video, un: howe

[manifestering]

Hello. Octavian here as ever.

[Octavian slightly too close to the camera, specifically, with glimpses of Rumpitur's streets behind him, beautiful springtime, all of it. He looks wildly out of place here, as always looking like a wasted Victorian in a sweater vest who's never seen daylight, but: here he is.]

Previously I shared with you all the visions shown to me by our previous AI iteration. The former Chosen turned into something else. I believe this is them.

Watch.

[And he moves, device still in hand and camera rolling, to approach one of the Naga. He asks them quite directly, "Do you remember what you were before?"— and the Naga blinks at him for a second before something changes in their expression, a clarity coupled with a strangeness of feeling, like they are seconds away from remembering exactly what he's talking about. It's there, definitely, under the surface—

And then it fades, and the Naga brushes him off with a dismissive wave and turns away.]

You see. They are nearly there. I have asked them many variations. "Do you remember being Chosen." "Were you human once." "Do you know where your people came from." All who react do so in this same way.

[A beat; he makes a little face, lips pursed.] The others have informed me I am either insane or rude. Belligerent. What did you all do.

[It can't have been him, he is a weird hermit who barely goes out. The rude questions and abruptly accosting the Naga totally unrelated.]

Somewhat unrelated. In her departure Root has left me with a small pile of her computers and other devices. I am not especially gifted with them. Will someone help.

Comments

video; un:curtaincall

[endcaller]

I suppose that is more evidence to prove our hypothesis. Though the decay of their souls yet troubles me.

[He rubs his chin, then shrugs.]

As for Root's abandoned technology, I am sure I can help. What, precisely, was left behind?

[manifestering]

They were merged with these serpents. Decay must be inevitable.

[Sucks to be them! Hopefully that won't happen again, huh!!]

She has left several computers. A handful of communication devices. The... "dark web" kind.

[endcaller]

"Dark web"? My, my, my, how ominous!

Well, I would be willing to take those computers and devices off your spectral hands!

[Giant neon red signs reading "DON'T" might as well be hanging around him. But they aren't, so he just smiles and blinks coquettishly.]

[manifestering]

I believe calling it ominous is why you were not privy to them before.

[Dweeb-ass response, he thinks, as a fellow dweeb-ass.]

But no. They were left for me. They are mine.

[cactusy]

Howe. You need me to kick this guy's ass?

[Though she's clearly addressing Octavian, the reply is threaded under Fandaniel for a reason - please note her hovering, bro.]

[video; un kurama]

[sinningtree]

[He was going to respond anyway, but the subject of Root has his expression more somber. He'll get back to the glitching naga in a moment, for now Root's disappearance - along with many others - is more troubling.]

I may be of some assistance. Did she leave you any instruction with them?

[manifestering]

Sort of. Not what I would call specific instruction.

[Just a general encouragement to kick some mess up in her absence, which is charmingly vague.]

[sinningtree]

That does sound like Root...

[His tone might portray a bit of nostalgia about it.]

Regardless, it would be my pleasure to take a look and perhaps give you a better understanding of just what she's left you.

[manifestering]

I would welcome it. Software is not my area of expertise. Would hate to spoil whatever she has left.

You knew her?

un: viktor

[runeing]

[ at some point during the day, they had separated to run their own errands — viktor looking for some materials to finish his monster tracker devices, octavian to... interview the snakes?

he sees now what that was all about. opening a message, he starts to head towards where he believes he might find his partner, at least judging by the background of the video... ]

You are conducting an experiment. That is hardly being rude.

[manifestering]

[Thank goodness Viktor is here to tell him he's right no matter what, thanks babe—]

That is what I thought. Someone else must have done something. To think these serpent people would paint with such a wide brush.

[When in doubt, blame everyone else. Anyway, where's his man, how was the Shopping...]

I will wait for you here. By the... [he looks around. it's not much of a place, compared to Aldrip. um,] Dried fish stand.

[runeing]

[ of course. nothing octavian could ever do would be annoying, or wrong, in any way. and his opinion of this is completely unbiased, obviously. ]

They see one, and they judge all. That is not as uncommon as it should be.

[ simply look at how piltover thinks of zaun — he is unsurprised that the same thing would repeat here. not that some among their number aren't... well. maybe some of them should be judged. ]

Perhaps you can sample the offerings while you wait. [ dryly; that's a joke. ] I won't be long.

[manifestering]

[Some of them should be judged indeed, but probably by someone with actual authority to judge— so not the Naga, and not whoever Jerry is, and definitely not Octavian, who is petty.

Not too petty that he doesn't laugh lightly at the joke; now he has aims to collect a single egg before Viktor shows up, for Joke 2...]

If they are unkind to you simply let me at them. I have been learning to punch.

[Ha Ha Ha. It's going terribly.]

I will be here.

Text; un: eyeofzaun

[conflictresolution]

I seem to recall that there were rumors that each of the cities were previous attempts at rehabilitating a different set of Chosen.

I hope our overlord doesn't turn us into wolves when we inevitably fail the numerous tests at rehabilitation.

-> permavideo

[manifestering]

Rumors. I would not know. This was always knowledge I held.

As far as these serpentfolk are concerned wolves would be undeserved. Perhaps worms.

[conflictresolution]

I had no interest in pursuing the rumors. However, it may be worthwhile to see if bringing them back to being Chosen may provide insight to this world and its limitations.

They seem to chose certain types of animals. Birds, serpents, so on. I assume a mammal is next for the conversion of failure. Unless there are more cities out there yet undiscovered.

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Even though socializing isn't exactly Ange's favorite thing, she can't help but reply to this stranger on the network when she's hearing this information. It's just a little bit too relevant to her to straight up ignore it.

In fact, there's some actual interest and curiosity in the girl's tone as she speaks up, especially compared to its usual flatness. ]

So you're suggesting that some of the other people who were stuck here like us became part of this world.

[manifestering]

I am confirming it. I saw the memories of the AI back then. When we attempted to save it. Corrupted Chosen were merged with serpent data to prevent their demise.

[He looks over his shoulder, like, and so...]

I have yet to encounter any other serpentfolk. And you can see how they respond to the idea.

[entreats]

We've seen some corrupted people before that weren't part of our current group of Chosen. [ She's mostly saying it to confirm that she believes what he's telling here. Half of it is based on information they already knew, after all, and the other half..

Well, it doesn't seem so strange for this place.

But the girl doesn't sound very pleased at this reveal either. Right after saying that sentence, she lets out a groan before adding: ]

That might just be the worst possible thing that could end up happening to us. Imagine having to spend the rest of your existence as a part of this stupid world.

video; un: shades

[laserguy]

[He knows he's heard of this theory before, but it's something else to kind of see it firsthand with him interviewing the Naga. Scott finds himself frowning, he doesn't really have too much to add, especially since he's not that advanced when it comes to tech.]

So, do you think it's possible that we'll end up as snake people too at some point? Or just... wiped out completely in some other way if the AI gets tired of us?

[manifestering]

Yes.

[........oh yeah, elaborating,] Both are possible. We are not important to the AI. These other peoples actively dislike us. We are not earning our happy ending. As it were.

[laserguy]

[...Geez.]

I thought the AI sort of cared about us. [...] Besides, don't we have a part of it or whatever stored somewhere?

[There was Quentin, but... he's gone.]

wildcardy action - lmk if this is cool!

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius is busy with doing errands for the Naga, as he has been most of the week, this time carrying a crate of fish from the docks somewhere when he spots Octavian in one of his more successful questions, and he watches with a vague interest before addressing the spirit.]

Enjoying your interrogations?

always!

[manifestering]

[Octavian, of course, has not done a single errand for anybody, and likely won't— unless the whim takes him, in which case, the little robot will be doing it for him. The little robot is not immediately present; Viktor probably has it.

As the Naga blinks themselves back to reality and scoffs away from Octavian, he turns. Hi.]

I have wanted to confirm the things I saw were correct. Yes. It has been illuminating.

I see you are enjoying your... crate.

[chimericalclaw]

[He raises his eyebrows and glances at a fish whose fin twitches briefly. Well, by delivering it he gets some good will with the Naga, which allows him greater influence with them, which could enable further business and the like...]

In a manner of speaking.

[Sure, he's enjoying the crate. He doesn't seem to be struggling with it at all, at least.]

Would you be interested in walking with me and telling me your thoughts?