2019-12-16 [DMFA #1958] - Population problem

Tapewolf · December 16, 2019, 04:39:45 AM

Well, it looks like Dan's inside Cyra's mind or doing the dreamscape thing again. The lack of nosebleed is a strong visual cue. (I hope... it's been a few weeks since the comic last updated, and details like that tend to get forgotten).

MT Hazard · December 16, 2019, 06:07:17 AM

Pretty sure it's a memory or a mind scape, seems more likely that Cyra accidentally transporting him tens of thousands (millions? ) of miles away. Also, unless it is magically preserved, I would expect all the glass to have significantly deteriorated in seven thousand years.

HaDDea · December 16, 2019, 08:59:47 AM

Quote from: MT Hazard on December 16, 2019, 06:07:17 AM
Pretty sure it's a memory or a mind scape, seems more likely that Cyra accidentally transporting him tens of thousands (millions? ) of miles away. Also, unless it is magically preserved, I would expect all the glass to have significantly deteriorated in seven thousand years.

Considering the glassing of the city was due to magic backlash, it wouldn't entirely surprise me if Hishaan was magically preserved. The glass should have stupid high magic residue at any rate.

Ambarrgh mentioned PTSD for Cyra... I think Dan might be experiencing one of Cyra's flashbacks (which isn't going to be fun; burnt-in memories hurt, no matter how much ice you bury them in)

Eboreg · December 16, 2019, 09:25:45 AM

This almost feels like Pompeii.

A Pompeii that you(r grandmother) destroyed.

Tapewolf · December 16, 2019, 10:33:45 AM

I wonder how long this is taking in realtime. From the library scene we know that Dan spent a while mumbling to himself while Aary read something, but as she said, they don't have much time. Hopefully what Dan is experiencing now is something different, where time is more compressed.

FairWage22 · December 16, 2019, 11:17:55 AM

Orrr... it's an interactive mindscape that Dan needs to adventure without destroying any of the crystal (or as little as possible) due to the fact that the memories of those crystallized people are part of Cyra's memories.

Nigh-unto-god power... because the dragon she decided to drain of power had been draining power for centuries if not eons...

The bigger twist, though unlikely, is that Hizzell actually offered/Cyra actually offered in that first burst of power to play 'the Dark Knight' then completely forgot it in the backlash. (ie, just one dragon and their brood going after cubi for this thing versus the entirety of dragonkind going after cubi for this thing)?

EDIT: Morning coffee insight, though equally not likely -- "Dragon carcass in bedroom this morning. Foot print on burst stomach. This city's afraid of me. I've seen its true face. The streets are extended gutters, and the gutters are full of blood, and when the drains finally scab over all the vermin will drown. The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "Save us!" and I'll whisper "No." ((with apologies to Rorschach))

Dishonored · December 16, 2019, 11:39:48 AM

I'm leaning towards the dreamscape/memory thing personally. Fits better.
And always a

for Rorschach.

InhumanInterest · December 16, 2019, 12:37:44 PM

The lack of the nosebleed does seem to argue heavily for this being part of some form of mindscape here.

Maybe the time thing won't be as much of an issue if this also happens to be distracting Cyra.

Alondro · December 16, 2019, 02:11:57 PM

Huh, looks like the Mane 6 went crazy with the Elements of Petrification again.

Rafe · December 16, 2019, 05:44:08 PM

The thing that popped into my head when I saw the scene was,

"...A place where it is always Winter, but never Christmas."

The PTSD analogy has some scary implications when it involves something as powerful as Cyra. What might be even worse is if it's a Cubi version of dementia. When Cyra first looked to be losing contact with reality, I was hoping it wasn't signs of some Cubi equivalent to Alzheimer's. That would seriously be scary to see.

Dracologist · December 16, 2019, 07:30:38 PM

Old Man: Nobody lives in Hishaan.

Adventurer: So it's unpopulated?

Old Man: I didn't say that. Nobody LIVES in Hishaan.

MT Hazard · December 17, 2019, 12:58:02 PM

Well, at least it was quick for the citizens.

Chemical weapon detail warning

I've read about some gases that kill people in an instant. There was an account of a household were the occupants had died of several different chemical weapons, one person was frozen in place, teeth clamped on a piece of bread, another was contorted in pain by a gas that was described as 'strangling you from the inside and taking a long time to do it.'

Chemical weapon detail warning

I'm guess that everyone standing or otherwise not moving was frozen in place, but the shattered person was in motion when the event happened, although if Cyra fled afterwards she might have knocked a few of them over.

Rafe · December 17, 2019, 07:29:11 PM

Quote from: Dracologist on December 16, 2019, 07:30:38 PM
Old Man: Nobody lives in Hishaan.

Adventurer: So it's unpopulated?

Old Man: I didn't say that. Nobody LIVES in Hishaan.

Adventurer: Then who is your lord?

Old Man: We don't have a lord.

Adventurer: What?

Old Man: I told you, we're an anarcho-syndicatalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week...

Adventurer: Yes...

Old man: ...But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs...

Adventurer: Yes, I see...

Old Man: But by a two-thirds majority in...

Adventurer: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!

ProfesseurRenard · December 17, 2019, 11:23:28 PM

Quote from: Rafe on December 17, 2019, 07:29:11 PM
Quote from: Dracologist on December 16, 2019, 07:30:38 PM
Old Man: Nobody lives in Hishaan.

Adventurer: So it's unpopulated?

Old Man: I didn't say that. Nobody LIVES in Hishaan.

Adventurer: Then who is your lord?

Old Man: We don't have a lord.

Adventurer: What?

Old Man: I told you, we're an anarcho-syndicatalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week...

Adventurer: Yes...

Old man: ...But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs...

Adventurer: Yes, I see...

Old Man: But by a two-thirds majority in...

Adventurer: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!

Order, eh? Who does he think he is?

HaDDea · December 19, 2019, 01:02:43 PM

Quote from: ProfesseurRenard on December 17, 2019, 11:23:28 PM
Quote from: Rafe on December 17, 2019, 07:29:11 PM
Quote from: Dracologist on December 16, 2019, 07:30:38 PM
Old Man: Nobody lives in Hishaan.

Adventurer: So it's unpopulated?

Old Man: I didn't say that. Nobody LIVES in Hishaan.

Adventurer: Then who is your lord?

Old Man: We don't have a lord.

Adventurer: What?

Old Man: I told you, we're an anarcho-syndicatalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week...

Adventurer: Yes...

Old man: ...But all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs...

Adventurer: Yes, I see...

Old Man: But by a two-thirds majority in...

Adventurer: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!

Order, eh? Who does he think he is?

On second thought, let's not go to Hishaan - 'tis a silly place.