Jasper Rolla's page

Jasper remains silent for most of the trip, now deep in thought about the Citadel. This world still confuses him, and his mind races at the thought of both sights and dangers that might arise.

He lets out a quiet Evening. at his introduction accompanied with a small bow. He is mostly observant and continues to look around for anything of interest without slowing down the group.

He too reacts when he learns that the witch's name is Grendel. He looks at Dr. Alexander, the expression on his face a grimace as he contemplates telling the story.

And finally, when hearing that witch's aid has a price, he finally speaks aloud to the others.

What kind of "something"? he asks with a small look of concern. With all due respect, I doubt many of us have any abilities that you might find useful

I've been busy with work and college so I haven't had the time to post. I'll try to post more this weekend.

Jasper looks around and shrugs his shoulders. Helping restore Father McKinley's hearing is top priority. Beyond that, I'll follow the lot of you.

I have nothing else to say to the elders.

It was Elder Trecai(rhymes with guy) that said there was a witch in her village. You are in Qualin's village already.

...Woops.

Jasper cringes at Father McKinley’s volume but nods his head in agreement. Reading his note, Jasper writes another reply.

For better or worse, I suppose so.

Jasper takes the paper from Father McKinley, reads it and looks back at him with an expression of pity. Gesturing for the priest’s pen, he writes a brief summary of the meeting thus far:

The elders want to make sure we won’t damage their way of life. Dr. Alexander and Dr. MacCray calmed them down. They’ve offered us a scout to lead us to the Citadel, and Qualin says that he knows a witch that can cure your hearing.

Jasper’s face twists into a grimace. Lost hearing!? he thinks to himself. With no visible injuries on him, Jasper’s mind races as he wonder what could cause the priest to go deaf. He briefly contemplated running over to check if Father McKinley is okay, but decides against it, reminding himself that discussion can wait till after the meeting.

Jasper brightens at the offer of a scout. Having both a guide and a native could prove useful in learning more about the world and ultimately finding a way home.

Still, Jasper remains silent. Until a course of action needs to be decided, less talking and more listening is the best he can do.

Jasper brightens when he sees Father McKinley. Finally, he thinks to himself. We could use a man of faith right now.

Father McKinley! he says. You've come back. Where were you anyway?

As Father McKinley greets the group, Jasper senses something is off and looks to Dr. MacCray for guidance.

Sense Motive (Aid): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 If I can aid the Cooil.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 If I can't.

As am I.

Jasper remains silent, quietly listening and observing. Internally, however, he's torn. Part of him is incensed that these people, once warm and welcoming, now treat him with near disdain, and he can't blame Dr. Alexander for being cold. On the other hand, can he really blame their mistrust? He and his coworkers were the ones who entered their world and snuck into their village, and as looks among the faces of the Elders the emotion he sees is not anger or hate but fear, something he could more than understand.

His vision flickers across the forms of his coworkers, and he finds himself wishing that Father McKinley was there to smooth things over; even if Dr. Cooil was doing a good job of that now.

Jasper stays silent, awaiting a response. Such a large group of judging eyes makes him uncomfortable, and his eyes flicker across the faces of the Elders, trying to get a read on what the Elders think of him and the rest of the group.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

I've no intention of abandoning our world either. But considering that the figure in my dreams told me not to lose the Citadel's light, something tells me that one or another we're going to find ourselves going there.

The elders? I assume that they'll all be the same species as the rest of the people here. Jasper puts his hand on his chin in thought. Speaking on that, have any of us figured out what these people even are? It's clear they're not human, but then what would that make them?

Jasper wrote:

No no, not the monster, the skeleton! You know, the one you put in the hazmat suit? He gives a nervous, lopsided smile. I can see how that... "thing" would stick in your mind more firmly, so I'm not sure if you've forgotten about him. Her. It.

Oh, right when we first came through. Sorry. Yeah, that zombie thing was what first came to mind. Well, the skeleton resembled a human very closely, but there were some differences in the bones that didn't match up with any homo sapiens I've seen. It is possible, but unlikely, that it was just a genetic mutation, but I find it more likely that it was a separate, but very similar, species. Why do you ask?

Jasper pulls out the spear they found in the Nexus and holds it up at eye level. While you were off talking with Qualin, I started conversing with the natives. Turns out, none of them are blacksmiths: half them even think of it as some kind of forbidden art! I ended talking to a village woodworker, and he recognized the wood as popular among the "Sea People" Qualin told us about.

He lowers the spear to look at eye level with Dr Zeroux. If we're going to travel this world, I'd like to know who, or what, is out there.

Oh, wow. That seems like so long ago, doesn't it? Actually, whether you would call it a human depends on your perspective. It was... anatomically... a human as far as I could tell, but it was, um, animated without being actually alive. The body was preserved almost perfectly, but it wasn't ... it didn't have the normal ... it just wasn't alive. It wasn't bleeding. It was walking on a broken leg with no pain. There was nothing normal about it from a behavioral or medical perspective, other than anatomy. I know it sounds like a bad B-movie, but it was like a well-preserved mummy got up and started walking around. Plus, although I didn't really know what my sight was back then, it has a dark aura, which I think now is clear that it was magically animated in some way, but truthfully no more alive than Haz-Mat man.

Also, unlike ourselves, the undead creature or zombie (I don't know what else to call it) was unable to trigger the door to open or to remain open, which is why its arm was amputated. I still don't know what triggers the doors. It isn't only being human, or the undead creature would have been able to. It isn't just being alive, or these people would be able to. Perhaps it is a combination of those things?

Jasper, caught off guard, waves his hand and tries to clear up the confusion. No no, not the monster, the skeleton! You know, the one you put in the hazmat suit? He gives a nervous, lopsided smile. I can see how that... "thing" would stick in your mind more firmly, so I'm not sure if you've forgotten about him. Her. It.

Actually, Jasper begins. I think there is something you can do for me. Do you remember the skeleton we found in the Nexus? You told us it wasn't human (Dr Zeroux would have told the group that, right?) but how did you know?

This must be frustrating for you Jasper, with everyone else getting some kind of magical ... something. Have you developed any new skills? Perhaps yours are different, like reflex or speed or something. From what I can tell, this places enhances our natural abilities or... um, ... desires... in some way...? Maybe we should try sparring, and see if your abilities are enhanced in some martial way. What do you think?

Frustrated? Hardly. If anything, I feel sorry for you lot: seeing magic and meeting with strange spirits. It's enough to drive someone loonie. He looks down and shakes his head. No, I think the voices I heard and the dream I had to be eerie enough as is, thank you very much.

His eyebrows raise in surprise at the offer of a sparring match. You want to get into a tussle with me? I'm not sure if that's a good idea. The only fights I've been in have been real brutal: either me or the guy I was swinging at ended up in the hospital. I'd rather not let any of us get hurt, if it can be avoided.

He looks rather bashful as he adds, And I don't like fighting people who're smaller than me. Makes me feel like a bully.

Jasper rolls his eyes and sighs with exasperation. Incredible. You leave for a few hours and come back as some kind of- what, shaman?

He gives a tired smile. Well at least this time you didn't leave me stranded.

Jasper

"A world without magic I cannot begin to imagine. Perhaps the elders can make more sense of this. I see one arriving from another village now." He excuses himself to go meet the elder.

Everyone minus Cooil

You notice some new arrivals as the day goes on. Sometimes a group of 5 or more sometimes only 1 besides the messenger sent to them. They refuse to talk to you...

Realizing that his interview has come to a close, Jasper also leaves the woodworker's home and, seeing his friends speaking with Qualin, jogs over to meet them.

Evening everyone! he says cheerfully. Did I miss something?

Jasper

The woodworker puts a bit more space between himself and the spear when he hears where it came from. "We need only what we can gather from the Garden. There is no need to hunt and there have been no wars for generations." He doesn't know anything much about the Forsaken except for the stories that have been repeated down the ages. "Our Sea People brethren live in less peaceful locations. Sometimes there is strife between the clans and their islands. This wood is not affected as much by the sea, one of the reasons they covet it. The mountain people prefer to work with stone. Their stone cities are said to be magnificent."

"That spear is much too large if you think one of us would make it. It is made for someone of your size. Perhaps among your own people, there are those not Chosen. Might they have tried to go through the Spirit Door and have been killed as punishment?"

Jasper barely notices the woodworker's trepidation, instead simply writing down what he hears. Though it's not much, information on this world's people may come in handy.

At the woodworker's last suggestion, he pauses on his writing and looks up at him, before putting his hand on his chin and looking away in thought.

Perhaps? he answers hesitantly. If Dr Zeroux is right, the skeleton didn't belong to a human- he looks at the woodworker and gestures at his chest. -That's what our kind is called, human, but I can't deny the possibility that other humans found the "Spirit Door". You must understand, sir, that magic is something that many from our world aren't even sure exists. I've certainly never seen anyone who can hide a village behind a mirage, make a rock glow like a torch, or make a party of five people instantly understand a language.

No offense taken. he says with a placating smile. There were two of these spears behind what Qualin calls the "spirit door", along with a skeleton that we believe to be the spear's original owner.

Tell me, what do you know about the weapons used by the Forsaken? I notice your people have no use for them, considering the mirage you created to hide your village, but what about the others in this world: the Sea People, the Mountain People, and others of their ilk?

Jasper makes sure to take notes on this: although he had originally found keeping his allies safe the most pressing matter at hand, he's been allowed to settle down a bit more, and has found his curiosity peaked by this world's people and their craft.

Realizing that he's not going to get anything substantial out of Qualin, he lets out a sigh of disappointment and thanks Qualin for his time before returning to the house in which the group has been staying. As his eyes flit over their collective gear, his eyes settle on the spear Father McKinley entrusted him with, and out of boredom he began to examine it, taking in the details of its construction and trying to see if he recognizes its shape as belonging to a culture back on Earth.

Knowledge: History: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Looking over the spear gives him an idea, and runs out of the house and begins asking the tree people if there is a blacksmith among them, taking the spear with him.

Left alone by the group, Jasper continues to think about his strange experiences while in this strange new world. Hearing voices, having strange dreams, and of course, an odd lack of fear that he'd felt..

I've spoken a little with Father McKinley on this, he pondered to himself. But he knows just as little as everyone else here. If only there was someone else here who knew more about this...

Deciding to seek council, he looks for Qualin, hoping that he'll know of someone who can perhaps explain these strange sensations better than his comrades.

As expected, Father McKinley offered Jasper sound council: even if if it was stating the obvious, it was reassuring to have it confirmed by someone else.

Father McKinley's question left Jasper quiet, and he placed his hand on his chin as he contemplated. Jasper had never killed anyone, though he'd put no small number of men in the hospital with his beatings. He supposed he could do it, if lives were on the line, but this power he was being offered...

I'm not sure. he finally answered. I've been in fights before, but that hardly makes me soldier material. I suppose I've been avoiding thinking about it. It's a rather extreme thing to think about, if I'm honest.

What about you? he asked. If some strange being offered you power, would you take it?

Jasper wakes with a start the next morning, bolting awake and looking around frantically before calming down and going over his dream. With the details set in his mind, he seeks out Father McKinley and Dr. MacCray, hoping to talk to them about what he's experienced.

Jasper tries to sing along with the prayer, but quickly realizes he's butchering the lyrics and stops. After eating, he finds something to sit back against and collects his thoughts.

I wonder... he begins internally. The others have began gaining special abilities. Dr Zeroux can see auras, Cooil can discern directions like a compass. And now, what with his meeting with the spirits... Will these abilities of theirs continue to grow?

As he continues on, lost in thought, one other thing comes to his mind, something that had been bothering him since this whole debacle began.

What about me? I've heard voices in my mind and met figures in my dreams, like some kind of... he searches his mind for a word before settling on the closest thing (in his mind) to his own experiences. Apostle! Yes, like the apostles of Jesus, I've heard the voice of some higher power. And I've been filled with a kind of... bravery? Courage? What does this all mean for me?

Jasper continues on, lost in thought and oblivious to the outside world.

Yes, Cooil- very worried. Jasper's words were stunted and clipped, making it clear he was putting enourmous effort into not exploding with rage: his trembling fists and glowering expression made it evident he wasn't doing a good job.

Jasper turns to Father McKinley, looking a tad haggard. Affected? Not acutely, or at least, I haven't developed super powers yet. he chuckles, feeling better about the whole situation he'd ended up in. So far, I heard a voice in my head offering me the "power to smite my enemies", and had a strange dream about a hermit and cabin. And then there's this strange... bravery? I can't think of a word to properly describe it. Just the feeling that everything will turn out ok in the end.

Jasper's expression softens as he realizes that he's acting irrationally. Er, sorry about that that Father. he apologizes. I'm just a little unhappy with our dear Doctor. His brow furrows a little bit, and although he grits his teeth at the word "unhappy", he's no longer raising his voice.

He begins walking in what he believes is the direction to Dr Cooil, before stopping and turning back to Father McKinley with an embarrassed expression. On second thought, perhaps it would be better if you lead? You were telling me about some of your travels a few days ago during the dig, while all I've managed to do is get myself lost for a few hours. I'll try to point out where I believe he went, but I feel that you'll have better luck navigating then I will.

Rather than roll the check myself, I'm just going to Aid Father McKinley's check instead.

Aid Survival (DC 10: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Father McKinley's check gets a +2

Jasper pauses, having a brief moment of clarity as he realizes he is practically manhandling poor Father McKinley. He stops and brushes the doctor off. S-Sorry about that, he stammers apologetically. I've been wandering in a panic for hours, I guess I'm still a bit wound up.

He answers the priest's question. Well, the locals thought it was that. We followed them as they gathered food out here, when suddenly we felt like we were being watched. They said that there are spirits out here, and their chief is called "the Gardener". We started walking back when out of nowhere Dr Cooil says he hears a voice in his head, and then he just up and left me! Jasper's face contorts with rage. And now I've been stuck out here, wandering these god-forsaken woods trying to find the rest of our group so that one of you can talk some sense into him!

Jasper's voice gets louder with each word, and by the climax of his tirade he's nearly screaming, finally picking up a baseball-sized dirtclod off the path and hurling at the nearest tree with all his strength, where it explodes in a small cloud of dust.

"Where's Cooil?" he asks, looking around, "I thought he was with you."

Dirty. Tired. Confused. Frantic. Jasper'd had better days. So it shouldn't be that surprising that, by the time he'd found anyone he recognized, he was a bit wound up.

Father McKinley! he shouted, running up to the priest and looking around and behind him; he almost looked crazy. Where are the others?!

Rather than wait for an answer, he grabbed the Father's wrist and started leading him further into the woods. Nevermind. Dr Cooil ran off a few hours ago, he was following the spirits of the garden and he left me out there, I have no idea where he is and we have to find him!

Dr MacCray? You can't just- Jasper began, only for the doctor to dart out of eyesight. He briefly considered following him, but decided against it, figuring that no amount of persuasion was going to convince him. Instead, Jasper set off in what he believed to be the direction of the village, hoping desperately that the others would be able to find the Dr. again.

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 1
...Well damn

Jasper shakes his head. Doctor MacCray, I don't hear anything. Hesitantly, he reaches down and touches the doctor's shoulder. Make no mistake, I believe you; I'd be a hypocrite and a fool not to. But I can't advise that you follow these voices. Not without at least speaking to the rest of our group, or to the chief of the tree people.

Jasper looks at Dr MacCray with a combination of trouble and relief on his face. Interesting. he begins. In my case, my dream was that I was in a cabin, standing behind a hermit sitting in front of a fire place. And despite the fact that I recognize none of it now, in the dream, I- he pauses, trying to find the proper words.knew, or recognized[/] everything there. And somehow, I knew that I needed to do something, and very soon. I don't remember the specifics, but I distinctly remember a sense of urgency.[b]

[b]And yesterday I heard a voice in my mind, offering to "teach me how to vanquish my foes", or something like that. He blushed slightly. That was the reason for my, uh, [i]outburst yesterday.

Jasper was about to ask about the "presence" that both he and the doctor seemed to feel when he was interrupted. When Dr MacCray speaks about directions, he takes a step back in shock.

Directions!? he nearly cries out. He pauses and listens in his mind, seeking both any kind of sign from these "spirits" and, more importantly, that feeling of calm that he'd felt ever since breathing the air of the Nexus.

I don't know why I haven't been posting. My job is really exhausting. Sorry for taking so long to get back.

Jasper has little to say as the group decides what to do. While going to the Citadel sounds useful, it's clear that they may not be welcome in the place. He finds he is too tired to discuss the strange voice he heard earlier in the day, and almost immediately falls asleep after the discussions of what to do.

His strange dream only furthers his belief that something will happen very soon.

Deciding to keep with Dr MacCray, he almost wishes to discuss the strange happenings of the previous night when he gets a strange feeling of being watched. Reflexivly, he angles his spear up (if he still has it; otherwise he just puts his hands up in a boxer's stance) and spins around, before relaxing as he sees Dr MacCray do the same.

As they continue to walk back to the village, he attempts to casually speak with the strange professor:
Dr. MacCray, he began, a tad bit awkwardly, not sure how to address his concerns. Have you had any... strange dreams? Or, um, heard voices?

Jasper went red when he felt eyes upon him. Er, forget it. he stammered. He then whispered to Dr Zeroux: I'll tell you about it later, in private.

He gratefully accepted food and water (after washing the sand from his hands) and sat down next to Father McKinley, eager to hear the "tree people's" story, and perhaps finally begin seeking a path home.

Jasper wheeled about, expecting to see someone behind him. Seeing no one around, he spoke out to the group, and to the natives:

Did you hear that? Did one of you say something to me?

To his surprise, he felt no fear, even as he heard the stranger's voice. The feeling of calm that he'd felt since entering the Nexus returned at the strongest he'd felt it: something amazing was about to happen.

Jasper is dumbstruck by the "trinket's" ability, finding himself more and more confused as things go on. He listens to the conversations wordlessly, still holding the spear but now simply by habit rather than real fear.

@Dr Zeroux: I was not so much thinking of fighting than to try and run for the Nexus. I will take the rear and try to cover our escape, should things get ugly.

@Father McKinley: Sorry Father, but I'd rather not be unarmed if they choose to attack us.

Jasper watches in amazement as these strange humanoids revealed a new "trick": with a few words, one summoned a squirrel from the trees, His awe quickly changed to horror as the squirrel pointed out their location. They'd been spotted!

The reaction of the natives as they were revealed only served to heighten his apprehension (in his shock, he didn't even register that the native had used a magic rock to reveal them). Like Dr Zeroux he stands up, but unlike her keeps his spear in hand at his side. He puts his other hand on her shoulder and whispers to her:

As much as I had hoped diplomacy would go over smoothly, we might want to consider the possibility that these natives are not friendly.

The village changing leaves Jasper agape right alongside Father McKinley. Dr Zeroux's auras or Dr MacCray's sense of direction was one thing: he had nothing but their word to go off on as proof of those powers. But this was visible, it was clear.

This was real magic.

He barely registered Father McKinley's comment, only noting off-handidly:

Perhaps, though they don't appear to have seen us.

Following Father McKinley's lead.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Not bad.

Jasper trembled. He knew that something was going to happen, and the sound of the horn reminded him eerily of a police siren, or the cry and shout of a madman: noise intended not to warn, but to terrify.

Jasper heard Dr Zeroux's question and searched his mind. He was still afraid, and the panic were in his heart told him to get himself and everyone else out. But again, he felt a calm in the back of his mind, and as he focused on it he realized its purpose: to keep him from panicking.

I-I'm not sure, he stuttered in reply. I still feel that "calm" I told you about, but... I'm not sure how accurate the feeling is.

He turned to Dr Alexander, welling up with new respect for the man.

Can't say I disagree with you Doctor. I'll follow your lead.

Seeing the first signs of civilization made Jasper want to jump with joy. Finally! he thought. Someone who can answer our questions. We can begin to work on a way back!

Before he could think any further, a high, horn-like sound resounded from the woods behind him. His face went white and his blood was ice cold. He turned frantically around in a circle, built could not yet see a threat. A quick scan of the unknown humanoids behind him (What do they look like?) told him that they seemed unlikely to attack, at least. He gripped his spear tightly in both hands: this did not bode well.

Dr Zeroux's words gave him pause. It was rather unusual for him to be calm in a time like this. Dr Alexander's paranoia was annoying, but was his misguided optimism any better?

Of course, Dr Zeroux. he replied apologetically. It is unfair to judge anyone for feeling odd about this mess.

Jasper rolls his eyes at Dr Alexander's fear and turns to him, speaking not so much cruelly as dismissively.

If you're so worried about an ambush, you could always go back to the Nexus. Maybe map some more doors, find some place you find more palatable?

I know I said in the discussion forum that Jasper despises Gordon, but I feel like that's OOC for him. So I figured he'd probably just want to ignore the doctor instead (especially since he's starting to sound paranoid ;))

Jasper listened to Dr Zeroux intently, waiting to speak in turn.

This... "aura sight", is something you've never seen before, right? he questioned hesitantly. The idea of ordinary people gaining, for lack of a better term, "super powers" was very unsettling: it made him wonder if things would change further, and how.

At Dr Zeroux's query about himself, he chuckled.

Nothing particularly strange. he began. Except... I don't know. I feel a constant sort of "calm" in my mind, like I know things will somehow turn out ok. He gave an uncomfortable chuckle. Funny... I started out being the most paranoid and now I'm the one acting like an optimist.

Jasper listens to Father McKinley's idea with relief. Being able to speak these people's language would be useful. He noticed how Dr Alexander and Father McKinley attempted to go unseen by the music they approached. He decided it would be unhelpful to join them: he was too big and clumsy to be stealthy. Instead, he trotted up to Dr Zeroux, who had been surprisingly silent. He spoke to her, as much to strike up conversation as to get information.

See anything unusual, Dr Zeroux?

Jasper was in a strange place. Thrown through space, exposed to gamma rays, sorrounded by people who'd gained supernatural powers, and now walking through a garden where the sun didn't rise or fall. An hour ago, he might have been on the edge of a panic attack, or at least his mind would be racing.

But it wasn't. Jasper, in spite of knowing that nothing about this made sense, felt nothing but calm in his mind, like he knew that everything would end up ok. Even as Dr MacCray's theory made his head spin, or Father McKinley presented the problem of communication, he said nothing and focused only on his sorroundings, leaving the theorizing to his more esoteric minded compatriots.

One thing did grab his attention though: when Dr MacCray asked everyone to sing.

Err, with all due respect, Dr MacCray, he began, his voice uncertain. If whoever we meet is hostile to us, singing is unlikely to pacify them. what he wasn't going to say, of course, was how embarrassing it would be for five grown men and women to introduce themselves to a foreign society by singing a children's camp song.

Jasper wordlessly agrees with the consensus to follow the dirt path: better to find a building or household than to follow unknown tracks and get lost. As he walks along, a thought occurs to him, which he relays to Father McKinley:

Father McKinley, you were drawing a map earlier, correct? he asks. Perhaps you should continue to do so here in this garden? I can keep watch for anything hostile if you are worried.

With that, he goes silent and follows the Father's example of looking and listening for threats.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Jasper was taken aback by Father McKinley's question: why weren't there any other travelers here? He'd originally assumed that the place (or "Nexus" as MacCray dubbed it) was simply abandoned. But if the doors were so easy to open from both sides, where was everyone?

Jasper decided he'd focus on the moment at hand and deal with problems as they arised. Getting supplies and forming a base of operations seemed like the best idea for now, until they could come up with a plan to get more information and eventually find a way home.

He took the spear from Father McKinley gratefully and gave him a confidant smile. Thank you, Father. I will do my best to see you through this journey unharmed.

He looked hesitantly at the spear in his grip (even now, holding it made him feel like a thief), then strode out to follow Dr Zeroux.