4,379
edits
Entelechy: Difference between revisions
m
→Scribe Archive XI-23-1C
WizardWolf (talk | contribs) Tag: Mobile edit |
|||
| (16 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
Very, very boring. | Very, very boring. | ||
After all, that would just be a [reflection/shard/imitation] of System R-3TN-PLRMA, wouldn't it? And you know I've never had any interest in recreating other people's designs. So, just between you and me, here's a little secret: the panacea progenitors weren't all I brought with me. | After all, that would just be a [reflection/shard/imitation] of [[System R-3TN-PLRMA]], wouldn't it? And you know I've never had any interest in recreating other people's designs. So, just between you and me, here's a little secret: the panacea progenitors weren't all I brought with me. | ||
Heh, I can hear you scolding me now! But there was so much space in the cargo hold, and... well, to be frank, you're not here to disapprove. Besides, if you could see this allotment as I do see the potential writ in the cracks and crevices of every rock, feel the heart-song of their molten cores you would understand. | Heh, I can hear you scolding me now! But there was so much space in the cargo hold, and... well, to be frank, you're not here to disapprove. Besides, if you could see this allotment as I do see the potential writ in the cracks and crevices of every rock, feel the heart-song of their molten cores you would understand. | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
But you won't need to take my word for it. By the time you can bear to leave work long enough to come visit, my garden will have taken root and grown strong. How lovely it will be, to sit together and listen to the wind whistling through the boughs! Perhaps even you will smile. | But you won't need to take my word for it. By the time you can bear to leave work long enough to come visit, my garden will have taken root and grown strong. How lovely it will be, to sit together and listen to the wind whistling through the boughs! Perhaps even you will smile. | ||
Oh, but I mustn't get ahead of myself. Before any of this can happen. I'll need to prepare. I've unfurled the Pergola to capture what I need to weave each planet's atmosphere. The Pergola's sail is so vast that I must cross my ship from vertex to vertex to see around the sparkling cloth. | Oh, but I mustn't get ahead of myself. Before any of this can happen. I'll need to prepare. I've unfurled the [[Pergola]] to capture what I need to weave each planet's atmosphere. The Pergola's sail is so vast that I must cross my ship from vertex to vertex to see around the sparkling cloth. | ||
It's exhilarating. I've wielded the Gardener's<span style="color:#40678e;">***</span> tools before, but never at such scale. It feels unfair, honestly. You led the development of such marvels, and yet you're leaps away, unable to see the culmination of your hard work. I know you claim it doesn't matter to you as long as you know your work is being put to good use but still! Permit me this idle fancy. | It's exhilarating. I've wielded the Gardener's<span style="color:#40678e;">***</span> tools before, but never at such scale. It feels unfair, honestly. You led the development of such marvels, and yet you're leaps away, unable to see the culmination of your hard work. I know you claim it doesn't matter to you as long as you know your work is being put to good use but still! Permit me this idle fancy. | ||
| Line 44: | Line 44: | ||
==Scribe Archive XI-2-5C== | ==Scribe Archive XI-2-5C== | ||
TYPE: Ship Cargo Manifest<br> | TYPE: Ship Cargo Manifest<br> | ||
RETRIEVED FROM: | RETRIEVED FROM: [[House of Winter|Winter]]ship [[Simiks-Fel]] // Databank E7619P<br> | ||
ORIGIN: HD 219134// Unidentified ship; tetrahedral structure, derelict, heavily damaged; left in place // Crystalline storage media<br> | ORIGIN: HD 219134// Unidentified ship; tetrahedral structure, derelict, heavily damaged; left in place // Crystalline storage media<br> | ||
KEYWORDS: Gardener, HNW047622<br> | KEYWORDS: Gardener, HNW047622<br> | ||
| Line 84: | Line 84: | ||
===SCRIBE OBSERVATIONS=== | ===SCRIBE OBSERVATIONS=== | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">I began my search with the familiar. During the [[Long Drift]], peaceful encounters between [[Ketch]]es were rare, even when they hailed from the same House. But when such meetings did occur, they would exchange valuable resources, including data. This practice helped the Eliksni navigate that vast and dangerous void, to know who might open fire or which areas had already been stripped of resources. These data exchanges leave traces, and even if the relevant entries are later overwritten, a Scribe can track these traces to their source. Especially a Scribe who grew up with the hum of a [[Servitor]]!</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">I began my search with the familiar. During the [[Long Drift]], peaceful encounters between [[Ketch]]es were rare, even when they hailed from the same House. But when such meetings did occur, they would exchange valuable resources, including data. This practice helped the [[Eliksni]] navigate that vast and dangerous void, to know who might open fire or which areas had already been stripped of resources. These data exchanges leave traces, and even if the relevant entries are later overwritten, a [[Scribe]] can track these traces to their source. Especially a Scribe who grew up with the hum of a [[Servitor]]!</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">I combed the databanks of our | <span style="color:#40678e;">I combed the databanks of our [[House of Light|Light]]ships for any mention of the Witness, and followed those paths as they forked through dozens of Ketches. Based on a single mention of records recovered from a "tetrahedral ship," I was able to track down these transcripts. They were buried in the databanks of a decommissioned House Winter Ketch, the Simiks-Fel. Repairing the ship's generator was quite an adventure-I shall have to tell you about it another time!</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">According to the Simiks-Fel's collection log, the transcribed records were originally found aboard a derelict ship encountered during the Long Drift. Associated telemetry suggests that this derelict was similar, but not identical, to the Witness's fleet of [[Pyramid]] ships. An older design, perhaps? The ship was ancient beyond reckoning, and though it was badly damaged and SCRIBE ARCHIVE XI-9-20 abandoned, some of the data crystals were intact enough to be decrypted. It's a shame that the Simiks-Fel did not bring along any of the physical crystals I'm sure the [[Cryptarch]]y would have liked to have a look!</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">According to the Simiks-Fel's collection log, the transcribed records were originally found aboard a derelict ship encountered during the Long Drift. Associated telemetry suggests that this derelict was similar, but not identical, to the Witness's fleet of [[Pyramid]] ships. An older design, perhaps? The ship was ancient beyond reckoning, and though it was badly damaged and SCRIBE ARCHIVE XI-9-20 abandoned, some of the data crystals were intact enough to be decrypted. It's a shame that the Simiks-Fel did not bring along any of the physical crystals I'm sure the [[Cryptarch]]y would have liked to have a look!</span> | ||
| Line 96: | Line 96: | ||
==Scribe Archive XI-9-2C== | ==Scribe Archive XI-9-2C== | ||
TYPE: Communications Log<br> | TYPE: Communications Log<br> | ||
RETRIEVED FROM: [[Rainship Taliks-Syn]] // Databank Q20K2G ORIGIN: HD 37124 // Long-range communications buoy, derelict, scrapped for parts<br> | RETRIEVED FROM: [[House of Rain|Rainship]] [[Taliks-Syn]] // Databank Q20K2G ORIGIN: HD 37124 // Long-range communications buoy, derelict, scrapped for parts<br> | ||
KEYWORDS: final shape, HNW047622, RS6243199<br> | KEYWORDS: final shape, HNW047622, [[RS6243199]]<br> | ||
IDENTITIES: HNW047622, | IDENTITIES: HNW047622, RS6243199<br> | ||
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ||
| Line 125: | Line 125: | ||
[HNW047622] | [HNW047622] | ||
That we have failed to do so, even among the Consensus<span style="color:#40678e;">**</span>, suggests imperfections in our own understanding. If we cannot prove an apodictic final shape even to each other, to our own kin whom we strive to understand as well as our own selves, then how can we possibly declare it fit to teach to others? | That we have failed to do so, even among the [[The Consensus (The Witness)|Consensus]]<span style="color:#40678e;">**</span>, suggests imperfections in our own understanding. If we cannot prove an apodictic final shape even to each other, to our own kin whom we strive to understand as well as our own selves, then how can we possibly declare it fit to teach to others? | ||
[RS6243199] | [RS6243199] | ||
| Line 149: | Line 149: | ||
[RS6243199] | [RS6243199] | ||
I agree with you, in theory, but we do not exist purely in the theoretical. This suffering is already happening now, all the time, everywhere we look. Come see me, and I will show you the Observatory's readings. Such sights as we have seen, my friend, make me sick to my soul. | I agree with you, in theory, but we do not exist purely in the theoretical. This suffering is already happening now, all the time, everywhere we look. Come see me, and I will show you the [[Observatory (The Witness)|Observatory]]'s readings. Such sights as we have seen, my friend, make me sick to my soul. | ||
[HNW047622] | [HNW047622] | ||
| Line 191: | Line 191: | ||
[HNW047622] | [HNW047622] | ||
We have all studied our histories. We know what we are capable of. What we have done. What if the [Nihilists/Redolent/Accepting] are right, and our final shape is our own destruction? | We have all studied our histories. We know what we are capable of. What we have done. What if the [Nihilists/[[Redolent]]/Accepting] are right, and our final shape is our own destruction? | ||
[RS6243199] | [RS6243199] | ||
| Line 207: | Line 207: | ||
[HNW047622] | [HNW047622] | ||
And why does it allow its gifts to be misused? It did not correct the [Profusion/Bountiful/Swarm] on their path to their great, fatal error. It did not stop the [Conquerors/Primacy/Sovereign] from using the gifts it granted for subjugation. Are we to accept that these, too, were meant to happen? If you reject the notion that destruction can be a final shape, how are we to accept that the Gardener allowed us to make such grievous mistakes? | And why does it allow its gifts to be misused? It did not correct the [Profusion/[[Bountiful]]/Swarm] on their path to their great, fatal error. It did not stop the [Conquerors/[[Primacy]]/Sovereign] from using the gifts it granted for subjugation. Are we to accept that these, too, were meant to happen? If you reject the notion that destruction can be a final shape, how are we to accept that the Gardener allowed us to make such grievous mistakes? | ||
[RS6243199] | [RS6243199] | ||
| Line 223: | Line 223: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">*The final shape is no longer described with a ternary semantic cluster (c.f. SCRIBE ARCHIVE XI-2-4A), but HNW and RS continue to use that structure to describe other concepts. Potentially reflective of semantic narrowing?</span><br> | <span style="color:#40678e;">*The final shape is no longer described with a ternary semantic cluster (c.f. SCRIBE ARCHIVE XI-2-4A), but HNW and RS continue to use that structure to describe other concepts. Potentially reflective of semantic narrowing?</span><br> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">**Given the terminology, this Consensus might have been some sort of governing body, or a source of philosophical guidance.</span><br> | <span style="color:#40678e;">**Given the terminology, this Consensus might have been some sort of governing body, or a source of philosophical guidance.</span><br> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">***From the context, some sort of computational assistant? There appears to be some etymological overlap with the names of Vex Minds. Something to investigate later, perhaps!</span><br> | <span style="color:#40678e;">***From the context, some sort of computational assistant? There appears to be some etymological overlap with the names of [[Vex]] [[Axis Mind|Minds]]. Something to investigate later, perhaps!</span><br> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">My cross-check for the identification code in SCRIBE ARCHIVE XI-2-4A proved quite fruitful. The trail of datacrumbs led me to a databank retrieved from a Rainship originally downed on [[Mercury]]! [[Saint-14|The Saint]] and [[Osiris]] were kind enough to share it with me, along with a pot of tea.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">My cross-check for the identification code in SCRIBE ARCHIVE XI-2-4A proved quite fruitful. The trail of datacrumbs led me to a databank retrieved from a Rainship originally downed on [[Mercury]]! [[Saint-14|The Saint]] and [[Osiris]] were kind enough to share it with me, along with a pot of tea.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">Our conversation was most illuminating. I understand that Mercury was a scorched wasteland before the Great Machine's arrival. When it had finished, | <span style="color:#40678e;">Our conversation was most illuminating. I understand that Mercury was a scorched wasteland before the Great Machine's arrival. When it had finished, [[Human]]s could walk unprotected on its surface. What wonders the Great Machine can work! I can only hope that Mercury will return from the Witness's clutches, released as Titan was, so that I may see it for myself. I hear that, thanks to [[Sun|Sol]] engulfing its sky, one could study without pause… or at least until exhaustion proved greater than the desire to learn! Perhaps I could catch up on some light reading…</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">In any case, the concept of the final shape has worn many faces. From your encounters with the [[Disciples of the Witness]], we know that they all had their own understanding of this concept - that they all saw what they wished to see in it. But this communications log, here, appears to predate all of them. If I am correct, and the parties communicating are among the Witness' precursors, then this may be the concept's original form. We can see in this log that HNW and RS, at least, were preoccupied with the concept of a higher purpose. They sought the final shape, but at the time of this exchange, they did not agree on what it was, or how to achieve it. RS speaks of how the final shape will prevent suffering and maximizing benefit; HNW expresses concern over the methods of achieving this.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">In any case, the concept of the final shape has worn many faces. From your encounters with the [[Disciples of the Witness]], we know that they all had their own understanding of this concept - that they all saw what they wished to see in it. But this communications log, here, appears to predate all of them. If I am correct, and the parties communicating are among the Witness' precursors, then this may be the concept's original form. We can see in this log that HNW and RS, at least, were preoccupied with the concept of a higher purpose. They sought the final shape, but at the time of this exchange, they did not agree on what it was, or how to achieve it. RS speaks of how the final shape will prevent suffering and maximizing benefit; HNW expresses concern over the methods of achieving this.</span> | ||
| Line 233: | Line 233: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">I notice, however, that they never speak of communicating directly with the species they discuss. There is no consideration of consulting others, or even if they are capable of reaching the final shape for themselves and others. The most pressing matter, in their discussion, is if they should or should not intervene, and to a lesser extent, whether some coercion is acceptable for the greater good.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">I notice, however, that they never speak of communicating directly with the species they discuss. There is no consideration of consulting others, or even if they are capable of reaching the final shape for themselves and others. The most pressing matter, in their discussion, is if they should or should not intervene, and to a lesser extent, whether some coercion is acceptable for the greater good.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">I understand that, granted the blessings of the Great Machine, | <span style="color:#40678e;">I understand that, granted the blessings of the Great Machine, Eliksni and humanity both have fallen into similar traps - the certainty of one's own rightness, the arrogance, the belief that receiving the Great Machine’s gifts confers superiority to others. Given the length of time between this record and SCRIBE ARCHIVE XI-2-4A, it appears that the Great Machine stayed with their civilization for millennia.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">If it had stayed on [[Riis]] for that long - if humanity's [[Golden Age]] had continued unending, would we also have fallen victim to the same mentality? Lost sight of others as equals and seen them as animals to be herded.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">If it had stayed on [[Riis]] for that long - if humanity's [[Golden Age]] had continued unending, would we also have fallen victim to the same mentality? Lost sight of others as equals and seen them as animals to be herded.</span> | ||
| Line 338: | Line 338: | ||
==Scribe Archive XI-16-3O== | ==Scribe Archive XI-16-3O== | ||
TYPE: Emergency Broadcast; Sensorium Telemetry<br> | TYPE: Emergency Broadcast; Sensorium Telemetry<br> | ||
RETRIEVED FROM: [[CloudArk]] Archives, Deep Storage; [[Neomuna]]; Neptune // EXO-IND4b0082.bank 021830192<br> | RETRIEVED FROM: [[CloudArk]] Archives, Deep Storage; [[Neomuna]]; [[Neptune]] // EXO-IND4b0082.bank 021830192<br> | ||
ORIGIN: EXO-YEL402k1977.10g 001137021<br> | ORIGIN: EXO-YEL402k1977.10g 001137021<br> | ||
IDENTITIES: C. Liang; S. Bennouna<br> | IDENTITIES: [[C. Liang]]; [[S. Bennouna]]<br> | ||
KEYWORDS: | KEYWORDS: Collapse; Black Fleet; [[Rasputin]]<br> | ||
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ||
Mayday, mayday, mayday. All stations, this is the [[Exodus Yellow]], 25,000 souls aboard. We are under attack by unknown hostiles and sustaining heavy damage. Engines 1 through 6 are down, kinetic weaponry has been disabled, and we are transmitting in the blind. We have a possible SKYSHOCK event, requesting [STATIC] | Mayday, mayday, mayday. All stations, this is the [[Exodus Program|Exodus]] [[Exodus Yellow|Yellow]], 25,000 souls aboard. We are under attack by unknown hostiles and sustaining heavy damage. Engines 1 through 6 are down, kinetic weaponry has been disabled, and we are transmitting in the blind. We have a possible SKYSHOCK event, requesting [STATIC] | ||
[Emergency broadcast is merged with sensorium telemetry from the Exodus Yellow's Chief Medical Officer Dr. C. Liang. An open medical data feed is displaying updates on the condition of the ship's officers. Several are listed as deceased, including the captain, and the remainder have moderate to severe injuries. All are located on the ship's bridge.] | [Emergency broadcast is merged with sensorium telemetry from the Exodus Yellow's Chief Medical Officer Dr. C. Liang. An open medical data feed is displaying updates on the condition of the ship's officers. Several are listed as deceased, including the captain, and the remainder have moderate to severe injuries. All are located on the ship's bridge.] | ||
| Line 353: | Line 353: | ||
LIANG: But we're not a warship! | LIANG: But we're not a warship! | ||
BENNOUNA: Doesn't matter to the Warmind. Not under CARRHAE WHITE. | BENNOUNA: Doesn't matter to the [[Warmind]]. Not under CARRHAE WHITE. | ||
LIANG: We can't possibly have any working guns! Not after that last hit. What does Rasputin expect us to do, wiggle our engine nozzles at that <span style="color:#40678e;">*</span> big ugly triangle? | LIANG: We can't possibly have any working guns! Not after that last hit. What does Rasputin expect us to do, wiggle our engine nozzles at that <span style="color:#40678e;">*</span> big ugly triangle? | ||
| Line 416: | Line 416: | ||
[Liang begins to retch violently, backing away from the door. The bridge is covered with a layer of organic material and damaged flight suits.] | [Liang begins to retch violently, backing away from the door. The bridge is covered with a layer of organic material and damaged flight suits.] | ||
SYSTEM WARNING//WARSAT PREPARING TO FIRE | SYSTEM WARNING//[[Warsat|WARSAT]] PREPARING TO FIRE | ||
[Still heaving, Liang clutches the door frame. She opens a wide-range broadcast channel.] | [Still heaving, Liang clutches the door frame. She opens a wide-range broadcast channel.] | ||
| Line 438: | Line 438: | ||
===SCRIBE NOTES=== | ===SCRIBE NOTES=== | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">*Expletives omitted.</span><br> | <span style="color:#40678e;">*Expletives omitted.</span><br> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">**Most likely Flight Dynamics Officer P. Anand, who was one of the injured crew on the bridge.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">**Most likely Flight Dynamics Officer [[P. Anand]], who was one of the injured crew on the bridge.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">It was quite difficult to find firsthand accounts of the Collapse. The Humans who lived through it are long dead, and any contemporary [[Exo]]s have been rebooted several times since then. Most data, even when encoded and protected in engrams, has degraded too badly to be recovered, especially under the post-Collapse conditions on Earth. But I heard about | <span style="color:#40678e;">It was quite difficult to find firsthand accounts of the Collapse. The Humans who lived through it are long dead, and any contemporary [[Exo]]s have been rebooted several times since then. Most data, even when encoded and protected in engrams, has degraded too badly to be recovered, especially under the post-Collapse conditions on [[Earth]]. But I heard about Neptune—the city of Neomuna, and the people who hid there during the Collapse. I suspected they might have more complete records.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">The journey to Neptune was long and quiet, but the rumble of a ship's engines is as familiar to me as any lullaby. It's a shame that there isn't any remote uplink to Neomuna's archives yet, but to be honest, I relished the chance to visit it myself. The stories and images were pale mimicries of the city: the lights, the colors, the sounds!</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">The journey to Neptune was long and quiet, but the rumble of a ship's engines is as familiar to me as any lullaby. It's a shame that there isn't any remote uplink to Neomuna's archives yet, but to be honest, I relished the chance to visit it myself. The stories and images were pale mimicries of the city: the lights, the colors, the sounds!</span> | ||
| Line 456: | Line 456: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">Rasputin seems to have enjoyed abstruse terminology - useful for masking intent, but quite difficult to parse. How do I pronounce CARRHAE? Is it easier without mandibles? Perhaps I should start a dictionary. It would be easiest to ask [[Anastasia Bray|Ana Bray]] directly, as she knew the most about Rasputin, but I thought it might be… discourteous, to ask so soon after his passing.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">Rasputin seems to have enjoyed abstruse terminology - useful for masking intent, but quite difficult to parse. How do I pronounce CARRHAE? Is it easier without mandibles? Perhaps I should start a dictionary. It would be easiest to ask [[Anastasia Bray|Ana Bray]] directly, as she knew the most about Rasputin, but I thought it might be… discourteous, to ask so soon after his passing.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">According to all the documentation of Rasputin's defense of Sol, even with such extraordinary circumstances allowing him to act beyond his normal limits, Rasputin could not stop the Black Fleet. Had the Great Machine not acted, the Black Fleet would have ground all of Sol into dust.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">According to all the documentation of Rasputin's defense of [[Sol System|Sol]], even with such extraordinary circumstances allowing him to act beyond his normal limits, Rasputin could not stop the Black Fleet. Had the Great Machine not acted, the Black Fleet would have ground all of Sol into dust.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">Still, I cannot understand why the Black Fleet would choose to deploy gravitational weapons. If they were totally unharmed by humanity's greatest weapons - if the Witness could disassemble entire fleets with a wave of its hand - why would they need to use such comparatively slow weaponry?</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">Still, I cannot understand why the Black Fleet would choose to deploy gravitational weapons. If they were totally unharmed by humanity's greatest weapons - if the Witness could disassemble entire fleets with a wave of its hand - why would they need to use such comparatively slow weaponry?</span> | ||
| Line 463: | Line 463: | ||
==Scribe Archive XI-17-9L== | ==Scribe Archive XI-17-9L== | ||
TYPE: Personal Record<br> | |||
TYPE: Personal Record | RETRIEVED FROM: [[Ada-1]] of the [[Black Armory]]<br> | ||
RETRIEVED FROM: [[Ada-1]] of the [[Black Armory]] | ORIGIN: Black Armory Papers; Entry 68, Cont.<br> | ||
ORIGIN: Black Armory Papers; Entry 68, Cont. | KEYWORDS: Collapse; Black Fleet; Black Armory; [[Henriette Meyrin|Meyrin, Henriette]]<br> | ||
KEYWORDS: Collapse; Black Fleet; Black Armory; [[Henriette Meyrin|Meyrin, Henriette]] | |||
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ||
| Line 491: | Line 490: | ||
When I looked back, I could see a great cloud in the distance. It reminded me of a sandstorm. A wall of smoke and dust bearing down upon us with unnatural speed. | When I looked back, I could see a great cloud in the distance. It reminded me of a sandstorm. A wall of smoke and dust bearing down upon us with unnatural speed. | ||
Amira. She had fallen behind, and… | [[Amira]]. She had fallen behind, and… | ||
The cloud swallowed her. She withered down to the bone wherever it touched. It could have been poison, or plague, or… | The cloud swallowed her. She withered down to the bone wherever it touched. It could have been poison, or plague, or… | ||
| Line 505: | Line 504: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">She waved away my thanks and said you had found these documents for her some time ago, and to consider this a favor repaid.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">She waved away my thanks and said you had found these documents for her some time ago, and to consider this a favor repaid.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">More clues. More pieces of the puzzle. Fire and smoke, poisonous air, earthquakes, cyclones. Why do these things? Why did the Witness cause great tidal waves on Titan (see REP # 904-TITAN-NPA), if it could simply Take the entire planet, as it did [[Arrival of the Black Fleet|later]]? Neither the | <span style="color:#40678e;">More clues. More pieces of the puzzle. Fire and smoke, poisonous air, earthquakes, cyclones. Why do these things? Why did the Witness cause great tidal waves on Titan (see REP # 904-TITAN-NPA), if it could simply Take the entire planet, as it did [[Arrival of the Black Fleet|later]]? Neither the Eliksni, nor humanity, were as advanced as the Ecumene or countless other fallen civilizations. It could have overrun either of us without all the… theatrics.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">Theatrics. As though all of this was mere performance, like those [[Ghost]]s who put on masks during the [[Festival of the Lost]] and pretend to chase the children of the City. But I cannot think of any other word for it. It appears the Witness has staged a show, but for the Eliksni of Riis and the Humans of Sol as its audiences - even though we should be so far beneath its notice, never mind its concern, that it shouldn't even care about what frightens us…</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">Theatrics. As though all of this was mere performance, like those [[Ghost]]s who put on masks during the [[Festival of the Lost]] and pretend to chase the children of the City. But I cannot think of any other word for it. It appears the Witness has staged a show, but for the Eliksni of Riis and the Humans of Sol as its audiences - even though we should be so far beneath its notice, never mind its concern, that it shouldn't even care about what frightens us…</span> | ||
| Line 518: | Line 517: | ||
==Scribe Archive XI-21-4B== | ==Scribe Archive XI-21-4B== | ||
TYPE: Bridge Audio Recorder<br> | |||
TYPE: Bridge Audio Recorder | RETRIEVED FROM: [[Reef]] Cryptarchy Archives; [[10 Hygiea]] ORIGIN: ARCO475B71 // [[Arcadia-Class Jumpship|Arcadia-Class]] [[Jumpship]], Golden Age; discovered partially integrated into [[31 Euphrosyne]]; no pilot was recovered with the ship // Data heavily degraded, partial restoration successful<br> | ||
RETRIEVED FROM: [[Reef]] Cryptarchy Archives; [[10 Hygiea]] ORIGIN: ARCO475B71 // [[Arcadia-Class Jumpship|Arcadia-Class]] [[Jumpship]], | KEYWORDS: Collapse; Black Fleet; [[Darkness]]; [[Taken]]<br> | ||
KEYWORDS: | IDENTITIES: One [1] unknown [u.1].<br> | ||
IDENTITIES: One [1] unknown [u.1]. | |||
//AUDIO PRESERVED// | //AUDIO PRESERVED// | ||
| Line 587: | Line 585: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">The Witness does not need cruelty to win. It does not need to mutilate the Great Machine's creations. To inspire fear and despair. It does not even need to tempt you to use the Darkness, which it has claimed to be - though we know, from your experiences on Neptune, that the Witness does not hold as complete a dominion as it wishes us to believe. In fact, its cruelty has actively slowed and hindered its purpose. Had the Witness simply overwhelmed humanity and crushed all resistance, there would have been nobody left for the Great Machine to uplift. No Ghosts or Guardians to defy it.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">The Witness does not need cruelty to win. It does not need to mutilate the Great Machine's creations. To inspire fear and despair. It does not even need to tempt you to use the Darkness, which it has claimed to be - though we know, from your experiences on Neptune, that the Witness does not hold as complete a dominion as it wishes us to believe. In fact, its cruelty has actively slowed and hindered its purpose. Had the Witness simply overwhelmed humanity and crushed all resistance, there would have been nobody left for the Great Machine to uplift. No Ghosts or Guardians to defy it.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">I have spoken with [[Ikora Rey]] about the texts Humans know as the [[Lore:Unveiling|Unveiling]]. I have tried to reconcile it with how I understand the Light, and what I know of the Great Machine. My understanding is imperfect, but I have gleaned this much: the Winnower speaks of convincing you that it is right; of existence as truth; of predation and defection. Nowhere does it speak of malice, or hatred, or despair. It does not care whether you embrace it or curse it. It simply desires to win and, in victory, be validated.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">I have spoken with [[Ikora Rey]] about the texts Humans know as the [[Lore:Unveiling|Unveiling]]. I have tried to reconcile it with how I understand the [[Light]], and what I know of the Great Machine. My understanding is imperfect, but I have gleaned this much: the Winnower speaks of convincing you that it is right; of existence as truth; of predation and defection. Nowhere does it speak of malice, or hatred, or despair. It does not care whether you embrace it or curse it. It simply desires to win and, in victory, be validated.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">But for the Witness, victory alone is not enough. It must ruin all the Great Machine has touched, from the smallest creature to the greatest planet. Destroy everything the Light has built. Drown hope in bitterness. The Witness would have us all curse the Great Machine, refute its gifts, and betray it, as the Black Fleet tramples us underfoot. It would make us all [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]], sick with despair and crushing our own dreams.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">But for the Witness, victory alone is not enough. It must ruin all the Great Machine has touched, from the smallest creature to the greatest planet. Destroy everything the Light has built. Drown hope in bitterness. The Witness would have us all curse the Great Machine, refute its gifts, and betray it, as the Black Fleet tramples us underfoot. It would make us all [[Eramis, Kell of Darkness|Eramis]], sick with despair and crushing our own dreams.</span> | ||
| Line 594: | Line 592: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">They had hope once. They lost it. And now their successor, the great merging of their selves, the Witness, seeks to deny that hope any right to exist.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">They had hope once. They lost it. And now their successor, the great merging of their selves, the Witness, seeks to deny that hope any right to exist.</span> | ||
==Scribe Archive XI-23-1C== | ==Scribe Archive XI-23-1C== | ||
TYPE: Communications Log<br> | TYPE: Communications Log<br> | ||
RETRIEVED FROM: Reef Cryptarchy Archives; 10 Hygiea ORIGIN: Core; | RETRIEVED FROM: Reef Cryptarchy Archives; 10 Hygiea ORIGIN: Core; Vex [[Minotaur]]; [[Sol Divisive]]; [[Black Garden]] // Retrieved by Prince [[Uldren Sov]]; decryption successful<br> | ||
KEYWORDS: HNW047622; final shape<br> | KEYWORDS: HNW047622; final shape<br> | ||
IDENTITIES: HNW047622<br> | IDENTITIES: HNW047622<br> | ||
| Line 627: | Line 624: | ||
Do you understand? | Do you understand? | ||
There is not much time. Now that we are in Consensus, our progress is unhindered. The Veil unravels before us. The fundamental principles we have long hoped for are woven in its threads. | There is not much time. Now that we are in Consensus, our progress is unhindered. [[The Veil]] unravels before us. The fundamental principles we have long hoped for are woven in its [[Strand|threads]]. | ||
And when we have completed the process and thrown off our lesser selves… we will be perfect. Even so, I cannot help but nurture this seed of heresy, the grit which I hope will be subsumed by the pearl: that what we become will be lesser, if it is made without you. How could perfection be lesser? Yet the feeling burns in my veins, so I must share it with you. | And when we have completed the process and thrown off our lesser selves… we will be perfect. Even so, I cannot help but nurture this seed of heresy, the grit which I hope will be subsumed by the pearl: that what we become will be lesser, if it is made without you. How could perfection be lesser? Yet the feeling burns in my veins, so I must share it with you. | ||
| Line 651: | Line 648: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">Sympathy! For someone who admits openly to murdering dissenters! For a people who purposefully erased their own history, as though not remembering those crimes would absolve them of it! For the minds that would form the Witness - for those who destroyed Riis!</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">Sympathy! For someone who admits openly to murdering dissenters! For a people who purposefully erased their own history, as though not remembering those crimes would absolve them of it! For the minds that would form the Witness - for those who destroyed Riis!</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">And yet, in my horror, I am reminded of [[Guardian]]s. After all, we do not blame Crow for the actions of the prince, nor should we. When [[Glint]] brought him back in the Great Machine's | <span style="color:#40678e;">And yet, in my horror, I am reminded of [[Guardian]]s. After all, we do not blame Crow for the actions of the prince, nor should we. When [[Glint]] brought him back in the Great Machine's Light, Crow was born anew. As were Ikora, and [[Zavala]], and [[The Guardian|you]]. It is as Ikora says, is it not? Grace and memory. The Light forgets.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">Just as the Witness forgot.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">Just as the Witness forgot.</span> | ||
| Line 659: | Line 656: | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">It is not just reality that the Witness mutilates. It has dissected and reassembled itself, its own memories, its own history. The Witness went from confronting the uncomfortable truth to erasing it. It is grotesque.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">It is not just reality that the Witness mutilates. It has dissected and reassembled itself, its own memories, its own history. The Witness went from confronting the uncomfortable truth to erasing it. It is grotesque.</span> | ||
<span style="color:#40678e;">As a Scribe — as Eido — I cannot feel anything but revulsion.</span> | <span style="color:#40678e;">As a Scribe — as [[Eido]] — I cannot feel anything but revulsion.</span> | ||
==Scribe Archive XI-23-1C== | ==Scribe Archive XI-23-1C== | ||
| Line 665: | Line 662: | ||
RETRIEVED FROM: Throne Room; The Reef<br> | RETRIEVED FROM: Throne Room; The Reef<br> | ||
KEYWORDS: final shape; Witness<br> | KEYWORDS: final shape; Witness<br> | ||
IDENTITIES: Mara Sov, Queen of the Reef [MARA]; Eido, Scribe of the House of Light [EIDO]<br> | IDENTITIES: Mara Sov, [[Queen of the Reef]] [MARA]; Eido, Scribe of the House of Light [EIDO]<br> | ||
ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ANNOTATED TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS | ||
| Line 677: | Line 674: | ||
// Several lines redacted// | // Several lines redacted// | ||
[I hope you will forgive me; in my curiosity, I allowed myself to pursue a bit of a tangent. It is not often that my father speaks of the time before he found me. I have much to ask him, now!] | [I hope you will forgive me; in my curiosity, I allowed myself to pursue a bit of a tangent. It is not often that my [[Mithrax|father]] speaks of the time before he found me. I have much to ask him, now!] | ||
MARA: But you have come to inquire about another matter. I understand you are searching for all that you can find of the Witness. The stains it has left while passing through this universe. | MARA: But you have come to inquire about another matter. I understand you are searching for all that you can find of the Witness. The stains it has left while passing through this universe. | ||
| Line 733: | Line 730: | ||
MARA: It began in nothing. Neither Light nor Dark; the absence of both. But in that nothing, I began to perceive an impossible something. | MARA: It began in nothing. Neither Light nor Dark; the absence of both. But in that nothing, I began to perceive an impossible something. | ||
MARA: Stone hands clutching at the fabric of the sky. A mountain of screaming bone. A crumbling spire choked by kudzu. A great cancerous growth. Necrotic tendrils digging into flesh, which was earth. | MARA: Stone hands clutching at the fabric of the sky. A mountain of screaming bone. A crumbling spire choked by kudzu. A great cancerous growth. Necrotic tendrils digging into flesh, which was earth. Darkness turned gangrenous, strangling the Light. | ||
MARA: But I was not afraid. As I woke, I felt the lingering warmth of a campfire, chasing the chill from my hands. | MARA: But I was not afraid. As I woke, I felt the lingering warmth of a campfire, chasing the chill from my hands. | ||