(2/3) Archivemod 2013/08/12(Mon)22:20 No. 533993 ID: e1609c
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Lets see, how long has it been now? 30? maybe thirty one years? Bah, too many variables.
Hope I run across more supplies soon, its been far too long since I last ate.

3/3 Archivemod 2013/08/12(Mon)22:21 No. 533994 ID: e1609c
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It sure does get lonely out here.

>>533994
Out where? What was all that math about?

Archivemod 2013/08/12(Mon)22:34 No. 533999 ID: e1609c
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>>533995
Oh dear, it appears my mind is already starting to go. How disheartening. Still, a conversation with myself is better than nothing, I suppose.
Math is the only thing to do in this barren expanse of ash.
and as for where I am, I have no idea. I have been wandering this place my whole life, and still have found no answers. All I know is that wherever I am, it is a dead place.

>>533999
Don't be saddened. Hearing voices is just a side effect from prolonged isolation in these dead lands. So why are you here? Do you know that?

Where do your supplies come from then? Are they just random boxes on the ground?

I'm insulted that someone calls arithmetic math, that wasn't even algebra. At least do some integration if you want me to let you call what you're doing math.

Meanwhile let this voice ask a potentially-useful question or three: Why are you there? Have you ever been elsewhere or were you being literal with the spending your whole life in ash thing? Do you have any way of tracking your movements to judge your relative movement or could you have been wandering in circles endlessly due to poor navigation?

Archivemod 2013/08/13(Tue)00:10 No. 534023 ID: e1609c
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>>534004
Not a clue.
>>534005
Sometimes I find things, buried in the ash. They are hard to spot, though, and very often contain little more than a few random objects like nails or empty cartons.

>>534023
Well there's a dark spot in front of you, a mound to your right, and three mounds on the next hill.

What's underneath the ash?

Archivemod 2013/08/13(Tue)01:03 No. 534034 ID: e1609c
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More tomorrow, I gotta sleep

(Them eyes)

so what happened to turn this place into such a dump?

I keep forgetting the damn image 8'V Archivemod 2013/08/13(Tue)14:44 No. 534124 ID: e1609c
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>>534022
I think I do quite well, considering my education consists entirely of the few books I run across now and again.
And yes, I was indeed being literal.
And as for navigation, I just try to avoid my own footprints.
>>534030
I start with the dark spot, and come across some sort of stick. It seems a bit useless, until I tap on it and blinding light starts pouring out the end.
Curious.

>>534031
I have never been able to dig deep enough to find out. I either just encounter stone, or it keeps going down beyond my ability or desire to scoop by hand.
I inspect the next mound, this time finding a sealed bag. This could be useful for carrying things.

Archivemod 2013/08/13(Tue)14:53 No. 534127 ID: e1609c
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>>534126
fuck I cant delete this
>>534031
I have never been able to dig deep enough to find out. I either just encounter stone, or it keeps going down beyond my ability or desire to scoop by hand.
I inspect the next mound, this time finding a sealed bag. This could be useful for carrying things, but it seems to be a bit too heavy to dig out. Hm.

>>534124
Obtain light-stick.
>>534127
Either untie or cut the string/rope at the top of the bag. You should be able to pick it up after you empty it.

well grab what you can and try to wiggle the bag out... or if that fails just see if you can't find the opening and take whatever is in the bag out and then once the bag is lighter then pull it free and put the things back in if they look useful.

>>534127
Bad news. As of five minutes ago, my failing laptop cord finally gave out and as a result I will not have access to my laptop for a while.
As such, this quest will be updated sporadically at best until I can get a new cable.
Shame too, I was hoping to avoid that deal with this one. Ah well.

>>534157

Match voltage (and brand) if you get a used one, should be fine! Amperage can't get too high, but if too low it won't charge while the computer's on.

It's good to know that there is more than just ash here. Beneath the ash there's a layer of stone. I wonder if there are caves in it? Have you ever run into a sinkhole?

Also, open the bag dummy.

Archivemod 2013/08/25(Sun)16:04 No. 537508 ID: e1609c
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>Caves, sinkholes
Very frequently. Large ones, in fact. I've nearly died in quite a few of them, if not for the fact the ashes make for very soft landings.
sometimes when the ash kicks up, I am forced to hide in whatever caves I can dig up.
In fact, I believe that spot you saw earlier may have been one of those sinkholes. They tend to leave slight depressions in the ground like that.

>Open the bag
It has enough canned goods and water inside to last me about a week. Shockingly, no can opener. Wonderful.
Maybe I can bash them open with that light stick I found.

>>537508
Hold up on that for a bit. The light stick is probably easy to break. Do you have any of those nails you gave as an example? If you hit a nail into one the lid you might be able to peel it back after piercing it. (get the nail in by hitting the whole thing against a hard rock or the butt of the flashlight) Try emptying the bag long enough to dig it up and drag it to the spot you said might be a sink hole. (be careful though) If there are this many useful things in one place then there might be more down there.

1/3 Archivemod 2013/08/25(Sun)17:21 No. 537529 ID: e1609c
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>drag yourself and heavy objects onto the possible sinkhole

3/3 Archivemod 2013/08/25(Sun)17:23 No. 537532 ID: e1609c
File 137747663140.png - (681.48KB , 1000x1000 , no.png )

Lets not do that.
Sinkholes in the ash tend to extend a bit wider than would be apparent. Bad idea.
However, that idea with the nail is a good idea. Gonna use that when it comes dinnertime.

I kinda meant get near it and dig it out enough for you to get in without just falling through, but if you feel it's too dangerous then I won't force the issue. Can you see anything else of interest then? Maybe a place to spend a few hours? How about you check your inv so we know what to work with? [Also that bag in the first pic almost looks like it has the word gas written on it instead of bag]

>>537545
See, the problem here is that in my experience the sinkholes around here tend to work a bit like this picture here. You'll see a pothole or a gap in the ash leading into darkness. And it will turn out to be this massive pitfall to your death. Sometimes you can get down them and find shelter or old structures from before whatever happened here happened, but usually its just caves.
Hell, sometimes you wont even get to see the potholes before you fall in.
Its best to give them a wide berth if you arent willing to risk a messy death for whatever might be down there.

Archivemod 2013/08/25(Sun)19:32 No. 537580 ID: e1609c
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>>537577
(pretend I didnt forget the picture for this)

I was just thinking that since you've been walking forward for 30 years without an end to the ash in sight, perhaps instead you might try going down?

It sounds too perilous. But if you want an opportunity to find something besides just ash, you might have to take a few risks.

>>537577
>>537599
I think going underground is the best bet for finding good supplies, but I don't think right now we have the supplies(rope and such)necessary to do it safely. Search for a cave for you to go in or more mounds for you to uncover.

Archivemod 2013/08/27(Tue)14:59 No. 537995 ID: e1609c
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I decide to take a seat while I mull over my options here.

>>537599
Hm. This might actually be a good idea. Perhaps if I could find a way to gauge the edges of the sinkhole I might be able to do this.
>>537782
I do actually carry a decent length of rope with me. Its coiled up inside my coat, in fact. The problem is, the ash isnt good for hitching up said rope, being as light and easily-disturbed as it is. I would need to figure out a way to hold the rope steady in order to head down into the hole.
Ideas?

>surprise rope
Ok, check inv to see what we have to work with.

If we have any decent sized metal things or stone chunks we could probably dig down to the stone and use the nails and the metal bit to chip holes into the stone enough to place an anchor. (depending on the size of the nails we could even make the anchor out of them even though it's take a bit since we aren't in a rush to get anywhere) I don't think we should use the flashlight for hitting it because it would proably take a fair bit of force. Any other plans would need other stuff or to use metal from the cans to hold it together.

Go the other side and dig, there should be good stuff in the UFO If you remove some items from the bag, bring it near the sinkhole and refill it with the cans (and anything you have that you might not need) tie the rope around it and bury it a bit then it might support your weight.


Would still be risky though.

Archivemod 2013/09/18(Wed)11:06 No. 541015 ID: e1609c
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>>538003
>inventory check
Simple enough. I have not much on me apart from my old knife and the rope, but I have enough room to carry somewhere in the range of 18 things total inside my coat, provided they are small enough to fit and not all too heavy.
'specially not round this area, where too much weight could spell the end for you.

Huh, a rope is only as useful as what it is tied to and used with, and I would feel iffy on risking that you have enough to make it into a big drag net that keeps you from falling through friction against the ash itself.

Any of the other voices here have any good references for how to estimate the friction? My starting assumption is we are dealing with 80 kilos of person and equipment, triple that for a safety margin and hauling capacity, meaning we'd need 2400N roughly of friction to steady the other end of the rope. Without any idea how to estimate the contact surface area of the rope and the expected static friction of ash I'm stuck here though.

IDK about friction forumla tomfoolery, but I couldn't help but imagine trying the knife to the rope then throwing said knife at sinkhole until collapse. Once that happens we drag bag, get ye bag and enjoy teh epic loot!

>>541015
Put the light-stick in one of those spaces inside your coat. To make sure you don't lose it. Put one or two cans in it too. (in the pocket thing at the bottom)

I'm not sure we have the skill to make that drag net. I'm also not sure my anchor idea will work if we have nothing to use as a base.

>>541076
This would help you find the edges, but you'd probably need to use something heavier; like the bag you just got. Empty most of the cans out for a bit and tie the rope to it, use that to find the size.

Have you fallen into any sinkholes before? (the ashes make for very soft landings comment) How'd you get out?

Archivemod 2013/09/20(Fri)14:49 No. 541356 ID: e1609c
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>>541084
I put said items into the lootholes in my coat, just in time for a large and rather annoying gust of frigid wind to kick up an ash storm, covering my tracks as well as the way back home. Fuck.
Well, looks like I have two options now: figure out some sort of anchor so I can climb down into the hole, or take the safer route and try to find my way home.

Oh, so you have a home. There's your problem. You have to carry your home with you, so you don't have to go back. Otherwise you never get anywhere!

Home first, but remember what the way you take to get home, so you can come back here instead of wandering around randomly.

Time to go home.

Archivemode 2014/05/16(Fri)10:56 No. 574703 ID: e1609c
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>>541371
>>541370
You start on your way home. Rather, you HAVE started on your way home. Its a long walk, one that feels longer every time you make it due to the ever-shifting landscape.
You aren't even certain you are heading in the right direction sometimes, the only indicator of progress being made at all the footprints you leave in your wake, and even those are swept up by the absurdly freezing winds.
>>541084
>Sinkholes
Once, when I was very young. I got lucky, landed on a platform not far beneath the surface, some sort of strange stone. Felt manmade. Managed to climb out after a few hours using bits of wood I found nearby.
I was very lucky not to die that day.
>>541358
It's hard enough to set up a homestead in the first place, let alone disassembling one, carrying it miles, then reassembling it. Maybe if I find something to facilitate that.

Archivemode 2014/05/16(Fri)11:59 No. 574708 ID: e1609c
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>>574703
Finally, after what feels like months of walking, I reach my home. It's not the prettiest lump of materials by far, but its served me well for a large portion of my life.
I've been working on it off and on from what little I find, but the surface yields only meager pickings, leaving me to make do with ash, cloth, and various materials I find lying about.
As a result, all I have is this CRAPPY DWELLING. It keeps the black rain at bay, and my body warm. Not enough to remove my coat, but warm enough to sleep.

put bundle away. take a load off.

Crappy dwelling? Your place is probably the most luxurious house for miles around. Take pride in what you made.

Did you leave the light on?

Archivemode 2014/05/16(Fri)18:38 No. 574768 ID: e1609c
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>>574714
I toss in the bag of cans, walking in myself and sighing as I take in the wonderful atmosphere of the dingy mudpie I call my home.
>>574751
I suppose I don't give myself enough credit sometimes, I just feel as if there's more to be done. Almost like there's some sort of invisible architectural plan going on around my home that is far more exuberant than I'd ever be able to build.
Bah.
It keeps the rain off, as I said, perhaps I'm just ungrateful.

So, now that I'm home, what should my next move be?

[time for a rundown of your options so far!]

>Rest (will rejuvenate the Wanderer and allow quicker reflexes, but some opportunities may be missed each time you do this! can only be done at home and in special cases.)

>Eat (will gradually restore your health when you are patched up from a wound. Consumes resources, and is required on a daily basis regardless of if you are hurting or not.)

>Plan (Tell everyone how Wanderer should go about his scavenging next!)

>Questions (Opens up the Q&A dialogue tree, Wanderer can give the readers insight into anything he is knowledgeable about, and his own take on current events. Can be used at any time if you get stuck.)

>Other (Write-in.)

have a snack and we'll ask some questions.

Eat and chat sounds good. Remember the way of opening up the cans we talked about, and be sure to save the empty ones. Almost any type of metal can be really useful.

Archivemode 2014/05/17(Sat)15:54 No. 574840 ID: e1609c
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>>574775
I climb up to the second floor of my abode, shutting the hatch securely behind me. So far this is as close to a safe room as I have gotten, and as such I store anything valuable I find here.
So far, all that entails is this weird ball of glass with light in I found. Not even electric, it just sort of glows. Was kind of a bitch getting in here, actually.

I crack open a can, after some fiddling around with one of the many shanks I keep stored here.
These are some good beans. So, mysterious voices, what'cha want to know?

what's with the ash?

>>574840
>>574839
(that timing)

Got anything moderately useful here to work with for next trip? Also, is it always day here or something?