Q and no A - RPLOG
Participants
Date
11/6/480
Log
It's a warm, sunny afternoon. 27 degrees on the LongTech thermometer, a gentle breeze, and of course, the shadow of the large fair-building. There's quite a few beings currently gathered around each of the entrances, and several additiona employees are guiding them along. Of course, in true Flora-fashion, they still have to pay an entry-fee, although it's been slashed in half for today.
Within the building, the banners are all purple and green all the same, and there's a very confused-looking Flora on the second floor, walking back and forth before a closed door, as beings slowly move towards the small lecture-hall.
Fenris was one of the first on the scene and waves to Flora as he saunters up. The tiger has abandoned his usual uniform for an outlandish green suit and a wide brimmed hat with a purple plume in it. "This is exciting, isn't it?" He asks, "Why didn't you tell me he scheduled a lecture?"
Reginald, rather intrigued by this relatively new addition to the city of Firmament, lets himself be carried in the flow of beings, as he makes his way towards the small lecture-hall. It was apparent by some of the looks he observed that something was not quite as it should be, but, as of yet, no danger had presented itself, thus the feline let his curiosity get the better of him.
Corin wanders his way in, stepping around all the beings and depositing his entrance fee, his belt jangling as he follows the flow of people up to the second floor, "Hello, miss Flora! Interesting changes today!" he says cheerfully, with a big ol' grin.
Cirra didn't have enough time to prepare for arrival, giving her foreman the usual warning before ducking out when she heard. She's vastly underequipped, her only gear beyond the Shralestan robes being a staff and a trinket. The colors are familiar, though she doesn't want to take chances. She's already had a few disconcerting experiences with Spirits, so she's just going to take precaution in her attendance. She gives a slight bow to Flora before heading to the lecture hall.
"Flora was not told, either," the she-cat offers. "If Flora was told, Flora would've made sure a bigger room was available, or reserved a room at the academy or something. Although Flora'll admit that even with the halved entry-price, it's good for business, yes," the she-cat offers with a smile on her lips, a flick of her ears. "Door's still closed. Flora assumes it'll open soon, once enough beings are here for the first sessions," she mumbles, pointing at the board besides the door, listing the same item from noon until dinnertime. "Spirit-Q&A"
And then, the double doors swing open, allowing everone inside.
Fenris grins, taking Flora by the wrist as the doors open and using his considerable size to plow through to the front, dragging the highlady along for the ride and claiming a front row seat. "I'm sure he is just shy," the big tiger says, flopping into a seat.
Reginald, at a bit more of a relaxed pace, follows after the two tigers, finding a spot that's a little out of the way on the other side of the double doors to stand. "Spirit Q&A? Well, this is sure to answer questions. ... And pose a hundred more. ..." He whispers to himself.
Corin shrugs and rolls with it, a bemused look on his face as he wanders into the lecture hall after the first three, taking a seat somewhere in the right-middle of the seating, keeping himself relatively unobtrusive.
The Nurse shark shakes her head, a bit surprised. She makes ehr silent way intothe lecture hall, taking a seat and leaning her staff against her legs. She doesn't really care where she sits, since she's unlikely to be called on.
Flora doesn't seem too happy about being dragged along, and she soon pulls her wrist free from Fenris's grip. Soon enough, she and one of her employees are ushering everyone towards their seats. Nobles and important beings in the first two rows, everyone else behind it. All in all, there's seats for a for a scant fifty people, with another fifteen people able to stand relatively easily.
At the same time, there is no speaker... None.
"Well... Flora supposes the speaker will be here soon, so... As soon as he arrives... Flora welcomes everyone for this... Unexpected event."
"Since Flora has no idea what mister puzzlefox has planned, Flora will simply... Vacate the floor for his arrival, yes," she mumbles, seeming rather out of her element with this event.
And then, the Spirit in question steps out into view, seemingly from nowhere in particular, a broad grin on his face, as he bows and takes off his hat for just a moment. "Do not fear that I won't show, that is not how my visits go. Still, I visit at my own behest, why spoil a good surprise with a request?"
"Your questions, ask them me today. You wish to know about my kind? You may, if my answers you unwind."
Fenris seems a little disappointed that Flora did not want to join him, but he shrugs it off, lounging comfortably in his seat. He grins broadly as The Puzzler steps into view. The tiger waves at his patron, and keeps his hand up. "If we're jumping straight to questions," he says, loud enough for everyone to hear, "You are in the Outside court, right? Outside of what?"
Reginald jumps to a little, startled by the sudden arrival of the being of unknown origins. Despite the rather calm and un-threatening demeanour of the puzzler, he can't help but cast a gaze back in the direction of the entrance, and towards where he left that which would defend him in a fight. The lynx could only hope that this spirit would play nicely, and there'd be no need for such things. He does have some questions he may pose this new arrival, but stays silent for now.
Corin blinks in surprise as the Puzzler pops into existence, staring over his pince-nez. Anyone that was looking at him could probably see the gears in his head turning as he tries to figure out where the devil this fellow came from. It doesn't appear he's making any progress on that front.
Cirra bears him no animosity, but she doesn't have questions yet. She's mostly there to see what she can learn from the questions of others. She knows there's a bitof power struggles going down between spirits, so she wants to know how these new outside court spirits lie in this struggle.
"Is that all you wish to know? Surely, I was expecting a bit more of a show. Outside we are, outside we stay, beyond this world of you we lay. Part of no worldly Court, no place alike our home, betwixt the worlds we roam,"
"Come now, this you knew, ask me something new."
"Perhaps the shark, the Lynx or Bear, there must be some more pressing questions there? Mayhaps the mouse, mayhaps the bat. You have a question, ask me that."
Fenris has all sorts of questions, and he really should have expected that answer. The tiger snorts and shakes his head. "Just thought I would start things out easy," he says, "Get things moving." He lounges back in his chair letting others ask questions for a bit before he asks another.
The lynx, after giving the spirit a rather threatening stare upon his species being mentioned, speaks up. "Why are you here, spirit? Both today, and in general? If you come from beyond this world, what is your motive for visiting promise?"
Corin presses two fingers into his temple as he leans his elbow onto his thigh, before snapping his fingers, "Do you have some sort of connection to our creators?" he asks, hesitantly, tapping his fingertips against his muzzle nervously after the question.
Cirra frowns as she is called out in particular, sighing a bit as she signs to the Puzzler. <What is your opinion of the Other Courts? Of Cliffside? Shralesta? Even here in Firmament?> She waits to see if he understands her, much like the Player did.
The Puzzler smiles his mysterious smile, his tail asway behind him. "Now, the questions come, the answers stay. Perhaps,a little far away. Why am I here, you ask of me. Why would I be? I come and go, and why? How would you know?"
"My goal is not to answer thee, but challenge you, so that the answer you may see."
"Creators, in other worlds, I've met them oft, and some have scoffed. Related, I am not, although there are those who've joined his lot," the fox adds, as he gestures at Fenris, with his green-and-purple hat.
"The other Courts, I dare not say, for every spirit's diffrent, nay? Those who hide the truth may take a hike, but those who seek it, it's they I like."
Fenris fans himself with his oversized hat and listens to the Puzzlers answers, a vivid green ? appearing on his cheek as he composes his next question, leaving the floor for others for a little while yet.
Reginald lets out a sharp "heh" upon the conclusion of the Puzzler's speech. "You hide your motives and wrap your words up more than a Cliffside Politician. .. If you refuse to speak of your motives clearly, then I'll state them as I see them. I think you want something, from either Promise, or the beings who inhabit it. .. And, with your refusal to shed light on what that is, I'm not convinced it's in our best interests, spirit. .. Is this the case?"
Corin gives the Nurse shark a few signs, <Good question>, before settling into his chair and just watching, for the moment, to see what the others will ask.
Cirra nods a bit, though frowns more. It's a bit uncomfortable to have her question dodged, but it does make sense. At least the elemental court is on neutral terms with this one, in that regard, judging by his response. <Thanks> She replies to the bear. <Do you have plans for your visit in Firmament beyond this particular lecture series?> She asks of the fox spirit.
"My every motive clear, there'd be no art. No way to prove you're smart. My motives aren't yours, 'tis true, but at the same time, I've no intent of harming you."
"I wish to learn, to see, to find, all there is to know about your kind."
"To see you think, to reason so. For you to find the link, to the ideal of your creators go."
"Not many spirits I call my friend, 'cause always, my visits to a world must end. There are just two you may have heard. A discov'ry and a dream, I consider so, but the shadow, I prefer unheard."
"My visit's short, I am afraid, although there are many worlds I often wish I'd stayed."
Fenris frowns and sits up a little. "You won't stay?" he asks, "How long will you be here? Will the other Spirits leave as well?" The tiger settles himself a little, "Where do you go, then? Is it a place a being could visit?"
Reginald leans back against the wall where he is stood, whispering under his breath. "Great. Another tourist." He pauses for a few moments, before speaking out again. "Whilst your words say to us you mean no harm, they are naught but words, at the end of the day. It is actions that define a being's true nature. .. If you are an explorer, or whatever you'd call yourself, then surely you could offer up some knowledge of some form as a gesture of good will?" The lynx then adds in a angered mutter below his breath. ".. Maybe, something that would help to poor and staving beyond this city's walls, rather than just providing a distraction for the nobles of this land ..."
Corin chooses to stay silent, apparently having long since run out of questions to ask and instead just listening to the questioning and bickering. He crosses his arms in front of his chest, his eyes vacant as he loses himself in thought.
As the Puzzler answer her question, she mimes the names based on the titles her gives. <Zimla, The Spark, Vasht.> She trails off. She's travelled among two of those, and at one point nearly considered offering herself to Zimla, but the dream did not suit her. <Is it hard to speak in rhyme like that?>
"I come back, from time to time, this world's sublime. The outside court is dif'rent, though, your courts are bound, we are not so," the puzzler offers, giving a bow for added effect.
Reginald is ignored for a moment, as the Puzzler turns to Cirra, a smile on his lips. "Sometimes I bore, sometimes a chore, but I speak in rhyme, poems and riddles forever more."
"In Haiku I speak, in rhyme, I offer thought. Your int'rest, I pique."
Finally, he turns back to Reginald, still smiling. "'Tis not my way of work, I am afraid. Through my dedicants, I aid. Ask The Lady, her patron's a friend. His work is my task's end."
"Discov'ries fuel'd by experiment and thought, they offer the greatest things the scholars have brought. That's how I aid, not too direct, 'else your own Courts might deject."
Fenris leans forward in his seat, another ? appearing, this on a bright purple, on his other cheek. "If you are not bound here, where do you go to?" he asks, "I'm about 90% serious about wanting to visit." The tiger puts his hat back on his head waiting for the Spirit's answer.
"Now, that is rather interesting, indeed. Especially, your choice of words. .." The lynx steps forward, a little more into the open, but not overly so. "Dedicant .. The meaning of which is one sworn to serve another without question .. And, are you inferring that Lady Longtail here is a dedicant to one of your kind? .. Whilst I'd question such an accusation, if that was the case, where does that leave the good lady's allegiance to the rightful King of Sweetwater? .. Perhaps, the issues of us mere beings wouldn't conflict with the issues of your kind. But, if they did, who would Lady Longtail serve? .. And others, both noble and not, for that matter. .." The lynx then stares straight into the Puzzler's Eyes. "Are you sure you mean us no harm, Spirit?"
Cirra nods a bit, though winces at the forced additional syllable in the haiku. At this point, though, she's out of questions, and just shrugs and listens.
"Within this room, there are at least seven with a spirit-contract. I may not tell how they would act. 'tis not my place. I've no intention of intervening in your politics, but throw your bricks and poke your sticks," the puzzler offers, before Flora shrugs and stands. "Mister Spark only asks Flora discover things. So Flora discovers things," she offers, before sitting down again. "Flora could Call Mister Spark, if mister Reginald prefers?"
"'tis true, I mean no harm. There's no need for any alarm," the Puzzler offers with that same, mysterious smile. "Spirits have little in'trest in kingdoms, big or small. They exist, that's all."
"There are spirits less inclined towards your problems, true. A spirit of death, whom eventually comes for you. But eternal life, is that your aim? It will not be enjoyable, I claim. Each spirit has a job to do, and if they don't, the victim's you."
Fenris reads an answer in the Puzzler's non-answers and the marks on his fur vanish as suddenly as they appeared. "Why is it that you are so much harder to contact than. . . than the Spirits of the other courts?" he asks, "They seem almost hungry to be called on, but you and the others of the outside are more likely to call on us than hear us call on you." The tiger's eyes are drawn to Reginald, curious to see what the obviously passionate Lynx will do next.
Reginald turns from Flora and the Puzzler, instead choosing to direct his next comments at the assembled beings. "They tell us they mean no harm. They tell us they have no interest in Politics, or kingdom building. Yet, they gather these 'dedicants', and grant them gifts. They worm their way into the good graces of those in power. .. If it was another country doing that, would we be so passive? .. It is not words that matter, but actions. .. And, am I the only one who finds the actions of these 'gods' disturbing? ..."
<Perhaps you are, Lynx.> The mark of Hephestia is clear on Cirra's caudal fin. <Hephestia does not seek power. Her fire is only for the defense of hearth and home.> She gives a pointed glare. Perhaps he does not understand, but others might. And she does not have the energy to fiddle with her slate for such an argument.
"Correct Flora if Flora is wrong. But did beings not say similar things about the shadows? Yet, now, there are those who live in the same houses, or even form relationships with them," Flora offers, giving a marked stare towards reginald, a small gesture. "Flora does not judge. Flora understands the risks, and Flora accepts them. Just like, as Flora recalls, mister Reginald hopefully understands the risks of forming a lasting bond with a Shadow?" she offers, smiling lightly, her tails flicking behind her. There is no venom in her tongue, to her, a mere statement of fact. "And Flora similarly trusts miss Cirra, Friend Fenris, and the other four currently present with a spirit-contract to have thought long and hard about the risks of such. Besides, while some spirits have been... Problematic, such as Miss Pyrrha or Mister Akros, most of them have been reasonably well-behaved guests," she offers with a smile, before sitting down.
And where the crowd was, for a moment, inclined to agree with Reginald, Flora's words do seem to have the effect of dividing people.
"Shall we continue, then? Unless, of course, you wish to argue again?"
Fenris grins and turns for a moment in his seat. "If another nation did all of that for us, kid," he says, "We would call them a Ally. But the Spirits don't do much on their own. They just ket their callers do what they want with their power. So the question you need to ask, is what is wrong with the people who use it badly. Catch me later, we'll talk. For now, this is a Question and Answer session and he still hasn't answered one of my questions, because he likes yours better!"
The lynx just stands dead still upon the mention of his significant other, and stays that way for more than long enough for most in the room to realise so, before finally muttering under his breath. "How dare you bring Baz into this." Then, speaking up, he continues. "There is a difference, Lady, between shadows and spirits, that you neglect to mention. Should a shadow break the laws of this land, it can be punished accordingly, and the safety of others protected. Can you offer the same guarantee for these spirits, especially after your own admittance that some have become 'problematic'? Or, do we just have to 'hope' they play nicely with us mere beings? ... And, as for the other tiger's words, gifts are never free. Never. .. There is always a catch. And, it is foolish to believe otherwise. ... I've said my piece. ..." And with that, the lynx withdraws from the room.
"Tough crowd. 'least he's proud," the Puzzler quips with a smile on his muzzle, before leaning back against the wall. "Now, your questions, three, I'll see. Where I go, I do not know. The worlds are many, I pick any. I see, I choose. I win or lose."
"You would not enjoy, your very existence, they would destroy."
"And calling us? Your spirits're bound, while we are free, and just come 'round."
Well, this has been about par for the course. Many questions and nary a straight answer to be found. Fenris shrugs at his patron's psuedo answers and goes back to lounging in his seat. "Are there many outsiders like you?" he asks, "I have met three, I think. You, an unpleasant fish, and the Player. Should I expect to meet more?"
<And Unpleasant fish? Haven't heard of them before. What are they like?> Cirra seems intrigued, though surprised the lynx just stormed off.
"The fish, a colleague is. Unpleasant, surely. Made of hatred, well and purely. Unpleasant fellow, none too mellow."
"The Player? A cousin, far" he offers, though he pauses for just a moment, to readjust his collar. "Like many are. My cousins, they rarely show, but then again, what do I know? We Outside do show at our own whim, so the chance that I might tell you is quite slim."
A question and riddle session, more like it. But Fenris hardly expected anything else from the Puzzler. "Fair enough," he says, "Remember me to the Player when next you see him, would you? We have a game to finish."
<I too have a game to finish, but I am not in quite the same hurry. It is disconcerting to be dragged from one's reality.> Cirra shrugs, shaking her head. <It was interesting to meet you, though I hope you understand dealing with spirits is always a touch... unsettling.>
"I do not speak with my cousins much, we do not keep in touch," the Puzzler offers, before smiling at Cirra. "Unsettling is part our task, though I expect it is the mask?" he offers, shaking his head lightly. "If there's no more, I do implore, the next group ready, to move steady, and ask their own, for answers to be known," he offers with a smile, before looking at the crowd... Should there indeed be no more questions, the doors swing open, allowing beings to move to and fro...
Fenris rises with the others, tipping his hat to his patron. "Always a pleasure," he says with a smile.
Cirra nods and gets up, heading up and heading out. <Farewell.>
