week 2; monday, w/ the crafters

[alchemenace]

[ knock knock. who's there. magic door. magic door who? magic door is being opened by a tiny alchemist who makes bad life choices.

Which is to say, Varian had vaguely wanted to talk to the Crafters previously, but it's only after this weekend that it became a need. It's when he was thinking about it that the door showed up, and while he takes a moment to be properly awed, he's not nearly as hesitant as he should be when he pushes it open. ]

Uh. Hello?

Comments

[themodsgrimm]

In that case - other roles aside from assigned titles exist.

[And she won't say much more than that.]

Switching titles is not common, and is not a request that we can grant, if it is something that you are about to ask for.

[alchemenace]

[ this is what he expected and he's still let down ]

Oh, I don't. I'm not looking to change it, I just want to know how it's possible. But if it's uncommon and it's not a request you can grant... That means it's either something only attainable through the wishing well or that ability is a title itself. If I had to guess, I'd go with the latter, since you provide the coins for the well in the first place. Am I right?

[themodsgrimm]

[A ghost of a smile pulls at the corner of her lips for a second.]

You may try with the Wishing Well, but who can say whether or not it will comply entirely with what you seek....? It's a fickle thing.

[She does not confirm the latter.]

[alchemenace]

Yeah, um, going by previous examples of the well's wish-granting expertise, I would not try it even if I wanted to.

[ just saying. He's going to just assume he's right on the title switch thing smh ]

Speaking of which, someone's wish came with quite the... interesting caveat. Which is what leads me to my next question: what's happening to the people we left back home while we're here?

[themodsgrimm]

[She nods. She can't quite bring herself to shrug, but he has a point that she'll concede. The well kinda sucks.]

They're frozen, unable to continue their stories without your presence. It's... unfortunate, but it is the nature of what happens when people are pulled from their original tales.

[alchemenace]

So time is just. Frozen, for them?

[ well that's... That could be worse. At least Varian's dad can't get anymore frozen. ]

And I know you told the, the chosen killers last week that if they didn't go along with it their stories would be erased, alongside anyone connected to them. Is that, is that true of anyone who dies here?

[themodsgrimm]

[ . . . ]

At the moment, yes.

There is no way to stop it. If they chose not to comply, their stories would have no hope for survival.

[alchemenace]

[ well this is horrifying ]

At the moment. So there is a way to ensure that their stories continue? And-- since Ann got caught, does her story end, or did we decide that with our vote?

[themodsgrimm]

The game must be played in order for there to be any chance of survival for any of you, or your loved ones.

[At least she doesn't sound like she exactly takes glee from that fact.]

Should you do well enough in proceeding, Ann's story may still continue.

[alchemenace]

[ he couldnt care less about Ann but he's not gonna say that. ]

And how, exactly, do we do "well"?

[themodsgrimm]

[stone cold, varian]

Ink is necessary in order to proceed.

[alchemenace]

[ his compassion died when he became evil that's how it works right ]

So... Objectives and murder. Is that the only two ways to get ink? Because some of those kind of go hand in hand.

[ like. his. ]

[themodsgrimm]

Yes.

However objectives will always provide additional ink, so it is better to complete them than to not.

[alchemenace]

So is it better to... to do that stuff faster?

[ use words sweetie ]

[themodsgrimm]

[She nods.]

Correct.

[alchemenace]

So if. [ this is fucked up. He knows this is fucked up. ] If people outside of your chosen killers kill, does that help? Like whoever killed Dave.

[ though he frowns after he says it ]

If someone else even killed Dave.

[themodsgrimm]

[ . . . ]

I hesitate to use the word 'help'.

... but it will provide more ink.

[alchemenace]

Yeah, I wouldn't call murder helping either, but you're the ones who started this whole thing. Aren't you?

[ he is a bit curious about that, but he's also fully assuming. ]

How much ink do you need to finish this war?

[themodsgrimm]

Started...

[She seems to be considering that for a moment.]

It is not my choice to comply and oversee, if that is what you are asking.

[Maybe it's why she cares about choice so much?

Anyway.]

More ink than we currently possess.

[alchemenace]

So you were picked for this, too. ... But by who?

[ Varian it's week 3 stop asking for the full plot. Anyway ]

I can see how it was a stretch to ask for an exact amount. What if we don't get enough ink? What happens then?

[themodsgrimm]

How does any story begin?

[That said, she likely won't be answering any more on that.]

Without enough ink, there is no hope for continuing your stories. Interrupting the game is a poor choice.

[alchemenace]

Once upon a time?

[ look he is trying. and. geez. ]

So the game-- this war-- has to go on no matter what. Which means every week people kill and others die. And we can't... I can't affect this outside of accomplishing my objective. Is that it? That can't just be it.

[themodsgrimm]

[the gams]

Do you have an alternate proposal for what you'd like to accomplish?

[alchemenace]

[ there's a kind of helpless laughter he can't stop even if he wanted to. Does he have one? Not one he actually wants to do. ]

Anything! I would do anything if it meant I could save my dad, don't, don't act like you people don't know everything about us! I can't let it end here like this. And I can't... I can't just rely on other people to maybe pull this off so we all get home just fine!

[themodsgrimm]

[She frowns, eyes softening.]

... stories do not operate entirely based on one individual. Heroes, villains, civilians, they all play a part.

I cannot advise you to continue forward on your own like this. It will only hinder, rather than help, your goal.

I applaud individual ambition and endless pursuit of personal wishes and desires.

However those are so rarely accomplished by one's own strength alone.