Week 2

[insidegalra]

[Shortly after the Travelers' nightmares appear, and are at least contained enough to take a mental break, Thace comes on the network, sounding grim.]

I have insights on Conductors from my current status as an Oracle, and from Analytics.

First, in cases where a Conductor does not consciously choose to become a Conductor, no one's choice is involved in that creation. Except once. Some outside force chose Leah. I haven't been able to get any more on that yet.

My understanding, which may be incomplete, from this and from reports of the Hecatite Oracle almost going Conductor taken together is that being a Conductor can be spread through close contact with them, even when there is no choice made on anyone's part to do so.

However, there are some who are going Conductor without close contact. This is what Analytics gave me: Every spontaneous Conductor who did not have close social contact with the Conductors became a Conductor in the Waking World.

Given these things, and the rest that we've learned, how do we want to proceed?

Comments

[claudiometer]

...oh, that sure bodes.

[insidegalra]

[That gets a dry chuckle.]

Knowledge or death.

I know where I would search next, regarding this information, but I want to get the insights of others first.

[Thace is kind of hoping his conclusions and suspicions are wrong or missing information somehow.]

[claudiometer]

Well, Leah and Alexandra are calling the same place home, and I already wasn't willing to rule out something in the waking world causing this. It's looking more and more like 'hey, let's write a computer virus that also turns people into clay.' Less fatal but not necessarily better.

I can make sure she knows, at least, even if we don't find anything else.

[helborn]

... Great. I might be able to poke around a little bit... I could see if I can figure out what's manipulating her.

As for the waking world... something's got to be going on there.

[insidegalra]

Can you look at what manipulated her in the past? I wouldn't be surprised if this was more like planting code to rewrite what it comes into contact with rather than an actively ongoing manipulation. Regardless, your skills are very helpful.

Want to head to the waking world and see what we can find?

[helborn]

I'll take a look. It's worth a shot, at least.

Uh. Okay. I've never been there... Ace wasn't exactly aware of the politics there when I was him, either. He was five when he got put in cryo, so he didn't know stuff.

[reallymean]

Do you know where in the Waking World?

[insidegalra]

Not yet, no. I can only use Analytics once a week at this time. If no one else asks, that is the question I would ask next time I can, however.

[reallymean]

That's a skill granted by the Arcana, isn't it? It's not one I have.

But if I recall correctly, there's a method of rapid data analysis that some Travelers picked up on the Grid. It could help narrow things down.

[theflyingone]

I could provide another Analysis now if you need it.

[ Butchering the names of Arcana skills for fun and no profit. ]

[youandyoualone]

I would not be terribly surprised if it were in Leah's Waking World, considering there's a number of Infiltrators who that place home, which may be surprisingly coincidental... but usually is not when Infiltration is involved.

[reallymean]

I hope you're right - that's almost certainly the origin, if she was deliberately changed. But if it's something that passes person to person like a contagion, who knows how far it might have spread? And what effect it might have had on people who aren't Dreamers.

[notinthecards]

If they choose the girl, then they watch the girl. If they watch her, we can find out how. We find out how, we can find out who.

The parts after that almost take care of themselves.

[insidegalra]

Remy.

[That's said in quiet acknowledgement. Thace even has enough memories now to be sure this is someone he knew. Although some of the details may still be missing...]

That scans. Finding out how or who isn't in my skillset unless it's electronic, which I doubt. Any clever ideas?

[letsgetdowntobismuth]

Well, that's unfortunate.

[Bismuth feels rather glad that she knows how little her self changes between being Conducted and not, but it's worth noting.]

I'm a Conductor now too - I know we planned on it, but it more or less happened by accident 'cos I was fighting with them. So nothing really forced me into going silver besides hanging around them for a bit too long. I'll try and let you guys know if anything goes tits up on the other network.

[well that's certainly a phrase that slipped out unintentionally]

[eldritchwheelies]

Uh. Bismuth? You're meming.

Maybe be a little careful with the meming. This smells cognitohazardous.

[insidegalra]

[Given the current theories about spread, Thace is not surprised. Merely resigned to the idea that if it had to happen, Bismuth is one who could handle it well.]

Understood. Having one of us as a Conductor may become necessary, as we work out solutions and causes. Thank you, Bismuth.

[eldritchwheelies]

So, show of hands. Who here has read Snow Crash? Neil Stephenson's book about a virus that leaps between being code, being a meme, and being a disease all at once?

I hope this is is a Basilisk Hack instead of that, but let's be sure to rule out the Asherah Strain.

[amadine]

Could you elaborate on what those actually are and how we can differentiate between them, for the sake of those of us who don't share a homeworld and era with you?

[insidegalra]

[Thace doesn't reply until after the explanation to Sabetha.]

I hope the same. Still, what ways do you know of that would specifically rule out the Asherah Strain variety?

[youandyoualone]

... I know where a copy might be located, but I will need some time to read it.

[Namaah's lips, but why is it that so many books he has not yet read within their shared library have become relevant.]

[okanetendo]

Sen-SATIONAL.

I've hung out with them, even drank a whole bunch of juice from Ace's Bident. I think being a Pillar protected me from turning, but Rouge thinks being an Adversary gives me no such protection.

That said, if you absolutely need other people on their Network, 1,000 yen says a Pillar will be the lowest risk.

[insidegalra]

From all I know about Pillars, that would be correct in both instances.

Also, congratulations on coming back from Pillar.

[bite_the_hand]

I really don't like where this is going.

Still, I can't help but wonder if the accidental Conductors really are just unintended accidents. Leah's Archetype makes her perfect for telling who else would make a good Conductor, and it seems like she's doing a good job of making sure anyone she brings in on purpose really wants it.

[Or her Archetype could just be a coincidence. Which is how their luck usually goes. Still, until they have evidence that the existence of the Conductors is definitely a bad thing, he can't help but hope there's a place for the Role in Questing Country.]

[insidegalra]

They could be, but the fact that some of them are happening in the waking world is concerning. To my knowledge, other Roles don't change outside of Questing Country.

If we find out that is incorrect, I'll be glad for it.