un: stanford | voice

[cryptograms]

Greetings, Trench! This is Stanford Pines speaking. Many of you I met in Deerington, and others I only met after arriving in Trench.

For those of you I haven't met: I worked as a researcher of all things paranormal and anomalous in my home dimension, and after I arrived in Deerington I used my experience in that field to research and catalogue the events, creatures, history, and metaphysical inner workings of Deerington, the Dream, and its residents.

Now, I wasn't the only person gathering this information. Several other individuals compiled their own documents on the same subjects and made them available to all of Deerington. Several of the authors vanished, however, and the distribution of their works depended on other Sleepers already having their own copies to share.

Which brings me to a proposal I have for the entire town.

[ There's the brief sound of shuffling paper before Ford continues. ]

Assuming no such other project is underway I'd like to begin keeping a publicly accessible archive of information gathered by Sleepers, particularly as it pertains to the Sleepers as a whole, as well as the nature and history of this dimension.

So, I'm looking both for individuals willing to contribute their own research, as well as any ideas as to where this archive could be housed. We may be able to requisition our own wing within the School of Mutter's Archaic Archives, but it may be preferable to select a more neutral location, outside of the immediate influence of any of the Patron Pthumerians.

[ Ford pauses for a moment, clears his throat, and continues. ]

Thank you all for hearing me out. And if you ever encounter anything especially weird, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Comments

voice; un:mako

[arclightning]

A place for Trench's weird stuff, huh?

[ Mako is so, so glad to see this proposal, mostly because so far this month he has felt unprepared and sick and like they're never going to figure out how this place works, which is obviously remedied by trying to piece it together. ]

You could use one of the safehouses. There are a couple we're planning to keep out of the lamp network for safety in case that ever gets hijacked. All the houses should be entirely Sleeper-run.

I'm no researcher, but you can have my notes from the dream and the ones I've taken since getting here for it.

[cryptograms]

Excellent! I had considered the safe houses, but I didn't want to assume.

[ This is a rare moment of consideration from him, Mako. Treasure it. ]

So long as you don't mind the safe houses having regular, non-emergency traffic I think it would be an excellent location. At the very least we could place some copies there.

I'd be happy to take your notes, as well! I have the others that were written in Deerington but I don't believe I ever received a copy of yours.

un: trienemybest; video

[droptheious]

That's actually a really good idea. We can never guarantee we'll all be here forever. I mean, chances are higher now that we're here- but we never know when we might just turn into squids and go into the ocean again. It makes sense to put all our information somewhere every Sleeper can get to.

[And as much as he loves the achieves in Mutter...YEAH. Neutral is...likely best. ]

Of course, you're welcome to all of my notes. They're still in colour-coded binders and everything.

video

[cryptograms]

Exactly. It doesn't seem like there was any trouble keeping the information circulating in Deerington, but there were fewer residents and we were comparatively more interconnected.

[ He perks up at the mention of Varian's binders. He knew he could count on him. ]

Actually, if you have time I'd like to eventually get your assistance in organizing the information I have collected. I've been told my cataloguing methods are a bit... obscure.

[ Which is to say he writes his notes down as he encounters the information and just memorizes where in his journal each page is. ]

voice | un: levi.

[venatik]

I'm not normally inclined to do stuff like this, but I've seen some shit here ( there's a brief pause ) ... that would be good to warn future Sleepers about.

So if I can contribute anything as a Hunter who patrols a fuckton then I'm open to helping.

[cryptograms]

[ That Levi is normally adverse to this sort of thing doesn't put Ford off whatsoever. Everyone succumbs to the lure of knowledge eventually! ]

That would be appreciated! I haven't had as much time for field work since I arrived, so my notes in that regard are more scant than I'd like.

Video: UN - Runeseeker

[onerthes]

That sounds like an excellent idea, Stanford.

[She looked briefly very relieved about the fact that he had suggested this. Privately, she might have just gotten a message from Peter Parker in her inbox, and this had been weighing on her mind, the need to keep a record. It was a godsend that someone was suggesting this themselves.]

Getting the wing in the Archives sounds like an excellent idea, though I will yield that the Scholars and Disciples do not exactly ... get along. So it may be better to establish another facility. I have several documents and items that I will offer for this purpose.

[cryptograms]

[ Hell yeah, he knew Vira-Lorr would be on board with this. ]

That was my primary concern. I don't want anyone to feel dissuaded from perusing the archive due to any differences in career.

I suppose we could keep request a section of the Archives as a place to store backups, but that still raises the question of where to keep the originals.

video | un: agentmothman

[zib]

That sounds really useful; I'm still conducting my own research into this place and some ideas I have for it, but I'd be willing to share them with others interested!

Also, I'd like to hear about your own paranormal experiences in general honestly, from one paranormal investigator to another. Is that okay to ask about?

video | un: stanford

[cryptograms]

[ Oh, it's this kid again! Ford's pleased to see he hasn't (permanently) blown himself up yet. ]

I'd be delighted to collect any notes you've compiled. Don't take that to mean you should stop your independent investigations, however. Some of the best discoveries are made during solo excursions.

[ As for that next question, Ford lights up in response. ]

Of course! Is there anything in particular you wanted to know about?

voice; un: laurel

[lightinside]

People have been sharing what information they have with me so I don't mind adding to that if I can. I'm new, so I can't tell you anything about the dream place.

[cryptograms]

I think the Sleeper archive will largely focus on newly gathered information. Information on the Dream is...

[ He trails off for a moment. ]

It's not appropriate to call it irrelevant - but the Dream is gone now, and the present is what we should focus on.

text | carcinoGeneticist

[klawful]

I HIGHLY DOUBT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS A TRUE NEUTRAL AREA IN THIS PLACE. UNLESS WE CAN CREATE A GENUINE VORTEX THAT WOULD LIKELY REQUIRE SOME INCREDIBLY GIFTED DARKBLOODS. NO ONE HERE IS STRONG ENOUGH FOR THAT YET.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WRITE MEMOS ABOUT PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING I EXPERIENCE. I CAN FORWARD THEM TO YOU AS I GO.

[cryptograms]

[ Oh, it's this guy again! Ford doesn't bother switching back to text this time. ]

I had considered some sort of pocket dimension, but you're right, my ability isn't there yet.

It doesn't solve the issue of impermanence, either. I'd like something that's not reliant on any one Sleeper - or even a static group of Sleepers - to maintain. That way, even if everyone who's here now eventually vanishes the records will still be left behind for those that come after us.

In the meantime, I'd appreciate any memos your have to offer. The one you wrote the other day was incredibly informative.

voice; un: naruhodo

[convene]

This would be extremely helpful. I've been trying to navigate Trench on my own so any information would be beneficial.

[There's a lengthy pause, he's still new to this sort of technology before he manages to speak up again.]

How can I help? I'm relatively new here so I don't have much information, but I'm happy to help gather it.

[cryptograms]

Hmm...

That depends. What did you do before you came here? I don't think there's an upper limit to the number of researchers this project would need, but if you have some other special talent there's no sense in letting it go to waste.

[voice] un: deku

[wannasmash]

[ A young man's voice answers promptly: ]

I take notes on everything, so I'll be happy to give you copies of anything interesting I find working as a Hunter.

[ He's already got the Loneliness apparitions and a Dullahan, at the least. ]

It's a little weird to have purely physical archives nowadays, but since devices here run on magic, and the magic gets... weird... I guess it's a necessary precaution?

[cryptograms]

[ Another Hunter volunteer! Ford might not have to do field work at all that this rate.

... Actually, that sounds terrible. Still: ]

I'll gladly take anything you have to provide.

[ And moving on to the more nuanced discussion. ]

Even when it's not powered by magic, technology fails too readily to be of use for long-term storage. It's useful as a backup, but you should always make sure to have at least one physical copy available.

[ But Ford is the guy who once dismissed a laptop as a silly gimmick in the 80s so... maybe don't listen to him. ]

text; un: shiro

[shiro2hero]

I still have a copy of Peter's notes from Deerington. I don't know if that would be helpful to this project, but, knowing where we came from might help people new to this entire situation.

+1, but sort of not here

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Entirely unintentionally, Illarion has somehow managed to "like" Shiro's reply.

What even is a "like"??? He is so puzzled.]

voice; un: givemeyourown

[unsheathedfromreality]

I can offer what is exoteric to the Disciples.

[And nothing beyond that, though their body of public lore was formidable enough.]

What is it you consider "weird" enough for attention?

[cryptograms]

Excellent! I'm an Arcane Scholar myself, so the Disciples don't like me enough to share any of their information.

[ Said with a sort of dismissive cheeriness. ]

Let's see... if it's strange enough to generate gossip, but too strange to be taken seriously by most people, and it's strangeness that isn't of an obviously mundane origin. That sort of thing.

text; username: grollschwert

[hauntedsavior]

Oh, what's up, Murder Hut guy.
Man, this is a different energy from last time. But sure, I'll help.
We probably spend more time with the Pthumerians than most people. We could flesh out their mythology some more.

text

[cryptograms]

[ Murder Hut...? Well, it's easy to guess what might have happened. ]

I'm afraid I'm not the one in charge of the Murder Hut.

You must have met my brother, Stanley.

[ She's got some good ideas about the Pthumerians, though. He'll touch on those in a moment. ]

text | un: zhongli

[brokebitchmountain]

If you are in need of protecting and safeguarding such a thing, I may offer to make a sub-space to house such items.

It is not beyond my powers to do so and it would keep these books from anyone who wished to cause harm to the knowledge written in them.

text

[cryptograms]

[ Oh hell yes, this is exactly the sort of thing he was hoping for. But first: ]

Is this subspace something that could persist even if you're no longer present in Trench?

I had considered eventually creating something similar through the use of Darkblood powers but I had concerns about its sustainability in the event of the original architect vanishing.

voice; un: joker

[stealhearted]

Do you have a scale of weirdness to work off of? I'm not sure what counts as especially weird.

[cryptograms]

Let's see...

If it's strange enough to be discussed at the local diner, mentioned on online forums, or make it into a tabloid, but too strange to be taken seriously by mainstream outlets without significant evidence.

That's the degree of 'weird' I'm most interested in.

voice; un:erwinsmith

[13thcommander]

[Now this sounds right up Erwin's alley!]

I'm afraid I can't help you with anything previously gathered, as I'm new here. However, I'd be very interested in helping compile it, and creating an accessible archive.

[Just an added bonus that he'll get to obsessively look over everyone else's gathered information, trying to find the patterns in it.]

[cryptograms]

[ As someone that obsessively gathers information himself, Ford wouldn't be able to fault him. ]

Excellent! It sounds like I'll be receiving even more information that I anticipated so help maintaining the archive will be essential.

Voice: un: diggs

[justoscar]

You know I'll help with whatever I find.

[Oscar chimed in, beaming. Somehow, it was no surprise to him that Ford would get onto a project of this nature so quickly.]

I'm planning on starting school up soon anyway, to see what the academics are working on with the magic and everything, but I'm thinking that some sleepers might have some neat ideas too.

Having everything in one place that everyone can get to will also be a big help for people who arrive later. That way they don't need to search everywhere for answers.

[cryptograms]

[ Oho, there's an angle he hadn't considered. ]

Information on the type of education that's provided here could be quite useful itself. Be sure to report back anything interesting you notice.

[ Since he's... not sure Dipper and Mabel are going to bother going. ]

video; un: Lev

[bowliever]

So like a library where we make all of the books?

[cryptograms]

Precisely! There's a great deal of information we have access to that those from Trench don't, and a substantial number of unique perspectives among us.