eyemind | first statement } audio; un: archivist

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first statement } audio; un: archivist

[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?

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I see. With that in mind, when next Navi alerts us to a passenger gone missing I suppose we now know who to call after first.

[Given his monotone it's very hard to tell if he's teasing or not. In fact, he might be both teasing and not. It's a valid concern all the same. For the moment Murmur refrains from putting voice to the amusing thought that came to mind of suggesting Jon wear a bell so they know where he is at all times.

He seems exasperated enough already.

Jon's explanation, however, certainly does draw in Murmur's interest. Now this is something he is much more knowledgeable with, and just the slightest hint of greater attention and engagement enters his tone suggesting his intrigue.]

While the name itself is unfamiliar to me, the concept of the manifestation of fears is not. In my own experience they took on forms more akin to sentient personifications, while what you're describing sounds like something of a much larger scale. In a way that might be preferable, the Fears were... annoying.

[There's a significant amount of distaste in his tone at that. That perhaps annoying might have been putting it mildly.]

Nevertheless, that much is unimportant. If I may be so bold, are you suggesting that what we are experiencing here is a manifestation of The Vast?

[It strikes to mind that a particular brand of religious fear might also fall under the domain of The Vast, but he's not quite willing to bring that up right now. It doesn't seem necessary to the topic at hand.]

[he’s quite exasperated, thank you. luckily this is only audio, so jon can feel free to make all of the irritated expressions he likes until murmur begins to explain his own experience. then, all irritation melts away as jon takes serious interest in what he has to say.]

I, erm ... to be honest, I don’t know. It’s possible - the thought had crossed my mind. These Fears are quite large in scale, and they exist not in our reality but next to it, seeking to find a way in. They have influence in our world - agents and avatars and artifacts - but they cannot cross over unless a specific ritual is performed. These rituals take an incredible amount of power, but luckily, none of them have succeeded ... yet. I think that’s still true, but I can’t be certain.

[and that’s really the issue - jon isn’t certain. he can’t trust what he sees and thinks and feels, because the memory of the Unknowing has yet to fade from his mind.]

I ... was in a coma, before I arrived here. And I’m still not entirely sure I woke up from it.

[To be fair, Murmur wouldn't have even minded a little bit with his face making in person or video either. He'd probably find it amusing.]

It almost sounds like rather than individual, personified manifestations, it instead managed to... coalesce? Coagulate? [Would that be an appropriate term here?] That is a troubling hypothesis, though for what it's worth I do not believe that to be the situation we are finding ourselves in at present. You are correct about there being a barrier, something we may touch back on in a moment if you so desire, but first the situation at hand.

Setting aside for the moment that if such an event had happened then all among us would likely be servants of its designs, or you could be imagining us I suppose, one would reasonably expect this experience to have been more uncomfortable and unsettling. Thus far, Twig Man and our initial alarming arrival notwithstanding, things have been reasonably peaceful.

Much of the strife on board has come from... well... social interaction.

[Which he finds painfully predictable. Oh no, he's gone on too long again. Terribly sorry Jon, it's just he doesn't often find someone willing to engage on an intellectual level with him.]

That aside, are you well? Awakening here must have been alarmingly disorienting. Do you require anything?

Erm, yes, I’m fine now. My partner, Alex - she’s been a great help.

[he’s listened quietly to murmur’s analysis, and it does follow a simple train of logic, which is a refreshing surprise. however ... there are other factors that need to be considered.]

I ended up in the coma because my - my friends [yes, he counts them as friends now, not mere coworkers] and I made an attempt to stop one of the rituals. It’s called The Unknowing, and it’s meant to bring forth The Stranger. In order to stop the ritual for good and not just delay it, we had to time our disruption to happen during the ritual - after it had already started. All of these rituals are intended to reshape reality, and being caught in the middle of one was quite disorientating. [jon pauses to huff a shadow of a mirthless laugh.] So I think you can see why I’d question the nature of this reality. That, and ... I often have dreams about the Powers. Nightmares, I suppose.

Oh! Yes, Alex is remarkably level-headed. You've secured a qualified partner.

[They haven't interacted a whole lot yet, but the interactions he has had thus far have been quite pleasant.]

Glad to hear it. If you do require anything I imagine most on board would be willing to assist.

[Mammon might charge him, however. Anyway, moving on... He's silent while Jon explains further, aside from a quietly thoughtful hum while he digests the new information present. Indeed, he can very well understand exactly why it might be difficult to accept this current situation as reality, all things considered.]

That does complicate things. [He agrees finally.] However, that isn't to say that we cannot still break it down to surmise if this may, or may not be the result of one of those rituals. First and most obvious question being that since you were within The Unknowing, very curious name by the way, does this current version of reality reflect what you experienced?

As far as nightmares go, and those do seem to be going around, given the nature of the entities with which you have been exposed I believe that side-effect is only to be expected. Unfortunately.

No. Where we are now doesn't have any of the confusion I remember experiencing during the Unknowing. But I also don't remember how it ended. I didn't see it end. So I can't be certain it did end.

[jon trusts facts and evidence and statements, and he has none of those to confirm the Unknowing was successfully stopped. he thinks it was, but he has no way to verify it.]

None of the Powers have ever made it through to our side of reality, so if one were to be brought over, we don't know for certain what it would look like, or if any of the others would be brought through as well. Which is why I questioned whether what I've experienced since I arrived might be influenced by the Vast.

[it would seem logical that being in contact with the Powers would be enough to give anyone nightmares. but jon's dreams are not just any random nightmares - they are all related to the statements he's read since being marked by the Eye.]

It does seem less and less likely that where I am now is the result of meddling by any of the Powers. But I have to rule out what I can, of course.

A reasonable assessment. Your doubts and concerns are certainly with merit.

[Of course it's always difficult to convince someone they're not hallucinating when they have such good reason to be unsure. This isn't exactly Murmur's area of expertise.

He nods, thoughtfully, at Jon's assessment, despite the fact the man absolutely cannot see an audio nod. As for the dreams, Murmur isn't yet aware of the specifics of them, so can only offer what he can surmise with the information given. Technology does make his usual modes of conversation more difficult, though it does add a degree of novelty he's unaccustomed to. Being uncertain really is a thrilling experience!]

Of course, one would expect anyone in your position to react much the same. Is there any way I might assist in setting your concerns to rest?

[After all, he's pretty sure if they were in a Fear based hellscape he'd know. Bit of an expert on hellscapes.]

I don't think so. But, erm - thank you all the same.

[either way, it's really out of his control, at the moment. all jon can do is wait and watch.]

Have you been on this ... voyage for long?

Understood, my pleasure.

[It is, out of all of their control. Frustratingly.]

Some few months I believe, time gets a little fuzzy to track without consistent day-night cycles. I arrived with the first wave of this current group.

Months ...

[jon sighs loudly. he already hates that he’s here and doesn’t know what exactly happened at home. every day without that knowledge is going to be torture.]

And I don’t suppose there’s any real way to estimate how long it will be before we’re returned?

By my best estimate this will not be a swift voyage, if that is what you were hoping to hear.

[Sorry, Jon, you're a bit stuck right now. Everyone is. And while Murmur has the patience born of immortality, he is well versed with the urgency by which humans live their lives. Even more so when something pressing is afoot.]

Navi would be the one to ask, but I expect there are too many variables at play to have an exact estimation.

No, I - I think I know better than to hope for something like that.

[that's just how his life has been for the past few years. fun times!]

This ... traveling in space is all a bit new for me. I wouldn't even really know how to ask something like that.

Wise.

[Better not to set high expectations, then you're disappointed less. Murmur might be something of a cynic on occasion, in retrospect.]

It would appear to be a similar case for most on board, myself included. Only Navi would have a strong grasp, being designed for the purpose.

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first statement } audio; un: archivist

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