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[[File:Hidden_Dossier_Cover.png|300px|thumb]] | [[File:Hidden_Dossier_Cover.png|300px|thumb]] | ||
The '''Hidden Dossier''' is the book contained within [[The Witch Queen]] Collector's Edition.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cBSs5RNbugJXFWGBnewbW_j1iV3qKGBt/view Scans by Samuel Chang.] | The '''Hidden Dossier''' is the book contained within [[The Witch Queen]] Collector's Edition.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cBSs5RNbugJXFWGBnewbW_j1iV3qKGBt/view Scans by Samuel Chang.]</ref> It is a collection of documents, messages, and other relevant files from [[The Hidden|Hidden Agents]], compiled by [[Ikora Rey]]. In addition to the 48 pages within the CE book, there are an additional 30 pages resulting from the ARG involving buyers of the Collector's Edition.<ref>[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1msGOeauhUIzPPDZN2PNeHq7dzdykG0RaNUsroTD4DqY/edit?usp=sharing ARG pages solved and transcribed by multiple individuals. Full credits in cited Google doc.]</ref> These pages begin with the ''Letter From Mithrax to Ikora''. | ||
Text in <span style="color:#735c99;">this color</span> indicates handwritten notes made by Ikora Rey, or occasionally signatures signed by other characters. | Text in <span style="color:#735c99;">this color</span> indicates handwritten notes made by Ikora Rey, or occasionally signatures signed by other characters. | ||
==Letter From Ikora<small><ref group="Note">Letter itself is a separate item, however is included on this page for the purposes of compiling transcriptions to a single page.</ref></small>== | ==Letter From Ikora<small><ref group="Note">Letter itself is a separate item, however is included on this page for the purposes of compiling transcriptions to a single page.</ref></small>== | ||
[[Guardian]], | <span style="color:#735c99;">[[Guardian]],</span> | ||
I hesitate. I am touched by doubt. | <span style="color:#735c99;">I hesitate. I am touched by doubt.</span> | ||
We must speak clearly. But you can't talk precisely without knowing precisely who you're<br> | <span style="color:#735c99;">We must speak clearly. But you can't talk precisely without knowing precisely who you're<br> | ||
talking to. (Think of everything we said to [[Osiris]]—) I feel as if I know you.<br> | talking to. (Think of everything we said to [[Osiris]]—) I feel as if I know you.<br> | ||
But have I ever allowed you to know me? | But have I ever allowed you to know me?</span> | ||
I used to act as fast as I thought, and sometimes much faster. That's youth. Eventually I<br> | <span style="color:#735c99;">I used to act as fast as I thought, and sometimes much faster. That's youth. Eventually I<br> | ||
made too many mistakes to ignore; that's youth too, ignoring your mistakes until they pile up<br> | made too many mistakes to ignore; that's youth too, ignoring your mistakes until they pile up<br> | ||
and topple. I dug myself out. I learned to keep myself hidden. Hidden purpose, hidden<br> | and topple. I dug myself out. I learned to keep myself hidden. Hidden purpose, hidden<br> | ||
knowledge. A hidden [[Ikora]], and for the world, a face of perfect composure and intent.<br> | knowledge. A hidden [[Ikora Rey|Ikora]], and for the world, a face of perfect composure and intent.<br> | ||
Even when we lost the [[Traveler]], I went to Io to hide my confusion. | Even when we lost the [[Traveler]], I went to Io to hide my confusion.</span> | ||
I am going to try to un-hide myself. | <span style="color:#735c99;">I am going to try to un-hide myself.</span> | ||
I may frighten or confuse you. I am not an easy person to know. | <span style="color:#735c99;">I may frighten or confuse you. I am not an easy person to know.</span> | ||
This is a folio of intelligence reports from my [[Hidden]] network. It will illuminate the events<br> | <span style="color:#735c99;">This is a folio of intelligence reports from my [[Hidden]] network. It will illuminate the events<br> | ||
leading up to the current apokalypsis. In the original Koine Greek, that word means unveiling,<br> | leading up to the current apokalypsis. In the original Koine Greek, that word means unveiling,<br> | ||
and also revelation. | and also revelation.</span> | ||
In the spirit of unveiling I have also included fragments of my own personal writing about<br> | <span style="color:#735c99;">In the spirit of unveiling I have also included fragments of my own personal writing about<br> | ||
the nature of [[Darkness]] and [[Light]]. They are less the work of Ikora Rey the great [[Warlock]]<br> | the nature of [[Darkness]] and [[Light]]. They are less the work of Ikora Rey the great [[Warlock]]<br> | ||
[[Vanguard]] than of ikora rey, the unfashioned and uncertain woman. | [[Vanguard]] than of ikora rey, the unfashioned and uncertain woman.</span> | ||
In the early [[Books of Sorrow]], [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathun]] scribbles a warning that [[Oryx, the Taken King|Oryx's]] text is<br> | <span style="color:#735c99;">In the early [[Books of Sorrow]], [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathun]] scribbles a warning that [[Oryx, the Taken King|Oryx's]] text is<br> | ||
full of lies. [[Mara Sov|Mara Sov's]] hagiography and self-indictment, the [[Lore:Marasenna|Marasenna]],<br> | full of lies. [[Mara Sov|Mara Sov's]] hagiography and self-indictment, the [[Lore:Marasenna|Marasenna]],<br> | ||
warns the reader to remember that it is narrated in the first person, even and especially<br> | warns the reader to remember that it is narrated in the first person, even and especially<br> | ||
when it pretends to be objective. | when it pretends to be objective.</span> | ||
Truth is always edited by the truthteller. | <span style="color:#735c99;">Truth is always edited by the truthteller.</span> | ||
I give you no such warning. This is the unaltered truth of what I know and who I am.<br> | <span style="color:#735c99;">I give you no such warning. This is the unaltered truth of what I know and who I am.<br> | ||
May it bring you to the clarity I have sought. | May it bring you to the clarity I have sought.</span> | ||
Ikora | |||
<span style="color:#735c99;">Ikora</span> | |||
==The Hidden Dossier== | ==The Hidden Dossier== | ||
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REP#: 1851-[[Ghosts|GHOSTS]]-SUS<br> | REP#: 1851-[[Ghosts|GHOSTS]]-SUS<br> | ||
AGENT(S): [[Chalco Yong|CHA-319]] | AGENT(S): [[Chalco Yong|CHA-319]] | ||
SUBJ: INITIAL REPORT ON UNPAIRED GHOST<br> | SUBJ: INITIAL REPORT ON UNPAIRED GHOST<br> | ||
Line 71: | Line 74: | ||
:: Vanguard or to IKO-006, but given that we're under<br> | :: Vanguard or to IKO-006, but given that we're under<br> | ||
:: double-trouble encryption, I'm going to say it anyway.<br> | :: double-trouble encryption, I'm going to say it anyway.<br> | ||
:: How's your whole mess in the [[The Last City|City]]? Glad I missed all that...<br><br> | :: How's your [[Endless Night|whole mess]] in the [[The Last City|City]]? Glad I missed all that...<br><br> | ||
:3. I've completed my "Ethnographic Survey of Itinerant<br> | :3. I've completed my "Ethnographic Survey of Itinerant<br> | ||
Line 93: | Line 96: | ||
:: want to call that faculty, they're using it.<br><br> | :: want to call that faculty, they're using it.<br><br> | ||
:5. Speaking of, are we still doing the sunyata friendship<br> | :5. Speaking of, are we still doing the [[Wikipedia:sunyata|sunyata]] friendship<br> | ||
:: thing? Treating each other as sacred voids? If so, I'm<br> | :: thing? Treating each other as sacred voids? If so, I'm<br> | ||
:: allowed to say anything to you, and you are allowed to say<br> | :: allowed to say anything to you, and you are allowed to say<br> | ||
Line 160: | Line 163: | ||
:: But I'm really worried that if people don't know you, they<br> | :: But I'm really worried that if people don't know you, they<br> | ||
:: might end up destroying you. Our much-foreshadowed<br> | :: might end up destroying you. Our much-foreshadowed<br> | ||
:: [[Exo Stranger|Stranger]] saw the future, Ikora. You were dead. Dead<br> | :: [[Exo Stranger|Stranger]] saw the [[Lore:The Dark Future|future]], Ikora. You were dead. Dead<br> | ||
:: because someone you trusted turned on all of us.<br><br> | :: because someone you trusted turned on all of us.<br><br> | ||
:10. Can't end on nine paragraphs. Too spooky! I noticed<br> | :10. Can't end on nine paragraphs. Too spooky! I noticed<br> | ||
:: one common thread among these unpaired Ghosts. They<br> | :: one common thread among these unpaired Ghosts. They<br> | ||
:: REALLY like the Books of Sorrow. Ever since [[Eris]]<br> | :: REALLY like the Books of Sorrow. Ever since [[Eris Morn|Eris]]<br> | ||
:: deciphered the [[Calcified Fragment|calcified fragment]]s, Guardians have been<br> | :: deciphered the [[Calcified Fragment|calcified fragment]]s, Guardians have been<br> | ||
:: fascinated by the history of the [[Hive]]. But these Ghosts—I<br> | :: fascinated by the history of the [[Hive]]. But these Ghosts—I<br> | ||
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:: This way lies a terrible future.<br><br> | :: This way lies a terrible future.<br><br> | ||
<tt>'''MESSAGE ENDS'''</tt><br><br> | <tt>'''MESSAGE ENDS'''</tt><br><br> | ||
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:: Accurate knowledge is impossible if you do not understand<br> | :: Accurate knowledge is impossible if you do not understand<br> | ||
:: the device by which knowledge is obtained. One of<br> | :: the device by which knowledge is obtained. One of<br> | ||
:: humanity's most monumental achievements is the metric<br> | :: humanity's most monumental achievements is the [[Wikipedia:Metric system|metric]]<br> | ||
:: system, an enduring system of measure usable by all<br> | :: system, an enduring system of measure usable by all<br> | ||
:: people in all situations. But the metric system had a flaw:<br> | :: people in all situations. But the metric system had a flaw:<br> | ||
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:: therefore, it was unreliable. The metric system was not<br> | :: therefore, it was unreliable. The metric system was not<br> | ||
:: completed until the kilogram found a truer, more absolute<br> | :: completed until the kilogram found a truer, more absolute<br> | ||
:: definition based on pure knowledge: in this case, Planck's<br> | :: definition based on pure knowledge: in this case, [[Wikipedia:Planck constant|Planck's]]<br> | ||
:: universal constant.<br><br> | :: universal constant.<br><br> | ||
Line 237: | Line 241: | ||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | <small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | ||
I found myself in a place of crisis. The Vanguard had determined that the Ahamkara had to be<br> | I found myself in a place of crisis. The Vanguard had determined that the Ahamkara had to be<br> | ||
made extinct. But to confront Ahamkara, you must know and accept exactly what it is you desire—<br> | made [[Great Ahamkara Hunt|extinct]]. But to confront Ahamkara, you must know and accept exactly what it is you desire—<br> | ||
you must let it pass through you without either repudiation or longing, or it will become a wish for<br> | you must let it pass through you without either repudiation or longing, or it will become a wish for<br> | ||
the Ahamkara to feed upon. And oh, the longings I hated to have! To shatter [[Ophiuchus]], to astound<br> | the Ahamkara to feed upon. And oh, the longings I hated to have! To shatter [[Ophiuchus]], to astound<br> | ||
Line 255: | Line 259: | ||
:: you may then measure yourself. Truth is universal, but<br> | :: you may then measure yourself. Truth is universal, but<br> | ||
:: universal truth can only be acquired through personal<br> | :: universal truth can only be acquired through personal<br> | ||
:: truth. This is the foundational paradox of Gnosticism. To<br> | :: truth. This is the foundational paradox of [[Wikipedia:Gnosticism|Gnosticism]]. To<br> | ||
:: know anything beyond the self requires self-knowledge, but<br> | :: know anything beyond the self requires self-knowledge, but<br> | ||
:: the self cannot be known without understanding the laws<br> | :: the self cannot be known without understanding the laws<br> | ||
Line 261: | Line 265: | ||
:: world. How do we escape this cycle?<br><br> | :: world. How do we escape this cycle?<br><br> | ||
:: This conundrum offers an escape from the Boltzmann-<br> | :: This conundrum offers an escape from the [[Wikipedia:Boltzmann brain|Boltzmann-]]<br> | ||
:: brain solipsistic trap. The trap asks us, "How do you know<br> | :: brain solipsistic trap. The trap asks us, "How do you know<br> | ||
:: that you are not the only thing in existence, and that the<br> | :: that you are not the only thing in existence, and that the<br> | ||
Line 311: | Line 315: | ||
::In one Gnostic tradition, our universe is the creation of<br> | ::In one Gnostic tradition, our universe is the creation of<br> | ||
::Barbelo and Sophia, whose mimicry of the Unknown<br> | ::[[Wikipedia:Barbelo|Barbelo]] and [[Wikipedia:Sophia (Gnosticism)|Sophia]], whose mimicry of the Unknown<br> | ||
::God's emanations gave rise to Yaldabaoth, the lion-headed<br> | ::[[Wikipedia:God|God]]'s emanations gave rise to [[Wikipedia:Yaldabaoth|Yaldabaoth]], the lion-headed<br> | ||
::serpent. Yaldabaoth the Demiurge crafted our world and<br> | ::serpent. Yaldabaoth the [[Wikipedia:Demiurge|Demiurge]] crafted our world and<br> | ||
::the | ::the [[Wikipedia:Archon (Gnosticism)|Archon]]s that rule it in mimicry of the true spiritual<br> | ||
::world, which is called pleroma. Upon creating humanity,<br> | ::world, which is called [[Wikipedia:Pleroma|pleroma]]. Upon creating humanity,<br> | ||
::Yaldabaoth declared itself the truth creator, unaware that it<br> | ::Yaldabaoth declared itself the truth creator, unaware that it<br> | ||
::itself was only a mimic of the Unknown God.<br><br> | ::itself was only a mimic of the Unknown God.<br><br> | ||
Line 322: | Line 326: | ||
::even in Yaldabaoth's failure to destroy itself and reveal the<br> | ::even in Yaldabaoth's failure to destroy itself and reveal the<br> | ||
::truth, but in the relationship between the Gnostic tradition<br> | ::truth, but in the relationship between the Gnostic tradition<br> | ||
::and the Book of Genesis. This Gnostic tale comes before<br> | ::and the [[Wikipedia:Book of Genesis|Book of Genesis]]. This Gnostic tale comes before<br> | ||
::the traditional Genesis, totally recontextualizing it—even<br> | ::the traditional Genesis, totally recontextualizing it—even<br> | ||
::destroying it. In retaliation for this transformation, the<br> | ::destroying it. In retaliation for this transformation, the<br> | ||
Line 366: | Line 370: | ||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | <small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | ||
I was at the [[Great Disaster]], when the Vanguard rallied its Guardians against omens of doom<br> | I was at the [[Great Disaster]], when the Vanguard rallied its Guardians against omens of doom<br> | ||
centered on our moon. We used the same group tactics against [[Crota]] that we had employed against<br> | centered on our [[moon]]. We used the same group tactics against [[Crota]] that we had employed against<br> | ||
the Ahamkara. It is hard to withstand many Guardians, and hard to use paracausal trickery to<br> | the Ahamkara. It is hard to withstand many Guardians, and hard to use paracausal trickery to<br> | ||
derange many minds at once.</span></small><br> | derange many minds at once.</span></small><br> | ||
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Swiftly and terribly, we learned our error. The [[sword logic]] finds the weakest part of a structure and<br> | Swiftly and terribly, we learned our error. The [[sword logic]] finds the weakest part of a structure and<br> | ||
destroys it. A mass of Guardians is full of joints and weaknesses to cut through. Today, we fight in<br> | destroys it. A mass of Guardians is full of joints and weaknesses to cut through. Today, we fight in<br> | ||
[[fireteam]]s of three: a triangle, the basic shape of a truss; the strongest shape in nature.</span></small><br> | |||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | <small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | ||
We, the eternally reborn Guardians, agelessly returning to our favorite state, failed to learn the real<br> | We, the eternally reborn Guardians, agelessly returning to our favorite state, failed to learn the real<br> | ||
lesson of the | lesson of the Great Ahamkara Hunt: that in order to assume a new form, you must cast off the old<br> | ||
one. The Ahamkara succeeded in that transformation. We failed.</span></small> | one. The Ahamkara succeeded in that transformation. We failed.</span></small> | ||
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::mediotemporal and higher cortical brain networks.<br><br> | ::mediotemporal and higher cortical brain networks.<br><br> | ||
::Its | ::Its successful resolution comes with the understanding<br> | ||
::that there is no persistent self, only a set of rules by which<br> | ::that there is no persistent self, only a set of rules by which<br> | ||
::we temper our own changes. That which does not change<br> | ::we temper our own changes. That which does not change<br> | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
<span style="color:#735c99;">'''We are all going to die'''</span> | |||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | <small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | ||
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<small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | <small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | ||
We are all going to die; but not yet. Not yet.</span></small> | We are all going to die; but not yet. Not yet.</span></small> | ||
<br> | |||
<br> | |||
<br> | |||
<span style="color:#735c99;"> | <span style="color:#735c99;"> | ||
//</span> | //</span> | ||
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'''VANCINCTAN CMDR ZAVALA >> VANCINCLOCK IKORA REY''' | '''VANCINCTAN CMDR ZAVALA >> VANCINCLOCK IKORA REY''' | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt><br><br> | ||
:This is your latest move? Ikora, I'm hurt. Placing that stone at 6x24 is clearly suboptimal. You're going easy on me, and I won't have it.<br><br> | :This is your latest move? Ikora, I'm hurt. Placing that stone at<br> | ||
: 6x24 is clearly suboptimal. You're going easy on me, and I won't<br> | |||
: have it.<br><br> | |||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
'''REY >> ZAVALA''' | '''REY >> ZAVALA''' | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt><br><br> | ||
:Trust me. I have a feeling it'll make a more interesting game. If you don't believe me, put the game state into a go engine.<br><br> | :Trust me. I have a feeling it'll make a more interesting game. If<br> | ||
: you don't believe me, put the game state into a [[Wikipedia:Go (game)|go]] engine.<br><br> | |||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
'''ZAVALA >> REY''' | '''ZAVALA >> REY''' | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt><br><br> | ||
:Balderdash. The fact that you have a 50.41% win rate against me doesn't mean you can afford to treat me like I'm not here. By my reading, my whole position on the left flank is quite harmonious. I have the advantage in liberties and in initiative. You may have the better sense for the abstract game, Ikora, but I am a better logistician. And I know that 6x24 undermines your endgame.<br><br> | :Balderdash. The fact that you have a 50.41% win rate against<br> | ||
: me doesn't mean you can afford to treat me like I'm not here.<br> | |||
: By my reading, my whole position on the left flank is quite<br> | |||
: harmonious. I have the advantage in liberties and in initiative.<br> | |||
: You may have the better sense for the abstract game, Ikora, but<br> | |||
: I am a better logistician. And I know that 6x24 undermines<br> | |||
: your endgame.<br><br> | |||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
'''REY >> ZAVALA''' | '''REY >> ZAVALA''' | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt><br><br> | ||
:Playing the conventional move here will drive this game into an echo of those we've played before. Just a joseki writ large; we already know those moves. Whereas 6x24 puts us in a totally new board state.<br><br> | :Playing the conventional move here will drive this game into an<br> | ||
: echo of those we've played before. Just a ''[[Wikipedia:Joseki|joseki]]'' writ large; we<br> | |||
: already know those moves. Whereas 6x24 puts us in a totally<br> | |||
: new board state.<br><br> | |||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
'''ZAVALA >> REY''' | '''ZAVALA >> REY''' | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt><br><br> | ||
:I'll get back to you after the Consensus meeting, or you'll be distracted the whole time trying to think up your reply.<br><br> | :I'll get back to you after the [[Consensus]] meeting, or you'll be<br> | ||
: distracted the whole time trying to think up your reply.<br><br> | |||
==<tt>SUBJ: LATEST STASIS BEHAVIORS</tt>== | ==<tt>SUBJ: LATEST STASIS BEHAVIORS</tt>== | ||
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<br> | <br> | ||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
ACCESS: RESTRICTED | ACCESS: RESTRICTED<br> | ||
DECRYPTION KEY: 2CA9SXUO2C$IKO-006 | DECRYPTION KEY: 2CA9SXUO2C$IKO-006<br> | ||
REP#: 091-STASIS-TEST | REP#: 091-[[Stasis|STASIS]]-TEST<br> | ||
AGENT(S): TRU-135 | AGENT(S): [[Truce|TRU-135]]<br> | ||
SUBJ: LATEST STASIS BEHAVIORS | SUBJ: LATEST STASIS BEHAVIORS | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt><br><br> | ||
:1. Now I know you think I'm a steady old hand so you give<br> | |||
:: me the weird jobs on the theory that if I spook then it's<br> | |||
:: worth getting spooked. But this one has me worried. Does<br> | |||
:: no one any good to play with fire. Or cold as the case may<br> | |||
:: be. Either way you get burnt. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:2. All right here are my observations on the use of Stasis. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::The virulence of Stasis against other Guardians has generally decreased. Withering Blade doesn't bite so deep or freeze so solid. Glacial Quake won't catch so many cold footed. Now why is this? | |||
::The virulence of Stasis against other Guardians has<br> | |||
:: generally decreased. Withering Blade doesn't bite so deep<br> | |||
:: or freeze so solid. Glacial Quake won't catch so many cold-<br> | |||
::footed. Now why is this? | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::Partly I reckon that Guardians have learned to counteract the effects of Stasis with their own Light. Heat what's cold and whatnot. But the experimentalists out here mutter that Stasis has a mind of its own: which is strange right because they all insist that "the Darkness comes from within us," that it's a part of them, some residue of the Cambrian explosion or whatever. The real Darkness was inside us all along. Which is it? Is Darkness in all of us or has it got a mind of its own? We need to answer that question. | |||
::Partly I reckon that Guardians have learned to counteract<br> | |||
:: the effects of Stasis with their own Light. Heat what's cold<br> | |||
:: and whatnot. But the experimentalists out here mutter that<br> | |||
:: Stasis has a mind of its own: which is strange right because<br> | |||
:: they all insist that "the Darkness comes from within us,"<br> | |||
:: that it's a part of them, some residue of the [[Wikipedia:Cambrian explosion|Cambrian]]<br> | |||
:: explosion or whatever. The real Darkness was inside us all<br> | |||
:: along. Which is it? Is Darkness in all of us or has it got a<br> | |||
:: mind of its own? We need to answer that question. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::Let's say they're right and Stasis has in some way changed itself. Why would Stasis weaken its effect against other Guardians? I'll tell you exactly why. Same reason a virus evolves a strain that won't kill its host. People were turning against Stasis, didn't like what it was doing to their Crucible. So Stasis made itself nicer. So we'd keep on using it. If Stasis was better than what the Traveler gave us we wouldn't be able to accept it as just another colorful species of whoopass. We might get scared of it. | |||
::Let's say they're right and Stasis has in some way changed<br> | |||
:: itself. Why would Stasis weaken its effect against other<br> | |||
:: Guardians? I'll tell you exactly why. Same reason a virus<br> | |||
:: evolves a strain that won't kill its host. People were<br> | |||
:: turning against Stasis, didn't like what it was doing to<br> | |||
:: their Crucible. So Stasis made itself nicer. So we'd keep on<br> | |||
:: using it. If Stasis was ''better'' than what the Traveler gave<br> | |||
:: us we wouldn't be able to accept it as just another colorful<br> | |||
:: species of whoopass. We might get scared of it. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::But this way it's nice and balanced. Everything kept in proper balance. And doesn't "balance" sound like a goal worth striving for? | |||
::But this way it's nice and balanced. Everything kept in<br> | |||
:: proper balance. And doesn't "balance" sound like a goal<br> | |||
:: worth striving for? | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
===((013))=== | ===((013))=== | ||
:3. Now you asked me to keep an eye out for signs of cruelty<br> | |||
:: among the Stasis users. But it strikes me there's a<br> | |||
:: problem here. In the old days we would call it "statistical<br> | |||
:: comorbidity" but maybe you fancy Warlocks have<br> | |||
:: some deeper understanding of synchronicity or hidden<br> | |||
:: concordance or whatnot. What I mean is can we tell if<br> | |||
:: Stasis makes people cruel or reckless or in the best cases<br> | |||
:: very bold? I see Stasis users who shouldn't have any kind<br> | |||
:: of power, never mind Stasis. And I see decent Guardians<br> | |||
:: who took to Stasis as an urgent necessity. It's the old<br> | |||
:: question about [[Thorn]]. Was [[Dredgen Yor]] corrupted by his<br> | |||
:: weapon? Or did he just need an excuse? | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::Maybe Stasis really is just a tool. Maybe the only moral valence it has is what we bring to it. | |||
::Maybe Stasis really is just a tool. Maybe the only moral<br> | |||
:: valence it has is what we bring to it. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:4. [[Cowlick]] still refuses to examine the Stasis crystals with<br> | |||
:: her own unique senses and I'm not gonna make her. Poor<br> | |||
:: Ghost shouldn't have to stare into what hurts her. Best<br> | |||
:: details she could get with secular instruments attached.<br> | |||
:: However Cowlick is pleased as pinch to go over the results<br> | |||
:: and come up with theories. I'll leave the "Flack parametric<br> | |||
:: analysis" and all the other numbers to her… | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:5. Now I do know something about viruses from my frontier<br> | |||
:: medicine days. I know that gentler strains of a virus have<br> | |||
:: a competitive advantage if they keep their host alive long<br> | |||
:: enough to jump to a new one. So we can imagine Stasis<br> | |||
:: as a virus, maybe even a virus with purpose—limiting its<br> | |||
:: virulence so as to get at the rest of us. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::But we've got to remember that a virus only evolves to go easy on its host when that makes it more successful. It's a myth that all diseases evolve to coexist peacefully with us. A virus will crank up its lethality to 99% so long as that viciousness also lets it reach a new host. If a virus could make people explode like rotten balloons and infect everyone nearby, a virus would do it. Viruses don't give a damn for anything except making more of themselves. | |||
::But we've got to remember that a virus only evolves to<br> | |||
:: go easy on its host when that makes it more successful.<br> | |||
:: It's a myth that all diseases evolve to coexist peacefully<br> | |||
:: with us. A virus will crank up its lethality to 99% so long<br> | |||
:: as that viciousness also lets it reach a new host. If a virus<br> | |||
:: could make people explode like rotten balloons and infect<br> | |||
:: everyone nearby, a virus would do it. Viruses don't give<br> | |||
:: a damn for anything except making more of themselves. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
===((014))=== | ===((014))=== | ||
::They certainly don't give a damn for their own long-term viability—they're too stupid to think that far in advance. | ::They certainly don't give a damn for their own long-term<br> | ||
:: viability—they're too stupid to think that far in advance. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::So keep that in mind when it comes to assessing the safety of Stasis. After all it is a power we use to explode each other like rotten balloons. | |||
::So keep that in mind when it comes to assessing the safety<br> | |||
:: of Stasis. After all it is a power we use to explode each<br> | |||
:: other like rotten balloons. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::And keep in mind also that a virus isn't evil. It just wants to exist. If there really is a distinction between Stasis-as-a-power and the voice in those ships, if one can be separated from the other, then maybe Stasis isn't intrinsically corrupting. Or maybe it is corrupting but only when it's tied to the voice behind it. Maybe we can wrest it free. Who knows? Not me. | |||
::And keep in mind also that a virus isn't evil. It just wants<br> | |||
:: to exist. If there really is a distinction between Stasis-as-a-<br> | |||
::power and the voice in those ships, if one can be separated<br> | |||
:: from the other, then maybe Stasis isn't intrinsically<br> | |||
:: corrupting. Or maybe it is corrupting but only when it's<br> | |||
:: tied to the voice behind it. Maybe we can wrest it free. Who<br> | |||
:: knows? Not me. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
::Truce out. | ::Truce out. | ||
<br> | <br><br> | ||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
'''MESSAGE ENDS''' | '''MESSAGE ENDS''' | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt> | ||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;">Mara said there was a difference between Darkness as a force and the will that guided it. But there is no question that the interlopers led us to stasis.</span></small><br> | <br><br> | ||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;">Mara said there was a difference between Darkness as a force and the will that guided it. But there</span></small> | |||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;"><br> is no question that the interlopers led us to stasis.</span></small><br> | |||
<small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | <small><span style="color:#735c99;"> | ||
The enemy has given us a tool. Does that make the tool the enemy?</span></small><br> | The enemy has given us a tool. Does that make the tool the enemy?</span></small><br><br> | ||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
'''APPENDED FILE: COWLICK'S ANALYSIS OF STASIS''' | '''APPENDED FILE: COWLICK'S ANALYSIS OF STASIS''' | ||
</tt><br> | </tt><br> | ||
:The Stasis crystals aren't water ice. Obvious enough, but I thought I'd get it out of the way. The extraordinary property of Stasis is its ability to create ordered structures from | |||
:The Stasis crystals aren't water ice. Obvious enough, but I<br> | |||
: thought I'd get it out of the way. The extraordinary property of<br> | |||
: Stasis is its ability to create ordered structures from chaos—<br> | |||
:it doesn't care what kind of matter is available; it just sucks<br> | |||
: entropy out of the system until it's got a crystal. The crystal's<br> | |||
: not exactly chemical. The normal electromagnetic interactions<br> | |||
: between atoms are suppressed in favor of something weirder. A<br> | |||
: bit like [[spinmetal]]. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:Examination by scanning and tunneling electron microscope (plus X-ray crystallography and neutron diffraction, if we want to be exhaustive) revealed a highly ordered crystalline structure at the nanometer scale. Results included a lot of lens artifacts, so I had to resort to makeshift ptychography. But I've attached what I could see. As far as I can tell, we're looking at conventional baryonic matter—not reifled virtual matter, space time at a true-zero energy state, an excitation of some novel field, or (Traveler save us from VanNet theories) super-extremal naked black holes masquerading as particles. | :Examination by scanning and tunneling electron microscope<br> | ||
: (plus X-ray crystallography and neutron diffraction, if we<br> | |||
: want to be exhaustive) revealed a highly ordered crystalline<br> | |||
: structure at the nanometer scale. Results included a lot of lens<br> | |||
: artifacts, so I had to resort to makeshift ptychography. But I've<br> | |||
: attached what I could see. As far as I can tell, we're looking at<br> | |||
: conventional baryonic matter—not reifled virtual matter, space<br> | |||
: time at a true-zero energy state, an excitation of some novel<br> | |||
: field, or (Traveler save us from VanNet theories) super-extremal<br> | |||
: naked black holes masquerading as particles. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
===((015))=== | ===((015))=== | ||
:(Now, I am a little disappointed to discover that the super vacuum hypothesis is out. Quantum physics says it's impossible to know the exact energy state of a volume of space, and "zero" is an exact energy state—so it's physically illegal for a volume of space to have zero energy when observed. That's why we get random virtual particles popping in out of the void; they're created and destroyed by the energy of emptiness. Some Warlocks thought that if you carried out the impossible task of sucking ALL the energy out of a volume of space-time, nulling out even the zero-point fluctuations and achieving a True Void, then you could achieve a physical regime where space and time themselves ceased to exist. Instead, you'd get a "space-time condensate," a superfluid vacuum capable of interacting with itself to generate structure. In this theory, the Stasis crystals were a cold so deep that they froze space-time itself! It had a certain elegance, but either the True Void does not exist, or it is not here attained, or I am just misinterpreting this data.) | :(Now, I am a little disappointed to discover that the super<br> | ||
: vacuum hypothesis is out. Quantum physics says it's impossible<br> | |||
: to know the exact energy state of a volume of space, and "zero"<br> | |||
: is an exact energy state—so it's physically illegal for a volume<br> | |||
: of space to have zero energy when observed. That's why we<br> | |||
: get random virtual particles popping in out of the void; they're<br> | |||
: created and destroyed by the energy of emptiness. Some Warlocks<br> | |||
: thought that if you carried out the impossible task of sucking<br> | |||
: ALL the energy out of a volume of space-time, nulling out even<br> | |||
: the zero-point fluctuations and achieving a True [[Void]], then you<br> | |||
: could achieve a physical regime where space and time themselves<br> | |||
: ceased to exist. Instead, you'd get a "space-time condensate," a<br> | |||
: superfluid vacuum capable of interacting with itself to generate<br> | |||
: structure. In this theory, the Stasis crystals were a cold so deep<br> | |||
: that they froze space-time itself! It had a certain elegance, but<br> | |||
: either the True Void does not exist, or it is not here attained, or I<br> | |||
: am just misinterpreting this data.) | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:The crystalline structure of the Stasis material is both spatial and temporal: it forms ordered patterns in three dimensions, and those patterns evolve over time without outside energy input. I've tried bootstrapping several models, but when I compare the predictions to the actual behavior of the crystal, the R-factor is always garbage. (I don't have the equipment to open up the Calabi-Yau manifold and peek at extra dimensions here, sorry. Maybe I'd glimpse the paracausal truth of the Darkness and start dividing in half until you had a planet full of Cowlicks and Truces all complaining.) | :The crystalline structure of the Stasis material is both spatial<br> | ||
: and temporal: it forms ordered patterns in three dimensions, and<br> | |||
: those patterns evolve over time without outside energy input.<br> | |||
: I've tried bootstrapping several models, but when I compare the<br> | |||
: predictions to the actual behavior of the crystal, the [[Wikipedia:R-factor (crystallography)|R-factor]]<br> | |||
: is always garbage. (I don't have the equipment to open up the<br> | |||
: [[Wikipedia:Calabi–Yau manifold|Calabi-Yau manifold]] and peek at extra dimensions here, sorry.<br> | |||
: Maybe I'd glimpse the paracausal truth of the Darkness and start<br> | |||
: dividing in half until you had a planet full of Cowlicks and Truces<br> | |||
: all complaining.) | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:There's some funny stuff going on within the crystal structure: long-range multiparticle interactions that might require paracausal intervention to sustain. The crystal also soaks up incident motion and energy, which it converts into mechanical work: this is how these crystals form so rapidly, and why they're surrounded by such intense cold. (Think of it like a nucleation event in a false vacuum; the crystal keeps expanding because it's energetically favorable for it to do so, as long as its surface area-to-volume ratio is sufficiently high.) It's also why they retain significant structural-impact volatility (they shatter really well). When you've stored so much energy in a dense lattice, you're already most of the way to a bomb. All high-energy chemical explosives are crystalline. | :There's some funny stuff going on within the crystal structure:<br> | ||
: long-range multiparticle interactions that might require<br> | |||
: paracausal intervention to sustain. The crystal also soaks up<br> | |||
: incident motion and energy, which it converts into mechanical<br> | |||
: work: this is how these crystals form so rapidly, and why they're<br> | |||
: surrounded by such intense cold. (Think of it like a nucleation<br> | |||
: event in a false vacuum; the crystal keeps expanding because<br> | |||
: it's energetically favorable for it to do so, as long as its surface<br> | |||
: area-to-volume ratio is sufficiently high.) It's also why they retain<br> | |||
: significant structural-impact volatility (they shatter really well).<br> | |||
: When you've stored so much energy in a dense lattice, you're<br> | |||
: already most of the way to a bomb. All high-energy chemical<br> | |||
: explosives are crystalline. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:The actual structure of the crystal is... hard to characterize. The mass has some spooky quantum characteristics, behaving like a superfluid condensate complete with vortices, so it's hard to get information on specific areas—you get domains of the crystals behaving as single particles. | :The actual structure of the crystal is... hard to characterize. The<br> | ||
: mass has some spooky quantum characteristics, behaving like a<br> | |||
: superfluid condensate complete with vortices, so it's hard to get<br> | |||
: information on specific areas—you get domains of the crystals<br> | |||
: behaving as single particles. | |||
===((016))=== | ===((016))=== | ||
:By poking random spots, I've got the idea that the crystal is composed of different isomer territories which compete along their boundaries to recruit each other. The isomer domains also generate mutants ''within'' themselves, which spread and take over if they have superior recruiting properties; I've even seen encysted "laboratories" where mutants compete before the winners breach the barrier and spill into the surrounding lattice. Our three queens in action again? I promise not to dive into Bieberbach's theorem and abelian subgroups, but there's some fascinating math going on here. | :By poking random spots, I've got the idea that the crystal is<br> | ||
: composed of different isomer territories which compete along<br> | |||
: their boundaries to recruit each other. The isomer domains<br> | |||
: also generate mutants ''within'' themselves, which spread and<br> | |||
: take over if they have superior recruiting properties; I've even<br> | |||
: seen encysted "laboratories" where mutants compete before<br> | |||
: the winners breach the barrier and spill into the surrounding<br> | |||
: lattice. Our three queens in action again? I promise not to dive<br> | |||
: into [[Wikipedia:Ludwig Bieberbach|Bieberbach's]] theorem and abelian subgroups, but there's<br> | |||
: some fascinating math going on here. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:Now if you're up on your theory (which I am), you know that crystal structures are closely tied to symmetry groups, which by Noether's theorem, are mathematically equivalent to conservation laws: they're descriptions of the ways you can transform a physical system without breaking the rules of that system. All those old kooks were right: crystals are the basis of reality! Sort of. It was spontaneous (read: quantum) breaking of symmetries that created our universe—random perturbations that caused uniform fields to depart their symmetrical but unstable initial state and settle into one of many possible configurations permitted by the laws of physics. Like a ball rolling down the symmetrical peak of a fashionable sombrero and settling somewhere on the brim. | :Now if you're up on your theory (which I am), you know that<br> | ||
: crystal structures are closely tied to symmetry groups, which<br> | |||
: by [[Wikipedia:Noether's theorem|Noether's theorem]], are mathematically equivalent to<br> | |||
: conservation laws: they're descriptions of the ways you can<br> | |||
: transform a physical system without breaking the rules of that<br> | |||
: system. All those old kooks were right: crystals are the basis of<br> | |||
: reality! Sort of. It was spontaneous (read: quantum) breaking of<br> | |||
: symmetries that created our universe—random perturbations<br> | |||
: that caused uniform fields to depart their symmetrical but<br> | |||
: unstable initial state and settle into one of many possible<br> | |||
: configurations permitted by the laws of physics. Like a ball<br> | |||
: rolling down the symmetrical peak of a fashionable sombrero<br> | |||
: and settling somewhere on the brim. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:So that's high-level cosmology. But at the lowest levels of condensed matter physics, the crystals we're looking at here are a product of the same spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism. Matter cooling down abruptly, generating structure. | :So that's high-level cosmology. But at the lowest levels of<br> | ||
: condensed matter physics, the crystals we're looking at here<br> | |||
: are a product of the same spontaneous symmetry breaking<br> | |||
: mechanism. Matter cooling down abruptly, generating structure. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
:What I'm getting at is that the "Stasis ice" is produced by the same mechanisms that created the entire universe from nothing. Cold order from hot chaos. Wild, huh? Makes you wonder if we could use the Light to heat everything back up to the primordial fire. Let it all cool down into a different shape. Maybe even a better one. | :What I'm getting at is that the "Stasis ice" is produced by<br> | ||
: the same mechanisms that created the entire universe from<br> | |||
: nothing. Cold order from hot chaos. Wild, huh? Makes you<br> | |||
: wonder if we could use the Light to heat everything back up to<br> | |||
: the primordial fire. Let it all cool down into a different shape.<br> | |||
: Maybe even a better one. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 615: | Line 803: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:P.S. Something unnerving just occurred to me. The Stasis crystals probably contain domains of superconductive electron flow. And space-time crystals are one way to implement a quantum computer. Those are both very rich media for computation. If there's evolution occurring within the crystals, as domains compete for advantage... that might favor domains with useful internal simulation of the world around them. Almost | :P.S. Something unnerving just occurred to me. The Stasis<br> | ||
: crystals probably contain domains of superconductive electron<br> | |||
: flow. And space-time crystals are one way to implement<br> | |||
: a quantum computer. Those are both very rich media for<br> | |||
: computation. If there's evolution occurring within the crystals,<br> | |||
: as domains compete for advantage... that might favor domains<br> | |||
: with useful internal simulation of the world around them.<br> | |||
: Almost [[Vex]]y. | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
===((017))=== | ===((017))=== | ||
:There might be cognition and computation happening in the Stasis crystals: thoughts in the crystals themselves, in that short span between their creation and destruction. Tiny swarming minds created and annihilated in the detonation of a grenade. Maybe something to put Shimizu on… | :There might be cognition and computation happening in the<br> | ||
<br> | : Stasis crystals: thoughts in the crystals themselves, in that short<br> | ||
: span between their creation and destruction. Tiny [[Swarm Grenade|swarming]]<br> | |||
: minds created and annihilated in the detonation of a [[grenade]].<br> | |||
: Maybe something to put [[Hassan Shimizu|Shimizu]] on… | |||
<br><br> | |||
<tt> | <tt> | ||
Line 1,475: | Line 1,674: | ||
==Letter From Mithrax to Ikora== | ==Letter From Mithrax to Ikora== | ||
===((049))=== | ===((049))=== | ||
[[File:Weblore the hidden dossier.jpg|720px|center]] | |||
// | // | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,053: | Line 2,253: | ||
</tt><br><br> | </tt><br><br> | ||
:Thank you for writing back.Determination is a good word for it. | :Thank you for writing back. Determination is a good word for it. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,062: | Line 2,262: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:You once told me that you consider VIP #2014 to be a real friend. Someone you trust implicitly. But #2014 was forced to use Stasis during the events on Europa. I know #2014 is just one of a number of powerful Guardians from the Cosmodrome cohort, but there’s no question they’re an influence on their peers. I hear gossip that #2014’s Ghost is overwhelmed sometimes by the need to support a Guardian who’s taken such huge risks. He tends to minimize his own needs, rather than push back. He’s barely even confided in other Ghosts about his own repeated possession by the intruders. Silence about such an invasive trauma? While he’s working with a Guardian who is constantly forced into close contact with the traumatizer? That worries me. | :You once told me that you consider [[The Guardian|VIP #2014]] to be a real friend. Someone you trust implicitly. But #2014 was forced to use Stasis during the events on Europa. I know #2014 is just one of a number of powerful Guardians from the Cosmodrome cohort, but there’s no question they’re an influence on their peers. I hear gossip that #2014’s Ghost is overwhelmed sometimes by the need to support a Guardian who’s taken such huge risks. He tends to minimize his own needs, rather than push back. He’s barely even confided in other Ghosts about his own repeated possession by the intruders. Silence about such an invasive trauma? While he’s working with a Guardian who is constantly forced into close contact with the traumatizer? That worries me. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,098: | Line 2,298: | ||
==<tt>CONSFACDORB JALAAL >> VANCINCLOCK IKORA REY</tt>== | ==<tt>CONSFACDORB JALAAL >> VANCINCLOCK IKORA REY</tt>== | ||
===((069))=== | ===((069))=== | ||
:All right, I give up. We may have quit the Tower, but I still need your help. | :All right, I give up. We may have quit the [[Tower]], but I still need your help. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:For three years, we’ve had our best analysts working on the documents slipped to a Guardian via the queen’s court—the so-called | :For three years, we’ve had our best analysts working on the documents slipped to a Guardian via the queen’s court—the so-called “[[Lore:Truth to Power|Truth to Power]]” manuscripts. All we’ve got to show for it are burnt fingers and bad arguments. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:I appeal to the Hidden for help. | :I appeal to the [[The Hidden|Hidden]] for help. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,110: | Line 2,310: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
::•The author of all these documents is Savathûn. | ::•The author of all these documents is [[Savathûn, the Witch Queen|Savathûn]]. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
::•The documents are an extension of Savathûn’s strategy in the Dreaming City. They are cyclic, deceptive, and fond of the “you did exactly as I planned” mantra. | ::•The documents are an extension of Savathûn’s strategy in the [[Dreaming City]]. They are cyclic, deceptive, and fond of the “you did exactly as I planned” mantra. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,119: | Line 2,319: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
::•The true message concerns (a) the importance of singularities in Savathûn’s personal cosmology and/or (b) instructions on how to mantle Savathûn. | ::•The true message concerns (a) the importance of [[Wikipedia:singularity|singularities]] in Savathûn’s personal cosmology and/or (b) instructions on how to mantle Savathûn. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:We’ve had ships sweeping the edge of the system for orbiting singularities. But we don’t know the mass of the Distributary, or Exodus | :We’ve had ships sweeping the edge of the system for orbiting singularities. But we don’t know the mass of the [[Distributary]], or [[Yang Liwei|Exodus Green]]'s outward vector at the time the Distributary formed. We don’t even know if the Distributary singularity inherited the Exodus Green’s vector—leaving it on an escape trajectory into interstellar space—or if it emerged at rest with respect to the Sun—meaning, it would fall directly towards the Sun and pass through it, over and over. Add the gravitational influence of the planets, and it could be anywhere by now. We’re looking for a microscopic point in a volume larger than the solar system. We thought about using fleets of sensor mites to search for a gravitational influence— but then we realized the [[The Nine|Nine]] are in competition with us to find the singularity, and they would certainly use their phantom mass to interfere. | ||
===((070))=== | ===((070))=== | ||
Line 2,133: | Line 2,333: | ||
<tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | <tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:This isn’t a [[Wikipedia:Matsuo Bashō|Basho]] [[Wikipedia:haiku|haiku]]. Purposefully making a suboptimal move in order to make a game more “interesting” is a misunderstanding of the nature of a game. There is no reward for beautiful play in the rules of the game | |||
:This isn’t a Basho haiku. Purposefully making a suboptimal move in order to make a game more “interesting” is a misunderstanding of the nature of a game. There is no reward for beautiful play in the rules of the game | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,140: | Line 2,339: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:The Truth to Power documents are Dûl | :The Truth to Power documents are [[Dûl Incaru, the Eternal Return|Dûl Incaru]]'s plea for her mother’s love. She wrote a biography of her mother, an attempt at understanding, in the hopes that Savathûn would also understand her. Imagine how lonely it would be to live in the [[Court of Savathûn|High Coven]], where everything, all communication, is deception. Imagine if your mother had never once told you the truth about anything. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,170: | Line 2,369: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:Think about logic. Here, we define logic as “the governing principle by which a power defines its own existence.” For example, the Hive practice sword logic. | :Think about logic. Here, we define logic as “the governing principle by which a power defines its own existence.” For example, the Hive practice [[Sword Logic|sword logic]]. | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Line 2,197: | Line 2,396: | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
:Your centuries of defeatism have left you with a bad case of learned helplessness. The documents are full of possible misunderstandings. One misunderstanding is that they are pointless, just complexity for the sake of confusion. The threads about imbaru and power-from-confusion point this way. This is the stance that most | :Your centuries of defeatism have left you with a bad case of learned helplessness. The documents are full of possible misunderstandings. One misunderstanding is that they are pointless, just complexity for the sake of confusion. The threads about [[Imbaru|imbaru]] and power-from-confusion point this way. This is the stance that most | ||
===((072))=== | |||
:amateur Guardian analysts seem to have settled on: it’s all a lot of nothing, and there’s nothing to understand in it. | |||
<br> | |||
:This is plainly foolish. The text is full of useful intelligence, including an excellent explanation of the [[Anthem Anatheme]] and an apparently accurate description of how [[Riven]] preyed on Guardians to create the curse. | |||
<br> | |||
:Another easy misunderstanding is that these pages are concerned with a “real humdinger of a scheme,” a manipulation of Hive tribute that requires Savathûn’s entry into the Distributary. This could be true; the scheme could very well exist. But if so, why would Savathûn advise us of such a scheme? | |||
<br> | |||
:Another easy misunderstanding is that these are love letters. | |||
<br> | |||
:Think before you laugh! The letters carefully establish a sense of shared physicality. The [[Eris Morn|Eris]] voice asks you to center yourself in your breath and your body; it asks you to imagine her as a judoka, a swimmer, a football player. This is subtle work, Arach! It is the work of an alien that has taken on many forms and learned how to win trust in all of them. | |||
<br> | |||
:The letters plead with us for compassion. Not-Eris describes herself as shy, pitiful, forlorn, afraid to share her true feelings for us. Not-[[Medusa]] pleads for help as she disintegrates. At the center, we find the clearest profession of love: “Thank you, sweet friend. You are a gift and a delight. You are more dear than my mother, for you have given birth to me a thousand times.” | |||
<br> | |||
:Superficially, this is a reference to the concept of imbaru. Savathûn’s plan to predicate her existence upon the misunderstanding of others. We “give birth” to her by feeding her power. | |||
<br> | |||
:But she also says, “Here at the center, I lie to you the truth. You have everything you need to know it, but I will give you a clue, as the duelist gives warning before she draws. The answer you seek to the Dreaming City is simple, not complex.” | |||
<br> | |||
:So let’s not misunderstand this statement about giving birth to her. | |||
<br> | |||
:Let’s take this at face value. | |||
<br> | |||
:We have given birth to Savathûn. She genuinely loves us for it. | |||
<br> | |||
===((073))=== | |||
<tt>CONSFACDORB JALAAL >> VANCINCLOCK IKORA REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>JALAAL >> REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Are you implying that we created Savathûn by imagining her? That her presence in the [[Books of Sorrow]], and all the things she’s done throughout more than a billion years of time, were caused by us reading the Truth to Power manuscript? | |||
<br> | |||
:If this is what the [[Light]] does to a mind, I’m glad I was never chosen. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:No, I don’t think that’s the right answer. Her spawning on [[Fundament]] was only one of her births. She says it herself. “You have given birth to me a thousand times.” | |||
<br> | |||
:Look at Truth to Power simply. What are the topics it centers upon? | |||
<br> | |||
:[[Wikipedia:black hole|Black holes]]. [[Vex]] simulations. [[Ahamkara]]. Manipulations of Hive tribute. So our answer must involve all four of those. | |||
<br> | |||
:Ahamkara willingly seek destruction in order to be taken as trinkets by Guardians. You must know this. You’ve tried to exploit those trinkets as thoroughly as the other factions. But do you understand the metaphysics behind their desire? | |||
<br> | |||
:I do. I once wished to know more about Ahamkara. Wish granted. | |||
<br> | |||
:Ahamkara believe that by transforming themselves, by metamorphosing from monsters into treasures, they become more real. More important ontologically. It is the gap between reality as is and reality as desired that they feed on, Arach. And Guardians are the richest, finest source of reality as desired that they have ever met. | |||
<br> | |||
:What have Ahamkara artifacts ever done but instill delusions of grandeur? A solipsistic madness: “I am more real than what surrounds me”? | |||
<br> | |||
:Why is this? | |||
<br> | |||
:The [[Skull of Dire Ahamkara|skulls of dire Ahamkara]] speak to me. They know I want to know the truth, and so they whisper to me of a path they climb. They call it the Anathematic Arc. | |||
===((074))=== | |||
:They are going somewhere. Somewhere they consider more real. Guardians are part of how they get there. | |||
<br> | |||
:What if Savathûn wants to go there too? | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>JALAAL >> REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:...if you say there is somewhere more real than here, you are implying that we are not real. | |||
<br> | |||
:This is the simulation argument. That we are ghosts in some other world’s machine. Then there are no real stakes in our war for survival because even if we are extinguished, we were never more than phantoms. | |||
<br> | |||
:I refuse to accept this. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Oh, don’t be so timid! An Arach of [[Dead Orbit]] driven to despair by the thought of other universes, when you should know the lore of [[Wikipedia:Hubble volume|Hubble volumes]] and [[Wikipedia:Max Tegmark|Tegmark hierarchies]] by heart! | |||
<br> | |||
:Our existence is real to us, vitally real, because it is ours. It’s the only one we have. Even if we are simulations or imaginations, we have an inner life as rich as any “real” living thing, and so, we are equally real! When we die, we are dead, dead, dead. | |||
<br> | |||
:We believe there are many timelines; does that lead us to discount the reality of our own? Do we stop caring about ourselves, Ikora Rey and Arach Jalaal, because in another timeline, we are already dead? Do I punish you because in another timeline, you murdered me? What matters to us… is us. | |||
<br> | |||
:But it is possible for realities to be concatenated. The Awoken Distributary is an infinite universe, but it exists within our universe. | |||
<br> | |||
:The Truth to Power documents constantly return to the question of black hole singularities, to their value as computers and as secret keepers. We are told our true purpose as Guardians is to hurl all we value into a black hole. We are told that Savathûn wants to enter the Distributary and slaughter those within to gain power. | |||
<br> | |||
:The [[Wikipedia:Black hole cosmology|Pathria-Good black hole cosmogenesis principle]] of [[Golden Age]] physics confirms that the interior of a black hole is a new universe: all black holes produce their own interior cosmos. All cosmos, including our own, are probably the interior of a black hole in a parent universe. | |||
<br> | |||
===((075))=== | |||
:The Truth to Power documents want it understood that Savathûn wishes to enter the Distributary in order to gain power in our parent universe. | |||
<br> | |||
:The suggestion here is that it is possible for actions in a concatenated universe to grant power in the parent universe. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>JALAAL >> REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:What does this have to do with love letters to the Human form? With confusion for the sake of confusion? You make no sense. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Savathûn pretends to have a soft Human body. She apologizes and empathizes. She asks for pity, she regrets emotional vulnerability, she is even funny. She makes a game for us to play. | |||
<br> | |||
:These are attempts to enter the mind of a Human reader. | |||
<br> | |||
:Wherever she wants to go, it is a place with Human minds. She needs to enter those minds to reach her destination. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>JALAAL >> REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Are you actually suggesting we are concatenated within the mind of a reader? | |||
===((076))=== | |||
<tt>CONSFACDORB JALAAL >> VANCINCLOCK IKORA REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Wouldn’t that be something? No. The answer here is simple, not complex, certainly not a twist from early postmodern writing. | |||
<br> | |||
:We surmise that what Savathûn wants in the Dreaming City must have to do with Ahamkara, Vex simulations, black holes, her daughter Dûl Incaru, and the manipulation of Hive tribute. | |||
<br> | |||
:How can we relate these? | |||
<br> | |||
:At first, we believed Savathûn wanted to use Ahamkara wishes to protect her daughter Dûl Incaru, while Dûl Incaru tried to find a way for Savathûn to enter the Distributary black hole in order to manipulate Hive tribute. | |||
<br> | |||
:What if this is a misunderstanding? | |||
<br> | |||
:Why would the Dreaming City tell Savathûn how to enter the Distributary? The Awoken have never tried to return to their birthplace. They believe their exodus was irreversible. | |||
<br> | |||
:But what have the Awoken done instead? | |||
<br> | |||
:Passed from the Distributary and into our world. | |||
<br> | |||
:That knowledge IS in the Dreaming City. In the records of the Awoken Hulls that carried Mara’s people on their exodus. | |||
<br> | |||
:What Savathûn wants in the Dreaming City is exactly that. Not the way into a child universe, but a way out into a parent. A parent where there are Human minds waiting to receive her, formless as imbaru, as the mist. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>JALAAL >> REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:How is anyone supposed to arrive at this by studying the Truth to Power text? | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Very easily. This is why I believe I’m right. This is the analogy our Guardian analysts failed to grasp. Look at the structure of the text. | |||
<br> | |||
:At first, Eris is real. Then we learn Eris’s voice is a deception by Medusa. Then we learn Medusa is nested inside [[Quria, Blade Transform|Quria]]. Then | |||
===((078))=== | |||
:we learn Quria is a fiction of Dûl Incaru. And at the center, Savathûn reveals herself to be the parent of it all. | |||
<br> | |||
:We are headed inward, as if moving from parent to child universe. | |||
<br> | |||
:Then we proceed in reverse. Savathûn is revealed to be a fiction of Dûl Incaru. Dûl Incaru a simulation by Quria, and so on. | |||
<br> | |||
:So in the end, Truth to Power moves outwards. | |||
<br> | |||
:Just as Savathûn plans to move. In from our universe and out to the Distributary— | |||
<br> | |||
:Or out from our universe to its parent. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>JALAAL >> REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Oh. I see. I see! A literary structure like that is called a [[Wikipedia:chiasmus|chiasmus]], and chiasmus means “crossing point”! Like a [[Wikipedia:wormhole|wormhole]] or a portal! It was hidden in plain sight. | |||
<br> | |||
:But then we must act urgently to stop this! Savathûn cannot be allowed to depart our universe into some reality superordinate to ours— | |||
<br> | |||
:But now you’ll tell me: so what if she does? What can she do to us out there? | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>REY >> JALAAL</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:It’s all beside the point anyway. She may have already accomplished what she wanted. Some damn fool Guardian carried out her instructions on a dare. I don’t know why she wanted a powerful Guardian to destroy her daughter in the [[The Shattered Throne|ruins of Mara’s throne]]. But she wanted it to happen. And I’m guessing the effects weren’t felt here<ref>[https://www.bungie.net/7/en/News/article/48423/ On the Power Climb]</ref>. | |||
<br> | |||
:I think she got a glimpse into a world above our own. Maybe even a kind of influence. | |||
<br> | |||
:Of course, Savathûn is still with us. She walked among us as [[Osiris]]; she tricked us into removing her [[Savathûn's Worm|worm]]; she hasn’t vanished into some higher reality. I do not think she built a wormhole into another universe and walked through it—although her intrigues with the Nine have focused on creating [[Unknown Space|singularities from dark matter]]. | |||
<br> | |||
:She keeps a lot of irons in the fire, our Witch Queen. | |||
<br> | |||
:I think, rather, that she sent instructions on how to mantle | |||
<br> | |||
===((079))=== | |||
:her. I think the whole Truth to Power manuscript is an ova, a manual on how to behave like her, how to describe her through action and thought so completely that you become her and thus give birth to her. | |||
<br> | |||
:It’s done in the Books of Sorrow, to recall her from true death. It might be done again. | |||
<br> | |||
:So a part of her is out of the jar. Slithering into that other world. | |||
<br> | |||
:Let’s hope no one there has given birth to her yet. | |||
<br> | |||
<tt>JALAAL >> REY</tt> | |||
<br> | |||
:Maybe you’re the one who has it all backwards. | |||
<br> | |||
:The Light is [[Paracausality|noncomputable]]. It can’t be simulated in conventional physics. That proves that any universe with the Light cannot be a simulation. Our universe can contain simulations, but it cannot be one. | |||
<br> | |||
:Maybe this other world Savathûn’s touched is subordinate to ours after all. Maybe they are the ones who exist in our minds. A dream of a purely material world, adrift in the true cosmos of Light and Dark. | |||
<br> | |||
:Poor frail dreams. The things she’d do to them… | |||
<br> | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== |