Story (Full) 33
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The story so far...
In the previous section, TheLaw initiated a "Tournament of Souls" - a contest that involved digital versions of the players' souls battling one another. This was visualized in the form of a "Soul Calibur 6" tournament. The winner of this tournament ended up being the player Azura. Her prize was the ability to supposedly make a substantial choice in the future - though what exactly this would eventually result in is unknown...
Around this same time, SKM finally managed to contact the players. He confirmed that he was indeed within the Parallelos - a location that is usually very dark. However, when viewed through a camera, it takes on a distorted green appearance - as seen in recent Silentdork uploads. Though SKM seems to be his usual self, the Parallelos has definitely taken a toll on him. He's currently dwelling in a small camp he's set up in the woods next to a strange building that he's stealing wi-fi from. It's believed that this building actually belongs to the Rune Entity - mainly due to various runes scattered around and also the fact that the "IIIII" account is logged into its wi-fi connection. Interestingly, SKM claims he's seen several people coming and going from the Rune Entity's building. Sadly, SKM himself can't get too close to it - doing so gives him a headache.
SKM is also next to a large highway just beyond the woods. These are implied to be the "Paths" that Tyler will be tasked with walking. However, just like with the Rune Entity's building, getting too close to it causes SKM to get a headache. SKM also encountered two entities within the Parallelos. The first was a girl who casually spoke to SKM inside his mind - possibly Erika. The second was a malicious flannel-wearing entity who spoke in several voices - possibly Tenebris. SKM also mentioned a magical exclamation - "IO". This seems to be a vocalization of the "ᛇ" rune, which holds connection to the five lines - "ᛇᛇᛇᛇᛇ". Unfortunately, the players' conversation with SKM was cut short due to the sudden submission of the "Elegy of Emptiness"...
Afterwards, BUP contacted the players once again. Here, he finally revealed a bit more about his identity, claiming that he was somehow "IIII" layers of Greth. This implies that BUP is actually an alternate version of Greth similar to how "IIII" is an alternate version of Tyler. However, it can also be assumed that BUP is somehow connected to every alternate version of Greth in existence. BUP then challenged the players to a game - specifically a game of "Dungeons & Dragons". This game sprawled across three separate continuities and worlds - each contained within their own "Dream Bubble". While most of this game's story was completely self-contained and fictional, two entities within it were actually real - Yuukichan and Pumpkinhead. As a reminder, Pumpkinhead is indeed a canon entity - however, Wolfcat's depiction and actions as him during the Pumpkinhead Gamejack were not.
It seemed as though Pumpkinhead was trying to capture Yuukichan. Thankfully, the players had a method of helping her escape - Munnin. Munnin was a "Raven Spirit" that existed within a small "Raven Figurine". Munnin implied that Yuukichan's spirit would have to somehow be inserted inside of the "Raven Figurine" before the whole thing is somehow transferred over to the real world. Interestingly, the "Raven Figurine" featured a rune that was reminiscent of the Amiibo symbol. This implies that the real world version of the "Raven Figurine" may be an Amiibo - a small figurine sold by Nintendo that can store electronic information and add extra content to certain video games.
However, the Dungeons & Dragons game is derailed as The Producer suddenly takes it over, transforming it into an interactive webcomic reminiscent of "Weenie-Licked" - the player Wolfcat's old webcomic. Here, the players spoke with a comic version of Tyler who claimed that he had recently been to some sort of anime convention - one that he describes as an "eye-opening" experience. Afterwards, the players go to visit someone named Erik. This is presumably meant to represent the player Wolfcat, as his real name was also Erik. However, Erik seems to be missing. In his place is a spirit trapped within a glass bottle and a "Nine of Clubs" card.
The players then began speaking with The Producer directly. He gave them some hints regarding the nature of his identity. However, he was cut short when BUP suddenly returned and angrily ended the Dungeons & Dragons game entirely. While doing so, he implied that his very existence is dependent on him antagonizing the players - possibly explaining why he's so adamant on fulfilling the role of "A bad guy". Afterwards, Munnin contacted the players one more time before going dormant. Here, Munnin implied that the concept of three lines - "III" - is partially related to sleep and dreams. He also transformed himself into an egg-like object, telling the players to keep him safe... Unfortunately, Yuukichan and Pumpkinhead's current status is unknown.
The players had quite a bit to stew on. They eventually noticed that the various members of BUP's group all seemed to hold connections to the ARG's GM's. The Rune Entity was an alternate Tyler. BUP was an alternate Greth. TheLaw looked and acted very similar to Dawn. The Producer looked and acted very similar to Wolfcat. This could possibly link to how they somehow hold extended meta-related knowledge of the ARG... While all of this was taking place, BUP also "leaked" some important information - one that seemed to imply that some sort of fusion between Vincent's Astral and Prime Timeline counterparts was going to take place. It's implied that this process is what's known as "Aggregation"...
Table of Contents
Expand the section below to access a table of contents for this chapter.
- Start of Chapter
- Checkpoint #1After returning to YouTube, Vincent joined the players on Discord. Now in a private server, he seems willing to share what all he experienced.
- Checkpoint #2Vincent posted a video covering his escape from The Spire. Now, the players grapple with the uncomfortable topic of Erika's canonicity.
- Checkpoint #3After coming to grips with Erika's supposed status as a player, the players are now learning that Vincent is recalling strange, conflicting memories.
- Checkpoint #4Vincent answered some questions regarding the Lunar Children and his memories. He's now starting a QnA in order to answer more questions.
- Checkpoint #5After Vincent's QnA came to a close, Erika has begun chatting with the player Xenquility about magic and esotericism.
- Checkpoint #6TheLaw revealed that he was willing to work alongside the players and leak them information. Now, a continuation of Tyler's journey has been uploaded in conjunction with the arrival of "Awakening".
Character Summaries
Expand the section below to access a list of characters. Hover over their icons to view a brief summary covering their current status.
Relevant Characters
Tyler
BUP
The Producer
TheLaw
Rune Entity
Erika
Greth
SKM
Yuukichan
"Wolfcat"
Munnin
Vincent
Adams
Tenebris
Other Characters
John
Regiminis
Patrem
Mat
Hubbard
Moonman
IsocelesAssassin
GHOSTBABEL
Pumpkinhead
Astral
Tyler
Tyler00
Yugi
Kaiden
Zoromichi
NotAHoax
The Watcher
Nocta
Doug
Alex
Spencer
Kelbris
Old Man
Ben
Hubbard
Max
Samuel
Charleston
Luna
Jacob
Helper
Jeremy
J
Rosa
Chris
Hunter
Diana
Hubbard
José
Daniel
Zack Nelson
Kayd
Thomas
David
Danielle
Quia
The Man
Mason
Mason
xxxxxxxxx
The Gray
Man
Ezekiel
Thoth
Jinn
Kuu
Nathen
Hina
Eddie
SheepDog
HarryM1
Alignak
Kalfu
Sin_yarikh
Tsukuyomi
Igaluk
Losna
Hope
Hope's
Friend (M)
Hope's
Friend (F)
Tyler
(SilentDT)
William
Reynolds
Justin
Reynolds
Carla
The Flying
Child
Drowned
Guide
Glossary
Expand the section below to access a list of terms. Hover over them to view their definitions.
Misc.
/x/
152
423
592
727
A
Absque Fascie
Aggregation
Amiibo
Archive
ARG
Ascension
Astral Child
Astral Observatory
Astral Observatory Forums
Astralobservatory.net
Astral Timeline
B
Beacon
Believers
Ben Drowned
Blood Moon Ritual
Bloody Mary
Blue Baby
Bomb Plans
Briefcase
Bullet Necklace
Bunny Hood
BUP's Group
C
Candyman
Cellphone Tower
Ceremony of the Three Elements
Cipher
Cherrington High
Cleverbot
Conduit
Contact Page
Crescent
Crescent Moon Necklace
Cycle
D
Dark Link
Decoy.link
Deku Link
Demon
Detour Sign
Devium
Downloadable Files
Drezz
Drok
Dungeons & Dragons
E
Elder Children
Electro Drek
Elegy of Emptiness
Elegy Statue
Epona
Epona's Song
Eulogy
F
Fairy
Fakeworld
Father
File 59
Finitor
Fish Ponds
Full
G
Gamejack
Gibbous
GM
Goron Link
Goron Lullaby
Greth Vlogs
Guestbook
H
Hacker Group
Happy Mask Salesman
Harbingers
Harbinger's Link
Haunted Majora's Mask Cartridge
Helper's Hat
Hiatus
Hole
Holy Building
Hubris
Hubris Game
I
IIIII
Internet Detectives
Inverted Song of Time
IRC
J
Jadusable
Jadusable's ARG
Janus Room
JanusVR
Jumping
John's Cellphone Number
Johnisdead.com
K
Kamaro Mask
Key592
Killing Assignment
King Kong
L
Layered Being
Lens of Truth
Letschasethemouse
Libro Lunarus
Link
Link.exe
Listening
Listening Device
Lostmemory.exe
Lostmemory423
Luna Prophecy
Luna's Parallelos
Lunar Children
Lunar Children Forums
Lunar Children Servers
Lunarchildren.com
Lunarum Oculus
Lurch.co
M
M
Majora's Mask
Malagasy
Masks
Mask of Truth
Max Headroom
Messenger
Meta
Methods of Revolution
Minuet of Forest
Moonlight Meeting
Moon Children
Moon Children Forums
N
Neophyte
New Moon
New Wave Bossa Nova
Night of the Father
Novum Ascensionem
Nullstorm
O
Oath to Order
Observation Duty
OOC
Overseer
Overworld
Owl Statue
P
Parallelos
Parallelos Child
Parallelos Forum
Parallelos of the Ascended
Parallelos of the Dead
Parallelos of Time
Parallelos Path
Parallelos Symbol
Pididoip
Playing Cards
Portal
Postman's Hat
Prime Timeline
Pumpkinhead Gamejack
Q
Quiet Family
R
Raven Figurine
Reading Session
Remember.exe
Red Dot
Redirect Page
Regiminis's Domain
Regiminis Sigil
Revival
Room 592
Rosa
S
Safehaven
Samsara
Scrying
Scrying Device
Shazbot
Silent Hill
Silentdork
Skull Kid
Skype
Sleeproom
Sonata of Awakening
Song of Double Time
Song of Healing
Song of Soaring
Song of Storms
Song of Time
Song of Unhealing
SSTV Signal
Sphere
Steganography
Stone Mask
Strand Sensations
Submitting
Sub-Parallelos
Sub-Traversing
Subspace
Sun's Song
T
Tatl
Tenebris Symbol
Tenebris.link
Tenor
The Blackout
The Bridge
The Cataclysm
The Gate
The Factory
The Fishery
The Four Giants
The Glitch
The Killswitch
The Legend
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Misguided
The Misguided Legion
The Moon
The Ocarina
The Orchard
The Paths
The Poem
The Rule of Three
The Spire
The Three Silver Secrets
The Truth
The Whiteout
TheLinkMissing
TheTruth.rtf
Time Bomb
Time Links
Transcendence
Traversing
Truth Seeker
U
Undecim Nocte
Usekeb
V
Vampire
Vigil
Vocaroo
W
Wayward Horizon
Weenie-Licked
Whatisben.com
WireTalk
Within Hubris
Wyndstrom Institute
Y
Youshouldnthavedonethat.net
YSHDT.com
Z
Zora Link
Story
While all of the players were partaking in BUP's "Dungeons & Dragons" game from the previous chapter, some interesting updates were also occurring on YouTube. So, before we progress forwards, we must first go back a few weeks to the middle of January.
On January 19th, 2020, a new video was uploaded to Silentdork that was simply titled "9".
Description
N/A
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video begins with someone, presumably tyler, walking down a path near a highway while recording with their phone. They come up to a large electronic sign that has text reading:
ROAD
WORK
BEGINS
9/10/19
ROAD
WORK
BEGINS
9/10/19
Summary
- This video simply features someone recording an electronic sign near a highway that reads "ROAD WORK BEGINS 9/10/19".
This video is fairly short, as it simply shows a recording of someone walking down a sidewalk towards a large sign that reads "ROAD WORK BEGINS 9/10/19". While the significance of this date is unknown, it's worth noting that the highway shown here appears to be highly reminiscent of "The Paths"...
After the video was uploaded, it underwent a few strange changes... First, its thumbnail was changed - initially to a distorted image of the "Road Work" sign and then to a shot of the sidewalk. Afterwards, its title changed to "Real?" and then to "When?". Unfortunately, this only made the meaning of this video even more confusing... The question of "Real? When?" could possibly suggest that this isn't meant to be an actual recording by Tyler himself but instead some strange manifestation - presumably one that's just meant to bring attention to the existence of "The Paths" themselves and with no further significance.
On January 29th, 2020, the players discovered another video - one from a rather surprising location - Vincent Adams' YouTube channel.
Notice: As a reminder, Vincent is the former Overseer of the Lunar Children who previously hosted Patrem in his body before Greth did. However, Vincent hasn't been seen in quite some time and was presumed to be dead after the Cataclysm in 2016. The only evidence pointing otherwise was a lone video uploaded to his channel in 2017 that featured him playing the piano, though the context surrounding this was a mystery.
Notice: Unfortunately, Vincent's videos were later deleted and have not been archived. Please refer to the transcripts and summaries for more information regarding their contents.
This new video, "GLAD to be back", seemed to imply that Vincent himself had indeed returned.
Description
N/A
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video simply contains footage of Vincent in a dark room playing the piano.
Summary
- This video simply featured dark footage of Vincent playing the piano.
There wasn't much to this video - it simply contained footage of someone playing the piano in a dark room - presumably Vincent himself. The players immediately flocked to the comment section with questions. Surprisingly, Vincent responded.
Welcome back!
Thank you it's good to be back.
Do you have any interest in talking about what you've been up to?
Not now. I am still trying to understand.
I have been lost for what feels like a very long time.
How long have you been back for? I've missed your old techno stuff
Not long. As for my old music, it's been a very long time.
Yeah, definitely seems like it. Where have you been?
That is a difficult question to answer. I am still trying to understand it myself.
A few others have experienced similar things and many others are trying to figure it all out.
We have a chat server set up dedicated to trying to explain some weird bullshit that's been happening lately.
Any interest in joining? Even if you don't find anything beneficial out it's a killer way to pass the time.
I may be interested. As of now I am not up to date with current technologies.
I am using Skype but as it has ben so long I no longer remember my login info.
If you want to switch off of skype, there's a new service called Discord.
If you want to join our Discord server, here's an invite.
((A link to the Internet Detectives Discord Server is sent.))
I found it. I will make an account and join.
Vincent seems rather cordial with the players. However, he seemed as though he was still quite confused himself, claiming that he was still trying to understand everything... The players quickly invite him to the Internet Detectives Discord server, which he promptly joins.
Hey, welcome to our humble abode.
Good to see you were able to get into discord
Thank you. Thankfully it was easy to make an account.
Sorry for the inconvienience but would it be okay if I sent you another server?
There appear to be many prying eyes in this one.
What do you mean? I'll join it if you want me to.
Fearing that Vincent may be subject to malicious entities such as BUP and Tenebris, the players instead opt to add him to the Safest Haven Discord server instead.
Alrighty
welcome
welcome
Hello!
Hello thank you all for being so welcoming.
The players proceed to give Vincent a basic summary of everything that's transpired so far - mainly centering around their connection to Tyler and his friends, the Moon Children and the Lunar Children, and what the Internet Detectives actually hope to achieve.
You still with us Vincent?
How much do you remember from the past few years?
I remember doing the sleep deprivation experiment.
There was a lot more after that, that I will attempt to explain in future videos.
Were those the Sleep deprivation techno songs?
Yes.
The players manage to catch Vincent up. However, it's clearly going to take him some time to fully process everything... He also brings up his "Sleep Deprivation Experiment". This was briefly seen though a few of his uploads from 2015 where he was presumably using the "Sleep Deprivation" inadvertently inflicted upon him by Patrem as inspiration for a few songs. Interestingly, Vincent claims that he'll explain more of what happened to him in the form of more uploads on his channel.
Checkpoint #1
On January 30th, 2020, Vincent returned to answer some more questions.
Hello I am sorry for taking so long to respond.
I was very exhausted and had to rest.
I did not mean to just stop responding.
It's completely fine
Do you recall what we said at the end? About what happened to you?
Yes. I remember during the sleep experiments, I was experiencing terrible nightmares and waking up in strange places like a park near my house.
The sleep deprivation was both an attempt to improve my music but to also, in some way, defend myself against my sleep in and of it's self.
Though, after a time, I was unable to deprive myself of sleep. I was just too tired.
So you don't remember any topic of possession?
I remember after the fact. During the time that I was asleep, I would catch very blurry, vague, glimpses of what was happening.
I didn't know what was going on with me during the sleep experiments. But after my body was somehow free, I gradually became more and more able to peice together the events that I was indirectly involved in.
Well uh
Do you remember the Patrem guy?
Yes.
Vincent claims that the "Sleep Deprivation Experiment" was an attempt keep himself from falling asleep and becoming possessed by Patrem. Though he wasn't entirely sure what was taking place at the time, the fact that he was experiencing nightmares and waking up in strange locations was enough to worry him.
I remember a tower.
Like a spire?
Yeah, like a spire. I remember having a quick flash of clarity. Whatever was happening there gave me a chance to escape.
My mind and body was free. Though I was disoriented, I managed to, in simple terms, get the hell out of there.
I'm not entirely sure of what happened but I knew enough to know I had to leave.
Do you remember what happened after you escaped?
From that point on, my mind and soul was mine again. After leaving the tower, I made my way back home.
In fear that this would happen again, I packed up and relocated as soon as possible which is why in my other video of me writing a song on the piano, is in a different home.
Once I moved to a new home, I felt like things were going to be okay. Slowly during that time, I could feel my mind and maybe even my soul degrading. Everyday I felt like less and less of myself.
The last video of me playing the piano was the last thing I remember up until the last week or two.
Vincent explains that he suddenly regained control of his body, mind, and soul just before the Cataclysm in April of 2016. During this moment of clarity, he managed to escape The Spire and make his way back home. However, he was still understandably paranoid and eventually moved to a second home.
Though Vincent was safe in his new home, he felt his mind and soul slowly beginning to degrade... The last thing he remembers is recording the video of him playing the Lunar Children theme on piano in early 2017.
Do you specifically recall creating that piece?
The cult appears to think it was created by the Patrem guy before he made the lunar children.
I do recall creating that peice. If felt very, fluid I guess you could say. Almost as if the song was writing it's self.
When writing that song it felt like I was writing it for someone that I cared for deeply.
Like I wrote a love song for someone I've never met. Since I've been back, it's mostly been confusing.
well Patrem's wife did die shortly before he made the cult
I feel sad for that.
Vincent says that he's actually the one who wrote the Lunar Children theme. However, it's implied that this was heavily influenced by Patrem's presence inside his body. Though Vincent didn't realize it, the song was presumably always meant to be about Hank's late wife, Diana.
On February 2nd, 2020, Vincent returned to chat with the players some more.
Hello you guys
I told you guys I would let you know when I am planning on posting a video explaining what I went through in the last years.
I have decided that I will upload several videos because there is a lot to talk about.
All at once or over a period of time?
Over time. It is difficult for me to express these things in words which is why I have not simply explained everything here.
I considered a video log style series of videos but decided against that too.
I came to my conclusion that I will express this to you people the best way I know how and that is through my artistic expression.
That sounds interesting
Does that mean through songs?
With a video, yes.
Probably soon.
Tonight or tomorrow.
Vincent reveals that he's decided to explain what happened to him after 2017 through a series of music videos. He claims that the first one will be uploaded relatively soon.
This conversation was taking place around the same time BUP shared the "leaked" information that mentioned Vincent's potential "Aggregation" between his Prime and Astral Timeline selves. Fearing for his safety, the players questioned him about this.
On an unrelated note, would you happen to be in any other discord servers? Be careful what you say in here.
Our current "enemy" accidentally showed us something that he shouldn't have and it had your username in the background user list.
Probably means they're able to see what we post here.
That makes me very nervous. Is there a more secure place we could talk? Is that needed? Do you know who this "enemy" is?
we technically have a "safer" text channel but it's only safer because it lacks the prescence of one person who we just found out may not actually be dangerous
Would talking there be safer for me? I really do not want to risk being around those people again.
I mean, it wouldn't hurt to try I guess
Vincent is understandably concerned about BUP's ominous messages... In an attempt to quell his fears, they briefly add him to a more secure text-channel within the Safest Haven Discord server - the "Epitome of Safety". However, they eventually decide to take things one step further and create yet another Discord server - the "Paradigm of Safety". In fact, the players were so dedicated to Vincent's safety and sense of security that they all decided to use code-names in this new server.
This is only for the most trusted people
Me, Liam, Slinky, Thorin, Dov, Vincent, and Pako
Do not inform others of this places existence unless a unilateral decision is made
Same with information
Thank you for this. I am just nervous. You have eased my mind.
I am planning to upload the video soon if anyone is still awake for it.
Afterwards, a new video was uploaded to Vincent's YouTube channel - "Not Going Home".
Description
N/A
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video contains footage of Vincent sleeping in his bed while his song "Not Yet Gone" plays in the background. The lyrics of the song are as follows:
Free at last and
I'm tryna go and
live on my own
I couldn't know
That I am different
I'm feeling down, man
Not going home.
Not on my own.
And little did I know
that staying in my home
would set me loose
And Little did I know
Creeping ever slow
was something new
as life goes on
my time begins to stall
I want to feel im near
and see and feel and hear
but if I try
a little harder
maybe I could stay
but I have been so tired
now I have to fade
Towards the end of the song, a tower-like object can faintly be seen over the footage. A strange droning sound begins playing as the video zooms in on Vincent's eye, which is now wide open.
Summary
- This video features a melancholic song playing over footage of Vincent sleeping.
- The lyrics of this song seemingly relate to Vincent slowly degrading after fleeing The Spire and eventually "fading".
- Near the end of the video, Vincent's eye suddenly opens up as faint footage of The Spire can be seen.
This is the first upload in Vincent's series explaining what happened to him after escaping the Cataclysm at The Spire. The lyrics match up with what he's revealed so far - he attempted to start a new life and move on. However, he felt himself slowly beginning to degrade over time. Interestingly, he claims that he eventually had to "fade". What exactly this means is unclear...
The video itself is rather simple and mostly featured a still shot of Vincent sleeping on his bed. While most of his face was blurred out and obscured, the video zooms in on his eye opening near the end. Additionally, faint footage of The Spire can be seen in the background. Interestingly, this footage seems to be of a 3D model rather than a real location.
Later that night, Vincent confirmed that all of this was indeed what the video was meant to represent:
Vincent
"I will say this is about my life after regaining control at the tower. The next video should help explain things further."
On February 3rd, 2020, TheLaw suddenly became active in the Internet Detectives Discord server and posted a rather odd audio file... This file was actually an SSTV signal. As a reminder, SSTV signals were strange audio files that could be transcribed into images. Strangely, this SSTV signal revealed a distorted image of what appeared to be the silhouette of "The Gray Man".
"The Gray Man" is a mythical entity that often shows up in dreams. "The Gray Man" is also often used as the player Circlehunter's avatar. Additionally, the individual who received Helper's Hat from Mason back in 2015 and took over the Helper account was also known as "The Gray Man". However, the significance of TheLaw posting this image is unknown...
Checkpoint #2
Meanwhile, a bit of trouble was brewing amongst the players...
Erika hadn't been very active as of late. She was last seen becoming noticeably uncomfortable - mainly due to the fact that all of her conversations were being recorded on the Johnisdead Wiki. Additionally, she noticed that she had been excluded from the "Epitome of Safety" text-channel in the Safest Haven Discord server. This dynamic also spread into the Internet Detectives Minecraft server - the same server where Munnin last spoke with the players. Here, Erika was still being treated as a canon character and was often being asked various questions.
To be fair, this treatment was understandable - Erika had divulged some fairly important information in the past and the players had no reason to believe that she wasn't important... Regardless, this all seemed to make her very uncomfortable as she continuously asserted that she was a real person - not a character. Erika eventually shared her complaints with a fellow player who was friends with the GM's. Together, Erika and this player asserted that she was indeed NOT canon to Johnisdead...
On one hand, this seemed to line up to some degree - Erika hadn't been directly referenced by any other characters. In fact, some characters such as The Producer seemed completely unaware of her presence. The only counterpoint against this was the "IIIII" account initiating a countdown when she spoke with the player Xenquility - though this was written off as a coincidence as the "IIIII" account would often post random and cryptic messages regardless.
On the other hand, Erika suddenly being written off as non-canon was a tough pill to swallow. Her esoteric insight felt very substantial and it helped the players better understand various characters and concepts within the ARG. Additionally, her possession of exclusive videos and knowledge was rather hard to ignore... However, this was eventually hand-waved away by her being loose-friends with a former GM and having access to certain behind-the-scenes assets.
Ultimately, the logic was as follows:
- Q: How did Erika have access to exclusive videos and knowledge?
- A: She has loose connections with the GM's.
- Q: How was the IIIII account able to initiate a countdown in response to her private messages?
- A: It was a coincidence - the IIIII account often posts cryptic messages at random.
- Q: What about all of her other canon apperances?
- A: Erika has actually never made another canon appearance - some characters were even unaware her presence.
Or, as Erika herself explains:
Erika
"The youtube channel I showed before where I said I could get clips from used to be called something else. I forget what though now. I was shown a funny video on the channel while a ton of stuff was still public and that was basically where I got all the footage, then all the videos went unlisted later when I was almost done with my music video and the name changed and I noticed it was spooki. I honestly think in hindsight I was seeing stuff I was not supposed to be showing or seeing lol but I felt super cool about it XD"
Erika's claim that the "Quiet Family" YouTube channel used to be named something else is true. Before it became canon within the ARG, the channel was previously used to archive a few non-canon memes.
While this all seemed to make sense on paper, this left many players confused and frustrated. This was all very reminiscent of the Pumpkinhead Gamejack - albeit on a much less "explosive" scale. However, considering that Erika's knowledge was supposedly taken from behind-the-scenes sources, it can at least be assumed that her insight is still accurate and can still be relied upon. To summarize:
It is currently being asserted by Erika and a fellow player that she is NOT canon - she is simply a devout fangirl who got too carried away with her roleplay. The information and videos she divulged are indeed canon - however, she supposedly only had access to these because she has some loose connections to behind-the-scenes content through this aforementioned fellow player. To avoid making Erika uncomfortable, the players agreed to treat her as just another Internet Detective.
Though many players still had their suspicions, they decided to treat Erika as a fellow player. This seemed to make her happy. Perhaps she truly was just a rogue fangirl who had gotten too carried away with her roleplay...
Content with being amongst their ranks once again, Erika resumed chatting with the players as they added her to the "Epitome of Safety" text-channel.
The epitome of what lol
Omg what was this supposed to mean you weirdo XD
((Xenquility mirrors Erika's first conversation with him, quoting "You never should ever know" from My Chemical Romance.))
Sorry I had to listen to it since you posted it =p also hey do you play minecraft?
Oh WAIT I just realized you are literally the guy who was being weird to me on the minecraft server but I am actually sorry DX
Please forgive me for that
it was quite a large understanding that was in no way your fault
it came mainly from jid related confusion and i was not trying to be mean
sorry if I made you uncomfortable
I have been being weird about how I try to play "john is dead" and I probably really confused everyone because I was having too much fun rp'ing
sorry again for the misunderstanding but these days we cannot tell what is real and what isnt
the last time we thought something wasn't real we were tricked into thinking everything was ending lol
if anything I blame that IIIII guy
I dont know for sure who that is in "canon" but for sure that is Tyler right?
I mean maybe?
We don't really know
Erika continued chatting with the players on February 4th, 2020.
I just want to say sorry for always being confusing again btw
eh.
everything is confusing.
i just can’t believe one gamejack died only for another to take its place
i dont think this was necessarily a gamejack just us being stupid
Also did I honestly gamejack?
Well I guess considering there is a bloody wiki page about me XD
Well I am gonna go take my walk now and think on all this before sleepy time has to come. Bye bye friends ~ ❤️
Cya Erika
Before departing, Erika shared one of the several non-canon meme videos that existed on the Quiet Family YouTube channel before it became canon.
...As you can probably tell, this video is a complete shitpost and holds no actual relevance to the ARG. However, it does act as proof that the Quiet Family channel was once a more public meme-centered channel - one that could have easily possessed the exclusive footage that Erika used for her music videos, as she claims.
Shortly after this, the Rune Entity became active in the Internet Detectives Discord server and posted two strange images. The first was labelled "ᛖ", or "E". This seemed to depict someone reaching out to pet a cat in a distorted, green environment - possibly even within the Parallelos itself.
The second image was labelled "ᛏᛚ", or "IT" - a red, distorted photo of someone staring into the camera.
Unfortunately, the significance of these images is unknown...
Activity from the "IIIII" account continued on February 20th, 2022 - this time presumably from the "Mask Entity" - Tenebris. These files were titled "mine.jpg" and "I.mp3" respectively.
Once again, their significance is a mystery...
Checkpoint #3
On February 24th, 2020, Vincent returned to chat with the players.
something doesn't feel right
i have memories that arent my own
What are they memories of?
If you tell us we may know of whom they are
i feel like if i tell you the world will collapse. these are not things i should remember.
these are not my memories. but they are. Memories of myself and another.
Who’s the other?
me.
They’re the memories of another you?
no.
they are all my memories
We are one in the same
this complicates things
i have two memories.
two minds.
gradually converging into one.
Concerningly, Vincent claims that he's beginning to recall memories that are not his own. To be more specific, they ARE his memories but from a completely different lifetime - a life that he himself did not experience... The cause for this is unknown, but it's seemingly resulting in these two separate identities and selves merging into one... This is possibly the aforementioned "Aggregation" mentioned in BUP's leaked messages - the supposed idea of two alternate versions of someone merging into one.
I am becoming aware of things i should not know
is anyone here aware of the green place?
the place of nightmares
the place where darkness is green
Yeah, we’ve seen glimpses and we know some of our friends are stuck there.
the more we speak of this the more aware I become
this is not what I want
I do not want to know
I was in this place for eons
The green place, you mean?
yes
the green is darkness and the only way to escape it is to keep moving
as time went on I failed to continue. I gave up.
I felt as if I was stagnant but the world around me kept moving as if I was immobile
I sat upon a tree
after thousands of years, millions even
the tree grew around me, consuming me
the only thing left was my vision of the distance
The distance? To what?
The storm
it was approaching
the black storm
tornadoes of black
like tendrils sent to enter the very reality I was in
Who sent them?
This, I do not know
The creatures that exist beyond
they were hungry
I had already given up at this point.
I was willing to let this abyssal creature take me away
To where, I do not know.
It seems that Vincent is finally beginning to recall what happened to him after he "faded" away in early 2017. He reveals that he had somehow entered into the Parallelos. He describes the Parallelos as a terrifying realm of nightmares - a place where you have to constantly be moving or else you will stagnate and become consumed. This nearly happened to Vincent - he gave up and stopped moving, allowing a tree to slowly grow around his body. Despite the fact that Vincent was only missing for three years, this supposedly took place over the course of eons. This implies that time moves differently in the Parallelos.
While he was stuck within the tree, Vincent saw a terrifying storm slowly approaching him - a storm that was actually a massive tendrilled creature that was ready to devour him. Supposedly, this creature existed "beyond" - possibly implying that it originates from outside of the Parallelos...
The place is larger than I can comprehend.
I was not brave enough to continue.
How did you get out?
I did not get out.
I was taken out.
By an angel.
An angel?
At least I perceived her as such. Who else could come to me, reassure me, convince me I need to keep trying?
She took my hand, pushed away the Black Storm, and lifted me from this plane
What is more horrifying is what was outside. Outside of the green place was this horrible darkness.
Darker than is fathomable. There were sounds of water. Sounds of fear. Sounds of torment.
Glimpses of light but she assured me that was not the way.
She held me and carried me through the darkness.
I was warned not to look. Not to listen. Not to speak.
I looked. I listened. I did not speak. Not because I did not want to, but because I couldnt.
This fear was unimaginable.
Then what?
Then we were out.
She bid me farewell.
She left me at my home hopefully safe from any of that cult activity
I have to wonder
Why me
Vincent says that he was rescued from the Parallelos by an Angel - or at the very least, someone who he perceived to be an angel. This angel supposedly freed Vincent and lifted him up out of the Parallelos. However, beyond the Parallelos was a horrifying darkness - a darkness that contained sounds of water, fear, and torment. Eventually, after being pulled through this dark, watery realm, Vincent was suddenly back in his home. Afterwards, the Angel departed.
I feel like two people at once
I am remembering an entirely new life
I can remember my childhood
I can remember my pains growing up
I can remember the stupid decision to join the lunar children
But also
I remember another childhood
I remember another set of pains growing up
It feels as if I am two people at the same time
I do not know if it is wise to understand exactly "who" the other memories belong to
I already feel as though, through these memories, I am beginning to know too much.
What does that mean, knowing too much?
What consequence is there for having this information?
I feel there is a strong consequence for having this information which is why I am slowly panicking.
The more I learn the more aware I am of my position in all of this.
This if forbidden knowledge. It is very clear that I should now know the things I am learning.
The further it gets the more I understand why I am here and why we are all here and what this whole things is really about.
This does not feel comforting in any way.
I am doubting myself as a person.
As in.
A real person.
Vincent reiterates that he's begun to recall two separate lifetimes - both of which seemingly belong to him, but only one that he's experienced himself... While this other person does seem to be some form of Vincent himself, he's terrified of learning more about their identity - possibly due to both the "world-collapsing" ramifications mentioned earlier and also the fact that he feels as though these memories are giving him "forbidden knowledge".
While Vincent does not reveal what this "forbidden knowledge" is, he claims that it's helping him understand his position in this world. He now understands why he's here. Unfortunately, this has caused him to have some sort of existential crisis - he's no longer sure if he's actually a real person...
The lunar children have an experimental treatment
An experimental treatment for what?
Creating the person they want or need at the time.
You think they’re using that to give you these memories?
To try and turn you into someone else?
That, or they already did and leaving this green darkness somehow counteracted the treatment.
I can not tell as everything on both side feels so real
It feels like I have to learn to integrate the two minds together to form a third identity
I don't think that this has ever happened before in regards to the lunar experiments
If it has, they have definitely been terminated immediately without a doubt
Having inside knowledge on how the lunar children operate, they have no sense of morality.
They have a goal and they will stop at nothing to achieve this
Vincent speculates that this strange identity crisis he's experiencing may be a result of some sort of experimental Lunar Children treatment. Supposedly, this treatment somehow altered people's identity into something more beneficial for the cult. How exactly this worked is unknown, though... Additionally, Vincent admits that his current situation is rather unique - no other cultists who received this treatment experienced the same sort of crisis that he is right now. This might suggest that there's more to Vincent's current predicament than simply the results of this treatment... Afterwards, Vincent offers to conduct a QnA with the players.
Checkpoint #4
On February 25th, 2020, Vincent initiated the QnA. Instead of being conducted through text, the QnA actually took place in the form of a fairly long voice chat in the Internet Detectives Discord server. However, Vincent's voice was actively modified through some sort of program - presumably an attempt to keep his identity hidden.
Notice: This QnA was fairly long and lasted multiple hours. A summary will be provided near the end of this section.
So
How goes existence?
Existence is... very confusing at this current point in time.
I know that I'm me, but I'm having memories of a different me.
But it doesn't feel like me? But it does feel like me.
It's- it's hard to explain. I hope you understand.
Have you felt like that before?
No, this is new. It's either new or it has been happening so slowly that I hadn't noticed it.
Tyler is a part of some of the memories that are coming back to me.
The name is familiar but I don't really know why.
I'm guessing you don't know your new memories name?
I... do know my name in the new memories, but I don't think that I should say it.
I, uh... what's the term that I'm looking for... I think the repercussions of people knowing who that is would be too catastrophic.
I think that would break things.
Vincent reiterates his current predicament - his strange recollection of two different lifetimes.
One of these lives is his own life - the one that he personally recalls and is inherently familiar with.
The other life seems completely foreign to him... And yet, he feels as though it also belongs to him. Interestingly, he implies that "Tyler" is somehow involved in this second life, as that name seems very familiar within this new set of memories.
Strangely, Vincent is unwilling to reveal what his name was in this second life... He feels that doing so would be catastrophic and potentially "break things".
Have you been able to contact any old family or friends?
They're around, I just haven't really tried contacting them. At this point, I don't know if it's the best idea.
I'm scared about a lot of different things. I'm aware of the lengths with which the cult will go to to keep track of someone.
With this memory stuff going on, I don't think it's safe to contact them. My HOPEFUL fear is if I contact them, that puts them in danger.
My not-hopeful fear is that they're a part of it. And I'm really hoping that that is not the case.
Any idea if the cult still looks for you?
I'm not sure if they're still following me. I'm just not sure. If they are, they've been really quiet about it.
As far as I know I haven't had any contact with them since after the tower.
Vincent claims that he still has some old friends and family around. However, he's afraid to contact them. He fears that doing so would put them in danger because the cult may still be watching him... Alternatively, he fears that his friends and family themselves may have connections to the cult. That being said, Vincent isn't entirely sure whether or not anyone is even still observing him - he's simply paranoid due to this sudden new phenomenon with his memories.
Did you ever have to do "rituals"?
During the early initiation process there were some "rituals" that you'd have to go through.
What exactly do you mean by "rituals"?
Not exactly sure. One of our friends from there, someone named SKM, managed to contact us a while ago.
He said he had to complete rituals to keep up appearances as a good "child of the moon" or something
We had like ceremonies and that kind of thing, but more serious rituals is when Patrem fully took over me. So I only caught glimpses of that.
I've seen possession described in media like sitting in the back seat of a car and you're just watching what happens, but it's not like that.
It's more like you're asleep. Every now and then you get a chance to see a snapshot but it's very difficult to formulate any narrative from that.
During the time that he had control over my body, I don't really know what happened at all during that time.
Vincent seems to vaguely recall partaking in some ceremonies for the Lunar Children. However, most of the important rituals took place when Patrem was possessing his body. He expands on this, explaining what the possession was like. He claims that it was similar to being asleep - he would only occasionally be given brief glimpses of what was taking place.
He then recounted the night he was finally freed from Patrem's control - the night of the Cataclysm:
On the night of the tower, all I know is that something went wrong and he was getting pulled into some place.
Me, being myself for the first time in however long it had been, was excited to be myself.
But I also thought it best to just get out of here - I shouldn't be here.
Do you remember much of what was happening in all that chaos?
Everybody was panicking. It's like whatever they were trying to do went wrong.
Whatever they were trying to do in that tower, they had a system set in place and they expected it to go one way and then something just went horribly wrong.
I was on the floor on my back and right in front of me was Patrem getting sucked into something, or starting to get sucked into something? I'm not sure.
And that's when I just kind of scrambled to get back on my feet and from there I don't know what happened. I remember a lot, I just didn't see a lot, you know?
I ran home and grabbed the necessities. I wanted to leave all of that behind me, because they didn't keep it a secret that they were monitoring me.
Everything from my internet history to what time I went to the bathroom.
Unfortunately, Vincent wasn't able to witness much of what actually took place during the Cataclysm because he was too busy fleeing from The Spire - understandably so, given his predicament. However, he does recall a great deal of panicking and chaos coming from within. He believes that something went horribly wrong - possibly due to a ceremony going awry. As speculated previously, this was likely caused by their failure to capture Tyler.
Upon regaining control of his body, Vincent briefly returned home to retrieve some necessities before moving away. He did this because the Lunar Children had been keeping him under heavy surveillance for the past several years.
Interestingly, Vincent also claimed that he witnessed Patrem getting "pulled into some place". The players decided to press on this:
Sorry, you said Patrem was getting pulled into some place?
Yeah, that was the last thing that I saw. It's hard to describe what it looked like.
Do you think there's a chance he was getting pulled into the parallelos?
I don't know. If there's an entrance or an exit to that place, I don't know what it looks like.
So I wouldn't want to say "yes" or "no" as I genuinely don't know.
Do you know at what point you actually went to the Parallelos?
April 3rd, 2017 was the last day. it was on that day that I went to the dark place.
I don't know how exactly - I don't know why, but I felt my mind degrading and I felt my soul degrading.
So, it seems that the reason why Vincent was able to regain control is because Patrem was somehow pulled out of his body and sucked into another location - presumably into the Parallelos itself. However, what exactly caused this is unknown - as is what happened to Patrem after this. All that's known is that he was later housed inside Greth's body.
Vincent also clarifies the timeline a bit better. He escaped Patrem's control in April of 2016 on the night of the Cataclysm. Then, on April 3rd, 2017 - the same date he uploaded the video of himself playing the piano - he entered into the Parallelos. Once again, the reason behind this is unknown - it simply seemed to happen after he felt his mind and soul slowly degrade.
The players then bring up the subject of the Parallelos itself.
Did you see anyone else in the dark place?
I did see other people in the dark place. It's hard to describe what it's like in there.
At first there were people but eventually we just kind of wandered.
Were you able to converse with them?
Probably, but I didn't just out of fear. Once I was there, it was just horrifying.
How expansive was the place? Was it infinite?
I couldn't answer that definitively, but as far as I understand, time functions differently in this place.
That's why I asked what year it was when I came back and all that. I saw it on my computer and didn't believe it.
The time dilation was unnoticeable at the time, so it felt like I had been in there for a long time.
I didn't need to sleep, so I constantly had this baseline energy to just keep going.
Vincent reveals some interesting information regarding the Parallelos:
- There were other people in the Parallelos. However, no one really spoke to one another. Instead, everyone just wandered off - including himself.
- The Parallelos has a sort of time dilation effect. Despite Vincent spending eons in the Parallelos, he was only gone for a few years.
- Vincent didn't require sleep in the Parallelos - he seemed to have a baseline energy that allowed him to keep walking.
The players continue asking more about the Parallelos.
Did you ever see runes in the Parallelos?
Things like this: ᛟ
No. There was no kind of symbolism. It was nothing but just a massive expanse of forest.
No buildings. No roads. The occasional wanderer, but there was never any communication.
I don't even know if they were real or if it was just my mind hoping that there would be something there.
Hoping, because I hadn't seen or communicated with somebody in such a long time.
At a certain point, time just kind of... stopped existing for me, and I was just kind of there.
Any bodies of water?
There wasn't any water where I was - Not for me.
I was in a forest. It was those large trees - like it would probably take three of me to lock hands around the tree.
A lot of the time you couldn't see the sky, and when you could, it was just the green. There wasn't really anything to look at.
When you say there wasn't any water "for you" does that imply that it's different for others?
I don't know. I just know that there wasn't any water there for me.
I guess more what I mean to say is like, for the others that were there, maybe they wandered in a different direction and there was water for them.
But, uh, I didn't see any water. There didn't seem to be any life or life-sustaining elements. It was just the trees and the grass and dirt.
Vincent claims that he didn't witness any roads, buildings, or water - just a seemingly endless forest of giant trees. However, this was presumably only one section of the Parallelos. We know that structures such as buildings and roads do exist elsewhere in the Parallelos thanks to recent videos seen on Silentdork and the conversation with SKM. Vincent acknowledges this, noting that he might have seen more varied environments if he had walked in a different direction.
Afterwards, Vincent recounted his experience with the terrifying storm.
Mentally after walking around for so long, I found a comfortable looking tree and I sat down and just didn't get up.
I was there for so long that the tree just began to grow around my body, and I was just going to let it.
I was done. I had given up. I didn't care. Eventually, I saw this storm in the distance.
This storm was like a massive tornado and it was very dark and completely black.
The tornado itself looked more like a tentacle and the storm around it was being produced by this tentacle.
It looked like something had pierced through the sky itself, and along with that came this dark, smoky storm.
It was just coming straight for me. It started directly in front of me and very slowly started coming towards me.
I was just going to let it. If it killed me, it killed me. Better than being completely alone.
I wasn't exhausted, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized, "What's the point?".
It seemed like the horizon wasn't as far as I thought it was, and it felt like it was getting closer.
Vincent retells the story of how he eventually stopped walking. It wasn't that he was physically exhausted but more so due to the fact that he had given up - he didn't see any point in continuing on. It was at this point that he sat for countless years as a tree eventually grew around his body. That's when he saw the storm in the distance - a storm that mainly consisted of a massive, dark tornado. In reality, he describes this tornado as more of a tendril - one that was seemingly piercing through the sky itself... This lines up with his previous implication that this "storm" was actually a part of a "abyssal creature" from outside the Parallelos.
This leads into the players' next line of questioning:
Did you ever hear of the "Absque Fascie"?
I... have heard of the Absque Fascie. I am not comfortable talking about that.
The storm - the, uh, "tentacle" that sort of broke through the sky - that was one of them.
I was shown and explained a lot of these things by the "Angel", so I know more of what is outside, I guess.
Instead of the tentacle coming through the sky, if you were to exit the sky yourself, you would see what's out there.
Once the angel took me out, a part of leaving that place entirely involves going to where they are.
And that place is far more horrifying. I don't think I should say more about them. I don't want to give you guys false information.
Not even Patrem could handle that place. You know, he was a part of me for so long, but even he couldn't handle that.
He can't. There's just no way. He isn't HALF as strong as the Absque Fascie.
Surprisingly, Vincent claims that the tendrilled creature causing the storm was actually an Absque Fascie. This implies that the Absque Fascie exist outside of the Parallelos and are actually quite massive - only occasionally dipping their tendrils inside. This is a stark difference from the "Absque Fascie" mentioned on Lunarchildren.com - small, faceless entities that were supposedly servants of Luna... Terrifyingly, he claims that even Patrem wouldn't be able to overpower an Absque Fascie.
Vincent witnessed these entities when the "Angel" took him outside of the Parallelos - a place that Vincent claims was far more horrifying. Curious about this, the players asked for more information regarding this strange location that existed beyond the Parallelos...
Would it be safe to assume "That place" is where luna resides?
I want to say that I don't think so, but I also don't have the information to say for sure.
It's hard to explain. When she took me "through the sky", if you will, I was able to see the place that I was in.
There were more of these places contained within a much, much larger space. This doesn't feel like a place that Luna would want to be.
Do you know how many more?
A lot more. Once I saw what was outside, I sort of went into fear mode. Panic mode.
Just sort of closed my eyes and held on tight and buried my face into her shoulder until we were gone.
How long were you actually in the area outside of the Parallelos?
Briefly. It was sort of like a "I got you. It's time to go" and I sort of recklessly immediately trusted her.
When we exited the sky, it was sort of like - this is going to sound silly - a gelatinous kind of feeling?
Like it was kind of solid, but it wasn't literal sky, you know. It had, for lack of better words, a kind of "Bloop!" feeling to it.
Kind of like Mario 64 when he jumps through the paintings. Just like a ripple effect, but thicker... like a slick slime without residue.
It was unreasonably far away. No way I could have reached it on my own.
The angel that rescued you, what did she look like?
She specifically asked me not to talk about that and I have to respect her. Until I have her permission.
WAS SHE HOT?
((Laughs)) I would say that she's beautiful, yes.
The players suggest that this strange location beyond the Parallelos may have actually been Luna's Parallelos - a realm described by the Lunar Children where supposedly Luna and the Absque Fascie reside... However, Vincent doesn't believe that this is the case. He claims that this location was incredibly vast and he doesn't believe that Luna herself dwelled there - even though the Absque Fascie supposedly did.
When the Angel took Vincent out of the Parallelos, he recalled feeling a sort of gelatinous sensation as the two went through the sky. Once outside of the Parallelos, Vincent looked down and supposedly saw countless other ones below him. If this location beyond the Parallelos is able to contain countless other versions of said Parallelos, then it is indeed quite vast... Strangely, the Angel that rescued Vincent didn't want him to tell anyone what she looked like.
The players continued asking about this strange, terrifying realm beyond the Parallelos:
What did you see outside of the Parallelos?
Outside of this place far more horrifying than anything that was happening.
I wish I had stayed wandering around in the forest.
I should not have seen what was out there. I just... I shouldn't have.
This is when we're getting into the knowledge it feels like I shouldn't have.
I hope I don't disappoint you, but for everybody's sake, I don't think I should talk about what I saw out there. I apologize.
There are worlds contained within this place. Everything from non-existence to pure existence. And that's all I can say about that.
Unfortunately, Vincent feels unsafe talking about it. His reasoning for this is quite similar to the reasons he gave for not divulging more information about his other set of memories - he feels as though it's forbidden knowledge and that revealing it would put everyone in danger. Interestingly, he does claim that there are "worlds" out there - everything from existence to non-existence.
Meanwhile, the players begin asking about a variety of other topics.
Does "John Mesic" ring any bells?
Yes. He was a topic of discussion in the cult, but it was more one of those "hush hush" kinds of conversations.
I never really pursued any information. I felt like it was just one of those rumors going around.
You don't really want to get involved in these kinds of rumors that are CLEARLY dangerous.
If there's even a hint that you shouldn't talk about something, you don't talk about it.
I tried my best to keep my nose clean, which is why I ascended up the ranks.
Vincent doesn't have much to say about John specifically - he more so speaks about the topic of taboo subjects within the Lunar Children. Being the "Deuro", John later became a very taboo subject in the cult. Vincent explains that one of the reasons why he was able to rise through the ranks and become Overseer is because he knew how to keep his nose clean and not pursue dangerous information.
The players proceed to ask more questions about the Lunar Children - specifically in regards to the strange "experimental treatment" Vincent mentioned previously.
Can you tell us any more about that "Experimental procedure" the LC were using?
Like, do you know of anyone it was definitely used on?
Okay, so there was a procedure that we were trying to develop.
This was before Patrem. This was just me as a part of this cult.
I believed everything that they were telling me.
This procedure was a part of advanced initiations.
Think about in like a ranking system - lowest rank to highest rank.
Lowest rank is a new initiate - "I want to be a part of this", so, okay, let's see what you've got.
Then you go through the first basic "tests" or "trials". After that it gets more serious.
You have to do more serious things, and a part of that is leaving your life behind.
The "experimental procedure", when it worked, would "change you".
This was like brain surgery that we were doing - if it didn't work, it's not that you would die.
It's that you would lose your mind and we would put you out of your misery.
If we succeeded, they would come back a different person and a level 1 initiate into the cult.
It makes your dedication to the cult as a whole FAR stronger than before
So it's a surgical thing? Not like a magical ritual or something?
I wasn't a personal "administrator" of this kind of thing.
I think it's less magic, more surgical.
Some kind of magic is used, but it's also surgical.
You can't just zap them through their skull and it works - you have to actually pinpoint the exact spot on the brain.
They were presented with the risks. They were not told what was going to happen.
That was basically the final proving point.
"Are you willing to die to keep this going? Because you might die."
"Yes, I'd do anything for the Luna. I would die for Luna. I want to be a part of this."
That's how the people would see it. That's how I saw it, because they can be really convincing.
Every single member has had this done to them, from the highest down to the first initiates.
Before this treatment, that is your only chance to leave - to turn around, walk away, and pretend it never happened.
If you just go back to your regular old life, you're fine. But if you start trying to expose them or something, then you're done.
You don't do that, and they made that clear.
You said you were a higher-up in the LC at this time, right?
Yes, but not to the top.
Vincent explains that this "Experimental Treatment" is actually a type of brain surgery. Though he's unsure of the exact specifics, Vincent claims that the cult would operate on specific parts of the patient's brain to transform them into a different person - presumably by tampering with their memories or personality... He also implies that some amount of "magic" may be involved in this process, though he believes that it was mostly a surgical process.
Vincent says that there were different levels of initiates within the Lunar Children. This was seen back in 2015 with the mention of ranks such as "Crescents", "New Moons", and "Fulls". While lower ranks are given small menial tasks, they will eventually be asked to partake in this brain treatment as a final test of faith. Vincent himself underwent this treatment - this is possibly what led to him losing his memories for the first time before later losing them again once Patrem entered his body. Unfortunately, not everyone survives this treatment.
Vincent also notes that despite the fact that he held the rank of "Overseer" there were still members who held ranks above him.
Around this same time, Erika began PM'ing the player Xenquility.
Do you think I should join this call Im nervous there are so many people lol
also sorry I have not been on in forever I have been very very busy XD
I'd say join
I will be a stronko =p
Erika then proceeded to make her "stronko" entrance into the QnA, though her introduction was rather unexpected...
did you know Luna is actually my patron deity? Also hi xp
Is she being serious?
she sure is
Are you a member of any sort of cult?
lol no cults are dumb
well I guess I should not say a cult in the classical sense is dumb but in its modern application normies have made it dumbo =p
please stop RPing
Hey Im being SERIOUS actually sorry tho =/
WAIT
I know something =p
You are the vincent man who forgot a bunch of stuff I think
and you are a good person and I hope you have a good day sir XD
Erika reveals the identity of her previously mentioned patron deity - Luna. However, it's likely that her understanding of Luna differs from that of the Lunar Children. As she mentioned previously, she claims that the Lunar Children's version of Luna was nothing more than a "mockery". Judging by Erika's character, it's likely that her version of Luna is far less vicious.
The players believe that this is simply more of Erika's roleplay and urge her to stop, not wanting her to frighten Vincent.
Most of what I wanted to know was about the angel and if we could get her to help our friends.
But that may be something we need to investigate on our own.
I like to imagine that she will come back.
And this isn't to imply anything, this is just a theory - she might be around and we just don't know it.
Did you know angels are actually big scary geometrical shapes in reality?
what is this angel business why would you want to be involved with a bloody angel lol
Well Im not sure who "she" is but I know I would be insulted to get called something so grody
Im just having a go mate sorry sorry XD
Erika, have some chill
in reality the imagery we see when we think of angels is better attributed to faeries if anything :p
rarely are they nice as far as I am aware but I dont think its impossible either =p
valkyries or something
Oh those are cool actually XD
dude just call her an angel
dont let the pagan talk shit
oi pagan is a dumb word I dont call myself that >>
I am honestly not sure what you should call her but Ill say valkyries are cool.
But also tragic at times in their tales
always very beautiful tho
((A set of runes spelling "FEET PICS" is sent.))
feet pics?
Wtf
LOL
Xenquility you really took off reading about runes after our talk before I take it XD
I'm not entirely sure of what the angel's agenda is and I'm confused as to why she would pick me.
As far as I know, she isn't on a massive rescue mission.
If I ever come into contact with her again I will ask her questions on everyone's behalf.
I'll sort of do my own investigation and I'll ask her what she's comfortable with me sharing.
IF she shows up again. I haven't seen her since
I'd imagine I'm going to be seeing her again at some point. Or maybe not. I don't know.
spooko >.>
<.<
^.^
Vincent and the players speculate a bit further about the identity of the "Angel" - as well as her motives. They all find it a bit strange how she singled out Vincent specifically instead of the countless other people in the Parallelos...
With that, the players had asked Vincent all of their pertinent questions.
I guess that's all the questions I have.
Okay. If you guys think of more questions I don't mind doing something like this again.
It's up to you guys at the end of the day. Thank you for listening.
Thanks for the help my dude, especially with the touchy stuff
Thanks for being here dude
Nighty nighto Mr. Adams ~<3
((Laughs)) Thank you and nighty nighto to you too Erika_XP Square.
I cannot see most emojis on my computer.
its a green heart ❤️
💚
yes ^^
Alrighty, if nobody else has any questions, I'm going to go ahead and head out.
I hope you all do well and I'll talk to you guys later. Good night.
bye bye Xp
The players wish Vincent farewell as the QnA comes to a close.
Quite a bit was covered in this QnA. To summarize...
Summary: Vincent is still experiencing the strange situation mentioned previously - he's recalling two separate sets of memories from two different lifetimes. One of these lifetimes is his own - the one he experienced. The other seems foreign to him. Despite this, he feels as if it belongs to him as well. He fears he cannot reveal who this other version of him is because it will have catastrophic world-breaking ramifications. However, he does say that the name "Tyler" is familiar in these other sets of memories.
Vincent revealed more about the Lunar Children. He claims that members will eventually reach a point where their loyalty is tested - the will be asked to undergo a potentially dangerous treatment. This treatment is a brain surgery that supposedly alters the patient and transforms them into a more devout follower - presumably by altering their personality and memories. Vincent himself underwent this treatment. However, despite his high rank as "Overseer", he doesn't have all the details regarding it - there were people who held ranks above him.
Vincent regained control of his body in April of 2016 on the night of the Cataclysm. Before the Cataclysm occurred, he witnessed Patrem being sucked out of his body - supposedly into the Parallelos. Vincent then fled and moved to a new home. Over time, he felt his mind and soul beginning to degrade until April 3rd, 2017, when he somehow faded into the Parallelos.
Vincent claims that the Parallelos is incredibly vast and time moves differently in it - he supposedly spent eons in it even though only a few years had passed. He claims that he saw other people in the Parallelos as well, though no one really interacted with one another - everyone simply wandered. Vincent did as well - specifically through a forest of giant trees.
Vincent eventually lost hope and stopped walking. He allowed a tree to slowly grow around his body as he watched a massive dark storm slowly approach him. In reality, this storm was actually the massive tendril of an Absque Fascie. Vincent explains that the Absque Fascie are actually far larger and more powerful than the players realize. They also supposed dwell outside of the Parallelos entirely and only occasionally dip their tentacles inside - just as this one was doing with Vincent.
Vincent was rescued by someone he describes as an "Angel". This Angel lifted Vincent up and the two flew through the "sky" of the Parallelos. Vincent claims that the outside of the Parallelos was far more terrifying. This was where the the Absque Fascie resided - along with several other "worlds" or Parallelos like the one Vincent was inside of. However, he does not go into much detail regarding what else was outside of the Parallelos. He fears that it, too, is forbidden world-collapsing knowledge.
Vincent's time with the Angel as she pulled him through the realm outside of the Parallelos was brief. Before long, Vincent found himself back in his home - presumably only a few days before he uploaded his recent video to YouTube and was contacted by the players.
Checkpoint #5
Afterwards, Erika continued chatting with the player Xenquility in PM's. She seemed interested in a rather lengthy theory he posted earlier.
I knew that man was some slight bit of a goof ^^
I also scrolled back for a good while and was reading one of your theories
Now I realize you must have REALLY been reading about runes A LOT
Yup, have gotten interested in norse mythos in general
6 books with another on the way
Erika realizes just how deep the player Xenquility has gotten into his study of runes and Norse mythology. While impressed, she's also slightly worried. This leads to a rather lengthy conversation regarding the nature and dangers of esotericism.
Erika
"Do you remember that thing I told you about the research of magic? Taping into esoteric elements can give you an AMAZING level of understanding - but at a cost if you are not careful. There is a reason that big theory made no sense to anyone you presented it to but it seemed rather sensible to you. Since we are talking about Norse stuff, I will say Wodin is a god of very many things - Including inspiration through sudden bouts of madness. But, if something is goofed up in some way and they are not completely prepared to go through this kind of process it will usually result in really awful meltdowns."
"Despite this, any ramblings will not only seem coherent to whomever speaks them but often will often generally have a hidden logic that shows hidden secrets of complete coherence. I think depending on how hard someone creates meaning within esoteric madness they can be driven mad themselves if they do not have a powerful mental fortitude or magic or logic system. Otherwise they will become what some would call "overloaded with energy" without the ability to cease. I have seen that before and it can be kind of sad ="[ I dont want to come off as insulting in any way so I'm really sorry if I do but it looked to me like you were rising to a lower level of this when you typed up that really big theory XD"
"I think somewhere in the Havamal Odin says some line about not talking if you do not know very much, lol. But you know a lot though, so whereas for others rambling off the top of the head would be like trying to cup water from a drying puddle, you reach into a deep well as far as I can see ^^ Just be sure to clear your mind on a routine basis and maybe clear your space of spooky energy that might come from delving too deep into corrupted magical teachings."
This gives us a clearer understanding of Erika's views on magic and esotericism. Ultimately, Erika was concerned that Xenquility was beginning to go down a path that could potentially lead to madness or insanity. When discussing topics such as magic, mythology, and esotericism in general, it's easy to become lost in layers of internal logic and symbolism. According to Erika, small bouts of madness such as this are quite common and even somewhat expected in order to reach some sort of epiphany. However, if one is unprepared for this and does not have the required mental fortitude or internal logic systems set in place then it can be quite dangerous - possibly resulting in said individual becoming completely lost in insanity.
However, Erika also acknowledges that Xenquility already seems to hold a great deal of understanding when it comes to these topics - she simply wants him to not become consumed by them and the potential madness that they could bring. Interestingly, Erika also mentions the existence of "corrupted magical teachings". Curious, the player Xenquility asks about these.
What are considered corrupted magical teachings lmao
imo anything that claims "esoteric" wisdom more often than not
there are people in magical study who get a kick out of lying to you for one reason or another and they do it best in any field of "esoterics".
It can be worth it to delve because its not all lies but the cryptic nature of this kind of stuff makes it the easiest spot for them to do it.
Usually you will find if you have been in any way pathed towards something weird or just outright lied to it is with intent that is not really purely for your own gain or good intentions
Thanks for uh, keeping an eye out for me for lack of a better phrase.
I don't see myself going down any scary left hand paths but it's nice to know someone cares
left hand path does not HAVE to be scary I dont think
I praise and take benefit from a moon goddess myself and I am fairly certain a good bit of my logic behind this is left-hand in nature.
I guess if you are involved with any kind of group just be sure you know the full truth of their intention
But I would not know much about that a lot of my practice is solitary =\
Erika says that the "corrupted magical teachings" she was referring to mainly consists of any set of teachings that are based on lies or exist for the sole purpose of misleading you. She warns that these teachings rarely have any good intentions.
She then discusses the "Left Hand Path" - an approach to magic that, broadly speaking, centers around spiritual freedom - often in ways that reject that status quo and can be considered taboo. Erika admits that she herself benefits from some left-hand logic and teachings, once again bringing up the fact that her patron deity is Luna. However, she once again warns that you should always consider the intentions of whoever is teaching or guiding your understanding of these topics.
As mentioned in a previous conversation, Erika considers herself a "Vampire Hunter". She pushes back against people she labels as "Vampires" - malicious individuals who mislead others in regards to magic. However, Erika admits that most of her own magical practice is solitary, implying that she's not really a member of any sort of group.
Around this same time, the players were contacted by a rather unexpected individual - TheLaw. Interestingly, it seemed as though he desired to speak with the players in private... The players decided to create yet another private Discord server where this private conversation could take place.
Currently I'm not in a position where I can give more information. In the future if I have the chance to pass it off, I will take it.
Right now I simply want to make the act more secure from prying eyes, while also making anything I obfuscate in the future easier for those of you in the know to crack.
Namely, I want to have a passcode for the ciphers I use that only you all know, and therefore the chance for anything to be intercepted will be lower.
this is getting rediculous with how many functionally identical servers we've made
It seems you all have many different chats.
To be honest, I figured a group chat would have been made rather than a chatroom.
Sadly, I must tell you that my intention was to speak to all of you in private and then leave. I cannot remain in a chat like this to keep up appearances.
Anyways, that is the gist of why I wanted to speak to you all. To come to a consensus about the ciphers.
oof, we're sucking so we're being given hints huh
Moreso I'm looking to protect myself. But yes, you are also sucking.
Either way, I would like to make this trade of information more streamlined.
Recent events have changed my outlook on many things either way.
I'll try to bring you all up to speed as best I can, though I can't promise much.
In my current position, I don't have much free room to stretch.
I can also say that will come in due time, but I'm sure you all know that.
How about "Wargrave" as a key
My suggestion would be for a one-time pad.
So for that we may need a phrase instead.
Use “from the remember.exe skype room”.
Nobody’d guess that.
I will use your suggestion, then.
It seems as though TheLaw is willing to pass along information to the players - presumably in an attempt to help them fight back against BUP... This came as a bit of a surprise. Up until now, TheLaw was simply BUP's tool. However, according to him, some "recent events" have caused him to now see things differently, and he's now willing to aid the players.
TheLaw sets up a secret code phrase with the players - "from the remember.exe skype room". This will supposedly be used as a key in future ciphers - supposedly when TheLaw decides to leak more information.
not that we don’t appreciate it, but why are you helping us?
I want the best outcome possible. That's what the law, and therefore my justice, demands.
And recently, I've seen that "helping" you seems to be the best means for that.
Though I cannot promise much or little help.
What is, in your mind, the best outcome?
Probably the one where everyone does not die.
I'm sure most people will agree with that notion.
Though TheLaw does not reveal what exactly led to him changing his mind, he claims that he's helping the players because it's in his nature to do so - he is The Law, and his inner justice demands that he assists the players in reaching the best possible outcome - an outcome where they prevent everyone from dying.
Also, it seems your champion is dead/missing.
Our champion?
Oh, Azura
Their soul seems to have been absorbed or destroyed.
Therefore you will all need to do your part.
Please God yes
That's quite the reaction to the news that your brethren is no longer
I don't kinkshame, however.
Concerningly, TheLaw claims that the player Azura's soul has either been absorbed or destroyed... As a reminder, Azura was the player who won the "Tournament of Souls". This implies that their ability to make some sort of substantial change in the future is seemingly null and void...
I must go now.
I have another objective that needs completed, and so I'm expecting a man in a trenchcoat to come help me.
I cannot allow a slip-up to occur. I will speak on things more in the future, hopefully.
Try not to die out there
I will never die. The law will live on.
Interestingly, TheLaw claims that he'll soon be meeting with someone wearing a trenchcoat in order to complete some sort of objective... Though he doesn't reveal who this is, he offers to share more information in the future.
On March 3rd, 2020, a strange video was uploaded to Silentdork with an even stranger title - "IIItIIIuIIItIIpIIaIImIIIIIlrIIwIIIoIIIIItIIIIoIIIIIIaIInIIoIIII".
Description
N/A
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video contains footage of a strange, blinking device. Weird effects overlay the footage. Tyler and an unknown person can be heard speaking in reverse:
Unknown: "...This sound"
Tyler: "'Would you like to have your tarots- Is that actu-"
Summary
- This video contains distorted footage of a strange, blinking device.
- Tyler's voice can be heard offering to read someone's Tarot.
This video contains distorted footage of a strange, blinking device. What exactly this device is and what purpose it serves is unknown... Additionally, Tyler's voice can briefly be heard. He seems to be asking someone if they want their Tarot read... However, it's likely that this is an old recording of Tyler, as it sounds like it's from the "Fun night with John and Kevin" videos - not modern-day Tyler.
Checkpoint #6
On March 13th, 2020, the Rune Entity posted a message that read "3/24", implying that something might take place on March 24th...
A few days later on March 17th, 2020, a few rather significant updates occurred.
First, after nearly a decade-long hiatus, Alex Hall "Jadusable" finally returned to complete the Ben Drowned ARG. As a reminder, the ARG was left on hiatus shortly after the Within Hubris forums went live back in 2011. Now, it had finally resumed - though it seemed to be going in a rather different direction. Now named "Awakening", this third arc of Ben Drowned partially took place in its own Discord server - one that shared the same name - "Awakening". Additionally, Awakening would later go on to involve a protagonist being trapped within some sort of ethereal hotel that was presumably full of spirits...
The "Awakening" Arc of Ben Drowned is rather long and it introduces many new concepts. However, it isn't required reading for Johnisdead - you can still continue understanding the ARG and these story pages without it. Regardless, if you're interested in learning more about "Awakening", visit the Jadusable Wiki here.
Shortly after this, both The Producer and the IIIII account took notice and became active on Discord.
It appears things are about to become much more complex.
The spheres are merging.
Well fuck
What do "the spheres" refer to?
https://www.twitch.tv/brogaming/
Interestingly, The Producer refers to these recent developments as "The spheres merging". What exactly he means by this is unclear, though it most certainly is in reference to "Ben Drowned" becoming active once again. This fact is hammered in by the "IIIII" account linking to a livestream that was currently taking place - one in which Alex Hall was broadcasting an early video in his new Awakening Arc.
While it seems that Johnisdead and Awakening are separate and share their own continuities, this implies that they may hold some connection.
Later that day, a new video was uploaded to Silentdork - "ᛞᚱᛁᛗᛝ", which translates to "Dreaming".
Description
3/24 https://discord.gg/nyegDex
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video begins where the video "Start Life" left off, with Tyler facing the white, mannequin-like entity on the bridge. Tyler turns around and looks behind him, before facing the entity once again, which is now directly in-front of him. The footage begins corrupting and turns black. Corrupted footage of a treeline fades in as someone begins speaking:
Unknown: "You've so many weird layers man... Is to try and step outside the bounds of your own humanity. In other words, it's hubris! And the gods don't fake hubris, right?"
Text from a 4chan thread begins to scroll across the screen, reading as follows:
No you're not, Enjoy taking money from idiots. I will say though that this is an impressive scheme to say the least, and you shoud look at pitching a movie about this one day
Jadusable !o4K.20d6Vg Wed Sep 22 03:17:09 2010 No.5728151
>>5728124 I hope you're not implying that I'm "scamming" them. Scamming implies that I'm conning them out of money or pressuring them into doing this, but it's impossible to come to that conclusion. There's nothing forcing anyone to donate, there's no incentives to donate, I'm not asking anyone to. If they want to do it, it's their money, that's fine and I'm really flattered, but nothing changes except for my appreciation. Ugh, nevermind, I can see what direction this thread's going in. Well, just wanted to restate that I'm sorry for cluttering up your board again /x/.
Text from Alex begins appearing on screen:
Alex: "Hello again Tyler"
Alex appears on screen. He is distorted and green.
Alex: "How real are you Tyler?" 
Footage of Tyler laying on the ground briefly fades on screen.
Tyler: "Who are you?"
Footage of Tyler walking down a corridor appears.
Alex: "Lost?"
Tyler: "Where am I?"
Alex's face rapidly flashes over the footage.
Alex: "My Hall of Fame"
Alex: "The Man Off the Couch"
Alex: "You can call me ALEX"
The words "It" and "US" quickly flash over the word "me".
Alex: "Who else were you expecting?"
Alex's image continues flashing on screen. The audio distorts and an image of the elegy statue along with some text is shown. "TO PLAY" is written over the statue and "I'm glad you are back..." is written in a text box below it. A laugh is heard and Alex reappears, laughing.
Alex: "Just a little easter egg nod, don't get too crazy"
Alex: "Wouldn't want to violate that agreement"
Alex: "Not that either of us can do it the same way again"
The camera shifts to footage of Tyler lying in a hospital bed. Menu sounds from Majora's Mask are heard in the background.
Alex: "If you keep playing games"
Alex: They will pull the plug on you"
The camera zooms in on Tyler's face, which turns to the camera.
Alex: "And since you are now caught"
Alex: "IN THE MACHINE"
The camera returns to its initial position, with Alex's face overlaying the footage.
Alex: "Let's start with a look at what you keep reaching for"
The camera zooms in on the monitor by Tyler's bedside. The footage is given a green border. Multiple reversed voices are heard as the camera transitions to a railroad crossing:
Unknown: "Mystery is the purest form of storytelling. ...a problem is posed, and a hero sets out in search of an answer."
Unknown: "Writing, it's a passion. Writing, it's a passion. Writing is a journey. It's a part of me. It's, it's something that I have to do. Kind of like putting the puzzles together, you know, figure out how the pieces fit together the best."
Unknown: "Actually helped bring to life... Among the producers... Writers knew that... This is just a snippet of what you're going to see in... The Great Train Robbery, it's a movie, maybe on an... School kids spent their summers acting-"
As the camera crosses the tracks Alex once again begins speaking to Tyler:
Alex: "The man from across the tracks"
Alex: "What else do you want of mine?"
Alex: "The talent?"
Alex: "The status?"
Alex: "The fame?"
Alex: "The fortune?"
As the camera reaches the other side of the tracks an image of a young man with text appears reading
"That which lies in our mind?"
Alex: "Not an option"
Alex: "not your territory"
Faint footage of the video "Awakening.wmv" from the Awakening ARG appears. Reversed voices are heard:
Unknown: "He's getting pulled back into the water. Over and over. It's like a cliff, like a residual-"
Unknown: "Hear my blessing. Step into the green line."
Unknown: "Did you ever drown any of your victims? Did you ever drown any of your victims? Did you ever drown any of your victims? Before you sparred all of these acts?"
Unknown: "Passion. I can't imagine life without writing. The (inaudible), the seeds. To figure out how pieces fit together the best. And I can't imagine not having the opportunity to create these characters. To see them. To visualize them! It's, it will always be a part of me."
Unknown: "Where else can you create these (inaudible)?"
Unknown: "A hero sets out in search of an answer."
The camera tints purple as it pans towards a pond.
Alex: "This wisdom is not your legacy"
Alex: "But we can have a glimpse from outside"
The camera briefly gazes through a chain-link fence and pans back to the water. The earlier footage of Tyler walking down a corridor appears along with a set of runes reading:
"Inwards one finds the true father worker under the moon This holds the mystery of inspiration."
The following set of images flash on screen:
- A pink landscape
- Alex sitting in a chair
- A large, spherical, red object
- An arm reaching out of a large pond
- A distorted image of Alex used in "Methods of Revolution" promotional material
- A helicopter
- A boat on a green-tinted pond
- A partially damaged boat on a pond
- A black entity overlayed on indiscernible buildings
- An image of Alex standing in a snowwy field used in "Methods of Revolution" promotional material
- A lawn chair on a beach
- A flare going off near a pond with a boat in it
The pink landscape remains and a flock of birds fly by. The text "Now the timelines are beg..." from Jadusable's "Awakening.wmv" appears. Various images of water assume the background as Tyler walking down the hallway is shown once again. Alex's face appears again.
Alex: "You're better off on your side of the tracks
Alex: "'I'm really excited to see what you have planned'"
Alex: "I have much and little to do with it"
Alex: "We may speak again but likely only by trial"
Alex: "shoot 'me' a call when this is over if you remember.exe"
Alex: "'That was the final part of your trial with -'"
A message from Jadusable's Discord account "Dingo" is shown, reading ""I hope your day is good aswell! Good luck with your ascension.". The message is dated 12/01/2019.
As the message disappears, the video stutters and abruptly ends.
Summary
- This video seems to be a continuation of "Start Lift", showing Tyler encountering the Mannequin Entity on the bridge in the Parallelos.
- Tyler is seen walking down a strange corridor that is implied to be Alex's "Hall of Fame".
- Alex himself begins speaking to Tyler, ominously welcoming him and questioning how real Tyler is.
- Alex questions if Tyler wants to take anything else from him, such as Alex's fame, fortune, status, or talent.
- Alex claims that Tyler is now caught "In The Machine" as it shows him laying in a hospital bed.
- The video zooms into the camera near Tyler's hospital bed, causing a green border to appear at its edges.
- This video contains various cryptic images and voices that cover the following:
- Various aspects of writing and storytelling and the passion for such things.
- The controversy surrounding Alex Hall's "Methods of Revolution" Kickstarter.
- The concept of hubris and attempting to step above one's own humanity.
- References to Alex Hall's past creative works.
- Tyler briefly approaches Alex's "side of the tracks", which seemingly gives him a glimpse of various Alex Hall-related media.
- Alex tells Tyler to remain on Tyler's own "side of the tracks", claiming that he's excited to see what he has planned.
- Alex tells Tyler that they'll likely speak again - though only through "Trial".
This video seems to be a continuation of "Start Life", showing what happened to Tyler after entering into The Parallelos. Unfortunately, what exactly took place isn't exactly clear... It seems that Tyler encountered the Mannequin Entity on the bridge - as seen in Start Life. However, after this, Tyler appears to be in two places at once.
The first location is some sort of strange, otherworldly hotel - likely still within the Parallelos. While Tyler walks through this place, Alex himself begins speaking to Tyler - most likely the same "Transcended" giant version of Alex seen in the video "g2". Strangely, Alex refers to himself as both "Me", "It", and "US". This language isn't too unlike how people have referred to Tenebris in the past. However, this is most likely simply due to Alex's status as one of The Four Giants granting him a strange, layered existence. Afterwards, Alex claims that the hotel is his "Hall of Fame". This is likely a reference to a popular meme amongst the players who often refer to "Alex Hall" as "Alex Hall of Fame".
The second location Tyler finds himself in is a hospital. Specifically, Tyler himself seems to be laying unconscious in the hospital bed. Interestingly, the video zooms into one of the monitors near Tyler's bed before continuing. This makes it rather difficult to determine Tyler's exact journey and movements... Given the fact that this is all taking place inside the Parallelos, this is most likely intentional. the Parallelos is a spiritual location where the rules of time and space don't apply. For now, we can probably assume that Tyler is both simultaneously inside the hospital AND Alex's Hall of Fame.
Regardless, Tyler seems to continue progressing through Alex's Hall of Fame. As the name would suggest, this strange location features a large swath of Alex-related imagery - including meta-related content. For example, we are shown brief visions and excerpts of Alex's other works from both before and after the "Ben Drowned" ARG. While here, Alex seems to criticize Tyler, questioning if Tyler seeks to take Alex's fame, fortune, status, and talent. Ultimately, Alex tells Tyler that he should stay on his own side of the tracks, which is likely meant to imply that Alex wishes Tyler would pursue his own unique creative endeavors.
This entire exchange seems to be laced in meta-commentary. In the end, Alex says that he and Tyler will speak again - though it will be during the middle of some sort of "Trial"... However, he also claims that Tyler is currently trapped within "The Machine". What this means exactly is unknown...
On March 19th, 2020, another video similar to the one above was uploaded to Silentdork - "ᛏᛖᛋᛏ", or "Test".
Description
Who do you think I am, Im certainly not "me" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U11pXIg5-Q
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video begins where the video "ᛞᚱᛁᛗᛝ" ended. Alex's distorted face can be seen staring at the camera. The following text appears:
Alex: "Your mask is made of familiar parts"
Alex: "What if 'I' began to take them to reconstruct 'Mine'"
Alex: "We construct our own realities for ourselves"
Alex: "But which one is yours?"
The audio cuts off and the video ends.
Summary
- This video seems to be a continuation of "Dreaming", as Alex continues speaking with Tyler.
- Alex mentions that Tyler's "mask" is similar to his own and claims that both he and Tyler construct their own realities.
This video seems to be a brief continuation of "Dreaming". Here, Alex continues questioning Tyler's reality - and by extension, his originality. He notes that Tyler's reality and "mask" is made of familiar parts and questions the difference between the two. Again, this is most likely meant to be some sort of meta-related commentary.
On March 20th, 2020, several new videos were uploaded. First, we'll cover "ᛏᚱᛁᚫᛚ", or "Trial", as it acts as a continuation of the videos up above.
Description
N/A
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video continues from where the video "ᛏᛖᛋᛏ" left off. Tyler can be seen walking down the same corridor seen in previous videos - Alex's self-described "Hall of fame". Reversed audio of Alex Hall speaking is heard:
Alex: "And even though I have a place to call home for this, well, I guess I'm just sort of flying by the seat of my pants, but I guess you were saying that- Gonna poke his brain- He did seem like he wanted to take a day or two off. He just kind of, he told me, he kind of, pulled me aside and said, 'You know what, I think I wish that there was someone else to come take the mantle of this for a little bit, and...'- It's a, it's a curse, man. -extract more out of that. A thirst for the living knowledge. And it's a, it's a- Gonna poke his brain- There's so many weird layers to it."
Text begins flashing on screen.
Alex: "Still going"
Alex: "Digging yourself deeper"
Alex: "What do you think you will find here"
The following set of images flash on screen:
-An image of the video "Awakening.wmv" from the Awakening ARG
-An image from Alex Hall's old "Methods of Revolution" page
-An image of an indiscernible sign in a city
-An image of a Discord message from Jadusable reading "Wow. Apparently the DMT guy I had on here earlier this year was found dead last weekend with his throat slit in the wilderness above his county. They ruled it a suicide but I know and met some of the Wah Ching guys he hung out with. Seems like a weird way to dispatch yourself."
-An image of a blog post from Chris Cantelmo's website posted on April 23, 2019.
-An image of a Discord chat between Jadusable and user jimmythesleek consisting only of them posting Trap songs.
The footage transitions from the corridor to Tyler lying in a hospital bed. Text from Alex once again begins flashing on screen.
Alex: "You are near "The end of the line""
Alex: "Did your work bring you fortune?"
Alex: It makes no difference to "me""
The footage returns to Tyler walking in the corridor.
Alex: "But if you desire"
Alex: "Something else may be found"
Alex: Can you take it for yourself?"
Alex: "Let's reflect"
Tyler turns towards the camera. The footage is replaced with one of Alex Hall's old short films titled "Normal". The same green border from "Dreaming" is present. More text from Alex appears:
Alex: "Did this strike a cord with you Tyler?"
Alex: "It is reflective"
Reversed audio from the short film is heard:
Grace: "You created me. You wanted me here. And now I want to be here! And you have a choice to make. You can live a normal life, or you can be happy."
Ethan: "I thought we got past that. Yeah! Yeah, she's real. I'm taking her out to lunch after this! You can even meet her if you want."
Dr. Richards: "All I'm saying is that you've had trouble differentiating between people who are real and people who are imaginary. Dissociative identity is a very serious condition."
Text from the video "Hubris.wmv" from the Awakening ARG appears reading "Disassociation was our biggest enemy." This is followed by text from Jadusable's "Awakening.txt" video - also from the Awakening ARG - reading "The world lines have become convoluted. Events are now remembered differently". Footage of a laptop is shown taken at 1:01 PM on September 17th, 2010. It depicts the old Internet Detectives skype group. While the footage is too blurry to make out many names, the profile pictures of various players such as Eevee Reborn, ARGDov, and Mugen Kagemaru can be made out. The filmer turns to a red tinted man sitting beside them and the footage shifts to a short clip of Alex Hall and an unknown man speaking in a forest:
Unknown: "Wait, we've got it on tape. Alex, hang on, pause the tape."
Alex Hall: "Yeah, but I don't know, the thing that we found-"
The "Dawn of A New Day" screen from Majora's Mask appears with many lines under it before the video cuts out.
The text "The story so far..." appears followed by a distorted version of the player Sheik's "unitedagainstBEN.mpg" video. Unknown clips of movies and mostly indiscernible reversed audio accompany the video:
Unknown: "Hello?"
Unknown: "Yeah, I'm here. Mom, I love you. And dad, I miss you. I hope that kid wins."
Unknown: "Don't forget. It's all about the win."
Sheik's video ends and the footage shifts to Tyler's vital signs monitor. No vitals are shown and a loud, repeated beeping sound is heard. Tyler is shown with his eyes closed on his hospital bed. The footage goes dark and the video ends.
Summary
- This video is a continuation of "Test" as Tyler continues walking through the Hall of Fame.
- Alex questions Tyler's motivations and what he thinks he might find in the Hall of Fame.
- Alex claims that Tyler is reaching the "End of the line" and asks him what his efforts have given him.
- Alex implies that, aside from fortune, "something else" may be found. However, he questions whether or not Tyler is capable of achieving it.
- One of Alex's old films is shown - "Normal", which involved someone suffering from a disorder that made it difficult to discern fiction from reality. He implies that this is somewhat reflective of Tyler.
- References to disassociation, "convoluted world lines", and misremembering events are made, followed by what appears to be footage of someone in the Internet Detectives Skype group in 2010 - five years before it was created.
- A famous "call to action"-style video from the old Ben Drowned fanbase begins to play. Afterwards, Tyler is once again seen in the hospital bed.
This video continues Tyler's journey through Alex's Hall of Fame. Here, Alex questions Tyler's motivations as he ponders what exactly Tyler thinks he'll find in the Hall of Fame. He questions if Tyler's "work" brought him fortune. However, he then adds that Tyler may find something else instead - but only if he can take it for himself. What exactly this is referring to is unknown, though it's likely drenched in meta-related commentary once again.
Tyler is then shown one of Alex's old films - "Normal". This film follows a young man who is suffering from something akin to dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia. This has caused him to imagine fictional characters in his life who he then mistakes for real people. At the end of the film, it's revealed that even his girlfriend wasn't real - she was a figment of his imagination. Alex claims that certain parts of this film may relate back to Tyler himself - though he does not elaborate in what ways, exactly...
The concept of "disassociation" continues - as does the idea of society misremembering certain events due to "convoluted world lines". What exactly this means is unclear, but it's shown along with some confusing footage of someone visiting the Internet Detectives Skype group back in 2010... This should be impossible, as the Internet Detectives were only formed at the beginning of 2015. Perhaps this is simply an example of the concept of "misremembered" and "convoluted world lines" causing potentially contradictory events in history... However, whether or not this is a real paradoxical event that has now taken place or simply a hypothetical example being shown is unknown and isn't too crucial.
Around the same time the video above was uploaded, another video was also posted to Silentdork - "IMG_4622".
Description
march 20 2014 he followed their signal and met with the outsiders
<--- Click for Video Transcript
This video begins with the camera focused on a cellphone tower located in the park seen throughout many videos on the "M" channel. The person filming is seen holding a device. They set the device down on a table and activate it, causing the video to briefly distort. A small envelope is taken out with "OPEN ME" written on it. The note inside reads:
"The grey man.
You're welcome.
2009"
The filmer turns back to the tower as the video ends.
Summary
- This video shows an unknown person activating a strange device and receiving a note from the Gray Man.
Interestingly, this video is titled and formatted similar to the ones found on Lostmemory423... This could imply that this video was also filmed by SKM. Specifically, the description implies that this was filmed back on March 20th, 2014. The video features someone - presumably SKM - filming a Cellphone Tower. According to the description, he was led here by someone's signal. Somehow, this allowed him to meet with "The outsiders", though who this is referring to is unknown. Additionally, this is the same Cellphone Tower that The Gray Man was seen investigating in 2009 on the "M" YouTube channel.
SKM looks down towards a strange device sitting on a table. On the device is a note - one that reads as follows: "The grey man. You're welcome. 2009". This implies that this note and device were left by The Gray Man back in 2009, finally explaining why he was at the Cellphone Tower. However, the significance and purpose of all this is unknown...
The final video uploaded on this day was another music video from Vincent - "Always Move Forward".
Description
Always Move Forward.
<--- Click for Video Transcript
Summary
- This video serves as a representation of Vincent's experience in the Parallelos. A large monologue is hidden within the audio's spectrogram.
- Vincent's monologue in the spectrogram details the disorienting nature of the Parallelos.
This video was Vincent's attempt to portray his experience within the Parallelos. It also contained a massive monologue hidden within its audio that detailed many of Vincent's thoughts as he explored the Parallelos. He can be seen questioning whether or not he was dead or alive - as well as whether or not any of this was real. While this doesn't reveal much new information, it does do a good job of expressing the paranoia and confusion he felt during his journey. Interestingly, he implies that he not only didn't need to sleep in the Parallelos - he also didn't need to eat or drink.
Given all of these recent videos, Erika had the following to say on the matter:
Erika
"This series of videos seemed to start with this incarnation "ALEX" asking Tyler if he was real. Rude question imo, he is the realest man around XD"
On March 23rd, 2020, two players - Fancypigg and Yoshi - began mass-submitting songs with The Ocarina. This included nineteen submissions of the Elegy of Emptiness, one submission of the Song of Unhealing, one submission of the Song of Double Time, and three submissions of the Frog Song. This was most likely done as a shitpost. However, the IIIII account actually became active shortly afterwards and posted an image simply titled "3.gif".
This seemed to be a distorted image of three frogs stacked on top of one another, implying that the "Frog Song" submissions may have had some sort of effect...
On March 24th, 2020, the IIIII account became active once again - this time to post a rather lengthy cipher titled "prophetic.txt". Once solved, this translated into one of Alex's old out-of-character posts regarding the state of the unreleased "Hubris Game" - the game that was supposedly going to be released alongside the third and final arc of Ben Drowned. Interestingly, Alex's email in this has been replaced with "IIIII"...
Later that night, the IIIII posted another message:
IIIII
"Old gates open again."
After a bit of digging, the players finally discovered what gate had been opened - Lunarchildren.com itself, which had now been completely revamped...
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