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Mare Internum: An Exalted Quest

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This quest is delightful and hilarious. Excellent writing. Lovely characters and skill-characters. Very disco. Some top notch bad decisions. The numbers. The gag. Offering Mei a hug was a masterstroke.

Well done, Crumplepunch.

Physique, as the arbiter - and presumably purveyor - of quality hugs, clearly has to be the priority skill for any potential advancement. With enough Physique Vesper can give a hug fit to heal even Mei's broken heart, and identify the most potent huggers to put Vesper's back together in a way moonsilver threading never could.
 
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Now That You Are Pure 70
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    • Parabola said:
    [X] I'm going to win.
    -[X] But without becoming a slave to victory.
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    "I'm going to win."

    LOGRIS: "Oh? How do you intend to do that?"

    "Without becoming a slave to victory. I can fight her, like she wants, and I can... I don't know, get through to her, somehow."

    LOGRIS: "Well, it is nice to know you were listening to parts of what I said, but... magistrate. Vesper. I do not think this is possible."

    LOGRIS' FACE: Please reconsider everything you are thinking immediately.

    "Why? I thought you said you couldn't judge which of us would win."

    LOGRIS: "I was trying to be polite. Forgive me, you have not given me any reason to think your talents are anything remarkable. And Shadowless Mei is known by reputation as an exceptional fighter."

    "Hey, I think I did pretty well fighting the Raigi."

    LOGRIS: "That would be the battle you fell unconscious during, yes?"

    LOGRIS' FACE: Dehydration and blood loss, wasn't it?

    "That's not really how I would characterize that encounter."

    LOGRIS: "Well, I intend to try to arbitrate the dispute as best I can. Ideally, I would like to keep both of you alive through this folly."

    "I wish you luck."

    LOGRIS: "Part of that will involve trying to convince you not to accept the dragonlord's challenge, and prepare you for it if I cannot."

    [ ] Are you going to help me cheat?
    [ ] Are you going to spar with me?
    [ ] Are you going to send me on a mystical vision quest?
    [ ] Are you going to teach me Dynast magic?
     
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    • Crumplepunch said:
    "Without becoming a slave to victory. I can fight her, like she wants, and I can... I don't know, get through to her, somehow."

    LOGRIS: "Well, it is nice to know you were listening to parts of what I said, but... magistrate. Vesper. I do not think this is possible."
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    I'm actually really relieved this was the response. I didn't want to say it yesterday but after writing my vote I had some immediate second thoughts, like, "hmm this immediately contradicts what I said earlier about how it might be ideal to let Mei win in a way that leaves us both mostly unharmed" and "but you can't really go into a life-threatening situation half-heartedly, going into it expecting to lose is a self-fulfilling prophecy, you have to try your best sometimes."

    And now I figure: I guess that really is the mood the quest is aiming for - not being sure of the exact response your answers will get, doubting yourself, being suspicious of that intermediate space between your brain, your mouth, and your actions. It's a bit frightening because it goes so against the tradition of most quests, but I deeply appreciate it. I'll hesitate a bit more next time I think I can get the first vote.
     
    Now That You Are Pure 71
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    • KreenWarrior said:
    [x] Are you going to spar with me?
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    "Are you going to spar with me?"

    LOGRIS: "I am not really the sparring sort, Vesper-"

    LOGRIS' FACE: Make it stop-

    "Didn't you go to the Cloister of Wisdom? Don't you know all sorts of crazy martial arts?"

    LOGRIS: "That is a ridiculous stereotype. I went through the same martial training as everyone else, but-"

    LOGRIS' FACE: Make it stop-

    SAGACITY: Maybe she could teach you about martial arts exercises.

    "We could have a martial arts training session!"

    LOGRIS: "I am not even remotely qualified to give-"

    LOGRIS' FACE: Make it stop-

    PHYSIQUE: Ask her if she can teach us Air Dragon Style!

    "Can you teach me Air Dragon Style?"

    LOGRIS: "No, I cannot teach you Air Dragon Style! Please stop interrupting me!"

    LOGRIS' FACE: Make it stop!

    "Okay, okay, sorry."

    LOGRIS: "Maybe a little sparring would not be a terrible idea, just so you are not completely rusty. And if you are having trouble against me, you would have to acknowledge that you stand no chance against Mei."

    "Great! Can we fight now?"

    LOGRIS: "What? No! I need to prepare first. I need to set up a sanctified space. And I want a medic present. That will be difficult, because all of the legion are quite busy."

    "Fincher's a medic, and Mei gave her the rest of the day off."

    LOGRIS: "Mm, yes, but she ordered her not to interact with you, did she not?"

    "Didn't order her not to interact with you."

    LOGRIS: "Maybe that could work."

    LOGRIS' FACE: I have been outmaneuvered. I appreciate your cunning.

    "She's sleeping just now, though. Maybe we could do this later?"

    LOGRIS: "Yes, I think that would be best. In the meantime, perhaps you could..." she gestures vaguely to you. "...prepare yourself."

    LOGRIS' FACE: By which I mean 'clean yourself.'

    "Yeah, ok. 'Perhaps.'"

    [ ] Thanks for the help, I'll see you later.
    [ ] (Offer a hug)
    [ ] (Leave without saying anything else)
    [ ] Can we talk about something else?
     
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    • Parabola said:
    And now I figure: I guess that really is the mood the quest is aiming for - not being sure of the exact response your answers will get, doubting yourself, being suspicious of that intermediate space between your brain, your mouth, and your actions. It's a bit frightening because it goes so against the tradition of most quests, but I deeply appreciate it. I'll hesitate a bit more next time I think I can get the first vote.
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    The Hollow Men, which I quote in my opening, is a poem about people who have been destroyed by war. The specific phrase I quote, from part five, is about the emotional severing of cause and effect that renders the Hollow Men unable to act. Any change they could effect in the world is lost, impotent, between the idea and the reality.

    Vesper doesn't really know how to think coherently or linearly. She doesn't, or can't, think about things that aren't a topic of conversation or that are actually happening to her, except through the very narrow abstraction of the throught cabinet system. She's lost in a junkyard of half-remembered facts and personal tragedies that she has to navigate, and she has no mental tools suited to the job. She only acts on misfiring impulses brought on in response to situational stimuli, represented through votes.

    If she's going to get through this it's going to be because voters helped her. Try to be nice.
     
    Now That You Are Pure 72
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    • GAWR said:
    [X] Can we talk about something else?
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    "Can we talk about something else?"

    LOGRIS: "If you like, of course. Could we walk and talk? I would rather get back to my tent."

    LOGRIS' FACE: I do not know about you, but I am not feeling very safe around here.

    She gestures towards the far side of the camp, near the manse entrance, and starts walking. As you follow, she alters her gait to match your slightly longer step, so you are walking side by side.

    LOGRIS: "What is it you want to discuss?"

    [ ] I'd like to talk about someone specific.
    [ ] Do you know where I can get some silk?
    [ ] This island is pretty weird, isn't it?
    [ ] Let's talk about your plan to enter Thazaniel.
    [ ] What do you think about the Dynasty?
     
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    • Now That You Are Pure 73
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    • Gazetteer said:
    [X] Do you know where I can get some silk?
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    "Do you know where I can get some silk?"

    LOGRIS: "Oh? Are you thinking of getting some more comfortable clothes? We are a long way from my tailor in Bittern, but I dare say we might be able to find you something when we get to-"

    "No, no, I mean for arbalests."

    LOGRIS: "Pardon me?"

    LOGRIS' FACE: I should have expected this.

    "The Paleans need new arbalests, the smiths need silk or some other high quality cord for the drawstrings. Do you know where we could find some?"

    LOGRIS: "I have not the foggiest idea. Maybe you could ask that sorcerer. He seems to enjoy the company of spiders." she shudders.

    "You mean the Bane of Kadj?"

    LOGRIS: "Yes, him. I do not know if he will be able or willing to help, but there is certainly no natural silk on this island. Perhaps his demons can do something."

    LOGRIS' FACE: Was there anything else?

    [ ] I'd like to talk about someone specific.
    [ ] This island is pretty weird, isn't it?
    [ ] Let's talk about your plan to enter Thazaniel.
    [ ] What do you think about the Dynasty?
     
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    • Now That You Are Pure 74
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    • zxzx24 said:
    [X] What do you think about the Dynasty?
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    "What do you think about the Dynasty?"

    Logris walks in silence alongside you for a few moments before responding.

    LOGRIS: "That is a complicated question. And an interesting one. The Dynasty. Not the Realm. Not House Peleps. Specically the Dynasty as a whole, and no more."

    LOGRIS' FACE: Why exactly would you ask me such a thing?

    "Do you have a complicated or interesting answer?"

    LOGRIS: "Of course not. My loyalty to the Realm, in its every institution and design, is absolute. The Dynasty is deserving of whatever honours the Empress, in her wisdom, bestows upon it. Who would say anything less?"

    LOGRIS' FACE: Who would say anything less to an imperial magistrate?

    [ ] I think it sucks, personally.
    [ ] That checks out, good job passing my secret loyalty test.
    [ ] Alright, fine, keep your opinions to yourself, I want to talk about something else.
     
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    • I don't know how this accidental posting thing keeps happening, my hand was nowhere near the mouse and my cursor was nowhere near "Post reply". That's the third time this has happened. Is there a shortcut I keep accidentally hitting without knowing about it?

    EDIT: Answered my own question; it turns out hitting Ctrl + Enter posts your message. My keyboard is a bit janky so I think that's what's happening when I use the copy and paste keyboard shortcuts.
     
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    [X] Alright, fine, keep your opinions to yourself, I want to talk about something else.
     
    Crumplepunch said:
    I don't know how this accidental posting thing keeps happening, my hand was nowhere near the mouse and my cursor was nowhere near "Post reply". That's the third time this has happened. Is there a shortcut I keep accidentally hitting without knowing about it?

    EDIT: Answered my own question; it turns out hitting Ctrl + Enter posts your message. My keyboard is a bit janky so I think that's what's happening when I use the copy and paste keyboard shortcuts.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Ctrl + Z also posts everything that is in the editor window.
     
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