Thanks, Ben [Mingle]

[saveournpcs]

Date: 4th of January 20, 3 hours after everyone came out of the cavesCharacters: OPEN

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Three hours after everyone came out of the caves, an earthquake of the magnitude 5.7 shakes the echo boundary.

Up on the ruins, a single block from one of the lower walls gets dislocated and falls.

Down in the city and villages, things go a bit worse. A couple of sheds collapse, things fall over and off things, and some houses are left with cracks in their walls and might end up condemned. A number of telegraph poles fall over and a few on cars. There's three injured and no fatalities over all, and a few related car accidents because people got distracted that again go without fatalities.

...And, of course, the Media are back. The next day, the Sun titles "IS THERE A NEW CRACK IN THE EARTH'S CRUST??? Another earthquake strikes Mossgate 4 houses condemned, 10 admitted to hospital, powerlines down", but newspapers with more journalistic integrity send reporters as well.

Someone else is back, too - Numbered will see Mr Neutral, Mr Evil and Mr Helpful wander the streets.

Comments

[iamnotgod]

Or a bobble toy? Walter is more familiar with those, anyway, but he knows the feeling at any rate.

His expression right now, though, is one of sympathy, though with no small amount of confusion along with it.

"That seems to be a constant, in folklore. That what humans are most unique in is their flexibility, whereas other beings are stagnant in their ways."

Not very flattering, he thinks, but if it's true that presents another problem.

"What would it take to stop Mr. Evil, then, if persuading him to act otherwise isn't an option?"

[saveournpcs]

Mr Neutral doesn't nod this time. This time, he just gives Walter a very long, calm look.

"I think you can answer that question yourself.

How do you stop someone whom you cannot change?"

[iamnotgod]

"You fight it."

Something about the answer seems incomplete, which rankles him, but all the same: "You work your way onto their level, and fight them."

[saveournpcs]

"That is an action, not a goal," Mr Neutral points out. Look, he's neutral. He's not advocating for anything. But he will be the sounding box that Walter requires here.

[iamnotgod]

Walter smiles wryly. Indirect help; he can deal with that.

... In time past, he has been that.

"The Numbered do not even know what our goal is. Making it separate from Mr. Evil's isn't precisely a necessary step, here."

[saveournpcs]

"Perhaps you should agree among one another what goals you are comfortable with, then, before this goes any further." And what actions may or may not be taken based on that.

[iamnotgod]

Walter nods.

"Survival is important in the meantime, however. And not just surviving, but thriving," he adds, because he remembers what it's like to have such a narrow focus.

It wasn't much fun, and wouldn't have ended well for anyone in the cult, of that he was sure.

"So, speaking hypothetically now, if our goal were to defend Mossgate, which presumably is in contrast with Mr. Evil's goal..."

[saveournpcs]

He raises an eyebrow. "Then what would you have to do to survive and thrive?"

[iamnotgod]

"For me, personally, I'd go as far as is needed, though I also understand it's sometimes better to leave the question unanswered-"

To threaten the man without following through. But what sort of threat could the Numbered leverage against an alien?

[saveournpcs]

"Perhaps you should find less vague answers to that question." He sighs, and then shrugs. "Either way, I don't envy those of you who will have to pick sides."

[iamnotgod]

Walter looks quite distracted, now.

And perhaps a bit green, though it's not actually anything to do with what they're discussing.

Not directly, anyway.

"I wouldn't envy us, either," he says - then, jumping on to one last question like it's a lifeline, he asks, "Does that mean neither you nor Mr. Helpful will risk being harmed by whatever Mr. Evil does?"

If so, then there were clearly perks to being an alien.

[saveournpcs]

"We do. While we are here, we are exposed to what happens here.

And I am sure Mr Helpful will aid you however he can. But I am neutral. It is not in my nature to affect the way things turn out."

[iamnotgod]

He pauses, considers - eyebrows narrow as he replies, "But you do. You affect the way life happens here, just by being here."

It was part of what Webmind struggled with - how to safely involve himself in the world around him, without causing undue harm to himself or others.

Not quite the same, but considering how that lesser part of Webmind had interpreted it... it merited saying aloud, all the same.

"All the same, I'd better check back in with certain people. Take care, Mr. Neutral."

[saveournpcs]

"There always is a necessary minimum to being alive," he agrees easily. That is not the issue, his tone seems to say.

"You take care as well. Good luck with whatever you decide on."

[iamnotgod]

With that, and one more slightly-dubious look, Walter heads on his way, trying to focus on the current situation and not his new memories.

It is difficult.