video; un: polaris

[anbaric]

[ asriel has been described as an imposing figure, and the harsh lighting in this place does nothing to dispel that. it's a spacious room, and what light there is seems swallowed by the darkness of the shadows. the lamp on the desk beside him provides most of what there is, and it also illuminates the mess of books and papers he did not bother to tidy before making this.

his snow leopard daemon sits calm and still at his side, all except for her tail sweeping back and forth. there are the sounds of ravens chattering nearby unseen, but as the cat seems more attentive to asriel, they don't seem to be the cause of her anticipation. ]

I am Lord Asriel Belacqua. Few of you will know me, as I only recently found myself in this world, which is why I am here now.

For various reasons, I am interested in the pthumerians, but my research will take time and is more limited in some areas than I would like. I would rather hear it from the rest of you since the people alive here right now are more relevant than the opinions of authors who may no longer be with us. Do you consider them friends or foes? What role does their presence play in your lives? Do you approve of their influence on you? Consider me taking a neutral stance, so all sides have value; if it is worth mentioning, I would hear of it.

[ it's intended to be some encouragement to those who might wonder if their information isn't important enough (because it is), but asriel being asriel means it comes out sounding more like a command. ]

You needn't answer all the questions either, just whatever you like.

[ yes, the snow leopard talks too, but stelmaria's manner manages to be gentler, at least. ]

Given the implications of the illness problem, now seems an appropriate time for an exchange of information, don't you think?

Comments

video | un: duty

[martyrofduty]

[ Duty's image is focused on him without many clues to surroundings, only that the wall behind him is made of stone. His face could be called the same, for how much emotion it gives. ]

Pthumerians aren't a monolith.

What are you researching?

[anbaric]

Precisely for that reason, whatever I can.

I was curious about what was making them sick as I am familiar with a phenomenon that could cause similar effects. Quite quickly, I realised I would need to expand my scope as our connection to them complicates the issue.

video | un: badgerlock

[listenyouidiot]

[Fitz suspects that saying, 'they remind me of dragons,' is likely not a useful observation, and so he stops himself short of saying it. sitting at his workbench, he wipes ink from his fingertips with a stained cloth and reaches for a cup of tea positioned just out of frame.

the snow leopard at Lord Asriel's side does hold his attention, interested, but he doesn't remark on her just yet.]

They seem to be more a force of nature than anything we might consider friend or foe. Perhaps we can bargain with them a bit more than we could bargain with a river's current or the wind, but we're ultimately at their mercy and must find ways to keep living however they choose to act.

[anbaric]

I have met men and women capable of controlling wind and storms, and engineering makes it possible to harness the power of a river. Would you say it would be fair and appropriate for humans and Sleepers to respond similarly by that logic?

[ he's just going to leave what being at their mercy makes him think alone and focus on the rest. after all, asking more questions is the enjoyable part of this sort of academic discussion. ]

Video; UN: Cuddlebunny

[lightthedarkness]

I consider SOME of them friends, sure.

But I mean, what was said earlier they're not mono-whatevers. I don't LIKE everything they do but I hate more the things that happen in this place than THEM. I don't think they entirely understand what they even DO to us themselves, honestly.

I mean, do we KNOW if they control things like the zombies and the weather and all that?

[anbaric]

[ mono-whatevers. even knowing he's asked for this, asriel struggles to find patience for what he perceives as childish. still, aside from that, he can recognise and acknowledge when someone has hit upon something. ]

To know with certainty is precisely the point of research. However, you raise a fair point. As it's been said, the category of "pthumerian" is incredibly diverse, considering an entity like Mariana has more in common with something like Argonaut than either of them has with a human. Some are easily more complex than the angels I knew, who already struggled to comprehend human nature.

It's the intentions then that matter to you, I take it?

Text | un: Athena

[slightlytaller]

[They knew what they thought-- but also that it really wasn't their opinion that ultimately mattered. The crystal gift from Cloverfield had helped Alexandria obtain all of the living memories of 1) Waver 'Mackenzie' Velvet, Lord El Melloi II and professor at the Clock Tower.

They would answer as Themself-- but try to be the currently sleeping Lord Professor to ease transitions later on. ]

It doesn't matter what our opinions are. They've opened their doors to us, and we are their guests for our time here.

The rules they follow are theirs alone, and not for us to question. But, since we're guests, we have a Responsibility to not be a burden and try to help where we can.

[anbaric]

What about them makes you so certain that their rules should be considered immutable and unquestionable? Simply awakening to this existence should automatically opt one into a responsibility they did not ask for?

[ oh, he has thoughts about this, especially that responsibility-with-a-capital-R, but he also has restraint. he sits forward a bit in his seat as he asks his questions, but that is all. ]

video: un: mouse

[unchoose]

[ This man, by contrast, is wholly unassuming. A slightly rumpled young man hovering somewhere around the age of thirty sitting cross-legged on a comfortably faded looking loveseat in an airy, well-lit room, he smiles warmly at Asriel and nods in greeting. ]

A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Belacqua. I'm Paul.

I'm afraid you might find this inquiry a case of asking two scholars for an answer and receiving three opinions, but...

[ He lifts an open hand palm up and shrugs, cheerfully. ]

Since you are asking. How familiar are you with ecology, Lord Belacqua?

[anbaric]

[ by now, it no longer surprises him that he encounters more people without daemons than those with them, but asriel sometimes wishes it were more common. some people manage to be challenging to read without that extra level of social engagement.

but no matter. he'll figure it out. ]

I will admit it isn't an area that has held much relevance. My work was primarily in what my world calls experimental theology. I believe they call that physics elsewhere.

text | un: boneadept

[necrosaint]

[ after some consideration, Harrow seems to have decided she'll say something but not show her full hand--it is likely what Gideon the First would have done, and what Anastasia would have done, too. and so it is what she does. but much as she will not show her hand, she won't show her face. ]


I am sure it is a pleasure, Lord Belacqua. My name is Lady Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the House of the Ninth.

Never Mind and I have become friends, of a sort, and I am working to find a way to assuage his ... condition. I cannot speak to most of the others, though I have yet to find that any of them need be defined specifically as foe.

[ Mariana probably thinks Harrow is foe, but Harrow doesn't reciprocate! ]

Private | un: Athena

[slightlytaller]

Hi, boneadept. Reverend Daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus.

He's sleeping right now, but I have a note to pass forward from Lord El Melloi II:

'Duty has suggested that we collaborate regarding his research. Apologies for not touching base beforehand. You're welcome to any and all data collected on this matter.'

You're a hard person to get a hold of, but he's not good at reaching out, either.

[anbaric]

That sounds like impressive credentials, Lady Nonagesimus, but you'll forgive me if I am unfamiliar with the institution.

[ this would be his first encounter with anyone necromancy-adjacent.

the ravens somewhere out of frame get louder. they probably know what's up. asriel's work used to require him to secret himself away beyond the reach of the law, but here he is content with the state of things in Gaze. ]

Never Mind's condition concerns me and motivates me to learn what I can as quickly as I can. The loss of so much knowledge would be a disaster from which I do not think this world would recover.

[ so maybe that's admitting his bias, but whatever Never Mind is, what the pthumerian represents is too important to him. ]

private

[necroprince]

Does our Necrolord know you've apparently replaced him with an oversized pigeon?

text; un: imyarek

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Where Illarion's flock goes, he's bound to follow. Especially on this particular issue.]

The distinction between friend and foe in mortal terms is not how I would think of them. Some of them are white gods, some black. The white are kindly inclined to us but do not always show that kindness in ways we want. The black have the freedom to scourge us though they might also choose to favor us instead.

I am Disciple and zhrets so I am often intermediary between them and others.

My approval has no bearing on the reality of their influence. But as any other creature does who's less than divine I find some of their influence onerous while welcoming other interventions.

What interests you about our approval o neutral party?

[anbaric]

So, you are what passes for a clergyman in this world, then, are you?

Several others have suggested that it is better to think of them in more abstract terms as well. With that in mind, what gives the ones that scourge us — as you say — the right to do so?

This world is structured very differently from my own, so I seek to understand it. The gods hand down judgment themselves here, not by proxy, and we are bound to them unwittingly when we awaken in this world. I want to know what now influences my existence.

[ he doesn't believe in forbidden knowledge. ]

un: eudaimonikos | audio

[eudaimonikos]

Some of them are cool, some of them aren't. It's like anyone else - them being big immortal beings doesn't make them special.

[Shrug! Michael is used to this kind of shit.]

I don't love how much influence they have over everything, but I'm not surprised by it. We're on their turf. That's kinda how it works in my world, too.

[anbaric]

[ michael gets it!! ]

Some seem to believe they are entitled to exist in a special category. The Authority's poisonous doctrine contaminated many worlds with the belief that all must kneel before their gods faithfully and unquestioningly, so it comes as no surprise.

Still, even if pthumerians genuinely have no desire to exert control over us, there is no need to start giving away our freedoms with both hands.

Did you also share a connection to whatever those beings were in your world?

text, un: THEROARINGKNIGHT

[heartshapedobject]

H̸̢̨͙̠̬̣̘̺̦͕̺͉̓̒͗Ő̴͉̬͂̔͒͐̎̒̿́́͒̄̈́̑Ẅ̷͍͍̯͌́͛̆̉͘ ̴͇͙͓̜̲͓̱̻̇͝D̸̨̠͔̜̂͂͆͐͌̐̎̿͛͒̈́̇̇̕͜A̸͕͛̎̏̍̈́̍͒͐̓̈́͠R̸̲̖̂̔̈́̚Ě̶̢̛͕̟̖̫̦͇̯̙̦̭̲̹̈́̎̀̐̔̓̀͛͜͝ͅ ̶̢͍̻̲̣͉͓̀̈́̆̇͑͐̈́̃̐͊̀̍̕͠Y̷̛̤̺̜̯̥̙̘͉̬̣̝͙̳͂́̐͆̇͆̑͠͝͝Ǒ̸̢͍̙͛́̈́̾̍͑̔́̓͠͠Ṷ̸͇̻̮̩̪͕̣͍̲͓̔͐͌̂͐͗ ̷̢̡̜̜̬̰͈̩̱͙̘̗̗̭̈́̈́̄̒Ù̴̱̗̰̝̜̖̱̼̒̊̈̕͜ͅS̶̛̱̤͚̠̰̖̳͚̞̪̭̥͚̟͋̆͌̈́̏͊͑́̐ͅE̵̛̠̙̹̞͎ ̴̨̤̻̝͂̔͝T̶̡̯̤̅̍̅͒̐ͅḨ̵̨͙̤̫̘̘̣̘͋̓̐̑̕Ȧ̶͇̦̠̲̳͌̈́̄T̷̢̖̤̥͖̥͉̹̖̮̭̥̈́̃͌͒͛͒͑́̄̑̊̾̕͜͝͝ͅ ̸̡͚̦͓͋̏́̀̋͗͒͐̽̐͠͠͝Ǹ̵̢͖̞̠̟͖̾̓̕A̸̙̔͘M̷̹̠̜͗̍̑̃͒͊̐̽̈́̚̚É̶̛͈̦̘̳̟͌̽̌̐̅̐̽̓̎͗́̈́̆

[anbaric]

And who are you to question me when you refuse to show your face?

[ his voice is just as calm and even as it has been so far, but any warmth in either his or the snow leopard's demeanour has vanished. he has little patience, even for minor irritations. ]

voice: un: vi

[faceblocks]

Some of 'em are dicks, some of 'em are okay. A few might even be nice, but they're not so good at getting how we work, and they can lose their shit sometimes.

I thought the Reckoning sucked, but nah. Riteoir's a bag of shit on fire.

[anbaric]

Riteoir?

[ asriel perks up because this is one of his topics of interest, but he hadn't wanted to go fishing for it directly. better to see when and where something popped up organically if it did at all. ]

Care to give me the abridged version? I know the name is relevant, but I lack the context.

video; un: kolchek

[hearuthinking]

I'd say "friendly" over "friend". It ain't like we can go out for drinks with 'em or shoot the shit. And yeah, I'd say some of 'em are more friendly than others. Some of the bullshit that goes on every month can really fuck you up but I don't know how much of it is them purposefully goin' after you.

I can't say I approve of it all, but I got a plant in my house that proves I've grown since I got here. So I can't say I'd take any of it back, either.

[anbaric]

[ these are all reasonable points in line with what others have said, but one thing sticks out more than the others. asriel shakes his head because he's sure it can't be useful information, but he can't neatly just move along either. ]

What exactly does a plant have to do with it? Are you bound to the plant?

text; un: harbinger

[bolstafir]

the only one i'd say we can trust is cynthia -- the moon presence

the rest ... well. never been a big fan of immortals messing with my life, but being pissed at these ones is probably more like being pissed at storm clouds than anything

honestly if it wasn't for this riteoir guy seeming like an even bigger pain in the ass though i wouldn't be too fussed about trying to help them

[Power abhors a vacuum, after all. If it weren't these ones, it'd be other Pthumerians running their lives. Better the devil you know, and all that.]

[anbaric]

[ there's the name asriel was hoping would crop up here. ]

I see. I am curious what unique quality Cynthia possesses that makes you so sure, but I will table that for the moment.

I have seen references to Riteoir. What do you know about him?

[ no point in beating around the bush. ]

video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ Someone who claims to be a Lord, and his words sounding almost more like a command than anything else.. well, there's no way Chizuru's sense of politeness could ignore that. (Or her meekness when it comes to these things, really.) ]

.. excuse me, sir.

[ She's even polite enough to start like that. As if Asriel wasn't the one asking for the information in the first place.. ]

But I think it's impossible for their presence to not play a role in people's lives here. After all, they are often the driving force behind so many things that happen to us here..

[anbaric]

What sort of things happen around here?

[ it's stelmaria who speaks up again, which is not unusual given her nature. she acknowledges chizuru's meekness even if asriel does not, reminding him to ease up a little. they won't get very good answers being too overbearing. ]

Some of the others made them sound as inevitable as the weather, alien to us, and more a force of nature than anything. A driving force sounds rather more intentional and directed, so I want to make sure I understand you correctly.

[Audio][UN:A_Wesker013][Private]

[subject_013]

[A throaty, educated-sounding baritone voice speaks.]

Astute questions, and timely as well.

Let's start with something easy to prove: not all Pthumerians are the same, thus it's hard to class them as 'friends' or 'foes', since their dispositions vary from individual to individual. I suspect that while some are more compassionate toward the Sleepers, others are at best neutral toward us, while there may be some who are hostile towards us, though it could be our perception. A predator species will always look evil to its prey, whereas the predator is merely seeking to survive.

In my observation, and I speak as a molecular biologist specializing in virology, they are the forces of nature, albeit with personalities. They're part of this world's ecology. I'm generally neutral toward them. There is one - perhaps two - who anger me, but the matter rests between them and I. However... If someone wishes to take a pot shot at either of them, I'd be right behind them with extra ammunition.

[anbaric]

The personalities are the concerning part, but as long as none of them suddenly decide their place is ruling over the rest of us, we can coexist.

[ because he won't pretend he wouldn't fight if it came to that. it's not a stance he's willing to abandon. ]

Molecular biology is not a branch of natural philosophy that I'm familiar with, but the discipline may be known by another name in my world.

[ asriel has never heard of this, but he wants to know more. this entire exercise was, in part, intended to draw out the scientists and the scholars, and it's worked out well so far. ]

What does your work entail?

video | un: graham crackers

[possessum]

( This is the kind of thing Peter thinks about, a lot, and more and more lately. It isn't the kind of thing he'd usually talk about aloud. It'd stay swallowed down safe and secure, along with all of the other things.

But he has been here for over a year now, and things have changed, and he is changing, and perhaps.... talking about it with someone else could offer some help. (For him? For others?) Somewhere along the line.

But he's a nervous presence on the other end of the feed, a tall and thin young man with dark circles beneath his eyes like bruises, and a perpetual discomfort to his disposition. The man who posted this intimidates him, and the subject matter intimidates him, and that probably shows. (The snow leopard also intimidates him. Peter is easily intimidated.) )

Hi. I'm uh, Peter. I've been here a while.

I don't know what to think about them, honestly. Sometimes they help, and sometimes they make things a lot worse. I try not to get too close. I don't ask them for things or give them things, and I try... not to think about them too much. It seems like uh... intention matters? To things like them.

( Something shifts in his features, a slip of fear. Peter is far closer to "things like them" than he would like to admit. )

....Mine's connected to something really bad, to one of the most dangerous parts of this place. I don't know what that means for me. Why he's the one I'm supposed to be connected to, here. ...It scares me.

( A pause, hesitant. It's a personal question, but it's not one that has to be carried further, if the man doesn't wish. )

Have you learned which one is yours, yet?

[anbaric]

[ asriel considers all the information he's given and files it all away, but a few of these testimonies stand in his mind for a particular reason. unfortunately for peter, it's his fear. everyone else has mostly been indifferent or accepting.

stelmaria settles down with her front paws outstretched like a sphinx, sparing peter the intensity of her piercing eyes as she lets them slide closed. she seems perfectly at ease despite asriel's interest; the rhythmic twitching of her tail is the only suggestion to the contrary. ]

Which one is yours, and what makes him so dangerous? My Patron is Never Mind. I spent my entire life fighting so that knowledge would always be accessible to everyone seeking it, so it's no surprise that we should be connected.

video; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

As far as the Patrons go... they're fine. They're neutral themselves. Some of them are more dangerous than others when provoked or upset, but generally speaking, none of them are actively out to get us.

[He pauses, and his face turns more serious.]

Except one. One of the Pthumerians who followed us here from the Dream world before. Mother "Mercy".

[And you can just hear the air quotes.]

[anbaric]

The worst sort always has a name like that, don't they?

[ asriel can't help but find it a little funny, given his track record with agents of the church. ]

What exactly makes her so dangerous?

video; UN: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

I'm not sure I'd consider them either. They kind of each have their own things they focus on, and some of them might like some people and even be helpful, or they might kill you. It really depends on the pthumarian and what you're doing.