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WELCOME
Good morning.
Or perhaps it might be more appropriate to say good evening instead, considering how it is moonlight that will rouse you into consciousness. And what a bright moon it is, half-full and clear without contest in the sky as it outshines the stars and galaxies in the backdrop. But it’s all the better to emphasize that the buildings that speckle the landscape before you are all completely devoid of any light. And by the way—do you always sleep outside?
The lack of light can be something to deal with later though, at least when you've properly gotten up from the cold, unyielding stone below you. And that chill down your spine—no doubt that probably has something to do with combination of cool temperatures and poor sleeping conditions, but it’s odd how it seems to linger.
Checking your person for any items that should be in your possession yields disappointing results, but it seems you're not empty handed (or pocketed) because you are now the proud owner of one (1) small bundle of black cloth. Unwrapping it reveals a key imprinted with a roman numeral, along with a simple note.
“Come at 6PM to the place circled on this map:”
“Don’t be tardy, dear Survivors, that’d be a bad first impression. If you don’t want your stay here to be more unpleasant than it’ll already be, you’ll want to avoid seeming careless or disrespectful. You’ll want to listen to my opening speech~!”
Finally, after an empty space that may be simulating an intense pause, there’s one last line:
“I know what you’re thinking, so I’ll say it straight: if you don’t come, you’re as good as dead.”
The news likely isn't welcome, but it's a start. And it seems you're not alone in your plight, though whether company is within arm's length or a stone’s throw away is up to fortune’s whims. For now, you're free to explore the town square and the surrounding areas as best you can in the dim light.
For some reason or another, Krakow, Poland is now your new home. That much is clear from the sign posts that you can inexplicably read, as red and white flag posts with "Święto Niepodległości" flutter lightly in the wind. While the storefronts are dark, the street lamps that scatter the town provide some measure of light, providing some solace against the layer of fog that's begun to creep in.
( OOC: Welcome to Antumbra! This intro log occurs ICly Sunday. Your MM's will be around at 6pm EST to hear your complaints. )
no subject
That aside, Rideaux's definition of spyrix is adequate enough for Dist to translate to what he is familiar with.]
It does, yes. Fonic technology would be the proper term where I am from- machines powered by fonons. I can't say I've considered referring to fonons as "spirit energy", but it's not necessarily wrong.
[Since fonons have an aggregate sentience and all. But that's just getting overly technical.]
no subject
"Fonons?"
[ "Spyrix" objectively sounds a lot cooler than "Fonic technology", let's just admit that right now. ]
Those are connected to the spirits in your world, then?
[ Do your spirits SUCK LESS?? ]
no subject
Dist seems surprised at first that the concept of fonons is foreign to Rideaux. But he has to internally remind himself that his fellow "survivors" are from very different places.]
Yes, fonons. They are elemental particles that all matter in my world is composed of. Each element has an aggregate sentience- or a spirit. We are aware of them, but we have very minimal contact with them.
[SO HE DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY SUCK OR NOT TBH...]
no subject
Clearly this guy has no idea how good he has it.
That aside, though... it's difficult to compare these technologies and power sources from these basic descriptions without seeing them in action, but his curiosity is definitely piqued. ]
Then the particles themselves are what power things, rather than something they do or produce?
[ Tales physics are weird but the law of conservation of mass is probably still a thing? ]
It seems like you'd have a relatively stable pool of resources available to your world, in that case.
[ Like, it doesn't leave a lot of room for growth, but you don't run out either? ]
no subject
[He's pleased that Rideaux is following along with ease. It makes explaining this stuff so much smoother.
...His world is kind of a shitshow right now though so he doesn't go into the full scope of things, but:]
And yes, our supply of fonons is relatively stable, though fonons themselves have the ability to go out of control if not handled properly. This doesn't typically happen in day-to-day activities, but those who work closely with fonons like myself require a certain amount of care in our practices.
no subject
He has to squint a little as he gives Dist a second look. Does that mean he's made of these fonons? ]
I have to say, I'm more than a little envious. Our energy resources are finite and nonrenewable.
[ Yeah, okay, spyrites are less bad, but also fuck Jude Mathis. ]
Our part of the world has been gradually dying for decades.
no subject
And why is that? Are the spirits of your world not stable enough to power your technology?
no subject
What a spyrix really uses is a spirit fossil with mana stored inside it. In people who are capable of channeling spirits, there's essentially a reciprocal exchange where the channeler provides mana to the spirit, and the spirit casts the desired arte. But, in my part of the world, humans lack the biological structure necessary for this.
Spyrix lures in living spirits with the mana stored in the fossil, and they cast the arte we've specified. In this instance, though, the mana cannot be extracted from the spirit fossil, so the spirit doesn't get its... reimbursement, so to speak, and will eventually exhaust its own store.
[ So they're spirit con artists, basically. ]
no subject
I assume all manners of alternatives have been exhausted? Not to say "stop altogether", because I cannot imagine civilization having to take such a massive step backward. But some sort of stopgap seems vital from what you've told me.
[At least he's not going to lecture Rideaux about spirit welfare. Thankfully he's also an awful person!]
no subject
(Also it's going to sound bad if he says they've had two thousand fucking years to work this out and still haven't, so he's leaving it at decades.) ]
There is research being done on a derivative type of technology now, which theoretically may be able to slow down the decline.
[ no he's not saying that slightly begrudgingly that's just your imagination ]
It does still rely on spirits, though. Reversing the damage would be a slow process even if it turns out to be possible.
no subject
It would be an appropriate step forward, at the very least. But yes, I would say cutting out the middleman would be the next optimal step. For the most part, humans in my world do not need to possess anything special in a biological sense to manipulate fonons. The ability to execute fonic artes is something that can be learned.
[Of course there are technicalities though, as with anything, but he did say "for the most part".]
I believe looking into manipulating mana yourselves would greatly reduce your dependency on spirits.
no subject
BECAUSE PRIDE WILL BE THE DEATH OF HIM IS WHY ]
Oh, trust me, I'd love that. I'd prefer to deal with as few spirits as possible.
[ ...He actually does kind of get some pleasure out of using the fossils of Chronos's friends to make things that piss him off. But, you know, that's neither here nor there. ]
The functionality of any spyrix comes from the arte the spirit casts though, rather than from the mana provided to it. Mana on its own isn't particularly useful if you're not a spirit. We don't have enough of a plausible alternative to even start considering that major of an overhaul at this point... Though I will agree, it should be a priority.
no subject
I find it most fascinating that artes in your world seem to be limited to only spirits...
[Not necessarily the good kind of fascinating, of course. It's baffling, more like.]
Well, I can only speak in hypotheticals with you, of course, as I am not from your world. But perhaps this conversation has given you an idea or two.