01 [TEXT]

[hornrims]

[The habit of staying in hiding runs deep, and Richie is uncomfortable with broadcasting his face or voice over the network. In general he doesn't like the idea of the network but now he's getting desperate. It's been nearly a month that he's been here and still no sign of his brother. He had been standing right next to Seth before this. It didn't make sense.]

Right before you came here, were you with anyone? Did any of them come with you?

Has anyone been here a while before someone you knew turned up? How long did that take?

Comments

[hornrims]

I'd consider the source before taking anything like that at face value. That's what these god things seem like, just aspirations. Anyone with an ability who was here first could call themselves a god and we wouldn't know any different.

[verinumeri]

Oh, I am aware. I do not worship these 'gods'. They have power and were worshipped, that is all. Or, to take your point, they tell us they were worshipped, and have the temples to show it. There may be no reason to doubt it, but it's unimportant, really.

[hornrims]

So you don't worship them, but do you obey them? I've seen people already jumping when the gods say jump.

[verinumeri]

I would not use the word 'obey', but I do try to be helpful to Mr. Hope. Not merely because I see no wisdom in opposing the 'god' who provides shelter, food, revival after death, and keeps the beasts in their tunnels.

Mr. Sorrow is the eldest and the one who knows the most about the Door. He stated he would not consider whether to send us back until Mr. Hope had completed reviving their comrades. While Mr. Hope seems to maintain a regular schedule of a 'god' revival every three months, thus I cannot say whether trying to be helpful truly makes any difference, as attempts to find the Door have been unsuccessful, it is currently the single viable avenue of productivity to that end.

[hornrims]

Then I guess some of the gods aren't as useless as I thought.

I won't waste anymore of your time. Thanks for your help. What's your name?