text @Ultra_Magnus; We're Not Alone

[legalcy]

[This storm cloud that randomly shoots lighting at him makes any sort of work inefficient, but as least no one can tell that he had to pause his typing once he hits "send".]

Re: Presence of Others on This Planet.

I have spoken with the Hint Machine at the Night Market regarding the presence of other sentient beings apart from ourselves, and while its answer was not entirely helpful, it has confirmed that we are not alone.

However, it has refused to provide any specifics apart form printing a crude image created from writing symbols.

[Attached is an image of the Hint-O-Matic's readout, edges aligned with the sides of the camera. He took his time ensuring it was even.]

Does anyone recognize these faces?

Signed,
Minimus Ambus

((OOC: feel free to threadjack and share info!))

Comments

text. | daylit.

[sunborne]

They look like theatre masks - Representing the genres of Comedy and Tragedy. Got picked up as one of the symbols of acting and theatre since Ancient Greek actors used exaggerated masks when depicting characters or emotions, for the sake of their audience.

[ daylight was forced to go to a lot of fancy plays when growing up - thanks, auntie imogen and auntie chris - and learned a lot about acting and theatre due to it. ]

Definitely not the mines. Even though the Hint Machine told me that's where the Fire Snatchers can be found. [ so... separate beings, clearly, but the fire snatches aren't considered sentient?

worrying. ]

text, threadjacking

[lunchbreaks]

Daylight,
Are you quite sure that this isn't referring to the fire-snatchers? It is the only theatre production they've shown us, and there were masks involved. They did tell us to beware, and I am not quite certain the answer to Ultra Magnus' question is supposed to be inferred as an invitation to go see them. I, for one, would not want to go to the mines outside of the dream. It was quite horrendous.

But perhaps we are meant to interpret the play instead! Or ask one of the spirits - they have more interaction with the fire-snatchers and we could start there.
Aziraphale

[sunborne]

Mr. Aziraphale

Oh whoa! That's a really good idea, Mr. Aziraphale!!!

Actually- Give me a second. I remember making some sketches while the play was going on. Something about it stuck out for me and I drew some things down. Just need to find them.

- Daylight.

[lunchbreaks]

Daylight,
Yes, that would help immensely. Perhaps we could ask everyone else what they remember. I was so distraught by losing my ring that I had completely forgotten about the play!
Your friend,
Aziraphale

@lonk; audio

[sublimebeast]

Fire Snatchers?

Are they only in the mines?

They don’t wear mirror masks do they?

[sunborne]

Seems to be the case since that's the only location the Hint Machine gave me. And no- I don't think they're related to the one who tried to take your lantern. The sketches I have of the play show the Fire Snatches wearing animal masks.

[ and something occurs to day- ] Oh hey- Have you told anyone else about the onion-smelling spirit trying to steal your lantern? I think it might be a good idea to give others a heads up about this. Especially the ones who do patrols.

[ since they're at the biggest risk of that happening to them, thanks to their set routine. ]

[sublimebeast]

I haven’t, no. I’m not very good with this device yet, so reaching out is a pain.

text, @hello

[lunchbreaks]

Ultra Magnus,
Yes, those are the masks of Thalia and Melpomene, the Greek muses of comedy and tragedy. They represent the extremes of human emotion and were often used in stage plays to be highly visible to those sat further away in the audience.

In more modern times, they have come to represent all sorts of theatre in general.

I am not entirely sure what the masks are supposed to represent here, or why they are drawn in the format of concrete poetry. Generally, this form of typography is most meaningful when what is written is further illustrated by what is drawn with the writing. Perhaps it is some sort of code or cipher.
Sincerely,
Aziraphale

text, @quicksilver

[techtype]

Whoa, i didn't know the masks had names. Or the beings behind the masks, i guess.

Maybe they literally represent a theater?

Re: text, @quicksilver

[lunchbreaks]

Quicksilver,
Yes, I think Daylight was onto something when he mentioned that play the spirits put on for us to warn us of the fire-snatchers.

Had you seen it?
Aziraphale

REACTION. / A PEEK AND A PEEP.

[sunborne]

[ during his conversation with aziraphale, prompto may notice a strange sound coming from nearby where he is. and it seems to be- peeping?

yeah. the sound is a spirit making curious, piqued peeps from wherever they are.

if he's fast enough and looks at the direction of the source, he'll notice a spirit staring at him from behind some trees at a distance. they stare at him with wide, wide eyes behind their mask before ducking behind the tree and vanishing. ]

@lonk; voice

[sublimebeast]

Maybe meeting these other people would be both a good and bad thing? I dunno...

voice

[lunchbreaks]

It would be extremely dangerous. If anyone goes in, they must take utmost precaution.

Text; @aetherblade

[redtwin]

the spirits wear masks. maybe it means them.

or a specific group of them distinct from the ones nearby.

[legalcy]

According to Daylight and Aziraphale, they may reference a group called the fire-stealers due to a play the spirits performed months ago.

If this is the case, this group may be far more dangerous than simply a gang of single-minded spirits.

[redtwin]

do the fire-stealers have a connection with the world-eaters, i wonder?

still, it could be worse than spirits. even very organized spirits.

@hamada, text

[tadaishi]

Nice, ASCII art.

[legalcy]

Ah, so it was an attempt at art.

It's an an odd choice of medium.

[tadaishi]

It might not be able to display pictures, so it did the next best thing.

[plentystrong]

hint machine? seriously?

[legalcy]

As was advertised by the Night Market.

@lonk; voice

[sublimebeast]

Is this uh...Hint Machine... even trustworthy?

@cuttingedge; text

[knifecollecting]

They're the drama masks.

It didn't give any more information?

[legalcy]

Nothing else.

It functions well, but it certainly is no knowledgeable artefact.

[knifecollecting]

It's a computer, right? How did you ask it?

[She has vague memories of Ash talking about how difficult it can be to get the Internet search engines to give him things when he asks for something kind of vague but still important.]