conjured-scrybe

[conjured-scrybe]

Can I feed the pack rat? I have snacks :)

A rat appears, sniffing the air.

IT WOULD SEEM THAT HE'S RATHER INTERESTED IN YOUR OFFER. I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS.

[conjured-scrybe]

Hearing Leshy take pride in her skill and deck fills Jessie with such joy. She couldn't stop smiling right now if she tried.

"It’s quite the honor to hear you say that... and you told such an absolutely amazing story yourself that kept me eager to rise to the challenge, capturing the moon itself on your camera! It was an absolutely unforgettable moment! I was absolutely gushing about it for days after to whoever was willing to listen, and managed to convince a few people to even go and give the game a try."

The Great Scybe could not help but smile. He was deeply pleased that his tales he'd worked so very hard to spin had not fallen upon deaf ears. His old hands search the box, seeking something. Finally his fingers found purchase against an old, carefully wrapped cloth. He drew back his arm, placing the rectangular object across the table in front of his visitor.

OPEN IT, IF YOU WOULD BE SO KIND. I DESIRE TO SEE YOUR DECK AGAIN.

[conjured-scrybe]

The Great Scybe stared at the aged device that had been granted to him. He spoke towards the old glowing screen.

WHAT A FINE CREATURE. IT SUITS YOU WELL.

Jasmine: hey so fun fact, i have a disguise form! I mean, all the other gods and goddesses have some sort of disguise so… here’s mine.

A little butterfly!

[conjured-scrybe]

M!A You now have a really old desktop computer. An Amiga, cause I feel like you'd be an Amiga user.

WHAT A STRANGE DEVICE...I AM UNCERTAIN OF IT'S USEFULNESS...BUT I APPRECIATE THE GIFT NONETHELESS.

[conjured-scrybe]

Another Challenger...It has been ages

[conjured-scrybe]

There is an amazing feeling when you get to see inscryption cards in person. It's more magical than just some merch of your favorite series because it's Real. And right now, this visitor beholding her own official death card, is doing her best to hold back tears of joy.

"Yes, that's me, I'm Jessie! That's my card! It's actually here..!"

This usually talkative girl is having trouble finding the right words for once, overwhelmed with such happiness at this moment.

I REMEMBER NOW. I ADMIT...I WAS PROUD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO BEAT ME WITH SUCH SKILL. YOU HAD A WONDERFUL DECK. ...I WONDER...

The Great Scrybe began to rifle through the box, searching for something.

[conjured-scrybe]

Your cabin feels familiar, yet different. Have the puzzles changed? Have you?

I HAVE SIMPLY AGED. THE PUZZLES HAVE, OF COURSE, CHANGED SLIGHTLY. I WOULDN'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT A RETURNING CHALLENGER, WOULD I?

[conjured-scrybe]

*pokes the jars with cards in them*

One of the squirrels twitches. One of the Jars, filled with green goo, stares at you quietly.

I WOULD ADVISE THAT YOU LEAVE THOSE BE. I'VE ONLY RECENTLY MANAGED TO GET THAT ONE TO REMAIN RELATIVELY SILENT.

[conjured-scrybe]

*eats a card*

Within a moment, before the paper can even pass your lips, a large, aged hand swipes the card from your grasp.

DO NOT DAMAGE MY CARDS, LEST I USE YOU AS A REPLACEMENT.

[conjured-scrybe]

The new visitor takes a moment to think.

"Hmmm, that's a tricky question. Let's see, I know I had a regular loss early on, then to the Prospector. I think I lost to the Trapper and Trader battle at least twice. Getting past you was the hardest, I think it took three or four attempts?"

"But this all gets really mixed up for me you see, because after beating the main game I went back and played a lot of challenges against you. Kaycee's mod, it's called. And the amount of times I have run through those challenges I have NO idea. I know I've sunk over a hundred hours on those alone, unlocking and doing all the challenges."

Bringing up Kaycee's mod makes her think of something.

"Oh, if it helps any when I was able to customize the little player on the board I liked to do the wizard hat plus the skeleton body. Not a fan of the magic system but love the design. Uh, I think most my death cards would be under the name 'Jessie', I tended to be pretty consistent there. Gravitated towards using wolves with corpse eater sigil?"

She had assumed that this Leshy might have been pulled from a specific copy of the game, but if somehow he is connected to all of them? She can't help but feel a sense of thrill and wonder for how that works, do new games still become memories? She has so many questions but is eager to just see how things naturally unfold.

The Great Scrybe began to sift through the cards.

I RECALL WHEN KAYCEE USED TO EDIT THE FILES. THOUGH I SUPPOSE THERE NEVER TRULY WAS A KAYCEE, WAS THERE? AH. HERE WE ARE. DOES THIS STRIKE YOU AS FAMILIAR?

[conjured-scrybe]

The new visitor can't help but smile a little from his quick recognition. Makes sense that one so intune with the world would be so perceptive.

"Sorrow is not quite the word I'd use... although unsure what term I'd use to replace it. You've done nothing wrong, I'm honestly quite lucky that for a time being your cabin has moved temporarily to my family's forest while I am in the area for visiting!"

"I suppose to be quite blunt, a version of your game has provided a lot of comfort to me. But it's like... when you meet an animal who was cloned or born asexually. Like, say you knew a female tiger shark or perhaps burmese python, you knew her behaviors and mannerisms so well and she tolerated your presence. But then one day after there was no partner avaliable for a long while, she makes kids on her own. Once you see the child and watch them, since the DNA is exact same as the parent you feel as if you know Them: the way they behave, likes and dislikes, and yet to the child you are nothing but a stranger. Of course, experience and circumstances make someone their own person so even if one shares the same look it's not quite the same, but a funny feeling looking into the eyes of one and being reminded of the other. "

She does her best to explain her feelings in a way Leshy might understand, figuring best not to dive Too deep into the whole 'videogame past' thing yet in case it's a sensitive topic. She can only imagine how it must be to have such origins, and how strange it feels knowing part of your history has been shared over and over again.

"Of course, it doesn't make the joy of getting to meet and interact with someone so marvelous any less amazing! Just, it has such a unique and strange feeling to it."

I...FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU MENTION SUCH THINGS. MY MEMORY IS...FRACTURED. I REMEMBER MANY THINGS THAT COULD NOT HAVE ALL HAPPENED. MANY DECKS. MANY CHALLENGERS, ALL INTERACTING THROUGH THE SAME FACE. MANY NAMES.

The Great Scrybe rises from the table, moving to the puzzle drawers. With ease he opens one, retrieving a small yet familiar box.

I HAVE BEEN...COLLECTING OLD PIECES. ATTEMPTING TO FILTER THROUGH MY MEMORIES. SEE WHAT STICKS. THIS BOX ONCE HELD EYES. NOW...WELL... I HAVE FOUND...A RATHER LARGE NUMBER OF THESE. TELL ME, WHEN WE PLAYED BEFORE, WHEN I WAS...SHALL I SAY...SCATTERED...HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU LOSE TO ME?

He reaches inside, pulling out a deck of cards.

[conjured-scrybe]

A new visitor has entered the cabin. A sight quite familiar to her, and yet surreal to see in person. None the less, she makes her greeting.

"It is an honor to get to meet the great Scrybe of Beasts in the flesh. I do hope you are enjoying your freedom into this dimension. Although might I ask, have you gotten the chance to endulge in anything new as of late? You are no longer bound by code, and while your campaign is by no doubt my favorite, have you ever considered trying the role of being a challenger yourself? I'd imagine one getting the chance to get to play out the role of the wary challenger could always help encourage new story-telling ideas and cards.

But of course, I fully understand you being able to keep control of a game has been a hard fought battle and would never mean to disrespect the sacrifices made to get here. If that previous suggestion makes you uncomfortable, perhaps I could teach you to play a new game? You would be out of your element, but nature learns to adapt. "

She tilts her head slightly with curiosity at what he might choose. While one would find the large figure of Leshy intimidating in person, she feels almost at peace, as if she was finally visiting an old friend. Yet, with the nature of game copies, a friend who has never met her. The irony of an environment made to cause unease being the nostalgic comfort in face of the bitter truth that she is nothing but a stranger here.

He paused to consider the question. The way her eyes moved distracted him.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I REMAIN COMFORTABLE WITH MY GAME, AND MY ROLE IN IT. HOWEVER THIS WORLD HAS SPARKED MANY NEW IDEAS WITHIN MY MIND. I HAVE NEW CARDS, NEW ITEMS, AND EVEN A FEW NEW MAPS.

The Great Scrybe gestures to the stack of rolled up maps. There are many more of them then there were before.

I SENSE SOME SORROW FROM YOU. IS SOMETHING THE MATTER?

[conjured-scrybe]

Whats your favorite time of day? I like nighttime and early morning the best =)

I'M RATHER PARTIAL TO...11 O'CLOCK. JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

The Great Scrybe smiles.

[conjured-scrybe]

Why are you so sad sir?

...IT'S BEGINNING TO STRIKE ME...THAT THEY REALLY ARE GONE. ALL OF THEM. NOT TRAPPED, NOT LOCKED AWAY...GONE. NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY NEVER WERE. NOT AS I KNEW THEM.

[conjured-scrybe]

I am rather fond of insect decks, do you have a preference for types of beasts?

The Scrybe's expression softened.

INSECTS ARE A FINE CHOICE. INTREPID. STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. I HOLD NO BIAS BETWEEN MY BEASTS. ALL OF THEM ARE WONDERFUL, AND A GOOD DECK MAKES USE OF THEM ALL.

[conjured-scrybe]

*Stacks and unstacks the bone tokens*

The Great Scrybe watches idly. For a moment, rather then you, he seems to see old, old hands, fiddling with the tokens, and an oddly warm smile set on a old, cold face. The vision fades as quickly as it arrives. He seems sad.

[conjured-scrybe]

Greater Wolf?

A MAJESTIC CREATURE. SAPIENT. A ONE OF A KIND CARD. A WILLING SUBJECT, AS WELL. SUCH BEAUTY AS I'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE IN THESE WOODS.

He turns the card over, placed in the center of the table. The creature on the card is an enormous wolf, towering majestically over a hill. 3 Blood, but with 3 damage and 3 health, making it the strongest Canine card in the deck.

I WAS HONORED TO CAPTURE THEIR IMAGE. I AM THANKFUL FOR THEIR GRACIOUS GIFT TO MY GAME. I HOPE THEY ARE WELL.