[Alexander's point of view]

While Marc didn't have a specific destination in mind (then again, the secret is that nobody really gets to go to a specific destination), he had some clear ideas of what he was looking for.

"Well, I know what I don't want : I don't want to go to a crowded place, even with the influence of the Knowledgeable, most people manage to be selfish and annoying all the time, it's too tiresome. I also don't want to stay on Earth, no matter the historic period, if I'm going into the Study I'd much rather see something really different."

I think these moments really are the highlight of my job, the system had already selected a world for him with a tentative spawning point before he even started speaking. Somewhere in the wild on a planet called Onvilia.

I smile a little, as I see the parameters on my screen turning green as they match his request. This guy seems to think he's going on a holiday tour, like the others, he’s in for a rough awakening.

Let’s confirm the parameters he hasn’t mentioned yet.

"That's still really broad, what about technology level?"

"Oh.. mmh, not too advanced I suppose, I'd rather be a bit ahead than lost in strange new tech. But having some conveniences would be nice."

[tech level : mixed (none to late medieval)]

"Another thing, I definitely want a system with stats, skills and stuff, that just seems awesome."

A common request ever since the concept was introduced. People just love seeing themselves progress. They never truly realize that having a system doesn't reduce the struggle it takes to actually improve.

[Overseer system : global (sentients)]. Yellow, so he can have it for a price. Or rather, the system thinks he’ll accept to pay a price to have the same feature any sentient on that planet has. Classic S.T.U.D.Y. really.

"Well, that is possible, but fitting a System to you has a cost. Remember that the Knowledgeable are doing this to learn more about us. If you really want a System, the S.T.U.D.Y. will take more liberties than usual with the situations you'll face."

As he ponders on the implications, I keep going, selling him my bullshit with a smile. The system would actually dislike having to handle the exception of a system-less sentient. Not to mention how helpful systems are for data harvesting.

"There are various ways we can manage that, one of them is accepting certain conditions. I'll run your file through a tool that will give us some possibilities."

It barely takes a second before a screen shows up for the both of us.

Unknown Context

Crippled Start

Warzone Spawn

Body Change

Mental Condition

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Time for the sales pitch. I take a slightly deeper breath than usual before overwhelming him with information.

"Right, so Unknown Context means your system will give you less information on things you don’t know about, Crippled Start means you'll be physically crippled in some way : missing a limb, or an organ, or maybe with a nasty medical condition. Warzone Spawn means you'll be in an active warzone.”

He’s staring at me with wide eyes at this point, and I keep going.

“Body Change is one of the really fuzzy ones, lots of things could happen but I don't recommend it at all because your mind might not work properly with whatever body you end up with, and Negative Mental Condition is pretty horrible too, you might get stuck with any mental problem known to humanity and a couple more.”

He’s actually looking a bit scared. I guess the prices aren’t really public knowledge, we do keep a lid on some of these. I’ll throw him a bone before he can argue. Poor guy’s getting ripped off already. Lets see…

“On the upside, these would come with System Boons that should help you deal with the initial shock. I would recommend taking Unknown Context or perhaps the warzone since we’re selecting a relatively backward world, technologically speaking. It’s a bit risky ; as you know, even if it’s not final, dying within the S.T.U.D.Y. is not advised." I wait a second. "I'll answer any questions you may have."

I can practically see the gears turning in his mind as he considers the different options. Finally, he speaks.

"Are those the only options?"

Smart man.

"No. There are practically endless options but those are the ones that have been estimated as the more likely to be accepted. I can have the system show you a few more if you want."

"Please do."

He’s hooked and wants a better deal. Cute.

Hunted

Blood Drinker

Body Change : Monster

Corrupted influence

Body Change : Reincarnation

I let him take a look as I organize my own thoughts.

"Hunted means someone or something is actively hunting you, Blood Drinker means you'll need to regularly drink blood to survive, probably from other people. Corrupted influence means that something is actively changing your body and perspective, could be stuff like demonic taint, undeath, some parasite or something else entirely. The Monster version of Body Change means you'll spawn as some kind of monster and the Reincarnation one means you'll be a newborn, and probably not even a human one."

I give him a few seconds to silently considering the choices before speaking again.

"Oh, before you ask, yes we can further narrow down the things that the modifier will do. As you can see for instance with those subcategories of Body Change. Honestly, I'm pretty confident your best option will remain the Unknown Context no matter what, and we could probably dig out a few things like the Warzone Spawn fit for a distant second best option. Or of course, you could just not take a System."

What I don't say is that even if he gives up on the System he's pretty likely to have one of those modifiers anyway. The S.T.U.D.Y. has a friendly facade but the kid gloves are gone once people are in.

The purpose of the S.T.U.D.Y. must prevail.

Finally he talks again.

"Alright, I really don't I’d like being in the middle of a war, so it would be the unknown context. What I don't understand is that it seems much more subdued than the other options, how is missing some information the same as having killers on my heels?"

Did I downplay it too much? Unknown Context is meaner than it might look at a glance. Well, they pretty much all are meaner than they appear. But he’s right, all things considered, it isn’t too bad. I take a slightly mysterious air, with the shadow of a knowing smile.

"I'll tell you a secret ; whenever I do this, the first option is the one the system wants the person to pick, and its usually something that's very manageable. The truth is, your personality assessment showed that you're a careful man, and I've seen a few like you lately. I'm guessing you waited to see what people who left the S.T.U.D.Y. had to say right?”

He nods. And I make my smile friendlier.

"Well, I'm sure they are curious about how a careful man handles himself when information is scarce. All the other options that will be offered to you are expected to be more repulsive so that you pick the first one, but they will get interesting data regardless. It's their system and they can't lose. Knowing this, you need to make your own choices."

The color changes even before he’s answered, the decision made for him by another. How sad, in a few hours, he’ll never remember my splendid acting.

[Overseer system : global (sentients) - Accepted modifier : Unknown Context]

And so, fools will push blindly ever onwards.

Truly, the S.T.U.D.Y. is a ruthless thing.