In Ur Head, Giving U The Low-Down

[wholeheaded]

Hey everyone, Ambrose here. New folks: welcome to your first Jaunt, it's a much comfier landing than most of us are used to. That said, I'm thinking "too good to be true" and "all that sparkles isn't emeralds" and "no such thing as a free lunch" and all kinds of other don't-take-nice-looking-things-at-face-value idioms.

If you need help blending in please ask. I know there's a few folks from this time in Earth's history, we're gonna need you guys. [ he really wants to ask what a "United Mileage Plus Explorer Card" is, that's one thing in his wallet he hasn't figured out. ] I do know magic isn't a known thing here, so... try and avoid summoning lightning and giant ice dragons and stuff like that, okay?

[ Ambrose well remembers the anxiety his Infiltrated-self felt last jaunt when presented with inconceivable feats of sorcery. speaking of: ]

And-- has anybody recognized any Infiltrators yet? Cuz if not that's downright weird.


(OOC: threadjacking and folks-not-me responding to top levels is A+++. I'll hit up as many people as I can but treat this as a psychic free-for-all.)

Comments

[wholeheaded]

It's okay, to be honest a lot of this stuff is sorta weird to me too. But we're all here to help each other so... trust that for now. What should I call you?

[ofdel]

My name is Lewin. Although the circumstances are not ideal, it is a pleasure to meet you—Ambrose, was it?

[wholeheaded]

Yep, right on… well, all counts. Name, circumstances, and it’s good to meet you too. Is this your first Jaunt?

[ofdel]

It is indeed. I fear that I am not certain what to expect from this, truth be told.

[wholeheaded]

That's one of the problems, we never know what we're getting into until it falls on our heads. But there's a lot of us who've been around for a while to help, like this'll be my sixth Jaunt.

[ofdel]

[Lief really hopes that he finds a way back home before he reaches that many Jaunts, but.]

Then all we can do is prepare ourselves for whatever struggle lies ahead? [Well, he can do that, at least.] How long do these Jaunts often last?

[wholeheaded]

Yeah, that’s our lot on these adventures. Usually they last a month or two, but it varies. So, Lewin, what's the technology like back home? It's easier to explain stuff if I know what to compare it to.

[ofdel]

[He's quiet for a few moments.]

I know one shopkeeper who sells items of amazing capabilities, such as beads that create fire when you strike them, or a pipe that creates bubbles of light, but his wares are far from the standards of my land.

We have horses and carriages rather than those strange, roaring objects on the streets that I encountered earlier. Water in cities come from wells or pumps. [He may or may not have been somewhat fascinated by the taps.] And our light comes from fire—nothing like what I have seen on the walls and ceilings here!

[wholeheaded]

I think I’d like to visit that shop. [ more for the bubbles than the fire beads, naturally. beyond that, his new acquaintance’s world sounds similar to several others’ he’s met: like his own home in many respects, though the O.Z. zigs and zags around many levels of technology. ]

Sounds like your home’s got a lot in common with a few other folks, so don’t worry about asking questions, we’re used to hearing them. The vehicles are called cars, which is short for “carriage” since that’s essentially what they are. The water comes through pipes which all connect back to one huge well, and it drains away to a sewer underground. The lights run on something called electricity which… is trickier to explain. But those are the basics, and none of it is magic. [ pause. ] Is magic a known thing where you’re from?

[ofdel]

The shopkeeper is not the best of people, I will admit, but the wares he sells are indeed fascinating.

[Not that Tom is awful, per se, but his utterly neutral stance still sometimes rubs Lief the wrong way, even if not as much as it once did.

He listens patiently through Ambrose's explanation, mentally taking note of it all.]

It is not entirely widespread, but common enough for certain people. That is to say, it is still a spectacle to see or experience for most, but the existence of magic in itself is not unheard of.

[wholeheaded]

Oh. [ that’s disappointing, but… well, what are the odds of ever actually finding the place?]

That sounds a bit like my home, actually. It’s something of a fact of like but true practitioners are rare. A lot of the worlds we visit don’t seem to have it at all so that’ll be something else to get used to.