asksgk

[asksgk]

Morgan le Fay, I have to say - Wow!

I don't know whether or not to be impressed or appalled by your impudence - to seduce Lancelot! In the kings own bed, no less!

But I have to ask... is there any particular reason you went after Lancelot?

Morgan squinted at the prompt on the question machine. "I feel like we've been here before. Have we been here before?"

"To some extent, yes." Nimue sat as still as she could to recoup her energy.

"I thought so." The enchantress reclined as best she could on the stone bench and stretched out her arms. "Information-gathering skills aside, you should already know why someone such as Lancelot could be seduced. It wasn't easy mind you, and, deception aside, he is quite the specimen."

"Specimen of shit if that's what you mean." Surge stuck out her tongue and pretended to barf. She didn't bother looking at the prompt since it wasn't addressed to her. "He was so full of himself when we scrapped. I already got one prickly attention hog like that back home. I don't need another one."

"Hm... Perhaps you would change your mind if he whispered sweet nothings into your ear every night before slumber?"

"BLECH! I didn't ask to hear anything about your past flings! Not interested!"

"Yes, well..." Morgan returned her attention back to the device. "I went for Lancelot as he was the most handsome. I may have gone for Gawain if he was more of a looker. Percival..." She put her hand on her chin and massaged it for a moment. "She's not much of a lover. More a convenient target. I could seduce her probably, but my heart would not be in it."

[asksgk]

I have to admit, Lancelot, I am not certain on whether to be appalled or impressed by your impertinence.

That you did that... in the Kings bed...

Oh, and no, your friends didn't talk. I just know things.

"..." Lancelot said nothing as he stared at the question machine, his eyes languishing between it, the floor, and the ceiling. His eyes betrayed no emotion whatsoever, empty as if he were searching for something to feel himself. Maybe if it were someone of flesh and blood, he would attempt to plead his case, beg for forgiveness, or even proclaim he did nothing wrong. But all he did was stare in utter silence.

"You weren't there... You know nothing of what you speak..." His grip on Arondight slackened in his lap. "You did not see how she trembled, how she wept, feared for herself and the kingdom. You did not witness how brilliant she was during her brightest days only to have it be snuffed out under the oppression of a loveless betrothal. How could you know? Do you even want to know?"

Lancelot lightly rubbed the edge of his blade with his other thumb, polishing the spot. "Chivalry is a code of conduct for when protecting the weak and incapable. This should not be novel for you. Any man worth their own weight would rescue a woman from such a plight. Though I stumbled, I still took action. But with your propensity for rumor-monging and regarding my weakest moments as mere entertainment, I am confident you would not. Reflect on that before you present me with another tasteless question."

[asksgk]

Sir Percival, I heard rumor that you were invulnerable against flame and could even walk upon molten rock like it was a pleasant green meadow.

Any truth to this? It sounds impressive, but it does sound rather fantastical.

"To an extent, yes." Her statement was matter-of-fact. "Though, I am curious as to how you come across so many of your rumors. They are always so... embellished. Fantastical even."

"I've seen her take a nap in a river of lava once." Gawain chugged down half a mug of mead as his companion suddenly turned towards him. He didn't flinch at her glare. "She made it look quite cozy as well."

"You- You are the one spreading these rumors! Why?!"

The rest of the mug went down in one final gulp. "It boosts the court's morale. Plus it is humorous once they do find their way back to the person in question."

"What about when they reach outsiders like this? My romanticized exploits should not extend out of Camelot to this degree!"

Gawain wiped the foam from his upper lip and let out a satisfied sigh. "Humorous."

[asksgk]

Hey, Merlina. You tried to be rid of me.

I'm back.

So, obviously you're not the eternally vigilant guardian of the realm all the time, so - what do you do when you're NOT on the clock? Strolling though the gardens? Playing games with your friends? Or maybe a warm bath, a bottle of wine, and a good book?

She stared at the device, somewhat annoyed by the pompous attitude of the first statement, but primarily confused by the rest of the question. "Eternally vigilant guardian of the realm? That is... quite the title you've foisted upon me. The highest honor I have ever received is 'Royal Wizard' and even that is somewhat beyond my tenure."

Merlina closed the tome she was reading from within her study and stared wistfully out the window. A barely audibly sigh left her nose as the corners of her mouth twitched first upwards into a smile and then back down into a frown. "My grandfather, the previous Royal Wizard, was a brilliant man. A mind more honed than the finest blade and a penchant for the mystical arts that truly made magic... magical. Even with all that I have accomplished - and, in some cases, upended - I could never hope to measure up to even a quarter, nay a tenth of his achievements. The world lost an unmatched titan of wisdom the day he..."

She wiped the beginnings of a tear from her eye before cradling her staff close to her body. "My apologies. The question was not about my position nor my grandfather, was it? If it is about my leisure, it may surprise you to know that I do occasionally gallivant with the other knights. I cannot hold my liquor nearly as well as they; a single glass of wine makes me dreadfully tired. However, Sir Gawain is a remarkable gossip. I suppose being the knight most present at the castle will have that effect." Merlina giggled to herself after remembering small snippets of information she really ought not to know, but Gawain confided in her regardless. "Perhaps a dull answer, but yes. My leisure activity is enjoying small conversation others. I hope that satisfies your desire for knowledge."

[asksgk]

Dear Lady of the Lake, Nimue.

Sadly, much of my knowledge of your land is third hand at best, filtered through legend and myth. I have heard four different names, and no one can agree if it is the same person by four names or four different people. Some say you were a thief who stole Lancelot, others that you rescued him as a babe. Some legends say that you were Merlin's staunch ally, others that you murdered him yourself.

Please, anything you can say to give light to the half truth and lies would be greatly appreciated.

"Those of the fae are known for their proclivity towards having the truths about them embellished," Nimue started. "When the worlds of fact and fiction begin to intermingle, it can obfuscate which is which. But unfortunately, the truth that you speak of is not something that exists."

"Oh, come now, sister," Morgan la Fey cackled while sitting next to her. "You know the straightforward meaning of what they ask. There's no need to be obtuse."

"Even the simple answer they desire is not so simple, and you understand this well, Morgan." Nimue's forehead wrinkled slightly in frustration. "The one asking sends this question with some pre-conceived knowledge about me from various tales across time written for their own sakes. The stories of those faeries were deeply entwined with the outcome of those stories as well. I believe they ask out of genuine curiosity though without understanding the gravity of what it is they ask."

Morgan turned and tilted her head with smug self-importance towards the question device. "In less ambiguous terms, the story of our dear Nimue here is too entrenched with the themes of this story to give away that information easily." She returned her attention to the lady. "But that is such a facile answer. I believe the soul who asked deserves something for their troubles, no?"

"I suppose..." she sighed. "During Sir Sonic's campaign against the Dark Queen, that was neither my first time interacting with the knights nor with Merlina. Our eventual clash was a natural result of unfortunate past events."

"Mystery and intrigue~ You may be even better at teasing the audience than I am, sister," Morgan prodded.

"Compliment unnecessary, sister."

[asksgk]

Hey Surge, if there's alternate versions of people you know here, then what do you think the odds are there's an alternate version of you running around somewhere?

"Y'know, I was thinking the same thing," Surge admitted while staring at the odd question doohickey. She was sitting down in the grass while flipping her dagger between her fingers. "'Cause like... Sonic came here before me, right? I bet he wondered that too, so I asked Lady."

She fumbled the weapon and let it clatter to the ground, rubbing her palm where it accidentally pricked her hand. "Not a single other person in the world looked like him before he showed up. I dunno if it's magic or what, but I'm willing to bet that I'm not here either."

She picked it up, determined to get a few more finger rolls in before she inevitably beefed it again. "And if I am, I hope she's better off than me. She deserves it."

[asksgk]

Morgan le Fay. There are many legends surrounding you... and if even half of those are true, then you are a truly dangerous and clever foe. They say you have perfect knowledge of healing herbs and tinctures, great knowledge of astronomy, the art of shape change of both yourself and others, and that you are a beauty and mind almost unmatched.

So what in the hell did you do to piss off Merlina so badly?

"I believe a better question would be 'what haven't I done?'" She took a sip from a fresh cup of Nimue's lavender tea. "Merlina and I have had this friendly rivalry for years now. I would send a plague of snakes to the banquet hall, and she would fire spells upon me as I fled. She would create wards to prevent my entry, so I would enter as a swan instead. It was quite comedic as you may gather."

Morgan pinched her chin in faux deep thought. "There is the likelihood that this rivalry stems from something quite a bit more devious than a typical prank, however if you're able to ask me such a question through an inexplicable device such as this, it stands to reason that you'll find out the answer to that eventually."

"Morgan, I specifically advised you against antagonizing the audience this way," Nimue pouted from afar.

"Apologies, sister." The sorceress' tone was anything besides apologetic. "In short, there is quite a good, though possibly misguided, reason for her hatred of me, but I don't wish to spoil the surprise~"

[asksgk]

I'm a little surprised at you Lancelot. I understand that your mission is of the utmost importance, but to teleport behind your opponent and stab her in the back was... not exactly chivalrous, was it?

"What do you believe chivalry is?"

There was a low rumble in his voice - partly of anger, partly of pain. He sat himself up in his bed as if lying down during such an accusation would've been an insult. Doing so put stress on his right shoulder which he clutched with the other hand, but he continued his answer in spite of it.

"Chivalry is a code of conduct when protecting the weak and incapable. There is no chivalry in combat, but there is honor. I responded to dishonorable tactics from my opponent with my own. Had I won, I would've chivalrously protected Camelot, but I would've taken no pleasure doing it in such an honorless way."

He flopped back onto his bedspread, the anger draining him of what little energy he had leftover. He let go of his right shoulder, instead running his left hand over the singed mark on his right arm. There was no pain as he did so, but the memory of it caused him to wince nonetheless.

"But I lost. I failed to uphold both the tenets of chivalry and my honor... Be that as it may, once I have recovered, I will not make such a mistake again."

[asksgk]

Percival, you prefer Mead? I'm surprised, I expected you would prefer a more refined and noble wine over Mead.

"I don't believe I've ever asked what your preferred drink is, Percival." Gawain, also reading the question with her. He took a large swig from his mug and wiped the foam from his top lip. "I wish to know the answer also."

Percival sipped slowly from her cup, opting for water instead. "It is a flawed question. I prefer different drinks for different occasions. If the primary function of a gathering is merriment without food, mead is best as it stands on its own well. If food is provided, the bitterness of ale contrasts well with the savory tastes of the meat. Wine is best enjoyed when solitary or with those of refined manners, the latter of which I happen to not enjoy the company of..."

"Blech. Just the mention of those stuffy nobles is enough to sour my drink." Gawain didn't mind them on the whole, but the way they seemed so unconcerned with the state of the world left him in a foul mood. He swirled his drink around, releasing more bubbles from within and creating a new head. "If wine is meant to be enjoyed solitary, wouldn't that imply that you prefer it the most as you keep a bottle or two in your room at all times?"

"Ha! Are you trying to make me out to be a lush? What I consume in the sanctity of my room is none of their concerns." She lightly smacked the red knight with the back of her hand before scanning the faces in the banquet hall fondly. "Though I enjoy the taste of a dry red on a quiet, moonlit night, nothing compares to the raucous laughter of my brothers in arms. So perhaps I do have a preference for mead as it is always present during those times."

"And if we were to start drinking wine during our celebrations instead?" Gawain jokingly asked.

"Then I would have a new favorite drink."

[asksgk]

Merlina, you were so quick to order the death of the Green Stranger, lying helpless on the floor. That was... unusually brutal. Do you think that King Arthur would have approved?

"Absolutely." The Royal Wizard floated the device of unknown origin before her. She stared at the question curiously, but was unamused by the implications it posed. "If there is anyone else on this earth who understands the danger - and quite frankly the nuisance - that Morgan le Fay poses, it would be King Arthur."

She took a deep breath to compose herself before addressing the other point. "Your assertion this 'Green Stranger' was helpless seems rooted in a bias I cannot quite fathom. They are an intruder with power strong enough to cross the gorge surrounding Castle Camelot and incapacitate the best knight in our court. I am all too familiar with the magicks Morgan wields and she knows this as well. Locating her handiwork within these walls is so trite, I am insulted by her lack of effort in masking it. So to find this fiend working with the greatest threat to this kingdom, they are not 'helpless' as you say."

Merlina clicked her staff on the ground, a vortex erupting from the top of it and slowly inching towards the questioning device. "I will not allow filth such as them to scuttle through these sacred halls unimpeded. Morgan is a plague to be eradicated and those that participate in her schemes are no less guilty.

"On this point, I will not waver. I will not falter. And next time...

"I. Will. Not. MISS."

The tornado she conjured tears the contraption to pieces, reducing it to a pile of scrap at her feet. She looks at its construction for a brief moment, intrigued before clicked her staff two more times and engulfing the remaining debris in flames. At this point, it's safe to assume that she's answered the question as much as she is willing.

[asksgk]

Hey, you. C'mere.

So here's the deal, wise guy. You got questions, and I'll try to give you answers. Getting stuck out in the boonies is driving me up the wall, and whatever thing is sending me these questions is the best thing I got. So keep 'em comin' and I'll keep answerin'.

Or you can ask the other bozos too. Maybe not the dwelves, but you can try I guess. And if you ask more than one person... I can't guarantee we won't kill each other after.

That's it. I'm out.

- Surge (stuck in Camelot)