18+ Private Isulus Rooted in the Past

[Vina Skysong]

Cleo's scepticism about whether the game could affect one's mind wasn't without merit: it was easy to mess with one's muscle mass but to change one's personality was a much more delicate business. However, Vina also had her reasons for believing it was a possibility, even if the implications were rather disturbing.

I'm pretty sure it can't completely change who we are, but with my music I can change how people feel~ And I can also feel my tail as if it's always been a part of me, so it's not impossible that the game can make some changes, like making humans more steadfast than the rest of us.

Despite the disturbing conversation, Vina remained calm as if they were talking about the weather or some such. Fascinating and potentially nightmarish as this topic was, she hadn't noticed any truly big changes in herself. And even if the game could enhance or lessen certain personality traits she doubted that it could really brainwash people.

Or maybe it's like the pain limiter. Either way, I'm pretty sure that in the end we're still ourselves, so no need to worry too much about it~

And I'm guessing that not a lot of players know about them either, and the Landers have little reason to mention them unless you're heading inside the Tangleweaves. (She pointed at the deep green mass slowly rising up in the distance.) It's not like every forest has them, after all~ Most people also stay out of the Tangleweaves if they don't have a good reason to enter, with the exception of nature lovers like me~

@Cleo Looker

 

[Cleo Looker]

She really didn't like thinking about it. Her usual psyche evaluations weren't flagging any kind of changes so far, so hopefully personality changes, like willpower, just weren't something that the game was capable of, otherwise she'd have to drop it entirely. It was one thing for the game to make it so ears and tails weren't just functionless decorations, but it was another thing altogether for the game to actively make a person more willful and determined in life.

And the implications of that kind of thing were horrifying to think about. Especially riding the coattails of the revelation that players could be mind controlled.

I suppose that makes sense. If they're as reclusive as they sound then there's basically no need to mention them since there's such a little chance of encountering one anyhow. Still, I'd like to see one, just to see what kind of a threat they could be to players.

And to be able to actually warn new and inexperienced players about them if she had to. Information on what a creature could do would save lives. Collecting and spreading that kind of info was an important part of protecting the players of this game, especially the young and inexperienced ones.

You said it was hostile at first. What kinds of things did it do?

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

As usual Cleo seemed more concerned with how the wonders of Terrasphere could pose a threat to the people of Earth than intrigued by all the strange and interesting things she could encounter and experience here which didn't exist on Earth. Vina frowned thoughtfully as the officer explained her motives, the vixen letting out a thoughtful hum.

Since they're just as smart as you or me they could be dangerous if someone wandered in here without being careful. But I think the most important thing to do would be for players to not react to everything they see with aggression, and to be kind to the forest. (She chuckled.) They're like very passionate environmentalists I guess~?

Before them the Tangleweaves were now quickly approaching. What had been a thin line of dark green in the distance had become a towering wall of green and brown and black that only rose higher and higher with every step they took, threatening to swallow them. The vegetation around them had already become more verdant, the plains of Astorea giving way to shrubs, ferns, and a disorderly sea of various smaller plants, colours ranging from purple to bright yellow sticking out amidst the leafs, branches, and stems.

She didn't do much, honestly. She created a vine trap to capture me and Ruby, but we managed to escape~ I guess even with how angry she was she wasn't about to attack without warning- (She blinked.) Oh, I forgot! The reason she was angry with us was that Ruby was using a fire sprite to light the way, and somehow she lost control of it. So, if you want to avoid getting in trouble with the dryads only make very controlled flames~

In hindsight it was rather silly she'd forgotten that part. Then again, given everything that had happened afterwards maybe it was understandable.

@Cleo Looker

 

[Cleo Looker]

A creature capable of intelligent thought was dangerous. A lot of players tended to assume that the NPCs in this game acted in pre-scripted ways and such, as had been taught to them by a lifetime of playing games wherein that would've been the case. It meant that a lot of players would fumble or struggle, the first time they came up against something that would actively attempt to learn and adapt to how that player fought and did battle.

Passionate environmentalists, huh? I've dealt with one or two of those types in the past. Not the most fun people to deal with from the other side.

It had always sucked having to arrest and lay down the law against the ones that took things too far. Because she could support their cause, but not the extent to which some people followed it. Cleo idly thought, as they walked, that perhaps most players didn't tend to be intentionally destructive to the world around them. She'd not heard about player deforestation or something.

And the explanation that it had been Vina's companion's ineptitude with some kind of fire magic that had caused the issue did both soothe and increase her concerns. Ineptitude could be dealt with, but most people wouldn't realize they were making a mistake until they'd made one.

So the dryad went for capture first? Good to know, though I'm not sure many players would consider that when they go for a counterattack. I'll try and spread the word about being careful in the forests.

Maybe a lie about it affecting spawn rates would be more effective than the truth...?

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

Vina raised an eyebrow at Cleo's rather ambiguous statement. Well, her opinion was pretty clear-cut, but why exactly she'd find passionate environmentalists a pain to deal with was up in the air. The vixen looked at her friend, tilting her head in curiosity.

You have?

Maybe Cleo would elaborate, although Vina wouldn't be surprised if the redhead didn't feel like it.

Vina did feel a bit embarrassed that she'd forgotten that Ruby's dancing flame had gotten the dryad angry in the first place. Given everything else that had happened that day it wasn't surprising she'd forget some details, but given Cleo's cautiousness she'd nearly convinced her friend that the guardians of the forest just attacked anyone who entered their territory.

That'd be a good idea yes. I think the Explorers already have some guidelines for how to survive inside the Tangleweaves, so maybe they could help with that as well. It's part of their job, after all~

The vixen hummed happily as a shadow fell over them. The trees were now close enough that the sun was hidden behind them, a shifting pattern of light formed by the gaps between the branches and the leafs replacing the bright open skies they'd travelled underneath until now. Looking back Vina took a second to compare the sun-kissed plains behind them before she stepped into the jungle, spreading her arms wide.

We've still got quite some ways to go, but now we're inside the jungle~! This is your second time here, isn't it Cleo~?

@Cleo Looker

 

[Cleo Looker]

Eh, sometimes they need every hand on deck to deal with and contain protests and the such. Especially in the events where the protests turn violent, or if somebody turns violent against the protestors.

Environmentalists blocking major roads and travel ways, only to be attacked by angry and frustrated drivers, was quite an old and enduring tale. People didn't like it when they were being inconvenienced, even for a good cause. Cleo felt she could empathize. The people that were affected most by blocked roads and hindered transports were often the people that had nothing to do with the issues being protested. Public sentiment quickly turned against the protestors, in those cases.

She hummed as they approached the treeline, a shadow falling over them. Vina was the one to take the first step into the jungle, spreading her arms wide for some reason. Cleo blinked, shrugging at Vina's question.

It probably isn't my first time, at least. I don't remember too much about this place, though, truth be told. I didn't really think it worthy of that much notice.

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

Vina hummed as Cleo explained her past experience with environmental protesters. Of course, if a really big protest was going down and things were spiralling out of control even those who weren't usually part of crowd control would be roped in to assist. That made sense.

I see~ I hope that doesn't happen too often... That said, we'll be fine since we're only exploring some old ruins. I think the dryads mostly leave that kind of thing alone, since they're just looking after the forest itself, not what might be hidden underneath~

Given how the Tangleweaves had expanded quite quickly to cover this land and turn it into a teeming jungle the dryads probably just ignored the remnants of ancient civilizations which lay buried far beneath the surface. And since they weren't going to be messing with the forest themselves the spirits would just leave them be: it wasn't like they harassed every traveler that happened to wander between the trees.

You were part of the big expedition which ended with all of us having to fight that giant Kurungaar Broodqueen, weren't you Cleo? I didn't know you very well back then but you were already standing out~ (She tilted her head and smiled.) Not many people can boast about such beautiful hair~ But I hope you'll enjoy this trip a bit more, and maybe grow to appreciate the Tangleweaves as well.

Not everyone was a nature enthusiast like she was, and Vina was fine with that. With some luck this journey together would make Cleo grow a bit fonder of the jungle, but even if that wasn't the case the druidess would just consider it a difference in taste.

The ruins are pretty deep inside the jungle, and far down below as well. We'll have to head for one of the places where the roots still have gaps between them so we can journey down. Let's go~!

Turning back towards the jungle Vina would enthusiastically lead the way further into the forest's depths, leaving behind the open fields as above them the canopy filtered the sunlight, patterns of light and moving across the path as branches gently swayed in a breeze far above their heads. Occasionally a bird could be heard chittering in the distance, and with her high awareness Cleo could also notice the occasional rustling of things moving in the undergrowth.

At first the path was fairly normal, a simple line of dirt weaving between the trees were the journeys of many creatures had stomped out any small plantlife. However, as they went further and further it became clear that the ground wasn't mere soil: in the distance between the trees one could see the land weaving up and down, and eventually their own path would lose its clear shape and start weaving in strange ways as well. A closer look at their surroundings would also reveal that the trees here reached further down, and while their footsteps fell on solid footing there were places where gaps showed, revealing that they were moving on a higher layer of the jungle with other levels existing below.

@Cleo Looker