[audio] @kingofwei here we go again

[pure_havoc]

Good...day, my fellow citizens. If it is day, who knows anymore?

According to the Librarian's report, we are running out of time, but there are several things happening on multiple fronts which give me hope that it is not entirely impossible to handle this World Eater which is on its way. Allow me to report what I know, and then we may discuss what we can do to hasten our various tasks and come together in order to succeed.

First, Weaver would like our collective assistance cleaning the Helix Station so that she may return to live in it. It is...a daunting task, if one is not yet accustomed to the level of violence and gore that seems to be commonplace here. A number of people died there, and while their remains are not an issue, there is still a fair amount of evidence of the violence that must be safely cleaned up. If anyone would like to put together a group to do so, I would appreciate it and so would Weaver - so much so that she has agreed to find us the information we would need to learn how to reverse the portal and potentially send the World Eater through it. Time is extremely of the essence, there. But, seeing as it is winter, or very nearly so, some may appreciate time in a warm, indoor station that is as safe as any, even if the bargain means washing and cleaning.

What we learned while down there was considerable, and Doctor Trafalgar has a sample of World Eater [ahem] viscera on which to experiment. We know that there may be one limited means of fighting the green-eyed spirits, using a potion, but work will need to be done to verify and then manufacture it. Pluto and her people were working on ways to fight back against them as well as the World Eaters, and while most of that was a bit over my own head, I expect the doctors - medical and technological both - have all of that information and can share it with any who can help them work on other routes of defense and attack. There is also more information out there to be retrieved, it seems.

We also learned more about the bomb that was used, and I would like to remind my fellow living dead that I have the location of a bunker containing an important mineral component of it. I should like to undertake an expedition to retrieve it once the proper containment protocols can be arranged. I defer to Doctor Ingram on that front, but I will be going along to guide and to fight if needed.

Now, with all of that said... [deep breath. Yeah, he talks a lot and this time is no different]

...the Librarian's message also suggested that some of the green-eyes are amenable to talking with us, perhaps we can arrange a truce or at least a mutual cease-fire. It seems there is a massive and dangerous 'boss' spirit, the Seven-Eyes, which will not listen to reason, and I will echo the plea: do take care, and do not go out alone. Not even to search for lanterns. There are a dwindling number of us left, and if too many take foolhardy risks, we may not be able to repair their lanterns. Any and all efforts of ours to stop the World Eaters and look ahead to a peaceful afterlife will end permanently if we lose the ones capable of repairing lanterns and working the portal. Of course, I do not plan to strike diplomacy with this creature, but if the Librarian is correct, there are others, and I want to speak with them. Sooner rather than later.

Winter is coming, and there is no knowing how harsh it may be. Our efforts to explore and travel may be severely hindered. I suggest we plan to move as quickly as we can to secure all of our advantages. I would propose one more thing...the Bonfire. It does serve as our light and heat but it is also what draws the World Eater here. I would like to hear any suggestions of how to best spread out the torches, move them so that they do not act as a beacon of their own. We need the light, but we also need to protect ourselves.

Thank you for listening. Please, tell me what you think.

Comments

@silent | audio

[callada]

[Fellow living dead, nice.]

To add to this, Law and I are planning to go with Stone and possibly others to the power station. The spirit we met with a few months ago seemed to think it was important, and it sounds as if there might be information there about the bombing attempt on the world eater before darkness fully fell.

Dispersing the torches is a great idea, and that's something anyone can do. Anyone who wants to help but isn't comfortable out at the station or exploring for dangerous minerals can at least do that.

I'll volunteer myself to help with recovering that mineral cache after the power station trip. Maybe we can convert one of the boats into a cart using bicycle wheels.

[pure_havoc]

Are you? Excellent. Yes, the more information the better. I know it is generally the opinion of many that they would rather kill it than anything but I should like to have more than one plan as a fallback. Or, well, things done properly so that they don't backfire.

That is the one thing I do not know, despite my vision - how much of the plutonium there is, or what form it takes, what it weighs. All I know is the warning that we can't touch it or be around it long, rather like the carcass of the World Eater.

[callada]

Agreed about multiple plans. I want this one dead. It's an immediate threat to us and likely to others in the future. But if we fail, a back door might be the best way to preserve what we've learned and keep working at it from another location.

And yes, I've heard similar warnings about the plutonium, or radiation, whichever the problem is. I wonder if one of those flying robots Weaver makes could carry it? Or if Clara could?

[pure_havoc]

Hm, Clara...

[he knows of the mechanical whatsit, though he hasn't talked to her or...seen her...]

What a time for us to be missing Master Daylight and Maximus...

[callada]

Yeah. I have a feeling both of them also knew more about all this than you or I do. At least we still have Dr. Ingram, he can advise us on the best way to do all this.

[He almost said Will would be happy to give that advice, but that's probably not true at all, is it? Few things might make Will less happy than sending him into potential danger right now but Rosinante isn't going to sit around and stay safe for his sake, especially when their survival probably depends on getting this stuff out of where it's hidden.]

[pure_havoc]

Yes, and I feel as though we will need to rely on him quite a bit to get us through this. Now that is is confirmed that so many with modern knowledge are gone...

[not accusing anyone of not bringing them back; lanterns go missing, and right now they can't risk their lives just to hopefully go out there and find one that might belong to someone with the "right" knowledge to make bombs and program portals]

I should show my appreciation with a gift, if I knew what he would like.

@clickfly | audio

[theimpatientone]

I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to share speech with the green-eyes, if any are open to it. That should be done soon.

[pure_havoc]

Yes, the sooner the better. If any of them can be convinced to leave us be, that's fewer enemies to interfere with us at crucial moments.

I confess I am having difficulty learning their speech, so if there are others already more accomplished in that regard, they would be the best to lead that charge.

[theimpatientone]

I have made some progress with the language. Soldat and I have been learnsharing. He knows more than I.

[pure_havoc]

He certainly does, but I won't want to burden him with too many tasks if he is needed elsewhere. If you are doing better than I am, then by all means.

[theimpatientone]

I would like to try, certainly.

I am a Wordweaver. Sharing speech is what I am good at. I have wanted to do this since I came here.

[pure_havoc]

A word-weaver? [he sounds thoroughly interested, no more droll dryness] Fascinating. I can only assume that would be the ultimate asset in diplomatic negotiations.

Tell me, would that make you an appreciator of poetry as well?

Text @ Soldier

[worthallthis]

Remember your promise. Don't go alone.

If you feel you are far enough along in their language, I will come with you.

Text

[theimpatientone]

I will keep my promise, but it's too important to not try at all.

I would be glad to share the journey with you, always.

[worthallthis]

Okay. Let me know when you want to go. I want you to wear all the warm clothes we made, okay?

[Both as protection and because it's damn cold, now.]

[theimpatientone]

Yes, of course. It's certainly necessary now. It's uncomfortable and stifling, but it's better than the alternative.

@dr; text

[donttalktome]

What we'll need is lead.
I trust you know what that is.
It's ideal for radiation shielding, primarily due to its density.
Meaning we don't need massive amounts of it, just enough to contain the material we'll be using.
At the moment I'm not entirely certain where a stockpile of lead might be located, since the mines here didn't produce it, but I suppose if it comes down to it, we can use the portal.

And speaking of portals, I'll be going down to the Helix Station regardless of any group effort, but as the prospect of mopping up the entire place by myself isn't exactly welcoming, I certainly wouldn't turn down the company.

[And let's be real, someone needs to play mediator between Will and Weaver or there are likely to be casualties.]

Whoever winds up down there, we could bring some of the torches along.
It might not completely hide them, but I can't imagine it would hurt.

[pure_havoc]

Yes, I know what lead is. If there is none in the mines then I do think we may have to import it, so to speak.

Torches, in the station? Yes, that might help.

[saying nothing about being part of the cleaning party lol how dare anyone suggest he dirty his fine hands]

[donttalktome]

[Oh you're gonna clean, your majesty. Will ain't doin' all that work himself. Like, he physically can't, so.]

Might as well get started in case there isn't a convenient warehouse of it nearby.
I'll try for lead sheeting, since we don't have a blast furnace.

Thoughts on how many we should take?
Putting too many down there might just direct the World Eater that direction instead.

[pure_havoc]

[you can't make me!! what if I just stay home what then]

I cannot fathom how the material ended up there without any but yes, your plan is perhaps the quickest. A shame we can't repurpose the container with the World Eater parts but I assume it is still in use.

Torches? Half is too much; proportionately, at least ten, I think. Not so many as to make a new bonfire concentration down there, not too few as to basically make it pointless to move them. If we can spread them out between here and the downtown and ensure that every marked trail has at least one, that may give us a better idea of numbers.

[donttalktome]

[You better not, bitch!!!]

Right, sounds like a decent plan.
Probably something we should inform Clara of, unless we want her to panic when there's almost no bonfire left.

voice; @username

[immortalaccursed]

How much of this deceased World Eater is left?

[pure_havoc]

[what an odd question, he's not sure whether to be cautious]

That we returned to the surface, very little, and I am sure you would have to deal with Doctor Trafalgar to even see any of it. However, if you join an expedition to the station beneath the lake, you may get a much better idea of just how large it was before it was, ahem, dismembered.

[immortalaccursed]

You dismembered the beast?

[pure_havoc]

Well. Master Weaver's special weapon did. It was rather gruesome.

[there's only a tiny bit of satisfaction in his tone, since it was really gross and he didn't get to do it himself, plus just watching that...he knew there was nothing his pitiful swords could do, and that's sobering to a man of ego.

So yeah. Cool but also not cool. He's matter-of-fact about it]

It was nearly impossible to conquer otherwise. I feel that even with whatever experiments the two doctors can perform, we may be left with a similar solution if and when the roaming one finally finds us.