Interview with Order NPCs!

Speaker Key:

Gloria
Lacine
Thomas
Damien
Stephanie



~~~~~~~~~



Hello, hello, hello, hello... and hello! Well, this is an interview room first, if you don't count my, erm, encounter over in the DIT...

How are you all today?

We're all good, thanks.

Well, most of us.

Aww, bad mood again, emoboy? Go back to your room and cry. Let us grown ups do the talking.

...God, I hate you...

Please, you two...





OKAY, that's a good point to start us on! How old are you all anyway?

19.

18...

20.

20!

16.




Wow, Thomas, how does it feel to be amongst the youngest of the Order?

It's tremendous. No, seriously, being part of the "baby brigade" has been one of the best experiences of my entire life. No joke. No joke whatsoever.





[Aside] ...Is he being serious?

[Laughs] Of course not. He was so peeved when he found out he couldn't have his own room...!

Doesn't stop me being one of the damn best mages in this whole pathetic excuse for an organisation.

Thomas...!




I take it you're not too fond of the other youngsters...

You're so perceptive, you know that? You should really think of taking up a career as... oh, I don't know... someone who interviews people. What do they call that? Oh yeah, an interviewer.





Alright, alright - note to self, Thomas is a smartass. Lacine, I love your new hair!

Thank you...!




And hearty congratulations on your ordination. Sporting a nice new eye colour, too, I see.

Well, only partially, and it isn't as pronounced as the High Priestess'... but it's there, so everyone's pleased. Of course, none so much as me!




Perhaps you could explain to us a little bit more about why these things are so important.

Well, dying your hair wasn't originally part of the initiation rites, but so many prominent people were doing it that it turned into part of the ceremony. But they made it so that you can spot the difference between a devotee and a priest... people who're crazy about the Overseer dye their hair lots of different colours and maybe have shots of natural hair showing through, like Mirai, while a priest only has one colour all the way over. That's the decorum, anyway. I don't know if everyone follows it.

As for the eyes, well... during the War, everyone who was charged up with the power of the Overseer's spirit had their eyes change to this really ghostly pinkish red colour... once he vanished, it faded. Only one person I know of was left with traces of it in their eyes, and that's Lorika. She has this really prominent ring around her pupil - you must have seen it. Now, I have one, too... everyone's very excited. It might mean the Overseer's power is returning, or will return in the future.




That's fascinating! As the first priestess ordained since the end of the war, I'd like to ask you more, but I'm sure our viewers will be itching to ask you questions themselves, so for now I'm going to move on.

Damien - hello!

Yo.





So I'd better get this out of the way - what's your relationship to Gloria?

She's my girlfriend, of course.

Am not.

Are too.

Am not.

Are too.

Tch, ******** off and die.

Ahhh, she's such a darling. Always whispering sweet nothings, telling me how much she adores my company...

I don't mind your "company." Doesn't mean I have to tie myself to you.

If I were a more scrupulous man, I'd be offended by that.

Yeah, but you're not, are you? [Smirking]




So uh, not being a very scrupulous human being... is that how you got the nickname "demon?"

Nah, my parents have been calling me that since I was little, looong before I knew what scruples were.




So you don't think it reflects on your character at all...?

Nope, just sounds similar to my name. My parents are clever like that. [Sarcasm]



Today we have three representatives from the combat division, which, if I'm correct, happens to be the largest in the Order.

Didn't used to be like that. Used to be more Spiritualists than anything - now there's only a handful of them and a bunch of us.




Yes - Gloria, you're known for being a veteran of the combat division, at the front lines since day one. You must've seen some real changes.

It's a little unbelievable. There were thousands of us once - tens of thousands near the end, but we were still the fewest compared to the mages and all.

Everyone was split into regiments based on their joindate - I was in the first, Mercury. There were about a hundred per regiment, give or take - usually give. The main instructor - that would be the Captain - saw us all in rotation, but once there were too many groups to get round in a day we were stuck with the team leader more often than not. It was a good thing he didn't need to sleep much, or he never would've managed it. Near the end he had to train more and more team leaders to pick up the slack, so there was always this little gaggle following him round...





This is something I'm sure not many members now have much knowledge of. Did he always play such a pivotal role?

Oh, no. In fact, he came to teach much later than I joined. Back then there were about half a dozen Captains, and in the first couple of weeks they all took lessons. But...




But then what happened?

Well, the admin don't like to mention it much, but a couple of weeks in there was this huge government inspection of our ranks. And uh... we kind of... failed the inspection. Miserably. We weren't fit to fight.

As far as I know, all the Captains got banned from teaching, and they brought in Jessie as head instructor, as well as some backup from the regular army.

There was another inspection the next month. We passed with flying colours.





Seems pretty unorthodox.

Well... I think the admin were acting under a lot of pressure. The thing was, and I've only learned this since, but we were hopelessly outnumbered. And I mean hopelessly. And all the trained fighters, all the renowned warriors, all the criminals, all the aggressive people who actually knew how to throw a punch had all joined... you guessed it... SIN. We were left with these bunch of fairy do-gooders who were, for the most part, all talk and no skill. Ugh, that blond b*****d still makes my skin crawl...

If you're asking me why they recruited the Captain in particular, I couldn't tell you, but it's a damn good thing that they did. Best decision they ever made, if you ask me.

Jessie and Gloria up a tree...

One more word and you're dead.





So how many combatants are there now, did you say...?

I didn't say, but I could name them all. Let's see... me, the Demon, Jon, Steff, Bapp, Sta, Sam, Harata, Lilune, Casey, Kii, Amaia, Odin, Dart, Coline, Ardelle, Ru, Nick, Dane, Zuri, Debs, Virgil, Raul, Nasir, Jaden, Tammy... I'm forgetting some...

Tiffany, Everett and Drax.

Ah, yeah, ******** Drax.

The pig still counts. Thats 29 total.





And what about the other divisions?

Eh, there's about 15 of us. Let's see... me, Evelyn, whatshisface... uhh... Bakar... 'Lexi, Angel... uh... I dunno the rest.

Xeiashi - how could you forget him? - Feline, Kamika...

Right, right. Adeline, Meta, Galt and Thorpe. ...Huh, that's less than 15.

As for us, well, Lorika and I are currently the only priestesses. Praying and learning white magic doesn't automatically mean a Spiritualist will become a priest. You follow a specific path, and training. The handful of acolytes we preside over are Imaru, Angelique and Vayan.



Wow, is that all?!

It is indeed. Let's round the number of practitioners, then, off to fifty. The other half of our Order is made up of volunteers, soul-seekers, miscellaneous staff such as the doctor and her medics, the kitchen staff, cleaners...




I see. So, Stephanie, you're being very quiet!

Hahaha... mm... I'm interested in listening to everyone else's answers.




As the newest member of the Order, may I ask why you chose to join? Did you have any part in the war at all?

No... not at all. I only joined about... a month ago now.

...I don't know why I joined, really. I just... needed to get away. I needed to try something new, and live my own life. Do something with it. ...You know?





And how has your experience here been so far?

...Um... I'd... rather not talk about it now, if that's okay.





That's perfectly fine. Okay, to start us off with our questions from users, Maborofel has a couple of queries for you, Thomas! "What form of magic do you specialize in?"

I don't specialise in anything. I want to master as many kinds of magic as possible. Right now I'm trying to work on cracking the kind of healing magic the priestesses can use without channelling an outside energy source as they do. I'm also developing potential "grounding" spells which might be useful if a mage were drawn into direct combat.

One field which doesn't really interest me too much is planar magic. I like to shape spells to fit a practical purpose. Planar magic is a heap of largely theoretical unknowns with a couple of common rules generally pinned down, and even those are... iffy at best. Then things inevitably go wrong when transferring it all into practise...

It's not the risk that bothers me, I just consider trying to apply reason to a field which has been proven time and time again by experts to defy all logic a waste of time.





...Wow, that actually sounds really interesting...! I wasn't expecting that from a 16-year-old boy!

It is really interesting... but frustrating, too. My experiments with "arcane" healing magic, as I've been calling it to distinguish it from "holy" healing magic, have been largely failures.

The way this magic works is that the mage, traditionally a priest of some deity, acts as a conduit for huge sums of magic sourced remotely, from their living deity or some other planar consciousness. This is dissimilar to most wizardry, which produces effects in the environment from the use of practised "keys" which "unlock" the energy around us, provoking reactions. It works this way for most of us because there are very few "natural" magicians around, and those who are do things differently again: they draw on the unconscious energies by "pulling," "weaving" or otherwise subconsciously prodding them, causing a reaction between the host energy and the energy around them...

Did anyone actually get any of that, or am I apparently a total musclehead?

Yawn. Sorry, what? I think I dozed off there for a second.

Dropouts. Anyway, this is a field which has therefore been mainly confined to alchemy, where particular components can safely come together to produce the requisite high levels of concentrated energy needed to instantaneously heal a wound. This is where you get your "healing potions" from. So far, I've tried sourcing energy from other common catalysts to produce the desired effect, but to no avail... shift jewels in particular proved disappointing. They aren't meant to have magic channelled directly through or pulled from them, you see... they're more like... like... fertiliser, I suppose. They're exceptionally powerful in themselves, but only intended to be used as "companions" to other spells...

.......Hmmmmph. Let's move on. Just thinking about this annoys me.





May I just ask quickly - is there no other research in this area that could help you?

Oh, wizards have been trying to master arcane healing for years now. Doesn't mean anyone's quite gotten it yet. The largest documented success anyone's had has been instantly healing a 2-inch cut using the oil of a medicinal herb as a... well, not like a "companion" this time. This is another magical principle that'd take a while to explain here, but basically certain properties of one thing can be used to enhance the effects of another. It's the magician's "cheat law," and that's the best anyone has been able to do. My first experiment was replicating its success in a controlled environment. Very simple. Since then... nothing.





"Why haven't I seen you around the Practice Hall?"

Because you're an idiot.

Thomas!

...Because I don't like to mix with the other spellcasters. We have nothing in common. Not even our studies.






"What are your thoughts on the late Professor Panda, may he rest in peace?"

I never really learned all that much from him. He was too busy dribbling over the priestess' buns to do anything very useful.

THOMAS!

What? I meant the food she always brought him, of course. That, and in my opinion he was too cooped up in theory and tradition. All those translations, replicating spells, manufacturing potions... when was the last time he actually developed anything of his own? It's a common flaw I see in his kind of wizarding society. They're not down to earth, if you know what I mean. The abuse of meta-magic in those institutions is just deplorable.

Meta-magic... like Acibek's Principle?

UGH, don't even get me started on - hey, how do you know about that?!

I've just been spending a little time in the library lately... that's all.

Hmm... well, yes, exactly like Acibek's Principle. Just by applying it you can make a spell flashier, more powerful. It doesn't actually do anything in itself, but if you infuse it with a spell, even just tack it on the end...

It's basically the magical equivalent of painting a sports car red?

...Yes. That's actually a nice way of putting it. Which is why, of course, it's sorely abused in the high mage circle. It doesn't do anything to solidify or improve a spell, it just... makes it "better," in the arcane sense of the word.

...Meaning that... when you apply the aspect of "better" to a spell...

It becomes better, yes. This one of those meta-fields up there with wishcraft - every mage needs some knowledge of it, which is why a few all bunch together under the umbrella of "spellcraft," but to actually apply it consistently is... hey, how much time have you been spending in the library anyway?

Hehe... quite a bit, actually. I'm afraid I'm actually the opposite to you, though, Thomas... I find meta-magic and magical theory really interesting... though I admit, they're a bit hard to wrap my brain around a lot of the time.

Nerd alert.

...I never said I didn't find it interesting... just that I don't consider it applicable to my ends.






"...so, theoretically, what would happen if a mage used his or her own energy for Alchemy, or even to enhance other magicks? And don't give me crap, because I have definitive proof that it works"

I'm not giving you any crap at all. This is How Magic Works.

...Well, generally, anyway. It's a very unpredictable science, very hard to find consistent rules for anything... in fact, for several centuries there was a theory that magical energy was a living consciousness, which could choose to do your bidding or not. This theory persists among druids and shamans, of course, but most of their spells DO draw upon conscious rather than unconscious energy, so you can't really quarrel with them.

Anyway - back to your question... I didn't mean to imply that just because natural and learned magicians provoke reactions in different ways that one can't do the other. However, from the wording of your question I think you're referring to something entirely different again - neither using "keys" nor tampering directly with unconscious energy, but pushing your own energy into the fray.

It's been done, of course, time and time again. I've done it myself. The only consistent benefit is added potency - all other results tend to be wildcards. However, the technique needs to be used very sparingly in practise, because tapping into your own energy means, as you must know, siphoning off your own life force. A depletion of your natural life energy by even just ten per cent can put you into a coma - can even kill you. Those stories about mad magicians who draw too deeply in pursuit of their experiments and cause their own demise aren't fable, they're fact.

That's not to say people don't do it regularly, though. When you're crafting a spell you can even tack in a call for your own energy, just as you'd mix in any other principle. It can be effective, to give an extra kick to your most powerful spell. Combining it with something you use every day, however, would be... well, suicide, to be totally frank. Because, as you know, reciting a spell is turning a key in the lock. It provokes the desired reaction instantly, consuming the resources required automatically. You keep using a spell that's programmed to drain your life force, and you're gonna go down fast. Yeah... that's why some people keep a couple of different variations of the same spell memorised - to put it simply, one for regular use, and one for "emergencies."

It's even easier for women, though. Usually it takes at least some serious willpower to cut into your reserves enough to die.





Why is it easier for women...?

Because... [Pause] Oh, come on, can't you guys guess for yourselves?

Nope. We're dropouts, remember?

You don't need any kind of degree to know about this stuff.

...[Sigh] Well, it's because every month their energies end up going haywire.

Ah, the Curse. We really should have guessed that, so much of our damn lives seems to be ruled by it.

I obviously haven't experienced it first hand, so if you're interested, you might be better off asking Adeline or Evelyn, but from what I've been told... normally, a person's reservoirs are like a well. Deep and dark and hard to access. During menstruation, however, it's like the flood gates get flung wide open, and what was a well becomes a lake. Suddenly they're more sensitive to energies, but their own energy is also much closer to the surface.

Hurray, girl power and s**t. We can die so much more easily thanks to being on the rag.

Hey, this is just if you go actively pushing your energy into spells. Women are actually better spellcasters in general during that time. In fact, in some non-Gaian societies only women were traditionally allowed to learn magic, and only after they'd had their first period. There's also a higher occurrence of women as natural spellcasters throughout the worlds... like the damn dark elf who blew up the Professor.

Oh no, please, don't get him started. Can we move on to the next question...?






Okay... "So where does string theory fit into your view of magic?"

String Theory? It's a theory, just like all others. If you're asking me about reverberations of energy on a sub-atomic level, well, that's really what we've been discussing all along in technical terms. "Energy" may sound like a bit of a fluffy way to describe it, but that's all it is. Everything has energy you can tap in to, even things which are considered "dead" by humans, like earth and rocks - hence, we have geomancers. Asking a magician what energy is is like asking a doctor what a hiccough is - watch them balk and stutter. But really, though no "theory of everything" has been proven universal just yet, and I don't suppose it will be any time soon, based on that principle of String Theory, I'm not going to disagree with it. Energy is everything to a practical magician such as myself.

If you're asking me about dimensions, ehhh. That's heading into planar theory... don't really want to get into it...

Oh, couldn't you tell us just a little...? It's all so fascinating...!

NO! Dear god, I've heard enough! Don't encourage him!

Hmmmph, well... I have done a lot of talking... more explaining than the Professor ever did. Stephanie, do you have anything you'd like to say on the matter?

M-me...?

Yes, you seem... pretty knowledgeable. Any comments?

Oh... well... I don't know, really... I only know what I've read... I personally find it fascinating that, in theory, every universe in existence could be condensed to a single point... it really makes you feel small, though, doesn't it? We can't even appreciate anything but the worlds on the dimension we live in... what about all those planes that exist on the higher dimensions...?

Yes, indeed. Angels, gods, demons... all these creatures we know of, who pass in and out of our worlds, but really, they're something totally different. Spirits which feed on emotions, souls-

There are even realms where several different dimensions can clash into one, the metaphysical and the physical... as in, what we can appreciate as physical... becoming one... some kinds of fey, energy shapeshifters... they come from there, don't they?

They do indeed, to our understanding.

My brain hurts.

You're not alone. I thought this conversation was out there before, but now it's just... woooo!

I think it's good to have some understanding of this, since Gaia is a place where-

Gaia is a place which is notoriously easy to access through fluctuations of energy in other planes. That's why we've got so many races from other worlds making up our population.

Exactly, which is why we need to understand these things. I mean, what would be the good of trying to interact with an energy shapeshifter, when you didn't even know what it was? ...Speaking of which, what IS it...?






I'm actually going to agree with Damien and Gloria now, and cut in. Our next set of questions comes from Nii Amikasame, who has some queries specifically for our three combat specialists. She asks "How would you describe your fighting style?"

Hard, straight and fast, baby. Just like my loving style.

I suddenly feel ashamed of my gender...

You're a sicko, Demon. [Aside] And he's all talk, anyway. His "technique" is more "flail around angry kitten style" than anything.

Oh, just because you're so special, Ms Instructress. I wonder who you had to sleep with to get that title? Oh, wait, I know exactly whom...

I've told you once I've told you a thousand times, the sword just isn't for you.

What is it with you people and being blunt, anyway? I went ahead and pushed at Jessie's buttons one day, and he went and called me lazy. Lazy!

You must've been trying pretty hard...

He's got buttons, just like everyone else. You just need to know where to fiddle.

He's not wrong, anyway. You've been learning almost as long as everyone else, and yet it's like you've just got wax in your ears. Have you been listening to anything the other instructors and I have been telling you...?

Hm? Sorry, what?

Ugh. Seriously, Damien, you're good at the athletics side of things, but when it comes to those little things called skill and technique, you're bottom of the pile!

I apologise for spending more of my days appreciating your behind in those leggings than listening to Old Crusty nag at me. "Stand up straight, Damien - You'll lose your balance, Damien - Try it again, Damien - Your grip is wrong, Damien." Seriously, just because we didn't all have our perfect little warrior upbringings or whatever...

Don't turn it around on other people just because you don't try.

I do try... I just... whatever. I don't care, anyway.

[Looking at him in sympathy] I try, too... it's hard, isn't it?

What're you talking about? I just said I didn't care.





What about you, Gloria?

Me? I've had a bit of a mixed training, between the team leader and Jessie and the dreadful instructors before that, but coming at the start I was luckier than most. Got more time with him. I'd say I'm far from being anything close to an elven fighter, but I try and practise the same principles. Discipline and speed over strength. Where weapons are concerned, I try and be an all-rounder. I can be a sniper, or I can be a front-liner. I can fight hand-to-hand or with a blade. Never bothered much with the trident, but they're basically like a spear, or a quarterstaff with a blade on the end, so I'm pretty sure I could use one effectively if I needed to.






Do you prefer hand-to-hand combat? I've heard you landed your infamous blow during a demonstration on it.

Hahaha, "infamous" is very flattering... though I will ball myself up a bit in admitting it wasn't a fluke at all.

Whacked the drow square round his pretty-boy face. BANG! I wish I could've seen it!

But... well, yes, I actually do like hand-to-hand combat quite a bit. I have a minor background in aikido, which I learned from one of the carers at the... place I grew up. After I left home at 16 to work I took kickboxing classes for about a year and a half. So I guess I do have a bit of an advantage over most of the other trainees. I'm totally new to swords and bows, though. Well, six months now, but you know what I mean.




And you, Stephanie?

Uh... I don't really have a style or anything yet.

Steff, if you're going to learn, you're eventually going to have to stop watching and start doing. I could even start you off on some yoga if you're willing.

Um... I don't know... do you think I'd be good at that...?

Gloria in "Teacher Mode" is bizarre. Sometimes she's downright... nice. It's scary.

Well, if I went round beating you all up I'd be no better than the pig we got rid of, would I? I have a better role model to look up to.

Yeah, like I said, downright scary. It's like the power has infected you with some kind of rationality. What happened to all your anger and hate?

Oh... it's still there. I'm just reserving it as fuel for a certain someone I still haven't settled my score with.

Gloria... don't...

[Threatening] Don't WHAT, Stephanie?

...Nothing... nevermind.






Nii also wants to know "Why isn't Jonathan with you today?" It's something I was wondering myself. What's the word?

It's nothing sinister. As we soldiers are tending to overrun the place...

...We figured we'd curse you with just us three. Anyway, what IS the word on Jon? He's-

He's a really, REALLY nice guy. Really nice. I really like him. He's always so brave, and funny, and he really stands up for himself, and for others.

Yeah, he stands up for his beliefs. Strong guy.

But he's quiet, too, and nice. He doesn't show off at all. Sam is a nice guy, too. He's really different to you, Damien.

Yeah, he is. ...Wait, what's that supposed to mean?!

Only that your brother is roughly ten times hotter than you are.

I resent that and consider it a fallacy.

He's also about ten times better with a big stick, if you know what I mean.

[Giggle]

[Glare] How would YOU know what he's like with a stick?

Because I train him, of course. Incidentally, Damien, did you know the term quarterstaff refers to the way in which the staff is held, as opposed to the halfstaff techni-?

YO TEACH, cram it! What's with all the LEARNING going on here today? I just came to get a good look at the Interviewer's famous bod.





*blush* I-I have a "famous bod?"

Damn right you do! Your name's all over the boys' bathroom walls! ...OW!

[Having whacked him in the stomach] Just ignore him, he's winding you up. You learn to sift the bullshit from the not-so-bullshit after you've hung out a little while. Anyway, if you want a little gossip on Jon, last I heard he's been making eyes at Adeline this past month.

...H-he has...? Oh... she's really pretty, too...

Another elf. But that's okay. I don't have a problem with the fair elves.





S-so anyway, Damien, I didn't know you had a brother in the Order...

Yup, that's Samuel. We're fraternal twins. Me and Gloria actually got to know Jon because Sam made friends with him. We cross paths from time to time, I go hang with them, they come hang with us, you know.




I see. Lots of hanging going on there. Do you know many of the other combatants very well?

Well, to be honest me and Gloria don't socialise much outside our own circle.

Speak for yourself! I happen to be an expert on all the current goings on in my combat division.

She said "do you know the others very well," not "do you have any juicy gossip at all?"

Well, people have this impression of me that I'm aloof, but the truth is I just love staying involved with my peers...

You mean keeping an ear out for who's doing whom and how often...

Well, if you put it that way of course it sounds like I'm a b***h!





Now hold on a second, I happen to enjoy a little bit of gossip. As an interviewer I sometimes base my career on it! So what's the word around the training grounds, Gloria?

Depends who you ask. I personally mainly rely on my main girl Zuri to keep her eyes and ears about while I'm busy practising. I do take my art very seriously... and she's kind of so dangerous naturally she doesn't need to practise that much.

In the same way a bulldozer is naturally a prime candidate for a boxing match.

She's something like third or fourth generation part-demon, so why she joined BOO I have no damn idea. You'd think a demon would want to see Gaia overrun, wouldn't you? But she never talks about herself much, so I've got no idea. But anyway, she's really good at eavesdropping, so when we catch up that's usually how I get my news.

Zuri's not a bad person, actually... she's never been anything but nice to me...

With a demon, niceness doesn't mean anything, Stephanie. I'll tell you that right now. For all you know, she could be feeding off your pleasure at being treated with kindness.

...! Do you think that's what it is?!

Nah, you've got it all wrong, emoboy. I know for a fact that Zuri feeds off... hrm. Actually, maybe I shouldn't broadcast this...





Go on, Gloria. I promise that nothing you say here will have any consequences elsewhere. This is a totally isolated experience!

Well, you're bound to say that, aren't you? But I guess it's okay. She was quite forthcoming about it, anyway. I guess it's not exactly a hard thing to find, so she doesn't need to worry about her supply draining up if people know about it...

Basically, she feeds on the conflict that arises when two or more people pit themselves against each other. Particularly men... which is why she's currently in a love quadrangle with Dane, Nasir and Everett.

If I might interject, that sounds like a kind of succubus. Interesting...

I thought you weren't interested in planar theory?

Hehe, looks like you caught me out.

My god, he didn't bite your head off. Put a red cross on the wall.

I feel pretty bad for Nasir, if I'm honest. He's actually a pretty awesome guy. He's a pretty honourable sort... which Zuri uses against him, of course, to get him to fight for her.

Now I feel ashamed of my sex. We're just puppets to you, aren't we?

Well, duh.

If I might interject again, everyone is a potential puppet to a demon, male or female. You shouldn't beat yourself up about being played, because demons are built to play people, in the way that the mer are built to swim, ogres are built to be bloodthirsty and-

Oh my god, quit the racist crap already, would you? Not all ogres are bloodthirsty, I'm sure. And Zuri's not evil. She could've gotten just as much food off of joining SIN, so why did she join the good side if there isn't something about it that appeals to her?

Hm, you can keep deluding yourself about people's characters if you like. If you continue to let the dark races get under your skin, however, it will only lead to your own demise.

You...





INTERRUPTION! So, who else are we friends with here?

I like Ardelle. She's really nice. She's one of the best fighters, too, up there with Coline and Gloria-

What the hell?! You are NOT going to rank the mouse on the same level as me!

I said she was "up there" with you, not on the same level... I mean, if she were better than you, she'd be the instructor, not you, right...? You know a lot more about the arts and you seem way more experienced.

Nice save.

Well, yeah, anyway, Ardelle is pretty cool. She's the adopted daughter of this old general, came along at about the same time as the Captain, with the military reinforcements. Seen a lot of serious action and knows the value of hard work. I respect her.

Wow, coming from you that's like calling her Queen of the Universe.

If I've got this right... she usually hangs out with Ruka, and Ruka's friends with Casey, and Casey is going out with Jaden... they usually spar together.

They're the Order's only triple dagger/katar specialists at the moment. I just let them get on with things usually.

What's the difference between a triple dagger and a forked katar...?

You don't KNOW?!

Do you?

...Shut up, emoboy.

Triple daggers are more versatile, more easily retractable, and have a greater amount of customisation. Some models you can snap bladepieces on and off, totally down to your choice for the situation. Jaden got a really rare Swordbreaker part for his. Keep out of his way, Damien. There's no way you'd be able to avoid getting your weapon caught in that thing.

What is this, 'Pick on Damien Day?!'

What does a Swordbreaker do...?

Oh, I see, you're interested in the theory but not the doing. Well, if you knew how to disarm, you'd know that you need to work your opponent's weapon into a position where you can basically pull it away from them. The Swordbreaker removes the need for that manoeuvering, because it's covered in serrated grooves perfect for catching any bladed weapon right up to a Greatsword. Then, with a little effort if you so choose, it's capable of snapping any common blade, hence its name.

Wow...!

I'll admit, that's kind of mad-scary.

Only if you don't know how to deal with it. [Smugly] First time Jaden pulled that thing out on me my sword went flying and all, but then I went and asked Jessie what you can do about it and he taught me a couple of counters specially made for when your weapon's caught in a Swordbreaker.

And let me guess - you aren't going to share your precious super special awesome secret knowledges with the rest of us?

Of course not! It's not the kind of thing regular novices need to be made aware of.

I'd say it is exactly the sort of thing novices need to be aware of...




Alright, alright, you lot. Let's break it up and move on to more questions from users. Feline Godess has a few questions for all of you. "Why did you join B.O.O?"

I wanted to follow the Overseer in paving the way for a better, brighter and more peaceful future for the whole of Gaia.

I'm not all about sex. I actually think those guys that jumped on the Sentinel's Boobs bandwagon are idiots. Who the hell are you if you're gonna blindly follow a woman who wants to break down life as we know it just because she's hot? Me and Sam joined up because we knew what might happen if we didn't, and we've stuck around because... uh...

Come on, Demon, be honest.

...I guess we kind of want to better ourselves. I mean, it might be presumptious to talk for my brother, but we're pretty similar that way. We agreed that this might be a good thing for us.

As for me, well, it's a pretty similar story. No way was I going to let that crazy b***h go destroying Gaia. I was working in Durem anyway, so it was just a case of a brisk walk when they set up the recruitment booths.

Did you have to quit your job? I quit mine straight away.

Nah, my boss and all the other staff at the club joined up, too. Except they all joined SIN.

You were working in a club...?

Bouncer. Haha, I guess I have done a lot of this sort of thing. Aikido came in really handy there, since you didn't wanna hurt the patrons, just move them along. It's why I got the job in the first place - the rest of the applicants were all just bruisers. Never got tired of seeing the faces on those guys when they got floored by a girl...

Where were you working, Lacine?

I was actually a photographer's assistant. I started off in a newspaper, but ended up transferring to a studio in Aekea because I preferred all the high-key stuff to going out in all the wind and rain and trying to capture an elusive shot.

Hm, as for me, my uncle got roped in on the construction of the Trident and I came over with him. Then he left me behind. Said I could learn a few things around here. Hmph, what I could learn from this pathetic little-

Yes, yes, that's quite enough. All else anyone needs to know is that your uncle is a magician, too.

A wizard. And a damn brilliant one at that.

And... I've kind of already answered this... so... I'll just say again that I just wanted a new start.




"What do you think of Feline?"

She's SO pretty!! She looks just like a queen...!

She's a winged felid. There's not much there you wouldn't expect.

There's PLENTY there you wouldn't expect. You can't just keep reducing people to their race. I've talked to her a little about her culture, and it's truly fascinating. You could start by trying to learn a little from her philosophy. She's an exceptionally good person.

Eh, don't really know her too well.

Same. I'll say that any kind of tail is fair game for me, though.





Ahh, I was wondering when we'd get to this. "What is the color of your underwear?"

This question should really interest me more than it does.

Why doesn't it interest you?

Because when I'm visualising I always go a layer lower anyway.

OMG. Yeah, okay, I'm not answering.

Me neither...! That's horrid! I'm glad not all men are like you!

Aw, c'mon! Can't you ladies take a joke?

...Yeah... joke... >3>;




Somehow that question NEVER works out right. "Why can't we all just get along?"

[Everyone looks at one another]

I was under the impression that we get along pretty well. I mean, if you ignore all the squabbling...

...and blood feuds...




I believe I know exactly what you're referring to there... Gloria. Just what IS your problem with Coline?

Oh, please. I don't have to justify myself to you.




C'mon, we all know by now you're bad-tempered and opinionated, but why is your anger directed at her in particular?

Because I've seen way too many weaklings like her given all the special treatment in the world. I've seen it time and time again and they don't deserve none of it. In my opinion, people need to work for what they get. It's all I've ever had to do, so I don't see why anyone else should be any different.

She's jealous.

I am not jealous of the mouse. It's nothing to do with my feelings, it's just the principle.

Nah, you're jealous. Okay, maybe not the principle side of it, but the... other bit. I've seen the look in your eyes when he drops you to go and fuss around her... despite your very best efforts to make him notice you...

[Speaking over him] You don't know ANYTHING about me, Damien, so I think you'd better just shut it and keep your stupid opinions to yourself.

...

Don't ******** look at me like that, I'm telling the truth! YOU'RE the one who's jealous, if you ask me, because you'll never be the kind of man I'd be interested in for a real relationship and you know it.

[Hurt] ...Jeeze. So you'd honestly go for the elf over me?

[With intentional cruelty] Isn't that what I've been doing all this time? Just face it, you're barking up the wrong tree with me. You're not what I want and that's final.

Damn it, I'm so sick of this. You're a right piece of work, you know that? Couldn't this have waited until we were alone at least?

I've already told you a THOUSAND times how I feel about you, we aren't going anywhere! This isn't big news to you!

If you'd just give me a chance-

[Their accusations begin to overlap one another]

I've given you PLENTY of chances, and all you've shown me is how much of a ******** man you can be. And I don't mean that in the good way, just all the bad ways. If you had a shred of kindness and decency in your body I would've seen it by now.

Why do you women always talk that way about us, like we're some kind of devil spawn? Oh, and you think you'll find kindness and decency in a dark elf? I hate to agree with Thomas, but he must've really pulled the wool over your eyes.

You don't know ANYTHING about him, either. The truth is I never SAW a shred of decency in the world until I met him-

Oh yeah, and you're really showing off your own kindness and decency, as per usual-

What's THAT supposed to mean-?!

It means you're a conniving b***h who acts so goddamn high and mighty-

Oh that is ******** rich, hearing YOU call ME high and mighty-

If he's so perfect, you think he's EVER gonna return your interest?! You are NOTHING. You're just some stupid whore who thinks she can s**t on other people all her life.

It's OTHER PEOPLE who s**t on ME! This is EXACTLY why I hate you, you goddamn p***k, you never even TRY to understand MY feelings!

YOUR feelings?! Did you even stop to think for a second about OTHER PEOPLE'S feelings?! You're so wrapped up in your own stuck-up, a**l little world where YOU'RE the victim or the martyr or whatever and other people are the villains - oh yeah, I understand you just fine, Gloria!

You LOVE doing this, don't you, turning me into some sort of headcase just so people won't see your own failings - so what if I'm the victim?! If I am it's only because other people have always ******** stepped on me, and I'm sick of it!!

...[Cough] You guys... interview. Lover's tiff can wait for after...?

We're NOT lovers.

Or we are, but... nothing more.

This kind of thing makes me glad I've never had a girlfriend.

...[Giggle] Oh, I don't know, once you get past all the yelling I think it's kind of cute.

Uhh... cute? How?

Yeah, how? There's nothing sweet about me, and he's about as cute as a clump of dog s**t on a white sandy beach.

Nice mental image - like looking into a mirror, isn't it, Gloria?

Well, I've never had a boyfriend, either, but... Gloria and Damien are like best friends. In a little while they'll be laughing and talking and having fun like usual. I dunno, that just seems like the kind of relationship I'd like with a guy when I get round to it. Even if you argue and hate each other for a bit, your relationship is strong enough to bounce right back. I'd love it if I could be friends with a man like that. It just makes your love seem all the more special.

...

...

...Love? Her? Ha. Loving her would be like humping a giant porcupine.

A porcupine-cactus crossbreed.

With steel plating.

And barbed wire running up all the spikes.

With an internal bomb wired up to explode at random.

I was expecting you to include some kind of retractable bazooka, but honestly, an unpredictable time bomb is just a much better analogy.

[They both laugh together, whilst Damien's hand brushes hers, and then links with it. She does not pull away, and even appears to draw nearer. Stephanie is smiling, looking at them. Thomas appears to be choking on his own tongue. Lacine is also smiling benignly, but glances at Thomas as if expecting him to say something to ruin the moment.]





Wow, so much for getting along. What just happened here...?

Uh, anyway... "Favorite music?"

Anything urban, reggaeton, some pop too. Club remixes.

Same. Me and Gloria both like Sarah McLachlan, too.

I was listening to this remix of Silence one day and he was like "Woah, I love that song, too." Yeah, THAT was a surprise, but not nearly so much as Alanis Morisette.

And yet she still thinks I'm a chauvinist. Mind-boggling. I try and keep up on indie releases too just because my brother thinks he's so hip by listening to them, but honestly some of that stuff just does my head in. There was this song "If I Were a Fish" a while ago by some band with a name I don't even know how to pronounce...

It's "moom." Like the Moomins.

Really? Are you sure?

Yes, because I've got a cousin who's married to one of the musicians.

...Oh, my bad. I mean, it wasn't that bad...

No, it's okay, I'm not into experimental or electronica either. I guess I'm pretty mainstream, but some of the other indie stuff is good, too.

I didn't know your family is Icelandic, Lacine.

Oh, we're not. It's an interracial marriage.

What about you, Gloria? You look Mediterranean to me. Am I right?

Uh oh, code red, wrong move, Steff.

What? I don't-

[Coldly] It's fine. I don't know my real parents, so I don't know what I am.

...Oh! I'm sorry!! I didn't...

Didn't think? Heh, no different to usual.

[Cutting in] What about you, Steff? What music do you like? I've seen you with one of those posh new ipods.

Ooh, did daddy buy it for you? Bwahahaha.

...I like kind of a bit of everything I guess. Even like, gothic rock and punk stuff. The kids in my class used to love it and it kind of rubbed off on me.

The wet blanket's got a little Manson in her, who would've known?




It's kind of easy to forget that you guys are all just normal teenagers who got yanked into this world. Questions like that are really nice to bring us back down to Gaia.

And we're back to Mabo. He asks "Is the glass half empty or half full?"

Damn I hate this question. It's NEITHER. It's a glass with water in it. Whichever way you say it doesn't matter one bit.

I think that means you're a pragmatist. Half full!

I'd like to say its half full, but sometimes it seems half empty... No, half full. Definitely half full.

Mm... half full.

[Unintelligible grumble]




"If you had to fight to the death with any other Ordonian, who would you fight and why?"

[Grinning] Gloria.

What, why?

Because if I have to fight to the death, I'd like the last thing I see to be your beautiful face.

She's blushing...!

Goodness me, I never thought she'd fall for a line like THAT. To return to the question, we priestesses are all pacifists, so...

Hmmph. Fighting. Waste of time.



Now, those are all the questions we have from users. I had a few more for each of you, but unfortunately the box suddenly ran out of room we're out of time, so here's just one more for all of you: What are you hoping will happen in the future?

Arcane healing magic. A brand new field with my name all over it!

Hmm. I don't know, really. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and take each day as it comes. I don't really have a master plan. Not yet, anyway.

Meh, same! All I know is I ain't going anywhere near our dad's stuffy old office job. He's gonna have to rely on Sam to carry on the business, not me!

All I hope is that I can continue to do the best job I can. For me, for everyone, and, most importantly, for Lorika.

I just want do something good... something that can prove I'm really worth something. Something that'll show everyone I can make my own way!



On that positive note, we'll finish. Thank you for your time, everyone, and tune in next time when we'll be back to normal and interviewing another Ordonian! Yes, just one!! I'll see you all next time!


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This interview concluded on: August 13th 2010

To read the end-part of the interview that had to be cut, go here!

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