"Seems to me that people are settling in to their roles. I honestly don't much care for this being shoehorned into roles, but it is what it is. Somehow I'm now a smith. Well it looks like I can at least make my own choices, and I have my forge, which is staffed with people who came out of nowhere, working on stuff I can actually use rather than this silly hammer. Not sure if people have been thinking about future plans as yet. I'm really not until I've got the equipment I want, and then I'll go out exploring. I sure as hell am not going to risk those helldeer without a good bow at least. "
Kong gets up in the morning, feeling refreshed...he spends an hour in meditation, almost as if it was natural to him (it isn't) before stepping outside. He takes a look around the area...making note of the work that's taken place...and out into the woods...and feels the wanderlust. Today, there's a burning desire to find...a real city...people...though he doubts that will happen anytime soon, at least he can find out a little bit about what's out there.
...after breakfast. Besides...at the inn were...people? Kong wasn't sure about that, really...but they seemed to have information.
Turning, Kong strides into the inn.
Luna runs out of the apartment building making sure she passes the barrier that kept the others inside it before stopping, she sits down and stares the building down trying to process what had just happened.
"That was my thought as well. Id's taste in everything seemed to be the bigger, the better. While I can understand big when it comes to tricks and stunts, having a giant volcano, thirty pounds of armor, a four foot long sword..." It was clear he was exaggerating on several fronts, "I just feel like it's all holding me back somehow. I honestly think I'd be better off with a throwing dagger than the ring sword. Don't get me wrong, I like the rings, they're flashy, but the weight's just throwing me off. So, yeah. I agree. We need to get set up before we head out." he motioned to the hide he was wearing, "I could probably wear about half of this and feel comfortable, the whole thing is a bust, though." Harry could probably tell that while it was made from dragonhide, it was styled as a breastplate.
"So, if you'll let me, I'm thinking I'll make myself a smaller curved blade of some kind using your forge, and hopefully be able to get into a nice set of armor that actually allows freedom of movement. Thinking we should explore the other compounds while we're here, as opposed to going to run off elsewhere."
"Just tell me what you want the forge to make. I got plenty of, umm, people there to work on stuff. I guess they are people. I mean they act like people and all. Meh. No use in hurting my head trying to figure this crap out. Better if we just deal with it on face value and see if there's a way out. After we get prepped of course. "
"That was pretty much my way of thinking as well." He nodded once more, beginning to eat more and talk less. "Like I said, a light curved blade, though I've got this idea in my head that's kind of bouncing around. I think I need to do it myself to get it right. And just... I don't know. Something leather or metal that doesn't restrict my movements? Something that bends with me, rather than something I have to bend around."
Getting veapons made? I had a toy bow as a child. I'm not very good with zem...ziss scythe thing is interesting...I've always just picked up what came to hand.
Kong takes a big bite of food...chews...then swallows.
I get ze feeling there's no going back. Ve should all be...dead. I vant to find a city...vith more...real people. If there iss one.
"Well there's only so much we can do with the materials at hand. There's some metal here called mithral which would make great armor since it is strong and light, but I barely have any of the ore. Kinda like a high strength aluminum alloy. We're pretty much stuck with steel, and I'm pretty damned sure it's not as good as the steel you are used to, and I don't think people here know squat about alloying. I actually asked about a rifle, and they were completely clueless. I suppose that is for the best, any real rifle with this crap steel would probably just blow up. "
"OK, maybe we can't go back, but this place is creepy. I think we might be stuck with it as a base of operations, but I'd just as soon see someplace else. Cities aren't my bag, but it would at least be different. "
"High strength Aluminum doesn't sound very comforting." Neri smiled.
"I think normal steel, or maybe some sort of leather is for the best. Except for the weapon. I was thinking something like what my current sword is made out of would be preferred, if you have any of it. I just don't feel right destroying the sword."
Ze way zese weapons come and go...can zey be destroyed? I'm not zo sure.
"I was thinking the sword was forged from my will using Id's particular dimensions. It doesn't seem impossible to change the design. But then I found out that the 'Foundry Boss' apparently made the sword, and that it has something called 'age'. They seemed to think I was stupid for not understanding 'The longer something has been something, the better of a something it is.' They've apparently never heard of the light bulb, or a radio."
No, I doubt dey haff.
Kong loses himself in eating for a while.
"Umm, I think I'd stick to steel. I can't really see leather being much protection the way the teeth looked on those deer, not to mention the way those squirrels tore things apart. Like I said, we're not in Kansas anymore, and this place doesn't seem friendly outside this village. "
I haff learned a way to armor myself...with magic. It is...untested, of course... Magic iss simply an extension of physics...it's fascinating...
"Right. Magic is physics. Sure. No doubt those folks at MIT will have people popping out of nowhere to staff up a factory any time about now. "
Kong casually casts a Light spell on his fork.
It iss, here. I can see that zome of us lack the capacity for that depth of understanding. Physics describes the rules of nature...magic is a part of dat.
"Yeah, I'll just have to take your word on that one. " looking quite skeptical.
"I have magic rocks." Neri shrugged. "I'm pretty sure I can make more. Kind of curious if the magic works for other people."
He dug into the bag and pulled out a Prestidigitation sigil. What it was was carved all over it to those that could read magic, again, lacking in subtlety, but it got the job done. "I just concentrate on this, and think about something I want done, and it does it." he slid it to Harry, "I'm pretty sure that one doesn't break, so you can give it a try. If it won't work for you, maybe for Kong. It'd be nice if I could just pass those around and people have quick and easy access to magic."
Harry will take the stone and think about it doing something weird, like the brooms out of Fantasia. When nothing happens he hands it back. "Yeah, doesn't seem to be my bag. You can keep it. I'll stick to launching pointy things at sources of trouble. "
Harry. Jou produce a weapon out of thin air and can't accept there are rules that cover zat? Of course there are...and I know some of zem...understand...some of zem. Can apply zem, and make zem work.
Kong looks at the stone...
Interestink. Zis is different...yet...follows de same rules.
Neri shrugged. "I kind of wonder what all it can do. I know it's good for cleaning up volcanic ash from the skin. Speaking of, I don't suppose anyone in the group was a chemist or something, back home? The only thing I can really think of that a volcano could be useful for is fertilizer... We'd have to get the toxins out, though, and I have no idea how to do that. But if we could, then we might be able to fix up that lame-looking grove."
"Look, I fully admit to not being overly burdened with schooling, but pulling people or a weapon out of nowhere ain't physics like what little physics I learned. Maybe there are rules, but they don't much sound to me like science. Don't really matter since it seems to be your ball of wax not mine. "
Kong shrugs, and gets back to eating.
Not a chemist, but I get ze basics. I understand zimple conzepts...molecular bondink, chemical reactions...
"I never went to school, so that's going way over my head. Neri supplied, concentrating on the little rock in his hands. The runes glowed for a moment... and then his red armor was slowly becoming blue in an outwardly spiraling pattern.
My fazer vanted me to go into zience...but music called to me. Still, zere is a science to music...and ze basics haff served me well.
Kong gulps down a mug of water...then pauses to think...
Jou know...it iss likely an application of magic that allows dat ve haff clean vater to drink...
Drawn to Neri's display...HEY! I like zat. Vould be great as part of a stage show...
Neri looked at his half-finished glass of water dubiously. He hadn't even contemplated the possibility of the water not being purified.
Lumpy had worked feverishly through the night to finish his alchemy work. He was no stranger to working 80 hours a week, and his current work kept him interested and focused. He felt as is no time passed. In the morning. He went through his morning rituals. The bot shave was especially nice. A hot towel and shaving foam made the whole process very civilized.
He walks to the Inn and sees everyone there. He gestures to them. Morning all. I hope you had a good nights sleep.
The alchemist listens to the conversations as they occur. He strikes up a conversation with Harry.
Hey Harry, I have been reading up on construction materials in this world. I would like to ask for a favor. I have this hand crossbow. I would like to have some special material bolts made. 20 cold Iron, 20 silver, and 10 adamantine bolts to be exact. I have no idea what we might get into contact out there
"The cold iron and silver shouldn't be an issue, but we're kinda short on adamantine, and my foreman says they take a long damned time to make. You might want to look into other options on those last ones. I'm having them make me some arrows, so you might be behind in line. "
Sterling frowns a bit and says Well whatever you can do would be appreciated. Maybe you could make the adamantine bolts at a future time.
Lumpy had already eaten, and instead asks for some cold water. He looks around and notices Luna is not with the group. Anyone seen Luna? She didn't seem to be coping well with the situation. He hoped the girl would come to her senses sooner rather than later.
So anyone have suggestion about where we should go and investigate first? I would suggest we discuss our plans away from these figments indicating the people who cannot exist outside the compounds walls I fear, they are just another set of monitors and controls from our overlords. Maybe we should be making plans outside their earshot.
Good luck with that... An amused thought clicks.
"I've got no bright ideas, but a general recon might be a good idea. We ought to get the lay of the land in our vicinity. I don't really intend to do much until I have my kit together. I've seen to reason to be rushing into anything. This place seems to be stable enough, if weird, but boring. "
If our goal is to find a way home, and we are always monitored due to the gem inside us...I have an idea. We will need to be unpredictable to have the best chance of finding a secret exit. Lumpy surmises.
The Secret Service always plans several routes for the president. They use a flip of a coin to decide which route to take at every decision point. That way, no one can plan a trap against them. I suggest we try something similar. I still have coins from home. So they should not be tainted or controlled by our current environment.
Neri frowned at the conversation, then raised his voice for all the patrons to hear. "I intend to see what is going on in all the other buildings that seem abandoned around town today, assuming they do not try to kill me. Does anyone have any suggestions for where I should most assuredly not go?"
He looked to Sterling and pointedly said, "The locals are friendly and helpful. Also, has anyone seen the officer?" he addressed everyone else.
They're not exactly people. You do know that right? What officer? Says Lumpy
Lina, I sink he speaks of.
Ah Lina. She's a cop? For some reason I thought she was a security guard. No I haven't seen her in a while
Security guards are officers too, no? I don't know, at any rate.
Kong gets up from his seat. I'm makink plans to go find a city. Will jou go?
He looks for someone who seems to know...this world...Where iss the nearest city?
"And we also have no proof that you're a person. Or that I am. If we assume that everyone here isn't a person, then we just wind up not talking to anyone. We can't know who is or isn't a 'person' as you call it, and further, we can't deny that they are of value and able to provide information. It's the concept that 'only I matter' that's ruined the American way of life over the last century. So, no. I'm going to go on treating everyone as if they exist and have a right to be spoken to."
Since their lives begin and end within the confines of this compound, I can assume two things. First, they are not people like us. Second, the useful information that they provide are a projection of whatever force animated them to begin with. So their information will be suspect at best. An apt analogy would be the characters on a holodeck in Star Trek, the characters aren't real people
Ziss much iss true...and ziss is part of why I wish to...find a city. Their reach must haff...some limit.
"But you assume that we are not limited in where we are capable of going. Remember the wall of light in the distance when we were on the mountain? Who's to say that we can even leave?"
I don't assume we are not limited. I merely said we are people and different than these walking talking figments. Only one absolute truth exists. Existence exists. The rest is observation of cause and effect. We must make assumptions to place a stake in the ground. A point of reference to build a forecasting model. My model may be wrong, and will be adjusted as further evidence becomes available. My current point of reference is that I am real, and so are all those in the cave when I woke up. If we are real, and can walk from compound to compound, and the figments cannot, then the figments are not real people.