2500/A Crusade In The Park

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A Crusade In The Park
Date of Scene: 18 September 2017
Location: Unknown
Synopsis: Summary needed
Cast of Characters: Sauron, Crusader




Sauron has posed:
The hustle and bustle of the day has begun for Midtown Manhatten. People crowd the sidewalks, cars fill the streets, and everyone's on their way to work, to shopping, to school.

At the edge of Grammercy Park, Karl Lykos is on a bench, reading the Wall Street Journal and enjoying a cup of coffee. He's the only one sitting there - and there's quite a collection of pigeons in front of him.

A paper bag full of popcorn is at his right, and he stops reading to toss popcorn to the birds, which noisily jostle each other to get at the tasty treat. Eventually, the pigeons are bold enough to try to take popcorn from his hand.

As soon as the pigeons peck kernels from his open palm, they settle down into the ground, puddled into little bundles of feathers, immobile and sleepy.

Crusader has posed:
Luckily the park when things got busy, usually managed to remain quiet, peaceful and for the most part fairly empty. This worked out from the towering armored Crusader, as he didn't feel like being in his other forms

Despite his immense size and bulk, the being was surprisingly quiet as he walked through the park, simply watching and enjoying the quiet morn. He rubbed his beard of constantly moving tendrills as he came to notice Karl and the pigeons before him. His deep voice comes out quietly "You must have a way with animals Stranger"

Sauron has posed:
Karl looks over to see who's talking to him, and is somewhat startled. It's not everyday you see someone like Crusader. "Oh!" he blurts out, dropping the popcorn. The pigeons scatter and take flight ... except for a few, which seem to be sleeping on the ground in front of him. "... Well, yes. I suppose so. I come here to feed them often. They're probably used to me by now. Pavlovian response," he laughs nervously.

Crusader has posed:
There is a quiet chuckle Crusader and he offers a bow "Our apology, we did not mean to startle you. Please do not be nervous, One does not plan on bringing any harm" he tells the Karl before standing upright to his full 8ft again. He watches the birds scatter before looking to the sleeping ones "My, One was not away that some animals slept like logs as well." he gives pause "What is a Pavlovian response?"

Sauron has posed:
"I mean no disrespect, but if you believe the bench can withstand you, have a seat. I'd be happy to explain," Karl replies warmly. He's relieved no further questions about the pigeons were asked.

Crusader has posed:
"Likewise, we do not mean any disrespect...but we have a bad history with....seating arrangements. Believe you us, we are alot heavier than One appears" he tells Karl "But one might sit on the ground" and likewise, he does wrapping his cloak about him. Though it dosn't change the fact that man is still tall enough to make eye-contact with Karl even from this sitting position

Sauron has posed:
(What an incredible specimen of a man,)Oo. Karl thinks to himself. .oO(He certainly must have stories to tell. I've never seen anything quite like it outside of media.)

"Pavlovian response is a reference to a discovery made by Doctor Ivan Pavlov in the early twentieth century. He discovered that if he rang a bell before feeding a dog and repeated the pattern, after awhile, all he had to do was ring the bell, and the dog would begin to salivate even if there was no food given. It was the discovery of conditioned responses. Hence, when I feed the pigeons day by day, they associate me with food and safety, and become bolder towards me."

Crusader has posed:
Crusader was no psychic so had no idea of Karl thoughts. But none the less he cants his head as he listen to the response with clear interest "Interesting" he rumbles out before reaching over and gingerly plucking one of the Pigeons in his immense hand. He bring it over and let it rest there to watch how the Pigeon would respond "We could see it as a very useful system. Very useful indeed. Has such conditioning ever been tested out on humans?" he ponder "Hmmm, well One would assume if not formally than informally. Since many people associate heros with safety, or at the very least being saved. Though One assume they could also be equilivated to violence and misfortune as well"

Sauron has posed:
"During the time of Pavlov's research in Russia, human experimentation was permitted. Entire classrooms of children were conditioned to behaviors using candy and treats," Karl continues. The pigeon in Crusader's hand is sleeping soundly, passive and calm.

"It was hoped by Pavlov's superiors that a better breed of worker and citizen could be created from children by conditioning them to behave in certain ways. To mold people away from individuality and into obedient members of the state. Fortunately for all of us, humans are not as tractable as dogs and pigeons."

Crusader has posed:
Crusader gives pause "One is not so sure if that is fortunate or not. We do not mean any offense to humans of course." he once again gives pause as if debating with himself "Obediance is a very fine trait to have, and lack of individuality can bring harmony. Or perhaps the merging of such. Though at the same time it can slow or outright stop the growth and development of humans, which means the lack of such would be better." he seems to close his eyes a moment "One will say that a proper balance of both may be best than." he concludes.

Sauron has posed:
"Agreed. We are a naturally social species, and we have been for millions of years. Humans as whole are still fighting the more primitive instincts of our ancestors, and attempting to adapt to the rapid advancement of technology. One could rightly say that our technology has far outstripped our evolutionary capacity," Karl agrees.

The pigeon in Crusader's hands stands up, stretching out its neck in a yawn, flutting its wings. It cocks its head to the right to stare at him.

Crusader has posed:
"Perhaps than it is time to stop fighting it...and adapt with it. Our...ancestors, if you could call them that, base instincts are to assimilate and bond with other life forms" he tells Karl. "But it is also social like humans...and militaristic like" he gives pause "Like Them" he says never specifying who them is. "One take it though you are a doctor...perhaps a theropist? We do not see who else would have need for such knowledge of a subject"

Sauron has posed:
"Clinical psychiatrist, with a secondary education in evolutionary psychology," Karl responds. "My name is Doctor Karl Lykos. Forgive me if I've rambled on, but the struggles of the mind and of society as a whole are something of a specialty of mine."

The sleepy pigeons are now all up and moving. The one in Crusader's hand flutters away.

Crusader has posed:
"In this state, we are The Collective Crusade...though we just go by Crusader" he tells him "It is a Pleasure to meet you Doctor Karl Lykos" and he offers another bow instead of a handshake. "And there is nothing to forgive, this is rather interesting as we rarely get to talk of such things" he gives a gentle smile from within his helm, before watching the Pigeon fly away. He even waves good bye to the bird