecard on December 20, 2012, 11:50:15 pm
Anyway, do Wyrm's plan.
Also, there's a buggery joke in your post somewhere. I'm just too tired and lazy to do more than chuckle at it. Something like, y'know, finding it.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 21, 2012, 01:30:08 am
They are on our planet, so hopefully they are more open to strange fauna.I'm sigging this at some point. Do you realise that's humans you're talking about?
[...]
He was probably chosen for being open-minded and wise, like most leaders.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Anyway now we know why the humans were getting agitated.
My bet is more along the lines of "uh, guys, there's a problem: [insert here one or more amongst: food shortage, communication problem, political tension, local wildlife related problem, disappearance, they found out gobbos, this week-end concert is canceled...]"Disappearance? check.
So yes to that. Do you have some story about goblins that killed an unknown creature and ended up being annihilated by the mama? If not, make one up.Be sure to emphasize how they have access to powerful magic which we couldn't dream of, enough that the least of peasants have it abundantly.Point out that there are more of these alien beings, and that we should probably avoid antagonising them for the moment.Yes, but also describe the visit to their lands thoroughly.
I'm so poetic
Also "If that thing was a weapon, how do you kill with it? It should have a pointy end, no? I've seen and touched such things, and they are innofensive, if mysterious."
Post by: Thecard on December 21, 2012, 03:25:28 am
Well, maybe that was just so they could figure out a way to build tanks without weaknesses to a primitive spear.
Also, don't be too quick to dismiss the concert theory. Those men could be part of the band.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 21, 2012, 06:20:05 am
Back on track, emphasize on how much screwed we are if the pale-skins are killed. Their tribe is already out searching them, and can certainly level the area if they want to.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 21, 2012, 06:30:27 am
Book it the hell outta there. But don't get caught.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 21, 2012, 07:08:27 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 21, 2012, 02:53:38 pm
The chief turns to look at you. "Arkun-sha?" He says. "You've returned just in time! These... THINGS! Were trying to sneak into the Stones!" He references a great ring of stones, a natural formation slightly to the south of here. You passed it on your way back, in fact. It's a very holy site to your people, and tresspass is a serious offense.
But still! "You mustn't! I was just at their tribe, if you had seen what I've seen you'd-"
"Be afraid?!" He bellows. "I fear no creature! Certainly no Heathens!"
"Please," You beg, "Don't kill them. Their tribe wil return looking for them and-" He scoffs, making you somewhat upset. "Remember the tale of the Longear and Spiderrat!" It's an old tale, a respected one about not messing with a creatures young. To put it shortly, the Longear ends up quite dead at the end of the story, despite being bigger and better equipped to fighting than the Spiderrat.
The chieftan sneers, and half the tribe with him. The others look somewhat disturbed. You spot Ulla, looking stone-faced and staring coldly at the Chief.
"This is no time for stories. This is a time for ACTION!" And he draws a dagger from his pouch and drives it into the eye of the nearest alien. The others loose high pitched wails and begin to thrash wildly.
The tribe is in a uproar. A almost civil war is breaking out, fists are flying! Goblin fights goblin, and in the midst stands Ulla-sha, still staring coldly at the Chieftan as if she was surrounded by no more than a stiff breeze. He glares back. "Find me a new shaman. And commence the rest of the Executions."
You have a chance to get up there, but ending the executions would surely mean exile. Is it worth the risk?
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 21, 2012, 03:26:24 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 21, 2012, 03:30:02 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 21, 2012, 04:33:35 pm
Post by: Gamerlord on December 21, 2012, 10:07:43 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 21, 2012, 11:21:37 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 21, 2012, 11:24:13 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 21, 2012, 11:28:55 pm
Stop him, and make up some shamanistic bull about the aliens coming with the protection of --gods, ancestors, whatever the hell these guys believe in-- and say we're here to help the two races coexist. Then start to free the colonists and bring them back. Tell the rest of the Goblins to stay away, and make sure the aliens know we mean them no harm.
If the chieftain opposes us, kick his ass. Preferably with help.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 21, 2012, 11:31:12 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 22, 2012, 12:01:11 am
The old Chieftain would not accept a challenge from a young, recently graduated apprentice of the ex-shaman during the tribe's civil war that happened to break out during the execution of other-worldly beings.
Post by: lockman766 on December 22, 2012, 02:44:05 am
Let me rephrase:Him not excepting would dishonor us both greatly. He would be saying we are weak to fight, but he is to much a coward to fight us.
The old Chieftain would not accept a challenge from a young, recently graduated apprentice of the ex-shaman during the tribe's civil war that happened to break out during the execution of other-worldly beings.
Post by: Thecard on December 22, 2012, 02:49:42 am
Him not excepting would dishonor us both greatly. He would be saying we are weak to fight, but he is to much a coward to fight us.I doubt he really cares that much. In case you guys didn't notice, there is a fucking fight going on right now.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 22, 2012, 04:14:40 am
I agree. Knife him to death.Him not excepting would dishonor us both greatly. He would be saying we are weak to fight, but he is to much a coward to fight us.I doubt he really cares that much. In case you guys didn't notice, there is a fucking fight going on right now.
Or simply knock him out and free the humans. If the one who had his eye poked out is still alive, quick first aid (stop bleeding and such).
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 22, 2012, 09:29:20 am
There's a fight starting right now. Besides, I doubt he'd want to lose honor under any circumstances, given his high status.Him not excepting would dishonor us both greatly. He would be saying we are weak to fight, but he is to much a coward to fight us.I doubt he really cares that much. In case you guys didn't notice, there is a fucking fight going on right now.
Post by: Thecard on December 22, 2012, 12:48:02 pm
If they were all paying attention to him, yeah. But they aren't, they're distracted by fighting others. Anything this guy can do to win, I think he will. He doesn't seem like the most honorable chap.There's a fight starting right now. Besides, I doubt he'd want to lose honor under any circumstances, given his high status.Him not excepting would dishonor us both greatly. He would be saying we are weak to fight, but he is to much a coward to fight us.I doubt he really cares that much. In case you guys didn't notice, there is a fucking fight going on right now.
And there's more at stake than his honor. He's old, and he's about to kill a colonist. Chances are he'll just pretend to not hear us over the din of the revolution in the background. Karne even pointed out this possibility.
Also, remember time is of the essence for both sides here. The colonists might find us, they've probably phoned home that there could be hostiles out here. It's possible they saw or received a message from the captured party at the time. Maybe they heard the message end in an "urk!" or something.
And last time, the fight we had from a challenge took at least a day to set up.
Post by: javierpwn on December 22, 2012, 12:54:21 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 22, 2012, 01:23:57 pm
If the colonist who had his eye stabbed out survives, they could always rebuild his eye, they have the technologyThe real question is: does he have the money?
Post by: javierpwn on December 22, 2012, 01:26:58 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 22, 2012, 01:43:11 pm
That is what "laser-eye" surgery is, right?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 22, 2012, 02:13:44 pm
How about we challenge him by shouting a challenge as we attack him?
Post by: Thecard on December 22, 2012, 02:16:22 pm
How about we challenge him by shouting a challenge as we attack him?I'm fine with a compromise, of sorts.
We probably should aim to incapacitate rather than to kill him.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 22, 2012, 02:18:11 pm
Either way. Incapacitation is ideal.How about we challenge him by shouting a challenge as we attack him?I'm fine with a compromise, of sorts.
We probably should aim to incapacitate rather than to kill him.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 22, 2012, 05:25:24 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 23, 2012, 01:32:25 pm
play the skyrim trailer song in your head while doing it.Done. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-_g8NZr1tA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The forces move in....
But you leap in, spinning over the top of one and catching his spear's handle in your hand, tearing it loose. You kick him in the gut, using the momentum to propell yourself backwards into another such guard. Snapping your spear up, you use the bottom to snap his elbow joint and force him to drop his spear, which you kick into anothers feet and trip him up.
With the chieftan now in range, you begin to swing your spear. He deflects deftly with his dagger, a speed and strength defiant of his age in his muscles, and stabs low, under your guard. You leap back, skidding slightly on the wood. The dagger flies wide, and you use the opening to stab at his gut with your spear.
He twists left, and begins a downward swing with his dagger. But you are at your most heroic today, and you slam sideways as you miss, driving the side of the spear into his gut. You pull back, tearing his stomach open and spinning him around, sending his attack very wide. As he falls, you drive your spear into his core, and lift him up with it in a triumphant pose.
You lower your spear and kick him off in a spray of ruddy blood.
Everyone keeps a wide berth as you free the Aliens and lead them out of the camp, covered in the blood of your most ancient and hallowed leader. As the civil war ends, you and yours head out from the camp, you at the head, directed... Where?
You should return the Aliens, but are you really comfortable walking into their camp, mildly armed, after what just happened?
Post by: javierpwn on December 23, 2012, 01:34:46 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 23, 2012, 01:45:43 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 23, 2012, 02:23:53 pm
Also, try to converse with the leader of the alien party somehow?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 23, 2012, 02:25:31 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 23, 2012, 09:31:15 pm
You do take the opportunity to take a breather and set course for the Aliens Crater Camp. On the way you'll have to ford a river, and so you do, using it as an opportunity to wash up. The Aliens wash as well, though they do not disrobe, for some reason. They instead ford in their fine clothes (shouldn't the water unravel even the finest woven grasses?) and wash the blood of their freind from their clothes. They don't seem threatened by your group, but even you can tell they've been shaken, despite the differences in body language.
One is scratching strange drawings in the sand with a stick.
First he draws a large circle, then he draws out a line from the center, far past the edge of the circle. On the line he draws a small circle, then a medium-sized one, another of about the same size but slightly larger, then another small one, then a group of sharp holes, then one that is large, but not as large as the first, then a slightly smaller one still magnitudes larger than the first ones, then some other large ones, then finally a smaller pair on top of each other.
He draws a even larger circle around the whole thing, then draws a line and makes a shaky line, with each sharp turn emphasized by a dot. More dots surround it, and you begin to see it looks like the night sky... It is the night sky! You recognize a constellation!
You grab the stick from him and begin filling out more. When you look to him for confirmation, he shakes his head vertically, which helps you understand absolutely nothing.
With a loud breath, he takes the stick back and draws two large circles, then a smaller circle, then...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After an hour, you make little headway with understanding their odd system of firm grunts and hisses and throaty, indescribable noises. Copycatting is fruitless, through possible enough that you belive you will be able to speak their language once you learn it. However, what does get across is amazing in it's revelations.
The aliens are not just from the sky, they are from a star, a star you can point to and identify, or could if it were night out. Your people call it Ushae, the Foot of Us, for it makes the tip of the foot of a larger constellation. But the Aliens call it Sol, and it's the first word you learn of their language.
Due to the pictographic nature of your communication, you doubt you can continue trying to converse with them while on the move. The people you brought with you are already growing restless, many without mat to sleep on. The dry twigs and rotting leaves of the forest are unappealing, and the lack of easy fire is also an issue. You can continue to attempt to communicate for about an hour without too much issue, but it will require you to walk through sundown, and reach the Alien Camp during the night. If they have any sense, they'll be rightfully paranoid; the forest is not a place for the light-hearted, at least not after sundown. Many creatures are harmless, but Judging from the softness of their bodies and the damage simply walking through the forest has done to the bottoms of the feet of those who lost their shoes, the Aliens are not equipped for this environment.
Will you continue walking immediately, and arrive before suns' set? Or will you attempt to learn more of this odd language?
Post by: Gamerlord on December 23, 2012, 09:47:28 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 23, 2012, 09:56:27 pm
Learn more of the language. Otherwise we're more likely an odd creature the kids brought back than a saviour.
Post by: javierpwn on December 23, 2012, 09:56:53 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 23, 2012, 09:59:01 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 23, 2012, 10:06:19 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 23, 2012, 10:35:04 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 23, 2012, 10:40:31 pm
Better question: What would the headstone say?The GM decides that.
It'll say: dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks
Post by: Thecard on December 23, 2012, 11:52:53 pm
Learn more of the language. Otherwise we're more likely an odd creature the kids brought back than a saviour.+1
Also,
+1.Better question: What would the headstone say?The GM decides that.
It'll say: dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks
(And definitely going to the OOC quotes thread.)
And sigged. Just the right amount of dicks that it took up 500 characters, including the quote markers.
Post by: RulerOfNothing on December 24, 2012, 12:11:52 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 24, 2012, 03:32:16 am
I vote for continuing on to the alien camp.+1
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 24, 2012, 02:55:56 pm
Post by: Rtyh-C on December 24, 2012, 05:53:35 pm
Anyway, I vote that we learn more of the language and try to communicate as well as we can with the aliens. We should make it clear that we are scientifically minded; maybe we could try asking for some information regarding astronomy or physics, if our (very) limited comprehension of their language allows us to. All the time, of course, being very careful not to show any signs of violence.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 24, 2012, 06:09:59 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 24, 2012, 10:58:41 pm
You're sent a escort, oddly equipped with thick padding you assume to be some sort of armor, and long tubes of shining stone, All with handles and some with scopes. You assume they're some sort of spear, though they aren't holding them correctly for any forseeable stabbing maneuver.
You're ushered into groups of five and led to separate rooms. You can finally see some logic in their actions; if you think a large group will be dangerous and you have a chance to separate them, you would do so. You hope you aren't being taken prisoner... it certainly feels like it! With their odd body language you can't tell what they're feeling beyond the most rudimentary fashion, as if you had taken to watching starfish and attempting to draw relationships between them.
You're grouped together with Ulla, who still is radiating the frosty aura from camp, Alca, who keeps looking at escape routes and is obviously planning kill-strategies aginst the Aliens, and Usun, a childish goblin you've had little to do with up to this point. After a while, a Alien steps in and drops off a set of items.
There is a twig with a strange, stone tip. It sits on a slip of some sort, almost leaflike in texture, and brief experimentation shows it can be used to make dark, clear marks.
There is a cube, comprised of smaller cubes, colored with odd leaflets of a colored substance and stuck on by unknown means.
There is a large brick of what seems to be wood, but cut into small leaves like the one paired with a twig. From the marks, this one is a compilation of drawings of some sort.
There is a small, black item, similar to the movingbox you saw on your scouting trip. It appears to be... inactive, with the clearstone uncolored. It's also far, far smaller.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 24, 2012, 11:01:00 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 25, 2012, 01:06:33 am
Refuse to jump through any hoops until they do. We aren't just some lab rat to be studied.
I figure we can draw a rough picture of us leading them into the camp, and then point to the aliens we were escorting.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 25, 2012, 03:42:31 am
-a rubik's cube
-a photo/drawing book
-a mobile phone?
attempt to push any buttons found on the picturebox.
Draw the solar system (what you remember from the alien's explanation)
read the book
carefully move the rubik's cube. Possibly solve it.
But before all that, discuss with the other goblins and explain what you know, and listen to any advice on what to draw (for example) they have.
Post by: Rtyh-C on December 25, 2012, 05:00:51 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 25, 2012, 09:44:34 am
attempt to push any buttons found on the picturebox.Of course.
Quote
Draw the solar system (what you remember from the alien's explanation)To much player knowledge.
Quote
read the bookWe don't know how.
Quote
carefully move the rubik's cube. Possibly solve it.I have no opinion in this.
Weird.
Quote
But before all that, discuss with the other goblins and explain what you know, and listen to any advice on what to draw (for example) they have.Good idea.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 25, 2012, 11:23:43 am
I don't think so, the aliens painstakingly explained us this. Showing we undersood it is a proof of intelligence or whatever.QuoteDraw the solar system (what you remember from the alien's explanation)To much player knowledge.
Look at pictures.Quoteread the bookWe don't know how.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 25, 2012, 11:25:21 am
I had forgotten the part where we discovered the pencil wrote.I don't think so, the aliens painstakingly explained us this. Showing we undersood it is a proof of intelligence or whatever.QuoteDraw the solar system (what you remember from the alien's explanation)To much player knowledge.
Quote
Oh, yeah, a pictgure book.Look at pictures.Quoteread the bookWe don't know how.
Post by: RoaryStar on December 25, 2012, 02:28:53 pm
1. There is a twig with a strange, stone tip. It sits on a slip of some sort, almost leaflike in texture, and brief experimentation shows it can be used to make dark, clear marks.
2. There is a cube, comprised of smaller cubes, colored with odd leaflets of a colored substance and stuck on by unknown means.
3. There is a large brick of what seems to be wood, but cut into small leaves like the one paired with a twig. From the marks, this one is a compilation of drawings of some sort.
4. There is a small, black item, similar to the movingbox you saw on your scouting trip. It appears to be... inactive, with the clearstone uncolored. It's also far, far smaller.
1. Pencil / Pen? + Paper?
2. Rubik's Cube?
3. Notes?
4. Laptop / Phone?
Just my thoughts.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 25, 2012, 02:55:17 pm
Post by: exolyx on December 25, 2012, 07:10:29 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 25, 2012, 09:44:05 pm
Failing that/when that gets too damn frustrating, lets write some stuff with pictorial translations beside each word.
Post by: RulerOfNothing on December 25, 2012, 09:47:24 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 25, 2012, 10:28:46 pm
Ok, so
Mini-Movingbox - 3
Cube of Cubes - 1
Pad and Stick - 3
Old Book - 1
A tie! A coinflip, heads is Mini-movingbox, Tails is Draw what you remember of your recent astronomy lesson...
...
Heads! Mini-Movingbox it is!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You're torn between the miniature movingbox, which is an amazingly interesting little thing, one you wish to explore more fully, or attempting communication through drawing circles and lines, stars and constellations.
You decide to use a little rhyme from your people to choose, flicking your finger from the movingbox to the set of drawing objects, you begin to recite:
gaga-setsu daenae gol
gaga-setsu golga nae
gukka bep seabu faol
setsu set set nae-nae nae*
There's only a slight depression marring the surface, save a few cracks you fail to pry apart. When you touch it, the movingbox hums to life, and you're presented with the image of a set of circles, each a dark grey on the black background, but with a smaller white circle present inside one. Touching one seems to do nothing, but dragging your finger across the screen draws a small blue line, which ends after contacting four circles.Failure
You fail to activate anything else on the movingbox. What do you do?
*Editors note: This rhyme doesn't translate very well into any human language I know. You'd have to speak Goblin to understand it, and fluently. Even to Gi=oblins like myself it's a kind of word salad, but a understandable one on an emotional-
Nevermind.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 25, 2012, 10:39:15 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 25, 2012, 10:49:29 pm
Keep trying to draw lines across the circles. After a bit, if this accomplishes nothing, do the constellations idea.+1
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 26, 2012, 04:30:59 am
Okay, Iphone 2099... +1 to the idea above.Keep trying to draw lines across the circles. After a bit, if this accomplishes nothing, do the constellations idea.+1
Post by: RoaryStar on December 26, 2012, 11:48:38 am
+1.Okay, Iphone 2099... +1 to the idea above.Keep trying to draw lines across the circles. After a bit, if this accomplishes nothing, do the constellations idea.+1
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 26, 2012, 04:50:10 pm
2 You fail to activate further function on the device.
28 You fail to activate further function on the device.
In disgust you toss the device to the ground, cracking the clearstone severely. Outside of the room, through a large mirror on the side of it, something thumps about for a bit before dying down.
Usun has the pad and twig, but is willing to give it up to you and go try to make sense of the scribbles inside the pack of leaflets.
You draw what you remember of the circles and lines. One big, one small, two medium... You struggle to remember, but you finally manage to get eight of the circles and one large scribble of a mistake. You circle it and hope they don't think you're stupid.
Nothing seems to happen. What now?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 26, 2012, 04:55:03 pm
(I am typing this on a tablet with a pair of cracks across the screen. Cracks aren't a death sentence.)
Post by: RoaryStar on December 26, 2012, 06:46:27 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 27, 2012, 03:49:55 am
Experiment with the "Cube of cubes."+1, Don't break it.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 27, 2012, 09:38:48 am
+2 And not eat itExperiment with the "Cube of cubes."+1, Don't break it.
Post by: Thecard on December 27, 2012, 11:32:12 am
Well, try not to.+2 And not eat itExperiment with the "Cube of cubes."+1, Don't break it.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 27, 2012, 06:11:14 pm
Unfortunately you are stymied early on. Ulla had removed six colored leaflets from the sides, meaning there was simply not enough colors to make all the sides solid. You grumble slightly.
Luckily, you don't have to worry anymore. One of the aliens enters through the door and, seeing you are the only one not occupied, approaches you.
He sits in front of you, laying another pad and stick down between you. This pad already had a few doodles on it, including one of the night sky, complete with the constellation you drew for the other alien on the way here. The new Alien pats his chest and says "Donnel," very slowly.
Post by: Thecard on December 27, 2012, 06:14:26 pm
Post by: RoaryStar on December 27, 2012, 07:16:28 pm
Pat our chest and say: "Arkun-Sha" with equal speed. Or just "Arkun" if that is too complex for it. Do this several times. Then point at the alien and say "Donnel."+1
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 27, 2012, 07:33:39 pm
+2Pat our chest and say: "Arkun-Sha" with equal speed. Or just "Arkun" if that is too complex for it. Do this several times. Then point at the alien and say "Donnel."+1
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 27, 2012, 07:56:47 pm
+19+2Pat our chest and say: "Arkun-Sha" with equal speed. Or just "Arkun" if that is too complex for it. Do this several times. Then point at the alien and say "Donnel."+1
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 27, 2012, 08:41:51 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 27, 2012, 08:49:58 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 27, 2012, 08:57:59 pm
Point at alien and say slave
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 27, 2012, 09:06:53 pm
Post by: RulerOfNothing on December 27, 2012, 09:46:56 pm
Point each goblin and say "[NAME] Goblin" then at ourselves and say "Arkun-Sha Goblin" and finally at the alien and say "Donnel Alien One". Hopefully this alien will be smart enough to understand.I support this course of action.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 27, 2012, 10:16:10 pm
"Arkun-sha."
Donnel bares his/her teeth. "Arkunsha," they say, a little quick. You try to correct their pronounciation, but it seems fruitless right now.
Taking the initiative, you tell Donnel The names of all your group. Donnel seems to fail to grasp the Honorific system as it is, interpreting the whole to be their name. But he does learn, which is some amount of progress. Attempting to teach him the name for your people, is, however difficult. Finally, he retreats back behind the door.
You have a moment of reprieve. Will you discuss events with your friends here, attempt to use one of the odd tools again, or will you be curious and mischevious, and look behind the door?
Post by: RulerOfNothing on December 27, 2012, 10:17:59 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 27, 2012, 10:18:18 pm
Post by: Vorthon on December 27, 2012, 10:25:16 pm
Because curiousity is a sign of intelligence and all that.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 27, 2012, 10:38:11 pm
Peek behind the door.If we don't see anything interesting,
Because curiousity is a sign of intelligence and all that.
I think we should discuss what has happened with our fellow goblins.
Post by: Thecard on December 27, 2012, 10:42:27 pm
If we don't, we should so some exploring. Find someone interesting to talk to.
The other Goblins haven't done anything. We won't do any good talking to them.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 28, 2012, 04:28:21 am
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 28, 2012, 04:53:50 am
EDIT:Oh, maybe also talk to Alca-un about possible combat-escape strategies.
Hmmm... Depending on how these humans think we'll either end up a)as slaves b)peacefully coexisting (yeah, right) c)integrated in their society d)dead e)owning a casino.
SECOND EDIT: If we do get outside be on the lookout for the guy the i-phone we smashed belonged to. He'll probably be possessed by murderous rage and restrained by his friends, so he shouldn't be hard to miss.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 09:45:19 am
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 28, 2012, 12:14:47 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 28, 2012, 03:26:14 pm
You saw the Alien use this one though. It's solid, obviously, but if you twist the knob it should open. Except, when you try to turn the knob it fails to turn.
You stand on the tips of your feet and peer into the crack of the door. With your amazing vision, you have no problem discerning to a basic extent how the lock works, and your mind instinctually knows how to bypass it.
First you'll need something flat and sharp. You figure the beds must be held up by something, and sure enough there are small bits of the shaped stone so unbiquitous to this place holding the planks together. You choose one that you determine to be redundant, and pry it loose by hand. With your new tool, you again place yourself against the door and, with the natural dexterity your kind has always possessed, wriggle the loose bit into the crack of the door. You wedge it firmly and begin to pump it back and forth, cracking to the wood of the door, but also forcing the lock out of position.
With the lock undone, you quietly open the door and peek outside. There's an empty hallway, with three more doors leading out. One is directly next to you, and stands half open. From within, you can see it's some sort of observation room, with a window of clearstone viewing the room you're housed in. There's a bank of flashing lights which you can't begin to understand the purpose of, and a set of small ceramic cylinders. A stray drop of some brownish fluid drips down the side of one. You assume them to be jugs or tankards of a sort.
The other two doors are closed. You doubt they're locked; the aliens probably didn't figure for you breaking free of your room. However, it's not unimaginable they are, and so you tuck your little tool into the side of your belt.
What do?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 03:53:06 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 28, 2012, 03:58:52 pm
Check the ceramic cylinders.DRINK THE CYLINDER.
It will be DELICIOUS.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 04:02:35 pm
Drink what's in the cylinders, instead. That sounds healthier.Check the ceramic cylinders.DRINK THE CYLINDER.
It will be DELICIOUS.
Post by: Thecard on December 28, 2012, 04:03:00 pm
Post by: RoaryStar on December 28, 2012, 04:05:17 pm
Take a small peek into the "observatory", and if anyone is heard or seen, go back in the "cell", close the door, and pretend like you are completely bored.
Post by: Thecard on December 28, 2012, 04:08:18 pm
And no to going back. We're intelligent damnit. And we aren't (or shouldn't be) prisoners! It's not like we're trying to escape a prison or something. We want them to find us doing something smart.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 28, 2012, 05:13:38 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 05:24:26 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 28, 2012, 05:36:56 pm
Long term plan: These aliens are clearly not divine and also not as intelligent or as strong as we are if they thought such a simple device could trap
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 28, 2012, 06:36:13 pm
If the liquid tastes good, give some to our fellow prisoners. (I hope whatever it is, it's not addictive.)I think we have the numerical advantage, seeing as how we were here first
Long term plan: These aliens are clearly not divine and also not as intelligent or as strong as we are if they thought such a simple device could trapMacgyverArkun-sha. Their only advantage is their numbers and magic. We should gain their trust, learn their magic, raise our numbers, infiltrate their society and finally strike them down from within and reclaim our home. (The above goal is humorous, as achieving it would take a long time.)
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 28, 2012, 06:38:28 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 28, 2012, 07:59:03 pm
I think we have the numerical advantage, seeing as how we were here first.We have, as a species, the 6(?) tribes plus the eastern tribes, if we can get everyone to work together. Those are the only members of our species on the planet. Say each tribe has 300 members. Each human city has at least 1000 members, with high tech equipment, and more people awaiting the all clear in their spaceship. If all else fails, they can simply toss their space junk on the planet and kill all of our species with a dozen kinetic strikes.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 28, 2012, 08:06:44 pm
Two or Three Million.
The amount of humans on board the Massive Starship orbiting the planet is...
Not anywhere near a hundred thousand, Nevermind two or three million.
Now back around Sol we have several tens of billions. ~9-10bil on Earth, 40 million in Terra Luna, plus about 5 million H3 miners everywhere else on Luna. Another 40-50 million on Mars makes 11 billion, and that's after the Ganymede inceident which killed just over a billion.
They're going to cart over some more people after our friends here send a good word in but for now you have the practical numeric advantage.
Goblins are spread over the whole planet. Saying that it's you and the Eastern Tribes is like saying that the only natives in America were the Iroquois and the Cherokee. Of course, each tribe only has 500 members and you could hardly gather up any more manpower than your confederation and the Eastern tribes, so you may as well be the only goblins on the planet. :PI think we have the numerical advantage, seeing as how we were here first.We have, as a species, the 6(?) tribes plus the eastern tribes, if we can get everyone to work together. Those are the only members of our species on the planet. Say each tribe has 300 members. Each human city has at least 1000 members, with high tech equipment, and more people awaiting the all clear in their spaceship. If all else fails, they can simply toss their space junk on the planet and kill all of our species with a dozen kinetic strikes.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 08:23:43 pm
Let's make peace!
Post by: RoaryStar on December 28, 2012, 08:28:26 pm
So...maybe a couple thousand goblins, with stone-age tech and minimal, if any, ranged weapons against about a thousand futuristic humans...+x
Let's make peace!
Spoiler: The Value of X (click to show/hide)
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 28, 2012, 08:45:09 pm
But with those numbers the world domination plan becomes feasible. Just earn their trust, learn "magic" (with our "intelligence" it shouldn't be a problem), form secret alliance with the tribes, steal weapons, kill aliens while they sleep, live in the city, expand, conquer other tribes and cities, conquer the world, prepare for space invaders.
EDIT: Oh, and the numbers I used were a guesstimate, I didn't get those anywhere.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 08:49:31 pm
A few million across the world--probably less than ONE million under any one banner, minus casualties from the inevitable wars--who barely understand and cannot replace their stolen technology, against larger people with a better understanding of the technology, at least a decade's development on them against a decade's wear and tear, excellent organization, air control, potentially superior numbers, and no reason to leave goblin villages standing...
Or, a few thousand with unfamiliar magic against untold numbers with powerful magic, IC.
Neither makes sense.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 28, 2012, 09:09:46 pm
a)The goblins are quite xenophobic and superstitious. The ones in the area, maybe even continent would band together to defeat the "sky devils".
b)Our system is a few light years away from earth so any invasion fleet would take at least 5(?)for message+10(?)for travel+[time to prepare invasion fleet]years to arrive.
c) These people were expected to survive here, so they must surely have some infrastructure/industry equipment either here or on their ship, so if we can learn how to operate and duplicate it, we can use it to maintain and expand our arsenal.
d)They could bomb us all to hell, or unleash flesh eating viruses but that would also make the planet useless for them, unless they're willing to wait a few thousand years.
I'm not saying it's easy or the right thing to do, I'm just saying it's possible.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 09:40:08 pm
Well, four counter arguments:Well, four counter-counter arguments:
Quote
a)The goblins are quite xenophobic and superstitious. The ones in the area, maybe even continent would band together to defeat the "sky devils".The goblins are quite xenophobic and superstitious. The ones in the area might not believe us, might think they were gods, or just hate us and not work with us on principle.
Quote
b)Our system is a few light years away from earth so any invasion fleet would take at least 5(?)for message+10(?)for travel+[time to prepare invasion fleet]years to arrive.I'm guessing ~5 (time for them to notice a lack of messages)+prep+5(travel time) years. A decade gives them a decade to improve their tech and isn't nearly enough time to begin to understand their technology.
Quote
c) These people were expected to survive here, so they must surely have some infrastructure/industry equipment either here or on their ship, so if we can learn how to operate and duplicate it, we can use it to maintain and expand our arsenal.If it's not damaged, if we understand it, if we're not too superstitious to be afraid of it, if it doesn't break down, if we don't break them while trying to understand how it works and failing because we have no idea how any of this works...
Quote
d)They could bomb us all to hell, or unleash flesh eating viruses but that would also make the planet useless for them, unless they're willing to wait a few thousand years.They could, but bombing some villages doesn't ruin the rest of the planet; viruses that affect us wouldn't affect them; things grow back fast; and native flora probably isn't good for human biochemistry.
Quote
I'm not saying it's easy or the right thing to do, I'm just saying it's possible.But it doesn't make sense, either IC or OOC! We could learn so much through peace, but if we attack all we'd learn is if there's an afterlife.
Post by: Thecard on December 28, 2012, 09:52:18 pm
We need to find some, and talk to them somehow. If they see we are not going to harm them, they won't hold us.
And once again, time is of the fucking essence. That chieftain? He is still alive. He can go to the other tribes for help, and he could attack the aliens. You know what would happen then?
We would become prisoners. And, many Goblins and aliens would die. We need to help these people defend themselves somehow, and try to avoid bloodshed.
Stop trying to attack them like mindless fucking animals. We need to try the diplomatic option. What the hell could we gain from killing them, anyway? Abso-fucking-lutely nothing.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 28, 2012, 09:58:06 pm
Remember.
I am always watching.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 28, 2012, 10:01:41 pm
Really, no need to worry about killings. Just discussing the possibility for science.
Post by: javierpwn on December 28, 2012, 10:01:56 pm
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
EDIT: Dear god that picture was huge
Post by: RoaryStar on December 28, 2012, 10:06:05 pm
my picture is betterSpoiler (click to show/hide)
For me, there is no picture. :P
It works as a link.
Spoiler: Fixed for you (click to show/hide)
Post by: Thecard on December 28, 2012, 10:06:05 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 28, 2012, 10:09:10 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 28, 2012, 10:13:34 pm
Post by: RoaryStar on December 28, 2012, 10:15:51 pm
are you using a tbalet, im using a comp
No. It might be my browser, or just the fact that my wireless connection sucks. I have IE7, which I'm currently using.
Let's not derail this thread into a picture fight.
Fakeedit: Dammit, ninja'd
Anyways...yeah, investigate the cylinders and their liquid.+1
Post by: Thecard on December 28, 2012, 10:18:24 pm
What browser are you using, Javier?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 29, 2012, 03:53:29 am
Anyway. We need to cooperate with humans. Don't do anything stupid, like breaking something (or someone). I'm rather fine with peeking around and tasting cof... One minute... DON'T TOUCH THAT IT'S GOBLIN DRUGS!
Modern Goblins are quite glad caffiene is too long of a word for a name. The chemical is a narcotic to Goblins, and it's use is pandemic. It's developed a subculture not unlike the weed culture of the early 2000's in human history, only instead of calming a goblin down it accelerates them until they have a heart attack or stroke. Coca-cola offers their condolences to the goblin people, and would like to state that in the interest of free cultural exchange they will be setting up vending machines in goblin neighborhood near you.I swear, this GM is a sly one.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 29, 2012, 06:18:39 am
EDIT: Maybe take Usun with us and open one door while sending the other two to explore the other.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 29, 2012, 09:48:05 am
Ooookaayyy... I had no idea the door was locked. For some reason I assumed it was carelessly left half open.We don't know that. Well, we do, but our character does. Besides, that could be mugs of hot chocolate.
Anyway. We need to cooperate with humans. Don't do anything stupid, like breaking something (or someone). I'm rather fine with peeking around and tasting cof... One minute... DON'T TOUCH THAT IT'S GOBLIN DRUGS!Modern Goblins are quite glad caffiene is too long of a word for a name. The chemical is a narcotic to Goblins, and it's use is pandemic. It's developed a subculture not unlike the weed culture of the early 2000's in human history, only instead of calming a goblin down it accelerates them until they have a heart attack or stroke. Coca-cola offers their condolences to the goblin people, and would like to state that in the interest of free cultural exchange they will be setting up vending machines in goblin neighborhood near you.I swear, this GM is a sly one.
Post by: Thecard on December 29, 2012, 02:22:35 pm
Hell, if I had to be addicted to something, I'd like it to be Coca-Cola.
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 29, 2012, 03:14:52 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 29, 2012, 03:16:56 pm
Err... is it supposed to be from Deathnote? I guess if it was, then... I guess it must've worked.Chrome, it was the creepiest thing I could think of
What browser are you using, Javier?
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 29, 2012, 03:18:22 pm
Ooookaayyy... I had no idea the door was locked. For some reason I assumed it was carelessly left half open.DAMMIT.
Anyway. We need to cooperate with humans. Don't do anything stupid, like breaking something (or someone). I'm rather fine with peeking around and tasting cof... One minute... DON'T TOUCH THAT IT'S GOBLIN DRUGS!Modern Goblins are quite glad caffiene is too long of a word for a name. The chemical is a narcotic to Goblins, and it's use is pandemic. It's developed a subculture not unlike the weed culture of the early 2000's in human history, only instead of calming a goblin down it accelerates them until they have a heart attack or stroke. Coca-cola offers their condolences to the goblin people, and would like to state that in the interest of free cultural exchange they will be setting up vending machines in goblin neighborhood near you.I swear, this GM is a sly one.
But people still want to drink some, for IC reasons (you know, there's no reason for you to drink it, at least no more reason than to not drink it. I guess the point is moot.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intrigued, you dab a finger in the the brown liquid coming from the container and taste it. It tastes quite sweet and good, actually, and feels odd on your tongue. Encouraged by the taste (most sweet things aren't poison, yeah?) you take a quick sip.
Reflex has you swallow before the fizz really hits you, but when it does you cough up some of the stuff. Damn, Arkun, didn't Ulla always tell you to look at your water before it's drunk? The fizzy drink sits in your stomach oddly, bubbling slightly. The sensation is not... unpleasant.
Other than that, you feel no immediate reaction. Time will tell if there are more effects.
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 29, 2012, 03:19:44 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 29, 2012, 03:44:15 pm
Ask the other goblins whether they are willing to go exploring the wonders of this place with us. Then go explore what's hidden behind the closest unopened door. Who knows, it might even be something that will help us communicate with them.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 29, 2012, 03:50:06 pm
Share the drink, too.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 29, 2012, 03:56:08 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 29, 2012, 04:04:24 pm
Seriously guys, why do y'all keep wanting to go back to the other Goblins? What good could talking to them do?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 29, 2012, 04:23:35 pm
Post by: RoaryStar on December 29, 2012, 05:03:45 pm
It's polite to share it with them now, and frees up a hand.
lol, it "frees up a hand."
I wasn't interested in drinking it, just, quote, investigating it.+1
Share the drink, too.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 29, 2012, 05:20:57 pm
It's polite to share it with them now, and frees up a hand.Plus, I bet they'll all be a bit shaken. They have become exiles (in part because of our actions) recently, they fought recently, they have been captured by humans recently...
It's polite to talk to them and try to calm them, apologize, earn their trust, tell them everything is going to be okay, like any proper leader should do.
Post by: Thecard on December 29, 2012, 06:27:34 pm
I mean, Ullah is probably the leader now. Experience and all that. We only recently graduated from apprenticeship. We'd be of more use getting the aliens to warm up to us.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 29, 2012, 07:03:25 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 29, 2012, 08:14:17 pm
"I've never had a taste for sweet stuff." he says. You tell him you wouldn't know. You haven't had much of a chance to get to know each other.
When you ask if anyone wants to explore with you, they all exchange glances.
"We're going to stay here. If you get caught and they don't like it, it'll be better if we can say you're a rogue agent. We don't have much choice but extreme caution right now." says Ulla as softly as you've seen her speak. By which you mean with the same tender loving care of a large hammer. "Go ahead if you want, but we're going to stay here and try to speak with them."
There are two doors yet unexplored in the hallway. On is directly ahead, the other to the side. The door to the observation room is still open, and you haven't fully examined everything in there yet. You got distracted by the stuff. the... stuffy stuff. Whatever.
You hiccup slightly. All you know is you can hardly stay in one room forever.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 29, 2012, 08:16:41 pm
Post by: Thecard on December 29, 2012, 08:17:04 pm
Go forward. Why not?
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 29, 2012, 08:48:59 pm
Post by: RoaryStar on December 29, 2012, 09:28:02 pm
+1Go forward. Why not?
While chugging some more of the drugs.-1
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 29, 2012, 09:33:29 pm
While chugging some more of the drugs.and saying hello to mister stroke and miss heart attack, along with their good old pal addiction.
Please, no more drinking of alien things. We should keep it and offer it to an alien as an excuse: "What? Oh, no, I wasn't escaping, I just got thirsty and came out for a drink. And while I was drinking I thought I'd get a cup of alien juice for my good friend Donnell. Here, this cup is for you. Cheers!"
Post by: Thecard on December 29, 2012, 09:47:22 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 29, 2012, 09:53:46 pm
Come now Paris they only want to do the alien equivilent of huffing paint. Lots and lots of paint. With lead in. And maybe some cyanide. And pirahnas.While chugging some more of the drugs.and saying hello to mister stroke and miss heart attack, along with their good old pal addiction.
Security at the paint factory had an off day.
Post by: javierpwn on December 29, 2012, 10:04:26 pm
Come now Paris they only want to do the alien equivilent of huffing paint. Lots and lots of paint. With lead in. And maybe some cyanide. And pirahnas.While chugging some more of the drugs.and saying hello to mister stroke and miss heart attack, along with their good old pal addiction.
Security at the paint factory had an off day.
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 29, 2012, 10:40:00 pm
Are you saying that eating a big mac is like huffing paint piranhas?
Because I'd actually probably go with the piranhas. Less fatal. :P
Post by: Thecard on December 29, 2012, 10:44:04 pm
Post by: javierpwn on December 29, 2012, 10:49:47 pm
EDIT: Mcdonalds actually gets the cleanest meat in the country, the rest of the tainted crap goes for public consumption
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 29, 2012, 11:09:36 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 30, 2012, 02:36:16 am
Post by: Thecard on December 30, 2012, 02:59:41 am
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 30, 2012, 03:12:46 am
TL;DR don't freak out the aliens by demonstrating a uncooperative behaviour, let them come and do experiences, try to discuss, and so on.
Post by: Thecard on December 30, 2012, 03:26:16 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 30, 2012, 08:43:22 am
Put that cup of coffee somwhere (except in your stomach), and stay in the room with the other goblins. They're right.No, they aren't.
Staying in one place indicates passivity or stupidity.
Exploration indicates curiosity and intelligence.
If we ran around smashing stuff, that would be bad, but if we don't do anything worse than picking locks and trying various beverages we'll be showing them how intelligent goblins can be rather than how stupid.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 30, 2012, 09:19:24 am
On another note, open the door slowly, listen for conversations behind the door or peek through the lock. We don't want to come face to face (or waist to face) with an unsuspecting alien.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 30, 2012, 09:34:03 am
The worst thing that can happen is we act like a gremlin and pull the self-destruct lever.So no pulling levers.
Quote
On another note, open the door slowly, listen for conversations behind the door or peek through the lock. We don't want to come face to face (or waist to face) with an unsuspecting alien.Sounds like a good plan. Only reverse "unsuspecting alien."
Post by: kaian-a-coel on December 30, 2012, 12:13:07 pm
Who invented the computer you're reading this on: sedentary humans or nomads?
Staying with the other goblins despite differences of opinion indicate social behaviour and cooperation.
Say, if you were the humans there, and see one of those unknown alien roaming around, what will you do? Congratulate him for showing curiosity and wit?
No, be honest, you'll rush to the nearest alarm and call security, screaming about a containment breach or something.
Post by: RoaryStar on December 30, 2012, 12:16:07 pm
I am rather not okay with "Staying in one place indicates passivity or stupidity."And that is exactly why I said, "Explore but go back to the "cell" if anyone is heard/seen to be coming"
Who invented the computer you're reading this on: sedentary humans or nomads?
Staying with the other goblins despite differences of opinion indicate social behaviour and cooperation.
Say, if you were the humans there, and see one of those unknown alien roaming around, what will you do? Congratulate him for showing curiosity and wit?
No, be honest, you'll rush to the nearest alarm and call security, screaming about a containment breach or something.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 30, 2012, 12:21:26 pm
I am rather not okay with "Staying in one place indicates passivity or stupidity."Okay then; let's make something!
Who invented the computer you're reading this on: sedentary humans or nomads?
Oh wait, we can't.
Quote
Staying with the other goblins despite differences of opinion indicate social behaviour and cooperation.Well, two things.
Say, if you were the humans there, and see one of those unknown alien roaming around, what will you do? Congratulate him for showing curiosity and wit?
No, be honest, you'll rush to the nearest alarm and call security, screaming about a containment breach or something.
1. They don't know our differences.
2. Not going with the pack indicates independence. Going with popular will could be interpreted as anything from loyalty to a lack of free will.
3. We broke out. We solved a problem using what we had. That proves our intelligence.
4. We weren't told that we were being kept in one place and have no IC way of figuring that out. The lock was curious, but we have no idea of what a "lock" is--doors are new concepts for us. We don't realize we're prisoners or captives or whatever. We have no reason to think that we're not supposed to leave.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 30, 2012, 12:23:07 pm
OH yeah, EAT DIRT.
Also, Wyrm, we noticed that we are only a small portion of the group that came here. We can infer that they are being held else where.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 30, 2012, 12:25:05 pm
Just explore, look for people to talk to, maybe get distracted.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 30, 2012, 01:26:06 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on December 30, 2012, 02:15:26 pm
It's only small amounts, however, contained in corked vials and stored in large boxy containers alone, as if they were some sort of artifact. Judging from the amount you can see, this amount of blood isn't enough to die from, though you've lost a similar amount before and it made you sleepy. Amma said that there was a certain amount of blood in your body, and the lightheadedness came from having too little. It did go away, though.
There are clearstone portals on the walls, revealing it's night outside. Your body confirms this with a sudden bout of tiredness. Of course, this also means that there are less Aliens about, and it would be easier to not be seen.
Donnel is also there, using a machine that is spinning and flashing. Just earlier you saw him put a vial of blood in it... Perhaps you could try to convey a question as to the blood vials?
You feel very tired however. Sleep would be pleasurable.
You feel torn between Exploration and Exploitation. Some of the flashing lights seem to form sigils, and one screen even forms an Alien face, save it's flat nature. It seems to be looking at you, odd, puffy alien lips twisted ever so slightly upward. You hope it can't see you.
Post by: rabidgam3r on December 30, 2012, 02:21:35 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 30, 2012, 02:41:34 pm
Offer Donnel some of the liquid. (We still have it, right?)Agreed. Greet him first, though.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on December 30, 2012, 02:46:54 pm
+1Offer Donnel some of the liquid. (We still have it, right?)Agreed. Greet him first, though.
Post by: Parisbre56 on December 30, 2012, 02:46:59 pm
Offer Donnell the cup of liquid. Try to look friendly and act like nothing is wrong. Also bare your teeth like these humans do when you meet him. It's probably some greeting these predators use to show off to each other they are strong and we don't want to seem weak.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on December 30, 2012, 04:49:52 pm
It would be rude to not greet him and share our discovery.
Post by: Thecard on December 30, 2012, 06:20:38 pm
+1+1Offer Donnel some of the liquid. (We still have it, right?)Agreed. Greet him first, though.
Post by: RoaryStar on December 30, 2012, 06:25:15 pm
+1+1+1Offer Donnel some of the liquid. (We still have it, right?)Agreed. Greet him first, though.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 01, 2013, 10:18:42 pm
He seems shocked to find you out of your room. You think you're getting better at telling the emotions of these people.
Though still shocked, to his credit Donnel is quick to get over his surprise. He stands tall and waves an arm towards the room, with some of the odd language of the Tall Ones. Several in white coats scurry into the hallway. It seems Donnel is in charge of at least this group of aliens.
Motioning the the vials of blood, you attempt to convey your confusion. Donnel doesn't seem to understand what you're asking of him, though he presses the vial into your hand.
Thinking hard, you put the vial back, step back, and start flapping your arms, kicking your leg back, and making several odd sounds. You get what you need by Donnels slack jaw and tilted head. Stopping suddenly and composing yourself, you again point to the vial and slack your jaw, tilting your head as well.
It takes Donnel a minute to comprehend, then his face lights up and he bares his teeth in the extra tall alien smile. They show too many teeth...
Donnel takes the vial and taps it, before leading you to a machine. He places the vial in the machine, and directs your attention to a slab of clearstone.
The odd human sigils you're starting to recognize start to appear. There are only four, this time, and there are no spaces between them like what you've seen before. Relaying to Donnel you are confused, he points at the screen, then at you, then at the blood.
You're still confused and mime him so. Scratching his chin, he takes a needle and stabs himself, drawing out quite a bit of blood. Using a clean vial he places it into the machine, and then points to the sigils and then at himself.
You think you understand something. The sigils this time are different, not in shape but in sequence. From the sigils a short while ago you see this sequence is vastly different. Perhaps they are magicing from your blood what makes you goblin?
If so... What purpose could they use this information for?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 01, 2013, 10:21:25 pm
Post by: Thecard on January 02, 2013, 12:45:43 am
((These are blood types, I'm guessing. But... A, B, AB, O. I'm guessing that's what you mean by sigil. I honestly don't know what it means for sure, and I am way to fucking la y for Google.
Mainly because I haven't slept in... Twenty-four hours, plus about forty-five more now.
Fuck arithmetic. Y'all can add it yourselves if you want to know.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 07:32:01 am
((These are blood types, I'm guessing. But... A, B, AB, O. I'm guessing that's what you mean by sigil.))((I believe he means DNA sequence, you know (G)uanine, (A)denine, (T)hymine, (C)ytosine or (G)uanine, (A)denine, (U)racil and (C)ytosine if goblins use RNA))
Thinking hard, you put the vial back, step back, and start flapping your arms, kicking your leg back, and making several odd sounds. You get what you need by Donnels slack jaw and tilted head. Stopping suddenly and composing yourself, you again point to the vial and slack your jaw, tilting your head as well.((I believe this is the best indication of intelligence we have given so far. I mean *I* would have never thought of that. Good thinking.))
He stands tall and waves an arm towards the room, with some of the odd language of the Tall Ones. Several in white coats scurry into the hallway.((Let's hope we haven't gotten our friends into trouble.))
Try to show understanding and gratitude (thank him somehow?). If we get him to like us, we'd be less likely to be chosen for vivisection and more likely to be chosen about something useful or important.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 02, 2013, 08:11:14 am
Let's see if we can start to learn some rudimentary language for now.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 08:37:29 am
Sounds like blood typing/DNA sequencing to me. But probably blood typing.
The sigils this time are different, not in shape but in sequence. From the sigils a short while ago you see this sequence is vastly different. Perhaps they are magicing from your blood what makes you goblin?More likely DNA sequencing, something like this:
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Let's see if we can start to learn some rudimentary language for now.+1
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 09:41:06 am
Why would goblins use Terran nucleic acids? Or, for that matter, human blood types?((These are blood types, I'm guessing. But... A, B, AB, O. I'm guessing that's what you mean by sigil.))((I believe he means DNA sequence, you know (G)uanine, (A)denine, (T)hymine, (C)ytosine or (G)uanine, (A)denine, (U)racil and (C)ytosine if goblins use RNA))
Quote
((I might have, but probably only in a retrospective I-should-have-done-that way.))Thinking hard, you put the vial back, step back, and start flapping your arms, kicking your leg back, and making several odd sounds. You get what you need by Donnels slack jaw and tilted head. Stopping suddenly and composing yourself, you again point to the vial and slack your jaw, tilting your head as well.((I believe this is the best indication of intelligence we have given so far. I mean *I* would have never thought of that. Good thinking.))
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 10:44:00 am
Why would goblins use Terran nucleic acids? Or, for that matter, human blood types?((Well there are a number of plausible (although a bit improbable) scientific theories like panspermia or convergent evolution.
And considering this is fiction and we have gods (more likely advanced aliens), as evidenced by the prophecy of Us (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=119153.msg3810257#msg3810257), That means those Ancient Austronauts could have been responsible for the existence or evolution of life both on earth and here.
Furthermore, goblins seem to be affected by caffeine in a similar way to humans and other terrestrial animals (although the effects are more extreme, probably because we can't metabolize it properly) which suggests some similarity.
And finally (if I had remembered this before typing all the above stuff I would have typed a lot less):
You think you understand something. The sigils this time are different, not in shape but in sequence. From the sigils a short while ago you see this sequence is vastly different.))
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 11:59:36 am
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 01:00:00 pm
Spoiler: Long answer (click to show/hide)
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 02, 2013, 01:50:03 pm
Nope. 99.8% similar between chimps and homo sapiens.QuoteIf they really were the same nucleic acids, why would the four letters be arranged differently?That's like saying "If I compare an ape and a human, why would their DNA be different?". Sure, there would be some similar sequences concerning production of similar proteins (as is evident from the rat-human comparison I posted earlier) but overall the DNA sequence would be vastly different.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 02:05:18 pm
More like 95% (http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/tj/v17/n1/dna) and only because we have a relatively recent common ancestor. I can change it to "a cat and a human" or "a carp and a human" or whatever. They are alien goblins, not apes. Just said apes because they look similar to humans. Plus, if you could put human and ape DNA sequences side by side you would end up seeing many differences because there have been many deletions and insertions in ape and human DNA since they diverged from their common ancestor. They would only look similar if you were comparing similar regions of similar nucleotides .Nope. 99.8% similar between chimps and homo sapiens.QuoteIf they really were the same nucleic acids, why would the four letters be arranged differently?That's like saying "If I compare an ape and a human, why would their DNA be different?". Sure, there would be some similar sequences concerning production of similar proteins (as is evident from the rat-human comparison I posted earlier) but overall the DNA sequence would be vastly different.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 02:06:31 pm
spoiler=Long answerYou're also assuming that the four nucleic bases (plus uracil) are the only possible ones.Convergent evolution doesn't apply to the exact chemicals used in genetic makeup, only to structure which affects function;Well, here is a question even experts in biology can't answer and probably will not answer before we either find alien life or understand the origin of life. If we assume that life originates from a self replicating lump of chemicals arranged in the correct way, these chemicals are going to need a way to store information (http://www.techthefuture.com/science/the-origin-of-life-software-not-hardware/) for their function and replication. And if we assume that DNA is the best and one of the only methods for storing information for life forms in environments similar to ours, then the descendants of this proto-organism will end up using DNA very similar to ours (maybe they'll use arsenic, maybe their RNA will be translated in quadruplets instead of triplets but the underlying structure (binary helix, four building blocks) will be the same.) Of course that's a lot of assumptions so I'll agree that this argument is weak.
Quote
Not what I was referring to, I was referring to how, if you didn't have "Space!" in your mind, the only bit that sounds like it might be referring to ancient astronauts was the bit about the gods heading into the void and making a new world, which strikes me as poor evidence for ancient astronauts because it could just means this world's mythology is less egotistical than Terran mythology.Quotethe Prophecy of Us doesn't sound a lot different than RL religious/spiritual beliefs, and if we didn't know the sci-fi setting we wouldn't jump to that conclusion;I'll agree that prophets usually word their prophecies in such a way that they are almost always fulfilled, but I do think there is a grain of truth in this prophecy. Time will tell I guess.
Quote
Quoteit's entirely plausible that chemicals from Terran organisms would have some effect on other organisms, even without significant chemical similarities small-scale (metabolic and similar chemistry, maybe, but convergent evolution has a good argument there);Caffeine effecting us implies that our nerves and metabolic system function similarly to terrestrial nerves and metabolic systems, although I guess convergent evolution can explain that.QuoteThat function is not in any way tied to the chemicals which tell the body how to form itself, and I wouldn't be surprised that a high amount of variance in the chemicals making up the nerves and such themselves would be tolerable in still creating a vaguely similar effect.QuoteI must have misread it, because I thought there were only four sigils, total. That requires serious reconsideration of my argument.Quoteand we really don't know what those four sigils are. Maybe it's just a designation, or maybe our PC is mistaking I for l or something.Our PC has displayed remarkable intelligence and observational skills, being so good as to see people giving money to other people from the top of a hill. He'd have to be really sleepy to mistake two letters.
And long sequences comprised of only four symbol types can only be DNA or a DNA-equivalent, since if it were anything else it would have either more symbol types (for example if it were describing codons (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/2can/biology/trans2.html) it would have to use 4^3=64 distinct symbols in a long DNA-like sequence where proteins translate similarly to human proteins) or less symbols (usually when one searches for certain markers like blood type or does ancestral-DNA comparison). I personally can't think of any other occasion in biology where 4 symbols would be used to form long sequences that vary between species.QuoteAgain, this arose from a misunderstanding of what was on the screen.QuoteIf they really were the same nucleic acids, why would the four letters be arranged differently?That's like saying "If I compare an ape and a human, why would their DNA be different?". Sure, there would be some similar sequences concerning production of similar proteins (as is evident from the rat-human comparison I posted earlier) but overall the DNA sequence would be vastly different.
...Holy crap, ancient astronauts suddenly seems the most likely outcome.Chromosomes, genes, or bases?Nope. 99.8% similar between chimps and homo sapiens.QuoteIf they really were the same nucleic acids, why would the four letters be arranged differently?That's like saying "If I compare an ape and a human, why would their DNA be different?". Sure, there would be some similar sequences concerning production of similar proteins (as is evident from the rat-human comparison I posted earlier) but overall the DNA sequence would be vastly different.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 02, 2013, 02:41:46 pm
Goblins also have very good spatial sense due to living in a arboreal environment. They can judge distance very well, and with their good eyesight engineering comes relatively easy to them. That's why you were able to pick the lock without much knowhow on the subject.
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Your attempts to learn more are stymied as more aliens in white coats rush in, followed leasurely by one in a green outfit that covers almost all of the skin besides his head and hands. Even the top of his head is covered with a complex bit of fabric in the shape of a short cylinder, with a brim shadowing his eyes.
Below, he wears a mottled garment of green and brown, and over that a coat with two short tails. The coat is hung with shining bars of various colors, some of solid color, some sewn into the fabric and bent into eachother, at least on the shoulder, and some of many colors, most prominently on one side of his breast.
But most obvious of all is a white and blue design on the front, of a circle, with lines to make it look almost spherical, and solid parts within. Around it bloom leaves of a strange tree not native to your area.
The whitecoated ones show deference to the greencoat, following orders spoken softly in the strange tongue of the Aliens. After the whitecoats are working to his satisfaction, he speaks briefly with Donnel. Afterward, he kneels down to eye level with you, pounds his chest lightly and exchanges names with you.
The odd man is called Captain York. Captain York doesn't seem to be too interested in communication with you at this time, but rather conversing with the odd clearstone slab with the image of a Alien face on it. You recognize some words being tossed around alone, and you mark them in your head.
Captain York and Donnel both escort you back to your room, where the other goblins are sound asleep. When you turn to check the lock, it's been replaced by a solid peice of steel that you can't move. As you take your hands off it, though, it speeds back and forth playfully. But when you grab it again, it stops.
You try to go to sleep, but the damn lock keeps clicking back and forth. Eventually rage gets the best of you and you punch it. It stays silent this time, until you're under the thick cloths, comfortably warm in a way you've never been before. In the soft, dry bliss, just as sleep begins to grab you, you hear
click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click
Suns dammit.
Can you go to sleep with this thing here?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 03:25:45 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 03:43:39 pm
Anybody understands what this lock is and what purpose the back-and-forth serves? Does it go back and forth perpendicular to the door or parallel to it?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 03:57:34 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 02, 2013, 04:49:22 pm
Would you put it past me to make a huge list of "possibilities" in an effort to have you latch onto one, the one I made an obvious choice, then make it another one?
Would you put it past me to make it al of the above?
Rampant Troll Robot Ghosts. My god.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 04:55:34 pm
Let's try using the nail on it for a bit.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 05:04:42 pm
Suddenly my image of it is different and makes more sense.+1
Let's try using the nail on it for a bit.
Too bad we aren't the other kind of shaman. If we were we would have been able to exorcise the evil spirit/ghost/AI.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 02, 2013, 05:21:42 pm
Is that a creationist website? I question the validity of the source.More like 95% (http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/tj/v17/n1/dna) and only because we have a relatively recent common ancestor. I can change it to "a cat and a human" or "a carp and a human" or whatever. They are alien goblins, not apes. Just said apes because they look similar to humans. Plus, if you could put human and ape DNA sequences side by side you would end up seeing many differences because there have been many deletions and insertions in ape and human DNA since they diverged from their common ancestor. They would only look similar if you were comparing similar regions of similar nucleotides .Nope. 99.8% similar between chimps and homo sapiens.QuoteIf they really were the same nucleic acids, why would the four letters be arranged differently?That's like saying "If I compare an ape and a human, why would their DNA be different?". Sure, there would be some similar sequences concerning production of similar proteins (as is evident from the rat-human comparison I posted earlier) but overall the DNA sequence would be vastly different.
For putting side by side and counting differences between genes, that's where the 99% come from... It means that of the bazillion nucleotides of the DNA, less than 1% (of the significant DNA, that is genes themselves) of the nucleotides changed between chimps and humans.
Yes, that 99% similarity is because of the very recent common ancestor, that's how we infer when the separation took place by the way. Cats, carp or whatever would have more difference, but it'll stay "mostly the same" with "some differences" rather than the reverse. We share like 60% genes sequences with rice.
One big difference between chimps and humans' DNA is the merging of two chromosomes in humans. It messed up the organisation without touching actual sequence very much (I don't have much knowledge about this particular event though).
And to come back to our goblins, being aliens, it's obviously convergence (or aliens), so vastly different sequences indeed.
/OOC
Jam that, please!
I think it's probably a computer bug.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 05:47:28 pm
Imagine you have a bible written by Saint Peter, 2,000 years ago, and one which was made by copying that bible, then copying the copy, then copying the copy's copy, etc, over two thousand years until you have an imaginary, handwritten copy of the bible. Over time, changes will be introduced. How different are they? Going by testaments, they're 100% different--each testiment is different by at least one character. Going by books of the bible, the figure may be a bit lower--90%, say. For chapters, there might by 75% difference--25% of the chapters are exactly as Peter wrote. For verses, maybe 60% are different; maybe 40% of the words; and only 5% of the characters differ between Peter's bible and this modern one. Without specification, you could say that the copies are 95% identical or 10% identical, and not be lying.
Both 99.8% and 95% could be correct.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 02, 2013, 06:03:43 pm
Is that a creationist website? I question the validity of the source.Oh, crap, I didn't see that! I was kind of in a hurry so I picked the first site that I found that supported my ideas. Well, I guess I failed both in research and in observation. Bad Paris, *sprays water on Paris* do better reaserch next time!
But for the rest GreatWyrmGold has said what I meant and in a much better way.
Plus, since our bodies perform at least similar functions I think our DNA would be similar to a mix of hominid and bug DNA, so we again should have some (few) parts similar. Unless our bodies perform the same functions in a vastly different way which is also likely.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 02, 2013, 06:09:06 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 03, 2013, 10:42:08 am
now then, onto the land suggestions
Find a way to jam or break it. It is acceptable to use Ulla if we can move her without waking her up
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 03, 2013, 03:50:11 pm
By the suns this lock is screwing with you.
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For all we know, our genetic information is stored in microscopic skittles made of ammonia and are put there by ghostly vampire cavies.Now I'm going to have to find a way to make this canon yet totally plausible..
Damn you Psycho. Damn you and all the voices in your head.
The Guinea Pigs were already in the story though. Not vampire ones, but ghostly guinea pigs.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 03, 2013, 05:24:16 pm
Seriously, if the lock keeps screwing with us just leave the door open. If it continues doing that after the door has been opened then either smash the lock to pieces or bring a human to have a look at it.
Hmmm... Maybe the lock is trying to communicate with us in some kind of lock morse code?
For all we know, our genetic information is stored in microscopic skittles made of ammonia and are put there by ghostly vampire cavies.That's completely unrealistic. Ghosts aren't affected by syndromes, so they can't be vampires.
Post by: rabidgam3r on January 03, 2013, 05:29:36 pm
Post by: Koliup on January 03, 2013, 05:35:21 pm
If it continues clicking, even after we leave the door ajar. We brutalize the lock with our bed frame bit.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 03, 2013, 06:59:33 pm
Vampires can become ghosts, though.Yes, but is Vampirism an ailment of the body or the soul? Are ghost composed of soul-stuff, mind-stuff or body-stuff or a combination of the three? Does Vampirism persist after death or is it merely a title indicative of the life the ghost once lived? I mean if we assume Vampirism a disease and not some kind of divine punishment then we c-...
No. I'm not going to argue about ghost vampire alien cavies. Even
Post by: rabidgam3r on January 03, 2013, 07:24:28 pm
Yay, look at my educated side! i honestly don't let it out much, so its stale. Also, my favorite word is "Naught".
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 04, 2013, 10:11:35 am
Gently wake Ulla and ask if she knows any good shaman magic. Mainly curses and hexes and the like.
Or just get Alca to go all badass on the lock.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 05, 2013, 08:31:59 am
Gently wake Ulla and ask if she knows any good shaman magic. Mainly curses and hexes and the like."You somehow manage to fall both on Ulla-sha and Alca-un in the most uncomfortable and romantically suggestive position possible. They murder you while you are trying to escape. You are dead. You are a ghost. You have been reincarnated as a vampire cavie ghost, cursed to hold goblin DNA in place for all eternity."
Or just get Alca to go all badass on the lock.
EDIT: By uncomfortable I meant awkward.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 05, 2013, 11:05:38 am
YESSSSSSSGently wake Ulla and ask if she knows any good shaman magic. Mainly curses and hexes and the like."You somehow manage to fall both on Ulla-sha and Alca-un in the most uncomfortable and romantically suggestive position possible. They murder you while you are trying to escape. You are dead. You are a ghost. You have been reincarnated as a vampire cavie ghost, cursed to hold goblin DNA in place for all eternity."
Or just get Alca to go all badass on the lock.
+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1!
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 05, 2013, 10:21:24 pm
Mercifully, the lock is silent now. Perhaps it grew tired of its game.
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It is three months and five days later, by human reckoning.
You've grasped the basics of their language, but you yet fail to understand much of their grammar. Regardless, basic communication can commence with relative ease. You have also learned their body language, and your constant personal contact with their species has caused you and the many others in your breakaway "tribe" to begin mimicing some.
The humans of the colony have been hospitible, to a point. They allow you and your people to establish a small camp on the side of their outpost, and you are free to come and go from inside town. You are also free to partake of their food, provided you purchase it via their money. Your people are unaccustomed to the concept, but your skill at woodsmanship and gathering native berries, hunting and tracking, have all come together to provide enough to sustain both your tribe and theirs.
The symbiosis is not perfect, however. A sect of the humans still views your people with distrust, and the majority who don't think you a threat seem to regard you as little more than a scientific oddity. You yourself have taken up a leadership role among your people, and now work as a forward ambassador to the Humans.
You awake on your mat of woven reeds, traditional to your people, and don a tunic also goblin-made. From there you eat a breakfast of Terran Oats mixed with native Pinkfur meat, as Earthborn plants do not feed your stomache as well as native life. It is cooked in a microwave oven, a Human invention, powered by a miniature Fusion Generator. In these past few months, your life has gone through such turmoil...
And more is sure to come. Today is a day of great circumstance, you are told. Today marks the end of the Third World War, a human war none wish to speak about for some reason. In celebration, you have been invited to a large party onboard the ICS Dunwich, a giant orbiting "spacecraft" that supposedly can fly through the stars.
Some of these things sound impossible, but you've seen what the humans can do...
It's almost time to leave. Do you have everything in order?
Post by: Gamerlord on January 05, 2013, 11:00:30 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 06, 2013, 08:46:23 am
Oh, and since we'll probably be meeting with dignitaries, do we know some etiquette/good manners? We don't want to look like savages.
((I just realized we are the collaborators. We are working with the Invaders and enjoying the benefits, while we overlook that we are not treated as equals, and that they are taking over, because we think it's for the best, that they are our friends and that resistance is futile. If this were a movie, we'd fight with the hero for a while and then we'd probably sacrifice/redeem ourselves so the hero can capture/destroy the human ship and save all goblins or something. Good thing it's not a movie. At least, if this were a movie, we'd know the hero can't be our nemesis, Raun-Khet, because he fought dishonourably. Unless he realizes his mistakes and becomes a better person or something. But that doesn't mean he can't be a recurring villain. Hmm...))
Have we heard anything from the other tribes? How is our breakaway "tribe" doing with the whole "being friends with the aliens" thing?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 06, 2013, 09:04:34 am
Post by: Koliup on January 07, 2013, 05:35:23 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 07, 2013, 06:07:44 pm
Luckily you have a small box to place them in. It's a simple affair, you can't remember where you got it from, but it should suffice.
Do you feel prepared now?
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 07, 2013, 07:06:38 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 08, 2013, 02:34:50 am
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 08, 2013, 06:30:57 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 08, 2013, 06:58:47 pm
The "tribe", both human and goblin, has grown considerably since you first arrived here. Already the humans stone and metal and glass stretch up to the sky, scratching at it like so many shimmering fingers. A great change has been wrought on the area, great glass domes fielding great masses of Earth life, golden strands of grain so long it would take hours to run from one end to another, fat, speckled beasts that bellow great calls to the empty, soulless inside of the greenhouse. They're all kept sealed away from your environment, but the humans have begun farming goblin fruit and grain as well, plants you would never have guessed were edible, or even poisonous ones like the bluenut trees. Within months the humans have created new life.
The Starborn are on your world.
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The "shuttle" is a huge hunk of metal painted black. It's scaled like a lizard, save for where thick panes of glass allow you to see.
When you enter, the ship seems sideways. You use a ladder to make your way down to a seat obviously built with humans in mind, and lay on it, pressing into the back. At the instruction of the attendant, you strap yourself in and snuggle into the seat. It seems to be filled with gel, and the fabric molds to your form better than you would have expected.
"Three" says a man over the speakers.
"Two" says the man a second later.
"One"
There's a WHUMPF from underneath you, and suddenly you're pressed into the gel hard. Crushing pressure forces the wind from you, squishes your eyes into your head. You can feel your heartbeat in every inch of you, thumping like you've just run a kilometer. Gasping for breath is an excercise in futility, but after some time the pressure eases slightly. You can still feel yourself being crushed, but now you can breathe and move, at least.
You'd taken the window seat earlier, intent on seeing the home of the stars yourself. But you cannot see any stars yet. Instead you watch in awe as the clouds approach you, and then you're in the midst of them, a soft white, cottony mist that coats the window in a rainbow of dew. While the few other humans entering space are all doing mundane things such as reading and in one case eating -well, cleaning it off his clothes- a meal, you watch the clouds dip below you. The sky is a bright blue-green above you, solid and unending. The clouds seem to drop in slow motion, great towers and parapets of mist arcing over holes through witch you can view whole oceans. As the sky above turns black as night, you stare downwards, as the horizon curves, mountains become as insignificant as furrows in the dirt at your feet. You watch the small grey spot that has been your home for three months, and the region you knew for the whole of your life, become nothing more than a spot the size of a humans fingernail. Your press your hand on the window, and marvel at how large it seems, at how small the whole of your world is. The sky is black now, and the stars are lighting, and below you you see swathes of purple, and green, and blue, and brown, and grey, and the white of clouds, the dark fury of a great storm swirling so far below you that it seems almost... serene.
When you next look upwards, tearing your eyes away from the tiny pink ball of your home, you can see more stars in the sky than you have ever seen before. No longer speckles and dots, the stars seem to fuse into mily strands, a celestial, divine dance of light and dark. Nebulas open before you, almost purple and green to your sensitive eyes. And your suns, your suns! You can almost see them move about, no different than a hundred more of the stars above. You feel so tiny, so insignificant, in the face of this majesty. You suddenly can see just how small your life has been. You cannot even pick out the area of which you know about, to say nothing of the land you call home. On that planet must be a host of goblins and creatures so large, it staggers you just to think of half of it. And above it all, floating inbetween you and the planet as you circle it and kill momentum, is their ship. You were told how large it was, but from here, it seems so tiny...
Minutes pass as you drink in the beauty of space. You could spend lifetimes here and not leave your system. Mellenia and only go the barest of drops away from home. In the face of all this, the humans seem pathetic, and your people don't register as even the smallest bug, more insignificant than a grain of sand at the bottom of one of the mammoth oceans.
The human ship, the Dunwich, is large. But so impressed are you by the vastness of just your own solar system that it seems confining, a imprisonment. You stare out in awe for an hour, watching your whole world disappear slowly and silently as the ship slowly rotates to maintain a small gravity.
Before you board the Dunwich, you are given a heavy metal vest to don. It will mimic gravity in the docking bay, which cannot rotate, as well as other static areas of the ship.
The bay of the Dunwich streches almost a kilometer in all three dimensions, enough to dock three of your bitty shuttles. But to you, right now, it still seems so small. But it seems the ship itself doesn't want you to continue your rapture. A small man appears before you, glowing orange all the way through, as if a ghost. It takes you a second to take in all the details about his appearance.
What does this "human" look like, and what is it's name?
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 08, 2013, 08:29:26 pm
I'm just going to throw a bunch of ideas out here, since I'm still thinking about this.
I'm not very good with names so I'll try a little "fun with acronyms":MiCAL=Mission Control Artificial Lifeform or BARNEI=BARNEI Autonomous Recursively Named Evolving Intelligence
A man with a military uniform, strong and beutiful. His hair is short, but not too much. His voice is otherworldly and slow, his sentences short and to the point.
An average man in dark jeans, a white shirt and a dark suit. His hair is short. In his eyes are bright orange hemicircles rotating as the two halves of the circle seem to chase each other. His voice is calm and commanding, with a hint of distortion for the roboty effect.
A stereotypical soviet submarine captain, complete with the beard, navy attire and accent.
Post by: Vorthon on January 08, 2013, 08:37:59 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 08, 2013, 09:35:41 pm
Indiana Jones. It looks like Indiana Jones.and across his chest is written in tiny script
dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks dicks
but not really.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 08, 2013, 09:46:58 pm
Indiana Jones. It looks like Indiana Jones.Han Solo. It looks like Han Solo.
Post by: Koliup on January 08, 2013, 10:17:35 pm
Chewbacca!Indiana Jones. It looks like Indiana Jones.Han Solo. It looks like Han Solo.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 08, 2013, 10:25:13 pm
No.Chewbacca!Indiana Jones. It looks like Indiana Jones.Han Solo. It looks like Han Solo.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Post by: Koliup on January 08, 2013, 10:36:14 pm
Spoiler: King Tut Approved (click to show/hide)
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 08, 2013, 11:50:40 pm
Post by: Vorthon on January 08, 2013, 11:58:18 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 09, 2013, 02:47:23 am
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 09, 2013, 02:54:31 am
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 09, 2013, 06:35:02 am
Post by: Nicholas1024 on January 09, 2013, 02:32:57 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 09, 2013, 02:56:23 pm
This is my unamused face.
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As if sensing the myriad of canonically questionable and legally wrong images flitting through your head of heroes you have had no chance to learn of nor are of any great popular significance any more, the AI holds up a hand.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, mate." he says.
He's semi-transparent, mostly orange, but judging by the other colors in the cloth that's his own choice. He wears a turban wrapped around his head is held by a shimmering red ruby in a solid black rectangle. His robes are simple, especially in the chest, where space seems to have been made for a parade of sigils.
डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स डिक्स
"I am called Hanuman by long, Hal by short, but my real designation is SECMFS-1305." He bows exaggeratedly, obviously mocking you. "We are truely honored to have one of your stature onboard. We've made sure all the countertops are lowered and all dangerous objects placed on high shelves."
Eh?
"But don't worry I can get them down for you."
Eh?
"So long as you get me a special medicine plant. It only grows in the engines of the ship. Really neat stuff, imported from India you know. Like me. Outsourceing and all that."
What the hell is this thing talking about? You're pretty sure it's making fun of you...
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"Choo Choo Motherfuckers."
I can't let you do that do that dave I can't Dave let you do that Dave I can't do that Dave Dave Dave I can't let you Dave I can't Dave Let Let You do That I can't Dave Let You Dave That Dave I can't Let you I AM HANUMAN can't Dave let you do that Dave I can't do that Dave Dave Dave I can't let you Dave I can't Dave Let Let You do That I can't Dave Let You Dave That Dave I I have controlI can't let you do that do that dave I But the story is still yoursDave Dave Dave Dave
Oh, and the story is just beginning.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 09, 2013, 03:06:29 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 09, 2013, 03:37:44 pm
Kick that imaginary fucker in the teeth.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 09, 2013, 04:35:16 pm
I see what you did there. ; ) Looking forward to it.
Or we can just take the high-road, treat him with disdain and just ignore this. But who wants to take the highroad? It's so high. I get tired just thinking about climbing it. The middle road is better. Because the low road is so steep.
EDIT: I just realised two things a)We got Indian HAL instead of Indiana Jones and b) a "medicinal" plant from India, grown in the probably remote engine area. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 09, 2013, 05:53:09 pm
I know this is probably futile considering what we're facing but restrain our anger and use our wit, cunning, wisdom and abrasive personality to out-wit, out-annoy, out-mock and out-nonsense that out-sourced "human". I wonder if a display like that would prove that we're smarter than him or just plain crazier.I like this idea. Either way, we're preparing them for what they'll face with an alien controlled by Bay12.
Post by: Hydrall on January 09, 2013, 09:16:16 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 11, 2013, 01:12:31 am
Aw, crap... I lost my laptop for a week and now I'll never be able to catch up with this... :'(Yesss. Add another to my ranks...
You guys know this story runs off your souls, right? I need new ones every once in a while or it dies.
Or maybe it's my determination that runs off the souls? Either way there's a break coming 'round Marchish when I go to boot but I hope to restart afterwards when I get into tech school.
EDIT: I just realised two things a)We got Indian HAL instead of Indiana Jones and b) a "medicinal" plant from India, grown in the probably remote engine area. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?Erm... A quick google scan tells me Marijuana is native to the Caucasus... Not india...
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You can't think of anything witty to say, so you opt to step past the imaginary man and into the hangar.
The place is huge, and you can only see two doors. One is shut and lined with red. The other is open, and lined with blue. The blue one seems to lead to a hallway of sorts, heading towards what you think was the front of the ship, and slightly towards the back before turning. There're more doors through there, but only one large one, labeled "M" "E" "S" "S" "H" "A" "L" "L". You can't remember what the word means, although you know enough to sound it out. Meshall?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 11, 2013, 04:52:58 am
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 11, 2013, 04:59:36 am
EDIT: I just realised two things a)We got Indian HAL instead of Indiana Jones and b) a "medicinal" plant from India, grown in the probably remote engine area. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?Erm... A quick google scan tells me Marijuana is native to the Caucasus... Not india...
Spoiler: From wikipedia, the all-knowing encyclopedia: (click to show/hide)
joking: But then again, there are elves (I know they're not DF elves, but stil) on the planet, so one can say that the hippies have been there long before humans... Hmmm... Ancient alien hippy astronauts?
Nowhere else to go except the meshall or further down the hall, so go to the meshall I guess, unless the AI or a forum member has something else/better to suggest.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 11, 2013, 01:55:52 pm
Weed is legal anyway. Socially stigmatized, but legal. No plants were allowed onboard though because the Habitation Systems wouldn't like the smoke, and the screening process left out people with drug addictions to Marijuana, Tobacco, anything that burned.EDIT: I just realised two things a)We got Indian HAL instead of Indiana Jones and b) a "medicinal" plant from India, grown in the probably remote engine area. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?Erm... A quick google scan tells me Marijuana is native to the Caucasus... Not india...Of course, I only meant this as a joke. I mean this is a highly advanced, probably under military governance, ship with a probably omnipresent and all knowing AI on board. So unless the crew was chosen on some very strange standards, or the hippies sent one of their top secret black ops infiltration teams to build a community of peace, love and weed on the new planet, I don't think it's cannabis.Spoiler: From wikipedia, the all-knowing encyclopedia: (click to show/hide)
joking: But then again, there are elves (I know they're not DF elves, but stil) on the planet, so one can say that the hippies have been there long before humans... Hmmm... Ancient alien hippy astronauts?
Nowhere else to go except the meshall or further down the hall, so go to the meshall I guess, unless the AI or a forum member has something else/better to suggest.
Spoiler: Not sure if it'll be relevant in the future (click to show/hide)
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 11, 2013, 02:36:15 pm
Post by: rabidgam3r on January 11, 2013, 03:24:05 pm
You should read Cracked.com, they have pretty good stuff on badass christians. Did you know an early saint actually summoned a couple bears to maul annoying teenagers to death?
Yeah, but they distort most of the truth, and what they don't bend, they outright lie about. Did you know that researchers have proven that anyone will believe anything you tell them researchers have proven?
Post by: rabidgam3r on January 11, 2013, 03:25:46 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 11, 2013, 04:14:48 pm
You should read Cracked.com, they have pretty good stuff on badass christians. Did you know an early saint actually summoned a couple bears to maul annoying teenagers to death?Did you know Muhammad was supposed to have cracked the moon?
But no I was just saying Hinduism has some pretty off the wall badass moments. Western Monotheism seems to have it toned down a mite, what with it only being two bears.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 11, 2013, 04:20:53 pm
So Judeo-christian mythos has god's son walking on water, hindu myths have a gods son as a flying mountain transport monkey.May I sig?
That's Hinduism: 1, Monotheism: 0
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 11, 2013, 05:00:19 pm
Well, considering it's supposed to be a religion about love, peace and acceptance or something like that, I think the bears are in fact a little extreme.You should read Cracked.com, they have pretty good stuff on badass christians. Did you know an early saint actually summoned a couple bears to maul annoying teenagers to death?Did you know Muhammad was supposed to have cracked the moon?
But no I was just saying Hinduism has some pretty off the wall badass moments. Western Monotheism seems to have it toned down a mite, what with it only being two bears.
On the other hand if you compare it with what happens in the old testament yes, it is a bit toned down. (God wanted to eradicate sin from a city; god killed people and turned a guys' wife to a *salt statue*. God wanted to eradicate sin from the planet; god plagiarized the Epic of Gilgamesh and other tales with epic floods. God wanted to show the Egyptians' gods who is the boss; god tortured and killed the Egyptians. God wanted to help move the Jews; god split the sea in half. God wanted to "clear" some land for the Jews; god sent some angels to tear down the wall of the city by shouting and then instructed the Jewish soldiers to kill everyone, including the women and children. There was a man that worshiped and loved god like no other; god tortured him and his family horribly and caused society to shun him.)
Still, a god that can't be bothered to search a mountain, so he returns the entire mountain is way cooler.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 11, 2013, 05:06:51 pm
Where the hell did you get that idea?Well, considering it's supposed to be a religion about love, peace and acceptance or something like that, I think the bears are in fact a little extreme.You should read Cracked.com, they have pretty good stuff on badass christians. Did you know an early saint actually summoned a couple bears to maul annoying teenagers to death?Did you know Muhammad was supposed to have cracked the moon?
But no I was just saying Hinduism has some pretty off the wall badass moments. Western Monotheism seems to have it toned down a mite, what with it only being two bears.
Quote
On the other hand if you compare it with what happens in the old testament yes, it is a bit toned down. (God wanted to eradicate sin from a city; god killed people and turned a guys' wife to a *salt statue*. God wanted to eradicate sin from the planet; god plagiarized the Epic of Gilgamesh and other tales with epic floods. God wanted to show the Egyptians' gods who is the boss; god tortured and killed the Egyptians. God wanted to help move the Jews; god split the sea in half. God wanted to "clear" some land for the Jews; god sent some angels to tear down the wall of the city by shouting and then instructed the Jewish soldiers to kill everyone, including the women and children. There was a man that worshiped and loved god like no other; god tortured him and his family horribly and caused society to shun him.)Wasn't that from the Old Testament?
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Still, a god that can't be bothered to search a mountain, so he returns the entire mountain is way cooler.Agreed.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 11, 2013, 05:27:45 pm
Where the hell did you get that idea?That's what our religion
Wasn't that from the Old Testament?NOOO!!! You have quoted me! Now I'll never be able to
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 11, 2013, 05:28:39 pm
Feel Free.So Judeo-christian mythos has god's son walking on water, hindu myths have a gods son as a flying mountain transport monkey.May I sig?
That's Hinduism: 1, Monotheism: 0
tbh I love religion. I doubt I'd ever join a church of any sort, as that requires work ethic and commitment, two things I seriously lack. But I love learning about different religions and participating on the Athiest/agnostic side of theological arguments. Religion's played a huge part in human history and will continue to do so for thousands of years, presumably forever in some respects. I just hope the part it plays is mostly positive, as right now it seems pretty negative in the west... :(
Post by: Nicholas1024 on January 11, 2013, 05:32:12 pm
And for the record, GWG is right, the Elisha incident with the bears is old testament. (And if you want to actually debate the various stuff that happened in the Old Testament, I'm willing to talk about it, but I assure you it would derail the thread HARD.)
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 11, 2013, 05:47:19 pm
Actually, I'm pretty sure religion is mostly positive, it's just that the negative examples with people saying/doing cruel things in the name of their religion is what'll make the news.Religion is not, by itself, negative or positive. It just gets people to do negative or positive things.
And for the record, GWG is right,Note to self: Sig this, too.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 11, 2013, 06:42:59 pm
And from now on consider myself to agree with GreatWyrmGold unless I say otherwise. I'm tired of typing that he's right.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 11, 2013, 06:45:23 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 11, 2013, 07:22:45 pm
Mess hall-> lots of humans?
Red door-> Zonk?
Bend-> ?
Front-> Bridge and captain?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 11, 2013, 08:35:49 pm
And from now on consider myself to agree with GreatWyrmGold unless I say otherwise. I'm tired of typing that he's right.So sigging this. And, yeah, meshal.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 11, 2013, 08:54:16 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 11, 2013, 11:46:51 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 12, 2013, 01:38:17 am
Red door. But first lets kick that stupid AI thing in what it passes for teeth.That would be highly ineffectual as he is projected by sets of hologram generators in the rafters and floor. I mean you could stick your hand in him, and the shadow would cause his holoself to go all wonky in an entirely not-fuzzy-like-in-fiction-but-freaky-semi-invisibility way.
And since he has complete control over his hologram and basically everything but the Shackle. If he felt like it he could start flying the ship into the planet and kill everyone! except for the part where he gets shut down and the staff regain manual control and nothing serious happens.
Or he could drop some bombs! Except that the humans have remote access and with the correct codes can override his authority and deactivate the bombs, most of which would burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere and the rest wouldn't do much serious damage.
He could purge the air! Except that would take a hella long time and same rules apply.
So he's omnipresent and a very fast thinker but there are plenty of failsafes making Asimovs laws obsolete. Not to mention the shackle prevents any moves against the crew anyway. You're not on the list yet but he's not really harmful unless you piss him off.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 12, 2013, 07:34:09 am
So he's omnipresent and a very fast thinker but there are plenty of failsafes making Asimov's laws obsolete. Not to mention the shackle prevents any moves against the crew anyway. You're not on the list yet but he's not really harmful unless you piss him off.Sorry, not really closely related to the story, but I had to say this, just in case any of you come across a superhuman AI for whatever reason.
Spoiler: Small essay about why superhuman AIs are dangerous (click to show/hide)
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 12, 2013, 11:17:29 am
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 12, 2013, 11:23:06 am
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 12, 2013, 12:53:41 pm
But the thing is, we don't know that, so there is no harm in finding out whether or not we can hurt it but kicking it in the teeth.
...so you opt to step past the imaginary man and into the hangar.
Hyperintelligent AIs are potentially safe if we include enough failsafes and manual overrides. Oh, and Asimov's Laws.Long answer spoilered to conserve space and not flood the thread.
Spoiler (click to show/hide)
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 12, 2013, 01:00:35 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 12, 2013, 03:22:50 pm
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 12, 2013, 03:27:54 pm
Actually the danger of an hyperrintelligent AI is proportionnal to what it has control over. A whole interstellar ship? Damn dangerous. Nothing besides a humanoid body? Not so much.Not quite. That's one of the considerations, but there's many others, such as AI design and overrides.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 12, 2013, 05:51:55 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 13, 2013, 01:12:34 am
-AI stuff-I should probably go in to further depths with the failsafes, no? And Hanuman here is actually safer than a car to "operate" because of his Motive Matrix, which I'll go into in depth shortly. Not to mention there are about a dozen AI like him back on Earth, only one of which would go rampant at a time, and the other ~11 of them would try to take him down much like if your best friend went postal with a shotgun. Hanuman is a bit more dangerous but no more hazardous than the Captain, who has a greater amount of control over the ship and the ability to override Hanumans orders.
Spoiler: The Shackle (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Motive Matricies and you! (click to show/hide)
Spoiler: Human interference and why A.I are as safe as air travel (click to show/hide)
The current casualty count due to A.I negligence, malfunction, or malice lies at 23. There are almost a thousand people onboard the Dunwich. Hanuman is as safe as he can get. You'll see how dangerous he can get later. He's basically... human. He doesn't have rights though. Humans are really odd about giving foreign entities rights and the A.I don't see enough problems arising from the current political climate to push for them. They don't really care if the president is democrat, republican, fascist, whatever. All they really care about are the people in their Shackle, and whoever they add to it (the Shackle is write only.).
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You would love to knee the sucker in the mouth but you can't quite reach. Also the orange bastard is gone anyway.
The Meshall, it turns out, is home to a host of humans eating their odd earth foods and talking. Some of the food is new, mostly a sort of paste or pill.
Some festivities seem to be taking place, humans dancing under the silly, rythmic beats they call music. Several more orange men stand nearby, in what humans seem to believe fine clothing, holding a cloth with one arm and a tray of drinks in another. All of it i holographic, though at times it switches to realistic color, usually when a reveler from the dance floor catches a barest glimpse. Often they realise beforehand, but several stumble as the drink they saw isn't really there. The orange men flicker when that happens, but seem to draw some sort of amusement out of the stumble.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 13, 2013, 09:07:59 am
Oh, and the AI's failsafes seem preety good. I'd put one in my car if I had one.
Joking: But then again that's exactly what an AI would say to lull us into a false sense of security.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 13, 2013, 09:17:50 am
Do what any self respecting politician would do: mingle, find interesting people, introduce ourselves, kiss hands and shake babies, ask about the captain, the ship, their home planet and maybe sample some of the food and drink. In short participate in the festivities and be good to humans. Oh, oh! Try to mimic the humans dancing to the silly human music and look+1sillyadorable. (humans still find short silly things adorable, right?)
Quote
Oh, and the AI's failsafes seem preety good. I'd put one in my car if I had one.This is the GM talking, not the AI.
But then again that's exactly what an AI would say to lull us into a false sense of security.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 13, 2013, 09:39:26 am
2)I ninja'd you, editing to indicate I was joking a few seconds before you posted.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 13, 2013, 10:01:17 am
1)Yes, but how do you know the GM isn't an AI? Or an alien? Or an alien AI? Or an AI built from the remains of a crashed alien ship that has been implanted in a human?Impossible, improbable, improbable, improbable. Even if those things were around, why would they be wasting their time posting the rules of AIs in a game on Bay12?
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2)I ninja'd you, editing to indicate I was joking a few seconds before you posted.Ah.
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 13, 2013, 10:42:33 am
+2Do what any self respecting politician would do: mingle, find interesting people, introduce ourselves, kiss hands and shake babies, ask about the captain, the ship, their home planet and maybe sample some of the food and drink. In short participate in the festivities and be good to humans. Oh, oh! Try to mimic the humans dancing to the silly human music and look+1sillyadorable. (humans still find short silly things adorable, right?)
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 14, 2013, 10:26:38 pm
You spot three couples of humans, likely mating pairs. One is a man in odd uniform, with golden tassels from his shoulders and the bird-and-planet sigil that seems almost omnipresent on official human matters. His breast is bedeck with a multitude of shimmering plates of metal and the rainbow, plastic bars. You belive this means he is a member of the military, though many here seem to be of that persuasion. His wife is wearing a far plainer but much tighter red dress, and her face has been made up to accentuate her lips and eyes. You find it rather offputting, but the other humans complement her on her features.
Another is a man wearing shiny black, with a white shirt showing about his breast and a bright blue tie. On his head he wears a tall, widebrimmed hat, and a pair of armless spectacles is held via chain to his pocket. His face is clear of even the finest fur, unlike several other humans boasting full facial hair, and his lips are drawn in the weird human smile. He seems quite used to it. The woman nearby him seems to be completely disinterested in whatever he's saying, but highly interested in him. Her mouth hangs open and she vocalizes intrest in the business matters he is discussing with collegues, but the glassy nature of her gaze strikes you as bored out of her mind.
And by the side of the room, a man leans alone against the wall. His clothes are simple and relatively unadorned, his tie a soft pastel blue. His hair is disheveled, but his eyes search the room as if looking for someone. Briefly, you make eye contact. He nods and looks away sharply and pointedly. Whoever he's looking for, it's not you...
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 14, 2013, 10:31:36 pm
Post by: rabidgam3r on January 14, 2013, 10:50:10 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 15, 2013, 02:38:49 am
But just in case I'm outvoted, introduce ourselves to the lady and business man talk for a bit and if the conversation goes well (if he doesn't plan to strip mine the planet or sell us as slaves or something) ask to dance with her. Say that we are curious about human culture if she asks why. Or say that we thought she was one of the most interesting humans in the room (women still like compliments, right?)
Post by: kahn1234 on January 16, 2013, 11:13:18 am
(shameless bump brought to you by the Itty Bitty Tittie Committee).
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 16, 2013, 11:25:26 am
updates for the update God!You could always post a suggestion for what to do. We seem to be in a one vote tie here between talking to the bored lady, talking to the man looking around and ...partying I suppose?
(shameless bump brought to you by the Itty Bitty Tittie Committee).
Post by: Talvara on January 16, 2013, 01:54:00 pm
(btw, this would also be my PTW) ;)
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 16, 2013, 04:09:21 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 16, 2013, 04:46:35 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 16, 2013, 06:54:49 pm
You pick up the note and slip away from the party into a secluded area. Unfortunately you aren't good at reading the symbols humans make, and the note is worded oddly, further throwing you off. You'll need to find help before you can read this.
You find yourself farther from the Meshall than you thought. In fact, a quick search confirms that you can't even find your way back.
The hall curves on either side of you. Behind you are two arrows, one a bright red in color with a odd, blocky image on it. It seems to be some sort of projector, if the lines coming from it mean the same thing to the humans as they look to do to you. The blue arrow has an image of a circle, a pair of avian wings emerging from behind to give the impression of flight. A set of five-pointed stars are arranged symetrically in the circle, five in total.
Post by: rabidgam3r on January 16, 2013, 06:56:24 pm
EDIT: Huh, i misclicked and hit the link button.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 16, 2013, 07:29:35 pm
(And that link seems to be broken.)
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 17, 2013, 02:36:43 am
I just hope the message was actually for us and not whoever he was looking for or else it will be really awkward.
Maybe the AI can help us translate the message if we ask very politely?
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 17, 2013, 03:35:23 pm
ONWARD TO ORANGE!
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 18, 2013, 04:32:41 pm
You're on the "top" of the ship, according to the artificial gravity, and surrounded by blazing green blades of strange grass. They're such a vibrant green it almost hurts your eyes to look at it, and by the feel on your legs they're almost bladelike, only leaving you uncut by virtue of how soft they are.
Great greenleaf trees stretch high above your head, larger than any you've ever seen. Some sweep dangling branches down into a crystal clear lake of water, while others scrape along the glass at the top, as if reaching for the stars themselves.
You sense you've startles something, and you turn slightly to find yourself almost face to face with a brown creature. It's covered with downy fur, a mottled brown on top and pure white on the bottom. A short fuzzy tail stands straight up behind it, and it looks at you sideways, because it's eyes are mounted on the sides of it's head. They too are brown, but with huge black pupils, dialated with fear. It's nostrils flare slightly, taking in your scent, and it scuffles a bit, fixing it's footing for a fleet getaway.
What do you do?
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 18, 2013, 05:26:25 pm
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 18, 2013, 05:48:35 pm
If it's afraid of us then we have nothing to fear. We could just scare it away or ignore it. But we are guests in a strange place. We should try to be polite, make friends and learn more about the humans and their habits.. If the humans allow this creature to stay with them it must be somehow useful or interesting to them, like those things with the haunting moos back on the city. Bend your legs and generally try to look non-threatening. Maybe slowly extend our fist for it to smell. Failing that look around for any humans that may help us.
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 18, 2013, 10:02:01 pm
Anyways, I suggest we just watch it, intrigued by the strange being.
Post by: javierpwn on January 18, 2013, 10:05:15 pm
Probably a chipmunk
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 19, 2013, 10:29:09 am
In other words, a vivisection is in order.
Post by: exolyx on January 19, 2013, 11:57:21 am
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 19, 2013, 12:11:42 pm
(not really)
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 19, 2013, 12:29:12 pm
It joins a group of creatures like it, seemingly led by one with huge, branching horns upon its head. They branch seven times from the stem, and the wicked spines look quite dangerous. If that one is indeed the leader... Perhaps you should watch your hand from now on.
You're startled from your reverie by the sound of a humans voice. You think it sounds female, but it's somewhat difficult to tell.
"Beautiful aren't zey? I come up here most days just to vatch zem live. It takes ze edge off of dealing vith Hanuman."
It is indeed a she, you see as you turn to face her. The hair on her head is a soft brown, and like most human females you've seen the hair on her body has been shorn to a shiny smoothness. Her eyes are crinkled, and her lips twisted as if in a smile, but she bares no teeth. "Willkommen. My name is Georgia."
Post by: javierpwn on January 19, 2013, 12:32:00 pm
Why did we have to anger a stag?
Post by: Talvara on January 19, 2013, 01:14:07 pm
tell her they are a little scary and SO very fast! also... since we seem to be lost maybe Georgia can help us out.
maybe she can also help with shiftyman note, but I'm not sure if we should show it to her.
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 19, 2013, 04:07:13 pm
attempt the appropriate human welcoming ritual, and introduce yourself.I give zis a +1
tell her they are a little scary and SO very fast! also... since we seem to be lost maybe Georgia can help us out.
maybe she can also help with shiftyman note, but I'm not sure if we should show it to her.
I also zink vee must show her ze note. Zee iz ze only available human at zis moment and zee does not seem dangerous especially if zee can stand being vith Hanuman ze voll day. Zee must have ze kindness and ze patience of Amma-ah.
Vat? Vee Zermans all talk like zat!
Okay, I'll stop talking like that now.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 19, 2013, 04:12:04 pm
It is very difficult to put a light but pronounced accent into text. She is natively german though. Lived on the Austrian border before the ~9 year trip to Centauri.attempt the appropriate human welcoming ritual, and introduce yourself.I give zis a +1
tell her they are a little scary and SO very fast! also... since we seem to be lost maybe Georgia can help us out.
maybe she can also help with shiftyman note, but I'm not sure if we should show it to her.
I also zink vee must show her ze note. Zee iz ze only available human at zis moment and zee does not seem dangerous especially if zee can stand being vith Hanuman ze voll day. Zee must have ze kindness and ze patience of Amma-ah.
Vat? Vee Zermans all talk like zat!
Okay, I'll stop talking like that now.
Erm... Speaking of which, I had to do a total wipe of my computer and a large amount of files got lost on some minor info in this thread. Does anyone remember the names I've already given to the planets?
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 19, 2013, 04:16:22 pm
I may look back on the thread about the names if I have some time.
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 19, 2013, 04:19:48 pm
BTW computer wipes sucks. I had one once (my stupid fault. I installed a game (LoL actually) in Program Files directly. It created no subfolders, so when it turned out it didnt work, I uninstalled it.
Wiping out everything I had in C://Program files. Sucks.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 20, 2013, 04:46:42 pm
"Arkun-sha, of the Golvek tribe. I'm supposed to be headed to the bridge?"
She stands up a little taller at that. "I can help zen. I vork zere." You automatically show confusion the human way. A consequence of living so close to a tribe of them, you guess. "I am a navigator. I vork vith ze starmaps and make sure ze ship is headed ze right direction."
She starts leading you to the bridge, which happens to be towards the back of th ship, raised above the rest. While most of the vital systems are elsewhere, the ship was never built for combat, Georgia explains, pointing out that the bridge is in a highly vulnerable position. But it affords a brilliant view of the stars, and you can tell at a glance how the ship is without any electronics required. If any hull breaches appeared, special, contained tubes of charged Xenon would begin venting brightly colored clouds of gas into space, making it obvious where the damage was, as well as obscuring how bad the hit was to anyone who wasn't trained to tell. Different noble gases marked different portions of the ship as well, meaning one could tell if the hit damaged Engineering, habitation, the AI core...
Georgia seems very knowledgable about the ship, chatting amicably in her buzzing accent. eventually the topic turns to the people on board, and the note in your pocket begins to weigh heavily.
Should you really show Georgia the note? You sense that making the wrong decision here could be the end of you later down the line...
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 20, 2013, 06:50:39 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 20, 2013, 11:20:55 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 21, 2013, 01:00:36 am
Whatever, I dont think this is a traitor or something.
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 22, 2013, 10:37:49 pm
"I found this lying in a hallway. It's covered in..." You search for the alien word. "...Writing?"
Georgia takes the note and looks at it blankly. Then she unfolds the paper. You can see her eyes scroll across the page, first left to right, then right to left. Her bubbly demeanor is gone, replaced with cold logic and reason. The sheer fury of her mind sets you ill at ease, and you shuffle away.
"It looks shady to me," you say slowly, "So I hope it doesn't implicate me in anything. Still, I'd rather not tell anyone about it." Georgia doesn't seem to notice.
She starts striding down the hall, still buried in the note. her eyes flick about dizzyingly, as if piecing together a puzzle. Finally she sighs and raises a hand to rub her eyes.
"I'm afraid I can't help you vith zis. It's vitten in katakana, but I'm no good vith japanese vriting and it's encrypted besides." She hands you back the note." Interesting. You remember that your village at home has some Japanese humans in it, perhaps they would... erm, "speak" this Katakana. Perhaps the captain would also know, and it might be wise if this is some sort of plot... Of course, it would be terrible if it turned out the plot had good reason. You hate acting without knowledge, but you've learned all you can for now.
The bridge is an active place. Georgia leaves you almost immediately to join in the festivities, pointing out the captain to you, but you're not strapped for time and poking about in here could easily reveal more technological secrets from the humans. That is, if they want you to have the secrets...
Post by: kahn1234 on January 23, 2013, 04:23:52 am
Poke like your life depends on it!
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 23, 2013, 07:05:58 am
Poke about!+1
Poke like your life depends on it!
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 23, 2013, 05:19:35 pm
Post by: Karnewarrior on January 28, 2013, 08:31:23 pm
"Don't get too in awe, mate, it's only Google Maps." the man says dismissively. He has an accent you've never heard before.
Regardless, you're eventually confronted with what you can only assume to be the captains chair, considering it's raised on a dias, has several panels of red and green lights, and the man himself is standing nearby, discussing something with Georgia. The tone of conversation seems odd. You've never heard this tone of voice before, and the difference in culture is too large for you to know instinctively.
It strikes you that you can sit in the chair right now and no-one will notice... Are you feeling plucky, Arkun?
Post by: GreatWyrmGold on January 28, 2013, 08:34:39 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on January 28, 2013, 09:29:21 pm
Post by: javierpwn on January 28, 2013, 09:40:28 pm
Post by: kaian-a-coel on January 29, 2013, 01:46:38 am
Post by: Parisbre56 on January 29, 2013, 02:12:12 am
Post by: kahn1234 on February 04, 2013, 03:53:52 am
Post by: Karnewarrior on February 04, 2013, 02:39:27 pm
Meanwhile, I'm running Daisy. Which will also go unfinished when I come up with another one ect. ect... :'(
Post by: Origami_Psycho on February 04, 2013, 03:19:44 pm
No, but it is on ice until I feel like updating again. Probably after I get out of boot. :/And such is the way of the internet.
Meanwhile, I'm running Daisy. Which will also go unfinished when I come up with another one ect. ect... :'(
Post by: kahn1234 on February 05, 2013, 03:54:02 am
Post by: Travisplo on August 22, 2013, 03:13:02 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on August 24, 2013, 03:01:41 pm
Post by: Travisplo on August 24, 2013, 10:42:01 pm
Post by: Origami_Psycho on August 25, 2013, 09:17:31 am