video; un:curtaincall

[endcaller]

[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.]

Comments

text; un: abeno

[foxphorus]

Was nothing amiss with the city's borders aside from the unhelpful guards?

voice;

[endcaller]

Well. As I said whenever I passed the border I was immediately moved elsewhere.

I would consider that unusual, wouldn't you?

[Unusual and no doubt part of the glitch storm ravaging the world... But an ingenious method of defense if done on purpose.]

[foxphorus]

Yes, I felt that unusual enough.

Aside from those two points, then.

[endcaller]

There was nothing else amiss that I noticed.

The guards, however, were more than merely unhelpful. The sounds that emanated from their throats were strange and mechanical.

[foxphorus]

Were they aware of these strange noises, or acting as if all was well?

[endcaller]

If they were aware of anything, they did show it.

....Like the natives of Aldrip, the Rumpitur snakefolk may not truly be alive.

[foxphorus]

Then this is all possibly a husk of a world playing at life. Interesting.

Though it seems its game is going awry, with how quickly these "glitches" seem to be multiplying. I'd rather not give credence to fearmongering, but I'd also rather not cover my eyes as the ground splits open beneath us.

*did NOT good lord Psi

[endcaller]

'Tis a world existing at the whims of an AI, I believe.

If my theories are correct then fixing the system should re-establish some measure of stability. However, such an endeavor will, no doubt, be perilous.

shh i saw nothing

[foxphorus]

"Aeyai"?

Then how would one go about fixing its system, peril notwithstanding?

[endcaller]

Oh, different ways.

A full reset may be in order, though I suspect this would have a drastic effect on the environment. If someone can create backup restore points, however...

[foxphorus]

If it's at all possible, then it's worth a try.

[ Or he's assuming it's possible, the way Fandaniel's talking about it. He has no idea what any of this means, but keeping people alive outweighs the momentary shame of admitting ignorance. ]