Ship Log: Learning to Play Mind Clash

AVCL Connection, recording started
Date: February 21st, year 115
Pilots Present: Lyn Farel, Samira Kernher, Sepherim Catillah


Sepherim enters through the door and takes a quick glance around
Samira Kernher looks at Sepherim as he enters and stands up from her table behind the counter. She bows her head. "Initiate Catillah, may I help you?"
Sepherim > Ave, Legionnaire Kernher
Sepherim > I read Commander Goldcore's announcement that the AVCL Connection was now officially open and that there would be shows of Mind Clash today
Sepherim > and I thought it would be good to try and understand that a bit more, after my mistakes of this afternoon
Samira Kernher > "Yes, we will be tuning the emitters to tonight's game, mister Catillah. Would you like a seat? Something to eat or drink?"
Lyn Farel slips in, looking around curiously.
Sepherim > sure, Legionnaire, I'll go ask the waitress, don't worry about me
Samira Kernher > "I am one, mister Catillah." Samira looks at Lyn as she enters. "Good evening, miss. May I help you?"
Sepherim smiles to Samira and then hears Lyn by the door and turns while straightening his jacket
Sepherim looks briefly puzzled at Samira's reply, but remains silent
Lyn Farel bows politely, sloppy and disheveled, in appearance, as usual.
Lyn Farel says innocently. "I was just curious to visit."
Sepherim makes a polite bow to greet her, but remains silent, letting Samira deal with the newcommerSamira Kernher > "I see. Let me know if there's anything I can get for you." Samira looks back at Sepherim. "Would you like a seat at the counter or a table, mister Catillah?"
Lyn Farel > "Especially after all the fuss a special annoyance made on the IGS." She bows back to Sepherim as well.
Sepherim > whatever is best for learning about thise game, Legionnaire
Samira Kernher > "Well, the main emitter is back there," she motions to the back corner of the room, "You could take a seat near it. Alternatively, the two of you could perhaps try the Clash table. It was just installed the other evening."
Sepherim > I don't... know how to play, so I'd probably be a sloppy rival at best
Lyn Farel glances ambiguously at the table. "I have never tried Mind Clash."
Sepherim looks surprised
Samira Kernher > "I had assumed both of you hadn't, hence the suggestion."
Sepherim > ahm, it could be... interesting
Samira Kernher > "It's an amateur table, so it comes with instructions."
Lyn Farel tilts her head at Sepherim's reaction, then says faintly. "I am always curious."
Sepherim nods, mostly to himself, and heads to the table
Sepherim > let's give it a try, then
Lyn Farel follows meekly, thoughful.
Samira Kernher gestures to the table as she walks over towards it. "How much do the two of you know of the game?"
Lyn Farel > "Mostly what is described in encyclopedias."
Lyn Farel sits at the table.
Sepherim > what you and Commander Goldcore told me the other day
Sepherim shrugs, taking a seat at the table and looking at it with interest
Samira Kernher > "It is primarily a game of imagination. The neural transmitters link your minds together in a pseudo-virtual environment."
Lyn Farel takes the electrodes and plugs them behind her neck, slithgly twitching at the connection.
Samira Kernher motions to the electrodes wired up to the table. The wires are for security reasons rather than function.
Sepherim picks up his net and examines it cautiously
Sepherim > no harm can come from this, right?
Samira Kernher > "Only in very extreme matches."
Sepherim grins
Sepherim > guess we're far from that, being two new players
Samira Kernher > "No more dangerous than physical sports."
Sepherim smiles, placing the nodes in their propper place, and shifting a bit unconfortably by their touch
Samira Kernher > "It is... rather difficult to explain what actually happens in the game. I recommend taking it slow, and trying different things to start with."
Samira Kernher reaches over to turn the interface on, looking at the two of the mto see if they are ready.
Sepherim nods, tense
Lyn Farel seems to wait for a sign or anything to start.
Samira Kernher turns the device on, and then steps back. A holographic projector in the middle of the table springs to life, its bright blue light suddenly brightening the air around the table.
Samira Kernher walks back to the bar, while the projector sits idly, waiting for the "game" to begin.
Lyn Farel frowns as she tries to accomodate to the interface.
Sepherim nods to himself
Sepherim > imagination... then...
Sepherim tries to picture himself offering a greeting to Lyn
Lyn Farel frowns further as she only manages to materialize a vague noise.
Sepherim frowns as the noise hits his earsSepherim > I... think there's something wrong with the table, seems like there's some sort of interference
Sepherim sweats a bit, and seems barely capable of creating the image of his eyes of all the picture he'd try to depict
Lyn Farel eventually manages to make the noise more coherent in a vague image of herself, bowing.
Samira Kernher grabs two glasses from under the counter, and then fills each with water. She then walks back to the Mind Clash table and sets them down. The table itself seems to have sturdy cupholders, no doubt to prevent wild movements from causing spills.
Lyn Farel is now completely focusd on the game, her eyes closed in furious concentration.
Lyn Farel bites her lip and twitches again as she seems to understand something. In the connection her illusion suddenly transforms into a realistic slaver hound.
Sepherim shakes, his concentration waving, as he sees Lyn's image; so he focuses in trying to bow, but can only get her head to do it, as the rest of the body won't "materialize"
Sepherim shakes a bit, surprised by the change
Lyn Farel gets back to a blank state, apparently waiting silently.
Sepherim shakes, unsure of what to do, and then notices the image of the slaverhound made a sword materialize subconsciously by his side
Lyn Farel tries to picture something new but again, only noise. She seems to concentrate her attention on the sword and tries to find a parry.
Lyn Farel bites her lip outside of the link.
Sepherim sees the parry, but still his image has no hands nor arms to swing the sword, so he starts trying to create them
Lyn Farel is still unable to accomodate properly and fails to do nothing more than noise.
Sepherim starts to sweat in the real world as he manages to create a torso
Lyn Farel knows that if she does nothing he is going to hurt her with the sword, which is probably going to cause actual pain.
Sepherim smiles widely as his torso now has an arm, which slowly moves to get the sword, though moves aren't swift but chaotic and inhuman
Samira Kernher sits down on her stool at the counter, watching the holographic projections from the Mind Clash game.
Lyn Farel creates a sophisticated cleaner drone, then frowns, apparently frustrated.
Sepherim laughs in both the real world and the illusion one, and his own image flickers at the loss of concentration
Lyn Farel bites her lip deeper as the image seems to fizzle, changing rapidly between different vague things without no clear pattern.
Sepherim's sweat falls a bit on the table, as the character now has a second arm and is waving the sword pointlessly... for some reason, he seems unable to get it to stand still
Lyn Farel suddenly tilts her head as pinches and clutches emerges from the drone, along with small insect looking legs. Various red, gloomy lights starts to pulse randomly on its metal tortured body.
Samira Kernher takes out her datapad, and begins fiddling with it.
Sepherim takes a subconscious step back as he sees the drone organize, and his image flickers more
Lyn Farel's mental projection flickers out again and noise seems to bounce all around.
Lyn Farel does not seem apparently able or concerned about her mind randomly jumping in random directions.
Sepherim tries to take a defensive position with the sword, but the sword vanishes in his handsSepherim > what the?!
Sepherim's image starts flickering uncontrollably and vanishes as he loses his concentration
Lyn Farel suddenly materializes something else. A harsh smell of copper and synthetic oil emerges. A hook is hanging above Sepherim, with a red liquid dripping from it. Undefined bags are hanging up the metal rooftop as well, stained in red.
Sepherim tries to materialize a shield, as sweat drips from his forhead, in order to protect himself from the hook
Lyn Farel fidgets and the illusion fades after a few seconds.
Lyn Farel materializes a Bhaalgorn image.
Lyn Farel bites her lip even deeper, blood starting to drip, when the image suddenly changes into various landscapes.
Sepherim steps back, flickers once, prepares the shield a bit, flickers again, and vanishes completely **player has left the match**Sepherim > what the?!
Sepherim takes his rig off, sweating
Sepherim > that Bhaalgorn was going to hit me!
Lyn Farel unplugs the net.
Samira Kernher glances up at the two as they disconnect.
Lyn Farel's gaze seems slightly wild. "I am unsure of what happened. This is rather confusing."
Sepherim > yes, I don't know... the Bhaalgorn it was, and the hook, oh and robots and...
Sepherim > you saw them too?
Lyn Farel blinks. "Oh.. Yes! They were part of what I tried to use at some point. I got lost in various things every time I could get my hands on something."
Sepherim > oh, you did that? I thought the machine was creating them...
Sepherim > why would you attack me?
Sepherim raises an eyebrow, curious and stranged
Lyn Farel tilts her head. "I thought Mindclash was about beating one's opponent."
Samira Kernher > "I poured you both a glass of water. It is on the table."
Lyn Farel  quickly bows her head in apologies. "I must apologize for that I tried to use my unfair knowledge of your past."
Lyn Farel takes a sip from her glass.
Sepherim nods to Samira and takes a sipSepherim > I see, defeating the opposite... and I thought we were fighting slaverhounds...
Sepherim realizes something
Sepherim > then you were the slaverhound as well, no?
Lyn Farel frowns, looking at her hands. "I may have thought about something like that at some point."
Lyn Farel > "I am not sure to be fitted for Mind Clash." She adds faintly. "Some people always tell me that my mind is a mess."
Samira Kernher > "It takes practice."
Sepherim nods
Sepherim > I can understand, I couldn't even get a stable image of myself...
Sepherim > but it was... kind of... fun
Lyn Farel > "It is interesting." She turns at Samira. "I wonder if you have some professional players around ?"
Sepherim cleans his forehead from the sweat and looks to Samira waiting for her reply
Samira Kernher > "We don't."
Samira Kernher > "But we will broadcast professional games."
Sepherim > did you see... everything we thought?
Samira Kernher > "Yes, I did."
Samira Kernher > "On the holoprojector."
Lyn Farel eventually notices the red cloud in her glass, and rubs her lip, frowning.
Sepherim > oh
Sepherim turns red at the thought of someone watching him think
Sepherim > I see why there was a rumour in the Navy Intelligence that this could be used to further interrogate targets...
Sepherim > strange game this one is
Lyn Farel > "This is a limited virtual reality. But the technology can be used for such purposes, indeed."
Samira Kernher > "I believe similar methods are used for interrogation, at times.."
Lyn Farel > "With the proper equipement, imprison the mind of someone and create a new environnement. It puts the interrogator in the feet of a demiurge, with the full control of what happens in the VR."
Sepherim > I see... quite extraordinary invention this is
Sepherim > and people in your country play with something as... important... as this?
Lyn Farel looks surprised. "VRs are pretty much part of the lives of a lot of people these days."
Lyn Farel > "Especially in the Alpha cities of the gallente Federation."
Lyn Farel > "Mind Clash is a creative use of that technology."
Sepherim > I see, I guess I've spent too much time in other environments
Sepherim > never even played videogames much
Lyn Farel > "It is actually one of the things I specialize in. Though, I have never really tried mindclash. It seemed more like a game than a proper VR application. It is quite... violent, to my tastes, I have to admit."
Sepherim > if the purpose is to attack the other, then yes, it is violent
Sepherim > then again, most sports are
Sepherim gets up and starts heading to the kitchen, then stops
Lyn Farel > "It is how the Caldari deal with daily pressure, if I understand correctly."
Sepherim > ahm, captain Kernher, could you bring me a glass of whiskey on the rocks?
Sepherim looks unconfortable asking Samira for it
Samira Kernher > "Yes sir."
Sepherim > they relieve pressure by facing eachother in Mind Clash?
Samira Kernher stands up and grabs a whiskey glass, and then places a few ice cubes in it. She then walks up to the tap and fills it.Lyn Farel > "Yes. I think it is a similar purpose than found in some violent videogames."
Samira Kernher steps out from around the counter and walks up to the Mind Clash table. She sets the glass down in front of Sepherim.Samira Kernher > "Here you are, sir."
Samira Kernher > "Is there anything else I can get either of you?" Samira looks between Sepherim and Lyn.
Lyn Farel stands up and slightly bows at them. "Thank you for the welcoming, even if I am not sure to deserve it considering my past with PIE Inc. "
Sepherim > no, nothing more, thank you
Sepherim looks at Lyn but says nothing, letting her explain what she wants and Samira deal with the situationSamira Kernher > "I would not know about past dealings, miss."
Lyn Farel nods. "Please, do forward my greetings to Mr Shutaq."
Sepherim nods, sipping his whiskey
Samira Kernher > "Of course, miss. Have a pleasant evening."
Sepherim > I believe this place could be... appropriate... to settle old grudges
Sepherim > and create new allinces
Samira Kernher > "That is the intent."
Lyn Farel takes her leave.
Samira Kernher walks back to her seat behind the counter.
Sepherim > well, that went pretty nicely, no?
Sepherim smiles, sipping his whiskey with a smile
Samira Kernher > "Yes sir. I hope you enjoyed yourself."
Sepherim > I have indeed, Legionnaire, thank you for everything
Samira Kernher > "You're welcome, sir. Let me know if you need anything else."
Sepherim > I do... a question, mostly
Sepherim > you're a pod pilot, a powerful person with important responsabilities....
Sepherim > how come you're willing to act as a waitress? It shouldn't be your duty
Samira Kernher > "Because I enjoy doing so, sir. I wish to serve."
Sepherim > I see... but... you're in a higher position!
Sepherim > it's like an elephant wanting to be a fly, or something like it, no?
Samira Kernher > "If I was born a fly, and suddenly turned into an elephant, what would I feel more comfortable with?"
Sepherim nods, pondering
Sepherim > I understand....
Sepherim > but I think you were born an elephant, one that for a time had to act as a fly
Samira Kernher > "I was a servant, mister Catillah. It is what I was raised to be."
Sepherim > but the Empire decided you belonged elsewhere
Sepherim > and if the Empire wills it, the rest doesn't matter
Sepherim > you are a pod pilot, your upbringing is... secondary?
Sepherim > not saying you can leave it behind, though
Sepherim > those things, like many others, leave eternal marks on our minds...
Samira Kernher > "I pilot my capsule as well."
Samira Kernher > "And in that I also serve."
Sepherim smiles, a strange smile
Sepherim > you're a peculiar one, Legionnaire Kernher
Sepherim > a really peculiar one
Sepherim lifts his glass in a toast to Samira
Samira Kernher > "How is it peculiar?"
Sepherim > we all serve
Sepherim > but most amarrians are eager to serve in higher positions
Sepherim > and would rarely return to lower ones if it wasn't strictly neccessary
Samira Kernher > "Most Amarrians were not slaves."
Sepherim > no, but we Ni-Kunni were
Sepherim > and most Ni-Kunni wouldn't lower their position the slightest if given the chance
Samira Kernher > "Were you personally a slave, mister Catillah?"
Samira Kernher > "You are generalizing."
Sepherim > no, I was not, that is true
Sepherim > and it is true I generalize...
Sepherim > just... I guess you're the first one I see that acts as you do
Sepherim > and it's a bit... confusing
Samira Kernher > "I do not wish to return to slavery, mister Catillah. But neither do I enjoy... ehm... to lead? To strive for power? I have a choice now, I have freedom, and my choice is to do what I am good at."
Samira Kernher > "Rather than what I am not."
Sepherim nods
Sepherim > it's a brave position, Legionnaire, a very brave one
Samira Kernher > "... how is it brave?"
Sepherim > most people strive for confort, luxury, power...
Sepherim > it's brave to resist those impulses and sacrifice one's well-being for that one does better, for what would serve the whole
Sepherim shrugs as he puts down the empty glass
Sepherim > but my time has come for tonight, gotta get some things sorted before retiring to bed
Sepherim > may you be well, Legionnaire
Sepherim smiles, as he gets up to head to the door
Samira Kernher > "Good night, sir."
Sepherim offers Samira a military salute and heads to the door