AUDIENCE FOR: Ercnard Sieghart

[guestservices]

Comments

[guestservices]

[sieg can't see their face, but he will get the sense they are raising an eyebrow.]

Been to the Underworld recently? And why was the bear with you?

[ercnerd]

Why else? He lost his keys.

As for the Underworld . . . it's been a little while, but I've been there.

[guestservices]

Of course. How silly of me to ask. [why else would the bear be there.]

What were you even doing there? The Underworld, not daycare. I think I know exactly what happened with that.

[ercnerd]

We were there to warn the Haros of a demon invasion. Once the matter was settled, we returned to our own dimension. Why do you ask?

[guestservices]

I don't know. Most people don't just casually say "oh yeah, when I was in the Underworld" like it's a normal thing.

[ercnerd]

That's because I'm not normal. As an undying legend, I've been around more than most people.

[guestservices]

An undying legend...which means what, exactly? [aquarius has read some files but not in full detail, apparently.]

[ercnerd]

Exactly what it sounds like. I'm the legendary gladiator of Kanavan, but I don't age. Death doesn't usually stick for me, either.

[guestservices]

[....hm.]

Okay so...how does somebody just become a legendary gladiator? [help.]

[ercnerd]

How else? By vanquishing countless monsters and winning wars with unparalleled skill.

[guestservices]

It sounds...well. Kinda far-fetched, you know? Like the kind of stories people tell their kids about heroes that aren't totally reachable.

[ercnerd]

Those are the stories of my exploits. There's no child in even the most remote villages of the kingdom who hasn't heard of me. If you have doubts, I'm living proof that those stories are based on truth.

[guestservices]

Okay, but which came first? You and your exploits, or the stories to make them seem greater?

[they're not even being contradictory at this point, they're genuinely interested in what sieg has to say about it.]

[ercnerd]

My exploits, of course! It's because they were so grand that they were recorded and passed down to future generations. They really tried to preserve everything; even my old weapons are stored in the royal treasury.

[guestservices]

[...hm.]

And now here you are. That...kinda sucks, actually. [like objectively speaking it sucks to be something of a hero or what-have-you and be killed by getting tossed out a window in front of a live audience.]

Have you ever died before now? And before Wiwaldi.

[ercnerd]

[Sometimes things happen.]

I have. The number of times I've died there and here doesn't compare.

[From his tone, he may as well be shrugging. Immortality has always been something of a convenience for him in that regard.]

[guestservices]

...but you remember all of your deaths. Nothing's changed?

[sometimes things happen and they maybe shouldn't.]

[ercnerd]

Should it have?

[guestservices]

I guess not. [they tilt their head.] Thanks for entertaining all my questions. I like to try and understand things about guests outside of written words. You get it.

[ercnerd]

[This is a nonissue for Sieghart, who loves to talk about himself.]

Interviewing even banned guests, you really do take your job seriously. Is it that important for you to maintain relations with us when we're not on the premises anymore?

[guestservices]

[there's a little shrug.]

I think it's important to remember the dead if they still have the option to talk, yeah. That a bad thing?

[ercnerd]

I'm just wondering if there's a way for you to do more than remember.

[guestservices]

Just what are you angling for...?

[ercnerd]

You're not going to like it, but I want everyone to check out on their own terms.

[There's nothing more to add, so he moves on:]

What are your thoughts on all of this?

[guestservices]

On the hotel? [mmm...] You guys signed the contract and you're bound by the terms of it. You can't really go against what's written.

But it also hasn't exactly been fun for the rest of us to watch either. A job's a job though.