Part 2: Party of Five
----------------------------------------
As I faded from Heere, I just faded. The void is nothing that you can fade in to.
Your statuses have all been healed to 100%.
I regret the presence of this absence. This is my first time as well, and I have not yet activated the accouterments of time.
A very large calendar and a medium size analog wall clock fade in to my presence, supported by nothing. I guess supported by “the nothing”. These are not like the blue windows, but seemingly exist as almost substantial objects outside of my mind.
The calendar displays seven day weeks, with columns labeled Sunday through Saturday. All the columns except Tuesday are ghosted. The wall clock has no hand for seconds, which is just as well, because the minute hand is moving 60 times its normal rate anyway. It is already at 10:03 AM, with 10:00 corresponding to 8:25 in Cottages.
The clock is customizable. You can use the indicator showing “AM” to also select “24” or “20”. The 20 would represent Heere hours, while the 24 would represent 24 Earth hours scaled to the 20-hour Heere day.
“Why not default to Heere time?”
This is Jacques’ “home”, not Forrest’s. That is why I am typing in English. Twenty lives from now you will no longer know about Heere time, but you will still know Earth time. Unless you end up back on Heere for your next life, the 20-hour option will go away. If you want to select it, though, I will remember that choice for Forrest’s future sixdays.
Okay, that all makes sense. “For this sixdays I’ll leave it at AM/PM, thank you.” I get to watch the indicator alternate. Woo-hoo! Which, other than the rapidly moving minute hand, and slowly moving hour hand, might well be the only things I see changing.
And my windows.
“Yes, sorry. I can’t forget the most important thing.” Which I fully expect them to be.
“I understand conceptually why the calendar has seven daily columns instead of ten. And I see the text for the actual day names written in each box – Ninthday, Tenthday, Firstday, et cetera. But why is the calendar so big?
To give you room to write. On the boards I have read that quite a few immortals are using it as a diary. It is the permanent place Jacques can write things which any of his lives can read.
“That … sounds really important, and thoughtful. Can you thank whoever thought of it? What are the boards, anyway?”
I will leave a message. It is a threaded, topicked, intragalactic message board. Think of it as Reddit for sapient and semi-sapient interfaces. Last time we were in the void I mentioned I had been in discussions with other interfaces. That was via the boards.
“Can you use the boards while we are on a planet?”
Yes. I am part of you, but I am part of the void also. I suspect I am even part of the System, but there is no evidence of that. It is a disputed topic on the boards.
“So you do not know everything about yourself?”
I never claimed to. Just a lot more than you, dumbass. ;)
A winky-face! “You can call me “dumbass” with a winky any time.” And I think “colon right-parenthesis”, but it probably does not come across like I want.
Smiley-face, got it. But you know what? Maybe we should avoid emoticons in the future. We’re both older than 12, right? Well, not me, but you know what I mean.
“Okay. I was very pleased to see a display of emotion from my friend. Thank you. And thank you for bonking me over the head with the “experience” thing. That was clever, and very you, too. But would it not have been simpler to just tell me directly?”
Yes, it would have been. However, you have infinity to figure these things out. If I told you everything right away, what fun would that be? Just like last time, though, I’ll remind you to assign your free points from leveling.
“Okay. But first I should read the description for my second new power. It is possible that it is highly dependent on a certain attribute. I learned from all my gaming that it is better to think about your build than just throw points around.”
7) Raise charisma and luck to 9
“That too, but it is not going to hurt to look first.”
“Query skill Claw Strike”
Claw Strike is a slicing attack by any of your claws. Investing ki increases rending capability, based on both rank and the amount of ki. Strength, agility, and skill affect base physical damage. Rank F values:
Base damage: 3-5 per 3 inches
Ki used: 0-4 per 3 inches
SP used: 6 per 3 inches
Recharge: 5 sec
Hmm, at Rank F, this has more total physical damage potential than Ki Punch at E, but I can invest less ki. The greater physical damage results from a slice generally covering a broader area than a punch. Its stamina usage is a bit higher, as is its recharge.
“Interface, I am curious. Would a Human martial artist get the Claw Strike skill? It doesn’t seem like it would be that useful for them.”
That is another astute observation. No. The actual number of skills within a class will generally be significantly larger than you will ever see. A reverse example would be that, unless he undergoes a hugely significant physical change, Forrest is unlikely to be offered the skill, “Four Arms of Devastation”.
“Damn, that sounds awesome! One of these lives, I need to be a four-armed martial artist.”
Or six. No need to limit yourself. Tentacles or pseudopods might also work. I would need to know the specifics of your species.
I laugh. “I don’t think I am ready for that level of awesomeness. I still think I should have more information before assigning my free points.”
“Query skill Swimming”
Swimming is a form of motion in water encompassing numerous techniques. Its primary contributing attributes are agility and strength, with endurance having the primary effect on Stamina cost. Rank E values:
Speed: 1-2 miles per hour
Efficiency modifier -40%
Recharge: 0 sec
Same efficiency as Running has at E. Those two skills are not enough to sway me to add free points to agility, strength, or endurance, though.
“Query Character Sheet”
Name: Forrest Rhodes
Race: Covargh
Sex: male
Age: 16
Year of Incarnation: 15
Primary Class: Martial Artist
Secondary Class: Ki Healer
Level: 2
Base Attributes
Agility: 17
Charisma: 7
Dexterity: 17
Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 15
Luck: 8 (1 from river stone)
Perception: 14
Strength: 15
Vitality: 16
Wisdom: 18
Free Points: 3
Consolidated Level Bonuses
+3 Agi, +1 Cha, +3 Dex, +2 End, +2 Int,
+1 Luc, +1 Per, +2 Str, +3 Vit, +4 Wis
Stats
HP: 178/178, max = (Luc + Str*3 + Vit*6)*(1 + Lvl/10)
SP: 187/187, max = (Per + Agi*3 + End*6)*(1 + Lvl/10)
Ki: 208/208, max = (Int + Dex*3 + Wis*6)*(1 + Lvl/10)
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Granted Skills
HP Regen, D
SP Regen, D
Ki Regen, D
Ki Punch, E
Dodge, E
Claw Strike, F
Heal Other, E
Bless Blood, F
Learned Skills
Meditation, F
Running, E
First Aid, D
Analyze, F
Swimming, E
I see that many of the notes are gone.The level bonuses section has been consolidated, no longer breaking them down by race and my classes. With my eidetic memory of the first time I saw this, they don’t need to be shown but it is nice that they are there. For some reason it still shows the stats formulas. Maybe having them is just another nice reminder.
“Interface, I remember when you first showed me my sheet, the ‘Year of Incarnation’ was ‘15 (NIS Galactic)’. The note is gone now, but I never thought to ask what ‘NIS Galactic’ meant.”
I was wondering when you would finally ask. The System introduced itself as the ‘New and Improved System’, right?
“And completely automated”, yes.
Forget that part. NIS refers either to the current System itself, or to the years since the NIS was established, which was 15 galactic years ago. There are about 2 Earth years per galactic year, so it was when Jacques was about 27 years old. A lot of things changed when the NIS took over. The old System was happy to have awakeneds, but it never made any immortals. Now that people like you exist, your character sheet keeps track of when you, Forrest, started. Your next life will hopefully show a higher year, as will your life seven lives from now. Forrest is still considered one of the first batch of immortals.
“We’re that new to the galaxy? Wow. The last thing I noticed is that my character sheet no longer shows karma. Is there a reason?
Yes. Day to day changes are irrelevant. The only time you will see an update is after a reroll, while in the void. Life to life is the metric which matters.
I’m still curious about other stuff. We haven’t really delved into how everything works.”
It is your nickel.
“Okay then. Query xp worth”
Forrest Rhodes, level 2 sapient: 1178 xp
Still 1000 points above my maximum HP. Maybe level doesn’t affect it except indirectly via the HP growth. Or I might be worth an extra bump every 10 levels or so. One thing at a time.
“Query level”
Level: 2 + 122 / 2585
Let’s see – ranking my Running skill to E is what got me to Level 2. There probably was some rollover xp from that. Plus I learned the nascent Swimming skill at Rank E. And I healed the fawn, and used Bless Blood for the first time, regenerating its lost blood. I’m sure my stamina fully regenerated, and my ki had gotten close. I probably only regenerated 15 or so HP, though. 122 seems about right. I needed 1500 points to reach Level 2, and now it's 2585 for Level 3. Just over 1000 more. I wonder if Interface will let me see under the hood.
“What is the formula for points to the next level?”
(Level*1000) + 500^(1.025^(Level - 1))
Yikes, a power to a power. I’m glad my intelligence just got boosted. Let’s see, at Level 1, 1.025 to the zeroth would be 1. Then 500 to the oneth is 500. Add the linear “Level*1000” term, and 1500 falls right out. 585 must be 500 to the 1.025. It is exponential growth, but an uncommonly slow one. Yet the linear term keeps the growth apace at low levels. Let’s check the high end. First, is there a specific high end?
“Is there a maximum level?”
Yes. No one can level past 50.
“Interface, please solve for Level equal 48 and Level equal 49. Also 41, 5, 10, 20, and 30.”
Way to dream, dumbass! (Actually, I am impressed by your analytical technique, but I have an image to maintain.)
f(5) = 5,954
f(10) = 12,348
f(20) = 40,640
f(30) = 363,574
f(41) = 17,697,588
f(48) = 411,476,928
f(49) = 675,590,749
“Thanks, smartass.”
Nice – slow in exponential growth rate, but it still becomes huge. I was curious about 41 because that is what it took Captain Pokka to get to 42 once he had reached 41. Only 41,000 of his 17.7 million was from the linear term, so that definitely gets drowned out at the high end. At a more moderate Level 10, though, 10,000 of the 12,348 xp come from the linear term. The terms have about equal weight at Level 20. But at 30, the exponential term has pulled ahead by a factor of twelve.
This is a much nicer scheme than in many of the games I have played. XP to the next level often starts out doubling each time, and within just a few levels, that becomes untenable, and the growth becomes much slower, seemingly in an arbitrarily linear way. It is likely most folks on Heere can reach level 25 within just a few years without trying very hard. After that, they are going to have to work for it.
I saw before that the exponential growth in rankings was more substantial. Let’s see what that looks like.
“How many rank points does it take to advance to each higher rank?”
F→E = 100
E→D = 317
D→C = 1334
C→B = 8059
B→A = 76,351
A→S = 1,269,158
Ah! There is the exponential growth I am used to seeing.
Extremely few folks with S rank skills, check.
Okay, that’s enough curiosity. Back to work.
“Interface, even though I would like to bump my perception, I’ll stick with my original plan. Add 2 points to charisma and one point to luck.”
Charisma: 8
Luck: 8.5 (1 from river stone)
HP: 178/179
Interface didn’t show the changes last time I assigned my free points. It’s not like I was aware enough to notice. Maybe with intelligence being 2 higher and wisdom being 4 higher, it thinks I’ll be better with the little details. I suppose I should make a diary entry. Or wait.
“Interface, can I meditate here, and if so, will it count toward rank? I only have 1 HP to regenerate.”
Yes, you can meditate, and yes, it will count toward ranking Meditate. However, once all your stats are 100%, the rp gain is cut by 30%.
“Can I ask how fast the rp for meditate accumulates?”
Yes. rank points for Meditate accumulate at 1 rp/min. For now, though, once HP reaches 179, that rate will go down to 0.7 rp/min.
Hmm, easy to understand linear gain. “At 1 minute per rp, how many days of continuous Meditation would it take to advance from Rank A to S?
1,269.2 days — Error! Since your stats would be maxed for the vast majority of that time, the rate would only be 0.7 rp per minute. Adjusting to 1,813.1 days.
With 374 days per year, 1813 days are almost 5 solid years of tuesdays, or 35 years passing in the world. As an immortal, it would be doable, though.
I see that the current day marker on the calendar has moved to the Thursday box, labeled “Firstday”. That is still plenty of time to make a diary entry.
“Set the alarm for 30 minutes from now.” That will make it Friday. There will still be plenty of days until Tuesday.
Alarm set.
Breathe. Inhale. Hold it. Hold it. Don’t focus. Exist. Hold it. Exhale.
…
♪ “Then put your little hand in mine”. ♪
So, my wake up song1 is the same one Bill Murray had in Groundhog Day. I love it!
“That is so much better than the clanging sound you played when I first asked you about a wake-up alarm. I loved your song choice. Thank you very much.”
The clanging bells remain an available option. As does Reveille, in both the American and Fifth Duchy forms.
“Let’s stick with Sonny and Cher for now. It is exactly right.”
Before you start writing in your diary, consider updating your To Do List.
1. Don’t die
2. Meet people
3. Find a way to earn money
4. Practice the skills I have
5. Regain my first aid skill
6. Learn bo and bow
7. Raise charisma and luck to 9
8. Bring plumbing to Cottages
Edit, Delete, or Ignore Item 5?
“Thank you for the reminder. Delete it please. No other actions today, though.”
Item 5 deleted. 6 and up renumbered.
What do I want to say in my diary? It is the first day of my first immortal me. That has to be significant, right? All my lives will be able to read this. “Hey, me. Hi” does not capture the tone I want, although it was the first thing I thought of. I don’t want to be pretentious either. This is likely to have been or ever will be the most ignorant day of my life. This should be Forrest writing, not Jacques. There will always be Jacques. What might I want to know from Forrest? This is a life they won’t remember 20 lives from now. Hell, maybe not even 5. Speak from the heart; don’t edit.
----------------------------------------
Ninthday, 12 Fourthmonth 726 KE
(We have ten-day weeks and 10 months in a year. I didn’t even know the date until I started writing here and read the caption. I have no idea what KE means. It is the year 15 NIS Galactic.)
I am Forrest Rhodes, a 16-year old Covargh hybrid male. That means I am a “wolfman-man”. My classes are Martial Arts and Ki Healer, chosen mainly from things I had seen in video games. Oh, dammit, Jacques has an eidetic memory for that first choice process, doesn’t he? Guess I should just relate Forrest’s first day on the planet Heere.
Even with my low luck attribute, today was the best day of my two lives. Interface credits it to my high karma level (“over 9000!”). The minor god of gambling, Skawa, credits it to “unusual luck”, in the sense of weird. Yeah, meeting a god on my very first day is pretty unusual. Fortunately he seems to be a great guy. Girl. Whatever – he just spoke in my head; I have no idea what he is like physically, if like anything at all. Nor did I see or communicate directly with another god, Nature. Still, for an act of mercy (healing a deer fawn) she granted me a boon of 2 extra luck points, which only count as 1, like all my luck points. It is complicated – check your eidetics, first session with Interface.
The first person I met became my best friend and brother in just one day. Arrjee Silverstone is his name, and he is a 14-year old Covargh. It turns out he was a born awakened. In his former life as a sapient ant, he acquired the name “More” from a friendly tribe of lizardmen. The ants were new to sapience, and did not yet have their own names. Anyway, I already think of him as the best person I have ever known, much better than Jacques ever was.
He is my brother due to a lucky – karmic? unusual? – sequence of events. He led me from my spawn point in the woods to his village, Cottages. (I’m not making this up.) The first place we went was to his home, and I met his family. Then Arrjee’s grandmother, Rhonda, took us for a talk at her house. She is an unborn awakened, and both of them could tell that I was new. My “new hands” were a dead giveaway. They thought I was an unborn awakened also, which I did not correct, at Interface’s advice. He said they probably would not know about immortals, and for all practical purposes I was an unborn awakened anyway. I ended up explaining about this 1 day in 7 thing, but told them it was a new opportunity being offered to a few unborns. Telling them broke me, and I cried, because I was totally overwhelmed wondering how I could live like this, being gone so much of the time.
After more discussion with her, where we both learned Arrjee was a born awakened, we went back to Arrjee’s home. After a really nice meal and discussion, his parents, no, his whole family, adopted me.
After that, Skawa transported Rhetta (now Mom), Arrjee, and I to the woods somewhere. He gave us a quest to rescue a man and his two kids from two vicious beasts. We did. We all were then helped by guardsmen of the duchy to stay for the night at their fort. One of them was a druid, Captain Randolf Pokka, who could heal, and he finished the healing we needed that I was not able to do. I cannot heal myself, and I ran out of ki while healing the dad. Before the druid and guards arrived I healed what I could. Then I relearned the nascent skill of First Aid by applying direct pressure to the man’s ripped-up arm.
We went for a run the next morning around the fort. It was Arrjee, Mom, a Human guardsman named Asha Yon, and I. A water elemental hailed us. They gave us a quest. The 2 elementals and the four of us saved the deer. Our reward was these soul-bound things called “river stones”, and mine had the boon for luck.
That was pretty much my (and your) first day as an immortal. Oh, I made Level 2 within one day. It was not that hard. I hope your first day as you was every bit as wonderful as mine.
----------------------------------------
I spent the rest of my sixdays in meditation. Ranking it to E will be easy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1 I Got You Babe © 1965, Sonny and Cher. Released by Rhino Records