thebastion | Day 276 [Action, Open]

Who: Jane Crocker and YOU!
Open: Open
When: Day 276, in the morning
Where: Around the Monument
What: How exactly does this Skyway thing work? Jane wants to know!
Format: Action
Warnings: None

[Donut trees, entire buildings, chocolate jerky cows...it was entirely ridiculous, and yet all of it Jane had seen with her own eyes. Their existence and the powers of the shards had bothered her more with every new thing she came across, and now she wanted to test it out for herself...but to do that, she'd need her own shards.

From the Skyway.

Though she'd come from there, just like everyone had, it was safe to say that she was hesitant to return for any amount of time. She knew there were supposedly monsters, and that the amulet she'd been given would help make paths for her to walk on, but that wasn't much to go on. If Jane was going back into that place, she wanted to be prepared, and where better to find folks who frequented the Skyway than the Monument that turned their shards into things? So that's where she is, approaching all who pass by to ask,]

Excuse me, but what do folks usually bring along with them to the Skyway if they want to look for shards?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Colin laughs.]

Sorry, sorry, I misspoke.

Typically, it's groups of two or three. I meant that a little over a dozen of us typically go out there on any given day in small groups.

Crona, Paar, Alucard, Rob, and I are definitely always going out there. Usually a handful of other people too. Shards are just way too useful for us to sit around on our butts.

Oh! You meant - oh, goodness, you gave me a fright!

[There were only three other people with her in the game, and THAT had been a struggle in and of itself. She didn't want to think it was even WORSE here...though it being the end of whole worlds, it'd make a lot of sense.]

Um, well, I can't say I've met anyone in that list of names other than you, but I'll keep my ears perked, I suppose.

Don't worry. Things are bad out there, but they're not so unmanageable that we need to send out a full squad for every little errand.

Anyway, Crona's the skittish little thing that constantly suffers golem-abuse. Don't be surprised if the name is unfamiliar, Crona avoids a lot of people.

Alucard's the Dhamphyre that lives over at the big Japanese-style building. He keeps to himself, but he's reliable if you need him.

Rob's the mousey guy who's been working as our carpenter. He's good people, but he's also a little nervous around people. Huh... gosh, that really does paint out away teams as a squirreley lot, doesn't it?

Anyway, Paar's the big dragon out on the Dragonfield.

[He points off in that direction with a smile.]

If you haven't met him yet, you should. He's basically grandpa for everyone here. If you've got a problem, he'll be glad to hear you out and offer advice. He's good people.

I've just had a lot of experience with very difficult, stubborn enemies is all - and I wasn't given much of a heads up on them. It's nice to have an idea of what's out there for a change.

[Golem. Dhamphyre. Squirreley. And...dragon? Oh, gosh. Those sure are some interesting words you're throwing out there, Colin, Jane needs a moment to process them.]

I...see. And where is Dragonfield, exactly?

[Unbeknownst to her, she's already been there.]

It's easy to find, just cross the river. Paar is often lounging out there, you can't miss him.

As for what's out there... the biggest threats are angry Gasfellas, and Peckers. Gasfellas are the big, hovering, cloaked figures with weapons. They were basically slave labor before the calamity, and I think they're pretty unhappy about it. But they're not always mean. You treat 'em right, you can get a tentative peace with them. They don't bother me much since I treat them and the squirts well.

Peckers, on the other hand, are the hungry birds you'll see everywhere. Not much more to be said about them. They're big, they're hungry, and they're territorial. Easy enough to shoo off, though.

Oh! Across the - where those trees and foxes showed up? I've been there, but I can't say I saw any dragons.

[But let's set that aside for a moment, there are monsters to talk about.]

So these Gasfellas, they can be reasoned with?

[Colin nods in answer to her first question, then he pauses and considers her second question.]

Not immediately, no. But at first, they can be bribed. Food. Tools. They need supplies, just like everyone else.

We don't share a language, so we can't really negotiate with them. Yet.

That said, you can convince them you shouldn't be bothered. I've been making tools for the squirts and Gasfellas, and bringing some food with me every time I go out. I don't get hassled any more, though some squirts are starting to realize that they'll get something to eat if they see me.

[He smirks faintly.]

[Ah, that makes sense. She'll have to check Dragonfield out more thoroughly next time.]

"Yet"? Is communicationwith the Gasfellas something people here have been working on here?

[She chuckles about the Squirts though.] Hoo hoo! You've got the little things trained!

It's something I've been working on.

[Colin smiles.]

I don't believe we've gotta kill everything out there. Everything is suffering after the calamity, everything's trying to survive. But there's no reason we should make something else's life harder just to make ours easier.

[That smile twists into a grin.]

I think humans call it Pavlovian training? I show up, I usually bring food, the squirts know that I'm quick to feed them... The story writes itself.

I see! That's a very interesting way to consider it, especially when you don't necessarily have to always kill everything. I think I like that option a lot more than having no choice but to fight.

["I think humans"? Huh. That's an odd statement. Jane just puts that in the back of her mind.]

Yes, that's the word for it, Pavlovian.

People always have choices. It's just that they often can't see them.

[His grin widens just a little, he enjoys this topic very much.]

Never let anyone tell you any different.

Out there? There's a lot that's going to try and kill you. I won't say that I've never decided to kill something, but I usually try to find another way. Everything out there has to make those same choices.

My trick's just showing them that there's another choice out there, if I can.

I suppose...but in many cases, if there really is some other choice, it's definitely hard to see. Either that, or it's extremely difficult to put into practice, but that's just in my experience.

[It was either kill skeleton monsters or be killed by them. Defeat threats for resources or break down possibly necessary items. Choices aren't easy in Sburb.]

I think I could get used to the idea of proposing choices to the things out there, though. Goodness knows it's a less exhausting option.

Many people, many sentients all over, will take their first route they see. Because it's the most apparent, easiest thing they can do.

Con men, killers, and other nefarious sorts count on that, because it makes people predictable. And predictable people are easy prey.

[He shakes his head.]

You're welcome to come out with me some time, I go out pretty much daily. I can pretty much assure you you'll get to see how I interact with the squirts and Gasfellas, if you do.

...Hm. It's also good for someone with a more investigative mind to know, too.

I would love to see how it works, so I'll have to take you up on that offer sometime. Thank you very much!

Day 276 [Action, Open]

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