[Locked Transmission to Residents]
By the Luceti calendar, today is December 17, year 3 of this experiment cycle. Today marks the approximate end of the 24th New Feather cycle -- the first half of each new month. Welcome to Luceti, newcomers and returners alike.
My name is Albert Silverberg, and I am a fellow resident in the village. I am writing through a secure system that is only visible to Luceti residents, so the Malnosso Organization cannot see this entry. Do not use the journals for exchanging sensitive information, such as the existence of this system, as the Organization's security monitors the journals for potentially-dangerous content.
This is not a system to link New Feathers to; spreading references of these entries around increases the likelihood that the Malnosso will discover it. New Feathers should be shown the Luceti guide, currently maintained by Professor Raine Sage. The Luceti guide will reflect some of the information found in this entry once the Professor has time to compile her new notes.
Shifting
The term Shifting is used by the Organization and others you may hear from over the journal network. The Organization is aware that we have spoken to sources who know about Shifting ("John" and the Third Party), so the topic is not taboo to mention over the journals.
Shift (n.)
[Also referred to as Shifting, or used as a verb.]
A "physical, mathematical, mental, or subcultural alteration" from an outside source. A Shift is not normally visible to us. There are apparently different methods of Shifting, but those that we have heard of are natural, synthesized, and progressive.
Natural Shift
A type of Shift that occurs naturally in Luceti, hence the name. These Shifts happen at random and without warning.
Synthesized Shift
An invention of the Malnosso Organization scientist known as John. The barrier around us is a product of sythesized Shifting and is supposed to protect us from the natural Shifting going on outside of the barrier. The barrier also serves to protect us from the Third Party.
Progressive Shift
A Progressive Shift is a "constant change that works as a sort of roundabout way to reach a goal." At this time, Progressive Shifts appear to be passive natural Shifts that the Third Party can create by themselves. Without the synthesized Shift barrier in place, the Third Party would have been able to turn our own attacks against us via Progressive Shifting.
Shifts and their effects are thought to be at the heart of the Organization's experiments.
Important Individuals and Groups to Know
We do not know the proper names of the individuals who speak to us through the journals; they each have aliases they received during their conversations with residents.
The Malnosso Organization are our captors, keeping us within the confines of the barrier for their research. Like us, they have small wings and are not indigenous to Luceti, brought here from other worlds by whatever force draws us to Luceti. Their current public objective for the past 16 years has been to find a way to travel to other worlds, though their true goals remain unknown. Their objective has changed 1,036 times in the past 200 years.
In the first few months of this experiment cycle, residents were mocked by an unknown Malnosso scientist before each experiment. This stopped around the time the barrier stretched outward to uncover the desert over the mountains.
The Third Party is a group outside of the barrier that we know little about; we have encountered them in person only once, back in August of this year, in which they were hostile and intent on killing us. Unlike ourselves and those in the Organization, members of the Third Party have large wings that they can use to maintain flight. They also possess the ability to manipulate Shifts without technology. Their goal is apparently to end the cycle of life and death in Luceti by permanently killing those brought here as a form of mercy. Like the Malnosso Organization's public objective, it is best to remain skeptical of their explanation.
"John" is a scientist whose main interest is conducting research, whether or not it complies with the Malnosso Organization's procedures. He has developed a way to reverse death penalties, though there are certain criteria that have to be met before he can even attempt. He is the creator of the synthesized Shifting technology that powers the barrier, and has considerable clout amongst the other scientists because of this. Outside of the barrier, he is apparently respected because of his scientific feats. He resides in the western underground tunnels and cannot be reached or easily contacted because of the barrier he has erected there. The Malnosso are fully aware that we speak to John.
"Jacob" is a sympathizer who believed that helping us will help him return to his own world -- another version of Earth that may or may not coincide with other versions of Earth mentioned by other residents. Formerly a security worker in the Organization, he was brought into the area by John and carried out experiments for him after the Organization found out he was sneaking intel to us. He was killed by the Third Party in the eastern desert ruins in a ritual sacrifice that was known to permanently kill people and remove them from the life-death cycle of Luceti. He has since then been revived through some unknown method by John, and his current whereabouts are unknown. The Malnosso are not aware of Jacob's revival, so refrain from mentioning him in the present tense over the journal network.
ANI (Automated Neutral Intelligence) is an artificial lifeform that is not affiliated with the Malnosso. It is an observer to our situation and gathers information for its creator, who also has begun speaking to residents. ANI's creator has been dubbed "Rem" by Estelle, and she has provided information more freely than either John or Jacob. However, she is an observer who has seen many experiment cycles go by, so do not expect sympathy or handouts from her. The Malnosso are not aware of our communications with ANI or her creator, so refrain from mentioning either of them over the network.
Tyr is a deceased former resident of Luceti who was highly respected within the Organization and beyond. Regarded as a hero and a born leader, he supposedly performed many good deeds during his time in Luceti; John has compared "hero-types" in Luceti to Tyr following his death. John killed Tyr towards the beginning of this year, using the same method the Third Party would later use on Jacob. The Malnosso do not know that John was the one who killed Tyr, so refrain from mentioning that over the journals.
The transparent old man is the newest unknown to communicate with residents. He appeared shortly after the portal in the middle of town disappeared at the end of November. Though eccentric, he appeared knowledgeable of Shifts and had used the portal as a genuine attempt to send people back to their worlds. We do not know how much the Malnosso know about the old man, so remain cautious and do not mention him over the journals.
The Nature and Politics of Luceti
Most of the information concerning the basics of Luceti can be found in the guide. The following information should not be mentioned over the journals, as it has been gathered from the various mentioned sources.
The very nature of Luceti is cyclical -- if something happens once, it will happen again without fail. If someone dies in Luceti, whether through accident, murder, or natural causes, they will be revived. If someone disappears from Luceti, they will return again in the future, no matter how long it may take.
The Malnosso Organization is operated by people who have been trapped in Luceti for a much longer period of time than any of us; Jacob, a lowly security worker within the Organization, had been trapped in Luceti for 10 years. We can surmise that people who have been in Luceti longer would hold higher positions of power.
We are contained in a barrier to be experimented upon by the Organization. The Third Party disapproves of this experimentation, and broke into the barrier with the intent to kill us all. As we later learned, residents who die are revived outside of the barrier and have to be intercepted by the Organization to be brought back into the barrier. A mass slaughter would have allowed the Third Party to capture many of us upon revival.
Both groups continue to hide their true objectives, making both untrustworthy. Our ignorance makes us useful and valuable to both groups; knowing too much makes us expendable.
Our Current Situation
It is now December, the end of the calendar year according to several different worlds represented in Luceti. As has been mentioned over the journals, we have seen snow earlier this year than in past years.
Last December, residents were in the process of exploring the underground tunnels and desert for the first time. During the latter half of the month, an accident occurred when a Malnosso worker "pressed the wrong button" that caused everyone within the barrier to black out for two days. John also gave everyone a questionable "gift" during the last week of December.
The first December here was oddly uneventful, with no experiment at all. Residents stopped appearing in droves by the halfway point of the month in what may be the first New Feather cycle.
We have not yet had an experiment this month, so it would be wise to stay alert in the coming weeks.
As has been mentioned in the past, holding town hall meetings in the barracks may be productive depending on the condition of Luceti. Consider using this entry for suggestions or proposals for the village at large. If you have any questions or additional information to be added to what is written here, be sure to mention it here.
Again, use discretion with your communications over the journals, especially in regard to the above information.
My name is Albert Silverberg, and I am a fellow resident in the village. I am writing through a secure system that is only visible to Luceti residents, so the Malnosso Organization cannot see this entry. Do not use the journals for exchanging sensitive information, such as the existence of this system, as the Organization's security monitors the journals for potentially-dangerous content.
This is not a system to link New Feathers to; spreading references of these entries around increases the likelihood that the Malnosso will discover it. New Feathers should be shown the Luceti guide, currently maintained by Professor Raine Sage. The Luceti guide will reflect some of the information found in this entry once the Professor has time to compile her new notes.
Shifting
The term Shifting is used by the Organization and others you may hear from over the journal network. The Organization is aware that we have spoken to sources who know about Shifting ("John" and the Third Party), so the topic is not taboo to mention over the journals.
Shift (n.)
[Also referred to as Shifting, or used as a verb.]
A "physical, mathematical, mental, or subcultural alteration" from an outside source. A Shift is not normally visible to us. There are apparently different methods of Shifting, but those that we have heard of are natural, synthesized, and progressive.
Natural Shift
A type of Shift that occurs naturally in Luceti, hence the name. These Shifts happen at random and without warning.
Synthesized Shift
An invention of the Malnosso Organization scientist known as John. The barrier around us is a product of sythesized Shifting and is supposed to protect us from the natural Shifting going on outside of the barrier. The barrier also serves to protect us from the Third Party.
Progressive Shift
A Progressive Shift is a "constant change that works as a sort of roundabout way to reach a goal." At this time, Progressive Shifts appear to be passive natural Shifts that the Third Party can create by themselves. Without the synthesized Shift barrier in place, the Third Party would have been able to turn our own attacks against us via Progressive Shifting.
Shifts and their effects are thought to be at the heart of the Organization's experiments.
Important Individuals and Groups to Know
We do not know the proper names of the individuals who speak to us through the journals; they each have aliases they received during their conversations with residents.
The Malnosso Organization are our captors, keeping us within the confines of the barrier for their research. Like us, they have small wings and are not indigenous to Luceti, brought here from other worlds by whatever force draws us to Luceti. Their current public objective for the past 16 years has been to find a way to travel to other worlds, though their true goals remain unknown. Their objective has changed 1,036 times in the past 200 years.
In the first few months of this experiment cycle, residents were mocked by an unknown Malnosso scientist before each experiment. This stopped around the time the barrier stretched outward to uncover the desert over the mountains.
The Third Party is a group outside of the barrier that we know little about; we have encountered them in person only once, back in August of this year, in which they were hostile and intent on killing us. Unlike ourselves and those in the Organization, members of the Third Party have large wings that they can use to maintain flight. They also possess the ability to manipulate Shifts without technology. Their goal is apparently to end the cycle of life and death in Luceti by permanently killing those brought here as a form of mercy. Like the Malnosso Organization's public objective, it is best to remain skeptical of their explanation.
"John" is a scientist whose main interest is conducting research, whether or not it complies with the Malnosso Organization's procedures. He has developed a way to reverse death penalties, though there are certain criteria that have to be met before he can even attempt. He is the creator of the synthesized Shifting technology that powers the barrier, and has considerable clout amongst the other scientists because of this. Outside of the barrier, he is apparently respected because of his scientific feats. He resides in the western underground tunnels and cannot be reached or easily contacted because of the barrier he has erected there. The Malnosso are fully aware that we speak to John.
"Jacob" is a sympathizer who believed that helping us will help him return to his own world -- another version of Earth that may or may not coincide with other versions of Earth mentioned by other residents. Formerly a security worker in the Organization, he was brought into the area by John and carried out experiments for him after the Organization found out he was sneaking intel to us. He was killed by the Third Party in the eastern desert ruins in a ritual sacrifice that was known to permanently kill people and remove them from the life-death cycle of Luceti. He has since then been revived through some unknown method by John, and his current whereabouts are unknown. The Malnosso are not aware of Jacob's revival, so refrain from mentioning him in the present tense over the journal network.
ANI (Automated Neutral Intelligence) is an artificial lifeform that is not affiliated with the Malnosso. It is an observer to our situation and gathers information for its creator, who also has begun speaking to residents. ANI's creator has been dubbed "Rem" by Estelle, and she has provided information more freely than either John or Jacob. However, she is an observer who has seen many experiment cycles go by, so do not expect sympathy or handouts from her. The Malnosso are not aware of our communications with ANI or her creator, so refrain from mentioning either of them over the network.
Tyr is a deceased former resident of Luceti who was highly respected within the Organization and beyond. Regarded as a hero and a born leader, he supposedly performed many good deeds during his time in Luceti; John has compared "hero-types" in Luceti to Tyr following his death. John killed Tyr towards the beginning of this year, using the same method the Third Party would later use on Jacob. The Malnosso do not know that John was the one who killed Tyr, so refrain from mentioning that over the journals.
The transparent old man is the newest unknown to communicate with residents. He appeared shortly after the portal in the middle of town disappeared at the end of November. Though eccentric, he appeared knowledgeable of Shifts and had used the portal as a genuine attempt to send people back to their worlds. We do not know how much the Malnosso know about the old man, so remain cautious and do not mention him over the journals.
The Nature and Politics of Luceti
Most of the information concerning the basics of Luceti can be found in the guide. The following information should not be mentioned over the journals, as it has been gathered from the various mentioned sources.
The very nature of Luceti is cyclical -- if something happens once, it will happen again without fail. If someone dies in Luceti, whether through accident, murder, or natural causes, they will be revived. If someone disappears from Luceti, they will return again in the future, no matter how long it may take.
The Malnosso Organization is operated by people who have been trapped in Luceti for a much longer period of time than any of us; Jacob, a lowly security worker within the Organization, had been trapped in Luceti for 10 years. We can surmise that people who have been in Luceti longer would hold higher positions of power.
We are contained in a barrier to be experimented upon by the Organization. The Third Party disapproves of this experimentation, and broke into the barrier with the intent to kill us all. As we later learned, residents who die are revived outside of the barrier and have to be intercepted by the Organization to be brought back into the barrier. A mass slaughter would have allowed the Third Party to capture many of us upon revival.
Both groups continue to hide their true objectives, making both untrustworthy. Our ignorance makes us useful and valuable to both groups; knowing too much makes us expendable.
Our Current Situation
It is now December, the end of the calendar year according to several different worlds represented in Luceti. As has been mentioned over the journals, we have seen snow earlier this year than in past years.
Last December, residents were in the process of exploring the underground tunnels and desert for the first time. During the latter half of the month, an accident occurred when a Malnosso worker "pressed the wrong button" that caused everyone within the barrier to black out for two days. John also gave everyone a questionable "gift" during the last week of December.
The first December here was oddly uneventful, with no experiment at all. Residents stopped appearing in droves by the halfway point of the month in what may be the first New Feather cycle.
We have not yet had an experiment this month, so it would be wise to stay alert in the coming weeks.
As has been mentioned in the past, holding town hall meetings in the barracks may be productive depending on the condition of Luceti. Consider using this entry for suggestions or proposals for the village at large. If you have any questions or additional information to be added to what is written here, be sure to mention it here.
Again, use discretion with your communications over the journals, especially in regard to the above information.