Palimpsesting...
Palimpsesting...
115 quotes (115 spoken, 0 mentions)
“This one was unaware of this fact. This one apologizes to Innkeeper Solstice for its failure.”
“Apologies, Innkeeper Solstice. This one does not believe the pawn piece moves left and right.”
“This Worker would not presume to…play.”
“This one would watch, Prognugator.”
“This one does not believe so.”
“I will do so.”
“I would like to be known as ‘Pawn.’ It is a fitting name for this individual.”
“I feel. I feel all.”
“Why?”
“They are afraid. They will not be like me.”
“They—we. We are all sad.”
“But I have told them what it means to regret the passing of individuals. They understand.”
“I am no longer a Worker. I am an individual. I would like a name.”
“Hello. Erin Solstice.”
“Stop saying thAt.”
“I. I am. But it is wrong. All is wrong. When the many become one, it is Aberration. I am Aberration.”
“The Prognugator carried out his duties. The Worker died carrying out his duties. No mourning is necessary for broken shells and dead individuals. These ones merely express regret of individual Klbkch’s failure to protect.”
“These ones wish for the Innkeeper Solstice to heal from wounds received. These ones express their regret for her suffering.”
“It is part of custom. These ones are taught to express regret/sadness/loss for death in appropriate mourning moments. To cease work during funerals to not disturb Liscor’s citizens.”
“These ones offer condolences to the Innkeeper Solstice.”
“These ones express regret for the failure of the Prognugator to protect the Innkeeper Solstice.”
“This one offers apologies for its mistake.”
“These ones are not suitable for independent action. These ones must not be unaccompanied.”
“Yes. These ones will disperse to assigned duties. Forgive these ones for disturbing the Innkeeper Solstice and others.”
“This one apologizes. But this one cannot. These ones offer regret to the Innkeeper Solstice.”
“These ones are not permitted to leave the city or move about without permission.”
“This one is not an individual. This one cannot be.”
“This one has no name. This one is not important. This one is not an individual.”
“I understand sorrow. I understand regret for the death of individual Klbkch and Worker. I was wrong. It was a sad thing. For Klbkch. For the Worker. Then death is sad. Then it is all…sad.”
“stOp talkinG. Stop askING me—”
“I cannot be individual. I cannot have names. I cannot choose my own actions. It is wrong. I am no longer one of the Workers. I am…me. This is wrong.”
“You don’t know what he was.”
“I. I am. I have become I. I do not understand.”
“Stop tHaT. Stop weeping for hiM. Stop aSKING mE—”
“Don’t ask—this one is not Klbkch. Not individual. We are worthless. Just like the one who died there. No names. Not like him.”
“He is Prognugator. I am—was Worker. I should not be.”
“If this one—is not—how are the many one? An individual cannot exist—the many are—how am I?”
“This one—I understand. This one has become I.”
“I cannot understand. I am Aberration. All is Aberration. This Hive—I cannot accept it. Why am I sad? Why am I sad? What have you done to me?”
“I do not understand. But—I am. And I too am sad.”
“Innkeeper—Erin Solstice. I am sorry for the death of Klbkch and the Worker. I regret their death and your suffering.”
“I—do not wish to. I must have a name. Where may I find one?”
“The hundred play as one mind. We see a hundred moves and play them all in turn. We think together and play as one body.”
“Do not be sad, Miss Solstice. We are the Antinium. So long as the Hive exists, all will be well. So long as the Queen lives—nothing else matters.”
“At least, Klbkch will not be gone forever. So long as the Queen lives, she will remember him.”
“Why would she remember him? He was no Prognugator. He had no name.”
“Just so. We think as one. That is the nature of the Antinium. Even if—that nature has been compromised by the experiment. Though I am individual, that is still true of me. I do not know why, but I feel…”
“He was the designated Worker who won 54.6% of all games he played. He had no name. If you wish it, I will remember him, Miss Solstice.”
“I—see. I feel there is much misunderstood, but I respect your grief.”
“Not so long as the Queens live. He will be remembered. It is more than any other Antinium has.”
“Will you play another game, Erin?”
“We can see the ending.”
“There is much we learn from each game, Erin Solstice. Please do not stop teaching.”
“I do not know, Erin Solstice. These are mysteries of the world. They are what they are, yes?”
“We have very few levels, Erin. I myself am a Level 2 [Butcher] and Level 1 [Carpenter].”
“I have lived more than half of the average Worker’s lifespan. The Workers do not level up frequently. Some do not level at all.”
“It was a good game, Erin.”
“Yes, Erin Solstice. We are taught such things as we are formed in Birther Sacs. All Workers know of leveling, but we seldom do.”
“I merely learn from Erin Solstice. She is an expert in this game.”
“Apologies. But the Innkeeper Solstice makes a mistake. This one—I am sorry. You misunderstand, Erin. At this moment, you are not simply playing me, but all the Antinium gathered here.”
“We felt their loss, Erin. But only when we knew it. The Queen remembers. She knows us all. But we—we are Antinium. This is new.”
“Bathroom?”
“I bear no offense, Erin. And I thank you for protecting us.”
“Yes. Our Queen moves. She is doing—something. We do not know what it is, but we sense it. And there is another Prognugator.”
“Toilet seat?”
“We work. We live. We die. All is unchanged among the Workers, Erin Solstice. But we hear of—things. Something happens below.”
“Yes. He guards the Hive and watches. But no Worker has seen him yet. He walks above.”
“We are Antinium. Building is in our nature.”
“It is agreed. We will begin at once.”
“We would not wish to charge you for this service.”
“We are familiar with the construction of such facilities. It would be a simple task to construct one for you. I am a [Carpenter]. Level 1.”
“We have designated areas where waste is accumulated. We recycle such products within the Hive.”
“We would be happy to assist. What do you desire?”
“You teach. You help. You care. We know, and we learn from you how to be Human.”
“We have come to play chess if you are willing, Erin Solstice. We would also purchase flies for consumption.”
“We level quickly. It is rare for Workers to level. We owe you a debt, Erin Solstice.”
“Then the Erin of now is surely an improvement as she is both an [Innkeeper] and one who teaches chess. I fail to understand the problem.”
“Was Erin important back in her world?”
“It may be so, but my knowledge extends mainly to my Hive. I was not I until very recently. Thus, my awareness is only now expanding.”
“Please, Miss Solstice. This is a matter of the Antinium. I knew it would come. Do not interfere—”
“I am not sure I have any advice to give you, Erin Solstice. I am not experienced in the ways of this world.”
“I have lost.”
“Which way is this?”
“I am individual. I am Antinium.”
“No. No!”
“He—the Prognugator let me go. He let me go. I am individual. Not Aberration. He let me go.”
“I am not Aberration. I am not. I am—”
“I was asked questions. I was tested. I passed.”
“Adventurer-Captain Calruz. How may I help you?”
“I was about to. I would not wish to trouble you—”
“No. Yes. It is important. I cannot tell you what it is. I was not told. I can only sense that it requires all of my Queen’s attention.”
“I am missed. I must complete my duties.”
“He was merely fulfilling his duties. But once the Queen is told, she will summon me. I am sure of it.”
“We came ten years back. To make…make something. I do not know. I do not know what. But it was decided. The Queens sent a single Hive to the city. Paid in gold for a place with those not of the Hive. To make something. A new kind of Antinium.”
“I do not know. I only heard what was spoken in passing. But it is an important ritual that cannot be interrupted. I…sense that.”
“To work for the Hive and the Queen.”
“He will not harm me, Erin. He has determined that I am Individual. He will not question me further. And I will be protected there. Now that it is known I am Individual, I am—important.”
“Your offer is most kind. But I belong in my Hive.”
“He will not harm me.”
“She is occupied at the moment. It is the Rite of Anastases.”
“Yes.”
“That is correct. I would be in jeopardy or place you in danger by remaining.”
“Ksmvr?”
“Erin. Is something wrong?”
“I had no right to resist. The one who took me—he was the Prognugator. He judges other Antinium. Our lives are his to use.”
“I’m sorry?”
“The Antinium have no honor. And I am—was a Worker. My life is for the Hive. If my death is required, I will die.”
“Yes.”
“It will be. Good luck on your mission, Olesm.”
“Yes. We do not have any duties, so we go to play.”
“We do not know. But it will be tomorrow.”
“We wait for the Queen.”
“Nothing is wrong. We have no tasks because we are waiting.”
“Yes. She is close to completing her task.”
“Greetings, adventurers. Olesm.”