SERGEANT NPC CONTACT

[cartesio]

The Lodge is located on the hills near the town, large and strange. It contrasts a lot when compared to the rest of the town -- its gray and white walls are quite the change from the vibrant and colorful Cartesio, the plants and bushes that are planted on the lower levels of the Lodge only make the contrast more obvious. There are many windows, but no matter how much you look you don't see anyone passing behind them. If you didn't know better you'd think it was completely empty.

But it isn't empty. The Sergeant is there.

You won't get too far into the Lodge before you encounter the Sergeant. There he is in the lobby, standing in front of a door that leads deeper into the building. No matter at what time you come or what you do, he'll always be there, reading self-help books, or with a mirror, practicing his next speech/confrontation. When he's not facing all of you at once, he seems to be easier to talk with.

Want to bother him?

Comments

[cartesio]

One of you guys came to see me and commented you guys weren't able to find some of the places in this town. I thought you'd appreciate knowing where they were.

[The Sergeant doesn't sound very happy about that, but that's mostly because he had to print a bunch of maps again]

[robitussin]

Yeah, but the weird thing is... I've walked around the whole town before now. Even if they weren't on the map, I should have at least been able to see them.

[cartesio]

This town has a serious signage problem.

[Was...that a joke, or does he mean it? Hard to know. Then he adds:]

Those places always existed. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm certain the blame isn't on me. So don't think it is.

[He doesn't seem to be lying about that, at least]

[robitussin]

[She blinks.]

Who else would it be on? Wait, there are things you don't know about this town?

[cartesio]

[He admits begrudgingly]

There´s some things I don´t know.

[robitussin]

But I thought you were, like... In charge of everything here. What don't you know?

[cartesio]

What kind of idiot would I be if I said everything I don't know? I shouldn't have admitted that about the maps in the first place.

[And boy does he hate to admit when he's not in as much control as he wished]

I'm not some kind of god. I only have some measure of control over you guys, this town is a different story altogether.

[robitussin]

But that means there's someone else who knows more about the town, right? Someone above you.

[cartesio]

I wonder...

[He looks away, deep in thought for a moment, and shakes his head]

I never heard him mention this town ever before I arrived here, and I don't stick my nose in other people's business. I figure he knows more than I do.

[He is a Sergeant, no surprise there's someone above him

[robitussin]

[She blinks, taking a step closer.]

Who's he? Can I talk to him?

[cartesio]

No.

[Well that was a blunt response]

[robitussin]

Is he anywhere in the town?

[cartesio]

What does that matter? I'm the person you must deal with. You don't bypass the chain of command like that!

[robitussin]

...You didn't say no that time. I was right, wasn't I?

[cartesio]

Silence does not mean you're correct.

[He's realizing he may have said too much already and wants to avoid spilling more beans right now. Not confirming or denying!]

[robitussin]

You answered everything else I asked, though.

[She tilts her head.]

Either way... You knew him before you came here, but you didn't know about this place before you came here, either. Did you mean to come here?

[cartesio]

Can't say I knew I'd be coming here, but that's no surprise. Orders are orders. It's not my place to question them, no matter how sudden they may be.

[robitussin]

So... It's your boss who decided on the whole "make these people try to kill each other" thing, then?

[cartesio]

...

[The Sergeant slams his hand where his ear would be, for a few seconds]

Secret. Not telling.

[robitussin]

[She pauses as he does that, before, instinctively—]

What was that? Are you okay?

[cartesio]

Checking orders, that's all.

[It's like he has a device on his ear, you see]

[robitussin]

Wait, so... You're talking to him right now?

[cartesio]

[The Sergeant points at the outside]

I think it's time for you to leave.

[Sorry, Natalie. He refuses to elaborate]

[robitussin]

What? But - I have at least, like, ten more questions!

[cartesio]

Tough.

[Want to continue the next day?]