[log+text]

[tessellatedflood]

Log - Limit 1 thread

[There has been a strange aura about the lake lately. Rumors of sightings of townsfolk walking into it, in a trance. Undead servitors from the deep. So perhaps it's unnerving to see someone walking out of the lake at a time like this.

Following their investigation, Noah emerges from the depths, apparently unbothered by the whole thing where people usually can't breathe underwater. Rather than hunt people to drag into the lake, though, they shake their head to get at least the worst of the water out of their hair, before looking down at their soaked clothes before deciding that trying to do much about it here is a lost cause.

With a small shrug, still sopping wet, they head out towards the apartments.]

Text

I hope this evening finds you well! I've been investigating the mysterious situation at the lake. Being a robot, I don't need to breathe, so I figured I was a good match for looking into anything strange going on underwater.

The situation seems a bit complicated. I heard a song coming from underwater, and some residents of the Harbor district seem to be put into a trance by it - those affected wandered towards the lake, some of them even walking into it, and the ones who didn't were carried in by giant crabs. Those who drown are revived by some unseen force (magic, I assume? if it can revive the dead, that could be an incredible discovery! but alas, I more suspect that a foreign intelligence is animating the corpses, rather than the restoration of the original mind - but I'm getting off topic). I was able to drag a few humans away from the lake before they died, but they fought me the whole time, until they were out of earshot of the song. It probably doesn't affect me because I'm a machine?

After being revived, the newly-animated bodies do not return to the lake; instead, they follow the song in a different direction. I didn't follow them far enough to be sure, but it looks like Shalimar's theory that they're going to the lighthouse is correct, or at least very likely. If there's a solution that doesn't involve going underwater, it's probably in that direction.

If you see someone being drawn by the song, I would advise finding a way to plug your ears or otherwise make yourself unable to hear it. Then, forcefully drag them away from the lake until they can no longer hear the song. Be aware that they will resist this effort by any means available to them, so the use of some sort of special ability or multiple rescuers is advised.

I hope this information is at least somewhat useful, and that more loss of life can be prevented...

Comments

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[gadaboutdetective]

[You know who doesn’t like to hear about a weird force leading people underwater? This guy!]

Good to know my hesitation to get within a foot of water at the moment is well-founded.

[Yes, he’s saying that quite seriously rather than making an attempt at humour.]

To bring something back to life or reanimate the corpse… Could be magic, could also be technology, it could even be a mix based on some theories from where I’ve been? Though… the way this world looks suggests that technology is limited at best. But I’ve only just gotten here myself, so I’m still working things out.

And I think this is very useful information. Especially if it confirms someone’s hypothesis, or warns people away from danger. Do you mind me asking how far into the district you were when you heard the song? It may help to prevent people from going that close, especially if someone finds themselves there after the gates are closed for an unexpected reason.

[tessellatedflood]

I couldn't hear it more than 5-10 meters from the water; the most dangerous place is on the docks themselves. The closer one is to the water, the more pronounced the effects seem to become.

[gadaboutdetective]

Thank you, I’ll make note of that and mention it to others when I have the opportunity.

One does wonder though… Why whatever is doing this is drowning and collecting its victims somewhere.

[tessellatedflood]

That part, I don't understand... what could be worth this kind of cruelty? I can't put myself in that mindset at all.

[gadaboutdetective]

If I were still a betting man, I’d wager that it’s nothing good.

That it drowned and reanimated them seems important. If it could lure them to the water, one would think if it needed them alive that it could lure them just as easily to this lighthouse without going to any extra trouble. And if they simply needed random corpses, a graveyard would be easier.

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[harrythelizard]

That sounds like a song we need to follow.

[And of course he'd world-hop again and immediately have to deal with a crisis. Even if this place wasn't treating it as such, it was a crisis, there were innocent people being, what, dragged of to Heaven knew where and turned into undead...or-

okay, Harry. One thing at a time.]

Hiya. I'm Harry. I just showed up here, but it's happened before so I'll go with it. I'm a wizard, but I think I could still use backup. Also...maybe see if you can record the song with the phone? We might be able to get some information from the melody.

[soulsword]

Reviving the dead is never as incredible as people think it will be. If it is magic though, perhaps I could see what I could figure out of it.

Re: text;

[tessellatedflood]

Hi, Harry! I'm Noah. I actually should be able to reproduce the song exactly from memory, but... well, I'm worried that it might have the same effects on anyone who hears it, even if it's functionally a recording.

[tessellatedflood]

Maybe it needs recently-killed bodies, or it can't animate them? The bodies in a graveyard would be much more heavily decomposed.

[tessellatedflood]

I figured it probably isn't that simple... where I'm from, medical technology has made huge strides in eliminating all kinds of ailments, but death is as final as it ever was.

[gadaboutdetective]

A good point, I suppose limb falling off could be problematic… Still, it’s worrying that it needs the dead at all. I wonder if there’s anything to be found on the subject of entities that lure people with song anywhere, I might have to shift the focus on my research a little… If we could work out the what and why, it might prevent everyone being too surprised whenever approaching this lighthouse you mentioned.

[soulsword]

Technology can have it's own faults. At least in my world. Death though... is rarely final. I have died and come back twice myself.

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[harrythelizard]

It might, but magic needs a will behind it to do anything...normally, anyway. If you're not using the song to entrance people it shouldn't work.

SHOULDN'T. We won't actually know unless we test it.