Text;

[undyingcrow]

This month has yielded a wealth of information, for better or worse. Rather than piggyback off of Jayce-san's post, I'd like to share some of my own findings.

First, there is the matter of the messages near the power lines. While exploring the area, I came across several items from my world. I'm curious if anyone else has encountered similar texts with relevance to either themselves or their home realities.

I'm not yet sure what to make of it, but it's troubling. While this doesn't necessarily bear ill tidings for our worlds, it still begs the question of how these items arrived here.

For full transparency, I'll attach a few images. These are Calling Cards created by the Phantom Thieves, a group of super powered vigilantes who "steal the hearts" of wicked adults and force them to confess their crimes.

CALLINGCARD_OKUMURA

Sir Kunikazu Okumura, the great profiteering sinner of greed. Your success and global fame exists due to the tyranny you rain over your employees. Thus, we have decided to make you confess all your crimes with your own mouth.

From,

The Phantom Thieves

CALLINGCARD_NIIJIMA

Madame Sae Niijima, a great sinner of jealousy. You have lost yourself amidst your obsession with success. For its sake, you are even willing to promote injustice as justice.

From,

The Phantom Thieves

CALLINGCARD_MARUKI

Takuto Maruki has committed the great sin of creating an overblown self-righteous reality granting people's wishes. However, we will not soak ourselves in this false happiness, and we will overcome our pain and move forward. As a result, we will not accept your proposed salvation. And therefore, we will steal your distorted desires and take back our future.

From,

The Phantom Thieves

If you see any cards of a similar nature, please let me know.

In other news, I found a rather unusual passage myself, though I've no idea what it pertains to.

He simply used the portal because it was there – an opportunist who chose to enter our world. It sent a chill up my spine. Then, I saw his eyes in town. I don’t know how, but he found m

I've little idea if this relates to this world or the world of another Drifter. If you recognize it, please do let me know.

Moving on, I'd like to briefly discuss a few more recent findings before I wrap up this post. First, there are the Husks. I mentioned this on Jayce-san's post already, but when the music began playing during one of our stops, I carried my phone out to the dormant Husks. Ghostly entities then arose from them, rising into the sky. The humming ceased in the immediate area...

But previously, I had speculated that the monsters that attack us were once like us. I believe we now have solid evidence that this is the case. Given Jayce-san's findings about "stasis," we have a clearer picture, though I'd hardly call it a complete one.

Though, I also had speculated that we're far from the first to have made the trip to Nirvana. After all, the messages on the Convoy seem prerecorded. Even the route seems planned in advance. We've yet to find anyone along our path who isn't a Drifter like us or a hostile of some sort.

Here are the following pieces of evidence that I believe solidify this hypothesis:

• The Husks take on a humanoid shape before the monsters emerge from within.

• The abandoned vehicles were full of useful weapons, clothing, and other assorted items. This is a far cry from our vehicles, which seemed chosen specifically for us and required careful repairs.

• Old messages played from the radio tower, and most notably, during the fight with the large Nargacuga. While I can't remember them word for word, I jotted down as much as I could after the battle.

The name Serenith came up, as well as the Wardens. The speaker in question also implied that these Wardens were ruthless killers.

I also recall another recording, where the speaker mentioned a pack and a sense of belonging...

However, it's possible that I missed certain details. With the chaos of the Moon Warp, my attention was often more focused on survival than listening for clues.

• Notes from the garage contain even more clues. "Broken in two […] Nothing to lose-", "Moon mourns, call her down, ease her pain-", "Need […] Better vessels from afar. Stronger souls-", "Imbue with moon sigils, Give blessings of moon, share her pain. Put the ritual right."

This is all troubling, but I can't say it's surprising. Of course we'd be summoned to serve someone else's purposes. It's why I advice remaining vigilant as we continue toward "Nirvana."

If anyone else gathered evidence that may be relevant, feel free to share. I believe it's in our best interest to collaborate in order to expand our understanding.

Comments

text;

[faceguy]

[Oh boy, another long post! At least he understood this one a bit better.]

I found my little brothers recipe for lasagna
being around it makes me feel better
most of the time

you think the husks are the people summoned here who dont
make it?

[undyingcrow]

I suppose it helps that it's a reminder of someone you care about.

The calling cards are less personal and more the work of a group. I've worked with the Phantom Thieves, but to call our relationship "complicated" would be a vast understatement.

But yes, I had considered such a possibility. With the notes in the garage, I almost wonder if they're a result of the failed ritual, or even the "stasis" mentioned in Jayce-san's notes.

These aren't mutually exclusive possibilities, mind you. Whatever the truth may be, it's clear that something went awry.

[faceguy]

their the guys that took care of that guy for you, right?

[By which he means Akechi's dad, but he's not sure if Akechi wants him blasting that info everywhere.]

oh yeah those
I could barely read all that
usually leave that kind of stuff to my other brother
gotta admit, I usually just ignored most of what he was talking about
maybe should of been better about listening

[Woe be to him if Donnie ever reads this.]

stasis was also written around those weird shimmery things we ran into on the road awhile back, too
levi kept running into them with his motorcycle and blowing them up

[undyingcrow]

That's right.

[His discretion is appreciated, really. It's far more courtesy than Akechi expected.]

It's never too late to learn. It may prove beneficial in a place like this.

With all that said, I can't say I blame Levi-kun for destroying them. It sounds like excellent stress relief.

[faceguy]

[Leo can read a room, and sometimes he even pays attention.]

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh
fine
but ill complain the whole time

ig
but they were exploding so they could have hit someone else in the convoy

[undyingcrow]

Well, I suppose it's better than nothing.

You're right about collateral, but I think the explosions were an unfortunate inevitability. Even my sigil yielded fiery results during my brief investigation.

[text]

[serialmurderbot]

There have been additional radio message broadcasts to pick up along the roads. I have recordings of them. There are more mentions of Moon Warps and evacuations. Some seem to be from around when whatever the fuck happened to the moon.

[undyingcrow]

If it's not too much trouble, I wouldn't mind listening to them. It's entirely possible that I missed some.

Either way, your efforts are appreciated.

[serialmurderbot]

I don't think you got these ones. The summary is more or less what the first broadcast told us.

[Or at least, not the same ones, given that SecUnit held onto a live wire to obtain the ones it did. It sure fucking hopes none of the humans tried that. In the meantime, it starts to plug itself into the radio.]

Give me a second to compile.

[undyingcrow]

Of course. There's no rush.

[As intriguing as this all is, he certainly doesn't want to apply too much pressure.]

I'll admit that my time near the power lines was preoccupied by the calling cards. Next time, I'll need to be more thorough.

[serialmurderbot]

I'll continue to monitor.

[Don't do it, Akechi, don't touch the power lines.

And, only a few seconds later, it sends over a burst of clips - most of them are pretty degraded in the transmission, filled with static and missing words, like the signal in between radio stations. Some are completely irrelevant, just fragments of a world long gone. Others mention scientists and evacuations, warn people to stay away from the moon fragments.]

[undyingcrow]

[He listens closely. It's definitely distorted and difficult to parse, and yet...]

Hmm... Fascinating.

Perhaps the abandoned vehicles we've encountered belonged to fleeing denizens, if not to those following a similar route to "Nirvana."

It wouldn't surprise me if the scientists had a hand in the sordid state of this world. It's fairly common in dystopian fiction, at any rate.

[Voice]->[Locked Text]

[constantvrunning]

The connection from our worlds to this one may not go both ways, but it does appear to be disturbingly thorough.

I hadn't found a note I recognized - I was paying more attention to the wires themselves, along with SecUnit - but I did have one thrown into my possession by the wind. I'd like to return it if possible, so the owner can decide if it should be destroyed. It read, "bring to this world – no, the one that came out of the gateway after. You know who I’m talking about. The one who wore yellow."

[There's an uncomfortable pause before V continues speaking. They do know someone here who is associated with yellow.]

[They switch to a more secure connection, going to text instead of speaking.]

I fear that holding someone else's note conveys visions, which is another reason I'd like to give it back if possible. Have you been seeing a cave? And sacrifices?

At least it is not like what the scientist Jayce has been describing. And holding the notes doesn't summon monsters.

[undyingcrow]

Curious... Then that makes two of us with notes we've no discernible connection with.

[Hmm, secure connection? Very well. He can work with that.]

I have, actually, along with bloodstains and a haunting cathedral.

Truthfully, Jayce-san's research is rather ambitious in scope, but I can't imagine it's helped his mental state.

[constantvrunning]

Given the sheer amount of 'real estate' on those wires, it seems more likely than not to find notes that aren't designated for us individually.

[Back to the locked portion of the discussion...]

I'm more worried about the self-sacrificing capability expressed. I wouldn't say I am cut out for... experiments on live subjects. Myself or anyone else.

[But that's their baggage, not Jayce's. They really could stand to actually address him...]

[undyingcrow]

Oh, likewise. I'm a detective, not a scientist.

Gathering clues and making deductions is where I strive. Jayce-san's willingness to be his own guinea pig was worrisome, even if it did yield results.

He's lucky he's still alive, by the sound of it.

Nonetheless, I have to wonder to whom these notes belong to...

[constantvrunning]

That is the biggest pro and con of this kind of initiative.

[But back to the notes...]

If they do not respond to the Network, should we simply leave them in a secure location, with indications that they can be disposed of?

[undyingcrow]

That's not a terrible idea. We'd just need a way for them to see it.

Though perhaps this network post is already a form of drawing attention to it. Whether or not the proper recipient sees it is another matter entirely...

Text

[guidemyway]

Okay okay okay.

But you have to tell me more about these Phantom Thieves!

They sound totally awesome!

[undyingcrow]

Oh really? Well, I suppose I could regale you...

Though I'll note that one of their members was exceptionally foolish and tactless when it came to announcing his relationship to the Thieves. Their hideouts were often much too public as well, and it's a wonder they weren't caught sooner.

That being said, their modus operandi involved traveling into a parallel world based on cognition and entering pockets of personal distortion called Palaces. There, they'd perform elaborate heists and infiltrations, ultimately culminating in stealing the "treasure" or distorted desires of their targets.

text

[hexrot]

[ they're already discussing this, but..... he'd like to leave something. ]

Well said.

[undyingcrow]

Thank you, Jayce-san.

I wasn't quite sure how my notes compared. Yours were incredibly thorough, after all.

[hexrot]

We're from two different fields, and years of experience apart. There's nothing to compare.

And I don't mean that in a discouraging way. If you're young and intuitive, keep it up.

[undyingcrow]

True. Detective work and research aren't entirely comparable.

But at the very least, my experiences make field work more manageable. Finding clues, making deductions... It comes with the territory.

[hexrot]

I have a friend within your line.

How long've you been in detective work?