un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

I see we have plenty of new faces. Welcome to Serthica, if you're lucky the stay will be brief.

[ It's not exactly a fun and enjoyable time. Anyway: ]

I've been looking into our friend the White Wanderer. Those newest among us may recall him present during what they called the 'Unwinding', dressed in white while handling tea and a small child. Recently, he was mentioned by our guide the Merchant himself -- a comparison of his attire to the Ellethia uniform. I had confirmed the White Wanderer was here a few years ago, in the Mouse House, just after the 'coal sick' ended. Perhaps a few days after, implying he may have been around during the 'curing' of it in the city proper. With the recent confirmation of his Ellethia uniform, and Ma'am Mariol informing me she thinks he had a daughter he recently lost, he does indeed seem to be a former member of the Institute in Ellethia.

Given we found the familiar symbol of Ellethia (an eye with a sun) in the Remembrance headquarters I'd say this all ties together that our White Wanderer was involved in what is happening. Animating mannequins with dark water, as Remembrance seems to be doing, certainly fits the scientific intrigue of Ellethia -- although if this is misuse of whatever he began we cannot say yet.

What I'd like to know, from those here before me, is this: think back. We've evidence of this figure in Ke-Waihu. Was there any mention of them before? A white-clad figure, in Taravast? In any location the Merchant took you before? Have you seen the symbol of Ellethia, the eye with a sun, anywhere? These things might have not been noteworthy before, not part of a pattern, but I've begun to believe we're following a trail here.

For our new members: worth noting, Ellethia is where our guide the Merchant previously lived and worked, trading technical equipment and wards. It's of interest if our guide is following an old colleague, and taking us along. Ellethia's Institute was attempting to 'cure' the problem of mortality, the detail of which we are somewhat lacking. It seems to have involved mirrors, dark powers, and it did not end well -- that much we know. Given most places we arrive, things are going poorly, a recurring figure with ties there is of note.

Lastly: our raven master companion mentions Vassarizhia. I'm increasingly convinced the clock tower itself is related to everything happening here. The cities rotate at certain times, but large scale events also happen at them. The Unwinding, most recently, right as the clock struck six. We were told the beacon is in the clock tower and would light within months, when the clock is due its annual winding. Given it presumably just 'unwound', and caused all this, I'm hoping access to the clock will allow us answers to the parts of this puzzle we are missing -- as well as a route out.

Comments

un : dappled peals of the parted seas (voice)

[beitangmoran]

The first I heard of him was from Don Bonaccorso in Taravast, although I only recently realized this myself after connecting several pieces of information a little belatedly.

I did not hear of him in Sa-Hareth, but as I mentioned to the Merchant, Anurr is, I believe, much older than whoever this White Wanderer is and predates him by at least two centuries, so he existed as he is now before the White Wanderer appeared.

The phenomenon of the undeath was a thing before him, but he seems to have managed to harness it somehow.

voice;

[blackscales]

What was it Bonaccorso said, specifically?

voice;

[beitangmoran]

I asked him what the real price was that was paid for Taravast's peace, since clearly the story of the witches was just a fairy tale made up to appease the people.

He said that he made a deal with a Brother White. And that he asked him for a guarantee in exchange for the weapons. He asked him to surrender something precious to him.

The heart that Master Kaneki picked up in the Spina Hunting Grounds is, I believe, his.

After making that connection, I have been thinking back about our time in Sa-Hareth, but there wasn't a tale of a White Wanderer there that I can remember. Anurr's legend didn't mention him.

un: wooden sword

[vdovy]

so this merchant is chasing someone from their past and we are all along for the ride
am i getting that right?

[blackscales]

A more accurate description would be we are assisting, in return for free food and accommodation and the opportunity to try and return home.

Each place he takes us has a beacon, and the beacons appear to be our tickets home. I'm not certain if this White Wanderer has also been tinkering with beacons, hence is always ahead of us, or if the Merchant is simply choosing locations that have both beacons and recent activity from him.

[vdovy]

has anyone tried to go it alone without his help??

@yiling laozu

[weifinder]

Wasn't the one called Matthias or something of the sort the man who lost his daughter, and who they tried to regain?

Favouring children, the return of memories, the undoing of death but instead triggering its persistence and horror, and the recent nature of the undead plague of this world as compared to its older elements, such as Anurr.

I wish to speak with Zenobius, when he returns to wakefulness. He's been closer in the last three months, small improvement by small improvement. Of all who might know, he seems to be more reliable than Master Scorpion.

[blackscales]

That was my understanding. I tried to see if I could lure him into confirming Matthias, but he was resistant to saying much.

If we could ensure Zenobius was coherent, it would be useful to hear what he has to say. Of course, he did seem... scattered before. I wonder if all the memories he lost will remain lost.

[weifinder]

When he first wakes, for I refuse to accept he will not, presume he will be less coherent. But I feel that distance from the Tower and its sway may help with his mentality over time. There was enough wrong in Ellethia, I don't think he was allowed to recall himself in full more than in passing moments.

un: white pawn

[chosenbylight]

I am not new, nor did I arrive before you. But I spoke with Lily on the subject of the symbol, in Ellethia. We encountered it, drawn on a stone marker in a makeshift graveyard, along with the words, “Truth bows only to the sun.”

She had said the group had come upon the symbol before, on the Stairs of Sighs. She is no longer here herself, but there are others among our number who may recall its circumstances.

[blackscales]

You didn't mention this before.

[ Why! SIR. ]

[chosenbylight]

[Has he not? Huh. Well…]

I had not meant to keep it from you. I suppose that our time in Ellethia was. Chaotic, to say the least. And we were still traveling, at that point.

Did you encounter the gravestones? Or the pamphlets, scattered about the abandoned city? I believe there may have been one or two regarding mirrors, now that I think back on it…

text; un: iwannahexyouup

[incantates]

As always, a lively summary of our impending doom.
Bravo!

But also, as someone who arrived during the tail end of our trip to Ke-Waihu,
I can't say I know anything enlightening about the white-clad figure in Taravest.
What made you connect the dots to them?

un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

Fishing, entirely. I heard nothing myself, but knew deals with the undead were being made there.

I was hoping to prove a pattern,
which it seems we are. Ellethia experimented with 'removing death', and everywhere we go undead seem to be ahead. If this figure is also recurring, we can put two and two together. It's either that or assume total chaos. I'd prefer a pattern.

[incantates]

As much as I'd love to talk chaos theory with you,
I can also see some of the similarities you're alluding to,
though I can't say yet whether the experiment was completely successful.

Disrupting the natural cycle of life and death always has dire consequences.

un: mansbane

[bravelyrunsaway]

So you're telling me this Ellethia place caused the whole problem in the first place, because they couldn't accept that people die, and stay dead?

[blackscales]

It seems they wanted to outdo Taravast, who apparently started it to some degree with their Doxe.

People fear death.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Yes, because people love life. Thinking they've a right to render life and death meaningless is wishing to turn people into constructs. No wonder it went sour.

un: absterge

[downswing]

Signs, in hindsight. Taravast. Allusions to immortality.

[blackscales]

The Merchant mentioned that Taravast was ahead of the game in that respect. That they had long begun the process with their doxe, and Ellethia was trying to outdo them. To create a more elegant solution.

[downswing]

Than the possession of one's niece.

text; un: long rope

[eyeofthavnair]

I am one of the 'new faces'. Your thorough explanations are much appreciated. [He is so lost but he is doing his best.]

These mannequins...do we know anything more of them? It sounds as though we understand how they are made?

[blackscales]

Not fully. We know they begin as rough sack-cloth creations, inert and little artistry to them. We know Remembrance, our local violent rebel group complete with unstable leadership, had a birthing chamber of sorts. Here they seemed to soak the mannequins in dark water with magical properties. Potentially, they played music -- we know certain phrases have caused reactions before.

The dark water we've seen before has caused mutations, or healed when chilled. Whatever it is doing here is new.

un: song | text;

[spoilers]

Still fairly new around here, but I'm sorry, did you say, 'cure the problem of mortality'?

I understand we're apparently plagued by the wandering undead, and I would agree, this Merchant seems to be on a personal mission and towing us along. He certainly knows more than he's saying.

But if this experiment went so badly, then what does that mean for those of us brought here who...shouldn't be alive.

[blackscales]

[ ... Well, that certainly is a question. ]

I think that depends on your definition here of 'shouldn't be alive'.