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

[unbrokenoaths]

Not that I'm currently aware of. It appears that the Observatory can be used to glimpse your home world if you have concerns about it, however.

Severing the ties altogether would be a rather drastic decision for an entire world, would it not?

[luciing]

Would that out respective worlds remain sovereign. Why do you seek those who are deceased?

[unbrokenoaths]

We hope to better understand the connection linking our forms here to our home world. It's been suggested that those who have died aren't as strongly tethered -- presumably, if they remain dead or lack a body, though that's only my speculation. Thus it's possible there's something the researchers could learn through a comparison between the different forms of connections.

[luciing]

Does the star from which you hail have an afterlife?

[unbrokenoaths]

Not as such, I believe. In ordinary circumstances. But there were many who were killed in a recent war, with a weapon that left their souls adrift.

[ There's a beat of hesitation. Perhaps he's wondering if that counts. ]

It isn't like the afterlife that Eustace-san spoke of in his world, however. What of yours?

[luciing]

What happened to the souls that were forced to linger?

[ As for the inquiry about the afterlife in his own world, Somnus doesn’t respond— at least, not yet, anyway. ] And have the researchers spoken of an afterlife in this realm?

[unbrokenoaths]

They remain in the Void. Animus particles suspended there can neither dissipate nor return to the world under their own power. Only if a mirrist were to draw them back.

As for an afterlife here — a dreamer such as ourselves appear to not be able to die here. I'm not certain whether that would be true of the other inhabitants of this world.

[luciing]

A dreamer cannot perish, then they are doomed to immortality without relief. If there are those who choose this, that their prerogative.

However, this is all the more reason to prioritize research into returning to one’s worlds and cutting it off from such a miserable state. There are those here who do not deserve to be condemned to an undying existence.

[unbrokenoaths]

They don't appear able to perish here, but some have certainly found their way home. I don't think this place here can be compared to anything so dire as an eternity. But if you're concerned, we can certainly share the results of the research as we progress. Or were you interested in joining?

[luciing]

It needn’t be an eternity. Existing past a mortal lifetime corrodes the soul.

I am deceased. However, I will only offer my assistance if the researchers also pursue the means to return the Dreamers to their stars, if not outright sever a world’s connection.

[unbrokenoaths]

[ The writing this time is slow and meticulous, not quite hesitation, but precision. ]

So you intend to return to your own world, even if you could continue existing here?

I believe I can understand your concern. While I can't promise what our results will be, I'll speak to the researchers and let you know. Would that be acceptable?

[luciing]

That is acceptable.