There is something that I have been mildly interested in for quite a bit of time now and I figured, why not just go ahead and ask?
To wit, back in Grenhuld, with the "new reveals" and everything, are the exiles having to coopt the native martial artists, magicians, "psychics" and other groups of people who finally see signs of the "real deal" here? I am not sure to what degree their fear of the unknown has stifled Grenhould culture, but surely there are scammers peddling magical powers in their society to some degree, right?
Where do you think would be safer than Garenhuld? It has a lot going for it as a location of refuge. Unless you mean safety from Dandeer in which case yeah but tbh we might be able to wish er around directly, her power level is pretty low.
Not that low. She trains, remember.
As for where would be safer, I've really got no idea - it's a low-priority punt of a wish, on the off-chance that Porunga both knows a place and can get them all there.
There is something that I have been mildly interested in for quite a bit of time now and I figured, why not just go ahead and ask?
To wit, back in Grenhuld, with the "new reveals" and everything, are the exiles having to coopt the native martial artists, magicians, "psychics" and other groups of people who finally see signs of the "real deal" here? I am not sure to what degree their fear of the unknown has stifled Grenhould culture, but surely there are scammers peddling magical powers in their society to some degree, right?
The cultural role of charlatan magician is typically held by street storytellers relating old fables. Garenhulders are big on stories, less on superpowers.
Street storytellers won't claim to be working magic; instead they'll weave a spellbinding tale of action and intrigue — long lost to the mists of time, of course. It is considered a sign of great skill to be able to momentarily convince one's audience that the action is real, and the magic is no trick at all, if only for a moment...
...as one's helpers pick the audience's pockets, in one version of the scam.
I am not sure to what degree their fear of the unknown has stifled Grenhould culture, but surely there are scammers peddling magical powers in their society to some degree, right?
I am given to understand that their culture is quite divergent in their willingness to explore new ideas and strange possibilities. This would likely make a lot of scams much more difficult, as people are more resistant to jumping onto some grand possibility or exploring some unknown potential. I don't doubt that they would exist, but would expect it to be to a much lesser extent than we have to deal with.
The cultural role of charlatan magician is typically held by street storytellers relating old fables. Garenhulders are big on stories, less on superpowers.
Street storytellers won't claim to be working magic; instead they'll weave a spellbinding tale of action and intrigue — long lost to the mists of time, of course. It is considered a sign of great skill to be able to momentarily convince one's audience that the action is real, and the magic is no trick at all, if only for a moment...
...as one's helpers pick the audience's pockets, in one version of the scam.
What about priests or spiritual leaders? Are they seeking the Exiles now for their seeming answer to a few theological questions? (Like, they are referred to as spirit warriors by that one Grenhulder a while back.)
What about "normal" martial artists? As in, the ones that Exiles aren't masquerading as anyway.
....Are any of these storyteller scam artists beggining to incorporate the existance of the Exiles into their scams?
"Oh yes, an old tale. A forbidden tale, you see, but one known to us story tellers and us story tellers alone. But now that the hidden has come to light, it wouldn't due to let you folks remain ignorant of the many storied and audacious tales from these warriors. All for a rather modest price of 20 dollars a listener of course~."
What about priests or spiritual leaders? Are they seeking the Exiles now for their seeming answer to a few theological questions? (Like, they are referred to as spirit warriors by that one Grenhulder a while back.)
What about "normal" martial artists? As in, the ones that Exiles aren't masquerading as anyway.
....Are any of these storyteller scam artists beggining to incorporate the existance of the Exiles into their scams?
"Oh yes, an old tale. A forbidden tale, you see, but one known to us story tellers and us story tellers alone. But now that the hidden has come to light, it wouldn't due to let you folks remain ignorant of the many storied and audacious tales from these warriors. All for a rather modest price of 20 dollars a listener of course~."
(A quick note that all of my commentary on the, "present," state of affairs on Garenhuld is current as of Kakara's last personal experience several months ago.)
Religion on Garenhuld is typically held to be a very private affair; there's no tradition of proselytization. That said, yes, there were priests asking to speak to Berra, as some religions did have mythical figures with a resemblance to ki warriors. He tended to ignore them.
They're excited and very frustrated that none of the Exiles will talk to them.
You may always count on scammers to be quick on the draw when it comes to updating their patter.
[X] Yes, train Dazarel. It will take a lot of effort over a very long time, but with your own plans to reverse a great many sealings, you're of the opinion that Dazarel's prison no longer seems as comfortably secure as you once thought it. You would like him not to want to be a problem. And...a part of you -- one you are mostly and unsuccessfully trying to ignore -- feels sorry for him. He is the way he is because he was manipulated into hurting himself and hundreds of billions of other people for somebody else's ends. Nobody should live like that -- and this, you can fix. Options to train Dazarel as a means of redeeming him become available on monthly votes.
I think we should teach him Multiform first. It's explicitly noted to burn something other than direct stamina, so his current Sealed state shouldn't be too bothered. Plus, he's already less than 10 even in his actual body, nevermind as a Shade, so Multiform is probably the best way to get him to perform better mid-combat.
For the second time this month, COVID has come to my job. This time, a coworker tested positive, as opposed to a client's mother testing positive and not having it in her to make her son get tested. So, the company is shut down for quarantine, and I am in quarantine when in my home, so I do not endanger my wife and housemate.
Again.
You'd think this would leave me with ample free time to write, but it turns out that being able to see but not touch the people I love is massively distressing to me and it kind of tanks my ability to function, so frankly expect nothing for a while longer.
For the second time this month, COVID has come to my job. This time, a coworker tested positive, as opposed to a client's mother testing positive and not having it in her to make her son get tested. So, the company is shut down for quarantine, and I am in quarantine when in my home, so I do not endanger my wife and housemate.
Again.
You'd think this would leave me with ample free time to write, but it turns out that being able to see but not touch the people I love is massively distressing to me and it kind of tanks my ability to function, so frankly expect nothing for a while longer.
I know the feeling, despite all the extra free time, my muse is flighty at best, when I'm writing anything at all. Just not being able to go outside is incredibly stressful, nevermind not being able to actually meet up with people. Take your time.
Well, I made a bet with two other QMs that if they updated their quests, I would do so today. And fewer than 24 hours later, updates ensued.
...all right. It will probably be better for me to do something productive anyway. Vote closed.
Vote Tally : Dragon Ball: After the End Sci-Fi | Page 1522 | Sufficient Velocity [Posts: 38043-38132] ##### NetTally 2.2.4
[X] Yes, train Dazarel. It will take a lot of effort over a very long time, but with your own plans to reverse a great many sealings, you're of the opinion that Dazarel's prison no longer seems as comfortably secure as you once thought it. You would like him not to want to be a problem. And...a part of you -- one you are mostly and unsuccessfully trying to ignore -- feels sorry for him. He is the way he is because he was manipulated into hurting himself and hundreds of billions of other people for somebody else's ends. Nobody should live like that -- and this, you can fix. Options to train Dazarel as a means of redeeming him become available on monthly votes. No. of Votes: 25
[X] Jirachi47
[X] Adnate
[X] Aranfan
[X] buli-buli
[X] Cariyaga
[X] Chuck12
[X] Damian45
[X] Deathbybunnies
[X] DragonBox9494
[X] googlyeyesultra
[X] HoratioVonBecker
[X] ilbgar123
[X] jy3
[X] KnightDisciple
[X] LeMat
[X] LordKill90908
[X] Mizu
[X] pandadogunited
[X] Parzival95
[X] Pathos
[X] Pittauro
[X] QTesseract
[X] Terrabrand
[X] The Fourth Monado
[X] ToasterStrudel
Total No. of Voters: 25
[X] Yes, train Dazarel. It will take a lot of effort over a very long time, but with your own plans to reverse a great many sealings, you're of the opinion that Dazarel's prison no longer seems as comfortably secure as you once thought it. You would like him not to want to be a problem. And...a part of you -- one you are mostly and unsuccessfully trying to ignore -- feels sorry for him. He is the way he is because he was manipulated into hurting himself and hundreds of billions of other people for somebody else's ends. Nobody should live like that -- and this, you can fix. Options to train Dazarel as a means of redeeming him become available on monthly votes.
[X] Yes, train Dazarel. It will take a lot of effort over a very long time, but with your own plans to reverse a great many sealings, you're of the opinion that Dazarel's prison no longer seems as comfortably secure as you once thought it. You would like him not to want to be a problem. And...a part of you -- one you are mostly and unsuccessfully trying to ignore -- feels sorry for him. He is the way he is because he was manipulated into hurting himself and hundreds of billions of other people for somebody else's ends. Nobody should live like that -- and this, you can fix. Options to train Dazarel as a means of redeeming him become available on monthly votes.
[X] Plan Deathbybunnies
-[X] Sight: 3 (2+1)
--[X] Continue Your Training (1 AP)
--[X] Looking Abroad (1 AP) [Perfect Cell's Perfect Multiform]
--[X] Looking Abroad (1 AP) [The Namek invasion fleet - from where will it stage the invasion?]
-[X] Training: (3+2)
--[X] Improve a Skill (1 AP) [Kikoho]
--[X] To Go Beyond (1 AP) [Perfect Multiform]
--[X] Style Training (2 AP) [Tien Style]
--[X] New Skills (1 AP) [Ki Overdrive] Use a vision if Kakara thinks it would be helpful.
-[X] Social: 4 (2+2)
--[X] Strengthen Host Bond (1 AP)
--[X] General Training (2 AP)
--[X] Talk to Dazarel (1 AP)
-[X] A Cause: 1 (1+0)
--[X] Improve a Skill (1 AP) [Ki Refinement]
Tighter Ties
General Training: 73
Host Bond: 35
Bugle pants as he snaps his leg out in a kick for the hundredth time. "Scion, are you sure-?"
"Completely," you say, smirking from within Bassoon's head as you fold your arms, watching the show through the sky. "Fundamentals are important!"
Bugle groans, pausing for a moment to rub at his scar and swipe away some sweat. "I know how to move my ki," he grumbles.
You shrug. "'course you do. I'm not saying you don't. But you aren't as good as I am." You point at his leg as he kicks again. "See? You're not moving your ki along with your body. You're pushing it through so it drags your body with it."
"I'm not that ham-fisted!" he snaps, scowling now.
You sigh. "I'm explaining poorly. You aren't doing bad. This is what people are taught to do, because you can learn it faster. But you give up a lot of growth if you do that. Your ki isn't empowering your body. Your ki is you. Focus less on the mechanics of how you're moving. Draw on your ki and just move. Don't think about it too hard."
As Bugle continues the exercises, grumbling, you glance over to Lyre and Flute, the two men having opted to spar with one another as training. You sigh. "All right, stop!"
The two spring apart, looking over at you Bassoon, and you. "What is it?" asks Lyre.
"I think I might need to split you two up," you say.
Flute's cheerful expression instantly goes blank. "That meaning?" he says.
"Training separately," you clarify. "You two work really well together, but it means you have a rhythm that's hard to break. Try running your exercises on your own and focusing on what I've told you." You turn away, silently prodding Bassoon to turn to face Snare. "Snare..."
The lanky man takes a swig of water, feet propped up on the edge of the console. He swallows. "Nah."
"You could learn a lot," you say.
"I know," he replies, drinking again. "Nah."
You huff, and Bassoon laughs. "Give it a rest, Kakara!" he says, shaking his head. "Snare isn't a fighter. He knows his skillset, and he's happy with it. Just let it be, he'll be fine."
Snare raises his water bottle, picking up a tablet. "'ppreciated."
You sigh sharply, turning away. "Lazy," you mutter, keeping it inside of Bassoon's head.
'Oh, come on, that isn't fair,' chides Bassoon.
You wave him off. "I know, I know. Just frustrating." You sigh. "Okay!" You straighten, grinning. "Bassoon, show me your exercises!"
You watch him reluctantly get into action, listening to him groan with frustration, and fold your arms, chuckling. Slow progress, you reflect, but it's coming. You focus a little harder on Bassoon's movements than you have the others; as you see him starting to move, you tap your foot on the ground beneath you. 'Like this,' you push to him, shunting some ki into the earth.
In the world beyond, Bassoon shifts his stance ever-so-slightly, and ki flows a little more smoothly through his legs.
You smile. That had been a particularly thorny trick to get down, but you'd both managed it after a while. It wasn't so hard once you really got comfortable with sharing the space; after all, you're both in here, so it only makes sense that the ki is stuff that can act on you both. You can't outright control him, and you don't have anything like the fine input you have over your own ki, but it's quite useful, as a teaching tool.
It's also...not quite done, yet. You can only do it semi-reliably, and to limited effect. But the potential...glorious.
Kakara has spent the month drilling her new companions on what she considers their fundamentals: their ki control. Good progress so far, largely in breaking down their current, flawed, habits of doing things. Exact progress to be displayed at a later date, once I re-establish sheets for other characters in more...manageable...format. For now: it's good, but there's still plenty of room to grow.
Your host bond with Bassoon has grown! As you two become accustomed to working together, you are beginning to gain the ability to send ki into him, guiding his movements to an extent. You are still developing this ability, but it is on the cusp of deployment. This will have many applications. Mechanically, it will serve as a bonus to Bassoon's physical actions that he performs while you are paying active attention.
For the dozenth time this month, you peer at the sight of Goku and Cell, squaring off. Cell announces his latest trick -- and wasn't it quite the shock, when you learned the ancestors and their opponents actually did things like that? -- and he splits into four beings. All of an equal power with Goku. All fearsome. And...
…all defeated, in the space of a moment, as Goku lines them up for a counterblow and smashes them into the ground, where all but one dissolves.
You frown.
* * *
Back.
* * *
You awaken, still frowning. "Test number twelve: still disappointing," you grumble.
This month, you had decided to try two things at once: testing and training your new endurance for visions, and investigating Cell's Perfect Multiform. Thus far, it seems like twelve may be a soft limit over this kind of time frame; much more than you used to have, although still quite limited when you consider how much context visions could be prone to omitting.
Case in point: the fact that you've spent twelve visions looking into Cell, and you've gotten no further than the conclusion, "Actually, I don't think Cell ever had a perfect multiform at all."
Yeah. Fun. All evidence suggests that you've launched this grand endeavor in pursuit of a technique that possibly never existed in the first place, and your entire civilization just kind of assumed that its supposed inventor was being honest. Frankly, sounds unbelievable, but from what you can see? Those clones were far too fragile to be true clones. A single hit, from an opponent who was only maybe a peer to any one of them, took them all out? Aside from lower power level and dissolving rather than taking mortal wounds, clones aren't particularly fragile. Here you were, trying to figure out how Cell managed to do this without compromising, and it turns out he'd instead decided to compromise in a direction you hadn't considered because it renders the clones even more worthless than either of the others! Nobody's good enough to take no hits, guaranteed, against a cornered peer opponent. It might happen, sure, but to count on it? To waste precious time making a technique that could do it?
In hindsight, unsurprising. He only had a week. But nevertheless, given you were hunting for insights on your own, legitimate breakthrough, infuriating.
Honestly! Some people have no respect for good reporting standards!
Training this month focused on charting the new edges of your Sight, and you've found your endurance has skyrocketed dramatically. Investigations into Cell's Perfect Multiform have borne less fruit; it would seem that it isn't perfect at all. The clones died far too swiftly the second Goku got in a good hit. It has given you some insights into potential alternate avenues of investigation, though, so there's that. You don't want to make clones that pop like soap bubbles, but there's probably a proof of concept to be had somewhere that you'd find valuable.
And we're back!
Man, life has been heavy, lately. Two COVID lockdowns, personal turmoil everywhere, I've had no energy for writing. Thank @FantasticMsFox and @Blackstar, who bet me an update from each of their quests that I'd update mine by now, for kicking my ass back into gear for one quest, at least. No vote; I'll just write up a proper month post next, since this has finished out last month's. Welcome back, folks! Have fun with the update, and have a chat about it while you wait for the next one!
Investigations into Cell's Perfect Multiform have borne less fruit; it would seem that it isn't perfect at all. The clones died far too swiftly the second Goku got in a good hit. It has given you some insights into potential alternate avenues of investigation, though, so there's that. You don't want to make clones that pop like soap bubbles, but there's probably a proof of concept to be had somewhere that you'd find valuable.
The only real applications that immediately spring to mind are of the "which one is the real one" variety. I suppose it might also be okay if you just really need to land one specific move right then?
The only real applications that immediately spring to mind are of the "which one is the real one" variety. I suppose it might also be okay if you just really need to land one specific move right then?
I dunno, combined with IT and good ol' ranged fighting, our delicate soap-bubble clone could still lay down some hurt.
Hmm, what if one or two clones were weak, but the rest were ordinarily durable for melee fighting? We could put somebody in a full-nelson, kill them with a special beam cannon, and not even die from it!
... or maybe not kill them given the whole pacifism thing. Point is, delicate clone can still be the piccolo in that scenario while more durable bodies(?) run interference.
Fragile clones would still offer their full power to whatever non-combat tasks they might be called upon to perform. It also suggests that there is a range of flaws that could be called upon. As said previously:
If one can make an otherwise full-power clone that is vulnerable, or make one that is less vulnerable but lacks strength, then perhaps one can have full strength and resilience but compromised speed or senses. By customising clones to different tasks, it would increase the fragility of individual members, and have a team that is vulnerable to a breakdown of its formation and tactics, but could potentially be much stronger. Tactics like a slow grappler being hurled at someone to pin them alongside a weak sniper stunning them and a half-blind clone holding their attention with the aid of a sense-sharing technique... . Perhaps if there are different flavours of ki technique, we might be able to create a purely short-range clone that is indistinguishable aside from the inability to project ki more than a couple of metres.
Case in point: the fact that you've spent twelve visions looking into Cell, and you've gotten no further than the conclusion, "Actually, I don't think Cell ever had a perfect multiform at all."
still, understanding how HE compromised can give us a few more ideas of how to modify the technique. Making clones with different weaknesses depending on what they're used for (as suggested above) is certainly a possibility, maybe reserving the TRULY perfect (and much more tiring) clones for when they're truly needed.
Otherwise, well... we just need to get good, I suppose. Though.. I wonder, could we try an open-ended vision, searching for someone in this vast universe that DID achieve the technique? Like, maybe the people of Yardrat managed something like it (they DID have a clone technique in the Super manga (Moro Arc), though it was barely showed), or a hermit on some planet, or a previous god.
For the dozenth time this month, you peer at the sight of Goku and Cell, squaring off. Cell announces his latest trick -- and wasn't it quite the shock, when you learned the ancestors and their opponents actually did things like that? -- and he splits into four beings. All of an equal power with Goku. All fearsome. And...
Was this a poke at the general perception of DBZ just involving people fighting one another and the bigger powerlevel winning all the time, with no tactics involved beyond 'punch the enemy'? I found it amusing regardless.
