[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

[begguiling]

You mean they're training us to do their bidding? . . . That's a little on the nose. I hate to think about it, but it's probably true.

[shroudedsecrets]

considering much of the unpleasant situations we have encountered, they have to double their efforts at placating. seeking to make their cause our own.

[begguiling]

Mmmhmm. A situation like this isn't going to be sustainable forever. Not even for very long, at this rate. So maybe we can pry them into being a little more honest with us and giving us some freedom.

[shroudedsecrets]

if their need to control the situation does not outweigh all else with them.

given their behavior during the attack, however, they may have little choice but to explain something of it. if any have yet inquired such a thing.

[Given her condition, she had not made any such inquiries.]

[begguiling]

I haven't, but I'm working on it. Every time I think I've got my notes sorted, something else comes up along with the rest. You know about the "vanishing illness"? I just found out about that a couple days ago! I'm not about to let that slip past me. Maybe I ought to just throw something out there for people the way I did last time . . .

[He takes a note on that too, frowning at his screen. That's a plan, at least.]

[shroudedsecrets]

I had heard mention of it but not the full details.

[she'd had her own illness to consider.]

it seems there are still a lot of considerations to compare. however, it would not do to go with them with such a large list at once, either. it will take away their focus from the immediately desired information.

[begguiling]

You're not wrong about that, so I'll have to prioritize. Maybe I'll start by looking into how likely it is for that breach to open up again anytime soon. The illness sounds like it could strike anyone at any time, but at least it's an individual issue.

[shroudedsecrets]

it is a concerning issue. perhaps one they have little control over.

the barrier, however, is something they have to maintain, and apparently is breakable by outside forces. so they must know more about it than they have shared.

[begguiling]

They were definitely preparing long before it was obvious to any of us it was going to happen, so you must be right. Hehehe . . . you're an observant sort. I'll know to come to you in the future!

[shroudedsecrets]

indeed. as the situation stands, we do not truly know the scope of what assails them here. it is something... to keep in mind.