first statement } audio; un: archivist

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

[oho, what’s this? a new voice on the network?]

Erm … I suppose it’s customary in a situation like this to introduce myself. [he lightly clears his throat before continuing:] My name is Jonathan - erm, Jon. Sims. [and he really has to bite down on the impulse to add the archivist after that.] I am somewhat new here and have yet to meet many of you. [which is intentional, on jon’s part.] But I - I actually just have a question, seeing as - if I understand the situation correctly - we are all from different places.

[jon hesitates for a moment and takes a deep breath to steady his nerves. public speaking is so much less comfortable than reading statements into a tape recorder.]

Have any of you heard of something called The Vast?

Comments

un:bellesareme

[relance]

I assume you don't mean the band.

[Yes, Julia wants to see where he's going with this.]

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

[bold of you to assume jon would know a band.]

No, I’m afraid the Entity I’m asking about is a bit more esoteric than a - a band.

[relance]

Alrighty then Magnus boy, where are you? We should have a chat. And before you get your knickers in a twist, I work for Usher.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

Good lord, you’re ... from the Usher Foundation? [jon pauses, letting that sink in.] And you know who I am?

[and isn’t immediately trying to kill him, though that could very well change, if he tells her where he is. he probably shouldn’t, since he doesn’t know julia or her intentions ... but he is intensely curious. he needs to know.]

I’m in one of the domes, the ... [there’s the faint sound of shuffling as jon gets up from the bench he’s been sat on to read off the dome’s name plate:] Mintaka Memorial Gardens Dome.

audio | UN: presage

[albatrossomen]

We have met, though it would seem your brief departure and return has left you in an... altered state. [A long pause.]

Curious.

Anyway, what is this Vast you speak of?

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

Ah. I see you were acquainted with the, erm, previous Jonathan Sims. I’m sorry I don’t remember you, Mister ... ?

[jon emphatically does not like the feeling of being left out of the proverbial loop, familiar as it may be.]

The Vast is ... difficult to explain. It’s a bit of a problem, where I’m from.

[which still doesn’t really explain what the vast is, but jon’s a bit wary of immediately rambling to a stranger about the Entities until he’s got a better read on him.]

[albatrossomen]

Murmur.

[Yes, that is a name. The only one Jon's getting out of him anyway. Not that he had much more to offer anyway. Jon doesn't need his various titles.]

For clarity, we were not quite acquainted previously, I was simply a part of a rescue mission to fetch previous you from the claws of an entity named by the locals as 'Twig Man'. I do hope that gallivanting off into the woods to play with dangerous entities isn't a habit of yours, Mr. Sims.

[It's hard to get a read given Murmur's tendency to speak very monotone, but there might just be a hint of teasing amusement there. Just a touch.]

We're on a sentient space ship in an unfamiliar universe visiting planets as though we're on some interstellar road trip. I am willing to try my hand at understanding your situation.

[It's fair, and Murmur won't be exceptionally demanding, but Jon did bring it up first.]

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

[jon sighs. needing to be rescued from some horrible creature - that sounds on brand for him.]

Mm, no, I wouldn’t say it’s a hobby of mine - rather, that kidnapping me seems to be a hobby for dangerous entities.

[one he is quite tired of, thank you. being held prisoner for a month by a horrible mannequin intent on peeling his skin off his body was more than enough for the rest of his life.

but murmur isn’t wrong - their current situation is quite unusual, but also quite real. it stands to reason that other unbelievable things might not seem so impossible.]

The Vast is ... there are a number of Entities that are, simply put, our fears, and the Vast is one of them. Fear of open spaces, fear of deep water, fear of falling from a great height ... and the fear that comes with knowing your own cosmic insignificance.

[things like being on a living ship in space, or an underwater city.]

Text | UN: Richard Strand

[imarealistnotacynic]

[Jon.

Seriously Alex?]

I'll be the one to ask. The Vast what?

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

Just “The Vast.” That’s what it’s called.

[imarealistnotacynic]

[Alex why.Or perhaps, ship why would you put Alex with such...]

I'll hedge my bets. By Vast I can assume you mean a void or empty space. If we go backwards we find Chaos- or Khaos if you go by the ancient greek. The shape between creation and the void.

If we keep thinking of the greek, from chaos sprang Gaia (Earth), Tartarus (Death), and Erebus and Nyx - the gods of darkness.

That's how it works in my world at any rate. I can quote any mythos you'd like but personifying "Vast" you come to Gods, or a God.

In short, a terrifying space that human beings often fill with godlike beings battling so it ceases to exist.

[Your father found the horn of Tiamat. Tiamat, the sumerian goddess of chaos who gave birth to the eleven monsters whose corpse created the cosmos.]

A god. Of sorts.

[He shouldn't think of something associated with his father fondly.]

I mean if you want to get vague and metaphorical

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

[good lord, what a pompous windbag. jon wonders, briefly, if this is the way he comes off in talking to other people. georgie did say it was a wonder he didn’t get punched more.]

Well, thank you for that unsolicited lesson on etymology and Greek mythology. Unfortunately, your conclusion is incorrect. The Vast is not a god, though I’m sure some of its followers would claim otherwise.

audio | un: ☉

[ancestor]

In the northernmost region of my world there is a desert of ice and snow that is oft referred to as The Vast, though I've heard it called The Empty. I'm sure other peoples have other names for it, so it really depends on who you ask.

[ Her voice is lilting and melodic in an almost inhuman way, yet somehow still manages to come across as having a British accent. ]

Oh! Um, sorry— Hello, Jon Sims. I'm Azem.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

[color jon shocked that someone here’s got an actual answer.]

I see ... erm, pleased to make your acquaintance, Azem. Your Vast isn’t quite the same - the one I’m talking about is more intangible, but it would certainly thrive in such a deserted area.

[jon knows there are certain locations that have an affinity for one of the Dread Powers - for example, the institute, and hilltop road. it’s possible something similar might be at work here.]

Was anything unusual ever known to happen there? Or to anyone who might’ve visited there?

[ancestor]

Intangible? That didn't fall within my speciality, though The Void may be more similar to your 'The Vast' than a desert. Hades knows more about it than I do. I will make sure he responds to your message if he hasn't yet.

I suppose it would depend on your definition of 'unusual'.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

Disappearances, or someone returning from it with a notable change to their personality. Something like that.

Private Audio

[11calls]

Are you okay Jon?

returned Private Audio

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

Hm? Yes - of course, why wouldn’t I be?

[there’s more that comes through accidentally on the glyphlink: Aside from being kidnapped yet again into some science fiction adventure story, who knows how far away from home. Perfectly fine. he sounds tired.]

[11calls]

[Sup glyphlink: You sound like you could use a cup of tea. And a nap, but Alex Reagan definitely takes one to know one.]

un: tlymphoCytes

[red6l99d]

It's always s9 disingenu9us t9 end in a questi9n like that. Y9u kn9w that there are pe9ple 9ut there wh9 d9n't kn9w and the lack 9f kn9wledge f9r y9ur very specific questi9ns remind me, very much, 9f s9me9ne just trying t9 start a c9nversati9n f9r the sake 9f a t9pic 9pener. While I als9 c9nsider this n9rmally a g99d thing, in this case, y9u've made it specifically vague s9 that y9u're 69th asked and s9 that any9ne with that kn9wledge 9uts themselves.

The 6ehavi9r sh9uld 6e c9rrected as s99n as p9ssi6le. If y9u're l99king f9r specific pe9ple, instead 9f making 9thers feel inadequate and uninf9rmed thr9ugh n9 fault 9f their 9wn, just be direct.

This als9 helps t9 find pe9ple wh9 understand c9mm9n termin9l9gy and n9t have t9 say "n9" t9 them while at the same time, again, wrapping ar9und t9 making them feel inadequate even if they have similar things in their lives 6ack h9me. I'm happy t9 c9ntinue t9 help y9u with y9ur furthering 9f these s9rts 9f mass f9rum p9sts, sh9uld y9u wish. I am a literary expert wherein these s9rts 9f waters need navigati9n, s9 t9 speak.

audio.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

[ ... what even.]

Sorry, erm - I think there’s something wrong with your keyboard?

Audio;

[red6l99d]

I've checked several times and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Thoroughly checked, I might add. Really if your goal is to ignore the very structured, constructive criticism I've given you then I wish you'd be more straight forward. That was the whole point of the lect-- Lesson.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Nothing by that precise name, no. Although there is the Void, should that be similar enough?

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

Mm, perhaps. Could you describe it for me?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

At the most basic it is an empty plane.  One devoid of aether, and what little life remains thrives by seeking out what few fragments remain.  If indeed it can be called thriving.