first entry 🌱 assistance requested

[multidisciplinary]

Sender: Zelda
To: Everyone
Subject: Your experiences in other worlds that are not your own

[ Since her arrival, Zelda has learned two very important things. One, these journals are not private at all and should not be treated as traditional diaries. And, two, it sounds like a not insignificant number of residents in Songerein have experienced travel to other worlds before. It would be to her benefit to learn everything she can from them. ]

To the residents of Songerein,

I understand, from reliable sources, [ Read: herself ] that many among our number have experienced this world reality matter of traveling to a different plane of existence before now.

If those of you who have done so would be so kind as to share any pertinent information with those who are new to this endeavor, it will be most appreciated.

[ What counts as "pertinent information?" Zelda doesn't exactly know herself. Hopefully everyone's advice will be more helpful than her request. ]

Cordially,
Zelda

Comments

Sender: Alvin

[opportunitycosts]

I've had a few experiences being sent to Fractured Dimensions and then to a place called the Realm of Stories, so I might be able to help some. Course anyone else is free to chime in since the experience can vary.

As to what kind of info... Might need a few specifics. What are you most interested or concerned about?

[multidisciplinary]

[ Wow, this guy is pretty well traveled. He must really be a pro at this world-hopping business. ]

Everything, really. But I suppose that is rather vague.

[ There's a pause in her response, almost long enough that it might seem like she isn't going to continue. But then-- ]

Is there something you wish someone had explained to you when you first started this whole dimension traveling business? I have so many questions that I don't know where to begin.

Sender: Kainé

[shithogs]

I've been through it once before. Place was a shithole.
Not convinced this one is better yet, but judging by appearances alone, it's an improvement. Not sure I trust it.

What kind of things do you want to know?

[multidisciplinary]

[ Fortunately, Kainé's question sparks a question from Zelda, who has been struggling to give voice to the myriad of formless queries cluttering her mind. ]

Why do you not trust this place? Is it more prudent to assume that the forces which brought us here are being dishonest in their intentions?

Sender: Luca Balsa

[allegedprisoner]

As someone who has been to the Index in the Realm of Stories, I could offer some advice. Fair warning, though: My memory is not what it used to be.

What do you need to know about? Settling in? Adapting to new sorts of people and natural laws? Learning about things from other worlds?

[multidisciplinary]

[ Bless you, Luca, for already knowing what kind of information Zelda wants even before she does. ]

Yes! All of that would be wonderful! Thank you!

[ She doesn't mention it, but Zelda makes a mental note that this is the third time she's heard someone mention the Index/Realm of Stories. ]

Sender: Asura

[abyssbound]

I have some previous experience in navigating dream worlds if it's relevant.

[multidisciplinary]

I believe that would be very helpful. I do not entirely recall everything that the little pig creature explained to me when I arrived, but it mentioned that this place is a dream world.

And I believe we are to enter other dream worlds, right? So it seems we should be expecting to traverse dreams within dreams?

Sender: Anya

[grandduchess_anya]

I was in a world known as the Realm of Stories just like two of the people who have commented in here a while ago, so I do have some experience in being in and helping another world.

Is there something that you might be interested in learning?

[multidisciplinary]

[ The number of people in Songerein who have, A.) traveled to different worlds before, and B.) come from the Realm of Stories, feels a little more than coincidental to Zelda. ]

Many things, actually, but I understand that my question was rather too vague.

[ She thinks for a moment before continuing. ]

How did you come to Realm of Stories? What sort of person or entity summoned you?

Sender: Jiang Cheng

[legbreakings]

I don't know anything about the manner in which we were taken, but a number of people from my world (which doesn't have any dimension or time travel) were brought by the Technicians to this place called the containnment zone. We were all from different points in time, people who were already dead in my time or still toddlers, but they arrived from decades in the future as adults.

But we couldn't figure out how the Technicians transported us. They had powers we couldn't even fathom. I went to sleep and woke up there, the same as this time.

[multidisciplinary]

[ On the opposite page from the one where they're writing, Jiang Cheng will see a few of his words suddenly appear, written in Zelda's neat script: "Technicians," "containment zone," and "cross time s." Within moments, they are all hastily scribbled out. ]

My apologies. Please disregard that.

[ She really needs to get a normal journal for herself that she can use for her notes. ]

So these Technicians had the power to cross time as well as other planes of existence. And you were not the only one from your world to be taken? You knew some of the others?

Sender: Julius Kresnik

[brotherdearest]

I'm someone who has a bit of experience with this. This time, and the last time, definitely weren't my first.

Though I can definitely say that both of those times? Were a lot more unexpected.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda had a feeling that there were more than a couple of people in Songerein who had experience this whole world-traveling business before, but as her journal fills up with different names and handwriting, she wonders just how much she underestimated. ]

Unexpected? How do you mean? I would have thought that the second time would be a bit less jarring than the first.

SENDER: MAMMON

[stupidmammon]

In my experience, which I'll let you know is rather informed and[ uh...]experienceable, we'll be gone within weeks. This stuff happens all the time back home and it's always cause Diavolo got bored or somethin'. So don't worry about a thing.

[multidisciplinary]

[ "Experiencable" makes Zelda snort. The use of such an obviously fake word makes her feel like someone is playing a trick on her, but the rest of his message isn't funny at all. The prospect of being sent back into the gruesome cocoon where she sealed herself and Calamity Ganon makes Zelda's stomach turn. ]

That isn't reassuring at all. Who is this Diavolo person?

Sender: Goro Akechi

[skews]

I previously spent some time in a world not so unlike this one. In a similar fashion, those who arrived there represented a variety of wildly different worlds and could manipulate magic around them by use of their emotions, both intentionally and unintentionally.

However, unlike this one, that world was not merely a dream.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda immediately hones in on Akechi's mention of emotion magic. Although she doesn't entirely remember everything that the magic tapir told her when she arrived in the plaza, emotion magic came up during the dreamwalking practice exercise. ]

[ But that isn't the only thing she's curious about. One question at a time, Zelda. ]

Are you aware of any tactile differences between this world and the other one you mentioned? Beyond being told that this world is a dream and that one was not, are you able to feel any difference?

Sender: Kor Meteor

[spirialink]

[Zelda... sure is saying a lot of words that Kor doesn't entirely understand.]

Umm... Are you asking us to tell you about the other worlds we've been in?

[Explain it to him like he's five, Zelda.]

[multidisciplinary]

[ It's okay, Kor. She honed her ability to use small words with her Champions. She hasn't had to use this skill in a few decades, but from the range of responses to her request, it sounds like she'll be getting plenty of practice. ]

More or less, yes. But if you've had experiences like travelling through time or dreams or something like that, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

sender: jiang yanli

[soups]

I see that you've already begun communication with my brother, Jiang Cheng, so you know of the containment zone. I'm not sure what additional information I may be able to give you that he could not himself, but you can consider my presence a confirmation of his facts and to count one more person as being a traveler to multiple planes.

The containment zone was one of many horrors and surrealities. The technicians who ran it had powers to create monsters, to alter perceptions, cause illness, to instill memories into a person that they couldn't possibly recall otherwise. Thus far, this current world is much more serene.

[multidisciplinary]

[ It makes Zelda's chest hurt to read that someone else suffered the same kind of torture as Jiang Cheng. Maybe being together made it a little bit easier to bear. The princess jots down Jiang Yanli's information about the Technicians' powers. ]

I'm sorry to hear that you too suffered in the Containment Zone. If it's all right, would you mind if asked you a few more questions?

[ With everyone else, Zelda carelessly launched straight into her questions. But now that she's hearing about the awful situations some people were in, she's thinking she should be a little more tactful. ]

sender: sora

[oathkeeper]

do you mean people who have been to other worlds and stuff before? i've done a ton of that! travelling from world to world is something i've done for years now!

but one thing i have noticed is that i can't really leave this world on my own like i used to. it was the same way for the last world i was in too.

the last world i was in had a lot of issues that needed help from people like us. so that makes me wonder if we've gotta do something to help around here too. it makes sense, right?

[multidisciplinary]

[ Surprisingly, Sora isn't the first person to have brought up their ability to travel between worlds at will. If Zelda had a nickel for every time that happened, she'd have two nickels---which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice. ]

[ Sora gets his own page in the back section of Zelda's notebook, where the writing isn't shared with everyone. She adds Julius to that page as well and writes at the top "capable of voluntary travel between worlds." ]

This the second world that you haven't been able to freely travel away from? What is preventing you?

Sender: Azmuth

[whohastimeforthat]

I suppose it depends on what information you're looking for.

My people have centuries of experience traveling between star systems and visiting other worlds. I myself have done so thousands of times. Traveling between universes or timelines isn't unheard of either.

I can't say I've traveled to any place like this before, so I'm not sure how useful my input would be.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda has to read Azmuth's words twice just to make sure she understood him right. His people are capable of traveling vast distances and through time? Even her world's ancient Sheikah weren't capable of interstellar travel, and their technology is still generations ahead of anything available in the present. ]

You do your wisdom a grave injustice just because you haven't been to a world like this before. But how does one who is capable of traveling through time become stuck in one place?

Sender: Midna

[in_ur_shadow]

[ ... Zelda? Seriously? Zelda is here? And yet Midna hasn't seen her anywhere... What's up with that? ]

Well, that's a vague question. Just what kind of "pertinent information" are you after?

[ What's that? You thought Midna would actually answer your question right away? Surely you jest.

That said, Midna might be able to help. She's been between worlds, after all. Just...usually not on this scale. Or this abruptly. Or involuntarily. Okay, this might be trickier than she thought... ]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Zelda had been hoping that people who fit the criteria for her request would use their best judgment to determine what kind of information would be pertinent to those who haven't experienced this. But Midna isn't the first one to answer Zelda's question with another question. Clearly, the princess needs to be more specific in any future requests. ]

Initially, I had hoped for advice, as I've never traveled to another world before. But now, I'm compiling information about the different worlds others have travelled to; how they came to be there, and whether it was voluntarily or involuntarily; and what those worlds were like, particularly in comparison to this one.

sender: wei wuxian | pretend this isn't so late!

[mannerless]

( looks like both jiang cheng and shijie beat him to it, but he's done far too much of his own research and such to recognize the potential value inherent in even just sounding off as one more to the tally. so: )

Ah - one more from the containment zone, if you've not heard more than enough about that one by now.

o7

[multidisciplinary]

[ He might want to be careful about saying the R-word around Zelda, lest be mined for every last scrap of information by the over-inquisitive princess. ]

To be quite frank, I've read more than enough about the Technicians' tortures. But I couldn't live with myself if I ignored valuable information just because of my own discomfort.

What else can you tell me about the Containment Zone?