Age-old arguments

Just a fun little scene, once again playing with the idea of magic as code, but also inspired by the party dynamics of Dungeon Meshi (Delicious in Dungeon).

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“This is clearly a while loop! Look — ‘while something contained then something—‘“

“Nothing indicates a while! It could just as easily be an if, and that completely inverts the meaning!”

A clatter as boots stumble across loose stone in low light.

“If it was an if, why on earth would this be a time component—“

“It being time based doesn’t mean it’s a while!”

“It definitely doesn’t sound like an if!”

“I’m not going to risk our lives on what it sounds like!”

Rune rubs her knuckles against her temple as she drops down beside their team lead, slumping warily against the tunnel wall. There might be ore digging into her back; she’s too tired to care. This was meant to be an easy run. Now they’re stuck in what might be a (hopefully disused) boss room, with a cave in on one side and doors scrawled with glowing green symbols on the other.

“How long do you think they’ll be?”

In the pulsing light from the doors, only slightly offset by the lightstone set by their feet, the team lead’s face looks haggard and worn. He chews slowly on a piece of jerky, his greatsword propped up beside him.

“With a puzzle this intricate? Hours. Possibly days.”

He offers a piece of jerky. Rune takes it, just to have something to do.

“How long will our lightstones last?”

“If we ration them? Another day.”

“And our food?”

“Ehh, maybe two.”

Rune watches the mages bicker.

“How long until you remind them you can blow up the rockfall?”

“Depends how long they take to start trading blows.”