Reckless or not, You managed to challenge and slightly terrify the strongest faction on Numara. That in and of itself is a high achievement.

But no, You didn’t try to negotiate, though I doubt the URC would’ve entertained the notion. They desire supremacy, not alliances.

If I were to guess the reason of this decidedly positive change in Your demeanor, I would guess that being taken down several pegs might’ve changed Your perspective on things. Or perhaps something has fundamentally changed about what You are.

And… if Errant Signal starts asking about You then I will try to convey that You appear genuine. Even if I cannot relay the specifics on why until later. Promises are binding after all.

But it is interesting... now that You mention it. From my, extensive understanding, the URC does not know that You are still alive. Even though She ought to…

I think I have a theory, but I would like the opportunity to develop it further and check other sources before offering it.

Unfortunately, this ‘darkest color’ You are referring to has already bought their privacy, and it is wide-reaching.

What I can say is… the URC has not accepted any new executives, preferring to set up Contractor positions for those they deem ‘useful.’

And that <Old Shadow> is the codename that the URC uses to diagnose unusual electronic errors. Seeing as these files might find their way into the hands of… less initiated personnel, many codewords are used in place of proper terminology, in order to keep said personnel blind to the larger picture.

But let’s move onto Your other questions, shall we?

First the ones ‘Of Little to No Worth:’
>Clocks, Time, and Space.
We Beings are native to the Beyond, a sort of ‘place between places.’ It never really had any form or boundaries, nor any way to properly ‘define’ it. Things just sort of happened. The only element one could use to track our history were events recorded in relation to other events. A ‘moment by moment’ record, if You will. Events like when a new Being formed, or when another was annihilated, would be cobbled together into a ‘flow’ of sorts. I’m afraid that I can’t really give You much on those moments because I had formed at a much later point.

Needless to say, at some moment before I had formed, other Outer Beings had found ways to Infiltrate other worlds. Results were usually mixed.

Occasionally a Being found a world so suited to their needs, that they would claim it and bar others from entry. The Abyss being the most historic example.

Numara on the other hand was a world rich with mortals and other resources.

It was far from the first world to be discovered with sapient life, but Numara was the most developed by far, as many other worlds were claimed while their ‘Inner Beings’ were still in infancy, and could be sculpted to suit their new master’s needs.

What Numara had, that other worlds did not, was advanced mathematical and navigational techniques.

Even if they were ‘rudimentary’ by modern standards, the fact that the mortals on Numara created vast carefully measured structures that could chart the motion and distance of the heavens themselves provided a much greater barrier than other worlds had. Back in those times we Outer Beings had to worry about hourglasses and water clocks, as they could precisely and consistently track the flow of time.

Because when time and space are properly recorded, we as Outer Beings cannot exist.

In most scenarios, being around a working clock, even if it does not display the correct time will hurt You, because even then it is recording the passage of every second.

Worse yet, if a mortal is there to observe its record, then the effects are magnified ten-fold and the mortal themself will be very difficult to interact with. If You are Potent enough, then You will be able to endure for a while, if not…

Well, there is a reason why Numara hasn’t been fully claimed, and the URC aren’t the first to try.

Precise measurements of space can have a similar effect, but it is harder to pull off.

If You aren’t careful You can be annihilated by either force.

I am told that it is a very slow and painful process.

>Her abilities.
She is very old by Outer Being standards, and the main ability She has been perfecting is extending Her reach from the Abyss into other worlds.

She does so through wounds.

Be that the physical wounds of a mortal, wounds in architecture, or a wound in one’s self.

It’s why She favours the mirror so greatly.

Mortals often inflict the worst wounds on themselves when looking into it. Any doubts they might have in themselves, their abilities, appearance, etc.

Any can be made into a doorway for Her if the wound is allowed to grow and fester.

And if She is not impeded by space, time, or other form of interference, She can make even the most minor scrape rot and widen.

While this ability is somewhat lessened when used on other Outer Beings, She will win any struggle if it comes down to attrition. And Her vast age has made Her very Potent especially in Her domain.

There are only a handful of Beings that have been able to properly match Her in a confrontation. But most of those Beings are either elsewhere, or… different.

>The Names, Titles, ((and Colors)) of Beings you can share.
Hmm…

I can probably give you an outline of the major players here on Numara, if You don’t have a particular individual in mind:
- There is myself of course; Avenue, though I also go by the names ‘System Itself,’ ‘Contractor SI’, ‘Avalon Utilities and subsidiaries,’ and on rare occasions ‘Unwinding Thread.’
((color=#128e58))

- You of course know Grey Gash. She has started to go by the name ‘Lovely’ recently, Her very first name if my sources are to be believed.
((color=#8d8d8d))

- Then there is Hanging Garden, better known by the name ‘Warden Oak’ or ‘Contractor Oak.’
((color=#128e58))

- And of course one cannot forget the most popular Being (that I’m allowed to talk about) among mortals. Kind Eye, or the name He is more commonly known by ‘Aldemire.’ Though before that name He primarily when by ‘The Light’ or just ‘Light.’
((color=#f5ac0b))

- There is also Memoria, a more recent player that is starting to make headway under the name ‘Contractor Stone,’ but I’ve also heard Her go by the name ‘Last Twilight.’
((color=#ffffff))

- Finally there is also The Wrong Step, a Being about as old as me, but He came to Numara a long while after I did. He goes by the names ‘Wrong Foot’ and ‘Other Word.’ Bit of free advice, don’t trust a single thing He says.
((color=#3cff30))

There are others Outer Beings present in both Numara and the Beyond that I know about, but if I were to list them all now, then we’d end sitting here for all eternity.

If I’m not mistaken, that leaves You with three more questions ‘Of Moderate Worth.’

But feel free to save them for later, if You’d want to do Your own investigations first.

>((Relay in banked tone.))
Does this do anything?

Wh-

W-what?

Oh, was that our first successful mimicry?
Could you not tell it was us? I'm wondering if it would be useful for spreading misinformation... I'd want to ask you to not share that we can do it, if it did work well enough to fool you. I suppose we'd have to pay for that privacy, wouldn't we.

>>134115
We don't know either! Experimenting is fun! Neat idea, you know Errant well, could you tell, at all, that that wasn't Errant. If not, can we, posing as Errant, Promise, to Grey Gash, that we are not actually there? (because We aren't)

>>134119
I feel like that's unlikely to work; Lovely is a very perceptive Being, as shown by the information given to us by Avenue.

That is, she would be able to tell that Errant is still there. It would confuse her greatly, and she might even realize that it was a false voice.
...we *could* try mimicking someone who gives her orders, and tell her to call off the hit. It would delay her for longer, at least?

((>>134126
we don't have anyone else's voice I don't think, well quick way to find out which voices we have))
((send these to ourself rather than to Avenue))
test test test test test test test test test
((any ones we do not have just use our normal voice instead))

I-if You weren’t before me right now I-

…

This… this is something that will cost a lot to keep secret.
And You should keep it secret.

The fact that You can-

...so perfectly…

And You don’t know how You did it?!

No.

Your scheme wouldn’t work because all She would need to do is ask who sent the message.

And Your ‘mimicry’ would be found out immediately.

...

I’m starting to see why She has Her eye on You.

>Attempted Mimicry. Improper Resonance.
>(Return to regular tone?)
>(Relay in banked tone?)

((test test test test test test test test test))

Oh!

Speaking of Her...

You have a reply to that last message, but it wasn’t really a verbal one.

It was more of a stern look followed by a sigh.

Not really a friendly gesture, but for Her it was very restrained.

And She has stated that ‘This conversation has run its course.’

I don’t believe that She will be Communing with You any further at this moment.

It is like we got this big-ass switchboard, but none of them are labeled and they are all interconnected. (switch one and it could make all the other switches do different things) Occasionally I like to try flipping some randomly to see if something neat happens! Apparently I found the 'copy ((Mimicry))his((/Mimicry)) voice' combo. ((Though some part of me feels like the power is somehow tied to me as a Fragment, If someone else could try I would appreciate it.))

Also what do you mean by 'here' you said most Beings can't be multiple places very good, but I think we are here and with our Vessel, is that normal? I don't feel we are very physically 'here' but we are physically with the Vessel, as you know it was a whole deal.

Alright… I think I understand.
Whatever caused Your amnesia, be it a broken Promise or not, has also overwritten whatever basic instincts You had.

Though it seems like some of those instincts returned when You became separated from Your Vessel.

I imagine this ‘mimicry’ would’ve been vital to Your survival in the Beyond after You first formed.

I wouldn’t think that it is a new ability, but You’ve been defying a lot of my previous expectations.



And if I were to guess what You mean by ‘here’...

I am an Outer Being that is fully capable of existing in multiple places at once, physically or otherwise.

You on the other hand…

It’s more like You are ‘reaching out’ in a less physical manner. Though I can certainly imagine that You were once able to exist in multiple physical spaces as well.

Whether You still can…

Well, it would require some experimenting on Your part.

We can't fool Lovely and she doesn't want to talk anymore, which means all we can do is relay information to Errant.
...or maybe we can do something with our strange connection to Ashley? I don't get why we can see what she's doing but are unable to communicate or interact. How would we even make the attempt...? (it's not like we have a standard format for actions, and in the disthread everything seems to be directed at other Beings instead of the area around our body)
Wait, what about other Beings...
Can you send messages to Aldemire? I'm wondering if he would be willing and able to help. Relay this if so:
"A friend of ours is being pursued by Grey Gash, can you help us?"

...can we afford to buy secrecy about the mimickry? If not, I guess we'll just have to hope nobody asks about it. I presume we don't need to pay you to prevent you from immediately telling the URC about it, since I don't think you want the URC to know we're still alive (they would likely kill us)... I guess only Lovely and the darkest color are a concern. How much would it cost to keep it from them, specifically? Or just the darkest color?

Well I was hoping to wait on this one a little longer till I could more directly prove the potential threat, and then offer this deal as a show of peace, but now with us paying you on the table when I feel we should hold the leverage...

In exchange for a Promise from you not to knowingly reveal this capability, we can Promise not to knowingly attempt to use this 'Mimicry' to cause you to unintentionally break a Promise.

You are a clever Being, I am sure you realize the existential threat this ability could pose to you specifically. I would guess protection against a credible threat of assassination would have... rather high value to you. Enough that I could probably attach a number of additional demands to this Promise, but I am not. I do, however, request, (not demand) if it can be told, what the terms of your Promise(s) of privacy to the darkest color are.

Also when relaying messages you seem to talk in other's colors, how is that different from our 'Mimicry'?

>>134138
Did you just threaten Avenue? Doesn't seem like a good idea.

You’re bluffing…

This ‘mimicry’ of Yours is impressive, but I don’t believe that You can break another Being’s Promise.

But if You want to play hardball, fine-
I’ll bite.

What’s stopping me from revealing Your existence to the URC, and have this little cycle repeat itself?

Because if I receive the knowledge that You are a very real and active force… then such information would be considered ‘common knowledge.’

And I know just Who to ask.

So if You’re willing to make such pointed assertions, then I have to wonder…

How much do You value Your ongoing existence?

But it seems that not all of You agrees on this course of action.

So maybe we should both take a step back.

I could certainly convey messages to both Errant Signal and Aldemire, but the mortal would be more difficult.
Most of the devices they are using are experiencing ‘technical difficulties.’

And seeing as this message is going to a valued contact, I will wave the regular fees.

Message Sent.

Normally if one of my clients were to threaten myself or my business they would…
...find many grievances leveled against them.

But seeing as we’re not doing that, I’ll ask You.

How much is my silence worth?

>>134146
You'll have to be more specific.

Well, seeing as You’re being very civil about it.

This ‘mimicry’ ability could be rather… dangerous to the natural discourse on Numara. As it lets You copy another Being’s Resonance entirely.

While I can merely relay the messages I am given, nothing more nothing less.

Your ‘mimicry’ can give you a very significant edge in some interactions, so long as it remains secret.

So how much is that advantage worth to You?

>>134148
Okay, well, the thing is once we start using it, Beings will catch on fast and take countermeasures. Any advantage we can get will be temporary, and on top of that, any major use of the ability will likely result in a search for who is responsible and that could lead to us being discovered and killed. The only long term use I can think of would be for inconsequential communication with Beings associated with the URC without revealing we still exist.
In the short term we could maybe use it to protect Errant from Grey Gash, or to trap the darkest color by making them think they gave a Promise to someone else, but in fact it was to us. Sadly I'm not sure who the darkest color would bother making Promises to, so that use has serious issues.
These uses make it valuable, but I wouldn't put that much value on it just from that, considering I know you won't spill the beans before Errant is safe. Like, one moderate question?

Another use of it could be... deception as part of a larger plan, but we don't have enough information to really plan around the actions of other Beings.

So, I have an offer. In exchange for some measure of secrecy on our ability to mimic, we can work for you. You can come up with a plan that uses the ability, and we can execute it. I'm aware that we don't know what your greater plans and aspirations are so it's possible we'd be helping you do something we disagree with, but you are one of our only allies right now so I'm willing to take that chance.

>>134146
You misunderstand, I don't force you to, I would trick you into it. Unless this ability is common, I can pose as someone else, get you to say something to the me posing as them that you can't say to me but could say to them. We currently have no reason to do this to you. The promise would just make sure it doesn't matter if we got reason to in the future, you threatening to reveal it would likely provide just such a reason.
>What’s stopping me from revealing Your existence to the URC, and have this little cycle repeat itself?
Nothing, other than making that deception a priority, if only as a way to take you down with me.
>How much do You value Your ongoing existence?
Less than you probably think, but more than I could. If I die, I don't have to worry about anything anymore, If nothing else it ought to be a novel experience. My story would end, but it would have closure.
This was not to be a threat, but an offer keep that potential threat from ever being a problem for you. The original plan was to be like 'you thought we were that guy but it was really us, and this is a thing we could have done but didn't' along with a Promise not to in the future, along with a Promise from you not to share the ability, but the time table was accelerated when us paying you for that promise went on the table.

Your discourse is very polarizing.

But more agreeable part of You does bring up an important point.

I wouldn’t have a reason to reveal this secret, if it was being used by someone who was working for me, or better yet someone I would consider an ally.

Though right now, Your age (or lack thereof) is showing. I have dealt with shackdowns and I will not be intimidated by the likes of You.

But how about this:
I take one of Your questions ‘Of Moderate Worth’ back, as collateral, and I offer a small job for You.

Nothing binding, just a little arrangement.

For some reason Lovely wants to keep You around. I want to find out why. If You can bring that reason to me, then I will trade a Promise of my secrecy (and perhaps a bit more) for it.

It will also should serve as a good foundation for us, if You want to solidify a solid ‘working relationship’ with me.

Share the details of this agreement with anyone else, or try to ‘mimic’ me, and the deal is off.

Sound fair?

Ah, He’s gotten back to You.

*Ahem*

‘Unfortunately, I cannot act if She is the one harrying You. If I interfere with Her or the business of Her allies they resume the extermination of my followers. But I will try hold Your friend in my thoughts. I’m sorry that I cannot do more.’

I would hold out much hope, the URC did quite a number to Him.

>>134152
If you do not fear that possibility then all that is moot and you have no need of my promise, though I expect it to be plenty expensive should you change your mind later *shrug*.
The small job seems reasonable, I'll accept that.
>>134153
Would what happened to Light be a medium question?

>>134152
Sure. Too bad we can't just ask her right now.

Hmm, you didn't list Compression Knot in that list before, can we get a description of them?

((I believe I know why we have Etzil's Resonance. We have consumed his life fluids. So now I wonder can we copy our mortal's Resonance.))

Ima try to Mimic myself. ((Mimicry))Is this any different?((/Mimicry)) or this for that matter.

Then it appears we have an accord for now.

And forgive me, but I’m not really in the mood to answer Your questions, Fragment.

As for You I’d be happy to help. Unfortunately I don’t have much to tell.

Compression Knot has no names, only It’s Title. As I mentioned before, Potency can be cultivated by one willing to spend enough time and focus. Compression Knot has done so since It first formed, and is a social and political non-entity.

The only thing It seems to do (beyond developing more Potency) is answer the call of mortals.

It has effectively become a rule that anything sealed by Compression Knot will not open. Full stop.

I’ve only gotten three words from It:
‘Leave,’ ‘Go,’ and ‘Away.’

As I said, You’d have better luck talking to a wall.

>Attempted Mimicry.
>Relaying in regular tone:
Is this any different? Or this for that matter.

No.

>>134162
K then. Guess I'll let you and Unnamed Fragment talk, I'll try to stick to observations. But I'll give you this: Our identities are largely what we decide them to be, such that >>134166

I can be unnamed too.

((Not sure why it took me so long to notice the reptile theme Avenue has. It's a dragon that hoards information, basically. It has shapes for scales.))
((here's a theory on why we can mimic Errant Signal and no one else: we absorbed some of his life fluids))

>>134163
Alright... I'm still not sure how we can help Errant. You know almost everything we do and more, do you have any suggestions? ...maybe we could send Errant instructions on how to summon us(wait, do we even know our own ritual?!), which he could then tell the mortal, which would let us help directly? I'm not sure what we could do even if we were there... I guess we could give Errant some of our life fluids. Or recklessly stand in Lovely's path.

((>>134167 see >>134156 -_- glad we agree though.))
Rituals take time to set up, and we probably want Ashley to finish the one they are currently about to start (Which I think is almost certainly to summon Compression Knot)
((I suspect the seals he places are like the Gordian Knot, impossible to undo or 'pick apart' but if you just physically destroy the seal or 'cut it' it has no resistance. However, that is why our Vessel's is made of wood planks, harder to physically defeat, and why the better the bonds on the seal the better, not to better keep Grey Gash out, but to better prevent it or Ashley from accidentally defeating it physically.))
((The '5 seconds' instruction is to keep Ashley from seeing him and give him 5 spaced events to do work in))

Avenue I would like to send a message to our friend, feel free not to send it if you do not feel the concern I bring up is justified. The message: Careful not to go too loud with your "loud blare", ruptured eardrums are a thing and sound like they would be just as lethal as a bruise.

((I think these >>/moo/5138 >>/moo/5139 symbols could be good inquiries, I would ask myself, but as he said, he was not interested in my questions, so you would have to ask them b1b4))

((where did you find all these hidden symbols?))

((The Symbol and the Way were discovered in Chapter 1; See Coming to Terms with the New Way 3/11 and 5/11))

((>>/questarch/969354 and >>/questarch/969352 for the two most recent symbols
>>/moo/5081 from earlier came from >>/questarch/961574))

I'll just ask more directly; what can you tell us of Fractile Joints?
How valuable would additional knowledge of Ways be? I believe you saw we found six of them, then one more.

Unfortunately, I do not know the specifics of Your ritual, as it wasn’t a focus of the URC’s investigation. But I would safely say that it would involve Your symbol in some way.

Though if I were to compare the Potence of You and Compression Knot, It would come out on top.

Information on Fractile Joints would be a question ‘Of Little to No Worth.’ Seeing as He is little more than a floating corpse now.
((#ff937a))

As for Ways, they have no value to me. They act as foci for mortals that can project their consciousness into the Beyond or other worlds. Meaning that this Vessel of Yours is a rare find, but not unique.

Message Sent.

so >>/moo/5139 would be Fractile Joints's symbol? Do you know what >>/moo/5138 this might be?

That is indeed His symbol.

But again, I don’t put much value into Ways, so I cannot say which one that is. They are as common as sand in a desert.

Interesting that an information collector like you wouldn't even keep a passing list of them. I am willing to bet some Ways are more, hmmm... Potent? Effective? Efficent? Common? than others. If nothing else it is a missed oprotunity to potentaly sell us infomation.

If it makes you feel any better, I Promise my offer was intended to be massively in your favor. In my 'eyes' I was offering to take a large threat I could pose to you off the table in exhange for you takeing the relitively smaller threat you could pose off the table.
It proved to be a swing and a miss, for which I appologize.

I do not keep a list of them because that list is ever changing as Ways appear and diminish with the ebb and flow of thought.

There is only one Being that willing to deal in that information and She is my direct competitor. My general practice is to deal in mortals, not with them.

What I do not understand is why You in particular wish to provoke me.

>>134188
The Promise was to show my goal hadn't been to provoke, I honestly thought I was giving you a good deal.

Please feel free to tell me where my logic went wrong.
You collect information.
I still do not know if you have even a passing list of Ways, and I did not previously know any reason you wouldn't have such a list.
I am still willing to bet there is meaningful difference between Ways even if they come and go, but it is not your area of expertise I now gather.
Not having that information meant you could not sell it to us.

Yes there are two (intended) subtle jabs at what I think you pride yourself on, but can you tell me they were false or came entirely out of the blue? We had not made any Promises of secrecy before meeting you, you know all we have seen and experienced, if, possibly, not quite all we have thought.
I didn't know she also dealt extensively in information till now, nor that she might have a sort of specialty beyond basically being the Beyond. Likewise I had thought that Ways, even if numerous, were at least relatively stable. We gave you what we know, if it isn't there when would we have learned it?

I don't particularly want to provoke you, but you seemed unfairly upset with me and I am a little spiteful. Also, most everything you say generally includes something new that we didn't already know.

>>134188
Hmm, Laybrinthine being a useful contact for our mortal, as well as being unaffiliated with the URC (if she was, she would've told the URC we're alive while she was pissed at us) means that we really should get on her good side.

Is there any chance that anything we say here can be overheard? Some of our initial conversations here were interrupted, but I'm not sure if that's because we said some sensitive words, or if they were listening from the start.

>>134190 More pointedly this sequence: >>132807 >>132808 >>132811 >>132812 for example

>>/quest/979593 >>/quest/979595 >>/quest/979599
Avenue, I'm scared.

*Sigh*

I have tried to keep a shadow list of Ways, and for reasons I will not disclose, the attempt was a failure, and for said reasons I will not attempt to create this shadow list again.

If it would help smooth over this little disagreement between us, then I am willing to provide You with my cursory knowledge about Ways, but I cannot give any specific examples.

And while I won’t dissuade You from doing business with Her, I would warn You not to trust Her, especially in Her domain.

Many take Her civil facade at face value, and forget that She annihilated many in order to cement Her position as ruler of the Beyond.

The place where all Beings first form.

WHY IS HE FIGHTING HER?!?!?? HE NEEDS TO GET BACK BEHIND THE WARD!!!

(to Errant) .-.. .- ... - ... - .-. .. -. --. --. --- -... .- -.-. -.- .. -.

((>>134196 LASTSTRINGGOBACKIN))

What’s happening?

Is He alright?!

>>134208
Barely. He's back behind the ward, but looks like he lost a lot of life fluids- or did he? We have no point of reference, and Ashley said its gritty like sawdust, which reminds me of the analogy of him eating electricity being like sawdust. He says he's almost suffocating though, so... not in the best shape.
I guess that means our Promise was kept.

You said a Being can just sit and focus to generate Potency, and Compression Knot has done nothing but that. Doesn't that mean Compression Knot hasn't eaten either? Maybe Errant Signal wants to follow that example. Or if that wasn't literal and even Compression Knot needs to eat... I wonder if he would accept life fluids given willingly. Like, ours, for instance.

((>>134209 Things like sweat are also life fluids, (this also includes sexual fluids but they have big logistical issues)))
((I know this from direct talks with Doors))
>>134208
He is for now, the door has been sealed. >>/quest/979800 >>/quest/979802

Good. The URC should leave him alone now.
It would be a waste of time and resources to try and break through one of Compression Knot’s wards. And even if they managed it, Errant will have recovered enough to avoid them.

But He’s definitely lost a lot of life-fluids.

He is safe from annihilation now, but knowing Him...

The recovery is going to be slow.

Though, You are right. He’s safe, and You’ve kept Your end.

Ask Your question.

You are kind of right. Compression Knot doesn’t have to consume nearly as much life-fluids as You or I. By spending all of Its moments in deep focus Compression Knot only has to feed in the rarest circumstance.

Occasionally mortals have incorporated life-fluids into their rituals to It, and that can tide It for much longer. And from what I understand It doesn’t take ‘handouts’ from other Outer Beings.

Funnily enough, it’s one of the reasons why there was such a push in Numara to popularize the pentagram and associate it with ‘the occult.’ By cutting off Its main source of life-fluids, some thought they could force Compression Knot into some sort of dialogue.

It hasn’t worked thus far.

And no… Errant wouldn’t be able to survive on that kind of ‘diet.’ He’s far too active.
And won’t stop interfering, even to His own detriment…

Also no, neither of those will count as Your question.

>>134231
It was a question of *any* significance...
How do we defeat the darkest color?

>>134232
What are step by step instructions, that we are likely to be able to follow, to beating the darkest color
((b1b4 missed oprotunity to ask 'what is everything you are at liberty to share with us' though Avenue didn't Promise to honor the verbal agreement so...))

That…

That’s going to take some digging on my part. I’ll have to find information that isn’t entangled with previous agreements…

I’m not sure how long that will take, but I should have something more when Your Vessel summons me.

But if I were to suggest a first step in the meantime…

Judging from that tidbit of information You provided; If She could be convinced that this ‘darkest colour’ was a problem -or better yet a threat- then they wouldn’t be able to flee from Numara if the local Outer Beings turned against them.

Just… be careful with Her.

She can be just as dangerous.

Is there anything else, or should I commence my investigation?

>>134235
what is the going rate of sending un-waived messages? and how are we supposed to get ahold of you to send them?

>>134235
Just to be clear, my intent is to remove their influence on our Vessel, on ourselves if there is any, and from our home, and make it unlikely we will be attacked again. Either without the URC getting involved, or with the URC on our side.
It doesn't have to result in killing the Being, if that was even a possibility to begin with.

>>134238
If we could force it to break Promises (possibly repeatedly) then annihilation should be possible, though we have no other confirmed methods of killing

Come by my office with Your Vessel, and we can set up a ‘data plan’ for both You and it. The rates will vary depending on how much coverage You want.

But if You want to contact me directly, feel free to ‘reach out’ like You’ve done here.

I will try to look into how one might ‘excise’ this ‘darkest colour’ from Your Vessel and domain. Just know that ‘killing’ is easy, annihilation is much harder.

But catching it in a bad Promise could go a long way towards that goal, if not annihilate it outright. Just… be careful.

Now, I better start looking into this matter, otherwise I won’t have much for You when we next meet.

I’ll keep Your remaining questions on file.

Until then.

Transmission End: >>/quest/979807

... .... . / ..-. . . .-.. ... / .--. --- .-- . .-. .-.. . ... ... .-.-.- / .-- . / -.-. .- -. / .... . .-.. .--. / .-- .. - .... / - .... .- - --..-- / .. / - .... .. -. -.- .-.-.- / .. ..-. / -.-- --- ..- / -.- -. --- .-- / --- ..- .-. / .-. .. - ..- .- .-.. --..-- / .--. .-.. . .- ... . / - . .-.. .-.. / .. - / - --- / .... . .-. .-.-.- / --- .-. --..-- / .-- . / -.-. .- -. / ... . -. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / .- / .-.. . - - . .-. / .-- .. - .... / --- ..- .-. / -... .-.. --- --- -.. / --- -. / .. - --..-- / .-- .... .. -.-. .... / ... .... . / -.-. .- -. / .. -. --. . ... - / - --- / -... . -.-. --- -- . / .- / ...- . ... ... . .-.. .-.-.-

((translation: She feels powerless. We can help with that, I think. If you know our ritual, please tell it to her. Or, we can send you a letter with our blood on it, which she can ingest to become a Vessel.))

((Given our ideal state is likely inhabiting all mortals we should learn from >>/questarch/969352 Fractile Joints' folly. Science is likely to continue measuring things with increasing precision, we are going to need to, as a long term goal, figure out how to co-exist with that. We may be able to slow the progress of that on Numara, but not halt it, as Fractile learned as their last lesson.))
((OK as a mind altering Being we may actually be able to stop it (assuming 100% Vessel rate) but that wouldn't be very Empathy of us))

>>134273
((the solution is simple. *don't* inhabit every mortal. Leave a portion of the population free to do their scientific research in allotted areas, and establish most of our territory as off-limits to things like clocks and rulers. Of course, it's also possible that by taking residence inside mortals, we are more resistant to the harmful affects of measured space and time. Like a layer of insulation.))

((>>134275 <- you didn't (()) that.
No the measurements will increasingly be measuring all things, always. A automated drone with it's camera is measuring distance AND time accurately, we could effectively be suppressed by mass automated drones should they ever decide they want more space, or some splinter group just decides they don't like us. A small group is what ultimately took down Joints.))

((To Errant)) .-- .... .- - / -.. .. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / -- . .- -. / .-- .... . -. / -.-- --- ..- / ... .- .. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / - --- --- / .-- . .- -.- / - --- / ..-. .. --. .... - / -.-. .-.. --- -.-. -.- .-.-.- / .. / -.--. ..-. .-. .- --. -- . -. - -.--.- / .... .- ...- . / -.-. --- -- . / - --- / - .... . / .-. . .- .-.. .. --.. .- - .. --- -. / - .... .- - --..-- / .-.. --- -. --. / - . .-. -- --..-- / .--. .-. . -.-. .. ... .. --- -. / -- . .- ... ..- .-. . -- . -. - ... / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -... . -.-. --- -- . / -- --- .-. . / .- -. -.. / -- --- .-. . / .--. .-. --- -... .-.. . -- .- - .. -.-. / .. ..-. / .-- . / -.-. .- -. / -. --- - / ..-. .. -. -.. / .- / .-- .- -.-- / - --- / -.-. --- -....- . -..- .. ... - / .-- .. - .... / - .... . -- .-.-.- / .... --- .-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / - .... . -.-- / -.- -. --- .-- / ... .... . / -.- -. --- .-- ... ..--.. / .. ..-. / ... .... . / .-- --- .-. -.- ... / ...- .. .- / -. .- -. --- -....- -- .- -.-. .... .. -. . ... / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / .. - / -... . / -.-- --- ..- / .-- --- .-. -.- / .-- .. - .... / - . -.-. .... / ...- .. .- / -.-. --- ... -- .. -.-. / .-. .- -.-- ... ..--..
((What did you mean when you said you too weak to fight Clock. I (fragment) have come to the realization that, long term, precision measurements will become more and more problematic if we can not find a way to co-exist with them.
How would they know she knows?
If She works via nano-machines could it be you work with tech via cosmic rays?))

((also to Errant)) Heh, we technically are aliens, never thought about it that way.

>>134277
((no, a camera doesn't measure distance. They just take pictures, which is essentially the same as human observation. Tools need to be meant to measure distance to count, obviously, otherwise literally every object measures time via molecular motion etc. It's clearly a conceptual, knowledge-based thing. Like as if the only observation that counts is the ability of a human to know what time it is or how a space is defined by looking at a glance. Remember what Avenue said. "when time and space are properly recorded". That doesn't include most pictures, since they're not recording space, but the appearance of objects from a particular angle. And those objects obstruct vision. You'd probably have to take a tape measure to everything in a room in order for that space to be "recorded".
Anyway, yes, the mortals could fight us. Fractile Joints dismissed the threat, ignored it. We would not ignore it, and we would vastly outnumber the hostiles. The thing about having mortal Vessels is we can use guns and other long range weaponry! My impression is that Beings need to be pretty close to things to affect them, which means that humans can set up measured spaces or clocks to fend them off. Can't fend off a rocket propelled grenade that way, and the anti-Being effects of measurement can't be that deadly from that far away. Plus we can probably manage to make tanks and shit that can be piloted by Vessels, for real heavy warfare. Mortals are not as big a threat to us as they would be other individual Beings, it's other Beings we have to worry about the most since we can't set up anti-Being measurement effects to protect our Vessels and without that protection, the only way for a mortal to survive is to seal themselves off like the two mortals we're familiar with already.
also I'm not gonna shove double parenthesis around the goddamn post link that's so meta it hurts))

>>134279
((we already know about why Errant needed the clock app to be deleted so I'm not sure why you're asking.
I don't understand that second question, it seems to lack context.
I really doubt attempting to explain Beings via science is possible at all so why are you bringing up Tom's stuff? Errant is just gonna tell us that none of that's true. But if you want to hear it from him I guess that's fine.
Why didn't you encode that last message in morse?))

((>>134280
>I'm not gonna shove double parenthesis around the goddamn post link that's so meta it hurts
>>132910 shows it can be seen, so if we are actively talking with a Being please do should all of what you say in reference to the post link be in (()) or if all of the linked post is in (()). If any of both messages are related and not it (()) it is fine. The goal is to avoid empty 'blinking'.
>Why didn't you encode that last message in morse?
Because It was supposed to be readable by Ashley. If you are thinking it wasn't that well thought out, you wouldn't be wrong. However, the idea that Beings are aliens has already been put forth by Tom, agreeing with him gives no Ashley no new information, only corroborates it.
>we already know about why Errant needed the clock app to be deleted so I'm not sure why you're asking.
Yea I phrased it poorly, I was asking with the intent of how would you use that strength to fight it.
>I don't understand that second question, it seems to lack context.
How would Beings know she knew the truth about Beings to make her never safe. You are right, it is vague, I blame writing these things up around midnight.
>I really doubt attempting to explain Beings via science is possible at all [...]
Possible, probable, even, but I have a theory that more rigorously measurable effects have more resistance to the effects of measurement. In other words the more scientifically based a method of achieving an effect is; the more resistant it is to things like clocks.
>no, a camera doesn't measure distance. [...]
Yea people running around with video cameras probably not an inherent threat. That is why I mentioned drones specifically. Unlike humans' fuzzy, error prone cognition, a drone would be algorithmically processing based on exactly X time between frames, as well as calculating numeric distances to things the camera sees to pass to its algorithms or even using like infrared or sonar to directly measure distance.
The measuring necessities of autonomous aircraft are high, small errors easily lead to crashing.

GPS satellites must be an absolute nightmare with their precision))

((Amending/changing >>134279))
((To Errant)) .-- .... .- - / -.. .. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / -- . .- -. / .-- .... . -. / -.-- --- ..- / ... .- .. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / - --- --- / .-- . .- -.- / - --- / ..-. .. --. .... - / -.-. .-.. --- -.-. -.- --..-- / .- ... / .. -. / .... --- .-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. -..-. -.. --- / -.-- --- ..- / ..-. .. --. .... - / .. - .-.-.- / .. / -.--. ..-. .-. .- --. -- . -. - -.--.- / .... .- ...- . / -.-. --- -- . / - --- / - .... . / .-. . .- .-.. .. --.. .- - .. --- -. / - .... .- - --..-- / .-.. --- -. --. / - . .-. -- --..-- / .--. .-. . -.-. .. ... .. --- -. / -- . .- ... ..- .-. . -- . -. - ... / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -... . -.-. --- -- . / -- --- .-. . / .- -. -.. / -- --- .-. . / .--. .-. --- -... .-.. . -- .- - .. -.-. / .. ..-. / .-- . / -.-. .- -. / -. --- - / ..-. .. -. -.. / .- / .-- .- -.-- / - --- / -.-. --- -....- . -..- .. ... - / .-- .. - .... / - .... . -- .-.-.- / .... --- .-- / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / - .... . -.-- -.--. ..- .-. -.-. -..-. -... . .. -. --. ... / .. -. / --. . .-. -. . .- .-.. -.--.- / -.- -. --- .-- / ... .... . / -.- -. --- .-- ... / - .... . / - .-. ..- - .... / .- -... --- ..- - / - .... . -- ..--.. / .. ..-. / ... .... . / .-- --- .-. -.- ... / ...- .. .- / -. .- -. --- -....- -- .- -.-. .... .. -. . ... / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / .. - / -... . / -.-- --- ..- / .-- --- .-. -.- / .-- .. - .... / - . -.-. .... / ...- .. .- / -.-. --- ... -- .. -.-. / .-. .- -.-- ... ..--.. / -.- -. --- .-- .. -. --. .-.. -.-- / --- .-. / -. --- - .-.-.- / -.-- --- ..- / ... .- .. -.. / .- / -... .. - / -... .- -.-. -.- / -. . .- .-. / - .... . / ... - .- .-. - / --- ..-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .. -. - . .-. .- -.-. - .. --- -. / .-- .. - .... / .- ... .... .-.. . -.-- / - .... .- - / -.-- --- ..- / .-..-. -. . . -.. / .- / .-- .- -.-- / -... .- -.-. -.- .-.-.- .-..-. / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / - .... .- - / -... . / -... .- -.-. -.- / - --- / .- -... -... --- - .----. ... / .-. --- --- -- ..--.. / .. ..-. / ... --- --..-- / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / .- ... .... .-.. . -.-- / ... ..- -- -- --- -. / ..- ... --..-- / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / -.-- --- ..- / ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .-- / ..- ... / -... .- -.-. -.- / - --- / .- -... -... --- - ..--.. / .-- . / ... . . -- . -.. / - --- / -..-. ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .-- -..-. / - .... . / ... .--. .... . .-. . ... / .. -. - --- / - .... . / -... . -.-- --- -. -.. / .-- .... . -. / .- -... -... --- - / ... ..- -- -- --- -. . -.. / - .... . -- .-.-.- / .- .-.. ... --- / .. ... / .. - / .--. --- ... ... .. -... .-.. . / ..-. --- .-. / ..- ... / - --- / - .- .-.. -.- / -- --- .-. . / -.. .. .-. . -.-. - .-.. -.-- / .- --. .- .. -. ..--.. / --- .-. / .-- --- ..- .-.. -.. / - .... . / -.. .- .-. -.- . ... - / -.-. --- .-.. --- .-. / -... . / .- -... .-.. . / - --- / .. -. - . .-. -.-. . .--. - / - .... .- - / .- --. .- .. -. ..--..
((What did you mean when you said you too weak to fight Clock, as in how would/do you fight it. I (fragment) have come to the realization that, long term, precision measurements will become more and more problematic if we can not find a way to co-exist with them.
How would they(URC/Beings in gerneal) know she knows the truth about them?
If She works via nano-machines could it be you work with tech via cosmic rays? Knowingly or not.
You said a bit back near the start of your interaction with Ashley that you "need a way back." Would that be back to Abbot's room? If so, should Ashley summon us, could you follow us back to Abbot? We seemed to /follow/ the Spheres into the Beyond when Abbot summoned them.
Also is it possible for us to talk more directly again? Or would the Darkest Color be able to intercept that again?))

((Also to Errant (Intended to be readable by Ashley and a separate message))) Heh, we technically are aliens, never thought about it that way.

((>>/quest/971157
>But they gave me a new form -a new voice- without a second thought.
Figuring out more about this "new voice" may be interesting, especially as it seems possible Abbot is the one who bestowed it.
>And that same hunter, spoke to the hound-master and she let loose a mastiff that tore apart my only window inside, and much of my skin as well.
The hunter could be Grey Gash. the hound-master remains unknown, best guess Black or URC/URC's leader. The mastiff could be Hanging Garden. Assuming this is an abstract description of his eviction from Abbot's room.))

((>>134282
I don't really want to give Ashley information directly, seeing as how we're not aware of what types of information are dangerous.
Also I dunno if we can change what was already posted like that... but most of the changes are for clarification so maybe it'll work as an addendum, or maybe Doors will just be nice about it.))

((>>134284
even if it ends up a double post It will probably be fine, but I think because it hasn't been replied to Doors will be nice))

((Feel free to make whatever changes you wish, and I will try to use the most recent version for the mainthread update. So feel free to hammer out what you would like to post.))

((Next update will probably be on either Monday or Tuesday.))

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW DISTRACTING THAT IS?!

Look, I’ll try to answer Your questions but every moment I am here I will not be able to react there.

Things that provide measurement to us, or the spaces that we occupy, hurt us. In most cases, if I see a clock I can either smash it or hide it. It still hurts but I can do it.

I can’t when I am this drained.

There is no way we can co-exist with such items, because they are literal poison.

As for how they can discover Ashley knows; They can coerce any thought or feeling from any mortal They have in Their grasp.

And She does not work via nanoscopic machines, She is real and She is dangerous. Tom is mistaken, seeing rationale where there isn’t any.

I don’t believe I would be able to ‘follow You back,’ even if I knew the way to summon You . I just need Abbot to set up a space of moderate size that is sheltered from view. But before that I will need to recover the life-fluids I’ve lost so I can return to my regular Potency.

I also don’t want to leave Ashley in the mess I created for her…

I will try to make contact with You once I am better able to, but until then, please only contact me when You need my help.

Transmission End: >>/quest/980805

((interesting that Errant had to leave Ashley to communicate directly here. I wonder what exactly "here" is, and why the URC hasn't checked to see if we're here.
also whoops, sorry ES. I was avoiding long morse messages on the hunch that they would be annoying, and I was right it seems))

>>134297
... --- .-. .-. -.-- --..-- / .. / .-- .- ... / -. --- - / .- .-- .- .-. . .-.-.-
((Sorry, I was not aware.))

((>>134303
He JUST said not to contact him unless we need his help!))

((>>134304
Short, no reply needed and [small] formatted. He doesn't need to come here and leave Ashley for this message. This is a 'got it' message and an apology
I have more I want to say, but bit my metaphorical tongue))
((Also we came through in our color on the TV; which was interesting, as there seemed to be no distinction when it was in text message form.))

>>/quest/978149
Wireless &Networks's background I think is Avenue's shapes, Sound & Display has Errant's oscilloscope, and Location & Security has Compression Knot symbol/seal. Neat.

((>>/quest/981008 I made explicitly sure this would be Promise safe with Doors. (Though he also said it might just do nothing.)

I think Ashley was someone who was previously infected. >>134100
>Fortunately, upon the neutralization of <Puppet> all infected assets returned to regular functionality.
They were then left alone but
>Under {CENSORED}’s order, all previously infected assets would be kept in ‘low-risk’ position, where they could be monitored, just in case.
))

((
Title: Icon
Names: <Puppet>
Notes: Us
color=#00ffff

Title: Avenue
Names: System Itself, Contractor SI, Avalon Utilities and subsidiaries, Unwinding Thread
Notes: Has a "storefront" in the hole under Abbot's bed (after entering "turn RIGHT, LEFT, LEFT, RIGHT") who's hours are when the drawer isn't present (unless "THE URC ARE BUSY WITH SOMETHING/ONE ELSE")
Him color=#128e58

Title: Grey Gash
Names: Lovely
Notes: The Drawer
Her color=#8d8d8d

Title: The Hanging Garden
Names: Warden Oak, Contractor Oak
Notes: Mercenary, Errant's ally? Etzil-"can’t always be there. Lest the URC get suspicious of Him as well."
Her color=#1e6620

Title: Kind Eye
Names: Aldemire, The Light, Light
Notes: Followers were extermined by Grey Gash and her allies, is not with the URC
Him color=#f5ac0b

Title: Memoria
Names: Last Twilight, Contractor Stone
Notes: N/A
Her color=#ffffff

Title: The Wrong Step
Names: Wrong Foot, Other Word
Notes: Avenue-"Bit of free advice, don’t trust a single thing He says"
Him color=#3cff30

Title: The Compression Knot
Names: N/A
Notes: Deals almost exclusively with mortals, has one of, if not the highest Potencys
It(?) color=#d17400

Title: He Who Waits in the Dark
Names: Errant Signal, Etzil, The Dark, possible name: <Old Shadow>
Notes: Avenue-'Labyrinthine sees him as a threat, Grey Gash is holding a grudge, and Greater Sphere, [unknown if Lesser Sphere holds same view] True Light, Memoria, and The Wrong Step see him as an "embarrassment"'
Him color=#c7ff00

Title: unknown
Names: unknown, being referred to as 'darkest color'
Notes: Seems to be Abbot's primary antagonist
Him color=#000000

Title: Labyrinthine
Names: unknown
Notes: Controller of the Beyond
Her color=#580046

Title: Greater and Lesser Spheres
Names: unknown, possible name: Contractor Twins
Notes: The Greater Sphere "rots and destroys" the Lesser Sphere "nurtures and protects" Avenue-"It/It prefers It/It's own company"
It/It Greater:color=#004186 Lesser:color=#0077de

Title: Ravenous Delights
Names: unknown
Notes: Some sort of manipulation effect so offerings are 'voluntary' can be countered by Evoking
Him color=#9d0f1f

Title: unknown
Names: True Light
Notes: Etzil-"the figure that embodies the watchtower"&"a deeply jealous and tyrannical ruler" now 'outshines' The Light
color=#5d0a00

Title: unknown
Names: Beholden
Notes: Etzil-"the one who is mesmerizing the entire apartment and surrounding blocks"&"They can coerce any thought or feeling from any mortal They have in Their grasp."
color=#e8cf00

Title: Screaming Edge
Names: unknown
Notes: Avenue-"[Labyrinthine's] main 'attack dog'"
color=#86e2c0

Other Colors of potential intrest color=#00ff6a color=#19452e color=#44ff00
))

((Life's just been a bit hectic lately, and I want to take some time to get everything back in order. I'll try to be back at the start of May.))

>>135330
Dang. See you then. Maybe some of the past readers can catch up so it's not just me and Thk!

>>135330
Sorry to hear it! At least I'll have some time to get my lore straight :)

Should we discuss our attack plan for the meat demon because that's kind of important.
One very important thing I wish to note is that we should not focus on physically attacking it at all. It's kind of an embodiment of the hunt and rage so I feel a physical fight would be in it's favor.
Maybe we can do something to attack it from a distance or perhaps use evoke on it in some way, either way we really need to prepare ourselves.

Belief 2021/09/17(Fri)19:45 No. 136233 ID: dfbac0
File 163193311804.png - (217.34KB , 496x351 , words game gif capture.png )

I took it upon myself to get a still shot of the sign.
I'm not sure what it fully means but it's here for any of you to make connections and also if any connections show up in the future.
Maybe it was us trying to gain a large number of acolytes by using the water supply?

Avenue told us we were about to take over an entire town by putting our essence in the water supply, but were stopped. I guess we must've successfully done it at least once before then.

>>136233
((Very good find! More information can be discovered depending on the direction the quest goes, but I will note that the name has appeared once earlier. Though the lettering is somewhat obscured.))

>>136234
((That is also a very good assumption given the information Avenue provided You.))