Vernalis ponders the prompting for a moment then shrugs and answers plainly, "Bastion... and, Last of"
The orb "blinks" it's lens, a metal iris momentarily snapping closed around it, then emits loud clickings and whirrings for the next minute before speaking again.
"Confirmatories. Undisclosed Vernalis, the Last of, of Bastion; aristononymous knave, late of B'rgmann. All appropriate salutories and abasementories beith extended in honorous goodwills on behalvements of the Most Generositous and Wiseth Guv'nor Wunderkind. Enjoyeth thine berestment inmost grand Aerugo."
The orb jerks back up into it's hole, which snaps shut. After a moment loud clankings and grindings echo out from inside the rusty doors and they slowly begin to swing open outwards; after another minute they stop, leaving a five foot wide space between them for Vernalis to enter. Through this space Vernalis can see a wide, flagged lane in ill repair, down the center of which the wagon ruts continue to run. It is flanked by low brick buildings and populated by what appear to be performers and entertainers of myriad variety: jugglers, pantomimists, acrobats, stilt-walkers, and more, as well as vendor stalls offering brightly colored paper hats and masks, foods on sticks, and confectionaries. Off-key, conflicting melodies drift on the air from several street musicians.
Over the heads of the thin crowd, Vernalis can see the domed building straight ahead less than a mile down the road.
This must not be a completely new world... Bastion has not been completely forgotten or the name would not have lead to adopting some version of the correct language... I wonder what other knowledge is preserved here...
Rather than heading straight for the dome, Vernalis explores the town a bit. He listens carefully to what language, or languages, are spoken and makes mental notes about where various goods and services are available. He tries to catch a glimpse at what manner or currency is used, and looks particularly for any kind of inns or boarding houses. He also tries to inconspicuously look over the inhabitants to identify their race, or races.
Vernalis steps through the city gates, which then noisily grind shut behind him, and he spends the rest of the morning casually exploring the city.
Everywhere Vernalis goes street vendors shout about their wares, barkers enthusiastically lure passerby into buildings with practiced mologues and signs advertising wonders and spectacles to amuse and impress, musicians play and sing, clowns tell jokes both silly and ribald, and spectators laugh and squeal with delight. Candied fruits and meats, fried doughs, cookies, and cakes are stuffed into most mouths and held in the hands of all, adults and children alike, and all are engaged in the supply and consumption of merriment. The people themselves appear human, largely similar in physical appearance to the folk of Bergmann in skin, hair, and eyes, though their styling and clothing are quite different. The only few who stand out are tall, burly figures - near to eight feet in height - clothed in garishly colored and patterned longcoats and wearing helms identical to that of the Taxman B4, save for varying alphanumeric combinations stamped on them (C7, D19, E4, etc.) and the fact that they are wearing much more colorful, whimsical hats. These figures slowly patrol the streets, and one is usually in sight from any given corner.
It seems all is free here in Aerugo, for nowhere does Vernalis see anyone exchange any sort of currency for the goods and services offered; indeed, as he goes about, vendors whom he strays too close to simply attempt to shove their goods into his hands with a nod and a smile.
Vernalis ocassionally spots one or more flying devices in the air overhead, similar in appearance to the one he rode in on but of varying sizes, anywhere from his own conveyance's size down to a mere foot in length; they seem relatively common to Aerugo, as no one takes any notice of them. Eventually, however, Vernalis realizes that one of them seems to be following him. It is slightly larger than the one he used as transport, perhaps eight feet in total length, and has a much wider cylinder - a foot or more in diameter - and also a short jointed arm and lensed orb mounted on the bottom, identical to the one at the gate. The device attempts to keep one hundred yards away and thirty feet up, but rises higher and/or moves closer when necessary to maintain line of sight to him. It moves slowly and jerkily, and if not capable of increasing it's speed or agility, he is fairly sure he could "lose it" for at least a short time by running away through the streets.
The only businesses he spots are the street vendors selling food, garish costumery, and simple toys. All the buildings seem to contain performance arts of some kind; in fact, he is unsure even where all the people he sees dwell, unless perhaps the buildings are used as domiciles during some other part of the day.
It all seems quite wonderful and gay, at first. As he walks throughout the early morning, however, he believes more and more that the mood of everyone is forced; unless the entire population is composed of idiots, Vernalis finds it hard to believe that anyone could constantly sustain the level of amusedness everyone displays. Every joke is met with uproarious laughter, every morsel is met with a smacking of lips and appreciative "Mmmmm!", and every face displays an unbreaking smile. He notes as well that while they vary in weight and build, all display an unhealthy pallor, a sickly cast to the skin and features at odds with the hard vitality present in Bergmann Klaus and his people.
As the sun climbs halfway to its zenith Vernalis glimpses down an alley to see what appears to be a couple in distress; a man kneels on the ground, sobbing, while a woman stands with her hands on his shoulders, gently shaking him. As he watches one of the enormous helmed figures appears at the far end of the alley and begins approaching the couple.
Vernalis heads far enough down the alley to hear the couple's conversation, and anything the helmed man might say, but does not interfere at all. He does, however, look for the tall figure's alphanumeric combination.
Vernalis steps into the alley and observes.
"Stop that now, Gunther; not here!"
"It was only for a moment, I... I only let go of her for a moment... why did I let go?"
"Gunther, a merrymaker! Stop this at once and put on your happy face!"
Gunther merely shakes his head and continues to sob at the large figure's approach, it's shoulders almost scraping the sides of the narrow alley. Vernalis notices that the "merrymaker", C1, has an erratic twitch to it's limbs, and from where he stands he can hear clanking and whirring coming from the merrymaker, as well as a harsh scraping noise. The woman turns to face C1 and starts a forced laugh.
"Ha ha ha! Oh, Gunther, you're so funny! Heh heh heh." The merrymaker stops in front of the pair, looking down at them and addressing Gunther.
"You are not having fun. Aerugo is only for those who have fun; you will be removed." C1's voice is similar to B4's voice, toneless and flat, but much deeper. C1 begins to jerkily reach down towards Gunther with large, gloved hands.
"No, no! He's just fooling - he's being funny! We're both having fun!" She begins laughing again, and glancing behind her she notices Vernalis. "Sir! Sir! He's being quite amusing, isn't he? Aren't we all having fun here?! Tell him we're having fun!!"
Vernalis raises an eyebrow, uncertain of what to make of the scene before him, but fairly sure the woman is looking for his help.
"I have been having fun, yes," he replies honestly and in Viridian, "and if the lady says they are having fun I see no reason to doubt her. You see, Mister Ceewon, where I come from there is a whole..." genre? "...type of play called 'Tragedy' where people pretend to be sad for the amusement of others; perhaps that is what the man is doing?"
"Yes, that's it! Trah-juh-dee. It's a new kind of fun we've made! Ha ha ha..." The woman nods her head vigorously while broadly smiliing up at C1.
"Trah-juh-dee." C1 looks down at Gunther, then at Vernalis over top of the woman's head. "You... are having fun. Trahjuhdee is a new kind of fun." A flurry of clicks and whirs emanates from C1's helm, and then the top of his hat opens like a hinged lid. With a sproing!, a small cylinder shoots up into the air out of his hat, where it engages it's propellor and flies away in the direction of the large domed building. C1's hat then flips shut again, whereupon the merrymaker gazes down at the woman.
"You... are not having fun. Aerugo is only for those who have fun; you will be removed." C1 then swivels and grabs the woman, who begins screaming and beating at C1's massive hands to no effect. At the same time the front of C1's longcoat opens, revealing the merrymaker's torso to be made of metal and possessed of a large empty cavity with two hinged doors in the front which have swung open, pushing the longcoat aside. It is evident that C1's intent is to place the woman inside.
"Griselda!" Gunther jumps to his feet. "ENOUGH! Let her go, you monster!"
Oh no... this is like one of the Optimumist's ethics puzzles... which does the most good- to uphold the social contract for the many, or to defend the freedom of the few? I believe the answer, ultimately, was that it depends upon the goodness of that society, but I know so little about this society... they do seem very interested in the happiness of their people, although C1's actions are clearly not making 'Gunther' happy currently...
Deciding that his best course of action at present is to try to prevent the situation from escalating and causing physical harm to anyone involved, Vernalis raises a hand in a desperate stopping motion towards Gunther and calls out in Viridian, "Mister Ceewon, it sounds as though you have sustained some internal damage... if you could let this woman go so that she can practice mastering Tragedy, I would have a great deal of fun examining you?"
"To resist a merrymaker is to resist happiness." C1 wrangles Griselda into his torso, the metal doors clanging closed. At the same time, it begins a loud sort of howling.
"No!!!" Gunther flails at C1 and the merrymaker grabs him, easily lifting him off the ground where the man flails helplessly at the contruct's grip.
Well, that seems not to have been helpful...
Stepping back to avoid engaging at all with the clockwork officer or the two apparently law-breaking citizens, Vernalis makes one last attempt to gain some understanding of the situation. "Mister Ceewon, I am newly arrived in Aerugo. Please excuse my ignorance but what happens to those who resist happiness?"
C1 adjusts it's hold on Gunther, pinning the man's arms to his sides. At the end of the alley behind C1 another merrymaker appears and approaches, and C1's howling stops.
"Aerugo is only for those who have fun; those who resist happiness, resist fun, and must be removed."
Gunther continues to struggle against C1 and manages to free his arms, though he hasn't escaped it's grasp.
"Nobody's having fun, you walking bucket! Nobody!" Gunther squirms in C1's grasp to turn and face Vernalis. "The only one having fun is the Wunderkind - he delights in our torment! Flee Aerugo while you still can, outsider!"
Vernalis smiles as he contemplates taking the man's advice.
"I have such fun learning though," he finally answers quite truthfully. "Tell me, Ceewun, when people are removed for not having fun what becomes of them?
"Those removed from Aerugo are tithed," C1 replies. The newly arrived merrymaker's torso springs open, and C1 easily loads the struggling Gunther inside. The man's shouts are cut off as the metal doors slam closed.
"Thank you, visitor," C1 states, then switches to a sing-song voice identical to the one Taxman B4 used just before leaving Bergmann. "And reMEMber - haV" Both merrymakers then turn around and head down the alley back the way they came.
"Ceewun," Vernalis calls out as the strange constructs turn to leave, "I would have so much fun learning more... about your kind, about the tithe, about Aerugo... is there a library or a sage or somewhere I can go to learn?"
As it walks to the far mouth of the alley, the merrymaker's head swivels 180 degrees to regard Vernalis and answer his query.
"Libraries are un-fun, and have been removed. Learning leads to resistance of happiness; visitor is advised to cease all learning immediately or risk removal. Good day, visitor."
"And reMEMber - haV"
With that, the two lumber off into the streets at speed with their captives.
libraries are un-fun?!? something must have been lost in that translation... unless, perhaps, I've been having fun wrong my whole life... my life until recently was rather limited... what if the library only seemed fun because I had no real basis for comparison... I need to try their fun so I can realistically evaluate this claim...
Suddenly feeling compelled to experience all the pleasures and amusements Aerugo has to offer, Vernalis heads back out into the street and begins trying every food and game he comes across.
Vernalis spends the rest of his day experiencing the fun Aerugo has to offer. He notices that the entertainers and gamesmen he gives audience seem legitimately pleased by his presence, exhibiting a renewed vigor in their performances which borders on mania, and they are loathe to let him leave. All the food and drink offered, whether it be meat, bread, vegetables, juice, confections, or even water, is sickly sweet, and the young wizard soon develops a sour stomach well before his hunger and thirst are satisfied.
He plays various games involving tossing rings onto bottles or horshoes onto stakes, shooting targets with small mounted crossbows shooting blunted bolts (with far too weak a tension to cause anyone actual harm,) or rolling a stuffed leather sphere at a group of pins to knock them over. All the games are quite easy, lacking the need for any skill; the rings are enormous and the bottles near, the horseshoes are tossed into a field of stakes, the targets for the crossbows cover the opposite wall, and the pins are top-heavy and at the end of a walled lane. Vernalis wins every time, and is given various straw dolls and flamboyant hats as prizes.
He also sees acrobats perform impressive feats of tumbling, juggling, and contortionism; "magicians" perform clever tricks of misdirection and sleight-of-hand; and clowns perform amusing buffoonery, jokes, and puppetry, though some of the humor of these last two comedies are lost on Vernalis.
Many of the jests involve the mockery and debasement of a character known as "Ol' Guv'nor," who is portrayed as a strict but stupid fellow who tries to order people about but is constantly outwitted and foiled by his younger brother, the Wunderkind. The clever Wunderkind is always played by an actual child, even in the puppet shows wherein all the other characters are portrayed by marionettes and the like. Vernalis gathers from these shows that Governor Wunderkind at some point usurped his tyrannical brother's rule and replaced the gubernatorial palace with the domed 'Work-a-Day,' wherein he built his "friends" (obviously alluding to the various constructs and automated machines Vernalis has encountered) to perform all physical labor in the province, freeing the people to have fun all day every day. Work-a-Day apparently also serves as a home to these friends when they need to sleep.
As the day wears into evening Vernalis sees folks falling asleep on benches and in theater seats, though new performers step in to maintain the festivities, seemingly unconcerned that their audiences are unconscious. As the sun dips below the the hazy blue-grey horizon of the mountains the sound of thunderous explosions ring out from the direction of the domed Work-a-Day, and Vernalis sees streamers of sparks and fire shoot out of the central structure in an impressive pyrotechnic display which lasts for several minutes. The performers continue their routines without interruption by the event, and most of those sleeping continue doing so unperturbed.
All the while he is monitored by the flying eye-machine, though he notes its movements have become more clumsy and sluggish in the past hour or two.
At first Vernalis is indeed amused by the easy games and the prizes they earned him, and the acrobats truly were quite impressive. As his heart began to race and his brain buzzed with the heretofore unknown rush of abundant sugar he even enjoyed the clowns and the brightly colored puppets, and the legerdemain of the faux-magicians. As his stomach sours and his humors crash post sugar-rush suddenly the whole affair seems less wonderful.
their 'fun' holds some charm, but certainly not of sufficient quantity nor quality to convince me I've been enjoying myself incorrectly... the food and sleeping accommodations were both better in the Bergmann village than here, perhaps I should just leave and look for somewhere else where I can find answers to my questions... although... something doesn't seem right here... its as if there is a current of apprehension just below the surface... perhaps I'll stay a bit longer and see if there are people here I can help... I better wear a smile whilst I'm here though, Ceewun and his 'friends' seemed quite put out by the gentleman's refusal to do so...
Smiling comes easy as he quietly enjoys the fireworks. Afterwards he grins his way to a comfortable bench with a view of some female acrobats where he lies down to fall asleep.
I hadn't noticed in the Bergmann village but there really is something very alluring about the female form...