Leaders and Followers

[icebearforpresident]

[It's been a long time since Ice Bear visited the forum side of the Nexus, so today he's actually here to talk with other people and creatures. The polar bear is seated at a Nexus couch, cutting out coupons with a small hand ax. Yes, it look strange, but the bear cuts each piece of paper with an exceptional amount of accuracy. He looks up occasionally from his work to address the Nexus proper.]

Hierarchy. Ice Bear knows the definition of the word, however...

[Without unintentionally trying to scare anyone, he brings the ax down, embedding it into the indestructible? Nexus table.]

Ice Bear wants to know what you think hierarchy is and how it can be obtained. Power? Courage? Good Looks? Ice Bear is curious to hear your thoughts.

...

Ice Bear would also like advice on Nexus portals.

Comments

[afaceisnothing]

Oh. A talking bear! An armed talking bear. This must have been what the pamphlet was talking about with its last warning of anthropomorphic animals. This is Rando's first sighting of such a thing and it has him a little flustered.

So rather than talk, he arms himself with his gift from Amelia; a little notebook he tied a pen to with a bit of twine. Rando scribbles down a message, then kneels so the bear can read it.

Power. Certainly power. Everything else can get you there, but you MUST have power to hold it.

I speak from experience, I'm afraid.

[icebearforpresident]

[Forgive him, Rando, but your appearance does get a surprised look out of the bear for a moment. He's back to being his usual stoic self upon seeing the large man handle him a single piece of paper as means of communicating. Ice Bear nods in agreement at the words written there.]

Power seems to be the major factor in a heirarchy. Ice Bear was hoping to hear other solutions could be effective as well.

...

Ice Bear wants to know more about your experiences, if you don't mind telling Ice Bear your story.

[afaceisnothing]

Rando nods and hurries to write some more, telling the requested story.

Back in Olathe, there was a hierarchy of power called The List. It was a landmark that separated the east region from the west, as well as providing a written statement of who is in power and where they fall on the hierarchy.

Ten warlords. Ten names.

Even Thomas Even the pacifist had to have great strength to protect his non-violent community. Even the merchant of goods had great firepower to protect his share. Everyone got onto that List and stayed on that list by being strong.

And the only way for them to be taken off was to be even stronger and kill them.

[icebearforpresident]

[The bear leans over and watches Rando write, but it isn't until the man is finished that Ice Bear is actually able to read what's on the paper. He blinks a few times, some of the words having a foreign meeting to him. Finally, after contemplating Rando's story, the bear looks up at his mask once more.]

Strength for survival? Ice Bear assumes this is what your world was like. Is Olathe your home? Ice Bear wants to know if you were a warlord too.

[afaceisnothing]

Rando nods again before writing on a fresh page. The last message took up a lot of space.

Olathe was my home, yes. The world I came from. It was very much for survival as well.

And yes. I was? Am? Was a warlord. I wasn't on the List, however. Me and my army were left alone by merit of me being one of the strongest.

I hope that doesn't sound arrogant to say. I only worked to protect people. To try and bring order and peace back to Olathe.

[icebearforpresident]

...Ice Bear wants to know if you were successful at bringing peace.

[Now the gear Rando wears makes sense. Ice Bear can't help but ask more questions about the world Rando emerged from.]

Ice Bear is curious to know if you'll go back to Olathe? To continue being a warlord?

[afaceisnothing]

Rando shakes his head. No. No, he wasn't. He then writes a further explanation.

No. I thought I was making decent progress towards peace, but unexpected elements came along. Things no one could have predicted that threw us back into worse chaos than before.

I don't think I want to go back. I have no place there now. And I hate to think of what could happen if the people of Olathe had access to the Nexus. It would not be pleasant.