This got me glares from both the Sheriff and the City Manager, but she nodded. Her face was telling me ‘this better be good’ as well as if she could Private Message me.
“I know this is a delicate question, gentlebeings,” I said, trying to use System idioms in English and feeling a bit silly, “but may I ask the approximate average level of your groups?”
The elf looked shocked and the dwarf snorted.
“Just to the nearest five levels or so,” I said. “To be fair, I will reveal my Class, Level, and Titles before you answer.”
“Titles?” said the Dwarf with disbelief. “You’ve been in the System for three days and you have Titles?”
“One,” I said politely. I set the display privileges and nodded at them. They looked at me for a moment and their jaws dropped as one.
“I apologize, Adamant Erickson,” said the dwarf. “I did not know.” He dipped his head, much lower than he had when he’d greeted the City Manager. His tone was quite a bit more formal than it had been, too.
“I as well, Adamant,” said the elf, who sort of shallowly bowed in his chair.
The City Manager and the Sheriff were staring at me as if I’d grown another head. Danielle looked a little smug.
“No apologies necessary, gentlebeings,” I said. “In my culture it’s rude to show off. I only learned an hour ago that it’s customary to allow others to see your Titles.” They both relaxed a little at this. It was completely true: it was something that the Guidebooks talked about. I had no plans to reveal my special ones, but displaying Titles was the norm under System culture.
I had Examined both of them: neither had a Title I could see, other than being tagged as ‘Master’ whatever when I learned their names and ranks. While I was thinking about it, I set ‘Adamant’ to be visible to anyone who Examined me.
After a moment’s pause, the dwarf said, “Our average level is around ten. I’ll say no more.”
“That is roughly true of us as well,” said Treesinger.
“That seems very low,” I said, “No offense meant, but do you send people of relatively low level into unknown worlds all the time?”
“The young and ambitious, who will Level much more quickly on a new System world,” said the elf with a smile. “If we were higher ranked, we could tell others to do the dangerous work. Also, those with higher levels would have gone to more advantageous places. But I think you are wrong about something, Adamant.”
“Yes, you are,” said Stonebender. “Level Ten is not all that low a level for the average person on a System world. Once you get that high, it starts getting much harder to Level without fighting dangerous monsters or using expensive components. And most System worlds are fairly safe, so people can live in towns and cities and not worry about having to raise their levels high.”
“This is all very interesting,” said Ms. Adams. “But can we please get back to the question of letting these…” She hesitated. “Beings… stay here?”
“Yes, I’m sorry,” I said. “Aside from the question of whether the U. S. will be able to enforce anything at all, let alone immigration laws, there’s a practical reason. We desperately need them.”
“Explain,” she said, her voice sharp.
“Are your people hunters, Treesinger?” I asked.
“We are great hunters, Adamant,” he replied with a confident smile. I turned to the Dwarf.
“Your people are miners, I assume, Master Stonebender. But can you fight System monsters?”
“The buggers get into the mines all the time,” he said with a grin. “They don’t come out again, except on a plate.”
I returned his smile, then turned to the City Manager. “They have System weapons and levels higher than all but a few of us. They can produce more resources than they need and if we treat them well, they will trade with us. Right?” That last was to the clan leaders. They nodded.
“You let them stay. They pay reasonable… rent… for whatever land they use. You keep track of it. If the Governor or the President shows up, you hand them the account book and it’s their problem. Same with ICE. Like you said, it’s not your job to detain undocumented immigrants.”
“Illegal aliens, you mean,” said the Sheriff. “That’s what they are.” He did not sound happy about the whole idea. I took a deep breath.
Time to roll the dice. Activate ‘Indirect Suggestion.’
SYSTEM MESSAGE: Indirect Suggestion active. Beings who can hear and understand you will be much more receptive to what you say. 100MP used (cast, one minute.) 160/260 MP.
“If you want to call them that, that’s fine,” I said. “It doesn’t change my point. These beings will help your people stay alive. Maybe even thrive. If ICE shows up and wants you to assist in their detention, you can do that if you want. But there’s no rule that says County Sheriffs are immigration enforcers, is there?”
“No,” he said immediately, still looking sour. “They can’t tell us what to do. They try all the time, the cocky bastards. They always act like we’re stupid hicks.”
“You’re not stupid hicks,” I said firmly, “And anybody with half a brain in his head would know that in a second. You even tried to protect me and Danielle, two strangers. That’s your job, to protect everybody, right?”
SYSTEM MESSAGE: Indirect Suggestion active. Beings who can hear and understand you will be much more receptive to what you say. 100MP used (one minute.) 110/260 MP.
“Yes,” he said, more slowly.
“Then let them help,” I said, a touch of pleading in my voice. “They spent an insane amount of money to come here, an unknown world. Obviously they’re not belligerent, and even if they were they’re outnumbered, Levels or no. They want to work hard and make their lives better. They’re pioneers. Hell, they’re practically honorary Americans.”
“Adamant Erickson speaks the truth,” said Treesinger. “Our clan is not large. Even if they follow, we will be a small settlement for many years. We will have to work here to buy transit for the rest.”
“What you saw is all there is of Clan Stonebender,” said the dwarf grimly. “We have been crowded out of our mines and most of our people adopted by other clans. We used the last of our clan’s legacy to buy transit.”
“‘Your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,’” I said. “Here they are. They could be the difference between your town surviving or starving. Kicking them out is not your problem, but keeping your people alive is.”
SYSTEM MESSAGE: Indirect Suggestion active. Beings who can hear and understand you will be much more receptive to what you say. 100MP used (cast, one minute.) 68/260 MP.
I canceled the Skill. One minute left to make the case before it wore off.
“Ms. Adams,” I said to the City Manager, “I talked to the head cook today. I know the situation.” Her eyes narrowed. “I intend to stay in Pigeon Forge for the foreseeable future and try to Level. That involves hunting and hunting produces incredibly useful meat. But I can’t feed a town by myself, that’s impossible. Even if all my friends stay, we won’t be able to manage it. And I’m sure there are people who hunt here, but their weapons are useless and their skills don’t fit this new world.”