backdated to the 28th

[claudiometer]

Soooooo not to spam the network, but a slight complication's come up.

Bumped into Minako, and it turns out it's a good thing I did. She... managed to punch through to a second Liminal Space, somehow.

The one where they keep the familiar faces, from the looks of it. I'm not good enough with fancy network shit to show it off and she's, uh, cut herself off from the network and Pudding Liminal somehow. But she definitely found Perry and Mina in what looks like some kind of storage pods. She's planning to find out more while she can. For now, Sift said it's a temporary confinement with a specific if undefined purpose, and Control Panel showed outgoing data transmission from Perry and Mina.

So that's a thing. And if anyone knows how to get her back onto our network before we leave, we could really use a hand with that - the only solution I can think of isn't necessarily the best one.

Comments

[brokers]

I have never heard of something like that happening before, but it's possible that the same method that can return an Infiltrator to their true self might work to restore her connection.

...Is she receiving messages from Perry and Mina, or do you simply detect a connection to their branch of the network?

[claudiometer]

Which makes the next question whether we have anyone around who knows how to do that, at the moment.

She said they're unconscious, but considering familiar faces are always infiltrating when they're around, the radio silence she's getting makes sense. I think she's still getting auto-translate, or at least hasn't made weird faces at my phrasing choices.

[thornsofmalkav]

... Jesus. Kinda makes you wonder about what's happening when we Infiltrate--especially with those Exorcist Corps guys calling it possession.

[claudiometer]

I haven't seen them around this time, though. So unless they're lurking with the royal family or something...

[And Thorne knows Claudia's suspicions about the 'royal family.']

[thornsofmalkav]

Maybe they are? I mean, in Bea's book, Perry and Mina were Dolorosan nobles, right?

[claudiometer]

She was, definitely. I don't remember his position relative to hers, I just know they tend to show up as a set.

[thornsofmalkav]

Well, I don't know if I could identify Perry anyway. Last time I was on a Jaunt with him he was a Hecatite.

[claudiometer]

That would complicate things slightly.

[thornsofmalkav]

Yeah. I mean, I could make a guess at which one he is, but that's all.

[brokers]

It's never been a common ability.

If she's willing to make the attempt, I believe I may be able to do it. I was attempting to work out the method prior to my sabbatical.

[claudiometer]

I can run it by her.

[brokers]

Let me know how she wishes to proceed.

[There's a pause. A lengthy one.]

...If one of the Trumps makes their presence known on this Jaunt, it's possible that they might be willing to restore her connection if asked.

[claudiometer]

Yeah, that'd be the one solution I do have. She's thinking on it.

[Considering that's the sort of thing that'd have incredibly high odds of ending in a mystery tattoo... well.]

[brokers]

It's certainly the more risky option.

Does she truly want the connection restored? Or does she simply view it as an unpleasant necessity?

[claudiometer]

I'm worried that if we don't fix it she might get stuck here. [Traveling might be rough, but it's probably better to have good company that you know than be stuck somewhere completely unfamiliar.]

[brokers]

It is possible, though if I had to make a prediction, it would be that if she doesn't depart with us, she will depart with them. If she is still connected to their network, she may have remained connected to their version of Liminal Space as well.

[awitchdidit]

She what.

[This raises several million questions, but the first of which is.]

Does she have any idea how?

[Magic or science, reproducible results are best.]

[claudiometer]

She said she was trying to portal into our Liminal, and heard someone coming. Her best theory is that she overloaded the portal attempt somehow.

[awitchdidit]

How science fiction. Then again, perhaps there's something in that theory. Metaphysically overshooting her goal.

Has she seen any evidence of the common features of our Liminal Spaces? Juxtaposed imagery, "animal" life, tarot motifs?

[claudiometer]

She's calling it the treehotel for short - she Interfaced me a view of it, but... well, my lack of network-fu is a drawback here. If anyone else can get her to share it and can pass it on, be my guest.

Let's see... fancy hotel room inside a tree, 'caterpillars' made out of sleeping bags that let out a kite-fabric butterfly when you open them, Perry and Mina chilling in cocoon things on the bed...

[awitchdidit]

Most of the hallmarks are there. Chrysalides are the sort of symbolism the Trumps would put on top of a Liminal setting, especially with this change of Phase coming up. Probably best to assume that it's another, distinct part of their domain for now, although it could be other powerful beings with the same tastes.

[claudiometer]

Given that she found people the Trumps toss in when they need a spare body or two around, I don't think it's likely that it belongs to someone else.

[awitchdidit]

Is that what Familiar Faces are? Just spares the Trumps keep in cold storage until they're needed?

Are we sure of that?

Perhaps Minako could try researching that hypothesis, since she's in the metaphorical meat locker.

[claudiometer]

They're always infiltrating, they're there to monitor us, God knows what the 'possession' crap even makes of them.

She's planning to keep investigating, while the option's open to her.

[thornsofmalkav]

We're not sure what the fuck they are, to be honest. Like Claudia says, we think they're always Infiltrating, but they're never actually in liminal space with us normal Travelers. If Minako can figure some shit out while she's there that would be really goddamn handy.