Nico's genuine smile gave way to a glazed-over panic as his impromptu Q&A session became an open forum on the problem of Mystery Dungeons, and with other questions still coming at him besides. To his credit, he seemed to be able to catch most of the flow.
"And what happens if one of these dungeons decides to just vanish with someone inside? ...Has that ever happened before?"
"Where I'm from, those who vanish along with a dungeon are good as dead. Maybe this world works differently. Who knows?"
"The gods... Some pretty malevolent and sadistic gods then."
“Where I’m from, it’s theorized that they’re places where the fabric of reality is thinnest, and therefore, places where multiple universes intersect.”
"No two worlds have Mystery Dungeons work the same. Neither yours nor mine it sounds like. All the experience I have with my world's may not be any help with delving here."
"Okay, so, uh... I'm not totally sure what you guys all mean by all of this, it's pretty, uh, confusing... I've never heard of dungeons working differently on other... continents, maybe you meant...? But I guess I oughta tell you all that the thing about dungeons is that you can just... not go in them? A lot of places are dangerous even if they aren't supernatural. We – rangers, I mean – are
always telling 'mon that they shouldn't play in caves, or try to make friends with wild ursaring, or use elemental attacks irresponsibly, or swim in the river if they aren't a real strong swimmer, or eat berries and mushrooms they don't recognise..."
He sighed, looking more fretful than before, but the wattrel's smile didn't fade.
"We don't know quite how Mystery Dungeons work, but lots of pokémon make a living delving them for gold and magic items, and they don't tend to vanish, or make people vanish. The Escarpa have been experts at it for
generations. Rangers are trained in safe procedure for exploring them, and we have a pretty good idea of which ones are more or less dangerous."
He glanced at Corey, and looked a little askance.
"And which ones are sacred. I don't know quite how to say this, but if dungeons
are created by gods, and they're kinda dangerous, maybe it's because 'mon aren't meant to use their sacred places as living space...?"
He laughed awkwardly.
"I'm not
really the faithful or superstitious sort, myself. I leave an offering to the Two Aeons now and then – like most rangers – but that's about it! I have no idea what dungeons really are or how they work, and neither does anyone else as far as I know, whatever they like to think."
"Are there any maps around this town? Maps about any places close by, this town, this entire world, anything?"
"I had a friend, say, a Zangoose. And this Zangoose had a problem that this Union or any other Union could not solve... like, a really weird or difficult problem. Where would this Zangoose then go in this entire frontier?"
"You call this the frontier, sir." Nova straightened up his pose. "So, if I might ask, where is it that these lands are expanding from?"
Nico shrugged expansively. Birds could really get a good shrug going, when they wanted.
"Probably outside of the frontier, honestly. Maybe out east, to Landsverd? That's the heart of the Commonwealth, and they got a lot more civilisation that we do way out here. Luctemar is a big continent, and the Luctemarene Commonwealth doesn't cover half of it, even if you count 'unincorporated territories' like Sojavena. There's a big map of the region back at the Union HQ, and there's probably some maps in the town library, I'd guess..."
He shook his head.
"But it's a long and unsafe journey. At least until the railroad is up and running."
"I would like to seek sponsorship for now. I'm not very strong. But I suspect that if you compare our strengths within the next few days, you'll see potential in my growth rate. And I have experience with official work. Feel free to test me. I will need to be taught the protocol of this area."
"You're feeling all that craziness too, aren't you? I wonder if we're all supposed to start adventuring, or if some of us can be support here in town. I'm sure I could join a tailor shop and gather information or something. That or start a therapy business. Some of those Pokémon need it bad."
"The first thing we probably need is a simple job. When will we be able to earn funds?"
"I'd love to help out where I can. Not doing my part, I dunno, just feels wrong."
Nico grinned encouragingly at all the new, strange pokémon looking to do their part.
"I can see some real good attitudes amongst you guys! I guess I'd tell you to get some good rest at the boarding house first, but, you could try asking around town and see if anyone has some work for you? Or try and get someone to sponsor you for the rangers, like I talked about. Speaking of – I gotta get back to base soon and make a report. The chief will wanna know all about you guys!"
Laura, who'd been cautiously listening to the clamour, raised a tentative paw.
"Nico, do you think you could keep an eye out on your patrol for any unevolved pokémon, could be groups or individuals, wandering about looking lost? There were meant to be more of us coming here, possibly, and it'd be a real help if you could point them our way."
He nodded enthusiastically. "Of course I can! That's pretty much my day job anyway, aheheh."
"That and collecting gossip for the rangers," mused Doc Drungfield.
Nico shrugged. "I run recon. If you wanna take offense to that, that's your business."
