Posts from Pursuit of the Sun 1.2

Whispering:
- So, what's the conclusion? These "good people" seem to be specifically looking for guys like this – "down on their luck." No, I think any "client" would be happy with them for their "rituals" or whatever they do... But it's easier to "process" guys like this. Look at him... He's already "ready for consumption"... He'll show up, they'll slip something into his drink, and that's it... he's a "vegetable."
- What do we do? Sending him alone is the same as sending him into the Void. Or whatever he believes in... Should we go with him? Together? I don't know... If things go south, we can try to make a run for it; we have smoke bombs. The Burgomaster advised us not to go into the lair alone. But on the other hand, this doesn't seem like a lair yet...
- What do you say? I'm not against "escorting" him. In fact, I'm more for it than against it. But... if we go, what's our plan if "something happens"?

—One can assume that those who don't intend to use them have the most valuable effect... And what about the others? How much are they worth?
It's not that Hargen is interested... but he's not uninterested either.

- For now, I have no questions, but if they arise, I will definitely seek your wisdom for advice!
If the interlocutor leaves, the clumsy scholar tries to find Hargen from Legran, whom she met yesterday.

If they don't die tonight, I'll have to take a few lessons in fistfighting from Master Gas.

- You're right, – agreed Ottar. – Now I understand why Master is equally good at both healing and maiming. A little self-defense skill never hurts. And you, Augur, what made you choose the path of a warrior? Family, chance, or did you decide it yourself?

Ah, I need more strength and resilience... especially now... and to regain what I've lost. That's the priority.

-- We'll kill everyone who tries to lure the poor guy, take one captive, and then we'll figure something out, -- Arno says confidently.

Well, that's excluding the tiny chance that there really is one good guy... I'll pretend I'm also drunk on beer and go with him, and you'll follow at a small distance – otherwise, we might scare him off. And as soon as we're in place – en garde! As we say back home.

-- Greetings, -- the most open space is found next to a shaggy Northman, adorned with strange amulets. Without batting an eye, he extends his hand to each of the four. -- Thorstein Ragnarsson is my name.

A bit busy right now. But if he can train with the constable, let him go. 

- So, it's decided... Get him a beer, and get one for yourself if you want. I'm done. If anything happens, I'll say I drank it right here by the bar.

-- Good! Disappear for now and follow us when we leave.
Arno goes to get some beer, and after a short time, he and the drunkard emerge from the tavern and head towards the artisans' district, staggering desperately.

His family perished, never getting a chance to leave their mark... his father had grand plans. Alas, in the end, he simply faded into obscurity. All that remained of his life was Ottar, with his aspirations and mistakes. She... and the blood.

– Well, we'll get through this! – Blooddrinker said in an encouraging tone. – As long as half the city believes in the futility of everything, I'm still willing to fight for the future. It's much more fun to live that way!

Somewhere in the unknown, she was hiding. And if there's nothing else to do, Ottar will find her. Sooner or later. And in the process, he will become stronger. And smarter.

Raimund Mark's Training
Unlock Knight specialization: 75 hours
Unlock Combat Mastery specialization: 50 hours
Unlock Archer specialization: 50 hours
Unlock Weapon specialization: 50 hours
Gain 1 skill point: 20 hours
Attribute training: 1 point per 4 hours
Strength: Cassius (0/6)
Endurance: Cassius (0/15)
Reflexes: Cassius (0/10)

- This is very rational on the part of the nobility... You previously inquired about what it means not to be human. Such a question stems from what it means to be human, and it has troubled people throughout time, so I have studied it, and I have collected quite a bit of material. For now, this concept seems vague to me. Once, I met a hermit living in a dugout. He was delirious and mistook me for a ghost. And he recalled his past, where he was a skilled orator, a philosopher, and he expressed something along those lines. He said that it is possible to... deconstruct it into its most basic components, if one so desires. Is a person a person if they are of sound mind? If so, then we will exclude the insane, the seriously ill, the sleeping, or the newborn. The hermit recalled a case - it is difficult to say whether it was invented or real - about how he had to spend time in confinement, in a closed space with another prisoner, and that one behaved very strangely and inappropriately, irritating him in every way. "After some time, I already felt like I was no longer a human, damn it, but a ferocious beast, and I wanted to kill him or bury him," he said.
He also raised the question of ethics: is a person a person if they live in a hostile tribe or kingdom, do not observe your laws or faith, and commit atrocities against you? Is a cruel bandit a person? Many would not call him that, especially the loved ones of those he killed. A tyrant in power will not call his slave or subject, whom he exploits mercilessly, a person, and that one will not consider his suzerain a person. Therefore, humanity seems to be overrated. It sounds like something that a "creature" might say, doesn't it? - her lips curved into a subtle, indifferent smile.

- All of his logic can be easily refuted by something very simple and straightforward, for example: "a person is a person, it's obvious." But if such an answer satisfied everyone, would these restless minds even ask themselves these questions? - her eyes notice a tiny wrinkle on her clothes, and her hands smooth it out with mechanical precision. - I have no need to fill my stomach with bread or dull my consciousness - is that what it's called? - with beer, emptiness has saved me from the endless race in the wheel. Perhaps some of her adepts would like the idea that I am her eyes, to witness the brief moment of existence of those who were unlucky enough to be born with the awareness of the horror of their inevitable departure to it. I do not know this, and it does not matter to me. Perhaps your sorcerer was able to find out something meaningful.

Her leg smoothly moves from one to the other:
- Where will we go - to a new war? I know that many peoples like to stir up their blood and replenish their supplies at the expense of others, after long winters.

-- Ah yes -- Gautier is currently in the banquet hall, probably sleeping until evening. I've never seen him indulge so relentlessly. The servants mention that Hargen recently left for the city.