Mid-event, evening; audio only

[mustknow]

These.. crystals we're collecting.

How vital will having all four be, really? And if this train stops every two weeks to pick up more passengers.. what of all those yet to arrive?



[And then, a little bit later:]



Do any of you have a dog onboard the train?

Comments

[consider8]

[...right... the water world... she very much would have had to sit that one out. Ugh.]

Is there a purpose, or is this more a practice for spiritual enlightenment?

[She wouldn't be opposed if it was the later... and would be quite upset if it was the former.]

[mustknow]

Yet to be determined, I'm afraid! But there are others offering more practical methods of combatting illusions in the future than a three day crash course in tackling things that may take months or years to master.

... I admit, I'd wondered how those would fare that couldn't partake in such.. tests. I suppose you will be in a prime situation to find out.

[consider8]

[That last sentence puts her very much on edge for some reason...]

What do you mean by that?

[mustknow]

[And his tone is utterly guileless.]

You don't have a single one, right? So you, and all those who will be arriving soon, don't have these sparkling prizes. If they're mere decoration, then nothing lost for it.

[consider8]

[And she knows a bait when she sees one.]

That is true, but I really don't see the point of them. There is more important things to focus on, like those new arrivals.

[If he drops it and changes the subject; fine. If he insists...]

[mustknow]

And finding ways for those who haven't had the ... 'benefit' of our recent world visit, for whatever reason that might be, to catch up on what surely was supposed to be vital, important lessons.

If it does turn out these crystals have value beyond display, several people have run some of the tests multiple times, and will surely share if asked. I've only got my one, so I've no extras to offer in their stead.

[consider8]

[A little of A. A little of B. She will remain civil, for now.]

Did you find trial fulfilling? [She has a feeling that the ~mystery~ is a part of the task, so won't pry about the specifics... yet, but impressions of the process seems like fair play.]

[mustknow]

[There's a low, thoughtful noise.]

Ordinarily, yes. These ones... no. While one of them was simply a test of observation and its illusions fairly easily beaten after a while, the others.. didn't seem like things that anyone could simply pick up in the course of a couple days, if they don't already have advantages in those areas. I don't much care for unfair tests, or impossible ones.

[If it was all supposed to be a secret, he isn't aware of this. Secrets hinder knowledge!]

[consider8]

If the task can be overcome, then it would be possible with enough perseverance.

Though, perhaps the point is to realize the limits of your abilities.

[mustknow]

If it was, then there would have been a prize crystal at the end. Which there was not. Persistence was also not rewarded, nor was effort!

The limit was, perhaps, time. Without a foundation in breaking illusions, facing one's deepest terrors, and whatever the monsters were about - and it was not simply fighting them - then the task, with its three day limitation, may well be impossible. Making use of their meditations and martial arts is also not something most can master in a handful of days.

[consider8]

So is the mastery of many things.

Why the rush?

[mustknow]

The train arrives on day one, the train leaves on day three. Not much choice in staying and working on it longer.

[consider8]

They mystery will remain whether we solve it now or then. If anything, I would be concerned of volunteering others when we don't know what might happen once the full set are collected.

[mustknow]

... I'm sorry, who's being volunteered for what?

[consider8]

You were all but recruiting me to try one of these trials.

Was that not your intention?

[mustknow]

... You vastly overestimate your place in my 'intentions'. But fear not, assuming I did have some nefarious plan to throw you at your own deepest horrors for ... whatever purpose, I could never succeed! Those trials had been left behind with the world they were on.

[That sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.]

Curses, foiled again. You escape this time, stranger.

[consider8]

...you're just going to have to try harder next time.

[She's only half joking.]

[mustknow]

I will be certain to practice an ominous laugh if it's required.

[consider8]

In my experiences, it is not. But screaming, a persistent accusatory tone, and a sense of unfounded superiority certainly is.

[mustknow]

What sort of screaming? Are we speaking rage, or fear, or just... high volume?

It might take a while to find something to accuse you of though, and then I will be prepared the next time we're dropped on a world and told to complete some random tests with annoyingly vague instructions and success parameters.

[consider8]

A bit of all three.

You're finding this fun, aren't you.

[mustknow]

Sometimes if you don't find ways to laugh at a situation you spiral into terrible depression, and I've had enough of that. So I might as well have fun with it, instead of getting indignant or insulted or .... actually try to devise some illusion test for you to take.

[consider8]

[That was a more serious answer than what she was expecting.]

Well, whatever it is, please keep others out of it. I think we have enough on our plates that we don't want to have to worry about one person testing other people's boundaries. Especially when the only reason is to satisfy your curiosity.

[mustknow]

Oh, if I were to try any such thing it wouldn't be merely to satisfy curiosity! Not that fellow passengers are ideal, it would be rather inconvenient to cause undue trouble with someone you might rely on later to save your life. Besides which, it'd be time better spent trying to work on resistances to illusions, not just heightening weaknesses.

[consider8]

Saying it that way makes it seem like you understand the reason but not the principle.

[Which... may be an important realization? She'll have to think on that...]