[text] ; a few days after the breach is sealed

[shroudedsecrets]

Greetings.

The conditions outside of the barrier are extremely poor, confirming what had been indicated to us previously. The atmosphere is heavy, and full of toxins, and currently uninhabitable.

I have attached some images for those who may be curious.

Be aware, however, that for those of you who might have the ability to withstand such conditions in your previous universes, it will still pose a danger to you here.


... That is all.


[And as the text indicates, attached to this fairly open message are quite a few snapshotted images, and even a brief shaky video or two taken of the outside just beyond the breach, indicating the state of the wall from the outside just before the repairs were completed.

A few shots focus on the conditions of the broken and corroded buildings, ones that indicated that the city had once been larger. One of these shots even captures an odd looking small lizard, hiding among the rubble.

There's a few wider shots of the area, revealing some bleached bones of a large, unidentifiable creature among empty expanses of dry, cracked wasteland, a little further off.

Lastly there seem to be slightly blurred images of some of the monster activity, from further away.]

Comments

[shroudedsecrets]

please allow me a few moments.


[although it will take far more, as it takes a considerable amount of time before the return here; much of what she needs to write up takes effort, which is difficult with her condition. To think around her illness, and these very simple explanations that are asked for that she cannot wholly provide. Eventually, however, she does return.]

even without breathing it in, the quality of the air was ... viscous. the air was thick. it was... corrosive. tainted. pervasive. plants wilted within minutes, and any life that could not withstand the conditions withered away just as quickly. it... weakens the life force.

unfortunately, at best it was only a cursory survey. time did not allow us as much time to delve further into proper experimentation as we would have wished. the only reason I had chosen to explore at all was. due to the fact that the wall had been broken. and has since been repaired.

the citizens have been adamant that we not explore, you understand. that is why we took the opportunity. to record and to learn. it would be fruitful if others could undertake it in the future, but ... much more preparation will be required. materials that will not be compromised by corrosion. mechanical suits perhaps.

as things stand there seems to be little it cannot affect. but materials may be within this city that we are yet unaware of. we have only just begun to learn. even the buildings outside did not seem to contain anything of historical value. only that anything of value must have been protected once they lost the ability to contain it entirely.

[iustaegis]

[ Ever is it disappointing to hear when someone who has sacrificed so much to explore, feels as if she has gained nothing for it.

Pyra, however, sees someone who is brave and inquisitive, someone who has ventured out at the cost of her own health to bring back more information for the rest. ]

Allow me to help in the efforts. I am experienced in engineering things.

[ "Things". Within her mind, her otherself cannot help but snort at the vagueness of it. They'll have to think of a lie later, if pressed for more specifics. ]

A suit, a mask... it sounds we need these as the bare minimum if anyone living wishes to explore. The barrier keeps most of those elements of the outside at bay from the city. Replicating that technology as a field over a suit might be our best option.

Or, it would be safer overall to send a drone of sorts out instead.

[ .... ]

In either case, you are right that we are in need of materials and more information.

:(

I wish I could help more, but I've only just arrived.

[shroudedsecrets]

your help will be appreciated. we are not so organized yet, to have such things prepared to work with. most that is provided to us is to keep us fed and "comfortable"--not required to work or explore or delve further into truths. there are other threats beyond the walls than the atmosphere that must be considered as well.

[So many things to contend with, as well as anything else internally that might throw them. Hard to know what to expect next, with all these turns they had already seen. Providing and sharing information to others--really, as a group they could little afford not to do so.]

perhaps the gods and citizens may reconsider some of their methods in regard to us, with what we have just recently faced here.

those of us who have been present in this world the longest have only been for... a few months, at most. though it seems that is the rate at which more resources are drawn here.

having arrived only recently, your perspective on such things may be fresher, even so. it is important to not to discount your potential contribution. your knowledge of this world will broaden soon, with experience.

[iustaegis]

I suppose it would take some time for those here to begin to trust us further with our capabilities, but I also assume that they do not wish us to be harmed. We are precious to them, brought from other worlds to restore this one. Should anything happen to us outside these walls, it would harm them.

To them, all we [ apparently ] must do is engage in touch. I've been doing what I can. [ She'll do anything to help this world. ] It's only difficult not to do anything more, when the state of the outside world is so bleak.

[ It's hard to look at a dying world once more.... Her own is enough. ] Somehow, we have to make our case to them that we can help more than only holding hands with each other.

[shroudedsecrets]

bringing us here ensures them energy. it is not likely they have thought further of other uses for us, when generating the energy at all was their initial goal.

[Which was why it was important to research and not simply take all that was said by their hosts at face value. As residents, though, their own perspectives on how to handle it would vary. Perhaps enough of them had seen dying worlds before. Or worse.]

our being here is stirring up... changes, within the world. perhaps ones that have not been observed in centuries, or even millennia. perhaps that will assist to alter their views.

[iustaegis]

[ "Stirring up... changes".

She re-read sthe text twice over before responding. ] What sort of changes have been observed, since us otherworlders arrived?

[ What with all of this talk of touch-restoring-the-world, she's wondered if there has been any concrete proof that it's working at all. The barrier is broken, there has been an attack-- either they're not doing enough, something is missing, or the rate of decay of the land is accelerating more quickly than any of them might combat. ]

[shroudedsecrets]

the immediate shift observed was when the god ainea seemed to receive a surge of energy. her statue began to appear less tarnished, and the familiars from that temple infested the city until they were captured and returned to it.

[that's one.]

there have been other occurrences. with no indication as to why, colors began to vanish from our surroundings as well as from... us. restoring them to the surroundings required the use of platforms. these only activated to those standing upon them with the required contact.

[two.]

in addition, there are often haunting conditions that push for the need for contact to be fulfilled, even subconsciously. sometimes, to even attain sleep. this has been more persistent. particularly before the recent attack.

[iustaegis]

[ Her doubts assuaged, she takes a moment before she replies. ]

With this breach, it seems that we are not doing enough.

[ Or what if-- and she hasn't heard this mentioned within the temples, but what if-- ]

Does negative touch, such as fighting, harm, or malice cause the opposite? Such as more harm than one would experience from a strike, or statutes wearing down?

[shroudedsecrets]

that we are not doing enough, or that there are not enough of us.

[Otherwise more people would not continue to be summoned to the world. There simply were not enough to overturn the state of it, the way things were now.]

a negative result... there is yet to be evidence of that, in face of these current battles. it has not yet been mentioned in the archives, the actual conditions that led the world down to this situation. a clear imbalance in energy exists. whether the natives know more... remains to be asked of them.

if they are willing to answer for it.

[iustaegis]

They act out of a want to save and help their world. To help their world, we are needed.

[ To be needed-- how strange. It's difficult to wrap her head around that concept. ] Somehow, we need to gain their trust. Trust always takes time. I hope that one day we might obtain it. This world cannot be saved if we all do not work together.

What is your name?

[shroudedsecrets]

we are not yet without time. or without use.

[In her experience, those designated as resources do not necessarily end up with a say, and the world had managed to hold on for this long before the intervention of the gods, even if this truly all were that was left. This is the view she holds, ever cautious about what information they were fed to keep them compliant.

There is a pause, before she delivers her name to the device as well. To the point, without any attached titles.]

my name is Honerva.

[iustaegis]

My name is Pyra. :)

When you're feeling better, let's meet in person to talk, okay?

[shroudedsecrets]

[A genuine request for a meeting... strangers never cease to surprise her, somehow.]

well met, Pyra.
if that is the case... then you may contact me in a week's time. if I do not contact you sooner.

[Not that she knows how much time her recovery may need or if she will remember to do so, but. It was an offer.]