(no subject)

[leftbehindagain]

[As much as Naoki's wanted to say some of this since... well, since halfway through the mess in Misericordia, he decided to hold off and gather his thoughts first. As bad as that was for him and Kanji, it was worse for other people, and from what he's gathered the other jaunt wasn't exactly a picnic either. And then there was the party, and making that many drinks is more attention-consuming than you might think - and, well, no point in dumping that on people in the same moment as Armin-san's list of the departed. But he doesn't want this to wait until after the next jaunt.

It may not make a whole lot of sense to the new people, but hey, they can get explanations along the way.]

Okay. Now that we've all had a little time to decompress, I have a couple things I want to get on the table.

We need to start pooling information about where we've been, considering how often lately it's turned out to be where at least some of us are going. I know there's not much to be done about Moebius or anything that came before it, but... if we'd had more than half-panicked half-information halfway through everything in Misericordia, we might've been able to save some of our group a world of hurt. I'm not looking to cast blame for what's already happened, I'm looking to improve our chances going forward. [Alcuin and Ambrose tried, and it's not their fault things happened as they did.]

Whenever we can be prepared, there's no reason we shouldn't be. I'm sure some of us have been keeping private records, but we need something everyone can get to. If we can keep a log of the basics of these places - the nuts and bolts, maybe a note of what Trumps showed up if any - it'll help keep us out of a little trouble, anyway. I don't know the best way to do something like this, but I think we need at least one physical copy, since not everyone can work backwards on the network. Probably multiple copies of it, to cover for split groups and infiltrating and all that. A computer that people could Interface the information from might work, but that runs into the same storage issues, not to mention needing a computer for it in the first place.

Helena-san's trying to write up Purgatory as a story. We settled on trying that one because I know the most about it of anything I've been here for but she hadn't. Depending on how well that goes, she'll probably want to talk to people about some of the others, and either way I think we'll have a starting point.

If anyone's willing to help, donate notes, offer a place to keep everything, whatever - I'll take any help I can get with this thing. It's a resource we need, especially if the split-group situation keeps happening.

Another thing that came up in Misericordia before everything went to hell was the idea of trying to run a Sift on a familiar face. This one I'm mostly leaving to everyone who kept Sift - I bet the parameters would be tricky, from what Naoto's said about it before, but establishing a good set would give everyone a chance to try it, next time we run into one of them. All I can really offer on that end is my Assistance, if I'm there and myself when the chance comes.

Comments

[howexciting]

[He is not saying anything about Purgatory. Not here, not now.]

... as I understand it, the last time information was shared in great detail to assist the Travelers, it ended in pant theft, bitter debates, and one of my dearest friends having his religious and cultural customs mocked. This does not exactly bolster confidence.

[leftbehindagain]

[And Naoki's not saying anything else about Purgatory. No point in starting a dogpile.]

I had a front-row seat to that debacle, sensei, I'm well aware. But I'm also not going to give up before starting just because it didn't work out last time. This might also give people a chance to ask the questions they have before they run off and steal pants, though to be fair, the only person who actually tried that was Zed-san. [Even whoever the hell had the idea didn't bother following through with it.]

[notinthecards]

Just the only one who got caught by the law. The fierce little elf girl, she did it, too.

[leftbehindagain]

[...Or they did do it. All right then.] She didn't advertise on the network, in that case. Probably for the best.

Either way, the more important thing with this project is getting the basics out there. So that, among other things, if we get tossed back in Nova Venezia, people know just how many of the locals know about us.

[howexciting]

If we are sent back to Nova Venezia, we have almost no hope of going unnoticed. I think that is rather a lost cause in terms of keeping up the masquerade, so to speak. I will also probably be captured and tortured, so I will probably be spending most of my time in Liminal Space, should this occur.

I have a record of information regarding all of the Jaunts I have been on, with the exception of Harrogate. Both Armin and Malik have also written extensive notes, that I know... but I am unsure they will be as forthcoming with their information as I am.

[Especially since. Y'know. A lot of people pissed Malik off last time.]

[leftbehindagain]

It all depends on where in that world they'd drop us, but sooner or later we'd be in the deep end. That's the kind of place where word spreads quickly. [Doubly so since a lot of people scattered at the end of everything.]

If you're willing to share your notes, it'll be a great help. Malik-san's already offered his maps.

[Naoki's unsure what exactly Armin's offering, with his own notes, but he did respond as well. Here's your chance to make up for a few things, Leo.]

[howexciting]

... if we return to that world, and I do not recognize you... kill me. I will most assuredly be Herr Doktor Blitzkopf and will cause the Travelers nothing but trouble in some fashion.

I am... honestly relieved. Very well. What do you need to know?

[pseudologist]

Pant theft? Don't tell me someone let Sera loose on some poor, unsuspecting bastards without supervision.

[Things he does not expect to actually be related to said pant theft: exactly that.]

[howexciting]

... apparently so. I was infiltrating at the time, so I cannot say. All I know is my infiltration heard it on the news and did not think much of it. He was too busy at the time plotting his escape.

[pseudologist]

Shit, really? I didn't even know she was actually here.

[There's something a little bit like hope in his mental voice; he likes the kid, even if she needs a broader range of material.]

I suppose it's pretty easy to dismiss when it doesn't result in fighting a mercenary group with their asses flapping in the breeze.

[howexciting]

... she was recently announced as missing. I'm sorry, Varric.

[It's a shame, really, that Varric had someone from home disappear just before he arrived.]

There were two dangerous criminals on the loose. My infiltration was one of them. I think everyone was more concerned with catching them than catching whomever stole their pants.

[pseudologist]

...Oh. [There's a brief pause.] That's probably for the best. She's always hated mystical crap.

And it's usually the bigger fish who draw the most attention. That's half of why she does what she does. But if it's not too much of a sore spot, what did your infiltration do?

[howexciting]

... it is much easier to describe what my infiltration did not do, in truth.

[And he will livestream his senses to show Varric an identical copy of Blitzkopf's wanted poster.]

[loyalrebel]

...I am not personally religious, Leonardo.

[howexciting]

Neither am I, but we are knowledgeable enough about our religions to pass well enough. Should the Holy See ever be involved in a Jaunt, I will be sure to inform you of the full catechism of the Catholic Church.

[loyalrebel]

So long as they do not seek to start a fourth crusade I have no reason to attempt to murder the Pope.

[howexciting]

... a crusade is something I would much rather avoid, also.

[He takes this conversation private, now.]

If we should run into Pope Alexander Sextus, he is a confirmed enemy. He is... under the sign of the Cross.

[Those who might be listening in on their conversation will not hear Assassin secrets from him, or the secrets of prominent Templars.]

[loyalrebel]

[Except Malik doesn't actually know how to do that. Whoops. He can, however answer both comments with the same answer.]

If it comes to a fight, I will do what I need to in order to ensure everyone remains safe.

not here

[claudiometer]

[The Crusades aren't really Claudia's area of expertise, but she's preeeeeetty sure a) there were more than three and b) the fourth is where they started getting really stupid.

Excuse her, she needs to go find a salad to laugh into.]

also not here

[thornsofmalkav]

[Yeah. Also not Thorne's area of expertise, but she also has that impression about number of crusades. Let's... just not say anything about that.

P.S. She can make you your salad.]

[ofinspiration]

I don't know if you noticed, but it was the condescending advice based on flawed assumptions that set off that clusterfuck, not the idea of sharing information itself.

...some of it, anyway. If you think some of those people wouldn't have found an excuse for pants theft one way or another, you are deeply mistaken.

[howexciting]

Regardless of how it started, it happened. And others who might have been interested in pooling our resources now might be hesitant to do so.

... then I suppose I am deeply mistaken. My apologies.

[ofinspiration]

If all it takes to shut someone up is the prospect of a handful of teenagers snapping at them, they probably weren't all that useful to start with. Maybe they should find some balls and get over themselves.

[bypartisan]

To be fair to Malik, I'd say the vast majority of Travelers between the age of thirteen and twenty can come off as faintly terrifying when you think too hard about the things they're capable of--what with all the summoning gods out of their heads to 'fight off bad feelings' as I believe Seta put it.

[ofinspiration]

And we don't all have faintly terrifying abilities after a few months here? Please.