hugtopia | [Video] All that we See or Seem is but a Dream within a Dream

[When the video starts, those who know Regis might notice that his face is a little redder than it usually is. He's also wrapped in what looks his own cloak and a heavy riding cloak, one that a person would expect to see out in the frozen wastes, not in a city like Havenwell. Honestly, he looks a little silly all curled into the cloaks as he is, but since waking up out in the backyard under Peter's silver apple tree, he has yet to shake off the cold. It might be a long process considering he has no idea how long he was out there.

Actually, considering he usually puts off heat like a furnace and still feels this cold, he has an idea and it's one he doesn't like. Cor would have his head if he was still here.]

Those who have been here for a while know that we have been communicated with through dreams before.

[Who could forget the strange warning that came before the break in last October?]

I think it may be happening again. How many people are having dreams with the ghosts who visited us in them? And how many of them are talking to you? Mine had quite a lot to say and in regard to something I have investigated before.

[He takes a moment to fight back a shiver and then quotes what he remembers from the dream, once again grateful for how good his memory is. His hands had been shaking too hard for him to write anything down when he first returned to the house.]

"The world began as thus: it was a rock. He came upon it first, and loved it immediately, this empty rock where nothing lived. He burrowed deep inside and devoured it inch by inch, teeth breaking upon the surface and growing anew. Through Him, over time, the stone became soil. The soil grew fertile through His work, yet all was still naught but rock and soil.

Then the Winged Lord appeared, uncertain of the path He was to walk. He was hungry, so He clawed at the stone to find where His prey crawled."

The natives have just remembered the Winged Lord for some reason, but we still don't know who the first "He" is. Could "He" be trying to contact us in some way in order to keep things in some kind of balance? I am very curious to hear what everyone thinks.

[The video ends here, but once he is done with that Regis sends out two quick texts.]

[Locked to Ardyn:]

Remember when I told you I would inform you if anything weird happened after touching the ghosts? I think I just hit "weird."

[Locked to Honerva:]

By the time you get this, I am certain you will have seen my video post. Would you be willing to work with me on a new investigation if I started one? We have talked before of how strange it is the natives are now remembering the Winged Lord. How far behind do you think his fellow is?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Their actions upon the plant did, at least.

[He's not certain if 'struggle' is the right word. Perhaps, it doesn't make a difference, but they are hearing from what is a biased source. It is usually good to keep those kinds of things in mind.]

I have no doubt you are right about that. Our own world has a great amount of time that passed without specific dates assigned because 'time' did not mean what it does now. What we know as our calendar had not been invented yet. It feels as if time is passing at about the same speed here as it does at home, but that is an assumption. I am no scientist, but even I know assumptions are no substitute for facts.

Wouldn't the Crawling One consider us alien lifeforms as well? What purpose would it have for contacting us if it hates all alien lifeforms?

Do you believe it is the Crawling One that has contacted you?

If so, not all forms of contact are necessarily friendly... However, you are correct in that we can't make assumptions. We cannot even be sure if the stories themselves are true, or simply religious fiction to explain the state of the planet. It is, however, what we have to work with.

I believe it is a possibility.

[Considering they have just talked of fact versus assumption, he's not going to state anything as fact until they know more.]

It may be a chain of coincidence, but this is my train of thought. In the dreams, the ghosts are taking our places in our lives and then almost begging us to listen to their words. The ghosts first appeared after a breach at the factory that allowed that odd mist or dust in from the outside. If the Crawling One is the one who is responsible for the chaos outside, it may be He saw this as a chance to get His side across, especially with knowledge of His rival suddenly returning.

Perhaps. I trust neither side, for my part. We are merely pawns for them. I'm sure we will hear many stories from all sides painting themselves as morally superior.

I never cared so much for something as fickle and transient as 'morals' myself. We should learn what we can and do whatever is necessary for our own protection.

[And he'll include Regis in this 'our'. As otherworlders, they were all hostages here.]

This entire idea of doppelgangers is unsettling, though. Especially when we have yet to find missing persons such as Rin. Perhaps we should be skeptical should we see a person we once knew again.

I'm not certain it was even an attempt to prove moral superiority. I think He just wanted to be remembered so the balance would be maintained. When there is life, there is also death. It's how it's always been.

[Though, knowing what is outside of the wall, Regis can't help but think that death holds more sway here. After all, the little bubble that is Havenwell, is only a small part of this entire world.]

You suspect that those who have returned are not just a 'new version' so to speak, but an actual doppelganger instead?

[Normally, Regis would find this hard to believe, but Verstael is not the only one who has made the suggestion, and the cold uneasiness that hit him when Honerva brought it up, descends upon him again.]

Do you have thoughts on what using such doppelgangers might gain them?

Perhaps. We should maintain healthy skepticism of their motives regardless, lest we fall prey to the gods and their games.

[Yes, Niflheim had religion too, of course. But did Verstael look like the type who did a lot of 'honoring the gods'?]

It's a rather new theory based on recent happenings. I can't be certain if there is merit to it or not, but... it is troubling. And it wouldn't be completely out of left field. We know they regret parting with their biological bodies, and I have long suspected that our purpose here may be as 'samples'.

On the other hand, I have also suspected that we are not from the same world as we might be originally led to think, but from neighboring dimensions that are similar to one another, which would also explain the reappearance of similar but different people. I think our own experience in what would, at a glance, seem to be a 'difference in timelines' lines up with that. However, I would prefer not to rule out the potential of cloning.

If you recall your return visit to your world, you were present here the entire time - though unconscious. I originally thought perhaps it occurred mentally somehow, though there was an obvious physical transformation. But the idea of doppelgangers of us running around and taking our places... It is another explanation for how someone could be in two places at once.

[Regis first response is a thoughtful hum. Of course, Verstael would not rule out cloning, but Regis doesn't let himself get caught up on that. Instead, he is pondering the possibility of doppelgangers harder than he has before despite how must he dislikes the idea. It's Verstael's last suggestion that has him shaking his head, though.]

I'm not certain the doppelganger theory applies to that particular thing. Era told me once that a friend of hers watched over her while she was experiencing the same thing I did. This friend could see souls and told her that it seemed her soul was stretched in a way. Part of it remained here while the rest went back home.

[One thing Verstael definitely was was a man of science, so he appreciated new information. Which was why he didn't seem to hesitate to take it into consideration.]

I recall something similar, where a certain person was able to sense the energy created with physical contact.

Though that would be... quite the stretch. I wonder if it would be similar to being in the Beyond and on Eos at once.

This information. Are you confident in it?

It's hard to imagine that happening, I agree.

[Could a person's soul really survive being stretched so far?]

But, I have no doubt that Era believes what her friend told her. She had great faith in him.

I shall need to update my information then.

[Was that sort of like a compliment? He was actually accepting Regis's testimony here, after all.]

But then... Even if the soul is stretched, there are two physical bodies, are there not?

[Despite the fact that Verstael can't see him, Regis finds himself nodding his head, a small scowl crossing his face.]

I'm not certain how else it could be done unless there is some kind of strong illusion magic at work. I knew nothing was off when I was back home, yet everyone says my body was still here. You witnessed that yourself.

[Video] All that we See or Seem is but a Dream within a Dream

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