"Good to know. Now, you mention 'telekinesis,' which is rather like teleportation, in that it is a surprisingly nondescriptive word, and could signify any number of different phenomena. In this case, I theorize that it is a refinement of your ability to harness the wind. Hmmm, now how shall we put this hypothesis to the test?"
Perryton looks around, and picks up the ziploc bag his bagel was packed in. He holds up the rubix cube, drops it in the bag, and seals it. "There. I think I've squeezed nearly all of the air out of the bag. If your power is air-based, there won't be much to work with inside, and the bag will restrict any manipulation from outside."To demonstrate, Perryton attempts to twist the cube through the plastic bag with his hands. "If your powers are psychic or spiritual in nature, then the bag will prove little hindrance."
If Max is able to manipulate the cube, Perryton will then drop it in his jacket pocket, and ask if Max can manipulate it when it is out of sight, testing for extrasensory abilities.
Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
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mordechiyoel
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Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
Max smiled at the challenge.
He looked at the cube and pictured himself holding it.
A twist here and a move there in his mind.
The Professor could see and feel the cube moving inside of the bag.
Once the bag vanished into the Professor's pocket, his smile turned to a frown.
"Seems I need to see whatever I am trying to move," Max shared.
He looked at the cube and pictured himself holding it.
A twist here and a move there in his mind.
The Professor could see and feel the cube moving inside of the bag.
Once the bag vanished into the Professor's pocket, his smile turned to a frown.
"Seems I need to see whatever I am trying to move," Max shared.
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
"Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating. Then let us flip the hypothesis on its head. Perhaps the air control is a specialized form of psychic manipulation. Something about the... wavelength of your telekinesis that resonates with the structure of air molecules. "
"I wonder if your abilities would work with other gaseous mediums? Hmm. We don't really have the necessary items to test that. Perhaps later."
"And the teleportation... The Law of Parsimony urges us to find the simplest explanation that accounts for all of the data available. It is possible that your teleportation is an extraordinarily advanced and precises form of telekinesis. That you telekenetically disassemble yourself, yes, and transfer the pattern of your physical being via the physical structure your power is most attuned to, the air."
"There are implications to this. If you are able to actively guide and reassemble a cloud of information while in this state, it may be that, even more so than the rest of us, your true form is a spiritual entity that exists somewhat separately from your physical body. Which dovetails with my initial hypothesis, that you are a demigod, a descendant of the gods of old. There is an ineffable, divine body within you, yes yes, and it is this divine body that guides your teleportation, calls the winds to its bidding, and wills objects into motion."
"Specifically, I believe it is the blood of Borealis, the North Wind, that flows in your veins."
The Professor offers Max a cup of brandy-coffee. "This may help absorb this information. It is surely a lot to take in."
"The balance between mortal and immortal is a continuum, and demigods may be humans with a little... something extra, or full blown deities in their own right who ascend to glory upon the death of their mortal form. It would behoove us to test your placement upon the continuum." The professor pulls out the set of scalpels. "But, this would get uncomfortable. Do I have your permission to proceed?"
"I wonder if your abilities would work with other gaseous mediums? Hmm. We don't really have the necessary items to test that. Perhaps later."
"And the teleportation... The Law of Parsimony urges us to find the simplest explanation that accounts for all of the data available. It is possible that your teleportation is an extraordinarily advanced and precises form of telekinesis. That you telekenetically disassemble yourself, yes, and transfer the pattern of your physical being via the physical structure your power is most attuned to, the air."
"There are implications to this. If you are able to actively guide and reassemble a cloud of information while in this state, it may be that, even more so than the rest of us, your true form is a spiritual entity that exists somewhat separately from your physical body. Which dovetails with my initial hypothesis, that you are a demigod, a descendant of the gods of old. There is an ineffable, divine body within you, yes yes, and it is this divine body that guides your teleportation, calls the winds to its bidding, and wills objects into motion."
"Specifically, I believe it is the blood of Borealis, the North Wind, that flows in your veins."
The Professor offers Max a cup of brandy-coffee. "This may help absorb this information. It is surely a lot to take in."
"The balance between mortal and immortal is a continuum, and demigods may be humans with a little... something extra, or full blown deities in their own right who ascend to glory upon the death of their mortal form. It would behoove us to test your placement upon the continuum." The professor pulls out the set of scalpels. "But, this would get uncomfortable. Do I have your permission to proceed?"
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
Pulpatoon wrote:"The balance between mortal and immortal is a continuum, and demigods may be humans with a little... something extra, or full blown deities in their own right who ascend to glory upon the death of their mortal form. It would behoove us to test your placement upon the continuum." The professor pulls out the set of scalpels. "But, this would get uncomfortable. Do I have your permission to proceed?"
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mordechiyoel
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Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
"Define "uncomfortable" ?" Max asked the Professor with a raised left eyebrow.
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
"I would like to make a small incision. Hand, arm, where ever you like. Just enough to draw a little blood. These are surgical steel scalpels—very sharp, antiseptically sealed. I have some bandages, too, should we need them. This is chiefly to test three different things: one, how much pressure is required to break your skin; two, the rate of healing; three, does the content of your veins have the properties of blood, ichor, or a combination of the two? Depending on the results of these observations, there may be some other little tests."
"Blood, as they say, will tell." The Professor stands with the scalpel poised and a blase expression, as though he were asking to borrow a pen.
"Blood, as they say, will tell." The Professor stands with the scalpel poised and a blase expression, as though he were asking to borrow a pen.
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mordechiyoel
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Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
"If I scar, its on your head !" Max growled as he offered his left arm, palm up.
He looked away, not looking forward to this part of the experimentation.
"Last time I checked, I bleed normally and heal like a normal person, yet that was before my powers
manifesting so who knows," Max offered.
He looked away, not looking forward to this part of the experimentation.
"Last time I checked, I bleed normally and heal like a normal person, yet that was before my powers
manifesting so who knows," Max offered.
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
"There, now, don't be a baby." Perryton takes the proffered hand, pauses briefly to examine Max's palm, and then draws the blade across the ball of his thumb. "No particular resistance to the blade. Your skin parts like any other. No visits from Thetis when you were in the crib, eh?"Perryton squeezes the wound until a bit of blood wells up."Ah. See that? Red is the color of blood, gold is the color of ichor. And that is very red." He bends down and sniffs. "No unusual aroma, no scent of roses or sandalwood or the like." He turns the hand over and shakes until a drop falls to the ground. Crouching down, the Professor examines the spot where the drop of blood soaked into the playing field. "No spontaneous growth of flowers, or trees, nor the welling of an enchanted spring."
"Well, my boy, you're mortal. Powerful, yes. Gifted with the power of the North Wind itself. But you can be killed like anyone else. So, don't step in front of any buses, eh? Or pick any fights with telepathic gorillas. It is possible that, if you were able to lay in a store of holy ambrosia and nectar, that your blood might translate into ichor and you might attain godhood."
"Such the blest inhabitants of heav'n may bleed, for gods eat not man's food, now slake as he with sable wine their thirst, thence bloodless and from death exempt, don't you know."
"On the other hand, who knows? Godhood is tricky stuff, these days. Many of the great pantheons of yore are barely limping along. Oh, I say, how's that faring? Healed, has it? Not surprised. Probably why you're able to do things like punch bulldozers without breaking your hand. Speaking of which, we tested the lifting capacity of your mental abilities. What about the strength of your arm. This is usually the one young men have figured out for themselves. Do you know how much you can lift?"
Perryton begins fiddling with the Rubix cube. "Tell you what, let's test the strength of your arm and your mind." He holds up the cube for about a second, rotates it for Max's benefit, and drops it back in his pocket. "Last one, I promise. Go pick up that bulldozer, if you can, while figuring out how many moves it would take to solve the puzzle cube. Take your time, you have ten seconds."
"Well, my boy, you're mortal. Powerful, yes. Gifted with the power of the North Wind itself. But you can be killed like anyone else. So, don't step in front of any buses, eh? Or pick any fights with telepathic gorillas. It is possible that, if you were able to lay in a store of holy ambrosia and nectar, that your blood might translate into ichor and you might attain godhood."
"Such the blest inhabitants of heav'n may bleed, for gods eat not man's food, now slake as he with sable wine their thirst, thence bloodless and from death exempt, don't you know."
"On the other hand, who knows? Godhood is tricky stuff, these days. Many of the great pantheons of yore are barely limping along. Oh, I say, how's that faring? Healed, has it? Not surprised. Probably why you're able to do things like punch bulldozers without breaking your hand. Speaking of which, we tested the lifting capacity of your mental abilities. What about the strength of your arm. This is usually the one young men have figured out for themselves. Do you know how much you can lift?"
Perryton begins fiddling with the Rubix cube. "Tell you what, let's test the strength of your arm and your mind." He holds up the cube for about a second, rotates it for Max's benefit, and drops it back in his pocket. "Last one, I promise. Go pick up that bulldozer, if you can, while figuring out how many moves it would take to solve the puzzle cube. Take your time, you have ten seconds."
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mordechiyoel
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Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
Max grinned and the rubix cube exploded...
then the pieces reconnected themselves with the right colors in sequence.
"Heh," Max said.. "four seconds !" and then he stepped up to the bulldozer.
He placed his hands against it and pushed. At first nothing happened.. at
the ninth second, spherical indents were seen on the bulldozer as it moved
a few inches across the grass.
"YEAH BITCH !" Max yelled as he pushed the bulldozer ever so slightly.
"Ooops, sorry Professor," Max chuckled as he realized he cursed.
He leaned against the bulldozer, sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Got it done !"
then the pieces reconnected themselves with the right colors in sequence.
"Heh," Max said.. "four seconds !" and then he stepped up to the bulldozer.
He placed his hands against it and pushed. At first nothing happened.. at
the ninth second, spherical indents were seen on the bulldozer as it moved
a few inches across the grass.
"YEAH BITCH !" Max yelled as he pushed the bulldozer ever so slightly.
"Ooops, sorry Professor," Max chuckled as he realized he cursed.
He leaned against the bulldozer, sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Got it done !"
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
The Professor looks dismissively at the reassembled rubix cube. "That was not the test."
He sighs heavily and looks at his watch. "Well, we have been at this for awhile. I think we've covered a lot of ground, and I feel confident in stating that we have moved from the realm of supposition to hypothesis. Perhaps we should call it a day. I have a few meetings to attend, and you will probably be wanting to settle into the grad office. Perhaps we could meet tomorrow, and discuss some of the travel arrangements for our upcoming expedition?"
He sighs heavily and looks at his watch. "Well, we have been at this for awhile. I think we've covered a lot of ground, and I feel confident in stating that we have moved from the realm of supposition to hypothesis. Perhaps we should call it a day. I have a few meetings to attend, and you will probably be wanting to settle into the grad office. Perhaps we could meet tomorrow, and discuss some of the travel arrangements for our upcoming expedition?"
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
The next day, Max finds a mountain of texts stacked on his office desk. It includes bound collections of anthropology journals, a speculative treatise of demigod physiology, case studies of telekinesis, a children's book on primates, the user's manual for a submarine, raw data from seventy years worth of investigations into Mariana's Trench, and a xeroxed facsimile of someone's hand-written notes on the language of the Telepathic Gorillas of Lost Gorillapolis (although it is very hard to read, as the pages are marred by what appear to be blood stains, large bite marks, and tufts of white might be albino gorilla fur).
Underneath the texts is a stainless steel case with many prominent latches. It is covered in radiation stickers, and a notice that reads "UTMOST CAUTION: FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES PUNISHABLE BY FEDERAL LAW. SEE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA MANUAL. POSESSION BY UNCLASSIFIED PERSONNEL PUNISHABLE BY FEDERAL LAW. SEE SECURITY CLEARANCE GUIDES. TRANSPORT OUT OF CONTAINMENT FACILITY PUNISHABLE BY FEDERAL LAW. PROLONGED CONTACT WILL RESULT IN DEATH. MISHANDLING WILL RESULT IN MEGADEATH."
On top of this notice is a post-it note with the Professor's handwriting, which reads, "Don't open or drop. —P."
Underneath the texts is a stainless steel case with many prominent latches. It is covered in radiation stickers, and a notice that reads "UTMOST CAUTION: FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROPER HANDLING PROCEDURES PUNISHABLE BY FEDERAL LAW. SEE MATERIAL SAFETY DATA MANUAL. POSESSION BY UNCLASSIFIED PERSONNEL PUNISHABLE BY FEDERAL LAW. SEE SECURITY CLEARANCE GUIDES. TRANSPORT OUT OF CONTAINMENT FACILITY PUNISHABLE BY FEDERAL LAW. PROLONGED CONTACT WILL RESULT IN DEATH. MISHANDLING WILL RESULT IN MEGADEATH."
On top of this notice is a post-it note with the Professor's handwriting, which reads, "Don't open or drop. —P."
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
OOC: BTW, I hope it's clear that I'm not trying to hijack the plot, or anything. I'm just throwing stuff at the wall, until Rukellian's big plot comes and interrupts us. On the other hand, if we're not interrupted, I guess we're headed to an undersea city with what might be a weapon of mass destruction.
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
This will all work out, eventually; though I am curious as to what end the weapon of mass destruction came into play? SURELY the professor would not be carrying something like that into an expedition without a very good reason... Care to explain to the DM?Pulpatoon wrote:OOC: BTW, I hope it's clear that I'm not trying to hijack the plot, or anything. I'm just throwing stuff at the wall, until Rukellian's big plot comes and interrupts us. On the other hand, if we're not interrupted, I guess we're headed to an undersea city with what might be a weapon of mass destruction.
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mordechiyoel
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Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
Max smiled when the Professor decided to call it a day.
He wouldn't show it but he really exerted himself, especially with the bulldozer.
He doesn't like that he has limits and vowed to himself that he would train, daily if need be, to
increase the range of his powers.
He will move that bulldozer, more than a few inches...
He nodded to the Professor and said, "in the morning it is, I have some exploring to do !" he smiled.
He walked back to his room half dazed and fell onto his bed with a loud thud.
As the warm rays of sunshine broke through the darkness of his room, he realized he slept the
entire night. "Damn," he said as he jumped up. He took a quick shower and made his way to the Professor's
office where more journals and books waited for him.
"Oh boy," is all he could mutter as he looked at the books and then raised his left eyebrow when he read
the warnings on the box.
He wouldn't show it but he really exerted himself, especially with the bulldozer.
He doesn't like that he has limits and vowed to himself that he would train, daily if need be, to
increase the range of his powers.
He will move that bulldozer, more than a few inches...
He nodded to the Professor and said, "in the morning it is, I have some exploring to do !" he smiled.
He walked back to his room half dazed and fell onto his bed with a loud thud.
As the warm rays of sunshine broke through the darkness of his room, he realized he slept the
entire night. "Damn," he said as he jumped up. He took a quick shower and made his way to the Professor's
office where more journals and books waited for him.
"Oh boy," is all he could mutter as he looked at the books and then raised his left eyebrow when he read
the warnings on the box.
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
The Professor comes bustling into the office. "Good morning, my boy. All well?"
He waves airily at the stack of texts. "Had a chance to look through them yet? No? Well, hop to. Ipsa scientia potestas est, eh? Knowledge is power, and what have you."
"Oh, and keep an eye on that case. Things could get very dire indeed if we mislaid that before our little voyage."
Perryton checks his watch. "I'm off to check in with your father, actually. He's been doing wonders with dredging up equipment on short notice. We're meeting down at the harbor to talk submarines. Might get a shrimp salad sandwich, while I'm down there. I have an absolute weakness for a good shrimp salad sandwich. Care to trot along, or shall I convey your regards to the pater familias?"
He waves airily at the stack of texts. "Had a chance to look through them yet? No? Well, hop to. Ipsa scientia potestas est, eh? Knowledge is power, and what have you."
"Oh, and keep an eye on that case. Things could get very dire indeed if we mislaid that before our little voyage."
Perryton checks his watch. "I'm off to check in with your father, actually. He's been doing wonders with dredging up equipment on short notice. We're meeting down at the harbor to talk submarines. Might get a shrimp salad sandwich, while I'm down there. I have an absolute weakness for a good shrimp salad sandwich. Care to trot along, or shall I convey your regards to the pater familias?"
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
"Right, then. You stay here and read up, and I'll go see to the transport."
Professor Perryton heads out, and catches a city bus down to the waterfront to meet the elder Mr. Arikas, and talk submarines.
Professor Perryton heads out, and catches a city bus down to the waterfront to meet the elder Mr. Arikas, and talk submarines.
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
Mr. Arikas can already be found at the waterfront, talking to another person in a suit. The conversation is inaudible from a distance, but things appear heated as Mr. Arikas waves his arm every now and then and let's his facial expressions help do some of the talking. As the bus approaches its drop off point, he looks in the professor's general direction and calms down a bit, pointing the suited man away.
As Professor Perryton aproaches the dock, he is greeted with a smile, a friendly handshake, and a shrimp salad sandwich in hand; Mr. Arikas knew the professor all too well. "How is my boy settling into his new campus life? I know it is only for a day or so, but still, his energetic nature may get in the way at times, I understand that much. And on a much different note, how adept is he right now, travel ready?"
As Professor Perryton aproaches the dock, he is greeted with a smile, a friendly handshake, and a shrimp salad sandwich in hand; Mr. Arikas knew the professor all too well. "How is my boy settling into his new campus life? I know it is only for a day or so, but still, his energetic nature may get in the way at times, I understand that much. And on a much different note, how adept is he right now, travel ready?"
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
The Professor gratefully accepts the sandwich. "He's a good lad. Eager to prove himself. Maybe too eager, but that depends on how it's channeled, really, and I think we have him on the right track."
"But, Joseph, do you realize just how much power that boy has percolating around in him? He's on a completely different level than you, or your father. Either your dear wife had a surprise or two in her own bloodline that we didn't know about, or some sort of precipitating event has given your bloodline a titanic kick in the pants."
Perryton unwraps the sandwich and smiles appreciatively. "Druthers given, I'd rather find out that your wife was the secret ingredient. I'm not keen on having yet another unknown force out there in the world, stirring the pot, ratcheting up forces that have been quiet for millenia."
"But, Joseph, do you realize just how much power that boy has percolating around in him? He's on a completely different level than you, or your father. Either your dear wife had a surprise or two in her own bloodline that we didn't know about, or some sort of precipitating event has given your bloodline a titanic kick in the pants."
Perryton unwraps the sandwich and smiles appreciatively. "Druthers given, I'd rather find out that your wife was the secret ingredient. I'm not keen on having yet another unknown force out there in the world, stirring the pot, ratcheting up forces that have been quiet for millenia."
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
Mr. Arikas forces a laugh in response to the professor's observations of the boy, but fails to hide some of his nervousness. "No kidding!? A chip off the old block is what I'd like to say, but you may be onto something there with your theory on Elizabeth's lineage. She too heralded a bloodline from the gods themselves, but has never shown any of the proficiencies that my side of the family has shown. Her connection was in name alone, or so I thought... perhaps there was a recessive trait that we both overlooked?" Joseph scratches the back of his head as he ponders the thought.
"Well, I know that you did not come here to just talk about that; so, shall I introduce you to your submarine crew, and the submarine itself?" He motions to the port observatory deck, a building located just a short walk away from where they were. "I'm sure that they would like to know who exactly they will be working with during the expedition."
"Well, I know that you did not come here to just talk about that; so, shall I introduce you to your submarine crew, and the submarine itself?" He motions to the port observatory deck, a building located just a short walk away from where they were. "I'm sure that they would like to know who exactly they will be working with during the expedition."
Re: Maximillian Arikas' and Professor Perryton's start
"Oh yes, do lead the way. This vessel can handle the depths necessary to reach our destination? And the crew is prepared for... unusual sights? I can't abide people wilting away like a bunch of hothouse flowers the first time they catch a glimpse of a sea monster, or laughing tesseract, or what have you."