Clues

(A few days before The Distant Voyage)

The markets of Dun Loireag were always a busy place, being the main venue for the Ninetails Dominion's various trade enterprises. But the last few days a lot of that has centered around the activity from various New World Alliance members, gathering supplies and interested help for their great expedition to where 'the quaratine was lifted'.

If someone was looking to meet up with a certain wolfen Cait Sith this would be the place to do so. True to her nature Shiruba was helping keep the logistical work organized and moving along, being more the type of Guildmaster to get her own hands into the mix rather than give orders from off to the sides.

Besides, she also had to make sure she had plenty of mapmaking supplies. Both for the expedition, and helping teach another in the art of cartography.

It is likely, judging by his freshly-washed, non-stinky-tag state, that Robert timed his arrival for the day before. Which isn't to say that he's prettied himself up to any great extent. He's still dressed for business--adventurer's business, that is--he's just mercifully clean after a jaunt across Yamato.

Pinning down Shiruba was not particularly difficult. But it did require a few greased palms, which is likely the rationale behind Robert's companion: a tiny urchin of questionable morals, with a brilliant grin that is missing more than a few teeth. The excitable young fellow gestures, a bit too enthusiastically, towards where Shiruba is working. It's a wonder he doesn't knock over someone's pottery, and there are more than a few close calls. But he's sent off, to the tune of a couple coin-clinks, and Robert approaches.

"Shiruba?" he inquires, once he observes the closest thing to a gap in her interactions. "It's Robert." His hand twitches upwards, before the gesture is forced into a standard bow of greeting.

A lupine ear twitchs at hearing her name, but it takes a moment for Shiruba to finish paying the merchant she was dealing with before she finally turns around upon seeing the young man introduce himself returns the bow. "Oh, hello Robert! I was expecting to see you later, not that you'd come into the markets looking for me." Her tail gives a brief wag though, so it's fairly clear it's not bothering her any that he did so. She does give her head a thoughtful cant though. "Granted, I've been a bit busy to be around the inn room much, so you probably didn't want to have to wait for however long. Can't blame you."

SpritesHero's gaze flickers over the marketplace, taking in what is now apparently an excess of activity. The scrutiny lasts little more than a second, and his attentions return to Shiruba with a faint twitch of a smile. "No, it is I who should apologize," he counters, hands lifting in a gesture of mock-surrender. "I'd misremembered our meeting as being over lunch. I also did not message in the last day or so to confirm, which I ought to have. I can wait, if you prefer? Or we can discuss between..." He trails off, indicating the logistics she is currently guiding. "Long trip?"

At the mention of lunch Shiruba glances up at the sky, gauging time off the sun's position and the casting of shadows from the buildings around them. "Oh my, has that much of the day gone by already." She aaahs and rubs the back of her head with one hand. "I'm sorry, I seem to have lost track of time as well." Then she makes a gesture down the path. "Shall we then? I mean, most of Ninetales knows about that matter, but it would be best to not upset the masse public by talking about it too much in the open."

Followed by a nod as she starts to walk. "We are preparing an expedition to investigate the so-called lifted quarintine that happened on New Years. We don't know how far we will travel or how long we'll be gone... So it'll be good to have other people that know what's going on here in case something happens while some of us are gone."

"I always did wonder how people used to do that," Robert reflects, falling in beside Shiruba. "Sail off into the unknown, I mean. To leave everything behind and venture out to who-knows-where. Especially if one thinks there's a high chance of falling off the edge of the world. Or being eaten by a sea monster. It must have required supreme conviction, or courage."

An eyebrow cocks upwards. "Luckily -we- respawn, so the risk is perhaps not quite as high. Nonetheless, I wish you the best of luck on your voyage. It will bring great changes when it succeeds."

He falls silent for a breath, re-orienting on the other matter at hand, while keeping things suitably vague until there is a sufficient level of privacy. "I've got a number of scraps of information, but it's not clear how they fit together. Or rather, I was hoping to make sure I'm not mis-connecting those fragments."

"Usually both," Shiruba replies, her tail wagging again. Despite being the guildmaster of her Alliance's main combat arm they were also explorers, and she was definitely one at heart. So talking about it got her in a good mood easily. "Some people want to know what is unknown. Others enjoy going places that others haven't. Facing challenges that are new and unusual." She mms softly. "And it's something that many of us could not do in the 'old' world. Not to the extent of the great explorers of old."

"But I'm getting off track." Shiruba turns a corner to another street, one a little less crowded. "There's a place more out of the way down here we can get some food and less eavesdropping."

To the surprise of no one that knows her Shiruba already knows all the best food places in the city.

SpritesHero is positively grinning at this point. "Hole-in-the-wall places are the best places," he intones with supreme confidence. "There used to be this fantastic Mexican place just around the corner, near work. Never too greasy, and the pork was always the juiciest ever." A pause. A flicker in his expression of something not-so-pleasant, but it is erased quickly enough.

"Do you suppose it impacts people in general? Whether there is a tangible great unknown to push out into, and a means to do it? Space doesn't really have that mechanism. And I'm not sure that the general unknown--science or philosophy, for example--has quite the same oomph to it."

"That's probably part of it. In the modern world we left, there is no such thing as 'out of touch' or 'out of sight' any more. The only places left truly unexplored are those where the common adventureous spirit can't go."

Shiruba leads the way into a small resturant. It's nice, but it's clearly intended more for laborers and wandering traders than the high society merchants. Meals that are simple but large and filling.

She finds a open spot in a farther corner and takes a seat, tail curling around the base of the chair. "I do appreciate you wanting to talk, Robert. People not communicating with each other is what caused much of the initial issues dealing with the Forgotten problems."

"Initial issues?" There's a momentary sharpness to Robert's gaze and his movements arrest, chair pulled half-way out. At length he resumes his motions, pulling the chair out the rest of the way and settling into it with the comfort of one who vastly prefers not being in fancy restaurants anyhow.

"And I appreciate your being willing to take time out of your schedule in order to meet, Shiruba," he continues, spreading his hands on the table in front of him. "What would you recommend? And I'd been thinking to start with the origin story of the Forgotten, but perhaps you might suggest a better starting point?"

Shiruba orders some food, then turns her attention back to Robert with her ears perked. "You've learned something of their actual origins?.. I mean," she gestures vagely with her hands as she composes thoughts. "We know about the corruption and the curses used to make them, but we don't know much about the sources of it all, other than it is a power the Queen has supposedly gotten from somewhere else."

A pause. Then a face. "And the sword. The damned cursed sword... Thank the Goddesses Merek finally destroyed that thing."

"Nothing more than you, most likely," he reflects, apologetically, placing his own order after Shiruba places hers'. "Just the standard. A kingdom beset by war, a princess sacrificed to save another. The whole kingdom turns undead, from royalty to the local baker, and someone appears to be meddling at multiple points behind the scenes. What I -don't- know--well, to start with at least--is how the historical key figures link with the current figures. Is Helena the original Queen? Is the dead King the original King? Is today's meddler the same as the one from before? Was the cursed sword the cause of the transition?"

A few words in and Robert keenly has Shiruba's attention. "Wait, wait, back up a bit first. 'A princess sacrificed to save another'? Elaborate on that, please?" She sits herself back down after the momentary outburst of curious excitement. "That is something new to me. I can fill in some of those other gaps though."

SpritesHero's head cants to the side, brow furrowing in momentary confusion. "My understanding," he states, slowly, as though beginning to doubt his own memory, "is that the Princess fell ill. And that as part of the deal to make her well again, the Queen had to sacrifice her newborn child." Pause. "Well, that's if you believe Nightshade's folks, anyhow. I suppose he could be lying. Regardless, one might wonder why he's putting that information out at all."

Shiruba abruptly slams her palms down on the table. "I KNEW IT." The outburst gets a few surprised look from patrons, but most Landers are accustomed to Adventurers being a little odd and write it off as nothing more, returning to their meals. "I've had a theory that the Queen and the Princess are not blood relatives." She sits back down, leaning back a little and looking thoughtfully upward. "... Though my reasoning was different. I thought it was merely a means of holding her claim to the kingdom via surrogate child... but it would seem I was wrong?" She exhales softly. "But that concern.. she loved her adopted daughter as much as the King cared for his people... and such desires are what was used to corrupt the entire land... How terrible."

Ponytail sways as she shakes her head. "Embellishment? Probably... but I don't see it being false. I've been to the ruins of the kingdom castle, briefly. Via a portal that no longer works. But we saw the corrupted king, before we destroyed him and tool the sword away from that land. There is no reason to not believe these are the same Royalty, having been isolated away until now. Part of the kingdom is now flooded coastline, cutting them off from the mainland until the resurgance."

Shiruba ruminates a bit. "It's possible, that being cursed to serve the Forgotten does not mean they are... entirely willing. There is some contention amongst the Generals, mostly over how far is too far and what's not efficient military action, but still." A shrub. "Besdies, that's how fables work. You tell of a situation so dire or so rediculously dumb, so other people don't make the same mistake."

SpritesHero startles, stiffening, knuckles whitening under a sudden pressure. It's a few moments before he remembers to breathe, eyes half-lidding as he settles back in his chair. "I don't think it was love," he states at last, with a sharp exhalation. "It's not...I mean." A pause. A frown. "It doesn't feel right, does it. It at least -should- go against every maternal instinct I can think of. And if it isn't love, then what is it? Well, again if you believe Nightshade's folks, the populace was furious. Furious from war. Furious from the Princess coincidentally falling ill just as a new child was about to be born. And that even the King began to doubt his new wife's motives. In which case it's less a case of love, and more a case of a mother willing to murder her own child for her political survival. But again, one might wonder how Nightshade's folks know any of this at all, if they were really just a Carnival troupe."

"It is not impossible that she did not know that would be the ultimate price, but that is a detail we don't have from the information known." Shiruba sighs as she calms back down. "It's possible that is not what she intended, and the loss she suffered to save the Princess... is part of her madness. This is now the only daughter she has, even in this state of nonliving. Even if it started as compassion, it's twisted into something else."

Shiruba rests her elbow on the tabletop, cusping thumb and finger to her chin thinking pose style. "The Queens power, saving the life of one Princess at the sacrifice of another not yet born... The King, corrupted and twisted by the very sword he was given to protect his kingdom and people with..." She turns her gaze back to Robert, now solemn. "We've seen inklings of there being another power behind the Queen's... and they seem to work in the 'I give you what you want, but I take away and twist something else improtant to you' manner."
It's usual for Elder Tale, every time there's some answers, they lead to more questions. "I wouldn't call the Nightshades entirely trustworthy... But this gives me the impression of 'We're boned, don't screw up and end up condemned like we are'."

"I suppose we'll just have to ask her if we see her," Robert jokes, if a bit darkly. He leans back in his chair, amusement filtering over his features. "I find it fascinating that you seem intent on finding the most optimistic, even romantic interpretation of events," he continues. "It speaks well of your character." If there's a conclusion or implication to that, he doesn't say it, instead pursing his lips.

"So Helena is the old Queen. And the recovered Princess is..." he prompts. "Regarding the power behind the Queen, it's been described as a man wearing a suit and shades, with a scorpion tail. Can't say for certain, but it's a dead-ringer for a fellow by the name of Demiurge, according to Prophylaxis. Don't suppose that name rings a bell for you?"

"Not directly... but it would not at all surprise me if the one behind all this is one of the intruders from another world." Shiruba scowls solemnly again. "And are again here trying to use the Forgotten as a means to farther hinder the Adventurers of this world. Why else give them a monster with the power to actually turn an Adventurer under certain conditions into Undead? Than to take that bit more power away from us."

Food is delivered... but for once, Shiruba doesn't dive directly into eating. That's how serious the conversation is.

"The Generals seem to know of him, but not directly interact with him. So he probably keeps himself to the Queen's console to avoid too much... attention." She pauses, then huffs as her ears lay back. "And the otherworlders have a knack for finding ways to break the Laws of Alba... Which would explain why the Forgotten are more powerful and dangerous than your standard Undead monsters. Why the stronger ones like the Generals still have some aspect of individuality..." Shiruba finally does pick up her utensils though. "Do you know if Setsuna has made any progress in his plan to reclaim a fort on the frontier near the Undead holdings? I haven't heard much from him lately."

"Whether it's a match or not, I do expect a fellow in a suit and shades is likely from another world," Robert agrees. Though he does not ignore his food, he's not actually eating it. He's poking at it, pensively, neurotically. The poor food.

"Too much interference from too many outside sources," he continues. "Even just on the undead front, we've got another one--someone by the name of Ainz Ooal Gown. Think we recovered bits of him from that wave with the liches. Found more bits of him on the tower's ninth floor, which was radically different from the pre-Apocalypse floor in that it has turned into an undead-infested wasteland."

"As for Setsuna." Ha, nice link. "He's been hinting something about peko knights needing help to deal with an undead fort. Which may be genuine advice, or a subtle hint. I'll likely take a look at it once things slow down a bit, but I'm currently trying to track the Carnival's movements. It's....not easy. They seem to spend very little time in any given place. Not surprising, given that they seem to be harvesting individuals. There's one report of them taking out an entire village. At any rate, I may need a change of approach. Instead of following clues to find them, maybe I just need a dragnet."

"Goblin infested ruins... undead floors... that the Tower has changed is terrifying in many ways. And with it's connection between the Floor Bosses and the Waves of Calamaity that enable the otherworlders to come here, I'm almost certain it's not entirely of this world. Or it may be a nexus amongst many, considering how it fits so many different environments within itself. But forgive me for not being too concerned about it. Scale Emblem seems to have the Tower well covered, even with the issues with the 10th Floor Boss. I have other pressing matters with being a guildmaster."

"So he's still working on that. Good. If we can reclaim some holdings near the boundries, it'll help dealing with the entire matter." She frowns at the mention of the carnival being an abduction front, thought it doesn't surprise her. "Between the military conflicts and other duties I haven't dealt with the carnival myself. But I can make sure it's being watched for... Especially if it can avoid more kidnappings." That seems to hit a bit personal with her, though Shiruba doesn't elaborate.

"The tower isn't really the point. It's more of a symptom," Robert clarifies. "And in this case, the symptom appears to be an endless spawning of undead, likely created by outside interference. True, they're not particularly strong undead. But they're not weak, either. And while they're currently contained to the ninth floor, if whatever happened there were to happen elsewhere, or if the cause were to be transported, I expect we would all have very serious problems."

He leans back in his chair, eyes closing for a moment in thought. "You already have your own drag-net in place?" he queries. "Or did I misunderstand?"

"Not specifically for the carnival, just in watching for activity in Ninetails in general," Shiruba clarifies. "Setsuna, and now you, have been the primary contacts within Scale dealing with this matter, and keeping everyone on tabs with what might be going on helps us all in the long run. So if we do see any signs, maybe we can help you cast that net more accurately. Just... be ready for a heap of trouble. I get the impression the leaders of the troupe are powerful monsters not unlike the Generals. Just more... subversive in action. Pinning one of them down will be a tough fight. They're strong, durable..."

Shiruba reaches into her inventory, pulling out the broken pieces of an arcane bow, and setting them on the table.

"But not invincible. Or indestructable. We've succeeded in destroying one, the Salamander Huntress.... but it was a complicated matter. It took precise planning, a very capable team, turning a trap into a trap of our own....... and emotional drama you'll have to forgive me for not getting into details over." She finally pauses to scoop up some of her food before continuing. "And before that, I did succeed in gravely wounding" was that pun intended? "Aurthr before he escaped, and he wasn't seen on the active field again until the recent months."

Emotional drama. Robert's expression flickers once more at that. But he says nothing, instead allowing the moment to slide past as he begins to eat his lunch, chewing methodically and pensively before swallowing. "Noted," he concedes at last. "If you could link me with your organization, that'd be fantastic. I'll of course send any updates I may happen to run into." He pauses once more, to enjoy another mouthful. He continues.

"What do you make of what I perceive as a mismatch between Helena's goals, and the realistic desires of those under her? It does seem odd to me that they would follow her, in that if her goals are accomplished, they're all likely to pay a hefty price. And it's not clear what their benefit would be."

"Most of them probably don't have a choice," Shiruba points out. "Others... do have their own reasons. Hector and Aurther were high ranking knights in the king's court, their loyalty is to the kingdom regardless of it's state... and for some of them, to the Princess rather than the Queen. Which is were I started the theory on them not being blood related from."

Shiruba takes a few bites of food here and there between comments, but it's more measured than her usual scarfing down, because she's also paying attention to the conversation. "I don't -want- to have to fight all of them, just to get to the sources of the problem... but Hector made it clear that even if they do not agree with everything the Queen desires, they don't have much of a choice in the matter."

SpritesHero chews, considers. Chews some more, on both lunch and the problem at hand, gaze rolling upwards and to the left as he processes the information. "And do you know much about the Princess?" he asks. "Specifically, with regards to how a kingdom ruled by her would differ, if at all, from a kingdom ruled by her mother? It seems to me that you would prefer a decapitation strike, once you find out what precisely is the linch-pin that needs to be removed, rather than slowly chipping away at key personnel. Which I suppose is where the Carnival might come in to play. I can't think why they would have loyalty to the kingdom at all, unless Jester was the actual Jester."

Shiruba sighs softly. "Honestly, I'm not sure the Princess can be kept clear of... what will need to be done. But it's more a matter of not letting the history repeat itself? If we don't eventually find and stop the source, and if possible this scorpion-tailed supporter... this is a problem that could just come back again down the road. We'll have to chip through the shell, likely put more Generals out of commission... but destroying the core of the matter is the only real final solution.... At the time we though the cursed sword might be that, but it turned out to only be the piece of a bigger problem."

SpritesHero leans forward a touch, one arm folding over the other atop the table. His eyebrows slide upwards by a fraction. "You want to keep her safe," he concludes at last, gaze searching. But he's more amused, and even a little sympathetic, rather than confused or horrified. "But you'll deal with her if you have to. And just to be clear," he continues, quietly, "when you say 'put more Generals out of commission', you do mean permanently, yes? It's not that you've found a way to incapacitate them, or hold them captive? I do have concerns that this will turn into a game of whack-a-mole. Especially given the number of undead even outside Helena's group. Or do you suspect they are uniquely suited to being a substantial disruption?"

"As a wide old panda told me when he was mentoring me: Hope for the best... Plan for the worst." Shiruba picked a bit more of her food. "They're losing what would make them 'human'. Mentally and emotionally. Some more than others. There's no garuntee the Princess hasn't simple become another monster under the darker force's control by now. In the end, there may be no choice but... return them all back to history. Permanently."

She reachs over with her other hand to pick up the bow pieces and return them to her inventory. "Same as we did Sylver. For the safety of Ninetails, and this world. And our own."

SpritesHero exhales in a sigh, unfolding his arms and flopping back in his hair. His arms rest on the arm-rests, his mouth twists for a moment, and there's a flash of something edged in his eyes, possibly to the point of being outright disconcerting. He maintain that silence for a while, as though to settle his own thoughts. "It sounds like you are speaking of a sort of deterioration," he states at last, both words and tone even. Too even, really. Too deliberate. "And not the standard radicalization brought about by combat, but an erosion of character. Is this correct?"

Shiruba tilts her head a little. She's gotten use to dealing with people more as Guild Leader, so some of the shifts in demeanor don't go unnoticed. It's a little concerning, but... "Yes. Whoever or whatever they may of been before, noble knights or such, is what the corruption is eating away at. Out of them. Though being constantly put into combat against us probably doesn't help any, as most already see them as just Monsters. And there isn't any known means of undoing it. Just... ending things. Out of their misery if nothing else."

Shiruba exhales softly after finishing her food, and looks back up to Robert. "I know Landers aren't a high concern for the Scale Emblem.. but remember this is a threat to even us Adventurers. They -have- turned members of our own before."

Robert's utensils clink as he sets them down by the side of his plate, the sound stark in the silence that follows. "Are you warning me to stay away, warning me to be careful, or asking me not to run roughshod over everyone, leaving disaster in my wake?" he wonders. And yes, there is a very mild flash of anger there before he trails off, hand lifting to brush at his forehead. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me. The idea of...erosion, of deterioration, is..." His expression twists into a grimace. "You are certain, yes? That it is happening, and that it is artificial?"

This time it's Shiruba's turn to startle, her tail audibly thumping against the legs of her chair as it bristles. It takes her a moment to realize what the outburst was for. But other than getting mad in return she just exhales slowly. "I'm sorry, Robert. That was... poorly phrased. I didn't mean to imply like that... You, Setsuna and others have been there to help with the Forgotten even..." She fumbles for a moment, and it briefly shows she's still not entirely comfortable with having to interact with others like this because of her rank, though she's quick to calm herself back down and shake her head. "No, nevermind it. I should know not to let Alliance lines fall in middle of a matter that could threaten Adventurers as a whole. This is not something to get divided over, even if we don't see eye to eye on every aspect."

She sighs again, keeping her compsure. "I don't know in certainties. I only know what I've seen and heard. What I've seen of Aurthr as he is now... and of what I was told of the man he once was, the brave knight and monster hunter. They.. did not ask for this, for this unending nightmare of unlife, but follow it on their duty to king and kingdom. A knight is a part of the nation he serves. As it is corrupted, so are they."

SpritesHero lifts his hand, as though to forestall her fumbling. "No apologies," he suggests, quietly. "I'm not asking for gratitude, or a reward. And heaven knows I've done nothing yet to earn your trust. But I hope that. That is." Another pause, another tense twist of his lips. "I don't guess well, Shiruba. Not in motives, not in fears, not in desires. I would ask of you that if you have a specific concern with my actions in the matter, that you be forthright in stating it up front, instead of beating around the bush. What, precisely, are you asking of me?" His eyebrows slide upwards in question. Further discussion of deterioration is, for the moment, set aside.

"I want you to remember these are a very real and potent threat. To us, to the people of the land, to everyone... So be careful." Having had a chance to take a drink and recompose herself Shiruba settles back into her more tactical hunter mindset. Emotional and factional matters are put aside to focus on the larger and more important picture. "Keep up your pursuit of the Nightshades and their carnival. If they're committing abductions they are a more immeadiate threat to public safety, for one. And if they were willing to divulge this origin story, embelished or not, they may have other insight to discover. From the description you and others give of them, they seem to be a looser leash than the Generals. Which makes them useful... and very dangerous."

"Agreed, confirmed, and so promised," Robert states, his manner returning to a careful mildness. "So, to summarize: Track the Carnival, especially with regards to any abductions and conversions. Investigate details of the origin story, and uncover any associated insights. Especially around deterioriation. It occurs to me that if the evidence is circumstantial, or based on long-term extrapolation, it may be advantageous to simply ask them outright. Certainly, one would assume that they would prefer to not be deteriorating. Or even changing, really. Is this correct?" A wan smile. "And I will endeavor to keep collateral damage to an absolute minimum."

"I dislike stating things without reasonable information to back it up, so if you can find any information on those matters that we can hopefully clarify some details, it would be steps forward to say the least. I will do the same if I learn anything new, or get a head on where the Carnival is active." Shiruba nods as she gets up from her seat, followed by a short bow. "Thank you for talking to me Robert, despite the rough patches. We're all better off if we're working together against this threat. Let Setsuna know I will help with the fort when I can, if it's still needed once we return from the expedition... I'm hoping with a closer staging ground to the region we can work on fully pinning down the castle's location and some of their other fortifications within. But if you'll excuse me, I need to finish working on the prep for said expedition."

SpritesHero rises to his feet in turn, bowing to Shiruba. "Fair enough. It can be useful to hear both what is rigorously supported, and what is rumor, so long one remembers the difference between the two. And I deeply appreciate your willingness to run through the evidence with me, and for your perspective," he responds. "I will send your message to Setsuna. No doubt he will look forward to your assistance. Farewell, and best of luck with your voyage. May it be everything you hope for, and more." A pause, a roguish grin. "I promise that isn't a curse."

Shiruba chuckles a bit in return now that the mood has lightened again. "Honestly, just getting to go on this sort of expedition is a big boon to an explorer, so I won't fuss over the results. You take care as well, Robert."