Anamnesis

In the wake of the victory over the Sixth Floor boss, the mood in Tolbana is jubilant. Every win pushes the Scale Emblem a little closer to their collective goal. The jovial atmosphere has been dampened somewhat, however, by the revelation that the next Wave is both too far away and happening too soon to do anything meaningful about. But that hasn't stopped many of the local raiders from booking ships in the hopes of arriving in time to win some sweet, sweet loot from the next round of dimensional invaders.

Prophylaxis, on the other hand, has been all about business. The clinic has been busy patching up adventurers who had been injured in yesterday's battle, and the doctor himself seems to be preoccupied with...

Paperwork? Yes, lots and lots of paperwork. The work never stops around Tolbana, and recent events have meant there's even more that needs to be done than usual... And so little time to do it. It continues right up until a certain someone is due to arrive for a pre-scheduled meeting.

When Uta arrives, it seems that the receptionist at the front desk was instructed to ferry her directly to the Doctor's office. There are matters that need to be discussed...!

Uta is ushered in, and, as it is usual for her, she looks confused. Possibly a bit more than usual, this time. "You wanted to see me, doctor?", she asks. She's carrying a leather bag of her own, with the appearance of the kind of leather bag physicians take with themselves when they go visit patients, and while speaking, she looks around, clearly hinting, without outright saying, that she's politely asking for a place to set it down.

"Anything to do with our recent research on combat medicine?"

"Not necessarily, though it is about research of a different kind," Prophylaxis answers. He gestures to a small end-table set up next to the door. There's a potted plant sitting on top of it, but also just enough space for someone to set a bag. There are a couple of chairs across from him as well, clearly meant for meetings much like this one. "Please, have a seat. I've sent for tea as well."

Once Uta is properly situation, the doctor leans back in his seat and steeples his hands cross the table. "Now, to cut to the chase: I've heard that you've been asking certain questions of the locals around town. I don't suppose that you'd be willing to talk to me about what exactly you've been looking for?"

Uta does, in fact, set down her bag, pull back her arms to make sure that everything is fine, she will move to take a seat where instructed.

Her reaction to the question is of mild confusion. "...I mean, it's no secret. I have been asking around the whole town. Setsuna first of all. Didn't he tell you?" She thumbs towards the outside. "I came here to check why Setsuna had called in sick twice on his first week on the job. And I come here, he's performing what must be the first interspecies transplant we know of on himself, and the whole city is..." She mimes the kind of tense, tight-lipped face the average Spriggan or Scale member would have made a few days ago, possibly with shifty eyes if appropriate. "I walk in, I question Setsuna explicitly about it, he pretty much acknowledge the situation, but pointedly gives no responses. He doesn't even say something like... 'please stay away from this subject, it's personal', or anything. No. Just a continuous change of subject." Her open palms point off to one side as she leans forward. "So, of course, I went out and asked anyone I could."

"No, they told me pretty much everything. Honestly, I expected someone to come snooping around at some point anyway, so I'm just glad that it was someone like you," Prophylaxis heaves a great, big shrug. "Though I'm not sure why Setsuna is so keen on keeping that skeleton leg. I could have grown his normal one back pretty quickly if he let me. It'd make things considerably easier on everyone involved, too. Ah well."

The door swings open. A sleepy-looking spriggan nurse- one of the workers staffing the reception desk- enters and wordlessly deposits a tea tray atop the doctor's desk. Prophylaxis gives her a thankful nod, and begins pouring a couple of cups. "So, what did they tell you? Those other people that you went and asked, I mean."

She shrugs. "Nothing much to be fair. Seriously, the people here are excellent at keeping a secret. My compliments. I took what must have been my most advanced finesse job to date to extract any information, and it barely amounted to anything!" She looks up, slightly cross-eyed, and starts counting on her fingers. "Let's see... unspecified 'creatures' attacked Tolbana, following a mysterious white haired Spriggan, Setsuna ended up losing his leg, which I knew already. I didn't know it was contextual to this. Oh, and there were various screams of pain out in the battlefield." She closes her eyes and exhales. "That's it. All second hand information. They didn't see anything of that themselves, just hearsay. They just heard the cries of pain and saw Setsuna before and afterwards. As well as the stress in the Scale people's eyes."

She frowns. "I'll never get that necromancer. Sometimes I wonder if it was a good idea to hire him..." A smile. "But then I realize how cheap he is, and give him another chance." One hand shoots to scratch the back of her head. "...besides, who am I to judge people for being weird?"

She begins to fidget with her fingers while her look turns to one of concern. "...is Tolbana going to be fine?"

Prophylaxis nods. That's about as much as he figured-- he'll have to give those Spriggans something nice for keeping so mum about everything that happened. To be so uniformly tight-lipped is a truly admirable trait. But now he has to deal with... This.

"I like to think so. We're preparing for the worst just in case, but if we need to, we will rebuild." He shrugs again, taking a long sip of his piping, hot tea. He thinks for a moment, then says: "How about this. I know you're a type to snoop around in places. So why don't we do an exchange? You tell me something interesting," like, for example, about that strange language that make up all the songs the Landers love to sing. "And I'll tell you about how Setsuna really lost his leg."

Uta downright *bolts* up to stand at the latest announcement. "...REBUILD?! IS IT THAT BAD?!" Ok, Prophylaxis might have given away something Uta didn't know. Her hands are trembling slightly, as are her knees. "...I... I..." She begins pacing around the room. "...I don't really snoop around /places/...", she says. She sounds sincere. "...Tolbana is... kind of special to me. I care about it."

Something seems to go on in her brain, something strange. She goes silent, stares, eyes lost in the distance, and for a moment she seems catatonic. Uta has BSOD'd.

"Oh, right! Interesting things!", she exclaims, punching her palm. "Yes, I found out something you might be interested in! Can you call Setsuna here for a moment?"

"I mean, you were kind of snooping around Tolbana, that's still snooping around places," Prophylaxis deadpans as Uta begins pacing like... like the world is ending all around her!? Oh no!!?? "Relax, I didn't mean like, 'rebuild the whole place.' It's just that we don't know what else might be coming down the pipe, so we're reinforcing the defenses. If any get damaged, then we'll rebuild them. Easy as that."

And also maybe structures inside town. Maybe.

Uta requests Setsuna's presence. Prophylaxis shrugs and taps the empty air, a gesture which almost certainly implies 'opening the chimlink.' "I've asked him to make his way to my office. He /should/ still be in the area, I think...?"

    Setsuna had indeed been in the area, he had been in the area mapping out where to put holes on the outskirt of town. So when he got the call it wasn't that much of a deal to make his way over. Moments later , the necromancer would walk through the doors, "Look Doc, I told you I can't just stay here under clinic arrest until I agree with you about... Oh hi Uta." It took a moment but he realizes Uta is there and now he has no idea why he was called.

"Hi, Setsuna!", Exclaims Uta. She gestures towards her medical bag, sitting on a small table with a plant at the entrance. Setsuna might recognise it from the other day. "For your information, there's a slime in there. Ahem."

She turns to Prophylaxis, barely able to contain her excitement, "You wanted to see something cool? Watch this!"

Uta clears her throat, closes her eyes, clasps her hands together, and begins to intone a melody.

Just a melody, no harmony, and probably to the Doctor's disappointment, no lyrics. A simple vowel, something which could be an 'oh', or an 'ah', or something in-between, or changing between the two.

Vaguely unsettling, rich in portamentos, with a compeling rhythm and a distinct staccato. But what happens next might make up for the lack of lyrics...

    The first medical sign of something being different with Setsuna is the distant look in his eye as if he isn't really there any more. Then as if it was just the thing to do Setsuna moves to th ebag and takes the slime out of the bag. Looking at for a moment before begining to handle the slime with a one track mind. Eventually Setsuna is directing the Slime to come with him for a walk and before you know it the two have disappered. The other interesting bit is that as he leaves , it is quite obvious he is humming along.

Prophylaxis just... stares. Not just at the fact that Uta seems to have found a song out of nowhere, but also that it seems to have just straight up brainwashed Setsuna into doing... Things. Taking a slime out for a walk?? "...Was that... The Earth Song?" Prophylaxis asks, sipping meaningfully from his tea cup. "Where did you find it? Where did you learn how to /sing/ it? Did you just... Did you learn how to speak that language?"

The only other time he'd seen a Song used in that particular way--

Well. It was under some very dire circumstances. Ones he'd really not like to repeat any time soon. But that doesn't change the fact that Uta found something the doctor seems to consider /incredible./

Uta nods, her attempt at a professional poker face about as successful as a tail-wagging puppy would be. "That was, indeed, The Earth Song! I see you have been researching Strange Moods yourself, Doctor." She taps her fingers and looks up and away. "Oh, uh... let's just say that I did quite some research, and a little bird sang it to me." For the next part, she returns to be her confused self. "I practiced a lot. I'm a Bard, you know, so the system granted me the ability to sing." Finally, she goes back to sitting into the chair. "...I...I've never tackled the /language/ to be fair. I've only found the music to this one. Music, I'm skilled at. Languages..." She concentrates. "Picked up a few of them before the Apocalypse, but I am not sure if this avatar still can. Maybe I completely suck at it. I'd have... I'd have to try, I guess..." She looks up and taps her lips.

Uta says, probably to Prophylaxis but mostly thinking to herself, "...I was mostly interested about the music, never really considered the lyrics angle that much..."

It /is/ the Earth Song. But that implies that... "...Could it be that this is how Strange Moods are compelled? If there is a force in the world that is somehow using the relevent Song to cause those who are resonant to act in accordance to particular directives, then..." Then is there something out there that is... Somehow benefitting from observing humans acting in certain ways? Is this just another one of those things that suggests that the System is not nearly as innocent as it seems?

Prophylaxis shakes his head. "...I've heard the lyrics... 'spoken' before. It sounded almost like someone was reciting... code. Like, computer code. And if so, then those vowel sounds you were making... Could they have been the same, too? I wish there was somewhere I could actually find the lyrics /written down./"

Well, it was definitely something 'interesting', so that... certainly qualifies for Prophylaxis' needs. "I'm going to have to do some more digging, I see. The more I learn about this world, the more questions I have. But I suspect that may have been intentional."

He shakes his head. "Well, you fulfilled your end of the bargain. So let me explain. Those beasts we encountered..." Prophylaxis gestures out the nearby window. Towards the not-so-distant walls of Tolbana. "...Whatever it was about them, they could inflict real injuries with their fangs and claws. Not just 'damage' as far as the system allows-- One of them managed to bite off Setsuna's leg. I had to staunch the bleeding before he went into shock. But whatever the case, that should not be possible. You've read my book, you know that there is a 'force' that prevents us from accessing internal organs. These monsters cut right through it and exposed the deep tissue beneath. Nobody died, thank heavens, but I don't want to know what might have happened if they /did./"

He sighs, steepling his fingers. "...The only other person I've told is Proteus. Please keep this to yourself as best as possible. We do intend to fight the monsters that escaped again-- and to try and figure out how to defeat them so that they cannot threaten Adventurers further. Hence why we're reinforcing Tolbana's defenses."

Uta will point out at the appropriate point (whatever that is) that her vowels had no rhyme and reason. It's simply that she did not know the lyrics at all, and simply made random vowel sounds that 'sounded nice'. Kind of like humming, but with 'ah' or 'oh' instead of 'mmmm'.

Uta goes dead, dead serious at the revelations of Prophylaxis. Some sort of shock, but shock kept unusually well under control for her. It takes some lip-biting, but it works surprisingly well. She sits down, she lowers her head, clasps her hands together, steeples her index fingers, and touches the tip of her nose with those. "...That is another thing I wanted to discuss with you. First of all, don't worry. I can keep a secret. And I care about this one."

Silence. "Second: I've read your book, yes. Love it. I practice to learn those medical techniques daily. Aaaand I've even started formulating a few crack theories about that barrier which... uh... seem oddly relevant to this most unexpected turn of events." She snaps to attention, her normally lost eyes suddenly piercing and intense and burning with an unusual spark. "...did your HP bars persist? Could you still access your menus? Use chimlinks to communicate within the party?" She gets up, and starts pacing around.

Details! Lyrics are lyrics. But that does imply that even making noises /without/ those lyrics, so long as there's... intent? Emotion? Behind the song-- that even this is enough to give them power.

What does that mean, though? The world responds to such things, even without needing the right 'code?'

Well. That's something to consider for later. Prophylaxis pours himself a second cup of tea, while Uta still hasn't even touched her first. This may be for the best, as a caffienated Uta may not be good for anyone anywhere. "I have a few thoughts of my own, regarding that 'barrier' inside us, but please, you go first." She brought it up, after all! So it's only right for her to go first!!

"...Yes, to all of those questions. Except maybe about the HP bars-- I'm not certain exactly what you mean by 'persist.' They were still around, certainly, but yes, we could still chim and access our menus. It was as if the monsters were not actually 'monsters' as far as the world was concerned. We were not properly engaged in 'combat' so to speak."

Uta paces around the room, until she finds a window to dramatically look out from.

Failing that, she'll settle for staring at a plant. But she somehow turns her back to Prophylaxis.

"Oh, 'persist' as in... did the HP bars disappear. I was expecting them to. Seems like my crack theory was off then." Distractedly, she adds, "...did you inspect those creatures? Any special or strange symbols?"

She looks over her shoulder to the Doctor. "Anyway, I was wondering if what we call HP is actually some sort of... battery meter for the red barrier. While we have battery notches, it works, when battery reaches zero... the toy stops working and..." She shakes her head. "No, no, not /stops working/. More like... it goes into /fuel reserve/ mode."

She resumes her pacing again. "As sad as it is... Doctor, you know that in the kind of dire circumstances we find ourselves in, we occasionally lose a patient." She stops, and turns to face Prophylaxis. "...did you ever notice if, in this kind of case, it /this barrier/ that shatters into polygons? I am lucky enough not to have lost a patient since I've read about the barrier, but since you have both been involved in combat more than me, and been resarching the barrier for longer..."

T-there are all kinds of strange and interesting things to look at in here. Why a plant? There's an anatomical chart on the wall! There's a collection of interesting rocks in the corner! There's even a little box that currently does not contain a bunbun, but almost certainly belongs to one.

"Ah, no. The HP bars depleted rapidly once the bleeding started, and stopped once the bleeding stopped," Prophylaxis shakes his head. "And no, I tried to inspect them, but I couldn't even see their names. The text was all garbled and corrupted, and basically unreadable." These things... don't help much! Alas! RIP theory, it was probably a very good theory.

Prophylaxis looks thoughtful, then. He sips slowly at his tea and nods along as Uta explains her idea. "I've been thinking that the barrier may in fact be limited as well. It seemed to rush out from somewhere inside the victim when they were injured, but only after I managed to stop the worst of the bleeding. As far as losing a patient under these particular circumstances go..."

He gives her a serious, absolutely dead-humorless look. "I have not lost a patient under these specific conditions yet, and do not intend to allow such a death to occur. Unless you mean deaths under more 'mundane' circumstances."

"Oh goodness! Normal, normal circumstances!", Uta hurries to explain. "Goddesses forbid, I seriously /do/ hope we never figure out what dying under..." hesitation. "/unusual/ circumstances is like." She scratches her head, and walks around. "Still, at least the part where I suspected it would /rush out/ was right. Perhaps that's some sort of healing mechanism. Nanomachines? Lasers?" She sighs. "I never thought I'd say this, but I might be starting to regret studying literature instead of some kind of science..."

She shakes her head. "No. No. Focus on the present." More pacing. "Do we know what caused this strange disabling of the barrier?"

The doctor shakes his head again. "Unfortunately not. I'm not sure if it was disabled totally, or just locally. However, it did not seem to be damaged by any of their other attacks. That is, it seemed to be torn away by their claws and fangs. They breathed fire on us too, and that only seemed to do the usual thing. So as long as their physical attacks are avoided, there /shouldn't/ be an issue, but of course it's best to avoid injury just in general." He taps his chin, then. "I don't think it's a healing mechanism. More like a protective one. The only other time I can recall the mechanism failing was when I was poisoned by some goblins."

"Wait, this isn't the first time that it happens?!"

The surprises keep coming.

She sighs and rubs her eyes. "This world is getting more and more confusing each passing day..." She shakes her head, and sighs. "I suppose we should take a break to reflect on what we've learnt. I think... both of us have learnt a lot. Let the dust settle." She stands up, and walks around the room again, mumbling "I hate goblins..." At least, this time she stops to look at the books. "...In any case Doctor... just like you said, some things are best kept secret." She turns to give him a knowling look. "Please don't tell anyone about this song yet. Not /yet/. I have disclosed it to you because of its medical relevance, but... this is big stuff. Not to be taken lightly. I still don't know how exactly how known this song is (except not very), or what this song could do if it were to fall into the wrong hands."

She turns to Prophylaxis again. This time with a smile. "I do enjoy our little chats, though. I like being involved in things. And it's nice to speak with a trusted fellow seeker of truth." She goes back to the entrance, to make sure she closes her medical bag properly. "I would love it if you invited me over again and shared more insight about what's going on in the world. I might possibly have more cool things to share!"

"There is one more thing," Prophylaxis says, calling after Uta as she goes to leave. "And again, this is one of those things that I think I can trust you with. And because I'm sure, given the circumstances, that you'll find it sooner rather than later anyway. When Setsuna was bleeding out, before I closed his wounds, he was under a status effect I'd never seen before. I don't know what it means, but I want you to keep an eye out and let me know if you find anything. The affliction was called 'Cosmosphere At Risk.' From what I can tell, it might have something to do with... the stuff of the soul. Maybe." He shakes his head slowly. "I don't want to cause a panic with any of this. So please, until we know more, this stays between us."

"I agree, though. Let's..." Prophylaxis sighs and leans back into his seat. He looks up with a tired smile, "Let's leave it at that for now. I'll speak with you again soon, I'm sure."

Uta frowns. "...Cosmosphere... no, never heard such a term. But thanks for the heads up. I'll keep it in mind." She gives the Doctor a nod. "It's the kind of thing that is useful to know." She taps her chin. "Cosmosphere at risk...", she trails off, thinking to herself, as she walks out, distractedly closing the door behind herself.

And re-opening it shortly after. "Oh, one last thing. Since you trusted me with one extra cool bit, I'll trust you with one extra cool bit." Serious look. "Apparently, adventurers' players knew that song as 'song 41' before the Apocalypse. But it's actually the Second Song. The Second Song that was sung." And that said, she closes her door behind herself, and disappears