READER

[grigori]

ROLE: READER nero

A MEASURE OF TRUTH

On Monday, at 7 PM EST / 4 PM PST / 5 PM MST and later in the week on Friday at the same times, Disce catches Nero's attention. Both will innately know that they have somewhere to be, and Disce will be able to lead the way—even if they've never been there before. Her form changes, as they're both accustomed to, but takes that of a pine marten, and upon reaching their destination, they will be greated by the Watchers.

After finishing their business, Nero and Disce will not be able to return to this location again without being invited back, regardless of whether they attempt to return on the same day or in the same week. Disce will be able to take her pine marten form again on her own, but will revert to one of her original forms upon leaving. Nero and Disce both will know that this form cannot be shared openly, and that caution should be practiced with sharing it privately, as well.


As the reader, Nero will be given the opportunity to ask two questions each week, using the alethiometer to find an answer. They will have two meetings with the Watchers a week, on Monday and Friday, after awakening. They may ask both questions on Monday or save them until Friday, or they may split their questions between these meetings. Any further questions they ask of the alethiometer will remain unanswered.

The questions asked will be Nero's own choice, and any answers will be given in a series of symbols from the alethiometer. Nero will be granted only one initial meaning for each of the symbols on the alethiometer, and any others will have to be discovered on their own. Keep in mind that this leaves room for some answers to be interpreted incorrectly, leading to a false reading; while the alethiometer can be used to find the truth, it will by no means give an easy answer.

Additionally, Nero may use this time to speak directly with the Watchers each week. He may ask questions, receive small hints, or simply chat with them, though any information received will be subject to the Watchers' own discretion.

★ Keep it secret.
★ Use your daemon’s pine marten form sparingly.
★ Never let anyone else use the alethiometer.
★ If too many participants learn about the alethiometer, it will be requisitioned.
★ The alethiometer may answer up to two questions per week.
★ There are other meanings to each symbol beyond the basic meanings. You must learn to interpret them on your own.

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Comments

[grigori]

[ nods slowly. ]

Right, well, how about this... Who do you think Xaphania is yourself without the aid of the compass? Maybe we can work that angle.

[perfectdistance]

I think they're the leader of the Celestial faction. Or... if they ain't the leader, the reason for its existence?

[grigori]

The reason for existence? That's a bit deep, but I think you're on the nose about them being the leader of the Celestial faction.

[ hand on hip. ]

Shall we work with that?

[perfectdistance]

The faction's existence. You can't really have a faction if there are no ideals to follow.

[A nod, they can work from here]

So if Celestial is supposed to be chaos, that follows in with "free will". Can't really be chaotic without that. The angel... Probably doesn't mean angel in this context, since we used that for the three hit "marionette" last week. Serpent can mean evil, but it's not a sin like the apple is.

[grigori]

Well, I think the thunderbolt might be the easiest one to figure out even it was struck four times. There are only so many things it can stand for, right?

[ don't tell rameel that thunderbolts mean something else in his world. they won't be able to take it. ]

And I think we've touched up on the other meanings of snake because, right? [ they'll tap their chin. ] That time it hit it two times but maybe it'll be closer to that meaning that its original meeting?

[perfectdistance]

[ Thunderbolts mean Oz is mad and somebody is gonna have to pay for it. ]

Something more like cunning instead of evil? Clever?

[grigori]

[ they'll their nose. ]

I think that sounds about right—cunning.

[perfectdistance]

Okay so we're at blank, free will, ...messenger, cunning.

[grigori]

[ *tap....their nose..... me: why do i try tagging when i'm too tired to read words. ]

Yes, sounds about right this time around. So, what do you think we have missing right now?

[perfectdistance]

... Tell me about the sun in your world? Maybe we can go with that.

[grigori]

It's bright, warm, and we are also slowly being killed by the side effects of it being bright and wam.

[ ha ha... ]

Thematically and metaphorically, the sun generally stands for positives. In tarot cards, it's considered the "best" card because it has no true negative even when in reverse. It's seen as a way to move into a better situation—moving into the light and all of that.

[perfectdistance]

We are?

[h...hello???]

That was Oz's tarot card. [For like, a split second Nero puts sun and thunderbolt together and gets Oz, but that would be insane so he doesn't say a word about that.]

So if they thought that bein' completely without free will, they wanted to... lead them to clarity? 's this too positive?

[grigori]

Yeah, but one worry at a time.

[ they have no idea who oz is and will not explain climate change. there are just so many things for nero to sweat about. ]

Or, perhaps, they saw the clarity which lead them to becoming free willed. The sun comes first in the message, right? A catalyst that started the rest, maybe.

[perfectdistance]

[Now he's worried about the sun killing them if the moon won't. Thanks Rameel.]

So they were the catalyst that lead people to free will. Maybe they really were the messenger of cunning, leadin' people away from a path with no agency.

[grigori]

[ sorry nero, but the sad truth of reality is that there are countless ways to die. ]

Do you really think that the thunderbolt means "free will" though? Not that you're wrong with your viewpoint. Xaphania is... Well, we're here to answer that.

[perfectdistance]

I don't know for sure.

The thunderbolt was four times, 'd be real surprised if it was actually "inspiration". Catalyst? The beginning? A thought?

[grigori]

In certain mythologies whenever they heard loud thundercracks in the sky, those ancient civilizations thought it was because the gods were angry with them.

[perfectdistance]

[....

Maybe it really is oz.]

So it could be a punishment?

[grigori]

It could be, but it likely isn't. I'm not sure if it makes sense in this context.

[ sometimes you know the answer but it's figuring out the solution that's the hardest part. ]

[perfectdistance]

[He is feeling very dumb but okay, he'll keep going.]

Threat?

[grigori]

[ every day we apologize to nero. ]

I suppose you could see them as a threat. I'd say— [ ah. ] I'd get in trouble if I say what I know.

Threat works for now, but I'd work off of the base emotion... If I was the one reading it.

[perfectdistance]

So maybe it's more like fear.

[ That's fair and reasonable, Nero also feels it around Oz. ]

[grigori]

I feel like we've taken a step in a direction we don't mean to. There are different reasons why you'd punish a person, right?

[ fear isn't bad but... ]

[perfectdistance]

If ya thought somebody did somethin'they shouldn't.

[ Or if you're very worried about them. Haha. ]

To try and keep them from doing it again?

[grigori]

[ ,,,,,hmmm ]

Hmm. Maybe I'm just a worse person than you.