Network announcement backdated to day 6

[levelthreehooligan]

So, well. What an interesting last jaunt huh?

I've been talking to Grant and I went to go and do some investigating of my own. I know a lot of you have already had talks with Questing Country's own Pepe Silvia so if you've learned anything I don't say here, please do share.
I managed to glean a little bit more detail; though I've pared it down to make it more understandable. [There was so much guys, so much. How can one man think so much about this one thing for so long?]

[The following document is formatted familiarly to some. It's how a G.R.I.D's disk would look if it was entirely textual.]

•  Spirit Companions are hiding something. From all of you. They have a monopoly of power in QC. They feel threatened by the Arcana, in the long past they put Adversaries on leashes, and, no matter how optimistic they pretend to be, they’re terrified of Guiding Stars and Tesserae. They want to keep their monopoly on whispering in Champions’ ears, of brushing aside the basic questions. 
•  Guiding Stars are just Starmovers. They’re not Spirit Companions at all. The Travelers have their own fake Spirit Companions. That means that Tesserae aren’t really Spirit Companions, either. And they’re making an army of Dreamers who all dress alike, think alike, don’t even challenge or question their system. But the Spirit Companions can’t admit it, of course. Because that would mean admitting they really are manipulating everyone, and they’re not going to let go of their control enough to do that. 
•  There’s a core of unshakable hope at believing the powers of the dreamworld are conspiring against you and have pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes - but thinking that’s no reason to give up, that you can make everyone see and save them all. 
• All Transformed Lands are Linked. Theoretically this ties to them all being created by the same Starmover. Alternatively you don't understand the links well enough to differentiate between them. 
•  No new Harbingers since Conductors started appearing. This is unlikely to be more Starmover activity, but could be something of the same power tier as Starmovers and Arcana breaking into QC. 
•  You know what Sanctions are. Forcibly applied True Bonds used to keep the original Adversaries in line and under control. 
•  Conductors all have matching, perfectly form-fitted uniforms. However, Ace Striker has a loose crown. This could imply that she has or continues to be blinded by the cult presence. 
•  This could possibly be the first time something has managed to successfully Sanction/apply a Bond/Link to a Spirit Companion besides the ones they choose to bestow themselves. You assume this is strongly related to their terror at Tessarae, and also corroborates your theory on there being something out there strong enough to corrupt, remove or otherwise dampen their original bond to QC. 
•  "Seek a Link you have but cannot see and grasp it." Oracle Rubelite seems to be under the impression you have invisible links connected to you, but did not give a reason as to why; Paraiba insinuated he had it explained to him. This requires further investigation. 
• The previous point could be potentially related to the phenomenon that Conductors retain their previous Links - which you know because you've seen fully functional Links coming from their once partners - but are unable to see or benefit from them, effectively unmooring them and leaving them singularly linked to other Conductors. 
•  Conductors and Tessarae are all connected to their private network on an individual level, and not directly to each and every other creature involved. This is noteworthy in its difference. 
•  The companions of Travelers, while recognisably a Companion Link, is sufficiently different enough from a Companion, Guiding Star or Tessarae Link to be worth noting.
•  Conductors are capable of forcing their Bond onto people. You were witness to an attempt by two Conductors to forcibly change Titan's role, in their attempt to restrain you. This was terrifying.
•  Oracle Rubelite seems fairly certain that your theories and Paraiba's Mysterious Nightmare hunt are related.
•  Your lack of faith in Companions extends to your own. Zygi Protium Cation has not given you advice or riddles since maybe a week after you met him. You're aware this causes him some distress, but so long as he continues to not give you advice, you find you actually enjoy his company.
   

So there's that. Grant's unshakable faith would almost be inspiring if it wasn't so- Misguided? At least, I hope it's misguided, but there's a lot to unpack there and for us to work on. 

This leads onto my second point. I went to the Spirit Oasis to try and talk to the Spirit Companions that hadn't yet bonded. Grant had said they were scared of the Tessarae but they had refused to tell them why. 
It's because they can't talk with them anymore. Spirit companions are meant to be attuned to Questing Country itself, and Tesserae, well. They used to be, and now they're not. They've had all their previous bonds severed and the Companions just can't tell if they're on the same page anymore. 

[She sighs, and shares a feeling over the network for people to tap into if they want to. The feeling of heartbreak and confusion when someone you thought you knew dearly disappears or wasn't who you thought they were. The sour sadness of betrayal.] 

Like that. Seems like a real big miscommunication issue to me.

Oh, also this:

>You went Adversary on your second night in Questing Country. You’ve asked around, and you’re pretty sure that’s a record.

Comments

[eldritchwheelies]

I guess so! I've heard of identity theft but this is a bit much.

Which galaxy-brain takes are you betting on not being smallbrain takes in a glittery hat?

[crouching_sin]

Let's see... in order...

Spirit Companions are, almost by definition, hiding something. You don't hand all of the information of a world over to literal children or to people who lack finesse. I don't know enough about Harbingers for the second. He almost definitely has hope or else he'd be a Pillar.

I doubt all the Transformed Lands are linked, but if they are I don't know how we'd prove or disprove that. I don't think the 'no new Harbingers' is an effect of anything other than our actions last time. Something of the same power tier is possible, but I'm not banking on something of that power level so late in the game. Sanctions kind of... are that. I haven't met Ace - to be honest I've stayed away from the Conductors in general.

I'm not so suspicious at the Spirit Companions being uncomfortable if the Tesserae are so different. And again I can't see the links so we can't confirm or deny that. "A link you have but cannot grasp" is likely a connection to one of us, but it also sounds like a personal problem.

The Conductors having their own network is suspicious, I have no explanation for that. And obviously our links are different. Again I've been keeping my distance from the Conductors so I have no idea what happened with Titan. It sounds like we need to speak to this Paraiba. And I'm not surprised his own Spirit Companion isn't being helpful to him.

... Honestly the Conductors creep me out on some level, and that's hard to do. There's something somewhat angelic about them in a way, and it makes me not want to go near them. It's... different, but the almost intentional separation is disturbing, as is their apparent efficacy at what they do. Literally nothing is that efficient without being suspicious.

[levelthreehooligan]

Thal's balls, Naoya.

Have you ever thought about taking up a lecturer's position? I'm sure Sharlayan would love you.


But yeah, their co-ordination is almost eerie. Though, you dont get called a 'Hive Mind' for nothing, I s'pose.

[crouching_sin]

We coordinate in similar ways, we just don't generally use the Network for combat instructions.

Also I have been a lecturer. Many times. In fact in my world I have a student I'd been mentoring before... everything.

[levelthreehooligan]

Not that. The way we use our Network is like Linkshells; they keep everyone updated on positions and such but-

They move with a synchronicity that even we would have to put a lot of effort into to achieve, if you see what I'm saying.

Almost like they're one mind across many. I know they aren't necessarily, but it feels that way.

[crouching_sin]

I suppose. And it's only been a short time since they showed up, yes? It shouldn't be that fast... not for normal training, at least.

[levelthreehooligan]

Exactly. It took far longer for even eight of us to move with any synchronicity, and we have the advantage of having Hydaelyn's blessing, at least back home.

I just have a sinking feeling that though they're tied to each other, there's also something they can't see. I don't know what it is yet, and I certainly don't want to egg on Grant's theories without proof.