[Jaunt] Check-in

[shiroganeheir]

[Naoto's mental voice is higher than usual, and definitely worried.]

Can someone please tell me what's going on? I seem to be stuck in a compact. Again. If someone could help find me, that would be greatly appreciated.

[She coughs and composes herself.]

At any rate, those of us who are Investigating should likely check in. Please let us know who is here, and any information you might have. For those who are new... welcome to your first Jaunt.

[Another pause.]

Oh. And I am Naoto Shirogane, usually small with a blue hat, but sometimes larger. Or a rock. Or a cat person. It is complicated.... but I always have my hat.

Comments

[rustyhonesty]

The Jaunts are never a game for Travelers. It's real for the natives - there's no way we can treat someone's life as a game.

... there are exception, it seems. [Zed why.]

[leftbehindagain]

Well, for a given value of 'settled.' Jules-san seems to be poking around on behalf of some kind of concern from the American government, but they apparently haven't settled on 'find trouble and shoot it' yet, or the guns would already be here. It probably helps that most people are looking at this as a kids' game - that may be making it easier to swallow.

...Kind of sort of not really? it's just opening a door back to Liminal Space. But between keeping prying eyes from noticing - which isn't usually a problem, but has been often enough to keep it in mind - and the fact that you need practice before you can re-enter the jaunt somewhere other than where you left it, opening one just anywhere is inadvisable.

[vrepit_no]

I agree. The circumstances here may lead people to think it's a game, but anything involving this level of incoming new population... that's no game. I don't have a background in biology or natural sciences, but I'm pretty sure it can't be good for the environment, either.

[rustyhonesty]

The Arcana make an effort so that we fit in the world and don't cause any damage like that, actually. Suitable Jaunt-bodies or something of the same sort. Usually there's always a reason for a sudden increase in population, too.

[vrepit_no]

I meant the pogemon, but I'm glad the Travelers aren't causing more damage than we're worth most of the time. That's the last thing we need is to draw that kind of attention.

[rustyhonesty]

Oh. Yeah, I hadn't thought of that... Well, I'll try to keep an eye on any information that might be useful and tell about them.

I'm Jean by the way. I've been a Traveler for around a year and half.

[vrepit_no]

[Mental note: this one's sharp and well-informed.]

Yeah, let's see if we can get it to stop before it comes to shooting. Restraint isn't a particularly American trait.

Huh. I didn't know we could get back and forth from liminal space. That's useful. Can anybody do that?

[There's a way to make these things quieter and private-like, right? Something like this?]

.....Hey, thanks for being so willing to bring me up to speed. I appreciate it.

[vrepit_no]

Thanks, Jean, that'll be a big help. I'm Shiro. Pleased to talk to you. Sometime we'll have to do this face to face!

[leftbehindagain]

[Naoki tries. And if someone can actually get use out of his expository tendencies instead of annoyance, then at least he's doing some good with it.]

No, it really isn't. And no matter what the subject of the larger competition is here, I can't imagine most of our hosts would be happy about it devolving into shooting.

Most of us can - considerably fewer can do the kind that'll take you out of Liminal somewhere other than where you came in, but at least it's not as bad as things were in Bando anymore. The place-connected portals are one of the easiest things to pick up involving Liminal Space.

[When Shiro takes the conversation private, Naoki automatically slaps some protection on both sides of it - sure, this is pretty mundane, but it's a force of habit.]

It's no trouble. Zed-san... I'm not even sure I can say he means well, and he has a fairly skewed perspective in any case. Besides, why flail your way through your first investigation if you don't have to?

[rustyhonesty]

Likewise. And we might run into each other at some point. I'm not very hard to miss sometimes.

[Little does he know at this time that he'd actually be yelling quite a bit at Eremon so he's definitely not kidding when it comes to 'not hard to miss'.]

[papacerberus]

In Newport there was a similar situation involving worlds and a path between them. Perhaps we're meant to do something similar here? I was combined with another life during that, so it'd be best to ask someone who was themselves for more details.

Although portals can be limited, based on skill, Liminal might be the best base. There is almost no chance of natives wandering in that way. A secondary location outside of Liminal isn't out of the question, but you've already mentioned the potential issues with that plan.

Money, yes, and food can still be created in Liminal and brought out. That also requires portals, but portals can allow others through, and some of us are very skilled.

As far as electronics, I'm able to interface and retrieve information if we require it. I wouldn't count myself an expert, but I can handle most basic operation.

...But I'm also physically a child at the moment, and that may attract suspicion.

[bite_the_hand]

You must be new. First tip: don't ever listen to Zed. This tournament thing might turn out to be just a game, but Traveling isn't. Even if the Trumps call it one. There's always something important happening in the worlds we go to, and the locals are stuck with whatever we do to handle it.

I can't help you with electronics, but I'll see what I can figure out the old fashioned way. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about Traveling. I've been doing this for a while now. Oh, and the best base is Liminal Space. The people that can't make portals will need help getting in and out, but it's a lot less suspicious than an in-world base.

[whydoyoushine]

Hey! I am plenty worth listening to! I'm an Emperor with a lot of experience!

[bite_the_hand]

An emperor of what? Fireworks and reflective party balls? [He means disco balls.]

[whydoyoushine]

Darkness, actually.

But I have been diversifying my interests lately with no one to tell me no.

[fridgeninja]

If you're not sure, we can always get you a headband.

[fridgeninja]

Good plan.

[naturaltwohands]

[Oh you poor baby.]

Learn Liminal Manipulation and you can recreate it.

[No sympathy, but at least a solution. And Drizzt can't help but be happy.]

Are you not excited to explore a new world, Entreri? Where is your adventurous spirit?

[Oh no.]

[icanhearscreams]

... Why?

[bitofafop]

Learn what?

[No. No. For the love of an eight-legged demon god Drizzt stop.]

I must have left it back in Damara.

Far be it from me to stop you, but you'll forgive me if I'm not excited.

[naturaltwohands]

Liminal Manipulation. You can create things with your mind within liminal space using the right power, although the cloak will not be magical in nature.

[This is so weird to be having this conversation, but poking a bit of fun at Entreri is... entertaining, to say the least.]

Ah, perhaps you can buy a new one here.

[senpaidol]

Carried!

I vote for anything but "Persona Pack."

[senpaidol]

You know, you might be right. I spent a whole month as a mermaid just now and I still never talked to any fish. And the whole yes-legs-no-legs thing was...well, it was different, I don't know about useful.

[senpaidol]

She was really sweet! Once I got over how weird it always is when someone else in showbusiness is also a fan, anyway.

[senpaidol]

It might depend on who's running them. Or who's around for Infiltrators to bond with. They tend to be people we have something in common with, so I guess in my case there weren't any convenient Pogemon Idols or something.