[text] @ Soldier; Belated Spirit Data-Dump [open, backdated slightly to 12/26]

[worthallthis]

[Christmas is over, gifts are delivered, and the Soldier finally has the time, completed set of intel, and mental space to do this. They've been working on editing it into something readable off and on for a couple weeks now.]

Posting at Cao Pi's request. Notes on the spirits from the town hall (thank you Misty) and after. For everyone to know. Collected from personal experience and from contact with one of the spirits that live outside the village who knows Morse Code. Words in quotes are direct quotes from contact. Conjecture labeled.


First point. Spirits know they made a mistake in attacking us. Said "we wrong, learn new". Spirits have different idea of danger. Spirits do not consider dying danger because we are all already dead. Conjecture: might not feel pain the same way we do either. Painful wounds did not hinder them during the attacks the way they would hinder one of us. So they did not understand that dying hurts us.

Second point. Green-eyed spirits are bosses of other spirits. Green-eyed spirits are "different" from the other spirits, called "good and bad" and "nasty". Green-eyed spirits give other spirits jobs. Attacking the ones who didn't eat was a job, called "good but hard". Some of them did not want to do it so they hid, said "scared too".

Sub-point. Talking to green-eyed spirits in person may not be viable. Daylight and I tried. They did not respond to spoken words or Morse Code except to grab us and try to separate us. Conjecture: talking to other spirits is a better option. They may be able to communicate with green-eyed spirits for us if need be. Maybe also wait for spirits to get back on network since that seemed to work for them during the attacks.

Third point. Spirits are dead like us. Nothing is actually alive here even if it looks alive. The world is dead, not just without light. Spirit said "All dead in dead world".

Fourth point. If the light comes back and we stop the World Eaters, the spirits will cease to be. Said "with light comes we die". Said "dead stay dead", "only live or only die, not both". Said not to be sad if they die. Was not upset at prospect of us stopping World Eaters, only curious. Said "What is death to a dead thing?" Conjecture: they may be former residents of Beacon with the purpose of stopping the World Eaters. Cannot move on until purpose complete and world freed?

Sub-point, also conjecture. This may also be true of us. Did not ask about that at the time. But if all dead things will cease to be if the world comes alive, and we are also dead things, then it could apply to us too.

Fifth point. Spirits want us to lead them. Said "Lead. Follow we." "All you choose" where and to what. Could not get a clearer answer on what that means. If people can talk to other spirits, they might have alternate ways of explaining that to help make clearer. Conjecture: this is important to our purpose here? Spirit was very firm in this.

That's what I have. Don't know if I can answer questions on details. But I will try.

Comments

[worthallthis]

Yes. I use the voice recording part of the network app to collect music. If we find a spirit with enough patience we can probably record more phrases using it, too.

[Yet another thing to ask Owl Friend. They might have enough patience, and enough goodwill, to help with the project.]

[worthallthis]

[The Soldier runs through spirits they know speak Morse, just in case they need it. Owl Friend is the only one where they actually know where said spirit lives, instead of having run into them a time or three around the village during events. So Owl Friend it's probably going to have to be.

Even if they're a little shy of sharing Owl Friend, in case it puts them in danger.]

Okay. When do you want to go?

[paletteswap]

Maybe eventually we can have something that translates their speech the way it does all of ours. I know not everyone here is speaking the same language, but the tablet converts it into something readable.

[worthallthis]

Possible the tablets might already do that. I don't know if the spirits using it during the attacks were actually speaking any of our languages or if the tablet was translating for them. But the spirits have not tried to use tablets in that way since.

[So it's hard to tell. Another thing to maybe try later with Owl Friend: get them a tablet and see if it translates when they try to use it.]

[dadandgone]

We know so little about them that it's a possibility.

Although all this talk about death and life...now I'm thinking about that symbol that someone brought up at the town hall. It was one I was familiar with, an ouroboros, which has to do with an eternal life...a creature that, while it consumes itself, is reborn again.

[mewtiny]

As soon as possible. This information may send more humans to seek them out. They might become skittish if asked too many questions.

[It knows the type.]

[worthallthis]

No one else knows where my contact lives. It should be fine. But I can find you whenever you're ready. Where are you?

[worthallthis]

You think that means something to our situation or the spirits?

[Or both.]

Is the symbol still in the church now?

[paletteswap]

True. I wonder why they used it once and then not again. It would be far easier to communicate with us that way than what we've been trying.

[worthallthis]

It happened while there was a green-eyes in the lighthouse. Maybe they could only use her equipment to access it. I don't think they have tablets like we do. If there are extra tablets anywhere we could try.

[mewtiny]

At the edge of the bonfire.

[That's basically where it lives. It's too cold anywhere else and it doesn't feel comfortable in a house.

That could change as it gets even colder, but right now, it's toughing it out.]

=> action

[worthallthis]

[For now, the Soldier is just assuming that's a place to meet. Also, not super close to where they hit send on the message (safely in their room in Crowley and Aziraphale's house), which means Mewtwo does in fact have some range on its telepathy.

They show up a couple minutes later, without any further messaging on the network.]

[dadandgone]

Either? I think that's the wall we keep running into. How much of this applies to both parties and how much of it is separate. After all, we aren't exactly like the spirits...so what makes that difference important?

I don't think so...but I haven't been to the church to check up on it. But the church is where we "come back" if we die again here, right? So it could be related to that just as easily as anything else. I think they mentioned it being on the floor.

@cuttingedge; text

[knifecollecting]

If they stop existing, won't we? We're dead too.

text

[worthallthis]

Yes that is possible. Also possible that stopping the World Eaters will not bring this world back to life, and nothing will happen here. But dead things apparently cannot stay on a living world.

[There's just not enough data to know for sure. But it's good that people are thinking about that. It seems like an important possibility to consider.]

[paletteswap]

I wonder what happened to Winters'. I seem to recall that Rosinante said someone had it, but I don't remember who.

[Maybe it was Rosinante himself, Kuai can't remember, it hadn't seemed important at the time.]

Will's was broken and replaced somehow.

[worthallthis]

I think we get new ones when they break. Not sure who delivers. If it's spirits, why do they not have their own? Rastus maybe.

[There's a pause, then a second text:]

Winters the guy from the last group who didn't get reset, but who died. His tablet could have been interesting.

[worthallthis]

[They need more intel. The Soldier is going to have to bring a whole new list of questions to Owl Friend next time. Hopefully Owl Friend actually understands them.]

I'll look. Maybe it's under a pew so no one noticed it.

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo has found a stump to sit on and is waiting- well, perhaps not waiting as such. It's sitting, and seems to have been doing so for awhile, staring unblinking into the fire and shivering a bit when the wind picks up and cuts through its thin layer of hair.

It barely acknowledges him at first, so occupied with its staring, and then:]

You do not intend to waste time, do you?

[paletteswap]

Correct. When he died with the group that hooked Robin up to the network someone brought back his items. And Five's as well I believe. I'm unsure about Five's tablet since he was a new arrival like us but Winter's did have a lot of information.

[worthallthis]

[The Soldier gives Mewtwo a sidelong look. Well, no, they usually don't. Not when:]

You said as soon as possible.

[Because that seems to mean not to waste time. However, having had a few seconds of silence waiting to be acknowledged, the Soldier did in fact catch some shivers. Why is it shivering.]

You didn't have to wait out here. I could have met you inside where it's warmer.

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo finally looks up. Its expression is always difficult to read, but somehow the puzzled look comes through.]

This is where I stay. I have no need of human dwellings. I'm perfectly comfortable out here.

[Strange. It has learned how to lie, hasn't it? Well, it feels more comfortable out here than it would inside a place it has no control over. No dwelling would ever belong wholly to it, not like New Island castle or the caves it dug out under Mt. Quena.]

But sitting here, doing nothing is not ideal. [It stands, slowly.] I wish to progress and find answers.

[worthallthis]

[That's... not great. Even weird furry psychic creatures would get cold in the snow. The bonfire isn't that warm.]

Maybe you should at least stay in the library. Or the gym. Out of the wind. It's only going to get colder.

[Does Mewtwo eat? Maybe they should start bringing it hot meals. And like... a blanket, or something. They'll deal with the actual plan to go hunt down Owl Friend in a minute. Dealing with actual, physical needs first, here.]

[mewtiny]

[There is a long, extended silence between soldier and genetic abomination. Mewtwo's gears are turning in its head. It was shown compassion in the moments before it died, but it's still not accustomed to the concept.]

I am not used to being shown compassion.

[The tone is... a bit uncomfortable, showcasing that it has no idea what to even say to that. Is agreeing a sign of camaraderie or is it giving in?]

Most of the humans who have come into my life have cared nothing for my well-being. And those who did I met too late to truly understand their motivations.

[worthallthis]

I wasn't, either. Still not. Doesn't mean you can't accept it, though.

[The Soldier kind of soaks up any positive attention sent their way, even if it's still weird. Slightly less weird coming from certain people, at least, who make a habit of it.]

I can show you places to stay, if you don't want to share at the Invincible or one of the houses. Get you blankets. I'd bring you to Crowley and Aziraphale's house, but it's already kind of crowded. And it's not mine, anyway, it's theirs.