Before The Storm

Proteus received the message. Of course she did. She's sitting on some rubble outside Castle Eas, staring into the distance as she idly taps the message scroll against her other hand. The direction she's staring should be fairly obvious, given the dark clouds of the Wave of Calamity formed up nearby.

She doesn't look particularly pleased.

SpritesHero shows up with a punctuality born of neuroticism, fresh off the road. Dust flecks his clothes, and the soles of his boots are caked in mud, but his manner is brisk. He approaches at a jog, halting several feet to her right and giving the horizon a displeased squint of his own. "Ma'am," he begins, leaving the word hanging.

Proteus only needs one look at Robert to be able to tell he's Scale Emblem. He has every sign of the typical progression raider type. Her mouth curls into a sharktoothed smile as the cloaked Imp observes the Spriggan. "So.... Robert. I guess you're here to help clean up the mess your allies keep making?" She asks, her tone pointed as she gestures with the scroll towards the Wave of Calamity.

SpritesHero's flash of a smile, as he turns to her, is a milder mirror of her own. "Robert Lutjens reporting," he confirms. The smile slowly fades, though, as he returns his gaze to the horizon. "I've not been briefed as to the cause, and assessment of blame is above my pay-grade. But yes, I've been dispatched to help clean up that mess regardless of who or what caused it."

"A good soldier." Proteus replies, her tone neutral on that subject. There is a pause as she stretches for a moment, then stands with a little grunt. "Do you even want to know, Robert? Do you care? Are you curious in the least as to why the de facto head of Scale Emblem has sent you halfway across the world to fight in this battle?"

"A time for questions, a time for following orders," Robert counters. Perhaps the folding of his arms over his chest is a tad protective, or perhaps the oncoming storm carries a chill with it. But then he relaxes a touch, expression wry. "If you've the time for a discussion and analysis, I'd offer up my left foot for it. I loathe being in the dark. But I also appreciate you've go a time crunch, a battle to run, and most places run on a need-to-know basis. As for why I've been dispatched, I imagine it's because relations need to be patched. We're practical folk."

"That's fair, if that's how you want to look at the world. But right now, there's no orders to be given. The Wave hasn't started yet. We still have time... A short time, to get into position. There is time for questions... And more importantly, answers." Proteus replies. "You're a person like any other. You deserve to know what you're entangled in, don't you?"

She turns away from Robert to look out over in the direction of the wave. "The darkness is useful. But the light moreso. We all need a light to find our way, to unravel the puzzles before us. And I'm happy to provide." She gestures. "That is a Wave of Calamity, as they have come to have been called. Each time a Tower Boss is killed, one of these Waves spawn. After a short time, they attack the World, attempting to wreak havoc, cause problems, damage the environment, make our lives a little more hellish. This time, it seems, those behind it are targeting our attempts to create some form of technological advancement."

She glances over to Robert, then. "As for patching relations... Now that you know this, let me ask you a question: Someone walks up to you and breaks your gear. They tell you it's for a good reason, and they're sorry. But then they come back and do it again. They tell you they're sorry again. They even help you get another piece of gear. But then they break it again next week. How long would you keep accepting 'sorry', and tell them to stop breaking your damn stuff?"

SpritesHero also apparently knows there's a time to shut his trap. He maintains his silence throughout the duration of Proteus's reply, his posture attentive. He leans forward, ever so slightly, one ear tipped in her direction, and his gaze rapidly flickers back and forth, between the horizon and Proteus. He's not particularly good at keeping his feelings under wraps; or if he is, he's not bothering to. There's a visible grimace of distaste, and his brow furrows ever deeper as she continues with her assessment of their situation. Her question, though, stops all that. He remains rock-still, considering the ground in front of him as he formulates his reply. "I suppose it would depend on whether the "good reason" really is worthwhile," he concludes at last. "I would further expect that any conclusion would at least partially hinge on whether they are taking measures to limit collateral damage as much as possible, rather than simply letting it happen."

"It's interesting," Robert adds, "that the game seems to know where technological development is occurring."

Proteus reaches out and claps the Spriggan on the shoulder, smiling. "I want you to understand that I am not blaming you personally for what is happening and that I appreciate you coming out here to help deal with the problem. This is not something I am putting on your shoulders, but the shoulders of the ones making the decisions. It's clear you're just following orders. So be it, soldier. We'll give you orders to follow."

But then she lets him go and turns back towards the Wave, folding her arms. "Are you willing to destroy this world and its people to go home, Robert?" She asks, simply.

SpritesHero straightens, then, clasping his hands behind his back. He remains where he is, half-watching her, half-watching the wave. "I follow orders when not doing so poses an unacceptable hazard," he clarifies. "And if I may be frank, I find this world to potentially be an unacceptable hazard. You reduce a complex situation in which none of us have any reason to believe we won't wake up tomorrow as pink elephants dancing in a soup bowl to a simple choice between pressing two buttons: Button 1 sends me home, and destroys everything. Button 2 traps everyone here, but lets things persist. Is this a purely hypothetical question, or do you sincerely believe those are the only two choices available? Ma'am."

"An unacceptable hazard..." Proteus repeats, humming. "That's an interesting way of looking at it. But you are right that there is a potential for the situation to degrade further. That's why many of us are trying to figure out just how this world works, so we can ensure that can't happen." Proteus folds her arms behind herself. "No, I don't think those are the only two choices. But I do know that climbing the Tower will destroy this world eventually. The Waves get worse each time a floor is cleared. It's only a matter of time until the response is too great for us to contain."

There is a sigh. "Regardless. This world is a computer, Robert. Computers follow rules. If we can understand those rules, we can figure out how to manipulate them in order to build a secure environment that allows us all to flourish. You, me, the Lander over there. Everyone. You are right that there are concerns about further degradation, but in order to assess that properly we need to know how it happened in the first place."

"Ordinarily I might agree with you," Robert answers, the first hints of weariness seeping into his tones. With a sigh he drops to a squat, fingers picking at the ground before him in either thought, irritation, or both. "I even hope that you are correct. That this world is, in fact, a computer. That it does, in fact, have rules that it abides by. That the rules are simple enough that we can, in time, uncover them rather than being subjected to layer upon layer of smoke and mirrors. That there is even a home left to return to." Pick. Pick. "It's...more ambiguity and uncertainty than I'm used to. I suppose I appreciate 'Cogito ergo sum' more now than I used to."

With an effort he straightens. "It's certainly a serious problem, but we continually get stronger too. Are you certain it's not a matter of tower-clearing outpacing our capabilities to deal with waves?" He pauses once more, brow furrowing. "Pardon my rudeness, ma'am. But do you have no desire to return home, or to help others return home?"

"We think, therefore we are. Our minds are our greatest weapon. After all, those haven't changed in this transition, have they? But our bodies? Our skills? Our abilities? They can only get greater still. What /are/ our limits here, Robert? Even now, we're faster, stronger, better than we were in the old world. There's no reason to be fearing ambiguity and uncertainty. Those are pointers that there are mysteries left unsolved."

She looks back to the Spriggan at that point. "Scale Emblem is not going to wait for us out here to level up, Robert. All of you are in quite the hurry to go back to your desk jobs. No, I have no desire to return home. Much the opposite. I want to live here forever. I want to make this a place where any of us can become everything they could hope to be."

SpritesHero actually chuckles, then, under his breath. He steps forward to join her, side by side, though he still keeps several feet worth of separation. "Ambiguity and uncertainty have consequences when actions are performed with insufficient data. I don't fear them, but I do take them into account. And at this moment, I see no reason whatsoever to believe that our strength is real, that our speed is real, or that the rules are inviolate. We had someone bleeding a week ago, you know, and I don't mean the DoT." There's a moment's worth of silence, before he continues, tones hesitant. "Me, I've already wrecked everything about my life worth getting back to. I suppose the only meaning left there, and here, is in service and duty. Getting back isn't about paperwork, ma'am, that's not fair. It's about reuniting families. It's about giving people their lives back. And maybe for some it is just something silly like feeling the real sun...again, presupposing home still exists. But home means the tower must be cleared, and the tower can't be cleared if the world ends first. May I make a suggestion, ma'am?"

Proteus is quiet as Robert talks about duty and family, her expression turning cloudy and grim. She doesn't even say a word. The Spriggan can see the tension, the curled emotion lurking there in the body language, the flex of the jaw.

But when he asks if he can make a suggestion, Proteus simply replies, "Proceed."

"Let a wave do damage," Robert suggests, then, gaze carefully filtering over her features to monitor her reaction. "Minimize casualties, but let it do real damage to something Scale Emblem needs to continue climbing. I think you'll find them far more willing to slow down and negotiate." The tension in her manner is noted, with interest and a flickering of sympathy, but unremarked upon.

"Ah, let them kill the world slowly instead of quickly." Proteus replies. "That's much more reasonable." She says, and then sighs. "What's keeping those families from being reunited /inside this world/? Why does every solution have to boil down to destroying this? And what make you think the Tower can't be cleared if the world ends? Didn't you even realize that the inside of the Tower is its own world? At this point Scale Emblem could just hole up inside Tolbana and just /never leave/ until the rest of the world is a smoking crater. They don't /need/ anything out here at this point, Robert. We have no leverage to negotiate. The only thing they want from us are ways to clear /faster/ and /better/."

"I don't know what's keeping them from being reunited, but I can guess," Robert answers, turning his gaze back towards the horizon. "Access has been cut off. And neither you, nor I, nor anyone else can do anything about that while we're in here. To the best of my knowledge, there's no indications of messages coming in or out." His arms lift once more, folding across his chest. "I'm from Divine Dragons which, as you likely know, is the logistics branch of Scale Emblem. Most people don't fully appreciate the vast quantities of resources that are required to continue climbing the tower. Slow the resources, slow the climb. Cut off the resources and tower advancement likely turns into an endless cycle of respawning. The tower may survive if the world ends, but in my estimation the climbing stops dead." His smile thins. "I could be wrong. I don't think so, though."

"And once we gain control of the World and get access to the network functions, we can begin sending our own communications. The Internet still exists, Robert. We can still send emails. We just need to get to the functions to do it. Once we find out the true situation outside the World we can take steps. Find out why no one has entered the World since then. Find out /the truth/." Proteus grimaces. "Either way... This can't be allowed to continue. Scale Emblem has to stop climbing. What's at the top of the Tower isn't what you think it is."

SpritesHero does not pivot, but one might notice that he appears to be carefully observing Proteus out of the corner of his eye. "You know these things to be true, or you hope that they are true?" he wonders at length, curious. "I don't think you can realistically stop Scale Emblem from climbing, unless you can conclusively show that your approach is more likely to yield acceptable results. I suppose you could try to use force, but I do not see that ending well for anyone involved. No, that is not a threat. And while I do not think force would be your first resort, I suppose even you have your breaking point."

"There are ways to keep them from climbing. I really don't want to have to resort to them, but it's hard to reason with people who can't let go." Proteus replies. "And I know computers, Robert. This world hasn't stopped being a computer. All I need to do is solve the puzzles put before me of their language and access, and I'll find a way to help protect and help everyone." There is a little snort, and she shrugs.

"Scale Emblem is full of zealots who won't listen to reason even if it's put in front of their faces. The only thing they care about is leaving. They don't care about what they kill along the way." She looks over to Robert. "You'd be better off focusing the power of Scale Emblem towards protecting this World from the invaders. You might see some of them soon enough. They often appear with the Waves..."

She goes quiet for a moment. "But yes. There will come a breaking point. It won't be today. It might not be tomorrow. But eventually, the world is going to rise up to stop Scale Emblem from taking everything we have away."

SpritesHero allows his shoulders to rise and fall in an elegant little shrug. "I'm just a soldier. I'm no good with puzzles," he opines, a touch playfully. "And I have to admit there's a couple things about you that have confused me immensely. Perhaps you could help me out?" His eyebrows lift, lips flickering into a brief smile before his expression darkens. "I hope that breaking point is far in the future. And I sincerely hope that your methods succeed in re-establishing contact with the outside world. You mentioned invaders?"

"As long as you keep telling yourself you're just a soldier, that's all you'll be." Proteus replies. "You have to decide for yourself what you'll allow yourself to become. Don't let other people decide that for you."

She arches a brow at Roberts. "What about me is confusing you? I'll tell you what I can... And I hope it works out too. If I can get contact with the outside world, then maybe I can solve this riddle once and for all and we can work together on something instead of at cross-purposes."

She sighs for a moment, rubbing her face, before nodding. "Yes. Invaders from another server... or world, if you will. The Church in that world is very powerful and has a prophecy that they are going to be destroyed by four Heroes from another realm. They are trying to preempt this prophecy by destroying us."

SpritesHero's grin in return is drily amused, his answer notable in what isn't responded to. "Here's what confuses me. See, it seems to me that you're completely invested in this world, into uncovering its mysteries, into the possibilities it offers that are not available back home. Seems like you've decided this is your home. Let's suppose you make contact with the outside world, and there's a way for us to get pulled out without climbing the tower. See, I've got to figure more than 9 in 10 folks want out, in some fashion. So what happens to this place once most people are out, and is that a risk you're really willing to take?"

"Your opinion is rather generous, but I'll accept it." Proteus replies. "But yes. Even were I the last person remaining in this World, I would stay. I will fight tooth and nail to preserve this world and keep my place and that of the others who would remain safe." She arches a brow, smiling. "The real question is, if I or someone else finds that leaving is impossible, would you accept it? If you find that leaving would literally require you to murder everyone in this world, Lander, Hero, and Adventurer, would you do it?"

SpritesHero's smile mirrors Proteus's once more. "Tell you what, ma'am. You show me solid evidence that returning is impossible, that...hypothetically...home no longer exists? I'll accept it. I'll leave Scale Emblem. I'll even send you a bottle of whatever in this place is most similar to whiskey." The smile fades, slowly. "Let's make it simpler. Let's say that getting someone home meant I had to murder you in such a way that your life here is over. No. I wouldn't do it."

"If that's truly your line in the sane, Roberts... I would recommend you reevaluate your membership in Scale Emblem. You might have more ethics than they allow for." She smiles to him. "Now come. We have an invasion to stop." She gestures, and steps off, heading for the encroaching clouds.

"Still just a soldier, ma'am," comes Robert's response as he follows after. "So you just tell me where you want me. And after, if there's an after, I'd be awfully grateful to see any data you have on the earlier waves. It would help to review the rate at which things are getting worse."

"We've gone from an orc attack to an Emperor Dragon and undead horde at the same time. That's quite a bit of escalation." Proteus points out. "Anyway, I'll share what I can later. Now's the time to get things done."