prismatica | text; un: camliax

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text; un: camliax

Greetings, fellow travelers! Or captives. Or whatever you choose to call this strange little commune we've found ourselves in.

I am Sypha, a Speaker and an adventuring scholar. I'm one of the crop of recent arrivals, so I thought it would make sense to introduce myself. Most people seem to use this board for personal advertisements and posing profound existential questions. This isn't...not that, but it's a bit of something different, too.

I'm looking for help with my scholarly pursuits, and I'd like to to learn more about this place. Specifically, how it used to be. I get the impression that very few records from that time have survived, if any at all, but if you know where to find information that could help me start to piece it all together, I would greatly appreciate the assistance from our city elders. 😉

If you don't have knowledge of primary sources, I'll also gladly listen to any local legends you might have heard. Strange as it seems, there may well be a grain of truth hidden in every off-the-wall story. Heck, if you have any boogeymen from your own worlds you're eager to chat about, I suppose I can listen to those stories, too! Not that studying can't be exciting, but it'd be nice to have something else to do while I'm here.

So! Ancient history, local legends, distractions from daily chaos...or perhaps other things you think may be important! If any of those sound like something you'd know about, and you're willing to share, I'm eager to collaborate.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This guy just prefers video to text so Sypha will just have to deal with his face.]

The Lunar Scientia Headquarters Library was mentioned. I am capable of providing assistance if you wish to access the entire collection.

[Ah, what the hell, she'll match him where he's at. There's a twinkle in her eyes at the notion of getting to access all of their collected knowledge.]

If you're able to, I could hardly turn you down. Do you happen to know if there's anything especially useful within the full collection?

[zaShunina is an information junkie who doesn't believe in "forbidden" knowledge okay. All information should be freely available to everyone regardless of who they are or the nature of said information.]

Useful is a subjective word. [One man's trash, another's treasure, etc.] Information regarding Prismatica pre-calamity is limited, even within the restricted archives of the Library.

I also possess a collection of literature stored in my assigned apartment that contains several books not available in the Lunar Scientia Headquarters Library, though none of the material is relevant to the topics you have mentioned. These are mostly reproductions of works from other worlds.

[Oh, she's gonna like you.]

Fair enough! That's still more than I have access to right now. It means a great deal that you'd offer.

And...what sort of works do you have your hands on in your house, exactly? Fiction?

[They should make a Prismatica-equivalent of wikileaks.]

The works in this collection do not possess an overall collective theme, but a number of them are fiction, yes. [It's a bit of everything; fiction, nonfiction, instruction manuals, encyclopedias, pamphlets... Anything that happened to catch his attention. He's actually run out of room in his apartment due to all the books, but it's not like he actually lives there, so...]

If you wish to peruse them, then I will give you a key.

[You won't BELIEVE what Vulpus does at his temple!

She thinks for a moment, bringing a hand up to her lip, then nods.]

I do. If nothing else, it should be interesting reading.

How do we want to do this, then? Grab some tea and head off to look at our reading for the day?

[She's still a little cautious, just because this guy's got a bit of a distant vibe to him and what he's offering is rather convenient, but people don't usually make malicious moves in public spaces. Besides, she can defend herself well enough, and it's not going to stop her from seeking out new and interesting things.]

If that is what you would like to do, then I consent. ["Distant" is an interesting way to describe him. He has his own reasons for being overly formal and precise in his wording, and while he'd be happy to explain to explain should she ask, she hasn't, so he won't.

Fortunately, he's also quite genuine despite his awkwardness.]

Please designate a meeting point.

[Designate a meeting point, huh? Yeah, he's a strange one, but at least he's not rude about it.]

Hm. Do you know of the tea shop on Level 3? It's small, but we should be able to find a space to sit and talk a while.

I do. [He nods.] Then I will meet you there when it is convenient for you.

[Even if they don't set a time, somehow he'll manage to be there exactly when she shows up.]

How's tomorrow afternoon, then? I don't have much of...well, anything going on.

[Thankfully, she's a planner, not exactly keen on detached arm man teleporting behind her in a tiny tea shop.]

[Psh, like he would. He's got much more efficient methods of killing a person than that were he so inclined. Fortunately, he isn't especially violent even on a bad day, and he has no reason whatsoever to harm her in any way.]

No conflicts exist for me, either. Tomorrow afternoon is acceptable.

Edited 2020-08-09 04:28 (UTC)

Then I suppose I'll be seeing you.

[And so she waits out the next afternoon in the soft ambient light of The Tea Kittle, cupping a hot mug of black tea in her palms and looking over at the bookshelves. Cozy little place, this is, and it's nice to just be, to have a moment of peace and fade into the chatter of the other patrons.]

["Afternoon" covers a pretty broad span of time, so zaShunina arrives precisely at 12:01 (because that technically counts as "after" noon) and had planned on simply waiting until she got there.

He says nothing as he takes the seat across from her, crossing his hands on the table in front of him once seated.]

I am Yaha-kui zaShunina. [Since he never got around to introducing himself yesterday. It's as good an ice-breaker as any.]

[Sypha perks up as she sees the stranger enter the shop, recognizes him as her stranger, and regards him curiously as he sits down in front of her, seeming...kind of blank and robotic. Um.]

I'm Sypha Belnades. It's good to see you.

[Well, she's not going to be rude about it. She'll give him a nod and a slight smile. Maybe he's just kind of shy?]

Dooooo you want any tea?

[Not shy, just... somewhat awkward. It should be obvious enough from his disembodied hands that he isn't human, at least.]

I have no particular desire for it, but if it would make you feel more comfortable for me to drink, then I will. [He waves down the barista to place an order (some sweet, fruity thing that can barely qualify as tea), and when she leaves to prepare it, zaShunina returns his attention to Sypha.]

Which information source would you like to investigate at this time? [He seems to realize after he says it that this might be a bit too vague.] The Lunar Scientia Headquarters Library restricted archives, or the collection in my possession?

[Oh yeah, the hands don't escape her notice. It's...kind of freaky. She didn't exactly catch them on video, so to learn that her collaborator is some not-exactly human hand creature is a little off-putting.

She's not going to throw him out at first blush because of that. Of course not. But it's not like she knows how to deal with him, either.]

Hm....well, you know more about your collection than I do. What do you think would make sense?

More information regarding Prismatica pre-calamity exists within the archives than in my collection. However, my collection contains a number of reproductions of literature from the worlds of origin of various Moonblessed that does not exist within the Lunar Scientia Headquarters library. [So it really comes down to which she's more interested in right now.

About that time, the barista returns with his drink, which he wastes no time getting to, picking up his cup to bring it to his lips.]

I can produce copies of the works held within the restricted archives, but this will take a measure of time to complete.

Well, I suppose we'd better get on that, then. Your archive shouldn't be going anywhere.

[Her eyes flicker down to his hands again as she sips her own tea. They really are independent of his body.]

But how is it that you're able to copy that information, anyhow? I can't imagine the Lunar Headquarters is exactly eager to give that out.

The information exists within me. [He says, sipping from his cup.] It would simply be a matter of transcribing this information into written form.

[That gets Sypha's attention.]

Storing information within yourself to hide it from those who'd strike you down for it. My family and I did the very same, back home! It's good to see those who follow our ways still thriving.

[Strange as this guy is, he seems like a kindred spirit. Maybe not a Speaker in name, but still one at heart.]

How much did you read into your memory stores?

[zaShunina cants his head at this exclamation, setting his cup back down in front of him.] No, that is not the reason--I simply desire information.

[But what she says about her family does make him curious. He will have to inquire on that when he gets the chance.]

I currently possess the contained information of the complete Lunar Scientia Headquarters Library as it exists in this moment. [It took him almost a year of near-continuous reading to get through it all, but he has read every book in the library.]

Fair enough. So do I.

[Oh well. A near miss, but closer than she's gotten with anyone else so far.

But holy shit, that's...a lot. Her eyes go wide in the middle of a sip of tea, harshly swallowed with an audible gulp down her throat. You're lucky you don't get it spit in your face.]

The entire collection?! How long is "a measure of time," exactly?

[Thank goodness for small blessings.]

If limited to only the restricted archives, a physical collection would require four-hundred eighty-six hours to transcribe. However, transferring the information to your communicator band in a digital format could be completed in twenty-seven seconds.

...wait. How are you doing that?

[Sypha looks back down at his limbs, then back to his face. Last she checked, most people can't psychically connect to their devices.]

The transfer, if it's all in your mind.

I understand that this would not be a simple matter for most humans. [he concedes, and then holds out his hand. Above his palm appears a small, floating square; fractal in nature, and perfectly flat with no depth whatsoever--like a hole in space.]

This is Kado. It is a boundary device and transforming mechanism that functions as an extension of myself. In simpler terms, you may think of it as a computer that is connected to my will. Information that exists in a non-physical form is easily transmissible using Kado.

[He extends his other hand, silently requesting her communicator.]

text; un: camliax

Video, un: anisotropic

video;

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video -> action?

Guess so!

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I want to apologise for how long this reply took.

no worries! happens sometimes

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lol

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Well that was long-winded. I apologize for him.