Falling Oak Avenue

A moderately dangerous Path that can only be accessed from other Paths.<ref> Wildbow Comment on Reddit</ref>

Perpetration

Falling Oak Avenue is only accessible from another Path, via two methods.<ref>Falling Oak Avenue

Falling Oak Avenue, abbreviated FOA or 'Avenue' hereafter, is not a path that is directly accessible from reality, nor any of the core realms. Instead, it is an exceedingly broad path that extends over, under, and around many of the other realms. For those on intermediate or advanced paths, the FOA is a common escape hatch, a path of moderate difficulty that is worth memorizing and learning.

Accessing the Avenue requires that one be on a Path. The first means of access requires that the Finder gather numbers and letters from the environment of the Paths and arrange them in a sequence, outlining a number followed by 'Oak Avenue'. One could also write the number down somewhere, but it is critically important that the writing implement and surface are from the Paths. Once everything is laid out, they should then knock three times. This is by far the safest option, as it places the Finder at the third length of FOA.

The second option to access the Avenue is to set oneself to falling or some other means of uncontrollable movement- hurling oneself through a window, off a ledge, into the void, or standing atop a moving vehicle. They should then scream something to the effect of: "I am located at [number] Oak Avenue. May I please have directions?" The question does not especially matter, but may impact fine details. The Finder will then be placed at what we understand to be the first length of the Avenue.

'Placed' is something of a misnomer. Whatever the route chosen, one will be hurled at terminal velocity into the Avenue, and they will fall, with luck, until they return to our world.

The number must be unique. That is to say, if anyone else has ever stated or used the number in question to access FOA, then they will not go to FOA. Rather, the entirety of FOA will come to them in a fashion much like a freight train, falling or shooting down at a steep angle at an estimated 190 km/h (118 m/h). This kills the Finder.

Sufficiently random numbers at least nine digits long should be safe. Remember the number. Mark the time. - Wildbow comment on Reddit</ref>

The safer option is to use materials on a Path to write out a number followed by 'Oak Avenue'. This can be done by simply writing it out with a pen or similar utensil on any surface, as long as both are from a Path, even if it's not the same Path. Alternatively, the letters and numbers could be clipped out of newspapers or the like, scratched into surfaces, or spelled out with arranged debris. Knocking three times will place the Finder falling on the third length of Falling Oak Avenue, avoiding the earliest dangers.

The second option is to be in uncontrolled motion, such as falling from a height or falling off of the Path altogether, or standing on a fast-moving surface, and say "I am located at [number] Oak Avenue," followed by a question like "May I please have directions?" or "May I please request an operator?" This will place the Finder falling at the start of Falling Oak Avenue, but is a good emergency escape option if the Finder has already fallen or needs to escape a danger on a Path. The specific question used in the second option isn't important, but does effect minor details on the Path, and it probably pays to be polite whatever question is used.

The number used is much more important; it can have any number of digits, from one to as many as the Finder wants to say or write, but it must be a unique number that has never before been used to access Falling Oak Avenue. If the number has been used before, the Finder will crash into Falling Oak Avenue and be killed. Longer and random numbers are statistically safer, and it's courteous to remember the number and communicate it to allied Finders so they know not to use it.

Certain powerful Lost with sway over the Paths may also be able to grant a Finder a shortcut to Falling Oak Avenue, without necessarily needing a unique number or even to be on a Path to start with.<ref>Sootsleeves turned sharply. The two tires that still hadn’t touched road did, and the other two tires lifted up at the same time. Avery’s stomach, now about ten miles behind her and somewhere in the stratosphere, rocketed off somewhere to the horizon on the left side of the road, while Sootsleeves’ steed left pavement and went over a ledge, flipping slowly nose over back bumper.

The water to the one side of the road was blue as sky- and as Avery came to terms with the fact they were still falling after five or so seconds, she realized it was sky. Smoke from the flare was cloud, and the only thing keeping her in the car as they fell was the seatbelt.

Sootsleeves hit the buckle. The seatbelt came undone, and Avery was essentially ejected from the seat, wind whipping at her hair and clothes.

“Falling Oak Avenue!” Sootsleeves shouted. - Excerpt from Gone and Done It 17.10</ref>

Description

A collection of people and objects, including buildings, in a state of freefall. Like all Paths, the experience is different with each run through, though there are generalities that persist throughout, particularly certain buildings in a certain order. The Finder will arrive in freefall at terminal velocity, and will need to continue falling throughout. Touching any surface that can be considered floor or ground is fatal. Other objects and surfaces can be touched, but most attempts to fall slower will instead speed up the progress of the Path, and attempts to continuously control the Finder's movement become increasingly likely to fling the Finder into a deadly surface the longer they're used. Finders can spread their limbs out like skydivers to stabilize their falls without any penalty, and pushing off of non-ground surfaces, debris, or Lost to change direction are fine, but using a device like a parachute or hanging onto a building will not work. There are nine lengths, and as long as no attempts to slow down are made, the Path takes about sixteen minutes.<ref>Traveling on Falling Oak Avenue

Falling Oak Avenue is traversed at a maximum velocity fall, and it is recommended one spread out their arms and legs and turn their bodies to be perpendicular to 'down', to slow their velocity, unless otherwise noted. As tempting as it may be, one should not set foot, hand, stilt, or other device on any 'floor' that is visible. Doing so will see that piece of terrain crashing into solid ground in a third of a second, along with the Finder. This kills the Finder.

It is not advised to attempt to fly or use maneuvering other than falling, unless that maneuvering comes from another Lost object or boon, in which case it should be used sparingly. Attempts at using practice for locomotion tends to fling, teleport, or otherwise send the Finder in the direction they least want to go- often into the nearest 'floor', or back through the last one or two checkpoints.

Seizing any object or attempting to slow one's fall will cut down the available time left until the end of the Path. Slowing one's fall by half, for example, will double the speed at which the ending appears, for as long as one does so.

It is best and safest to aim for an unbroken fall from start to finish. Push on surfaces that aren't floors to change direction when needed.

The Path consists of sky, blue and cloudless by default, and the broken up chunks of what look to be an ordinary street, the buildings, and the institutions that would appear on either side of the street. The 'floors' (the street, the floors of of building interiors, lawns, gardens, paths, and the bridge) should be considered the biggest hazard. Other hazards include bludgeoning, electrical wires, hostile Others, agitated and confused birds, and getting caught on something.

The Avenue has been broken down into nine lengths, each with a 'checkpoint'. The Finder will have sixteen minutes to navigate the checkpoints, meeting the criteria for a safe landing. If successful, they will be deposited on an Oak street, Oak avenue, Oak road, or such, closest to their intended destination as of the time they set out on the Paths.

If traveling in a group, checkpoints are only typically considered cleared when the last Finder in the group passes through. - Wildbow comment on Reddit</ref>

Checkpoints

Each section takes roughly 16 minutes to go through given that the subject falls at maximum velocity.

Schoolbell

This is where the dangerous others appear

Birds

Usually where Finders will duck into when using FOA as an escape hatch.

School Hallways or Classroom

This section can be in any order, the effects are still the same.

Inhabitants

Lost can be seen tumbling though the air.

It is used by humans and Native Lost are merely returned to where they come from, presumably this means that Others in general can not use it.<ref> - Excerpt from Back Away 5.d</ref>

References

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