In Progress [LP CYOA] Tower

[ERYFKRAD]

Guess it's a bAndwagon. Still better than a Bandwagon.

 

[Baltika9]

hello friend, where would hunt3r boi even have heard of any Aztec words for those things? I dunno, I think our name should be earned. I'd love it if, after having us under her wing for a while, Tlalli would give us a name like that. But if we have to pick one, then I think a Biblical name would be a more in-character choice, since we're being raised by a priest and all.

I even have a suggestion: Gabriel, the guardian angel of Israel, to parallel our role as Rain's guardian.

Or is it too cliche?

Something Greek or Latin.

Let's go for Uranus. No one will dare to go after Uranus.

Unless you're Andrew.

 

[Esquilax]

No. Despite all of my protests, I think ItsChon and Lambchop19 summarized the group's general sentiment: we don't want to play a diaper-changing CYOA. Fair enough, but I don't like half-assing things; it's either full-ass, or no-ass. We chose a life of adventure when we decided to come to the ruins, so I will embrace the YOLOFISH. But I insist that we do it right.

Also, @ thinking that jumping in the water without swimming skills is a responsible choice.

Well, we didn't know he was unable to swim until I asked, and at that point, the waterfall trip up to the 26th floor was a foregone conclusion. Besides, it isn't that crazy to assume that an avid outdoorsman knows how to swim.

Anyways, I think it's really important that we take a nice, relaxing stroll through the woods with Grandma. Spending time with Grandma is important. A

 

[Life of the Party]

George is probably the most Victorian name one could think of and we did go with Wells as our favorite writer and his full name is Herbert George Wells.

Alternatively, we could use a middle name of one of his characters although his works weren't really famous for their names.

I'd still rather have our name fall into our lap, though. Let it be bestowed upon us by the Providence instead of just picking a random word.

 

[hello friend]

Well, wrinkly face has done just fine without a name all his life. It's feasible that he doesn't identify strongly with it like most people do. I kind of like the idea of him changing names like changing haircuts. Not something you do very often in life, but it happens once in a rare while and it's not terribly important. Be mighty convenient, too, if we're ever on the run or have to be clandestine.

 

[Baltika9]

Ah-ha. So that monster that we encountered has a direct analogue in human folklore, as does this changeling that we'll be hunting. Does any one of you gentlemen know which tradition the shadow beast is from?

It's almost a given now that Mr. Bram Stoker did not lie about the vampire:

1897: Bram Stoker writes Dracula while residing in Neo Carpathia, and claims it to be based off a true story. It swiftly becomes the most popular novel in the Tower.

The question I'm asking myself now is this: could Rain also be one of these creatures birthed by the tower? Elves are a little bit older than Tolkien's work, and if the Tower reflects the darker myths, then why wouldn't it reflect the noble ones as well?

Another note on this: it seems that these creatures keep to the themes of their surrounding communities. Dracula for the Romanians, and elves for the Celts? That would make Rain one of the Tuatha dé Danann, mythic original inhabitants of Ireland, or a Seelie* Faerie of Scottish myths. Her assailant could then be a Fomorian.

*Wouldn't it be funny if our choices in how we raise Rain will determine what kind of fae she will grow up to be: seelie or underlie.

Well, we didn't know he was unable to swim until I asked, and at that point, the waterfall trip up to the 26th floor was a foregone conclusion. Besides, it isn't that crazy to assume that an avid outdoorsman knows how to swim.

I was referring to our choice to pursue adventures, instead of being a responsible big brother. We are YOLOFISH now, Rain should buckle up.

Anyways, I think it's really important that we take a nice, relaxing stroll through the woods with Grandma. Spending time with Grandma is important

I'll stoke Codexian paranoia this time: what are the odds that this kindly stranger is a charlatan?

 

[Nevill]

I was referring to our choice to pursue adventures, instead of being a responsible big brother. We are YOLOFISH now, Rain should buckle up.

Ah yes, the fabled Codexian maximalism. If one can't have things their way, then it must be a 100% reversal. If Ean developed a devouring streak, mash that Devour Soul button. If we lost a fight with a demon swordsman, never do anything you want for fear of DEMONZ whispering temptations in your mind. If we can't be with the baby all the time, ditch the baby for the Tsardom and/or traipsing the land with mentors bearded and not.

Well, we dodged the first two bullets (although they grazed the discuss and some of the decisions a little), and I have no doubt we can dodge the third one too.

I'll stoke Codexian paranoia this time: what are the odds that this kindly stranger is a charlatan?

What do you mean? She has the skills, the gear, and the kitty. Kitty wouldn't lie to us!
(What do we have to do to get our own animal companion, since the book one didn't seem to pan out? I want full benefits from the Ranger class!)

Re: Name. Don't want to pick one. Either we wait until the mentor bestows one on us, or we drift through life with whatever people call us.

Be mighty convenient, too, if we're ever on the run or have to be clandestine.

Not with our face.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

we drift through life with whatever people call us.

On the whole this is likely a better option. If names have power then knowing someone's name is apt to give you power over them.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

treave

Can we change our name now?

Seeing as names have power in the tower, I suggest Strong. Now no one will laugh at us.

ffs. Bigus Dickus would be humbler, and frankly more imaginative.

I say we ask the girls to help us choose one or suggest some options. I think they feel a little better about us now.

Failing that, I would vote for Cloud, even though it doesn't make as much narrative sense now, to heal Nevill's butthurt.

 

[Absinthe]

We should ask what it means to have no name if names have power.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

We should ask what it means to have no name if names have power.

Better question:

What can change the nature of a man?

 

[Nevill]

What can change the nature of a man?

I imagine being named Bigus Dickus would be a good candidate!

Failing that, I would vote for Cloud, even though it doesn't make as much narrative sense now, to heal Nevill's butthurt.

Nah, what's done is done. It was good for an impulsive pick, now that we are doing fine without one I want to milk this situation for what it is worth until we get a big enough narrative impetus to change things.

And hey, I am not opposed to "it's just a name" outlook. Sticks and stones can break my bones sort of thing. People who have a reason to care would come up with names that are not insulting, and we don't have a reason to care about what other people think.

Baltika fancies Wrinkly as proto-Geralt, and I find it a reasonable role model to strive for.

Spoiler

Besides, if we can't be tracked through divination Astras/magic because we don't have one "true" name, wouldn't it be cool in itself?

Edit: Remember the Fire Temple! When you are at your most butthurt, always consider that there may be a secret option accounting just for the set of retarded decisions that led you to that outcome, and push to its logical conclusion!

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

A good argument.

Sign me up for The Nameless One bandwagon!

 

[Absinthe]

Shall we lock votes? A is winning overwhelmingly, 15 to 1.

 

[CappenVarra]

A in for a penny, in for a pound - forest critters be damned

 

[oscar]

B

Three kids who haven't sprouted their first pubes yet in unfamiliar jungles will be more hindrance than help to her

 

[CappenVarra]

off-topic

She stared at me as though I had just crawled up out of the sea to bite her. I don’t know what my own expression resembled, but I have been given to understand it was idiotic.

Now I perceived, after a few moments, that the young lady was frightened, and I knew I ought to say something civil. So I said, “Are there any mosquitoes here?”. “No,” she replied, with a slight quiver in her voice; “I have only seen one, and it was biting somebody else.”

I looked foolish; the conversation seemed so futile, and the young lady appeared to be more nervous than before. I had an impulse to say, “Do not run; I have breakfasted,” for she seemed to be meditating a plunge into the breakers.

 

[Baltika9]

I was referring to our choice to pursue adventures, instead of being a responsible big brother. We are YOLOFISH now, Rain should buckle up.

Ah yes, the fabled Codexian maximalism. If one can't have things their way, then it must be a 100% reversal. If Ean developed a devouring streak, mash that Devour Soul button. If we lost a fight with a demon swordsman, never do anything you want for fear of DEMONZ whispering temptations in your mind. If we can't be with the baby all the time, ditch the baby for the Tsardom and/or traipsing the land with mentors bearded and not.

Well, we dodged the first two bullets (although they grazed the discuss and some of the decisions a little), and I have no doubt we can dodge the third one too.

I resent that.


I meant that I'll embrace the direction in which we've been developing our hunt3r boi*, instead of fighting it at every turn, and that Rain should prepare for the consequences. Since we are choosing to live life as an adventurer, maybe even a monster hunter, this will obviously impact our life and, by extension, hers. I'd rather avoid repeating the 'Cao'er Mistake' with Rain, where our ignoring her led to Cao'er becoming more and more unhinged: her creepiness was only endearing because she was a fictional character in a wuxia setting, whereas IRL she would be locked up in a psych ward. This means we will have to spend quality time with Rain, which will mean she may start adventuring with us at an early age.

(What do we have to do to get our own animal companion, since the book one didn't seem to pan out? I want full benefits from the Ranger class!)

Think big: we can finally get the pet sphere that treave promised us eight years ago, all the way back in EPIC.

*The way I see it, Wrinkly is very quickly becoming a hardcore bastard, which is fine, without any regard for his own life, which is worrying:

But all that happens is the door sliding open. You sniff the air – no signs of anything out of the ordinary. No beastly smells, no stench of blood. It should be safe… probably.

“That was rather reckless,” lectures Sophie. “What if another trap had triggered?”

“And here I thought I was careless…” mutters Elizabeth.

“Nothing to worry about, I knew it would be fine.” You pause for a while, and then add, “Probably.”

“Probably?”

“Oh, bother… what a boy.”

The girls sigh in unison, but they follow you into the room anyway.

“W-Wow,” goes Elizabeth, shrinking back from the hole. “We’re going in there?” Her voice echoes back from the hollow emptiness.

“I don’t think we have any choice, do we?” says Sophie reluctantly. “I really don’t think anyone will come to rescue us in time.”

“Yes,” is all you say as you summon up your resolve and enter the hole.

You back away from it and crouch besides the girls, your dagger at the ready. The rustling has yet to stop.

There are more of these things.

Three more lizards crawl out of the bushes on all fours. You glare at them, wondering what you should do next. Taking them on all at once while still protecting the girls would be impossible. Will you go down fighting? Or…

How many ten-year old boys take down shadow beasts, giant lizards, almost drown in rivers when escaping troglodytes and come out cool like cucumbers?

 

[Egosphere]

B

 

[Absinthe]

15 A to 2 B now.

By the way, treave, what are we doing with the dead lizards?

 

[hello friend]

How many ten-year old boys take down shadow beasts, giant lizards, almost drown in rivers when escaping troglodytes and come out cool like cucumbers?

That's just how T U F F wrinkly is.

 

[Nevill]

This means we will have to spend quality time with Rain, which will mean she may start adventuring with us at an early age.

That was known to us a week ago, I am not sure why it dawned on you just now.
Rain will barely be twelve when we will be twenty. And we'll likely be adventuring full stop by then.

I meant that I'll embrace the direction in which we've been developing our hunt3r boi*

And you trying to sum that direction up as YOLO is what made me write the post you resent. Well, this, and the musings on no-assing and full-assing things.

Because I don't want to YOLO all the time, and neither do I think it is necessary. We are perfectly capable of sitting quietly in a corner and waiting for YOLO actors to do their part when it suits us. We are capable of going to check out a river before throwing down with another shadowbeast, and having to jump in the water because of cave dweller ambush is not something we could have predicted. We've hardly done anything reckless beyond attacking a demon to save a kid, and going on a cool adventure to fit in with other kids. The first one I'll give you, but then you were its adept even when you were RESPONSIBILITY FISH fan. The second... taking a test of courage that two Victorian girls who've never so much as been alone in a forest participate in hardly qualifies you for a hardcore YOLO bastard. It's true that things went down that were way above our head, but at the time the only irresponsible thing we were guilty of was sneaking away from home for a night.

without any regard for his own life, which is worrying

Hm. I think our boy has a working intuition, but can't explain it well. He smells for blood and other signs of danger before activating a panel - and it's not like you can go anywhere in a dungeon if you just sit in one place afraid of making a step. He is calm because he's been been on his own for as long as he remembers, and he knows what he is doing... mostly, at least more so than you'd expect from a 10 yo kid.

Which was something Father McClellan remarked on:

After she is gone, McClellan chuckles. “Forgive my daughter. She’s still young, still immature. Unlike you, I would say.”

“…What do you mean?”

“You must have lived a really rough life,” he says sadly. “And yet I can see that you are a very calm and very resolute boy. Truly, God gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”

So the only accusation of recklessness that you can throw at us is the very latest choice of adventure.

And I have a perfect answer to that! Behold!

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Rain will barely be twelve when we will be twenty. And we'll likely be adventuring full stop by then.

You forget this is an anime. A 12 year old is basically an adult.

 

[Nevill]

Yeah, that must be what Alexei tells himself.

I am afraid it would be a while before we could rival adults in physical characteristics, let alone resourses. The latter might be less of an issue for Rain, since she could always use ours, but Astra bonding and development take time, too.

 

[a cut of domestic sheep prime]

Yeah, that must be what Alexei tells himself.

I am afraid it would be a while before we could rival adults in physical characteristics, let alone resourses. The latter might be less of an issue for Rain, since she could always use ours, but Astra bonding and development take time, too.

eh, even for elves? For all you know, elves mature faster than humans. Physically and spiritually.

my question is whether or not Rain is even still in the village. We know that both Scotty and Andrew knew about her.

it may be that she's already taken our place as Rasputin's pupil, much to Baltika9's chagrin.