-
Going forward, links to content from Twitter (now X) will no longer be embedded. Pre-existing links should not be affected.
Safe Mode (Worm)
- Thread starter UnwelcomeStorm
- Start date
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Ask Dragon if she has any idea who you are or if she knows a quick way to find that information
[X] Suggest "Graham" as a temporary name.
[X] Suggest "Graham" as a temporary name.
Last edited:
- Location
- UK
[X] Ask Dragon if she has any idea who you are or if she knows a quick way to find that information
[X] Suggest "Archedemos" as an interim name.
[X] Suggest "Archedemos" as an interim name.
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Putting aside the issue of choosing a mythological name as a personal moniker and not a cape name, I just feel like you should know that Archedmos would be immediately shortened to Archie.
Edit: Actually, scratch that. I will actually call author fiat against Archedemos, because upon further research, it's in reference to "nympholepsy," which was described as an ecstatic frenzy induced in men by the desire for beautiful girls. Its closest association in contemporary culture is basically pedophilia, thanks to the novel Lolita.
Edit: Actually, scratch that. I will actually call author fiat against Archedemos, because upon further research, it's in reference to "nympholepsy," which was described as an ecstatic frenzy induced in men by the desire for beautiful girls. Its closest association in contemporary culture is basically pedophilia, thanks to the novel Lolita.
Last edited:
- Location
- Here
[X] Ask Dragon what happened between her and Armsmaster, and consider finding something to do with your hands to help you stay calm.
[X] Suggest "Graham" as a temporary name.
I think right now we should be focusing on keeping ourselves from freaking out more, and trying to find out a little more about the woman living in our head since apparently we're going to be brainmates for the next little while.
[X] Suggest "Graham" as a temporary name.
I think right now we should be focusing on keeping ourselves from freaking out more, and trying to find out a little more about the woman living in our head since apparently we're going to be brainmates for the next little while.
- Location
- Sector 2814
In my defense, most of my recollection of mythology was from when I was super into it as a kid, and... Either I just didn't read those connections, or I didn't understand them at the time. So my thought process here was, "who do I remember who was known for being possessed," and... I really didn't double check my references (or the implications thereof) before posting. Whoops...
- Location
- Kansas
Huh, so Dragon somehow ended up getting downloaded into the MC's head? How badly is Saint panicking right now? Cause I doubt his backdoor can watch her in the meat suit.
Or did Dragon's backup come back online once she got trapped in the MC's head?
Or did Dragon's backup come back online once she got trapped in the MC's head?
- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Ask Dragon what happened between her and Armsmaster, and consider finding something to do with your hands to help you stay calm.
[X] Suggest "Graham" as a temporary name.
[X] Suggest "Graham" as a temporary name.
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Vote Results
The stranger seems to trust Dragon a little.
The stranger thinks Graham is a decent name.
Inserted tally
The stranger seems to trust Dragon a little.
The stranger thinks Graham is a decent name.
Inserted tally
11
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Chapter 10 Results
The stranger seems to trust Dragon a little.
The stranger thinks Graham is a decent name.
11
Saturday, April 16th
Evening
The stranger eyed the closed door. It wasn't locked—he'd checked—but that didn't necessarily mean he was free to roam around the Palanquin. The implication that he was being held here chafed, but he thought that waiting patiently for Faultline to do... whatever decision-making she needed to was the courteous response to her hospitality. He'd just have to occupy himself until someone came to get him.
A coughing fit only cemented the decision. He'd definitely caught some sort of cold, and wandering around in such a state did not appeal in the slightest. Whatever the stranger's misgivings about ending up here, at least the Palanquin was shelter. "I'd better not have to run anytime soon..."
Man, no kidding. That cough sounds bad. I can't help you there, either, I'm not into the whole 'exercise' and 'healthy living' things. Wouldn't know where to begin taking care of that.
Well, that was... odd, for a number of reasons. After casting another nervous glance at the door, the stranger asked, "But... you're Protectorate? Aren't you supposed to run around being a hero, or something?"
Ehhhhh. Kinda, Dragon hedged. Yes, I'm signed on with the Protectorate... but, I'm a Tinker. Most of my work is done in a lab. If a Tinker's specialty isn't explicitly for warfare, then sometimes they're considered too valuable to risk in combat. Same thing happens to Thinkers. I've never even been assigned to patrols, actually.
"Oh. So, what do you actually do, then?"
Well, every Tinker has something they're particularly good at; I'm pretty great with computers, but my most valuable contribution to the Protectorate is my talent for understanding other people's tinkertech, and more or less trying to reverse-engineer them. It's got great synergy with Armsmaster—he's specced for Efficiency—because I'll get a sample of some tech, build a copy as best I can, then hand that copy over to Armsmaster, who'll improve it and strip it down to something simpler, more portable, and so on. And then we just trade back and forth until we've got something easy to make in relatively large quantities, Dragon explained, her voice holding a definite tinge of pride as she spoke. Between the two of us, we're responsible for developing almost 60% of the tinkertech in common use by the PRT. We've really made their jobs safer and more effective. We also sometimes help maintain and service any major Protectorate-operated tinkertech installations on pretty much the entire eastern seaboard; Armsmaster complains about that part, he doesn't like being pulled away from his projects to go work on someone else's.
That sounded like a lot. More specifically, that sounded like something the PRT would not want to lose track of. As morbid as it was, the city-wide bombing had probably been a lucky coincidence for the stranger, to help keep the PRT's attention occupied instead of hunting him (and Dragon) down. The stranger decided that he should probably change the subject, before his hands started shaking from anxiety. "Um, that's... cool, I guess. Returning to an earlier topic, though; if you don't know who I am, do you know a way I can find out?"
Hmm. I think that might depend on how you got here, exactly, and I'm afraid I don't have the details on that. I mentioned that I'm usually pretty good about maintaining awareness, but you threw me for a loop. You were already outside the PRT building before I woke up.
The stranger turned that statement over in his head a few times, trying to follow Dragon's logic. "I don't understand."
Sorry. I suppose I could try asking you some questions, and see if anything jogs your memory?
"I don't know if that will get us anywhere, but... okay."
Alright! So first, you said you don't know your name, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't choose one. Go ahead, pick something that feels natural.
"Uh..." That wasn't quite what the stranger had in mind, but he supposed it was a pretty valid concern. If he was talking to someone, they would probably want a way to address him other than 'hey, you.' "...Graham? I guess Graham sounds okay."
Got it. So, Graham, how old are you? Just guess.
The stranger considered the question. He didn't know his birthday, obviously, but he was supposed to guess with whatever felt right, right? He mentally lined up the different people he'd seen or met since escaping the PRT building, and tried to decide where he'd likely fit among them. "Sixteen? Nineteen? Somewhere around there."
Interesting. I thought you seemed a bit immature—no offense—but wasn't sure if that was just because you're so timid. Just so you know, the body we're in is a 30-something year old male. Last thing, can you tell me what you look like?
"What? Can't you see what I do?" He'd assumed that had been the case...
Just indulge me. What color are your eyes? Your hair?
The stranger opened his mouth to reply, then paused. He should know this. He had to know, right? He'd looked in a mirror right after his shower. He'd fixed his hair, he remembered that, but when he tried to think of what he looked like, he couldn't picture anything. Why? What was wrong with him?! "I-- I d-don't..."
Easy, calm down, calm down! It's okay! It's fine. Everything's fine, don't get upset. I'm sure things will clear up in time. You probably can't remember what our body looks like because you don't see that as your face, that's all.
Was she patronizing him? He knew he was nervous, but he wasn't made of glass. "It's fine. Let's move on."
There's not really anything to move on to, at least right now. Although... she trailed off.
"What?"
Well. There's something I need to look into, and it might help both of us. But I'm going to need you to do it.
The stranger didn't think he liked the direction this conversation was taking. Something about the way Dragon was avoiding directly saying what she wanted was putting him on edge. And he had Faultline to worry about, he didn't know what she'd want from him, either, as well as trying to find a way to deal with the bombs, even if they'd grown less frequent. "What would you need me for?"
...I need you to steal the PRT's confidential personnel files.
It is Saturday, April 16th
It is Night
What now?
[ ]Write-in
The stranger seems to trust Dragon a little.
The stranger thinks Graham is a decent name.
11
Saturday, April 16th
Evening
The stranger eyed the closed door. It wasn't locked—he'd checked—but that didn't necessarily mean he was free to roam around the Palanquin. The implication that he was being held here chafed, but he thought that waiting patiently for Faultline to do... whatever decision-making she needed to was the courteous response to her hospitality. He'd just have to occupy himself until someone came to get him.
A coughing fit only cemented the decision. He'd definitely caught some sort of cold, and wandering around in such a state did not appeal in the slightest. Whatever the stranger's misgivings about ending up here, at least the Palanquin was shelter. "I'd better not have to run anytime soon..."
Man, no kidding. That cough sounds bad. I can't help you there, either, I'm not into the whole 'exercise' and 'healthy living' things. Wouldn't know where to begin taking care of that.
Well, that was... odd, for a number of reasons. After casting another nervous glance at the door, the stranger asked, "But... you're Protectorate? Aren't you supposed to run around being a hero, or something?"
Ehhhhh. Kinda, Dragon hedged. Yes, I'm signed on with the Protectorate... but, I'm a Tinker. Most of my work is done in a lab. If a Tinker's specialty isn't explicitly for warfare, then sometimes they're considered too valuable to risk in combat. Same thing happens to Thinkers. I've never even been assigned to patrols, actually.
"Oh. So, what do you actually do, then?"
Well, every Tinker has something they're particularly good at; I'm pretty great with computers, but my most valuable contribution to the Protectorate is my talent for understanding other people's tinkertech, and more or less trying to reverse-engineer them. It's got great synergy with Armsmaster—he's specced for Efficiency—because I'll get a sample of some tech, build a copy as best I can, then hand that copy over to Armsmaster, who'll improve it and strip it down to something simpler, more portable, and so on. And then we just trade back and forth until we've got something easy to make in relatively large quantities, Dragon explained, her voice holding a definite tinge of pride as she spoke. Between the two of us, we're responsible for developing almost 60% of the tinkertech in common use by the PRT. We've really made their jobs safer and more effective. We also sometimes help maintain and service any major Protectorate-operated tinkertech installations on pretty much the entire eastern seaboard; Armsmaster complains about that part, he doesn't like being pulled away from his projects to go work on someone else's.
That sounded like a lot. More specifically, that sounded like something the PRT would not want to lose track of. As morbid as it was, the city-wide bombing had probably been a lucky coincidence for the stranger, to help keep the PRT's attention occupied instead of hunting him (and Dragon) down. The stranger decided that he should probably change the subject, before his hands started shaking from anxiety. "Um, that's... cool, I guess. Returning to an earlier topic, though; if you don't know who I am, do you know a way I can find out?"
Hmm. I think that might depend on how you got here, exactly, and I'm afraid I don't have the details on that. I mentioned that I'm usually pretty good about maintaining awareness, but you threw me for a loop. You were already outside the PRT building before I woke up.
The stranger turned that statement over in his head a few times, trying to follow Dragon's logic. "I don't understand."
Sorry. I suppose I could try asking you some questions, and see if anything jogs your memory?
"I don't know if that will get us anywhere, but... okay."
Alright! So first, you said you don't know your name, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't choose one. Go ahead, pick something that feels natural.
"Uh..." That wasn't quite what the stranger had in mind, but he supposed it was a pretty valid concern. If he was talking to someone, they would probably want a way to address him other than 'hey, you.' "...Graham? I guess Graham sounds okay."
Got it. So, Graham, how old are you? Just guess.
The stranger considered the question. He didn't know his birthday, obviously, but he was supposed to guess with whatever felt right, right? He mentally lined up the different people he'd seen or met since escaping the PRT building, and tried to decide where he'd likely fit among them. "Sixteen? Nineteen? Somewhere around there."
Interesting. I thought you seemed a bit immature—no offense—but wasn't sure if that was just because you're so timid. Just so you know, the body we're in is a 30-something year old male. Last thing, can you tell me what you look like?
"What? Can't you see what I do?" He'd assumed that had been the case...
Just indulge me. What color are your eyes? Your hair?
The stranger opened his mouth to reply, then paused. He should know this. He had to know, right? He'd looked in a mirror right after his shower. He'd fixed his hair, he remembered that, but when he tried to think of what he looked like, he couldn't picture anything. Why? What was wrong with him?! "I-- I d-don't..."
Easy, calm down, calm down! It's okay! It's fine. Everything's fine, don't get upset. I'm sure things will clear up in time. You probably can't remember what our body looks like because you don't see that as your face, that's all.
Was she patronizing him? He knew he was nervous, but he wasn't made of glass. "It's fine. Let's move on."
There's not really anything to move on to, at least right now. Although... she trailed off.
"What?"
Well. There's something I need to look into, and it might help both of us. But I'm going to need you to do it.
The stranger didn't think he liked the direction this conversation was taking. Something about the way Dragon was avoiding directly saying what she wanted was putting him on edge. And he had Faultline to worry about, he didn't know what she'd want from him, either, as well as trying to find a way to deal with the bombs, even if they'd grown less frequent. "What would you need me for?"
...I need you to steal the PRT's confidential personnel files.
It is Saturday, April 16th
It is Night
What now?
[ ]Write-in
- Location
- Russia
...Sorry, what?
Is that the only thing you want stranger to do, Dragon? Do you also want to assassinate someone, per chance?
Also, can't you do it yourself?
If this is really Dragon, it's the weirdest version of her.
lockingbane
If you're crazy and you know it clap your hands!
- Location
- Waxahachie tx
[X] Why? That is a very big risk and I do NOT want to go anywhere near those guys.
-[X] Unless you can give me a reason to risk myself to such a degree I am not doing it.
-[X] Unless you can give me a reason to risk myself to such a degree I am not doing it.
- Location
- Sector 2814
Had to go back and check the wording on his first virus:
I guess this early it's somewhat unclear whether Graham or "Dragon" coded and unleashed it, but he might not have a huge problem with targeting the Protectorate.
I guess this early it's somewhat unclear whether Graham or "Dragon" coded and unleashed it, but he might not have a huge problem with targeting the Protectorate.
Dragon said it wasn't her, being able to make something similar even if she couldn't do it as quickly as we did. She could be lying, but I'm not sure why she'd lie about that.
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Okay, normally I'd close the voting period after this long, but a vote total of one seems rather... low, for making a decision.
- Location
- Here
[X] Try to sleep as best you can, given that you apparently need to rob the PRT in the morning.
-[X] Consider asking Faultline for some tools in the morning. Whether or not you decide to do this, you'll need something to do it with.
Its night. Sleeping is usually good. Gotta get our master thief beauty rest, eh?
-[X] Consider asking Faultline for some tools in the morning. Whether or not you decide to do this, you'll need something to do it with.
Its night. Sleeping is usually good. Gotta get our master thief beauty rest, eh?
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
New
[X] Try to sleep as best you can, given that you apparently need to rob the PRT in the morning.
-[X] Consider asking Faultline for some tools in the morning. Whether or not you decide to do this, you'll need something to do it with.
[X] Try to sleep as best you can, given that you apparently need to rob the PRT in the morning.
-[X] Consider asking Faultline for some tools in the morning. Whether or not you decide to do this, you'll need something to do it with.
- Location
- western US
I am too used to non-quests and just went "ok, il just wait to see what happens next" without realising that ppl (including me) need to get involved so the story doesnt die
.....so on to that....
[X] Why? That is a very big risk and I do NOT want to go anywhere near those guys.
-[X] Unless you can give me a reason to risk myself to such a degree I am not doing it.
[X] Try to sleep as best you can, given that you apparently need to rob the PRT in the morning.
-[X] Consider asking Faultline for some tools in the morning. Whether or not you decide to do this, you'll need something to do it with.
I don't know how voting really works.....I guess I should go look up how. il leave this here till I come back I guess
edit: ok, so the forum post on this stuff did not really explain how it works in detail. I know you can copypaste and vote on what someone else said. but I also know there is something about those "-"s which change the way the vote is counted.
(that is, I know that if you do it wrong, you end up "voting" for multiple different things that SV thinks are different subjects to be voted on but are in fact the same thing)
can somebody do a rundown of the vote-counting mechanic on SV?
thx
.....so on to that....
[X] Why? That is a very big risk and I do NOT want to go anywhere near those guys.
-[X] Unless you can give me a reason to risk myself to such a degree I am not doing it.
[X] Try to sleep as best you can, given that you apparently need to rob the PRT in the morning.
-[X] Consider asking Faultline for some tools in the morning. Whether or not you decide to do this, you'll need something to do it with.
I don't know how voting really works.....I guess I should go look up how. il leave this here till I come back I guess
edit: ok, so the forum post on this stuff did not really explain how it works in detail. I know you can copypaste and vote on what someone else said. but I also know there is something about those "-"s which change the way the vote is counted.
(that is, I know that if you do it wrong, you end up "voting" for multiple different things that SV thinks are different subjects to be voted on but are in fact the same thing)
can somebody do a rundown of the vote-counting mechanic on SV?
thx
Last edited:
- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]Are you absolutely they really wouldn't want me dead and we could go back from yes? Explain how you woke up.
-[x]if yes do it.
-[x]if yes do it.
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Vote Results
The stranger is wary, but not refusing of Dragon's request.
The stranger feels like taking a nap...
Inserted tally
The stranger is wary, but not refusing of Dragon's request.
The stranger feels like taking a nap...
Inserted tally
Last edited:
- Location
- western US
@UnwelcomeStorm
normal story's can go months or sometimes years without updating and still have people remember (although they often have to re-read)....but quests need active participation.
This is especially important early on in the quest as this is when the quest is still developing and gathering participants....
I am pretty sure this will die in short order if you can't write the sections down in fairly quick order or at least give people a heads up as to when to expect it so that they can get hyped.
sorry to say this, but quests live and die on DM writing times because the participants lose interest in the story and forget the context of the story that they are a part of.
So are you still working on this or.....?
normal story's can go months or sometimes years without updating and still have people remember (although they often have to re-read)....but quests need active participation.
This is especially important early on in the quest as this is when the quest is still developing and gathering participants....
I am pretty sure this will die in short order if you can't write the sections down in fairly quick order or at least give people a heads up as to when to expect it so that they can get hyped.
sorry to say this, but quests live and die on DM writing times because the participants lose interest in the story and forget the context of the story that they are a part of.
So are you still working on this or.....?
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Yes, just trying to deal with depression and getting my meds in order.