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

[shiroganeheir]

Greetings. I cannot remember if we have spoken before outside of the Jaunt, but I am Naoto Shirogane, better known in-Jaunt as SHIRO, the tiny yellow Revolutionary leader.

To answer your question about skills, sometimes we retrain some of them from Jaunts, but sometimes we do not. It is somewhat random what we retain and what we do not, unfortunately, however, I believe Travelers can teach others skills they have retained.

I... must admit as much as I changed Programs' factions, I am completely unaware as to how to do it, or how it would work outside of the Grid. I could probably at least somewhat explain it, but I am afraid it would mean nothing.

As to Tarot, I do not know who mentioned it, but I can speak to my friends about it. We are quite aware of how, at least, the Major Arcana function as it was quite important back home.

[professorwolf]

Oh, we did, in passing! I was the wolf who changed into a man. Or, I suppose, the Function who changed into a Program.

I was mostly using that knowledge as an example, no fear there. I don't really want to go about changing factions, and I'm perfectly content without knowing. There were a few other things I might have wished to keep, however. I'll have to experiment, I suppose.

But we can learn things after the fact? From others? Excellent. Even if I have lost something, perhaps I can find others to teach me.

[shiroganeheir]

Ah! It is good to actually speak to you in that case, Lyall-sensei.

What is it that you are looking to learn again? I might be able to either teach you myself or find someone who can teach you. I have kept a few things, I believe. At least I seem to have a concept of how to do them.

And, to be perfectly honest, there are a few things I wish to learn as well.

[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.]

[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!]

[brokers]

Marked? What do you mean, marked?

[thirdarrow]

I have been.

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

Do we know anything about what these marks do?

[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...?

[creativefool]

Yo. Name's Kanji Tatsumi - uh, you said KALI converted ya? I was KAN-3 back there, if any of the others mentioned the name. Huh. [With a mental chuckle-] Didn't know I wasn't the last...

But that ain't the point. The point is... yeah, I might be able to fix up somethin' like a tarot class sometime soon. I can't do anythin' about teaching people to read cards, but I can probably tell ya about the meanings pretty well.

As for the Constructive Enlightenment stuff, I'm ... [Pausing, checking-] Well, damn. I think I can still do it... huh.

[professorwolf]

I never met any of the others. I was busy working with KALI in her lab right up until the end, I'm afraid. I rather wish I had, now. It seems I was missing something important.

But it's nice to meet you. Or, well, think at you. I'm looking forward to that tarot class, as I'm sure you've guessed. And... already I've had two people offering to teach me. I wonder if having two teachers will make it more likely to stick around.

[brokers]

If you're speaking of skills you learned while on that world, the amount retained varies from person to person, and Jaunt to Jaunt. The memories of the events of the Jaunt itself should remain, barring extenuating circumstances, but do not be alarmed if your past as an Infiltrator grows...insubstantial.

[Unlike the usual psychic "voice", Liara sounds like she's truly speaking, quiet and a little absent.]

[professorwolf]

I wasn't-- infiltrated, you said? I was myself, at least. It seems like it's just the specialized knowledge that's gone.

I'll keep that in mind for the future, though, if that, er, happens, so thank you. I imagine I won't escape it forever.

[wholeheaded]

Hello Randolph, I'm Ambrose, I was infiltrating all last jaunt and uh... don't think we met. Are you more biology teacher or werewolf?

[ though he does remember seeing a wolf around the rebel enclave, come to think of it. ]

I can go over the jaunt-skills thing but other folks have covered it pretty well, and I'm only sorta vaguely informed about tarot. But yes, it's Leonardo da Vinci and he might make food for you.

[professorwolf]

I met him. I'm up in his workshop room right now.

[Yes, that is excitement, okay.]

As for your question, I'm probably more biology teacher? I've been that for most of my life, and the werewolf bit only showed up a few years back. I'm not even all the way there, as far as I'm aware, compared to what I should be. But I have enough to be useful, and occasionally dangerous.

[darkhourdear]

[.....you are being distressingly open about the Victorian werewolf thing. It makes Phillip a little uncomfortable.]

Um, sometimes we remember stuff, and sometimes we don't. It kind of depends, I think.

You didn't know about d-- Mr. Leonardo?

[professorwolf]

[Sorry, kiddo. He wants to be open about it, so no one gets hurt, and people know what he can do to help. He won't give you away without your permission, at least?]

I didn't! Though I do now, of course. Having someone that famous? I can only wonder if he was pulled from some alternate version of the world than the rest of us, or if he's proof that we'll all be returned someday to finish out our lives.

[loyalrebel]

I did not know Leonardo was important, should it be of concern that he is here?

[He is pretty clever, but mostly a nice fellow as far ad Malik knows.]

Also forgive me for not having heard of New or Old Jersey.

[howexciting]

... r-really, Malik, I am not that important... I am just a painter.

[professorwolf]

Important, yes, but I think he either comes from a different version of my Earth, or else, or else sometime in our future, he's returned where he belongs to finish what he started.

Oh, dear, I'm sorry. I keep forgetting so many of you are from so far in my world's past. Or, I suppose, other worlds, for that matter. Have you heard of England?

[capital_asset]

Generally, all that stays with us following a Jaunt are memories and whichever skills or traits the Trumps see fit to "gift" us with afterwards. I think injuries have carried over in some cases as well.

[professorwolf]

That's good to know, thank you-- though in my case, not terribly likely. I heal very quickly.

[He's also very open about his various powers, can you tell, Raidou?]

[morbirdinterest]

Ho ho ho... It is quite extraordinary, is it not? The chance to meet a mind such as his in person is certainly a bright spot in these ridiculous missions.

[professorwolf]

Oh yes, very! Though I'm almost afraid to try and ask him about things-- I guess he's from before some of his more famous exploits, and I don't want to spoil things or change things for him. But it's hard not to want to pepper the poor man with questions.