[audio] @msolis; [open]

[candlemom]

[The voice in the audio clip is quiet, weary, and a little bit nervous. She gets right to the point, though—small talk isn't really Dr. Solis' thing.]

Hello, everyone. My name is Dr. Maridel Solis. I... apologize, as I am never sure how to best introduce myself. I am the last surviving native of this world, and I am the scientist responsible for the portal. I created the lighthouse, the lanterns, and I repair the lanterns of the dead. I think it's about time we began working together.

I'm sure you all have many questions for me. I will do my best to answer as best I can, but first, allow me to explain a few things.

I imagine some among you will be cross with me for lurking behind the scenes for so long. During the first few resets, I made my presence known right from the start. Problems arose rather immediately—it's quite a shock, as I'm sure you all will understand, to find yourself in a place such as this. Too much, too soon... This is an impossible situation we've found ourselves in, and the full scope of it is too likely to turn fear into panic. I do my best not to shout fire! in a crowded theater these days, for everyone's safety.

In any case, please know that I am truly sorry that you have found yourselves in this place, and I'm grateful for your help.

The second reason for my seclusion is that, frankly, I've been quite busy. Busy with research, with lantern crafting and repair... It's easier for me to continue my work while separated from the rest of the town until I am ready to present my findings to the townspeople for help.

During the attack on the town this past November, Robin was given a lantern by the green-eyed spirits. The thing was in pieces, barely recognizable as a lantern, and as such, it's taken me until recently to identify its owner, but—this lantern belonged to a lighthouse keeper from many years ago. One of the best we've had, in fact. What's more is, I believe I may be able to revive him.

The revival will take time, as I still have many preparations to make before we can begin the process. In the meantime, I would very much like to hear from anyone with a background in the sciences, magical or otherwise. Your skills and knowledge sets may be of use, as I will have need for materials I believe can be found in Beacon, although I'm at an impasse as to what, precisely, those materials might be. For now, I would simply like to get a scope of what other capable minds we have among us so that I may best understand how to utilize our strengths.

Regarding the incident on the ferry: frightening as though the forest spirit prank was, I assure you, it's nothing to be alarmed by. The portal is unstable, and occasionally its schedule fluctuates. I believe that is all that happened in this case; the forest spirit, ahem, corpses are... unrelated. Pranksters getting carried away with themselves.

When the next batch of new arrivals will show, I can't be certain. We'll simply have to wait and see what the next ferry brings, though I doubt the portal will keep us waiting for too long. It never does.

As I've said, I imagine you have questions for me, and I am happy to answer as best I can. I will... set up an inbox for myself, I suppose. I'll be sure to make that information available on the network directory.

Stay safe.

[The audio feed clicks off. Attached to the message is a written transcript of the whole broadcast.

ooc: More information about the lantern revival plot will be available in the future! Right now, she's just collecting data... Dr. Solis will need assistance from many different skillsets, so there's room for everyone to get involved at some stage! No worries if your character isn't a huge nerd.

Also, the game history page has been updated!]

Comments

[candlemom]

I do not know this, no. I don't know how the World Eaters caused this, but all evidences points to them. I say the world "went dark" because it's not as if the sun was sucked out of the sky in one afternoon. The darkness came over a period of years; the daylight hours shortened as sunsets arrived later and sunsets began sooner. Finally, the sun stopped rising at all. It was a gradual process.

I split my time between my old lab and my new one, though I suppose the new one is more of a home these days. The old lab has been ransacked many times and is not entirely safe, but it still contains much of my equipment.

I must assure you, though, that my safety is not in danger. I cannot be killed permanently, and the forest spirits are no danger to me. I am able to make my way into town via the trapdoor in the church, so should we need to collaborate face to face, I can come to you. That is no trouble.

[legalcy]

Dr. Solis,

If you need our help collecting the equipment from your old laboratory, do not hesitate to ask. We have soldiers in our team, and I, as a Cybertronian, are more resistant to physical attacks.

Though I do wonder why our lanterns and our bonfire are able to emit light. Has your research shown why no other source of light functions properly? This is more than just the world of daytime ceasing to exist.

Signed,
Minimus Ambus

[candlemom]

That is a kind offer, sir. Thank you. I'll take it into consideration, though for now my equipment is fine where it is.

Due to the World Eaters' presence on this planet, light is this world is representative of life. Your lanterns and the bonfire are the last remaining sources of life on this planet. I'm not sure what about the World Eaters makes this so, but that is why no other sources of light do much good here. They are not life.

[legalcy]

Dr. Solis,

I would assume from your wording that are not necessarily death as well, simply the nonexistence of life. What makes one planet uninhabitable and another supportive of life.

From whom was the bonfire created? It was here before the first of us arrived to Beacon, but I believed that all were killed when Keeper Robin set the spirits to kill the previous group.

Signed,
Minimus Ambus

[candlemom]

Of that, I am unsure. The methods by which I'm able to study these phenomena are extremely limited. I only know how the World Eaters' presence has affected us in the here and now, but it is near impossible for me to study trends across other worlds that have been affected by these creatures.

Yes, the bonfire has been here since just after the world went permanently dark. After a World Eater arrived within range of Beacon and we deployed a series of nuclear attacks to stop it, the town was rendered inhospitable to prolonged human life. This fact, in combination with the depleted atmosphere and the severe immune disorders brought on by the World Eaters consuming the world, meant that we needed to seek an alternate mode of survival.

My lantern technology was in its infancy, but it was the only alternative to death. Many survivors chose to surrender on their own terms, but others decided to join me in transferring their life essence into these prototype lanterns. Some of these transfers were successful, while others were not.

These failed transfers and willful surrenders were not wasted, though. I was able to collect the life essence that remained after these deaths, and that life essence makes up the bonfire we know today. The church candles, as well. Their sacrifices have granted us hope.

[legalcy]

Dr. Solis,

I see. We have to thank the original residents of Beacon for the help their light has provided in our investigations.

It would have only been a few decades since the nuclear attacks were deployed. I can see why most organic beings could not be brought here. ["Only" a few decades. A time easily ignored by Cybertronians.] Do you perform the same procedure with us when we arrive before we wake? I wondered why I was given supplies the moment I onlined my optics.

Minimus Ambus