@all | before the event

[industries]

> ts@abraxas-proxy:~$ wall "People's memories of this place"

[ Anyone unfamiliar with computer terminals might be taken aback at the mechanical font that scrolls across their vision, though the jumps and starts in typing speed leave no doubt that a very human brain is behind the text. ]

> Broadcast message from ts@abraxas-proxy (tty/1) :
> People's memories of this place
>
> Don't normally crowdsource, but
> has anyone out there ever heard of someone who got home and actually
> remembered their days here at the renfaire?
>
> Not looking for peer-reviewed analysis.
> I'll take crumbs
> or
> whatever else we've got here on Mind-Reddit.

Comments

[itookashot]

I think the obvious answer is no, you can't send a message back, because we don't control how we get here or how we get back. The only people who might have answers about that would be the people who took us in the first place, since they know where we came from. Since we don't know what makes people leave (Singularity? The kidnappers?), that's not likely a way to do it.

[industries]

> Sure, that's the obvious answer.
> But I'm looking for something less than.
> Let me put it this way – if we figured out how to preserve someone's memories of this place
> then it wouldn't matter WHEN they got sent back and forth through spacetime
> they'd still be able to communicate about things that happened here when they got back.
> Send a message.
> That's all I'm after.

[ It's flimsy. Flimsier, with every new point, every new reminder that time isn't linear, or absolute, or unbroken. That everything he's stated so far is simplistic and far-fetched and subject to a thousand unknown variables, but–

He just. He just wants them to know. ]

[itookashot]

A friend of mine who died was here before. He apparently was taken right before he died. Time moved on for us, but he was here. I'm sure he would have done anything to get a message back to us and to his girlfriend, even just to say he was okay. I don't know for sure, I missed him by a few days.

I don't think it's possible considering the way this place works, but I'll cross my fingers for you. I still think your best bet, even if it sucks, is asking the local mages or people who took us. If any Summoned had the power, they would've already done it.

[industries]

> I'm
> sorry to hear that.

[ "That" being a circumstance that isn't definitely, totally, 100% accurate the one Tony finds himself in now. Hm. ]

> The people who originally took us have every agenda to keep us and our memories here, but
> you think any freelance mages have that kind of power?
> To manipulate the effects of the Singularity?

[itookashot]

It is what it is.

The Singularity is what sends us back, so maybe that is the right angle, but it's an agent of chaos. Gun to my head I wonder if those two people who saved everyone from Thorne could do it. They intervened a year ago and stopped Thorne long enough to teleport anyone who wanted to run to Free Cities and Solvunn. That seems like it would require a lot of power to control the strongest of the mages in Thorne, and why did they help? No one knows, they disappeared.

[industries]

[ Huh – Tony had heard some vague chatter about the exodus from Thorne to.... well, everywhere not-Thorne, but he hadn't been aware the local help had punched so far above their weight class.

Interesting. Actually – maybe the best lead so far. ]

> Disappeared?
> Like – Jimmy Hoffa tossed-in-a-shallow-grave disappeared, or
> you-might-know-a-guy-who-knows-a-guy disappeared?

[itookashot]

You'd have to ask some of the originals about what exactly happened. Geralt, Sam, Nadine, Julie. They were there when the portals were opened.

But no, I don't think they're dead. I think they're alive somewhere on this continent. My personal guess would be the Feywilds, since that's the area we can't get to, best place to hide if you have that sort of power but only when to interfere when it suits you.

[industries]

> Lucky me, I know most of those names.
> Sam's told me a little bit, but
> been a little busy lately with cities getting firebombed.
> Feywilds – that's Fairyland, right? Northwest?
> I thought the rumors were Tinkerbell and co. aren't exactly hospitable to anyone over five inches tall.

[itookashot]

It's below Nocwich, according to maps. I suspected they were somewhere over there, but considering Nocwich is in its own little civil conflict, they probably aren't that interested in helping some randos in Thorne.

They aren't, but no one ever said those two were definitely human. I wouldn't have known what a local vampire or werewolf looked like until Nocwich opened up. Could be that's what Fey look like around here. Their magic was powerful enough to handle Thorne mages long enough to let everyone escape. Who knows what else they can do?

It's a weak lead and mostly conjecture, but you weren't interested in the obvious answer. And I don't think anyone has followed that particular thread anywhere.

[industries]

> I've done a lot more working with a lot less, so
> you know what, I'll take it.
> Thanks, Honest Abe.
> Would say I owe you a favor but
> have a feeling you'll make sure I remember when you cash it in.

[itookashot]

If we get to go to Nocwich again, might be worth snooping around, asking some questions about the Fey. They're closer, they might know more. And around here, maybe your business partners can get you into their fancy academy library.

That's two you owe me. I never forget.

[industries]

> Love the assumption that I don't just nab their books once they've passed out on top of them.
> Oh, see, you're keeping track. Good – now I don't have to.
> 'Till next time.