TO: EVERYONE (Posted in morning)

[magicalarchaeologist]

To the Summoned –

Right then, sorry to blast this into all of your eyeballs first thing on this fine morning, but it seemed like the sort of thing most of us would be interested in discussing. We’ll get right to the point.

Some new nonsense is happening with the Singularity. A few weeks ago, Dion and I paid it a visit on the Horizon side. I didn’t offend it but we didn’t get much out of it. In light of recent events, we’ve gone back, and it seems as if it’s feeling a bit more lively now.

In our initial meeting, the only feeling, if one can call it, was a sort of vague recognition of us, particularly so when I made mention of our potential future. My personal experience with the Singularity is quite limited; however, other experiences indicate this is not unusual. What is unusual is this new state of the monolith as of now, a sort of alert consciousness.

Istredd’s taken it upon himself to do some proper follow up, so we’ll let him get on with what he’s found.

The Dimming happens on December 21st of every year but the Singularity starts waning throughout the month of December. It is dormant on that day, enough that people can visit in person. I've been there twice. It is the natural cycle of the Singularity. Cid saying it's feeling a bit more lively is deeply concerning, it is supposed to be slowing down right now.

After hearing about the tremors causing havoc on the outskirts of the crater, I decided to investigate. I had a suspicion. Going inside of the crater around the Singularity kills the natives of this world. We are instead thrown into the Horizon. Many of us experienced that in April during the collective vision we had, when our territories threw us in there.

I am sorry to say my worry was well-founded. The tremors from the Singularity pushed into the territories and the crater has taken ground. I recommend that no one from the Summoned investigate closely. For right now we don't know if this is reflective of what's to come or just a strange one-time incident. I don't want anyone to panic, but we should keep an eye on it.

I currently do not have an answer as to how to stop it or how to force it into dormancy. I know that there are people in our community who have a connection to it. If you could approach it and see if it will communicate anything worthwhile, or see if there is a way to calm it, that might be helpful.

For now, I would recommend those who are near the base of the crater give it adequate leeway. From the amount of power it appears to hold still, we can only estimate it will continue to grow.


[OOC: Purple is Cid, blue is Istredd, gold is Dion.]

Comments

[thoughts]

taken? did it take you or did you take

did you give it away yourself?

[ did you give yourself away bàba wtf! ]

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Oh no. He didn't foresee this although he should have.]

It was necessary, River, but I'm fine. I promise, I'm just stuck here for a short time. [ Maybe. ]

[thoughts]

how can you know that? 800 years wasn't enough? you think it's only three weeks but you're not the one waiting on the other side. what if it doesn't give you back?

[magicalarchaeologist]

It will, this has happened before. The vision was a rare exception, it is not the rule.

[thoughts]

what happened before isn't a rule either. there are no rules. if there are, then we don't know them.

we're playing someone else's game. you don't have to play along. you're not the exception. exceptional but they won't except you. you're just another pawn like the rest of us.

[ what makes you think you're so special! >:( ]

[magicalarchaeologist]

I know that, River, but this was important. There was no other way to prove my theory, outside of putting a guard's life in danger. I had to know that it was happening so I could warn everyone, which I did. Sometimes a risk has to be taken to save lives.

[thoughts]

焚林而畋 竭泽而渔

[ he will a get an untranslated message with BIG ANGRY BRUSHSTROKES and then: ]

if you think there's only one method to prove a theory then you're bad at science

[magicalarchaeologist]

No, the other method was dangerous. I'm not going to kill someone to prove a point.

[ Kill someone else, at least. ]

[thoughts]

not true. you just didn't want to wait long enough to look for another. think the fastest way to extract a tiger's tooth is to shove your hand in its mouth and tell everyone it's fine just because it didn't bite your arm off.

what are we supposed to do if it eats you? what am i supposed to do if it takes you away forever?

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ WELL HOW IS HE SUPPOSED TO ARGUE WITH THAT VERY ACCURATE SUMMARY. ]

I'm still here in the Horizon, I'm not dead, and I'm not in a vision. I'll come back.

I'm sorry, River. I didn't think through how it would upset you.

[ A real apology. ]

[thoughts]

i'm not upset

[ yes she is ]

i'm scared. everything is dangerous and we don't know what comes next. supposed to be careful. no unnecessary risks.

i need you

[magicalarchaeologist]

I felt it was a necessary risk. This information, it's important. And now I can warn people in case the worst happens.

I'll admit I didn't think it all through, and I didn't consider how it would make you feel, and I'm very sorry for that. I love you very much, River.

[thoughts]

can i come see you?

[magicalarchaeologist]

Yes, I'm in the library. I have a new blackboard to fill out. Come visit me.

quick action huhu

[thoughts]

[ she will appear in the library without another word, running up from behind him to squeeze him in a biiiig hug. her voice comes muffled from where she presses her face into his back. ]

Gùzhí. Lǔmǎng.

[ some sniffles, maybe she's crying a little, but she'll keep holding him tightly without budging. ]

Also, I can throw you over my shoulder a hundred times without breaking a sweat.

[ jsyk!!!! ]

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ He is in fact working on a new blackboard as he said, in the main hall as that's where he puts the more public-facing information that he makes for the community. This one is going to be about the Singularity and the Dimming, and the concerns surrounding it not doing so. It's important they share this information, he always makes sure the group can know what he knows.

He feels her mentally when she arrives and lets her hug him. He would ordinarily have turned to hug her back, but she's not budging and he is going to let her drive this. Since he is the one who made the mistake. It hit him hard, how badly he mishandled this, but he still is the person who doesn't think of himself as important enough to worry about. ]

Please don't do that, I'm old, I have a bad back.

[ It's a joke as they both know, it wouldn't matter in here, and he's always young-looking. ]

Can I please turn to hug you, daughter?

[thoughts]

[ she might snort in response to his joke, or maybe it's still just her crying, but she doesn't budge for another long moment before eventually loosening her grasp so istredd can turn around. river keeps her head ducked away, face still tucked in his clothes to hide how upset she really is. ]

You have to come back. You have to.

[magicalarchaeologist]

[ Istredd turns and pulls her into his full embrace. She's very petite compared to his large frame so she always seems even smaller when wrapped up in his arms like this. Back when he first arrived in Thorne, he was too awkward with physicality to be good at comforting, but he's warmed up in every possible way through time here. He's grateful, so he can be better for her, more reassuring. ]

I will. I know I will. The Singularity doesn't like me. It'll spit me out.

[ Usually that is a point of pain for Istredd as he does everything he can to study and take care of the Singularity, and it seems to have warm feelings toward everyone but him. But in this case, it does seem very likely. ]

The good news is I'm here in the normal Horizon.

not here.

[vixening]

[ this is how pissed she is at you, istredd. she sent in river to do her dirty work. ]