" She pulled her boots on, put away the pen but decided to keep the book out." She pulled her boots on, put away the pen but decided to keep the book out. "So, how does magic work in BackWater?" "Well, there are rituals, forces, places, empowerments. All the stuff of a Dungeons n' Dragons game. Think of BackWater the same way Shardik thinks of The Great Hall... as a bad literary device." Kathy laughed. "I try to balance the game by introducing portends, omens, and such." "If people are playing in what is basically a giant role-playing game, can they die?" "I won't lie to you, Miss Moran. Yes. One thing even Pendorians can't do is raise the dead. If you lose a swordfight and you're dead, then you're dead. So far, no one has died in BackWater, but it's only thirteen years old." "Oh. Luke, do me a favor? Call me Kitty." "Okay... Kitty it is. Let me make a note of that." "Luke... how do you do some of the magic. Can you read minds?" "Yes. I'm a rarity of sorts... A telepathic AI. But it takes time for me to tune someone in. The longer you stay in BackWater, the easier it will be for me to read/write you. |