PasqalThe person you saved from the Electro-Priest monastery, the servant of the Omnissiah who calls himself Abel Haneumann, is staring intently at a cogitator's vid-screen. Wires connect the sacred computing machine to augmetics inside the prayerfully bowed heads of murmuring servitors.
PasqalAbel looks up at you. After a lengthy silence, he looks away and says stiffly, "The Omnissiah knows all, comprehends all."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"
PasqalThe Tech-Priest stares intently at his feet for a while and then says in a halting voice, "The running of the binharic... protocols was... bogged down and dissolved in false commands. The filter has... separated the correct signals... from the incorrect. The running has been restored to its swiftness."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"
PasqalAbel's voice quivers, and his eyes dart around, desperately avoiding eye contact. "What was flawed has since been purged... But the shadows of the hunt linger... The cog is dismounted, and no judgement has been made... In the absence of judgement, threat remains. Who will make the judgement?"
Pasqal"I will." Pasqal places a mechadendrite on Abel's shoulder and repeats, his voice heavy like a wheel tread crushing the dirt underneath, "I will make the judgement that will avert the threat." His gaze falls on you. "There is no need to frighten him."
YOU"What troubles him so?"
Pasqal"I assumed at first that this was caused by the shock inflicted upon his system by the schismatical attack. But my tech-brother's words are a sign of a deeper reason for his unease. He foresees... something. Something that threatens both him and all those around him. And thus I stand ready to face this threat."
YOU"What troubles him so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What judgement do you two speak of?"
Pasqal"Only he knows. But if my tech-brother fears that he might not make the right decision at the critical moment, then I will do it for him."
YOU"What troubles him so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What judgement do you two speak of?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you so concerned about him? He is not the one you were hoping to find."
Pasqal"Answer unknown. I am... registering a kinship, both between our identifiers and one that is more profound. Archmagos Amarnat left an imprint on all his students. It may be, then, that I see some of my mentor in Tech-Brother Abel, and so my spirit rejoices and strives to keep him from harm."
YOU"What troubles him so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What judgement do you two speak of?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you so concerned about him? He is not the one you were hoping to find."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You care for him as if he truly were your younger brother."
PasqalPasqal's vox rasps a tired laugh. "Tech-Brother Abel is harmonious, and harmony is beauty. Is it so strange an urge to protect beauty from the horrors of the grotesque?"
YOU"What troubles him so?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What judgement do you two speak of?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you so concerned about him? He is not the one you were hoping to find."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You care for him as if he truly were your younger brother."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will try not to give Abel any undue cause for dread."
Pasqal"Thank you."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"
PasqalAbel freezes. From his vox-synth, barely audible through the static, come the words: "The naming of the names is not an index to the text. The naming of the names is the text."
YOU"I never imagined there could be poets among the Tech-Priests."
PasqalPasqal looks surprised. "Why not? Techna-Lingua is rhythmical and possesses a broad semantic scope. And some of its more sonorous dialects lend themselves well to individual and symphonic declamation."
YOU"I never imagined there could be poets among the Tech-Priests."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you understand what Abel is referring to?"
Pasqal"Negative. However, I will hypothesise. Tech-Brother Abel is seeking to convey the idea that our matching identifiers are not the key to some vital data point. They are, in and of themselves, the vital data point. At this stage in my analysis, I can draw no useful conclusions from this proposition."
Pasqal"However, the very fact that Tech-Brother Abel is trying to hint at something points to him either being better informed than I am or having conducted a more in-depth analysis of the situation. That is useful information."
YOU"I never imagined there could be poets among the Tech-Priests."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you understand what Abel is referring to?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Soften your tone] "Abel, could you please explain what you mean?"
PasqalAbel relaxes a little. His gaze drifts to the side. There is silence.
YOU"I never imagined there could be poets among the Tech-Priests."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you understand what Abel is referring to?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Soften your tone] "Abel, could you please explain what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Respond sharply to Abel] "You will express yourself clearly!"
PasqalAbel's eyes turn glassy, his body goes completely still, like a statue, and his vox shuts down with a click.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"
Pasqal"We catch the soul of the light in the solar wind. We look for the footsteps the Omnissiah left when He walked the desert."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"
PasqalA low, guttural sound rises from the depths of Pasqal's vox-synth, as though the planet's tectonic plates are shifting and crushing each other. The mighty rumble brings forth words imbued with power: "We follow a path charted by a great mind. But that path leads to dark places."
Pasqal"The Cycle has the advantage of predictability. Abandoning it will plunge the collective into a perilous space of uncertainty, which will inevitably lead to disasters and the risk of universal annihilation. The doctrine of Discontinuing the Cycle may herald good things to come — or it may be a death sentence. Only the Omnissiah knows all, and comprehends all. Others are mere prophets who interpret His wisdom as far as their own Comprehension permits."
YOU"Is that not the promise of every heresy? 'Let's renounce our path, distort our doctrine, and head out toward what looks like a better future but actually only has danger and grief in store for us'?"
Pasqal"This statement is true. Many dangerous philosophies appear impeccably logical, yet have dangerous defects that their creators were unaware of." There is doubt in the Tech-Priest's voice. The tone of thundering profundity drains from Pasqal's vox, giving way to his familiar sibilance.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."
PasqalAbel immediately looks away as if he has lost all interest in you. But then his vox crackles, barely audibly: "I... am glad... to see you."
end of branch
YOU"As flawed as the status quo is, it has helped us survive for the past ten millennia. Therefore, it is effective."
Pasqal"The Thirteenth Universal Law attests to the truth of your words. The knowledge of the ancients is above questioning. However, drawing the line between the ancients and the fallible ones who followed in their footsteps is no easy task." There is doubt in the Tech-Priest's voice. The tone of thundering profundity drains from Pasqal's vox, giving way to his familiar sibilance.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"It is better to meet the challenge of change and perish in failure than to rot alive."
Pasqal"This statement is true. The annihilation promised by stagnation is inevitable. Annihilation in the course of a crisis of change is merely probable. And meekly waiting for the foretold decline is shameful and constitutes a betrayal of the Quest for Knowledge." The tone of thundering profundity drains from Pasqal's vox, giving way to his familiar sibilance.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"'Disaster' is just another word for a new opportunity. Not missing it is what it's all about."
Pasqal"This statement is true. A crisis motivates a system toward growth and elaboration. The more unbearable the test, the more earnest will be the mind's appeal to the Omnissiah's wisdom, and the more stable the response." The tone of thundering profundity drains from Pasqal's vox, giving way to his familiar sibilance.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I am no prophet. I will not presume to make pronouncements on the future."
Pasqal"No one knows the future. Every analysis has its margin of error, and horrors lurk in these margins." The tone of thundering profundity drains from Pasqal's vox, giving way to his familiar sibilance.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
Pasqal"This is the oneiromantic computation procedure. The depersonalised minds of these machine servants are in a datadream, processing enormous arrays of assorted data and aggregating them. Virtually all results of such synthesis are scrap data, but occasionally, we have noted coincidences whose exactness defied logic."
Pasqal"It is an extremely rare and venerated form of statistical augury. But Tech-Brother Abel is adept at this form of appealing to the Deus Mechanicus."
YOU"Why do you do it?"
Pasqal"It is how we execute the Quest for Knowledge in the hope that the Machine God grants us an epiphany, so that we may discern a logical connection in a mass of absurd data, which will propel our Comprehension forward."
YOU"Why do you do it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect the sacred machine]
PasqalThe hair has been removed from the servitors' heads. Their bulky cerebral augmetics cover their skulls like helmets. The faces of the cogitator's servants are blank. Their eyes are closed. Their lips are incessantly whispering what sounds like gibberish. Hundreds of lines of symbols containing information scroll down the cogitator's vid-screen. Abel Haneumann peers at it with voracious interest, in sharp contrast to his usual placidity.
YOU"Why do you do it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect the sacred machine]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for logical connections within the data]
YOU[Take a closer look at the vid-screen to check for anything unusual]
YOU"My interest in this subject has been exhausted."
PasqalAbel goes back to intently watching the calculations, his eyes alight with curiosity.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for logical connections within the data]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take a closer look at the vid-screen to check for anything unusual]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My interest in this subject has been exhausted."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect the sacred machine]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for logical connections within the data]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take a closer look at the vid-screen to check for anything unusual]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My interest in this subject has been exhausted."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
PasqalA hiss of displeasure comes from the vox-synth. "I object to such forms of communication with Tech-Brother Abel."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are we overthinking it? It doesn't matter why your names are the same, what matters is that they are the same? Is that what you mean?"
PasqalAbel looks sideways at you, and at once his transfixed stupor is gone. "At this point in time, the Cycle has been broken and reshaped into a rising spiral, as Amarnat envisioned."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
PasqalOn hearing his mentor's name, Pasqal lets out a raspy, static-filled sigh. "They are connected. My hypothesis regarding Abel's connection to the blessed Amarnat has been confirmed."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's move on from this."
PasqalYour words elicit no reaction whatsoever from Abel, who is frozen in silent self-reflection.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Respond sharply to Abel] "You will express yourself clearly!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are we overthinking it? It doesn't matter why your names are the same, what matters is that they are the same? Is that what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's move on from this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Soften your tone] "Abel, could you please explain what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Respond sharply to Abel] "You will express yourself clearly!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are we overthinking it? It doesn't matter why your names are the same, what matters is that they are the same? Is that what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's move on from this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you understand what Abel is referring to?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Soften your tone] "Abel, could you please explain what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Respond sharply to Abel] "You will express yourself clearly!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are we overthinking it? It doesn't matter why your names are the same, what matters is that they are the same? Is that what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's move on from this."continues where this line first appears above
Pasqal"Abel's answers can be enigmatic. His mind works differently from ours. He thinks in harmonic imagery and notices the symmetries and proportional relationships in the world around him. Poetry would be the closest analogy to how he perceives and interacts with reality."
YOU"I never imagined there could be poets among the Tech-Priests."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Pasqal, do you understand what Abel is referring to?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Soften your tone] "Abel, could you please explain what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Respond sharply to Abel] "You will express yourself clearly!"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Are we overthinking it? It doesn't matter why your names are the same, what matters is that they are the same? Is that what you mean?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Let's move on from this."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will try not to give Abel any undue cause for dread."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You care for him as if he truly were your younger brother."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will try not to give Abel any undue cause for dread."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you so concerned about him? He is not the one you were hoping to find."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You care for him as if he truly were your younger brother."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will try not to give Abel any undue cause for dread."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What judgement do you two speak of?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why are you so concerned about him? He is not the one you were hoping to find."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"You care for him as if he truly were your younger brother."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I will try not to give Abel any undue cause for dread."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
PasqalPasqal speaks softly, as though trying to match the inflections of Abel's voice: "Tech-Brother Abel has passed the diagnostics. The pernicious influence of sacrilegious procedures has been completely eliminated. Statistically, most survivors of a schismaticals' infestation are left with severe cognitive impairments. However, Tech-Brother Abel's mind, being of a less typical nature, has not been damaged to so great a degree."
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 2 of 6
PasqalAbel acknowledges your arrival with an attentive gaze but does not utter a word.
YOU"How are you feeling, Abel?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Gaze into Abel's eyes] "Tech-Brother Abel, you are free from possession, are you not? I trust that you pose no threat to my ship?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why do you and Pasqal have the same name?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Point to the cogitator] "What are you working on?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Turn to Pasqal] "Did you hear what Abel said? It seems we have contributed to Amarnat's design and deviated from the Cycle. What does that mean for you?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"I must take my leave."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 3 of 6
PasqalMost of the runes are devoid of any meaning, but you notice a few among them that combine into formulae and computational graphs. Abel peers at you inquisitively then shifts his gaze to the vid-screen, and you could swear that a smile lights up his face under his respiratory augmetic.
Pasqal"A crystal is exquisite in clear water. Deviation from the Cycle's trajectory has been increased, as was Amarnat's wish." Abel lowers his head, and his vox-synthesiser broadcasts a binharic hymn you do not recall having heard before. Its sound is full of vibrant energy and its precise rhythm is nothing short of pleasing to the ear: a rare thing for the language of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
PasqalPasqal explains, with an inexplicable air of pride, "Tech-Brother Abel has dedicated a lesser aria to you. The piece is distinguished by a high degree of acoustic harmony, and is fit for use as a motto, auxiliary identifier, or epitaph."
YOU[Bow to Abel] "I thank you for the generous gift."
Pasqal"The gift is disproportionate. But it does signify... a personal affinity."
YOU"Why do you do it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect the sacred machine]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for logical connections within the data]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take a closer look at the vid-screen to check for anything unusual]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My interest in this subject has been exhausted."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Why, thank you! With a life as eventful as mine, I am certainly going to need an epitaph at some point."
PasqalAbel bows his head with dignity. It seems the undertone of your words was lost on him.
YOU"Why do you do it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect the sacred machine]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for logical connections within the data]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take a closer look at the vid-screen to check for anything unusual]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My interest in this subject has been exhausted."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What use could I possibly have for a motto I can't even pronounce?"
PasqalAbel bows his head with dignity. It seems the undertone of your words was lost on him.continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Nod wordlessly]
Pasqal"The gift is disproportionate. But it does signify... a personal affinity."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 4 of 6
PasqalLexmechanics spend decades learning to comprehend the sacred meanings hidden in formulae and computational graphs. Your own knowledge, being of a much more practical nature, is useless here.
YOU"Why do you do it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect the sacred machine]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for logical connections within the data]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take a closer look at the vid-screen to check for anything unusual]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My interest in this subject has been exhausted."continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 5 of 6
PasqalYou notice certain repeating patterns in the scrolling columns of runes. You may not know what they mean, but you clearly see... or rather sense their similarities. You point these out to Abel, making his face light up with joy.
Pasqal"A crystal is exquisite in clear water. Deviation from the Cycle's trajectory has been increased, as was Amarnat's wish." Abel lowers his head, and his vox-synthesiser broadcasts a binharic hymn you do not recall having heard before. Its sound is full of vibrant energy and its precise rhythm is nothing short of pleasing to the ear: a rare thing for the language of the Adeptus Mechanicus.continues where this line first appears above
Entry point 6 of 6
PasqalYou try looking for... something, anything, that catches your attention. But the flickering runes... all look the same.
YOU"Why do you do it?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Inspect the sacred machine]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Look for logical connections within the data]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Take a closer look at the vid-screen to check for anything unusual]continues where this line first appears above
YOU"My interest in this subject has been exhausted."continues where this line first appears above