[X] [Major] A Shared Brilliance
The Practice War [Complete]
- Thread starter Snowfire
- Start date
- Original Sci-Fi
Exactly. The thing is, Practice is the sort of action that can't really be understood through theory: its very nature is to reinforce a process through repetition. That's why it's called Practice. In a very real sense, it's like that Tony Stark quote: Sometimes you have to run, before you can walk.
And, given that we spent last year on Halo, it's time that we put the hammer down:
[X] [Major] Beacon of Souls
Once we have data from an actual attempt / series of attempts, then we can go back to our SCIENCE fiefdom next year and analyze it.
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[X] [Major] A Shared Brilliance
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Vote Tally : Original - Sci-Fi - The Practice War | Page 356 | Sufficient Velocity [Posts: 8887-8907]
##### NetTally 1.9.9
Task: Major
[8][Major] A Shared Brilliance
[4][Major] Beacon of Souls
[1][Major] Halo
Total No. of Voters: 13
Vote Closed
Slow and steady it is. Expect the initial results post (I did say I was changing things up a bit) this evening or sometime tomorrow.
##### NetTally 1.9.9
Task: Major
[8][Major] A Shared Brilliance
[4][Major] Beacon of Souls
[1][Major] Halo
Total No. of Voters: 13
Vote Closed
Slow and steady it is. Expect the initial results post (I did say I was changing things up a bit) this evening or sometime tomorrow.
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
Actually, to add to this, there's a 2nd method, which is to have very large modifiers in relation to the dice.
Like rolling d20+80 instead of d100+40. etc.
Alternatively, we could gather some data this year and do the theoretical side of things next year, when we have our government-sponsored fiefdom full of scientists, rather than waste this year gathering up everyone who we have an appointment with next year. But the vote has already been called, so campaigning after the fact isn't going to help things.
Not again. Noooo!
Turn 16 - Aligning the Foundation
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
January 15th, 2121
With your place among the Circles restored in full last year, you found it a little surprising that you focused on them again. The possibilities of Mars, and the greater work of Practice were like a siren song to your mind. And yet… You took this sabbatical to remove yourself from that work, if only for a time. The Third Revolution was proceeding smoothly, and Adriana was pursuing far more than just that in her grander strategy. You'd trusted her enough to support her in a run for the Presidency, you could leave that to her. But the Circles were something important to you despite the possibilities their unity promised.
"What do you have for us, Amanda?" The Hearts had been quick to gather when you'd asked them to do so to discuss a matter of great importance. Each one had sent a representative, and their eyes were curious as they looked to you.
"A glimpse of the future," was your reply, bringing up the holographic display over the centre of the table. "And what we realised only a few years ago that the Circles were perfect for." You nodded at the image above, a still of your first Speaking during the Second Battle of Sol. "You know what this is."
"We do." Came the chorus, and there was more than curiosity in its tone. One, a younger man, put voice to it. "You've spoken of how Purify was an act of far more than just yourself. I remember the report in 2119 about how even non-Potentials should hold a fragment of the power left behind by the Dragons. Are you," he paused, taking a breath to steady himself. "Are you saying that you want to try and teach us how to use it? How?"
"Carefully." You'd considered jumping straight to practical experiment, exerting the power of your soul to find that of the Circles. It might even work. But in the end, you'd chosen to be the scientist first and Potential second. The Circles were too precious to risk a single member of them with the chance of backlash, however slight. "Project Insight led the way for the Potentials decades ago, but only after years of tortuous trial and error that saw over a score of Potentials lost. I am unwilling to court such a risk now."
"No less than we would expect from you," another representative spoke, red bangs falling elegantly across her face. She looked up at the image, the golden moment of power that you could still remember surging through your veins. "You truly believe that this is possible?" She asked, almost in a whisper.
"I do." You said steadily. "All you have to do is look at Earth's cities to see that communal manipulation is already happening." A flurry of soft confirmations swept the room. No one in here was blind. "The Circles have to be a major factor in that, the connection you share is similar to the one that working groups of Potentials form. I could try and find that connection myself, tap it directly" a thought extended the gloves of your Aegis. "But without you knowing what to expect and how to handle the connection," you shook your head, and the familiar silver and aquamarine retracted.
There was a long silence, and then another of the representatives spoke. "So you need to teach us."
"I need your help working out what to teach." Admitting that didn't come easily, but you were out of your depth here. Potentials you knew and understood. What worked for them, however, wasn't guaranteed to work for humanity at large. They looked between each other, and you wondered what they thought. People like you stepped into the unknown through a power granted by chance. For the lion's share of humanity, the closest they ever got to that was Practiced technology. This was rather more than that.
Mother of Circles: 99 + 31 + 10 (Concert Set) = 140. Greater Success. +20 to Shared Brilliance
"Of course." The words resonated in another chorus, stopping your thoughts cold. Then a warmth filled you, the same one you'd found with the Circles again last year.
"Thank you."
"We aren't blind, Amanda." The young man from before, his name was Adam, noted with a wry grin. "We guessed you'd be asking something when you called us here. The Hearts are the guiding force of the Circles, you designed it that way. If you needed our help, it was going to be for something important. And this, this is." He nodded to the picture still hanging in the air between you. "That, and what came afterwards, won the Second Battle of Sol. If we're going to win the greater war, that we all know is coming, we're going to need to learn how to replicate it."
"Adam is right." The redhead who'd already spoken agreed. "And you shouldn't have worried so much." Her smile was a brilliant thing. "The part you played in training the Unisonbound is a matter of public record, and they were different to anyone you'd had to work with before, too. Still related, but if the current theory's correct, then so are we."
"That's not untrue, Gail," you paused a moment, and the woman struck through the silence before you could recover.
"We'll return to our Hearts, then and explain to them what you've explained to us." She continued. "There are scientists among the Circles, unlike those currently consumed by the Arcadia Institute. I'm sure many of them would be happy to help."
"And you know there are many Potentials. Even if it's only a small number." That was Delia, the oldest person at the table by a large margin. "And if this can make us capable of defending our world, even those unsuited for battle, then it will be welcomed."
You'd had more to say, but there didn't seem to be the space to say it. "Thank you, again." Your lips quirked in a small smile. "I have packets for you, will you at least take them to the Hearts?" Laughter swept the room.
A Shared Brilliance: 21 + 26 + 10 (Concert Set) + 20 (Circle Foundation) = 77. Success.
(Full Circle support confirmed indefinitely for this project, assuming no dangerous backlash. Theoretical grounding of practical techniques developed. Low level experimental process begun.)
With your place among the Circles restored in full last year, you found it a little surprising that you focused on them again. The possibilities of Mars, and the greater work of Practice were like a siren song to your mind. And yet… You took this sabbatical to remove yourself from that work, if only for a time. The Third Revolution was proceeding smoothly, and Adriana was pursuing far more than just that in her grander strategy. You'd trusted her enough to support her in a run for the Presidency, you could leave that to her. But the Circles were something important to you despite the possibilities their unity promised.
"What do you have for us, Amanda?" The Hearts had been quick to gather when you'd asked them to do so to discuss a matter of great importance. Each one had sent a representative, and their eyes were curious as they looked to you.
"A glimpse of the future," was your reply, bringing up the holographic display over the centre of the table. "And what we realised only a few years ago that the Circles were perfect for." You nodded at the image above, a still of your first Speaking during the Second Battle of Sol. "You know what this is."
"We do." Came the chorus, and there was more than curiosity in its tone. One, a younger man, put voice to it. "You've spoken of how Purify was an act of far more than just yourself. I remember the report in 2119 about how even non-Potentials should hold a fragment of the power left behind by the Dragons. Are you," he paused, taking a breath to steady himself. "Are you saying that you want to try and teach us how to use it? How?"
"Carefully." You'd considered jumping straight to practical experiment, exerting the power of your soul to find that of the Circles. It might even work. But in the end, you'd chosen to be the scientist first and Potential second. The Circles were too precious to risk a single member of them with the chance of backlash, however slight. "Project Insight led the way for the Potentials decades ago, but only after years of tortuous trial and error that saw over a score of Potentials lost. I am unwilling to court such a risk now."
"No less than we would expect from you," another representative spoke, red bangs falling elegantly across her face. She looked up at the image, the golden moment of power that you could still remember surging through your veins. "You truly believe that this is possible?" She asked, almost in a whisper.
"I do." You said steadily. "All you have to do is look at Earth's cities to see that communal manipulation is already happening." A flurry of soft confirmations swept the room. No one in here was blind. "The Circles have to be a major factor in that, the connection you share is similar to the one that working groups of Potentials form. I could try and find that connection myself, tap it directly" a thought extended the gloves of your Aegis. "But without you knowing what to expect and how to handle the connection," you shook your head, and the familiar silver and aquamarine retracted.
There was a long silence, and then another of the representatives spoke. "So you need to teach us."
"I need your help working out what to teach." Admitting that didn't come easily, but you were out of your depth here. Potentials you knew and understood. What worked for them, however, wasn't guaranteed to work for humanity at large. They looked between each other, and you wondered what they thought. People like you stepped into the unknown through a power granted by chance. For the lion's share of humanity, the closest they ever got to that was Practiced technology. This was rather more than that.
Mother of Circles: 99 + 31 + 10 (Concert Set) = 140. Greater Success. +20 to Shared Brilliance
"Of course." The words resonated in another chorus, stopping your thoughts cold. Then a warmth filled you, the same one you'd found with the Circles again last year.
"Thank you."
"We aren't blind, Amanda." The young man from before, his name was Adam, noted with a wry grin. "We guessed you'd be asking something when you called us here. The Hearts are the guiding force of the Circles, you designed it that way. If you needed our help, it was going to be for something important. And this, this is." He nodded to the picture still hanging in the air between you. "That, and what came afterwards, won the Second Battle of Sol. If we're going to win the greater war, that we all know is coming, we're going to need to learn how to replicate it."
"Adam is right." The redhead who'd already spoken agreed. "And you shouldn't have worried so much." Her smile was a brilliant thing. "The part you played in training the Unisonbound is a matter of public record, and they were different to anyone you'd had to work with before, too. Still related, but if the current theory's correct, then so are we."
"That's not untrue, Gail," you paused a moment, and the woman struck through the silence before you could recover.
"We'll return to our Hearts, then and explain to them what you've explained to us." She continued. "There are scientists among the Circles, unlike those currently consumed by the Arcadia Institute. I'm sure many of them would be happy to help."
"And you know there are many Potentials. Even if it's only a small number." That was Delia, the oldest person at the table by a large margin. "And if this can make us capable of defending our world, even those unsuited for battle, then it will be welcomed."
You'd had more to say, but there didn't seem to be the space to say it. "Thank you, again." Your lips quirked in a small smile. "I have packets for you, will you at least take them to the Hearts?" Laughter swept the room.
A Shared Brilliance: 21 + 26 + 10 (Concert Set) + 20 (Circle Foundation) = 77. Success.
(Full Circle support confirmed indefinitely for this project, assuming no dangerous backlash. Theoretical grounding of practical techniques developed. Low level experimental process begun.)
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Dem rolls. Also what the fuck is this time and why am I awake in it? Please forgive any major errors as a result of my writing the last parts of this at almost 4am. Don't ask. This turn will continue in full chronological order, and I've done all my rolls and split up the actions into a rough sequence of events. The order is as follows after this:
Graves Down Memory Lane
223 Things
Avatar + Tinker
Family and Recreation
All of these but the very first have a roll associated with them. Graves will be resolved entirely through narrative, and will require an understanding of stressful and complex social interaction to address properly. That said, I actually trust you all to manage that. You're far more aware of those things as a quest-base then most others I've seen. Or at least more aware of the idea that you can't just fix things by stabbing them, setting them on fire, or blowing them up. Not even all three at once.
Graves Down Memory Lane
223 Things
Avatar + Tinker
Family and Recreation
All of these but the very first have a roll associated with them. Graves will be resolved entirely through narrative, and will require an understanding of stressful and complex social interaction to address properly. That said, I actually trust you all to manage that. You're far more aware of those things as a quest-base then most others I've seen. Or at least more aware of the idea that you can't just fix things by stabbing them, setting them on fire, or blowing them up. Not even all three at once.
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
Without it you would be looking at a Slim Failure. So it helped quite a lot.
The Sandman
So Zetta Slowpoke
- Location
- Wherever I am, which isn't where I'm not
When this all ends in flames and catastrophe, we can point to here as the moment it started.
Turn 16 - False Calm
Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
February 16th, 2121
The soft hum of the transport's engines was the only sound in the compartment, the rush of atmosphere around the sleek craft long gone. It wasn't a long trip to Mars anymore, even with the drives limited to civilian craft. Including launch and landing, a government flight like this would make the trip in just under ninety minutes. The advantages of half again the capacity of purely civilian craft, although naval drives were faster still. Of course, that chain of thought was just you trying to distract yourself from what was waiting at the other end of the journey.
"Mandy," Mary said from the seat next to you. "You need to stop borrowing trouble."
"That's a little hard when my best friend is about to-" a warm hand covered your lips.
Mary's green eyes bored into your own, and she shook her head once, just a little. "I know it's hard, Mandy. But you aren't making me do this. No one could." The gentle words twisted around your heart, but their steadiness didn't reach her eyes and she knew it. "I know I've been having trouble sleeping, but I can't just keep on living like that. If I want to come out the other side…"
Her hand dropped from your mouth. "You have to do this." You bowed your head. "And I just won't let you do it on your own." Warmth squeezed around your fingers, as she wrapped hers around them.
"And I can't tell you how much that means to me." She told you, her voice so soft that the silence could break it. "Without you, I might not have boarded today, you know." Her eyes flickered, and for a moment you saw the same fear you'd been able to chase away evening after evening for the last seven months. "But you were there. Like you'd promised."
"Of course I was."
She leant in to hug you, and you wrapped your arm around her without conscious thought. "And that's why," her voice shuddered, but didn't break, "I know I'll get through this. Because you'll be beside me from the moment we land."
"Are you," you paused, wondering if you should even ask.
"Am I what?"
In for a penny. "Are you sure you want to go straight to…where you lived before." You winced, that hadn't come out the way you'd wanted it to. "Um," you began.
"If I don't," Mary said, "then I won't make it there. I've spent seven months getting ready for this, and I still wasn't sure if I'd get into this seat today." You wanted to say something, anything, to make her reconsider. But you just couldn't. This was going to hurt her, but she knew that, and it wasn't possible to prepare more than she already had.
"All passengers, we're beginning our descent towards Mytikas." The voice came over the speakers, and you looked over at the travel map. You were almost at the atmosphere. "We're cleared to the pad, and will be down shortly."
Mary tensed as the thin air of the Martian atmosphere hissed against the ship's drive field, then took a deep breath and visibly mastered herself. Pulling back, she straightened in her chair, and nodded firmly. Only decades of familiarity let you see the faint tremor in her motions as her eyes roamed towards the window.
"Hey," she looked round, a question in her eyes, and you squeezed her hand. Nothing more than that, but nothing more was needed.
"Thank you." She breathed, an echo of a warm smile tugging at her mouth. The vessel shook a little as it dropped into the thicker air produced by the conversion towers, but it was moving slow enough now to not imitate a meteor on approach. Something whined below you as landing gear extended, and then there was a soft tone as you dropped onto the landing pad.
"Time to go."
Mary and Amanda will be heading directly to the former's family home on departing from the shuttle. Given what you know of Mary's mental state, this is highly likely to cause a grief related breakdown regardless of what you do. A few questions should be resolved first, however:
Practice is very capable of softening and repairing mental scars, just as it is physical. However, Mary is not going to be suffering new wounds so much as opening some very old ones. Does Amanda intend to try and consciously use Practice in helping her friend through this?
[] Yes
[] No
Mary has expressed a wish to enter her old home alone at first, but also a contradictory desire for Amanda to be there beside her. Resolving this will fall to Amanda's choice. Will she go with Mary, or let her enter alone to begin with?
[] Walk Together
[] Trust The Wish
The soft hum of the transport's engines was the only sound in the compartment, the rush of atmosphere around the sleek craft long gone. It wasn't a long trip to Mars anymore, even with the drives limited to civilian craft. Including launch and landing, a government flight like this would make the trip in just under ninety minutes. The advantages of half again the capacity of purely civilian craft, although naval drives were faster still. Of course, that chain of thought was just you trying to distract yourself from what was waiting at the other end of the journey.
"Mandy," Mary said from the seat next to you. "You need to stop borrowing trouble."
"That's a little hard when my best friend is about to-" a warm hand covered your lips.
Mary's green eyes bored into your own, and she shook her head once, just a little. "I know it's hard, Mandy. But you aren't making me do this. No one could." The gentle words twisted around your heart, but their steadiness didn't reach her eyes and she knew it. "I know I've been having trouble sleeping, but I can't just keep on living like that. If I want to come out the other side…"
Her hand dropped from your mouth. "You have to do this." You bowed your head. "And I just won't let you do it on your own." Warmth squeezed around your fingers, as she wrapped hers around them.
"And I can't tell you how much that means to me." She told you, her voice so soft that the silence could break it. "Without you, I might not have boarded today, you know." Her eyes flickered, and for a moment you saw the same fear you'd been able to chase away evening after evening for the last seven months. "But you were there. Like you'd promised."
"Of course I was."
She leant in to hug you, and you wrapped your arm around her without conscious thought. "And that's why," her voice shuddered, but didn't break, "I know I'll get through this. Because you'll be beside me from the moment we land."
"Are you," you paused, wondering if you should even ask.
"Am I what?"
In for a penny. "Are you sure you want to go straight to…where you lived before." You winced, that hadn't come out the way you'd wanted it to. "Um," you began.
"If I don't," Mary said, "then I won't make it there. I've spent seven months getting ready for this, and I still wasn't sure if I'd get into this seat today." You wanted to say something, anything, to make her reconsider. But you just couldn't. This was going to hurt her, but she knew that, and it wasn't possible to prepare more than she already had.
"All passengers, we're beginning our descent towards Mytikas." The voice came over the speakers, and you looked over at the travel map. You were almost at the atmosphere. "We're cleared to the pad, and will be down shortly."
Mary tensed as the thin air of the Martian atmosphere hissed against the ship's drive field, then took a deep breath and visibly mastered herself. Pulling back, she straightened in her chair, and nodded firmly. Only decades of familiarity let you see the faint tremor in her motions as her eyes roamed towards the window.
"Hey," she looked round, a question in her eyes, and you squeezed her hand. Nothing more than that, but nothing more was needed.
"Thank you." She breathed, an echo of a warm smile tugging at her mouth. The vessel shook a little as it dropped into the thicker air produced by the conversion towers, but it was moving slow enough now to not imitate a meteor on approach. Something whined below you as landing gear extended, and then there was a soft tone as you dropped onto the landing pad.
"Time to go."
Mary and Amanda will be heading directly to the former's family home on departing from the shuttle. Given what you know of Mary's mental state, this is highly likely to cause a grief related breakdown regardless of what you do. A few questions should be resolved first, however:
Practice is very capable of softening and repairing mental scars, just as it is physical. However, Mary is not going to be suffering new wounds so much as opening some very old ones. Does Amanda intend to try and consciously use Practice in helping her friend through this?
[] Yes
[] No
Mary has expressed a wish to enter her old home alone at first, but also a contradictory desire for Amanda to be there beside her. Resolving this will fall to Amanda's choice. Will she go with Mary, or let her enter alone to begin with?
[] Walk Together
[] Trust The Wish
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Snowfire
Polyglot of Chimera
- Location
- Wordcats
First of all, Merry Christmas or appropriate winter festival of your choice.
Moving on, this is part one of the Mars mini-turn. This will probably be split up into three parts, four at the absolute most, but most likely just the three. The post here is primarily setup, but there are a few important points hidden in the narrative. The votes will also have impact on how the next part develops, and the possibilities that present themselves. Strap yourselves in people, the one after this is going to be unpleasant.
I'm going to be away at friends of the family tomorrow, and not home until the 27th, so I won't be calling the vote until then. I will have my phone, however, so I should be able to respond to any questions you might have. Best of luck with your voting, and I hope you're all having a wonderful winter break.
Moving on, this is part one of the Mars mini-turn. This will probably be split up into three parts, four at the absolute most, but most likely just the three. The post here is primarily setup, but there are a few important points hidden in the narrative. The votes will also have impact on how the next part develops, and the possibilities that present themselves. Strap yourselves in people, the one after this is going to be unpleasant.
I'm going to be away at friends of the family tomorrow, and not home until the 27th, so I won't be calling the vote until then. I will have my phone, however, so I should be able to respond to any questions you might have. Best of luck with your voting, and I hope you're all having a wonderful winter break.
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- Location
- va
[X] No
[X] Trust The Wish
[X] Trust The Wish
- Location
- Staring into the void
[X] No
[X] Walk Together
[X] Walk Together
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- Location
- Somewhere out there
I'm not sure it's a good idea for us to go mothering over Mary too much. Our goal here is to help her build up her own strength, not to do it for her. Mary specifically asked us to stop borrowing trouble.
Do we really want to put ourselves in a situation where Mary is emotionally dependent on us to cope with reality?
Do we really want to put ourselves in a situation where Mary is emotionally dependent on us to cope with reality?
[X] No
[X] Walk Together
[X] Walk Together