dear_mun | arcanarum in which the mun's writing ahead for the present event

[You know, he can't say he was expecting that ease or the compliment, but he's grateful for both]

That's exceedingly kind, thank you. Those words mean as much as the feathers I ruffle within the Association.

[the problem described isn't anything that there are set studies for or spells created to address, which is just fine. Figures the Association has managed to win no matter the circumstances though]

Set as in the Egyptian God, or do I confuse identities?

What concerns me here is the Association's ultimate goal in amassing such power. The sort of behaviour you describe here is typically what they send out Enforcers to control. To me, that says that they have an end game in mind with themselves triumphant. I don't think they would have caused this shatter, but they are using it to their advantage.

I do wonder if there would be a way to split those two personalities. I know that Edlefelt magecraft is capable of doing such work--

[Dia chuckles.] I'm sorry. I forget you aren't used to the new names we have taken. Mine is not so different, but he is using a shortened version of his birth name. I believe you would be more familiar with him as Cu Chulainn, the Lancer from the 5th war.

I am certain that they have some plan in mind, yes. Ideally, they want the Holy Grail and the Throne of Heroes back and under their control. If they can't have that, I suspect they would be just as happy building an army of servants who can't do anything but obey them.

[His face saddens and for a moment, he can't meet Waver's eyes.]

And unfortunately, they know exactly how to control Set. They just need the opportunity.

[When Waver mentions there is magic that can split personalities, he looks back at the other man, hope in his eyes.]

Is there truly magic that can do such a thing? Recently we met someone who was able to lay a geis on The Beast to try and control his behavior, but how well it will work we don't know.

[Dia's expression becomes contemplative for a moment before he continues.]

Sometimes I wonder if The Beast is so angry and destructive because he knows he is a part of someone else and can never really have what he wants. There is someone he loves very much.

[there's this one moment in Waver's brain that he's trying to reconcile the Egyptian god in Celtic clothing and tilts his own head at the strangeness of that particular mental image.] Okay, yes, that would definitely not be who I expected with that name.

See that's interesting to me for other reasons - the Association let the Grail go on because it kept major Eastern families out of Association politics and squabbling among themselves. There must be some ideological shift involved here that would explain the change.

And last I checked, yes. You'll want to get in touch with the family I mentioned and explain your situation to the present family head. If she'll be inclined to help, I can't say, but any attempt at resolution is a worthwhile effort.

Mm, and that would be--? Placating it might be another option to pursue.

[Dia shakes his head.] I'm afraid that I can't say much about their politics and such, but I'm going to guess that something as earth shaking as the Throne of Heroes shattering probably got a lot of attention. I'm going to also guess that we might be farther in the future than you by quite a bit and perhaps that has changed their views as well. I have done a little looking in the time I've had since the war and I don't know that anyone who was alive in the 4th war is still alive now even if their actions are still shaping the world.

[Waver's question has Dia blushing bright red and unable to meet his eyes again.]

That person would be me. Both he and Set love me, but I'm guessing The Beast would like a chance to be close to me on his own instead of just through Set. As it is, he usually just gets to hold me on occasion when he is sane. A lot of the time when he and I are together, I'm fighting to wear him out so that he doesn't go out and hurt someone innocent.

[WOAH WOAH WOAH did you just imply that he might be dead there, Diarmuid? Because that's what Waver just heard.] What year is it for you then? I'm in 2016 with the grail's destruction and a near sealing designation on myself and Rin having been settled a few weeks ago.

[Waver would love to make some sort of Beauty and the Beast joke here to lighten the entire conversation but nothing comes]

Okay, going to the Edlefelts is probably better in the long rung then, what you are describing to me sounds exhausting both physically and mentally.

[Dia can't help but break out laughing at Waver's reaction.]

Oh, I'm sorry. That was rude of me, but yes we are quite a few years in the future from you then. Would thinking that you might have some great-grandchildren hanging around help any?

[The laughter fades from Dia's face and he suddenly does look very tired.]

I would do anything for them if it meant keeping them away from the Association, but I am starting to get tired. I will never admit it to them though. They are no burden to me. It is just my weakness that slows me down. I should be able to handle this and more, but... [He's hand finds his shoulder again and rubs it.] I'm not whole anymore. I've learned to fight again, but I don't think I'll ever be a good as I was. That means I get hurt and hurt badly enough sometimes that even Set's healing runes cannot keep me from being bedridden for days afterward.

I will remember that name and see if I can find any information on what they might be doing now. I thank you for the tip.

I wasn't certain how immediate your timeline was to mine, I feel slightly better now. And frankly I hope I don't have descendants. If there's any institution I reject it is the hereditary nature of magic circuits.

That you've recognized the problems is commendable, but I do advise that you share the problem. It can only be resolved if you make the issue known and it sounds like you should.

Much of magic comes down to knowing the right people, as loathe as I am to admit.

A protege then? Like Miss Tousaka? Would that be closer to your wants?

If magic is about who you know, then it's not so much different from most other things in this world. That is part of the reason I have started branching out and trying to contact others be they in our world or outside of it. I recently started a journal that I hope to use to contact other servants in my world. [Dia pauses and runs a hand through is hair.] Unfortunately, it's not going as well as I would like it to be. Something is causing it to act...oddly. It records and posts things without our consent or knowledge in most cases. I really have no idea how it can record things that take place in rooms on different floors than the computer is.

And we don't like that it seems to like recording and posting things regarding The Beast in specific.

Essentially, although she has her own priorities that I would never dare interfere with. She's a friend before anything else.

I've long prized talent over connections, but that is not how mage games are played. Rejecting that fact for as long as I did in my youth was - mm, foolish we'll say.

Your equipment problem is sadly nothing I can help with, I don't think. I would say take it apart and then re-assemble it, but that may only make the matter worse.

What gets saved, specifically?

Anything that it seems to want to save at the time. It's almost like there is a video recorder there in the room with us that we don't know about. The first time was a discussion I had with The Beast after a call from the Association upset Set enough that he lost control. The second time was also a run in with The Beast, but it was more personal because it showed his greatest fear. The last time was different from the first two because it was me and Set in our bedroom instead of being downstairs in the basement which is The Beast's Lair.

I'm still not sure why it recorded that one. All we were doing was a dexterity exercise for my hand. Of course, that video did end up getting us connected to one person in our world so I shouldn't complain.

We thought maybe it was the Association at first, actually, but I don't know if this is something that just magic could do. It seems too all-seeing.

[A curious look crosses Dia's face.]

You say that you approached the Association the wrong way in your youth. How do you deal with them now then? Do you think it might be something that would help us deal with them?

Well, mages and technology. Never a great combination to begin with.

There's no discernible pattern in these recording-- no. I'm wrong, there is. This is all key information concerning how the Beast acts and what comes to impact the Beast, correct? You seem to have a few outliers, but that's normal.

[some parts of this are still things Waver's not comfortable with discussing, so it takes him a moment to pin his words before answering]

I wished to prove I was clever to everyone because I assumed everyone's opinion mattered. This was not so. So I decided whose opinion did and what I wanted, which was change in certain attitudes. But you cannot reform a system without being a part of it yourself. To cause change, I needed authority and deeds to my name. For authority, I became both a lord and professor. For deeds to my name, I chose kindness and befriended students and destroyed the grail. My final end game can be enacted when I see fit, now that I have acquired what I need.

To win against the Association, you must fly under their radar, acting as they expect and seemingly doing nothing unusual. Then, when they are secure, then you raise a hand and do what you must do.

Edited 2012-12-08 05:07 (UTC)

Flying under the radar is exactly what we are trying to do though it is a little hard when we have agents watching us all of the time. I suppose as long as we keep things looking the same as usual even.... [Dia drops off suddenly. Some plans were best not talked about where others could hear even with the best of intentions.]

In any event, yes The Beast so far seems to be the common factor except for the few odd things. Actually, so far only three videos have been posted, but considering their personal nature, three is too many. I just wish there was a way we could control what it posts.

But that is our problem and not yours especially if mages of your time are as unfamiliar with technology as you claim. They have started using it more by our time. It's kind of necessary. They would be putting themselves at a severe disadvantage if they continued to ignore it.

[Dia can't help but smile at Waver's description of how his methods have changed.]

I think Rider would be happy to see how you have grown. It is a shame he's not here to see it.

There's always the matter of deleting the information. Certainly that some record will remain, but if the Association isn't saving those videos then the details will escape them. It isn't much of an advantage, but it is preferable to nothing at all.

I've been arguing that they've been at a disadvantage in their refusal to use technology for years. A part of me is actually pleased that they listened.

[he grins at that and gives a confident little shrug] He'll know eventually.

Unfortunately, we've tried deleting them. Whatever force is doing the recording is also preventing us from altering the posts in any way. That includes deleting them or even marking them as private instead of public. It's very frustrating.

[Dia can't help but grin.]

Who knows, perhaps it was a seed planted by the you of my world that led to this? Just because one of your plans for the grail didn't work out quite as you wished them to, doesn't mean all of them failed. You don't seem like the kind of guy to give up when something goes wrong.

Would it please you to know that as far as I'm aware, Rider is alive and well somewhere in my world? He helped us stop the Great War and was granted the chance to live freely as reward--just like the others who fought to stop it. As far as I know, he has not run a foul of the Association since then. For all I know, he is planning some kind of world conquest even as we speak. He is one I would dearly like to get in contact with again. He seemed a trustworthy man. Perhaps a little...strange, but trustworthy.

Have you tried generally threatening and hitting it? Sometimes that works more than all the screwdrivers and technicians in the world.

There is a difference between foolhardily forcing an experiment through when the results are all negative and giving up. It sounds more like the social changes I wanted happened to some extent but not how I would have hoped.

It is some comfort, even if I know he's perfectly capable of looking after himself. Who knows, maybe his goals of conquest and their success will benefit you.

Indeed he did know how to take care of himself. It is why he would be such a strong ally. While I still have too many responsibilities of my own to join his army, I wouldn't argue with having the chance to fight at his side again. I still well remember the night we defeated Caster at the river. Had it not been for his quick thinking, things would have been much worse than they were.

Does Set cursing and threatening it count? He has done it a good many times. I'm adapting to technology pretty well, but he is not and he has no issue with showing it. Berserker plus computer is not a good thing.

If you haven't been in contact with him lately I would renew it. He may also have resources that would prove useful to you. Being here and not there, I can't venture any specifics, but no stone left unturned and so on. But I think you already know the wisdom there.

Well if you destroy the device and invest in a new one, the problem might be solved. The only issue I see is data recovery, but perhaps that's data best lost.

I would do so if it were that easy, but it's not. [Dia's face saddens.] He, like most of the other servants, have dropped off the radar so to speak. If he is making plans of his own, the last thing he probably needs is to have the Association breathing down his back. And unfortunately, where we go, the Association follows. That is why I am going to journal route in the first place. It lets those who want to connect do so. Those who would rather keep to themselves have the choice of doing so as well.

[Dia pauses a moment and then suddenly blushes.]

My apologies! We have spent so much time talking about my problems and yours have been ignored. Tell me, what exactly is it about your mun's planning that is bothering you so? Surely, it's more than just some details.

The man's as subtle as Archer, that he's managed any sort of radio silence is more impressive than his actual campaigns. I understand the caution involved on your end though, although I worry about your success rate.

[Waver manages a small, tired laugh and waves a hand]

Honestly, your problems are infinitely more interesting than mine and to speak of my present challenges is tiresome. Besides, they don't clear up unless the game ends, and that will not occur.

[Dia chuckles a little self consciously and runs his hand though his hair.] You aren't the only one who has worried about my chances of success, believe me. I'm just not sure how else to do things without putting others at risk. Perhaps I'm worrying too much about it. I've been told I do that. They are all heroes like me after all. They can take care of themselves.

It's possible that the only reason I haven't heard anything of what Rider is doing is because he has left the area and with Set as he is, we can't go out very much. It greatly limits our knowledge of anything outside of the immediate area. We are currently working to correct that, though. It's pretty hard to create a network of servants when you don't know what is going on around you.

If you don't want to speak more of your problems, then I won't press you. I merely wanted to give you the chance to speak if you wished since you have been so kind as to listen to me.

History does have a way of repeating itself though. You're probably worrying just the right amount.

Mm. I suspect that if he was doing anything, the information would have found its way to you and everyone else. How is that network set up going?

[Waver takes a beat and gives a tired smile]

No, it is appreciated, I simply know my own limits and they are that since I am in a game, I cannot do much to get out of the situation. Besides, my situation feels like comparing apples to oranges in light of your own troubles.

The set up is going slow because I have been worried about the journal's odd behavior, but I'm starting to think that perhaps I should just let it go for now. We have found one person as I mentioned and it is actually someone who will be very helpful to the cause. I don't know if we would have found her so quickly if it hadn't been for one of the videos the journal posted on its own. Maybe in some weird way it's actually trying to help us?

In any event, waiting to see if I can unravel what is really going on with it is just wasting time and for all I know at some point we will find someone who can more easily figure out what is going on with it.

I'm honestly not sure what is worse--my troubles or some of the games I've heard about. What is yours like? My mun feels like Set and I are too far away from what she calls our base persona after all that has happened to us to take us into a game. It would cause too much confusion. Though she has thought about taking a more 'normal' version of one of us to a game someday.

As much as I may love Set, I don't know if I want to share headspace with another version of Cu Chulainn. One is plenty. Especially when we have a 5th war Archer who stops by on occasion and always ends up butting heads with Set. I feel like a babysitter when they are both around!

Hm - may I ask who it is? I think you might be correct in that the device is attempting to problem solve in the only way it knows how, although you should likely try to determine if it has artificial intelligence to some degree. If it does, you might understand the device's random recordings better.

Mm, the particular one I'm in has the overarching plot of taking individuals and through various situations, molding them to match a literary, mythological or otherwise fictional character, erasing memories and physical characteristics in the process. Resistance is only plausible in so many ways. Sadly I suspect what your mun says is true, but there is always the future.

There were two Archers in the 5th war, which one are you referring to?

Are you familiar with a woman by the name of Bazett Fraga McRemitz? She was to be Set's master during the 5th war but something interfered with that. [There is a very obvious bitterness and anger in those last few words.] He had thought her dead, but apparently somehow she managed to become a Counter Guardian instead. So she has ties to not only servants, but to the Mage's Association as well. I am hoping her insights will help us understand the Association more.

I really have no idea how to determine if the computer has developed an artificial intelligence, you say it's called? Since you have done some work with them, what would I have to do to check on such a thing?

[Dia's expression darkens slightly.] Right, Set told me there were two Archers in that war. I mean the one who was properly called. Red, not gold. That gold bastard was a relic from the 4th.

I've met her in passing here, but retain no professional contact with her. It seems her misfortunes have proved beneficial in the long run. Lucky for you, I suppose.

Honestly, it depends on the system. It should respond on its own, think on its own, be capable of some display that it is thinking critically independent on its programming. It'd be easier for me to examine it myself.

[Might as well share the name then] Gilgamesh. The oldest story recorded.

arcanarum in which the mun's writing ahead for the present event

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Late tag is late. Sorry about that! Suddenly, niece and nephew! X.x

No problem dude, don't worry about it.

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