DREAM OF DESCENDING MEMORIES: LEVEL OBSERVED WITHIN THE BACKROOMS, HENCEFORTH REFERENCED TO AS LEVEL 794 N. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER HAS BEEN OBSERVED WITHIN THIS SPACE FOLLOWING UTILIZING A NO-CLIP INTO EMPTY PICTURE FRAMES FOUND IN PREVIOUS LEVEL.
LEVEL STRUCTURE CONSISTS OF A STANDARD OBSERVATION DECK, BUILT AT AN UNKNOWN ALTITUDE. ON THIS DECK ARE TWO CHAIRS AND A TABLE, SHARING SIMILAR DESIGNS WITH A BLUE-AND-WHITE COLOR SCHEME. A STATIONARY OBSERVATION DEVICE, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS BINOCULARS, IS FIXED NEAR THE RAILING, ALLOWING OBSERVATION OF THE GROUND BELOW.
TOWNSCAPE IS LOCATED BELOW THE OBSERVATION DECK, USUALLY RESEMBLING THE TOWN WHERE AN INTRUDING WANDERER ORIGINATED IN. CERTAIN EVENTS RECREATED FROM THE WANDERER'S MEMORIES CAN EVEN BE OBSERVED. MULTIPLE ENTITIES RESEMBLING THEIR BRIGHT-STAGE COUNTERPARTS, HENCEFORTH REFERENCED TO AS 'RESIDENTS', INHABIT THIS TOWNSCAPE. NO ATTEMPTS OF INTERFERENCE TO THE TOWNSCAPE BY WANDERERS ON THE OBSERVATION DECK HAS SUCCEEDED, NOR HAS ANY COMMUNICATION ATTEMPTS SUCCEEDED.
IN THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER'S CASE, THE TOWNSCAPE BELOW DOES NOT REPRESENT ANYTHING FROM THE LOST PROGENITOR'S KNOWLEDGE, WHETHER IN REGARDS TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOME OR BRIGHT-LANDSCAPES OBSERVED BY THEM. RATHER, ITS RESPECTIVE TOWNSCAPE SEEMS TO MATCH URBAN DISTRICTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, PARTICULARLY RESEMBLING A CITY KNOWN AS SINGAPORE. THIS RESEMBLANCE IS ASSUMED TO BE DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF JJ.
THE EXCEPTIONAL WANDERER KNOWN TO THE ROTWATCHER AS JJ IS OBSERVED TO BE PRESENT IN THIS LEVEL. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER WAS PREVIOUSLY UNAWARE OF THEM DUE TO INITIAL SURVEILLANCE, THOUGH IT DID NOT TAKE LONG BEFORE REGISTERING THEIR PRESENCE. LIKEWISE, JJ IS CURRENTLY UNAWARE OF THE ROTWATCHER, INSTEAD OBSERVING THE CITY BELOW.
DIRECT TRANSMITTING OF THOUGHTS TOWARDS JJ, INDICATING THE ROTWATCHER'S PRESENCE, RESULTS IN GAINING THE ATTENTION OF JJ, WITH THEM TURNING TO FACE IT AND EXPRESSING SURPRISE.
wh- oh. oh, it's you again! you're still in this place!
JJ IS OBSERVED TO APPROACH, NOW EXPRESSING AN EMOTION CLOSE TO RELIEF. DESPITE THIS, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER RESPONDS BY MOVING BACKWARDS, CAUSING JJ TO CEASE MOVEMENT.
oh. right.
JJ RESUMES MOVEMENT, STEPPING FORWARD ONCE, HANDS OUT AND A GRIMACE ON THEIR FACIAL FEATURES. THE ROTWATCHER OBSERVES THE HAND GESTURE IS ONE THAT INDICATES HARMLESSNESS.
hey, i know we got off on the wrong foot- tendril? but i- we-
FLUSTERED SPEECH CONTINUES FOR A BRIEF MOMENT BEFORE JJ CUTS THEMSELF OFF WITH A FRUSTRATED YELL.
look! it's not going to hurt you, okay? i won't let it.
OBSERVATION OF JJ'S EXPRESSION INDICATES THEY ARE CONVEYING THE TRUTH. THEREFORE, THE ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO APPROACH THE DECK RAILINGS, WITH JJ FOLLOWING TO CONDUCT SURVEILLANCE BELOW.
so... do you know the city below us?
THE ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO ANSWER THAT THE TOWNSCAPE BELOW SEEMS TO RESEMBLE SINGAPORE.
huh. you actually know... you ever visit there?
ACTUAL PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF THE ROTWATCHER WITHIN SINGAPORE DOES NOT EXIST. KNOWLEDGE OF SINGAPORE, ALONG WITH MOST KNOWLEDGE OF THE BRIGHT STAGE, ORIGINATES FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE.
oh, i see. well, i actually lived in singapore. my entire life... i think. crazy to think i miss the place, now.
you know, this isn't the highest i've seen the city. that would have to go to the time i went to a rich guy's penthouse.
but that was at night and the penthouse was really, really high, with only the lights below acting as stars. here, it feels as high as the fifth floor i lived on.
though auntie kept saying it was the fourth. idiot.
TONE OF JJ'S WORDS NOTICEABLY DARKENS AT THE MENTION OF AN 'AUNTIE' INDIVIDUAL. JJ IS OBSERVED TO LEAN FORWARD ON THE RAILING, FOCUSING ON THE TOWNSCAPE BELOW. IT IS POSSIBLE THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR THE AUNTIE WITHIN THE CROWD OF RESIDENTS.
...
yeah. i'm looking for the old bag.
THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER DETECTS DEROGATORY NOMENCLATURE UTILIZED BY JJ, ASSUMED TO STILL BE IN REFERENCE TO THE AUNTIE. BEFORE THE ROTWATCHER COULD INVESTIGATE FURTHER, SUDDEN ARRIVAL OF A WANDERER INTO THIS LEVEL DRAWS BOTH JJ AND THE CURRENT ROTWATCHER'S ATTENTION TOWARDS THIS EVENT.
what the-
THE WANDERER DISPLAYS SYMPTOMS SUGGESTING THAT OF A DISORIENTATED MENTAL STATE. THEY ARE OBSERVED TO STUMBLE BLINDLY, ONLY BARELY KEEPING UPRIGHT. ON CLOSER EXPRESSION, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEM AS BEING THE ARCHITECT.
the archi- hey, you good?
THE ARCHITECT IS OBSERVED TO NOT RESPOND TO JJ'S QUESTION; IN FACT, THEY SEEM UNAWARE OF OTHER PRESENCES BESIDES THEMSELF. MUMBLES CAN BE HEARD FROM THEM AS THEY STUMBLE TOWARDS THE RAILING.
Nno, need to-
hey, you're alright, okay? calm down. we're not going to hurt you.
FINALLY, THE ARCHITECT IS OBSERVED TO FOCUS SLIGHTLY ON JJ, THEIR FACIAL BROW FURROWING AS THEY TAKE IN THE LATTER. THEIR EYES WANDER OVER TO THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER BEFORE SHIFTING BACK TOWARDS JJ.
Who, who are you?
ah- i'm jingjing. you're, uh... are you called the architect?
THE ARCHITECT DOES NOT VERBALLY RESPOND TO THIS, THOUGH MINIMAL BODY LANGUAGE SUGGESTS CONFUSION.
do you... do you have another name?
THE ARCHITECT REACTS STRONGLY TO THIS, FLINCHING AWAY FROM BOTH JJ AND THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER. THEY ARE OBSERVED TO STUMBLE THEIR WAY TO THE RAILING, GRIPPING IT TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS.
-stop. need it to stop. i need to stop.
what- oh shit, no-
BASED ON CURRENT BEHAVIOR, THE ROTWATCHER THEORIZES THE ARCHITECT PLANS TO THROW THEMSELF OFF THE OBSERVATION DECK AND POSSIBLY TO THEIR DEATH. JJ SEEMS TO SHARE THE SAME THEORY, AS THEY, ALONG WITH THE CURRENT ROTWATCHER, MAKE THEIR WAY TOWARDS THE ARCHITECT AT A FAST PACE.
hey, stop! get away from there! you don't know what you're doing!
THE ARCHITECT'S FOCUSES AGAIN ON JJ, THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSION INDICATING DESPERATION AND FEAR.
Yes, I do. I need- have to do this. Don't think I can do much more of, of everything. All of this.
Of Him.
THE HAZE IN THE ARCHITECT'S EYES SEEM TO THICKEN WITH MANIA FOLLOWING UTTERANCE OF THE LAST STATEMENT, AND THEIR BODY LANGUAGE RESPONDS WITH JERKY MOVEMENT AS THEY GRIP THE RAILING. DESPITE THIS, THEIR VOICE IS COMPLETELY ABSENT OF INFLECTION.
It doesn't have to be real. I don't have to be real. It's my only chance.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER CONCLUDING THEIR SPEECH, THE ARCHITECT IS OBSERVED TO HAUL THEMSELF OVER THE RAILING, LETTING GO.
NO!
THE ARCHITECT'S FALL IS SOON HALTED DUE TO JJ APPROACHING IN TIME TO GRAB ONE OF THE FORMER'S HANDS. DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN BODY TYPES, JJ IS OBSERVED TO STRUGGLE IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO PULL THE ARCHITECT UPWARDS TO SAFETY. THE ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED IN ATTEMPTING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS, LATCHING CAREFULLY TO JJ IN ORDER TO AVOID FULL CONNECTION AND TRYING TO FLOAT UPWARDS.
look, i don't know what the hell you're talking about. but this, this isn't the right answer to whatever problem you're going through. at all.
THE ARCHITECT DOES NOT RESPOND, GAZING UPWARDS, THEIR LINE OF VISION SUGGESTING THEY ARE LOOKING THROUGH JJ. THE FORMER REMAINS LIMP, INDICATING A LACK OF DESIRE TO BE PULLED TO SAFETY. NOTICING THIS, JJ'S AGITATION LEVELS ARE OBSERVED INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY, AS INDICATED BY THEIR FRUSTRATED SCOWL AND STRAINED VOCALIZATION THAT IS RAISED IN VOLUME.
are you fucking kidding me, lah? you're just gonna, what, give up? because let me tell ya, that's the dumbest fucking solution i've seen in my entire goddamn life!
FINALLY, A REACTION IS EVOKED FROM THE ARCHITECT, WITH THEM WIDENING THEIR EYES AS AN INDICATOR FOR SHOCK. BEFORE ANY FURTHER REACTION COULD TAKE PLACE, THOUGH, AN EXTERNAL FORCE ACTED ON JJ'S BODY, RESULTING IN AN IMBALANCE THAT PUSHES JJ OFF THE DECK, BRINGING BOTH THE ARCHITECT AND THE LATCHED-ON ROTWATCHER ALONG WITH THEM.
shit-!
ALL THREE WANDERERS, INCLUDING THE SUBJECTED ROTWATCHER, ARE OBSERVED IN FREE FALL, PLUMMETING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE TOWNSCAPE. RESIDENTS BELOW GIVE NO INDICATION OF BEING AWARE OF THEIR APPROACHING PRESENCE. HOWEVER, BEFORE CONTACT COULD BE MADE, THE TOWNSCAPE IS REPLACED WITH A DAMP BEIGE CARPETED FLOORING.
wh- we're alive? where are we?
QUICK STUDY OF SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT REVEALS THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER, ALONG WITH JJ WHO THE FORMER IS STILL LATCHED ONTO, IS WITHIN LEVEL 0 N. THIS INDICATES LOCATIONAL EXCHANGE HAS OCCURRED IN PREVIOUS LEVEL, POSSIBLY DUE TO THE ACTION PERFORMED NEAR THE END.
level 0... n? wait, where's that tattooed guy? the architect, you called him?
EXAMINATION OF SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT REVEALS AN ABSENCE OF THE ARCHITECT WITHIN LEVEL 0 N. THE CURRENT STATUS FOR THE ARCHITECT IS UNKNOWN.
not dead though, right?
AS THE ARCHITECT IS NOT PHYSICALLY AVAILABLE FOR DIRECT OBSERVATION, NO CONCLUSIONS OF ANY CONFIDENCE CAN BE MADE REGARDING THEIR CURRENT CONDITION. IT IS POSSIBLE THE ARCHITECT HAS UNDERGONE LOCATIONAL EXCHANGE INTO A LEVEL DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT ROTWATCHER'S LOCATION. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY.
right. right...
JJ IS OBSERVED TO STAND AND TAKE IN THEIR SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. SMALL ACTIONS PERFORMED BY THE JJ, SUCH AS CHEWING OF THEIR LOWER MOUTH EDGE AND SCRATCHING AT THEIR WRISTS SUGGEST A WORRIED MENTAL STATE. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO INQUIRE REGARDING THESE WORRIES.
you want to know?
THE ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO ANSWER IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
okay, well... do you maybe, uh, want to- team up, i guess? explore these levels together?
JJ IS OBSERVED TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR COMPANIONSHIP DURING EXPLORATION OF THE BACKROOMS. THIS REQUEST IS NOT WELL-UNDERSTOOD BY THE CURRENT ROTWATCHER. THEREFORE, THE ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO REQUEST FOR FURTHER ELABORATION.
well, look. i know you don't trust me, okay? i get it.
but it's not safe to be alone in a place like this, it feels like. loneliness isn't good for anyone, not even you. it can drive you mad, even.
not only that, but we could watch out for each other. you felt it too, didn't you? something or someone pushing us off that roof?
THE ROTWATCHER CONFIRMS THE PRESENCE OF EXTERNAL FORCE IN PREVIOUS LEVEL THAT ACTED ON JJ, THOUGH IDENTITY TO THIS FORCE CURRENTLY REMAINS UNKNOWN.
yeah. whoever that was, they clearly didn't want to help us. so it would help to have someone capable of helping you against dangers right? especially since you don't seem capable of inflicting actual harm.
THE ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO CONCEDE TO THIS POINT BROUGHT UP BY JJ.
so... what do you say?
...
AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTEMPLATION, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO ACCEPT JJ'S REQUEST OF COMPANIONSHIP, THOUGH IT REQUIRES THE LATTER TO KEEP SECONDARY CONSCIOUSNESS IN ENOUGH CONTROL TO NOT INFLICT HARM ON THE ROTWATCHER OR ANY POTENTIAL ALLIES.
yeah, i think i can control them. and if i can't, i'll warn you.
THEREFORE, THE SUBJECTED ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO FORM A COMPANIONSHIP WITH JJ TO ENSURE SURVIVAL IN THE BACKROOMS. FOLLOWING THIS ACCEPTANCE, JJ IS OBSERVED TO EXPRESS IMMENSE POSITIVE EMOTIONS SUCH AS RELIEF IN RESPONSE.
great! so... what now?
CURRENT PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WOULD BE TO BEGIN EXPLORATION OF LEVEL 0 N, AS EXPLORATION MAY LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF POTENTIAL ENTRYWAYS TO OTHER LEVELS.
finding the architect guy's important too, i think. see if he's alive.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO LOCATE THE ARCHITECT WITHIN THE BACKROOMS FOR FURTHER STUDY.
alright, then. lead the way.