Disturbance in the market

[dragonsylph]

Aiko becomes aware of a growing crowd at the center market of town. She can see the edge of it form her position a few blocks away. It seems that a couple hundred players at least have gathered, and while she can't make out the tone of it yet, the volume of the gathering is rising from a low murmur to a moderate hubbub.

The clock on her HUD reads 1:04pm EST. Clearly she'll never need to wear a watch again.

Comments

[dragonsylph]

"I understand. Our way is not for everyone. I hope you come around, but while you enjoy your neutrality, I encourage you to speak with Sister Merrun over there, and add her to your friend's list. She is our raid organizer, and will be setting up 20-man raids for lower-level players to power level. The Crimson Labyrinth quest chain would earn you two to three levels per run till you hit the early 30s. Its your best bet, whether or not we are the ones to assist you in it. That is, of course, assuming that the Mad King of Icari will still give out the quest chain in this world.

Its been pleasant, but I should move on to speak with others as well. Ephara bless you, Amaadia."

The man never stops smiling, but turns away from you, disengaging and starting to offer food to some Lander children, again apologizing for the blandness.

[aikonamika]

Amaadia can't help but want to smack the guy across the nose with her claws out, but she knows that it's not only rude, it's irrational. There's still a part of her that wants to bare her fangs and hiss at him in irritation, and it's upset over these unusual instincts as much as anything else that has her turning away to stalk, rather stiff-legged, over toward the "Sister" in question. Not all the way, though, as she needs to take a moment to calm down.

[dragonsylph]

Sister Merrun is a very friendly-looking level 84 elven priest. She's talking with Midick, Level 90 Kitsune Ranger [DaBoss].

Merrun: "I assure you, the word of Ephara is genuine. We care only to promote order"

Midick: "Cut the RP bullcrap. I'm a PvP raider. I don't buy the god business. Just lay it straight, do you guys have a lead on a real exit or not?"

Merrun looks flustered. "Please leave. We don't want anything to do with PvPers."

Midick: "Yeah, I thought you were all bullshit. Just know that if you guys decide to fuck with our respawning, we'll kick you out of this cathedral, god and all."

He storms out. You see her ball a fist and bite her lip, before turning to greet and speak to a level 5 dwarf paladin.

[aikonamika]

Amaadia watches the two talk, and can't help but feel torn. The Ranger had a point, and she's right there with him in terms of the way this guild is presenting information, but there's still no need to be a dick about it. Once he leaves she sighs and heads toward the elf, because she can't help but try to smooth things over, at least a little.

"You okay?"

[dragonsylph]

You see the wall of Customer Service spring up, with its little jolt of "oh shit, work".

She smiles at you. You know its forced.

"I'm fine. How may I help you? Would you like some water? It actually tastes like water, at least."

She pours from a pitcher and offers a small tin cup full.

[aikonamika]

Amaadia knows that sort of expression all too well, and her own expression turns sympathetic and reassuring, the smile of one Customer Service Representative to another. Hopefully it comes across as it usually does, considering that her face is definitely different than it used to be. Feline faces don't work quite the same way as human ones; the weirdest part is just how utterly natural the changes feel to her.

"Don't worry, you can take a bit of a break if you want. Though it's good to know about the water." After a moment she tilts her head, ears cocked, and does her best to ensure that her voice is a lot gentler and kinder than the PvPer's had been.

"I'm just...curious, I guess. As to why you guys are sticking to the RP story so hard, when you know that this is a game. I could see it for the People of the Land, to help cover what happened here, but why for other players? I just...want to know."

[dragonsylph]

She looks you straight in the eyes. "We're in another world. All we have to go on is what we can learn from the game interface we can strangely still access, an understanding of how the game used to work before we were living in it, and what the NPCs tell us.

"Gurmamon claims to have spoken to a Level 100 solo NPC. None of us has ever seen one before. No one has been around here long enough to consider figuring out how to fake that. And I've known him long enough not to think he's a liar or crazy. Stands to reason Ephara's info might be good."

Her intensity builds.

"And even if its not... I'm a single mother. My son is 4 years old."

You can hear all of the frustration with the previous guys leaking out, her buttons slightly too far pressed.

"I can't speak for the rest of my guild, but... excuse us a little escapism! Being someone else, in another life, is the only way I can deal with anything right now. And I get no closer to home being a panicked wreck."

She freezes for a sec.

"Shit, sorry, I didn't mean to go off on you like that."