"Do I just sit here?"
"Anywhere, Melody! My office is our space to relax right now… Don't feel pressured by this."
"Oh believe me, the last thing I feel is pressured right now? Getting away from Level 13 is a massive relief."
"Oh, believe me, it is for me too! I've never been good with field work, especially not when that work is in a field."
"Anyways, now you're sat, I think it'd be good to start at the start, right? What can you tell me about when it was first discovered?"
"Well, that was years ago, but I remember it well. It was my first ever field assignment…"
<Begin Recording at: 12:59AM>
Date: 30/01/15
Location: An unclaimed alleyway in Level 9.
Participants: Casey Altman, Maxwell Baldwin, Reid Harris, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals.
Melody Parker: Can we stop yet? My feet hurt like hell.
Reid Harris: What?
[With the rest of the group ahead of her, Melody Parker had stopped and lent herself against the wall panelling of an adjacent home to rest. Casey, Maxell, and Reid all looked over to her in some confusion, and whilst Justin did the same, he was the only one to approach her.]
Justin Zimals: Are you doing okay?
Melody Parker: Yeah! Yeah… Just not used to walking so much! I've crossed more levels than I have in… in a while.
Justin Zimals: Did you never go on many hiking trails as a kid or something?
Melody Parker: Uh… nope! I never did anything of the sort. I'm not very athletic.
Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, that's pretty clear. Come on, our last expedition ended just this way.
Melody Parker: The last expedition where you got hounded at by the Church.
Casey Altman: Yeah, well this time we've got things to trade with for a safe passage!
Melody Parker: Will that work?
Justin Zimals: Well, I'm also here, to reason with them. Just in case.
Melody Parker: How do you know they won't just, like… kill you, Justin.
Justin Zimals: I have hope! Or, if I was a Church member, I have faith! Hah!
Maxwell Baldwin: Let's be honest too, if they kill Justin, they'll kill the rest of us. It won't be our problem anymore if something bad happens.
Melody Parker: Right… Lovely.
[Finding her mood suddenly changed, Melody shifted herself off of the wall and moved to rejoin with the rest of the group. Justin moved to the front of the group with Maxwell, and Casey stuck to the middle with Reid. Melody stuck to the back, holding the straps of her backpack as she tried to match their speed. As she tried to, Reid slowed himself down to match her speed and position in the group to speak to her.]
Reid Harris: Don't worry about not being able to catch up to us, alright? I'm glad we've got more varied people coming with.
Melody Parker: Yeah? Even if I'm not… the best?
Reid Harris: From what I've heard you're pretty good on the database?
Melody Parker: Oh, well… I suppose. But this isn't anything like that.
Reid Harris: Well, why did you decide to come with us?
Melody Parker: Just to try it, really? I've been helping write a lot of the levels that we discovered into proper pages or those Pending Approval things.
Reid Harris: So you wanted to see how the people on the front line actually did it, huh? Get in on the action?
Melody Parker: Yeah! Basically?
Reid Harris: Hey, that's cool! Admirable, too. I know most people take one step out of Level 1 and decide they never want to ever again, it's cool you've decided to?
Melody Parker: Oh, well um… thanks?
Reid Harris: It's just a shame it's usually not much more exciting than this. A lot of walking, with a lot of that walking being in places you already know, and whenever we find something new it's usually not long until we have to start running from it.
Melody Parker: Then… I suppose I better get my stamina up pretty soon?
Reid Harris: Tsh, don't worry about it. You'll be fine! The adrenaline'll hit if we run into an entity.
Maxwell Baldwin: That potential is escalating the more you two talk, by the way. You may want to can it before we hit a proper road again.
Reid Harris: Right, of course. Just stick with us, Mels, you'll be fine.
Melody Parker: I’ll trust you on that. Aren’t you ex-military?
Reid Harris: Heh. Sorta. Casey’s not, and I only went to a few training camp things for fun. Max is the one who’s done service. I don’t remember where.
Maxwell Baldwin: Afghanistan. I was a Lieutenant.
Casey Altman: Lovely… right where I used to live.
Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, well-
Reid Harris: How about we don't do this, okay? Right, Justin?
Justin Zimals: Huh? Oh, yeah! Please don't fight, alright you guys? We're here on a mission, and we need to be at the top of our game. Let's put our differences aside.
Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, so, you three…
[Maxwell's words trailed off, all while simultaneously raising both his hand and his eyebrows. His first finger met his lips, imitating a "shush" with his lips whilst giving the three a condescending look. Once he was sure they had the message, he fixed his attention back to the Justin. Casey found herself lost for words, stammering in defeat until they reached the end of the alleyway. It immediately opened out into a basic, two lane street with trees lining either side of the pavement. Behind the pavements were simple yet contemporary suburban homes with respectable enough front lawns. Of course, just like the alleyway they had come from, the sparse streetlights and pitch black sky made it incredibly difficult to see.]
Justin Zimals: So, Maxwell! Which way did you go last time, left or right?
Maxwell Baldwin: Left, the Church is down that way at the next intersection.
Casey Altman: Could I suggest going right, maybe? We don't have to speak to the Church if we don't want to.
[Silently, Maxwell Baldwin gave a cursory glance to his right, looking down the almost endless looking road that descended further and further into pitch darkness. Just out of the black, he could faintly make out a white glow, the unmistakable wicked grin of a Smiler.]
Maxwell Baldwin: Can't, no.
Casey Altman: Why not? Oh.
Maxwell Baldwin: Exactly. I don't want to use the repellent we're trading on those fuckers. Come on, let's go.
[After everyone took quick look in the same direction as Maxwell originally did, they all came to the same unanimous agreement. Having a mission, Maxwell began to walk first, taking the lead over Overseer-A and far before the others in his group, taking a small flashlight from his pocket as he did so. In a hurry, the others were quick to follow.]
Melody Parker: So, these guys, the Church… What do I expect from them? We seem to be treating them like a big deal.
Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, that's because they are. They're vicious little shits when they want to be.
Melody Parker: But why-?
Maxwell Baldwin: Why is anyone? It doesn't really matter right now.
Melody Parker: You could not be more unhelpful if you tried.
Reid Harris: Well, they're… It's a little tough to explain, we don't exactly know them very well. We've bumped into them on Level 8. They speak like they're self-important, sorta in riddles, and since they're a church… they're also religious.
Melody Parker: Religious to… Who?
Reid Harris: No fucking idea.
Maxwell Baldwin: Nobody! They're ancient as anything, and just took loads of Christian terms to use them for their own purposes.
Justin Zimals: Unless you count power as a god?
Maxwell Baldwin: They're stupid, they probably do… Anyway, shut up, we're coming to their place.
[Maxwell looked ahead of him again, huffing as they turned left yet again and down another road. A few paces in front of them, the road abruptly cut off, the asphalt and paving slabs disrupted, cracked, and transitioning harshly into short and prim grass. It looks simultaneously well mowed, and like it had been slammed down onto where the road used to be. Behind the meters of well-looked-after lawn was a large mansion, taking up the entire width of the street and then some. Although it was built identically to the smaller homes around it, that being early 21st Century clapboard homes from North America, its architecture was muddled and messy, with different parts of the home painted in different colours.]
Melody Parker: …What the hell? Why haven't we found places like this before?
Maxwell Baldwin: Because this doesn't occur naturally, Melody. The Church have… "magic", as Justin likes to describe-
Justin Zimals: That's because it is.
Maxwell Baldwin: Whatever. The point is, they're able to manipulate things through bullshit, which is what they've done here. You see how the plots either side of us are empty? The homes that used to be there are now in that.
Melody Parker: That's a lot to casually drop on us.
Reid Harris: You're actually the only one who didn't know, sorry.
Melody Parker: …Oh. Fair enough.
Maxwell Baldwin: Casey, grab the Almond Water and repellent, this won't be an easy talk.
Casey Altman: Right, on it.
[Casey Altman reached into her jacket pocket, taking out a small and strange looking pendant with opal-like gemstone in the centre. Rubbing her thumb across the smooth glass of the gem suddenly summoned an Almond Water in her hand, accompanied by a smaller glass vial of Smiler Repellent between her ring and pinkie finger. As soon as the group reached the harsh divide between rock and grass, two members of the Veiled exited one of their base's many doors and approached in unison. They wore simple but thick robes, and while the lump of fabric behind their necks showed they had weighty hoods, they had them pulled back to reveal cleanly shaven heads and sunken eyes.]
Melody Parker: Oh my god…
Reid Harris: Just play it chill, okay?
[As Reid tried to reassure Melody, even putting her hand on their shoulder for comfort, one of the two members of the Veiled began to speak, looking across the group with a small scowl.]
Nox Warrior #1: Are none of you going to speak yet? What brings you to our Parish.
Justin Zimals: Ah, well!-
Maxwell Baldwin: We want passage through this area, especially after you berated us last time.
Nox Warrior #2: You're that M.E.G. lot, aren't you… I thought some of you looked familiar, you especially, Maxwell.
Maxwell Baldwin: Are you one of the people who chased off?
Nox Warrior #2: Do you not recognise me?
Maxwell Baldwin: You're all skinheads, I can't and don't want to tell you apart.
Casey Altman: Um- hey! Look, we don't want to fight, that's not our M.O. W-We actually have things to trade with this time, we've come back knowledgeable!
[Slightly nervously, Casey held out the two glass containers, one with clear fluid and one with cloudy white fluid, smiling as best as she could to the pair of Parish guards.]
Nox Warrior #1: Is that so… Purifying Water and Smiling Repeller. You think these clear you to walk through our land?
Casey Altman: We were sort of hoping, yeah-? Justin, maybe you could help me out a little bit here?
Justin Zimals: Of course! Look, guys, we're neutral explorers, we don't want to hurt you or anything, we just want to see as much of Level 9 as possible?
Nox Warrior #2: That's what you call this place?
Nox Warrior #1: They're not the only ones, I hear the GPD are adopting it.
Justin Zimals: The- the who?
Nox Warrior #2: Let's not get side-tracked, we have more important duties to attend to. You want to pass through our territory, and to convince us… You've given us bribes?
Justin Zimals: It's not a bribe? It's more an offering of good faith! Which I recognise is pretty ironic for you guys, but you know.
Nox Warrior #1: Yes… Ha ha.
[In a swift motion, the guard reached forwards and swiped the two glass containers from Casey's hand, eyeing their Pocket momentarily before she stuffed it back in her pocket. The guard twisted the smiler repellent in his fingers, watching the clear liquid inside slosh within its casing.]
Nox Warrior #1: It certainly is a good bribe… This is a lot of repellent you've gathered.
Casey Altman: It's most our stock, I-I help manage our stuff back on Level 1. We know you guys are important and… weary of outsiders, to word it carefully. We want to show our good will.
Nox Warrior #1: And how do we know that this good will is the will of your entire group, and not just… You.
Justin Zimals: Hello! Uh, I'm an Overseer of the M.E.G., I can confirm this is on behalf of all of us.
Nox Warrior #1: An "Overseer"? You oversee the entire group, do you?
Justin Zimals: I do, I've done so for the past year and a half we've been open to the public, along with my sister and my best friend.
Nox Warrior #2: You co-run it?
Justin Zimals: Sure do! I hope that doesn't decrease the value of my words, I can promise you we all talked about this.
Nox Warrior #2: Oh, I don't doubt that.
Nox Warrior #1: Me neither, if anything it makes the bargaining better.
Justin Zimals: Wait, really? That's good, right?
Nox Warrior #2: Of course, it means the group can still run without you.
Justin Zimals: I'm… sorry? What? What do you mean?
Maxwell Baldwin: I think we should go-
Nox Warrior #2: You approached us, trying to bribe us into allowing your group onto our land, and you think that's okay?
Justin Zimals: I-I think the way each of us are interpreting this is a little different-
[Wordlessly, Maxwell put his arm firmly on Justin's shoulder, beginning to drag him backwards from the two members of the Veiled, who kept on watching with widening smirks as the entire crew sheepishly shuffled backwards alongside Maxwell and Justin. As they all began to creep backwards, the two warriors glanced at each other, procuring a flintlock pistol each from within their robes. Within an instant, they had them trained on the group, causing Melody to shriek, turn, and begin a full-on sprint down the road. Seeing Melody's haste, the others began to speed up too, especially as a bullet flew by Casey's ear.]
Casey Altman: Shit! Shit!
Maxwell Baldwin: For the love of fuck, stop panicking!
Casey Altman: A bullet went past my fucking head!
[Maxwell grumbled, practically throwing Justin around the right fork of the intersection and pushing whoever else he could behind the cover of the tall wooden fence, causing Justin and Casey to fall to the floor and scrape their hands on the cold pavement. Having sprinted so far ahead, Melody had already turned the corner, but seemed too preoccupied to turn around and direct her attention to the others. Although it took Casey and Justin a moment to realise why as they got up, both Reid and Maxwell had become just as frozen as her.
Hovering only a few feet in front of Melody was a smiler, most likely the same one the group had spotted from earlier. Smiling wickedly with its row of hovering teeth that seemed to find more ways to contort into a wider grin. It was staring down at her with unblinking, bright eyes, eyes which somehow looked to focus in on everybody when they were aware of its presence.]
Justin Zimals: I've never seen one so up close before…
Melody Parker: What- what- what do we do-?
[Melody stammered heavily, her breath as shaky as the rest of her body. Tensely, Reid came up behind them, putting his hand on her shoulder whilst keeping his attention on the Smiler.]
Reid Harris: We don't panic, okay? That's step one. Remember what I said earlier? This is the part where we start to run.
Maxwell Baldwin: We can't run, idiot, it'll shred us apart.
Reid Harris: We can back slowly from it, it's still intimidated by us right now, it doesn't know we're prey yet and right now… that's good.
Justin Zimals: Just start walking backwards, everyone. Keep your eyes on it. No sudden noises…
[Despite their apprehensions, everyone looked over their shoulders in-unison to make sure the coast behind them was clear, and subsequently began taking steps backwards. They were slow, practically shuffling, with not even Maxwell wanting to expose himself to the open intersection.]
Casey Altman: What do we do when we hit the road again?
Maxwell Baldwin: We pray to God that the Church went back inside their little den.
Casey Altman: And if they're not?
Maxwell Baldwin: They'll shoot us, probably. It'll be a less painful exit then what this thing will do.
Casey Altman: Great…
Melody Parker: This can't be how I die… There's still so much I don't understand…
Reid Harris: Hey, you won't die here, okay? I've escaped worse back in my Aiding Straggler days.
Maxwell Baldwin: We're hitting the intersection, brace yourselves.
[With Maxwell stepping into it first, the entire group found their way out into the exposed road of the intersection. Although Maxwell didn't show his worry, he took a cursory glance to the right to look at the Parish grounds they were at moments ago. He, along with Casey and Justin, gave a thankful and quiet sigh when they saw it was now unoccupied. Melody was too focused on the ever-creeping-closer Smiler to look, and Reid was too focused on her wellbeing to do so either.]
Justin Zimals: Good news, you two, they're no longer at the intersection.
Melody Parker: So what do we do now-?
Casey Altman: Since I gave away the repellent like an idiot… I guess just backwards? Until this thing gives up…
Melody Parker: Which'll be when it thinks we're not viable as prey, right?
Maxwell Baldwin: Assuming it's not playing with it's food… Yes.
Melody Parker: Please don't say that.
[Maxwell rolled his eyes with an accompanying grunt, but surprisingly didn't vocalise anything more. He looked over his shoulder, making sure he made a smooth reconnection with the sidewalk which all others did afterwards, and continued walking backwards. Finally daring to look over her shoulder for once, Melody turned her head and looked down the length of the pavement they had left.]
Melody Parker: We don't have much pavement left, we can't keep doing this for much longer.
Maxwell Baldwin: I know. Can't see shit after it ends, too.
Casey Altman: Does it end in a culd-se-sac?
Melody Parker: No, it just sort of… ends, Casey. There's not even anymore streetlights.
Casey Altman: We're really going to die, aren't we.
Maxwell Baldwin: Don't you start panicking too.
Justin Zimals: Hey, we'll be fine! I just looked over myself, I think we're approaching an exit to Level 10.
Casey Altman: Hah… Thank god. I've always wanted to see that place with my own eyes.
Reid Harris: You might want to shut your eyes before we transition levels, the daylight will hit you over the head like a brick.
Casey Altman: Reid, I am not taking my eyes off of this thing until I'm in that daylight.
[Casey feigned a nervous chuckle, giving a momentary glance to her right as the wooden fence they were following abruptly stopped, replaced by an endless expanse of wild grass. Upon looking back forwards, she noticed that the tarmac of the road had stopped at the same time, leaving just the sidewalk to guide them through the grass that seemed to gradually get taller. The Smiler seemed to stop at the exact same point most of the level's features did also, eyeing them all with a shrinking, but still prominent and twisted grin. Everyone took a sigh of relief almost in unison.]
Justin Zimals: Any second now… we'll be in Level 10.
Casey Altman: Oh, good… I was really worried for a second there!
Melody Parker: Please let this be over…
"…Okay, then what, Melody?"
"Is it not… Obvious?"
"Uh, explain it simply! I want to make sure this is on video."
"Well, unsurprisingly, where we ended up wasn't Level 10."
<Begin Recording at: 1:32PM>
Date: 30/01/15
Location: PA21.
Participants: Casey Altman, Maxwell Baldwin, Reid Harris, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals.
Casey Altman: It's getting cold… is Level 10 cold? Shouldn't we be in Level 10 now?
Justin Zimals: The daylight should've hit ages ago, and the grass isn't usually this tall, I-I can't see anything.
Melody Parker: I-I-I can try and look over the top of it?
Reid Harris: Is that what you want to do?
Melody Parker: Not in the slightest, no, but someone's got to try it?
Maxwell Baldwin: Since we're not in Level 10 yet, I will.
[Maxwell, still at the head of the party alongside Justin, abruptly stopped, although it took the others a second to notice given how much the thick and tall grass obscured vision beyond what was directly in front of oneself. He raised himself up, standing on his toes and granting him just enough height to look above the surface of the plants. After just a few moments, he lowered himself back down, staying silent for a few moments.]
Justin Zimals: Well? Anything? Are we still in Level 9?
Maxwell Baldwin: I don't… know.
[Maxwell gulped to himself, quickly regaining his composition and restarting his walk, which prompted the others to follow in his trail.]
Casey Altman: What do you mean you don't know?
Maxwell Baldwin: Well what else do you want me to say? It's not Level 9, and it's not Level 10. It's all grass, it's foggy, and… there's something out in the distance.
Justin Zimals: What was it?
Maxwell Baldwin: Again… I. Do not. Know. It was big, fleshy, and at least 30 ft tall. I could only see the legs and the jaw.
Reid Harris: That sounds like a Mangled.
Melody Parker: What?? You're fucking kidding me!
Reid Harris: Hey, Mels, what did we say? No panicking…
Melody Parker: But that's a Mangled! We're so fucked if it notices us!
Reid Harris: Which it won't, at least I don't think it will. We can't see anything in this grass, but that probably means we're well protected too. It can't see us.
Melody Parker: And what if there's more than one?
Casey Altman: There can't be, I've seen these things fight each other almost every time they interact with one another.
Justin Zimals: Wait really-? We should write a page to catalogue what we know about these things.
Casey Altman: Not since most the cars were DeLorean's, but… Yeah. I've been here since the 60's, Melody.
Melody Parker: Really-?
Casey Altman: You didn't know-? I've never exactly travelled far, but most my life has been here.
Melody Parker: I… didn't know that. Could I know a little more?
Casey Altman: If we get out of this, sure?
Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, save this for later won't you? I'm taking another look above the grass.
Reid Harris: Max, that Mangled is probably still out there.
Maxwell Baldwin: If it sees me, it'll only see me. I'll run towards it and keep the rest of you hidden. But I'll be fine, I'm sure of it.
Reid Harris: If you say so.
Justin Zimals: Yeah, I don't want you dying on us. You've been pretty invaluable.
Maxwell Baldwin: I try.
[Slowing his walking, Maxwell went on his toes again, his eyes just poking up above the tall greenery and granting him a much wider field of view of the level they were caught in. This time, he turned his head as far to the left as he could, pivoting slowly on his heel to get a full sense of what was around the group in all directions. Once he finished his 360, he lowered himself down and resumed walking at the group's normal pace.]
Maxwell Baldwin: There's only one Mangled, I can confirm that. From the direction we came from, and slightly to our left, there's a big… red glow. Like a sun, but it's not actually illuminating anything.
Justin Zimals: Anything else?
Maxwell Baldwin: There's a a tree to our right, that's it.
Justin Zimals: …Oh.
Melody Parker: Are we lost?
Reid Harris: I'd say so? But we'll be fine, Mels, promise. As long as we don't walk near to the Mangled, we'll keep going until we find something new.
Melody Parker: Are we back to the boring bit of level exploration?
Justin Zimals: Hah! Yes… yes, we are. Thank Christ, huh?
"How long were you guys in there for?"
"Only about an hour, I think? You have the transcript on hand, you can check yourself. I mean, we know now the place was small, especially with what's happened to it recently, it didn't take us long to find something new."
<Begin Recording at: 1:55PM>
Date: 30/01/15
Location: PA21, PA22.
Participants: Casey Altman, Maxwell Baldwin, Reid Harris, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals.
Justin Zimals: What on Earth is that-?
Melody Parker: Have you found something?
Justin Zimals: …Sort of?
Casey Altman: Oh. Oh, what the hell? Where'd that come from?
[Having shuffled to stand next to where Justin was, Casey seemed just as stunned as he was. Justin had his hand raised, twisting his wrist back and forth slowly in an attempt to understand why there was a faint, localised and orange glow illuminating from an unknown source in front of him, somehow shining through the tall grass itself. Carefully, Casey outstretched her arm and held her hand in front of Justin's, catching the odd glow on her palm. Unlike how the light interacted with the grass, this time having an obstacle in front of the glow casted a shadow onto Justin's hand.]
Casey Altman: Is that coming from the grass…?
Justin Zimals: It can't be, there'd still be a glow on the grass. Right?
Maxwell Baldwin: Probably? You can't ever tell anymore.
Melody Parker: That must mean it's coming from somewhere else then? Maybe it's just an orb of light?
Reid Harris: Let me chip in and try something.
[Without much further prompt, Reid reached forwards and brushed his fingertips across the stalks of grass in front of Justin, only after he and basically everyone else scooted to form a semi-circle behind him and Casey. Instead of his fingers pushing the stalks aside, as one would expect, his fingers slipped seamlessly between the atoms of the plants, causing Reid to shiver.]
Reid Harris: Heh. As I thought.
Melody Parker: An exit?
Reid Harris: I hope so! Maybe this finally goes to Level 10?
Casey Altman: Do exits to Level 10 usually glow like that?
Justin Zimals: …No, not in my experience, at least. Although I've only been a handful of times myself.
Melody Parker: Well, someone ought to take the dive and try it.
Justin Zimals: You're right! I'll go first, I'm the Leader here.
Maxwell Baldwin: You're the least expendable, you can't take a risk like that.
[Before Justin could offer a rebuttal, and really before anyone could even comment on Maxwell's words, Maxwell took a few steps forwards and through the grass ahead of him. Just like with Reid's hand, Maxwell's entire body phased effortlessly through the flora and vanished in the immediate moment after, engulfed in a bright orange glow.]
Justin Zimals: Oh shit he's noclipped-
Reid Harris: Yeah, you think?
Justin Zimals: Okay, yes, that was an obvious statement… But I didn't think he'd do that! That's what I was going to do!
Reid Harris: And if you died going through it?
Justin Zimals: Does that matter? If I would've died going through that, he's definitely dead.
Casey Altman: He'll come back through to tell us it's fine, right?
Reid Harris: Unless the exit's only one way, in which case he can't.
Melody Parker: Shit, does that mean he could be stuck-?
Justin Zimals: Let's not jump to assumptions! Let's give him time, maybe where it goes is somewhere really good!
. . .
Justin Zimals: Okay maybe we should go through.
Melody Parker: Yeah, you think-??
Justin Zimals: Alright, everyone, come through after me.
[Justin Zimals breathed in deeply, fixing up his jacket anxiously before shutting his eyes tightly and stepping forwards. Like with Maxwell before him, Justin was completely engulfed in a bright orange light before vanishing. Instead of panicking like the previous time, however, everyone immediately followed his lead, hauling themselves through the exit in a single file line.]
"So it happened here?"
"Sure did… and we were all terrified. Admittedly, we still were when we went through, we'd been on edge for an hour."
"I can imagine…"
"Yeah! Although obviously we now know that fear was pretty misplaced."
[Despite all coming through into the Crimson Forest one at a time, Justin, Reid, Casey, and Melody all fell into the new level at the same time, awkwardly causing a tight squeeze that knocked the group of four off of their feet and onto the strange red grass of PA22's floor. After a collective shout of confusion, and a second round of calls when everyone hit the floor, everyone began to try and re-orient themselves to get back onto their own two feet.]
Justin Zimals: Ow… did you guys all pile in at once?
Melody Parker: No? We went single file…
Casey Altman: Sorry, not sure what the hell happened there… Holy shit-!
[Once fully on her feet, Casey looked up and shouted, almost stumbling and falling over Reid a second time. She caught herself, though, finding herself transfixed on something in front of the group.]
Justin Zimals: I-Is that… alive?
Casey Altman: I- m-maybe? It does feel like it's looking at us…
[Tentatively, Casey took a step forwards, reaching her hand out towards an odd, metal street lantern that appeared to be floating just a meter or so in front of where the group had landed. Just as her fingertips were about to meet the dark, paint-flecked metal of its corners, the lantern suddenly pulled back to avoid the direct touch. Casey gasped loudly as it animated, her shock turning into confused horror as the lantern emitted a loud series of wind chime like sounds; the melody an odd mix of metal ringing and human-like hums.]
Casey Altman: …What the actual fuck?
Melody Parker: You all heard the human voices in that thing too, right?
Reid Harris: Sure did…
[As they spoke amongst themselves, the lantern suddenly emitted a loud angelic shout, sounding like a mix of mostly feminine voices and a single high pitched chime. Immediately, everyone's attention centred to the wailing metal construction, their confusion only going up tenfold as it began to spin in place with yet more wails of attention. Once it had spun a few times, it tilted itself backwards (relative from where the group was standing) and began to float away.]
Melody Parker: Do we follow it?
Justin Zimals: Do we have a choice?
Casey Altman: Technically we do, but I think it wants us to follow it, and… I say we do. Maybe it knows where Maxwell is?
Justin Zimals: Wait, yeah, where is he? We only entered this place a few seconds after he did?
Reid Harris: Speaking of… Where the hell are we?
Justin Zimals: God, so many questions… If anything this lantern has made things worse.
Reid Harris: Good thing we're in a group then, right?
Justin Zimals: Yes! Good point, actually, very good point. Uh, let's see… Casey, Reid, you two stick here and try to understand the local area. I'll take Melody with me, let her tackle a PA head on! Hah!
Reid Harris: …Sure? Just don't keep that thing waiting, it's like I can feel it's impatience from here.
[Reid raised his elbow up, pointing over at the lantern which was now in the midground of the level they'd found themselves in. It had stopped just before a line of tall pine trees, spinning slowly on the spot. From where they were stood, it sounded like it was emitting a constant series of chimes, although it was incredibly faint due to the group's distance from it.]
Justin Zimals: Don't worry, we won't. Are you alright with the plan, Melody?
Melody Parker: Yeah! Sure! We have ways to defend ourselves in case this place sucks, right?
Justin Zimals: Eh, I have Firesalt powder, that should do right?
Melody Parker: Hopefully?
Justin Zimals: Well, we'll find out won't we! Come on, let's go.
[Justin grinned to Melody excitedly, tilting his head in the direction of the lantern before twisting on his heel to begin walking towards it. Melody waved a quick goodbye to both Reid and Casey, turning afterwards to follow alongside Justin. Within a few seconds, the pair's quick walking had caught up to the hovering lantern. When they were close to it, the lantern emitted a pretty happy sounding chirrup and began to fly into the forest, beckoning the pair to follow it which they quickly did.]
Justin Zimals: So! First time getting out there doing an exploration, how are you finding it?
Melody Parker: Uh, horrifying, honestly! I can see why Casey's never explored much on her own.
Justin Zimals: I know, right? Y-You're okay though, aren't you?
Melody Parker: I feel better now we're not in immediate danger?
Justin Zimals: How'd you feel when we were in danger? Do you think you could do it again?
Melody Parker: Um… I'm not sure, actually… Looking back on it, I can enjoy the thrill of running from the Veiled, um, I didn't enjoy being stuck in the field, though. I'll admit, I thought we were dead, more than we were when we were being literally shot at.
Justin Zimals: Yeah that bit wasn't great, and stuff like that can happen.
Melody Parker: It happens a lot, Justin. You don't need to sugar-coat it. I still remember Jacob dying on Level 19, a-and as much as it's selfish to say this when he's dead, I don't want that to happen to me?
Justin Zimals: No, of course not! No one does… Jacob… Jacob knew what he was getting into, as cold as that sounds to say. The first people stepping foot in somewhere new a-are always the ones most at risk, not all come home.
Melody Parker: …Right…
Justin Zimals: Sorry, I get that that's not the best answer. I miss him too, I miss everyone that doesn't come home, it's a failure on my part way infinitely more than it is theirs.
Melody Parker: It's also not the best answer considering we seem to be the first people in this level? We are now the first ones stepping foot in somewhere new.
Justin Zimals: Ah. Okay, good point! But c'mon, look at this place, it's nice. We can't possibly be killed here!
[Rather extravagantly, Justin outstretched both his arms out both of his sides to gesture to the pine forest around them. Now having the time to finally take the time to appreciate the environment around her. They were still within a thick forest, certainly evergreen in nature, with tall and orange/red trees sat under a vivid light blue sky and a deep yellow sun. Poking out behind the treeline were mountainous inclines, some which seemed to twist at angles and form landscapes in ways that made Melody's head ache trying to understand them properly.]
Melody Parker: This place certainly is… different. I'm gonna stop staring at the sky, it's making my head hurt-
Justin Zimals: Good idea! I think there's something strange with the gravity of this place… Kinda looks like the horizon bends above us, doesn't it?
Melody Parker: Something like that, yeah… Bweh, it's strange, I'll think about it when we come to exploring it.
Justin Zimals: My thoughts exactly, Melody… Ah. Looks like that mountain will have to wait, actually.
Melody Parker: …Yeah, I think you're right.
[Suddenly silencing themselves, Melody and Justin passed through into a clearing within the forest, populated by a small collection of rustic and simply constructed wooden huts. Connecting these homes were small lanes made of upturned ground and gravel, which were being travelled across by a handful of townsfolk dressed in basic robes that seemed to overlook their sudden presence. Melody and Justin stepped onto the road closest to them, watching as the lantern they'd been following happily whizzed across the street, chirping to other lanterns it passed that were floating around much more idly. Slowly, Justin and Melody looked to each other, each looking equally as dumbfounded.]
Melody Parker: Well. I'm lost for words.
"The townsfolk didn't care you were there?"
"Well, apparently so! I didn't even think about it at the time, but seeing this log is bringing back a few memories. I guess they were all pretty familiar with us considering what we learned next."
<Begin Recording at: 2:36PM>*
Date: 30/01/15
Location: PA22.
Participants: Maxwell Baldwin, Melody Parker, Justin Zimals, Aiofe, Cian.
[Carefully, both Melody and Justin began to walk through the street, passing by side-glancing locals and the various unique buildings either side of them. Many were basic homes, wide slits for windows and curtained openings to act as doorways, and had basic sloped rooves which looked to be made of thatch and straw. The only other type of building they passed while going down their first street of the new town looked to be places of work, one of which had all sorts of tools and stations for making hand-crafted pottery products.
As Justin nor Melody even knew where to start with the town they had found themselves within, they opted to continue following the lantern instead. It took them right at an intersection, then left at an another, and finally halted outside a pretty small and (for the town) standard looking abode. The lantern stopped within the house's front lawn, emitting a light jingle as it did a momentary counter-clockwise spin. Although the pair were confused at first, their faces lit up in unison when they recognised one of two people sat at a straw table.]
Maxwell Baldwin: Well, there you are. I was beginning to think you'd all died.
Justin Zimals: Maxwell?? How the hell-?
Melody Parker: You ended up really far.
Aiofe: Ah…! These are the your people, Maxwell
Maxwell Baldwin: Mhm… That’s Justin, and she’s Melody.
Aiofe: Ah… Those are beautiful names. Come here, will you?
[The other person sat at the table smiled curiously at the newly arrived pair, gesturing for them to sit at the two other available chairs at the circular table themself and Maxwell were already sat at. They wore a basic robe like all others in the community they'd discovered, dyed in a rather vivid red with hand-stitched flower and vine patterns all across it. Disconnected from their robe, but still in the same hue as it, they appeared to wear a head scarf, not too dissimilar from Casey's hijab.]
Justin Zimals: Ah, uh, of course ma'am.
Aiofe: Oh, I'm not a woman.
Justin Zimals: Sorry, it’s just your head thing looks like… should I call you sir?
Aiofe: Don't be so tedious with gendered titles… You can call me Aiofe, now come sit!
[Melody looked to Justin cautiously, but her apprehension wasn’t something he seemed to share. Taking the invitation at complete face value, he went to sit happily at the table, scooting his chair in towards the table.]
Justin Zimals: Oh, no problem, I think I understand that! You’re like Asher! Um, I’m with the M.E.G., it stands for Major Exploration Group, we basically document places and I was hoping-
Aiofe: Oh, shush… I already know, your friend Maxwell has told me all about the M.E.G.! This is our first time getting outsider visits since The Collectives.
Melody Parker: The who?
Aiofe: Oh, nobody, don’t worry… I don’t think they’re around anymore, unfortunately.
Justin Zimals: …huh. Well, that’ll be something fascinating to talk about later! Um, how much have you been told about us?
Maxwell Baldwin: Well considering you left me here for an hour and a half, I kinda had to fill your boots and start doing the explanations and questioning.
Justin Zimals: What-?? We didn’t leave you that long!
Melody Parker: We didn’t go in immediately after you, we admit, but we weren’t any longer than a minute, I’m sure!
Maxwell Baldwin: I don’t know what to tell you two, but it’s been an hour. Fucking hell, look for yourself.
[With a grumble, Maxwell lifted his sleeve and raised his arm, pointing it across the table and holding his wrist at the middle point between Melody’s and Justin’s faces. As much it confused them both, there, clear as day, was a time on Maxwell’s analogue watch over an hour later than what Justin or Melody expected.]
Justin Zimals: No, that can’t be right…
[Justin grumbled, taking his audio recorder out of his pocket and tapping on the screen a few times. The LCD screen powered up, displaying (among other actual technical data) the time in 24 hours. Despite the different way to measure time, it was still clear that Justin’s device was over an hour behind on its clock. Seeing the strange disparity, Melody pulled hers out from her pocket, seeing an identical result.]
Melody Parker: How does that… what?
Aiofe: Ah! Right, I see what’s going on here. Sorry, it’s taken me a moment to realise what’s going on, it very rarely affects us, you see.
Maxwell Baldwin: And what would that be.
Aiofe: Have you seen the mountains, you two? I know you have, Maxwell.
Melody Parker: The ones that make my head hurt?
Aiofe: For you they might! For us they’re pretty normal. The Crimson Forest’s topology isn’t flat like most other places, it bends in various ways, sort of ripples and waves. Those ripples make time pass… different here, sometimes slower.
Justin Zimals: Is that because of gravity?
Aiofe: Possibly? If that’s something commonly understood in your culture, and gravity can mess with time, then yes.
Justin Zimals: You… don’t know what gravity is?
Aiofe: We’ve been intentionally separated from everyone else for centuries, probably even longer by your counts.
Melody Parker: Why are you isolated? Hang on, how can you understand us? We’re speaking pretty modern English.
Aiofe: Not to me you’re not, and not to anyone else here. Our Lanterns translate, it used to be a very helpful insight before my time.
Melody Parker: I-I- that’s- I-I don’t even know where to start…
Justin Zimals: I do! How about a tour of your community, Aiofe?
Aiofe: A tour? Well, why not. I’ve not even given Maxwell one of those yet.
Maxwell Baldwin: You did say you wanted to wait?
Aiofe: And part of me still does… but I’d hate to turn down two of you! Let me go get Cian, she’ll want to come.
[With a stretch, Aiofe began to right themselves, getting onto their feet and turning to begin walking towards the front entrance of their house.]
Justin Zimals: Who’s that?
Maxwell Baldwin: Their wife. Sort of.
Melody Parker: How the hell do they have marriages in a place that’s been isolated for centuries-??
Aiofe: Maxwell had the same question! The translator fills in gaps, my idea of marriage isn’t the same as yours!
[Aiofe, about to pass through the curtain into their abode, turned their head and called out to the group still at the table, grinning at them one final time before entering their home. Maxwell glanced at Justin and Melody, who looked amazed and dumbfounded respectively.]
Melody Parker: I don't think my brain has processed any of what she, er, they said…
Justin Zimals: That translator stuff even does lip sync, it's like Doctor Who!
Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, I know, wild. Where's Casey and Reid? Don't tell me you left them in the goddamn field.
Justin Zimals: Hah, no! Although that would be bad, wouldn't it? Imagine how much time would pass before we'd meet them again! I told them to wait by the entrance and get a feel for the local area while we followed the lantern. Is that how you got here, actually?
Maxwell Baldwin: No…? But when I told Aiofe about you two, they sent one of those things out to get you. I guess it did.
Justin Zimals: It did, yeah… You know, the glow that we all entered was a very similar colour to the glow coming from inside those lanterns. Do you think there's a link?
Maxwell Baldwin: Probably, but also maybe not. I want to focus on the tour and understanding these people before focusing on the lanterns.
Melody Parker: Speaking of-
[Melody raised her arm, pointing over towards the door of Aiofe's house. Coming out of the door was Aiofe themselves, followed by another person who was dressed similarly. She wore a headscarf like her partner, but her robes were more free-flowing, loose, and thinner than Aiofe's. Once the married pair were close to the table, Justin got up and gave a small bow.]
Justin Zimals: Ah! This must be Cian, am I right?
Cian: Yes, that would be me… Justin, yes?
Justin Zimals: Justin indeed, Ma'am. Behind me is Melody and Maxwell. Melody's got the curly hair, Maxwell's the guy built like a brick. Figured I'd clarify in case you guys don't have gendered names or anything.
Cian: Ah! Yes, I figured as such, we do have names specific to genders. Although they're names I've never heard before until Maxwell showed up.
Aiofe: They are lovely names, though! They're like the names from old fables, but different.
Justin Zimals: That is a very nice compliment, thank you. Are you both ready to give the three of us a tour!
Cian: Yes, definitely! I can't believe I get the chance to show somebody around, I figured I'd only ever do this with future children.
Justin Zimals: I guess with us you get a good practice for your kids?
Cian: Hah! I like that… Come, come, I don't want to waste time. #
[With an over-armed motion, Cian began to guide the trio with her, taking Aiofe by the hand so the couple could lead together and side-by-side. As they walked, their lantern that had guided them here left to go on its own journey, but the countless other lanterns dotted around the level still translated the natives into English. Maxwell walked ahead first, but it wasn't long until both Justin and and Melody were at his right. As the roads of the village were wide, the three were able to walk side-by-side without obstructing the commuting of the locals.]
Aiofe: So where do you three want to go first? We have a few landmarks we could consider special that you'd want to see?
Cian: There's the temple? Maybe our market? We usually use it to trade with other towns, before you ask, it took a few tries to explain to Maxwell we don't have money.
Justin Zimals: Well, it makes perfect sense to me? You guys know about money, though? Or is that another translation thing?
Aiofe: No, it's not! Our histories and stories have money from the people who used to interact with us.
Melody Parker: Was that with the Collectives?
Cian: Mhm! They lived in the Eternal Neighbourhood in the times that it was a safer place… The stories say we never fully got along, but they respected our differences.
[As Cian spoke, Justin Zimals pulled out an A5 notebook from his large jacket pocket and flipped it open, taking the ball-point pen that was held in the book's spiral and beginning to write in shorthand what Cian was saying.]
Justin Zimals: Could you tell us some more about that, actually? Before we see any landmarks, can we know your history? Or history that you know of?
Aiofe: I don't pretend to be an expert.
Cian: Me neither!
Aiofe: We keep a lot of our written history in the temple, and a lot of our spoken history is with our historians. They have their own building.
Cian: We've been here for generations, though, hundreds and hundreds of years.
Justin Zimals: Do you have a calendar?
Cian: Calendar…? I don't know if that's translating quite right.
Justin Zimals: It means, like, cataloguing and naming the days, basically? like, today is the 30th day of our first month, which becomes the second month after 31 days, in our two thousandth and fifteenth year. A new year comes by every 12 months.
Aiofe: And is every month 31 days?
Justin Zimals: Well, uh, that's a bit of a-
Maxwell Baldwin: For simplicity, yes.
Aiofe: I see! Okay… We don't have that, really. Our day's aren't important enough to log like that. But we mark each big passing of time by first snow. Happens around every… 350 days, at a guess.
Melody Parker: That's very earth-like?
Justin Zimals: Sure is! How many first snowfall's have passed that you know of, Aiofe?
Aiofe: Hm… I think Cian and I can agree on over two thousand? That's as far as the First Fable's go?
Justin Zimals: And what are those first fables?
Aiofe: Ah, they talk of the legend of our temple's construction! As well as all other temples, too, that's where all the town's fables begin. That's this, by the way.
[Transitioning smoothly enough to make it seem as though it was planned, Aiofe and Cian stopped their walking as they approached a large roundabout in the middle of the town, a roundabout which had a large stone structure in the middle. It was a square-based pyramid of sorts, with a mini temple on the top that looked traditionally Roman whilst the base of the pyramid itself looked almost Mayan. It was definitely not as tall as a pyramid or temple from either Earth culture, but a small and fully stone temple in an otherwise rustic village looked infinitely more impressive than it would if it was anywhere else.]
Melody Parker: Oh, wow, um… This is neat? You guys can build with stone?
Cian: No, not us, these were put here by God. They were for our ancestors, a beacon to build the town around.
Justin Zimals: Fascinating… Oh, I am getting all of this down.
Maxwell Baldwin: Yeah, it sure is… something.
Aiofe: Isn't it just? We pray in our own times up there, just to make sure She can hear us and know she's loved and respected by us.
Cian: We also keep our written history in there, as Aiofe said earlier.
Aiofe: Yes, quite right! If you're wanting to know so much about our history, do you want to come in and read?
Justin Zimals: Does the translating work on written text, too?
Aiofe: As long as lantern is nearby, you should be able to understand it no matter the language written.
Justin Zimals: Radical.
[Cian and Aiofe looked between each other with confused but entertained looks, taking the group up the stairs with a random lantern in-tow, reaching the top after just a few seconds. The perimeter of pillars holding up a stone roof encapsulated a basic stone structure beneath with a single open archway to transition into the temple interior. Once everyone passed through, they were greeted with a dimly lit space with a series of prayer mats lined up in multiple rows, forming two grid shapes either side of the door. At the head of each mat was a little clay idol, depicting a thin woman covered in robes holding her hands forwards; a cube of shiny metal atop both her connected palms. At the back of the room was clearly a spiral staircase of some kind, presumably descending towards where the written histories were probably kept.]
Justin Zimals: Wow… Impressive!
Melody Parker: I'll say… should we keep our voices down? People are praying, it seems.
Maxwell Baldwin: …If you can call it that…
Aiofe: Oh don't worry about it, we use this place to socialise and hold our events, too. It's a pretty multi-purpose place, all things considered.
Justin Zimals: Brilliant! Love it.
Maxwell Baldwin: These lanterns… When we leave, could we take one with us? Maybe find out how you make them?
Cian: Well you definitely can't take one!
[With her comment, Cian snickered to herself, her laughter transmitting to her spouse who snickered with them. Cian composed herself first, which allowed her to speak before Aiofe.]
Cian: The Lanterns are very important to us, Maxwell. They rarely even leave villages.
Aiofe: They're our ancestors, in a way. They have these wondrous jars in them that preserve memory. With a bit of our own tinkering, they can preserve entire souls!
Cian: Mostly.
Aiofe: It's not perfect, and the more of our ancestors you put in a lantern the more homogenised their voices become. We've been doing it since our town began, which is why they sound like they do.
[As they spoke, Aiofe guided themselves, their wife, and subsequently Justin, Melody, and Maxwell (in that order) down a thin set of spiral steps. As the pair kept going and talking, they passed open doorways to other floors within the temple, but it was clear Aiofe and Cian were intent on going right to the bottom.]
Justin Zimals: You guys are… amazing.
Melody Parker: Do you really have to write these down? We record, like, everything we do. Even this.
Justin Zimals: It's good to have it in short hand! My sister and Andrew will love this, I think everyone will.
Cian: You plan on making your research on us public…?
Justin Zimals: Oh, um, yeah… That's sort of our thing. We have a database that we upload to, partly found, partly made by us. All the stuff we find goes on it eventually. If it's okay with you, I want to put this place on there too.
[Cian looked to Aiofe, who looked right back at her. They each shared a somewhat uneasy look, shrugging in unison before Aiofe looked over their shoulder and back at the group of three.]
Aiofe: As long as we get to stay mostly to ourselves, sure. You've seen how we've treated you, and how no one here has batted much of an eye or complained at your presence, I think visitors again would be very, very healthy for us. But we know the worlds outside our Forest are vast, don't bring masses to us when we're not prepared for that.
Justin Zimals: Oh, you have my word! My complete and utter word, as one of the Overseer's of the M.E.G. My sister and my best friend would say the same if they'd come with me.
Aiofe: You sound pretty sure of yourself!
Justin Zimals: That's because I know them very well, Aiofe.
Cian: Hm. Well, good. It's not like it's easy to reach us, anyway. The Eternal Neighbourhood is still incredibly dangerous, yes?
Melody Parker: Was there ever a time that it wasn't?
Cian: Bless.
[Cian laughed, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as they all reached the base of the pyramid. Unlike the prayer area at the top, this area was completely unlit, but that was quickly undone as the Lantern that was still following them floated into the middle of the room. It began to spin with happy chirrups and a choir-like song, its orange glow expanding to cover the entire room. With the illumination, the group could see shelves with rows upon rows of clay pots, some looking brand new and others looking like they came out of a history museum.
Cian and Aiofe waltzed in casually, obviously being used to the large room. Maxwell fixed his composure quite quickly, strolling in to glance curiously at the pots lined in neat rows on the various wooden shelving units. After giving curious and, for Justin, excited looks between each other, both him and Melody walked forwards also. The pots had basic inscriptions on them, and while the alphabet or symbols utilised were alien to all three of them, they were still able to be read.]
Maxwell Baldwin: "The Fable of the Deer and the Mice Queen", "First Winter, Two-hundredth Snowfall"… You have a lot here.
Cian: Yes. Of course we do… Everything we've ever written is in here.
Melody Parker: Everything? You've never lost anything or not preserved anything?
Cian: Not to our knowledge? But you'd have to ask the historians, they know more than us. Any bit of writing, even scraps, we collect and archive. We have a mix of stories, notes, paper scraps, I think I already said that one.
Maxwell Baldwin: Well then, impressive… Although I think your mind's would be blown away by the Internet.
Cian: The what?
"You five seemed to stay inside this place for a while?"
"Yes, we did! Oh, we did… I miss it. They loved speaking about their fables and stuff, it was the first time anyone there had ever had the chance to."
"I imagine you're wanting to skip forwards a bit?"
"If that's okay, yes… Sorry, Melody, but the Dailyrooms want me to keep things snappy, and they want this out sooner rather than later."
"It's fine, honestly! I know I'm not just here to reminisce for the fun of it. Skip forwards however much you want."
"Right then, uh, okay let's see… How about when you left the village?"
"Oh, you want to skip that far? It was pretty late in the day for us, but the sun was still out. We'd left the historians about half an hour before when…"