01 | A Request

[unbrokenoaths]

Sender: Baldr
To: Everyone
Subject: Dreamotion Research Assistance Request

Many of you may already be aware of the ongoing effort to ensure that those who wish to remain in this world may do so. Eustace-san has suggested a logical first step: we need to better understand the nature of the connections between our present selves and our original worlds. While it appears that observing the connection directly is beyond their current instruments, the researchers at the Observatory are hopeful that progressing their understanding of dreamotion could prove helpful.

What we now need are volunteer dreamers who would not object to the study of their dreamwalking and dreamotion. For those willing, if you could reply here or contact myself or Eustace-san, it would be a considerable help. Of course those who have no intention of staying here permanently are also very welcome to assist. I believe learning more about this could be beneficial to all of us.

Finally, the tapirs have suggested that those who no longer exist in their original world may not be tethered to those worlds as tightly. From comparison to the magic of my own world, I believe volunteers with unusual circumstances such as these might be able to provide the researchers with additional clues. Those who have died in their own worlds, who otherwise experienced a separation from their physical bodies, or who may have complex connections as a result of something such as cloning could be particularly helpful. I understand that a number of these subjects may be sensitive. If you don't wish to discuss them in public, you are more than welcome to contact us privately, or to disclose this information only to the researchers themselves.

Thank you all for your time,
Baldr

Comments

[azuresong]

[ She waits quietly at the door for a mere moment, briefly considering if she had the directions correct, but was quickly dispelled of any worry when it was opened to greet her.

...!! Who would have thought the person who answered the door was exactly as she would envision them to look like! ]

Ah, yes, hello there! [ Her face washes over with a mixture of both relief and excitement before giving a small wave in his direction. ]

It is such a pleasure to meet you, Baldr! Thank you for your invitation!

Sender: Sorey

[monolike]

I'm so glad you were able to discuss things with Eustace, Baldr!

This is a really cool idea. I'm definitely all for observation, though I haven't actually had any dreamwalking into my own dreams yet, here. Not that I remember. I've walked into a couple of other people's dreams, though.

[starshower]

You know, I actually haven't even thought of that.

I've been here since the first handful of us arrived in town, and I don't really feel that different. I guess when you've been here this long, you stop thinking about it.

Though, I think my hair has grown a little, if that helps? Had to trim it a few times.

[It probably doesn't.]

Sender: Alisaie

[leveillpier]

I am willing to assist with studying dreamwalking and dreamotion.

I have been in a situation where my soul had been separated from my body for some time. Whatever information the researchers need, I can provide.

[unbrokenoaths]

It's good to hear from you again, Sorey. I hope you've been settling in well? Thank you for passing word along to him.

I'll be happy to put you down as another volunteer. How was the experience dreamwalking, by the way? Do you feel you have good control over it?

[unbrokenoaths]

Then I'll put you down as another volunteer, thank you. Would you mind telling me how long you've been in this place as well?

[ And with slightly more of a pause: ]

That may be helpful as well. I hope you were restored to your body before you found yourself here.

[unbrokenoaths]

They seemed extremely enthusiastic. I'm not surprised. Most scientists I know seem to enjoy a difficult project. But from the sound of things, they don't currently have a way to observe these "tethers" directly, or a means of measuring them. It's a bit unfortunate.

[unbrokenoaths]

[ Goodness... She's so small. Scarcely bigger than Mercuria, though she must be a little older. Baldr smiles and represses the near-irresistible urge to pat her head. ]

Thank you for coming by on such short notice. It was rude of me to trouble you like this, but I hope the tea will make it worth your while. Please, come in.

[ He makes a little gesture of invitation inside and steps back for her. ]

[unbrokenoaths]

[ Even if it didn't help, he'd absolutely lie like a true courtier here. ]

Now that you mention it, I believe mine has grown a bit as well. So time is passing for us, in a certain sense. Although perhaps only time will tell if it affects our bodies here in any other way. I wonder if that would change if we became "real," either.

[unbrokenoaths]

Investigating both engineering and natural sciences is quite a range, isn't it? Even moreso if you're untrained. I wonder why those machines were lost in the first place.

But the plants here must be a fascinating study. Things are so changeable in this place. There's quite a lot to keep up with.

[unbrokenoaths]

[ Wow! That's certainly the most unintentionally sinister way to phrase that. It gets a quiet snort from Baldr, fortunately unheard. ]

None whatsoever in science or research. I serve as a knight, so I suppose you could say I specialize more in making practical arrangements for troop distributions and supplies. I'm only organizing volunteers for the actual researchers to collaborate with.

[ Oh, but this is an interesting development... ]

"Drawn to," rather than traveled of your own volition? How curious. I wonder if the tethers the tapir spoke of would connect you to your original world, or this other dimension you mention.

[flamekthunder]

I assume that's related to what you wrote earlier about their instruments. Do they know what is required? Or will that only be determined after they've studied dreamotion from individuals?

[monolike]

I don't know about control. The rules of the dreams seem to be up to the dreamer, right? I think it's just a matter of perspective, and respecting the environment the other person's made.

(Sorry about taking some time to respond, brain fzzted out!)

[a_sweet_little_peach]

I don't think I can create plants from nothing, but... well, it's similar to Isabella's, um, native talents.

From what I can tell, it's easier to work with off instinct or need, or very slowly -- I can help a garden grow, but if I try to do much more than that, it gets out of my control. Unless I need it, in which case it works fine. It's a little frustrating like that.

[starshower]

From the sounds of it, it might.

[This is about to get a little bit grim.]

The tapirs mentioned that if we become "real" here, death might work differently for us too. Not that we really know what happens, but it's something to think about.

[multidisciplinary]

Actually, we know the reason behind it. 10,000 years ago, these machines, which we refer to as Guardians, were used to fight against an ancient evil that threatened my kingdom. With the help heroes from across the kingdom, the Calamity was contained and sealed away. Although the kingdom was at peace, the King feared that the people who created the Guardians, the Sheikah Clan, might one day use the machines to overthrow him. So he banished the Sheikah from the kingdom and ordered the machines buried. They remained lost to time until my childhood.

[ Sorry not sorry for the tl;dr, Baldr. ]

Indeed, the study of plants here keeps me quite busy. I hope to one day publish my findings in the archives, but I've found writing a book to be a lot more challenging than I thought.

🙃

[rediscovering]

I wouldn't really call sleeping an activity but yes I'd consider that the most relaxed state you could be in... technically speaking. If I need to relax, I meditate. But I'm fine. I don't need to relax right now.

[ ...Makes you wonder what he's like when he does... ]

I appreciate your insight on this place, though. Thank you. I hope in time this place will prove to be helpful to me, too, if I am here long. So far, not so much. But I'll have to take your word for it. It's definitely been a lot to think about.

[spikyheaded]

[So there's only one person who could do it. Might not be a good idea to put the strain on them.]

Not sure I can offer anything to help. I barely understand anything about dreamotion or dreamwalking besides the crash course we were given.

[unbrokenoaths]

You have more experience in this than I do. I haven't had the occasion to try it myself. But it sounds as if it wouldn't be difficult for you to do in order to be observed, then.

[unbrokenoaths]

If you're interested in assisting regardless, I'd be happy to put you in touch with Eustace-san. We don't yet know what the next steps will be after this, after all. But he was organizing lessons for those still trying to build experience with dreamotion as well.

[unbrokenoaths]

[ Baldr's not the least sorry about the tl;dr! Indeed, he waits with rapt attention for it to be finished. ]

Ten thousand years is a remarkable time. The history of my own world doesn't stretch back nearly such a span. Considering the circumstances, was there not opposition to investigation of the machines? They must be fascinating, but I would think restoring ancient weapons would make some people uneasy.

[ Although 10000 years is certainly enough time for minds to change, he can grant. ]

no problem! and likewise sorry, RL happened!!

[unbrokenoaths]

Isabella? I'm not familiar, I don't believe.

With the nature of this place being what it is, I imagine the frustration doesn't help. It sounds rather delicate to work with. But such a gradual process might also be much easier for the researchers to observe.

[unbrokenoaths]

[ He needs a little moment to mull that one over. Don't mind the longer pause before an answer. ]

There would be a certain logic to it, wouldn't there? Becoming real might be something like becoming alive, or being given a physical form. I don't suppose the tapirs knew how death affects natives of this world?

[unbrokenoaths]

They seemed a bit unclear, currently. I wonder if they're hoping for inspiration from their data, or if it's the nexuses themselves they believe may have some idea. There are a surprising number of unknowns about the dreamotion still.

[unbrokenoaths]

[ Well... meditating is something. Baldr will save the suggestions about tea, for the moment. ]

It's no trouble. I've had some time to adjust to things myself, and a great deal of reason to do so. So if you have need of anything please don't hesitate to send me a note. And thank you again for volunteering, Zuko-san.