Float Stones

One wrong step can cost you the game

Cainis moved slowly between the stones. His feet balancing deftly to each rock as he moved. Then he slipped on a stone -- as it floated up, he desperately tried to grab it before it moved out of reach.
"That's two points for you Cainis!" Solifia yelled.
He balanced precariously on his stone waiting for his next turn. Solifia rolled the die and it landed on 2. She glanced at the path of stones in front of her, picking her route carefully. Stepping on each stone as lightly as possible, she moved along her path, making some changes as she went. She got to the 6th stone and it shifted oddly and the small stone underneath slipped out and floated up out of reach.
"That gives me 3 points! Two more for me to win."

— The Floating Fan -- by Intherin Tumplethump

In the Season

On the Engineering Stratum, there is a time of year that is a bit odd. During Hollows Season things tend to float all over the place. It can be a challenge for parents and local authorities. This can also be a time of joy for many kids and a great many games come with things that can float.

Float Stones

This simple sounding game is pretty simple. The kids will place small stones covered in the spores under larger stones. The kids then take turns walking across the stones trying to avoid dislodging the spore covered stones. They get points for as many stones they can step on. Usually the first one to 10 or 20 points will win the game.

Aisid rolled his die on the rock. A five....hmm. He sighed as he looks at the stones spread out on the floor. He looked for good handholds as he scanned the area. Still holding on to his current stone with one hand, he quickly reached for the next one. With a smile he pulls his second hand to the stone straining to keep his feet on the ground. He does this two more times, but on the fourth stone he realized he made a mistake. The handhold he found was too shallow and his hand slipped out of it. His feet lifted off the ground and he lunged for the previous stone. He grasped it, but his hands could not hold on. His whole body floated up the ceiling of the cave. It was only about 10 feet up and Shintir grabbed the rope and pulled him back down.

— The Floating Fan -- by Intherin Tumplethump

Hollows Season

Hollows Season is a time when strange spores from a fungus float through the air and stick to things. The spores then create a weightless effect on the things it sticks. It creates a very challenging environment for the adults, but kids tend to enjoy it more. This is just one of the many games they have created for it.

Alternate Rules

Dice

Sometimes dice are used to calculate how many steps they have to take. Scoring may also be related to how many stones they can get beyond the die roll.

Living Pieces

Sometimes the kids will cover themselves in the spores (usually to the dismay of the parents). In this version they use large stones to keep themselves from floating up. They will use the die to see how many steps they have to take without floating away. You only get a point if you match your die roll. A rope is tied to you to pull you back down for your next turn.

Primary Related Location

Engineering Stratum

Adult Versions

Despite the inconvenience of the spores for most adults, they do play some games with it. Their game primarily happens on the ceiling itself. They put enough spores on their bodies to float to the ceiling. There are three large floating stones passed around between the three teams. A team can score a point every time they can leap up and grab the other teams stone. The game is very fast moving and contains quite a bit of contact, although it's usually only a shove as that is all it takes to take someone off their feet. The games conclude when one team gets a specific number of points, decided at the beginning. These games will also draw in a few fans to cheer for their family and friends. The winning team gets some bragging rights until the next match.