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

Sender: Zelda

[multidisciplinary]

[ Although Zelda wants to help out (more on the research side than being a research subject, tbh), she can barely do dreamotion reliably, so she probably wouldn't make a very good research subject.

But unusual circumstances... She does have one of those. ]

I believe I might be someone you would consider to have an "unusual circumstance," but it is not like any of the examples you listed.

[unbrokenoaths]

Those were only what came to mind from my personal experience. If you have your own knowledge, I would welcome that as well.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Those sound like some really interesting personal experiences. ]

I entered into a soul binding pact with a dear friend I made during my time here. He has since reawakened to his own world, but I have reason to believe that our bond has not been severed.

[unbrokenoaths]

[ Never an ordinary day in Tir Na Nog... ]

So the magic you worked here managed to influence his waking world? That does sound significant. I thought the connections were entirely in one direction, until now. What makes you think the bond is still in place?

[multidisciplinary]

I bear a marking upon my shoulder that signifies our pact and it still remains, even though he has gone.

However, I have struggled to utilize the benefits I gained from the pact in his absence.

[ Which still stings a little. The pact granted Zelda the ability to summon Satan to her side whenever she wanted, but she has not been able to to do so since he disappeared. It's been frustrating. ]

[unbrokenoaths]

Perhaps because doing so would now require the power to pass between worlds?

[ These are questions for the researchers, more properly, but. Hmmm. ]

That does sound like a very unusual case. I wonder if it would represent a connection between more than one world, then. Did he happen to tell you if the mark would fade under other circumstances?

[multidisciplinary]

No, he was confident that our pact would persist, even should we be worlds apart. In fact, it was because of the possibility that we could be separated that he proposed forming the pact in the first place. The only question was whether we would be able to perform the ritual at all while existing in these dream forms, but that turned out to be a non-issue.

It is my theory that our connection remains, but that I am incapable of utilizing it without him. It is something that I should be capable of doing, but magic is [ A pause. ] not a strength of mine.

[unbrokenoaths]

If he was confident, it would stand to believe he had reason to know. Those with such a form of magic generally know its limitations best.

[ There's a little pause, intangibly apologetic, as Baldr taps the end of the quill against his cheek: ]

Unfortunately, I have no great expertise with magic, myself. But I could perhaps ask a friend of mine... Or the researchers may be able to discover more. Were you willing to participate in the study?

[multidisciplinary]

I would quite like to assist, in any way I can. I am something of a researcher myself, although I tend to favor the study of the sciences over the supernatural.

But I must be honest up front: I am not skilled with dreamotion. I hope that my unique circumstance will make up for that fact.

[unbrokenoaths]

Though I can't make any claim to being a scientist, I would think that the range of experience itself may give them valuable information. And another researcher would be most helpful; the perspective from another world itself might offer new ideas. Thank you for the assistance, Zelda-san.

If you'll pardon the unrelated curiosity, what is it that you usually study?

[multidisciplinary]

I could assist? Truly? Thank you! I am a far cry from a trained scholar but I shall do my best to help!

In my homeland, I focused primarily on the study of ancient technologies. Early in my childhood, archeological expeditions unearthed ancient machines constructed using engineering techniques far beyond our kingdom's present knowledge. I always found them fascinating, so I dedicated as much time as I could spare to studying them. [ Nevermind that her studies were largely motivated by a desire to utilize said technology to protect her kingdom against prophesied destruction. ] But here in Songerein, I've been engaged in the identification and study of local flora.

[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.

[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.

[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. ]

[multidisciplinary]

[ Wow, Baldr's world must be pretty young. Compared to the entirety of Hyrule's history, 10,000 years is relatively short. It makes Zelda wonder if Hyrule is unusual in that regard. ]

Those most prominently opposed to the excavation of the ancient technology were the Yiga Clan, but their motivations had more to do with ensuring the revival of Calamity Ganon than conscientious objection to the machines themselves. I suspect that there were those among the kingdom's citizenry who had also had objections, but I heard little of that.

It is to be expected, though. Few are bold enough to speak ill of the Royal Family's ventures around me.

[unbrokenoaths]

And if there was concern about the revival of this Calamity, I can see why some would be more receptive — or even eager — to have such lost technology brought back.

[ Although the reason she actually provides has a certain resonant familiarity. Royalty, knight, or nobility? He judges the first two to be more likely. ]

And all the moreso with the Royal Family's endorsement. Is there perhaps a title I should be more properly using for you, miss scientist?

[multidisciplinary]

[ Honestly, she likes 'miss scientist,' but it'd probably be a bit rude if she didn't share her title. ]

Princess of Hyrule, but you may spare the formal address if you are so inclined. My station is of little consequence here.

[ And she likes when she gets to be just 'Zelda' (or 'miss scientist'). ]

[unbrokenoaths]

[ Ah, on the mark after all. Weighing this information against the fact that she didn't volunteer the title until he asked... ]

I suppose in this case it would be your experience as a scientist that we're calling upon, wouldn't it? Then provided that you know I mean no disrespect by doing so. I'm honored by the courtesy.

[ He's definitely going to keep "miss scientist" when he can get away with it. ]

[multidisciplinary]

[ It's less of an intentional omission and more of an oversight on the part of a woman who has grown comfortable shedding the mantle of royal duty in the time she has been in Songerein. (But it's not completely an oversight.) ]

Indeed, both my royal training and my magic are of little use in this endeavor.

[ Baldr might be surprised just how far he can get calling the princess "Miss Scientist" :) ]

As a courtesy, then, have you a title or rank of merit I should be aware of? I would be remiss in my manners not to afford you the due respect for your station.

[ It may not come through in her handwriting, but there's an element of teasing there~ ]

[unbrokenoaths]

[ The question gives Baldr a long moment of pause. It would be rude not to answer in return, but... ]

I'm proud to call myself a knight of Bifrost, but I have neither rank nor title. I've been accused of impertinence before... but demanding respect from a princess would be beyond even that, I think.

[ Is this a lifetime of gently tweaking royalty coming home to roost? Her teasing might have been successful in a way she didn't intend, because he's actually a tiny bit flustered. ]

Perhaps we can compromise by considering ourselves colleagues in this work?

[multidisciplinary]

[ Baldr has successfully dodged being labeled 'Sir Baldr' or 'Lord Baldr' in his future interactions with Zelda. (But that doesn't guarantee that it won't pop up once or twice when she's feeling cheeky, as with today.)

Though unaware that she has managed to fluster Baldr in any form, Zelda is quite pleased with the outcome of this exchange all the same. ]

I believe that to be an acceptable compromise.

I look forward to working with you, Baldr.