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[USEC_OFFICER]

Wind (500)
Bravery +1 NCP (1000)
Info+1 NCP (1000)
Repair (1000)
ProgRadar (500)
ContentAware (500)
TrailBlazer (1500)
Recharger (1000)
IceSlasher (1000)
Affinity +1 (1000)
Harmonizer (500)

Everyone has no problems acquiring the chips and programs they want. The granddaughter at Stephanidis Programs and Chips is nice and friendly and the clerk at the VDP vendor is bored and uncaring but poor customer service is hardly the end of the world. Hopefully the party doesn't discover that they need some other chip, as with only 500 zenny left they would need to sell something.


Of course there's other preparations that the group could make before infiltrating the university. They could probe its security without committing to anything, both in the material world and on the net. They could also ask around about the security too. Someone in the Undernet ought to know something, or perhaps Thomas and Titania could help.

The local BBSs are buzzing with the usual mixed comments about the upcoming Letia festival. As an unofficial holiday it involves lots of tourists but no time off or overtime pay. There's a new splatter of posts talking about seeing ghosts in the Kythera Memorial Servers, though some say that it's actually a new type of elite virus. The arrival of several VDP jets, and Eirini Attica's private yacht, suggests that the megacorp is holding a major board meeting. Finally Kythera University will be holding a series of public lectures on primitive automation in ancient Antikythera. You have to register for the event but it is after-hours with plenty of people milling about.

[Dwarmin]

"A lecture, huh? Not my usual style, these things can get pretty boring, but if I can rub elbows..."

...

"Subterfuge is hardly my forte, but I could offer to help ingratiate myself to the Monks through labor-there are surely viruses that need deleting, and other ways I might help-with Wizard Kauko attending the roundtable on the golm-arte, I will have the cover to be there. And once done, we will be in a position to gather information on our next move." WindKnight pondered, eyes flashing green and blue-the colors of indecision.

Action: Kauko attends the lecture on primitive automation to gather more information on the university.

WindKnight uses the time (and the excuse of Kauko attending the lecture) to volunteer to help the 'Monks' with whatever jobs they might need doing-he uses the hopeful conclusion to gather more info on its net-defenses.

[Dwarmin]

WindKnight was still playing with his 'toys' late into the night-he had finally tried the ContentAware NCP and was somewhat mystified.

"..Truly, Kauko, this spell-song is passing strange." WindKnight said-it looked like he was wearing fancy blue goggles over his eyes. "It seems I am able to see how a person or a navi is seen by the world-as to the title of a ballad the bard would sing of them. No fine details...but, surely everyone has a song...even I seem to have one!"

All WindKnight posted on the BBS were gardening tips and virus cooking recipes. Though he supposed he also have a lot of old-timer advice to the young navi...and, sometimes posed for knightly pictures with his new weapons...and went dashing off into the net to help anyone who was in trouble...

[Chevaleresse]

"A lecture might provide us with useful information relevant to our treasure hunting. Knowing how older automation methods were achieved will almost certainly be of assistance."

"Speaking of. WindKnight, have you acquired any useful information with your new program?"

[Dwarmin]

"So far, I have tested it on the BBS boards-it allows me to know more about the posters." WindKnight conferred-Score only saw his back for a moment, as he floated away the lighted screen he had been perusing. "...It also allows me to perceive a title in the so-called 'real world' for Wizards-Kauko is apparently, an [Ambitious Master Enchanter]! In truth, it only displays the surface of what someone really is-the title of the song, but none of its words or tune..."

As WindKnight turned to look at Score more fully, he saw at the bottom of her screen-she was labeled by the Bards as well!

It had appeared right below her name, in a specific font and text color...information from her past?

 "...Oh. That is interesting. Score, you seem to have a title of a song writ upon you. But surely, it was written out of thy own memory! ...Do you wish to know what I see, what words are writ upon you? I am sorry to spring such gravity of knowledge upon you without warning..."

[Chevaleresse]

Score frowned.
"That is strange. I have not been maintaining a social media profile." She was quiet for a moment, as she considered the implications.
"I would like to know what it is."

[Dwarmin]

"It reads, [Unreliable Sea-side Inventor]...unfortunately there is no more, not even a chain to pull to find more information. The limits of the spell..." WindKnight said, with some regret. It was a bitter taste, to receive but a bite of truth and to be denied more...but with knowledge, came sorrow-as sure as Chapel Perilous would return to the wave-sea.

[Chevaleresse]

Score frowned. None of those descriptors seem to apply to her at all. . . at least, to the best of her ability. She didn't regard herself as particularly inventive but did believe she was fairly reliable. Sea-side only applied insofar as everything on the island was seaside.
". . . I see. I will try to match this to the data fragments in my possession. Lehtonen-sama, does this phrase mean anything to you?"

[Dwarmin]

"...Well, I'm not surprised my hunch worked-the ContentAware did manage to link your old identity-but, I have no idea who that could be. I mean, it could easily apply to myself if I lived a little closer to the beach. Except for the unreliable part, of course." Kauko said humbly. "And we have no idea if the seaside mentioned is our island-or even if its the real or digital world-there are digital oceans just like real ones! It is not a lot to go on...but, it is a start. And if you were an inventor, Score, you might have left your mark in the things you made-if we match some of your data fragments to these, we can trace their constructions back to you...

...I've really been a bit hesitant to do any heavy investigation until I had a target, until we had info to go on. Because when I start asking questions...people will notice...and, if anyone is looking for you...they'll find you, on their terms. I think we'd like to not be surprised when it happens.

We have no idea if they mean you harm...and, I just won't let anyone hurt you.

Not that they could. Your armor was designed too well, and my combat enhancements weren't just for show...you've increased combat rankings all across the board..." Kauko said, pushing up his glasses. It was just his tendency to go back to the things that comforted him-specs and combat stats-to get away uncomfortable personal feelings.

[Chevaleresse]

". . . I am not certain how to process the implications of this.

I do not recall having exceptional powers of creativity, although I have not attempted to apply anything analogous in my recent memory. If I had this ability, and lost it. . .

I do not think I need to explain."

[Dwarmin]

"You may have lost your memory, but your essential self remains unchanged." WindKnight spoke up, leaning on his blade. His eyes were an unreadable shade of light blue. "It is likely your powers of hologram manipulation would have been an essential part of what you did. Perhaps exercising these powers-strenuously, creatively-may unlock latent memories? So far I have only see you create simple things, such as pathways and cages around foes. Perhaps..."

[Dwarmin]

"In any case, what are you up to today, Score, Lumi? I'm going to go register for that lecture..." Kauko said.

"Maybe it will even be educational!"

"I'll be visiting the local net-square for any quests that get us closer to the university. We can accomplish our tasks together!" WindKnight said, measuring his wind-blade with one hand. He was eager to put his new armaments to use.

...


"By the way, how is the new high resolution graphics package, WindKnight?"

*RTX Off*

"I don't feel any different..." WindKnight said.

*RTX ON*

"...!"

[Chevaleresse]

"I was going to inquire after what you wished of me, Lehtonen-sama. Most likely, left to my own devices, I would also be seeking information in public spaces. I would not wish to distract you with potentially strenuous activities if you are to be occupied."
". . . I had also thought of a question to ask you, but it is rather open-ended and not necessary. It would likely be better to focus on the tasks at hand."

[Dwarmin]

"WindKnight can always use some back up...but, we don't need to put all our eggs in one basket, as it were. I'm happy if you trust your instincts-follow your nose. My old Navi SplashWoman hated being stuck in the PET..." Kauko pondered. "...She preferred to search out jobs for herself. Probably brought me half the stuff we did together.

So, you can travel on the net by yourself, you just have to be careful and jack out if you're in trouble-if I'm not around, I won't be able to reload your battlechips. WindKnight knows all about it, I'm sure you could tag along with him anytime...as for open ended questions, I always enjoy a bit of mental exercise, so don't be shy tossing them around."

"...I do have a habit of charging out into the net at times. There's always people in trouble, asking for help and sometimes you can't always wait for Kauko to be done with his labor at the Big Byte Burger. It is important to maintain some independence so you are not helpless if separated from your Wizard."

Kaukos part time job was, predictably depressing. But with many local businesses being laid low by the relentless sword of VDP, you found work where you could...
 
"...they'll probably have me working a double shift next monday...!" Kauko groaned, hated to be reminded. He didn't dislike his job, but he found it boring and there was no real future in it. He figured it was a good cover for now, however-while he made some real 'overtime pay' of his own.

[Chevaleresse]

"It was just to ask about your impressions of this apparent loss of capability, and how to address it. I apologize for my lack of specificity.

I would enjoy searching for information on my own. It may give me a chance to refine and regain some of my abilities in the process."