expiationnet | video; un:curtaincall

[The feed opens with a view of a metallic ceiling illuminated by blue light as the tablet is moved around; followed by the pale face of a man in a hood. The movement suggests he is crouching down to set the tablet against something. Once it is in place, apparently on the floor but propped up, he walks forward a few paces and settles himself against a wall lined with neon lights. Despite their glare, he doesn't cast a shadow.]

Good morrow to you, my dearest fellow Chosen!

On a scale from one to ten, one being "abysmal" and ten being "I've had better", how has your week been?

[A thin, joyless smile creeps across his lips as he tilts his head.]

Mine has been filled with peril and adventure! Some of you may know that we are not the only civilization on this star. There are others.

I traveled to the nearest settlement, Rumpitur, to see with my own eyes whether these... "glitches" as we've been calling them plagued them as well. Alas, I was not able to observe much. Whenever I passed the town's borders my being was warped back to the outside. At times I was warped quite far.

I did, eventually, decide to speak with the guards but--

[There is a sharp crash of thunder from nearby, the suddenness makes him wince. After a moment of concerned silence, he stands up, smooths his hands down his robe, and walks away. For several seconds the camera shows the blank floor of an empty room, and then a small, square robot whirs into frame. Some might recognize it as a welcome robot.

Its screen lights up with text, each line appearing within a few seconds of each other.

HELLO, CHOSEN.

MASTER HAS BEEN SAD.

WHEN HE COMES BACK...

WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

There are footsteps and Fandaniel's throaty lilt breaks the silence.]

I believe I just saw the ground outside boil, freeze, and sublimate all at once. Marvelous!

[His boots step into view in front of the robot.]

Hyperetes, what are you telling people?

[The robot beeps.]

I see, how terribly inappropriate. Thank you.

[Hyperetes wheels away as Fandaniel sits himself back down.]

Now, where was I before I so rudely interrupted myself?

Ah! Yes, the snake folk.

Well, my conversation with the guards was not illuminating so much as mortifying. If I attempted to broach any topic of substance they...

[How can he even explain it? He waves a hand in the air and giggles.]

This entire world is coming apart at the seams. Truly, it feels as though the Final Days are upon us. We're all going to die screaming.

[This observation doesn't seem to bother him much.]

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He's a brilliant scientist. [ .. somewhat unfortunately. ]

Is that where you are now? What is it mean to be used for here?

Aw, man.

I just got here! I don't want to die screaming. ... Again.

[ Had she been screaming when she fell? It's hard to remember, actually, and she doesn't want to think too hard about that moment.

Probably. Most people that fall off skyscrapers scream, if going by the movies. ]

It is. I live here, after all.

[He coos.]

And with the resources now at my disposal it is my aim to learn more about Expiation and how we came to be here.

Ah. Admittedly, I am unable to use the Facility in its entirety. There is no aether here which does rather make practicing aetherochemistry more difficult.

[He tilts his head.]

Why, Rosie, I had no idea you'd died.

Is Aether what you use to cast magic? Where does it come from in your world?

Diverting aether from its natural tendencies to do something new is what we would call magic, yes. It comes from, well...

Everywhere, not to put too fine a point on it. It is a foundational element of life itself that flows through every living thing. This particular aspect of it is the Lifestream. The physical, or corporeal aether, is more bound to the body. Used when someone is in motion, restored at rest, or through eating or whatnot.

Aetherology is quite the topic, we would be here all night if I went into too much detail, I fear.

Isn't that guaranteed to happen if nothing's done though? Not that you're wrong--it's pretty obvious this could get messy. I just don't want to give up yet.

Nothing in this mad chaos is "guaranteed". For all we know things could resolve themselves, yes?

But the reset is likely better than inaction. I know not how much longer we can live like this.

[Well, he could endure for a while. He's been finding all of this fascinating.]

I did, yeah! Or I think I did.

The last thing I remember leads me to believe that's probably true... It was a long fall, is all.

[ One that not even she would live through, she imagines. ]

Long falls don't kill anyone, it's the sudden stop at the end you need to watch out for.

[A sharp bark of laughter]

Hah!

I certainly hope your gruesome demise wasn't a murder of some sort.

happy birthday, fanny! ure now an old guy. want me to make u a cane?

It is not--

[A world weary sigh. He'll just lean into it.]

Why, yes, I would love a cane to help these rickety old knees of mine.

Edited 2024-09-06 13:42 (UTC)

cool! itll take me 5mins to whip one up.

It is a shame about Rumpitur and its populous, though not unexpected given the current climate. They were always a relatively primitive people like the rest of the natives when I arrived. Did you investigate Ketsora as well?

That is the city of birdfolk, yes?

I have not yet traveled there, though I suspect the results would be much the same. Perhaps not with the chatter of the guards, however. 'Tis my understanding that they mistrust us at the best of times.

It is, yes. You'd know if they were acting normally as they would likely be shooting at you. I never had poor dealings with the Rumpitur population.

You speak as though you have seen the death of a planet already.

[A gasp]

Does it?

Well, I suppose that's because I have.

And the last time you were there was when the world was less ah...broken, correct?

happy birthday Dan! 

I know it's a stressful time right now, but maybe try to relax with the whole 'we're going to die' thing? there's a lot of talented people here, all we really need is a good plan of action. 

We may need to accept that our best-laid plans might be for naught.

Something tells me the situation the ground was in earlier isn't something that resolves itself.

[It feels odd to just come out with it like this, but curiosity bids them ask:]

You said this is the second apocalypse you've been through. Does that mean your world's... gone?

at least wait for us to fail before you start saying that. you're putting the cart before the horse here. 

[A small chirp of amusement.]

Put it together, did you?

Yes, my world is gone. I was whisked away to this star ere the end came so I endured as the lone survivor—the last man left from what is now a planetary grave.

Brace for the worst, hope for the best as they say.

Be assured that when the time comes I will fight this apocalypse will all I have.

[He has too many burning questions about how and why this world works to let it die on him now.]

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