(After this post, lets all stick to these command guidelines:
( ) means it's out-of-character, or more specifically, it will be taken as purely conversation on the thread. The exception is when it is embedded in command text.
> would denote an action, but I've been both kinda lenient and kinda harsh in that I both took things meant to be commands that did not have the symbol, but I also turned almost anything outside of parenthesis into commands. I think I'll stick to that, because then posters will be just slightly more careful with organization.
" " will be used for speaking into the Iknan's mind. I've used them as speech in the response, but now I will switch to ' ' for that.
' ' will be used for making the Iknan speak. However, note that action thoughts (commands) can easily turn into speech if it sounds sufficiently similar to something spoken. Like the blarg expletive a little ways back.
I've defaulted all of those posts with either quote to talking into his mind.)
>Phantom:
"We seem to be talking to you from another world. In my case, Earth. You see, there are many different worlds in the universe. In fact I met other people from different solar systems. Armok is a god from a different world. I am a soldier from a faction called GDI. I'm not sure what RAM is. Listen, I'm trying to help you. I'm not entirely sure how I'm talking to you, but I'm gonna help you anyway."
A voice! That is definitely a voice; there is no doubt in your mind that you are insane. Luckily, you already decided you wouldn't care about that. 'Mhmm, so you're from another world somewhere far away. Why do you care about me?'
>RAM:
"It seems that it is in a mental institution, we should probably just leave it alone and see it it gets released. On the topic of magnetism, do you have loadstones? Or magnetite? Any sort of rocks that attract each other? Magnets are these things that attract each other. There is this 'stuff', in metals mostly, that does stuff, and magnets can sort of pull it around. Pulling it enough to make it noticeable requires a lot of effort, so you need some sort of mechanism which spins a magnet a whole lot inside a coil(because a coil lets you pull more stuff at the same time). Then make another coil at the other end of your metal and the stuff in it will act in the same way, and pull magnets towards it. You can link a few of the mechanisms to move the stuff in a line to get more of the stuff moving to get a stronger magnet at the end. A couple of important points though, the stuff likes to travel in circuits, if it has a shorter circuit it will take that instead, so it won't work unless your have a loop of wire that never makes contact with another part of itself. Also, the 'stuff' can be very dangerous, in small quantities it won't affect you at all, but it can build up naturally, such as if people are walking on thick carpets, or a cat on a dry day, and if they touch someone else it will give them a little jolt as it move between them. If you start messing around with machines like this you can easily get enough to kill someone, so make sure that nobody can touch the wires. It takes a really large amount of the stuff to jump out of the wires so just not touching them should be enough for now, if you really need to touch them use a stick made out of wood or glass. If you use a metal stick the stuff can travel along the metal. also, sometimes it will keep a bit of stuff after it has stopped working, touching a bit of metal from the wire to the ground should let it drain out. on second thought, that sounds really crazy if you don't know about it, better to just ignore it for now, if things get desperate you could try experimenting with it to prove your insights, but they probably won't let you have the time and resources to make it work."
The instant you stop speaking, another voice enters your mind. At first you think it to be a response, but quickly realize it isn't trying to answer your question. It is refers to others at first, then addresses you (you think). You attempt to answer its question in the negative, but the voice simply goes on and on. You try and listen, but even though it sounds interesting, you don't understand what it's talking about. You're preety sure you know what a cat is, but what is "carpet"? You can't even say that word. The voice ends after saying what you've generally been thinking. You wait a moment, just to make sure it stopped, before asking; 'can you even hear me'?
(Yeah, voice doesn't get translated if he doesn't know what it is. After you explained magnet it got conceptualized though.)
(Armok, for your voice, I removed "easily trusted", "kinda cute", and reduced "Intelegent", making it similar to a couple dragon characters from Might&Magic 8, but I also added "warm" and..."alive"? Also, when it comes to thoughts, spelling doesn't really matter, but when it comes to words, it does. So you'll also sound somewhat drunk, even if translated.)
>Armok:
"Ok, Is this working? We finally got instructions on how to speak with you directly.
Fisrt of, I think everyone here should stop sending direct thoughts, if they do, I'll repeat them in direct speech like this so you at least know that's what it was.
I'm Armok, by the way.
Anyways, now for what is known abaut this situations, I think Phantom might be jumping some conclusions.
We are indeed residing in (a) different universe(s), probably a different multiverse or level of reality.
The communication is passed through a person called Nivm, how he does it is not known to me, He presents it as through you were fictius, and I'm probably insane because of this, but I honestly am not so sure about that you are, but this is a philosophical argument.
If Nivm himself is willing to specify on these things it might be useful, but I have this feeling there might be existential dangers to that.
The world that as far as I know all here reside in mostly, atleast when comunication with you, is very similar to yours, with the difference that magic dosn't exist, humans are the only civelized species, and we have this thing called technology; technically you have it to I guess, in the form of clocks and windmills and such, the technology I'm speaking abaut is besicaly a really advanced version of that that has capabilities similar to all of magic and then some.
We are curently reciving your stream of conciusness, and have been so for uite some time, telling exactly how long is hard to tell becaus ethe timeframes are not conec ted and we recive at your subjective time.
It appears we can plant thoguths into your conciusness, I do not think this is either you being insane nor any normal magic.
We have been reciving your stream of conciusness since the same time it appears that your memory was wiped.
I will do all in my ability to try to help you, but I belive your fate is ultimately in the hands of Nivm. Who is that guy anywyas?
While we have probably only accses to the same information as you, we ARE more numerus, and have had a litle bit more time to think abaut it as well as not being under the effect of drugs (only speaking for myself with that last one...).
My personal theory is that you were some kind of imposrtnant magic user, and that all the varius mind numbing and ability limiting effects are caused by that compound enchantment.
We do not have all that much knowledge abaut your world, it might make it easier for us to help you if you relayed all you know abaut historuy, your species, and the basics of magic.
We have been lead to belive technology will work in your world if you manage to create it, if we think past the escape in time this migth be a golden opetunity to bypass centuries of hard work by inventors!
Oh, and the steam stuff and the magnetic stuff are examples of technology."
Yet again, the voice don't seem to have heard you at all, and yet again, it is a another voice. This one is rather different from the other two, in that although it sounds powerful somehow, it also sounds like it has been drinking. You listen to it, making note of each thing you wish to say for when it is done; in the hopes that the voices will hear you this time.
You feel mildly unnerved by the first admition; you already knew someone was muddling with your mind, but there are many muddling with your mind. You also don't believe the voice's promise, mostly because it should have been able to just speak with you from the beginning. It attempts to explain where the voices come from and why, and manages to make sense in some insane and surreal way. Then it goes on to explain how, and just sums up "spying through otherworldly means". You figure "since the time your memory was wiped" corresponds to effectively your entire life, which might mean you aren't actually insane, but that would also mean
they are insane. This realization colors the voices next few words; what do they consider "help"? You return to listening just in time to note the question seems rhetorical. You make a kind of high-strung laugh when it says it's not under the effects of drugs, but understand what it means; it's saying in a very nice way that they are going to try to do your thinking for you. You don't consider this an advantage. It speaks of "your world" and technology, so you decide to start you own litany from the end of the voice's.
'So you "otherworldly powers" want me to try and build things that I can't for purposes completely unknown. I'd prefer to spend my own time there. I don't know anything about "my world" as you call it; you've said you've already seen all that I've done! And since you're in my "numb" mind, why don't you just take whatever knowledge you want? Why do you even care to ask me?' You sit there for a moment, but remember you had more to say. 'I don't want you telling me what to do, or making me do it! If you have your own world, why not stay there?' Silence, you calm down a bit and mumble to yourself about a trio of humans with human names.
>Phantom:
"Oh goddammit. Alright. Ignore those two until you escape. I would be glad to teach you some things from my world though, magic probably doesn't exist in your world for a reason, and complicated devices take time to make. Would you like me to teach you some things while your not doing anything? By the way, the guys name ain't Nivm, its Dictator."
The curse takes you by surprise, and you fear you're about to be struck! You sit there cringing in a ball; but no divine attack is directed at you (to your knowledge). You realize that the "Phantom" voice has been speaking and only hear the tail end of what it said about not doing anything and some name mix up. 'The heck! Why did you do that?!'
>Armok:
"What is that supposed to mean? Look, I'm trying to help you, probably far more sincerely than anyone else because they think you're made up!
Also, it says Nivm right over the avatar there, so his name is indeed Nivm."
The drunk voice responds to the "Phantom" voice, except it doesn't sound drunk anymore. You wonder how it could have sobered so fast.
>Phantom: "Your only gonna confuse the poor Iknan, explain it later. Please, the guys been in enough mental stress for today."
>Armok: "You might have a point, but you don't have to tell him to ignore stuff I've already said just because of that."
>Phantom: "If he doesn't believe in magic, he doesn't have to do magic. Just give him some free will."
You were just going to wait until they all stopped talking, but what does he mean "he doesn't believe in magic". What's there to doubt? 'Why wouldn't I believe in magic?'
>Armok: "where did you get the impresion he dosn't belive in magic?! He tried to use Mage sight! He just seems to e under some sort of effect that prevents him from using it."
You probably shouldn't talk; it's all just going to be ignored anyway.
>Phantom: "He said he didn't believe in magic, and he did mage sight because he was forced to do it because of you. Now stop this bickering."
'I never said that! I haven't said anything about it to anyone!' You wonder if the voices really will stop this bickering.
> Find out what is preventing movement from the bed.
As the voices die out, you find your attention drawn to yourself. Nothing is restraining you, but you're probably going to damage the blanket further when you get out.
You are hungry.
You are kinda thirsty.
Your throat, esophagus, and mouth feel raw.
Your guts ache.
You feel generally ill, but it's gotten better during all the talking.
>Phantom: "Iknan, it looks like someone new wandered in."
'What?' There can't be more of them...
(Qwertyuipas, I've based your voice off of the post, your avatar, and assorted related text. quertyuipas - evil, corrupting wizard, but simultaneous silly and normal tone. Added "intelligent" too because of grammar, spelling, and argument.)
>qwertyuiopas:
"There are countless others like me, but we are not you, so your sanity may yet remain intact. Most of us don't even come to this place, where I am right now, and even fewer read your story. Fewer than that try to tell you things, most crudely putting the thoughts directly into your head, though recently opinions have shifted.
As it is, *some* of us actually want to help you, while others just go for their own amusement or to further their demented image of your situation, by trying to cause you to do things that you clearly wouldn't otherwise.
Unfortunately, I do not know much about your situation, not being of your world, but I can warn you that some of your thoughts are not your own, so you must be on guard for the unusual thoughts and any that reccomend stupid actions. I am one of the few who are trying to help you for purely benevolent reasons, but have been absent for quite a while, and even I can make foolish choices."
...and yet there is. This one at first puts you on guard, but the words themselves soon mollify you. The person explains the situation simply, in a way you would have, and even admits that the voices (including itself) are fallible. It evens warns you against what itself might do; you almost feel like trusting its stated intent. 'So how do you plan on actually helping when you're just a voice?'
>Phantom: "Finally, another voice of reason."
You have to agree with that. You're not sure what happens now though. 'So are you voices going to listen to me now?' Silence. You realize that this whole time, they have always started speaking when you where done both thinking and speaking yourself, but do not hear anything you say. You wonder how they can have one without the other, and recall mention of another couple of names. You think Nivm might be the new voice, but they said the new one wasn't here before. You sit up and start working out of your blanket; carefully this time.
> look around your new room
Since the voices have apparently stopped, you actually take a look around the room. There is your bed, with a table at its head and a chest of drawers at its foot. Right beside your bed is a brazier with some glowing coals that heat the room. There a door on the other side of it, and that's all. You are hungry, so you stand up and go bang on the door. You ask it if there is any more food, but note no activity behind.
You are hungry.
You are kinda thirsty.
Your throat, esophagus, and mouth feel raw.
Your guts ache.
You feel generally ill, but it's gotten better during all the talking.
>qwertyuiopas: "Oh, I forgot to mention earlier: Our world runs at a varying rate of time, either that, or we only get to see what has happened in yours in bursts."
The voice makes you jump and look back at the room, but it's "just" one of the voices in your head. You listen, and say to yourself; 'that would have been nice to know from the beginning'. You stretch, and sit back down. Awaiting either food or another stream of voices. You don't think you want to hear any more voices though.
(I haven't really proofread this one...)
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Topic: Text you can play; you are somewhere. (Read 19723 times)