Devil's Deal IC 10: The Garmine Cinematic Universe

[Archmage1]

Niramour frown remains sturdy in the face of Mrs Toreador's lack of logic, and then she has a breakthrough. So... Garmine... it isn't a town. It isn't seeking to use the land, it's seeking to protect it's visitors from themselves. It's a fort. Not a good fort, since apparently, they don't even have watch towers or anything, but maybe only magic is the danger? With her recent understanding, Niramour nods once more, her frown slowly fading. "I think I understand now. Garmine... it isn't a city, or a town... it's a fort, with walls of magic, defended by the ex-adventurers. It can't offer any protection beyond it's wall, it simply doesn't have the organization, but it does..." She frowns, as her revelation finds a hole. "Actually... no, it doesn't. If it isn't safe to wander outside of town, there should be some sort of warning posted, but there wasn't."

[PersonMan]

Luzille furrows her brows. "A fort? Sorry, Niramour, you lost me there. And warnings?" She raises an eyebrow. "Maybe Cibdere was a bit backwards, but not even the revolutionaries wanted to post signs everywhere. And Garmine is, well," she shrugs. "You don't get here by accident. It's hard to not know what it's like here, if you came. And if not, people tell you quickly enough, right?"

[Archmage1]

Niramour turns her attention to Luzille, as she tries to explain things. "Garmine is like a fort under siege. It doesn't try to secure the area around it, so it's only safe to go out with an escort. And it doesn't seem to have any notices for visitors at all, which, well... I suppose makes sense, based on the utter lack of public services. A village usually tries to gather resources and things from the area around it, and uses them to sustain itself, but Garmine doesn't." She sighs as she continues. "But I did get here by trusting to chance. I got on a boat going somewhere I hadn't been before. And... I learned that Garmine... doesn't really have a government. At all. So there's that." She shakes her head slowly. "But... I suppose I can't be the only one that thinks that, so there's a reason for it."

[PersonMan]

Luzille raises an eyebrow. "A fort under siege? I've been in one of those, and trust me, Garmine isn't anything like that," she says. "Yeah, we can't just run off into the wilds, but we're not typical, er, Garminers. A normal village isn't going to go out and tear down anything that could be a threat to any one-armed, one-legged cripples who decide to sneak off into the woods, either." Luzille shrugs. "And if you've got as much magic as they do, why do you need to go out, anyways?"

[Archmage1]

Niramour shakes her head. "It seems like it is. Only people with extensive training in fighting can journey outside. And the requirement for an escort means that the town is economically dependent on the ships coming in. There are no farmers, no fishers, no wood-gatherers... it could be that I'm missing something obvious, but... I don't think I am." She sighs, and tries to calm herself down, as her worries boil over. "I'm sorry, it's just so... I don't like feeling helpless." I froze... if it wasn't for... Her quavering voice trails off for a few moments, but she takes a breath, and tries to steady it before she continues. "And in Garmine, I am. So... Why isn't it like a fort, Luzille?"

[Hazuki]

"It isn't a fort, because it's a town. It's a collection of buildings with a community and a government. I have no idea why you think it doesn't, considering they handle visitors, security, civil matters, and I've no doubt a huge number of other things. They don't gather resources, because they don't need to. They have people who can gather more resources in ten minutes than a dozen lumberjacks could in a day, who can craft essentials like furniture at a snap of their fingers, and food and drinkable water, as well." Mrs Toreador says. "What, precisely, is your problem with how Garmine is run? And have you asked questions of somebody in authority to see whether your concerns are being handled?"

[PersonMan]

Luzille nods to her wife. "Don't need farmers if you have enough mages," she says. "And a fort under siege is surrounded by people who want to break through and kill everyone inside. Garmine has more-or-less dangerous wilderness outside it. And you can leave Garmine easily, get all the things you can normally get, don't have to worry about bombarding..." the duelist shrugs. "Calling it a fort under siege, you're just telling me you've never been in one. The atmosphere's just different."

[Archmage1]

The stressed Niramour just gives Mrs. Toreador a look before she continues, speaking rapidly. "There isn't really a government, that I can tell? There aren't any public buildings, security seems to consist of volunteers, handling visitors is signing paperwork which doesn't even explain anything." Her voice shifts into a more shrilly mocking tone. "Oh, no, look! Visitors! We should make them sign papers that tell us their name, where they're from, and do they have any illnesses! In Triplicate! For three different offices! Except there aren't any offices. So we need to fill out paperwork for that too! That's all visitors need to know, right?" Her voice quickly shifts to a more normal tone as she finishes. "As far as I can tell, there's no organization at all. They're just sort of... there?" She shrugs. "As for the rest... Garmine claims to be a colony. But it isn't colonizing. All of it's resource needs seem to be handled by magic, so... why here? They could be anywhere? I'm calling it a fort because it seems like there's no concern at all for what happens beyond it's walls, whereas a village is dependent on it's surroundings."

Spoiler: Sense motive?

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Niramour seems to be more concerned about the security than anything else, but she's losing it here.
(I'm trying to portray a post combat stress overload, which... isn't working well.)

[Hazuki]

"Are you quite mad?" Mrs Toreador raises an eyebrow. "They're located in the Authority Building, which also contains their offices, is where the guards organize things, and so on. Do you think the fact that you haven't personally met Kalahira means she isn't there? The Reigning Host provided an introduction to the basics of Garmine when I arrived, and you could simply go to the authority building if you had questions. The guards are volunteers in the sense that they're present voluntarily, but they get paid and I don't know why you'd think they don't. And, as you would know if you'd bothered asking, Garmine is here because Kalahira decided it should be, and there aren't any others, because they all failed."

"As for colonizing...if your complaint is that they're not ravaging the lands enough, then my mentors would have had quite the choice phrases for you." Mrs Toreador scoffs. "And a town is defined by the people who live there. They think it's a town. They spend their lives in comfort, with friends, family, the things they enjoy, be it books or plays or a visit to the bakery. The fact that you think they're doing poorly for...what? Not forcing them to breed so they can colonize the rest of Immoren? Is stupid."

[Archmage1]

Niramour shrugs, before she answers again, her voice full of anger. "Fine. You say that they're there, so I suppose that's true? I haven't seen any signs of an organized guard force, nor did I receive an introduction to Garmine, nor do I see any signs that there's any reason at all to actually have a colony here, beyond Kalahira's pride." She sighs, and breathes slowly, and evenly for ten seconds, before she continues, in another vein.

"Honestly, every single person that I've spoken to since I've arrived has said that Garmine is amazing, and wonderful, and awe-inspiring, but... it doesn't have any schools. No public Museums. No guard stations. No churches. Pirates attack ships close to the town. Monsters prey upon well armed travelers within a day's journey of the town. I haven't seen any signs of an organized guard force. Or Children. There is only the Authority building. There are very few chances for a new resident to work. But all's well, because of magic. And everyone says that the leader is amazing. And everyone is in one gigantic mental link. Are you sure it isn't doing more than simply allowing communication? Because well... you keep saying all of these things, and I haven't seen any signs of it after having been in town for a few days. I'm worried."

Spoiler: OOC

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I know, you're not going to agree, but... As far as I can tell(And I read back through the older posts), while everyone is saying Garmine is amazing, what's shown "on screen" as it were... isn't. It has a large number of powerful people, and they all... just repeat the party line. Tulip saw signs of a guard force, but Niramour hasn't. Tulip also just went along with everything, but Niramour tries to understand. And at the moment, she doesn't think Garmine makes sense.

[Hazuki]

"What counts as an organized guard force?" Mrs Toreador raises an eyebrow. "They patrol. They have methods of instant contact. I suppose you need a middle-aged alcoholic Captain throwing his weight around for them to be real? The presence of schools has nothing to do with the government, Garmine has no history to present in a museum, telepathy removes the need for guard stations, and the lack of churches is because no organized religion has decided to build one here, thus, not the fault of the government. As a ship's mage, I can assure you, the waters around Garmine are incredibly safe. And, we have been traveling for a day, yet we have not been attacked by monsters - unless you count the thing I squished a few hours ago?"

"And, finally, as for children - there are a few wandering around. I admit, it's odd that there are so many residents of alternate sexuality, but they are here, and the fact that they're able to interact as lovers without a baby spewing out every time likely accounts for the lack of children. Quite frankly, you seem paranoid. If this telepathy - which you seem to be implying your think is some manner of indoctrination - were malicious, people would be acting as though they are fine when they clearly are not. Yet, all of Garmine is well-fed, well-dressed, well-protected, actively engages with one another, be it arguments or conversation, and, perhaps most importantly, aren't raving like a lunatic because they got on a ship one day without a plan and were shocked to find themselves having no idea what to do."

[Archmage1]

Niramour just looks levely at Mrs. Toreador. None... none of that is true? But it seems like she believes it. Flat contradiction? Maybe she's re-think things? I'm really starting to believable she's under some sort of mental effect. "No, they don't patrol. Or if they do, it isn't in town. I haven't seen any guards at all, beyond the ones in the Authority building. I've been in town long enough that I should have. There aren't any schools in Garmine, from what I was told. Museums aren't about history. They're about showing art, and culture. But Garmine doesn't have any. From the explanation I was given... Telepathy absolutely doesn't cover emergency situations reliably. It's too dependent on the people that pass the message along. No churches at all is concerning, as they're a key social place. The waters don't seem to be safe, as we encountered a burned ship a day out of Garmine. We were, in fact, attacked by an invisible monster only you could see, so, yes, there are monsters. What you're saying doesn't match with what I've seen. And you don't seem to be able to see that, and I can't remove whatever is affecting you."

[Hazuki]

"Culture which revolves around history, mostly, and it has no unique culture. There are private galleries if you're interested in art - I hear Q.T's is especially interesting. As for telepathy - it is as quick as the spoken word. If I have to tell Luzille, to tell you, to tell Piper, to tell Blume, that her knickers are showing, it will take under ten seconds. Much quicker than a guard station. As for churches - take it up with them; it's not up to Garmine to create them, just allow them. And I think I've sailed these waters far more than you - so shut your silly mouth." Mrs Toreador says. "As for the monster - it was a little bug that I saw plain as day. It's not my fault, or Garmine's, that you're imperceptive."

Spoiler: GM Note

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The rest of the party failed their Perception checks to notice the bug. I rolled them, because I often do.

[Archmage1]

Niramour shakes her head. "Culture is the thing that brings a people togeather, what makes Garmine Garmine, not just some random town with people. There were 3 private galleries when I asked, which, well... doesn't match a proper museum. That telepathy example... have you ever tried passing a message on by word of mouth? Telling someone, to tell someone, to tell someone, and so on? After three or four people, the message tends to be unrecognizable. From what I was told, that would apply here. But fine. I'm an idiot, and wrong, and a fool, and silly, and useless. So I suppose I might as well leave, since I can't express a reasonable opinion based on what I've seen and heard at all, and have nothing to contribute."
With that, Niramour turns to depart.

[Hazuki]

"The message doesn't get distorted when there are particular people trusted with sending the messages, and they're simple. A location name, for example? And done immediately, leaving almost no room for memory to change? No, I'm sure you know better about how to run Garmine, seeing as you have a lifetime of nothing to support your position." Mrs toreador rolls her eyes. "You're stupid because you have not taken your concerns to the proper authorities. And because you apparently have a fetish for museums that borders on the unhealthy."

[Archmage1]

Niramour keeps walking away, heading back towards Garmine. As she passes Luzille, she passes the book over to her. "I'm sure your wife can handle this far better than I can." She ignores Mrs. Toreador's words, having had more than enough of being told that she's wrong about everything.

I... I can't do this. I can't handle traveling for days with someone who's going to tell me I'm wrong every time I try to ask a question. I can't handle the danger level, not if that insect thing doesn't even count as a threat! An actual threat would kill me easily! And if Mrs. Know-it-all is, then she can read the book, and do it better than I can! And if none of them want me here... I shouldn't be here. Piper was nice, but...