LAR01: Far and Wide

[dm_screen]

[Over the course of a few minutes, seemingly by way of brush, an image is drawn onto a page in the Liber Nuntiorum.]



[A short while later, a new individual's handwriting graces the book's pages.]

I've drawn map of Concord. Mind, the pictures of the landmarks aren't really to scale, but they're in the right locations.

[Another little pause.]

I'm Larus Moon-In-Water, the guy from the Outlands who lives in a tent outside the gates of the South Quarter. I'm sorry I wasn't available for everyone's questions over the last few days, but I was busy making sure I had all of the details right.

[Beat.]

If you do have any questions about what you all call 'Outlanders' I can answer them now if you'd like.

Oh, thank you! This will be really useful. I can move this up to the front of the book so everyone has easy access! -A

[Naturally, that happens a moment later. How she did it is anyone's guess.]

Comments

[einspine]

[Ah, a map! That's very handy. Nyeh heh. So many uncharted places to explore. So many new things to see... Wowie. He'll have to get on that soon!]

I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM CERTAINLY INTRIGUED! THIS WORLD'S SO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I'M USED TO.

MAINLY BECAUSE I'M USED TO ONLY LIVING AROUND MONSTERS AND BEING TRAPPED UNDERGROUND AND EMBRACING THE TIME-HONORED TRADITION OF PUZZLES...

BUT ALSO BECAUSE MY MAGIC ISN'T WORKING AND THAT'S A BIT UNSETTLING. BUT NO MATTER! NEW WORLD. NEW RULES. AND THE FACT THAT YOU WENT TO ALL THIS TROUBLE FOR US SPEAKS OF YOUR INCREDIBLE INTEGRITY!!!

[dm_screen]

Thank you. It's [...] just a map, but thank you.

You wrote that you were "trapped underground"; does that mean this is your first time seeing the sky?

[einspine]

A MAP THAT REQUIRED YOU TO SCOUR THE LAND!!! I ASSUME. WHICH IS A REMARKABLE EFFORT THAT SHALL BE REMEMBERED FOR AGES TO COME!

[Is it a bit over the top? Sure. But! Maps are cool! And handy for newbie outsiders.]

AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS MY FIRST TIME! ...NOT COUNTING THE HOLO-SKY IN SNOWDIN. AND HUMAN MOVIES AND GAMES.

BUT ALAS! THE REAL SKY IS BUT A DREAM TO US MONSTERS! ...OR WAS FOR ME. NOW I'M HERE, SO I CAN CROSS THAT OFF MY BUCKET LIST!!!

[dm_screen]

"Us monsters?"

Why are you calling yourself a monster? You don't seem at all unpleasant.

[einspine]

BECAUSE I AM A MONSTER!

ANYONE WHO THINKS WE'RE UNPLEASANT CLEARLY HASN'T MET THE RIGHT MONSTER.

MAYBE THEY JUST MET JERRY. NOBODY REALLY LIKES JERRY. TO THIS DAY, ITS MIND IS AN ENIGMA WRAPPED IN LIP SMACKING, BODY ODOR, AND WAY TOO MUCH CHEESE DUST.

[dm_screen]

That is a very vivid and deeply disquieting description.

But you must pardon me, because I don't understand why anyone would call themselves a monster. And I've known plenty of people who aren't human, myself included.

A "monster" is usually what you'd call a violent beast lacking compassion.

[einspine]

THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT!

WELL. HUMANS DID DECLARE WAR ON US BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID WE'D TAKE THEIR SOULS. I COULD PERHAPS SEE THEM CLAIMING WE'RE VIOLENT AND LACK COMPASSION...

BUT WE MONSTERS ARE QUITE THE OPPOSITE! VERY COMPASSIONATE, CHARMING, AND COOL! AND THOSE WHO AREN'T JUST NEED A NUDGE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!!!

[dm_screen]

You and I must have very different uses for the word, then.

The people of Concord call me an "Outlander", which I started using for the purposes of their understanding. But we all call ourselves the Ke-Mo. I can understand why, if the humans were so afraid, they would call you monsters.

But I'm surprised you do not have a less [...] heartless word for yourselves.

[einspine]

ACTUALLY, WE'VE BEEN CALLED MONSTERS SINCE BEFORE THE WAR. HOW DID THE OLD STORY GO AGAIN...

LONG AGO, TWO RACES RULED OVER THE EARTH: HUMANS AND MONSTERS?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ANYWAY!!! BUT WE WERE ON GOOD TERMS UNTIL WE WEREN'T. AND THEN A LOT OF REALLY UNFORTUNATE THINGS HAPPENED.

BUT!!! I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO TIDE THINGS OVER WITH A HUMAN FRIEND. THEN I ENDED UP HERE.

I JUST DON'T GET WHY MONSTERS WOULD HAVE SUCH A DIFFERENT REPUTATION HERE...

[dm_screen]

If I understand you correctly, then it's because the word means something different where you come from.

To you, a "monster" is some sort of non-human person. But to the people here, and to myself, a "monster" is a violent, dangerous creature. Not someone you can hope to have a conversation with.

[...]

If it puts your mind at ease, that's what the Men-At-Arms Guild means when they talk about the "Monster Hunters" among their ranks.

[einspine]

...BUT IS THERE REALLY NO NON-LETHAL WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM? AND ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE THERE'S NO REASONING? HAS ANYONE TRIED???

[This is just so strange. And unsettling. Like in some of the human video games...]

[dm_screen]

[Hmmm. Maybe another angle...]

Have you never met anyone or anything who you simply couldn't reach, communicate, or reason with?

[einspine]

[...It takes a moment for him to reply. Because his mind goes to Undyne.

Who has been very. Unreasonable. Stubborn. But that's different!]

WELL, I HAVE MET SOME VERY STUBBORN MONSTERS! BUT I WOULDN'T KILL THEM OVER SAID STUBBORNNESS. ESPECIALLY WHEN ONE OF THE PARTICULARLY STUBBORN CASES IS YOUR BEST FRIEND-SLASH-MENTOR WHO IS JUST... DETERMINED TO DO SOMETHING VERY RECKLESS AND POTENTIALLY MURDERY.