Whispers in the Abyss

Facility Event: The Accursed Archives

Episode 5

Whispers in the Abyss

Previous Quest

Beyond Darkness

Summary

Nyarlathotep, the being responsible for all that has occurred, has been defeated, and the people of Hethiwood safely returned to their human forms. With the mystery solved, the library returns to its silent vigil.

Dialogue

Behold the key which seals thee!
Now return to the netherrealm!
Qiso'era tsyuto'sena!
Qiso'era hotoso'naqo! Urrrooooaaaaah...
We are Chaos. Our quietus is our genesis.
We reign in twilight; the dark nightmare of a stillborn sun.
We manifest the Ancient One's Emissary.
We are multifarious. Multifarious forms.
Multifarious names. Multifaaaaar...
Mul...tiiiii...faaaaar... This damn thing can't even die without being creepy. What the...? Everyone, look!

Wh-where...am I?

This...isn't the village...

Are those the people of Hethiwood? With the cause of their suffering defeated, they have been returned to normal. To use magic that dies with the user is the most basic of errors. Our enemy would have been better served to wield a finer form of sorcery. Heinwald? This is the part where you shut up and just be happy we won. Hey, everybody! Look over there! Wh... Where am I...? Lathna! You're okay! Jeez my knees, what a relief! What? I don't... Whatever you say to this Lathna, she will not understand. Doesn't change the fact that this is an auspicious occasion. I'm not sure what happened... but I was so scared. I was in such pain and...so afraid. Did you all save me? Oh, thank you so much! Well, I'll be. Always nice to get a little girl's smile as an unexplected reward. ......

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Well, now that the villagers are safe, we need to figure out what we're going to do about this library. Can we not seal it up as it was originally? Have you all taken leave of your senses?! Why must we part with the library at all?! Beeeecause it's super dangerous? And what exactly is the danger here?! I simply cannot bear to lose such a pleasa... Er, such a VALUABLE trove of books and knowledge! I knew this was just about your curiosity. ...C'mon, Heinwald. It's time to go. No! I refuse! Quit acting like a baby and come... Grrr! Let go of the damn bookshelf already! NOOOOOOOOOOO! *sigh* He hardly seems like the same man who helped us track down and defeat the evil of Nyarlathotep. Well, he's the sort of person who steps up when he needs too, I suppose. Fine! If you're all so eager to "deal with" this library and seal it away, I would hear how exactly you plan to do this. Just like it was to begin with, I suppose. The magic that sealed this library was skillful, delicate, and extremely complex. I doubt any of you are capable of faithfully replicating such a spell. Are you saying you won't help with that? Because I have ways of gaining your cooperation, believe me. Do not misunderstand me—I will help you. However, I currently lack the ability to wield the magic required. If, however, I could research the books here, I'm sure I could figure it out. So then, what say you? Why do I feel like we're all being taken advantage of here? What do you think, Prince? After all, you stand to be most inconvenienced by the presence of this library. Well, with Nyarlathotep defeated, the most urgent crisis has passed. Although the other one is still around. I am Emissary. I have neither duty
nor motive to seek sacrifice. This Nyarlathotep has a different way of thinking. We can at least rest assured he will turn no one into a book. In that case, I suppose it's fine to leave things as they are. Excellent! ...You know, it wouldn't be an overstatement to say your generosity is what resolved this entire incident. Well you certainly changed your tune fast. You were all grumbles a minute ago. I'm serious. It was your kindness that made the false Lathna negligent. Had that not happened, it would not have used such a method of trying to get you to read the spell. Not to be rude, but it sounds like you're saying we are a bunch of simple dullards who were easy to trap. Heh. I suppose there's a little truth in that. Still, I'd rather believe in someone than doubt them. That's why we ended up on top in this case, right? Life is just a series of doubts. That said, if you ONLY doubt others, you'll never take a chance or meet a new friend! Ah! What? Er... (...He didn't mess it up.)

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Hail, stranger. What do you seek? Only the truth. And to that end, I'd like to make an inquiry of you. Uncertain truth. Doubtless fiction.
A mirage upon a distant shore.
One utterance which wavers between
two sides in its conveyance. I shall determine for myself whether or not your words are worthy of belief. You said you were "both atheneum and keeper," and that you "looked grievously upon your shuttered shelves." This means you missed your freedom. You also said, "We are fettered, trapped by quailing wings." I think those wings were actually the Nyarlathotep that had transformed into Lathna. But now the quailing wings that freed the library from its seal have disappeared, which is good news for you. ...... This was what you were seeking. ...Wasn't it? All of us—even the other Nyarlathotep— did your bidding without realizing it. Reckoning. Capacity. You ken Our words,
and by doing so, Our meaning.
You should not fathom thus, yet do.
You are a quandary of being. ...Being? You mean my existence? While it's true I might understand you, what's the problem with that? You ken Our words and meaning.
Those who fathom the abyss
are beguiled by such.
...Or are the abyss itself.