Practical Crisis Problem Solving - Danger Shop, Tuesday, Period 3 (11am-12pm)

[worsethanaunts.livejournal.com]

The Doctor was very pleased with himself for arriving with only seconds to spare. All that running around kept him in good shape for when he had to run even more.


"Hello! There are times," he started, pacing around the room that looked very much like a cave for anyone paying attention, "when you're going to need to escape. Whether it's a family reunion or there are bloodthirsty things that go bump in the night trying to forcibly remove your internal organs (and for some people, it's the same thing), escape will occasionally be foremost on your mind. What can you do? You could try walking out the front door. If that doesn't work, the back door. If that doesn't work, one of the windows or causing a diversion or pretending to be ill or punching the person next to you or setting off a nuclear device. You have options. Even when it doesn't seem like it, you have options and free will and ingenuity."

In case anyone was really paying attention, the cave that they were in was littered with statues. They weren't remarkable in any way, since they had no real faces to speak of and looked like they were falling apart with old age. They definitely didn't look like angels in case anyone was wondering.

"You're all very capable people, I assume, so let's put this to the test. This cave. These statues. All part of a seemingly endless system of tunnels and caverns, not very well lit. You all have torches - flashlights for the Americans amongst us - and someone probably has some matches on them if anyone normally carries them around. It's probably a good six hour hike up to the surface through the cave system and there are statues everywhere. The statues are after you. Now don't panic! These ones won't be doing any moving right now. They're holographic and do what I tell them to. If only the real things did the same. They're here to set the picture. The statues move very slowly because they're old and starving, and they can only move when you're not looking at them in the light. They're going to be after you as you make your way up to the surface. They can make your torches flicker and maybe even go out and make sudden winds pick up, meaning there's a good chance you'll end up in the dark with them despite your best efforts. But," he added, "you're not alone. You have your classmates with you and your wits. How do you escape and survive to see the sun again?"

Comments

Re: Discuss How to Escape and Survive

[glacial_queen]

"Oh, I agree," Karla said. "The less time we spend in here, the better. I've had my fill of being chased, thanks."

Re: Discuss How to Escape and Survive

[worsethanaunts.livejournal.com]

"Using your resources," the Doctor said approvingly. "Very good. Don't count on them lasting. The statues are tricksy." He paused. "I'm not going to use the word tricksy again. It doesn't roll off the tongue quite right. So keeping moving and getting some light. What would you do to keep an eye on everyone with you? Or would you? Or is it every man or woman for themselves?"

Re: Discuss How to Escape and Survive

[glacial_queen]

"I'd drop most of my mental shields and try to stay in contact with everyone that way," Karla said promptly. "People might be spooked by a little telepathy, but better that than statue-food. I can keep tabs, even as we run. And maybe some shields on the last row of people."

She glanced down at the ground below their feet. "Also, I'd have everyone run on air with me. Footing in here is uneven and that's a good way for someone to fall and injure themselves."

Re: Discuss How to Escape and Survive

[worsethanaunts.livejournal.com]

"It sounds as though you've thought of everything. At least," he added, "until the things you didn't think of happen. How quickly do you think you could adapt your plan with such a large group?"

Re: Discuss How to Escape and Survive

[glacial_queen]

Karla looked around at her classmates. "This group specifically?" she asked. "A while. More time than is really good, I bet. But not everyone here knows me or what I can do. Of those that do, not everyone trusts me. I don't know who all I can trust, either, when they shout a suggestion. So adaptation will be hard, I think. The best I can do is hold my shields and hope that we learn to work together before anyone dies."

Re: Discuss How to Escape and Survive

[worsethanaunts.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes that's all you can do, other than paying attention to the madman who appear to know what he's doing."