riverview | Video

[ As the video feed began to engage, the image swirled away from a brief glimpse of Will's face, to a fascinating view of a ceiling. Anyone familiar with the offices in the Perimeter Guard buildings might recognize the ceiling; otherwise ... enjoy the paint. ]

Good morning. [ He began in a soft voice, stopping and awkwardly amending. ] Err Good afternoon. [ The concept of time and Will maintained a fairly hands off relationship. ]

My name is Will Graham and I serve as an advisor on monsters and monster encounters for the Perimeter Guard. I am also putting together an introductory course on the subject, though that's not important at the moment.

I am reaching out to the network as a whole because I'm compiling notes on monster encounters in this world. I've experienced a few myself, but was hoping to hear from the rest of the population about your experiences?

Also I'm interested in hear about the monsters or threats that are unique to your homeworlds. I mean, never know what the portal might bring through right? [ Just a little ball of sunshine there William. ]

So ... uhm ... if you have any anecdotes or notes and are willing to share, I'd like to hear them.

[ There was an awkward pause, before he wrapped up the communication. ] You can respond here or if you'd rather talk in person, I'll be in my office most of today.

[ooc: The mod was consulted about this IC post. \o/ ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's alright, the screen is staring blankly back. ]

Well that's a very direct approach. But I'm not sure it's applicable to everybody who might experience an encounter. Hence why I'm trying to look for a bit more detail.

[ Wry comment is wry. ]

When you say that a lot of monsters here at like the ones on Gaia... [ It was a leading question. ]

That's the name of my planet. There are a lot of monsters there too and they kill a lot of people who leave cities unprepared.

[She doesn't get why he'd want to talk to the monsters.]

Sounds ... terrible.

[ At least he's honest? ]

The monster4 who looks like a house, is it here or back in your home world?

Back on my home world. If I find him here I can let you know.

[She has no problems with that though she might kill him.]

Ah, yes ... please do.

[ Because he's having flashed back to the tales of Hansel and Gretel and is torn between amusement and horror. ]

Could you tell me more about the ones that are similar between here and Gaia?

Yeah, it's a lot of the beasty looking things.

[She raises her hands up and makes them look a little bit like claws.]

Like nibel wolves or those plants that have to many vines.

[ Will took a breath to ask the next, obvious question but then stopped himself and considered for a moment. ]

Do you know how they came to be in your world? Monsters, I mean. Have they always been a threat?

They've always been there. Some think they are the restless spirits of the dead who aren't able to join the life stream.

Everything returns to the life stream and is taken from it. It's the power around the world.

Does killing them, as monsters, help them return to the life stream?

[ He'd like to be able to imagine that was the oddest thing to ever come out of his mouth, but Will knew better. ]

That's the idea. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

[So her world has a lot of death.]

It depends. The planet has been torn by war and that means there are more monsters than usual. Dying angry and scared isn't how you should go.

[ A curious statement. ]

Is that how they end up being ... created, the monsters? By dying angry and scared?

I don't know.

[It isn't like Yuffie sticks around to watch the process.]

It's complicated. [Translated means: Yuffie doesn't remember all the details.] The life stream is the life of the planet and I know that the dead are there because that's where Arieth is.

Arieth?

[ Sorry Yuffie, he's not familiar with any of the players involved here. ]

[Yuffie puffs a soft breath.]

She was a friend of mine. The last Ancient. [Though Yuffie doesn't believe that Arieth had been the last one.] The Ancients could cure and speak to the planet… listen to its stories and hear it crying.

[She shakes her head as if breaking away from a dream.]

Gaia, where I am from, isn't just a planet. It's alive. The life stream and everything is the planets life force. When we die we go back to the planet and our soul can be reborn. It's a cycle of life and death. That's why… I can't be sad when faced with death because the soul doesn't die, not really.