video; after the newbies arrive

[begguiling]

[It's the beginning of the month, and you know what that means, don't you? Don't you by now? Magolor is hoping that force of habit will have everyone coming to expect these in time. Either way, here he is, giving the camera a chipper little wave and salute.]

Hellooooo, fellow citizens of Havenwell old and new! It's Magolor again, your good friend and emissary. ♥ I have some important news this time! . . . But before I get to that, don't forget about this, okay?

[There's a link attached; it's the personals-esque document from last month. Why yes, he is going to shill it out again.]

Completely optional, of course, but think about how happy you'll make me if you fill it out! Who wouldn't want to brighten my day? And that of your fellow citizens and all that.

But anyway, now that we've had our commercial break, I have something else important to share with you all! As you may know, I managed to weasel my way into the Havenwell Archives recently. Completely legally, I promise! But boy are they careful about who gets in . . . so it's only right that I share my findings for the sake of everyone who can't wiggle in so easily, hmm? I didn't have as much time as I'd like, but I did manage to document what I had time for. You can read it for yourself, see?

[And there is indeed a second file attached. Hell yes, it's (mago)lore time! Everyone thank your lovely mods for preparing that for us!]

It's some very interesting stuff, and I'm not just saying that because I had to go far out of my way to get it for us, okay? I mean it! And just for the record, I do accept snacks as thanks, but I also like a friendly hug. Remember, it's good for the planet! ♥

Until next time! Bye byeeee~!

Comments

[Audio]

[original_is_best]

An impressive feat. It was wise of you to share the information.

[Because hording could mean losing it forever. And, of course, he was copying everything.

He was still suspicious of Magolor, but that didn't mean he wouldn't give credit where it was due or reject anything presented.]

video, still and forever

[begguiling]

Why wouldn't I? It's nothing I can do anything about all on my own, right? None of us will figure out any of this if we don't communicate with honesty!

[Big words coming from the liar egg over here. But he means them; this is a situation where it doesn't suit him to lie or hoard information. It's worthless to him in and of itself, and the community is too small and too at risk for him to get away with doing something like selling it to people under the table.]

Thanks, Chief! I thought of you especially! With your love of documentation and all. I knew you'd get a kick out of this.

[original_is_best]

Absolutely true. That is part of the reason I started the Information Center. With time we will have gathered enough to take control of our situations.

You may also add my services to your list, as an engineer and head researcher into magiteknology. I'm perfectly capable of handling injuries and illnesses as well, if necessary.

Video

[twistedempathy]

You managed to get into the archives and find things even they probably forgot were in there? You're incredible, Magolor.

[He's been wrapped up in his own issues for a while now, but this? This is important. This is huge. This could affect absolutely everyone.

As goofy and dramatic as he always tends to be, and as subdued and withdrawn as he's been recently, this reaction is just..... understated, quiet amazement. Magolor's getting some completely sincere admiration now.]

Those sound like higher gods than even the four we know about, and they may not even be from this dimension at all, if seeds from other world's really brought this world to life. You've been all over the place, do either of them sound familiar?

[begguiling]

[Incredible . . . ! Yes he is! Pile it on! —But hearing it with that quiet awe, especially from Will, is different than the kind of praise Magolor expects. Will is one for effusive gestures and flirtatious praise, not this softness. The truth is, Magolor flusters just a little, cheeks pink even as he waves his hand dismissively.]

Oh, that's too much. But I can't say I don't like seeing you look at me that way. Anyway . . .

[That aside, with a wink, he settles again into the serious stuff.]

I've been over it a hundred times by now, of course! But I can't say either one of them sounds like any entity I've heard of or encountered personally. The story's familiar-sounding, in that way these stories always are. Gods always have some things in common. But the specifics of this don't ring a bell to me.

[twistedempathy]

I've never heard of anything quite like this, either. Life and death gods, sure, but burrowing into stone and plowing it into earth chasing each other..... That's different.

But if the gods and the heart of the world itself are poisoned, then maybe it's no wonder those monsters tried to break in here. I wish we had some Shaymin around..... Even if supernatural poison might be too much for them, it would still be better than nothing.

video

[thekingsshield]

You really are somethin' Magolor! It's startin' to look like there's nothin' you can't do!

[begguiling]

[He giggles at the camera cutely, one hand to his cheek.]

That's tooooo much. That's as good as a snack! Your acknowledgement makes all my hard work worth it!

[thekingsshield]

A-huh-huh-hyuck! I'm real glad we can rely on you, Magolor!

[The praise train has no stops.]

[video]

[daikonrose]

[ Kyoko has some separate business with Magolor she needs to address, but she takes the time to read through that document first and gets thoroughly distracted. To be honest she's not sure she understands the implications of much of it, but all of the overall themes are Concerning. ]

What... isn't that story kind of a big deal to be a "hidden passage?" Even if you did actually find it anyway.... But it sounds like the kind of thing that should be a cornerstone of the culture, you know?

[begguiling]

[He gives her a little wave on the video, but it's a serious enough subject, and he does take it seriously, despite how his demeanor is almost always just a little Like This.]

You aren't wrong about that. But that's kind of the way things are here! I don't know if you know this . . . I don't think it's common knowledge. But the natives of this world are missing entire chunks of their memories of this world's history. Since their brains are hosted digitally, things can be corrupted or otherwise removed, as easily as you might delete an email. And not only that, but there's something in their programming that makes them shy away from ever getting those memories back. Interesting, right?

perma-private

[iustaegis]

Magolor!

I believe I can offer evidence to the poison mentioned in the passage as being based in reality:

The illness experienced from being near the barrier isn't a pathogen, but a toxin. The same toxin can be found within the blood of the spiders that had crawled through the breach.

text

[begguiling]

[For her, he switches to text.]

I see...so someone did manage to get a sample to experiment on after all. Then those creatures outside are some kind of life that evolved to thrive in toxic conditions. Life goes on, as they say!

text.

[astralera]

Thank you for passing this along, Magolor.

still video, and so on

[begguiling]

Of course, of course. It doesn't do me any good to keep it to myself! I sure can't do anything with it on my own.

video

[scentsitivity]

I didn't think anyone was allowed to go past certain points of the archives. You really know your way, Magolor.

[ Perhaps, it's his psychology skills. Or maybe just the fact seems to have a way with words. ]

The document sounds a lot like a legend being told, as if there's some other force besides the gods that reside this land.

[begguiling]

[He would like to think it is his psychology skills, in a different way than Tanjiro probably is; in reality, though, the natives aren't exactly a hard sell if you use even the slightest bit of diplomacy (and Dora to grease the gears). But the praise makes him puff up anyway!]

Hehehe, I have my ways! I'm working hard to spread whatever knowledge we can get, even what the natives themselves have forgotten! This must be one of their old legends they have no awareness of in their programming anymore.

video;

[jinzhong]

...oh, goddamnit.

Is it too much to ask that I don't have to deal with ancient gods and demons and shit for five minutes?

[Have a very resigned-sounding ex-gangster, Magolor.]

[begguiling]

[Poor guy. Ain't that a mood? Magolor waves at him, with some overly chipper humor.]

I'm afraid it is! Well, I don't know about demons. But it's ancient gods galore on this planet, so you may as well come to know and love them. Welcome, by the way!

video

[sweetlies]

You got into the archives? Legally?

[He's surprised! But then, he hasn't really been trying. Honestly, he's just been mostly enjoying his life and settling as best he could over the six or so months since he'd arrived. He really should start doing more and he knows it.

His video shuts off briefly as he downloads that second file and skims it over. Then he reconnects with a quick apology.]

Sorry, I wanted to read it over right away. This is an incredible find. Why was it in there and why didn't they tell us? Shouldn't they know all this?

[begguiling]

[Magolor waves at the first video, and then waves again at the second reconnection, using exactly the same expression and gesture to do so. Uncannily exact!]

You'd think so, right? But from what I've heard, that's not the case as much as we'd assume. The natives have had some of their history deleted from their memory banks—even if it's still recorded physically on paper. And they aren't exactly keen to replace it.

[fantasykiller]

[Touma gives Magolor a strange look and briefly wonders if he should ask him what kind of being he is, but ultimately decides it doesn't really matter and focuses his attention on the document.]

This reminds me of a number of creation myths back from my world. I wish had more to say, but I'm an amateur when it comes to analyzing mythology. All I got from this is that the 'Crawling One' and 'Winged Lord' are terrible at communicating with each other.

[If either Index or Othinus were here, he was certain they would be able to decipher the meaning and symbolism hidden inside the myth. A wistful expression flashes across his face for a split second before immediately disappearing.]

[begguiling]

Hehehe, you're not wrong about that!

[But he has to giggle with amusement at approaching it in quite that way. It's entertaining, and refreshing. He notices the look, too, but he's not going to say anything either until either Touma does or it'd be extra funny to broach it.]

Maybe if they'd just gotten couples' therapy, none of this poison atmosphere and mutation junk would have happened, right? But gods are above things like that! Too bad for us.

shows up late with starbucks

[unsunderworld]

... And to think just yesterday I was saying to a new arrival that 'up' and 'down' are quite simple options in the matter of the missing gods.

I do so appreciate a good confirmation. My thanks.

[begguiling]

To go with North, South, East, and West? Or Left, Right, Thisaway, Thataway? Or maybe Bottom, Top, Strange, and Charm. Hehehe! Just kidding. It's true though that if all of "ours," so to speak, lie in some direction, flying and crawling do fit the theme. And your thanks keeps me going, along with your pastries!