@dr; text

[donttalktome]

This is Dr. Ingram, for those who are new. I won't waste time with pleasantries here, as I'm not exactly in the mood.

It perhaps goes without saying that I didn't expect to be the one telling you all this.
Winters would've likely phrased it in his usual well-meaning, forthright way.
But he's not here anymore, so you get what you get.

Let's start off by correcting a misconception.
I don't like Robin, and I probably never will.
We don't get along, and though I see she's neglected to share the particulars on that subject, this doesn't seem like the best time to clarify.
But you see, while I don't like her, and I don't exactly trust her, I'm also not stupid enough to think that what she's doing up there is pointlessly malicious.
She isn't toying with us simply for her own amusement, and at the moment she isn't threatening us, but I swear to whatever nonsense ancient deity you worship that if you lot manage to antagonize her into a reset, I will personally blame you.
And yes, I will likely still be around to do so.
(Your security is better this time, Miss Keeper, but let's remember that nobody's perfect.)

But that's digressing.
I suppose it might be understandable that you think she's lying about being useful, given that you haven't been told what her purpose is.
She mentioned that she was watching for something, but not what that something is.
Somethings. Plural.
They don't have a name, at least not one we know, but over the years some unfortunates no longer with us have decided to call them the World Eaters, on the assumption that they might've had something to do with the state this world is currently in.
A bit dramatic if you ask me, but it gets the job done.

What we know about these entities is scarce.
They are massive, they are ruthlessly destructive, and they cannot be reasoned with.
They are attracted to clusters of activity, of light, because that's what they feed on.
You can see why all of this might be a problem for us specifically.

If the World Eaters reach Beacon, they will wipe us off the map with much more permanence than Robin could ever manage.
This place will no longer be a viable "home" for anyone unlucky enough to survive, and we don't know if there is another.
At the moment, we strongly doubt it.
As it stands, Beacon and its lighthouse, the bonfire, the lanterns— they might very well be the last sources of light on this planet.
If the World Eaters snuff them out, then that's it.

Eventually, they always catch wind of our presence. There's just too much here for them not to notice.
And that, for those of you who haven't put two and two together yet, is why resets occur.
Lantern light seems to attract them the most.
By eliminating the concentration of it, the World Eaters can be thrown off the scent yet again, for a while, at least.
Groups who aren't making progress toward a solution are reset early, because they'd only die anyway when the World Eaters find them and it isn't worth the risk.

By my estimations and those of others, we have roughly 22-24 months.
It's a generous time limit, but it is a time limit.
Do not forget it.
And don't give her a reason to reset us beforehand.

I'm willing to answer questions, but potentially not stupid ones.
And don't expect any reassurances.
Winters and his confidence in you are both gone.

Comments

@scientia; (just gently intrudes)

[reigniter]

Because they will follow. Simple.

If you can leave, why couldn't they?

We are dead, however. I doubt there are many places we can go to from here.

[evulsed]

they're World Eaters, there's no way this is the only one they're feasting from

there must be other Dark Worlds

anyway we can't be THAT dead if we're still here

[reigniter]

Will mentioned that it is a name they used because they don't know how else to call it. Because they eat away at this world slowly.

And if they do feast on other worlds, again, they will catch up eventually.

Dead or no, what I want to say is that there is no point in running

[evulsed]

that's the nature of Darkness Ignis
i thought you knew that?

there's strategy in retreat
nothing's worked so far
maybe this place is a lost cause

[reigniter]

It is in the nature of darkness to spread, yes
that doesn't mean it can't be cut off and pushed back

The fact that the Ferry is still bringing people and bonfire still stands it means that it's not lost cause just yet
Don't give up so easily

[evulsed]

you died trying to do that
you want to do it again?

[reigniter]

the circumstances are not the same
I had no time nor options
here at least we have some time and we can work on making some options
I am not the type of person to throw the towel in without even trying to do anything

[evulsed]

evidently


not that they've told us what to do

"bring back the light"

like it's that simple

[reigniter]

It is not simple, I didn't say it was

What's simple is giving up without even trying

[evulsed]

how long did she say they'd been at it? it sounds like they've tried plenty and failed every time

you think you have what it takes to make a difference?

[reigniter]

Perhaps we have a chance, perhaps we don't. We won't know unless we try.

As for the question, no, I don't think so.
But I do believe I have enough knowledge and skill to support those that can.

@kol | intrudes your intrusion, i'm sorry

[unpredict]

You'll be surprised by how many "worlds" exist for the dead. This is the third I know of. I wouldn't be surprised if there's more out there for these things to devour and for us to be ferried to.

[ kol, always looking on the bright side... ]

:3

[reigniter]

It could be. I am not saying there aren't.

What I want to say is that going from one to the other won't stop them from going after us. And eventually, we would be completely cornered

[Ignis, reading things from the logical side]

[unpredict]

I agree. Running will only bide you time, not a solution. I've never come across anything like these World Eaters in my time, but every seemingly invulnerable creature has a weakness. Hopefully we can find it in time without needing to run. It's my least favourite thing to do.

[reigniter]

[Now that there's a discussion of multiple worlds...]

If it is true that there are other Worlds in afterlife aside from this one, perhaps it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that these World Eaters already consumed such a world already

After all, their powers of invulnerability have to come from somewhere. But yes, even immortal beings can be hurt

[Ignis would know]

We have circa two years to find a solution.

[unpredict]

[ perhaps kol's family are the world eaters, considering all the world destruction (and actual realm annihilation) they've been responsible for. ]

Is this the first time they've been mentioned?

I just arrived. I've been trying to catch up on my mandatory reading, but between finding out I'm dead again and these apparent World Eaters... I'm a little bit behind.

[reigniter]

Yes. We have been exploring the vicinity of the Town Hall and the Library, but nothing indicated that such beings existed.

You didn't miss out on much

[Except for the party. Ignis is trying to forget about it because thinking about it makes him extremely annoyed with the Keeper.]

My group arrived two months ago, this will be third month in. There was no one here when we arrived, save for Cpt Winters and Dr. Will. So I assume that a reset took place several days (or hours) before our arrival.

[unpredict]

[ this is all... a lot. thankfully kol's used to it, even if it'll take him a bit to digest all of this. ]

Has your exploration indicated any other beings existed? That anything else exists?

[reigniter]

Anything else aside from the Forest Spirits? Not at all.

There are a lot of types of spirits, however. Keeper says they are like animals, which is a fair point, they also have characteristics that of a human. They can bond with you if treated nicely, they have feelings, they can communicate, and if they want they can be very literate (the Librarian).

Of course, there are aggressive ones amidst the timid and friendly bunch. Those types are the ones that slow down our exploration.

[unpredict]

I'll do my best not to piss off the aggressive spirits.

Do you trust this Keeper? As someone who hasn't been here as long as OP, I'd imagine your feelings would be based on a history shared by most recruited here.

[reigniter]

A wise choice.
(We had a person throw themselves at them and it did not end well)

I try to keep the opinion of the Keeper to myself and let others form their own. We interacted only once when she got reconnected to the Network. The talk didn't go well, if I may say. Not to go into specifics on the network, I don't doubt that she wants to do what's the best but her way of doing it leaves people wondering.

[unpredict]

[ ...huh. he's not surprised — he suspects talking about someone who is apparently elusive on the network is a risk. despite liking risks, he does like to make calculated ones where possible.

mental note to find this veteran and ask some questions offline. ]

I'm Kol. If I ever throw myself at a spirit, you can tell me I told you so.
Assuming I get to come back for you to say that to me.

[reigniter]

[If he's calling Ignis a veteran, he's usually around the library or general store. He's been looking into ways to befriend spirits again after the... incident.

If he's looking for a veteran that "yeeted" (their words, not Ignis') themselves at the spirits - Ignis can point you there too. They got revived.]

Ignis. I will make a note to do so.

[Because he is the type to say it/has said it many times before.]