In The Wake Of Things

The manor house that the erstwhile guild often called 'Plant Duck' has acquired is considerably larger than the known membership. It could hold several times that from the looks of it... And it's probably because of that fact that the grounds look less than pristine. Weeds are growing, the paint is flaking off, the building itself bears the brunt of time and wear.

Nevertheless, it is a place that they have claimed, for whatever reason. Few people question the perceptiveness of Nureha. Proteus is there, waiting at the gates for the person she has invited to arrive. There's a good deal to discuss, it seems, and the Imp Archaeologist has chosen to include her in those discussions.

If anyone else from the Guild appears, it seems to be up to fate.

    The Baroness was delighted by the summons. Proteus has excellent timing. There's a lot on her mind, and now that they are rather familiar with each other, the tells of Wake's concerns might be noticed. It's mostly in the intensity of her gaze. She always makes a lot of eye contact, it's just now her eyes are slightly wider, the contact a bit longer. And so it is when arrives at the gates.

    "Proteus, thank you for the invitation! My visit is overdue, I think." She slides into her usual curtsey, and no matter her rush, that is something she preserves.

    As she rises, her eyes survey the grounds in one sweep. She makes note of weeds, need for repair, and even from the outside she can tell there's likely little inside yet. This doesn't elicit comment.

    "There's so much room here. It's an ideal place for your guild to carry out experiments without being hampered by having too many neighbors nearby, and yet you are close enough to civilization to quickly move the things you need." In short, practical.

Proteus provides a little bow in response to the Baroness' curtsey, adding a little flare of her everpresent cloak. It seems the Imp continues to indulge a little in the dramatic. That said, Proteus' eyes are still visible as they always are under that hood. Gleaming purple eyes, framed by shadow and the glint of sharp teeth. "Pardon the mess." Proteus says, simply. "We're in the middle of renovations. The place is a little big for our needs." More like a lot of big for their needs. "But it will be an investment well-earned. Practical, perhaps, but I feel like my guildhouse is a ruin I'm trying to explore sometimes. Please, come along." She chuckles to herself, and she leads Wake inside to a small parlor. The walls have some small stains, the air tinged with the faint scent of age and disuse. Still, it's at least clean. There, a table with a couple chairs has been set up, along with a Western style tea set and some small cakes. "We're still trying to find a maid to help keep the grounds. We have a butler now, though. He's quite impressive."

She sits down across, and begins pouring tea for both of them. She puts a significant amount of honey in hers, with a squeeze of lemon, and leans back to take a sip, before sighting. "And if you think the building itself is a lot to deal with, consider the caverns below the city. You were there, after all." She ponders for a moment. "So... I believe we have a lot to discuss with one another. Do you have anyplace you would like to begin? I believe I owe you some... explanations."

    The Baroness follows, taking in everything she sees and listening with care. She laughs gently at the mention of it being a ruin to explore, "Oh,, my goodness, dear. You and I both feel that way about our homes. But I hope that previous occupants didn't nearly kill you in the process."

    She settles at the table, taking her tea and tasting it, then adding a touch of honey and two squeezes of lemon. For a time, she is quiet, enjoying another drink and sorting through her thoughts.

    "I have so many directions to care for. Let's see. Progress on the Undead Army, I have an update on Castle Eas, there's an alarming chimlink message from Merek involving the system pain rules being violated, and yes, that very world-shattering visit to the underbelly of the universe. Let's start with our friend Artemis and the universe outside of maps."

Never early or late but right at the time needed. Or that would be Kauchemar's quip if anyone asked when the Nightmare Were Fang ambles in. If she caught sight of them in passing or overheard the start of the conversation is up for debate, but may lean more to the latter as having really good ears are kind of a requirement of her Classes and Profession alike. "It is a bit of a mess yet, isn't it? Thankfully they did finally get the smell of zombie bun-bun out of the foundation." Wittery aside she still pauses and bows briefly as appropriate. "Good evening Proteus, Baroness."

"Not yet." Proteus answers. "The matter of 'previous occupants' happens to be somewhat relevant. Both of us have a number of irons in the fire, as it were. I am sorry, however, that I was not present when you did your initial investigation of Eas. I would like to think I might have provided some service. Still..." She sighs. "Combat is not my strong suit."

Kauchemar arrives, and Proteus waves to the Were Fang. "Welcome, Kauchemar. Good to see you outside of battle for a change. Things have been a little... messy lately." She gestures to the table. "Feel free to join us if you like. Maybe you'll have some insights of your own to share. Considering your unique nature, I wouldn't be surprised." There is a little grin at that.

Nevertheless, she looks back to Wake. "Artemis..." She purses her lips. "There isn't much progress we can make on that. Nothing I have examined so far has any bearing on it. I was hoping to make a request of King Gilgamesh about it, but we need to have a token from the Tower to bring to him as a gift, and Plant Duck as a whole has been... little concerned with wresting such tokens from the Floor Bosses." Proteus shrugs. "So we are somewhat stalled out on that front. I don't want to just share that need willy-nilly, either. I don't entirely trust even everyone in Olympus to handle such information responsibly."

She takes another sip, then, inhaling the steam of the warm beverage for a moment, and sighing. "But that is not even the full matter. You had some glimpse about the caverns beneath Alne. However... They are quite large. Perhaps, as you might say, an entire undercity exists..." She pauses there, lowering her teacup and smiling over it. "... And it's occupied." She gestures. "That's the source of the mysterious events in the city. The food appearing out of nowhere, et cetera. At least, that is my belief. I am attempting to establish contact with one of the residents, but they are... reticent."

    Wake rises to greet Kauchemar with another of her curtseys. "It's good to see my favorite nightmare! Please, join us, Kauchemar. I'm sure I'd enjoy hearing what you are working on, as well."

    Settling back in her seat, Baroness turns all her attention back to what is, essentially, a briefing. At least in her mind. "So for now, we need to ensure we don't tip our hand, and all that was learned needs to be kept silent. Not an issue, I know no one that I'd be tempted to share it with, in any case. Not until we understand far more than we do now."

    Wake takes another drink of her tea. For a time, her eyes slip shut as she processes everything. "Do you have a specific contact you wish to make there, or are they all, as you say, reticent? Perhaps they might be seeking a particular approach that you have yet to discover. Or perhaps the issue must simply be forced. What have you tried thus far?"

Kauchemar nods and claims a seat for herself. A brow raises a bit when Proteus makes note of her 'unique nature' but doesn't ask farther. Everything comes in due time when it comes to information. "Yes, well, while we did not get all the way to the Castle we did learn plenty about the surrounding environment, so it was a fine first step. We had been expecting orcs." She pauses to claim a cup of tea for herself. "We had not been expecting orcs -of that magnitude- or numbers. That were smart enough to withdraw and close off part of the passage to try and trap us."

Another pause, this time to politely and thoughtfully sip. "I admit I have not paid too much attention to the Tower. Our interests have always laid in other venues... But if we require a trophy from a Boss to speak with the King, then mayhaps it is time to get some of our more combat capable members to tag along to the next floor."

The nightmare smirks faintly. "I have been working on ways to combine my Dark magic with my bardic abilities, for one," she answers Wake's query on what she's been working on. "As well as means to strengthen my Binder companions."

"It's one reason why I enjoy your company, Baroness. You know the value of information. Secondly, you are a member of the Sleeping Knights, a guild that is known for being.... very exclusive. Less chance of overall entanglement. Even if I fully support Olympus, one must still be careful. You naturally understand this as much as we do." Proteus nods at that, then tilts her head to get another update from the Nightmare Bard. Her lips purse. "Tch. That is quite the infestation. That's going to take some measure of work to deal with."

Proteus taps the table speculatively, considering Kauchemar's words. "Yes, I agree... in principle. Apparently the goblins on the Fifth Floor, however, have acquired some kind of sleeping powder that they are using to bedevil the explorers. We need to locate the source of it and purge it in order to make it safe enough. It's quite easy to kill or kidnap someone who is asleep, after all. Maybe you can help lead that inquiry, Kauchemar?" She asks. "I have my hands quite full at the moment with a number of other issues. That said..." She hums. "Investigating music will be useful. The power of song has always been important in this world. If you can properly weave your Abilities into your music, you might be able to achieve some... interesting effects."

Proteus then turns back to Wake. "I know of one specific contact. The inhabited areas are all sealed with specific key phrases. I have managed to decipher one of them. They are of the language of the Chaos Gates, if that piques your interest as it does mine. I very much would like to gain more samples of the language to study and translate." The Imp looks down then, rubbing her chin. "I never met the person in question. They have evaded all sight and contact and I have refused to force the issue in interest of acquiring mutual aid in the future. They stated that they were waiting for their Hero. I offered to help them find that Hero... But to get that information... Apparently it is something foretold in the 'Book of Sarla'." Proteus looks up, intently, to Wake. "You are well travelled and quite knowledgable. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"

    "I appreciate the compliment, Proteus. I rather enjoy you and your entire Guild. I love experts of many kinds. Now, The Book of Sarla," muses Wake. She doesn't answer until she's had a chance to run that through the memory banks carefully. "Unfortunately, I have not heard of it. It sounds like another thing to look for. Do you have any clue about the history of your contact? It would help if we could find a starting point to start gathering intelligence. I've already done a worldwide search, and that was for a pretty huge castle. Finding a single book that may only be important to a specific group of people is going to prove more difficult."

    Wake considers that issue at least settled. Find the book, get the meeting we're looking for. However, there are other matters she needs to discuss.

    "I think I'll turn us now to a brief update of Castle Eas. It was found in the mountains of the Fourlands Dukedom. Specifically it is on the border between the territory of Duke Corwen and Sumeragi. I have gained permission from Duke Corwen to clear it. I was ordered to hold it against Sumeragi and if I manage this, it was suggested I could marry into the Corwen family."

    She doesn't sigh, but she wants to. "That of course is not on the table, but I am already putting together a strategy to maneuver around it and gain more autonomy than I would have as part of House Corwen."

    "Interestingly, there's a weather-controlling monster there. I'm guessing an orc shaman, but we never saw it. I'd bet it's in the high tower. Mages are always in the towers." Just another mob to cut down in the end, as far as she's concerned.

    She turns her attention back to Kauchemar, "I'm curious what you find when it comes to studying music. I have a private interest, you might say. Not in the combat sense, there's something I want to get for my fiance. She would love a proper guitar." Wake shakes her head, "But honestly, there is so much on the plate right now, it's hard to give it the attention it deserves."

"As I have said before, we fully support the Alliance as a whole, but that does not mean we must share everything we do with them. And yes, that is very true Proteus. I have felt the subtle tones even within abilities that do not necessarily rely on music. Background singers that have not yet found their full voice... but even in the world we came from, music had its own way in the world. Universal language, as they say." She regards Proteus for a moment, and then smirks mischevious. "I have been told I could wake the dead, but I do not believe it was in the complimentory way I took it, heheh. Sound may be a means of countering sleep." She points a finger from around her teacup. "I shall look into that."

Kauchemar tilts her head a little at wake. "A guitar... could be possible. We have lutes and lyres, but it is not a native instrument to this era and you may have a time finding a craftsman that can learn the precision shape and materials required to get the proper sound."

As the conversation moves along she nods her head. "A shaman or other druidic type would be my guess, considering the tribal nature of most orc clans."

"I would be surprised if you had." Proteus replies. "It is not simply one book, but several objects..." A pause. "And apparently, they were created by someone named Sarla the Sage, in order to foretell the future. I think this is not so much of a worldwide search at this point." Proteus taps the table again. "In my initial inquiries, I had run into some sudden and vehement resistance from people in Ninetails and Fourland." There is a shrug. "They have prohibited me from investigating further, but does that not simply indicate that they may know something?" Proteus gestures. "You, however, are far more experienced in dealing with nobility and the ways of the rich and powerful. I am at my best in trap-filled dusty corridors with puzzles to solve. I can provide you what information I have on the matter and perhaps we can work together on it."

Proteus sets the teacup down, and folds her hands. "But I will stress that this is going to need to be something of an internal project. I have the feeling that this is going to be a major undertaking that might provide us with one or more objects of genuine power... If we are successful." Proteus lifts a hand and gestures. "Once we have the books, we can identify the person that the contact is looking for, arrange for their arrival, and perhaps that might get us the trust needed to talk to them. I, for one, have little interest in simply /waiting/ for things to happen."

The subject turns to Castle Eas, and Proteus brings a hand up and sighs, rubbing her face. "Duke Corwen and Sumeragi..." She mutters to herself. "And they want you to /marry/ into them? Do they even understand what they're asking?" She asks. "Are you even capable of producing heirs? What would even happen? What would they be like?" She grimaces for a moment, her tail ticking back and forth before she shakes her head. "If you need help outmaneuvering a Lander, let us know. Plant Duck has little tolerance for Landers attempting to yoke Adventurers to their inane schemes in such a manner. As far as the orc shaman..." Proteus shrugs. "All we'd need to do is get into the tower, correct? Maybe we can bypass the rest of the castle and enter the tower directly."

Kauchemar continues to elucidate on her experiences. "Mmm... Perhaps they are just looking for the right way to harmonize? I know that some people enjoy specific combinations, but maybe it's something more profound and subtle?" Proteus asks. "If you are in the business of trying to prevent sleep, try talking to Whiskey. She might still be trying to avoid doing so. As far as guitars are concerned... It is something we could do, had we the materials and technology. At the moment, we're still reinventing the printing press." Proteus scowls. "This is annoying. I feel like we're starting far too far on the back foot in this respect."

    "I will find myself a craftsman. And hopefully find someone who can test the results. I could tell if they are close or not, but I can't imagine guiding the process." The Baroness is no bard, that is certain. She adds softly, "Things worth doing are rarely easy, and for her I would be content to overturn the world entirely."

    She nods thoughtfully to Proteus, "If it grants power, it's important to keep it quiet. Even if it was something that you wanted to share later, too many cooks in the kitchen now could prevent all progress." Hearing that her own kingdom was against the search, Wake perks up.

    "Well, well, well. Perhaps I may be able to get some inroads there. With patience and careful maneuvering. I plan on going for a new option that may open the doors. Rather than join any clan, I will take the Castle Eas and suggest it be held for and by adventurers and stand as a buffer zone, preventing either side from making war on the other. Which of course means we can have advantages with both. The perk for the Duke Corwen is that he need not ever provide us with the resources to hold the castle while getting the full benefit that it offers. While I appreciate the offer to intercede on my behalf, I would like to keep this diplomatic. Especially if I'm to get them to open up about Sarla's work."

    Find the synergy there leads Wake to summarize, "So at this point, I will create a power base and form a buffer. Once the orcs are properly thinned, we will strike at their shaman and claim the castle. Given time to fortify it and earn trust, I will endeavour to gain access to the knowledge we seek as discretely as possible. Perhaps with something as innocent as asking for scholarly access to their libraries. Perhaps by more quiet means."

    And with that in mind, Wake presses on. "I had something concerning to share. I do not know all the details, but regardless.. I received an urgent chimlink message from Merek. He was with a party that cleared a goblin den. There was a monster there that removed the pain limitations, so they felt the full pain of every wound. Now, not knowing just how familiar the group is with pain, I take this all with healthy skepticism. The important fact is that the pain was greatly increased to the point where they felt they were being truly shot with arrows and stabbed. Have either of you ever heard of this? I thought there were hardware limitations."

Kauchemar taps a fingertip against the side of her teacup. "Mmmm. They may know something about what is possible, if they wish to keep others from investigating too far... Though I hardly doubt them saying 'no don't' will stall for long. I did get a similar response of not wanting to share more than what they deamed necessary for a quest from that missy from the Mage's Tower and their documentation on Monsters." Kauchemar briefly snorts, nostrils flaring. "Though I give them credit for knowing -to- protect the information that makes them important and desirable to others, as annoying as it may be."

Then Wake drops the bit about overriding pain limitations. That gets her brows to raise again. "That is... disconcerting, to say the least. That there was a means overriding the pain dampener and -MONSTERS- got their hands on it. Disconcerting, indeed." Followed by a shake of her head, mane flowing back and forth with the motion. "I have not.. but I have twisted ankles and wrists learning to dance, and that was painful enough! I'd rather not think about what an arrow to the knee would feel like."

Proteus sips her tea and nods along, seeming to be satisfied. "You and I both." Proteus says, smiling a little at the comment of overturning the world. "Let's hope we can both flip things in a way beneficial to us all."

She squints for a moment at the proposal. "So your plan is to simply... take the castle and then staff it yourself? Wouldn't both sides consider it an act of aggression considering it's on their borders? Wouldn't they attempt to evict you?" Proteus points out. "I mean, they more or less deserve it, but... I'm not sure if they're going to consider that diplomatic." Proteus shrugs at that. "Still, if you have an idea on how to make it work, I'm all for it. This is your specialty, not mine. I will support you however needed... And whoever from Plant Duck I can get to come along. They seem less enthusiastic about joining me on quests as of late though." Proteus shifty-eyes at that.

But then things turn towards the matter of the goblins, and she frowns intensely at the news. "Yes, there /are/ supposed to be hardware limitations. However, like all limitations, someone who has knowledge of how they work can bypass them. The source of that would have to be someone who is capable of doing such. The FullDive system that this environment uses as an interface is supposed to be using our entire brain for interaction and processing, and as such there's inevitably unexpected quirks to it. Like, say, trapping us inside the simulation, amongst other things." No Landers here to annoy by being out of character, Proteus seems pleased for the moment. "That said... The limitations of this world are something I am slowly working to find, so I can work out ways to interact with this world outside of the scope that we have been... assigned."

She side-eyes towards Kauchemar. "I would be very sad if you took an arrow to the knee. You might have to give up adventuring entirely, maybe take up a town guard position." Smirk.

    Baroness Wake smiles as she finishes her tea. "More, if you wouldn't mind," she requests as she sets down her cup.

    She directs her intense gaze to Kauchemar for a time, nodding slowly, "Apparently a monster did just that. It's a formidible weapon. No one died, so I cannot get the answer that I was most wanting to know. I was hoping someone would have recovered normally in such an event. Now, we simply do not know what it would do. I would suggest we assume that the stakes are extremely serious should one be struck down with the pain settings altered."

    "Now, as for the Castle Eas. There is some explanation due that may make it more clear. Eas has stood empty for around four hundred years. When it did stand, it was a bulwark against Sumeragi. This tells us that House Corwen simply cannot hold it. Likewise, House Sumeragi did not take it. Not in any spirit of fairness, I assure you. They cannot claim it on their own, either. No less telling, one of the key concerns was that I take it and prevent it being a spark for war. What I think both sides would like is to know that their borders are safe, and a castle held by adventurers would do just that. They are not unaware of the power we bring to bear. In the interest of keeping their powers balanced, I would argue that they would all agree to keep us out of their families."

    "As for what I need." Wake leans back and steeples her fingers, smiling. "I need to take the castle, fortify it, and make it clear that it is a powerbase that Olympus cares about. Any leaders in the Dukedom would be most unwise to challenge an alliance of immortal warriors. It would lead them to ruin."

    She takes mental notes of what Proteus is saying, then decides to take real notes. She has scrolls and ink. Call her old fashioned.

    "I have heard something of this rule breaking. One example was something I heard called an enigma shard. There appears to be other miraculous powers that may be tied to the divine."

Kauchemar nods her head. "Yes. Enigma pieces... That would make sense actually." She sets her teacup down and cups a hand thoughtfully to her chin. "We recovered a few small ones from dealing with the Goblins in the corrupted forest... That were trying to create rituals to spread the corruption under their control, most likely against the Sylph and Gnomes they so despise, like some kind of racial vendetta. But the point is, those little doodads can warp and even break the 'laws' of this world. Mayhaps there is an Engima somewhere at the root of this pain matter. That would definately count as breaking the laws, the ones that govern the pain tolerances."

She snorts softly at Proteus. "City guard? Please. If anything I'd be sitting in the tavern plying my music and entertaining the drunks." Pause. Devilish smirk. "Take the context as you wish," she adds mischeviously.

Kauchemar reclaims her cup, sipping the rest of the contents. "Essentially you want to enforce a 'neutral zone' between them to keep them from killing each other, and get them to pay us regards for doing so." Her free hand gives a wave. "Arguably less of a malarky than the whole marriage proposal."

Proteus obligingly picks up the teapot and provides another fresh cup of tea for the Baroness. "Enjoy." She says, smiling... Before that same smile vanishes. "Frankly, I'm surprised it took this long to happen. There are forces at work that are attempting to destroy all the Adventurers of this world, after all." She purses her lips. "But then, I already sent out the alert about them." She sighs and shakes her head at that, shifting in her chair uneasily, as if testing something.

But then there is the matter of Eas. Proteus measures the Baroness' response, and then she slowly nods. "I see the shape of it. All right, it looks like you have things well in hand. As I said before, I will happily help with matters, potentially with the rest of the guild as well. Your dream of taking the castle is one I can certainly empathize with. We all need a place of our own. Some dreams are grander than others. Give people something to make their own in Eas, and you could certainly have a major power base for Olympus in short order."

Then there's the matter of Enigma Shards. "Enigma..." Proteus trails off. "Each a puzzle that begs to be solved, each containing a fragment of power. I've encountered a couple of these shards... But if they are shards, would they not be part of a greater whole?" Proteus shakes her head. "I can easily understand why those who know about them want them. They are... /powerful/. Perhaps by studying the pieces they seek to gain that whole, or insights into how they function." There is a sigh. "Well, it is neither here nor there. I do not possess any of them anymore." She nods to Kauchemar at that. "Perhaps they might have something to do with it, yes. But I do not have enough evidence to point at that."

She then shrugs. "That said, Kauchemar, how you choost to entertain people is no concern of mine." Proteus says with a little smirk. "Find your own fun. Isn't that how it was always supposed to work here?" She leans back in her chair and stretches for a moment. "So much to do, so little time to do it in." She mutters, and then nods to Wake. "It's like we barely have time to be cordial with one another, hmm? How are you and your fiance doing, anyway? Anything interesting going on besides the obvious?"

    The enigma conversation is rather familiar to Wake. Much needs to be studied, and little time or tools to do so. Yet. "I know, we always get to work, and damn if I didn't think of three other things. Let me throw them out and be done with it. The Undead Army.. any progress? I'm starving for help on intel. No bites. Which is troublesome. I really don't have time to play 007 right now. Second, there are some huge Olympus projects I want to bring up. I'm sure your guild knows already. We want to work towards a steam engine and improve farming. I'm going to throw a lot of energy at the farming side of things. I'll need that shortly. The steam engine, though. It's going to need some big brains behind it. I'm not the right person, but I know Plant Hwyaden has those in great numbers. It's a huge effort with a massive payoff. So, there's the spiel."

    With that done, Wake laughs and kind of shakes off the business edge. "Now, as for me and Tae, things are going well. What time we have is always highly focused on each other. Little to no work talk there. Though she is interested in the castle bit." Wake looks from Kauchemar to Proteus.

    "I know you are both trustworthy. So here it is: I will ask her to marry me once that place is ready. She mentioned long ago that she would only marry me in a game if I had a grand castle of my own. While there are many reasons to get Castle Eas, this is my greatest motivation. Once it's clean, safe, and strong, the first official ceremony will be my wedding. At least, that's my dream."

Kauchemar laughs merrily at Proteus' response. "Yes, yes indeed! What is the point in controlling the world if we don't take time to enjoy it, hmmm? I do miss a more modern music kit, but I am constantly finding new ways for magic to pick up some of the dropped chords. Those undead are certainly something else, but whatever force compels them is more than the necromancy I am familiar with... As for steam." She sets down the empty teacup, and snaps her fingers of both hands. Bright but harmless embers spark from one, while little swirls of water and mist briefly swirl around the other. "Is what but not a precarious dance betweem fire and water? Mayhaps that is one to look into."

The nightmare muses on that for a moment, but then smirks as she points fingers at Wake. "Dibs on the musical accompianment. I bet that castle has some wicked accoustics with a little fixing up!"

With that said she rises from her seat. "As much as I appreciate the tea and the chance to simply sit and converse about matters, as we've already noted there is much work to be done. All these spread out projects and pursuals keep a Messenger very busy indeed!" A brief bow is made to the pair before she makes her way back to the main yards.

"I am trying to assemble the people who volunteeered for the Undead Army issue but I have run into some roadblocks with maintaining lines of communication." Proteus sighs, shrugging. "It will be some more time before I have anything solid for you, but when I do... You will be the first to know." There is a little clench of her hand, her demeanor clearly frustrated as she suddenly blurts, "Why do these things have to be so stupidly awkward!?" She lets the moment pass, the Imp relaxing and that little smile returning as if that edge of anger didn't even exist. "As far as the steam engine and farming... We have intentions to assist as best we are. I have a large amount of investment into several other projects. The moment I am free to act, I will be donating some effort to it."

The news about the true goal of the Baroness gets an arch of the brow. "Ah, an ulterior motive. I /see/." Proteus chuckles at that. "But it is a good goal. Yes, this is a dream that should be fulfilled. I will see your dream come to life with what power I possess." There is a little nod at that, her toothy smile widening a little. "It looks like you have your own projects in place with massive payoff, hmm?"

Kauchemar's observation gets a nod. "Maybe we can use magic in order to substitute for some of the technological challenges. You have a good point. Maybe we can find a way to harmonize those opposing forces, hmm?" There is another laugh, then. "I am sure many will be fighting for the chance to play for the wedding. It will probably be the event of the year!" The Imp waves to the Nightmare as she takes her leave. "Good evening, Kauchemar. Good luck in your travels."

After the Were Fang leaves, she looks back to Wake with an intent gaze. "So." She says, letting the word sit there. Expectantly.

    Wake rises not to curtsey or bow, but to hug Kauchemar as she leaves. Friends don't get the formal farewells, it seems. "Good luck and may your journey be safe and true, dear."

    Settling back down in her seat, Wake turns back to Proteus. "So, it seems we've covered the basics. All the work, all the frustrations and lack of progress. It reminds me of work. I kind of miss it, honestly. Granted we didn't get to talk magic in the real world."

    Wake looks off for a bit, then back to Proteus, "What really matters to you? I mean, why do you want to know all this about the world? What's the fire in you?"

There is a little smirk as Proteus watches the way the Baroness hugs the Nightmare Bard. "Cute." She murmurs. But at this point she is leaning back, relaxed in her chair as she simply let the conversation flow where it will. The prompt was a signal to Wake, one she picked up admirably. Finally, she has the opportunity to steer the conversation where she will.

And where she steers it... Causes Proteus to look down into her cup of tea, swirling it around lightly. "The glib answer... Is that knowledge is power." She shrugs for a moment. "But it's never just that simple, is it? You deserve more than that. Because you know well that power is not an end. It's a /means/."

She looks up, her eyes locking onto the Baroness' as they become intent. "Tell me, Baroness. Do you believe in fate?"

    "No," replies the Baroness. "I have always made my own path. Not just here, obviously, but in the real world. I have held positions that should have been impossible for me." She laughs softly, "When I want to amuse myself, I reflect that I'm probably the highest ranking authority who is stuck in this game. I can't imagine how crazy they are going trying to get me out."

    She lets that tease come and go. "So, what about you? What fate are you defying? You don't seem the type to enjoy riding the rails."

Proteus arches a brow at the admission from the Baroness, but doesn't question her assertion of authority. Instead, she answers the question. "The fate of my birth." Proteus gestures. "Honestly, it's nothing so grandiose. I have no medical condition, nor was my life particularly harsh. No, instead it is the fate of my environment. An environment that has decided the arc of my life for me. What I can do with my time. What schools I would go to. What I could read..." A pause. "... Who I could love."

She looks away. "And every time I thought I got away from it, something would happen. Something would take it away... Because I had no ability to resist. I had no power to stop it. That... was my fate." Her hands gesture at the area around them, then.

"But here... Do you think that I might finally be able to escape? And help others escape in turn?"

    "If you want it bad enough," says Wake. Her voice is different, more gentle. "Will isn't something you have or do not have. It's a skill like any other, Proteus. Whatever trapped you in that other world, consider this a training ground. Here, you can decide what you want to do, and there's little to hold you back. Perhaps, though, it's just enough to give you a chance to work on projecting your will."

    She watches Proteus carefully. She's very intrigued. "You know, we don't talk enough about our real lives here. It's like we are afraid of invoking those memories.. or something silly like that. Privacy isn't terribly important when it's rather likely we'll never get out of this place again."

Proteus hums, nodding at that gentle tone, the measured, understanding response. "Hah..." She sighs. "I was right. You are someone who can understand and consider the facts without rushing to judgement. Every time I tried to talk about subjects like this with others..." She shakes her head. "They would just call me villain. Especially when I pointed out the futility of attempting to escape... And what it would mean for all of us."

She sighs for a moment, closing her eyes and taking another drink of tea, then sets it aside. "Projecting my will... Yes. That's the problem, isn't it? Learning how to properly shape and project my will in this world of illusions and puzzles. Why does this place /really/ exist, I wonder? But if I don't search for the truth... If I don't learn the shape of this place, how can I possibly make any true progress?"

She glances back over to Wake, then, tilting her head. "Those memories... are important. This world is made of data, isn't it? That's not air we're breathing, after all. This tea..." She gestures at the cup. "The cup, everything else. It's data in a specific structure with attributes that inform our senses that it is warm, sweet and invigorating."

There's a little laugh, then. "I have no intentions to go back. Ever. But yes. Memories are important. They are who we are. There's something... critically important about them. When I was killed by L'Arc Sickle..." She brings her hand up to the side of her head, grimacing. "... I lost something. Something important. Something he refuses to give back... Or can't give back. Who am I, if I lose those memories? Would I still be Proteus? Or some kind of... Imp of Theseus?"

    "I'm not sure what you lost, but when it comes to what we are. What we /really/ are, it is not static. We hear, from time to time, the throw-away line, 'I am not who I used to be!' Generally from a lover who is about to be left behind by being, quite frankly, consistently disappointing. But the truth is, whatever is left of us is who we are."

    The Baroness reaches out, offering hand across the table. "I will give you this truth. If my memories are real. If I was the person I believe in the position I was in, then I would be attended by the most advanced specialists in the world, who would see my capture as a threat to national security. In case that world is real, I will try to avoid getting more specific. However, the point of the matter stands. If they haven't gotten me out yet, there's no reason to believe they ever will."

    "And with Tae here with me? With this world not surrounding us in disapproving looks and constant judgment? We're happy to stay. She's my home, and she's the only thing I need to keep going as I have."

    She sighs gently, and for the first time, lowers her guard utterly. A strange, melancholy smile curves her lips, and her eyes grow softer still. "You are still you, Proteus. One moment to the next, who that is will change. But it remains you. We have always been just as you say-data. But we ultimately do have the right-no, I should say the /obligation/-to decide what to act on and what to ignore."

The hand comes out, and Proteus looks at it for several seconds, a blue-tinged hand rising carefully, her normal pose left behind for the moment as she accepts that gesture of support. Her hand comes out, and she grasps Wake's with one hand. The other comes up and grasps the edge of that hood, pulling it back and away from her horned head, letting her hair cascade out and showing her face without that ever-concealing hood. It's...

Well, not that different, really. The newbie-level cloak never did much to hide her Impish features, but perhaps it's something of a gesture nonetheless. Once made, her other hand moves in to grasp Wake's hand from the other side. "I have no reason to doubt you. But in the end, I plan to make it a moot point. Even if they wanted to, if I can accomplish what I truly want to do, they will never take me back to that world."

She nods, then, smiling faintly. "You both truly are meant for each other, aren't you?" Proteus chuckles. "A pity you're taken, really. Still, I can only hope to be so fortunate in the future... But not yet." She pauses, then, and looks down for a moment, her eyes staring into that table. "Maybe some of what motivated us isn't so different."

She looks up again, meeting Wake's gaze, watching that smile. "You're right.... Of course you were right. It's hard... to ignore that fear though. We might be immortal, but our memories aren't. And after I've tasted that once, it's hard to..." She shudders for a moment. "If I forget who I was, how am I going to know where I need to go? You can't escape a maze if you lose your position." She clenches her eyes closed, and slowly, the shuddering begins to calm. "But... That's not really what you wanted to ask about, I think. That's something that happened to me after the fact, not before."

    Wake settles her other hand over Proteus' and looks down for a moment, laughing gently. "You know, it's funny. Tae really is meant to be mine, and I'm for her. I hope everyone can find something like what we have. But, honestly, I'm flattered. I'd say that before I met her, my ice was far too thick to attract any interest. I was the Ice Queen around the office. So much so that they pushed my transfer through a year earlier."

    "Now when you say not being sure where you are and where you might want to go. I think of it like this: we are always changing where we stand by learning new things. And in the same way, more information gives us new paths. If life is a maze, it's multi-dimensional, with whole new worlds opening for us at unexpected times."

    She admits more softly, "That being said, being afraid isn't a bad thing, provided it inspires proper caution. Memories are precious. We don't want to risk them unless there's a massive return on that investment. I would simply propose that worry can paralyze us."

"The Ice Queen, hmm?" Proteus muses. "I suppose I could see a little bit of that frost now and again. You must have been fearsome indeed. But under all of that was a warm heart. Who'd have thought, hmm?" She chuckles a little at that.

Proteus' chuckle then dies as she goes quiet. "... I'm not sure how I'm going to change in the process. I might end up having to give up a lot to get there. If there are worlds opening up... Then I am going to find a way to make one... For me. For my friends. For everyone I can. After all that happened... The least we all deserve is a little security, right?"

She looks down again, humming for a moment. "Yeah. I don't want to lose any more... But if there's no risk, there's no chance of reward. That's how the world works. It's still a game in the end. If all I do is take the safe route, we're never going to make advancements." She glances to one side. "I wonder how much is calculated and how much is foolhardiness, though..."

"There were.. reasons," Wake explains. "I turned myself into nothing but work, and there are certain kinds of work that are mentally unhealthy. I was just a bit too unhealthy. And yet here I am, relaxed, rather trusting, and not psychotically paranoid." She laughs at herself, "It's all victories since then."

    The Baroness nods quickly at Proteus's comment about change and risk. "You have to put things out there. My suggestion is to just be aware of what you are pushing into the middle of the table so you can be sure your bets are all intentional. And honestly, calculation vs. foolhardiness is all from the eyes of historians and all the others who never had to face the damn decision they are critiquing. It's always easy to make the right call when you know how what cards are coming next. Reality doesn't work that way. Not even here."

"Well, I'm glad you managed to pull yourself out of it." Proteus says, nodding. "I can't imagine what you could have gone through. You've probably had way more on your shoulders than I ever have."

At this point, the Imp Archeologist leans back again in her chair, letting go of the Baroness's hand and just letting them rest on the table. "That's... a good way of looking at things, I guess. Who dares, wins." She laughs. "Even so, it's always better to know what the other side is holding before you bet, right?" Proteus grins. "Knowledge is power. And in the end, I am going to need a lot of it. Let's just hope it all ends up worth it."

    "The means justifies the end, never the other way around, Proteus," suggests the Baroness. She sits up, gathering her usual calm about her for a moment, before very conciously forcing herself to be natural again. The cloak is so automatic now it is hard to keep it off.

    "Knowing things is something I always have been attracted to. Understand our way through a challenge always trumps battering a path."

    "You know, you should come visit us when you have a chance. Tae loves having guests, and if we're lucky she'll sing for us. It takes some convincing, but with the right motivation I can get her to perform. And she'll definitely cook a feast at the drop of a hat." The Baroness reaches up to run a hand through her hair. "This all reminds me of the things I need to do before I can go home. Tae always tells me that I can never seem to relax unless work has me nearly overwhelmed. I retired for a few months, and she had to drive me out cause I was making her crazy. I think the breaking point was when I presented to her for fifteen minutes on how to best arrange her herb garden, after spending two weeks researching the light needs of every plant. I know nothing about plants, you understand.."

"Mmm. Well, we'll just have to see what means and what ends are available." Proteus replies. "But I would love to visit you both sometime. I'm sure it would be an interesting experience." There is another low little chuckle from the Imp as she shakes her head. "You're something of a workaholic, then? I guess I can empathize. If I'm sitting around doing nothing, I start getting fidgety, like something is nagging at me that I'm wasting time." She frowns. "Maybe that's why we both have so many irons in the fire."

She sighs again, and shrugs. "Well, I guess that's just how it is for us. Still... In the end, I need to change. The question is simply going to become... What am I going to be when I get there. I didn't choose my name accidentally." She says with a return of that little smirk.

"So, is there anything else you wanted to discuss, Baroness?" Proteus asks. "Or have I sated your curiosity for the moment?"

    "I think for now, we have properly briefed each other on our efforts," Wake replies playfully. She smirks back and points out, "I think I rather enjoy sharing real things, rather than just work, though. We should do that more often. I mean, after we talk shop. Cause if I don't get that off my chest I'm pretty useless."

    Wake finishes her tea in a longer draw, setting it down with a sigh. "And this is the point where I get up and get right back to work."

    And so she does, getting up carefully smoothing her dress. Everything has to be just right. "I appreciate the invitation, and look forward to seeing you soon. Oh, and if you need help cleaning this place up, please let me know. I have contacts that might prove useful to you, and I won't be worrying about tending to the weeds of Castle Eas for a while."

"More... often..." Proteus's smile goes a little crooked at that, and she shifts uncertainly. "Well... I'll consider it." She says. It looks like she still has some reservations.

Proteus stands up and sweeps in after the Baroness, pulling her hood back up over her head. "Then I will escort you to the door like a proper host, hmm?" The Imp says. "I'll let you know if we can use some help on the renovations. I swear, we'll get them done eventually." She chuckles, as if trying to bury that time of awkwardness. "In any case, it's been a pleasure."

    Wake notices that shift, but says nothing. It's information that she'll file away to construct the path she will decide to follow in the future. Relationships are important to her.

    "I appreciate the send-off." She stops at the gate, turning to Proteus. "Be safe, be careful, and stay in touch. I don't want you to be afraid, just cautious. We have an Undead Army that we are openly at odds with, there's real danger on the line with pain and loss, and it's important to keep our heads through all of this." She punctuates her doom and gloom with a laugh. "And we'd have it no other way. Let it not be said that we aren't a little crazy!"

    She doesn't curtsey, but hugs Proteus, "Be well. Seriously, though, let me know if you need help here." She doesn't quite go all mom and say 'call me', but it's close.