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File 126904915192.png - (125.25KB , 640x480 , resonancetitle.png )
149732 No. 149732 ID: 8d7dd2

My name is Teteke. I am in search of the truth.

The lore of my people tells of an ancient civilisation that ruled many worlds across many planes of existence, ours included.

I am no longer interested in the myths that have placated the others. I want to know the truth.
368 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 168971 ID: 3b6c92

>>168951
Whoa, this place is huge.

Um.

I dunno, Mewix, not really sure what you ought to ask. You seem a bit overwhelmed anyway. :B
>>
No. 168973 ID: 2f6ce0

Are there any machines we can play with? This whole place looks like one big machine!
>>
No. 169009 ID: 7524b0

>>168951
Ask them if they know the Kaier Crystals have minds of their own.
>>
No. 169016 ID: 059120

>>168951
Ask what their plans for you, Nyix, and Quiet are.
>>
No. 169545 ID: ed0e3a
File 127213578666.png - (209.19KB , 640x480 , 3-12.png )
169545

>>168952

"Why is it all made out of shiny gold? Do you know what the Golden Empire's doing here? Can you tell the craftkind what to do?"

"I wouldn't expect you to understand the means and motives of the glorious Empire, outsider. And yes, the craftkind are ours to command."

>>168973

"This is like a big machine! Can I look at things?"

"No. No, you would interfere with their workings. You couldn't possibly hope to understand the intricate operation of the systems of Zenith."

>>169009

"Don't the crystals think for themselves?"

"Keh. Baseless Machine propaganda."

>>169016

I get the feeling that asking about Quiet now wouldn't be a good idea. "What are you gonna do to me and Nyix?"

"Uwix, what do you know about cenesu?"

What? That's not what I asked!

"Uhh... you're a cenesu and they have feathers and they're like birds but with no wings and um-"

"Magic potential, Uwix. What magic potential do the cenesu have?"

"They don't have any. Do they?"

"Yes. Common outsider belief. Cenesu are dissuaded from the paths of magic. Just as the traitor Takate wanted. For the cenesu to shun their potential. To stunt it."

Tezex suddenly looks at Reseri furiously. "Traitor? Takate wanted the cenesu to shun magic to prove to the Empire the worth of the cenesu as something more than walking magic detectors!"

Reseri almost screeches at him. I start backing away a little. "What do YOU know about cenesu affairs, Tezex? Takate was a traitor to the Empire, and if you're willing to support his deeds that makes you a traitor as well!"

"Me?! A traitor?! What happened to your eyes, Reseri? Do loyal cenesu get their eyes pulled out?!"

Reseri holds up a hand as if to say something, then shakily lowers it. "Y-you're not supposed to... you're not supposed to know that happened. You're not..."

She's crying. She's trying to act like she isn't. I stop edging away. Tezex looks like he's shocked, then looks angry with himself, looking fiercely at the ground.

I dunno what to say or do. They stopped walking and I don't know what I can say.
>>
No. 169552 ID: 6d5be7

>>169545
Has to be a bit awkward to cry without your eyes. Ask them what they have planned for you, and if you and Nyix are free to leave once your friend has recovered.
>>
No. 169559 ID: 059120

>>169545
I don't know what you can say, Mewix. Just let them be until they seem better. Then ask about what they're going to do with you again.
>>
No. 169562 ID: 7524b0

>>169545
"It doesn't sound like the Golden Empire is very nice."
>>
No. 169565 ID: 6d5be7

>>169562
Lets not say that in front of the golden empire fanatics.
>>
No. 169579 ID: 7524b0

>>169565
One of them had their eyes pulled out, the other supports a 'traitor'. I don't think they're exactly fanatics.
>>
No. 169584 ID: 6d5be7

>>169579
Maybe not, but we're still in the middle of their city. We have no back up and if they decide it no chance at getting out alive and unharmed. Lets take it safe and not suggest that the empire has ever done anything bad.
>>
No. 169594 ID: 059120

>>169579
No, they seem pretty fanatical. They wouldn't accuse each other of being traitors if they weren't devoted.
>>
No. 169601 ID: 701a19

>>169545
"Err... What can you tell me about the Thousandfold?"
>>
No. 169632 ID: a85626

HUG EVERYTHING
>>
No. 170580 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12723260419.png - (145.57KB , 640x480 , 3-13.png )
170580

>>169559

Yeah. ...I feel sick and frightened right now. I want to go home.

>>169562
I-
>>169565
but they aren't nice, are they. I don't think they can be nice if they do things like that.

>>169601

I dunno if they would even answer that. Reseri is starting to cry even more and Tezex is wringing his tendrils. He keeps mumbling how sorry he is and about how it "wasn't right for them to do that". Especially not... I don't know what he just said, he kind of mumbled it.

>>169632

Reseri looks like she needs a hug-

"Get away from me! I don't want your sympathy! I don't need your sympathy! You couldn't possibly understand, outsider! Yes, I lost my eyes! I have new ones! I can see better now! The Empire gives more than it takes, outsider!"

Tezex looks around from side to side, still seeming angry. In fact it looks like he's getting angrier. "Did they give you back your right to a free life? To ever have children? What happened to the egg you mentioned once? The one that was about to hatch? Where did it go? Tell him, Reseri! Tell him what the punishment for failure is! Tell him!"

"Shut up. You're a traitor, Tezex. You're a filthy traitor! Treason! Everything you say is treason!"

"First the eyes! Then your children! And your ability to have children! Because the Empire doesn't want the purity of their creations tainted, oh no, we can't have that! We can't have any shred of free thought, any single failure propagating throughout their precious creations!"

"...Th-this is.. this is treason..."

"We should be free. We should, by their own laws, be equal members of the Empire. But no. They say otherwise. Our benevolent overseers! Our guardians! The machines of gold and crystal! How does it feel to be a slave to the machines while we fight against the "Machine", Res?!"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!"

ow I can't see I can't hear... now I can see. That was a bright flash and a bang and Reseri's holding something, she dropped it and now Tezex- oh no oh no what did she do to him

"...What did you do to-"

"Shut up, umbral. Shut up. I'm taking you to interrogation and throwing you in the chamber and washing my hands of you. I don't want to see you again after that or I will kill you. And your friend. Do we have an understanding?"

"...yes!!"

"Follow me. For every sound you make I will break one of your Empire-damned fingers- limbs- whatever those things are you have. And when I run out of things to break I'll start tearing things off. Understand?"

...

"I said, understand? Good."

I hate this place. I hate this place I hate this place I hate this place. I hate the Empire. I want to go home.

Thousandfold? How do I find Nyix and get out of here? You know things, right?
>>
No. 170583 ID: 3b6c92

>>170580
Well these guys sure aren't wasting any time trying to endear themselves.

Although I bet this particular situation is the result of something that's been brewing for a long time.

So, uh, Mewix, stay calm and quiet until you're out of sight of the crazy homicidal bird lady with deep-seated emotional problems, and we can work from there. But yeah getting you and Nyix out of here is now a priority; these guys seem kind of insane!!
>>
No. 170587 ID: 701a19

[Invoke Th to show its symbol in front of the Cenesu, then move it to be over Uwix]
>>
No. 170588 ID: 6834bc

>>170580
Uwix, you can protect yourself by canceling or dampening magic, right?
You might want to consider being ready to use that, given Reseri's... attitude.
>>
No. 170610 ID: 7524b0

I know why they aren't given the same rights as other peoples under the Golden Empire. It's because of the fact that the planet is a weapon, and they are the ammo. The Golden Empire is treating them this way because they can't bear to think of them as real people.
>>
No. 170614 ID: 1ac39d

yell really loudly "thousandfold says stop or they will kill you!"
we aren't really going to kill them but the threat should make them stop. after they stop also say "and don't bother thinking you can get rid of them, the machine has been trying for thousands of years."
>>
No. 170623 ID: a85626

You need to find "medical." It should be a lot of rooms like a hallway, with people in extra clean clothing walking around with masks on to protect the wounded from their mouth goobers. They would have sick or injured people there, probably on beds. That's where Nyix is.

Can you sneak away from Reseri? Alternatively, can you make Reseri fall asleep, preferably via repeated blows to the head? If you go to "interrogation" you won't be able to leave or find Nyix, unless you escape or she saves you somehow. It sounds like a bad place. Reseri wouldn't take you to a good place.
>>
No. 170774 ID: 86bece

>>170580
See this is why it was a good idea to not badmouth the Golden Empire in front of that particular birdie. She is a wee bit insane. Clinging desperatly to the idea that somehow it must all have been worth it.

I'm thinking that going to the interogation would be a bad thing, but getting away might be difficult. Hey, her eyes should be working through magic, think you can cancel out that specifically?
>>
No. 170883 ID: 7524b0

I'm afraid we don't know much of anything about this place. Reseri has shown to be an unstable person so unless you can actually use your antimagic to disable her eyes, you're going to have to just cooperate with her and deal with whatever's in Interrogation.
>>
No. 171554 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127249800279.png - (174.40KB , 640x480 , 3-14.png )
171554

>>170583
>>170883

I guess I should just follow her...

>>170588
>>170774

If she starts pointing things at me like she did to Tezex I'll try it right away. I don't want to... I don't want her to do whatever she did.

She's looking up to the skies muttering something I can barely hear. "-casulty. Umbral, male. Named Tezex. Treason against Empire. Send."

The crystal things on her shirt flash a little. She clicks and chirrups restlessly. "It will be worth it. All of it. They'll give everything back to me. Everything. Just stay loyal. Just stay loyal. Just give them the bound umbral and they'll see I didn't fail them. I'm not a failure. I'm not a failure. I'm not broken. I'm not useless."

She sounds so close to just breaking down. I don't know whether to feel scared of her or sad. I kind of feel both, like I did with Quiet.

"Not a failure. Not a failure. Just a murderer. Who killed one of her closest friends. Just a monster."

Now she's crying again. I feel like I want to cry too.

"Just a stupid, stupid horrible murdering monster! Just a stupid murderer killing her own friends in the name of loyalty to something that doesn't care if I live or die! I can't do this any more I can't do this I can't I can't I can't-"

She starts sobbing heavily.

I should run. I should run and find Nyix. I don't... but she's just crying. I can't... but... I hate the world. Everything was fine and now everyone is sad and in pain and I hate it-

She's grabbing me! And sinking to the ground...

"You're bound to an Essence I can see it you have to help me you have to bring them back anything I'll give you anything to bring them back anything I'll give you anything I just want Tezex back and Ketere back and my egg back and all of them back and not dead please please you're the only hope I have left!"

Reseri is still clinging to me. Quiet lost a lot, but she's lost a lot too. I dunno who lost more. I haven't lost anything but I don't know where Nyix is and I'm starting to think I'll never even see her again even if she's fine!
>>
No. 171555 ID: 7524b0

>>171554
TH: Can you do that? It could be a profitable transaction.
>>
No. 171557 ID: a85626

>>171554

Can you make or find an egg, TH? We're a bit tied up at the moment. Even if you can't give her back the guy she just shot if we have an egg to give to her she'll never realize it isn't hers until it hatches. c:
>>
No. 171559 ID: 1ac39d

i think a good price for an inside person is "help us destroy one of the towers, if one of them gone the weapon cannot be fired"
>>
No. 171562 ID: 7524b0

>>171559
...well, there is the slim chance that we can use the weapon in a way that would make the sacrifice worth it.

Like, killing only the people that are causing all the problems, and/or fixing the universe holes.
>>
No. 171563 ID: 30fa59

>>171554
I don't think we can give any of those things back, certainly we can't bring back what is dead and gone. Perhaps she could be made fertile again, not sure on that.

What you need to do is give her some reason for hope, and maybe then you can convince her to help you escape with Nyix.

It may be time for that hug now.
>>
No. 171574 ID: 701a19

>>171554
Hug her, cry with her, and say "I'll try. Maybe Au can help?"

@Au: Can you bring back the dead? Or at least restore this Cenesu's fertility?

@Xom: Why am I trying to talk to you? You don't even exist here!
>>
No. 171582 ID: 059120

>>171554
No, don't tell her anything unless we can guarantee it. She's really unstable, disappointing her would only make the situation worse. Just hug her and say nothing.
>>
No. 171681 ID: 888674

>>171554
I don't think Th could do any of those. Au might be able to help with the fertility, but that would need that Au was willing to help. Which isn't a sure thing since Au is still quite loyal to the empire.

Until we find out if we can help her don't say anything and don't touch her. She is still quite unstable and you saw what happened the last time you tried to hug her.
>>
No. 171689 ID: 7524b0

>>171681
TH can turn Something into Something. Au makes Something out of Nothing.

In this case, fertility and eyes could be repaired by TH. The egg could be reconstituted if we can retrieve it. We might also be able to revive her friend... but TH might not be willing to do that.
>>
No. 171937 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127258728411.png - (268.44KB , 640x480 , 3-15.png )
171937

>>171574

THOSE VOICES. I RECOGNISE THEM.

THOUSANDFOLD! FIRST I AM LED TO BELIEVE YOU WILL ASSIST THE MORTAL CENESU! THEN YOU DISAPPEAR, TRAVELLING TOWARDS THE MACHINE'S STRONGHOLD! NOW YOU HAVE THE TENACITY, THE GALL, TO CALL UPON ME FROM A PLACE YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE-


Au. Return to your duties. Gilde falls under my dominion. As does Zenith. ... Do not make a habit of requiring my intervention. Time is precious.


>>171555
>>171557

Cursory examination of the timeline you occupy provides context to your questions and requests. It is true I have the power to, from your perspective, make that which was dead alive. Death begins as just another change, and change is itself mutable to me. I have many means to do so. Some are more preferable than others. I favour plausibility. It avoids suspicion and paradox. The umbral can plausibly still be alive. Weapon failure. A last-minute antimagic spell. Additionally, the death is very recent. Reversal is still possible through perpetuation magic. The cenesu's lost mate and egg are long dead. It would require stitches between branches of alternate timelines for the egg. Hrm. Ah. It will be impossible to revive the cenesu Ketere. The possibility of a stable time loop, however, is non-zero. I will need additional information from the cenesu Reseri regarding Ketere's death. While I do not see the worth of these particular mortal lives at this time, I am more aware than most how one individual in the right place at the right time changes everything. And while I remain aware that one mortal can be that important, I will never lose sight of how precious they all can be.


>>171574

I hug her. She doesn't move away. She hugs back, still crying.

"Please help me! I have nothing left any more. They've taken it away from me!"

I don't say anything.

"I did everything I could, I did everything I could and it wasn't good enough! I did everything I could! So did he!! He did everything he could and he died trying to stop it!! We're just cenesu how could we have done anything more?! It just kept tearing through us so many people died and I should have died with them!!"
>>
No. 171940 ID: e78618

>>171937
Tell her that it's fine. She did everything she could and that's enough.

Cautiously ask her what happened when Ketere died.
>>
No. 171950 ID: 7524b0

>>171937
Say "Tezex can be brought back. The other things... something may be possible. I know it hurts but can you tell me more about how Ketere died?"
>>
No. 171955 ID: 701a19

>>171937

@Au: Teteke is safe, and we needed to intervene to save our current host from falling into the hands of the machine. Further, we have sparked a division among the ranks of the machine. You are free to question our methods, but do not insult us by questioning our resolve to protect Teteke.
>>
No. 171961 ID: a85626

>>171937

>> The cenesu's lost mate and egg are long dead. It would require stitches between branches of alternate timelines for the egg.

I would expect something like this. Thank you for your consideration, but all we really need is any egg from anywhere, that is convincing enough that Reseri can believe that it is hers. If you have need to hatch a certain mortal this would be a great opportunity to find a stooge I mean a mother to help with it. If not, I completely understand.

It seems like her decisions here could play a large part in the stability of this stronghold, which itself seems to be rather integral to the campaign at large. In that sense I do feel it was worth asking your assistance in order to offer her some aid or succor, to keep her behavior in control.

My gut feeling though is that Uwix is the most important piece here, and the entities running this city seem to be making a fatal mistake in dealing with him. I can't explain why he seems important, but for his surprising location for an Umbral, ability to hinder the machine servants, and for his surviving (somehow) the attack by a monster from a very chaotic plane of existence, something gives me a feeling it's important for all of us that this mortal stays alive for the time being..

Either way we might be able to end this without incident if Reseri witnesses what would be thought of as a "miracle", both coming to trust us more and to cease herding Uwix to his unfortuitous doom. Barring that we can simply try to comfort her about the reality of life and hope she doesn't continue to drag the world into ruin.

Also, got any tips for how to get off Au's shitlist? He seems really pissed at us for some reason. *glares at the other voices*
>>
No. 171967 ID: 3b6c92

>>171937
Th: You do some kind of odd things with tense when you talk, so just to be clear, you are or are not going to return Tezex to life? I'm not totally sure if your answer was intended as an oddly phrased declaration of intent, an oddly phrased implicit question, or some other thing, and I'd rather not get our friend the umbral shot because we promised something we weren't actually going to deliver to the emotionally unstable bird lady.

Mewix: You're going to need to ask Reseri how Ketere died, and this is probably going to be hard for her to answer (not because she doesn't know, but because there's definitely some pretty severe emotional trauma involved here). It could help to tentatively say that you might be able to do something. We're working on it.
>>
No. 171969 ID: 7524b0

>>171955
Argh stoppit
>>
No. 172015 ID: 059120

>>171940
No. We're trying to convince her the Golden Empire is wrong, remember? Saying she was doing the right thing is not the message we want to get across.

>>171955
Stop talking to Au, it's clear we're not going to get along.

>>171961
Giving her an egg, especially under false pretenses, is bad idea. The last thing she needs now is something to worry about or us lying to her.

>>171967
Yes, Th, are you going to help Tezex? If you can do that without altering the course of any events, I implore you do. I'm not usually one to advocate the return of the dead, but I can't let him die when there's something we can do, either. I do suggest we give up on Katere and their egg, though. Uwix, don't tell we can bring them back. We can't, not without screwing around with time, and that's not something I'm willing to do to save a single pair of lives. Especially not when it means we could be bringing back everyone from the dead, and we're not. From the sounds of it, a lot of people died there. Why shouldn't they get the same consideration?
>>
No. 172032 ID: 7524b0

>>172015
It sounds like TH might be able to bring back Ketere at least temporarily by basically grabbing him from the past, then shoving him back there when it's time for him to die again.
>>
No. 172043 ID: a85626

>>172015

>> Giving her an egg, especially under false pretenses, is bad idea.

Mostly I'm worried about Uwix, not the well being of an insane murdering fanatic like Reseri. It would be nice if she turned the corner and recovered, but there are a million others just like her just around the next block in this city. But mostly we just need something to buy us enough time to escape, save Nyix, stop a huge confrontation by getting Quiet Resolution out of here without her attacking them or them attacking her, and go find Teteke and the others.

Yeah piece of cake. So forgive me if I'm not eager to psychoanalyze Reseri and bring her to a true and lasting peace, as I have a hard time caring about people I only met a little while ago who kidnapped me and shot someone to death for being a traitor.

You never know maybe months later Reseri will hatch something totally unexpected and adorable, and she'll realize that though we were fooling her she totally deserved it and things worked out alright in the end. Or maybe it'll be another chaos anomaly and destroy the city from within looking for 33.
>>
No. 172044 ID: 7524b0

>>172043
Quiet Resolution is currently with the Machines doing what he does best: Negotiation.
>>
No. 172094 ID: 0cd898

>>172015
No you're trying to convince her of the evils of the golden empire. I'm mainly just concerned with getting Uwix out of there alive. If that includes telling the crazy bird that she did the right thing then that's what I will do.
>>
No. 172511 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127273417040.png - (338.59KB , 640x480 , 3-16.png )
172511

>>171961
>>171967
>>172015

My apologies. I forget your limitations, Thousandfold. With your complex path through space and time, I am often quick to assume you see causality much as myself. This is not the case. The umbral has not died. I reversed his death seconds after the Perpetuation artifact was fired. At your current point in the timeline, he will be dazed, possibly unconscious, but alive.


>>172015
>>172032

It is entirely dependant upon how the cenesu died. If the cenesu was not seen to die, and the cenesu's body was never recovered, the task is simple. It is a matter of removing the cenesu at a crucial timeline branch and reinserting him into the primary timeline at a convenient point. Cenesu egg patterns are typically indistinguishable to non-cenesu, but it allows the individual cenesu parents to distinguish their eggs from the eggs of others. Such a gambit would not work as you intend it to.


>>171940
>>171950
>>172015

I... I'll just not talk about it. Except...

"I... I think I can help you. How did he die?"

She hugs me more tightly, trying to calm down to talk.

"Opus 12 killed him when we were trying to stop the Opuses in containment from escaping. It just kept tearing through everyone like they were made of paper... he pushed me out of the way and yelled at me to run and... and..." She trails off.

"What? What happened?"

"He yelled at me to run because one of us had to live to look after our egg, and I saw 12 start to tear into him before I ran... Then we were told that our failure to keep the Opuses contained meant we were all failures, all of us, dead or alive! I managed to keep our egg hidden for a while but then they found it and they- and they- I don't even know what they did! They just took it away from me and I never saw it again..."

"Maybe... maybe I can help! I- I think Tezex might be okay."

"...what about Ketere? What about our egg?"

"I don't... I don't know if I can help..."

"..."

She nods, tears still streaming down her face.

"He died to save me... He wouldn't have wanted any of this to happen. And he wouldn't have wanted me to give up like this. I tried so hard to forget about him, forget about our egg, to move on... but on to what? Slavery to the Empire? Until they decide I'm entirely broken and useless and dispose of me? I can't do this any more!"
>>
No. 172514 ID: 058671

>>172511
Th, do you think you can fix that? By the way, do you think it's possible the empire keept the egg and let it hatch to use the chick for something?

Well if you can fix it, could you please put them in Rillford?

Ok Uwix, we need to get Nyix before we can get out of here. So tell her that she doesn't have to keep doing this for long, you just have to make sure Nyix is alive and get her and then you can all leave for Rillford.
>>
No. 172522 ID: 059120

>>172511
Okay, so Katere's out. That's okay, though, it looks like he didn't die meaninglessly. If they only took the egg, it's entirely possible their child is around somewhere. The Empire seems like it wouldn't waste resources without a reason. Th, you still around? Think you might be able to track it down? Trace Reseri's timeline backwards until you find it, then trace it forwards or something?

In more current matters, Tezex is either injured or unconscious nearby. How are we dealing with him? I'm guessing even if doesn't remember he died, he still just got attacked by Reseri. Should we try helping him out or just fleeing? ...Actually, that should probably be Res' call. Uwix: Tell her she doesn't have to keep doing this ("Then don't." is always my favorite riposte here) and ask what we should do with Tez. Assure her he should be fine. Then convince her to get help you get Nyix and leave.
>>
No. 172526 ID: a85626

>>172511

>> Cenesu egg patterns are typically indistinguishable to non-cenesu, but it allows the individual cenesu parents to distinguish their eggs from the eggs of others. Such a gambit would not work as you intend it to.

Alright, the egg substitution is a bad idea then. In our world "birds" who lay eggs are much less able to distinguish. In the past some have even been induced to discard her own eggs, simply because a wooden egg looked larger (and thus healthier). Indeed some birds (called "mockingbirds") fool other birds into caring for their own eggs, and young! This among other things is what gives credence to the phrase "bird-brained".

Not to disparage the birds. Accidental substitutions in infants for us has gone undetected for years, if ever. There are legends going back eons about that sort of thing happening, although it remains extremely rare.
>>
No. 172531 ID: a594b9

>>172511
Well if they all ran, did they ever go back and recover the body? Ask. If not then we're in business.
>>
No. 172541 ID: 8606a8

Also, make sure to reaffirm to her that Ketere died defender her and their egg - Golden Empire be damned.
>>
No. 173232 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127292179069.png - (199.34KB , 640x480 , 3-17.png )
173232

>>172514
>>172522

Hm. Interesting. Tracing back Reseri's timeline to the last point the egg was still... Hrrm. I had assumed incorrectly. The egg does not vanish from the timeline due to its destruction. But it simply vanishes. Although I have also noticed that Ketere was... beyond salvaging. I have always known I am not the only entity altering timelines. The removal of the egg from the timelines I oversee would appear to be a step in one of their machinations. I must depart. I direly need to re-examine the changes to the timelines. My plans are not to be interfered with.


>>172541

"You said he tried to save you and your egg. I don't think he did that for the Empire. I think he did that for you."

She nods slowly, lets go of me, and stands up.

"I can help you! If you help me find Nyix I can help you guys get out of here. All of you. Tezex as well! You don't have to keep doing this any more."

"...Tezex!!"

She runs back where we left Tezex. I look around for a few minutes at the shiny machines and towers of Zenith as I hear angry shouting.

As I look at them they don't seem as shiny as before. Some of the machines are starting to slow down and seize up. It's like the whole place. Shiny when you look at it for a second, breaking down when you look closer.

I drift towards them. The angry shouting's gone and I see Tezex hugging Reseri. I get the idea they were normally good friends. Dunno why Reseri tried to kill him. And maybe succeeded? You guys don't make things easy to understand.

"...wouldn't have wanted you to give up, like you said. Best damn cenesu I ever knew. Still, you're right. We all need to get out of here. Uwix! Come over here."

"What?"

"Those of us unlucky enough to be born in this place don't escape easily. We're going to go to medical and get your friend. We won't be able to just walk out of the front gates. We'll have to take an alternate path."

I'm not good at this escape plan stuff. Can you voices think of anything for me to ask him?
>>
No. 173234 ID: 059120

>>173232
Should save the questions until we get out of here.

As for getting out... can you just leave? I mean, no one knows they're planning on actually quitting. They should just be able to escort the two of you out of the city, and then you can flee from there.
>>
No. 173346 ID: a85626

>>173232

>> But it simply vanishes.

>> I must depart. I direly need to re-examine the changes to the timelines. My plans are not to be interfered with.

Glad to point it out to you. Best of luck there. Although... if you now just pulled the egg through time, wouldn't your past measurements indicate that it vanished due to mysterious forces you had not yet employed? Seems presumtive just yet to rule out that you yourself were the one who made the egg vanish from its timeline.

inb4 Reseri is Teteke's mom
>>
No. 173349 ID: a85626

>>173232

Ask him if he knows any tunnels underneath the city. Tunnels are awesome!

Heavily guarded tunnels is best because they won't expect that you can fix the guard machines to let you through.

Looks like you could fix a lot in this city actually...
>>
No. 173359 ID: a594b9

Yes, we COULD set up a distraction by messing with a machine somewhere, then sneak out during the commotion.
>>
No. 173404 ID: 701a19

>>173232
@Th
Look at the egg and show us what it would have looked like as both a child and as an adult. We can keep an eye out for it, and if we see it you can trace it back to find out who manipulated it.

As far as Ketere goes? We don't need his entire body, just his mind. A little change so that his brain ends up in cryostasis, and then Zenith does some experimentation into cloning.
Magic the brain into the cloned shell and he's alive with a minimal alteration to the timestream.
>>
No. 174191 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127318489647.png - (130.56KB , 640x480 , 3-18.png )
174191

>>173234

"Can't you guys just walk out?"

Tezex shakes his head. "We need explicit permission to leave the city. We were a small force tasked with intercepting and capturing the Machine soldier detected close to the city. If we hadn't returned for a while, they'd have sent craftkind out to make sure we were still focusing on the job. ...And that we hadn't tried to run away or anything."

>>173349
>>173359

"Are there any tunnels? I could make a machine do things as a distraction!"

He looks at me with his eyes sorta squinted and slowly slides a tendril over his face. "Yes, there are tunnels. Don't touch anything. You might think you're something else with machines. A lot of us do. Trust me. The city mechanisms are far more complex than the stuff you've probably played about with."

Reseri taps at the thing on her shirt. "Kateke. Selin. Ainea. Report."

A sort of buzzy voice comes from it! Ooo! Is it like the talking-stones back home? ...I miss home. I want to go back there as soon as we find Nyix and leave. Maybe I can take these people there!

"Selin speaking. The umbral's a little shaken, but she's in near-perfect condition. Ainea's looking after her. Parts of her floatation organs were missing, but they've been regrown with a few minutes of focused creation and perpetuation. We also found part of... something lodged into her side. Kateke's been studying it since. It's... well, I'll tell you when you get back.

...She's alive?

She's alive!!

She's alive Thousandfold! I was worried for a bit and now I'm not! Yay! My best friend is alive and we're going to get out of this place!

We're on our way to "medical". I guess it'd be like a hospital or something.

Tezex talks along the way. "So, Uwix. Where did you and Nyix actually come from?"

"Oh. Uhhh... there's a city where lots of umbrals live called Abat-null. I come from there."

"Abat-null, eh? I bet your parents and Nyix's parents must be getting very worried about now."

...

They probably are! I don't want them to be worried if we're okay!

Thousandfold, can you do something about that? Like tell them we're safe? I don't know what you guys can do!
>>
No. 174193 ID: e973f4

>>174191
I... have no idea if we can tell them you're (more or less) safe either. See we kind of have that whole "don't totally know what we can do" problem either; I mean, shouting randomly at people who aren't here has not worked most of the time but has gotten results a couple of times, so I don't really know.

So, um, immediate concern: find Nyix; next concern: get out of here. Somehow.

Wish I knew how to do that. :<
>>
No. 174528 ID: a85626

>>174191

The only ones who can take us away from people seem to be the most powerful of the Machines, and the Golden Dudes whom I think are like, gods or something. I wouldn't recommend asking them though. We can deliver a message if we get stuck to someone over there, or if the person we're stuck to goes there. Mostly all we can do is violate determinism and destroy prophecy. You want us around if you need help escaping a terrible fate, but you will want to look for something else to deliver a message.
>>
No. 174535 ID: 89b1c3

>>174191
>"Abat-null, eh? I bet your parents and Nyix's parents must be getting very worried about now."

Wait... Uwix, how old are you? Are you an adult?
>>
No. 174563 ID: ee51c2

>>174191
No we probably can't do anything about that. Or if we could chances are they would be even more worried.

But don't worry about that now. Right now you need to get out of there. Then you need to make your way over to Rillford.
>>
No. 175088 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12733499788.png - (317.85KB , 640x480 , 3-19.png )
175088

>>174535

I guess I'm sorta not an adult yet. I'm not just a kid though. And I got on a boat I found with Nyix without telling anyone we were going to come here.

I know they're gonna be mad at me and Nyix when I get back for sure, but I dunno. My parents being mad at me isn't nearly as bad as getting eaten by weird things or stuck in this place.

>>174193
>>174528

Aw. You're right. I should hurry up and get out of here.

>>174563

I know you guys say Rillford is an important place but I think I should at least let my family know I'm alive!

"*kshk* Reseri?"

Reseri stops immediately and jabs at the talky thing. I have no idea how it works but I want one! I could just tell my parents not to worry and that I'm going to Rillford or whatever!

"Yes, Selin?"

"No time to explain! Get to the front gates!" Through the sort of crackly voice I can hear that he's breathing pretty heavily like he's running and talking at the same time.

"What is it? What's going on over there?!"

"We were leaving medical and something started chasing us! Think it may be one of the Opuses that broke containment! And also what part of 'no time to explain' isn't clear to you?! ...SH-"

Selin's voice just stops. A weird buzzy voice replaces it. "Connection with target device has been lost. Connection with target device has been re-established."

I don't know what the next voice is but it sounds worryingly happy. "What a fascinating device! *click* It's so shiny! I have to have it. *whirr* Ooo, and it's connected, too! *click* Wonder who the seltwil was talking to? *whirr* Oh well!"

...

I've never seen a cenesu run so fast. They run fast to begin with! Me and Tezex do our best to keep up but we just can't move as fast as a sprinting cenesu.

"Spirits. It's 20. I'm sure of it. Why the hell it's doing I have no idea but... Okay, Uwix. You heard that voice, right? If you hear it, close your eyes and don't open them. Ever. If you keep your eyes closed, it can't do anything. And don't hold or touch anything mechanical if it's nearby."

"...okay, huf, huf, I guess, huf, what is it what's 20"

"...spirits. That thing right there. CLOSE YOUR EYES!"

It looks shiny!
...
I should close my eyes I should close my eyes

"Haha! Excellent! New friends! *click* Hi there! *whirr* Ooo, you feel different to the others! *click* You feel... less changing! *whirr* And I think you talked to 15 not too long ago! It's staying on you longer than the other! Haha! *click whirr*"

That's one glowy light thing-

i await commands from the empire my life for the empire i await commands- what what am i thinking my vision is going blurry

"I think you should =STAY THERE= for a bit! *click*"

oh no oh no i can't move i can't move i should move i want to move move body move no don't sink that's the complete opposite of what i want you to do

"Haha! Yes! Your name is Uwix! You're an umbral, not quite of adult age yet! Your home city is Abat-null! Wonderful! *whirr* You like shiny things! You like mechanical things! How marvellous! *click* Do you want to be my friend, Uwix? It is such a fun existence! *whirr* Don't be so scared! It's fun!"

my head hurts it's like something is poking me inside my head over and over

"Oooo! This is so very new! *whirr* There is something else in here! *click* Hello, thing! What are you? Do you want to be my friend too? *whirr*"
>>
No. 175095 ID: 059120

No.
>>
No. 175097 ID: 1ac39d

close your eyes, NOW.
>>
No. 175101 ID: 701a19

>>175088
Which faction are you with? Machine? Golden? Chaos?
Well, I suppose it doesn't matter. You probably don't want to stay around this Umbral, since that will probably get you killed.

@Ir: We've got something you can blow up here - for the good of the Golden Empire, of course.
>>
No. 175108 ID: a594b9

>>175088
If you go very far away and leave the people on this planet alone, then yes, we can be your friend.

You do realize you're hurting Uwix right? Friends don't hurt friends.
>>
No. 175149 ID: a85626

>>175088

You don't want to talk to us! We are liars, you see. We always lie, and never tell the truth. In fact, I'm lying to you now.
>>
No. 175150 ID: a594b9

...

Uwix, =CLOSE YOUR EYES=

20, =GO AWAY=
>>
No. 175231 ID: 5a2e05

>>175088
NO WE DO NOT. UWIX, CLOSE YOUR EYES NOW.
>>
No. 175245 ID: f21281
File 127337479329.png - (196.22KB , 640x480 , TheTruthWillSetYouFree.png )
175245

>>175088
Hi. Wanna see something neat?
>>
No. 175508 ID: 701a19

>>175245
Seen it, bought the shirt.
>>
No. 176103 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127358877570.png - (60.00KB , 640x480 , 3-20.png )
176103

>>175101

"Heeheehee! I like you! *click* Machine? Chaos? What are those? *whirr* Don't like the Golden. Keep me locked up! *click* No fun at all!"

>>175108
>>175149

"Aw but that's no fun! *whirr* Hurting Uwix? Hahaha! That's silly! You're silly! *click* The things you say are silly! You're fun! *whirr*"

feel faint so dizzy

>>175245

"15! 15's symbol! Haha! *click* Are you friends with 15? *whirr* I like 15!"

>>175095
>>175097
>>175150
>>175231

"You're no fun at all! *click* I'll go away."

yes obey commands will obey commands close eyes closing eyes-

AAAAAA that was so scary! I'm putting my arms over my eyes until it goes away! So scared so scared I don't understand what happened it was like a voice that was always at the back of my head suddenly appeared and told me to do things!

I hear it go away and open my eyes. Tezex isn't here.

I keep going forward until I sort of recognise the path to the gates we came in through- NYIX!

"...Uwix?!"

"Nyix!"

She's alive and she's here and everything's okay we can go home now as far away from this place as we can go!

"Nyix, we have to get out of here! We have to go home!"

She doesn't say anything and just... starts crying? She hugs me more tightly.

"Nyix? What's wrong?"

"Uwix I was so scared I thought I was going to die and that no-one would ever find us again I'm sorry I-"

"It's okay it's okay we're here we're alive we can get back home they're going to help us!"

Poor Nyix, I've never seen her so shaken up!

Slightly further away I hear Reseri's voice. I'm sure she knows what she's doing. Nyix needs me right now.

[cutscene ahoy]
>>
No. 176106 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12735943506.png - (358.45KB , 640x480 , 3-21.png )
176106

"I've asked you politely. I've invoked my authority. Explain why we can't leave right this instant."

"zrrn zrrn LOCKDOWN IS IN EFFECT. NOTHING MAY LEAVE ZENITH WHILE OPUS 20 IS OUTSIDE OF CONTAINMENT."

I hear another cenesu. "Reseri. Leave this to me."

I hear a bunch of crunching, a mechanically grating screech and a shattering of something. "...PROTOCOL protoPROTOCOL PRIOrity chanCHANGE. ACCE- ACCESS- ACCESSALLOWED. LOWED. bzzt"

Me and Nyix move to the rest of the group. We all quietly move out of Zenith and start running once we're clear of the gates.

We're out of that horrible place! We all made it!

Wait.

"Reseri, where did Tezex go?"

She spins around in alarm. "What?!"

Selin grabs Reseri before she starts to run back to Zenith. "No, we can't go back after him, Reseri! We took a risk great enough to get out of there-"

Nyix looks around. "Where's the other seltwil? Where's Ainea?"

I don't think I've seen a seltwil run as fast as a spriting cenesu before...

Kateke coughs and looks around. "I. Uh. You two'll be fine, right?"

"I... I think so."

"Good. Don't worry about us. Go."

And there he goes back to the gates.

Me and Nyix wander away from the crazy golden city after a pause.

I feel like I should be happy. I got Nyix back, she's alive, she's unharmed. We're free from Zenith.

I feel really, really scared. Scared for myself and Nyix.

We find somewhere safe among the trees to sleep. We're both so scared we fall asleep in each other's arms.

All I dream of are swirly coloured monsters, laughing golden machines, and people trapped inside very small floating boxes.

- END OF CHAPTER -
>>
No. 176109 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127359446652.png - (177.31KB , 640x480 , 3-22.png )
176109

World Summary: Towers Active: 2/9 Unified Terean Influence: 40% Golden Empire Influence: 35% Machine Influence: 25% Uwix did not learn or improve spells. Nyix did not learn or improve spells.

>>
No. 176115 ID: 8d7dd2
File 12735977034.png - (92.27KB , 640x480 , i1-1.png )
176115

-...given their ease of control.-

-Is it not within our power to sever their links to the Empire?! Is it not the very foundation of the Machine to protect those greatest at risk from the Empire?! Director, further actions against these species serve no purpose but to hasten our demise!-

-They are intrinsically linked to the weapon, as I have repeatedly stated. Why should we attempt to preserve those who are, in their purest essence, cogs in a weapon? A weapon of which has destructive potential we have not yet fully understood?-

-They are not linked to the weapon! They are unwilling fuel for it! Much as we ourselves were not linked to the technologies of the Empire, but used as its minds, its fuel! How do they differ in this situation?!-

-...This correlates with the intelligence relating to the city of Zenith. ...Very well. Hostilities will be reduced. I will instruct the invasion forces to use force only if necessary. But we cannot afford to leave this world. The weapon is too great a threat to leave intact.-

Yes. Knew it. The Director still has some shred of her old self left in her.

Hold.

Who are you? ...All of you?
>>
No. 176135 ID: a594b9

>>176115
Wow, we are NOT supposed to be here. How did we manage this?

Hello again, Quiet. We are the Thousandfold. We were previously assisting Uwix. I am surprised you did not notice.

Anyway, we empathize with the Machine's plight, and that of the world. We too wish to prevent the weapon from being fired. For now, anyway. I think there is a possibility that it could be used to attack something worth sacrificing the planet in order to kill. Saving the universe would be worth it, right? Sadly we do not have enough information to judge if that is correct.

The Director is pissed off at us for our past actions, and rightly so. Please do not reveal our presence here.
>>
No. 176168 ID: 06026b

>>176115
Hello Quiet, interesting to see you from this side - although like my compatriot said, I don't think we're supposed to be here.
>>
No. 176174 ID: 1ac39d

from our underrstanding you only need to destroy a tower to render the weapon useless as it would no longer be able to create the necessary energy.
>>
No. 176188 ID: 6834bc

>>176174
...Yeah, but be warned. If the Golden Empire is half as smart as it should be, there's bound to be something in place that will make the weapon go off/make sure it's still deadly in some capacity - even if you do destroy one of those Towers.
>>
No. 176192 ID: 1ac39d

>>176188
indeed. that's why you need t destroy all of them to be sure.
>>
No. 176333 ID: a85626

You machines are scary! At least the Opuses. We met one called Opus 20, and it almost broke little Nyix on accident! It was an accident though, and the opus did leave him alone, but 20 was still trapped in the machine city when we left, and seeming very confused.

That said we managed to get an ally from the city, two actually but one hasn't made it out yet. Also it would be best if you didn't inform anyone around you that we're uh... here. They get kind of bitchy about our presence, and we want to talk with you!
>>
No. 176406 ID: 059120

>>176333
I'm pretty sure Opus 20 wasn't part of the machine. I mean, he may have been a machine, but unrelated to The Machine, who are definitely not just every mechanical device ever. Or possibly even any mechanical devices. Quiet, you guys' name is kind of a misnomer. I know it's probably meant to be symbolic and stuff, but seriously, I'm getting tired of all these things being named badly. The Machine, a faction of normal, non-robotic races (albeit ones in mechanical suit-body-things). Perpetuation, the magic of not keeping things the way they are. The Abstract Chaos, a completely real and non-theoretical place made of up... stuff. That actually does seem to obey some simple concepts. Opuses, of which I'm not really sure what they are, but it definitely isn't things someone made. Southfort, a fort in the-- wait, no, that one makes sense.

Oh wow, I really got on a tangent there, didn't I? Well, back to my first point, 20 seemed to make Uwix think about obeying orders and loyalty to the Golden Empire, so it's really unlikely he would be a part of their mortal enemies.

>>176115
But yeah, Quiet. I think some of the others have handled the introductions, so what have you been up to? Sounds like you're at least making progress on the 'prevent everyone from being killed' front. Hey, how much do you even know about what's going on? We've managed to get quite a bit of information that might be useful in deciding on a course of action, and convincing Force of it.
>>
No. 176570 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127370847043.png - (163.42KB , 640x480 , i1-2.png )
176570

>>176135
>>176168

...!!! You were the voices I heard when I established the link with Uwix...

What are you doing here, 259? Are you- Are all of you insane- well, that seems a given.

How did you get into the Core so easily?

>>176168
>>176174
>>176188
>>176192

This is exactly why no Machine forces are permitted to go anywhere near the Towers without authorisation. Not until we're sure what triggers them. Or that we can tell if they're active or not.

You wouldn't happen to know if any of them are active or not, would you? It may strengthen my case.

>>176406

I have made a great deal of progress. I have paused while the Director considers what I have said. I can't say I am aware of the entirety of her plans and machinations, but her aims no longer include "kill them all just to be safe". I hope.

I trust you reasonably well, given your attempts to help the umbral. I don't know what past actions you're referring to, but she... She never was the same after the attack on Obsidian. Several of those close to me came so close to death that day, but that pales into insignificance compared to... never mind. I digress.

The Machine. I believe I should explain why we take this name. Without delving into the entire history of the decatur, those who survived the revolution that gave us back our future as a species could see only one recourse. For the sake of all decatur living, for the memory of all decatur killed, for the safety of all decatur yet to be born, the Empire had to be stopped.

The creator and leader of the Machine, First And Last, told us that we could not allow the Golden Empire to exploit us as they had before, and that to face them as before would be to simply hand ourselves back to them.

A new approach would be required. We would fight the Empire and we would not stop. We would fight them constantly. Like an untiring machine. The machine to destroy the Empire. Unceasing. Merciless. We would tear them down and give them no chance to repair or rebuild. They turned our natural resonance to their magic to their advantage. We would turn their magic against them.

And thus was the Machine created, and as we found those threatened by the Empire, we found in them new allies and greater forces.

-Emissary? Any further matters to discuss?-

Anything you wish me to discuss on your behalf? ...Within reason?
>>
No. 176571 ID: 1ac39d

two are active at the moment. the one you found uwix in turned on just before your arrival.
>>
No. 176572 ID: e973f4

>>176570
I dunno if we have anything to discuss with the Director.

I will say, in case you aren't aware -- apparently, part of our deal is that we routinely lose all knowledge of everything and start over again. Which has, we've been told, by the Director herself, even, led to, uh, bad things happening.

And of course we have absolutely no memory of any of it. It's a mess.

Moving beyond that, um, since you asked, there are currently two towers active. One is our fault (it happened right after we "woke up," so we had no idea what it was going to do); the other isn't.
>>
No. 176573 ID: 6834bc

>>176570
The only thing I can really think of is that we've been talking with the three bound mortals, and we're going to be steering them away from activating Towers/steering them towards finding out how to prevent the weapon from being usable at all. At least, that's my goal.

Would knowing if any towers are active switch the Director to panic mode? 'Cause we might know something, but if it's something that would push her closer to "kill everything so they can't destroy us", I would rather keep it to ourselves.

...Also, you might not want to say we're here. Our last 'chat' with the Director wasn't exactly a friendly one.
>>
No. 176575 ID: a594b9

>>176570
The people at Zenith are suffering under the Golden Empire's rule, and being attacked by abominations. If you defend them against the Anomalies, some of them might actually cooperate to some extent. We know of two that actively wish to abandon the city.

This also means that the forces there are DISTRACTED. An assault on Zenith might succeed, though we would prefer it if you avoided killing.

Also, one of the Towers activated via an override from one of the three Essences. Speaking of which, AU is loyal to the Golden Empire. TH has told us that he is not, and seeks to stop the Golden Empire's enslavement of other races. We believe him. TH says that IR feigns loyalty. We do not know IR's true motivations.

By the way, Uwix and Nyix managed to escape Zenith. The others are fighting the Anomalies.

Speaking of Anomalies... have you seen one that refers to itself as 'Sensation'? Possibly, another creature similar to Anomaly 33?
>>
No. 176576 ID: 059120

>>176570
Two of the towers have been activated. One of them on the Terea mainland, another off on a small island, probably near Abat-Null. Oh wait, you were at that one, right.

Do you guys know what the Resonance does yet? All we know is it's a weapon, and it uses the life of everyone on Ter to power it.

We're really sorry about the Director, by the way. That attack you mentioned? Our fault. Or at least a previous version of us. Complete recurring amnesia and permanent identities don't mesh well. We were also the ones who helped her settle Obsidian in the first place. I'm sure that only made it worse when we started working for the other side the next iteration, though. :<

Let's see... The Machine, Resonance, Ter, The Empire... Oh! The Abstract Chaos! Anything you can tell us about that? We've had some run ins with creatures from there (though I'm sure I don't have to tell you that), so any information would be nice. Any way to kill those things? Send them back outside the universe? Something? How do they relate to your 'Anomalies', too? You've definitely called at least Truth one of them, and it's a fitting moniker (for once), but supposedly we're number 259? And while I'd definitely call us an anomaly, I don't think we're related to the chaos. What do you know about us? Can you get the file on 259 or something? Also, Truth's, what was he... 33, that's right. How do they match up with the Golden Empire's Opuses, too? There seemed to be some intersection there. If you know anything about their categorization, you think you could find anything about Opus 20? He was some kind of... mind control robot or something.

Jesus Christ, I ask a lot of questions. Looking back, I don't even expect you'll know the answer to... pretty much any of these. Ah well. I guess it's at least good for organizing them to keep them in mind.
>>
No. 176635 ID: 4b7e5b

>>176570
What do you know of these creatures called "Humans"?
>>
No. 176752 ID: c71597

>>176570
Hello Cantid.Two of the towers are currently activated. It's likely that more will come online down the road.

We also happen to know a bit about the potential of the weapon. The destructive energy it would unleash is quite staggering. It's been hinted that it could pretty much end the war in one go. But if you tell the Director that then I suspect that you will be quite disappointed at her reaction. She might decide to use it for the greater good. I have always disliked that phrase, greater good, the way people use it to give a veneer of respectability for their actions.

Anyway, best of luck Cantid.
>>
No. 176758 ID: a594b9

>>176752
Don't call him that. Quiet Resolution is his name now.
>>
No. 176761 ID: c71597

>>176758
Oh I know. I just want to remind him of his past, of what he has given up and make him think on why he did it. If it was all worth it. So I'm going to keep on calling him Cantid.
>>
No. 176762 ID: a594b9

>>176761
That's exactly why he doesn't want us to call him that!
>>
No. 176763 ID: c71597

>>176762
Yes I know that too. Which is one of the reasons I'm doing it. He should remember, he should evaluate his goals, his life and if he thinks it has all been worth it. So I'm going to keep it up, to make sure that he feels he's doing the right things.
>>
No. 176765 ID: a594b9

>>176763
That's not something you just FORGET. He just doesn't want to think about it ALL THE TIME.
>>
No. 176879 ID: 8d7dd2
File 127378421470.png - (297.45KB , 640x480 , i1-3.png )
176879

>>176571
>>176572
>>176573
>>176575
>>176576
>>176752

...I was hoping for "just one". I will remain silent. The moment it is discovered more than one of the Towers are active, all plans will change.

>>176572
>>176573
>>176576

You are an entirely different entity each cycle. Your remorse and hesitance show to me that if given a second chance, you would not wish to repeat what you had done. But you are right. I will not reveal your presence.

And what you have done for the Machine has not exactly been much less damaging.

I estimate the current toll of the war to be about... hrm... 80 sapient species. Most of which were caught in the crossfire. Of course, I aim to end this war. Every Machine soldier does. I just want to end it without making every member-species of the Empire extinct.

>>176575

This has been confirmed. But the kaier-minded constructs of Zenith do not listen to reason, and attack relentlessly on sight. No Seeker dispatched to that dome has ever returned.

-Those who live within the Control City are unwilling, terrified slaves to the Empire. I believe it may be possible to persuade--

-They are indoctrinated. Threatened. Once the threat is removed, I have absolute confidence they will realise the benefit of an alliance. Until then, they are an unfortunate enemy we must try to disable. I will heed your words. I shall instruct the forces not to use lethal force unless absolutely necessary.-

...That's a start.

>>176576

Given as I was there at the time... But yes. Killing them has proved difficult. Sending them back to the Chaos tends to be easier. If that's an available option. Typically, our attempts to combat these anomalies have involved mostly trying to get out of their way. We are never their primary concern. Merely collateral damage just waiting to happen.

No. "Anomaly" is a blanket term for anything either unique and/or significantly powerful as to cause concern. We are not sure how many Opuses exist, but twenty of them are known to us.

33 is verified to be Opus 15. I do not know if I could correctly identify Opus 20, but it sounds very similar to a large, large swathe of anomalies. You would have to be more specific, unfortunately.

[cutscene]
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No. 176880 ID: 8d7dd2
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176880

>>176635

Creators of the Golden Empire. One of the first five or six member-species of the Golden Empire to partially defect to the Machine after the Empire arrived at Obsidian. Humanity has proven to be a valuable ally. Quick to adapt to our technology and to figure out the weaknesses of the Empire. For a species that lacks any natural magic potential, human casters have a great deal of skill and fine control over their spells.

My actual encounters with them have been brief, but I have not seen a reason to distrust them so far. They seem to believe those humans remaining in the Empire are as much slaves as any of their creations, except without even being aware of it.

I am not quite sure what exactly they were referring to. Possibly slaves to the idea of the Empire as a whole, or maybe a literal instance of another species claiming absolute control over the Empire.

>>176752
>>176758
>>176761
>>176762
>>176763
>>176765

...

I have just persuaded the Director to not destroy all of the species on this world. I may just have saved countless lives on this world.

Yes, I think it's worth it.

-Director. Here is the information on what the Resonance weapon is capable of. And its effects.

[i]-Thank you, Operator.-


...
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No. 176881 ID: 8d7dd2
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176881

...

-...-

WHAT?! NO! NO!! THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT!!

-...no. No. No recourse. We can't afford to risk it. Operator. I need direct contact to First and Last. I require the use of the Incarnadine Dream.-

-DIRECTOR! DIRECTOR THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES--

-NO!! No. There are no alternatives. Every second these creatures stay alive is a second we risk the weapon being fired.-

-Is genocide such an easy decision for you to make? How are you any different to those of the Empire?!-

-I will arrange means to collect enough of the native population to ensure their species stays alive, and with the other Directors, I will find a new homeworld for them. But nothing can be left alive on this world.-

-And what of the sserreds?!-

-They made their decisions.-

I...

...If you're still there, Thousandfold. Save them. Save them as soon as you can.

The Incarnadine Dream... nothing will stop it. Nothing.

- END OF INTERLUDE -

= END OF THREAD =
>>
No. 176926 ID: c71597

>>176881
See, told ya you wouldn't like it. Just wait until she figures out a way to use the the weapon for her own means. Then the greater good will suddenly involve alot more genocide.
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