CogitatorThere is a barely audible breathing coming from the box. Whoever is inside wants very much not to be noticed.
SolomorneGlaito stalks toward the box and bares his fangs, while Solomorne frowns grimly at the device: "Really? Then again, what else could you expect from this ignorant world..."
YOU[Listen to the sounds coming from the box]
YOU"There is something I wish to ask this 'Cogicor.'"
Cogitator"If I may advise the Celestial Lord/Lady... In order to receive an answer, one should take a piece of paper and slide it into the hole here. Then, touch this stone and ask the question loudly and clearly."
YOU"Cogicor, what is the distance between earth and sky?"
CogitatorThe sheet you offer is consumed with a speed beyond that of an ordinary autoquill. After a few moments, the sheet returns with a single notation: "LOTS."
YOU"Cogicor, what is the distance between earth and sky?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what does the future have in store for me?"
CogitatorThe sheet shoots back out of the box and falls to the ground. It bears a solemn inscription: "GLORY EVERLASTING."
YOU"Cogicor, what is the distance between earth and sky?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what does the future have in store for me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, answer only 'yes' or 'no.' Is your next answer going to be 'no'?"
CogitatorThe miraculous device reluctantly accepts the offered paper and makes a vague moan-like sound. After a languid moment of waiting, you are presented with a sheet that reads "ERR" — which most likely means "error."
YOU"Cogicor, what is the distance between earth and sky?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what does the future have in store for me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, answer only 'yes' or 'no.' Is your next answer going to be 'no'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what is the punishment for liars and frauds?"
CogitatorThe box holds the paper for a long time. When the sheet finally emerges from the slot, it is visibly shaking. You see the words "IMMOLATION. PLEASE DON'T."
YOU"Cogicor, what is the distance between earth and sky?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what does the future have in store for me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, answer only 'yes' or 'no.' Is your next answer going to be 'no'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what is the punishment for liars and frauds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough questions for now."
Young Nobleman"As you wish. Do not hesitate to pose more questions! It has enough ink for many more answers."
YOU[Listen to the sounds coming from the box]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is something I wish to ask this 'Cogicor.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unseal the box and let this poor soul out at once!"
Young Nobleman"Who? What poor soul? I do not..." The young nobleman addressing you withers under the scathing gaze of his partner.
Grey-Haired Nobleman"As you command, my Celestial Lord/Lady. Forgive us... We wished only to delight you by reproducing an otherworldly miracle we had read about in an ancient chronicle..."
YOU[Listen to the sounds coming from the box]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is something I wish to ask this 'Cogicor.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unseal the box and let this poor soul out at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What a rare and magnificent gift! I will be honoured to display it in my chambers."
Young Nobleman"Our hearts flutter at the opportunity to please the Celestial Lord/Lady! May this sagacious machine assist you in your endeavours."
end of branch
YOU[Break the box] "I heard that 'Cogicors' are also indestructible. Let's see if the tales were true!"
CogitatorThe box's thin walls splinter under your blows, and the ink-stained body of an old man falls to the paving stones. The two noblemen look away nervously, but they do not risk fleeing your wrath.
YOU[Listen to the sounds coming from the box]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is something I wish to ask this 'Cogicor.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unseal the box and let this poor soul out at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What a rare and magnificent gift! I will be honoured to display it in my chambers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the box] "I heard that 'Cogicors' are also indestructible. Let's see if the tales were true!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are nothing but a pair of dim-witted lickspittles. But mere stupidity hardly warrants an execution. Get out of my sight!"
Grey-Haired Nobleman"We did not mean to offend! We only wished to please..."
end of branch
YOU"I will inform the governor of your stunt. I hope that a few dozen lashes will teach you to respect the Omnissiah!"
Young Nobleman"We dare not defy the Celestial Lord/Lady..."
end of branch
YOU[Kill one of the brothers] "You dare mock the Celestial Lord/Lady?"
end of branch
YOU"You are nothing but a pair of dim-witted lickspittles. But mere stupidity hardly warrants an execution. Get out of my sight!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will inform the governor of your stunt. I hope that a few dozen lashes will teach you to respect the Omnissiah!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill one of the brothers] "You dare mock the Celestial Lord/Lady?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What a rare and magnificent gift! I will be honoured to display it in my chambers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the box] "I heard that 'Cogicors' are also indestructible. Let's see if the tales were true!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are nothing but a pair of dim-witted lickspittles. But mere stupidity hardly warrants an execution. Get out of my sight!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will inform the governor of your stunt. I hope that a few dozen lashes will teach you to respect the Omnissiah!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill one of the brothers] "You dare mock the Celestial Lord/Lady?"continues where this line first appears above
SolomorneSolomorne folds his arms and leans toward the slot, his voice ringing with steel: "Machines cannot feel fear, 'Cogicor.' They can only meekly accept their fate." The Proctor catches your gaze and shrugs. "I couldn't help myself."
YOU"Cogicor, what is the distance between earth and sky?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what does the future have in store for me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, answer only 'yes' or 'no.' Is your next answer going to be 'no'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what is the punishment for liars and frauds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough questions for now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough questions for now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what is the punishment for liars and frauds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough questions for now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, answer only 'yes' or 'no.' Is your next answer going to be 'no'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what is the punishment for liars and frauds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough questions for now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what does the future have in store for me?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, answer only 'yes' or 'no.' Is your next answer going to be 'no'?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Cogicor, what is the punishment for liars and frauds?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Enough questions for now."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unseal the box and let this poor soul out at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What a rare and magnificent gift! I will be honoured to display it in my chambers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the box] "I heard that 'Cogicors' are also indestructible. Let's see if the tales were true!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are nothing but a pair of dim-witted lickspittles. But mere stupidity hardly warrants an execution. Get out of my sight!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will inform the governor of your stunt. I hope that a few dozen lashes will teach you to respect the Omnissiah!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill one of the brothers] "You dare mock the Celestial Lord/Lady?"continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 5
CogitatorSurprisingly, the quiet rustle coming from the box does in fact resemble the hum of a cogitator.
SolomorneGlaito stalks toward the box and bares his fangs, while Solomorne frowns grimly at the device: "Really? Then again, what else could you expect from this ignorant world..."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 5
Cassia(no text)
end of branch
Entry point 5 of 5
Grey-Haired NoblemanAs you approach, the nobles bow gracefully. Their sewn-on faces are wrapped tightly around their skulls, and their eyes gleam with earnest subservience. One dares to address you: "O Celestial Lord/Lady, grace us with your regard! When my brother and I heard of your arrival, we immediately sought to surprise you with an exceptional gift."
Young Nobleman"The ancient scrolls tell of a wonder, a mechanical sage by the name of Cogicor! It knows the answers to all questions, can make other machines do its bidding, and may even predict the future. My brother and I have borne many a hardship, but we managed to acquire this magic contraption for our much-cherished guest!"
CogitatorThe box in front of you, presumably the Cogicor they speak of, exudes a strong odour of ritual oils. Made of thin planks, it is covered in so many purity seals that it seems to be held together by them alone. A stack of flimsy rough paper lies atop it, and there is a mica panel with malachite buttons attached to the front. A thin slit is visible among the buttons.
YOU[Listen to the sounds coming from the box]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There is something I wish to ask this 'Cogicor.'"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Unseal the box and let this poor soul out at once!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What a rare and magnificent gift! I will be honoured to display it in my chambers."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Break the box] "I heard that 'Cogicors' are also indestructible. Let's see if the tales were true!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You are nothing but a pair of dim-witted lickspittles. But mere stupidity hardly warrants an execution. Get out of my sight!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will inform the governor of your stunt. I hope that a few dozen lashes will teach you to respect the Omnissiah!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill one of the brothers] "You dare mock the Celestial Lord/Lady?"continues where this line first appears above
Cogitator(sequence)
AbelardAbelard sighs heavily and leans over to you. "Sometimes, when information reaches the more backward worlds, it undergoes strange metamorphoses in the minds of unfortunate and regrettably parochial laypeople... Have mercy, Lord Captain. They probably have been trying to please you."
end of branch
HeinrixHeinrix shrugs. "I've seen quite a few distortions of Gothic on primitive worlds... But I do not recall ever seeing such a miscomprehension of the Omnissiah's gifts."
end of branch
PasqalAfter a chrono-turn of heavy silence, Pasqal finally intones, "I am registering an act of... imitation of sanctity. This cultural phenomenon is typical of underdeveloped tribes. I also anticipate the discovery of cave pictograms dedicated to the divine arrival of the more advanced units."
end of branch
EogunnEogunn gleefully throws his hands in the air. "Nuncius, witness the act of creating a primitive technological idol! Please record everything carefully — this is a unique opportunity to observe how a culture deprived of the Omnissiah's light attempts to interpret His design!"