016 [Video]

[thechoiceisyours]

Hey, everyone. So uh, I've got a few things to go over, but for everyone who's new, hi. I'm Chris, and I've been here way too long.

[He says it with a grin, clearly finding some humor; he's not as upset about being here as a lot of people are, for a few different reasons.]

I guess that's the main reason why I'm making this post, because um... You've all seen the Null stuff, and Fear's post, and I know that like... A lot of you are missing parts of the story, which you kind of need to make good decisions.

So I figured like, Mello's guide is great about what the hell we're doing here and what to expect, and he and Sharon put together a list of past events, but that's not the big picture stuff. It's all super important, but we also kind of need to be on the same page about everything.

So... Yeah. We know the gods and the Null both existed before all of us got here, and that there was another species here that the gods got energy from. Who knows how long that was, and I guess it doesn't super matter, though there were originally more of the gods, like... More than one Hope, and whatever; they're their own species. So everyone's a happy family, and then the Null get all pissed off because they don't like feeling emotions, and decide to go robot-apocalypse on the gods and the other host species until it's just Hope and Fear left.

So, it was only like, a few months ago we found out about this part, but Fear can move the whole city and keeps doing that to stay ahead of the Null. But he needs power to do that, and Hope needs power to resurrect other gods, so Fear screwed around with the Door and that's why we all keep showing up. Sucks for us but good for them, and they started up the whole events thing so they could get the energy they needed, and so Hope started bringing back the other gods and that's why we've got the eight of them we've got now. No idea on if Hope could resurrect any of the other ones too, but I guess we could ask him.

[Chris doesn't really think that's a priority at the moment, and it's kind of insensitive, but he figures it's worth saying simply because someone'll probably wonder anyway.]

Okay, so, now we've got the Null showing back up. For everyone who's super new, the Null started posted on the network like last month explaining how they're gonna go all murdery again, and kept waffling on whether we were included in the murder plans too or not. Latest update they're offering to send people home if we help them out in killing Hope, but they kind of conveniently don't actually have the Door yet, so it's like promising someone you'll get them a pony when you don't have a farm.

[In other words, probably not a promise to count on.]

Meanwhile, Delight and Rage aren't around right now since they're out trying to figure out how much of their threats the Null could actually pull off, in terms of like... If they even actually know where we are. Which hopefully, they don't.

So yeah, that's where things are. We're in the middle of gods vs robots, and not the cool kind of robots, but the dick Borg kind. It sucks. But uh, from someone who's been here awhile, I really think people are being too quick to jump to the side of the death-robots; I mean yeah, some of the gods are dicks too, but others really aren't that bad.

[Actually, most of them aren't too bad.]

I've talked to Hope and Fear a lot, and Hope especially doesn't exactly deserve all the murder threats. He's not the one keeping us here, and actually neither is Fear; if you want to be pissed at someone about that, which is totally fair, go be pissed at Sorrow. But guys, it's... You know, not the best plan in the world to be trusting the Null's promises in the first place, let alone agreeing to try to murder the one god that's really on our side and has been since day one. Don't you think it's also a little suspicious that the Null want us to take out Hope when he's specifically the one keeping us all alive?

{And okay, this is a lot of talking at once, but he's gotten the important history stuff said at least.]

That all said, um, I think we need to actually get all this sort of information actually written down in a way we can give to newbies like Mello's guide is. It'll save all of us a lot of time and confusion if everyone can get on the same page of things really quickly, no matter how little time they've been here. So, that's where everyone else comes in; I know a whole lot about this stuff, but if other people know things I don't or that I just straight-up missed and want to share, that'll help.

Also, um, if there are any questions, feel free to ask; if I don't know maybe one of the others who've been here awhile will, and if neither of us do I'll ask one of the gods and see if we can get an answer.

[Whew. He thinks that's everything about this topic, finally, and he can mention the other things he needs to get to.]

But yeah, all of that out of the way, I also wanted to let people know that Hannah went home. Which um... Sucks, for a lot of reasons. But yeah, people should know.

On less shitty news, I finished a game; you can now all play chess against each other. No computer AI opponents since Deep Blue's kind of beyond me, but you can at least challenge each other and then brag about what a nerd you are. And you know if I'm saying that, it's pretty damn nerdy.


[Private to Duck]

[One last thing to address here--]

Hey, bro, still up for alpha testing a text-adventure game for me?

Comments

Video

[utulien_aure]

Borg?

[Sorry, they don't get Star Trek in Middle Earth.]

Video

[thechoiceisyours]

They're uh, fictional robots that are like, all one brain. They're total jerks, and the point is that the Null are just as creepy and sketchy as they are.

[That's okay, Chris has no problem explaining.]

[Video]

[imhisaunt]

Oh dear. That all sounds very violent. Is everything here always so- um- aggressive?

[Video]

[thechoiceisyours]

Not everything, but unfortunately yeah. It comes down to that here a lot.

[video]

[hot_mes]

[allow him to preface with a long, put-upon sigh]

I've been dumped into the middle of a pile of idiots. Great.

[video]

[thechoiceisyours]

Well I mean, yeah, I'm not gonna argue with that, but uh... What part specifically tipped you off?

[Text] bc phones are scary :(

[aroundthecoroner]

[Most of that Michael just takes in stride. In the last few days he's learned that this place doesn't run on a logic he's used to. In the context of itself though, this all makes sense.

There's one thing he wants to know, though.]

How does killing a god even work?
Not that I'm
advocating that.
But like, if people knew how
I'd think they would've done it already.
So why do they think it's going to work now?

[Text] phones are great man!!!

[thechoiceisyours]

I have no idea, but the Null says they have weapons they'll give people who want to help them out.

[Chris is dubious about this part too.]

video; ota

[hasitsthorns]

I like the way you think, Chris. [ After her conversation with Sorrow, she's been wanting to put together a guide of sorts of her own. More specific in nature, but. Hey. They can still work it. ] But this is a lot of work for one person, yeah?

Let me take on making a guide to the gods. Like, all we know about them personally and just in general.

[ Also, ]

I'm leaving this channel open for anything anyone wants to pitch in. About their culture, their history, whatever. I think understanding them better might help a little in alleviating some tension lately.

video;

[thechoiceisyours]

Thanks, Rosie. And yeah, that's a great idea, actually; I know Hope, Fear, and Delight pretty well, and I've talked to Confusion and Tranquility some, so maybe I can add some tips. I know for the newbies especially they're all kind of scary, but they're just people.

[Somewhat jerkish people sometimes, but still.]

[hasadoctorsnote]

... So... keeping Fear fed by giving him fearful energy is keeping us alive and one step ahead of the Null? Am I getting that right?

[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah, exactly. He moves the city and all of us in it so the Null can't catch up to us.

video

[so_dark_a_road]

I'm sorry about your friend, Hannah. It is always hard to see a friend go.

And thank you for posting the information!

Q1: The Null killed the original host species? [ Curufin suspected as much. The Null didn't sound like beings that would stick at killing whoever they had to, in order to destroy the gods. And they sounded as though they had plans to kill the current hosts as well, though they didn't quite say so. ]

Q2: I haven't spent a lot of time talking to the gods, but when I did, they seemed to be saying they have no control over the Door. But you say that Fear somehow adjusted it, in order to collect us, the new hosts? So, obviously, they haven't been telling us the truth, or at least they've been chary of information on that point. I wonder if they actually created that very strange device? -- I mean, not necessarily the eight of them, but their species.

But I agree with you on that matter of the untrustworthiness of the Null. They'd step on us like cockroaches, in a heartbeat.

video

[thechoiceisyours]

Thanks. Yeah, and I guess I'm the last person from my world here now, too.

[So double-sucks.]

Uh, for question one, yeah. I'm like 95% sure on that.

For question two, it's a little more complicated. I think Fear knew what the Door did, but not exactly how to work it, and just sort of screwed around with it until it ended up like it is now. Sorrow does know how to work it, though, but he's not saying since he needs us.

[As far as making the Door, though--]

That's uh, a good question about where the Door came from itself, though. If no one else knows for sure, I can ask Hope or Fear and see if they'll tell me.

[And yeah, no argument there on the Null.]

voice.

[torrefied]

I thought I felt my ears burning.

[Hi, bro.]

This is good information you've collected. We should have it compiled in a document for both the historical record and the newcomers.

voice.

[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah, well, credit where credit's due and whatever.

[Heyo.]

Hopefully it'll make it easier on all of us if people don't have to ask as many questions, yeah. Everyone here's kinda uh... Disorganized, anyway.

[Putting it nicely.]

[wormintheglass]

Thank you, Chris, that's very helpful. Clearly I came back just in time.

[thechoiceisyours]

Hey, Bianca, nice to see you back!

[It's always a little weird but cool when someone he knows who's left returns and seems to remember things.]

text.

[dedikated]

And whatever the gods are, they're not harmed by standard physical attacks.

( People have Tried. )

text.

[thechoiceisyours]

Right, and some magic stuff either?

[He still doesn't know a lot of details about the whole Silent Hill incident.]

audio

[unitas]

The Null can see this Chris. There are certain things I do not believe we can discuss with these devices anymore. [ Sharon, paranoid as fuck. It's probably why she has novels of information hidden in places now. ]

audio

[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah, I know. But I mean, it's not like my opinion on things was ever gonna be a secret, and you know it's kind of impossible to organize the people here when it's not over the network.

[Getting all the info out to everyone would be almost impossible without using the network, and he's not too concerned about the Null knowing he's obviously not on their side. It wouldn't have taken them long to figure it out even without this.]

video;

[claritatis]

[It's several minutes before Ignis replies, mostly because he was frantically making notes of everything said, and partly because he needed that time to digest it all.

He had heard some of the situation from Regis, but hearing it from a stranger - and a knowledgeable one at that - is different. It filled in some gaps and answered questions that he didn't even know he had.]

.. Thank you. That was highly informative.

video;

[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah, of course, you're welcome. Glad to hear it makes sense and isn't just, you know, rambling.

[He'd planned it out, but still.]

Are you uh, one of the recent arrivals?

[infinite1up]

I was hoping for Tetris.

[thechoiceisyours]

Tetris is actually a little weirder to get working than I expected, but trust me, I want Tetris too. I don't really play much chess.

[Though he figures giving people someone to do by playing against each other is probably a good idea to have done first anyway.]

[einselective]

Stop calling them gods.

[thechoiceisyours]

Is that really the most important thing to focus on here?

[Just gonna question priorities here for a moment.]

[voice]

[circumitus]

Dealt with synthetics back home before. Most of them were pretty much assholes, too -- but they could also be fought.

[Not that that means this isn't a worry to Rey at all.]

[voice]

[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah. Apparently these ones can be too, but I think the main problem is that there's a lot of them.

[Considering the scorched bit of metal he'd come into possession of and recently talked to Hope about, he's pretty certain the Null aren't invincible or anything.]

video

[evocation]

Uh, hi. I'm new, and...

[Questions. Okay.]

What the fuck.

[Nailed it.]

video

[thechoiceisyours]

[Okay, Chris hadn't help but laugh at that, but he's laughing with her and not at her.]

Dude, same. But if you're new you've only been here like, a few days, right? It takes awhile for it to sink in if you're not already used to this sort of weird shit.

text

[ghostlocked]

[All this god lore stuff isn't something Harlan would usually care about, but there's enough of it in urban fantasy D&D land that none of this is all that surprising. At least this shit's straightforward, what with the obvious names at suck.]

ok couple questions.
whered delight and rage go? that massive fucking tome of history skimped on the details.
which btw organizing ur history w. numbers is wildly unhelpful. u guys dont have dates down here or somethin? at least include some like subheaders or w.e. jesus.
and how out of whack is shit w. them bein gone? everyones been sayin these gods can fuck w. our emotions or some shit.
last question. how long have u been here?
o right. hi im harlan.

text

[thechoiceisyours]

[Finally, some good questions.]

Uh, you're right, I totally forgot to mention that. Rage and Delight went out on some sort of scouting mission to try to see what they can find out about the Null, but they haven't come back yet.

You mean about the past events? You'll have to take that up with Mello but yeah we should at least mark month numbers.

It's not too bad with Delight and Rage being gone, but it means we haven't had any themed events for either of them in awhile. Which is cool for Rage, not as cool for Delight.

I got here the second month people started showing up, though I was gone for like a month or two at some point. So I dunno exactly, maybe like nineteen months total? Something like that.

Nice to meet you except for the whole it being in a shitty situation thing. Did you just get here this month?

[audio]

[onlyanautomaton]

Thank you for sharing information on this matter.

To your knowledge... have our captors ever attempted to develop an alternative energy source?

[audio]

[thechoiceisyours]

Yeah, of course, you're welcome.

Actually uh, I'm not sure. I don't think so; I know people have talked about like, the idea of some people who want to stay here willingly providing energy, but not about any sort of total alternative.

[video]

[sciencelizard]

Hey, uhm... t-thanks for putting all this together, and uh. For being willing to see the whole picture?

[She's not sure if that conveys her feelings enough, but it's making her feel better to see someone not immediately jumping ship to the Null.]

[video]

[thechoiceisyours]

[He smiles a little at that.]

No need to thank me, but yeah. I just... I get why people are pissed, really, but making decisions based just on that is only gonna end up getting all of us in a lot worse trouble.

text

[murderpotato]

nice great wall of exposition

but am i the only one that wants to see what one of these fuckin god-killin weapons looks like

i aint sayin we should use em or anything, but i kind of want to know what the fuck can actually do the job

text

[thechoiceisyours]

Thanks, I've been practicing; I'm practically the old wise man NPC here at this point, so I guess it's kind of my job.

I mean it's not like having more weapons is a bad idea or anything, so I can't say I'm not curious too. And actually I'd kind of wonder if they wouldn't work against the Null also.

.text

[noctyourking]

This is a great idea. I would like to see it implemented. Even if its a file we save on one of these devices and spam it to all the new comers we come across. Myself being one of them.

.text

[thechoiceisyours]

Thanks. I'm hoping to do something like that, yeah; maybe roll it into Mello's guide somehow or something. Get something really cohesive together, and then ask Hope to install it on all the phones.

Also I'd say welcome to Hadriel, but that always seems kind of wrong.