voice

[disdainfully]

As you probably know through Jovan, there is more worth in gold and gems in this mountain than the federal gold reserve holds, at least approximately. It would destroy the economy, not only of this country, if we let unnumbered find and unearth it. ...So, while I do not hope that they ever find out about the inside of the mountain - in case they ever do. Does anyone have a the ability to hide a large amount of inanimate objects, or easily build and without a trace seal up a large cave? And if we have to do the cave-building by menial means; who will help me in this? After all the worldwide economy is in your best interest as well, it sustains your lives and safety.

That said. I am back. Whatever it was that Thorin had that I echoed back on Christmas, he also overcame it. [Or at least got a grasp on it. He can't quite tell yet, because it is surprisingly hard to tell how his mental constitution was before this - did he use to feel like this?] I am fine now.

That said, I wish to apologize to those that met me over the last weeks, and speak to them. [action option: He'll also seek those out of whose whereabouts he knows.]

[And yet another urgent matter...]

I can't reach Julien. Who has heard anything about his whereabouts in the last weeks?

Comments

[Voice]

[gobybessie]

I believe Julien experienced a painful Echo. I don't know where he went afterwards, but it isn't unheard of that someone disappears for a while after something like that.

[ Doesn't mean there's not a reason to worry. He's certainly worrying. But ... It's difficult to figure out what to do about it. ]

[Voice]

[disdainfully]

It would not be the first time that he disappears, either.

[And that is what worries him.]

Do you know where he was when this happened?

[Voice]

[gobybessie]

Quite sure he was still in Neuschwanstein.

What was the reason for his disappearance last time?

[Voice]

[disdainfully]

I am not sure. But the last time that I was worried about him was due to an echo as well.

[video]

[grannyfucker]

You and the other one, you cooked up this scheme together, didn't you?! You just want the whole mountain to yourselves!

[video]

[disdainfully]

[...he meant to apologize more, but Jovan makes it hard. Frowning.]

What other one?

[video]

[grannyfucker]

The one claimin' he's sick with bird flu! You should know, you're teaming up with him!

[video]

[disdainfully]

[He's not sure if Liam has it in him to be part of or conceive such complicated secret plans as Jovan apparently sees here (not that he will say that, because Liam has becomes "family" to the degree where he won't speak ill of him in front of outsiders), even though he still isn't entirely sure what it is - scare tactic to keep people away from the mountain? This really is getting ridiculous.]

Liam is sick, just not with bird flu - more simple influenza, I would say.

[voice]

[ruleorserve]

To seal up a cave of unknown size? No, I can't say that I do. Although I can understand some of the reasoning behind not wanting the general populace to know about it.

[voice]

[disdainfully]

It would be bad enough if they figure out that there is more than stone inside this mountain, because we have a settlement here that is supposed to be a safe place in case things get worse again. But if they do... I can see nothing good come out of more than the numbered knowing of the gold, no matter what would be done after that.

[voice]

[ruleorserve]

Nor I. It could be used to help fund Numbered causes, if ... discreetly, and in small amounts, but it would have to be carefully done.

[voice]

[disdainfully]

[Yes, he thought of that too, and then Gabriel pointed out a big problem with it...]

If it functions like echoed items, it will vanish once it gets outside of the echo boundaries, and perhaps even inside them, without warning.

[ursoreckless]

There are probably ways to hide that stuff; at least there isn't a way for anyone to scan the mountain yet. You could probably spread a rumor about dangerous beasts if you really want to keep people out of there.

[disdainfully]

Dangerous beasts inside the mountain? I doubt that that would really help. Men go into national parks with bears and get out of the car to take pictures of them.

[Just going with the logic of what you can observe, humans are not very good at reasonable actions and self preservation that way.]

...Yet. [He fears that someone will get it into their head to scan the mountain, or do tests on the insides of it, sooner or later.]

[ursoreckless]

Bears are a known animal with all sorts of traits that men find easy enough to dismiss or accept. I doubt the same could be said for other creatures that come with the Numbered.

I've always figured that a dwarf mountain would be so full of booby traps that only something like a dragon could take over it.

[disdainfully]

...Well, it did it.

And I am less worried about looters. But if even one of them learns of the gold and knowledge goes out, there will be more, and even if the government claims it... these are riches that will easily crash the stock markets and cause massive financial upheaval. [And he cannot let that happen. He cares too much about people whom that would impact.]

Text

[thebalrogslayer]

Have you had a shower yet?

Text

[disdainfully]

Third thing that I did.

[Gabriel, your priorities...

On the other hand he's glad that it is this and not something else that greets him when returning. It is so normal.]

Text

[thebalrogslayer]

[Shut up his priorities are perfect and so is he. Also he threw that up as a 'welcome back' on purpose. No point telling him how worried he was.]

Were the others to phone home and to eat?

[video] (Forever late, ah well)

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Oh good. We're back to the fabulous treasure not acting like an ancient horror. Good to know. You had a few people worried about you.

never late

[disdainfully]

[Are you calling him a treasure? Last time he checked he was still married to someone else and her and Julien's thing had just broken...

Her and Julien. Right.]

So I heard.

Julien only was here one time. When did you see him last?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Some days ago. And over network. He... told me he didn't want me coming out there, despite the poem. He was scared.

voice;

[brotimaeus]

Been a lot of people tryin' to hide things too big to put anywhere, lately. Weird. [A small sniff.] Don't know how much help I can give, but uh.. I got a vested interest in the continued stability of the economy, so I'm in if you need hands for hard labour.

[A beat.]

Last I heard from Julien, sounded like he was in some kind of trouble with an Echo... no idea where he went after that. I hope you find him, he seems like a good kid.

voice;

[disdainfully]

I'll keep you in mind, thanks. I'll get back to you if we have to do it manually.

...He is a good kid. [He could say a number of other things, but in the end, he'll let it boil down to this.] Can you tell me what kind of trouble he had?

voice;

[brotimaeus]

Not exactly. He said he was in pain.

[A soft sigh.]

Shit.. I hope he's okay.