Post by Spiderweb on Feb 17, 2015 12:04:28 GMT
Whole story now decoded.
"Helpum", the curious little creatures cried. They were... Yes they were drowning. Did they not want to be drowning? No, I'm almost certain drowning is bad. Drowning is defiantly bad! Maybe they should try not to be drowning? Then suddenly, there was land where there used to be the runny wet stuff. Water? Yes, water. I think... I think I did that. It was very easy, all I had to do was move the land. Why didn't the little creatures do that? If they had, they wouldn't have been drowning. Which is bad. And wet. Which can lead to the sniffles. Which is also bad... What are the sniffles?
I am now sure that I am connected to these creatures and they to me. Their arrival somehow changed me. Before them I.... existed, but beyond that I don't remember much. There was the land, the sea and the sky, but I don't remember thinking before. They are aware of me and seem to have accepted my presence readily. I get a sense they expect something from me. This... is how it should be. Why do I know this? Where is this knowledge coming from when I don't remember? I don't even know if there is anything to remember. I will stay with them, watch over them, and protect them. This is important. I know this.
Incredible, there's more of these creatures now! How are they doing it? Could it be something to do with the huts? That must be it, otherwise why would they build them? Every night they all hurry into their huts and sometimes... more come out than went in! On these nights I can hear all manner of hoots. squeaks, whistles and crashes coming from the huts. but some mysterious force prevents me from seeing inside. If I could discover this secret then maybe I too can make more Things like me. Clearly huts are key to this process. I must have one of my own! Now how can I get them to build me one?
The differences in these humans are becoming more apparent to me. Their minds all have a different shape! Two in particular have caught my attention. First there's Astrid. Her mind is bigger than the others, all straight edges and complicated patterns. The others seem to listen to her and follow her instructions. I like Astrid. Then there's Henry. His mind is a small squishy mess. The others often mock and laugh at him, but he never gets upset. Henry is always happy. Most curious is that I think he can hear and even actually SEE me! I sense from him an overwhelming desire to please… If only he wasn't such a colossal dimwit,
Communicating with the humans has proven difficult to say the least. They cannot see me, but they look to the sky when they sense my presence. Silly humans, I am not in the sky.... I just am. Actually I'm not sure where I am exactly, I think I'm everywhere? Is that normal? I do see them talking to each other, but when I try to listen in, it's just gibberish! I'm not sure if they are having a joke at my expense... And try as I might, I seem unable to talk myself! Maybe its not really important, if I concentrate, I can feel what they are thinking Not a lot in Henry's case as it turns out.
I remain as much of a mystery to myself as these creatures are to me. But I am getting stronger; these humans are somehow empowering me! I'm sure of it. I can SEE power flowing from them, into me! As they multiply my awareness expands. The influence I have over the world becomes greater and greater. The land becomes my plaything, I can push whole mountains, make the land sing with vibrant beauty or blacken with corruption! I can command the sky and the weather! It's exhilarating, intoxicating! I can do anything, everything! Well almost everything, I can't get Henry to stop chewing his toenails. I really, really hate that!
Maybe I don't need to actually talk to my people. It seems that I can impart a sort of compulsion, their minds are malleable. I was following a small flappy thing with wings. Not sure what it was, but it did squawk a lot. I was trying to see if I could feel its thoughts as I could with the humans. I was concentrating really hard and noticed humans would keep approaching with blank expressions on their faces, then look puzzled and wander off. It was me! I could make humans go where I wanted them to by concentrating! It's incredible, it's... it could be hilarious! I saw a really big anthill yesterday now where did Henry get to?
Amazing! How do these little ones do it? There I was watching them build their huts and thinking they should try to build one really big hut they could all live in. And suddenly... they did! Its a bit ramshackle, like lots of little huts stuck together, but still impressive. Splendid work. It didn't stop there either. Some of them have started growing plants! To eat! Maybe they didn't like a diet of just bugs and coconuts. Seems a bit fussy to me. Maybe they will like other plants to eat. I think I'll give them some trees. Yes trees are much bigger than wheat, I'm sure they will love eating trees.
They did NOT like eating trees. Henry tried. but ended up with a tongue full of splinters. Aren't tongues weird! At least it wasn't as bad as when I brought them rocks to eat. Henry lost some teeth over that mistake. Teeth are also weird. And apparently don't grow back either. Poor Henry, I hope he likes soup. Why do they eat anyway? They spend so much of their time looking for things to eat. It looks like a lot of hard work and they do it every day! Don't they get bored? Perhaps I should try to discourage this. they'd get so much more done. I'm sure it can't be that important.
This new strength I draw from these humans feels familiar. Memories or knowledge nibbling at the edge if my mind I cannot fully recall or understand.
It occurred to me that I could not only shape the land but also 'touch' things. I wanted to see if I could get the attention of one of the humans. I only meant to give him a little poke, but ended up squishing him into a very flat and messy puddle! The humans panicked. I panicked. I couldn't stop poking things! Huts exploded into rubble, tree erupted into flames and people were flattened or sent hurtling through the air.
By the time I got control, the whole village of Ramsbottom was a smoldering ruin! I was so embarrassed I buried the whole area under a mountain.
Following the Ramsbottom fiasco. I thought I'd try a less direct and subtler approach to interacting with the world. I felt terrible about that disaster and wanted to help and make it up to the humans. It did not go well. Diggle was a village where the humans grew a lot of crops. Usually a green and pleasant place, there had recently been a dry spell and I could sense the humans were worried their plants would wither in the fields. By happy coincidence I had just discovered I could control the weather. Perfect, some rain would make them happy. By the time I got the downpour under control, Diggle had been washed out to sea.
Discouraged by my previous failures, but determined to make things right, I pressed on with my efforts to help the humans with my newly discovered powers. Codswallop was also a lovely farming village. It now lies at the bottom of a swamp after I had the bright idea of making the ground wet instead of risking another downpour. Luckily Goole fared better after my attempt to gift the village with a new forest having accidentally burnt the previous one down. My aim turned out to be a bit off and now most of the humans live in tree houses, but at least the village is still mostly intact. It's just a bit further off the ground is all.
My blunders with Ramsbottom and the other villages cost my people dearly and were not without consequences. I had assumed these humans would always be my people. I did not know it could be any other way. But some were not happy. Not happy with me! I could feel them slipping away. For the first time there was a split among the humans. And it was my fault! These lost ones began searching for a new protector and this was not something the loyal would tolerate. Shrines were tom down, fights broke out and eventually the lost were banished. I had never seen deliberate violence before. So much strife and it's all my fault, how could this have happened?
The exile of the lost was just the beginning. They organised under the leadership of a charismatic man named Sid and formed their own settlements. They were angry and desperate. Desperate for their own protector. At first they were content to build shrines and statues to worship and pray at. Were they hoping to attract another like me? Could they not see it was futile? There are no others like me. I tried to tempt them back. I spread beauty across my loyal people's land. While this caused something of a population explosion among my own, it just made the lost become more bitter and jealous. They soon turned their hungry eyes on my people.
They started slowly and cautiously. Small raids. Some crops stolen, the odd but set on fire. My people bolstered their defenses and so the escalation began. The lost came in greater numbers and small raids became battles. My people built bows and held the advantage for a time, but the lost quickly caught up. It pains me to see such ingenuity turned to tools of war. And war it was. I intervened from time to time, but doing so just seem to incense Sid and his lost, bolstering their anger and determination. I was at a loss at what to do. My efforts only seemed to make things worse.
The war raged on for months. How readily these fragile creatures embrace the opportunity to do each other harm. Then came the turning point. Astrid was injured in a battle and almost lost to me forever. I could not let that happen. This had to end one way or another! In my anger, without thinking, I reached to the sky and brought enormous fiery meteors crashing down on the lost. It was over, the lost and their settlements were nothing more then smoldering ashes. Once again I had proven my talent for destruction. Why of all things does this come so easily? My people are safe, but how have they been changed? I'm not sure things will ever be the same again.
The war was over, but I could not forgive myself for how it ended. I must never allow myself to act so impulsively again. So much destruction. It should not have ended like that. I should have tried harder to find another way. I waited fearfully for what would come next. Days passed into weeks. But nothing happened! My people simply cast aside their tools of war and set to rebuilding. In no time at all, laughter and song had replaced angry cries and screams. I don't know how they can move on so easily. I will never be able to look at them or myself in the same way again, but for their sake I too must put this behind me and learn from my mistakes.
I have made a puzzling discovery, it seems there are places in the world I cannot go. I don't remember seeing them before. Were they always there? These areas are sapped of colour and resist all my influence. They also have a peculiar effect on my people. When I sent a small group in to investigate, they began to act very strangely. Henry wandered around giggling, picking his nose and shouting at rocks while Astrid tired to eat her own shoes! It was hours before they wandered out and came to their senses. Where did this 'Grey' come from? I hope there is not much more of it about.
The Grey is spreading! I wasn't sure at first, but there is no denying it now. Part of the western island is now covered in the Grey and a whole village has been consumed! It took me all day to coax out and round up the villagers. They had painted themselves green head to toe and were building some sort of shrine to a particularly large and hairy coconut. I had to find an even larger one before they could be tempted to out! It wasn't easy, I must admit, theirs was quite the majestic specimen. The eastern island seems clear for now, I will have to encourage my people to head there and hope the Grey doesn't follow.
My people made it safely to the eastern island. Creating such a large land bridge for them to cross was taxing, but must now be sunk to prevent them from wandering back. The western island is all but consumed. It will be a fresh start. They have learnt much and come so far. They are an industrious and hard working people, virtuous and proud. They will thrive yet. I think it is time they had a name. Perhaps I will name them after Astrid. She's my favorite. The Astrid'? No, that doesn't sound right. Astrians? Astridati? Astarians? The Astari? Yes, perfect! A noble name for a noble people
The exodus to the east has highlighted some flaws in my people. They are really terrible at traveling! Useless at climbing and sink like stones in the water. The journey would have been much easier if I didn't have to carve out paths and bridges for them. My first experiments were not encouraging. I tried stretching their arms and legs to help with climbing and even flattening their feet into flippers like the odd little sea creatures have. The results were... messy. Humans really are a squishy lot. Poor Henry. In a way I succeeded eventually. Observing my efforts has really motivated my people to practice and get good at climbing and swimming. I'm going to count this as a win!
It's no good; the Grey has spread to this island. It will cover the whole land eventually and there is nowhere left to go. I led my people to the furthest point on the island to settle even though it seemed like it was just delaying the inevitable. But then my people made an amazing discovery! Buried beneath what is to be their final settlement, was an ancient ruin. There were people here before, a whole tribe. And I also sense the faint echo of a presence of... another. Another thing like me! What could this mean? Where did they go? Is it possible I'm not alone?
Finally there is hope! There was very little left of the departed ones in the ruins, but my people did find some curious carvings They show the Grey closing in and them building ships to depart for another land that held the answer to undoing its spread. They even left behind a map. They must have succeeded if only for a while. But then why didn't they return? Why didn't the Other return? This new land is the key to my people's safety and the answer to so many questions. Who am I? What am I? My people have already begun building mighty Arks for the journey. Answers, adventure and salvation await!
I am almost out of time and I fear it may already be too late. There is so little space left for me. If I wait any longer I may be cut off from my people forever. What would happen to them then? Who would protect them, guide them and care for them? No! I will not let that happen, I must discover the source and push back! There is no time to finish the second Ark, my poor people, I pushed them so hard to achieve this much. But some will have to remain behind though it pains me greatly to leave them. I'll leave them what protection I can. I hope they will be alright... I WILL return for them!
"Helpum", the curious little creatures cried. They were... Yes they were drowning. Did they not want to be drowning? No, I'm almost certain drowning is bad. Drowning is defiantly bad! Maybe they should try not to be drowning? Then suddenly, there was land where there used to be the runny wet stuff. Water? Yes, water. I think... I think I did that. It was very easy, all I had to do was move the land. Why didn't the little creatures do that? If they had, they wouldn't have been drowning. Which is bad. And wet. Which can lead to the sniffles. Which is also bad... What are the sniffles?
I am now sure that I am connected to these creatures and they to me. Their arrival somehow changed me. Before them I.... existed, but beyond that I don't remember much. There was the land, the sea and the sky, but I don't remember thinking before. They are aware of me and seem to have accepted my presence readily. I get a sense they expect something from me. This... is how it should be. Why do I know this? Where is this knowledge coming from when I don't remember? I don't even know if there is anything to remember. I will stay with them, watch over them, and protect them. This is important. I know this.
Incredible, there's more of these creatures now! How are they doing it? Could it be something to do with the huts? That must be it, otherwise why would they build them? Every night they all hurry into their huts and sometimes... more come out than went in! On these nights I can hear all manner of hoots. squeaks, whistles and crashes coming from the huts. but some mysterious force prevents me from seeing inside. If I could discover this secret then maybe I too can make more Things like me. Clearly huts are key to this process. I must have one of my own! Now how can I get them to build me one?
The differences in these humans are becoming more apparent to me. Their minds all have a different shape! Two in particular have caught my attention. First there's Astrid. Her mind is bigger than the others, all straight edges and complicated patterns. The others seem to listen to her and follow her instructions. I like Astrid. Then there's Henry. His mind is a small squishy mess. The others often mock and laugh at him, but he never gets upset. Henry is always happy. Most curious is that I think he can hear and even actually SEE me! I sense from him an overwhelming desire to please… If only he wasn't such a colossal dimwit,
Communicating with the humans has proven difficult to say the least. They cannot see me, but they look to the sky when they sense my presence. Silly humans, I am not in the sky.... I just am. Actually I'm not sure where I am exactly, I think I'm everywhere? Is that normal? I do see them talking to each other, but when I try to listen in, it's just gibberish! I'm not sure if they are having a joke at my expense... And try as I might, I seem unable to talk myself! Maybe its not really important, if I concentrate, I can feel what they are thinking Not a lot in Henry's case as it turns out.
I remain as much of a mystery to myself as these creatures are to me. But I am getting stronger; these humans are somehow empowering me! I'm sure of it. I can SEE power flowing from them, into me! As they multiply my awareness expands. The influence I have over the world becomes greater and greater. The land becomes my plaything, I can push whole mountains, make the land sing with vibrant beauty or blacken with corruption! I can command the sky and the weather! It's exhilarating, intoxicating! I can do anything, everything! Well almost everything, I can't get Henry to stop chewing his toenails. I really, really hate that!
Maybe I don't need to actually talk to my people. It seems that I can impart a sort of compulsion, their minds are malleable. I was following a small flappy thing with wings. Not sure what it was, but it did squawk a lot. I was trying to see if I could feel its thoughts as I could with the humans. I was concentrating really hard and noticed humans would keep approaching with blank expressions on their faces, then look puzzled and wander off. It was me! I could make humans go where I wanted them to by concentrating! It's incredible, it's... it could be hilarious! I saw a really big anthill yesterday now where did Henry get to?
Amazing! How do these little ones do it? There I was watching them build their huts and thinking they should try to build one really big hut they could all live in. And suddenly... they did! Its a bit ramshackle, like lots of little huts stuck together, but still impressive. Splendid work. It didn't stop there either. Some of them have started growing plants! To eat! Maybe they didn't like a diet of just bugs and coconuts. Seems a bit fussy to me. Maybe they will like other plants to eat. I think I'll give them some trees. Yes trees are much bigger than wheat, I'm sure they will love eating trees.
They did NOT like eating trees. Henry tried. but ended up with a tongue full of splinters. Aren't tongues weird! At least it wasn't as bad as when I brought them rocks to eat. Henry lost some teeth over that mistake. Teeth are also weird. And apparently don't grow back either. Poor Henry, I hope he likes soup. Why do they eat anyway? They spend so much of their time looking for things to eat. It looks like a lot of hard work and they do it every day! Don't they get bored? Perhaps I should try to discourage this. they'd get so much more done. I'm sure it can't be that important.
This new strength I draw from these humans feels familiar. Memories or knowledge nibbling at the edge if my mind I cannot fully recall or understand.
It occurred to me that I could not only shape the land but also 'touch' things. I wanted to see if I could get the attention of one of the humans. I only meant to give him a little poke, but ended up squishing him into a very flat and messy puddle! The humans panicked. I panicked. I couldn't stop poking things! Huts exploded into rubble, tree erupted into flames and people were flattened or sent hurtling through the air.
By the time I got control, the whole village of Ramsbottom was a smoldering ruin! I was so embarrassed I buried the whole area under a mountain.
Following the Ramsbottom fiasco. I thought I'd try a less direct and subtler approach to interacting with the world. I felt terrible about that disaster and wanted to help and make it up to the humans. It did not go well. Diggle was a village where the humans grew a lot of crops. Usually a green and pleasant place, there had recently been a dry spell and I could sense the humans were worried their plants would wither in the fields. By happy coincidence I had just discovered I could control the weather. Perfect, some rain would make them happy. By the time I got the downpour under control, Diggle had been washed out to sea.
Discouraged by my previous failures, but determined to make things right, I pressed on with my efforts to help the humans with my newly discovered powers. Codswallop was also a lovely farming village. It now lies at the bottom of a swamp after I had the bright idea of making the ground wet instead of risking another downpour. Luckily Goole fared better after my attempt to gift the village with a new forest having accidentally burnt the previous one down. My aim turned out to be a bit off and now most of the humans live in tree houses, but at least the village is still mostly intact. It's just a bit further off the ground is all.
My blunders with Ramsbottom and the other villages cost my people dearly and were not without consequences. I had assumed these humans would always be my people. I did not know it could be any other way. But some were not happy. Not happy with me! I could feel them slipping away. For the first time there was a split among the humans. And it was my fault! These lost ones began searching for a new protector and this was not something the loyal would tolerate. Shrines were tom down, fights broke out and eventually the lost were banished. I had never seen deliberate violence before. So much strife and it's all my fault, how could this have happened?
The exile of the lost was just the beginning. They organised under the leadership of a charismatic man named Sid and formed their own settlements. They were angry and desperate. Desperate for their own protector. At first they were content to build shrines and statues to worship and pray at. Were they hoping to attract another like me? Could they not see it was futile? There are no others like me. I tried to tempt them back. I spread beauty across my loyal people's land. While this caused something of a population explosion among my own, it just made the lost become more bitter and jealous. They soon turned their hungry eyes on my people.
They started slowly and cautiously. Small raids. Some crops stolen, the odd but set on fire. My people bolstered their defenses and so the escalation began. The lost came in greater numbers and small raids became battles. My people built bows and held the advantage for a time, but the lost quickly caught up. It pains me to see such ingenuity turned to tools of war. And war it was. I intervened from time to time, but doing so just seem to incense Sid and his lost, bolstering their anger and determination. I was at a loss at what to do. My efforts only seemed to make things worse.
The war raged on for months. How readily these fragile creatures embrace the opportunity to do each other harm. Then came the turning point. Astrid was injured in a battle and almost lost to me forever. I could not let that happen. This had to end one way or another! In my anger, without thinking, I reached to the sky and brought enormous fiery meteors crashing down on the lost. It was over, the lost and their settlements were nothing more then smoldering ashes. Once again I had proven my talent for destruction. Why of all things does this come so easily? My people are safe, but how have they been changed? I'm not sure things will ever be the same again.
The war was over, but I could not forgive myself for how it ended. I must never allow myself to act so impulsively again. So much destruction. It should not have ended like that. I should have tried harder to find another way. I waited fearfully for what would come next. Days passed into weeks. But nothing happened! My people simply cast aside their tools of war and set to rebuilding. In no time at all, laughter and song had replaced angry cries and screams. I don't know how they can move on so easily. I will never be able to look at them or myself in the same way again, but for their sake I too must put this behind me and learn from my mistakes.
I have made a puzzling discovery, it seems there are places in the world I cannot go. I don't remember seeing them before. Were they always there? These areas are sapped of colour and resist all my influence. They also have a peculiar effect on my people. When I sent a small group in to investigate, they began to act very strangely. Henry wandered around giggling, picking his nose and shouting at rocks while Astrid tired to eat her own shoes! It was hours before they wandered out and came to their senses. Where did this 'Grey' come from? I hope there is not much more of it about.
The Grey is spreading! I wasn't sure at first, but there is no denying it now. Part of the western island is now covered in the Grey and a whole village has been consumed! It took me all day to coax out and round up the villagers. They had painted themselves green head to toe and were building some sort of shrine to a particularly large and hairy coconut. I had to find an even larger one before they could be tempted to out! It wasn't easy, I must admit, theirs was quite the majestic specimen. The eastern island seems clear for now, I will have to encourage my people to head there and hope the Grey doesn't follow.
My people made it safely to the eastern island. Creating such a large land bridge for them to cross was taxing, but must now be sunk to prevent them from wandering back. The western island is all but consumed. It will be a fresh start. They have learnt much and come so far. They are an industrious and hard working people, virtuous and proud. They will thrive yet. I think it is time they had a name. Perhaps I will name them after Astrid. She's my favorite. The Astrid'? No, that doesn't sound right. Astrians? Astridati? Astarians? The Astari? Yes, perfect! A noble name for a noble people
The exodus to the east has highlighted some flaws in my people. They are really terrible at traveling! Useless at climbing and sink like stones in the water. The journey would have been much easier if I didn't have to carve out paths and bridges for them. My first experiments were not encouraging. I tried stretching their arms and legs to help with climbing and even flattening their feet into flippers like the odd little sea creatures have. The results were... messy. Humans really are a squishy lot. Poor Henry. In a way I succeeded eventually. Observing my efforts has really motivated my people to practice and get good at climbing and swimming. I'm going to count this as a win!
It's no good; the Grey has spread to this island. It will cover the whole land eventually and there is nowhere left to go. I led my people to the furthest point on the island to settle even though it seemed like it was just delaying the inevitable. But then my people made an amazing discovery! Buried beneath what is to be their final settlement, was an ancient ruin. There were people here before, a whole tribe. And I also sense the faint echo of a presence of... another. Another thing like me! What could this mean? Where did they go? Is it possible I'm not alone?
Finally there is hope! There was very little left of the departed ones in the ruins, but my people did find some curious carvings They show the Grey closing in and them building ships to depart for another land that held the answer to undoing its spread. They even left behind a map. They must have succeeded if only for a while. But then why didn't they return? Why didn't the Other return? This new land is the key to my people's safety and the answer to so many questions. Who am I? What am I? My people have already begun building mighty Arks for the journey. Answers, adventure and salvation await!
I am almost out of time and I fear it may already be too late. There is so little space left for me. If I wait any longer I may be cut off from my people forever. What would happen to them then? Who would protect them, guide them and care for them? No! I will not let that happen, I must discover the source and push back! There is no time to finish the second Ark, my poor people, I pushed them so hard to achieve this much. But some will have to remain behind though it pains me greatly to leave them. I'll leave them what protection I can. I hope they will be alright... I WILL return for them!
bleh), via god-like epiphanies, clues, cut-scenes, etc.
