♞ 001

[doggedness]

[Roberto will tell you what he does not remember doing: changing clothes, going into a Gateway to another world, somehow obtaining new clothes and a weapon? And the device in one hand blinking a cheerful touch me up at him is not helping improve his mood any.

He’s tried circling around the Chaos Gate for some time now, staring at it, thinking that it somewhat resembles a Gateway but. He’s already tried walking closer, into it, and nothing’s happened. Does he have to find a Wanderer in this world or something? (It does not even occur to him to use the relic, of course. He is suspicious.) His eyebrows are furrowed with deep displeasure and there’s a scowl fixed on his face.

He shoves the relic in a pocket and goes about exiting the building wherein the Chaos Gate is contained. He stares at the city and the landscape before him, frowns some more, and heads toward the bridge. Either way, whether it be just outside the building, the bridge, or in the square of Mac Anu itself, you may find yourself victim to a jarring]

Hey, you! [because what are manners when you have questions.]

Comments

[splinterself]

I haven't been here a long time, but there might be one hidden somewhere. Damned if I know where. One of the fields, maybe. [And here he made an annoyed noise, clearly as unsatisfied with the answer as the other guy likely would be.]

I'm Dirk. [Since referring to each other as 'you' and 'hey' seemed awkward. What's so bad about using names? Exactly.]

[doggedness]

Fields? [Roberto glances around with lifted eyebrows, then back to Dirk.] What fields?

[He does (after a paaause) give his own name):] ...Roberto.

[splinterself]

[Wow. He did the exact same damn thing as Roberto, except he wasn't quite as blunt in his interrogation. Alright. Why not. He wasn't getting anywhere messing with his relic anyway. Tour guide it is.]

They're like dungeons in a video game, assuming you know what the hell I'm talking about, and if you don't nevermind. Places where monsters spawn: you kill them, level up, get stronger. [He nods his head in the vague direction of the Chaos Gate, indicating that maybe they should walk and talk. Momentum is salivation.] This place apparently doesn't appreciate pre-existing abilities.

[doggedness]

[The word 'video game' goes right over Roberto's head ('dungeons' is more familiar but) but the bit with the monsters sort of makes sense. Fight more, get stronger, that's a normal thing with everyone, he thinks as he sets one hand on his hip, wanting to grumble but not.]

And is the way to them through there? [His eyes are trained on the Chaos Gate. He's certainly feeling weaker than usual, and it's frustrating]

[splinterself]

Yeah. You got your Relic? [Holds up his own in case Roberto's going WTF is this shit.]

[doggedness]

I've got it. [He extracts it with a frown, as though the device has personally offended him in some way.]

[splinterself]

[And unless there's any objections they are going to (without Roberto's permission, but with your own) swap member addresses right now with a beep.

Are there any objections?]

[doggedness]

[Roberto startles slightly at the beep, staring at the Relic incredulously.] What was that?

[splinterself]

Just getting your member address. [Pauses in his Relicing to ask,] You don't have anything like a cell phone where you come from, do you? Or electronic devices in general. [The latter added as a bit of an afterthought, you know, in case he went, "I have no phones but I have fonetic remote communication units!"]

[doggedness]

...No. I've never even heard those words before. [Roberto wrinkles his nose.]

[splinterself]

Alright, I didn't want to assume. I'm going to pretend like you don't know anything and start from the top, and if you do? My bad. This, [And he quickly glances at the Relic to see if there's a last name he can use, but...no.] Roberto, is called a Relic. It's a primitive piece of shit device which is the only way to get in and out of this city to the best of my knowledge. It also controls your inventory so unless you're the kind of guy who puts his things in his pocket you'll be using this a lot. [And he shoots of a party invite.]

[doggedness]

[Roberto makes a low huhhh and his eyebrows shoot up as he looks down at the invitation on the screen.] What's this?

[splinterself]

Party invite. I can't show you how the gate works unless you join up. Say yes, dude.

[doggedness]

Fine, fine. [Well all right here we go, then.]

[splinterself]

Alright. [Cycles through a series of utterly unremarkable dungeons until he gets to something that's level jack shit just so they don't walk in three steps and get slaughtered by Doombreath Deathbringer or whatever, since no matter if they ultimately go cave spelunking or they just head in to see a dungeon, head back out, and go do other things, it pays to be smart about these things.] Dungeons...or fields, as I guess they're called here, hell if I know why...are accessed by making a combo of three words on your Relic. Like this. [Shows Roberto the Relic. It's some utterly unremarkable level 1 cave dungeon deal. It can be assumed that unless 1) a question is asked by Roberto or he otherwise interrupts the process 2) he screams "No! No! Fuck that! No!" they'll be heading in.]

[doggedness]

[Roberto looks at the Relic, eyebrows raised. He seems to be quiet enough listening, and grumpy but secretly kind of interested in looking at one of these fields. Plus, if he's stuck here, he may as well learn to use it.]

[splinterself]

[Cool. He presses a button and bam, they're now in a cave. It's pretty typical as caves go. Not too long ago he had been here with Faris and Jake.]

So this is a dungeon. I know, stating the obvious. Not all of them look like this. You got all terrain types: meadows, caves, forests, whatever.

[doggedness]

What the-- [It's a bit more jarring than transportation through the Gateways, so he narrows his eyes as he glances around. His hand moves instinctively to where his black blade would normally be.]

And, just how big is it here?

[splinterself]

No damn clue. It varies.

[And here is a...tone. It's a quiet tone, one which is subtle, which bespeaks of having discovered how fucking huge these places can get firsthand.]