WELCOME

[umbralant]

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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. )

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Comments

[ortion]

[It doesn't take much thought to put two and two together on how that translates to the world dying. The only thing spyrix seem to do is create more spirit fossils until there aren't any spirits left. If this has been going on for decades, that's some pretty irreparable damage...]

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!]

[pr159]

[ Honestly it's been gradually happening for millennia, but it's only been within the past century or so that technology has become so advanced and widespread and the deterioration has sped up so rapidly.

(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.

[ortion]

[God Rideaux why not just help Jude with the spyrite project.]

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.

[pr159]

[ (let's hear your breakthrough for the spyrite project!)

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.

[ortion]

[Honestly Chronos deserves it, the asshole cat.]

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.