[NTS] Twist with the Tower

Make the tower have variable stages. Ones that are changed by the climber.

Make those changes permanent for the run of the climb.

When the PC completes the tower, they are crowned champion.

They are the Tower Champion until a new climber comes to take on the tower.

(New Game+: Allow PC to climb same tower only now the story changes to account for them being the Champion?)

New Game++ Style: New PC is a climber attempting to climb the tower of the current Tower Champion (former character.)

Tower setup is based on the previous PCs run.

Find a way to get users to be able to enter any players User Name to run their tower.

Note To Self

Modify OGL rules.
Incorporate early 90's square-style RPG elements.
Create basic custom RPG rules set.

Mine brain for crazy ideas.
Run the game for player(s).

An event is occurring...

Lost ends tonight.

In fact, as I'm writing this, it is in its last hour.

It's a cultural event. A fairly large one. I'm not sure if this is the kind of thing that is remembered throughout the annals of history and down into the generations. But it's definitely going to cause a small ripple.

Strange to be outside of the ripple.

You usually don't think about the goings-on in other social circles. I mean, I'm sure that there is a world rodeo championship that - to the people participating in it and following it - must be a HUGE deal. But I'm not in the rodeo circle, so not only do I not care at all about the world rodeo championship, but I this is the most I've thought about it ever.

Those things don't bother me.

But, while I've never seen a single episode of Lost, I hear people talking about it every week and it definitely seems like something I would like.

I've made the decision that I'm going to watch it after the whole thing is over. I'm going to give it some time to happen and then watch it at my own pace.

While I think it would be good to experience Lost and know what people are talking about when they bring it up... it won't be the same. For the people who've been watching it every week for 5-6 some-odd years... the people who waited weeks or months (season change) to see new episodes... the people who talked and speculated week to week about what happened the night before...

An event is occurring; and right now, it is culminating.

I'm actually rather eager to hear people's thoughts and feelings on it. As someone outside of it, but interested, it puts me in a rather interesting position. Much in the way they waited for tonight to happen... I'm sort of having my own waiting game. Rather strange.

Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.

Goodnight.

It's quite alright with me

You know that movie Paycheck?

Yes you do, it's awesome. (Fuck you, Jeremy.)

Ben "Phantoms" Affleck is a reverse engineer who does his work then gets his mind erased. They know how far back to go because they place a sort of chemical bookmark in his brain. Trapping a moment in time and setting the place he will leave off mentally though a year (or some such) has gone by.

I found my chemical bookmark while looking through an old post. I wrote it about a month into starting my job at 2K. Stumbling onto it by accident, I was shocked at how impactful what I had written would be to me, today. It's as if, unknowingly, I had left myself a message in the past, meant for the me of the future.

Sometimes we forget how we stepped on the path we travel.

Reading the words, it instantly returned me to my mind at the moment I wrote it: What I was feeling... my dreams and my hope for the future. My confidence in my career change and choice.

I've learned a lot since then. I've experienced so much in just over a year. To think of who I was back then, it's like thinking of a different person. I've grown and changed a lot.

And... sometimes you get lost. You lose focus. Your mind clouds and you forget how and why you got to this place.

And sometimes, you just need a reminder. A fresh kick in the tuchus (if you get my meaning here). A moment of self reflection and life-check. Making sure we're doing what we want to do and are working toward the right goals. It's reassuring to look that in the eye and nod with confidence.

It's refreshing and invigorating. Breaths new life into the soul. Makes me rather happy.

It's alright,
It's quite alright with me.

Writing Exercise - Whatever the Cost

Blood dripped onto the cold, stone floor.

Returning the ritual dagger to his belt, Adam closed his eyes, drew upon his power and whispered a name. Kneeling before a steel ring embedded onto the floor, he ran his bloodied hand over it, echoing the name again. Intoning the name a third time he empowered the circle with an effort of his will and a faint, blue glow rose around it like a barrier.

He rose as smoke billowed from within the circle, the smell of sulfur making his eyes water and burn. As it cleared, he saw a figure standing within: humanoid in shape, it had dark red skin and small horns growing from its forehead. It was dressed in fine, black robes and was resting a thick, black tome in the crook of its arm. Its eyes darted around, attempting to absorb every inch of the dark chamber.

“At least this one was smart enough to use a circle.”

Its voice was calm, deep and precisely articulated. It reminded Adam of his old mentor. He drew forth his power again and pointed at the creature with his bloodied hand.

“I bind you to this circle, Demon…”

The demon rolled its eyes and waved its hand in an impatient gesture.

“…and I name you: Kaz’rallah Hesh-barashamon.”

The demon grinned hard, canine teeth flashing with the blue glow of the barrier.

“Yes,” it growled. “I see we’re here for business. Enough with true-names, Wizard, call me Kaz. How may I be of service?”

Adam lowered his arm, blood running down his palm and gently splattering on the floor.

“You are Kaz, Infernal Loremaster and Keeper of Secrets?

“Indeed.”

“I have need of your Knowledge.”

“It’s always the same with your kind. How I adore the obsessive, academic nature of you will-workers. We are not so different, you know…”

“Enough,” Adam spat, cutting off the Demon. “I am in need of power beyond mortal ability and my need is dire.”

The demon’s grin grew wider.

“Of course it is. What is it that you seek to know?”

“My wife…” Adam whispered, his eyes losing focus for a moment before returning their gaze on the Demon. “She is sick and dying.”

“Surely this is something a Cleric could help you with?”

“No, I have brought forth every Cleric, Shaman and Healer I could find and they all say the same thing.”

The demon raised an eyebrow.

“ ‘I’m sorry. There is nothing that can be done. She has a wasting disease that will take her in time. Just try to make her comfortable and her last moments happy.’ They all look me in the eye as they damn my wife to a slow and torturous grave and tell me to make her happy.”

The demon chuckled softly to itself. Adam’s face grew red with anger.

“Does my suffering amuse you, Demon?”

“Verily, but that is not why we’re here. Your wife is sick and dying and there was nothing your healers could do. You want to know if there is a cure.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll need her blood.”

Adam pointed to a small vial on the floor within the circle, next to the demon’s blackened hoof. The demon knelt down, careful not to let any part of its body touch the blue glowing barrier. It lifted the glass vial and inspected it. “Yes,” it said to itself as it unsealed the container. The demon poured the blood into its mouth, groaning softly while its split tongue hungrily licked the inside of the vial clean. Kaz closed its eyes and sighed with satisfaction.

Adam could see the demon’s eyes - pressed against its closed eyelids - rapidly darting left and right as it stood in silence. Finally, Kaz opened its eyes, canine grin returning to its face.

“Mind rot, a fantastically terrible affliction. Tell me, Wizard, how is it your wife came under this disease?”

“It does not matter. Is there a cure?”

“There is always a cure. Shall we discuss the contract?”

“This is not my first time dealing with your kind, Demon. Name the terms.”

The demon tapped its clawed finger against its teeth, pondering. “Hmm, yes, well you seem to be in luck. As it so happens, the cost for this little bargain is one and the same with the key component needed for the ritual. Return it to me and you shall have your wife.”

“Name it!” demanded Adam.

“Bring me the hearts-blood of the King of Mesik.”

Adam inhaled sharply as his eyes shot wide. “Brom,” he whispered.

“The very same. Brom, beloved King of Mesik. He is a man of great power; his hearts-blood is essential in completing the ritual and would be an ever so sweet addition to my collection. Do you know him?”

Thoughts flashed in Adam’s mind. Images of days gone by… a pair of young boys running through the spring fields; youthful men, close as brothers, practicing the sword and their lessons; one, seated on the Throne; the other, by his side with words of Wizened counsel.

The demon stared intently at Adam.

“Yes, I see you do. All the better, he’ll never see it coming.”

Adam’s eyes refocused on Kaz, grim in intent.

“Are you sure there’s no other?”

“Quite. It must be his and his alone; those are the terms. Bring me the hearts-blood of Brom, King of Mesik and I will give your beloved wife her life back.”

Adam stood in silence, reflecting.

“He was the best man at my wedding. I am godfather to his son. I am his most trusted friend and personal advisor. We’ve been through so much together…”

The demon sighed, its face serious, eyes glowing. Kaz spoke with a practiced calm.

“Think on this, Wizard: Your wife’s illness is a fantastic disease - it eats away at the mind. Each day that passes she will lose more control over her body until she is nothing more than a shriveled shell, incapable of moving from the pool of her own filth. Her memory will slip away, years at a time for each day that she suffers. She will forget her childhood, her parents, and her family. She will forget all of her accomplishments and teachings. She will forget you, Adam. Forget that she ever knew you or loved you or wed you. Her heart will recoil in terror at the sight of you, a strange man standing over her, touching her paralyzed and broken body. This will happen, Wizard, know it to be true…”

Tears began to stream down Adam’s face.

“…she will waste away before your eyes praying for someone to end her living hell, praying for someone to do what must be done.”

Kaz pointed at Adam, its gaze piercing. “You spilled your own blood and summoned me here. You beseeched me for a cure and you have found it. It is within your power, Wizard! You looked into your wife’s eyes and promised her you will do anything it takes, whatever the cost, to cure her. Will you be called Oathbreaker and let her die?”

Adam’s bloodshot eyes stared hard into the demon’s glowing orbs, spittle dribbling down his lips.

“No,” he growled.

“Then do what must be done! Fulfill your duty! Say the words!”

His uncut hand reached for the ritual dagger, gripping it tightly. Drawing it forth before him, Adam slid his palm across the glowing barrier, smearing blood in front of the Demon’s eyes.

“YES!” shouted the Demon.

Adam closed his eyes and chanted slowly, “…Ei-hu, Adam Kad-amon, sharrat, Kaz’rallah Hesh-barashamon…”

Kaz began to growl, deep and otherworldly; it raised its head high as the chamber filled with the hum of power and Adam’s haunting chant. Brushing its hand against the blood-coated barrier, the Demon’s eyes flared with hellish light, predator grin on its face.

“It is time.”

The demon opened the book it clutched to a page covered in Infernal script; a thick, plumed feather appearing in its open hand...

----------------------------------------------------

The door opened.

Adam entered the room, leaving behind him an empty chamber with a simple steel circle embedded at its center.

Closing the door behind him, he approached the sleeping form of his beloved, Leah. Gently kissing her on the forehead, he caressed her smooth cheek - his blood matting her hair and dripping onto her lips.

Turning slowly, Adam walked away from his slowly dying wife; blood gently dripping on the cold, stone floor.

Truth and the Mind

For all the many ways we are each a unique snowflake;
We are also very much the same.

If we are in some manner the same, that means that to understand the self is to understand others.

If we know what makes us do what we do;
If we know what makes us feel what we feel;
If we can predict our own behavior...

We can predict the behavior of others.

If we can predict the behavior of others, we can begin to ask questions.

Questions that form hypothesis;
Hypothesis that form the basis for experiment.

Through experiment, we can begin to unlock the secrets of our very nature.

We begin to understand the various aspects of our humanity.

We can peel away the animal brain... the instinct and biological drive that whispers from the subconscious;
We can explain how we respond to each other and to the world.

We have learned so much about the mind... so much about why - and how - we are...

But, if we can delve deeper;
Search beyond what we can analyze, catalogue and empirically define...

What will we find?

Perhaps, the soul?