[Video]

[neverfeltthatway]

I, um. I have the list of Travelers who have gone out of ambit.

Bayek, Feliciano, Davesprite, Korra, Ochre, Zed, Lupa, Death - the skeletal Death - Susan, Leo, Rise, and Beatrice and Amy Ushiromiya.

[He takes a slow breath, both steadying himself and giving the names a moment of silence, in respect and so people have a chance to process what they just heard.]

I'm sorry.

If anyone has any questions, I'll do my best to answer them.

Comments

[shiromadoushi]

What does it mean, when someone goes out of ambit?

[teamblue]

... Lupa? Of the Wolves?

[Nah, gotta be someone else.]

[neverfeltthatway]

Yes - I'm sorry. I know this is hard.

[neverfeltthatway]

Largely, it means that they are no longer in liminal space, and are likely no longer active Travelers. More specifically, for them, it could mean that they've gone into a dungeon, or gone on an extended walkabout, or something else along those lines that we're less aware of. Some people seem to experience going home before returning, though we're not sure to what extent that's a physical journey or simply a joining of memories.

For any specific person, we won't know what happened to them unless and until they return, or a dungeon portal appears for them.

[teamblue]

Ah. No, it's alright, I didn't know he'd been here at all.

[That actually sounds suspiciously like relief, not sorrow.]

[shiromadoushi]

Mmm... I wonder if Death just found a way to take his grandaughter home, since he was pretty upset that she was brought here, and from the wrong time too....

[neverfeltthatway]

Given who we're talking about, I won't gainsay it as a possibility. But given my experience as a Traveler, it seems unlikely, honestly.

[neverfeltthatway]

Oh. [He's... not entirely sure how to take that, but it doesn't seem to be any of his business.] I - all right, then.

[shiromadoushi]

Aa, but that's the sort of this his world worked on! The more impossible a thing seemed, the more likely it would actually happen!

[[at least he's pretty sure that's how it worked. Pretty sure...]]

[teamblue]

I imagine it'll be quite a sad surprise for those who call him Leader, though. Thank you for putting the information out there.

[Diplomatic! But still.. he's relieved. That's an enemy leader that's gone missing..]

[starshaper]

NO!!

[That one gets out before Usagi can stop it. Well at least she's not making that one be one of those long and loud ways to yell no that Sailor Moon is so known for. Not here.

... also she takes a moment to collect herself. Been here long enough to not having questions about any of it, this time it just hits too hard.]

Thank you. For always making these lists. ...Sorry, didn't mean to yell to you or even here at all.

[neverfeltthatway]

Then maybe if we were in his world, I'd agree with you. But liminal space doesn't play by any set of rules we know from where we come from.

[neverfeltthatway]

Of course.

[After all, he's done it every jaunt for years now.]

[neverfeltthatway]

I'm sorry. I know this isn't easy.

[He's lost so many in his time as a Traveler, he can empathize, even if he's not entirely certain who she's lost, or what they were to her.]

Someone has to, because people deserve to know. So... You're welcome.

And it's all right. [It's not the worst reaction he's gotten, by far, and more than that he doesn't blame her.]

[starshaper]

I'm sorry too since it can't be easy for you either.

[Losing people is never easy and telling anyone that someone else has left... is at least as difficult as that. Not that this Moon Rabbit has much experience of telling when usually she's on the losing side even back home.]

I'm glad there are ways to track that here.

Okay, we'll say it's all right this time. I just wasn't... expecting to hear Rise's name or some others there either. [But especially the fellow twintails girl is why this started with the no.] N-not that anyone can ever expect these to happen.

[neverfeltthatway]

I... y-yeah. [He looks down as he responds - consciously or not, letting just a little of his hurt and vulnerability show through.]

I w-wasn't expecting to lose Rise either.

[runs]

Well, Leo is stupid anyway.

[She... isn't taking either him or Beatrice leaving well.

But Leo, at least, is easy to talk about.]

I bet this place didn't have enough gross coffee for him.

[neverfeltthatway]

I didn't really know him.

[He's... not really going to comment besides that, as insulting him seems like a method or mourning his departure - but Kitty would likely be loath to admit that, and hate to have it pointed out.]

[acapriciousthing]

That's the skeleton Death. Not, uh, me.

[It's a shame, she was quite fond of him]

[neverfeltthatway]

Ah - yes, of course. I'm sorry, I should have clarified that. [Unobtrusively, he'll do so now.]

[runs]

He wasn't here for very long. Only since Yensid.

[neverfeltthatway]

I see. Well, I'm sorry to lose him anyway.

[runs]

Yeah.

[And now she's going to raid every accessible freezer for ice cream and eat herself sick. Because clearly that's an excellent response.]

[neverfeltthatway]

...I'm available, if you need a distraction.

[Armin hesitated even saying that much. But better to offer and be spurned than not offer when it might have been appreciated.]

[runs]

[...]

Maybe later.

[Most definitely later. In some shape or form. But right now, she needs ice cream.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[He simply nods, and lets the connection fade. He'll be around if she wants to find him.]

[acapriciousthing]

I worry any dungeon he may be in will be... uniquely challenging for mortals.

[Also she misses him, they were bonding]

[neverfeltthatway]

Do you have more specific ideas about how? In case you're not around when his dungeon appears, it seems prudent to ask now.

[acapriciousthing]

The scale's likely to be longer. Emotions may manifest in a way that seems foreign. And the concerns... he's often clashed with beings called Auditors who find life and personalities too messy to allow.

[neverfeltthatway]

...What are these 'Auditors', if they're not alive? What do they look like? And... what abilities do they have?

[If they have to fight them, it may be crucial to know what they're up against.]

[acapriciousthing]

They're disembodied if they have their way. They're supposed to make sure gravity works and all that. But they also are able to... remove a force they think has gotten out of hand. If they don't show too much personality in making the decision.

That's the trick. Make them angry enough to exhibit individuality.

[neverfeltthatway]

And what's the best way to make them angry? They dislike forces that have gotten out of hand - and life, personality, and messiness, I imagine as an extension of that.

So you show as much personality as you can? Revel in living and all the messy human joys and sorrows that come with it? Or is there a faster way?

[acapriciousthing]

Contradictory instructions are apparently good. Signs that say keep left and point right, that sort of thing.

I suspect being very liminal at them would overwhelm them too.

[neverfeltthatway]

All right - thank you.

Anything else you think we should know if we ever face them?

[acapriciousthing]

THat's it for them, at least what I know.

I expect it will be less a combat dungeon and more existential.

[neverfeltthatway]

I assumed as much - but should he surprise us, I'd still rather be prepared.

[acapriciousthing]

Of course.

I'd be troubled at the thought of a dungeon being able to hold him, if either of our presences wasn't already inherently troubling.

[neverfeltthatway]

It is disturbing that either of you can be held here, yes - I've thought that maybe they can only hold this part of you here because this is their universe, and you're held apart from yours.

Either way, you're right - a dungeon isn't particularly any more troubling, at least in that sense.