001 ⚙ a lucid light

[clockgears]

[ The connection through the Murmur is clear and focused. Maybe not entirely steady at first, but intentional and to the point. ]

I reached out to the one calling herself Espera. She shared several pieces of information that I believe may be of interest to our little community.

[ There's some wry amusement in the way he says 'community', but he moves on without further comment. ]

She advised us to 'worship', referred to us as those who were once dreaming and are now awakened, and called both herself and us 'Vessels'. Much like the voice in the orchard did, for those who heard it.

And then...

[ An image comes through the Murmur, and lingers for a few moments before Ozpin continues. ]

A cipher, though one with scant information thus far. If anyone else discovers additional messages written using this 'alphabet', I'd appreciate if you would share with me. With more keys to reference, we should be able to decipher it.

Comments

[sculptedash]

Oh boy~!

A brand new cult!

I'll get the punch?

[clockgears]

[ Ozpin can not stop the flicker of weary amusement from coming through the Murmur. ]

Perhaps less violent than the last?

[ He doesn't hold out much hope for that, however. ]

I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean about the punch.

CW: Cult Death, Poisoning

[sculptedash]

We'll see!

They haven't said there isn't a hungry snake god yet!

[Her hopes are in the ground on that one.]

Oh. Oh. Oh! Okay. So. Sometimes when you're in a cult. They throw a huge party and they have punch involved. Kind of like a dance.

Except the punch is poisoned and everyone who drinks it dies!

Isn't that fun!?

[clockgears]

[ There's a soft sigh. Yeah, okay, he probably should have expected something like that. ]

I wouldn't be so irreverent as to describe it as 'fun', even sarcastically.

I'm familiar with the idea of cults enforcing suicide pacts, however.

[dethangel]

[Toki simply concentrates on what appears to be a doodle slightly altered from the image sent.]

Haha, it's a little guy.

[clockgears]

[ ... Okay, Ozpin can't help but let out a laugh at that. ]

Indeed, it is. Perhaps the key to solving the cipher lies in pictography.

[dethangel]

I think... you could make a lot of little guys with that thing if you tried.

[Sure, there's probably a greater meaning to all of that, but to Toki, the image just looked like... well, little drawings. And that, at least, is something he can get.]

I'll see if I see any of those guys around!

[clockgears]

We most certainly could. Thank you for agreeing to keep an eye out.

[ He's not sure Toki will be of much help, but Ozpin's long since learned to not discount any possibility. ]

My name is Ozpin. How might I address you?

[offseers]

[ huh. ]

That's not what I found. Did everyone get something different?

[clockgears]

That seems to be the case. Not only for the messages we received upon reaching out, but also for the... gifts... left near us upon awakening.

[ There's an impression of exasperation and distaste in his tone when he says the word 'gifts'. ]

[offseers]

[ noah blinks at his tone. ]

What did you receive?

[clockgears]

It's a journal, and enchanted one. Not a useless gift, save that it seems to resent being left unused for more than a few days.

[untilldeath]

[The 'speech' that crosses the murmur is more like images and sounds forming words and a voice together when there isn't actually one. Speaking is possible, but painful. Surprisingly, though, forming a method of communication is becoming easier through this... strange connection. He's understood, at least, even if soft bits of song interrupt, or sparks of light.]

I thought I heard a calling, but no one spoke to me when I responded. Something like a journal entry appeared in my mind, though.

[clockgears]

[ Ozpin is patient as the message comes through, even in its interrupted form. Ozpin has more experience than he can remember when it comes to 'speaking' to someone mentally; he's not surprised it's taking time for others to adjust. ]

You're not alone in that. Someone else told me of a vision they had. It seems not everyone was able to make contact with Espera, and the ones who did weren't all told the same thing.

Might I ask after the contents of said journal entry?

[untilldeath]

. . . I can share, but...

[clockgears]

[ ... ? ]

Would it be easier to share in person?

[ar_cane]

[ Viktor replies with what he hopes is only his voice, low and metallic, slightly harmonic as if two voices speak as one. His tone is one of surprise and beneath that, extreme curiosity. ]

I can read some of the letters. [ If he squints with his good eye—actually, there he has no eyelids, so it's more a metaphorical squinting as he concentrates on the symbols. A few of the characters them swim into understanding like he's switched the lens of a microscope and brought them into focus. ] I haven't seen this language anywhere in the city, has anyone come forward with more messages like this?

[clockgears]

[ Oh, a lead already? There's no hiding the flicker of interest that Viktor's question sparks in Ozpin. ]

No one else, thus far. You're the only one that's even recognized it, in fact.

[ar_cane]

"Recognize" may not be the best word choice when I've never seen it before in my life.

[ Humming as he focuses on the symbols, he reaches blindly for the notebook and pencil he'd scavenged during one of his trips out to explore the city. As he transcribes the message onto paper, another symbol clicks into place in his mind and he quickly scribbles down a note to document it. ]

It will take some time to crack without a key and without any idea what the grammar structure is. There isn't even a clear indicator if—

[ He was going to say that he couldn't tell if the text should be read top to bottom or side to side, but the layout of the letters pretty quickly indicates the latter. ]

Actually, it must be a vertical writing system. And based on the final letter of the first string, assuming the sentence structure is similar to ours, it might be translated as "the".

[richesse]

She told me this wasn’t a punishment, but a consequence.

[ “this.” everything that’s happening to them. ]

Vessel is an interesting choice of word. I wonder how literal that’s meant to be.

I haven’t seen anything like that cipher, but I’ll let you know if I run across anything. Could you keep me informed if you manage to solve it?

[clockgears]

I don't suppose she said it was a consequence of 'resonating', did she?

[ He's not sure if 'yes' or 'no' would be more encouraging at this point. ]

At this point, I can only assume it's meant to be far more literal than metaphorical. But I'll be sure to let you know if I encounter any addition messages or information.

[richesse]

Nothing of the sort, no. She … did refer to me as “sibling.” I asked her what was coming, and all she said was “The Night.”

If it is literal… one must wonder what we’re meant to be vessels for.

Regardless, thank you. I’d appreciate that. I’m Lortel. Lortel Kehelland.

[pointedlook]

Wait a sec, share that again, would you?

[ There's the distinct feeling of someone flipping through pages very rapidly, and then the click of a pen. ]

[clockgears]

[ Ozpin obliges the request. Espera rather thoroughly burned the image into his mind, so he doesn't have any problems recalling it a second time. ]

I can provide you a written transcript, if you like—though I suspect you have that handled already.

[pointedlook]

[ The image hangs in his mind and he scribbles the symbols down in his notebook, somewhere near the back. ]

Appreciate the second look. I got a similar message-or rather, a similar looking one. Been working on decoding it, but, it's proving to be time consuming.

[ In exchange for the new symbols from Ozpin, he'll share the progress he's made on cracking the cipher he got from Espera (presumably). ]