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[The new video feed activates on everyone's new Tell Phones, and everyone is treated to the quiet smile and faintly sad eyes of Halcyn, who appears to be broadcasting from within the Historium, if the rows and rows of books fading into the background are any indication.]

Good morning, everyone. I am deeply sorry for the troubles you faced in the wake of our ineptitude. I can assure you the spirits are at rest. I only hope they did not trouble you overmuch. I cannot guarantee we will not false step in the future, but I will give my word we will do our best to keep such occurrences to a minimum.

[Her expression darkens for a moment, hinting at a deeper sadness, before she smiles more broadly.]

I hope you enjoy the improvements to the Tell Phone service I've devised from your homeworlds! Some of you originate from very clever places. I know my imitations pale in comparison, but they do serve as impressive inspiration.

[He turns the camera, then, to show the former dais at the center of the Historium. Where the shatter globe once stood is now a statue in marble, so lifelike as to seem able to speak. She approaches the statue, and a plaque can be seen, under a spherical handle which reads "touch for advise".]

I would like to introduce you to Percy, whom I shall give the floor. He is to be the new Curator of the Historium, so you should get acquainted.

[She reaches forward, touching the sphere, and in an instant, with no magical effects at all, the living form of the statue stands before the camera. She hands him the device, and the man smiles, eyebrows raised, clearly impressed.]

Greetings, all. It seems some of you have access to impressive technologies in your homeworlds.

[His voice is prim, proper, articulate, but also accommodating.]

I am aware my nature is rather contrasted by that of my predecessor, so I shall endeavor to answer what I can. You've done quite well in restore a fragment of Aterat's glory and for that I am grateful. Cooperation is the least I can do.

[He inclines his head to the camera.]

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[Listening to Halcyn’s explanation of the last few days, Llewellyn chewed the inside of his cheek to keep from messaging too soon and being snappy. He was pretty sure he’d say that the spirits definitely did trouble everyone quite a lot. But… Maybe he’s still bitter for having been tricked by the entity that went after him, and that it had dredged up an old hurt.

The fact that they didn’t know what they were doing was more clear than ever, and interesting phone upgrade aside (why couldn’t they make something that was harder to lose?), it was hard to not feel a little suspicious of this Percy fellow… ] If you mean that you aren’t harbouring malicious feelings towards those of us who arrive here, then I will consider it a good contrast. [That came out a little short, so he cleared his throat and tried again in a lighter tone.] Can I uh… Ask where you came from? Did the Aspects create you, or were you just… vaguely around elsewhere and moved?

[… Because honestly he’s not sure how much he’d trust that, even if he knew they tried to do things with good intentions.]

Ha! Suspicion. That's good, sir. Very good. Suspicion is usually all we have to protect ourselves from the world around us. It leads to questions, and I've always encouraged everyone to question everything.

[And Percy nods by way of assent.]

I am a creation of the Aspects in my current form, though I have also been around a while. Cryptic, I know, but it's complicated. The good Captain could claim a similar origin, I believe.

Edited 2021-07-04 15:47 (UTC)

[That was a rather refreshing take on that, if Llewellyn were being honest. Better than to try to suggest there was nothing to be suspicious of, and that everything was ‘fine.’ Because things had definitely not been fine.

But it was a better start than he would have expected, and at least the man truly up for a conversation. Even if his answer had been… kind of cryptic. But cryptic just meant more questions.]

I’m glad we seem to be of a similar mind then.

So… You were around before but not as you are now. Who were you before, and were you here from before what happened… happened?

None of us survived the calamity unscathed, and I'm afraid that knowledge escapes me. I know what I enjoy, and that is knowledge. I can't tell you how painful it is to have lost so much of it.

Oh… [While Llewellyn was still suspicious in general, the detective couldn’t help feel a little bad for the man. Forgetting important things in your life, or about it, was frustrating.] I see… That can be troubling, not knowing what you should know or remembering. I suppose the historium suits your interests, then?

Yes. I can also say, with certainty, it is not a structure that existed before the, well, we should come up with a better term than 'Before', shouldn't we?

Yes, exceptionally troubling. I have the distinct impression I knew a great deal more than I do now.

Mm... We've all been using quite a lot of words to refer to it, but I've never heard anyone decide on a specific term for that. What word would you use?

I can understand that feeling when there's something you know you should know... But it's just outside your reach. [He responded with a small frown, before shaking his head a little.] Perhaps with time, more will come back to you now that you're uh- here?

[Percy actually looks thoughtful for a few moments, stroking the tuft of hair on his chin.] "Calamity" doesn't quite communicate the occurrence, suggesting the event was catastrophic, but not world-ending. I suppose "Apocalypse" would be the most fitting.

I've always been here. [A rapid response, more hollow than his other words, and almost haunted, before he returns to his casual voice.] But yes, I suppose it may at that.

That does accurately describe it. It's definitely an appropriately heavy word for a serious event. [It still felt strange to think that they were in a world that had ended, and been rebuilt...

He offered an apologetic frown, reading that tone and the quickness of the response.] Mm... Of course, I could have worded it differently. We've just not seen you around before, I suppose. I suppose it's a bit foolish to wonder if there are any useful books that might help you there in the historium? I always try to jog my own memory by going through my notes if I need to.

[He doubted record would have survived an apocalypse...]

Until very recently, I was incapable of being seen, it serves to reason you wouldn't have.

[And if there are further details regarding that, he leaves them unspoken.]

In the Historium? No. I rather think those at the end of days were too focused on the world ending than to write things down for posterity. Rather thoughtless if you ask me. There seem to be countless records of other apocalypses, but nothing to be found on our own.

True, I can't imagine anyone writing it down as it happened but... if signs were coming, people usually note something. Worried people, even if they're ignored, tend to say or write things. [It sometimes felt like everything just came crashing down with no warning and no signs. Which made him worried it could happen again like that just as easily.] But I was thinking even records from before that, if there was anything of note on what the world was like before the end that may help you. Familiar things and all that.

But! I suppose all we can do is keep trying to figure it all out... [Though Llewellyn had to pause for a moment, brow furrowing as something caught his attention.] Do you mean other world's apocalypses or historical event from other lands in this world which would be seen as such? I hadn't happened on records of other apocalypses though in my wanderings, so I hadn't realized they were there?

I'll have to see what I can drum up. If only my memories weren't so fragmented.

Well, one of the abilities of the custodian of the Historium is the ability to organize and sort the shelves however we see fit. I believe the previous attendants may have hid them from you on purpose. Sorry about that.

And I do mean the ends of other worlds. They see to collect here. It's strange, really.

Mm... I'd be happy to assist with the search, I know what it's like to have memories slip away... And I'd like to know a lot more about this place myself. I didn't know nearly enough about the last world I was in.

[Huh, perhaps it might not be as difficult though if the Historium would be organized differently now.] I can't say that I'm surprised that they may have hidden them, but it is unfortunate. I didn't really mind the slightly chaotic organization, but it would be nice to find specific things a little more easily now.

[To collect records of the ends of other worlds is quite strange,] I wonder if it's possible that someone wanted them to be collected? Either to study what happened in other worlds to avoid such events here or something of that nature?

Quite possibly. I know historically, this place was rather...academic, at least I believe it was.

Is that so… [Vague, and uncertain, but that was still an interesting tidbit to jot down…] I suppose that uh- does make sense considering how much of the written word is stored here and at that library.

[Ignis isn't sure what to say until the new curator appeared.]

And how precisely did we restore glory?

[He can't see it.]

Before energies were pulled here from other realities, ours was nothing more than a few fragments of broken land floating in the ether of our own destruction. You've brought with you the power to make us whole again. I can't think of anything more glorious.

[He's not sold on the idea.]

Do you know how us being here has made that possible?

Of course. You're all comprised of base energies: life, death, etc. Just your being here is enough for things to flourish. I thought I'd made that clear.

[He's still not buying it but isn't going to press the issue.]

Thank you kindly for your explanation, that will be all for me and thank you for your time.

[He ends the feed.]

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