Psychic Post - The Newb has some Questions

[professorwolf]

[It's a bit odd putting his thoughts out on the network without something direct to reply to, but Lyall is giving it a go.]

Ah. Forgive me, I'm afraid I'm a bit new here, but I had some questions and I'm hoping someone might have answers... this seemed the easiest way to seek them out, without having to hunt people down individually. Especially as I don't know very many of you all yet.

I'm Randolph Lyall. Biology teacher from New Jersey. Also werewolf from Victorian England. It's a bit complicated.

But most pressing, I suppose, is that I need to know just how much of these Jaunts stay with us... I remember everything, but I don't seem to be able to do everything. Not that I've tried everything yet, exactly, but certain things are a bit fuzzy. Like the mechanics of having one's faction changed. I understood it implicitly after it happened, but now it's all confusing, like it happened to somebody else. And I could do this intense focus work, KALI called it Constructive Enlightenment, but it's quite gone, now.

Also, someone mentioned lessons in Tarot, and seeing as they seem to be pretty important to all this... I'm definitely going to want those, if they're still available.

Lastly, how did it take me this long to realize we have Leonardo daVinci here?

[The last sounds a little like he should be a teenager saying "oh my god that is so awesome" despite the generally polite and controlled sound of the rest of it.]

Comments

[leftbehindagain]

I'm handing the Tarot 101 thing off to one of my friends, but I'll make sure everyone knows when it's happening.

Incidentally, while I'm here - anyone who had a conversation with SAGE, ROSE, or our friend with the horned helmet should probably check themselves for mysterious tattoos. Three-Trump special, and I wouldn't be surprised if they all marked someone.

[professorwolf]

Who should I be looking for for our lessons? I want to make sure I show up early and ready. Hopefully it won't be down in the casino...?

As for the marks, nothing here. I think, anyhow. But then, I didn't really interact with any of, er, those. I think I saw ROSE from a distance. KALI wasn't a Trump, was she? She did some rather amazing things, I have to admit, and her name is that of an Indian goddess, so I did wonder a bit....

[leftbehindagain]

No, not in the casino - we'll find somewhere quieter. Or wait until things change again. I don't know if Kanji's going to end up leading it or sharing with someone else or what, but I'll definitely be there either way.

KALI... oh, right, the weird Crypto. I don't think so? Not unless Tower snuck in there after all. [Even if they didn't, Naoki's willing to bet Tower's quite pleased with the outcome of this jaunt.]

[professorwolf]

Hmm. She's the one who converted me to crypto, taught me Constructive Enlightenment. I wound up helping as much as I could on that cure, but I'm afraid we couldn't get a tested sample out in time. I don't suppose you know just how the untested one went, do you? I'm afraid we didn't get much information back in her lab before we were deposited back here.

[leftbehindagain]

No idea. I wasn't in the heart of things - I know they were trying to clear people out of the area as much as possible before they used it. At least, I'm pretty sure they were aiming to use it.

[howexciting]

... you... do know I can hear you, corretto?

[He's never going to get over the fanboy thing. Seriously, how is he this famous?]

In answer to your question... it was a success. At least, I believe it was. Sage, or I should say more accurately, The Hermit, intended to use it as another body, one that was not bound to the Grid as his previous body was. The "cure" moved in my arms as I was holding it, before he was dere-- before he was killed.

Anyway, if you wish to relearn Constructive Enlightenment, I would be happy to teach it to you again. I seem to have retained it here. Otherwise, we should speak of what we learned from the Trumps in the Jaunt, and then prepare for the next.

You say you are from... Victorian England? [He pauses, then adds:] I am truly sorry.

[willyousee]

[A quiet, French-accented voice speaks up.]

Everything happened very quickly around the transfer itself, but I believe the cure did function as intended. SAGE's infected body was destroyed, but the function stirred. I believe the transfer was completed. Though how completely is difficult to say.

[stophamatime]

[Things Ken does not want to talk about: this.

Things Ken knows he should probably not keep avoiding people over: this.]

...I didn't talk to any of them on the Grid, but I still got marked.

I'm almost positive it was in Liminal Space before the jaunt.

[So that can happen too, apparently. Time to be extra paranoid about newcomers!]

[leftbehindagain]

...didn't think they'd bother getting that kind of head start. But since it was probably ROSE, I can't say I'm surprised she would.

Are you all right?

[stophamatime]

Yeah, it was her. It was dark, so I wasn't really sure when the jaunt started.

I'm okay.

[Mostly feeling like kind of an ass for sitting on that tidbit for the entire jaunt, really.]

[thirdarrow]

Ken, where are you? I need a little of your assistance.

[ He's been mostly quiet, but when the boy speaks up... ]

[stophamatime]

I'm by the slot machines. Should I come find you?

[shiroganeheir]

[Naoto's mental voice is not as strong as usual, but still confident.]

Ken-kun.

Do you want to talk? Is there anything I can do?

[stophamatime]

If you're not busy...

[brokers]

Marked? What do you mean, marked?

[leftbehindagain]

As I understand it, the Trumps are... claiming people, for lack of a better word. I don't know much more about it than that, but they seem to like giving people tattoos they didn't sign up for.

[brokers]

Claiming...? That's a disconcerting thought. How long has this been happening?

[thirdarrow]

I have been.

[ A sigh. But given his role in the whole Jaunt... ]

Do we know anything about what these marks do?

[leftbehindagain]

That's a better question for someone else, unfortunately. As far as I know, no, or at least Naoto hasn't mentioned anything. She would have, though.

[Naoto's not the type to sit on something that could help.]

[thirdarrow]

Alright, I see. I will let you know if I find anything.

[shiroganeheir]

As of yet, no, Takakage-san. My Arcana is shifting, but I believe that has more to do with the fact that we believe Fortune to be dead than Sun's claim on me. The only other thing is I faintly remember the circuitry on my suit that paralleled my Mark flaring when SAGE touched me, but there were no actual effects from that.

I will share any information I ever come up with, however, and if you have any questions, I am always open to answer them.

[thirdarrow]

I see. I was claimed by Hermit, and my Persona was Hermit as well, so my arcana has not changed. However, my first Persona was Magician, if that is relevant.

And... if I may ask, has there been a trend in mark placing? Mine is rather... how should I say it... no, not unconventional. Just rather inconvenient to monitor.

[ Seeing that it was over his chest. ]

[howexciting]

... you say there were three Trumps?

[Oh. Oh God. Is this the Trumps' way of saying they're getting impatient?]

What did they look like? I was a Crypto, so I knew the Hermit, but... what was Rose? And what is this about a horned helmet...?

[leftbehindagain]

At least three, but that's what I know of for sure. I never saw horned-helmet up close and personal, but they were probably Devil, from everything else that got said. And ROSE, we finally figured out after several false starts, was Magician.

Stole us out from under the others' noses to get things done, too, apparently.

[prolificarse]

It was - or perhaps they were is more accurate - the Devil, I can confirm that much.