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

[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.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

What, erm - what sort of life would you say "thrives" there?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Voidsent, of course.  Twisted abominations that were once living beings, caught up in the wake of the cataclysm that caused the very existence of the Void.  [A pause.]  Life cannot exist without aether, you see, and thus voidsent have grown warped by the very lack of aether that is the Void.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

[hmm ... so something caused this void. that could be a coincidence, but it's also a potential concern.]

This cataclysm that caused the Void - was it perhaps started by something like a - a ritual?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

In a manner of speaking, yes. Although one that failed to have its intended effect.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

Was the intended effect worse than what actually happened?

[unnecessaryflourishes]

Either would have been catastrophic to some degree. Past that it would depend on whom you asked.

[aparticularlyhollowlaugh]

I see ...

[he makes a quiet huffing sound, not quite a laugh.]

Any degree of catastophic is still quite bad, isn't it.