Fri Feb 23 12:37:15 108 PA
From Chronicles
The current game time is: Fri Feb 23 12:37:15 108 PA.
The light wisps of cloud overhead emit an almost mist-like rain accenting the cool temperature. The full moon is outshone by the sun.
Bartholemew stands outside the coffee shop sippin on a cup of coffee, standing close to the wall to attempt to stay dry. His poncho is soaked with the moisture and his boots are covered in the mud and grime of the streets.
Some are not concerned with the weather, and Davirok is one of those. It moves into the market area from the street to the south, continuing north towards the gates without any hurry. Shopping is not on the agenda, although it slithers amongst pedestrians that are here for exactly that.
Bartholemew can't help but notice the reptilian D-bee making its way through the crowd. He does take a few moments to get a good look at the creature, its not everyday a huge snakelike being comes by. For the most part he seems rather bored though, just trying to enjoy a cup of coffee in the damp weather.
Davirok does not travel through the crowd every day, but some may have seen it pass before. Conspicuous as it is, there is little trouble finding space to pass, as most that would be in the way tend to move. Davirok remains in the pathway for pedestrians until slowing to a stop at a larger area free of vehicular traffic: the outdoor seating for several eateries, including the coffee shop. It's head pans as it observes the humanoid passersby.
Bartholemew smiles at some of the reactions of people giving the D-bee room to move by, seeming to find it somewhat amusing. As it looks on at those passing by, head panning to scan over those around, Bart says something meant for himself with a subtle chuckle that may be overheard, "Which one do I eat first? Hmmmm." adlibbing for the strange creature just as someone comes out of the coffee shop to overhear, shake his head and then spot the creature and move to give it a wide berth as he goes by.
Some sounds are discernible to sensitive receptors despite the bustle of the area. That casual conversation tends to be halted in Davirok's vicinity makes it all the more easy to note. It's head pans towards the voice and a synthesized reply issues forth in a bass tone. "I am not currently hunting for food." A reassurance or explanation.
Bartholemew looks to the creature in perhaps a bit of surprise. He chuckles with a shake of his head, "No no, just playing guy. Could I be some help and point you in the right direction? Looks like your searching for something, or someone."
"I observe." Davirok explains. "Mammals are strange creatures." It's head pans towards the market once more. "You gather here for safety, but still skitter about in fear and chaos. " Bartholemew nods with a chuckle, popping himself off the wall of the building he makes his way over to it. "Well its not everyday a big ole talking snake pops into town. Most are just working stiffs and not familiar with what lies outside these walls. The names Bart." he says introducing himself as he gets closer, but still seems to keep some distance from it. "Where ya from buddy? You some kind of scientist type doin a documentary on us warm blooded types?"
Davirok studies Bart a moment before reciprocating its head to either side in an exagerrated version of the human gesture. "I am not a scientist, only an observer. I came from another world. This world is as chaotic as the mammals in it. This is why none have any control over it."
Bartholemew gives a look over the bazaar, making his own study of the situation, before looking back to the reptilian giving him a shrug, "Seems pretty organized to me. How long ya been on this world buddy? Been around mammals long? It may look chaotic without any organization, but really its just a common rainy day here. Can I buy ya a cup of coffee or something? Standing around like this makes the working stiffs a bit nervous. I'm sure they are looking at ya as if your gonna eat em, but again, they are just working stiffs for the most part, never being outside the walls of this city."
"Outside the walls is the rest of this world." Davirok pauses to try and understand what the mammal explains. "Do most here hide from it? That is idiocy. There is strength in numbers. It should not be wasted with ignorance. Are all gatherings like this?"
Bartholemew nods with a smile and chuckle, "For the most part, yes. Though not all cities could a guy like you come in and observe like this. You happen to be in a city of mammals that realize that there are people like you, that are different, and accept that. Even though some of us might be a little scared of something as different as...well, a talking snake, we accept your right to exist. If you were to head north of this city, you will find a very different reception. So what are ya? if I'm not being too rude."
Davirok emits a sound remarkable similar to vented air, and it is not from a speaker. "Most attack without provocation. I know this. " After that, it asks, "There is another city to the north? I did not know this. Small settlements are scattered on this continent, but this is the largest collection of humanoids I have found."
Bartholemew nods to its question, "Yeah buddy, there are quite a few settlements as large as this. If ya like I can show ya on a map if ya got one. I can also tell ya which ones ya better just stay clear of, but first, ya gotta tell me what your name is, can't just keep callin ya buddy, unless ya like the nickname, it works for me buddy."
"I am Davirok." A simple answer to the demand and implied question. "Why should I avoid others? Are they larger, more organized, or better supplied?" As an observer, it is curious, and Bart has piqued that curiosity.
Bartholemew chuckles at the obvious misunderstanding, "No no Davirok." taking the time to pronounce it as the reptilian says it, or as best he can, "Its not that they are better supplied, they hate more. Know what I mean?"
Davirok coils much of its body beneath in what could be considered a casual stance, or possibly a seated equivalent. "If they are more aggressive and no better armed, they are foolish. It is no wonder your species are becoming extinct. That is why I observe the humanoids first."
Bartholemew tilts his head slightly, "Extinct eh? Listen buddy, no need to get insulting." at first sounding serious but ending with a friendly chuckle, "Look around again. See all that stuff out there you call chaos?" pointing along amongst the activities of the Market and such, "I don't know what kind of order you come from, but all that chaos can put a world of hurt if provoked and kept from living in that sort of chaos. Are you hear on some sort of invasion info gathering deal? Cause if that is your plan," he chuckles, "Go for it. Give it a whirl buddy, cause I tell ya what. No matter how long you, observe, these mammals will surprise the shit outta ya, you can bank on that. We're like lemmings, you can kill some of us, but more just follow suit. All haveing their own talant that gives strength to the masses. We do our jobs and the rest get through. Does your species war with itself? Has it ever?"
"There is no dissent, no war between my people. All work for the good of all." Davirok explains after a pause. "That is why we prosper. I see nothing like this, on this world. It is strange." Obviously, the creature has drastically different experiences than those on this world.
Bartholemew chuckles finding amusement in what he thinks is strange, "Its the chaos, we need it, crave it. Without it we become soft and nothing gets done. We remain stagnant. You come from a world of perfect order, right? A place where everyone helps out the other, your like an insect working the hive, like bees. You know what bees are, right? We are like, hmmm," pausing to think of a comparison, "we are like, the opposite, we only become organized when a threat attacks our hive. Other than that we just do our own thing that brings us happiness. In the process it benefits us as a whole, cause when we are happy, we dream, become inspired to be more than mundane worker bees."
Davirok listens, although not all of what Bart speaks makes sense to it. "There is no one hive, here. Each is separate. You are ..." a pause as it attempts to parse a proper term, "feudal? That is inefficient. One city competes with another when they could unite. Are no mammals strong enough to lead?"
Bartholemew nods with a shrug, "There are plenty that are strong enough to lead, but not one of them can make all of us happy. We're too independent, we all want our own things, even the leaders, which we all want to be. Might not be efficient, but it does us just fine."
"You will do as you will." Davirok voiced its opinions, yet does not seem inclined to make a philosophical debate out of them. "Where are the other cities? I am curious, and may observe those, also. If all mammals are different, I should examine more than one collection."
Bartholemew chuckles, "Sure thing, I can point out a couple that will definitely interest you. Gonna have to get to a dry area area and I can draw ya a rough map from what I remember and have heard. Not all will be friendly to you though, so be careful where ya travel, but I'll point out which ones are safe for ya."
Davirok will wait for Bart to locate the desired spot on which to draw. "Few mammals are friendly. Most attack, flee, or cannot decide which to do. One more way they are confusing and confused."
Bartholemew nods in agreement going over to an overhang of a building to get out of the main misty weather. He pulls out a small notepad and pen and begins to draw a rough map of what he knows, It shows Tolkeen, Kingsdale, Whykin and a few other well known spots. An arrow designates the direction of Chitown and the heart of the CS with a note of danger for that direction. Tolkeen is marked as friendly, as is Whykin with a question mark. The map is rough but can point it in the right directions to get there, "Now the CS is not a group you just wanna trollop around, they hate your kind and anything not human, so tread lightly in their land. They will attack you, no doubt about that buddy, and they have strong weapons to deal with D-bees, and dogs that can sniff you out. I ain't never been to Chitown, but been in enough battles with them to know, its not a good place for D-bees, magic or Psi guys."
"CS... These are humans?" That is all that is easily apparent from what Bart mentions. "Why do they hate all that is not human?" Davirok may be one of the few in the city, or the world, that knows nothing of this 'CS.'
Bartholemew shakes his head with a shrug as he tears out the page and hands it over to it, "Not sure exactly, the way I figure it is, they fear the unknown and gather those with the same fear to their side. While the rest of us, embrace the opportunity to meet and interact with the different beings that the Rifts bring to this world. CS stands for Coalition States, so you may hear that instead, but most of us call em CS for short. Deadboys are another term you'll hear, those are the soldiers. Don't get me wrong, they do have a point sometimes. Not all of you D-bees are nice and willing to chat, some of you do want to eat us. We are quite tasty." he chuckles jokingly.
Davirok reaches out to take the drawing with one of the lower, smaller appendages. "Soldiers. They have a military force?" The sketch is brought to its face and studied. "Humans are tasy, and also more easily caught than many other prey. If this Coalition fights for humans, why do not all humans join?"
Bartholemew replies with an affirming nod to the question, "Cause not all D-bees are bad, most are just like us humans, we just want to do our thing. They want it to be all the same, serve the emperor, and kill everything not human. No reason to kill something if your not going to eat it. I can totally understand the predator and prey aspect of life, though not all humans are easy prey. Everything has a right to exist, good or bad, that is why some of us disagree with the CS."
"Fascinating." Davirok rolls the paper into a tube around another appendage with the one holding the drawing. It is then placed into a compartment behind a scale-plate for future review. "I will study these other cities, in time." Davirok's lower body uncoils in preparation for movement. "This information is of value and worth further observation." That could be a form of thanks before the serpent resumes its course north towards the gates.
