abraxasnet | @ everyone

[Viktor’s familiar, hurried script appears once again on its own. Without someone helping to facilitate the post, he is straight to the point, much as he was some months ago, announcing the location of the kidnapped Summoned.]

I’m well aware that most of us are occupied with the hostile creatures descending on various locations across the continent. However:

I’m more concerned with the nature of these phenomena and am currently improving the devices that the Academy will use to take measurements from the rifts. When I’m finished, the data will be more accurate than what the Cadens scientists could gather on their own. If there are similar efforts in the other factions, it is in our best interests to collaborate. I have theories of my own, as well.

[That’s, you know, the hint to pony up some intel.]

In the meantime, for those of you in the Free Cities who might be venturing to the rifts, I will need an escort. I would prefer to collect the readings myself, but I’m willing to part with one of the devices provided you are responsible with it. That may allow us to cover more ground.

As always, if you are in need of equipment or repairs, my workshop is open (unless I’m examining the rifts, in which case I’ll handle inquiries when I return).

- V

[ooc: here is a little bit about what Viktor has going on! for additional plotting/convergence of plots, hit me up on plurk at

whitticus or discord at whitticus.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There is no coincidence. Not in this matter, anyway.

Just because one has the power, doesn't mean one knows how to wield it. The Singularity is a neutral magical entity that exists in this world as its source of magic. It can be focused--directed. To think it wouldn't push back in some way, after such continued use, well. I find that foolish.

You speak with some authority on the subject. What evidence do you have for your theories?

[That's not meant to be challenging, or even contrary--he's genuinely interested.]

I agree, it seems unlikely to be a coincidence.

Typically I would say that there is no reason to assume the Singularity acts or feels the way a human would, but one of the people who reported on the visions that happened before the rifts implied that the Singularity was frightened. They felt its emotions. There is someone else I know who has connected to it, and has said before it feels things. Perhaps not the exact way humans do, but enough to recognize it.

I'm uncertain if that means it possibly did cause the rifts and was aware of it, thus sent the visions, or if it didn't cause them and was warning us of danger. Hard to say. I'm not one of the people with a closer connection.

I've spent the past year learning what I can about the Singularity. Obviously only through Thorne's lens so it is all up to question about the truth of any of it.

The Singularity likely does not have emotions in the way we understand them, nor does it feel things the way humans do. To anthropomorphize it or otherwise assign it human morality could be dangerous. That said, I understand the need to contextualize what must have been an alarming vision in the terms one knows.

[That is, human terms. But Viktor spent enough time with the Hexcore to know that a magical entity--one that is capable of thinking for itself and learning--cannot be understood in that way. He assumes the Singularity is similar enough.]

And? Anything pertinent to mention, given the current situation?

The people who have connections to the Singularity or visions from it have a better sense of what they experienced than I do. The Singularity isn't human and doesn't react to anything the way humans do nor should it be expected to. But it may have learned how to communicate to some humans here in a way they'd understand.

Nothing that I think would help the data you're collecting out here in the real world.

[Vague on purpose, yep.]

I think we'll find that these beasts are similar to us and they're being "Summoned" to this sphere from ours. They are probably like us in every possible way, to the point where the Singularity is allowing them into the Horizon. I don't know that it is the Singularity though. What if it's a third party on the continent trying to learn the Summoning themselves? Nocwich might want their own Summoned. And if they don't know what they're doing, it could cause this.

I find that hard to believe.

[He can read into the vague obfuscation in all this--Viktor is not so naive that he thinks any given Summoned is without their own agenda, especially those who have to navigate the precarious environment of Thorne.]

There is a philosophical exercise--a principle that dictates simplicity in problem-solving. If two theories explain the observed facts, the solution with the fewest variables is preferred. That is, barring further evidence, the less complicated explanation is more likely to be correct. Cadens and Solvunn stole knowledge of the ritual from Thorne--imperfect as it is, they didn't have to fumble through trial and error as Thorne did. Why would Nocwich?

Edited 2023-08-25 04:49 (UTC)

Yes, I know the theory, but I would point out that nothing involving the Summoned or our situation has been simple. The variables are unknown, there is no way to logically come to a conclusion with what we have right now. We don't know if there were errors in the Summoning before us that were smoothed over before success. It also may not be doing the spell wrong, it could be that the thinning between realities is on the verge of breaking.

We'll get what data we can on the rifts. Some knowledge is better than none. It'll likely be years before we get closer to answers, it's already taken two to get this far. I love discussing theory, especially here, because I believe it has gotten us to ideas that can be proven. Maybe the end result of the rifts will do the same.

I'm not interested in years. If the fabric between worlds is fraying, then it's likely the speed with which it does so is exponential, like rolling something down a hill. We should have been focused on this from the start--certainly we'd be better positioned, after all this time.

That's not an accusation, simply a statement of fact. I was working on other things, too. I should have been working on this, but better now than not at all.

[viktor you were dying but ok]

What matters now is that we have the ability to directly observe these disturbances. We should take as much advantage of it as we can.

I agree with everything you just said. And the only thing we can do from here is go forward with whatever we find out. We won't be able to take any next steps until we do.

Then I look forward to hearing an update from you.

@ everyone

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