WEEK 1 || ACT: MINGLE

[foundationmods]

Monday comes onto the snowy town, though it still looks as if it's 'night' as ever.

Then again, you are underground. That's just to be expected, considering no natural light can get down here in the first place. The Monsters around you are just as friendly as ever, and there's so much to explore.

But, there is also that ever-looming threat. Still, it doesn't seem like anyone here could do such a thing as summon something to eat this world....right?

Well. You still have time to figure it out.

...In fact, you'll have nothing but time.


Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday
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investigation (library)

[sageking]

[ Following the quest's conclusion, Gilgamesh will take off to be on his own, looking for a familiar face that was once with the group. But upon seeing no trace of that person in particular, he decided to look into things himself.

He stopped by the library (or libarby) to look for anything odd or for any books that would catch his attention, suffice to say.

...Though Gilgamesh may also see if there were any interesting monsters hanging around in this area, that's a latter concerning since his investigative efforts were so far focused on books.

He could be found later on at the cliff, hanging out there himself, to get away from socializing too much with the populace for the moment. But he's not going to begrudge anyone joining him for company.

Later on, he could be caught all the way back hanging nearby the ruins. ]

[foundationmods]

[There's quite a few books that will catch his attention - one is called The History of the Underground, another called Monster Anatomy, and one called Humans and SOULs.]

[sageking]

[ Let's start with the History of the Underground, first.

Besides the fact that this was, in fact, a history book, what details would stick out as important to him as he began to read it...? ]</small.

[foundationmods]

[Well, it starts out fairly boring - more of how Monsters started to group together, how Boss Monsters began to be born to lead the rest, fairly standard stuff. Even a few words about 'The Golden Era' where Humans and Monsters lived together in harmony.

It's around the time of Queen Toriel and King Asgore that everything started to change - Humans began to become frightened of Monsters absorbing their SOULs, and a war broke out between them. However, during the most terrible part of the war, when it was the most chaotic - The Boss Monster of the Humans appeared, single handedly ending the war with a spell so powerful it stunned both armies into a standstill, both fearing what he could do to them if they went up against him.

After that, it talks about the agreement the Boss Monsters came up with - that the Human Boss Monster would hollow out a mountain for them to live in and seal them away from the world, to keep them safe. This was accomplished very quickly, and in less than a week, they were trapped inside. The Boss Monster of the Humans said that either he could lift the barrier, or 7 human SOULs would be needed to lower it.

Later on, the book notes, the Boss Monster of the Humans would be known as the Conqueror by Monsters who had survived, and as time went on, seen as a less kind figure then originally thought - as the deal the King and Queen had made had effectively trapped them underground with no hope of ever seeing the surface (Or so the writer of this book believed).

After that, it's mostly uneventful, save for the book mentioning the 6 Humans that were killed for their SOULs, and the abdication of the throne by King Asgore with the 7th human and the retaking of the throne by Queen Toriel.]

[sageking]

[ He felt his lips quirk upwards at how powerful the book described 'the boss monster of the humans', and a sense of amusement at the title. Of course, he judged the writer of the book for being a fool for that sentence about no hope of ever seeing the surface. But he'll commit these details to memory, and decide to move right along to Monster Anatomy, since that also seemed important! ]

[foundationmods]

[Well, there's a few relevant sections.]

'Monster SOULs have a longer life than Human SOULs, but do not contain as much power as a Human SOUL. Once a Monster SOUL has reached the end of it's life, the Monster enters a state called 'Falling Down.' In this state, they're often sluggish and tired, if not completely unresponsive. For most Monsters, they will begin to show signs of going into the Falling Down state before it happens.

Once a Monster Falls Down, it's only a matter of time before their SOUL and body turn to Dust.

Monsters tend to live for 200 to 300 years, with some exceptions - Boss Monsters will live as long as they are not killed in battle or create a child that will become a new Boss Monster. Some species of Monsters are naturally longer lived - Tortoises live for thousands of years, and Font Skeletons can live for an incredibly long time, but are prone to randomly Falling Down for no apparent reason.'

[After that:]

'Monsters are naturally resilient, though they come in all sizes and shapes and even elemental types. Most Monsters do not actually have organs, and rely on the energy from their SOUL in order to function. This is why Falling Down occurs - a Monster begins to run out of energy from their SOUL.

Monster reproduction can happen between any two monsters, regardless of species, size, or gender. Two Monsters merely have to share a piece of their SOUL, and the new SOUL generated from their union will create a body to house it - thus, a Monster child is born.

The species of the child depends on a few factors. If the parents are of the same species (for example, two dogs), then the child that results will look like their parents and share the same traits. If the parents are of two different species, then the child may look like either one of the parents, or be another species entirely. '

[The rest is discussions about particular species and their common traits, but it's nothing super interesting after that.]

[sageking]

[ Well he's earned some knowledge points about Monsters a bit, so that's nice. Time to move right along to Humans and SOULs, because why not? Gotta complete that importante trifecta! ]

[foundationmods]

[This book is...old. Old enough that it feels kind of creaky. careful opening of the pages is required, and it's written by someone who's name was 'Dingbat'.

There's another note that this book has been 'translated from the original font.']

'Through taking in a Human SOUL, a Monster can gain incredible power. But why is this? Through careful study, I believe I may have found an answer.

Human SOULs generate intense amounts of energy constantly - unlike Monster SOULs, which have a set amount of energy from the moment they are formed, Human SOULs continually refill their energy without end. This is most likely why Humans have physical bodies, as bodies created from the energy of their SOULs would be massive and in constant flux.

Because their bodies can handle the energy, they are also able to gather onto something Monsters cannot - the power known as Determination. Monsters that get too Determined actually begin to melt due to the overload of energy in their SOULs - it breaks our 'vessels', so to speak, and eventually even corrodes our SOULs.

Monsters with greater 'capacities' can hold onto Determination longer, but in the end, they will begin to melt. I have seen it many times on the battlefield, where my comrades begin to melt mid-attack as they reach their Determination threshhold. This is what truly caused our downfall, in the end.

Determination is what allows Humans to use abilities greater than what we Monsters would consider normal - there have even been talks of Humans acting as if they have seen the outcome of events on the battlefield, or used magic far greater - to say nothing of the dark skinned human that ultimately ended the war and placed us here...

Of course, taking in a Human SOUL is what would make it possible for a Monster to use Determination, but that must be a voluntary effort on both parts, and both would be as one person, in one body. On top of that, it cannot be taken without concent. This is because Human SOULs vanish upon the death of their physical body, unlike Monster SOULs and bodies which turn into Dust.

...I do wonder, though. What could a Monster with a shard of a Human SOUL do? What kind of power could they tap into?

...As that will never happen, I can only speculate. Still, I believe that a Monster with a piece of a fractured whole could become something far greater than either Monster or Human, and perhaps affect the very world itself.'

[That's the end of it.]

[sageking]

...Oh?

[ Hm, that's...yeah.

He'll just go ahead and borrow these for a bit. He's sure the others will think that these findings were interesting enough. ]

ruins

[onemolife]

[ He's actually here poking around to see if he can find any skeletons- well... non-living skeletons.

He'll give a wave of his hand as he sees Gil, but doesn't approach. He'll let the King decide if it's worth his royal time. ]

[sageking]

[ He'll approach. He didn't dislike Wei, and he felt like passing the time with a 'chat'. ]

What a surprise to find you here. Are you searching for buried treasure?

[ Well, that's what usually people do in ruins, or for clues in their case, which'd be also lumped in with treasure, really. ]

[onemolife]

Something like that. Wanted to see if I could find anything I could use around here to get some information.

[ Though he isn't picking up anything that screams strong resentful energy. ]

What about you, your highness? Did you want a quick break from the crowd?

[sageking]

[ That's probably a good thing... ]

And so far your efforts have bore little fruit?

[ Since he saw and felt nothing in particular happening other than the usual. ]

I've little interest in associating myself with those unworthy to be within my presence. Doing so would merely test my patience.

[ In other words, yes. ]

[onemolife]

Haven't found a spot with enough resentful energy. I wonder if the war happened just outside of the mountain then.

[ Also the whole... monsters don't actually leave corpses. ]

It must be hard being such an amazing King.

[sageking]

There's doubtlessly many more places to explore in the mountain that could have lingering resentful energy. It'd be best if you'd just kept looking.

[ ...

There was a sudden pause, as if he was ascertaining the intent behind Wei's words for his other comment. He didn't like it, though it wasn't really an issue of being offended. But, all the same, he's not sure whether he could wholly blame him; he knew he was difficult and he had elucidated as much to Ky so long ago.

So it wasn't like he hadn't received a placating comment before. Therefore he'll hold his tongue, though his lips had curled downward as he cast his gaze upon the ruins, expression somewhere closer to pensive than sulky. ]

Difficulty is not an unusual concept to any monarch worth their title. I'm sure you understand this well, don't you?

[onemolife]

This place is pretty big. There should be something I could use.

[ Where are you bodies ]

Who me? I don't think I could ever understand. I don't come close to your status and I'm something of a social butterfly.

[ Is he really? He doesn't seem to be implying anything from his tone. It remains the usual as he starts to kneel down to poke at the ground to test it out. ]

[sageking]

Of course you don't. Hmph, then I suppose it's only natural you'd make such a comment.

[ Either way, it's gotten him to settle somewhat, though now he's curious about something else which he'll file away for later. ]

There are many who don't know their place. For better or worse.

...That aside, have you tried looking around in that field or have you simply started with these ruins first?

cliff

[finalring]

Escaping the bustle?

[ seeing the king on his own obviously means that solomon will join him. his step is light and barely making a sound as he approaches, reaching to hold gilgamesh's hand in his own. ]

Things are far more lively here than they were at the Winchester Mansion.

[sageking]

That I am.

[ Though Solomon's steps were silent as ever, his presence didn't startle him; not when he could sense it as clear as day. As the other's hand gripped Gilgamesh's, the blond allowed his fingers to curl around Solomon's. ]

Though I'm not unfamiliar dealing with crowds, and this is nothing compared to those in cities or even in Uruk, it's more than I expected. But, even if I've hardly any interest in making friendly with the population, it is undeniably a welcome change in a comparison to that accursed place.

[ Speaking of such things as if they're in the distant past still felt so strange to him. Well, technically the defeat of that curse had been just a few months ago, but still. ]

[finalring]

You know, you did spend twenty years wandering the world after you summoned yourself. Was there nothing of interest that it offered you, aside from your disapproval of The Foundation?

[ from the way he says it, he does so in a self-deprecating manner.

while he cannot see eye to eye with gilgamesh's opinion of the organization and probably never will, he can at least understand if the king had a lack of interest in what the world had to offer. ]

The Underground is...far different from how I left it. In comparison to how it is above ground, it might as well be an entirely different world that is attached to ours.

[sageking]

Of course there was. Otherwise I wouldn't have purchased the property I did; though as you imagine there was still hardly not all that much in the first place that truly interested me.

However, though you know my feelings well toward the Foundation...there's someone of interest right beside me, isn't there?

[ He smirked a little at that and gave Solomon a kiss on his cheek. ]

I'm not surprised to see that's the case. So many years have seemed to pass this place by, and with seemingly no contact from above since that war.

[ He had a small chuckle at the title they gave to Solomon, though...Boss Monster of the Humans. It was apt given his role in all of that, but also kind of ridiculous-sounding. God. ]

[finalring]

You have as many riches in the world as I do. A property of that sort was probably something like a frivolous purchase for you.

[ listen gilgamesh, he knows what it's like to be disgustingly rich.

but his expression does turn somewhat meek when the king kisses him in the cheek, his face warm from embarrassment. solomon couldn't help but think about the fact that despite the fact that he had sealed the memory of the event from everyone, gilgamesh stayed.

perhaps--

no, that's not logical. it's just him being a hopeless romantic. and, trying not to feed those thoughts, he focuses on the other subject: the underground. ]

Seems like you've read up on their history. To be honest I...simply gave them their space after the war. I thought it was the best thing to do back then.

[ ... ]

Have you ever regretted anything? About your rule or the decisions you made?

[sageking]

...Hm, I suppose you're not wrong.

[ Solomon was definitely right.

Gilgamesh smiled a little at that expression of his, though that faded swiftly enough, listening to what the other sovereign had to say. His own demeanor had shifted slightly at the question. ]

There is no such thing as a perfect king, however powerful he may be. It's only natural that reprehensible events would be present all throughout his reign; whether they be caused by him or others. [ ... ] That said, to say even I were above regret would be foolish, and perhaps be the sort of nonsense a god may declare to help in professing their perfection. Though, you already know the type of attitude I had was far less bearable than even now at one point, and for myself to state as much should also tell you all you need to know.

But, I digress. King Solomon, you ask such a question of me in the first place because you regret your actions during that time regarding the war, do you not?

[finalring]

I am...not entirely sure.

[ even though this is not the first time without the clairvoyance that had guided him for so long, solomon felt a conflict of emotions. it was like a fight between his kingly, logical self and the more human side that he had left ignored for so long.

and it just left him feeling confused. confused on how to act and how to feel, especially when faced with the consequences of his actions. ]

On one hand, I believe that I should regret my actions. That my mistakes may have caused these people to suffer. But on the other hand...what gain is there with regret? I cannot turn back time and take a different course of action, nor can I say that I did it with the wrong intentions. If I had not intervened...well, I'm certain that the humans would have annihilated them.

[ he does not need a history book to remind him of that war, okay. ]

To the me of that time, it was the best choice of action I could take.

[sageking]

...Then you have your answer, do you not?

Perhaps there is a part of you that regrets those actions; of this I've no doubt.

[ And just like that, his expression shifted.

His lips curled upwards into a smile that seemed more of a smirk, his hand raising to touch Solomon's cheek. ]

But, you're resolved to move past it, haven't you? No matter how much it troubles you. Why continue to regret the best action you could take at the time, after all? Though it may have been cruel to some and there are fools who may be unable to see otherwise, it saved those creatures. They should be grateful for your benevolence.

You'll face that discontent time and time again, but most will realize eventually that some hard decisions must be made when no other options are available. Such is the burden of a King.