Whiterun

Oftentimes, when given the opportunity to ask important questions, people have a hard time conceptualizing the gravity of a prompt. For example, if one were in a final exam review class for their trigonometry course, asking about a specific formula's applicability would seem extremely important.

But, in the grand scheme of things, asking about a mathematical formula for a single course will never go down as an important question later on in life, many would even forget they proposed such an inane inquiry.

Whether it's asking for someone's hand in marriage, borrowing a few dollars to get some gas, or asking for somebody's phone number, the gravity of these questions can not be determined at face value. For these situations, one could imagine many scenarios in which the answer to these questions can alter someone's future in magical ways, or have no effect at all.

Thus, one can understand the conundrum one argonian information collector is currently dealing with in front of a mysterious man dressed in black. Although he had a final question already prepared, when it came time to ask it, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

Asking someone, who obviously played an important role in this new world, about the different races throughout the planet seemed ridiculous since that information will be collected by his colleagues. So, just this once, he decided to get what he assumed to be a 'Native' to this world's perspective on a question he thought about a while back...

"Hmm....why, specifically, do people do things that have a large impact on society as a whole, whether good or evil?..." the question came out of nowhere it seems, but philosophy in this world is very underdeveloped.

Thus, when Raven Oscars' father created the NLC, when his colleagues created the Virtual World, or when Raven himself created his multiverse, many people wondered "why?"... Philosophy has become a major topic, if not the most important, discussed on many forums, news, or simply among friends and family. With the sudden addition of all of these new cultures, world views, situations, races, and interpersonal relationships, the topic of philosophic thought has become mainstream.

Common topics include what parents tell their children is right or wrong and what they aspire to be. Is money that important when you have power? Is power supposed to be used for tyrannical activity? What if the target of a tyrannical strike is considered to be something immoral... Is tyrannical action right then?

Memories of various discussions slipped through that argonian's mind just before he heard the man's confident voice begin to answer his question...

"Now that's a question I never expected little lizard, but it's simple nonetheless. If you see someone do something, and you can't figure out why they are acting in that way.....a useful last tactic one can employ to understand motive is the following..."

".....look at the outcome of whatever they did, and infer motivation. One should only use this tactic when all other attempts to understand have been exhausted, but in the end, it is useful."

"Good day lizard, we'll surely meet again..." with a flourish, the mysterious man disappeared. Leaving the argonian abandoned on a cursed and enchanted Solstheim to fend for himself.

.....(Scene Break).....

"GIVE PRAISE TO THE GREAT TALOS!!!..." the robed man screamed in the center square as Igrid passed by.

He was almost at Dragonsreach where he is going to deliver the message Hadvar asked him to relay to the Jarl of Whiterun. Riverwood needs the Jarl's assistance in case that dragon comes back...