[The Vizier]

Ok guys. I've always wanted to play this story telling game, but I just couldn't find people who were interested. Female INFJ's lengthy response on my other cafe thread has inspired me to toss caution into the wind and take the plunge.

The premise is simple mwa hahaha. Sorry, pardon my evil laughter. As I was saying, the premise is simple: Imagine that we are all in an INFJ cafe that can materialize in any time period, dimension, planet or place. I admit I shamelessly stole that idea from Nightmare Cafe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Anyhoo, the game goes like this. I will start the story and materialize the cafe somewhere. Then I will give the setting, the layout, the conditions etc. After I have stopped my story, the next person who picks it up has to follow from where I left off. This is a fantasy you all, so please feel free to let your imagination and creativity flow. You can be all that you want to be in this game. It doesn't matter how ridiculous you intend to make the story, the challenge would be for the next person to pick up and carry on.

There are bound to be times when other people have to handle our personas, hopefully there is enough background earlier so that you don't have to put too much words into someone else's mouth. Haha! Some may enjoy that, others may try to get the person out of the story so they can tell it from their point of view. The important part is to remember how the story has flowed so far and to keep it going in a meaningful and fun way.

I foresee that this game might get pretty out of hand, but heck, that is the fun of stories isn't it? Be funny, be creative, be imaginative, be witty and let's see where this goes. At the end of the day, we are all in this together!

There are a few rules to help this game along:
Rule 1: You must pick up the story from where the previous person left off.
Rule 2: You should tell the story from your own point of view. (ie, if I end with someone placing their hand on my shoulder, ideally you should be that person to continue or you could be an observing 3rd party)

 

[The Vizier]

Ok! *Rubs hands in glee* Alright comrades! Since this is my idea, I shall begin.

Having been hanging out at the INFJ Cafe for sometime, I find myself enjoying the company here, having met many awesome people and like minds. As I sip my tea, I realize an odd thing. While everyone comes into the INFJ Cafe to chat and hang out, no one really knows how, why, or where the cafe came from. I suppose being INFJs we are all too absorbed in out own little world to find out more about the place till now.

Soon curiosity gets the better of me and I decide to explore the basement of the INFJ cafe. Taking my trusty torchlight and my Skeggox (Bearded Axe) I make my way down to the basement. As wade through the cobwebs, I notice a door with some weird words and symbols that I cannot decipher. I give it a push and make my way in. As my torchlight shines around the room, it soon lands on a strange machine in the middle of the room. I cautiously make my way towards it when I trip over something on the floor and stumble forward. I clumsily drop my Skeggox as I flail about in the air trying to regain my balance. In the process, my arm hits a lever and I land on some buttons.

There is an eerie silence as the machine begins to glow. This is followed by a rumbling and a shaking rather like an earthquake. I hurriedly pick up my skeggox and torchlight and make my way out of the room. As I reach the cafe, I notice that the chatter has died down. The warm sunlight that has been coming through the cafe has been replaced with darkness. I make my way to the window and find an unfamiliar landscape.

2 large moons hang in the sky casting an eerie glow on the land. There are a few hills in the distance with strange looking houses on them. There seem to be inhabitants as I notice a fire and light coming from each house. As I ponder what to do next, someone places a hand on my shoulder.

(to be continued by the next INFJer)

PS: Am off to bed, hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised when I wake up haha! :crazy:

 

[Runescribe]

As I ponder what to do next, someone places a hand on my shoulder.

Turning about in response I am confronted by a strange figure. A woman who might have been imagined by that ancient Cypriot sculptor Pygmalion, and as pale as the ivory Galatea. A fair visage framed with roiling locks of red and hooded like a raven.

Pinned by a platinum badge in the form of a talon, her black cape is adorned with a single cryptic glyph. Fully embroidered in braided crimson, just to the left shoulder it appears like the letter Z - a stiletto strike running vertically through its center.

From beneath the fold of her cloak she produces a single black parchment, bound with a crimson ribbon and sealed with wax bearing her mark. Following her prompt I open the scroll. Finely painted within, it shows a cartouche. The better part of it is a calligraphy I cannot make out. But I recognize the forms as being like those on the door through which I passed to enter this world. Legibly at the top it reads "Haidz runo runu, falh'k hedra ginnarunaz" - but what on Earth could that mean?

She turns to walk away. So imperatively I ask "What is your name?"

After a pause - she quietly demurs "Zed".

Before I can say another word she is gone. And how she went as she did I am at pains to describe, since she doesn't simply walk away, nor does she simply vanish. It's only that she is there and then she is not there. By the time I regain my wits I realize the silver lines on the parchment are a'glow beneath the paly moon, and the brightest stars. And in the distance the flickering fires which I had earlier seen, are beckoning still.

 

[The Vizier]

Awesome! Thanks for posting Runescribe. I realized the confusion about my rules so I adjusted them.

Before I can say another word she is gone. And how she went as she did I am at pains to describe, since she doesn't simply walk away, nor does she simply vanish. It's only that she is there and then she is not there. By the time I regain my wits I realize the silver lines on the parchment are a'glow beneath the paly moon, and the brightest stars. And in the distance the flickering fires which I had earlier seen, are beckoning still.

After meeting this strange woman, I decided to seek the help of an expert in strange inscriptions and languages. Thank goodness the INFJ cafe has such specialists. I walk up to Runescribe and explain the situation to him. Then I show him the parchment. I point out that we still don't know if the inhabitants of this strange place are friends or foes and that every minute wasted could place all the INFJs in jeopardy. We need to find out how to deal with the machine and see if we can get out of here....but who can do it?

 

[DasPhillipBrau]

this is quite interesting, keep going guys

btw I would contribute, but I am going to write a book about this subject...thanks for the inspiration

 

[Runescribe]

I decided to seek the help of an expert in strange inscriptions and languages. Thank goodness the INFJ cafe has such specialists. I walk up to Runescribe and explain the situation to him. Then I show him the parchment. I point out that we still don't know if the inhabitants of this strange place are friends or foes and that every minute wasted could place all the INFJs in jeopardy. We need to find out how to deal with the machine and see if we can get out of here....but who can do it?

Well the writing at the top is easy enough to reckon because the phrase itself is well-known. It comes from a stone in Björketorp Sweden and dates from the 6th or 7th century. Of course the original was written in the Elder Futhark. That this scroll should display it so plainly in Latin characters (albeit with a strange hand) is clearly intended to provide some sort of clue or key. The phrase "Haidz runo runu, falh'k hedra ginnarunaz" translates literally from the Norse as "I, master of the runes conceal here runes of power."

Now in Norse the word "rune" is a bit tricky because it has multiple meanings depending upon the context. It can mean a secret, to hide something, or to write a message. "Runes of power" sounds a bit dramatic. Then again you did just talk to an ivory-skinned girl in a shadowy cape who disappeared into the mist. So all bets are off at this point.

But you say there's a machine, behind the door. So let's have a look at the door.

It looks at first as if we will fare no better, but then I see a pattern emerging. [Thank goodness for Ni] At the top of the door is a phrase in Latin.

Queste parole di colore oscuro
vid’ ïo scritte al sommo d’una porta
per ch’io: "Maestro, il senso lor m’è duro".

This translates as:

These words in sombre color I beheld
Written upon the summit of a gate;
When I: "Their sense is, Master, hard to me!"

And so I think we've duly noted that the words written below on the door are in sombre color, and well, erm "hard to me!"

This is what they look like:

So what could it mean?

I will have to ponder on it some. For now I think it's best we take a look at that machine. Hopefully the controls are more plainly marked than this door.

(OK Vizier, just to let you know - putting funny letters on the door in the very first lines of the story is like dangling red meat in front of me. So I'm afraid you're going to have to put up with some of this nonsense for now. Unfortunately I've got to go to bed, but this is going to be fun. Great idea.)

 

[Runescribe]

(Non-Story Related Note: I promise I won't just hijack your story. It's just that when I saw that line about funny words and writing. My inner 12-year old went Wheeeee!!!! - C'mon INFJs - don't make Vizier do all the work.)

 

[The Vizier]

(Non-Story Related Note: I promise I won't just hijack your story. It's just that when I saw that line about funny words and writing. My inner 12-year old went Wheeeee!!!! - C'mon INFJs - don't make Vizier do all the work.)

Naw, you are doing great!! I never imagined those words to be Norse, but that is the whole beauty of the game isn't it? How anyone can take an idea, flesh it out and go off on an amazing tangent. Because there is so much that is unknown or unsaid, the possibilities are endless. 10 people can look at an egg and give you 10 different opinions about it.

Come on people! You're sipping your drinks, lost in your own little world in the INFJ cafe and suddenly, there is a shaking like an earthquake, the light from the sun disappears and the landscape outside has changed. What will you do? How would you react? What fascinating observations or discoveries can you make about the cafe or the outside world?

Bear in mind, we are in another world. The rules and laws of our own world may or may not apply. Each of us may find that our latent powers, whatever they might be, manifest in this new world? This isn't just a if you could have any power you want question. It goes much further than that. It's a if you could have any power you want question, what will you do and how will it affect your fellow INFJers in an alien world? The best part is, anyone can shape this world anyway they like, all inputs are not only welcomed, but encouraged.

Remove your inhibitions, imagine and go with the flow. It'll be a great exercise for INFJ creativity. :crazy:

What about you myjazz? Given your background as a marine and all the martial arts that you've learned, how would you take charge of the situation and protect us all?

 

[myjazz]

The two hero's that took the quest to save the lands hears a voice piercing through the Air.
Scutum Fidei,
PATER
FILIUS
SPIRITUS SANCTUS
DEUS
verbum caro factum est

The barrier above the door dissipates. At that moment the two hero's knew they where not alone on this quest.
With new found strength Vizier picks up his Skeggox and pushes on towards the Machine that appears to be controlling the two moons...


(dont know if I followed the rules):crazy:

 

[Runescribe]

The barrier above the door dissipates.

I was reading that, thanks.

(Runescribe scribbles what he can remember)

Paladins...

 

[Runescribe]

While I may not have gained a level in locksmithing I did manage to unravel at least part of the glyphs on the door. It reads;

Per me si va ne la città dolente,
Per me si va ne l’etterno dolore,
Per me si va tra la perduta gente.

Which now that I think on it - there may be a reason myjazz's invocation of "verbum caro factum est" was so effective...

 

[Zomboy]

A voice breaks the silence.

"The Divine Comedy."

Out from a darker corner of the room steps a figure, standing at an average height. One odd thing sets him apart from the darkness that silhouette him however... a single shining red eye.

He takes a few steps forward to observe the landscape outside a nearby window. As it's pale light is cast across his face, the reason for this suddenly becomes clear-- He is albino.

Dressed in the usual punk rocker clothes, he is adorned with a biker jacket and a loose fitting t-shirt, albeit upon a small frame. This is exaggerated, even, by a pair of skinny jeans-- black with leg bones painted on them, with skeletal-print leather boots to match. He sports a green mohawk, albeit on it's side, thusly covering his right eye with his bangs.

After a brief pause, he turns to look back at the other two in the room.

"Doesn't seem funny to me."

 

[myjazz]

I was reading that, thanks.

(Runescribe scribbles what he can remember)

Paladins...

By the way Love the way you put Dante in the story,My old Theme here in PerC makes me want to bring him back
Should I have not passed through the gate? and stayed




"My maker was divine authority,

.​

The highest wisdom and 'the first love."

​

 

[The Vizier]

The two hero's that took the quest to save the lands hears a voice piercing through the Air.
Scutum Fidei,
PATER
FILIUS
SPIRITUS SANCTUS
DEUS
verbum caro factum est

The barrier above the door dissipates. At that moment the two hero's knew they where not alone on this quest.
With new found strength Vizier picks up his Skeggox and pushes on towards the Machine that appears to be controlling the two moons...


(dont know if I followed the rules):crazy:

You're doing fine. But do include yourself, your character or your avatar; like in Avatar, in the story and give your point of view. Use the other existing characters to interact with you. The point is to tell how you handle the situation by blending all that has been shared so far and creating something entirely your own. :laughing:

 

[Zomboy]

For the less uber geeky

It's usually referred to as roleplay

(I used to do it in my high school years)

 

[Runescribe]

By the way Love the way you put Dante in the story,My old Theme here in PerC makes me want to bring him back
Should I have not passed through the gate? and stayed




"My maker was divine authority,

.​

The highest wisdom and 'the first love."

Hey you got the door open, it's results that count. Zomboy was kind enough to help with the translation - and now you have divined some of its nature. All in all a good day's work I'd say.

Now is this literally a door to hell or is it merely an exhortation to bravery? After all, but a little ways further into Canto III it says

""Here all suspicion needs must be abandoned,
All cowardice must needs be here extinct."

Speak "Friend" and enter.

Also Vizier got his axe back. Well done all.

 

[The Vizier]

For the less uber geeky

It's usually referred to as roleplay

(I used to do it in my high school years)

Thanks Zomboy...Was trying to find the word but it help eluding me. Yes roleplay people! :crazy:

And Zomboy, don't forget the zombies!

 

[myjazz]

You're doing fine. But do include yourself, your character or your avatar; like in Avatar, in the story and give your point of view. Use the other existing characters to interact with you. The point is to tell how you handle the situation by blending all that has been shared so far and creating something entirely your own. :laughing:

I thought I did :crazy:
My part will take physical form as the story progresses(consider me the Guide in The Divine for now)

 

[Zomboy]

Zomboy cracks his knuckles.

"Most might say that bravery and stupidity are synonymous."

He whisks past Runescribe and Vizier, only to stop a few feet short of the darkness in the open doorway. He turns his gaze back to the others.

"Are you most?"

 

[Runescribe]

I thought I did :crazy:
My part will take physical form as the story progresses(consider me the Guide in The Divine for now)

Very nice, very nice.

This is getting more fun by the moment.