this is not a problem if I don't want it to stop (part CXIII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CXII.)

She walked in through the open door of the clinic, seeing the medic at his desk. He sighed, seeming discouraged for a moment, and she stepped closer. He heard the bells and turned.

"Oh! Hi, Duchess! Sorry, I didn't see you arrive."

She smiled. "Hey, Zack--you said you examined Justine? She didn't get hurt again, did she?"

He shook his head. "No, I assure you, she did not...get injured..." He stood, rubbing the back of his neck. "As for if she's fine, well...it depends...I do not have very good news. And...that's something I think I must discuss with you."

She arched an eyebrow. "Well, that sounds dire."

"You've noticed those...strange tattoos she has on her body, right?"

She nodded. "I have, yes."

"I was called to examine her, and asked Deebs for help. They...react to arcanic energy...badly...and by badly, I mean...bad...kind of badly..."

She thought back. "She mentioned something when she was setting up the quantum net for the Duke's personality transfer, her tattoo--'heating up'?"

He took a deep breath. "Something from another plan has marked her...probably something coming from one of the dimensional rifts here on Gearhaven...That mark is like a location marker. It may pull something from...we don't know where...just to get to her."

She blinked. "Wait. A beacon mark?"

"Deebs and I, we managed to seal it...temporarily...but it will need to be removed. I was currently studying a ritual that I know can do that but..."

"Who...do we know how she got that tattoo? Who did it?"

He shook his head. "I am not sure, myself. We weren't able to know who or what did that to her."

She thought, brow furrowing. "Is it any arcane energies, or specific types?"

"It...reacted to my energy...I did a test..."

She tilted her head, tail twitching.

"And I am not the one who placed this mark, so whatever did, probably knows how to use magic."

"Without a doubt. But--she hasn't reacted to you in the past, right?"

"Not that I know of..." He thought. "Or, she was hiding it, last time I was casting in front of her..."

"So, either...something has activated the mark, or...something in your energy signature has changed, and I don't think the latter is likely." She shrugged. "Though anything's possible."

"I used Gearhaven's magic energy to do so, as it's easier to recharge my crystals here...so, I'm not sure if she reacts to here, or..."

She stared at him, eyes slowly widening. "Oh, if she's reacting to Gearhaven's energy, that's going to be really bad...I know the Duke's planning more excavation of aetherium ore, and that's going to spike some of the ambient energy across the land."

He reached out, grabbing her hand. "You have to prevent Justine from being here until we manage to remove this mark from her! I will work on that ritual...it will be...extremely painful, but...necessary."

She watched the grim set of his features. "Do you think Tannhauser Gate Station is far enough away?"

"I don't, Duchess. The magical energy of Gearhaven seems to be...all around us...When I feel it, there's not a specific concentration that I found."

She sighed. "I'll talk to her."

"Duchess..."

She looked up again.

"I promise you, I will do everything in my power to remove that mark, even if it means to almost die from overcast...I will not let this happen."

She put her free hand on his arm. "Zack, no. Some risk, absolutely, the rituals can take a toll, but...please, don't risk yourself to that extent. We can find another way."

"Every magic comes with a price. I say there is a RISK that it happens...but if I am strong-willed, and keep meditating, and prepare carefully...I should survive, and Justine will probably have that mark removed."

The Duchess was worried, she knew enough for it to show on her face. He patted her hand.

"When I did the ritual to scry through the rift in the tower, that was something I'm quite used to doing. The ritual to remove Justine's maker is a ritual of abjuration...a school of magic I learned to do when I was still an apprentice."

She nodded.

"Hopefully...it will work...if old school magic cannot remove this mark...I don't know what can..."

She looked down, thinking.

"There are a couple other options," she said slowly, then looked up, meeting his eyes. "But then, you'd likely have the talk with me about not taking insane risks."

"Yes, Duchess. Of course, you have the final say. I will not do anything without your green light, I promise."

"Do keep me updated."

He nodded. "I will let you talk to Justine, though I must warn you, the seal we put on the mark to prevent the...thing...getting to her will not hold forever."

"No, such seals rarely do."

He took her head in his hands, staring at her sadly. "Believe...I will do all I can to help Justine..."

"I know you will, Zack. We both want her protected...As much as she'll allow, at any rate."

He nodded, dropping his hands. "That was--all I needed to report. I know it's not happy news, but..."

"No, it helps. There's been so much happening, I never asked her more about what had happened with the quantum establishing, so...it's good to follow up."

He nodded, smiling at her, and returned to the papers spread over his desk. "Always a pleasure."

She nodded, and left, worrying at a claw. Wondering how she was going to tell Justine...wondering what she was going to tell Justine.

(Continued in part CXIV.)

out of sight but in your mind you believe 'em (part CXII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CXII.)

Zack growled as he pushed his energy outward, watching the tattoos react. He pushed more willpower into it to assist. "Don't give up, Justine, we are here!"

For a moment everything holds, breathless, in a Balance. On the bed, Justine went rigid and then limp as the black smoke faded.

Taking this in with alarm, Zack cut his connection to her energy, the lights on his hands fading. "Deebs, stop! Stop everything!"


"Zack...scan her again. I am not bringing the rift-shield down until--" Deebs turned to see Zack working. "Ah, well then..." and with a motion, the Ward was Dismissed.

Quickly opening the scanner, Zack checked her vitals to see if her heart was still beating and that she was still breathing.

A serene smile came over Deebs' face.

Justin opened her eyes, gasping for breath. Looking between the two mages she asked, "Are we ok? Is it...is it ok?"

"I would say it's ok--now." Deebs replied. "For the moment now."

Justine looked at the scanner in Zack's hand, then up to him. "We're ok?" She turned to deebs with a shaky smile, reaching a hand towards the aura surrounding her.

Taking Justine's hand tenderly, Deebs said. "We're OK," then she looked across the table at Zack."As Healer-designate, I think a report to the Duke and Duchess is in order."

"Swirrrrrly," Justine said, dizzily, reaching out to the aura still surrounding Deebs.

Zack sighed with relief. "That was dangerous but...yes...necessary...good job...Deebs..."

Chuckling, Deebs dismissed their personal Ward too, leaving Justine looking crestfallen, "Awwwwww. Swirly gone!"

"You can have swirly later, dear," Deebs said, patting her hand.

Zack"s tone became thoughtful. "Ok, so...if you are marked, Justine, the connection to whoever did it is temporarily stopped but...the seal that Deebs and I put on you won’t hold."

Deebs agreed. "No. That's why Their Graces need in on this."

"It won't? It isn't? Okay..." Justine pushed herself to a sitting position, a look of concern on her face, wrapping her arms tightly around herself, still shaking.

"To see what happened, we will need to see who or what put this on you and...if it's a mark...well...we will need to remove it. I know the ritual for it and...it is...not something very pleasant to experience," Zack said.

Deebs added, "Well, it's definitely extra-planar."

Zack finished, "And...of arcanic nature most likely."

"I will want to check with the Library about WHAT Marked you," Deebs said.

"Deebs," Zack asked, "Tell me if I am wrong. Technomagic is of arcanic nature, isn't it?"

"What IS Magic," Deebs asked ruefully. "We live in an...environment. Indra's Web, as a Vedic scholar might say. There is power, energy, in and of that Web."

Zack put his hands on his knees, apparently suddenly exhausted. "Well, I learned the old school of arcana, so I don't know a lot about technomagic."

Deebs continued, "There are also many intelligences besides us, who wield agency. We wield agency, if we know where and how to learn. But that's all IN the web."

"Indeed," Zack agreed.

"Outside the Web, there are other realms." Deebs stopped the discourse for the nonce, looking down at Justine.

Zack followed her gaze to the exam table. "Anyway...Justine...how do you feel?"

Justine nodded, swallowing heavily. "I'm ok. No problem. Headache. But...I don't think I'm gonna hurl anymore. Little unclear on what all this means?"

Deebs answered. "Something's put a magical leash on you. I am nine parts sure it comes from outside this plane."

"Basically yes. That is...the option I was hoping not, but...yes..." said Zack.

"It tried to pull you into its own plane just a bit ago," Deebs continued, putting a comforting hand on Justine's shoulder. "We stopped it, for now. I would suggest further Work take place in a sanctum specially Warded for extra-planar Workings."

Zack nodded. "I will start to work on the ritual to cut this leash permanently...I will study its components but it is something I can do."

"Ok." Justine paused, "Ok. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it."

"I would also suggest the Duke, or the Duchess, be notified immediately to place you under maximum protection," Deebs added, "which will be measurably easier, now that we know this is extra-planar."

"They already keep track of my motions wherever I go. I think their abilities would be trans-dimensional. So...even if I were...pulled elsewhere...they would know. I think."

"I think it likely. Let's try NOT to find out."

Zack thought of something. "Have ALL of the dimensional rifts in Gearhaven and around been taken care of?"

"No," Deebs said, pointing to Justine, "She's wearing one."

Zack sighed. "Not very reassuring..."

"I didn't mean it to be. Accuracy was the desired goal."

"True...better to be blunt and objective than to hide everything and wait for an accident." Zack turned to Justine. "I also propose, Countess, that you take it easy tonight. Maybe a bath would help. I can escort you to it if you want."

"Thank you, Zack. I'll go back to my quarters here on the station."

Zack nodded, taking her hand with a smile. "You will be fine, Meimei, I promise."

Justine accepted Zack's help getting off the table, giving his hand a squeeze. Then held her arms out to Deebs. "Love you, Deebs."

“Love you too, Justine.” Deebs replied.

"I'll do everything in my power to get rid of this. Even if it would empty me of my vital energy," pledged Zack.

"We will see to this."

Justine picked her clothes up off the floor. Turning to them, she smiled brightly and said, "It'll be fine! Of course it'll be fine," and headed to the lifts.

(Continued in part CXIV.)

and throw it down, down, down, down (part CXI)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CX.)

Zack closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, then started to wiggle his finger, channelling his own mana, reaching upon the magical energy of Gearhaven. He focused inwardly, tracing a ball of energy pronouncing an incantation. "Magica, Incantem, Orobis!" A ball of black and red energy appeared in his hand. He slowly approached Justine's tattoo to see if it reacted.

"Do you feel anything?"


Justine jerked backwards on the bed, her head reeling. A swirl of lights and an unfamiliar landscape rising in her vision, disappearing too quickly to recognise anything. "Aahhhh! Yes! Stopstopstop!"

Zack quickly stopped his spell, the light fading out immediately. "It's reacting to arcanic energy...strongly..." Zack bit his lower lip for a moment. "That...is not good..."

Justine turned to Zack, a look of concern on her face. "Not good...why not? I mean...how bad?"

Zack took a deep breath. "Two possibilities...and hopefully, I HOPE that one of them is the one I think. First possibilities if...you have been gifted with the ability to use the arcane with those tattoos, which is the option I highly hope, the other--and that is the one I do NOT hope happened--is...you got marked."

Justine's eyebrows rose. "How do we find out?"

Deebs stepped forward. "Let me try something..."

Justine looked hopefully at Deebs, a smile on her face.

"Zack, I am going to work a little something which should at least blunt any...linkages. Once that's up, gently, GENTLY raise a touch of arcane energy. Right?”

Zack nodded, stepping back to give her the space to work. "Go ahead."



Justine’s eyes widened in alarm as the tattoos began to give off a dark smoke in response. "Deeeeebs?????" she cried, gripping the edges of the bed tightly. "Deebs!"

Eyes closed, Deebs intoned. "Protokol: Against The Opener Of The Ways." And after another breath, "Protokol: Arcanus Magnus."

Zack stepped forward, resisting taking her hand. "Breathe, Justine...it's okay..."

"There," Deebs said, "Rift Energies should dissipate and break, as should any unacceptable linkages."

Zack whispered, biting his lower lips. "That might be painful..."

"It won't remove them. Just stop them. For now," Deebs said. "Removal, if needed, would take more than we can do here."

"Justine? How do you feel?" Zack asked.

Watching with relief as the black smoke emanating from the tattoos dissipated and the itching, burning sensations eased, she replied with a whimper, "I've been better? Actually, I think....I'm gonna be sick."

"Ok. It's ok," Deebs said in a soothing voice, "That was a whipsaw."

Zack looked to Deebs as the light surrounding Justine changed colour. "Can we get close to her without risk with that scela over her head?"

"Sure thing," Deebs started as the energy intensified and Justine arched back on the table, crying out. The tattoos flared, issuing black smoke around her.

"Dammit!" Zack shouted, "It's fighting it, Deebs!"

Justine curled up on her side on the table, biting back a scream. Zack took Justine's hand and looked at her. "Justine, stay with me...look at me, focus only on me, not on the pain."

Zack looked up. "That mark is resistant...If we need to seal it temporarily, I will help Deebs to do so...two types of magic is better than one and maybe it will work...I can try....do you trust me, Justine?"

Deebs began to intone again. "Protokol: Second Ward." Her shield grew bright. "Protokol: Fiat Lux!"

Justine squeezed her eyes shut against the brightness of the magickal light, flashing green to blue to white, burning through her lids. Zack kept a tight hold on her hand. "I am here."

"Take the flux, Zack." Deebs said somewhat breathlessly. "Seal the Sign, while I keep the Way open for the Light."

Zack nodded and released Justine's hand, clapping his hands together. Focusing quickly he reached for the magical energy surrounding them and pronounced his incantation. "MAGICA ABJURO MALEDIC SCEALIS!" He imposed his hands over the mark and white magical energy appears. Focusing on his intention to seal the mark on her back, he pushed his energy, hoping to make it stop.

"A Elen Sila Lumenn Omentiellvo!" Deebs's forehead began taking on a fine sheen, eyes glowing hotter, brighter yellow. Justine gritted her teeth, losing the battle to stay still and quiet. "Deeeeeeeeebs!"

"Justine." Deebs answered calmly. "Here. Here. THIS MOMENT. NOW!"

(Continued in part CXII.)

do you think, do you think that they notice? (part CX)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CIX.)

Artifact recovered from Gray Area data files:



Margin note: rational vectors of protection, eroded by the Blight.

FILE ENDS

(Continued in part CXI.)

go ahead and stop your thinkin' now (part CIX)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CVIII.)

Justine still found navigating the new station a bit tricky, despite being the one who had laid it out. "Darn it!" she exclaimed, having to double back again.

Zack chuckled, following behind her.

"Ahh! Found it!" she declared in triumph.

Zack looked around the MedBay, looking for the best place to conduct the examination. They'd come up to Tannhäuser Gate Station so Zack could take a look at Justine's mysterious tattoos. They'd appeared at some point about 9 months earlier, during some "lost time" Justine couldn't remember.

Aside from a few moments, they appeared inactive, but the fact that they seemed to react at all was a concern.

"This one should do," Zack said, choosing an exam table. "Take your place when you are ready. Sit down and remove any clothes covering your tattoos."

Justine stripped to her bra and panties, climbing onto the cold table with a little shiver.

"Where are the tattoos, exactly?" asked Zack, turning to her on the table.

She pointed them out, drawing a hand along the tattoo on her abdomen, and right thigh. "Then, if you can see, the gold one on my back?"



Zack looked at the tattoos on her body, gently tracing them with his fingertips. "See, this one on your back..." He traced his finger on her back slowly all along the tattoo. "It is...something familiar..." Zack looked at the one on her belly and the one on her leg, tracing again with his fingers, studying them thoroughly. "Since when did you say you had these again?"

Justine tries to think. "They appeared shortly after I moved to Gearhaven. About the same time the rifts started appearing."

Zack nods, asking, "Did you feel any unusual sensation, like some kind of pull to an energy...or have any new abilities appeared?"

"Oh gosh, Zack," she answered, "strange sensations are kinda part of every day at Gearhaven! I don't know how I'd tell the difference. As for abilities..." Justine looked up, a huge smile breaking out over her face as Deebs entered the room. "Hi, Deebs!"

Zack waved at Deebs as she arrived. "Go ahead," he said, inviting her to join him at the exam table. "I am listening to Justine."

Deebs noded, looking intently over the tattoos.

"So, the tattoo that gets the most...itchy/burny...when weird stuff happens?" Justine said, twisting around and pointing, "is the one on my back."

Zack nodded, listening. "I see...what about the others? Do they react as well?"

Justine nodded in reply. "Not as strongly."

Deebs asked, "What triggers the sensations?"

Justine thought for a moment. "When we linked up Hiro-in-a-Box to the Quantum entanglement device they flared up. That was the worst. And sometimes when I've gotten too close to the interdimensional rifts that like opening around Gearhaven."

"Okay," Zack said, "So...I am going to try something Justine...you might or might not feel the tattoo burn and react but this will give us a good idea of what we have here. When I tell you, I want you to tell me if you feel anything, all right"

Deebs set her feet, arms folded across her. "Awrighty. Zack, see what you can evoke. I have a notion or two, but let's run your test first."

"This is what I will try to do...If her tattoo reacts to my magic it means that it is sensitive to arcanic energy..."

Deebs nodded, attentive.

(Continued in part CX.)

oh, wishful drinkin'

So, this is not a medical blog, and I am not a medical professional, and I most certainly am not advocating anyone take anything in this particular entry as a recommendation. Why I am posting this, however, is for the information value in the graphs and the study. So take that into account.

This link leads to a downloadable .pdf concerning a study that was released in 2001, but the information is still not well known. The graphs posted below are in the study, "The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium deficiency" by S. Johnson, but I think it's worthwhile to also post them here.



Please click for larger versions of these. This one mainly documents the effects low serotonin levels and magnesium deficiency (see chart below, and again, click for full version) have on the human body.



Which brings us to the rest of the charts.



This one largely lays out links between vitamin B2 and zinc deficiency as well as magnesium deficiency.



This is mostly how magnesium deficiency impacts the gastrointestinal system, though it also displays--glaringly--the connection between muscle cramps, Tourette's, Parkinson's, and myasthenia gravis.



This one pretty much goes everywhere, because magnesium deficiency in humans is the start of many ills, but I'd point towards the kidney and liver impacts.



This mostly lays out the wide spectrum of ailments that can cause magnesium depletion as a side effect. Apparently it's not just emotional self-sabotage that's a gift in humanity, but biological self-sabotage. How fun!



And finally, the direct effects of zinc deficiency when paired with magnesium deficiency, with a side of vitamin K deficiency effects for flavor.

Again, I am not a doctor, I am not advocating self-diagnosis of anything. But at the least, if you see yourself in any of these, maybe talk with your doctor about a magnesium level test. They're not standard, but they're also not hugely expensive, and many insurances are happy to comp tests before surgery or other more invasive treatments.

hatch demons where no one can see, oh (part CVIII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CVII.)

It was a clear, bright evening. Zack sat at the desk again, opening the book, setting the pen to the page.

Journal entry 2

Dear diary,

It's been probably a month or two that I've run the clinic at Gearhaven now. After the event of the weapons testing and the surgical procedure I had to do on Countess Justine's skin, it seems like my services have been required even more. I have gained renown as a healer quite quickly after the results.

Seems like mouth to ear were at work there quite wildly to speak of what I did so far.

After a while, I noticed the amount of work was tremendous and was wondering if I should try to find an assistant. I could not really ask my servants at the Starbinder Family, none of them would be very much qualified even if they all have multiple talents.

Except maybe for one...Cinder Lily Rio...she is a scientist after all. I brought her to the clinic to help me on some cases, but mostly for bio analysis like blood work, and that kind of stuff. Though there was still a big project that I was working on.

During one of my travels I met a girl named Diannah who I bonded with and felt particularly close to. One day I found her in her apartment dead of an overdose, and in a hurry I brought her up in Gearhaven, put her body into stasis and thought about a solution to maybe save her and get her back.

Using Lily's research, I managed to find a way to resurrect her with some very particular implants inside her body. It was a very big surgery but iImanaged to get her back to life, with us. She is now working here with me at the clinic, and assists me in the cares that I give.

With Diannah and Lily in my team at the new clinic, I suppose that for now, I have everything I need to be able to offer all the help Gearhaven might need in case of medical emergencies.

The large work has started, now we just wait and see how things go.

End of entry.

(Continued in part CIX.)

tell myself that I'm not thinkin' 'bout how I could drown, drown, drown, drown (part CVII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CVI.)

Transmission of anticipate research thread. Capture from Gray Area before Transdiminsional and Temporal Event.

JAYNES' EVIDENCE:
Jaynes built a case for this hypothesis that human brains existed in a bicameral state until as recently as 3,000 years ago by citing evidence from many diverse sources including historical literature. He took an interdisciplinary approach, drawing data from many different fields.[3] Jaynes asserted that, until roughly the times written about in Homer's Iliad, humans did not generally have the self-awareness characteristic of consciousness as most people experience it today. Rather, the bicameral individual was guided by mental commands believed to be issued by external "gods"--commands which were recorded in ancient myths, legends and historical accounts. This is exemplified not only in the commands given to characters in ancient epics but also the very muses of Greek mythology which "sang" the poems. According to Jaynes, the ancients literally heard muses as the direct source of their music and poetry.

Jaynes asserts that in the Iliad and sections of the Old Testament no mention is made of any kind of cognitive processes such as introspection, and there is no apparent indication that the writers were self-aware. Jaynes suggests, the older portions of the Old Testament (such as the Book of Amos) have few or none of the features of some later books of the Old Testament (such as Ecclesiastes) as well as later works such as Homer's Odyssey, which show indications of a profoundly different kind of mentality--an early form of consciousness.[ref. 3 again]

In ancient times, Jaynes noted, gods were generally much more numerous and much more anthropomorphic than in modern times, and speculates that this was because each bicameral person had their own "god" who reflected their own desires and experiences.[4]

Bicameral mentality would be non-conscious in its inability to reason and articulate about mental contents through meta-reflection, reacting without explicitly realizing and without the meta-reflective ability to give an account of why one did so. The bicameral mind would thus lack metaconsciousness, autobiographical memory, and the capacity for executive "ego functions" such as deliberate mind-wandering and conscious introspection of mental content. When bicamerality as a method of social control was no longer adaptive in complex civilizations, this mental model was replaced by the conscious mode of thought which, Jaynes argued, is grounded in the acquisition of metaphorical language learned by exposure to narrative practice.

According to Jaynes, ancient people in the bicameral state of mind would have experienced the world in a manner that has some similarities to that of a person with schizophrenia. Rather than making conscious evaluations in novel or unexpected situations, the person would hallucinate a voice or "god" giving admonitory advice or commands and obey without question: One would not be at all conscious of one's own thought processes per se. Jaynes's hypothesis is offered as a possible explanation of "command hallucinations" that often direct the behavior of those afflicted by first rank symptoms of schizophrenia, as well as other voice hearers.[2]

Bicameralism[1] (the condition of being divided into "two-chambers") is a controversial hypothesis in psychology and neuroscience which argues that the human mind once operated in a state in which cognitive functions were divided between one part of the brain which appears to be "speaking", and a second part which listens and obeys--a bicameral mind, and that the evolutionary breakdown of this division gave rise to consciousness in humans. The term was coined by Julian Jaynes, who presented the idea in his 1976 book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind,[1] wherein he made the case that a bicameral mentality was the normal and ubiquitous state of the human mind as recently as 3,000 years ago, near the end of the Mediterranean bronze age.

Late Bronze Age collapse
The Late Bronze Age collapse was a dark age transition in a large area covering much of Southeast Europe, West Asia and North Africa (comprising the overlapping regions of the Near East, the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, with the Balkans, the Aegean, Anatolia, and the Caucasus), which took place from the Late Bronze Age to the emerging Early Iron Age. It was a transition which historians believe was violent, sudden, and culturally disruptive, and involved societal collapse for some civilizations. The palace economy of the Aegean region and Anatolia that characterized the Late Bronze Age disintegrated, transforming into the small isolated village cultures of the Greek Dark Ages.


(Fig. 1, Invasions, destruction and possible population movements during the collapse of the Bronze Age, c.  1200 BCE. Attributed to Alexikoua.)

(Continued in part CVIII.)

weave a story so I don't have to talk, no

This happened earlier on June 28th:

[09:14] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: I am at the first primi in Sl if someone wants a tp or LM
[09:14] Ixxxxx Rxxxxxxx: You're where?
[09:14] Cxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxx: first prim? Isn't the oldest object something by Stellar Sunshine?
[09:15] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Philip made this prim
[09:15] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: Boardman (156,199,24)
[09:16] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: AApril 29, 2002

So I went to see.

[09:16] Mxxxxxxxx Dxxxxxxxx: Well he's older than that prim, and he's older than me
[09:17] Sxxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: older than the first prim ever created in SL?
[09:17] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): So, considering SL was released in alpha in 2004, this is very interesting.
[09:17] txxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: he cant be older than this prim
[09:17] Mxxxxxxxx Dxxxxxxxx: Well in RL I thinks
[09:17] axxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: yeah
[09:17] Cxxxxxxxxx Cxxxxxxx: ah pre-release
[09:17] Mxxxxxxxx Dxxxxxxxx: It was a bit of double-edged sarcasm
[09:17] FSxxxxxxx Fxxxxxxx: was he part of SL when it was still called "Linden World"
[09:18] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): A-ha

History is important. I dimly remember Linden World; I think Another World, the first virtual-world system I played in, was a knock-off, actually. Or it was the other way around, but I truly think Another World came after.

{{Insert from the Editrix: I'm wrong--they may have been congruent design paths, so I don't feel Linden World 'stole' anything in any sense, but what I've remembered for years as Another World was actually just Worlds, and it launched as part of the Blair Witch 2 promotional event in October of 2000.}}

[09:19] txxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: so, why green
[09:20] Emilly Shatner-Orr (emilly.orr): Why not?
[09:21] txxxxxxxxxxxx Rxxxxxxx: a basic cube :)

Interesting.

Though I was also amused I was the tallest person there.

And the final SLRFL totals came in, and they're...beyond phenomenal, this year.

I can pretend that I don't wanna end, I'm afraid (and dangerous) (part CVI)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CV.)

Nyarlathotep differs from the other beings in a number of ways. Most of them are exiled to stars, like Yog-Sothoth and Hastur, or sleeping and dreaming like Cthulhu; Nyarlathotep, however, is active and frequently walks the Earth in the guise of a human being, usually a tall, slim, joyous man. He has "a thousand" other forms, most of these reputed to be maddeningly horrific. Most of the Outer Gods have their own cults serving them; Nyarlathotep seems to serve these cults and take care of the deities' affairs in their absence. Most of the gods use strange alien languages, but Nyarlathotep uses human languages and can be mistaken for a human being. The other Outer Gods and Great Old Ones are often described as mindless or unfathomable rather than truly malevolent, but Nyarlathotep delights in cruelty, is deceptive and manipulative, and even cultivates followers and uses propaganda to achieve his goals.

Nyarlathotep enacts the will of the Outer Gods, and is their messenger, heart and soul; he is also a servant of Azathoth, his father, whose wishes he immediately fulfills. Unlike the other Outer Gods, causing madness is more important and enjoyable than death and destruction to Nyarlathotep. It is suggested by some that he will destroy the human race and possibly the Earth as well.

Nephren-Ka was supposedly the last pharaoh of the Third Dynasty of Egypt. He was the one who introduced the cult of the animal-headed gods to that nation and always stood out as a sorcerer. Nyarlathotep was not long in taking an interest in him and, summoning him to the city of Irem, proposed a bloody pact: Nephren-Ka would sacrifice thousands of victims in his honor and Nyarlathotep would give him the gift of prophecy. This was done and Nyarlathotep granted him the power to see the future. He secured the Shining Trapezohedron for Egypt, but after being convinced by the resident Haunter of the Dark, he had a lightless temple created to hold the stone and the deity within. That temple became a center of abominable happenings, and the rites carried out there were so monstrous the temple was destroyed.

According to legend, when Nephren-Ka felt that his life was coming to an end, he took refuge in his own crypt and there he spent what little time he had left writing down on its walls everything that the future of the world held. It is said that the Black Pharaoh was buried in the Bent Pyramid of Dhasur, but the truth is that no remains have been found at the site. It seems that this is because, when he passed away, Nephren-Ka merged with Nyarlathotep and became one of his avatars. It is also said that, years later, Queen Nitocris had a son whom she named Nephren-Ka. According to some rumors, this could be the reincarnation of the Black Pharaoh and would therefore be Nyarlathotep himself in a new human avatar.

Long after his death, Nephren-Ka once appeared to Pharaoh Akhenaten to propose that he resume the cult of Nyarlathotep, but Akhenaten refused and, in addition to this, had Nephren-Ka's name struck out from all records and monuments to let no one remember the atrocities he had committed. For this, Nyarlathotep cursed Akhenaten, causing the collapse of his empire.

END OF RESEARCH FILES: Gray Area Archive

(Continued in part CVII.)

I keep a bottle by my bed, it's a focus (part CV)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CIV.)

Emilly arrived on Tannhäuser Gate Station, moving quickly through the levels to the command deck, and the large dark screen there. She touched the control panel, authenticating herself even as she turned the screen on.

"STAN, please watch for presence of Hiro instance 2 on Gearhaven Prime. Interface at soonest opportunity to retrieve answer to question: What was Hiro trying to do before the time accident?"

She watched words in green and an odd, mid-tone grey scroll up the screen.

STAN:
Instances of Hiro in GH prime time/space reality bubble are:
His Grace, the Duke Hiro. Currently in recovery on the Space Frighter "Misunderestimated Cat" above the ocean of Tannhäuser Gate. Observing the Armada Remainder in Krakenstorm.

Instance 2: Back-up and recovery instance of his Grace post accident, aka Hiro in a Box [HIAB]. Location in Research Facility on Tannhäuser Gate Station.

She nodded. "Yes, currently." Then she thought. "Oh, on Tannhäuser? Then execute same instruction for Tannhäuser Gate Station: What was Hiro trying to achieve before the time accident?"

STAN:
STAN connect with HIAB:

His Grace was attempting to time travel beyond the document capabilities of the Grey Area.

Emilly tapped the nails of one hand against her bicep, thinking.

"Was there a specified reason given?"

STAN:
Motivation: To investigate the time line infestation at early stages of human evolution (Bronze Age Collapse).
His Grace: Suspects current adversary.
The Blight is same entity that attempted to slow evolution in early earth timelines.
At certain points in development in history: there is evidence of manipulation from time active forces. Manipulation appears to be directed at preventing, or pollution of, the thought forms prior to an evolutionary advance.

She looked down, thinking, then startled at the next voice she heard.

"Emilly?"

Odd little hitch in her breathing, even after all this time, even with the Duke back. "Hiro?" she finally asked.

"Emilly--STAN has networked with my inputs in the lab."

She took that in. "That's...good..." Did that mean he knows he's not the living Duke? She had no idea how to even frame such a question.

"Em--I was trying to get back before the Bronze Age Collapse. To test if the tech/Magick used is what we are seeing in both base reality and on the grid."

Emilly blinked again. What grid?

"My working hypothesis was the Ringmaster and the Black Pharoah, the Hydra, maybe even the Ṕ̵̡͎̘͔͍́͗̉̃͆̾̒̐i̸̛̲̪̣̻̔̀̀͆͌̓̎̉̋̇̌̂̀͌̍̒͛̓́̾̎͋̒͋͂̈́͐̈̊̈́͊̐͋͠ģ̶͈̺̜͎͕̥̥̘̫̱̻͕̞̩̼̰̦̞͇͇̳̜̩͒̂̒̈́̆̔̐̃̈̎̀͗̓́̾̂́̈̃̚͠͝͠f̶̡̢̛̙̳͉̯̻̮̺̬̙̬̣̼̞͍̤͎͈̣͎̱̗̱̹̤͇̳̈́͗̂̈́́͛̽͐̉͂̉̈́̌̅̈́́͊̈́͐̈͆̉̀̇͘͜͝͝͝͝ͅ@̴̨̧̨̨̛͎̘̱͍̤̹̫͇̮̲̞̪̯͈̺̙̫͍͎̗͓̹͎̥̥̩̠͉̾̈̈̀́́͗̊̋͌̈͛͒̉̅͒͗̒̀̽̎͒͐͝ͅͅ$̸̨̧̧̞̮̲̱̫̯̱̣̣̰͖͉̤͉̖̲̠̥̦̜̺̮̠̪̳͇̠̝̥̇͜͠ͅķ̷̡̲̪̪͎̦̹͖̤̯͉̝͕̫͖̯͔̯̳̟͕̟̠̲͓̓̍̉̂͗͌̀̓̚͜͝͝ͅẽ̶̛̛̛̪͓͆͗̅͑̓̈́͌͊̋́͛̑̎̀͛͊́̿͘̚̕͘͠͠͠͠r̶̢̛̛̬̰͚͍̲̗̺̙͈͎͔͆͊͂̈́̀͐̆̂̂̔̒̓̇̋͘͘̕͜͝"."

Emilly felt her eyes snap wide. The distortion on that word was difficult to hear. What did it mean? But he was continuing.

"--are avatars of something working to derail things...or influence things...But I hit a wall..."

"So...?"

"So, I had to improvise. And get the data back here so we could continue on..."

The voice trailed off.

"So you programmed outside the Gray Area's operational parameters?"

Some noise--static burst? Glitch in the system? Derisive snort? She had no idea.

"Enhanced the range of the singularity drive," he said then. "Used the Gate...but...something external stopped us. Tossed us light years away and 300 years too far in the future. The nature of that weaponized 'Time Wall' is what the back-ups were carrying. Beta, Gamma, Delta and Epsilon are the onboard AI's of the Gray Area AND a back-up of my memories."

"So even if you had not pushed the ship, the ship was pushed. By the adversary, one assumes."

"Beta went with Bilqis, Delta was sent into Egypt, Gamma to Thule and Epsilon was at the first Hebrew Temple, hidden as the Seal of Solomon. Something is stopping time travel into early Bronze Age...or was..."

She nodded. "And may still be, depending."

"Emilly, our concern should be this timeline, now...The same forces that broke up Armada are looking for the probability tech...The same forces infecting the grid working to derail both a Dataist approach or a Techno-Humanist approach to growth."

The grid, again. She let it go.

"If we find any of the four AI's...they will have very different stories and paths. And different magic."

"We will, Hiro. We're concentrating on this timeline. We'll get to the others."

"Okay..."

Another burst of sound, this time more of a tonal pitch lowering to the subsonic, before disappearing. She saw words return to the screen.

STAN:
STAN disconnect from HIAB.

The screen went dark. Emilly shrugged. That seemed to be that.

She went back down to the hangar bay, and took a flier to the Red Queen's tower. She needed to think.

About a lot of things.

(Continued in part CVI.)