Having just taken over a body that was drowning, MEP 1-HARKNAIL had to get the biological processes going again before the body died again. First order of business was to restart the heart. Next was clearing the water out of the lungs. That involved getting the head out of water and keeping it out of water long enough to expel the water and draw in air. A quick request from the AI for information on swimming showed MEP 1-HARKNAIL how to tread water. Once vertical, MEP 1-HARKNAIL forced a strong contraction of the chest muscles to expel as much water as possible. It couldn't all be expelled in this posture, but it made enough room to get at least some air, enough to keep the body functioning. Another consultation with the AI, to get the minimum effort method of propulsion showed MEP 1-HARKNAIL the back stroke. Laying on the back with head pointed toward shore, no effort need to keep nose and moth above water, and minimal effort with the arms to propel them towards shore. Minimum effort was important since there was still a lot of water in the longs and oxygen intake was limited. MEP 1-HARKNAIL discovered by accident that thrashing the tail gently greatly aided in propulsion without adding much to oxygen usage. Not surprising that the AI didn't know about that since its data didn't include humanoids with tails.
Treading water and swimming to shore is something Vespera could have done on her own, if she wasn't already in a total panic from falling from an airship, and if she had ever learned how to swim. MEP 1-HARKNAIL had the advantage of being machine calm, an extensive database, but perhaps the biggest factor, is that once they merged, MEP 1-HARKNAIL had an image of Vespera Glint on hands and knees on the beach, coughing up the rest of the water in her lungs. It didn't know where that image came from, but MEP 1-HARKNAIL was doing it's best to make that image come true.
Once things were more or less stable, MEP 1-HARKNAIL started communicating with Vespera. For her part Vespera was confused, she thought she had died, but at the last moment, she found herself still alive, but her body was moving on its own. Then a mysterious voice started talking to her....
By the time they reached shore, MEP 1-HARKNAIL had tried to explain the situation to Vespera Glint, but Vespera hadn't been able to absorb all of it. She got that somehow this Harknail thing had possessed her body and brought her back from the brink of death.
A few minutes later, they were on the beach enacting the scene that MEP 1-HARKNAIL had seen, on hands and knees coughing up the rest of the water to finish clearing the lungs.
MEP-RU had completed its scan and collated the data. There weren’t any other MEPs about from 2279 beside the one in the crystal. As of now, it was the only energy source it knows about, so decides that keeping it and the crystal functioning is the best course of action. Within its scanned database, it looks for an appropriate soul/body. It had already had to cut mass with the WEEP-Nec once and didn’t want to invite that again so soon.
”Дракон” flashed among the code within the data he had accumulated. “What was that, that shouldn’t be there any longer.” But that was when the specific file showed that a scaled humanoid (Dragonborn, male, alive) had a 54% chance of being a suitable soul. Pulling the file for further examination indicated that the individual presented most likely came from the ship, was fairly agile, and dressed as someone who might believe in the extraordinary. “Gullible?” “Not quite, but willing to believe.” Came a response from within the central processor.
MEP-RU is aware that directly assuming control of a soul was originally forbidden by the protection protocols implemented by Dr Doe (unless there was grave need). “What was a graver need than stopping the grave from harming others?” MEP-RU reasoned. And with that, it entered the Dragonborn Monk. It made its way to the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex. It tried to synthesis the correct chemical concoction that would motivate this soul to elicit help for the local population. Heck, he was just blown out of the sky by a dragon, plummeted to the ground and had managed to survive the crash. If only MEP-RU could manage to emphasis that survival instinct, perhaps it could make it feel like ‘the hand of god’ and destiny caused him to be here, at this very moment.
MEP-RU worked, searched its data stores, and consulted with the AI to fabricate the correct hormonal cocktail that might make ‘Fate’ feel achievable.
(they way I see it, you are up and able now :) you have to meet each other then tell me if you go towards the crystal and villagers first or head straight to the grotto, or do something else entirely ? In either of those cases, who goes 1st or you are two abreast ? All three holding hands ? )
I am extremely interested in the person who is second once you start going. ,)
So after you get gong, the 2nd person please roll me a balance check. (acrobatics these days ?) DC = 20
After coughing up all the water she had inhaled and puking up all the water she had swallowed in an unconscious effort not to inhale the water, Vespera lay on the beach exhausted, just like the other survivors. Her ribs ached from the abuse Harknail (whatever that was) had put her through to keep them alive. As she lay there just glad to be alive she heard Harknail's voice again.
* Vespera, you need to get up and fight the zombies and skeletons that are attacking the town. *
"What are you talking about? I'm completely spent here! Besides, fighting for others is just a good way to get killed. I fight for myself, no one else!"
* The zombies and skeletons are attacking the only village on this island. If the village is destroyed, there will be no safe place for you to stay. So by helping the village, you are helping yourself. *
Realizing that if she continued to protest, she might again find her body moving on it's own, Vespera acquiesced, "Fine, I'll do what I can, but I'm in no shape for a fight!"
* I'll do what I can about that. *
MEP 1-HARKNAIL then did what tweaking it could to get Vespera into fighting shape, trying to suppress her feelings of fatigue. Such tinkering was not without cost, she would be even more fatigued afterwards.
VESPERA is joining the others in the fight. Initiative 16 (rolled in game log) Acrobatics only 17 (rolled in game log)
Manny coughs up water, the violence of the ejection of water wakes him into a haze. Manny gets up on all fours, and finishes coughing, then inhales a breath and coughs, and repeats. He slowly stands, then in the back of his head he hears voices. Turns and realizes it is his mind talking to him. He has not ever heard this before. The voices are saying fight...fight zombies...fight the skeletons...move and fight...
Manny with out realizing he took a step started to walk. A few more unintended steps then Manny sees Vespera, she is walking the same direction, and Manny begins to walk toward her. Manny is feeling more control over his body. He notices how fatigued Vespera looks. Seeing her state, he realizes that he is not ready to shout her name but ambles over to her. Walking a bit like the zombies are.
(things as I see them so far, and there are big gaps here, so help me please.
@JSenecal, I have sent you a PM about that. Once we fix that one we are good to go.
@Character77006, if you are entering a deal body with full control, you roll the scores (you did) and the body is yours. No voices there. If I am wrong and you chose a body that is alive, like JSenecal, let me know. If you want a live body, you have to use point buy and choose in which manner you control it.
@kohlmetz_d, I think your situation is clearest for me atm, since we had a bunch of PMs :)
You are in control of your body by way of #3. /quote:Get to the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex.
If you want to control the person's decisions and loyalty.
This region of the brain makes emotional regulation, moral decision-making, and risk evaluation.
You don’t move the person but control their desires, You can kind of program them to like things and push for them etc. You can make them feel loyalty or paranoia etc. It's like brainwashing and the person believes they are doing it because of their own ideas, but you have edited their ideas at the molecular / chemical level in the brain./quote
For your character, the voice he hears in his head is no less but the voice of God 🙂
Also, I just realized that neither Vespera Glint, nor Featherlight Silverlining have any clue what is going on with the people around themselves. That is the rest of you. Voices in the head are all well in good, but ppl starting a combat together if they never met dont quite work :) GOd is going to have to tlak to Featherlight Silverlining and Harknail will have some explaining to do with Vespera Glint. Manny Fernandez I guess is the only one without your problem, since he is the only one who is not a schizo atm :P (joking)
Since I have the time now, Lets assume the the danger befell Vespera Glint, since JSenecal already gave me rolls.
While you head towards each other, or shortly after, when you start heading away from the beach, Vespera Glint stumbles and falls.
@Vespera Glint - You at first think it was a root, sticking up from the ground, but then something tries to latch to your neck. Grapple check DC = 11
(I know its unfair, and the trip would have been a surprise action, but, the surprise action is the grapple after the trip and then we start on initiative. Because I am mean)
@Manny Fernandez and Featherlight Silverlining,
You see Vespera Glint trip and fall, but then she does not stand up, she rather starts struggling with something.
@Character77006, if you are entering a deal body with full control, you roll the scores (you did) and the body is yours. No voices there. If I am wrong and you chose a body that is alive, like JSenecal, let me know. If you want a live body, you have to use point buy and choose in which manner you control it.
For clarity - I am taking over a dead body, do I have any knowledge from the previous life of the dead body?
As for voices, I was a trying to play off of Harkin, so that is where that came from. I am a warlock, so voices do make sense if my Patron is giving me guidance? If not then no voices.
If I have no previous knowledge of my dead body, would I now know Vespera Glint and Featherlight Silverlining? How/Why would I know/recognize that those two are my MEP companions?
I am wearing the clothes I died in. Do I have anything else? Any weapons? Dagger/something to use as a sling/club/etc.
Are there small pebbles I can use to throw or load into a sling? (to use magic pebble spell)
For rolls so they exist if you want them? The rolls have the bonus mentioned so one can deduce quickly if a natural 1 or 20 is rolled.
You have al the memories of the MEP (you) and of the gnome (also you now). You are one and the same now. Everything the gnome knew, you know. That is why I posted about the world and the shroud. Anything else you want to know , you do as part of your background (see the example with the dragonborn and training on an airship and the tiefling getting away from the big city).
You are close enough to reach Vespera Glint in a round. What looks like a disembodied arm has gotten hold of her throat and is choking her.
Your perception check allows you to notice small, circling, black forms in the sky. The sky itself seems cloudy now, dark, looks like it might rain soon.
Your patron gifts allow you to note that the shapes in the sky, probably birds, are infected with the shroud.
The young Dragonborn was quite unprepared for everything that had happened over the last 15 minutes. It was supposed to be a fairly easy transport from the mainland to the Isle, and the trip had gone almost without a problem. There was that spat between the cook and some of the passengers about what actually constituted a 'Days' worth of rationing, which got very tense but wasn't leaning towards actual violence. But then the alarm was raised, "ALL HAND ON DECK!" Silverlining had been in the crew quarters when the call came in. He rushed up to the ships castle and met his mentor there. An elf (Arianna Skywatch) who had been guiding and setting course for the better part of two centuries. The Navigator had seen in Featherweight a desire to chart the stars when she found him applying with the shipwright's guild back in port. Most of the applicants were headstrong, already determined they knew everything. But the Dragonborn shown a peaceful mind (probably from his training as a Monk) that she thought she could mold. It wasn't long after his arrival on deck that the ship was torn in two. The look of terror on Arianna's face burned into his mind...And MEP-RU could tell it grieved him so.
"You must honor her death, live the life she has been denied, carry forth where she can no longer. She may not have taught you much, but she did trust you with learning her trade." MEP-RU allows a seeping of remorse to enter Silverlining's hormonal system as he sends the message into his mind. He quickly replaces it though with adrenaline, "But first, you have to get safe, there is still danger around."
"LOOK, up away from the shore, someone is struggling. QUICKLY, go see if you can help!" MEP-RU requests the AI's help in further motivating the monk in checking on Vespera's situation. Initiative: 15 (Rolled in log from character sheet.)
Manny looks for any other hand things nearby to ensure he is not ambushed (2nd roll perception needed? 11)
Assuming there are no more I use a strength check +2 11 to pry off the hand that is grappling Vespera Glint. I start with the thumb 1st. If there are more I attack them with a spell.
OOC:
Anything else you want to know , you do as part of your background (see the example with the dragonborn and training on an airship and the tiefling getting away from the big city).
Any post numbers? With 6 pages I am not locating those posts to reference.
yeah please tell me about that macro. I just made a drop box account, but i still cant put an image here. :(
Having just taken over a body that was drowning, MEP 1-HARKNAIL had to get the biological processes going again before the body died again. First order of business was to restart the heart. Next was clearing the water out of the lungs. That involved getting the head out of water and keeping it out of water long enough to expel the water and draw in air. A quick request from the AI for information on swimming showed MEP 1-HARKNAIL how to tread water. Once vertical, MEP 1-HARKNAIL forced a strong contraction of the chest muscles to expel as much water as possible. It couldn't all be expelled in this posture, but it made enough room to get at least some air, enough to keep the body functioning. Another consultation with the AI, to get the minimum effort method of propulsion showed MEP 1-HARKNAIL the back stroke. Laying on the back with head pointed toward shore, no effort need to keep nose and moth above water, and minimal effort with the arms to propel them towards shore. Minimum effort was important since there was still a lot of water in the longs and oxygen intake was limited. MEP 1-HARKNAIL discovered by accident that thrashing the tail gently greatly aided in propulsion without adding much to oxygen usage. Not surprising that the AI didn't know about that since its data didn't include humanoids with tails.
Treading water and swimming to shore is something Vespera could have done on her own, if she wasn't already in a total panic from falling from an airship, and if she had ever learned how to swim. MEP 1-HARKNAIL had the advantage of being machine calm, an extensive database, but perhaps the biggest factor, is that once they merged, MEP 1-HARKNAIL had an image of Vespera Glint on hands and knees on the beach, coughing up the rest of the water in her lungs. It didn't know where that image came from, but MEP 1-HARKNAIL was doing it's best to make that image come true.
Once things were more or less stable, MEP 1-HARKNAIL started communicating with Vespera. For her part Vespera was confused, she thought she had died, but at the last moment, she found herself still alive, but her body was moving on its own. Then a mysterious voice started talking to her....
By the time they reached shore, MEP 1-HARKNAIL had tried to explain the situation to Vespera Glint, but Vespera hadn't been able to absorb all of it. She got that somehow this Harknail thing had possessed her body and brought her back from the brink of death.
A few minutes later, they were on the beach enacting the scene that MEP 1-HARKNAIL had seen, on hands and knees coughing up the rest of the water to finish clearing the lungs.
You are all on the beach now then, you find eachother I assume and tackle the undead together ?
If you ask any of the other survivors, they are too dazed and out of it at the moment to help in the fights.
MEP-RU had completed its scan and collated the data. There weren’t any other MEPs about from 2279 beside the one in the crystal. As of now, it was the only energy source it knows about, so decides that keeping it and the crystal functioning is the best course of action. Within its scanned database, it looks for an appropriate soul/body. It had already had to cut mass with the WEEP-Nec once and didn’t want to invite that again so soon.
”Дракон” flashed among the code within the data he had accumulated. “What was that, that shouldn’t be there any longer.” But that was when the specific file showed that a scaled humanoid (Dragonborn, male, alive) had a 54% chance of being a suitable soul. Pulling the file for further examination indicated that the individual presented most likely came from the ship, was fairly agile, and dressed as someone who might believe in the extraordinary. “Gullible?” “Not quite, but willing to believe.” Came a response from within the central processor.
MEP-RU is aware that directly assuming control of a soul was originally forbidden by the protection protocols implemented by Dr Doe (unless there was grave need). “What was a graver need than stopping the grave from harming others?” MEP-RU reasoned. And with that, it entered the Dragonborn Monk. It made its way to the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex. It tried to synthesis the correct chemical concoction that would motivate this soul to elicit help for the local population. Heck, he was just blown out of the sky by a dragon, plummeted to the ground and had managed to survive the crash. If only MEP-RU could manage to emphasis that survival instinct, perhaps it could make it feel like ‘the hand of god’ and destiny caused him to be here, at this very moment.
MEP-RU worked, searched its data stores, and consulted with the AI to fabricate the correct hormonal cocktail that might make ‘Fate’ feel achievable.
(they way I see it, you are up and able now :) you have to meet each other then tell me if you go towards the crystal and villagers first or head straight to the grotto, or do something else entirely ? In either of those cases, who goes 1st or you are two abreast ? All three holding hands ? )
I am extremely interested in the person who is second once you start going. ,)
So after you get gong, the 2nd person please roll me a balance check. (acrobatics these days ?) DC = 20
Then everyone initiatives.
{Using * for mental communication *}
After coughing up all the water she had inhaled and puking up all the water she had swallowed in an unconscious effort not to inhale the water, Vespera lay on the beach exhausted, just like the other survivors. Her ribs ached from the abuse Harknail (whatever that was) had put her through to keep them alive. As she lay there just glad to be alive she heard Harknail's voice again.
* Vespera, you need to get up and fight the zombies and skeletons that are attacking the town. *
"What are you talking about? I'm completely spent here! Besides, fighting for others is just a good way to get killed. I fight for myself, no one else!"
* The zombies and skeletons are attacking the only village on this island. If the village is destroyed, there will be no safe place for you to stay. So by helping the village, you are helping yourself. *
Realizing that if she continued to protest, she might again find her body moving on it's own, Vespera acquiesced, "Fine, I'll do what I can, but I'm in no shape for a fight!"
* I'll do what I can about that. *
MEP 1-HARKNAIL then did what tweaking it could to get Vespera into fighting shape, trying to suppress her feelings of fatigue. Such tinkering was not without cost, she would be even more fatigued afterwards.
VESPERA is joining the others in the fight. Initiative 16 (rolled in game log) Acrobatics only 17 (rolled in game log)
Manny Fernandez
Manny coughs up water, the violence of the ejection of water wakes him into a haze. Manny gets up on all fours, and finishes coughing, then inhales a breath and coughs, and repeats. He slowly stands, then in the back of his head he hears voices. Turns and realizes it is his mind talking to him. He has not ever heard this before. The voices are saying fight...fight zombies...fight the skeletons...move and fight...
Manny with out realizing he took a step started to walk. A few more unintended steps then Manny sees Vespera, she is walking the same direction, and Manny begins to walk toward her. Manny is feeling more control over his body. He notices how fatigued Vespera looks. Seeing her state, he realizes that he is not ready to shout her name but ambles over to her. Walking a bit like the zombies are.
(things as I see them so far, and there are big gaps here, so help me please.
@JSenecal, I have sent you a PM about that. Once we fix that one we are good to go.
@Character77006, if you are entering a deal body with full control, you roll the scores (you did) and the body is yours. No voices there. If I am wrong and you chose a body that is alive, like JSenecal, let me know. If you want a live body, you have to use point buy and choose in which manner you control it.
@kohlmetz_d, I think your situation is clearest for me atm, since we had a bunch of PMs :)
You are in control of your body by way of #3. /quote:Get to the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex.
If you want to control the person's decisions and loyalty.
This region of the brain makes emotional regulation, moral decision-making, and risk evaluation.
You don’t move the person but control their desires, You can kind of program them to like things and push for them etc. You can make them feel loyalty or paranoia etc. It's like brainwashing and the person believes they are doing it because of their own ideas, but you have edited their ideas at the molecular / chemical level in the brain./quote
For your character, the voice he hears in his head is no less but the voice of God 🙂
Also, I just realized that neither Vespera Glint, nor Featherlight Silverlining have any clue what is going on with the people around themselves. That is the rest of you. Voices in the head are all well in good, but ppl starting a combat together if they never met dont quite work :) GOd is going to have to tlak to Featherlight Silverlining and Harknail will have some explaining to do with Vespera Glint. Manny Fernandez I guess is the only one without your problem, since he is the only one who is not a schizo atm :P (joking)
Since I have the time now, Lets assume the the danger befell Vespera Glint, since JSenecal already gave me rolls.
While you head towards each other, or shortly after, when you start heading away from the beach, Vespera Glint stumbles and falls.
@Vespera Glint - You at first think it was a root, sticking up from the ground, but then something tries to latch to your neck. Grapple check DC = 11
(I know its unfair, and the trip would have been a surprise action, but, the surprise action is the grapple after the trip and then we start on initiative. Because I am mean)
@Manny Fernandez and Featherlight Silverlining,
You see Vespera Glint trip and fall, but then she does not stand up, she rather starts struggling with something.
@GMs Initiative = 8
Hmm, testing dice: Grapple: 12 <--- this one is totally bonkers. trying again under
Initiative: 18
Grapple DC = 21
BTW, in the game log, how can I type with the roll ? I could not see anywhere to type.
For clarity - I am taking over a dead body, do I have any knowledge from the previous life of the dead body?
As for voices, I was a trying to play off of Harkin, so that is where that came from. I am a warlock, so voices do make sense if my Patron is giving me guidance? If not then no voices.
If I have no previous knowledge of my dead body, would I now know Vespera Glint and Featherlight Silverlining? How/Why would I know/recognize that those two are my MEP companions?
I am wearing the clothes I died in. Do I have anything else? Any weapons? Dagger/something to use as a sling/club/etc.
Are there small pebbles I can use to throw or load into a sling? (to use magic pebble spell)
For rolls so they exist if you want them? The rolls have the bonus mentioned so one can deduce quickly if a natural 1 or 20 is rolled.
Initiative +3 16
Perception +4 18
Acrobatics +3 14
Athletics +2 19
You have al the memories of the MEP (you) and of the gnome (also you now). You are one and the same now. Everything the gnome knew, you know. That is why I posted about the world and the shroud. Anything else you want to know , you do as part of your background (see the example with the dragonborn and training on an airship and the tiefling getting away from the big city).
You are close enough to reach Vespera Glint in a round. What looks like a disembodied arm has gotten hold of her throat and is choking her.
Your perception check allows you to notice small, circling, black forms in the sky. The sky itself seems cloudy now, dark, looks like it might rain soon.
Your patron gifts allow you to note that the shapes in the sky, probably birds, are infected with the shroud.
So far, you can only see one of those things, the one choking Vespera.
I like this one more if it works:
Testing:
The young Dragonborn was quite unprepared for everything that had happened over the last 15 minutes. It was supposed to be a fairly easy transport from the mainland to the Isle, and the trip had gone almost without a problem. There was that spat between the cook and some of the passengers about what actually constituted a 'Days' worth of rationing, which got very tense but wasn't leaning towards actual violence. But then the alarm was raised, "ALL HAND ON DECK!" Silverlining had been in the crew quarters when the call came in. He rushed up to the ships castle and met his mentor there. An elf (Arianna Skywatch) who had been guiding and setting course for the better part of two centuries. The Navigator had seen in Featherweight a desire to chart the stars when she found him applying with the shipwright's guild back in port. Most of the applicants were headstrong, already determined they knew everything. But the Dragonborn shown a peaceful mind (probably from his training as a Monk) that she thought she could mold. It wasn't long after his arrival on deck that the ship was torn in two. The look of terror on Arianna's face burned into his mind...And MEP-RU could tell it grieved him so.
"You must honor her death, live the life she has been denied, carry forth where she can no longer. She may not have taught you much, but she did trust you with learning her trade." MEP-RU allows a seeping of remorse to enter Silverlining's hormonal system as he sends the message into his mind. He quickly replaces it though with adrenaline, "But first, you have to get safe, there is still danger around."
"LOOK, up away from the shore, someone is struggling. QUICKLY, go see if you can help!" MEP-RU requests the AI's help in further motivating the monk in checking on Vespera's situation.
Initiative: 15 (Rolled in log from character sheet.)
Manny
Manny looks for any other hand things nearby to ensure he is not ambushed (2nd roll perception needed? 11)
Assuming there are no more I use a strength check +2 11 to pry off the hand that is grappling Vespera Glint. I start with the thumb 1st. If there are more I attack them with a spell.
Any post numbers? With 6 pages I am not locating those posts to reference.
No numbers are popping up.