[ AUDIO | JOINT POST ] OPEN COMMUNCATION BETWEEN SEDORUM AND TAEUM ;

[bijective]

[After numerous attempts at getting a hang of Taeum’s particular use of talisman arrays, Hermann has finally cracked the code to allow open communication between Orbers in both Taeum and Sedorum.

The transmission starts off shaky, at first. The white noise soon reveals the British voice of (1) resident engineer.]

Hello?! This is Doctor Hermann Gottlieb! Are there any Ximilia crew members not currently stationed on Taeum?

[Another voice cuts in then, just as staticky. This one sounds rather posh and aristocratic, but there’s a real relief there.]

This is Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III. [Yes, he got all that out in a single breath. He’s had years of practice.] Yes, there’s plenty of us in Sedorum—I can’t tell you just how good it is to finally hear from your side of things. Any news?

[Hermann takes a short pause for a breath.]

I will leave that to my colleagues, Percival. Best not risk passing out in the next five minutes from an information overload. [Quick beat.] But I believe I’ve managed to bridge the link between communication channels between crew members in both locations. A little tricky at first fiddling with talismans and symbols of all things but I’ve managed to develop an application that will work on all crew-wide devices.

It will be listed under the Talisman Handshake Inter-Communicative Channel. We can communicate with each other but none of the other personnel from either Taeum or Sedorum will hear us.

[Percy pauses for a moment, processing the application name.]

So—THICC, then? That sounds good to me. [He sees no problems with that name whatsoever.] I spoke to Entr’i, by the way—the leader of Sedorum’s military forces, such as they are. She’s very determined to bring Taeum crashing down, and she’s obtained what she calls, and I quote, “magic powerful enough to stop the best of arrays”.

[A beat. Deadpan:] So, good news, we know who has the orb, and who was responsible for the communications jam in the first place. The bad news is—well, I’ll let my colleagues here speak to that, I’ve been mostly focused on this problem.

Likewise. Then I will keep this channel open and have the rest take it from here. Let’s hope that no further drastic measures are to be taken at this stage. Although I’m already beginning to have my doubts.

That makes the two of us. I’ve a feeling this won’t end well. [A sigh.] Be careful, Dr. Gottlieb.

[ OPEN INFO SHARING POST! GO NUTS YA'LL! Threadjacking is highly encouraged!! Font color key - Purple = Hermann, Blue = Percy. ]

Comments

audio, un: blue

[hatejakku]

Blue!! Hey, are you all right? We're okay over here.

[firstroar]

Oh, Finn... [it's breathed out in relief, wavering a bit.] I'm so glad. All this time, unable to know for certain...

[hatejakku]

I know. [ It's weird not being able to feel the emotions, but Finn can certainly hear it. ] I tried to reach out and there was nothing. It's so far.

I'm glad you're okay.

[firstroar]

And I you. [more than a stupid communicator can convey!

there's a few seconds' worth of delay, because Blue's gotta relay these happenings to someone in the room.]

What are they like there, Finn? The people. Their mindsets.

[hatejakku]

[ He doesn't mind the pause, knowing that Blue is still there on the other end. ]

They're-... It's a mix.

Some are wealthy and spoiled, clearly aren't here for any good deeds. They like to play war or pretend to be starving just for fun. Some of them like to gamble, abuse drugs, things like that.

But a lot of them are good people who are just here to be at peace until they go back... There's a lot of children, too.

They all feel like they have to protect this place, that the war is justified. Some don't like to talk about it, some think everyone in Sedorum should die- It's a mix.

What about the people where you are?

[firstroar]

Most of the people here...are in despair. Lamenting their misfortune, fearful of punishments that...rarely occur, lest it come at the hands of other fearful people. Even those who act out in violence...their violence is motivated by that despair. It fuels their resentment and lack of care for themselves, others...

[hatejakku]

[ ... Well, that's interesting. ]

Is there anything influencing their feelings like this? Some sort of power? Or do they just believe they're being punished and... just end up punishing themselves?

[ What a strange place. Then again, the people here certainly feel all righteous and everything for no other reason than just being here.

Could the orbs be influencing this or is it just a hell of their own making? ]

[firstroar]

It... [hm. give him a second to consider.]

I couldn't say for certain, I'm afraid. The sheer volume of people...it'd be like trying to trace a single sliver of string in an ocean.

I can say none feel...coerced or...conditioned to feel this way, beyond their own understandings and expectations. The ones I've brushed up close...they're still uniquely themselves, despite sharing similar anxieties.

[hatejakku]

[ Huh. Weird. ]

Just another reason to combine the two, then, I guess. They'll have access to their loved ones on this side, feel less guilty about being where they are... Should help them feel better, right?

[ shrug emoji ]

[firstroar]

[...]

I don't know, Finn. Will it erase the trauma? Is it...right for us to?

I...I don't know...

[hatejakku]

[ ... ]

I don't either.

I want to help, but... it's hard to know where the line is, huh?

[firstroar]

I know I've said so before, but... We won't know...what good we've done...until it's over.

Trust your good heart, Finn. I do.

[hatejakku]

[ He doesn't trust his heart all that much but... he trusts in other things. ]

And I trust you.

[firstroar]

[...]

Be safe, Finn.

I will be, too.