Return to Unfiction unforum
 a.r.g.b.b 
FAQ FAQ   Search Search 
 
Welcome!
New users, PLEASE read these forum guidelines. New posters, SEARCH before posting and read these rules before posting your killer new campaign. New players may also wish to peruse the ARG Player Tutorial.

All users must abide by the Terms of Service.
Website Restoration Project
This archiving project is a collaboration between Unfiction and Sean Stacey (SpaceBass), Brian Enigma (BrianEnigma), and Laura E. Hall (lehall) with
the Center for Immersive Arts.
Announcements
This is a static snapshot of the
Unfiction forums, as of
July 23, 2017.
This site is intended as an archive to chronicle the history of Alternate Reality Games.
  

The time now is Sat Nov 23, 2024 3:52 am
All times are UTC - 4 (DST in action)		 View posts in this forum since last visit
View unanswered posts in this forum
Calendar
 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates
[UPDATE] Path of Least Time 12th May 2006
View previous topicView next topic
Page 2 of 3 [37 Posts]   Goto page: Previous 1, 2, 3 Next
Author Message
_izzy_
Veteran

Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Posts: 99
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

 		as there have been no more sighting since 15:53 and it has been over an hour 30, i am guessing that pretty much confims it was 'Miranda' on the bridge and either Kurt caught up with her or more likely she crossed the river.

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:22 pm
 View user's profile MSN Messenger
 Back to top 
ryandrew
Unfettered


Joined: 21 Jan 2005
Posts: 575
Location: Manchester
Quote:
Over the Bridge
Friday, May 12 2006, 05:18 PM

The closest I got to seeing Miranda today was a blip on a screen.

The problem with pattern matching with algorithms is that it's all about probabilities. You can never be sure if someone really is the person you're looking for. The 'local global search' I set up this morning found a huge number of possible matches for Miranda in Stone Mills, although most of them were very low probability; you'll have noticed that I set the system to only display matches scoring more than 50%.

Even then, there were a few matches. One of them appeared in the east of the town at about 11:30am and then slowly wound its way through the streets heading west. The person was moving so slowly and openly that I was sure she must have been a shopper, despite the high probability of a match. Another match also appeared at 11:30am at the station in the northwest of town, and was slowly working their way west. I wasn't particularly worried about this match either, because the person appeared to have come out from the station, in which case they would've been picked up by the surveillance cameras if they were indeed Miranda.

Still, I couldn't leave this to chance - I had to check for myself. My leg had healed well enough for me to walk on, albeit carefully, so I left the walking stick in my hotel room and headed for the lift. I don't know whether this is the case for mall towns on Earth, but essentially the entirety of Stone Mills - not just the mall - is covered with moving walkways (we call them slidewalks) and escalators. They have various bands of walkways that move at different speeds, and while it's very fun travelling on them for the first day or so, they get intensely annoying when you realise they mostly take you places that you don't want to go to.

I started cruising the slidewalks at about 2:30pm when I was convinced, with the help of your emails, that there appeared to be at least two possible Mirandas, both of whom were heading for the mall. If they crossed paths, it would be very confusing to follow them both. To make matters worse, there was some sort of town-wide sale going on, sponsored by the chamber of commerce, so there were even more people out than usual. For about half an hour, I limped along until I intercepted the woman who came from the station. I only saw her for a second as we sped past each other on the slidewalks, but it was enough to tell me she definitely wasn't Miranda - this woman was pregnant.

My next target was the woman who'd appeared on the eastern edge of the city. By now, she was somewhere north of the mall, possibly heading towards the bridge. I spent a fruitless hour going back and forth on the slidewalks, gathering some odd looks from the shop assistants nearby and making myself dizzy. It was at 3:31pm when a high probability blip appeared further north that I realised she'd changed direction and was dangerously close to the station. I immediately hopped onto the high speed slidewalk and went to intercept her, barging past people in front of me.

Fifteen minutes later, I was there, and the blip was right outside the station. I managed a broken jog and caught up with the red-headed girl who was walking briskly towards the station. Just as I reached the doors, I grabbed her on the shoulder and spun her around. It wasn't Miranda. She said something sharp, I don't remember what, then continued into the station. My key beeped again, notifying me of a new match. Someone had been sighted - with a 96.4% probability of being Miranda - south of the mall, minutes from the bridge. I stood there, with a feeling of utter fear and realisation. I'd been following a doppelganger for over an hour while Miranda had been hiding south of the city and sprinted towards the bridge.

I took a high speed slidewalk to the bridge, but five minutes later another beep told me what I knew had happened - she was on the bridge, heading south over the river, out of Stone Mills and out of my reach.


Bugger.

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 1:41 pm
 View user's profile MSN Messenger
 Back to top 
myf
Entrenched


Joined: 30 Dec 2005
Posts: 917
Location: Hiding from squirrels
ryandrew wrote:
Bugger.


That about sums it up!

So, he presumably has two options: be like a taxi driver and refuse to go south of the river, thus giving up and going home; or taking us on another scenic adventure into as yet uncharted territories.
He sounded less "to hell with any concerns, let's get after her", so perhaps he'll toddle off home like a good lad until he hears something promising at a later date. Not terribly likely though.
_________________
"I play the game for the game's own sake"
PSN ID & GamerTag: sleepymyf ~ Wii number: 5915 5999 6937 3087

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 5:17 pm
 View user's profile Visit poster's website AIM Address Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
 ICQ Number 
 Back to top 
Jakeo
Decorated

Joined: 30 Aug 2005
Posts: 159
Location: Edinburgh

 		So,

I'm currently feeling really bad for Kurt. I can only suspect that he was far more into Miranda than he ever let on to us (although the way he abandoned Violet previously might indicate that). He's seriously cut up and it makes me sad for him.

That being said, he's cearly gone off the deep end. Its not healthy for the boy! It feels like either he's going to go off on his own and we're just going to be hauled along for the ride, or he's going to out and out meltdown.

I'd like to think that we could reach out to him and get him to be a little less crazy, but given that my last correspondence with Kurt was so successful, I doubt that he would listen to anything that I said Smile

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:02 pm
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
GasparLewis
Unfettered


Joined: 19 Nov 2005
Posts: 474
Location: vicinty of NYC

 		OK, that's it.
He's lost it, entirely.
I think, as long as he heads this chase, it's doomed.

He's behaving irrationally.
He's making obvious mistakes.
He's not considering Miranda knows she's being followed and traced.
He's hobbling about recklessly after being in an explosion.
He's doing all this nonsense alone.
We need to call Anna out. Caine? Garnet?
Get Scarlett out of bed!
Something!

Kurt, a recovering burn victim with inaccurate and statistically uncalibrated evidence, shooing away all help and thinking he's totally in the right, is hobbling about in uncharted and unknown suburbs after a top-class marathon competitor and obviously well-trained or professional agent for a murder-capable organization.

I'm sending an e-mail tonight.

(Wish Violet would have smacked some logic back into him.)

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:53 pm
 View user's profile AIM Address
 Back to top 
achenar
Veteran


Joined: 25 Apr 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Newcastle, Australia

 		I don't think he's going to accept help, not considering what Violet's said about her departure.

On the other hand, would it be worth emailing him and telling him to disguise himself a little? What with the walking stick, if he made his hair greyish and wore oldman clothes, he could maybe escape her notice at first glance.

And, more importantly, avoid the ambush I can't help but feel is now waiting at the other side of the ferry.

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 7:21 pm
 View user's profile AIM Address
 Back to top 
Dranioth
Veteran


Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 92

 		The problem I see now for Kurt isnt one of Sanity, but one of respect for himself. I think he personally blames himself for the death of Issac due to the fact that he didn't see what "She" really was, that he thinks that if he give up now, He's giving up on everyone who was affected by the murder.

Say he does give up. In his mind, how could he ever look at the faces of people like Anna, Violet, or even himself? He would know that he gave up on the only lead they had, and failed at bringing a murderer to justice, and I think that with that knowledge weighing him down, the kurt we've come to love would be lost forever.

Of course, it's only Kurt that blames himself, everyone else knows that he should feel no guilt for what happened. I say we contact everyone that we can to tr to get him back. Miranda is long gone, and we need to get Kurt back safe and sound, Before it's too late.

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:01 pm
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
GasparLewis
Unfettered


Joined: 19 Nov 2005
Posts: 474
Location: vicinty of NYC

 		Been awhile since anyone's bothered, but what do you guys think of this mail?

I wrote:
Kurt, you're spiraling off into absurdity with your chase. What was (and still is) a venerable hunt for justice and the truth is slowly decaying into a mad obsession. I would you least, of all people, to lose your clarity, in any situation.

I understand that "Miranda" has hurt you. That, as well as hunting the woman who killed Cymbalisty, you're after closure, explanations, and reality after a months-long lie. In no way am I devaluing this, or you. But, in order to achieve this goal, you must remain rational in your actions.

First of all, you're still injured physically. Recovering fantastically, but still unable to compete with a woman you know, for a fact, was a talented, top-tier marathon runner. Slidwalks, boats, and trains aside, there will always be a disadvantage, and your continued exertion will only slow the healing process and put you at risk for consecutive injuries. What use will all the running be if you snap your calf in two?

Second, you're underestimating her. Have you, at any point in your relentness pursuitm, considered that she's counter-traced you? There is no element of surprise if both parties know where the other is at all times. This possibility also provides an explanation for her move exactly when you were on the other side of town, after a doppleganger. Now that she has her medicine, sh's no longer disabled; she might have even purchased extra while in Stone Mills. She's been clever (and desperate, and deranged) enough to make it this far, and there's no indication she'll slow down as she nears whatever goalpoint she may be moving towards. And how about the possibility that she has others aiding her? Ready to arrange travel, drop off medication, and/or kill anyone in pursuit.

Third, Miranda is dead. The woman you are pursuing is the one who killed her. She is Miranda's mother, Helen Gale's mother, Jean Morgan's mother, and the murderer of all three, as well as Cymbalisty, the friend and colleague of numerous people you care about. Miranda not only is gone, but never was; whatever grains of truth this woman planted among her lies are irrelevant. The Miranda you are after is not who you'll find, and all your planned dialogue and endless questions will find only answers from someone else. Who? The woman who held a knife to a stranger's throat to escape. The woman who toyed with your emotions to cover for a homicide. The woman you loved in vain.

And, finally, you're alone. You've rejected all help except Earth CRT members. You've shooed away the one person who was your ally in this affair. Even the simplest of minds understands the power and force of multiple persons working towards the same goal in person. Across these connections, there is only talk, where assistance on the Perplexian end could trap, trick, hide, sneak, sabotage, investigate, and provide the physical end that you currently (temporarily) lack.

I don't want you to stop. I don't want you to give up. I want you to just use logic. Use your head, and do what will work best, rather than letting obfuscation be your downfall. You're more than capable of organizing a full plan and pulling yourself back together; you're Kurt flippin' McAllister. Act like Kurt McAllister and be intelligent about your actions. Apply to your strengths, negate your weaknesses, magnify your abilitites, and execute it all with confidence, precision, and a level head.

When you find a moment of downtime between alerts, relax. Sift through it all in your mind. Take deep breaths, focus deeply, and find calmness. I know that things seem bleak, and each day brings diminishing chances, but if you concentrate and fix what you're doing wrong in your efforts, there's hope yet.

I wish you the best, and that means getting your head back on your shoulders.

Keep after her, Kurt, but come back from the brink of insanity; we miss you dearly.


Would it maybe push him into the light, or backlash and send him over the edge?

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:16 pm
 View user's profile AIM Address
 Back to top 
_izzy_
Veteran

Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Posts: 99
Location: Hertfordshire, UK

 		i like a lot of it - you put the point eloquently and end it on a positive/inspiring note - my main concern is that from your opening; telling him he's
Quote:
spiraling off into absurdity
and
Quote:
slowly decaying into a mad obsession
coupled with the patronising way he could take the comment:
Quote:
I understand that "Miranda" has hurt you
may well result in him hitting the 'delete' button before you reach your point of encouragement and support. I like what you have written (i am just trying to see it from kurt's almost paranoid, thinking the world is against him mind) - i would just restructure it.

p.s. it also needs an sp check! (not that i'm one to talk!)

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:32 pm
 View user's profile MSN Messenger
 Back to top 
BrianEnigma
Entrenched


Joined: 05 Oct 2003
Posts: 1199
Location: Pacific Northwest
Quote:
...covered with moving walkways (we call them slidewalks) and escalators. They have various bands of walkways that move at different speeds...

They live in an Asimovian future!
_________________
Y0 Resources / VP Wiki / PXC Catalog / Metacortex

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:52 pm
 View user's profile Visit poster's website
 Back to top 
Tintintin
Veteran


Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 137
Location: London

 		Ultra-paranoid spec follows:

Kurt has already lied to protect Miranda once; could the loony act be just that, a smokescreen to hide the fact that he's let her get away a second or third time, with all the Oxxypro she needs and so forth? There hasn't even been any independent affirmation that she was the one who killed Cymbalisty, and the only person who seems to have encountered her since was Violet at Auger Park...

Is Kurt possibly working with Miranda in some way? Could the whole 'hearing/speaking to voices' thing be a convenient way of hiding the fact that he's still in communication with her? Would this account for not involving the police beyond a 'missing persons' report, and sending Violet home when he would ostensibly have needed her help most?

Or could Kurt be framing Miranda? Being caught in the explosion might just have been a explosives botch job on his part, or an effort to throw people off the scent. Maybe she's not the villain of the piece as it stands, or maybe not in the way we're supposed to think? This line of thinking, of course, would suggest that Kurt might have killed Cymbalisty... And that opens up an entirely different can of ultra-paranoid worms...

PostPosted: Sat May 13, 2006 8:28 am
 View user's profile MSN Messenger
 Back to top 
DrKra37
Decorated

Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 160
Location: Colorado, USA

 		...I wish you hadn't suggested that, because it IS technically possible. And it sucks, cuz I LIKE Kurt!

Sad

PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 3:44 am
 View user's profile AIM Address Yahoo Messenger
 Back to top 
Dranioth
Veteran


Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Posts: 92
Tintintin wrote:
Ultra-paranoid spec follows:

Kurt has already lied to protect Miranda once; could the loony act be just that, a smokescreen to hide the fact that he's let her get away a second or third time, with all the Oxxypro she needs and so forth? There hasn't even been any independent affirmation that she was the one who killed Cymbalisty, and the only person who seems to have encountered her since was Violet at Auger Park...

Is Kurt possibly working with Miranda in some way? Could the whole 'hearing/speaking to voices' thing be a convenient way of hiding the fact that he's still in communication with her? Would this account for not involving the police beyond a 'missing persons' report, and sending Violet home when he would ostensibly have needed her help most?

Or could Kurt be framing Miranda? Being caught in the explosion might just have been a explosives botch job on his part, or an effort to throw people off the scent. Maybe she's not the villain of the piece as it stands, or maybe not in the way we're supposed to think? This line of thinking, of course, would suggest that Kurt might have killed Cymbalisty... And that opens up an entirely different can of ultra-paranoid worms...


And I thought I was crazy... Rolling Eyes

Just kidding. Although, I will say that that is REALLY paranoid.
Remember, this is Kurt we're talking about here, not some crippled lunatic miles away from home chasing a marathon runner half way across the country in a futile attempt to regain his lost love.

Wait a second...

PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:36 am
 View user's profile
 Back to top 
Juxta
Unfettered

Joined: 28 Aug 2005
Posts: 675

 		With regards to the "Ultra-Hyper-Paranoid Spec"...uh...yee-ess. Technically, it could be true. Not so technically, I'm thinking that we might be going a wee bit over the top...I think that Kurt is a "Man on a Mission" here. Or possibly going entirely haddock-terrier-barnacle-wildebeest.

Anyway, it also provides me with the opportunity to use one of the best emoticons I've ever encountered.

Foily!

J
_________________
zzzshusoharuxpfrp

PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 5:50 am
 View user's profile MSN Messenger
 Back to top 
Tintintin
Veteran


Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 137
Location: London

 		Heh! Personally, I reckon the following is also a good choice:

Screwy

Wink

PostPosted: Mon May 15, 2006 6:40 am
 View user's profile MSN Messenger
 Back to top 
Display posts from previous:   Sort by:   
Page 2 of 3 [37 Posts]   Goto page: Previous 1, 2, 3 Next
View previous topicView next topic
 Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates
Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
You cannot post calendar events in this forum



Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group