Difference between revisions of "5352/Spelunking"

Latest revision as of 04:00, 8 July 2017

Sarah (316) has posed:
  Deep beneath the surface of the multiverse, the network of four caverns that have become one are interspersed with both pockets of habitation, and pockets of former habitation. Where dwellings and places of business make up the former, only ruins populate the latter; through all sorts of environmental conditions.

  It's in a relatively temperate region underground, dotted with rushing rivers and still subterranean pools, that one such area of ruins lie undisturbed. Where the cities of interest to the androids of YoRHa were once made of concrete and steel, these ruins are of mortar and stone. It looks to have been a grand settlement, once, built after the shape of a lozenge... or a compass rose.

  Everything follows the cardinal directions, though the movement of the earth means that none of them correspond to either true or magnetic north any more. Whatever the structures here were, they were grand, once upon a time; architecture on a breathtaking scale -- but all that's left now are ruins and tumbledown masonry. Not much of the interiors of the dwellings are left; indeed, it's hard to tell what purpose some of the structures originally served.

  There are even the remnants of finely paved roads, with shattered lengths of smooth-polished marble now dusty and damaged. Not a creature stirs here. It's silent as a tomb, and the air is still and somewhat stagnant, scented lightly of water and the fungus that grows on the cavern walls. Occasionally one hears the deep, basso rumble of the earth shifting restlessly in its sleep... but for the most part this place is still and silent.

  But it is not empty.

  Within the heart of the settlement, centred around the compass rose lozenge made of marble and other types of stone, a single figure stands. It appears to be a lone human woman -- although certainly her skin is pale enough to be carved of alabaster from the depths, she herself is assuredly alive. Her hair is so pale a blonde as to be almost colourless; eyes closed. She wears an elabourately layered dress, slightly dusty about its hem, and carries an ornate greatstaff of ebonwood and silver, with a crystal clutched at its head.

  The crystal is glowing bright as a lamp, throwing stark blue-white shadows on the surroundings. Although not held upright, the staff is held at a slight angle, resting almost loosely in a crook of the woman's elbow while she concentrates on... something.

  There is an aura of great power around her, although perhaps the non-magical might not notice it -- more like a pressure, a weight to the air around her. Something about her is reminiscent of water, even though there's nothing about her to suggest it but the faintly aqua colour of her dress.

  Hmmm.

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
"Do you really think there's going to be anything down here?"
"You never know, sis. Humans were supposedly very crafty even before learning how to use electricity. To be able to survive in caverns like these, they must have-"
"Alright, alright. Just be careful, alright? Who knows how long this place has been abandoned like this."

    The pair of androids can be heard before they're seen, not bothering to hide their presence as they trawl through the underground cavern. Why would they? Whoever lived here must have already extracted anything of value, there's unlikely to be anything of value to treasure hunters that hasn't already been looted by now, and there's little strategic value to be had in a place that's such a pain to get to.

     Except there is someone. The woman with the slightly-askew blunt bangs holds a hand up first to halt her sister, peering towards the pale woman standing further ahead in the settlement. The woman with the unkempt hair is peering ahead as well, a cautious hand reaching for the sword dangling at her belt. They don't seem to notice the aura around her, although...

     Maybe they can't. Feeling magic would be something that would require living people, after all. They exchange cautious glances with each other, and then they begin to approach the woman while stopping far enough away that they still need to raise their voices slightly just to be clear.

"Hello there. Are you from around here?"
"Hello there. Are you human?"
"Devola...!"
"I'm just making sure."

Sarah (316) has posed:
  Distorted echoes chase each other down the silent corridors, ringing around each other and the spires of stone that thrust down from a roof of stone. It would be impossible to miss such a racket.

  The pale woman's eyelids flicker, but she doesn't open her eyes. Is she deaf? Is she in some kind of trance? Why doesn't she notice them?

  There is something classically beautiful about her features, but there's no mistaking that she is a fragile woman, slender enough to be called willowy, but with none of the controlled strength of a dancer. A scholar, perhaps; delicate and certainly slim, but not accustomed to a physical lifestyle.

  A faint frown mars her brow, and her eyelids flicker again, finally fluttering open slowly. Her eyes are -- almost blue. Like her hair, they suggest more an absence of colour than anything else, entirely without the slightly red or pink touch of the truly albinistic. Freakishly pale, almost unhealthily so, but she seems healthy enough as she looks between the two sisters.

  There is a faint shift of that greatstaff; a subtle change into a more defensive position.

  "That seems like a peculiar question to ask someone," the woman says. Her voice is soft, whispery; so soft they might have trouble hearing if they aren't augmented beyond human standards. Even her voice is delicate, although there is a precise, measured quality about her words; a preternatural sense of /deliberation/ behind everything she says and does, from her clear articulation to the subtle efficiency of her movements. "There is a tremendous variety of life in the multiverse, and I would estimate that comparatively little of it is truly 'human.'"

  She turns, finally, taking a cautious step forward. Her eyes never leave the two androids. "But to answer your question, I was human, once." Well, she looks organic, anyway. In spite of how carefully and deliberately she speaks and moves, there is nothing to suggest that she might be an android like her impromptu visitors. "I do not think I could be considered as such any longer."

  Those colourless eyes study the sisters, and even though her mannerisms seem mild, there is an intensity in those eyes incongruous against her seeming fraility -- and a brightness; an intelligence. A curiosity.

  "May I ask why you ask such a pointed question?"

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
The twins, so similar in most ways and yet completely opposite in others, both have the same reaction to the pale woman's reply as she begins. Although they take defensive stances, neither seems poised to actually attack in any way. Rather, they appear intensely curious about the woman. Her appearance, her voice, her presence in this secluded place in the middle of nowhere, her former humanity...

     That last one has them glancing towards each other quizzically. The one with neater hair speaks up first, offering a light bow at the waist in greeting. "Our apologies, miss. But you do appear to be human and speak normally enough, so... Why would you not be considered human any more?"

     The one with unkempt hair speaks up next, mimicking the bow but clearly seeming more interested in the questions rather than decorum. "Plus, you're down here alone. If you're not human, that means you're like us, then?" She seems conflicted about something as she says that, although it's not so much that she's worried about the pale woman as she is... Disappointed about something?

     Just who was more hopeful about finding humans more down here, anyway?

Sarah (316) has posed:
  Somewhat deliberately, the pale woman takes a half-step to the side, as though to follow and keep the twins in her line of sight as they approach. It's a subtle movement, but it's also a clear one -- she will be civil, but she is also cautious.

  "Appearances can be deceiving." The faintest hint of a smile flickers across her face, as though enjoying a subtle private joke. "However, I am not certain what you mean by 'like us.'"

  Humans are mostly water, and she senses almost nothing from these two. That alone is enough to intrigue her, and yet it isn't illusion that they use. She would most likely see through someone else's glamour.

  The woman tilts her head, moving to slowly, deliberately circle the two other women. Her eyes are fixed on them as she does, and the greatstaff remains in her grasp, its light casting harsh shadows over both androids. "In point of fact, I would say that neither of you are yourselves human, though I am not immediately certain what manner of being you are."

  Curious. She slows to a halt, tilting her head the other way as she studies them, jewelled earrings clinking softly. "Yes, I am down here alone." Again a flicker of a half-smile. "How astute of you to notice."

  Why wouldn't she be considered human any more?

  There is a subterranean river nearby -- and with a great basso surge there is no longer a river nearby. The entirety of the river rises, serpentine, and coils around the three figures like a dragon; the subtle shifting of its surface casting different shades of blue light on the woman and the androids.

  It rings tightly enough that they could reach out and touch it. In fact, a few stray droplets might well touch them.

  The pale woman never moves, as calm and composed as ever. Not a drop touches her. Once she's made her point, she releases the river, and it lowers itself like a great serpent back to the black abyss of its riverbed.

  "Does that answer your question?" she asks, mildly; so mildly, with that small, very slightly sardonic half-smile.

  Thaaaat sure isn't something a 'normal human' ought to be able to do.

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
"They really can, yes. Even we look human, but..." The neat one takes a look at her sister who shrugs and steps forward, then hops in place and lands on a single foot. It doesn't look like the unkempt one had put much effort into the jump, but there's the telltale thunk of something quite heavy hitting the ground.

     "... We're not human. Androids. But if you're asking, then you're not that, either." The unkempt one crosses her arms in front of her while watching the pale woman, standing mostly still beside her sister. They both squint at the light coming from the great staff, although neither of them has their hands on their weapons.

     Their stances are still those of people ready to fall back should things go bad. The neat one actually chuckles while the unkempt one huffs lightly at the mention of her astuteness. Before they can speak up again, though, they tense up at the sound of rushing water.

"... We need to go. Popola, stick cl-" And as quickly as the unkempt one began talking, she's already halting at the sight of the massive water serpent surrounding the trio. The twins have their weapons drawn in an instant, swords in hand with spears and gauntlets floating in the air beside them. It's not until the water returns to the river and the pale woman speaks up again that they finally relax and turn to the woman with their weapons returning to their backs and belts.

"Bit of a flashy way to say 'no', isn't it?"
"Oh, Devola. It was impressive, wasn't it?"
"... That was pretty cool, I guess."

Sarah (316) has posed:
  Those colourless eyes flit toward the ground as the more fastidious of the sisters hops in place. She lands with a sound far too heavy for her mass, and the term is quietly filed away for later research. That certainly makes sense. Neither of them have the kind of water content a normal living organism should have.

  Fascinating.

  The pale woman's own stance is likewise cautious, but aside from her showy answer, she makes no move towards them.

  "Forgive me. It is somewhat like an unruly puppy that must be let off its chain from time to time." The woman shows the faintest hint of a crooked smile, one that doesn't reach her eyes as she watches the twins' weaponry. Fascinating. However do they manage that? "I suppose that adequately answers your question, though, does it not? I do not know of any ordinary humans who are capable of such a display."

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
As things finally start settling down, the sisters both seem a little less wary than before. Although they're still cautious, they don't seem to be in a state of mind to just run off or swing their weapons forward. AFter that display, there wouldn't really be any point to it.

     "So it's something that you control indirectly, then? Like a... Pet rather than a device?" The neat one speaks up again, exchanging glances with her sister once more. It takes them a moment, and then they move to stand beside each other and bow towards the pale woman.

"We should introduce ourselves. She's Devola-"
"-and she's Popola. Good to meet you."

     Another bow, and their eerily choreographed greetings is over! Popola chuckles again and shakes her head after a moment. "I guess not. We've seen some strange humans since being found, sure, but... We haven't seen any with that kind of ability before."

     "Yeah, most of them were cyborgs. Nothing big like-" Devola gestures at the air around her. "-your pet snake before."

Sarah (316) has posed:
  Things settle down, but the pale woman seems no less wary than she had been before. Her colourless eyes track both sisters, and she watches their every move with a calm, quiet sort of caution. It seems it may take more than dismissing weaponry to earn her trust.

  "It is not," the woman clarifies. "At no point am I allowing the water to act as it is naturally inclined to, else it would not be capable of lifting itself from its riverbed. It is under my complete control, on a molecular level."

  Definitely not normal human!

  The pale woman inclines her head in respectful gesture, although the faintest hint of a half-smile suggests she's amused by something.

  "It is not so unusual an ability from my world, but a matter of scale. A normal human is more than capable of wielding such an ability, with the use of a Water Rune. And if an ordinary Water Rune is a candle, what I wield is more akin to a battery of high-performance floodlights." The pale woman smiles thinly. "There is no comparing them. And an ordinary human does not command a scale such as that; at least not from the world from whence I come."

  She seems to have a knack for an unassuming appearance; quiet, but certainly not meek. Inclining her head once more, with a slight tilt as though in a gesture of concession, she doesn't... quite bow.

  "I am Sarah. The pleasure is mine," she says, in that uniquely quiet voice of hers. Neither has she said /what/ she is, but they haven't asked. Not specifically, anyway.

  "But neither of you have answered my question. Why would you ask so quickly whether I am human or not human?"

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
"Ah. So it's..." Popola starts, then furrows her brow as the absurdity of it finally starts to hit her. "... Water manipulation? Without any sort of pipes or pumps or...?" She looks around rapidly, trying to catch a glimpse of anything that might clue her in on how it all works beyond 'runes'.

     "So magic. Just like in those old history books." Devola chimes in, crossing her arms again and raising an eyebrow at the half-smile. She doesn't say anything about it, though, her attention instead focused on what Sarah's explaining to them.

     Popola, meanwhile, keeps looking around as if trying to figure out if there's any other modern explanation for it that isn't just otherworldly magic.

     "So if that really is the case... It would line up with you not being human, then. But if that really is the case, then what are you?" Devola's tone isn't quite so confrontational as it is curious, and she gestures at the area around the trio at that last question. "We heard this place used to be inhabited by humans. Everything we've learned about humans makes it hard to believe that they'd be able to live down here easily, though, so seeing someone down here's not exactly what we expected."

Sarah (316) has posed:
  It must be pretty absurd, coming from a world where magic and the supernatural simply don't exist, or where technology has reached a point where it resembles that very same thing. After all, the two are indistinguishable, past a certain point.

  "I can assure you that it is quite a commonplace phenomenon in the world I hail from," Sarah states, eyeing Devola appraisingly. "What you just did, however, is not."

  That is to say, being able to brandish weapons without ever touching them. The only thing she can think of that might have a similar effect is a certain weapon, which may or may not be a rune, which also happens to be a jerk. It's complicated.

  As to what she is, though, Sarah can only shrug one narrow shoulder.

  "I am what you see, but what you see is no longer on the same level as those whom I once resembled. I suppose it is not much of a surprise, to me. Arguably, I was never a normal person; I have always had something curious in my veins, but I suppose that is beside the point." Sarah tilts her head in concessionary gesture, earrings clinking softly. "As to what I am, I am a Runebearer. I am a host to the cosmic power of water; water, at its most elemental and primal level."

  She smiles, faintly, though it's a bit crooked. "I suppose that must not mean much to you, so the simplest explanation is that I am capable of controlling water to a degree that borders on the intrinsic. Water is a part of me; a key component of my very essence."

  When they explain the provenance of the place they're in, Sarah turns, looking around and studying the closest stonework.

  "I am not certain. Perhaps it was once on the surface. I was here searching for runes, for they have a way of finding their way to the most unusual of places." The pale woman holds her greatstaff higher, casting light over the shattered masonry. "They originate from the True Runes, but since my world became one with the multiverse six years ago, they have a way of finding the most unusual of hiding-places. I sensed something, but it is gone, now."

  She steps closer to the closest wall. "I am not certain this was a human settlement. And," she adds, turning around to look pointedly at Devola, "you have still not answered my question. Why do you seek humans, and speak of them so? I have answered your questions." Sarah lifts her staff a little higher, casting that light on Devola and Popola. Never does her voice turn confrontational, though, still that quiet, almost whispery tone of preternatural calm and patience. "What are you?"

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
Truly, the androids still haven't seen proper magic just yet. Cyborgs, sure. Strong people, yeah. Actual magic, though? The stuff they've only heard of in ancient history books and overproduced documentaries? Not really.

     "Breaking the ground? Oh, that's because we're heavier than humans around this height and weight." Devola replies, apparently not thinking about what she and her sister had done with their weapons at all. Being strange compared to humans in several ways makes it hard to know what actually needs clarification!

     Popola soon gives up on trying to figure out the source of Sarah's water magic once that explanation is given, and she settles back into position next to Devola while peering at Sarah closely once more. "You might be a human in the technical sense, then, even if you've..."

     Popola pauses, glancing over at Devola who just shrugs lightly. "... Can a human surpass their own humanity? It wouldn't be the first strange thing we've heard of since we came here. Although if this wasn't a human settlement..."

     "We can probably leave, then." Devola follows up, her frown deepending slightly as she peers at the walls. "Why're we looking for them...?" Another questioning glance is exchanged, and Devola clears her throat.

     Does she even need to do that? Maybe an air filter's dirty, or it's just to lend herself a little more credibility. "In our world, humans don't live on the earth any more. Only androids like us and machines are around these days because the earth's too much of a mess for them to come back." She moves closer to a wall, tracing a finger along it before eyeing the architecture further away. "So being able to find anything that might help them return would... Well, that's the androids' mission."

Sarah (316) has posed:
  "Actually, I was referring to whatever it was you were doing with your weapons." Sarah gestures, somewhat carefully, towards the various melee weapons both androids are carrying with them. To some extent she had been expecting something to be off about their appearance, at least in terms of their density of weight. Such an oddity would be in keeping with so little water present in their bodies.

  Still, it's an oddity. She inclines her head with a clink of her earrings. "Technically speaking, yes, I am still human. To most scientific inquiry, I am indeed no different physiologically from the average human being. However, I do not age, and I am capable of feats that no ordinary human could ever hope to manage. As a Runebearer, I am able to access the memories of every previous Runebearer since the beginning." Of what? The lack of a definitive suggests the beginning of the world. Her world, anyway. That's probably a lot of memories.

  "I do not know that I have surpassed my own humanity so much as taken several steps sideways from it." Sarah's smile is faint, and maybe just a little sardonic. "I do not think of things the same way as most do. With something like this as an intrinsic part of you, you learn to view situations and even time itself with a much longer lens. It is what most people, I think, would call 'dehumanising.'"

  She's seen that firsthand. Turning, she looks over both sisters as they study the walls, thoughtful. "I see," she comments softly. Apparently she's been in the multiverse long enough to have heard of them and what they are, loosely; there's a flicker of understanding in those colourless eyes. "How does the multiverse change your purpose, I wonder?" the pale woman muses. "There are many humans, here. Even those of slightly stranger origins than what you may be accustomed to, like myself."

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
"Our weapons...? Oh, that. Popola?"
"Ah, yes. The NFCS system."

     The twins swap places, with Popola taking a position in front of A2 and Devola moving to explore the aread surrounding the trio a little more properly. Even if they might not have been made by humans, there's still something to be gleaned from all of it! Probably.

     "The NFCS, or Near-Field Control System, is the system we use to fight with more efficiency and versatility. It lets us control our weapons in a way that's similar to what humans would have called telekinesis."

     With that little lesson done, Devola sticks to the inspection while Popola takes in Sarah's explanations. "Quite different from us, then... We look human, but that's all. We haven't heard of anything called Runebearers, though. If it means being human only in the clinical sense, though..."

     Despite Popola's claims, the androids do seem human enough at least in terms of the curiousity. Popola's likely the easier one to notice what with being right next to Sarah and looking her over with a curious glint, but Devola's occasional glances over aren't as subtle as she thinks they might be.

"Our purpose..."
"Our purpose..."

     Popola's the first to speak up. "We can research them a lot more easily now, so it should be easier to figure out a way to make our home more inhabitable. But..."
"It's never easy. So we need to be really sure first."

Sarah (316) has posed:
  The pale woman tilts her head very slightly at the explanation offered her, earrings clinking quietly at the movement. Such a thing means little to her, other than the fact that it lets them use what is essentially telekinesis. She's heard that said before her own abilities, except where the sisters' apply to weaponry, hers applies strictly to water.

  "Interesting." It doesn't escape her that the two are watching her very closely, and that may be part of the reason why Sarah's posture hasn't quite loosened. She's guarded, no matter how civil her words, splitting her attention evenly between watching Devola and watching Popola. "It is a phenomenon of my world, for all that I have been able to determine, and we Runebearers are something of an exception. There are only twenty-seven of us, corresponding to each of the True Runes."

  It might be better not to talk about such a potentially risky thing, but it's information anybody could waltz into any variant of her world and find out. It's a fundamental element of her world's very existence. The True Runes are not only its generative forces; they are also its sustaining forces.

  Besides, she doesn't have to tell them /which/ world it is. There are quite a few based on such a similar template, after all... omission of information is not technically lying.

  "Clinically? I suppose I am the same, with the exception that I do not age, and therefore certain of my biological processes are suspended, in a sense. But it is true that I must have food, water, and shelter to survive. I am still subject to extremes of temperature, although I am also capable of altering the temperature of water in all of its states. I still require oxygen to breathe, although if I am immersed in water, it is possible for me to directly manipulate it such that I cannot be drowned." Cheater. "In essence, yes, I am beholden to the technical limitations of most of humanity, but at the same time, I am not, for I can always manipulate that environment in unconventional ways."

  In other words, she can totally cheat if she has to.

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
The idea of a human that not only exists as a human (already scoring big points), but one that's transcended basic human lifespan limits? It would be absurd if Devola and Popola had heard it anywhere else without proof, but after seeing what Sarah had done with the water earlier?

     It makes about as much sense as anything else they've seen and heard since being pulled out of that apartment.

     "Only twenty-seven? So... That sounds rather lonely, doesn't it? Unless you've banded together, but..." Popola looks over at Devola who turns away from the wall and shakes her head slowly.

     "It's not that simple, is it? Are all twenty-seven still alive?" Devola cuts to the heart of the twins' concerns rather quickly, although their tones both have an odd sort of sadness hidden in them rather than suspicion. They exchange glances, then swap positions with Devola standing close-ish to Sarah while Popola starts checking out the structure of the cave.

     "So when you control water that way... Do you just feel it happening, or do you need to focus on it? And how'd you... Did you become the Runebearer, or did it just sort of happen?" Devola's tone is a little less clinical and upbeat than Popola's was with her questions, although that curiousity is still ever lingering despite her attempts to sound non-chalant about the whole thing.

Sarah (316) has posed:
  "Yes, twenty-seven." Sarah shifts her weight just slightly, subtle movements keeping her greatstaff between herself and the androids at all times. Other than that, she seems good at feigning ease. "As to that, I have no way to know. My research is incomplete, but experience tells me that there are a number of True Runes that do not have a bearer, and have not for as long as possibly several thousand years."

  "True Runes are autonomous. They are entities, and also beings, of phenomenal power. Yet they have their own wills, as well, and seek to enforce that will upon themselves and the world around them. There is a country in my world that once took custody of a True Rune, only to discover that it had abruptly relocated itself during the night to parts unknown." She msiles, thinly. "There are people, in the countries of my world, who have not yet learned to respect such power."

  She tilts her head again at the mention of hydrokinesis. "To a certain degree focus is required, but it comes automatically to me. I am aware of the water and must only direct it; guide it. I am aware of /all/ water around me," Sarah clarifies. "Which is why I knew that you yourselves are not human. You do not possess nearly enough water in your bodies to feel normal to my senses."

  "I suppose one could say 'it just happened.' I was exploring a ruin of my world known as the Ancient Highway, and the True Water Rune had been sealed within it. Its seals had failed, over time, as its memories of the previous bearer confirm." Sarah turns, flicking a brief glance to the silent, still walls. There's nothing in there; at least nothing with any meaningful water content. Her colourless eyes turn back to Devola and Popola.

  "It compelled me to go to it. Called me. Before I knew it, it had inscribed itself to me." She holds up her right hand, fingers curled into a loose fist, baring the back of it. There, pale even against her pale skin, is a mark made of three oblong concentric rings. "There is one in the multiverse who once described me as 'all the Water of the world.' He was not far wrong."

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
"Runes without bearers? Then does that mean...?"
"... No, it couldn't be. She didn't have anything like that before."
" A smaller one, perhaps? Or maybe it's not shaped like..."
"But if they have wills of their own..."
"We would've seen something like..."

The twins go on about something or another between themselves for quite sometime after Sarah explains those key details about the True Runes. As they keep going, they even start gesturing at Sarah, momentarily forgetting she's even there. It's only when she talks about the Rune relocating that the two finally stop and turn back to her with an understanding nod.

"So... Nothing like pods."
"Not at all."

With that settled, they refocus on Sarah once more! "So it's almost like a... Symbiotic relationship? Although it seems like humans need them more than they need humans, so maybe not quite..." Popola murmurs, the straightens up to listen again.

"That's how you could tell? Interesting... So you could even use that to tell if someone's dehydrated. Or if a storm's coming in?" Devola furrows her brow, starting to pace slightly while lost in thought. "I've never heard of a... Well, anything attaching to someone that way unless it was a pet. Or an injured animal. But for a force of nature to do it..."

"... No wonder that country did what it did. But that means humans would be in danger if they misused it, too." Popola frowns while Devola nods, and the two stand together once more!

"If there's anything we can do to help, then let us know. We might not understand it all yet, but..."
"... We can try, right?"

Sarah (316) has posed:
  Although the pale woman slowly rises a brow at the banter between the sisters, she offers no comment on it. Her slightly blank look suggests she has no idea what a pod is, and neither of the two pink-haired androids seem inclined to enlighten her. Are they always like this? It's kind of creepy when they finish one anothers' thoughts like that.

  Colourless eyes flit from one android to the other, studying them as much as waiting for hints of information that might lend her some context to what they were discussing.

  Symbiotic relationship?

  "In a manner of speaking, although what the True Runes gain from it, no one could say with certainty." Sarah watches them as they try to puzzle out the matter. "For all we know, they simply grow bored with the passing of centuries, and attaching themselves to humanity makes things interesting. I have a few hypotheses, but it isn't particularly important. They simply are."

  She tips one shoulder in a slight shrug. Humans, misusing phenomenal cosmic power? The pale woman snorts as though that's the dumbest thing she's heard today. "Yes. Of course they would. There are numerous incidents in recorded history involving the use or misuse of True Runes on a grand and often destructive scale." There is a scar in the Grasslands that still attests to that, when the Flame Champion lost control of his rune, and also his life. The grasses have since regrown, but the scar in the land is still visible.

  "Countries have warred over much lesser reasons than a shot at True Runes. Needless to say, when they are involved, conflicts have a way of becoming much more heated. I am not yet certain if wars are caused by the will of the True Runes, or merely escalated due to human nature. One of life's enduring mysteries, I suppose, and little more than a technicality."

  Help? Sarah tilts her head, jewelled earrings clinking. "With what, pray tell? I have borne this rune for some years, now, and have the limited support of a number of other runebearers. While it is true that certain runes do not always 'get along,' per se, there are others which have no such compunctions, or which are wholly neutral towards one another." It's complicated. The pale woman shrugs again. "I appreciate the offer, nonetheless."

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
"That doesn't sound too different from those classical figures in human mythology. Taking an interest in humanity's unpredictability, giving them knowledge to see what would happen..." Popola murmurs, an amused chuckle escaping her finally. It might very well be the first time she's smiled in front of Sarah today.

     "Probably taking bets on how long it takes to kill themselves, too." Devola seems a little less enthused about that aspect, but she relaxes fairly quickly after a light nudge from Popola. "I mean... Humans /are/ pretty interesting just from the history books. Watching them more closely and throwing in weird variables like that, though... I'm not surprised it can make wars a lot worse. Still, it must really be something to see in person..."

     The twins finally seem satisfied with investigating their surroundings, and they finally take seats nearby while focusing entirely on Sarah now. If nothing else, they're blinking normally enough!

"Help... Help. Like you've noticed, we're not human. We don't know much about your home, but if we can give you any warnings from what ours is like..."
"Be careful with machines. Find a way off the planet first just in case."
"... Perhaps research ways to survive underground successfully?"

Sarah (316) has posed:
  "The runes actively seek to impose themselves upon the fabric of the world." Sarah closes one eye, as though she were looking inward. "I have in fact begun to wonder if they are in fact incapable of seeking their own end, and will in fact actively rebel against anything that is threatening to their bearer or themselves. They will take action if their bearer is threatened, if it is a bearer compatible with the rune, and the rune cares enough to exert the effort."

  She takes a few strides towards the ruins, but always in a way that keeps Devola and Popola in clear view. Colourless eyes take in the details, illuminated by the blue-white of her greatstaff, shadows harsh. There are inscriptions in the stone that almost resemble writing, but they could also be mere decoration. If they are, however, they're elabourate; ornate in a way that suggests advanced skill, even if the walls are hewn of stone instead of concrete.

  "I will use the True Wind Rune as an example. For a number of years it was concealed, disguised as a mere intermediate rune known as the Cyclone Rune. When it was unleashed in a skirmish, its opponents were merely swept away like so much chaff upon its winds." Sarah slashes out a hand as though to indicate something flying away at high velocity. "It is the same with any of the Five Elements: Earth, Fire, Wind, Lightning, and Water."

  "There are other runes, stranger still, whose concepts are sometimes more difficult to understand; those whom there is little information in existence," she explains, "and even those whom we know nothing of the status of. We do not know what all of the True Runes are, necessarily. There are some that even I am not aware of, having spent much of my life studying them. We know there are twenty-seven through the legends handed down to us; on that stories agree, even if they are subject to regional differences."

  She circles slowly towards where Devola and Popola have settled down. Choosing a rock not far from them, she thrusts the staff into the earth. Its end is a silver spike, quite sharp-looking, and it makes a distinct metallic sound as she stands it upright, folding her legs beneath it and arranging her skirts. "I'm afraid that machinery is still not as advanced in my world as it is in many others. Basic firearms are still a thing of great luxury and expense, employed primarily by the Howling Voice Guild, a faction -- somewhat -- of the kingdom of Harmonia."

  "Travel by water is the greatest achievement of transportation. Aircraft are still a distant dream, and I suppose there is little need to. There are runes that may achieve teleportation, although they are not always easy or inexpensive to come by." Sarah considers for a moment. "Perhaps you might visit, some time. That would give you the most complete illustration of the things I have spoken of."

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
"Self-preservation. And... Reproduction?"
"No, that's only if they're making more of themselves. Although anything sapient usually tries not to die, so..."

The twins actually go quiet after that, thoughtful murmurs escaping each of them practically in sync. They even have their hands against their chins and heads tilting in opposite directions! What's worse, they look over at Sarah almost at the same time when she starts speaking of the True Wind Rune and some of the other of the known runes.

"That must make being immortal rather useful, then." Popola hums, looking Sarah over and nodding after a moment. "Being able to track things down that even historians would forget, seeing these True Runes unveiled and the differences between bearers..."

Before Popola can go too far with that, Devola snickers and pats her sister's knee. "Or it might be less romantic than that, and it's just a lot of boring waiting." The neater sister pouts briefly, but their attention is on Sarah again when she stabs her staff into the ground.

"Really? I can't even imagine how long it would take for them to develop pods, then. And if they can't even fly, then-"
"Wait, Devola. Didn't some of the older manuscripts mention not messing with technological development too much?"
"Right, yeah. We'll be careful if we get a chance to visit. Maybe you can even see how screwed up ours is some time."

Sarah (316) has posed:
  "In a manner of speaking, but the offspring of a given True Rune are always the same." Sarah gestures loosely with one slender hand. Images of the runes come to life before her; a curving, flowing, pronged shape reminiscent of flames. "For example, the True Fire Rune will always produce Fire Runes, and Rage Runes." It shifts, growing more prongs, to show the Rage Rune. "Both are lesser versions of the True Fire Rune." It finally branches into an almost antler-like configuration, flame flickering in its depths.

  The image winks out as she dismisses it, shrugging. "Useful? Perhaps. That implies that I have any desire to associate with other Runebearers, which on the whole I do not." She certainly doesn't seem lonely. "I prefer to focus on the runes themselves; which, even after hundreds of years of study, we still do not understand very well."

  Well, on the bright side, she has plenty of time to devote to study.

  Boring waiting? Sarah shrugs, faintly. "You learn to fill the hours, I suppose."

  It's either that or construct an elabourate scenario to destroy something that can't be destroyed, thereby expending tremendous energy and resources into what amounts to an unspeakably elabourate suicide. One's mileage may vary.

  She eyes both of the sisters when they go on about various bits of technology that she doesn't recognise, but for all her lack of understanding, the terms are quietly filed away. Flight, however, brings her to shake her head. "That is untrue, actually. There are those who fly, although they are largely limited to the Dragon Knights, who make use of their eponymous dragons, and those who have befriended gryphons. A rarity, but it has been known to happen, at least in a region known as the Grasslands."

  "However, I should be returning soon. I do not have any evidence that this place has what I am searching for, and so there is little percentage in remaining here." Sarah rises to her feet with a rustle of fabric, taking up her staff with a quiet metallic sound as she pulls it from the dry earth. "I hope our paths cross again, someday. It has been interesting. Yes; perhaps you might visit, some time."

  With a polite inclination of her head, jewelled earrings clinking softly, Sarah closes her eyes and shifts her grip on her staff--

  --and with a bloom of blue-white light and a swirl of lingering mist, the pale woman is gone.

Devola and Popola (1109) has posed:
The mention of the other Runebearers draws a chuckle from Devola. "At least the option's there, right?" It's an odd sort of chuckle, but she leaves out any further elaboration there in favor of resting her head against Popola's. All this research and brain-picking is tough work!

     There definitely isn't any other overthinking going on in their heads, no. There's still a lot of information to absorb, though, especially the fact that the True Runes can reproduce, and the existence of Dragon Knights.

     That's definitely something to watch out for if they do get a chance to visit. The twins nod as Sarah states her intent to leave the area, and they stand up not too long after she does. "Yes, there's not much else for us to find here. We've gotten plenty of information just from talking here, anyway." Popola responds, and then both of the androids bow to Sarah in turn.

     "Feel free to look for us if you want to do some research in a more... Post-humanity area." Devola replies with some humor in her voice, although it's definitely in the more morrbid sense. Once Sarah disappears in the mist, the twins don't linger around for much longer before taking their leave of the underground ruins as well.